AMSTERDAM – It was an action-packed Wednesday night for Americans playing in Europe, with John Brooks striking for the opening goal for Hertha Berlin in a wild 4-4 Bundesliga draw at Timothy Chandler's Eintracht Frankfurt.
Both US defenders went the distance, but it was Brooks who got the goal party started by firing his first of the season in the 21st minute. The youngster ran onto the end of a long Ronny free kick to put a smooth one-time touch past the home side 'keeper from close range.
Brooks also led all players with 11 clearances, while Chandler executed a game-high four interceptions. However, Hertha's American saw a flicked restart fly by when Eintracht completed their rally from three down – and from two behind at the start of stoppage time – on Alexander Meier's last-gasp equalizer. The result dipped the hosts to ninth place despite their comeback, while Brooks & Co. held firm in 13th.
Meanwhile, Fabian Johnson went unused as Borussia Mönchengladbach gave a 4-1 lesson to guests Werder Bremen. Thanks to their third win in the last four home games, 'Gladbach held on to third place on goal differential.
One level down in the 2.Bundesliga, Alfredo Morales assisted on the first half icebreaker as Ingolstadt moved seven points clear at the top with a 2-1 victory over visiting St Pauli.
The US midfielder was extremely active in the first half, and he quickly capitalized on a St. Pauli turnover to set up Australia striker Adam Leckie for a partially-deflected opener in the 22nd minute. Not content with the slim lead, Morales returned mere moments later to fire agonizingly wide of goal from just outside the box.
The game held at that score until the visitors leveled in the 78th minute, but Ingolstadt reclaimed the upper hand just two minutes later to run their win streak to four and their bulletproof run at home to 13 league games.
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Turning to Belgium's Cofidis Cup, Sacha Kljestan bagged the capper as guests Anderlecht got a quarterfinal leg up on Zulte-Waregem with a 3-0 away victory.
Just two minutes after entering the match and four before the final whistle, the midfielder's restart run was rewarded when Youri Tielemans' ball bounced into the net off his thigh. The teams will reunite in Brussels on January 21 to complete the tie.
Next door in the KNVB Cup, Aron Jóhannsson went the distance as AZ Alkmaar advanced to the elite eight thanks to a 2-1 home triumph over NEC Nijmegen. The next round will not be drawn until late January.
