AMSTERDAM – Aron Jóhannsson scored his first goal of the season and home side AZ Alkmaar made it stand up in a 1-0 Eredivisie win over Vitesse on Saturday evening.
The US forward tucked home a simple header from Thom Haye's left wing cross in the 14th minute for his 15th goal in 21 league games at AFAS-Stadion. Despite owning just 32% of the ball and being out-shot 33-5, AZ won for the third time in a five-match unbeaten run to tentatively reach fifth place.
Across the border in Germany's Bundesliga, John Anthony Brooks was unbeatable in the air in Hertha Berlin's 2-1 victory at FC Cologne.
The center back won all nine of his aerial duels and notched a game-high 11 clearances to go with three interceptions. Brooks did get away with being beaten on the ground in the waning moments, with Goats winger Pawel Olkowski wasting his chance to tie the game just wide. Courtesy of their first Bundesliga road win in nine months, Hertha moved clear of the relegation mire.
In nearby Austria, Conor O'Brien added late insurance from the penalty spot as Wiener Neustadt topped visiting title chasers RZ Pellets WAC 2-0 for their first win in nine league matches.
The New York native, who completed 44 of 50 passes and logged four tackles, made no mistake from the spot with 16 minutes left. Though still in last place, the home side won a home Bundesliga game for the first time since O'Brien's debut back in August.
Finally, in Belgium, Sacha Kljestan went 58 minutes as Jupiler League holders Anderlecht struggled to a 3-1 loss at Charleroi. Not only did the Mauves drop their first away decision in 14 games across all competitions, the former league leaders fell one point behind Club Brugge.
