AMSTERDAM – Aron Jóhannsson got back on the scoresheet on Sunday, firing the penalty-kick opener that would be all AZ Alkmaar needed to see off Go Ahead Eagles in a 3-0 win at AFAS-Stadion.
Less than four minutes in, the US forward drew a good save with an audacious curling lob from about 30 yards to the right. At the half-hour mark, Jóhannsson was tripped up after wiggling into the area from the left flank before coolly making it a perfect three-for-three from the spot on the young season.
The Icelandic-American should have added an assist just after intermission, only to watch Viktor Elm stumble in somehow pushing his soft centering feed wide from the goalmouth. In the end, Jóhannsson settled for his fourth goal in six Eredivisie games this term and a four-spot jump for AZ to fifth place.
Next door in the Bundesliga, FC Nürnberg right back Timothy Chandler notched a fine assist on the opener, but then played a small part in leaking the late equalizer in a 1-1 draw at promoted Braunschweig.
In the 28th minute, Chandler raced onto a through ball to serve a one-bounce cross for Adam Hlousek to bury at the back post. However, he was also caught up when the hosts hit back 20 minutes from time. Though still winless after five matches, Nürnberg climbed one rung to 16th place.
Fabian Johnson also had an up-and-down outing, but in a better result as Hoffenheim rose to seventh place with a 2-1 home win over Borussia Mönchengladbach.
The left back took part in the build-up when Anthony Modeste beat the halftime whistle to break the ice, but also was the most culpable defender on the Foals' late consolation tally. Hoffenheim posted their first home win to stay unbeaten there so far this season.
North of the border in Denmark, Viborg center back Babajide Ogunbiyi starred at both ends of the field, striking the 1-0 winner at AGF Aarhus.
In addition to leading the line in a shutout of the second-highest scoring team in the Superliga, the 26-year-old nodded home a 20th-minute corner kick for his second goal in the last three games. The surprising Greens won for the third time in four to reach fifth place.
Turning to England's Championship, Daniel Williams went the full route in his first league start for Reading, a 0-0 stalemate with guests Brighton Hove & Albion that ended with each side down to 10 men.
The midfielder had two cracks at goal midway through the second half, nodding one over and firing the other straight at the away netminder. The result pushed eighth-place Reading's home undefeated streak in Championship play to 12 games.
Over in Norway's Tippeligaen, Mikkel Diskerud worked all 90 as Rosenborg dropped a frustrating 1-0 decision at Tromsø. Due to their first league loss in 16, the Troll Kids saw their tabletop cushion reduced to two points with seven to play.
Also, Steve Clark and Hønefoss slipped further from the safety zone with a 1-0 home loss to survival playoff-spot holders IK Start. The Michigan native made one save – a last-minute robbery of of Aleksander Solli – as the strugglers feel for the sixth time in eight.
