AMSTERDAM – Sacha Kljestan was one of three American to score across the pond on Sunday, nodding home his eighth goal of the season as Belgian champs Anderlecht got back on track with a 2-0 home win over Mons.
In addition to his 37th-minute winner, the former Chivas USA ace also assisted on Ronald Vargas' picturesque insurance tally shortly after intermission. The Mauves snapped a two-game win drought while also winning for the sixth straight time at home to stay within two points of Belgium's second Champions League slot.
Kljestan (above) is eyeing spot in the US national team lineup for the Americans' international friendly against Ukraine in Kharkiv on March 5. He appeared in seven games for the US last year, most recently in the team's 1-0 loss to Austria in November.
Daniel Williams scored for the second straight Championship road game on Sunday, bagging the opener as Reading posted a 3-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers.
The midfielder started the rush that ended with him netting a well-placed header on 10 minutes. Williams also rung up three tackles and a yellow card. By winning for the fifth time in seven league games, the sixth-place Royals pulled to within 10 points of an automatic promotion place.
Meanwhile, in the FA Cup round of 16, Tim Howard enjoyed a breather as Everton topped visiting Swansea City 3-1.
In Austria, birthday boy Terrence Boyd returned from suspension with a late consolation strike in Rapid Vienna's 2-1 loss at Admira Wacker Modling. Boyd turned 23 years old on Sunday and scored his eighth league goal and 13th across all competitions this term after coming in the 82nd minute, a moment after the hosts scored to go up two.
Losing for the fourth straight time away from home, third-place Rapid saw their edge for the last Europa League slot trimmed to a point.
Finally, John Anthony Brooks went unused as Hertha Berlin dropped a 2-1 home result to Wolfsburg. The capital crew fell for the third time in four in slipping a rung to eighth.
