Dempsey headlines productive week for Americans abroad

With Jozy Altidore ending his club-level goal drought, Maurice Edu scoring for the second time in two weeks and Clint Dempsey's brace against Wigan Athletic, U.S. national team regulars enjoyed a prolific week playing abroad.

They weren't the only ones, though.

Sacha Kljestan continued his successful first season abroad with a goal for Belgian side RSC Anderlecht, and Mike Grella scored for a second consecutive week on loan with English League One side Carlisle United.

Digging even deeper, former Kansas City Wizards and Chivas USA striker Matt Taylor, playing in the depths of Germany's third division, notched his second multigoal game of the season as he attempts to climb the ladder of European soccer.

That said, the performance of the week was Dempsey's. The Nacogdoches, Texas, native hit a superb header off a cross from Mexican international Carlos Salcido in the 30th minute against Wigan to open the scoring (and set off a celebration between Salcido and Dempsey that had to have U.S. national team fans rubbing their eyes to make sure it was actually happening). Just before halftime, Dempsey struck again, one-timing a bounding Chris Baird cross inside the penalty area with exquisite technique.

Dempsey's Man-of-the-Match performance helped Fulham leap to the top half of the Premier League table while snapping a five-game winless streak in league play.

"It was really good service into the box today," Dempsey told FulhamFC.com. "Without that, I wouldn't have been in position to score. I think the credit should be shared."

Considering the plethora of options at midfield for Bob Bradley and the potency with which Dempsey is currently playing at forward for Fulham, the Cottagers' No. 23 is making a case to perhaps shift up top internationally as well.

In addition to all of the goal scorers, here is how the rest of the Americans playing abroad fared this past week (season statistics encompass all competitions):

ENGLAND

Premier League

Clint Dempsey, M/F, Fulham -- Started, played 90 minutes and bagged a brace in Fulham's 2-0 victory over Wigan Athletic on Saturday. Dempsey, playing as a forward, opened the scoring with a 30th-minute header and added his second just before halftime. SEASON: 12 games, 9 starts, 5 goals

Brad Friedel, GK, Aston Villa -- Started, played 120 minutes and made six saves in Villa's 2-1, extra-time victory over Burnley in the fourth round of the League Cup on Wednesday. Villa advanced to the quarterfinals with the win. Friedel also started, played 90 minutes, made four saves and earned the clean sheet in Villa's 0-0 draw with Birmingham in league play on Sunday. SEASON: 11 games, 11 starts, 46 saves, 14 goals, 4 clean sheets

Brad Guzan, GK, Aston Villa -- In the 18-man gameday roster, did not play in Villa's 2-1, extra-time victory over Burnley in the fourth round of the League Cup on Wednesday. Guzan also made the gameday roster but did not play in Villa's 0-0 draw with Birmingham in league play on Saturday. SEASON: 3 games, 3 starts, 12 saves, 5 goals allowed .

Marcus Hahnemann, GK, Wolverhampton -- In the 18, did not play in Wolves' 3-2 loss to Manchester United in the fourth round of the League Cup on Tuesday. Hahnemann returned to the starting lineup, played 90 minutes and made one save in Wolves' 2-1 victory over Manchester City in league play on Saturday. SEASON: 10 games, 10 starts, 34 saves, 16 goals allowed

Stuart Holden, M, Bolton -- Started, played 90 minutes in Bolton's 1-0 loss to Liverpool on Sunday. SEASON: 11 games, 10 starts

Tim Howard, GK, Everton -- Started, played 90 minutes and didn't have to make a save in earning the clean sheet in Everton's 1-0 victory over Stoke City on Saturday. SEASON: 10 games, 10 starts, 24 saves, 8 goals allowed, 4 clean sheets

Eddie Johnson, F, Fulham -- Not in the 18 for Fulham's 2-0 victory over Wigan Athletic on Saturday. SEASON: 6 games, 1 start

