AMSTERDAM – Several Americans suited up across the pond on Saturday, with Rapid Vienna forward Terrence Boyd bagging his 12th goal of the Austrian Bundesliga season in a 1-1 draw at FC Wacker Innsbruck.
After nodding off the woodwork near the break, the US international pounced on a rebound to open the scoring in the 66th minute. Rapid eventually concede dan equalizer with seven minutes left to extend their win drought to nine games, but the point earned lifted them back into the league's last Europa league slot.
Over in England's Premier League, Brad Guzan backstopped Aston Villa out of the drop zone with a 3-1 victory at Stoke City.
With Eric Lichaj watching from the bench, Guzan needed only two saves to post Villa's third win in the last four games. Geoff Cameron went the distance at right back for the Potters, who lost for the fifth time in six winless games.
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One league below in the Championship, Stuart Holden worked an hour as Sheffield Wednesday fought back from an early deficit to top visiting Blackburn 3-2. The victory vaulted the Owls four places out of the relegation zone.
Jonathan Spector saw yellow before leaving with an ankle injury near intermission of a 1-1 home draw with Millwall. The point gained moved the Brums six clear of the trap door.
Meanwhile, Conor Doyle went unused in Derby County's 1-0 home defeat to Ipswich Town and Tim Ream did likewise as Bolton blanked guests Wolverhampton 2-0.
Switching to Belgium's championship hexagonal, Sacha Kljestan and Anderlecht left themselves vulnerable at the top after a 0-0 derby draw at Standard Liège. With just one win in their last six matches, the defending champions will fall to second place if Zulte Waregem win on Sunday.
Up in Norway's Tippeligaen, Josh Gatt came on for the final 32 minutes as three-peat seekers Molde FK fell for the third straight time to open the season, 1-0 at Brann. Scant moments after the champs conceded the only goal of the game in the 80th minute, the US winger was robbed on a breakaway chance at the equalizer.
Turning to the 2.Bundesliga, St. Pauli winger Joseph Gyau notched an assist in 72 minutes of a 3-2 loss at Dynamo Dresden.
After striking the bar in the 14th minute, the Hoffenheim loanee set Daniel Ginczek free to put the visitors up by two in the 53rd minute. The Pirates soon began their collapse, however, to remain winless in three.
In Spain's second division, Carlos Bocanegra helped Racing Santander post consecutive shutouts for the first time since September in a 1-0 win at promotion chasers Alcorcón. The result lifted Racing to two rungs above the danger zone.
