Americans Abroad: Feilhaber suddenly finding net in Denmark

After scoring just one goal at the club level since his career began in 2005, Feilhaber has scored five times in his last three games (four times this past week), including a hat trick and game-winner in the Landspokal (Danish Cup) last Wednesday and another game-winner in league play on Sunday for his club team, AGF Aarhus.

"Goals come in bunches, and that's been what's happening to me," Feilhaber told SI.com on Monday. "It's really special for me, and hopefully I can keep riding the wave. Once you start building your confidence up, it starts coming easier. I haven't been doing anything differently, but the ball is finding me in the right spots."

Granted, becoming the penalty taker for the Danish First Division side hasn't hurt his cause. Three of Feilhaber's five goals in his recent surge have come from the penalty spot, including two during his hat trick.

"The PK story just happened at the right time," Feilhaber said. "We hadn't picked out one specific taker. It was between me and [Denmark international] Martin Jørgensen, and the game we finally got a penalty, he hadn't started. I ended up taking it, and hopefully I can keep taking them and making them."

Feilhaber is getting it done in the run of play, too, evidenced by his game-winning goal in extra time last Wednesday that clinched Aarhus' place in the Landspokal Round of 16.

The hat trick alone would have marked the most prolific week ever for the U.S. national team midfielder, but he was just getting started. In addition to setting up two goals in Aarhus' match on Sunday, Feilhaber scored the game-winning goal at the death off a well-taken, 20-yard free kick from a left-side angle that curled inside the left post and gave his side a 3-2 victory.

"Last season it was mostly Jakob Poulsen that took set pieces," Feilhaber said of his former teammate who know plays for FC Midtjylland. "Somebody else had to step up. We went through a couple guys, and I was nominated at the end of the preseason. That's been good for my confidence as well."

Aarhus is off to a stellar start in its campaign to be promoted back to the Danish Superliga, and Feilhaber has as much to do with that as anyone. Widely speculated to be moving to another team during the summer transfer window, the 25-year-old Rio de Janeiro native has made the most of staying put and is in the midst of his greatest run of form to date.

"I feel like since the transfer window closed, I've been really focused on doing what I'm here to do, and that's help the team get back to Superliga," Feilhaber said.

Feilhaber wasn't the only U.S. World Cup participant to get on the board during the week. Herculez Gomez scored his first goal since joining Mexican side Pachuca, and Michael Bradley tallied his second goal of the season for Borussia Monchengladbach. Here's how the rest of the Americans playing abroad fared over the past week (season statistics encompass all competitions):

Premier League

Clint Dempsey, M, Fulham -- Started, played 90 minutes in Fulham's 2-0 loss to Stoke City in the third round of the League Cup on Tuesday. Dempsey also started and played 90 minutes in Fulham's 0-0 draw with Everton in league play on Saturday. SEASON: 8 games, 5 starts, 2 goals

Brad Friedel, GK, Aston Villa -- In the 18-man gameday roster, did not play in Villa's 3-1 victory over Blackburn in the third round of the League Cup on Wednesday. Friedel returned to the starting lineup, played 90 minutes and made six saves in Villa's 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton in league play on Sunday. SEASON: 6 games, 6 starts, 29 saves, 10 goals allowed, 2 clean sheets

Brad Guzan, GK, Aston Villa -- Started, played 90 minutes and made eight saves in Villa's 3-1 victory over Blackburn in the third round of the League Cup on Wednesday. Guzan reverted back to his role as Friedel's backup and did not play in Villa's 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton in league play on Sunday. SEASON: 3 games, 3 starts, 12 saves, 5 goals allowed

Marcus Hahnemann, GK, Wolverhampton -- In the 18, did not play in Wolves' 4-2 victory over Notts County in the third round of the League Cup on Tuesday. Hahnemann started, played 90 minutes and made six saves in Wolves' 2-1 loss to Aston Villa in league play on Sunday. SEASON: 6 games, 6 starts, 19 saves, 10 goals allowed

Stuart Holden, M, Bolton -- In the 18, did not play in Bolton's 1-0 loss to Burnley in the third round of the League Cup on Tuesday. Holden started and played 90 minutes in Bolton's 2-2 draw with Manchester United in league play on Sunday. SEASON: 7 games, 6 starts

