AMSTERDAM – Anderlecht midfielder Sacha Kljestan scored for the second straight Jupiler League game on Sunday, bagging the late winner in a 3-0 success at Waasland-Beveren.
The US international, who had not struck in consecutive league matches since his days with Chivas USA in April of 2008, buried a Demy De Zeeuw centering feed in the 74th minute. With their third win in a row, the defending champs climbed back to the fifth-place rung they held before the round began.
Across the border in France, Alejandro Bedoya made his Ligue 1 debut for Nantes with 38 relief minutes in a 2-1 defeat away to regional rivals Lorient.
The fresh capture had a golden opportunity to level matters in the last minute of stoppage time, only to watch his close-range effort from a loose ball heroically cleared off the line by Lorient defender Lamine Koné. The loss dipped the Canaries one spot to fifth place.
In Germany's Bundesliga, Timothy Chandler hopped off the bench for 33 minutes in FC Nürnberg's 2-2 rally draw at Hertha Berlin.
The substitute right back was not at fault on either Hertha goal during his shift, but did pick up a yellow card. Meanwhile, John Anthony Brooks came on eight minutes from time to help preserve the home side's lead, only to give up the last-gasp danger free kick buried by Hiroshi Kiyotake for the equalizer.
Over in England's Premier League, Brad Friedel watched from the dugout as Tottenham got their season started right with a 1-0 derby victory at promoted Crystal Palace.
Turning to the Danish Superliga, Babajide Ogunbiyi saw yellow during a strong full shift as risers Viborg posted a 3-0 win at SønderjyskE. Thanks to their first win of the season, the Greens tentatively jumped five places to fifth.
A ferry ride away in the Norwegian Tippeligaen, Steve Clark made five saves as cellar dwellers Hønefoss dropped a 1-0 decision to visiting Sandnes Ulf. In the 62nd minute, the Michigan native was left a bit stranded by a free-kick pinball that ended in the unfortunate own goal that decided that game.
