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The AZ Alkmaar attacker was crucial in the 3-3 draw with Heerenveen, while Mark Schwarzer and Adam Federici both impressed in goals in England

Australia international Brett Holman provided two assists as AZ Alkmaar drew 3-3 with fellow title challengers Heerenveen in the Dutch Eredivisie on Sunday.

In a match between second and third, the Australian attacker played a key role, setting up goals for Jozy Altidore and Eric Falkenburg.

Holman played a part in Altidore's opening goal on 26 minutes, before combining again with the American on 38 minutes but Heerenveen scrambled the ball clear.

With scores at 1-1 on 58 minutes, Holman then found Altidore who took a touch before netting to give AZ the lead.

Heerenveen rallied to take the lead, but AZ claimed a late leveller on 83 minutes, Holman setting up Falkenburg's equaliser. Holman would be replaced on 84 minutes.

In England's Championship, Adam Federici made some key saves to deny Socceroo Rhys Williams and Lukas Jutkiewicz as Reading won 2-0 at fellow promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough.

Federici did well throughout the game to ensure he kept another clean sheet to boost the Royals' promotion bid.

England
Tim Cahill (Everton): Not in action this weekend.
Vince Grella (Blackburn): Not in the Rovers squad which lost 3-0 at Manchester City.
Chris Herd (Aston Villa): Back on the Villa bench after injury in the 0-0 draw with Wigan.
Brad Jones (Liverpool): Not in the Reds squad which won the League Cup on penalties over Cardiff City.
Massimo Luongo (Tottenham): Not in the Spurs squad which lost 5-2 at Arsenal.
Mark Schwarzer (Fulham): Made some fine saves in the 1-0 victory at QPR.
Ryan Williams (Fulham): Not in the squad which won 1-0 at QPR.

STAR OF THE WEEKEND

Brett Holman

Teed up the goals in AZ's crucial 3-3 draw with fellow title contenders Heerenveen

Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace): Played a full game but missed a good chance when unmarked in the 0-0 draw at West Ham.
Neil Kilkenny (Bristol City): Put in a full shift in the 3-1 home loss to Blackpool.
Paddy Kisnorbo (Leeds United): Out injured (knee) for the 0-0 draw with Portsmouth.
Shane Lowry (Millwall): Played a full game but conceded a late penalty as the struggling Lions recorded a big 3-1 win at Burnley.
Scott McDonald (Middlesbrough): Out injured (knee) for the 2-0 loss to Reading.
Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough): Played a full game and almost scored with a looping header in the 2-0 loss to Reading.
Dean Bouzanis (Oldham): Was an unused sub in the 1-0 victory over Tranmere.
Alex Cisak (Oldham): Played a full game and made some good saves to keep a clean sheet in the win over Tranmere.
James Wesolowski (Oldham): Out injured (shoulder) for the Tranmere win.

Germany
Mitchell Langerak (Borussia Dortmund): Was an unused substitute in the 3-1 win over Hannover.
Mathew Leckie (Borussia Monchengladbach): Was an unused substitute in Friday's 1-1 draw with Hamburg.
Nikita Rukavytsya (Hertha Berlin): Was a 53rd-minute substitute in the 3-0 loss at Augsburg.
Robbie Kruse (Fortuna Dusseldorf): Scheduled to face Alemannia Aachen on Monday.

Netherlands
Jason Davidson (Heracles): Didn't make the squad for the 3-1 loss at VVV Venlo.
Tommy Oar (FC Utrecht): Out injured for the 1-0 loss at Twente.
Adam Sarota (FC Utrecht): Absent for the 1-0 defeat at Twente.
Michael Zullo (FC Utrecht): Out injured for the 1-0 loss at Twente.

Italy
Carl Valeri (Sassuolo): Put in a full shift in the disappointing 0-0 draw with relegation battlers Ascoli.

Turkey
Kerem Bulut (Eskisehirspor): Didn't make the squad for the famous 2-1 win over Fenerbahce.
James Troisi (Kayserispor): Played a full game in Friday's 1-0 loss at Orduspor.

Scotland
Ryan McGowan (Hearts): Got an early call off the bench as a 40th-minute substitute after Ian Black's injury, in the 2-0 home loss to Dundee United where he played in central defence.
Aaron Mooy (St Mirren): Was an unused substitute in the 1-1 home draw with Aberdeen.

Switzerland
Scott Chipperfield (FC Basel): Wasn't in the squad which won 1-0 over FC Zurich.

Austria
James Holland (Austria Vienna): Started and played 63 minutes in the 1-0 home loss to Kapfenberger SV.

Croatia
Steve Lustica (Hajduk Split): Did not play in the 1-1 draw with Istra 1961.

China
Milan Susak (Tianjin Teda): Started and played an hour in the 2-1 loss to Guangzhou Evergrande in the Chinese Super Cup.

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