Tim Howard, GK, Everton -- In the 18, did not play in Everton's loss to Brentford in the third round of the League Cup on Tuesday. The teams tied 1-1 after 120 minutes, and the League One side won in penalties 4-3. Howard returned to the starting lineup, played 90 minutes, made two saves and recorded his first clean sheet of the season in Everton's 0-0 draw with Fulham in league play on Saturday. SEASON: 6 games, 6 starts, 15 saves, 7 goals allowed, 1 clean sheet

Eddie Johnson, F, Fulham -- In the 18, came on as a 57th-minute substitute in Fulham's 2-0 loss to Stoke City in the third round of the League Cup on Tuesday. Johnson was also on the gameday roster and came on as a 55th-minute substitute in Fulham's 0-0 draw with Everton in league play on Saturday. Fulham's recent signing, forward Moussa Dembele, has been ruled out for the next few weeks (leg injury) after being on the wrong end of a reckless challenge at the end of the Stoke match. Johnson figures to climb the depth chart and see more minutes while Dembele is on the mend. SEASON: 4 games

Eric Lichaj, D, Aston Villa -- Started, played 90 minutes in Villa's 3-1 victory over Blackburn in the third round of the League Cup on Wednesday. Lichaj made the 18, but did not play in Villa's 2-1 victory over Wolves in league play on Sunday. SEASON: 2 games, 2 starts

Jonathan Spector, D, West Ham -- In the 18, did not play in West Ham's 2-1 victory over Sunderland in the third round of the League Cup on Tuesday. Spector did not make the gameday roster in West Ham's 1-0 victory over Tottenham in league play on Saturday. SEASON: 2 games, 2 starts

Championship

Conor Doyle, F, Derby County -- In the 18, did not play in Derby County's 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday. Doyle has also been playing with the Derby reserves, scoring three goals in his last three matches, according to the team's Web site. SEASON: 6 games, 2 starts

Mike Grella, F, Leeds United -- Not in the 18 for Leeds' 1-0 victory over Sheffield United on Saturday. SEASON: 2 games

Zak Whitbread, D, Norwich City -- Not in the 18 for Norwich City's 2-0 loss to Hull City on Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

League One

Anton Peterlin, M, Plymouth Argyle -- In the 18, did not play in Plymouth Argyle's 2-0 loss to Brighton on Tuesday. Not in the 18 for Plymouth Argyle's 1-1 draw with Rochdale on Saturday. SEASON: 4 games, 3 starts

Frank Simek, D, Carlisle United -- Started, played 90 minutes in Carlisle's 2-0 loss to AFC Bournemouth on Saturday. SEASON: 8 games, 8 starts

League Two

Jemal Johnson, F, Port Vale -- In the 18, came on as a 72nd-minute substitute in Port Vale's 2-0 victory over Accrington Stanley on Saturday. SEASON: 3 games

Jon-Paul Pittman, F, Wycombe Wanderers -- According to Wycombe's team Web site, Pittman will be out for at least the next four months after having surgery for a torn tendon in his left knee last week. Pittman tore the tendon during the warm-up before Wycombe's Sept. 11 match against Macclesfield Town. SEASON: 5 games, 2 starts

La Liga

Jozy Altidore, F, Villarreal -- In the 18, did not play in Villarreal's 1-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruna on Thursday. Altidore also made the gameday roster but did not play in Villarreal's 3-2 victory over Malaga on Monday. SEASON: 3 games, 2 starts

Serie A

Oguchi Onyewu, D, AC Milan -- Not in the 18 for Milan's 1-0 victory over Genoa on Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

Bundesliga

DaMarcus Beasley, M, Hannover 96 -- In the 18, did not play in Hannover's 4-1 victory over Werder Bremen on Tuesday. Not in the 18 for Hannover's 1-0 victory over Kaiserslautern on Sunday. SEASON: 1 game

Michael Bradley, M, Borussia Monchengladbach -- Started, played 90 minutes in Monchengladbach's 2-1 loss to St. Pauli on Wednesday. Bradley also started, played 90 minutes and scored a 43rd-minute goal in Monchengladbach's 2-2 draw with Schalke on Saturday. Trailing the play, Bradley made a darting run down the center of the pitch, received a pass about 15 yards from goal and one-timed a left-footed shot into the net. SEASON: 7 games, 7 starts, 2 goals

Steve Cherundolo, D, Hannover 96 -- Started, played 90 minutes in Hannover's 4-1 victory over Werder Bremen on Tuesday. The Hannover captain also started and played 90 minutes in his team's 1-0 victory over Kaiserslautern on Sunday. SEASON: 7 games, 7 starts

