AMSTERDAM – Stoke City handyman Geoff Cameron made slightly early return from injury on Sunday afternoon, coming on for the final 28 minutes to help the hosts score a 2-1 victory over Swansea City.
The US international entered to play defensive midfield in his first league action of the season and first of any kind for the Potters since August. Cameron completed all 15 of his passes, while adding three tackles and a shot block. Stoke bagged the winner 14 minutes from time to reach the better half of the table.
Across the North Sea in the Eredivisie, Rubio Rubin went 58 minutes as 10th place FC Utrecht snapped a two-game slide by winning 3-1 at Dordrecht. The right winger departed with his side up one, having worked a decent but unspectacular shift. Rubin was a bit starved for touches with Utrecht predominantly attacking down the left flank in the contest.
Across the border in Germany's Bundesliga, Timothy Chandler played the final 22 minutes in Eintracht Frankfurt's 3-1 defeat at Paderborn. The right back took the field with the game tied, but was not at fault for either of the visitors late strikes. Eintracht's first league loss in five dipped them three spots to eighth.
Julian Green dressed but did not appear as Hamburg fought back for a 1-1 home share with Hoffenheim. The pint lifted HSV a rung to 16th place.
One league below, in the 2.Bundesliga, Alfredo Morales worked his customary 90 minutes in midfield as league leaders Ingolstadt moved four points clear at the summit with a 1-0 triumph at FSV Frankfurt. The midfielder has a shot from distance tipped over the bar just past the hour mark. Ingolstadt extended their winning run to three matches and an unbeaten streak dating back to last season to 14.
Bobby Wood made a late cameo in 1860 Munich's 4-1 humbling at Erzgebirge Aue. The Lions have lost three of four to fall into the next-to-last position in the table.
In Austria's top flight, Conor O'Brien pitched in with a solid outing as Wiener Neustadt battled to a 0-0 draw with visiting Sturm Graz. The midfielder notched four tackles and three interceptions as the cellar dwellers snapped a four-game losing streak.
Finally, up in Norway, Rosenborg midfielder Mikkel Diskerud left early with a leg knock as Rosenborg stayed clear in Norway's final Europa League berth with a 3-2 home victory over derby rivals Vålerenga. The US international required medical attention early in the contest before leaving in the 36th minute. The Troll Kids have now won three straight and six of seven.
Elsewhere, manager Bob Bradley's Stabæk clinched survival with a 1-1 draw against visiting Viking. Michael Stephens went the distance for the Blue Ones, who nudged their way up to eighth place.
