AMSTERDAM – Aron Jóhannsson got the party started right at AFAS-Stadion on Sunday afternoon, striking for the early opener in a 3-1 Eredivisie win over guests Heracles.
Placed back in his familiar role as the central striker in a 4-3-3 formation, the US forward notched his third goal of the campaign after just nine minutes. Jóhannsson deftly beat the away netminder with a small deflection on Nemaja Gudelj's goalward bicycle kick attempt.
Though it was a bit of a letdown that he racked up six handling turnovers, Jóhannsson nearly grabbed a late assist when Dabney dos Santos collected the American's diagonal set-up and fired his shot off the frame. By winning consecutive games for the first time in nearly two months, AZ held firm in fifth place.
Elsewhere in the Netherlands, Rubio Rubin worked a relatively quiet 73-minute shift on left wing in 12th-place FC Utrecht's 2-0 home loss to PEC Zwolle.
The youngster completed all but one of his 24 passes, but lacked any end product as the Red-and White Army fell to 12th place. Utrecht have dropped four straight home games for the first time since 2009, and have lost six of the last seven there.
Earlier, in English Premier League play, Brad Guzan and punchless Aston Villa were taken out behind Arsenal's woodshed for a 5-0 whooping.
The Villan made three saves, but his day was summed up well when Santi Cazorla bagged the Gunners' fourth from the spot with a quarter hour to play (WATCH HIGHLIGHTS HERE OR BELOW). After Guzan upended Arsenal sub Chuba Akpom in the area, he guessed right on the Spaniard's penalty try down the middle, only to push the ball into his own net.
Now winless in eight league games and goalless for the last six, Villa slipped to 16th place.
Over in the Bundesliga, John Anthony Brooks had a very busy day in a slightly new position as Hertha Berlin fell 2-0 at Werder Bremen.
Playing on the left side of a three-man back line, the defender notched a game-best five pass interceptions to go with six clearances and three tackles. Hertha, who managed only three wayward shots in the game, were done in by a wonder brace from Franco Di Santo. With but one win in six, the capital crew now stand over the danger line by a single point.
Greg Seltzer covers Americans based in Europe for MLSsoccer.com.
