Dempsey rides high for Tottenham with intriguing opponents ahead

Clint Dempsey played his finest game in a Tottenham uniform Sunday, and the timing could not have been better. Now, after appearing to find comfort and rhythm in the club's lineup, he'll be part of an upcoming pair of gameswith significant meaning for the American.

The Dempsey Motivation Tour will be playing two shows this week, with Tottenham facing Liverpool and Fulham in a four-day span on the heels of what Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas called "an extremely good performance" by Dempsey, who had a hand in setting up two goals in the club's much-needed win over West Ham. His assist to Gareth Bale was Dempsey at his finest, head up in the middle of the park with a cheeky chip over the defense to put the Wales star in on goal. Now, Dempsey will focus on two teams who kept his name in the news prominently during this summer's transfer window.

It was Liverpool's jersey that Dempsey thought he would be wearing this season, but the club's low-ball offers put Dempsey in a precarious position ahead of the Premier League season and World Cup qualifiers before Tottenham came to the rescue on deadline day. It was Fulham where Dempsey starred for the last five-plus seasons, becoming a club icon before being frozen out by the club and manager Martin Jol when he made his transfer demands to head to a bigger club clear. Wednesday's clash with the Reds at White Hart Lane and Saturday's return to Craven Cottage for the London derby will present Dempsey (who was not permitted to train with Fulham's first team this summer during the entire transfer saga) a chance to show Brendan Rodgers and the Liverpool brass that they should have ponied up more and a chance to prove to Jol that he can succeed on a team with Champions League aspirations.

This week also represents a landmark occasion for another trio of U.S. internationals as Edgar Castillo, Joe Corona and Greg Garza attempt to complete a shocking run to the Apertura championship in Mexico's top flight. Tijuana has been a first-tier club for all of 18 months, and after eliminating two-time defending CONCACAF Champions League winner Monterrey in the playoff quarterfinals and coming back from a 2-0 aggregate deficit to top Leon and reach the final, Los Xolos are on the cusp of lifting the Liga MX trophy. Getting to the final in itself had already cemented a place in the 2013-14 CCL for Tijuana, which also claimed a place in next year's Copa Libertadores competition. The club's rise is one of the more remarkable stories on this soccer continent.

Americans are making news off the field in Mexico, too. Jose Francisco Torres transferred from Pachuca to Tigres UANL, with whom he'll play during the Clausura campaign and also be eligible for the spring's CCL quarterfinals (Tigres drew the Seattle Sounders for the first knockout round). Two other moves appear to be in the offin: Defenders Jonathan Bornstein and Michael Orozco Fiscal have been transfer listed by Tigres and San Luis, respectively.

As for those who got on the scoresheet, Terrence Boyd remained in form with a goal in a second consecutive game -- and his 11th in all competitions -- scoring in Rapid Vienna's Europa League loss. Fabian Johnson also found the back of the net in a losing effort. He remains one of Hoffenheim's bright spots in an otherwise drab season for the relegation-threatened German club. Here is how they and the rest of the Americans playing abroad fared this past week (season statistics encompass all competitions):

Premier League

Geoff Cameron, D/M, Stoke City -- Started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Stoke City's 1-0 win over Fulham on Saturday.SEASON: 13 games, 12 starts

Cody Cropper, GK, Southampton -- Not in the 18 for Southampton's 2-0 win over Newcastle on Sunday.SEASON: 0 games

Clint Dempsey, M/F, Tottenham -- Started, played 64 minutes in Tottenham's 0-0 draw with Lazio in their Europa League group stage match Thursday. Dempsey also started, played 90 minutes and assisted on one goal and had a hand in another in Tottenham's 3-1 win over West Ham in league play Sunday.SEASON: 17 games, 14 starts, 2 goals

Maurice Edu, D/M, Stoke City -- Not in the 18 for Stoke City's 1-0 win over Fulham.SEASON: 1 game

Brad Friedel, GK, Tottenham -- Not in the 18 for Tottenham's 0-0 draw with Lazio in the Europa League. Friedel was in the 18, but did not play in Tottenham's 3-1 win over West Ham in league play.SEASON: 10 games, 10 starts, 16 goals allowed

Brad Guzan, GK, Aston Villa -- Started, played 90 minutes, made one save and earned the clean sheet in Aston Villa's 0-0 draw with Arsenal on SaturdaySEASON: 12 games, 12 starts, 18 goals allowed, 4 clean sheets

Tim Howard, GK, Everton -- Started, played 90 minutes and made three saves in Everton's 1-1 draw with Norwich City on Saturday.SEASON: 13 games, 13 starts, 16 goals allowed, 2 clean sheets

Eric Lichaj, D, Aston Villa -- In the 18, came on as a 51st-minute substitute in Villa's 0-0 draw with Arsenal.SEASON: 11 games, 5 starts

