AMSTERDAM – A trio of Americans were handed their Europa League group phase chores in Friday's draw, with Terrence Boyd's Rapid Vienna given perhaps the toughest road to the knockouts.
The US forward and his teammates were sectioned in Group G along with Ukrainian power Dinamo Kyiv, Belgian side Genk and Switzerland's Thun. Rapid have never played the latter pair, but have evenly split six prior meetings with Dinamo. The last time the two met was in the Champions League qualifying round back in 1996, when the Austrians pulled off a sweep.
Meanwhile, Aron Jóhannsson and 1981 UEFA Cup champs AZ Alkmaar were drawn into Group L with Maccabi Haifa, Greek side PAOK and Kazakh battlers FC Shakhter Karagandy. The Cheese Farmers will open group play on September 19 away to the Israelis, with whom they've split two previos meetings.
Brad Friedel and two-time UEFA Cup winners Tottenham are in Group K with Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala, Moldovan holders FC Sheriff and Norway's Tromsø. Spurs have yet to face any of their three group foes.
