Ajax Amsterdam has extended American John O'Brien's contract through the summer of 2005. O'Brien, 26, has played only four Dutch League games this season because of various injuries.

The Californian, who joined Ajax as a teenager, played every minute of the USA's five games at the 2002 World Cup after helping Ajax win the 2001-02 league and cup double while appearing in 27 league games.

An Achilles' tendon injury limited him to 13 games during the 2002-03 season, although he became the first American to see action in a European Champions League quarterfinal.

O'Brien has made 63 Eredivisie appearances for Ajax since his 1999 debut.

MEXICO
* Daniel Hernandez (Necaxa, D1) vs. Veracruz, Saturday
TV: Galavision (same-day delay), 10 pm ET.
Torneo Clausura stats: 7 games, 2 goals.

ENGLAND
* Frankie Simek (Arsenal, PL) vs. Leeds, Friday
TV: Fox Sports World (live) 3 pm ET
Season league stats: 0 games.

* Tim Howard (Manchester United, PL) at Portsmouth, Saturday
TV: Fox Sports World (live), 7:30 am ET.
Season league stats: 27 games.

* Claudio Reyna (Manchester City, PL) vs. Southampton, Saturday
Season league stats: 19 games; 1 goal.

* Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham, PL) at Liverpool, Saturday
Season league stats: 10 games, 0 goals

* Brian McBride (Fulham, PL) at Liverpool, Saturday
Season league stats: 11 games, 1 goal.

* Brad Friedel (Blackburn, PL) vs. Leicester, Saturday
Season league stats: 33 games; 1 goal.

* Kasey Keller (Tottenham, PL) at Bolton, Saturday
Season league stats: 33 games.

* Marcus Hahnemann (Reading, D1) vs. Crewe, Saturday
Season league stats: 36 games.

* Eddie Lewis (Preston North End, D1) at Derby, Saturday
Season league stats: 30 games; 6 goals

GERMANY
* Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96, D1) at Werder Bremen, Sunday.
TV: Fox Sports World (live) 11:30 am ET.
Season league stats: 25 games, 0 goals.

* Clint Mathis (Hannover 96, D1) at Werder Bremen, Sunday.
TV: Fox Sports World (live) 11:30 am ET.
Season league stats: 11 games, 4 goals.

* Gregg Berhalter (Energie Cottbus, D2) at Aue, Friday.
Season league stats: 27 games, 3 goals.

* Conor Casey (Karlsruhe, D2) at Luebeck, Friday.
Season league stats: 24 games, 12 goals.

* Joe Enochs (Osnabrueck, D2) at Eintracht Trier, Sunday.
Season league stats: 26 games, 1 goal.

* Tony Sanneh (Nuremberg, D2) at Union Berlin, Sunday.
Season league stats: 1 games, 0 goals.

FRANCE
* Greg Vanney (Bastia, D1) no game this weekend.
Season league stats: 18 games; 0 goals.

NETHERLANDS
* John O'Brien (Ajax, D1) vs. Roosendaal, Sunday
Season league stats: 4 games; 0 goals.

* Charles Kazlauskas (Fortuna Sittard, D2) vs. Telstar, Friday
Season league stats: 8 games; 0 goals.

PORTUGAL
Zach Thornton (Benfica) at Telstar, Sunday
Season league stats: 0 games.

BELGIUM
* Alex Yi (Antwerp, D1) vs. La Louviere, Saturday
Season league stats: 8 games; 0 goals.

* Oguchi Onyewu (La Louviere, D1) at Antwerp, Saturday
Season league stats: 19 games; 1 goal.

NORWAY
* Brian West (Fredrikstad, D1) vs. Rosenberg, Sunday
Season stats: 1 game, 0 goals.

* Robbie Russell (Sogndal, D1) at Stabaek, Sunday
Season stats: 1 game, 0 goals.

* Adam Skumawitz (Aalesund, D2), at Skeid, Sunday
Season league stats: 0 games.

DENMARK
* Wade Barrett (Aarhus, SL) vs. Nordsjaelland, Sunday
Season stats: 15 games, 0 goals.

SWEDEN
* Leighton O'Brien (Bodens SK, D2) at Norrkoeping, Sunday

SWITZERLAND
* Melchior Arnold (Chiasso, D2) vs. Delemont, Saturday
Season league stats: 18 games; 3 goals.

PERU
* Luchi Gonzales (Sporting Cristal, D2) at Estudiantes, Saturday
Torneo Apertura stats: 3 games, 0 goals.