League Championship

Conor Doyle, F, Derby County -- Not in the 18 for Derby County's 3-2 win over Birmingham City on Saturday.SEASON: 2 games, 1 start

Stuart Holden, M, Bolton -- Not in the 18 for Bolton's 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.SEASON: 0 games

Will Packwood, D/M, Birmingham City -- Not in the 18 for Birmingham's 3-2 loss to Derby County on Saturday.SEASON: 4 games, 4 starts

Tim Ream, D, Bolton -- Started, played 77 minutes in Bolton's 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion.SEASON: 8 games, 7 starts

Jonathan Spector, D/M, Birmingham City -- Started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Birmingham's 3-2 loss to Derby County.SEASON: 17 games, 14 starts, 1 goal

Zak Whitbread, D, Leicester City -- Started, played 90 minutes in Leicester City's 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.SEASON: 9 games, 8 starts

League One

Mike Grella, F, Scunthorpe United -- In the 18, did not play in Scunthorpe's 2-1 loss to Bury on Tuesday and in a 4-0 loss to Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.SEASON: 14 games, 9 starts, 2 goals

Robbie Rogers, M, Stevenage -- In the 18, came on as a 66th-minute substitute in Stevenage's 1-1 draw with AFC Bournemouth on Tuesday. Rogers was in the 18, but did not play in a 1-1 draw with Tranmere Rovers on Saturday.SEASON: 8 games, 3 starts

Frank Simek, D, Carlisle United -- Started, played 90 minutes in Carlisle's 3-1 loss to Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday and in Carlisle's 3-1 win over Yeovil Town on Saturday.SEASON: 20 games, 18 starts

Bundesliga

Timmy Chandler, D, FC Nurnberg -- Started, played 90 minutes in Nurnberg's 0-0 draw with SpVgg Greuther Furth on Saturday.SEASON: 14 games, 14 starts, 1 goal

Steve Cherundolo, D, Hannover 96 -- Started, played 90 minutes in Hannover's 0-0 draw with FC Twente in their Europa League group stage match Thursday. Hannover leads its group and has already cemented a place in the knockout stage. Cherundolo also started and played 90 minutes in Hannover's 5-0 loss to Bayern Munich in league play Saturday.SEASON: 22 games, 22 starts

Fabian Johnson, D, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim -- Started, played 83 minutes and scored a goal in Hoffenheim's 2-1 loss to Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday. Johnson received a ball in the box, cut to his right foot and laced a shot inside the far post to cut Hoffenheim's deficit to 2-1 in the 59th minute.SEASON: 13 games, 13 starts, 3 goals

Jermaine Jones, M, FC Schalke 04 -- Started, played 90 minutes in Schalke's 1-0 win over Olympiakos in their Champions League group stage match Wednesday. Schalke has already clinched a place in the knockout round and holds a one-point edge over Arsenal for first place in their group with one match to go. Jones also started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Schalke's 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt in league play Saturday.SEASON: 16 games, 14 starts, 1 goal

Danny Williams, M, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim -- In the 18, did not play in Hoffenheim's 2-1 loss to Bayer Leverkusen.SEASON: 10 games, 9 starts, 1 goal

2. Bundesliga

John Anthony Brooks, D, Hertha Berlin -- In the 18, did not play in Berlin's 4-0 win over Erzgebirge Aue on Sunday.SEASON: 11 games, 8 starts

Joe Gyau, M, St. Pauli -- Started, played 61 minutes in St. Pauli's 4-1 win over MSV Duisburg on Sunday.SEASON: 6 games, 2 starts

Alfredo Morales, D, Hertha Berlin -- Not in the 18 for Berlin's 4-0 win over Erzgebirge Aue.SEASON: 1 game

Bobby Wood, F, 1860 Munich -- In the 18, came on as a 74th-minute substitute in Munich's 2-2 draw with Union Berlin on Saturday. SEASON: 1 game

Andrew Wooten, F, SV Sandhausen -- In the 18, came on as a 66th-minute substitute in Sandhausen's 1-1 draw with FC Ingolstadt 04 on Sunday.SEASON: 10 games, 4 starts, 1 goal

Serie A

Michael Bradley, M, AS Roma -- Started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Roma's 1-0 win over Pescara on Sunday.SEASON: 8 games, 7 starts, 1 goal

Primera Division

Oguchi Onyewu, D, Malaga -- Started, played 90 minutes in Malaga's 2-2 draw with Zenit-St. Petersburg in their Champions League group stage match Wednesday. Malaga has already clinched a place in the knockout stage and is likely to win its group as it holds a three-point edge and a plus-5 goal differential advantage over second-place AC Milan with one match remaining. Onyewu was in the 18 but did not play in Malaga's 4-0 win over Valencia in league play Saturday.SEASON: 4 games, 3 starts, 1 goal

