[AMERICANS ABROAD] Charlie Davies played his first game in almost nine months when he played the entire game -- a 45-minute match -- for French club Sochaux against Swiss Super League club Neuchatel Xamax in the Swiss city of Alle. The game was a part of a three-team tournament in which Sochaux and Neuchatel Xamax also faced Costa Rican club Saprissa.

Both Sochaux games ended in 0-0 ties, and they lost to Neuchatel Xamax but beat Saprissa on penalty kicks.

Davies was seriously injured in a car accident last October in Northern Virginia. He returned to France in February to continue his rehabilitation.

Davies faces competition for a starting job up front from 21-year-old Nigerian Brown Ideye, who was signed last winter from Neuchatel.

Ideye was a last-minute callup to Nigeria's World Cup but did not play in South Africa.

The Ligue 1 season opens Aug. 7. Sochaux begins at home against promoted Arles-Avignon.