Americans Brad Friedel and young Eirc Lichaj both started for Villa and Frieldel combined with American Brad Guzan who stopped (with help from the post) a PK seen below, for the clean sheet. From EPL site:
Villa victory
Aston Villa’s pre-season preparations concluded on a high note with a 1-0 victory over Serie A side Fiorentina at Villa Park.
Villa boss Martin O’Neill handed a debut to new £6million signing Fabian Delph but it was experienced campaigner Emile Heskey who hit winner for the hosts after 14 minutes, the striker reacting quickest to Ashley Young’s cross to prod home at the near post.
Fiorentina spurned a great chance to pull level with 15 minutes remaining when Curtis Davies handled in the area, Alberto Gilardino crashing the resulting penalty against the upright.
West Ham 0- Napoli 1
Johnathan Spector came in as a sub for West Ham.
West Ham woe
A late goal from Fabio Quagliarella condemned West Ham United to a 1-0 defeat in their Bobby Moore Cup match against Napoli.
A keenly-contested encounter at Upton Park ultimately went the way of the Italians after Quagliarella looped home a superb flicked header over Hammers goalkeeper Robert Green after 78 minutes.
The visitors were on the back foot moments later, however, when Manuele Blasi was sent off for a second yellow card just 26 minutes after entering the fray as a substitute.
The hosts pushed for an equalizer in the final minutes and came close through Junior Stanislas in stoppage time, but Napoli’s 10 men held on for the win.
Rumors are circulating that Samir Badr, the 17 year old keeper who plays for the US youth national team, has joined FC Porto for a supposed two month trial. From ESPN recently:
“Samir Badr, Robinson (Fairfax, Va.), GK, Junior
Badr is in the midst of a rare — if not never before accomplished — feat. As Robinson’s starting goalkeeper, Badr has scored more goals than he has allowed, a margin of 1-0. Badr, who reportedly has said he will sign with Portugese power FC Porto’s reserve team following the high school season, has 11 shutouts for the Rams this spring. In Saturday’s 3-0 regional final victory over Westfield, Badr scored a goal when his direct kick from near midfield was misjudged by the Westfield keeper and ended up in the net.”
Now a friend has said:
“I just hung out with him last week. he just left on Wednesday for a two month trial with Porto.”
No conformation from Badr or Porto yet but its nice to know that Americans are continuing to go to top European teams, and that our youth system is getting more respect. Of course keeper is already our strogest postions as Tim Howard (Everton) is arguably our best player and his backup Brad Guzan (Aston Villa) is only 24 himself, and keeper is a position that you can play at an older age, see Kasey Keller at Seattle. Still the more depth we can create the better.
Stars and Strikes 