AMSTERDAM – It has been an eventful Saturday thus far for Americans playing across the pond, with Geoff Cameron and Stoke City pulling off a 3-2 rally upset of visiting Chelsea.
The US international pitched in with a strong full shift, making seven tackles against just one foul from his right back post. Each side had time with the lead during the see-saw opening hour before Oussama Assaidi's 90th-minute dazzler lifted Stoke tentatively up to 12th place. Cameron & Co. also extended their Britannia unbeaten streak to five EPL games.
Around England's Premier League, Sunderland striker Jozy Altidore found touches hard to come by after halftime of a 2-1 home loss to Tottenham.
With Brad Friedel looking on from the Spurs dugout, Altidore keyed the rush for the Adam Johnson's 37th minute opening strike with a splendid outlet play to the crosser. However, the American was limited to one shot in 37 touches that included a small handful of strong defensive plays. He eventually succumbed to frustration with a rash 87th minute challenge on Andros Townsend that drew yellow.
Cellar-dwelling Sunderland lost for the third time in four games, while the visitors rose to sixth place.
Also, US Under-20 netminder Cody Cropper watched from the home dugout as Southampton held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw..
Down one level in the Championship, Tim Ream returned to center back, helping Bolton get back on track with a 3-0 shutout of guests Doncaster. With the American regularly jumping lanes to halt attacks, 15th-place Wanderers won for the fourth time in six.
Daniel Williams went the distance in midfield as Reading suffered a disappointing 2-1 home loss to Bournemouth. The Royals' first defeat in five dipped them to sixth place.
Nottingham Forest right back Eric Lichaj was on for the final 23 minutes to help Nottingham Forest close out a 1-0 victory at Sheffield Wednesday. Snapping a three-game win drought, Forest jumped three spots to fifth.
Teen playmaker Duane Holmes made a stoppage-time cameo as Huddersfield Town dropped a 2-1 decision at Ipswich Town. The Terriers slipped to 11th with the ending of a three-game win streak.
Turning to the Bundesliga, Fabian Johnson beat a late fitness check to work 17 relief minutes on left wing in Hoffenheim's sorely needed 2-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt. Thanks to their first league win in five, the home side conditionally rose to 11th place.
Elsewhere, Steve Cherundolo went unused as Hannover 96 fell 4-2 at Stuttgart and Jermaine Jones did likewise in Schalke's 2-1 defeat away to nearby rivals Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Next door in Belgium's Jupiler League, Sacha Kljestan went 68 minutes as Anderlecht at least temporarily reached second place with a 2-0 win over Waasland-Beveren. Despite the midfielder shooting straight at the away netminder from the doorstep just after the break, the champs pulled to within three points of league-leading Sunday combatants Standard Liège.
Nearby in the Eredivisie, Aron Jóhannsson had an off night in AZ Alkmaar 2-1 collapse loss to visiting FC Twente. The US forward was pulled with 11 minutes to play having fired but one wayward shot as the sixth place Cheese Farmers' winless slide reached four games.
