AMSTERDAM – A pair of Americans tasted sweet victory in some European-style Monday night football, with Tim Howard and Everton remaining the lone EPL unbeaten with a 3-2 win over visiting Newcastle.
In addition to logging four saves, the US No. 1 also became the second American goalkeeper to earn a Premier League game-winning assist in three days, following Aston Villa's Brad Guzan. In the 37th minute, Romelu Lukaku split two defenders to pull down a long Howard boot to score, giving the veteran netminder his first league helper since November of 2007 and Toffees a three-goal cushion.
Howard, who hardly could be faulted on either of the Magpies' second-half strikes, has won nine times from a 12-game EPL unbeaten run at Goodison Park. Now the only club in the league holding a three-game win streak, Everton rose two spots from last week to fourth place.
Over in Norway's second flight, Montreal Impact loanee Zarek Valentin (above) was voted Man of the Match as runaway Adeccoligaen leaders Bodø/Glimt clinched their return to the top flight with a 1-0 triumph against SK Vard Haugesund.
Former New York Red Bulls winger Dane Richards scored the game's lone goal, but it was the young right back who starred with a top-shelf effort at both ends of the pitch. Glimt will now be back in the Tippeligaen for the first time since 2009 and can clinch the league crown with one win on the last five games of the season.
