By FRANCO PANIZO
Slovenia saw more of its players get in on their club teams' action this weekend, but it was
the Algerian players who enjoyed the majority of the success.
Two Algerians found the back of the net, and both goals were game-winners. Rafik Djebbour hit
the lone tally, a splendid turn and volley, in AEK Athens' 1-0 victory over Ergotelis, and Hassan
Yebda scored from the spot in Portsmouth's 2-1 victory vs.
By FRANCO PANIZO
Slovenia saw more of its players get in on their club teams' action this weekend, but it was
the Algerian players who enjoyed the majority of the success.
Two Algerians found the back of the net, and both goals were game-winners. Rafik Djebbour hit
the lone tally, a splendid turn and volley, in AEK Athens' 1-0 victory over Ergotelis, and Hassan
Yebda scored from the spot in Portsmouth's 2-1 victory vs.
By FRANCO PANIZO
Portsmouth has not had the best of seasons, but Algerian defender Nadir Belhadj helped the
struggling club continue its improbable run towards the FA Cup final.
Belhadj started and played 90 minutes in a quarterfinal tilt against Birminghamon Saturday, and
his peformance was part of the reason Portsmouth posted a cleansheet in a 2-0 victory.
By FRANCO PANIZO
Portsmouth has not had the best of seasons, but Algerian defender Nadir Belhadj helped the
struggling club continue its improbable run towards the FA Cup final.
Belhadj started and played 90 minutes in a quarterfinal tilt against Birminghamon Saturday, and
his peformance was part of the reason Portsmouth posted a cleansheet in a 2-0 victory.
By FRANCO PANIZO
Zlatko Dedic has plied his trade In Italy's second division for much of his career, but the
Slovenian forward has enjoyed a fairly smooth transition into the Bundesliga, with his goal against
Werder Bremen serving as the latest piece of evidence.
By FRANCO PANIZO
Slovenia may be a small country of only two million people, but the Slovenians Abroad
represented in a big way this weekend with three different goal scorers.
Nejc Pecknik's contributions were the most notable as the midfielder added an assist to his goal
in a 2-1 comeback victory for Nacional de Madeira over Vitoria Setubal.
By FRANCO PANIZO
Slovenia may be a small country of only two million people, but the Slovenians Abroad
represented in a big way this weekend with three different goal scorers.
Nejc Pecknik's contributions were the most notable as the midfielder added an assist to his goal
in a 2-1 comeback victory for Nacional de Madeira over Vitoria Setubal.
By FRANCO PANIZO
Algerian midfielder Abdelkader Ghezzal is beginning to find his scoring touch just in time for
the World Cup, and Bari was the latest victim to fall prey to his finishing.
Almost a month after hitting a brace in a shocking comeback draw against Juventus, Ghezzal
scored two beautiful equalizers in Siena's 3-2 victory over Bari.
By FRANCO PANIZO
Slovenian forward Valter Birsa may not score goals in bunches, but the U.S. national team will
have to be wary of his lethal left foot on free kicks this summer.
Birsa scored a stunning free kick in AJ Auxerre's 4-1 triumph against Lorient, curling in the
third goal with a shot from 25 yards that stung off the near post before finding the back of the
net.
By FRANCO PANIZO
Slovenian defender Matej Mavric did this weekend what no U.S. national team fan wants to hear
come summer time. He scored on an American goalkeeper.
Mavric scored a penalty kick in TUS Koblenz's 2-2 draw against Kaiserslautern, beating Luis
Robles with a chip shot down the middle that was somewhat reminiscent to that of Zinedine Zidane's
in the 2006 World Cup final.
By FRANCO PANIZO
U.S. national team forward Eddie Johnson is currently the top goal-scorer in the Greek play-offs
with three goals, but hot on his trail is Algerian forward Rafik Djebbour.
Djebbour scored the opener in AEK Athens' play-off against Johnson's Aris Salonika, marking the
second consecutive match in which he found the back of the net.
