Rough Day for Yanks in Europa League

It was not a good day for Tim Howard and Clint Dempsey, the only USMNT players whose teams were playing in the Europa League on Thursday. Howard and Everton traveled to Lisbon to take on Benfica, while Clint Dempsey and Fulham played host to AS Roma.

In Portugal, the Toffees were absolutely abused by the Benfica attack, losing 5-0. In this one game, Howard gave up more goals than he had given up in his last 7 Everton appearances combined. The hosts torched an Everton backline that is noticeably weaker than that of past seasons (losing Joleon Lescott certainly doesn't help). This beatdown was the second 5 goal loss for David Moyes' men this season, as they fell by a score of 6-1 to Arsenal on the opening day of the Premier League campaign.

The loss puts Everton in second place in Group I. They are tied with Benfica on points, with 6 from 3 matches, but they have an inferior goal differential. With three group stage matches remaining, they are still in good position to move on, as they have a three point lead on third place FC BATE and two of three games at Goodison Park. They will be looking to rebound from this poor effort on Sunday when they face Bolton in EPL play.

If there's a silver lining for Howard, it's that he at least got to play on Thursday. Clint Dempsey, meanwhile, was an unused sub for Fulham in their Group E match against AS Roma. Dempsey started last weekend coming off a shoulder injury that kept him out of the last two World Cup qualifiers, but he did not see any minutes in this one. To make matters worse, his team lost points in the final moments of the match, as Roma scored in the 90th minute to earn a 1-1 draw. A win would have vaulted Roy Hodgson's men to the top of the group, but instead they sit in second place, just one point up on third place Roma.

Fulham will be back in action on Sunday, as they travel to take on Manchester City.