AMSTERDAM – Steve Cherundolo and Bundesliga darlings Hannover 96 solidified their hold on third place with a 3-1 defeat of defending champs Bayern Munich on Saturday.
The US right back worked his usual 90 minutes as the Reds moved five points clear of the Bavarians for the league's third and final Champions League berth with nine games left.
Elsewhere, Timothy Chandler showed his versatility, sliding to right back for a solid full shift as FC Nürnberg drilled St. Pauli 5-0. Der Club have now won five of an unbeaten six to climb to sixth place and to within a point of a Europa League slot.
Ricardo Clark returned to the Eintracht Frankfurt selection, but went unused in a 0-0 draw with visiting Kaiserslautern.
Over in the Premier League, Stuart Holden was on form as Bolton tentatively moved up to sixth place thanks to a see-saw 3-2 victory over Brad Friedel's Aston Villa.
Holden went 90 minutes and delivered a corner kick that facilitated Gary Cahill's second equalizer 15 minutes from time. Friedel made one save for the visitors, while teammate Michael Bradley watched from the dugout.
In another EPL battle of Americans, Clint Dempsey's Fulham edged Jermaine Jones and Blackburn 3-2 on a late Bobby Zamora penalty kick. With each US national-teamer going the distance, Dempsey put in his typical hard-nosed effort, while Jones saw yellow and missed wide on a good chance with the game tied.
At St. James' Park, Everton 'keeper Tim Howard needed only two saves to backstop Everton up to 10th place with a 2-1 win over hosts Newcastle.
Jonathan Spector, meanwhile, was an unused sub as West Ham United climbed out of the cellar with a 3-0 cruise past Stoke City.
Down a flight in the Championship, Zak Whitbread left near the hour mark with a back injury as Norwich City pulled to within two points of an automatic promotion slot with a 1-1 draw against Eddie Johnson and Preston North End.
Eric Lichaj held down right back as sixth-place Leeds United moved clear in the last promotion playoff spot with a 5-2 Elland Road rout of Doncaster.
In France's Ligue 1, Carlos Bocanegra and Saint-Étienne suffered at the death in a 1-0 loss at Caen. Les Verts have now lost four straight to fall to 10th and nine points adrift of a Europa League place.
Finally, Eredivisie action saw Oguchi Onyewu ably spell suspended back-line marshal Douglas as hosts second place FC Twente blanked NAC Breda 3-0.
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