What had the potential to be a battle of the Americans ended up not happening, with Brad Guzan giving way to the returning Shay Given in goal for Aston Villa. Tim Howard and Landon Donovan started in the 1-1 draw. Donovan assisted on Victor Anichebe's equalizer, with a pass that probably reminded too many of the Everton faithful why Donovan is such an upgrade for their club. Donovan's La Galaxy teammate Robbie Keane made a cameo appearance on loan to Villa, subbing on in the 81st minute.
We got our noses in front," Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish said. "But Everton are a tough team. They make it hard - they are dangerous at set-pieces and they have one or two players who can make a difference."
Brad Friedel and Spurs also ended at 1-1, drawing with Wolverhampton. Clint Dempsey and Fulham were on the wrong side of a 3-1 score line against Blackburn, even though it was Fulham playing a man up from the 23rd minute. Better news for Zak Whitbread and Norwich City, beating West Brom 2-1. A league down, Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City rolled over Millwall 6-0. Robbie Findley came on in the 72nd minute for Nottingham Forest, losing 3-0 to Southampton.
In Scotland, Carlos Bocanegra and Maurice Edu started for Rangers in a 2-1 win over St Johnstone. Nikica Jelavic scored in the 24th and 81st minutes for Rangers, with Bocanegra credited for a 68th minute own goal. Edu was yellow carded in the 73rd minute.
Portugal, and Oguchi Onyewu went the distance for Sporting in a 2-1 loss to Braga. Michael Bradley got the start for Chievo in a 1-0 Serie A win over Palermo. Chievo are 10th in the table. The Jupiler league resumed in Belgium, with Sacha Kljestan and Anderlecht picking up a 3-0 win over Club Brugge. Kljestan was yellow carded in the 45th minute.
Mexico's Clausura, and a battle of the National Teamers with Jose Francisco Torres's Pachuca getting the better of DaMarcus Beasley's Puebla 3-1. Torres got the start and Beasley subbed on in the 62nd minute. Michael Orozco went the distance for San Luis in Friday's game, a 2-0 win over U.A.G. Edgar Castillo started for Tijuana in their 1-0 win over Monterrey. Earlier this week, Puebla's stadium was seized by Mexican officials over back taxes.
Did Not Play: (Marcus Hahnemann: Everton 1 - Villa 1), Brad Guzan (Villa 1 - Everton 1), Dominic Cervi (Celtic 2 - Dundee United 1), Alejandro Bedoya (Rangers 2 - St Johnstone 1), Herculez Gomez (Santos Laguna 2 - Atlante 1), Jonathan Bornstein (Tigres 1 - Queretaro 0),
Injured: Eric Lichaj (Villa 1 - Everton 1), Stuart Holden (Bolton 0 - Manchester United 3)
