Americans Abroad: Aston Villa's Eric Lichaj Contains Gareth Bale

Filed under: European Soccer, English Premier League, U.S. Men's National Team

Aston Villa right back Eric Lichaj may only have two English Premier League starts to his name, but the 21-year-old U.S. international is already making a name for himself across the pond.

Two weeks after making his league debut, Lichaj on Sunday was assigned to mark Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale, a rising star who's handled his fair share of veteran defenders this season.

Spurs was a man short for more than an hour and still managed a 2-1 victory at Villa Park, but Lichaj turned in a performance that could go a long way toward earning him a regular place in the starting 11, holding his own against the crafty Welshman.

Barry, recently named the Premier League player of the half-season by The Guardian, found scant space to operate on Lichaj's watch. In fact, he set up Rafael van der Vaart's second tally shortly after switching to the right flank and escaping Lichaj's domain.

 

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