Conor Casey made it three goals in three games to help Hannover keep rolling atop the German second division. Hannover holds a 10-point lead on its nearest opponent in the standings. Elsewhere in Europe, John O’Brien continues to play a key role in Ajax’s bid for the Dutch title while the clubs of Claudio Reyna, Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller continue to struggle in the English Premier League.
Netherlands
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John O’Brien (Ajax, D1) vs. Heerenveen, 2-0. Started: 90 minutes. Ajax scored another major victory in its quest for the Dutch league title. The Amsterdam club maintained a five-point lead on second-place Feynoord by defeating fourth-place Heerenveen. =
Earnie Stewart (NAC Breda, D1) vs. Roda JC, 1-1. Started: 83 minutes.
France
= David Regis (Metz, D1) vs. Auxerre, 2-3. DNP. =
Greg Vanney (Bastia, D1) vs. Lorient, 0-0. Started: 90 minutes. Vanney earned a caution in the 27th minute.
England
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Brad Friedel (Blackburn, PL) vs. Leeds, 1-3 Started: 90 minutes. England hopeful Robbie Fowler helped his case for World Cup priviliges by scoring two goals in a span of 145 seconds early in the match. Visiting Rovers pulled within one shortly after halftime, but a 71st minute tally by Harry Kewell kept them without a league victory at Elland Road in the past 43 years. =
Claudio Reyna (Sunderland, PL) vs. Chelsea, 0-4. DNP – injured. Also missing leading scorer Kevin Phillips, Sunderland was overmatched and faces a fight to avoid relegation in the final months of the season. =
Joe-Max Moore (Everton, PL) vs. Fulham, 2-1. Entered as a substitute: 45th minute. New coach David Moyes, who replaced fellow Scotsman Walter Smith last week, inserted Moore for forward Thomas Radzinski to help protect a two-goal lead after Thomas Graveson’s dismissal for a second yellow card reduced Everton to 10 men. In the 54th minute, Moore picked up one of seven yellow cards shown in the first match between the teams since one in December featuring a brawl. = Eddie Lewis (Fulham, PL) vs. Everton, 1-2. DNP. = Kasey Keller (Tottenham, PL) vs. Charlton, PPD. Tottenham was pasted again on Wednesday last week, this time at the hands of Chelsea, the same team which sent Spurs out of the FA Cup three days before. Keller’s club plays Charlton Monday hoping to end it’s awful streak of three straight 4-0 losses. =
Jovan Kirovski (Crystal Palace, D1) vs. Manchester City, 0-1. Entered as a substitute: 45th minute. = Gregg Berhalter (Crystal Palace, D1) DNP
Germany
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Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96, D2) vs. SSV Reutlingen, 4-0. Started: 90 minutes. =
Conor Casey (Hannover 96, D2) vs. SSV Reutlingen, 4-0. Started: 90 minutes. Casey’s goal in the 35th minute was the only one of the first half and he received the highest rating of any player in the game from Kicker magazine. =
Tony Sanneh (Nuremberg, D1) vs. Borussia Monchengladbach, 0-1. Started: 90 minutes. Sanneh’s 28th-minute own-goal was the game’s only marker. =
Cory Gibbs (St. Pauli, D1) vs. Energie Cottbus, 0-4. Started: 90 minutes. = Frank Hejduk (Bayer Leverkusen, D1) vs. Stuttgart, 2-0. DNP.
Chile
= Jonny Walker (Universidad Catolica, D1) vs. Rangers, 1-3. DNP. Walker and several other starters were again rested after a busy three-week period of Copa Libertadores games, including a win Wednesday over Flamengo.
