End To End: Cinderellas And Hot Tamales

By Noah Davis

This Cinco de Mayo edition of End to End offers up a little Mexican flair, with Michael Orozco making an appearance in the Rising category after some late-match heroics this weekend. It also points out two additional players who helped their National Team chances in the past week and three who hurt themselves. Sit back, grab a Corona, and keep reading.

Rising

Jonathan Bornstein

While Sacha Kljestan attempts to find himself at Chivas USA (the midfielder managed to show a bit of spark this weekend), the Nats occasional left back is making a case he should receive more time there. Bornstein collected an assist -- albeit a lucky one -- over the weekend as his club team improved to 6-1-1 on the season and now sits six points clear of upstart Seattle for the top spot in the Western Conference. Bornstein is part of a backline that has conceded a mere three goals in 720 minutes this year and he has continued to show an ability to get forward into the attack. With Heath Pearce still struggling to find a new club, Bornstein's chances to travel to South Africa look increasingly bright.

Michael Orozco

I'll admit I'm not an Orozco fan. I find his game undisciplined -- even forgiving him for his transgression in Beijing this summer, he has picked up four yellow cards and one red in just 13 matches for San Luis this season -- but I'm also willing to give credit when it's due. The Mexican/American has carved himself out some space at the club that currently sits in fourth place in the Primera's Group 3. Furthermore, he's found an offensive touch, scoring two goals this spring. He's pretty low on the U.S. depth chart, but at just 23, he has time to rise through the ranks. His seasoning in the Mexican league will only help his case.

Anton Peterlin

A week ago, even the most dedicated U.S. fan would have been hard pressed to pick Peterlin out of a crowd of aspiring American footballers. While that still may be the case on these shores, that's changed in England faster than a Davy Arnaud rocket. The Cal Poly San Luis Obispo senior will sign a contract with Everton in July after a spectacular tryout that impressed manager David Moyes. The 22-year-old holding midfielder won't challenge for a spot on the U.S. National Team now, but his remarkable rise through the footballing world deserves a shout out. Somewhere, Jay Demerit -- another American with a remarkable path to the top levels of European soccer -- must be smiling.

Falling

Drew Moor

FC Dallas' defense has been dreadful this season, allowing a league-high 14 goals in just seven matches. Moor, who's played every minute for the club at right back, hasn't stood out among his flailing mates. He does have five National Team caps to his name, but it seems that the better the competition, the worst he plays. (He struggled mightily against Mexico last February.) With Steve Cherundolo, Frankie Hedjuk, and an improving Marvell Wynne ahead of Moor on the U.S. depth chart (throw in Jonathan Spector and Frank Simek for good measure), it's hard to see Moor's cap number increasing.

Matt Reis

The New England Revolution goalkeeper returned to the net over the weekend after a four game absence and proceeded to give up an extremely soft goal as Stuart Holden's shot dribbled through his wickets. The tally, of course, was possibly excusable considering it was his first match back. When he's on his game, Reis remains one of the MLS's best netminders. Unfortunately, he turned 34 in March, and his days of serving in some capacity on the American squad are dim, at best, as Bob Bradley looks to the next generation.

Freddy Adu

The young American turns 20 on June 2 but chances that the teenager travels to South Africa two weeks later for the Confederations Cup are slipping away. While Adu's started to appear in Monaco's 18, another weekend passed with him glued to the bench of the club that's mired in 10th place in Ligue 1. (Adu even stopped blogging in January.) The kid has too much talent not to be given more chances by the U.S. coaching staff, but it's hard to see him figuring in the first team for the time being, especially with the emergence of Jose Francisco Torres and the recent move of Landon Donovan to left midfielder (although it remains to be seen if Bradley liked the results of that experiment).

Noah Davis covers the United States National Team for Goal.com.