In the English Premier League, Mark Schwarzer was the hero for Fulham, pulling off a trademark penalty save with virtually the last kick of the game in Fulham’s dramatic 3-3 draw with Arsenal. After leading 3-2 earlier in the game, Fulham looked to have thrown away a share of the points when Arsenal won a controversial penalty in the 95th minute, only for Schwarzer to save Mikel Arteta’s penalty with a low, diving save to his left.

Adam Federici made his first league start for Reading since late August following an injury to Alex McCarthy. Federici made the most of the opportunity, keeping a clean sheet in Reading’s 0-0 draw with Norwich. Federici was barely tested in a game which featured little attacking quality.

Brad Jones retained his spot in the Liverpool side that drew 1-1 away to Chelsea. Jones made a handful of decent saves to keep his side in the game after they fell a goal behind in the first half thanks to John Terry’s powerful header. The pick of the saves was in the second half to deny Fernando Torres’ downward header.

Jones was also in action in the Europa League on Thursday, playing a full match in goal as an under-strength Liverpool lost 1-0 away to Anzhi Makhachkala. Despite being beaten on the stroke of half-time by Lacina Traore’s lobbed effort, Jones had a decent game between the sticks, twice denying Samuel Eto’o including a stunning save in the first half.

Elsewhere, Brett Holman was an 81st minute substitute as Aston Villa blew a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to Manchester United. Chris Herd was absent from the match-day squad through injury.

In the English Championship, Scott McDonald played a full match and was lively in Middlesbrough’s 3-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday. McDonald would’ve scored his fifth goal of the season had Ishmael Miller not converted his goal bound shot from one yard out after McDonald had slotted the ball under Wednesday ‘keeper Chris Kirkland. Rhys Williams was absent from the match-day squad through injury.

Elsewhere, Shane Lowry played the full 90 minutes and provided an assist as Millwall’s good form continued, beating Derby County 2-1. Lowry, who was booked in the first half, whipped in a low cross which was converted at the back post by Liam Feeney.

Mile Jedinak put in a full shift in midfield as Crystal Palace remained top following a 2-1 win over Peterborough, while Patrick Kisnorbo watched on from the bench as Leeds United were thumped 6-1 at home to Watford.

Neil Kilkenny started and played 70 minutes as Bristol City’s poor form continued, losing 2-0 at home to Charlton in a match that was dubbed a relegation six-pointer.

In the English League One, Dean Bouzanis played a full game in goal as Oldham lost 1-0 to Tranmere Rovers. James Wesolowski played 57 minutes in the clash and picked up a yellow card, his fifth of the season, meaning he will miss next week’s clash with Bournemouth. Meanwhile, Alex Cisak was an unused substitute.

Bailey Wright put in a full shift as Preston beat Stevenage 4-1, fellow defender Shane Cansdell-Sherriff missed the clash with a hamstring problem.

In the English League Two, James Meredith and Jamie Young played the full 90 minutes for their respective sides as Meredith’s Bradford City beat Young’s Aldershot Town 2-0, while Aaron Downes played 90 minutes in Torquay’s 0-0 draw with Oxford. Downes thought he found the winner on 52 minutes after finding the back of the net with a header, but he was adjudged to have been offside.

In the Scottish Premier League, Ryan McGowan put in a full shift as Hearts’ sluggish season continued, drawing 1-1 with Inverness. Dylan McGowan was a half time substitute in the clash and acquitted himself well in midfield, putting in several crunching challenges, one which saw him earn a yellow card.

Elsewhere, Alex Baird was an unused substitute as Dundee FC drew 1-1 with Motherwell.

In the Scottish First Division, Marc Warren was absent from the match-day squad as Airdrie United were beaten 3-1 at home to Livingston.

In the Scottish Third Division, Francesco Stella was absent from the match-day squad as Rangers beat Peterhead 2-0.

In the German Bundesliga, Robbie Kruse scored his first goal of the season in Fortuna Dusseldorf’s 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim. Kruse struck the games opener in the fourth minute, heading home Ronny Garbuschewski’s free-kick at the back post. Kruse was a constant threat throughout the 90 minutes with his precise dribbling continually drawing fouls, including 2 in 4 minutes from Marvin Compper which saw the German left-back sent off.

Elsewhere, Nikita Rukavytsya started and played 58 minutes in FSV Mainz’s 2-1 win over Nurnberg, while Mitch Langerak was an unused substitute as Borussia Dortmund beat FC Augsburg 3-1.  

In the German Second Division, Mathew Leckie was a 73rd minute substitute as FSV Frankfurt lost 1-0 to TSV 1860 Munchen.  Leckie had a golden chance to find an equaliser late in the game, but he couldn’t beat ‘keeper Gabor Kiraly from close range.

