American keeper Tim Howard saw his first playing time in an official game this season when he went 90 minutes for Manchester United in its 4-1 win over fourth-tier Barnet in an English League Cup third-round game.
Also seeing his first action of the season was forward Danny Karbassiyoon, who returned from injury and played the final 13 minutes of Burnley's 1-0 loss to Aston Villa. … Brian McBride did not play while Carlos Bocanegra was a 92nd-minute sub in Fulham's 3-2 overtime loss to West Bromwich Albion. … Blackburn's Brad Friedel celebrated a 3-0 win over Leeds, for which Eddie Lewis played the last 17 minutes, to advance to the fourth round. … American Zak Whitbread started for Liverpool in its 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace. … Defender Jay DeMerit and Watford went down, 3-0, at Wigan. … Keeper Marcus Hahnemann and Bobby Convey had the night off as their Reading beat Sheffield United, 2-0. … Defender Jonathan Spector stayed on the bench as his Charlton Altheltic beat Chelsea on penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie.
In the German Cup second round, U.S. defender Steve Cherundolo's cross led to the winning goal of a 2-1 victory over Alemannia Aachen. Earlier, a Cherundolo foul gave Aachen a penalty kick it didn't convert. … Keeper Kasey Keller gave up three goals as Borussia M'Gladbach fell, 3-0, to Hertha Berlin. … Joe Enochs played 120 minutes as his Third Division club, Osnabrueck, fell on penalty kicks to First Division Mainz after a 2-2 tie. Mainz's U.S. forward Conor Casey remains sidelined with injury. … Energie Cottbus defender Gregg Berhalter was involved in a mix-up with his keeper in one of the goals his team conceded in its 2-1 loss to Arminia Bielefeld. … Left back Ian Joy, a 24-year-old Southern California product, helped Third Division FC St. Pauli down Second Division leader VfL Bochum, 4-0.