Earnie Stewart and Conor Casey each scored goals for their clubs in a positive weekend for several Americans in Europe. Stewart’s impressive solo effort was the difference in a crucial road victory for NAC Breda. Also in Holland, John O’Brien continues to be a staple in midfield for first-place Ajax. In Germany, Casey took a pass from Steve Cherundolo to put Hannover off to a good start against Babelsburg.

Netherlands

= Earnie Stewart (NAC Breda, D1) vs. Den Bosch, 2-1. Started: 90 minutes. Perhaps inspired by the birth of his second child last week, Stewart returned to the lineup in style, scoring the eventual game-winner on a solo effort in the 62nd minute. Stewart dribbled through several defenders before putting a shot into the top corner. The road victory was an important one in Breda’s quest for a spot in next season’s UEFA Cup. Currently in sixth place, Breda has a seven-point margin over Utrecht and trails Heerenveen and Vitesse Arnhem by one point. = John O’Brien (Ajax, D1) vs. De Graafschap, 4-0. Started: 90 minutes. O’Brien set up an injury-time insulator by Sousa Campos Wamberto for Ajax, which increased its lead in the Dutch Honor Division to five points.

England

FA Cup Quarterfinals

= Joe-Max Moore (Everton, PL) vs. Middlesbrough, 0-3. Started: 45 minutes. Moore received a rating of 4 from the London Times, which said, “Clearly lacked match sharpness and did not have the power to trouble the Middlesbrough defence.” = Kasey Keller (Tottenham, PL) vs. Chelsea, 0-4. DNP. Starting goalkeeper Neil Sullivan had a poor showing for Tottenham, perhaps opening the possibility that Keller get a chance to start soon. Wire reports said Spurs “have conceded eight goals in their last two games, and a large slice of the blame rests with out-of-sorts Neil Sullivan.” Eighth-place Tottenham must play Chelsea again Wednesday in an important league match.

Germany

= Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96, D2) vs. SV Babelsburg, 3-1. Started: 90 minutes: The American duo got Hannover off to a great start in this match when Cherundolo sent a diagonal ball through the Babelsburg defense to Casey for an easy finish in the first minute. = Conor Casey (Hannover 96, D2) vs. SV Babelsburg, 3-1. Stared: 90 minutes: Casey scored his second goal in as many games — validating his second start of the season. He now has three goals in 10 appearances for Hannover. = Cory Gibbs (St. Pauli, D1) vs. Freiburg, 1-0. Started: 90 minutes. Another important victory for St. Pauli, which sits second-to-last in the Bundesliga, needing four points in the standings to move out of the relegation zone. = Frank Hejduk (Bayer Leverkusen, D1) vs. Energie Cottbus, 2-0. DNP. = Tony Sanneh (Nuremberg, D1) vs. Werder Bremen, 0-4. Started: 90 minutes. Nuremberg sits perilously above the relegation zone after this lopsided defeat. = Dema Kovalenko (St. Pauli, D1) vs. Freiburg, 1-0. DNP.

France

= Greg Vanney (Bastia, D1) Started and played 90 minutes in Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to Paris St. Germain.

Chile

= Jonny Walker (Universidad Catolica, D1) vs. Santiago Morning, 2-3. DNP – Walker and several other regular starters rested in anticipation of Wednesday’s Copa Libertadores match against Flamengo. Last Thursday, Catolica lost a Libertadores Cup showdown, 3-0, to Colombia’s Once Caldas. Walker played the whole 90 minutes in that game.