American midfielder Claudio Reyna’s string of 11 straight starts for German First Division Bayer Leverkusen came to an end when he pulled a groin muscle, forcing him miss the match with Uerdingen (a 3-0 loss) April 30.
Reyna has won praise for his steady if unspectacular play in midfield. Leverkusen had gone 1-5-5 (won-tied-lost) with Reyna in the lineup, prompting the removal of coach Erich Ribbeck.
U.S. national team striker Ernie Stewart is back in action and will have a new club next season.
Stewart signed a three-year contract with Dutch First Division club NAC Breda, having turned down offers from Vitesse Arnhem, Groningen and Belgian club Lierse and an improved contract offer from his current club, Willem II Tilburg.
“What finally persuaded me was the atmosphere at NAC Breda and the way they conducted themselves during negotiations,” Stewart told Soccer America correspondent Jaap de Groot. “Everything about them is first class.”
NAC Breda has just tied up a lucrative sponsorship deal with Japanese film and camera giant Fuji, and will play in a new Fuji-owned stadium beginning next season.
The club, currently tied for seventh, has an outside chance of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Cup.
Stewart returned to action in Willem II’s 1-1 tie with De Graafschap April 20 after a three-month layoff following arthroscopic surgery.
Willem II has faded badly in the standings, dropping to 12th after starting the season near the top.
Juergen Sommer recorded a 3-0 shutout over West Ham April 27, but it was not enoguh to prevent the London club from being relegated to England’s First Division.
Wins by the three clubs above it in the standings left QPR with no chance of climbing above 18th place in the 20-team Premier League.
The other two American goalies in action in England both lost: Kasey Keller (Millwall lost 3-2 to Stoke City at home) and Ian Feuer (Luton lost to Bransley 3-1, also at home).
Rutgers star Hamisi Amani-Dove has been invited to Dutch Second Division club AZ’s summer training camp.
Since leaving Rutgers, Amani-Dove has been training with Dutch First Division club Volendam’s amateur team. Amani-Dove was picked by the NY/NJ MetroStars in the MLS college draft.
AZ has a shot at gaining promotion to the Dutch First Division.
Curt Onalfo is the last American playing in the Mexican playoffs.
He has been starting for Tampico Madero in the Mexico 1A (Second Division) group playoffs. The club is out of contention for one of the four spots in the semifinals. The former Virginia star will join the LA Galaxy upon the conclusion of the playoffs.