There was no bigger goal in Fulham’s season than Clint Dempsey’s match winner against Liverpool. The win gave Fulham three points and saved them after Arsenal’s shellacking the previous weekend doomed them to near relegation. Fulham live to fight another season in the Premiership. It was Dempsey’s first goal and it could not have come at a more opportune moment.
Carlos Bocanegra had a breakout season and scored five goals, most of them coming from headers underscoring how invaluable he was as a powerful aerial target for Fulham’s set pieces. Bocanegra was second in goal scoring in the Fulham squad, second to Brian McBride.
At 35 years of age, McBride continues to impress with his durability playing his second full season despite suffering numerous injuries throughout his career, notching 9 goals. He scored noteable matchwinners against Arsenal, Middlesborough, and Newcastle. He was named as Fulham’s player of the year.
The 15 goals that the US contingent scored might not have saved manager Chris Coleman’s job but it ensured Fulham’s stay in the Premiership.
Dempsey and Bocanegra find themselves in the CONCACAF Gold Cup US squad. They will join other European leaguers DaMarcus Beasley (PSV Eindhoven), Tim Howard (Everton), Jonathan Spector (West Ham), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Frank Simek (Sheffield Wednesday), Onyewu Oguchi (Standard Liege), Kasey Keller (Borussia M’gladbach).
The 2007 CONCACAF tournament begins June 6th and the US meets Guatemala in their first match on June 7th.
3 comments on “Fulham’s US squad return to accolades”
Brian Mc.Bride has been a fantastic servant for our club, never stops grafting, never fightened of going in where it hurts, that`s why he is our player of the season, if only we had more players of the same calibre,i for one wish him all the best for the future.
we’re sending a better squad to the gold cup because its our home confederation and if you win it, you get invited to the confederations cup in south africa the year prior to WC 2010. would be a good warm up provided we qualify.
that said, i am more excited about playing in copa america starting in late june. we’ll send a younger squad most likely but the competition will be tough. we have argentina, paraguay and columbia in our group.
Kebmodee
The Copa America is key. It will really test the mettle of the US team and a establish a very good baseline for where we are with our development and training of the eventual World Cup squad. I too am looking forward to the tournament. Some very good soccer ahead of us.