Eric Lichaj, D, Aston Villa -- Started, played 120 minutes in Aston Villa's 2-1 victory over Burnley in the fourth round of the League Cup on Wednesday. Lichaj made the gameday roster but did not play in Villa's 0-0 draw with Birmingham in league play on Sunday. SEASON: 3 games, 3 starts

Jonathan Spector, D, West Ham -- Not in the 18 for West Ham's 3-1 victory over Stoke City in the fourth round of the League Cup on Wednesday. Spector was also not in the 18 for West Ham's 1-0 loss to Arsenal 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 4-1 victory over Watford on Saturday. SEASON: 6 games, 2 starts

Zak Whitbread, D, Norwich City -- Not in the 18 for Norwich City's 3-1 loss to Cardiff City on Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

League One

Mike Grella, F, Carlisle United -- Started, played 90 minutes and scored for the second consecutive game, an 87th-minute equalizer in Carlisle's 1-1 draw with Bristol Rovers on Saturday. SEASON: 5 games, 2 starts, 2 goals

Jemal Johnson, M, Milton Keynes Dons -- In the 18, came on as a 74th-minute substitute in Milton Keynes Dons' 4-2 loss to Tranmere Rovers on Saturday. SEASON: 10 games, 3 starts

Anton Peterlin, M, Plymouth Argyle -- Not in the 18 for Plymouth Argyle's 3-2 loss to Oldham Athletic on Saturday. SEASON: 4 games, 3 starts

Frank Simek, D, Carlisle United -- Started, played 90 minutes in Carlisle's 1-1 draw with Bristol Rovers on Saturday. SEASON: 15 games, 15 starts

SPAIN

La Liga

Jozy Altidore, F, Villarreal -- Started, played 90 minutes and scored a 44th-minute goal in Villarreal's 1-1 draw with Segunda Division B side Club Polideportivo Ejido in the first leg of their Copa del Rey fourth-round tie on Wednesday. The second leg will be played at Villarreal in the second week of November. Altidore took a pass at the top of the box, cut by a defender and confidently laced a low shot into the goal to open the scoring. Altidore also made the gameday roster and came on as a 71st-minute substitute in Villarreal's 1-1 draw with Sporting Gijon in league play on Sunday. SEASON: 7 games, 4 starts, 1 goal

ITALY

Serie A

Oguchi Onyewu, D, AC Milan -- Not in the 18 for Milan's 2-1 loss to Juventus on Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

GERMANY

Bundesliga

DaMarcus Beasley, M, Hannover 96 -- In the 18, came on as a 77th-minute substitute in Hannover's 4-0 loss to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Sunday. SEASON: 2 games

Michael Bradley, M, Borussia Monchengladbach -- Started, played 120 minutes and scored in the penalty kick shootout in Monchengladbach's 1-1 (5-4 in penalties) victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the second round of the DFB Pokal (German Cup) on Wednesday. Bradley also started and played 90 minutes in Monchengladbach's 3-0 loss to Kaiserslautern in league play on Saturday. SEASON: 12 games, 12 starts, 2 goals

Steve Cherundolo, D, Hannover 96 -- Started, played 90 minutes in Hannover's 4-0 loss to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Sunday. SEASON: 11 games, 11 starts

Ricardo Clark, M, Eintracht Frankfurt -- Not in the 18 for Frankfurt's 5-2 victory over Hamburg SV in the second round of the DFB Pokal on Wednesday. Clark returned to the gameday lineup and came on as a 90th-minute substitute in Frankfurt's 3-1 victory over St. Pauli in league play on Saturday. SEASON: 3 games

Jermaine Jones, M, FC Schalke 04 -- Started, played 77 minutes but exited with an ankle injury in Schalke's 1-0 victory over FSV Frankfurt in the second round of the DFB Pokal on Tuesday. Tests later revealed a torn ligament and other ligament damage in Jones' ankle, and a timetable for his return has not yet been established. Jones missed Schalke's 1-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen in league play on Saturday. SEASON: 12 games, 11 starts, 1 goal