Segunda Division

Carlos Bocanegra, D, Racing Santander -- Not in the 18 for Racing Santander's 4-1 loss to Barcelona II on Sunday. Bocanegra remains out with a left hamstring tear that he suffered while on international duty for the United States in Russia.SEASON: 14 games, 14 starts (7 games, 7 starts with Rangers)

Eredivisie

Jozy Altidore, F, AZ Alkmaar -- Started, played 90 minutes in AZ's 2-0 loss to Feyenoord on Sunday.SEASON: 15 games, 15 starts, 12 goals

Pro League

Sacha Kljestan, M, RSC Anderlecht -- Started, played 90 minutes in Anderlecht's 3-1 loss to AC Milan in their Champions League group stage match Wednesday. Anderlecht was eliminated from knockout-stage contention with the loss but is still fighting for third place and a berth in the Europa League knockout stage. The Belgian side is tied with Zenit St. Petersburg on points but trails in goal differential by one heading into the final matchday. Kljestan also started, played 82 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Anderlecht's 4-1 win over Beerschot in league play Saturday.SEASON: 22 games, 15 starts, 2 goals

Primeira Liga

Caleb Patterson-Sewell, GK, Vitoria Setubal -- In the 18, did not play in Vitoria Setubal's 5-3 loss to Rio Ave on Sunday.SEASON: 2 games, 2 starts, 7 goals allowed

Tony Taylor, F, Estoril Praia -- In the 18, came on as an 82nd-minute substitute in Estoril's 1-0 loss to Nacional on Sunday.SEASON: 6 games, 3 starts

Bundesliga

Terrence Boyd, F, Rapid Vienna -- Started, played 90 minutes and scored a goal in Rapid Vienna's 3-2 loss to Rosenborg in their Europa League group stage match Thursday. Boyd finished off the rebound of a parried shot to put Vienna ahead in the 66th minute, only for Rosenborg to score two quick goals to steal the result and keep Boyd's club without a point in group play. Boyd was not in the 18 for Vienna's 2-0 win over Admira in league play Sunday.SEASON: 24 games, 20 starts, 11 goals

Liga MX

Edgar Castillo, D, Tijuana -- Started, played 90 minutes in Tijuana's 2-0 loss to Leon in the first leg of the Apertura liguilla semifinals on Thursday. Castillo also started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Tijuana's 3-0 win over Leon in the second leg on Sunday, which clinched a place for Los Xolos in this Thursday's Liga MX final against Toluca.SEASON: 18 games, 18 starts

Joe Corona, M, Tijuana -- Started, played 66 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Tijuana's 2-0 loss to Leon in the first leg of the liguilla semifinals. Corona also started and played 61 minutes in Tijuana's 3-0 win over Leon in the second leg.SEASON: 18 games, 12 starts

Greg Garza, D, Tijuana -- In the 18, did not play in Tijuana's 2-0 loss to Leon in the first leg of the liguilla semifinals. Garza was not in the 18 for Tijuana's 3-0 win over Leon in the second leg.SEASON: 15 games, 10 starts, 1 goal

Superliga

Charlie Davies, F, Randers -- In the 18, came on as an 82nd-minute substitute and was sent off with a straight red card in second-half stoppage time in Randers' 1-0 loss to Aalborg BK on Friday. Davies got bumped into the corner flag by a defender while fighting for the ball and retaliated by pushing the defender down from behind before lunging at him leading with his head while both were on the ground following the tackle.SEASON: 15 games, 3 starts

Clarence Goodson, D, Brondby -- In the 18, did not play in Brondby's 2-0 win over Horsens on Sunday.SEASON: 13 games, 13 starts, 1 goal

Conor O'Brien, M/F, Sonderjyske -- In the 18, came on as a 75th-minute substitute in Sonderjyske's 2-1 loss to FC Copenhagen on Sunday.SEASON: 20 games, 10 starts, 4 goals

Michael Parkhurst, D, FC Nordsjaelland -- Started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Nordsjaelland's 5-2 loss to Shakhtar Donetsk in their Champions League group stage match Tuesday. With the loss, Nordsjaelland is guaranteed last place in the group and is eliminated from European competition. Parkhurst also started and played 90 minutes in Nordsjaelland's 1-0 loss to Esbjerg in league play Sunday.SEASON: 18 games, 17 starts, 2 goals

Tippeligaen

Mix Diskerud, M, Rosenborg -- Started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Rosenborg's 3-2 win over Rapid Vienna in their Europa League group stage match on Thursday.SEASON: 17 games, 15 starts, 2 goals

Josh Gatt, M, Molde -- Started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Molde's 2-1 loss to FC Copenhagen in their Europa League group stage match on Thursday.SEASON: 28 games, 22 starts, 6 goals

Allsvenskan

Alejandro Bedoya, M, Helsingborg -- Started, played 90 minutes in Helsingborg's 3-1 loss to Levante in their Europa League group stage match Thursday.SEASON: 16 games, 15 starts, 2 goals