AMSTERDAM – Americans playing in Europe finished a win over .500 on Saturday, with Geoff Cameron going the distance at left back in Stoke City's 1-0 defeat of guests Fulham.
The former Houston Dynamo man (above, right) was solid in defense as injury cover, but didn't get forward as often as usual. The warming Potters extended their league unbeaten run at home to 13 games and their Brittania shutout streak to 415 minutes.
Around the EPL, Brad Guzan needed only one save and 36 minutes of capable right back relief from Eric Lichaj to post Aston Villa's 0-0 draw with visiting Arsenal. Though they still haven't beaten the Gunners at home in 14 seasons, the point was enough to lift Villa out of the drop zone.
Everton netminder Tim Howard will probably feel he could have saved the win after conceding near the death in a 1-1 home draw with Norwich City. The US No. 1 notched three fine saves to move his Goodison unbeaten streak to 10, but fell back into his net to allow Sebastian Bassong's last-minute restart header from a sharp angle.
A league below in the Championship, Jonathan Spector notched a equalizing assist in the 82nd minute, but Birmingham City still fell late in a 3-2 collapse at Derby County.
The US handyman surged forward from right back to serve a tempting cross for Peter Løvenkrands to temporarily knot the match. The defeat, their first in four on the road, kept the Brums chained to 19th place.
Leicester City center back Zak Whitbread saw yellow during his full shift in a 2-0 victory at Sheffield Wednesday. The Foxes climbed two spots to third place and to within four points of the top.
Tim Ream returned to the Bolton lineup with 78 minutes of a 1-1 draw with visiting Brighton Hove & Albion. Thanks to their fourth consecutive draw, Wanderers slipped to 18th place.
Turning to the Bundesliga, Jermaine Jones picked up his first booking in seven league games as Schalke settled for a 1-1 home draw with Eintracht Frankfurt.
The midfielder had big chances to put his side back in the lead with a 33rd-minute header and a free shot from near the spot just past the hour, but was denied each time by away netminder Kevin Trapp. The Miners saw a four-game Veltins win streak fall by the wayside on their way down to third place.
Tim Chandler enjoyed an active outing as FC Nürnberg rose from the relegation mire with a 0-0 draw at Greuther Fürth. From a game that produced just one combined shot on goal, the visitors snapped a four-game road losing skid.
Hannover 96 right back Steve Cherundolo was culpable on one goal of a 5-0 drubbing at table-toppers Bayern Munich. The Reds fell to seventh thanks to the 10th loss in their last dozen Bundesliga road matches.
In nearby Belgium, Sacha Kljestan worked a solid 82 minutes as Anderlecht cruised through Germinal Beerschot by a 4-1 count. The Mauves recorded their fifth straight Jupiler League win to move four points clear in the penthouse.
One level down in the 2.Bundesliga, Bobby Wood made his first 1860 Munich appearance after nearly 13 months out recovering from injury in their 2-2 draw at Union Berlin. The result knocked the Lions back a rung to eighth.
Meanwhile, in La Liga, Oguchi Onyewu was an unused sub as Málaga schooled visiting Valencia 4-0. The Anchovies halted a five-game win drought to retain hold on fourth place and the final Champions league slot.
On Friday night, Randers FC forward Charlie Davies saw straight red in stoppage time of 1-0 home loss to Aalborg BK. The 82nd-minute sub was judged to have used an intentional headbutt in lunging at AaB defender Jakob Ahlmann Nielsen after the two tussled over possession in the corner.