Daniel Williams, D, SC Freiburg -- Started, played 45 minutes in Freiburg's 2-1 loss to Energie Cottbus in the second round of the DFB Pokal on Tuesday. Williams was also on the gameday roster and came on as an 82nd-minute substitute in Freiburg's 4-2 loss to Bayern Munich in league play on Friday. SEASON: 4 games, 1 start

2. Bundesliga

Luis Robles, GK, Karlsruhe SC -- Started, played 90 minutes and made four saves in Karlsruhe's 4-2 loss to TSV 1860 Munich on Saturday. SEASON: 4 games, 4 starts, 18 saves, 10 goals allowed

Dave Yelldell, GK, MSV Duisburg -- Started, played 90 minutes, made one save and earned the clean sheet in Duisburg's 3-0 victory over Regionalliga side Hallescher FC in the second round of the DFB Pokal on Wednesday. Yelldell also started, played 90 minutes and made one save in Duisburg's 1-0 loss to Fortuna Dusseldorf in league play on Monday. SEASON: 12 games, 12 starts, 26 saves, 8 goals allowed, 5 clean sheets

3. Liga

Matt Taylor, F, Rot Weiss Ahlen -- Started, played 90 minutes and scored in the 28th and 32nd minutes of Rot Weiss Ahlen's 4-1 victory over SV Wehen Wiesbaden on Saturday. SEASON: 8 games, 8 starts, 5 goals

FRANCE

Ligue 1

Carlos Bocanegra, D, St. Etienne -- Not in the 18 for St. Etienne's 2-0 loss to Brest on Saturday. Bocanegra is still a week or two away from returning from a neck injury. SEASON: 8 games, 8 starts

Charlie Davies, F, FC Sochaux -- Not in the 18 for Sochaux's 2-1 loss to Lyon on Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

BELGIUM

Eerste Klasse

Sacha Kljestan, M, RSC Anderlecht -- Started, played 120 minutes and scored in the penalty kick shootout in Anderlecht's 2-2 (4-1 on penalties) victory over URS Centre in the sixth round of the Belgian Cup on Wednesday. Kljestan also started, played 90 minutes, picked up a yellow card and scored a 9th-minute goal in Anderlecht's 2-1 victory over Racing Genk on Sunday. Kljestan scored into an empty net off a rebound to open the scoring. SEASON: 9 games, 8 starts, 3 goals

PORTUGAL

Liga de Honra

Bryan Arguez, M, G.D. Estoril Praia -- Not in the 18 for Estoril's 0-0 draw with Varzim on Sunday. SEASON: 1 game, 1 start

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

Tony Taylor, F, G.D. Estoril Praia -- In the 18, came on as a 75th-minute substitute in Estoril's 0-0 draw with Varzim on Sunday. SEASON: 9 games, 2 starts, 3 goals

SCOTLAND

Premier League

Dominic Cervi, GK, Celtic FC -- Not in the 18 for Celtic's 3-2 victory over St. Johnstone in the quarterfinals of the Scottish Cup on Wednesday. Cervi was also not in the 18 for Celtic's 3-0 victory over St. Johnstone in league play on Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

Maurice Edu, M, Rangers FC -- Started, played 90 minutes in Rangers' 2-0 victory over Kilmarnock in the quarterfinals of the Scottish Cup on Wednesday. Edu also started, played 45 minutes and scored an 11th-minute goal in Rangers' 1-1 draw with Inverness Caledonian Thistle in league play on Saturday. Edu flashed another aspect of his offensive arsenal by turning and volleying a shot from just inside the area in the far upper corner to open the scoring. SEASON: 14 games, 12 starts, 2 goals

GREECE

Super League

Freddy Adu, F, Aris Salonika -- Not in the 18 for Aris' 1-1 (4-2 on penalties) loss to Trikala in the first round of the Greek Cup on Wednesday or for Aris' 2-0 victory over Atromitos in league play on Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

MEXICO

Primera Division

Edgar Castillo, D, San Luis -- In the 18, came on as a 67th-minute substitute in San Luis' 2-1 loss to America on Thursday. Castillo was also in the 18 and came on as a 66th-minute substitute in San Luis' 2-1 victory over Toluca on Sunday. SEASON: 8 games, 1 goal

