AMSTERDAM – Aron Jóhannsson bagged the early decider as red-hot AZ Alkmaar tentatively reached fourth place with a 2-0 win over Eredivisie guests Go Ahead Eagles on Saturday night.
The US forward put the Cheese Farmers ahead to stay with a close-range finish on 25 minutes. It was Jóhannsson's second goal of the season and his 17th career strike in 22 career league matches at AFAS-Stadion.
Though the goal came on his only shot of the game, Jóhannsson moved the ball well all night long while committing just one turnover. As for AZ, they've posted four straight clean sheet victories and are unbeaten in six.
Turning to English Premier League action, Tim Howard and Everton were done in from the spot in a 1-0 loss at Manchester City.
The Toffees star notched two saves and claimed a pair of crosses, but was unable to stop Yaya Touré's 24th-minute penalty kick. With but one victory in their last five EPL matches, Everton dipped to 11th place.
Over in Austria, Wiener Neustadt central midfielder Conor O'Brien made it a hat trick of American scorers in European top flights on the day with the late capper in a 2-0 triumph against visiting Altach [Alejandro Bedoya of Nantes and Jóhannsson are the other two scorers].
In addition to converting an 89th-minute spot kick for his third goal of the season, the New York native contributed five tackles and four pass picks to help his side record consecutive shutouts at home for the first time since April of 2013. Though still in the league basement, Wiener Neustadt climbed level on points with the last safety zone spot.
Finally in Belgium, Sacha Kljestan was removed at halftime of Anderlecht's galling 4-2 loss at Mouscron-Péruwelz. Now winless in three league outings, the champs missed a chance to at least temporarily regain the Jupiler League penthouse.
Greg Seltzer covers Americans based in Europe for MLSsoccer.com.
