Americans On The Continent: Erste Klasse Finish

Back in action after missing out on Anderlecht’s midweek match against Partizan Belgrade due to not being registered, American midfielder Sacha Kljestan went the full 90 and scored his first league goal as Anderlecht crushed KSC Lokeren 3-0. 

Taking full advantage of his return to the starting lineup, Kljestan found himself opening his Belgian Erste Klasse account after just 32 minutes.  Centre-back Victor Bernardez sprung Gillaume Gillet down the right side with a well-weighted long ball and the Belgian international did well to reach it before it ran out of bounds, sweeping his cross to the back post where Kljestan had made a late run, heading home from the corner of the six-yard box. 

Sacha Kljestan, Anderlecht (Belgium)

Away to KSC Lokeren, 3-0, 90 minutes, 1 Goal

See above.

Next up: Vs. Partizan Belgrade, Tuesday, August 24 (Ineligible); Vs. Zulte-Waregem, Saturday, August 28

Michael Bradley, Borussia Monchengladbach (Germany)

Vs. Nurnberg, 1-1, 90 minutes

Michael Bradley and M’Gladbach opened their Bundesliga season with a draw at home despite dominating possession for the majority of the game.  Bradley went the full 90 but couldn’t help lift his side past the visitors.

Next up: Away to Bayer Leverkusen, Sunday, August 29

Steve Cherundolo, Hannover 96 (Germany)

Vs. Eintracht Frankfurt, 2-1, 90 minutes 

Steve Cherundolo and Hannover defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 at home thanks to goals from Konstantin Rausch and Didier Ya Konan.  Cherundolo went the full 90 for the home side, but Ricardo Clark was an unused substitute for Frankfurt.  Next week, Cherundolo and Hannover travel to face fellow American Jermaine Jones.

Next up: Away to Schalke 04, Saturday, August 28

Ricardo Clark, Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany)

Away to Hannover 96, 1-2, Did Not Play

See above.

Next up: Vs. Hamburg, Saturday, August 28

Jermaine Jones, Schalke 04 (Germany)

Away to Hamburg SV, 1-2, 90 minutes

Jermaine Jones played the full 90 for Schalke, but two second-half goals from Dutch sharpshooter Ruud van Nistelrooij downed the visiting Blues. 

Next up: Vs. Hannover 96, Saturday, August 28

Carlos Bocanegra, St. Etienne (France)

Away to Rennes, 0-0, 90 minutes

Carlos Bocanegra returned action, playing the entire 90 minutes against his old team Rennes and putting in a solid performance as St. Etienne snatched a 0-0 draw away from home.

Next up: Vs. Lens, Saturday, August 28

Charlie Davies, Sochaux (France)

Vs. Lille, 0-0, Did Not Play

Charlie Davies was not included in the squad as Sochaux drew 0-0 at home to Lille.

Next up: Away to Paris Saint-Germain, Sunday, August 29

Alejandro Bedoya, Orebro (Sweden)

Vs. AIK, 1-0, 90 Minutes

Alejandro Bedoya went the full 90 for Orebro as they snapped their two-game losing streak today, beating AIK 1-0 at home.

Next up: Vs. Helsingborg, Saturday, August 28

Square Passes

Oguchi Onyewu continues to recover from his knee injury, but featured in AC Milan’s pre-season inter-squad match this week.

Kenny Cooper is still injured and did not dress for 1860 Munich’s 2-3 loss to VfL Bochum in the 2. Bundesliga.

Luis Robles was on the bench for Karlsruher SC’s 1-4 drubbing by SpVgg Greuther Furth in the 2. Bundesliga

David Yelldell played the full 90 in goal as MSV Duisburg beat Osnabruck 3-1 in 2. Bundesliga action. 

Matt Taylor was left off the Frankfurt roster for their 2-1 victory over Arminia Bielefeld in the 2. Bundesliga.   

Defender Charles Kazlauskas played the full 90 for Helmond Sport in the Dutch Eerste Divisie as they defeated AGOVV Apeldoorn 1-0. 

Michael Parkhurst only played 19 minutes for FC Nordsjaelland before being withdrawn due to injury as they were rocked 0-4 by FC Midtjylland.

Neither Marcus Tracy nor Chris Rolfe played in Aalborg’s 0-2 loss to Esbjerg.

Benny Feilhaber played 90 minutes, picking up a yellow card as AGF Aarhus defeated Roskilde 2-0 in the Danish second-tier Viasat Sport Divisionen.  Jamil Fearrington played 90 minutes in the match as well.

Estoril youngster Tony Taylor was a second-half substitute at striker as his side beat Oliveirense in the Portuguese second-division Taça da Liga.  Fellow Americans Bryan Arguez did not see any action.

US U-20 star Gale Agbossoumonde featured for Portuguese Liga side Braga’s youth team, but is not expected to see much first-team action this season. 

Aaron West's feature "Americans On The Continent" appears every Monday on Goal.com.