AMSTERDAM — A pair of Americans laced up for some Monday night football overseas, with Oguchi Onyewu and Sporting CP remaining in the picture for a Champions League invite by topping guests Académica 2-1.
By posting their fifth straight win, the Lions assured themselves of no less than a fourth-place finish, which comes with a Europa League playoff-round berth. Sporting also pulled to within three points of Portugal's final Champions League entry, which is currently held by closing day visitors Braga.
For Onyewu, Monday's 90-minute shift was the latest encouraging sign in the World Cup veteran's recovery from knee surgery that had kept him out of action for nearly two months. Gooch also went 90 minutes in his return to Portuguese league play last weekend in a 3-2 win over Nacional de Madeira.
Over in Israel's Ligat Ha'Al, Leo Krupnick saw yellow as Maccabi Netanya fell 1-0 at Maccabi Tel Aviv. The home side hit with seven minutes left, dropping the Diamonds down to fourth place and out of a Europa League place by goal differential.
