AMSTERDAM – It was a good news Saturday night for Americans stationed overseas, with Nantes attacker Alejandro Bedoya's season debut contributing to a leave-it-late 1-0 victory over Ligue 1 guests Reims.
The US international entered to work the No. 10 slot behind new Canaries target striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson just past the hour mark. Moments later, his deep right-wing cross picked out the Iceland ace, who somehow managed to head well over from close range.
In all, Bedoya committed but one handling turnover while completing 22 of 23 passes, which included six positive link passes in the attacking half and three dangerous serves from the right flank.
Thanks to Nantes left back Ermir Lenjani's 76th-minute bombing raid, the unbeaten hosts – who have yet to leak a goal through three rounds – firmly planted their flag in fourth place until next weekend.
Turning focus to Norway's Tippeligaen, Cole Grossman netted a goal to help Bob Bradley's red-hot Stabæk side apply pressure on the league leaders with a 4-2 win at Sandefjord.
The former Real Salt Lake midfielder doubled an early away lead by picking the far corner from 20 yards out in the right channel on 12 minutes. Sandefjord would eventually respond to Grossman's fourth goal of the term by fighting back to equalize, but the Blue Ones hit twice in the final quarter hour to win their fourth league game in a row.
Bradley's boys moved to within four points of current table-toppers Rosenborg, who host Rhett Bernstein and Mjøndalen on Sunday night. The top two teams in the standings are also set to clash in Trondheim on Sept. 13.
