AMSTERDAM – Fabian Johnson helped warming Hoffenheim snap a long pair of Bayern Muncih winning streaks on Saturday, as the visitors fought back from two down for a 3-3 share with the already-crowned Bundesliga champions at Allianz Arena.
The US international (pictured above right) worked all 90 minutes, with most of his involvement coming in the middle third of the field. Johnson was not directly involved in any of the goals and both of his crosses in the attacking end failed to find a Hoffenheim taker.
The rally draw, which halted Bayern's 19-game win streak in league play, also ended a 21-game home run of victories that saw the rampant holders outscore guests by a 71-12 combined margin. Despite the result, however, Hoffenheim slipped to eight points adrift of a Europa League slot.
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On opening weekend for Norway, Mikkel Diskerud hopped off the bench at intermission to fire the hosts' first goal of the Tippeligaen season in a 2-2 share with Viking.
Just past the hour, the No. 42 shirt fired across his body with enough power that the away goalkeeper getting fingers to the low shot was not enough to keep it from chugging inside the far post. Diskerud also scored in Rosenborg's home opener last season, but this goal was not enough as the Troll Kids wasted a two-goal lead held with three minutes to play.
Turning to England's Premier League, Geoff Cameron and Stoke City stayed hot with a 1-0 triumph over visiting Hull City.
The former Houston Dynamo ace rang up four clearances and a pair of tackles at right back as the Potters posted their first three-game EPL win streak since 2011. Now 4-0-1 in their last five, Stoke jumped two spots to 12th place.
Elsewhere, Brad Guzan and Aston Villa blew an early lead to fall 4-1 to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The netminder had no chance on any of the goals, but managed two saves and four cross claims. His best work came to deny Wayne Rooney a hat trick from close range, but it was of little consequence as the Red Devils doomed 12th-place Villa to a second successive defeat.
In Austria's top flight, Terrence Boyd and Rapid Vienna held firm in second place with a 2-0 victory over visiting Sturm Graz.
The forward went without a goal for the fourth straight league game, picking up a yellow 10 minutes before his stoppage-time exit. Rapid have won four straight for the first time since 2012, all by shutout.
One level down in the Championship, Reading midfielder Daniel Williams made his injury return with a tidy 79-minute outing in their 1-1 home draw with Huddersfield Town.
With Duane Holmes watching from the away dugout, the World Cup hopeful had strong day passing the ball as the sixth-place Royals saw their home win drought reach six games.
Around the league, Bolton left back Tim Ream was twice robbed by the Wigan netminder as the home side settled for a 1-1 derby draw.
Inside the first half of the opening frame, Ream cruelly had a pair of fine efforts from the edge of the area tipped by Latics 'keeper Ali Al-Habsi. Wanderers eventually surrendered their slim lead two minutes from time, but the point gained nudged them 10 points clear of the bottom three.
Oguchi Onyewu and Sheffield Wednesday were overrun at home in a 4-1 defeat to Watford.
In addition to nodding off the crossbar in the waning moments, US center back piled up six interceptions, five clearances and five offside traps as the Hornets controlled play with 70 percent of the ball. Despite Wednesday surrendering a four-game win streak, they remain 13 points above the trap door.
Jonathan Spector thanklessly returned to right back in Birmingham City's 4-2 loss to visiting Bournemouth.
The veteran tried to help his side rally late with a surge forward and cross in the 75th minute, only to have Lee Novak head just over the bar. The Brums have lost three of four to hang five points over the danger zone with seven games to play.
In French Ligue 1 action, Nantes playmaker Alejandro Bedoya was busy despite going without so many touches in a 0-0 home draw with Bordeaux.
The Boston College product, who went 80 minutes, forced a tremendous reaction save when a loose ball fell to him on the doorstep at the half-hour mark. Unbeaten in four, the Canaries remained settled in 13th place.