Herculez Gomez, F, Pachuca -- In the 18, came on as a 69th-minute substitute in Pachuca's 3-2 loss to Tigres UANL on Tuesday. Gomez was an unused substitute in Pachuca's 2-1 victory over Atlas on Saturday. SEASON: 11 games, 1 goal

Sammy Ochoa, F, Estudiantes Tecos -- Started, played 63 minutes in Tecos' 2-0 loss to Necaxa on Wednesday. Ochoa was not in the 18 for Tecos' 4-1 loss to America on Sunday. SEASON: 13 games, 6 starts, 2 goals

Jose Francisco Torres, M, Pachuca -- Started, played 68 minutes in Pachuca's 3-2 loss to Tigres UANL on Tuesday. Torres also started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Pachuca's 2-1 victory over Atlas on Saturday. SEASON: 12 games, 7 starts

Marco Vidal, M, Pachuca -- Started, played 90 minutes in Pachuca's 3-2 loss to Tigres UANL on Tuesday. Vidal was on the gameday roster and came on as a 77th-minute substitute in Pachuca's 2-1 victory over Atlas on Saturday. SEASON: 9 games, 7 starts

ARGENTINA

Primera Division

Michael Hoyos, M, Estudiantes La Plata -- Estudiantes did not have a match this week and resumes play on Nov. 5 against Lanus. SEASON: 7 games, 3 starts

IRELAND

Premier Division

Ryan Guy, F, St. Patrick's Athletic FC -- Started, played 71 minutes in St. Patrick's Athletic's 1-0 loss to Sligo Rovers on Friday. The Saints did not get the victory and the help they needed to secure a 2011 UEFA Europa League qualifying-round berth, finishing the season in fifth place. SEASON: 37 games, 35 starts, 7 goals

DENMARK

Superliga

Michael Parkhurst, D, FC Nordsjaelland -- In the 18, did not play in Nordsjaelland's 3-2 victory over Odense BK in the fourth round of the Landspokal (Danish Cup) on Thursday. Parkhurst was also on the gameday roster and came on as a 54th-minute substitute in Nordsjaelland's 4-1 loss to Odense BK in league play on Monday. SEASON: 12 games, 11 starts

Chris Rolfe, F, Aalborg BK -- Not in the 18 for Aalborg's 1-1 (5-4 on penalties) victory over Viborg in the fourth round of the Landspokal on Wednesday or for Aalborg's 0-0 draw with Randers FC in league play on Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

Danish First Division

Benny Feilhaber, M, AGF Aarhus -- Not in the 18 for Aarhus' 1-0 victory over Varde in the fourth round of the Landspokal on Wednesday. Feilhaber returned to the starting lineup and played 88 minutes in Aarhus' 4-3 victory over Akademisk Boldklub in league play on Sunday. SEASON: 15 games, 14 starts, 6 goals

SWEDEN

Allsvenskanliga

Alejandro Bedoya, M, Orebro SK -- Started, played 90 minutes in Orebro's 2-1 victory over IFK Goteborg on Monday. Prior to the victory, Orebro had clinched a third-place finish in the league and a qualifying-round berth for the 2011 UEFA Europa League when fourth-place Elfsborg lost on Sunday. One game remains in Orebro's season. SEASON: 25 games, 25 starts, 2 goals

NORWAY

Tippeligaen

Mikkel Diskerud, M, Stabaek IF -- Started, played 90 minutes in Stabaek's 2-1 victory over Sandefjord on Sunday. SEASON: 29 games, 28 starts, 4 goals

Hunter Freeman, D, IK Start -- Not in the 18 for Start's 2-1 loss to Odd Grenland on Sunday. SEASON: 24 games, 24 starts, 1 goal

Clarence Goodson, D, IK Start -- Started, played 90 minutes in Start's 2-1 loss to Odd Grenland on Sunday. SEASON: 25 games, 25 starts, 3 goals