Freddy Adu

[Oscar Cardozo]

Freddy Adu scored a late goal as Benfica rallied for a 3-1 win at Academica in the Portuguese league on Saturday.

The American teenager latched on to Oscar Cardozo's pass and hit a powerful left-footed shot inside the near post past goalkeeper Ricardo Novo on the game's final play. It was Adu's second goal in the league and third overall.

Luisao da Silva scored the winner in the 86th minute.

Ricardo misjudged a long throw-in, the ball falling at Luisao's feet at the edge of the penalty box for a backheel tap-in that a scrambling Ricardo couldn't get back to fast enough to push out.

The win improved Benfica to 25 points from 11 rounds, one point behind leader FC Porto, which plays Setubal on Sunday.

Lito da Fonseca opened for Academica in the 24th, with midfielder Rui Costa scoring from a free kick at the edge of the area eight minutes later.

Adu, who has been mostly used off the substitute's bench since joining Benfica from Major League Soccer's D.C. United in August, has scored both league goals in his last three appearances. The United States striker scored the other in a league cup match last month.

Earlier Saturday, substitute Milan Purovic's 88th minute equalizer saw Sporting rally for 1-1 draw at Leixoes.

The Montenegro striker headed Abel Moreira's cross past goalkeeper Beto Bastos to tie it after Abel had given Leixoes the lead with an own-goal in the 14th.

Sporting has 19 points, while mid-table Leixoes has 11.

On Sunday, it's Belenenses vs. Amadora; Boavista vs. Guimaraes; Pacos Ferreira vs. Nacional; and Maritimo vs. Naval.

Leiria drew 0-0 with Sporting Braga on Friday.

[Freddy Adu]

FT Academica Coimbra 1 - 3 Benfica

90'

[1 - 3]

F. Adu

[Freddy Adu]

Freddy Adu scored the third and final goal for Benfica.
He continues to impress.

[Freddy Adu]

Adu impact

Gomes came close with another header in the 70th minute, before Freddy Adu was introduced by Camacho in the 78th minute and almost made an immediate impact. The American forced Helton into a fine diving save with an excellent snap-shot from outside the area. With ten minutes left Petit tried his luck from distance and his effort flew just over the bar.

Without playing an extraordinary match, when push came to shove, Porto came out of it with flying colours and, once again, continued their hex over Benfica. As for the Eagles, Benfica cannot be faulted for lack of effort, but as Rui Costa said after the match, “we have to learn to play more with our heads instead of just with our heart.”

[Oscar Cardozo]

Since his much publicised arrival at Benfica, American teenager Freddy Adu is taking his experience at one of Portugal’s and Europe’s biggest clubs in his stride.

The US star has not featured in as many games as he would have liked, but has made the most of his playing time, already scoring five goals – a tally only surpassed in the Benfica squad by first-choice strikers Oscar Cardozo and Nuno Gomes.

In an interview given to the New York Times, Adu admitted that the football is very different to what he was used to at Real Salt Lake and DC United in the MLS back home.

“The first thing about being in Europe is that you will not survive in a place like this unless you pay attention to every single detail and work hard every day,” stated the 18-year-old.

Competition for places

“It’s constant competition! It is a very competitive environment and everyone is a very good player. No one has their place guaranteed. You must work hard every day and that is what makes you a better player.

“It doesn’t matter whether I play 2, 5 or 90 minutes. I am still going to go out there with the same mentality. Hopefully, I’ll crack the starting XI sooner rather than later, but for now, I am happy with my development.

“At first I was not sure about it, but I realised that I have to grow up sometime. I made the jump to Europe which was something that I wanted to do, and now I couldn’t be happier.”

American team ambition

Adu hopes the wealth of experience he is gaining will earn him a spot in the US national team as the American squad embarks on their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Since joining the Portuguese outfit, Adu has racked up more international caps than when he was playing in the MLS, something that he would like to see continue.

“I would be deeply disappointed if I do not make the team. I really, really would like to achieve that goal and will do whatever it takes.”

[Freddy Adu]

Adu renews his delight at Benfica


An article appeared on the New York Times where Freddy Adu stated his happiness at the Lisbon club and how he is maturing as a player.

"Playing in Europe? You can't survive in such competitive football if you don't pay attention to all details every day. It's a very competitive environment, everyone is a good player and there aren't guaranteed places in the team. You have to train every day and that is what improves you."

Freddy Adu was the youngest ever player from USA to compete in the Champions League at the age of 18 against Celtic. And his ambition doesn't stop there, the American star wants to be a part of the World Cup 2010 in South Africa too with his national side.

"It doesn't bother me if I play 2 or 90 minutes. I go into the pitch with the same attitude. I started playing in the first team earlier than I expected so I'm happy with my progress."

"At first I had doubts [on adaptation], but I knew one day I had to mature. I crossed over to Europe, which was something I really wished for and I couldn't be happier. Here I'm on my own account, in America everything was set up for me. Now I want to turn to be a man."