Ricardo Clark, M, Eintracht Frankfurt -- In the 18, came on as a 76th-minute substitute in Frankfurt's 2-1 loss to Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday. Clark also made the gameday roster but didn't play in Frankfurt's 2-0 victory over Nurnberg on Saturday. SEASON: 2 games

Jermaine Jones, M, FC Schalke 04 -- Started, played 90 minutes in Schalke's 2-1 victory over SC Freiburg on Wednesday. Jones also started and played 51 minutes in Schalke's 2-2 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday. SEASON: 7 games, 7 starts, 1 goal

Daniel Williams, D, SC Freiburg -- In the 18, did not play in Freiburg's 2-1 loss to Schalke on Wednesday and in Freiburg's 2-1 loss to VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday. SEASON: 2 games

2. Bundesliga

Luis Robles, GK, Karlsruhe SC -- In the 18, did not play in Karlsruhe's 4-0 loss to Hertha Berlin on Tuesday or in Karlsruhe's 2-0 loss to FSV Frankfurt on Friday. SEASON: 0 games

Dave Yelldell, GK, MSV Duisburg -- Started, played 90 minutes, made one save and earned a clean sheet in Duisburg's 1-0 victory over FC Augsburg on Wednesday. Yelldell also started, played 90 minutes and made four saves in Duisburg's 2-0 loss to FC Union Berlin on Sunday. SEASON: 7 games, 7 starts, 18 saves, 6 goals allowed, 2 clean sheets

3. Liga

Matt Taylor, F, Rot Weiss Ahlen -- Started, played 90 minutes in Rot Weiss Ahlen's 3-0 loss to Heidenheim on Tuesday. Taylor also started and played 90 minutes in Rot Weiss Ahlen's 1-0 loss to Dynamo Dresden on Friday. SEASON: 4 games, 4 starts, 2 goals

Ligue 1

Carlos Bocanegra, D, St. Etienne -- In the 18, did not play in St. Etienne's 2-0 victory over Nice in the third round of the Coupe de la Ligue on Wednesday. Bocanegra returned to the starting lineup and played 90 minutes in St. Etienne's 1-0 victory over Lyon on Saturday. SEASON: 6 games, 6 starts

Charlie Davies, F, FC Sochaux -- Not in the 18 for Sochaux's 2-0 loss to Bastia in the third round of the Coupe de la Ligue on Wednesday or for Sochaux's 2-1 loss to Marseille on Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

Eerste Klasse

Sacha Kljestan, M, RSC Anderlecht -- Not in the 18 for Anderlecht's 1-1 draw with Lierse SK on Wednesday or for Anderlecht's 5-0 victory over KV Mechelen on Sunday. SEASON: 5 games, 4 starts, 2 goals

Liga de Honra

Bryan Arguez, M, G.D. Estoril Praia -- Not in the 18 for Estoril's 1-1 draw with Oliveirense on Sunday. SEASON: 1 game, 1 start

Greg Garza, D, G.D. Estoril Praia -- Not in the 18 for Estoril's 1-1 draw with Oliveirense on Sunday. SEASON: 0 games

Tony Taylor, F, G.D. Estoril Praia -- In the 18, came on as a 70th-minute substitute in Estoril's 1-1 draw with Oliveirense on Sunday. SEASON: 6 games, 1 start, 2 goals

Premier League

Dominic Cervi, GK, Celtic FC -- In the 18, did not play in Celtic's 6-0 victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the third round of the League Cup on Wednesday. Celtic advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament, which will be played Oct. 25. Cervi was not in the 18 for Celtic's 2-1 victory over Hibernian in league play on Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

Maurice Edu, M, Rangers FC -- Not in the 18 for Rangers' 7-2 victory over Dunfermline Athletic in the third round of the League Cup on Tuesday. Rangers advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament, which will be played Oct. 25. Edu returned to the gameday roster and came on as a 74th-minute substitute in Rangers' 3-2 victory over Aberdeen in league play on Sunday. SEASON: 7 games, 5 starts

Super League

Freddy Adu, F, Aris Salonika -- Not in the 18 for Aris' 1-0 victory over Ergotelis on Sunday. SEASON: 0 games

Primera Division

Edgar Castillo, D, San Luis -- Not in the 18 for San Luis' 2-1 loss to Chiapas on Saturday. SEASON: 4 games, 1 goal

