AMSTERDAM — It was a big day for a couple of Americans in Europe, with Matt Taylor notching three goals along with a hat trick of assists in Paderborn's 10-0 demolition of DfB Pokal hosts Ahlen.
Mere seconds after the kickoff that followed his first helper of the day, the former MLS forward stabbed home his side's fourth on the half hour. Taylor then added a close range blast in the 71st minute and an easy walk-in near time.
In other German Cup action, Timothy Chandler set up the visitors' first as FC Nürnberg stormed into the second round with a 5-1 triumph at Arminia Bielefeld.
The hosts struck first, but in the 26th minute, the US international slipped Markus Feulner into long bombing range and the midfielder obliged by burying his shot to level matters.
The day looked to be going as well for Bayer Leverkusen debutant David Yelldell until late, when the netminder and his teammates blew a three-goal edge to fall 4-3 at Dynamo Dresden in extras. It was a case of rude guests for 67 minutes, with Yelldell on form and Vizekusen seemingly in control. However, Dynamo hit three times inside a 19-minute span, with the American found lacking on the 86th minute equalizer.
Three minutes from the end of the second overtime session, Alexander Schnetzler got loose on a counter breakaway to chip Yelldell and send Dresden into hysterics.
There were other heroics to be found up north, where Molde FK right back stand-in Josh Gatt scored his first goal in the Norwegian Tippeligaen and added an assist in the league leaders' 2-1 victory over Vålerenga.
The teen speedster teed up Magne Hoseth for a long range cracker just before intermission for his second helper of the season. Just past the hour, Gatt capped a fine counterattack by wiggling into the area to slot home.
Over in Scotland, Maurice Edu was better as a nuisance than a ball carrier during his 83 minutes at right midfield as Rangers got in the win column with a 2-0 success at St. Johnstone.
Danish SAS Liga play saw Michael Parkhurst go the distance in FC Nordsjaellend's 2-0 loss at holders FC Copenhagen.
Finally, Eugene Starikov worked a strong first half in Tom Tomsk's 1-0 defeat to Terek Grozny in Russian Premier League action.
