AMSTERDAM – Aron Jóhannsson returned from injury with 11 minutes of action in a 2-0 victory for AZ Alkmaar against visiting Willem II. The US forward was limited to three-non-defensive touches, but helped the hosts add on late before at least temporarily grabbing third place with their fifth win in six.
Wiener Neustadt penalty ace Conor O'Brien bagged a 1-0 winner from the spot against 10-man visitors Austria Vienna on Saturday night, moving the cellar dwellers to within a point of the Austrian Bundesliga safety zone.
The New York native took his customary place in central midfield for the hosts, ringing up three clean tackles from a shift filled with midfield challenges. After an Austria Vienna defender was sent off for an area foul in the 33rd minute, O'Brien stepped up to convert for his fourth goal of the season.
The American has now tallied in four of his team's six league wins this term, with three of them coming from the spot. With three wins from their last four home matches, Wiener Neustadt pulled to within a single point of leaving the basement.
Next door in Germany's Bundesliga, Timothy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt extended their home unbeaten run to six games with a 2-1 defeat of Hamburg.
Though less effective in attack than he's been recently, Chandler led all players with six pass picks and made a big shot block 15 yards from goal near the hour mark. The result moved Eintracht to within four points of the last Europa League place, with a Champions league place only a point further away.
