AMSTERDAM – It was a rough Saturday afternoon for Americans playing in Europe, with Stoke City right back Geoff Cameron the only top flight participant to avoid defeat in a 2-2 Premier League draw at Southampton.
The US international worked a decent full shift that included eight clearances, good for second best among the visitors. In dropping a spot to 12th place, Stoke snapped a four-game EPL road losing slide while remaining winless away since August.
Around the league, Brad Guzan was victimized by both his defense and Kevin Nolan twice in a three-minute span early in the second half as Aston Villa dropped a 2-0 home decision to West Ham United.
As his team repeatedly misfired despite 68 percent possession, the former Chivas USA man went without a save for the first time this season. Villa slipped to 11th on their second straight defeat.
Jozy Altidore will be one of few Sunderland players spared reprimands following a 2-0 home loss to Hull City.
Down to 10 men after just four minutes, the Black Cats were unable to take advantage of a strong day of hold-up work by the US striker. Despite their first EPL loss in five, Sunderland stayed a point above the trap door in 17th.
Over in the Bundesliga, Timothy Chandler was forced off with an apparent calf injury just 10 minutes into FC Nürnberg's 2-0 home loss to runaway leaders Bayern Munich.
The right back departed for treatment and observation as the hosts went on to lose for the first time in six games. Nürnberg fell into the survival playoff hole, but could slip further into the drop zone if Hamburg manage as much as a draw in the evening match.
Meanwhile, Fabian Johnson went unused in 11th place Hoffenheim's 1-1 share at Freiburg.
Down a level in the Championship, Will Packwood went the distance in helping Birmingham City get well with a 2-0 victory at Charlton.
The young center back led all players with 15 clearances on the day. The Brums snapped a five-game win drought in league play to jump nine points clear of the danger zone.
Elsewhere, Brek Shea was removed with a stomach illness at intermission of Barnsley's 2-2 draw with guests Ipswich Town.
The right winger was not often connected to the action during his 45 minutes, but left with the Tykes up a goal. Barnsley would eventually concede twice in the final nine minutes to settle for the point that put them within four of the safety zone.
Tim Ream enjoyed a strong outing moving into attack as Bolton also squandered a two-goal lead in a 2-2 deadlock with Bournemouth.
The Wanderers left back got away with a couple of errors at the back, but could not stay out of the ref's book in the 66th minute. Still docked in 19th place, Bolton ended a three-game league losing streak, but remained winless in seven.
Daniel Williams went 65 minutes as 10-man Reading suffered a 2-0 defeat against visiting Sheffield Wednesday.
The defensive midfielder ran hot-and-cold before clocking out for a more attack-minded teammate. Sixth-place Reading have now lost three of their last six home games.
Finally, in Belgium, Sacha Kljestan watched on as Anderlecht rallied late for a 2-2 draw at Kortrijk. Now winless in four away games, the defending champs inched to within nine points of the top.
