AMSTERDAM – Eredivisie rookie standout Rubio Rubin set up the late winner and then earned the insurance penalty in FC Utrecht's 3-1 victory over visiting Vitesse in Sunday afternoon.
The home side cancelled out an early deficit in the first half and then grabbed the lead for good on 69 minutes when Rubin fed Ruud Boymans for his third assist in two games playing as the No. 10. Seven minutes later, the young American was upended in the box by Vitesse defender Arnold Kruiswijk, who got the gate for a second yellow before Boymans applied the win's finishing touch from the spot.
The 18-year-old Oregon native put in another impressive all-around performance, adding three tackles and a pair of saves drawn to several instances of playmaking in the final third. The result boosted Utrecht four places to ninth, while Rubin moved into a fourth place tie in the league assists chart.
Elsewhere, Aron Jóhannsson and AZ Alkmaar had a frustrating time in their 3-3 home draw with Excelsior.
The US forward had three great looks at goal on the day, with one of his resulting shots curled agonizingly wide and the other two shipped straight to the visiting netminder. Otherwise, Jóhannsson was solid in his first full Eredivisie shift since April. The 11th place Cheese Farmers are now winless in four.
Over in England, Brad Guzan and Aston Villa were shocked late on Sunday evening, with visiting Tottenham striking twice in the final six minutes to score a smash-and-grab 2-1 Premier League victory.
The US star, who notched five saves and claimed three crosses, looked on his way to snapping a five-game losing slide until the waning moments. Guzan was at his best to snuff out an Emmanuel Adebayor breakaway near the half hour.
However, the Villans were reduced to 10 men in the 65th minute and Nacer Chadli eventually broke through from a corner kick to equalize for Spurs. Near time, a Harry Kane free kick deflected in off Villa defender Nathan Baker. Despite ending their five-game goal drought, Guzan & Co. slipped to their sixth straight EPL defeat, the club's longest run of futility in 50 years.
Turning the focus to the Bundesliga, John Anthony Brooks went unused in Hertha Berlin's 3-1 loss at Paderborn. The capital crew have lost nine of 11 league games away from home, dating back to last season.
Fabian Johnson remained a spectator as unbeaten Borussia Mönchengladbach kept title pace with a 3-1 home win over Hoffenheim. The Foals stayed four points behind holders Bayern Munich in third place.
Over in Norway's Tippeligaen, Mikkel Diskerud and Rosenborg kept their hopes of a silver medal finish alive to the last round with a 1-0 triumph away to second place Odds BK.
The US midfielder went close to an opener with a first half corner kick header that caused a scramble. Heading into closing day a point out of second place, the Troll Kids have won five straight and eight of nine.
Andrew Jacobson and Michael Stephens both clocked out after full midfield shifts in Stabæk's 1-0 home loss to FK Haugesund. Now winless in four, Bob Bradley's bunch dropped three rungs to 11th place.
Finally in France's Ligue 1, Alejandro Bedoya returned from a hamstring nag to play 25 minutes as Nantes battled arch rivals Rennes to a 1-1 draw in the home derby. The midfielder passed well and contributed three tackles, helping the Canaries stay unbeaten in seven league matches.
