AMSTERDAM – It was a productive Sunday for Americans playing in Europe, led by Clint Dempsey's game-winner at Southampton.
The US star ran down a rebound for the easy finish six minutes before intermission to bag his second EPL goal of the season as Tottenham Hotspur got the 2-1 victory. Meanwhile, Brad Friedel needed just one save to backstop Spurs up to fourth place.
Elsewhere, Tim Howard notched two saves as Everton rallied from two down for a 2-2 derby share with Liverpool at Goodison. Though remaining without a loss in six games, the Toffees dropped a rung to fifth.
Over in the Bundesliga, Steve Cherundolo was given the day off and had to watch in agony as Hannover 96 squandered a two-goal lead with 20 minutes to play in a 3-2 home loss to Borussia Mönchengladbach.
In the neighboring Netherlands, Jozy Altidore set up the late winner as AZ Alkmaar got well with a 2-1 victory at previously unbeaten Vitesse.
On an 88th-minute breakout, the US striker undressed a defender at midfield before unleashing Joey Gudmondsson for a strike from the left channel. Thanks to their first Eredivisie win in six weeks, the Cheese Farmers climbed to 10th.
In Austria, Terrence Boyd nodded home the capper in a 2-0 win over title holders Red Bull Salzburg.
The forward got loose to bury an unmarked header just past the break for his sixth goal of the league campaign and eighth overall. Winning for the first time in a month, the Green-Whites moved to within three points of the summit.
In Serie A action, Michael Bradley went unused as AS Roma suffered a 3-2 collapse loss at home to Udinese. The Giallorossi blew an early two-goal lead and have now won just once in five Stadio Olimpico matches this term.
To the north in Denmark, Clarence Goodson drew a yellow card in Brøndby's 1-1 draw at FC Midtjylland. The hosts pulled level nine minutes from time to keep the Lads from the Western Outskirts winless in 11 Superliga outings and glued to the bottom of the table.
Across the water in Norway, Mikkel Diskerud was rated as Rosenborg's clear top performer by leading daily VG after a 2-0 defeat at Molde FK. Playing without the suspended Josh Gatt, the champs won their ninth straight home game across all competitions to move three points up on the Tippeligaen perch with three games left.
Despite a thankless effort in goal from Steve Clark, Hønefoss fell to a 4-0 loss at Odd Grenland. The game was scoreless until past the hour mark, when the hosts hit three times inside nine minutes to break open the game.
Chad Barrett watched on as fifth-place Vålerenga topped visiting Tromsø 1-0.
Next door in Sweden, stand-in forward Alejandro Bedoya notched an assist as Helsingborg extended their Allsvenskan unbeaten run to seven games with a 3-1 win at GAIS.
After having his header off the bar deposited on the visitors' first goal, the US international slipped a pass for Nikola Djurdjic to bag the insurance tally on 78 minutes. The outgoing Allsvenskan champs stand fifth with two games remaining on the season.
Finally, in Spain's second flight, Carlos Bocanegra was strong in defense as Racing Santander were edged 1-0 at Elche. Now winless in five, the Highlanders slipped into the bottom three.
