AMSTERDAM – A tough Saturday of results for European clubs employing Americans continued into the evening, with Tim Howard and Everton edged out 2-1 away to new Premier League leaders Arsenal.
The US star managed four saves and a cross claim, but he was beaten twice in a three-minute span late in the first half. Howard cruelly denied Alexis Sanchez just after the break and then took the armband from injured Everton skipper Phil Jagielka in the 52nd minute. Consecutive defeats have dropped the Toffees down to 10th.
Turning focus to the Bundesliga, Alfredo Morales and Ingolstadt suffered a tough 1-0 home loss against John Anthony Brooks' Hertha Berlin.
With his international teammate returning from injury to take a place on the Hertha bench, Morales departed in the 67th minute after going on the hook for four fouls and a yellow card in the ref's book. Though he pitched in with four tackles and five positive passes in or into the final third, the midfielder did fire wildly when presented with a good area chance to cancel Ingolstadt's early deficit in the 18th minute.
The home side dipped to seventh on their second straight loss, while Brooks & Co. held onto their fifth-place position.