In the Dutch Eredivisie, Tommy Oar played 83 minutes as FC Utrecht crashed back down to earth with a 4-1 thumping from lowly RKC Waalwijk. Oar was relatively quiet but did create a first half chance for Alexander Gerndt, who missed the target from inside the box. Oar was replaced by fellow Aussie Michael Zullo for the final seven minutes, while Adam Sarota missed the clash with a knee injury.

Elsewhere, Jason Davidson made his first appearance in more than two months, coming on in the 75th minute as Heracles went down 3-2 to NEC Nijmegen.

In Austria, James Holland played 75 minutes as Austria Wien remained fifth points clear at the top of the table following a 3-0 win over Wacker Innsbruck.

In Denmark, Brent McGrath was a 73rd minute substitute as Brondby got off the foot of the table following a come from behind 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Silkeborg. McGrath was involved in his sides first goal on 79 minutes, as his blocked shot fell for Simon Makienok who lashed it home before scoring again in injury time to steal the points. 

In the Italian Serie A, James Troisi was an unused substitute as Atalanta moved into sixth spot with a shock 3-2 win over Inter Milan.

In the Serie B, Carl Valeri was left out of the match-day squad as Sassuolo beat Novara 2-0.

In the Belgian Second Division, Kofi Danning was absent from the match-day squad as CS Vise lost 3-1 to Eendracht Aalst.

In the Russian Premier League, Luke Wilkshire picked up a hamstring injury and was replaced after 17 minutes in Dinamo Moscow’s 2-0 win over Alania Vladikavkaz.

In Serbia, Eli Babalj was a 79th minute substitute as Red Star Belgrade lost further ground on first-placed Partizan Belgrade following a 1-0 loss to OFK Beograd.

In Croatia, Tomi Juric was a 90th minute substitute as Inter Zapresic drew 1-1 with NK Osijek. Elsewhere, Steven Lustica was absent from the match-day squad as Hajduk Split moved into second spot on the table following a 1-0 win over NK Zagreb.

In the Czech Republic, Kerem Bulut was an unused substitute as Mlada Boleslav beat FK Jablonec 3-2.

In the K-League, Matt McKay picked up an injury and was forced off after 38 minutes in Busan I’Park’s 0-0 draw with Gyeongnam who were still without Luke Devere who is said to be back in Australia for personal reasons while also receiving treatment on a knee injury.

Adrian Madaschi put in a full shift in defence as Jeju United drew 1-1 with Pohang Steelers. Madaschi nearly found the back of the net in the first half, as his goal bound header from a corner was blocked on the line before being smashed home by Jae-Won Heo.

Elsewhere, Alex Wilkinson put in a full shift in defence as Jeonbuk Motors drew 1-1 with Eddy Bosnar’s Suwon Bluewings. Bosnar came off the bench to make a brief appearance in second half stoppage time. Elsewhere, Brendan Hamill was absent from the Seongnam side that drew 1-1 with Daejeon Citizen.

Robert Cornthwaite played the full 90 minutes and assisted his side in collecting a cleansheet as Chunnam Dragons drew 0-0 with Nathan Burns’ Incheon United. Burns was absent from the match-day squad, while Matt Simon was missing from the Chunnam side.

In the Chinese FA Cup Final first leg, Dino Djulbic was a 56th minute substitute as Guizhou Renhe drew 1-1 with Guangzhou Evergrande.

In the UAE, Richard Porta scored again as Dubai beat Ajman Club 1-0. Porta struck the winner on 34 minutes, nodding home a cross at the back post following a quickly taken corner, taking his season tally to seven goals.

Elsewhere, Nick Carle played the full 90 minutes as Baniyas beat Al Nasr 3-1. Carle was involved in the game's opener on 13 minutes, laying the ball off to Adnan Hussain whose ferocious shot couldn’t be gathered by Al Nasr ‘keeper Abdualla Moosa Ali, leaving an easy tap in for Yousef Jaber.

Alex Brosque played 77 minutes in Al Ain’s 3-2 win over Al Shabab, while Lucas Neill put in a full shift in defence as Al Wasl drew 0-0 with Neill’s former side, Al Jazira.

In the Qatar, Matt Spiranovic put in a full shift in defence as Al Arabi beat Al Kharaitiyat 2-0.

In the MLS, Tim Cahill put in a full shift as the New York Red Bulls were eliminated from the playoffs following a 1-0 loss in the second leg of the Eastern Conference Championship Semi Final to lose 2-1 on aggregate. New York did take the lead from the penalty spot in the second half, only for the referee to order a retake after Cahill and fellow star Thierry Henry encroached into the area. The resulting retake was then missed by Kenny Cooper and DC United made the Red Bulls pay, grabbing a winner two minutes from time.

Finally, in the Indian I-League, former Newcastle Jets striker Sean Rooney scored from the penalty spot in Salgaocar’s 2-1 loss to Churchill Brothers.