Beasley Sidelined

DaMarcus Beasley suffered a right ankle injury in Manchester City's reserves match on Tuesday night but club officials expect Beasley to be available for next Saturday's match against Sheffield United. The setback came at a good time for Beasley, who is on loan from PSC Eindhoven, as Man. City is in the midst of the international break from league play.

After a disappointing performance in the World Cup, Beasley has yet to assert himself in the 2006 club season, seeing the pitch only as a substitute in the early stages of his stay in England. That, of course, was why he was playing in the reserves match to begin with.

A Bundle of Joy

Jose Mauel Abundis, a recent transfer from Deportivo Toluca of Mexico, picked a good time to score his first goal in a Revolution uniform. Abundis got on the end of a set piece cross from Steve Ralston and headed what proved to be the game-winner past Colorado goalkeeper Joe Cannon in a 3-1 win over the Rapids that clinched a playoff spot for New England.

After dressing but not playing against New York and Kansas City, Abundis got a chance to start due to Pat Noonan's injured hamstring. Noonan, who has been hurt for what feels like all of 2006, is likely to remain on the pine in the near future, putting Abundis in the forefront of Steve Nicol's playoff plans.

Abundis capitalized on the Rapids' indifference to New England runners in the box, beating his defender to the near post to put the Revs up 2-0. Earlier in the match, Taylor Twellman had nearly scored after getting behind the Rapid back line to receive a Clint Dempsey header from the midfield towards the Colorado net. In that instance, Twellman found himself unusually open as the center back lazily failed to track him through the area.

Abundis showed he can give the Revs some much needed scoring punch - New England's 1.20 goals per game is fourth-worst in MLS -but New England will need a more inspired effort in the playoffs if they wish to get past Chicago. The boxscore will tell you that they beat Colorado handily, with the Rapids scoring on a PK in extra time, but Colorado actually dictated the play for much of the game. New England received a favorable penalty kick in the second minute - high kicks tend to be ignored in the box - and later added Abundis' set piece score, but in between those two plays, the Revs were chasing the game. Without Shalrie Joseph to control the midfield, the Revolution struggled to retain possession and appeared content to give Colorado the ball and take their chances on the counterattack.

Their performance can be read in one of two ways. Either you think they were out-classed but lucked out with the refereee and connected on a set piece, or you believe their ability to pull out a win despite chasing the game to be the sign of a quality team.

We'll see whether they are lucky or good soon enough. As for Abundis, he's plainly good.

Americans Overseas: Brian McBride

Brian McBride may have retired from international soccer but he is still a fixture on the club scene. Yesterday evening, McBride played the role of super sub, coming on in the 59th minute to score on a half volley twelve minutes later in a 3-3 tie to Watford.

McBride pounced on a Fulham cross that bounced in the box, striking the ball solidly and confidently past the goalkeepr. The tally, his second of the season, cut the Watford lead to 2-1. McBride was a spark off the bench as all three of Fulham's goals came after he entered the pitch.

After starting threee of the season's first four games, McBride has been relegated to the bench for the past two. The scoring touch, off his foot rather than his head no less, could perhaps spur his return to the starting eleven.

I'll be sure to keep you posted on his progress over the next few weeks.

Americans Overseas: Convey Helps in Win

Bobby Convey and Reading continued to turn heads in the Premiership this week, knocking off West Ham 1-0 at Upton Park. Convey and Seol Ki-Hyeon combined on a quick restart with the latter smacking the ball home just over a minute into the match.

The win put recently promoted Reading in a three-way tie for third place in the Premier League. With thirteen points, Convey's squad trails the leader, Manchester United by just three points.

Another American, Marcus Hahnemann, who made the U.S. World Cup team but didn't see the pitch in Germany, also figured prominently in Reading's win in recording the shut out.