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Let's all give a hearty Yanks Abroad cheer (I can use that phrase without infringing copyright, can't I?) for Yank Abroad Jay DeMerit, who scored the game winner for Watford today against Yank Abroad Brad Friedel's Blackburn. That's probably one of the few times you'll see two Americans alone in the BBC's match photo. Good on ya, Jay! (I don't really know what that means, but that's what you're supposed to say, right?) That also puts DeMerit nipping at Shevchenko's heels for total Premiership goals this season, and I can't tell you how thrilling that is to write.

Watford have been the underdog's underdog this year, putting in gutsy performances but always being shown up in the end. With this only being their second win, they have a desperate need for strikers to start putting in goals. At the heart of defense, Jay has acquitted himself admirably with partner Danny Shittu, but Watford keep losing games they have every right to win because they couldn't score (as the saying goes) in a whorehouse with a fistful of 20's. I'm holding out every hope that they can stay up this year, but the clock is certainly ticking, and they're 7 points away from safety.

More coming later on the soccer fan's journey through the gauntlet of that Great American Sporting Ritual, the NFC Championships.