AMSTERDAM – Aston Villa netminder Brad Guzan celebrated his return to the lineup with an opening day shutout victory away to Premier League debutants Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon.
The US backstop racked up two saves, three cross claims and a punch while completing three of four long boots out of his area in a solid all-around showing in what was a 1-0 win. Guzan pulled off both of his stops shortly before the break, including a cruel robbery on March Pugh's stoppage time restart volley.
Thanks to a late strike from summer arrival Rudy Gestede, Guzan posted a win from Villa's opening match for the third straight year. He also logged the third clean sheet in his last four EPL away games, a run dating back to last season.
Around the Premier League horn, Tim Howard and Everton managed to rally late for a 2-2 home share with promoted Watford.
The Toffees veteran made three stops and added a pair of cross claims. His best denial came on a dipping rocket from Jose Holebad midway through the second frame.
One league below in the Championship, Jonathan Spector helped hosts Birmingham City notch a 2-1 opening day victory over Daniel Williams and Reading.
Spector piled up six pass interceptions in front of the home box, five area clearances and a pair of tackles as the St. Andrew crew ran a league win streak that dates back to last season to four games.
Lined up in the right midfield slot, Williams drew a good save from distance in the 58th minute. Mere seconds later, he fed the crosser on Reading's lone goal.
Also, MK Dons back-up netminder Cody Cropper watched on as the promoted visitors jumped straight to first place with a 4-1 victory at Rotherham. The US youth international is scheduled to make his professional debut in Tuesday's Capital One Cup tilt against guests Leyton Orient.
A pair of US national team attackers worked sub shifts on Saturday night, with Alejandro Bedoya on for the final 16 minutes as Nantes hit late for 1-0 victory over Ligue 1 opening day guests Guingamp.
Stationed as the No. 10, Bedoya completed all six of his passes, but only two occurred in the Guingamp end. An 89th-minute Jeremy Sorbon own goal provided the points as the Canaries scored a 1-0 win over their northwest rivals for the fourth straight time and fifth in the last six meetings.
Turning to Eredivisie opening weekend, Rubio Rubin made a late cameo as FC Utrecht fell short in a 3-2 loss at Feyenoord. Now wearing the No. 18 shirt, the Oregon teenager entered with the Red-and-White Army down two in the 88th minute and took part in the rush that produced a last-minute consolation spot kick by Sébastien Haller.
Second round DfB-Pokal action saw Bobby Wood and Union Berlin suffer a hard-luck 2-1 defeat at Viktoria Köln.
Shortly after the capital crew emerged from halftime with a one-goal lead, Wood was felled in the box to earn a penalty kick that teammate Damir Kreilach fired off the post. The US forward nearly extended the lead himself on 62 minutes, only to be robbed from close range by home netminder Nico Pellatz before being replaced with a quarter-hour remaining.