[Freddy Adu]

Adu to prove his worth

Freddy Adu spoke to the Washington Post during his stay in America and declared that so far he only has positive feelings towards his move to Benfica.

"I'm aware that I have a long way to go still but I'm at the ideal to do it. I am wanted and well treated at this club. My colleagues received me very well and I work with coaches who can get the best out of me. It has been a blessing."

"It's difficult for an American player to earn respect in Europe and that is why I have to prove that I deserve to be here and can make a difference."

[Freddy Adu]

On His Own, Adu Has Grown
Playing in Portugal Has Helped 18-Year-Old Beyond Field

Freddy Adu's bedroom is a mess. Like any other 18-year-old coming home for the Christmas break, the teenager has stacks of video games next to the television and clothes strewn across the floor, eliciting a stern glare from his mother, Emelia.

But this is no ordinary scene, as haphazardly clustered amid the tower of boxes is a golf game autographed by Tiger Woods ("Keep kicking butt," reads the inscription) and the garments on the floor all bear the crest of famed European soccer club Benfica, with Adu's name and No. 30 on the back.

Christmas came a little early for the Adus this year, as the teenager came back to Rockville for the first time since leaving Major League Soccer for Benfica in late July, returning bearing gifts for family and friends. Adu proved a quick study in one of the world's premier leagues, earning playing time from the outset and becoming an important substitute for Benfica by chipping in goals and assists. Perhaps more importantly, he says he is at ease with the Portuguese language and lifestyle, and his love of the game has never been greater.

"It's just been amazing the way things are going right now," Adu said while reclining in the office of the house he built for his mother after turning pro with MLS. "Hard work and believing in yourself, I think it can take you a long way.

"I know there are some people out there who already wrote me off before my 18th birthday, and there were some hard times and reading those articles and things like that. But I've been able to survive that -- for now -- and I know there'll be some times when I'm not playing great and there will be some articles that won't be pleasant.

"But I think I got a lot of the hard part of my development out of the way and I'm working hard and I've found something that works for me. I'm in a place where I'm really wanted and where I'm treated well and my teammates have accepted me and I've found coaches that bring out the best in me. It's been a blessing."

The last six months have been a whirlwind for the Ghana native, whose family immigrated to the Washington area in 1997 after winning a green card lottery. Burdened with the expectations to be the "savior of American soccer" from roughly age 12, Adu endured what some considered to be a less-than-scintillating four years in MLS -- including his first three seasons with D.C. United -- before his strong outing in the Under-20 World Cup last summer cemented European interest in him.

He entered MLS at 14 and struggled for a regular starting spot during his time with United, clashing at times with authoritarian coach Peter Nowak, who now coaches the U.S. Olympic team and assists the men's national team. In hindsight, Adu considers the experience in MLS to have been ideal conditioning for Europe. He says he learned valuable lessons about professionalism and maturity, with his missteps and growing pains lacking the overwhelming media glare that comes when playing the world's game in Europe.

"Sometimes me and Peter didn't always see eye-to-eye," said Adu, who had a long heart-to-heart with Nowak in October before playing for the national team in Switzerland. "But that made me grow up, some of the mistakes I made and especially when I went to media and said some things, it's something I should have taken care of in the locker room.

"Some mistakes I feel like I made as a 15, 16-year-old obviously I wouldn't repeat now, because I learned a lot from it and it helped make me a better person and player and I'm benefiting from it right now to be honest with you."

Indeed, Adu has made no waves in Portugal since moving to Benfica on a $2 million transfer fee and signing a five-year deal worth about $1.25 million annually. He embraced his nescient status and prepared to earn his roster spot, even though a frenzied throng of fans awaited his initial arrival at the Lisbon airport.

Benfica is a consistently strong club within Portugal's top division; the team is a distant second place in the standings behind FC Porto at the winter break. Benfica was vying for qualification into the Champions League -- the most prestigious club tournament on the planet -- when Adu began training, but just two weeks later he entered a qualifier against FC Copenhagen in the 37th minute and earned praise for his play and composure in that victory.

[Freddy Adu]

Benfica's Gilles Binya, left, celebrates with Freddy Adu following a goal in their Portuguese League soccer match. Fans and teammates in Europe have welcomed the American prodigy, whose family still lives in Rockville, with open arms. (Paulo Duarte - AP)

[Freddy Adu]

Freddy Adu, who spent three of his four MLS years with D.C. United, is still recognized in Washington, as he was at Saturday's Wizards-Hawks game. (By Ned Dishman -- Nbae Via Getty Images)

[Freddy Adu]

Adu, battling Academica's Pedro Costa, has been a hit in Portugal since his first goal tied a game in injury time. (By Paulo Duarte -- Associated Press)

[Freddy Adu]

Emelia Adu, left, had Freddy at home in Rockville for the holidays. She visits her son in Portugal about every six weeks, providing home-cooked favorites. (By Kevin Clark -- The Washington Post)

[Freddy Adu]

Freddy Adu

[Freddy Adu]

Go to that website and watch some of his FUNNY ASS VIDEOS!