AMSTERDAM – Tottenham Hotspur attacker Clint Dempsey continued his sudden mastery of Manchester United on Sunday, burying the last-chance equalizer to gain a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane.
Having been cruelly robbed by Red Devils netminder David de Gea early in the second half, the US star coolly converted Aaron Lennon's stoppage-time feed to give him a pair of result-changing strikes against the league leaders this season. Dempsey – who had never tallied against United prior to bagging the September winner at Old Trafford – also missed wide on another earlier chance, but the last laugh eventually took his EPL season total to five goals.
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With compatriot Brad Friedel serving as backup 'keeper, Dempsey's key goals combined to give Tottenham their first season series win over Manchester United since 1990. In addition, fourth-place Spurs ran their league unbeaten run to seven games.
Heading south to Serie A, Michael Bradley earned his side's successful penalty shot, but AS Roma were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with visiting Inter Milan.
Twenty minutes into a strong shift, the midfielder charged up the gut to shoot from a slip pass, only to be forced airborne by Andrea Ranocchia's challenge. The referee pointed to the spot in a disputed decision and Francesco Totti deposited the kick for the first goal of the game.
Inter leveled matters just before intermission, causing Roma to slip one rung to seventh.
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Over in the Bundesliga, Timothy Chandler was removed midway through the second frame of FC Nürnberg's 1-1 draw with guests Hamburg. The US defender was pulled from a solid shift after taking a shot to the head on 65 minutes, leaving before both goals as Der Club inched eight points clear of the danger zone.
Michael Parkhurst watched from the away dugout as Augsburg held on for a 3-2 win over Fortuna Düsseldorf. With their first since the start of October, the relegation fighters pulled to within a point of the survival playoff spot.
Meanwhile, over in Belgium, Sacha Kljestan and Anderlecht had their top-of-the-table showdown with Zulte Waregem postponed due to a winter storm. The make-up date has yet to be set.
