It may have been mere consolation in a 2-1 loss at Chivas, but Herculez Gomez used his brainpan to doubly great effect by conjuring this 77th minute strike. It was not only his first goal since joining the club prior to this Clausura, but also one of the nastiest headers I've seen in a long time. Basically, he chipped the keeper with a volley - using his noggin.

Fulham ace Clint Dempsey has just expertly turned home a Bryan Ruiz slip pass to put the hosts up 1-0 on 68 minutes.At least one clip to come...- Greg Seltzer

By FRANCO PANIZO

Days after his head coach cited a lack of progress as a reason for his benching, Jozy Altidore responded in a big way.

In his first start for AZ Alkmaar in 2012, Altidore bagged a brace in the club's 3-3 draw with Heerenveen. Altidore scored the game's opener when he received the ball with his back to goal, turned and fired a shot to the near post.

Sporting Kansas City's quest to repeat as Eastern Conference regular season champions began today with a 2-1 pre-season victory against the San Jose Earthquakes in the pre-season opener for both clubs.

Kansas City midfielder Konrad Warzycha delivered the game-winning goal, converting a free kick to break a 1-1 deadlock.

You may not get every Photoshopped reference contained within (I didn't), but I think we all get the Guardian readers' general gist concerning Clint Dempsey's star status in England.- Greg Seltzer

Photo by Brad Smith/ISIphotos.com

For Charlie Davies, perhaps not securing a full transfer or loan extension was the best tactic to take this winter after all.

Davies has been included on Sochaux's first-team roster for the club's league game at Stade Rennes on Saturday, marking a major milestone for him and his quest to break back into the club's lineup.

If you're a lifelong fan of Rangers, or just accustomed to following them for having American players, this is a rough day. The shockwaves could be plentiful- Greg Seltzer

If you have been wondering why Jozy Altidore has been relegated to the bench for AZ Alkmaar, it looks you now have an answer.

According to a report from the Netherlands, AZ manager Gertjan Verbeek has preferred to start Charlison Benschop over Altidore in recent weeks due to Altidore's lack of progress.

Clint Dempsey did it again.

Dempsey scored another goal for Fulham, tallying the opener in the Cottagers' 1-1 draw with West Brom on Wednesday. Costa Rican international Bryan Ruiz slipped Dempsey a pass inside the area, and the American turned and finished with a right-footed strike in the 69th minute to add to his current run of form.

You didn't actually think I'd shut my yap just because some windows closed, did you?I can report that Ryan Nelsen was considering a return to D.C. United when Tottenham swopped in at the last minute. I can also tell you he still plans to come back to the Red-and-Black. There should be a full report up at MLSS before long.

Photo by Nick Turchiaro/ISIphotos.com

The pieces are in place for it to be the weekend of the landmark appearance for Americans across Europe.

After Tim Ream was named to Bolton's matchday roster and Charlie Davies was named to Sochaux's, West Ham announced that centerback George John will be part of the 20-man traveling party for the club's match at Peterborough United on Saturday.

Modern Family isn't on until tomorrow night, so we need some tube to hold us over...Taped before the rather peculiar news broke that Landon Donovan will return to the Galaxy early (adding two unnecessary long flights to his February itinerary), he speaks here about a variety of topics wearing Everton colors.

For the second straight loan, Landon Donovan has performed at a high level for Everton, and for a second straight loan, he's been rewarded with the club's Player of the Month honors.

Donovan captured Everton's award for January, replicating the feat that he accomplished back in January of 2010.

photo by Bill Barrett/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

A handful of Americans could be in action on Thursday afternoon as the knockout phase of the Europa League begins, including two who will be in direct competition with one another.

Jozy Altidore and Sacha Kljestan are set to battle in the first leg of their Round of 32 Europa League fixtures.

By FRANCO PANIZO

If there were fears and concerns from fans and pundits over Tim Ream's move to Bolton Wanderers, you would have been hard-pressed to identify why this weekend.

Three weeks after completing his move to Bolton, Ream made his debut for the club by earning a start and going the distance in a 2-0 FA Cup win over Millwall.

Out of what passes as the kindness from what passes as my heart, let's officially kick off your summer window mental instability with a fun fact (that was tipped off by MLSS homey, the Armchair Analyst).I can confirm that our faithful friend Fulham is among the clubs sizing up Anderlecht midfielder Sacha Kljestan for summer.

It's gone around Italy that newly freed-agent Edson Buddle has had calls from Lazio. I am here to tell you this is not the case. As I stated yesterday, he's on his way back to Los Angeles. It's all done, I promise.- Greg Seltzer

The departure of Mohamed Zidan from Borussia Dortmund has opened the door of opportunity for U.S. Under-23 national team forward Terrence Boyd.

With Zidan having moved to Mainz during the transfer window, Boyd and fellow youngster Marvin Duksch have been summoned from their respective reserve teams by head coach Jurgen Klopp.

By FRANCO PANIZO

U.S. prospect Alfredo Morales has not seen the field for Hertha Berlin since October, but that will not stop him from making his first-ever start in the Bundesliga this coming weekend.

Morales is slated to start at right back in place of the suspended Christian Lell when Hertha faces Hannover 96, according to head coach Michael Skibbe.

An Egyptian TV station managed an interview with Bob Bradley in the aftermath of yesterday's horrible tragedy at Al-Masry. As you can see above, he and his wife took part in a march against such things today - you certainly have got to admire the toughness of that clan.First though, I just have one thing to ask.

