AMSTERDAM – Tim Howard and Everton saw victory elude their grasp near time for the second week in a row, leaking twice in the last eight minutes to settle for a 2-2 home draw with Arsenal.
The USA's 2014 World Cup star had precious little to do for much of the day, with his only save coming after the hour mark. However, he was helpless to stop Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud from stealing a share of the day's spoils with late strikes.
Despite the disappointment of dropping points in the waning moments, Howard ran his EPL unbeaten streak against the Gunners to five games.
In Austrian Bundesliga action, Conor O'Brien enjoyed a thrilling Wiener Neustadt debut, notching a goal and an assist in their 5-4 duck-breaking decision over visiting Admira Wacker.
The summer arrival from Odense BK got the fireworks started by losing two defenders at the end of a broken corner kick to pick the top corner on 26 minutes. After the visitors scored to send the game into intermission on level terms, O'Brien coolly teed up Kristijan Dobras at the end of another restart scramble to pick up his first assist for the new employers.
The Blau-Weiß would eventually fall behind before hitting three times in the final quarter hour to post their first win in six matches this season. Despite the victory, O'Brien & Co. remained in the league basement.
Finally, Freddy Adu watched from the home dugout as FK Jagodina broke into the win column with a 3-1 cruise past Radnički Kragujevac. The Blues conditionally rose to eighth place with half of round three left to play.
Greg Seltzer covers Americans based in Europe for MLSsoccer.com.
