John O’Brien helped Ajax maintain its five-point lead atop the Dutch Honor Division by playing 90 minutes in a draw against Feynoord, which is currently tied for second place with PSV Eindhoven. Elsewhere in Europe, Brad Friedel, Cory Gibbs and David Regis also played 90 minutes each in matches that ended in ties for their respective clubs. In England, Claudio Reyna was subbed after pulling a hamstring during Sunderland’s 2-1 loss to Tottenham. He has been ruled out of Sunderland’s Tuesday match against Bolton.
Netherlands
=
John O’Brien (Ajax, D1) vs. Feynoord, 1-1. Started: 90 minutes. In a huge game for league-leading Ajax, an 85th-minute penalty kick by Andre Bergdolmo prevented second-place Feynoord from closing the five-point gap in the standings. Ajax has nine game remaining this season; Feynoord and PSV have ten. Ajax dominated the game but fell behind with 11 minutes left and leveled only after Nicos Machlas went down easily in the penalty area to draw the late foul. = Earnie Stewart (NAC Breda, D1) vs. AZ Alkmaar, 3-1. DNP – Stewart missed the game because his wife, Yvonne, gave birth to their second child, a son named Ennis. The couple already has a daughter named Quinty.
France
=
David Regis (Metz, D1) vs. Lens, 2-2. Started: 90 minutes. A two-goal lead did not hold up for Metz against the French league leaders, who rallied to tie with an 88th-minute penalty kick by Elhadji Diouf of Senegal. = Greg Vanney (Bastia, D1) vs. Paris-St. Germain, Wednesday.
England
=
Brad Friedel (Blackburn, PL) vs. Bolton, 1-1. Started: 90 minutes. Visiting Blackburn managed a tie despite losing striker Andy Cole to a red card in the 18th minute. =
Claudio Reyna (Sunderland, PL) vs. Tottenham, 1-2. Started: 53 minutes. Reyna pulled a hamstring is has been ruled out of Sunderland’s March 5 game againts Bolton. = Jovan Kirovski (Crystal Palace, D1) vs. Grimsby, 2-5. DNP. Grimsby, fighting to avoid relegation, avenged its 5-0 loss at Crystal Palace earlier this season. = Gregg Berhalter (Crystal Palace, D1) vs. Grimsby, 2-5. DNP — with U.S. national team. = Joe-Max Moore (Everton, PL) vs. Leeds, 0-0. DNP – not on the active roster. = Kasey Keller (Tottenham, PL) vs. Sunderland, 2-1. DNP – with U.S. national team.
Germany
=
Tony Sanneh (Nuremberg, D1) vs. Hamburg, 1-3. Started: 90 minutes. =
Cory Gibbs (St. Pauli, D1) vs. Borussia Dortmund, 1-1. Started: 90 minutes. After sitting out last week’s game to serve a one-game suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards, Gibbs returned to the starting lineup and received one of his team’s two highest ratings from Kicker magazine. Currently sitting just two points ahead of last-place Cologne, St. Pauli earned a shocking road draw in front of 64,000 disappointed fans. Dortmund would have moved into first place in the Bundesliga with a win, but could not capitalize on their advantage in possession nor a last-minute ejection of St. Pauli’s Thomas Meggle. St. Pauli, however, still sits seven points deep into the relegation zone. = Dema Kovalenko (St. Pauli, D1) vs. Borussia Dortmund, 1-1. DNP = Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96, D2) vs. LR Ahlen (3-1) DNP — hip injury. =
Conor Casey (Hannover 96, D2) vs. LR Ahlen (3-1) Started: 90 minutes. It marked Casey’s first start since joining Hannover in midseason. His other eight appearances, in which he managed two goals, came as a late substitute. = Frank Hejduk (Bayer Leverkusen, D1) vs. Freiburg, 2-2. DNP – not on active roster.
Chile
= Jonny Walker (Universidad Catolica, D1) vs. Santiago Wanderers, 1-1. DNP – Walker was on rest this weekend for Universidad Catùlica (as well as a handful of other starters) in anticipation of Thursday’s Copa Libertadores match against Once Caldas in Colombia.
