AMSTERDAM — It was a hot and cold Sunday afternoon for Americans playing in Europe, with Brad Friedel and Tottenham reclaiming hold of the EPL's fourth Champions League slot thanks to a 2-0 win over Blackburn at White Hart Lane.
The former US star had a light day at the office, with no saves required to book his 13th clean sheet of the season. Friedel also moved to within one of the American record for wins in a single EPL season, a mark he shares on 19 with Tim Howard.
North of the border in Scotland, Carlos Bocanegra and Maurice Edu each went the distance as Rangers suffered a disappointing 3-0 derby loss at Celtic. With Alejandro Bedoya a dugout spectator, the Light Blues had a four-game win streak go up in smoke at Parkhead.
Heading to the Eredivisie, Jozy Altidore and AZ Alkmaar saw their title hopes evaporate with a 1-0 defeat at Feyenoord.
The US striker, who came off five minutes from time, was denied on AZ's best chance of the day while the game was still scoreless early in the second half. The result dropped the beaten visitors to fourth, three points out of the second Champions League spot with two games left.
To the north in Denmark, Brad Rusin worked 88 solid minutes in defense as HB Køge kept hopes of staying up alive with a 2-1 victory over AC Horsens. With five matches remaining, the basement side is four points out of the survival playoff place and nine short of direct safety.
Meanwhile, Conor O'Brien and SønderjyskE stayed unbeaten in seven with a 3-3 draw against Clarence Goodson's visiting Brøndby.
The point clinched seventh place SønderjyskE's place in the Superliga for next season. Now winless in five, Brøndby are all but safe in ninth.
