Aussies Abroad

It wasn't the greatest of weeks for Australians plying their trade in the English top flight and the likes of Brett Emerton and Mark Schwarzer will be quick to tell you why.

Emerton was substituted in Blackburn Rovers' 0-1 loss to Aston Villa while Schwarzer and his defence conceded three goals to cap off a dismal display from Middlesbrough against Charlton Athletic.

Ahmad Elrich and Tim Cahill may have shared a joke in the dressing room before Everton's game at Fulham but Elrich had the last laugh when the Cottagers got up 1-0. Elrich spent the 90 minutes warming the subs bench.

In the Coca-Cola championship, Adam Griffiths' Watford side lifted to fourth in the table as a last minute Clarke Carlisle goal beat Derby 2-1. Tony Popovic and his Crystal Palace team mates tried to gain some consistency by putting Stoke to the sword with a 2-0 win at Selhurst Park. Leicester City team mates Danny Tiatto and Patrick Kisnorbo missed their side's clash with Hull which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Moving north to Scotland and Scott McDonald's Motherwell side battled bravely but lost 2-1 to Hearts. McDonald was subbed on 70 minutes but Hearts had just enough in the tank to get them over the line. In the Scottish second division, Adrian Madaschi's Dundee side drew 1-1 with Hamilton.

In Germany it was also a time for dead heats as Frank Juric's Hannover 96 drew 1-1 with Hamburg.

In Italy was a rather different story. Marco Bresciano enjoyed a fine first game of the new Serie A season as Parma drew at home to Palermo. Palermo netted through Terlizzi midway through the first half but Bresciano scored on 50 minutes to earn a valuable draw. Goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac's AC Milan side claimed a draw against Ascoli through Andriy Shevchenko. Dez Giraldi and his Empoli team mates weren't so lucky and lost 1-0 to Udinese on the opening day.

Flying north to Holland and Aussies in the country of clogs enjoyed a good weekend. Nathan Coe's PSV Eindhoven team mates dispatched Roda JC with consummate ease. A late goal from Phillip Cocu put the icing on a 3-0 win.

Jason Culina seems to be enjoying his time at FC Twente and it showed on Sunday. Twente travelled to Utrecht and it took just half an hour for Culina to hit his and Twente's first goal of the campaign. Culina's team mates N'Kufo and Touma completed the scoring in the second half.

And finally in Spain and striker John Aloisi's Deportivo Alaves claimed a well-earned goalless draw against Primera Liga champions Barcelona.

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