Herculez Gomez, F, Pachuca -- In the 18, came on as a 77th-substitute, picked up a yellow card and scored an 82nd-minute goal in Pachuca's 3-1 victory over Tecos on Saturday. Gomez, who led the Mexican Clausura with 10 goals for Puebla last spring, gave Pachuca a 3-0 lead by taking advantage of an awful goal kick by Christian Martinez. The kick went directly to Pachuca's Paul Aguilar, who one-touched a pass that put Gomez in on Martinez 1-v-1. Gomez slotted a low, 18-yard shot through the keeper's legs for his first goal since the U.S.' World Cup tune-up against Australia on June 5 in South Africa. SEASON: 8 games, 1 goal

Sammy Ochoa, F, Estudiantes Tecos -- In the 18, came on as a 73rd-minute substitute in Tecos' 3-1 loss to Pachuca on Saturday. SEASON: 9 games, 4 starts, 1 goal

Jose Francisco Torres, M, Pachuca -- In the 18, did not play in Pachuca's 3-1 victory over Tecos on Saturday. SEASON: 6 games, 5 starts

Marco Vidal, M, Pachuca - Started, played 45 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Pachuca's 3-1 victory over Tecos on Saturday. SEASON: 4 games, 3 starts

Primera Division

Michael Hoyos, M, Estudiantes La Plata -- Started, played 90 minutes in Estudiantes' 1-1 draw with Newell's Old Boys in the second leg of their Copa Sudamericana tie. Hoyos' side was eliminated on aggregate 2-1. Hoyos also started and played 82 minutes in Estudiantes' 1-0 victory over Boca Juniors in league play on Saturday SEASON: 4 games, 3 starts

Premier Division

Ryan Guy, F, St. Patrick's Athletic FC -- Started, played 63 minutes in St. Patrick's Athletic's 2-1 loss to Dundalk on Friday. SEASON: 30 games, 28 starts, 6 goals

Superliga

Michael Parkhurst, D, FC Nordsjaelland - Started, played 90 minutes in Nordsjaelland's 1-0 victory over Hjørring in the third round of the Landspokal on Thursday. Parkhurst also started and played 90 minutes in Nordsjaelland's 3-0 victory over AC Horsens in league play on Sunday. SEASON: 8 games, 8 starts

Chris Rolfe, F, Aalborg BK -- Not in the 18 for Aalborg's 1-0 victory over Naestved BK in the third round of the Landspokal on Wednesday or for Aalborg's 2-0 loss to SønderjyskE in league play on Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

Marcus Tracy, F, Aalborg BK -- Not in the 18 for Aalborg's 1-0 victory over Naestved BK in the third round of the Landspokal on Wednesday or for Aalborg's 2-0 loss to SønderjyskE in league play on Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

Danish First Division

Benny Feilhaber, M, AGF Aarhus -- Started, played 120 minutes and notched a hat trick in Aarhus' 6-3, extra-time victory over Skive IK in the third round of the Landspokal on Wednesday. Feilhaber scored the game-winning goal in the second minute of extra time and also had penalty kicks in the 16th and 101st minutes. Feilhaber's super week got even better on Sunday, when he started, played 90 minutes and scored the game-winning goal in stoppage time to lift Aarhus to a 3-2 victory over HB Køge in league play. Aarhus is in first place in the Danish First Division through eight matches, four points clear of second-place Akademisk Boldklub. SEASON: 10 games, 9 starts, 5 goals

Allsvenskanliga

Alejandro Bedoya, M, Orebro SK -- Not in the 18 for Orebro's 3-1 victory over Gefle IF on Wednesday. Bedoya was serving a one-game suspension for yellow-card accumulation. SEASON: 21 games, 21 starts, 1 goal

Tippeligaen

Mikkel Diskerud, M, Stabaek IF -- Started, played 88 minutes in Stabaek's 2-1 victory over Kongsvinger on Sunday. SEASON: 25 games, 24 starts, 4 goals

Hunter Freeman, D, IK Start -- Started, played 90 minutes in Start's 0-0 draw with Hønefoss BK on Monday. SEASON: 23 games, 23 starts, 1 goal

Clarence Goodson, D, IK Start -- Started, played 90 minutes in Start's 0-0 draw with Hønefoss BK on Monday. SEASON: 21 games, 21 starts, 3 goals