AMSTERDAM – A pair of Americans lit the lamp in Europe on Saturday, with Brøndby skipper Clarence Goodson striking in the 84th minute to salvage a 1-1 derby draw at FC Copenhagen.
The US center back crept forward to deposit Jens Stryger Larsen's left-wing cross at the far post six minutes from time. Thanks to Goodson's rescue, Brøndby snapped a four-game losing skid away to their local rivals.
Elsewhere in the Danish Superliga, Charlie Davies worked the final 18 minutes as Randers won for the fourth time in five games, 2-1 at Silkeborg. The American went close to adding on just after Alexander Fischer's 75th-minute winner, which lifted the Horses up to second place.
In nearby Sweden, Alejandro Bedoya punctuated his Helsingborg debut with a bicycle-kick opener, only to watch league leaders Elfsborg rally over the final 20 minutes for a 2-1 home win.
Filling in at striker for the Allsvenskan holders, Bedoya unleashed a quick overhead kick to halt a free-kick scramble in the 37th minute. The New Jersey native also saw yellow just before halftime as Helsingborg slipped 10 points off the top with 11 games to play.
It was opening day in the England, where Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur dropped their Premier League opener by a 2-1 count at Newcastle. The former USMNT hero fell victim to a diabolical Demba Ba strike 10 minutes out of intermission and Hatem Ben Arfa's deciding spot kick in the 80th minute.
Meanwhile, both Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj remained spectators as Aston Villa fell 1-0 at promoted West Ham United.
One league below in the Championship, Will Packwood and Jonathan Spector shared the right-back spot in Birmingham's 1-1 rally share with guests Charlton.
After a fine showing, Packwood departed in favor of his countryman to applause from boss Lee Clark in the 63rd minute. The Brums managed to escape defeat on a stoppage-time goal from Nikola Zigic.
Bolton defender Tim Ream was culpable on the late first-half icebreaker in a 2-0 defeat at Burnley.
Conor Doyle went unused as Derby County posted a 2-2 share with visiting Sheffield Wednesday.
Over in Belgium, Sacha Kljestan came on for the final 10 minutes in Anderlecht's 2-1 victory over Mons. Despite the win, the Mauves slipped to second place behind Club Brugge on goals scored.
Finally, in Scotland's fourth tier, Carlos Bocanegra's early penalty foul was long forgotten by the time Rangers had concluded a 5-1 rout of East Stirlingshire. The goal-differential bonanza put the Light Blue on the summit through two rounds.