Just so we remember I'm in the business of providing pastime relief from the horrors of the world, let's flip on Gent tube for some smiles. The always irrepressible Mix Diskerud sits down for an interview (run fully by him... this kid is my dude) and we even get some English comments from new boss Trond Sollied.

By FRANCO PANIZO

The winter transfer window closed this past Tuesday, and a pair of Americans who secured moves during it will be looking to make their debuts this weekend.

George John and Robbie Rogers could make their first appearances abroad for West Ham United and Leeds United, respectively, as the Championship gets back into a full weekend swing.

Frigid temperatures and snowstorms across Europe are starting to take their toll on the soccer schedule.

Saturday's anticipated match between Roma and Inter Milan has already been postponed because of snow blanketing Rome. The Cesena-Catania match has also been called off, and that is in addition to four midweek Serie A games having to be rescheduled because of the snow.

Anderlecht midfielder Sacha Kljestan fired home the second via free kick in their 4-2 victory over Belgian holders Genk (not to be confused with Mix Diskerud's Gent, as can easily occur).The clip may take a while, but it'll surface sooner or later.- Greg Seltzer

By FRANCO PANIZO

Sacha Kljestan has quietly put together a solid season for RSC Anderlecht, but he made some noise in the club's latest win on Sunday.

Kljestan scored his third goal of the season (fourth across all competitions) in Anderlecht's 4-2 win over Racing Genk when he fired home a free kick from 30 yards out.

Josh Gatt is not a player many American soccer fans have seen play, but he is already considered one of the best young Americans playing in Europe.

The speedy Michigan native has enjoyed an outstanding start to his professional career, going from 18-year-old newcomer to 20-year-old transfer target, having already made one upward move from Austrian club SCR Rheindorf Altach to Norwegian champions Molde.

The recent upheaval following a club match in Egypt that left 74 people dead and more than a thousand others injured could have easily convinced Bob Bradley to pack up his things and return to the comfort of the United States.

Instead, the former U.S. national team coach and current Egypt national team coach reportedly remains committed to his job while doing his part in the rebuilding of a nation.

Photo by John Todd/ISIphotos.com

United States fullback Eric Lichaj has completed his return from a hip injury that kept him out of action for the better part of the last five months, making the bench for Aston Villa's first team in its last two matches. Despite Lichaj being a candidate to go on loan upon his return, Aston Villa appears to be remain committed to seeing what he can do for the club, even if that means moving him to a new spot on the field.

On a night when AZ starter Charlison Benschop bagged a hat trick, late sub Jozy Altidore has come on to hit a brace of his own, capping a 6-0 win at ADO Den Haag. They were both simple finishes, coming less than two minutes apart on assists by Brett Holman and Maarten Martens.Jozy had been without a goal since December 4th, but now his league total stands at seven and his haul across all

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Even though TSG 1899 Hoffenheim was unceremoniously dumped out of the DFB Pokal quarterfinals by second-tier Greuther Furth on Wednesday, the match carried significance for one American.

U.S. Under-23 winger Joe Gyau, made his first-team debut for Hoffenheim, entering as an 80th-minute substitute for U.

After a red-hot start to the season, Jozy Altidore had lost his starting role for AZ Alkmaar and was mired in a bit of a scoring slump.

At the very least, that slump is now over.

Altidore scored twice in a four-minute span as a substitute in AZ's 6-0 rout of ADO Den Haag on Wednesday to break a two-month scoring drought.

photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

Tim Ream returned to England earlier this week with all the necessary paperwork completed for him to suit up for Bolton Wanderers, and he might not have to wait long at all to make his debut.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle told reporters on Thursday morning that Ream, and two of the other club's recent acquisitions, will be on the gameday squad that will take on Wigan Athletic in a match with relegation implications on Saturday.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Landon Donovan's time with Everton is nearing its end and while he may want to make an impact in all of his remaning games with the club, this weekend's match might be at the top of his list.

Everton are set to face Chelsea in a match that will pit Donovan against the likes of John Terry, Juan Mata and Florent Malouda.

I am going to assume the Prem will have no choice but to change the scoring on Fulham's winner today, giving Clint Dempsey another dazzling goal to count. His shot is clearly tipped onto the bar by the keeper, which makes it a shot on goal, which makes it a scorer's goal. If that's an own goal, my name is Lord Rupus Schmendrake IV.

photo by Jose L. Argueta/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

Nearly two and a half years after the accident that almost claimed his life, Charlie Davies made his official return for Sochaux.

Having last played in a Ligue 1 game on Oct. 3, 2009, Davies completed his return to Sochaux by coming off the bench in its 1-0 defeat to Stade Rennes.

The fight for Dan Potts is on.

A U.S.-eligible, 17-year-old left back playing for West Ham, Potts has been called in by England's Under 18 national team for a friendly against Poland next month.

Potts, who has dual eligibility for both England and the United States, has never previously represented England on the youth level, and he took part in a U.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Landon Donovan has one more game to leave his mark on Everton.

The Los Angeles Galaxy captain will be returning from his loan spell this Sunday, Galaxy coach Bruce Arena told reporters on Tuesday. He will be returning to Los Angeles in full shape.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Landon Donovan's second loan with Everton has gone just as well as anyone could have imagined.

In his near two-month stay with the club, Donovan has helped the club string together a solid run of results with his impressive performances while simultaneously silencing the critics that constantly harp on him for playing in MLS.