.:: Yanks Abroad ::.

CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON - Monday, May 16, 2011

Freddy Adu picked up an assist in Rizespor's important win over Samsunspor while Jozy Altidore saw second half action over Bursaspor.

Samsunspor 1 - 2 Caykur Rizespor

Rizespor capped off their season with a resounding win over the league leaders, clinching a spot in the promotion play-off and spoiling Samsun's championship aspirations in the process.

Freddy Adu assisted on the opening goal and went the distance as a starter.

Koray Avcı got the ball rolling for the visitors at the edge of the goal box, heading home a Freddy Adu corner from the right side for the 1-0 lead after 11 minutes.

Just after a half-hour of play, Çağrı Yarkın made a fool of Samsun custodian Ahmet Şahin, trapping down his attempted goal kick in the midfield and immediately firing from 30 yards out just inside the right post for a 2-0 lead.

The hosts fought back in the 58th minute, when Nigerian striker Akeem Agbetu was on the tail end of a Samsun drive down the field and slotted past Rize keeper Selçuk Görmüş to make the score 2-1.

Rize held on for the win and claimed the fourth spot in the final standings, setting up a home-and-away playoff with fifth place Orduspor that begins next Monday in Ordu.

Notes

Jozy Altidore appeared in the final 16 minutes of Bursaspor's 3-0 battering of Kasimpasa.

Brannon

Tuesday May 17, 2011 10:49 pm

Cbb1217,

I understand your point of view, but to honestly think that a club in the second league (close to promotion) is that much of a dramatic drop off from first division. Then you may be fooling yourself a bit. The point is that Altidore has produced less over the course of him leaving MLS than Adu has.

Adu can play the game, but needs to be in a system beneficial to his skill set. A system in which he can get a lot of touches early and get involved in the game. Adu has the creativity to create many good opportunities for players. Kljestan, Rogers, and Feilhaber are not nearly as creative and not producing all that well at their respective clubs.

It wouldn't surprise me to see Adu stay with Rizespor if they should be promoted to the first division. Adu just needs to stay focused on working hard, staying on the field, and avoiding what the jersey says on the front. Keep playing well and other teams will come to him. I hope he continues to do well and avoids all distractions that keep him from his ultimate goals. Be well fellas.

cbb1217

Tuesday May 17, 2011 6:08 pm

Don't misunderstand me, as a fan of the national team i hope adu lives up to his potential and becomes a star. that hasn't happened yet, and playing well in the turkish second division doesn't get me excited. he's young enough to earn attention from bigger clubs if he continues to play well. if he gets another shot at a decent, first division team, then i'll start to raise my eyebrows.

muchadu

Tuesday May 17, 2011 12:57 pm

cbb1217,

Dont blink or Freddy will help his team to promotion which will then put him in the first division. What does a guy have to do to get some props! Brannon and Freddy10 good comments keep lobbying Coach Bradley so he gives Freddy the same chance as Bedoya, Kjelsten and Feilhaber. These guys are good players but weve tried them already and they dont produce the spark that Freddy could give the nats. Fred has gotta be on the Gold Cup radar now!

cbb1217

Monday May 16, 2011 10:42 pm

Altidore is in the first division Adu in the second. not the same league.

Brannon

Monday May 16, 2011 6:41 pm

Good to see that Adu is playing well in Turkey. He is getting regular playing time and is scoring goals and getting assists. He is finding his form and lets hope he realized what it takes to have success.....hardwork on and off the field. Regardless of what some nay sayers will say, Adu should have worked his way back onto the radar of the USMNT.

If Adu is being seen as a bust, then what do some consider Altidore? Is he not in the same league and yet not producing results?

cbb1217

Monday May 16, 2011 4:36 pm

Freddy has been a bust to date. glad to see he is doing better, but let's be realistic. he's in the second division in Turkey. he couldn't even catch on with lousy scandanavian teams or a second division portugese club. so let's take it easy with the "genius" label.

Freddy10

Monday May 16, 2011 3:00 pm

Not one single american player is remotely as creative as Adu. He is not a winger or a center forward. Just give him the number "ten" and the damn ball and watch a genius in action. Period.

muchadu

Monday May 16, 2011 2:33 pm

In his last three games with his team in contention for promotion all Freddy has done is score twice and add an assist and play all 90 minutes for his club games. Coach Bradley needs to take notice and compare his play to others mids he is considering for the Gold Cup team. The last excuse given for Freddy was he needs to play regularly and show what he can do. Well ok he is now "in form"!!

ADD YOUR COMMENTS