AMSTERDAM – Clint Dempsey scored his first goal for Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, and it wasn't short on drama. The US attacker nabbed the game-winner for his new club in a 3-2 upset over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Mere seconds after Nani got the Red Devils on the board in the 52nd minute to halve a two-goal away lead, Dempsey tidied up a Gareth Bale rebound on the break to score his first Spurs goal and the first of his career against United. Dempsey eventually made way for a substitute with 20 minutes to play.
Brad Friedel made five saves in the Tottenham goal and got a couple more from the woodwork as the visitors held on through a frantic final half-hour to record their first win at Old Trafford in nearly 23 years. Now on three straight victories, the veteran netminder tentatively backstopped Spurs up to fifth place.
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Elsewhere in EPL action, Tim Howard notched four saves as Everton climbed to second in the table by rallying from a shaky start for a 3-1 win over visiting Southampton. The US No. 1 has won nine of his last 11 league games at Goodison, allowing just five goals during that run.
With club and country mate Maurice Edu watching from the dugout, Geoff Cameron enjoyed another strong outing at right back in Stoke City's 2-0 home win over Swansea City. Despite their first win of the season, the Potters held firm in 12th place.
One league below in the Championship, Jonathan Spector reverted to right back as Birmingham City scored a 1-0 victory away to early pacesetters Brighton Hove & Albion. The Brums snapped a seven-game win drought on the road, jumping five spots to 13th.
Meanwhile, Tim Ream went unused as Bolton fell 1-0 to guests Crystal Palace on a late penalty kick and Zak Whitbread did likewise as Leicester City topped hosts Middlesborough 2-1.
Over in La Liga, Oguchi Onyewu was an unused sub as Málaga remained unbeaten with a 4-0 rout of visiting Real Betis.
A flight down in the Segunda División, Carlos Bocanegra fought off stomach woes to perform solidly in Racing Santander's 1-1 share with guests Numancia.
It was not a great day for US internationals in the Bundesliga, however, with Steve Cherundolo's Hannover suffering from wastefulness in a 1-0 loss at Hamburg. Thanks to their eighth loss in the last nine away games in league play, the Reds slipped to fifth.
Fabian Johnson and Daniel Williams each went the distance with a heavy heart as Hoffenheim battled Augsburg to a 0-0 home draw only hours after learning teammate Boris Vukcevic was seriously injured in a Friday car accident.
Despite a decent effort from right back Timothy Chandler, FC dropped a 2-0 home decision to Stuttgart. Der Club have now dropped three straight matches and are winless in their last five Bundesliga home contests.
Next door in Austria, Terrence Boyd went close twice over 60 minutes of work as Rapid Vienna reclaimed the summit with a 2-0 triumph at Wacker Innsbruck.
The US forward inadvertently set up his side's winner, with Markus Katzer bagging his rebound off the crossbar just past intermission. Rapid won away from home for the second straight week to grab the perch on goal differential.
Israeli Ligat Ha'Al action saw Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona ace Bryan Gerzicich open his season account in a 1-1 draw at Hapoel Haifa.
The midfielder buried a corner kick header just before the break to open the scoring. Despite conceding the equalizer late, the champs nudged up to seventh place.
In Portugal's honor division, Tony Taylor remained a spectator as 10-man Estoril managed a 2-2 draw at Sporting CP. Despite blowing a two-goal lead with 15 minutes left, the promoted visitors edged their way up to fourth place.
Turning to Belgium, Sacha Kljestan also went unused in Anderlecht's 3-0 home win over Lokeren.
