AMSTERDAM – A few Americans went to work under Friday night lights, with FC Utrecht forward Juan Agudelo putting in a decent shift in a 2-2 Eredivisie draw at NAC Breda.
The No. 18 shirt narrowly missed on a pair of good chances inside the opening quarter-hour. Agudelo agonizingly nodded a Tomoy Oar cross just wide seven minutes in, and then soon after buzzed the far top corner with an effort from the right channel.
Agudelo departed in the 66th minute, before the away side twice rallied from a goal down in the final five minutes to gain a share of the points. Though winless in four, Utrecht nudged five points away from the relegation swamp.
Switching focus to the Süper Lig, Jermaine Jones and Besiktas squandered a chance to move clear in the race for Turkey's only Champions League group-phase invite by falling 1-0 at fifth-place Karabükspor.
The US midfielder worked all 90 in midfield, picking up his first yellow card with the Black Eagles midway through the second half. Despite the loss, Besiktas hold a one-point advantage over city rivals Galatasaray for second place.
Over in Germany, John Anthony Brooks went unused as Hertha Berlin continued to slump with a 2-0 Bundesliga defeat at Schalke. With four straight losses, the capital crew stayed in ninth place, six points shy of the last Europa League slot.
One level below, Alfredo Morales went this distance in defensive midfield as Ingolstadt posted a 0-0 draw at Fortuna Düsseldorf. The visitors conditionally rose a rung to 10th place while inching seven points clear of the danger zone.
