Former Indiana University player John VanBuskirk became the seventh U.S. product to play in the German First Division when he came on as a substitute for Uerdingen in the 64th minute of its 3-1 loss to Fortuna Duesseldorf March 25. VanBuskirk, who has an amateur contract with Uerdingen, played his last season at Indiana in 1994. The Granite City, Ill., product has been playing up front for Uerdingen after concluding his career with the Hoosiers at sweeper. Other American products to play in the Bundesliga 1: Eric Wynalda (1992), Peter Woodring (1993), John Doyle (1993), Chad Deering (1993), Paul Caligiuri (1995), Claudio Reyna (1995).
Joe-Max Moore returned to action, only three weeks after being injured, for German Second Division club FC Nuremberg.
Nuremberg lost to Mainz 2-1 away April. It now stands in a tie for eighth in the Bundesliga 2.
All three Americans will be in action when the Mexican playoffs kick off April 10 with the first round.
Tab Ramos and Marcelo Balboa will face off when Tigres meets Leon. Mike Sorber’s UNAM meets crosstown rival Club America in the other two-leg series.
Leon clinched a bid on the last weekend of play in the First Division when it beat Celaya 2-0 away and Monterrey upset Toros Neza 3-2.