American Exports: Danny Williams helps Reading reach FA Cup quarterfinals with win over Derby County

Danny Williams with Reading

AMSTERDAM – Daniel Williams went the distance in midfield as Reading reached the FA Cup elite eight for the third time in six years with a 2-1 smash and grab victory at Derby County.


The US international ended up on the wrong side of a pair of referee decisions in the first half, starting with a yellow card on 28 minutes. A few minutes before intermission, Williams had a fair penalty shout ignored after his goal-bound shot was blocked in the area by the arm of Derby defender Richard Keogh.


Thanks to Aiyegbeni Yakubu's 82nd minute winner, Reading will be a player in Monday's quarterfinal draw, with the ties set for March 7 and 8.



Elsewhere, Geoff Cameron conceded the winning spot kick and got the gate in first half stoppage time as Stoke City were rudely ushered out of the draw by a 4-1 count at second flight Blackburn.


The Potters right back hauled down Josh King in the box, giving Rudy Gestede the chance to put Rovers ahead to stay on the edge of halftime. It was Cameron's first ejection in 100 career matches across all competitions with Stoke and his first of any sort since seeing red in a US national team friendly win over Panama in January 2012.


Turning to the Bundesliga, Fabian Johnson watched on from the home dugout as Borussia Mönchengladbach held firm in third place with a 1-0 win over nearby rivals FC Cologne.


Timothy Chandler punctuated another strong effort by setting up the late winner in Eintracht Frankfurt's 1-0 Bundesliga victory over previously-hot Schalke on Saturday evening.


The right back fired six crosses into the box over his full shift, most notably when his cross served up Lucas Piazon's 65th minute winner. After leading his side up the right flank via combo play, Chandler picked out the Chelsea loan forward for his second assist of the season.


The US international also teed up a good chance for Haris Seferović in the 77th minute, but the striker's header was pushed around the frame. For the game, Chandler completed 46 of 58 passes with but one handling turnover while helping the hosts post their first league shutout since November. Ninth place Eintracht have now gone without a loss in three straight and in their last five matches at home.



The real excitement happened one level down, where Sandhausen ace Andrew Wooten scored twice to lead the visitors to a 3-1 upset of Alfredo Morales and table-toppers Ingolstadt.


The forward applied the cool finish to a fine team move in the 12th minute and doubled their early lead from the penalty spot just seven minutes later. The double lifted Wooten into a 10th place tie in the league scoring chart with seven on the season. By winning for the first time in five games, Sandhausen moved six points clear of the trap door.


The day was not so kind to Morales, who departed nine minutes from time carrying a yellow card. Despite their first defeat in seven, Ingolstadt remain five points up on the nearest chaser.


Over in the English Championship, Nottingham Forest right back Eric Lichaj went close to scoring twice in a wild 4-4 slugfest at 10-man Blackpool.


Having already seen a distance drive deflected wide near the half-hour, Lichaj was robbed of a stoppage time winner from 16 yards in the second minute of stoppage time. Though he was among the culpable on Blackpool's third, the American also notched six clearances, three tackles and a pair of cross blocks. Now unbeaten in three, Forest stayed put in 10th place.


Meanwhile, Tim Ream also suffered a near-miss in front of goal in Bolton's 4-3 home loss to Watford.


The Wanderers left back nearly gave his side a 3-1 lead four minutes before the break, only to watch his sharp angle shot fly inches to the wrong side of the near post. Ream, who was not at fault on any of the Hornets' goals, rang up five clearances and three area blocks. Having won just once in seven overall games, Bolton slipped to 15th place.


The Austrian top flight resumed play on Saturday, with Conor O'Brien and cellar dwellers Wiener Neustadt gamely falling 2-0 on a pair of second half goals by holders Red Bull Salzburg.


The New York native was busy in central park, easily leading his team in passing efficiency while adding three tackles. O'Brien & Co. lost for the third time in four games to remain four points shy of a safety place.


Turning to France's Ligue 1, a solid Alejandro Bedoya shift went to waste as 10-man Nantes dropped a 2-0 home result against Bastia.


The right winger had an area shot blocked and two set-ups go unfinished in the opening frame. Bedoya completed 35 of 43 passes overall, including 13 forward connections in or into the away half, and posted a game-high four tackles at the other end. With just one goal and three draw to show for their last six league games, Nantes fell to ninth place.