AMSTERDAM – It was a Saturday of strong outings for Americans overseas, with hot hand Terrence Boyd netting the opener in Rapid Vienna's 4-3 victory over SV Ried.
After his well-struck volley earned a 25th minute corner kick, the US forward finished the job by heading home the ensuing restart. Boyd also had the ball in the back of the net just after halftime, but the offside flag had gone up.
The 21-year-old rookie now has eight league goals, joint best on the club, and 12 across all competitions. Meanwhile, the win tentatively lifted third place Rapid to within six points of the penthouse.
Turning to the English Premier League, Clint Dempsey set up the capper in Tottenham's 3-1 victory at former employers Fulham.
The US star was repeatedly booed by a home crowd feeling jilted, but had the last say when his excellent splitting pass was deposited by Jermain Defoe 13 minutes from time. With Brad Friedel watching on from the dugout, Spurs climbed into fourth place thanks to their third straight EPL win.
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Stoke City have also won three in a row, with Geoff Cameron ably working a full shift at left back in their 1-0 win at West Bromwich Albion. Maurice Edu was an unused sub as the Potters reached ninth place by winning their first league away game in 11 months.
In-form Aston Villa netminder Brad Guzan notched seven stops and got a solid right back outing from Eric Lichaj in a 1-1 draw at Queens Park Rangers. The former Chivas USA star saw a 214-minute shutout streak snapped early, but eventually saved the result when he tipped Clint Hill's header onto the bar with 10 minutes remaining.
Tim Howard made four fine saves as sixth place Everton battled to a 1-1 share at nearby rivals Manchester City. The goalkeeper was only beaten by a Carlos Tévez spot kick near the break as the Toffees posted their seventh draw in the last nine games.
One league below in the Championship, Zak Whitbread nodded home an early corner to kick off Leicester City's 4-1 rout of Derby County. The center back's first goal since March of last year helped the Foxes notch their third win in four.
Robbie Findley went unused in Nottingham Forest's 2-1 loss to visiting Hull City, as did Tim Ream in Bolton's identical home defeat to Ipswich Town.
Over in the Bundesliga, Jermaine Jones was solid in central park as Schalke fought back late for a 1-1 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach. The midfielder put one late chance at goal directly at the keeper and another over the bar as the fourth place Miners remained winless in four.
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Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 plummeted four rungs to 10th thanks to a last-minute 2-1 loss at 10-man Mainz 05. The Reds have now dropped three of four league tilts and six of their last 10.
FC Nürnberg right back Timothy Chandler had a hot-and-cold afternoon in their 1-0 defeat away to form side Bayer Leverkusen. The US international set up a great chance for the visitors to break the ice on the half hour, only to have his cross nodded against the woodwork by Sebastian Polter.
Down a flight, Andrew Wooten saw yellow in just eight relief minutes as Sandhausen nudged closer to the safety zone with a 2-2 draw at Erzgebirge Aue.
Joseph Gyau remained a spectator as St. Pauli registered a 1-0 win over guests Kaiserslautern.
Finally, in Belgium's Jupiler League, Sacha Kljestan went the distance in midfield to help Anderlecht move six points clear at the top with a 2-1 rally win over visiting Cercle Brugge. Since returning the American to the starting line-up on October 30, the champs have won six straight by a combined 22-4 count.
