Don't Forget About EJ & Freddy

I don't normally reserve an entire post for something this brief, but I figured I'd make an exception today given the players involved.

If you weren't up early this morning, you not only missed Aris' match against Xanthi, but you also missed a goal from Eddie Johnson set up by Freddy Adu.  Here it is (at 2:10):



Adu shows great vision with the pass and weights the ball very nicely to keep it far enough away from goal.  Johnson, meanwhile, made a well-timed run behind the defense and did well to get enough of a touch to get it past the Xanthi keeper before slotting it home.  Though the goal did not help Aris earn a positive result (they lost 2-1), it is a bright sign from two players who very well could work themselves back into the World Cup picture over the next couple of months.

While many have tried to leave both for dead in terms of the 2010 cycle, there is still a decent chunk of time for Johnson and Adu to get back onto Bob Bradley's radar, particularly if they continue to make this kind of impact at the club level.  It's not uncommon for a player or two to make a World Cup squad because of a well-timed run of form, so don't rule either out just yet.  Both also benefit from playing at positions without a great deal of depth for the USMNT, assuming Adu would be utilized as a wing midfielder.  Johnson has already earned consistent minutes as a substitute, turning in some solid performances thus far, while Adu impressed in his debut today and likely earned himself some more playing time in the near future. With Bob Bradley still facing a few lineup uncertainties, even these once thought long-shot options have a chance of pushing their way into the final 23. 

Yes, it is only one highlight, and both players still have a lot of work to do to get a call into camp.  But just keep both of them in mind as the World Cup roster deadline draws near, because a successful couple of months at Aris could book them a ticket to South Africa.