Rhys Williams stared for Middlesbrough in the FA Cup while Tim Cahill hit the woodwork for Everton, but it was Carl Valeri on the scoresheet boosting Sassuolo's promotion charge in Italy.
Firstly to the FA Cup where Rhys Williams' Middlesbrough drew 1-1 at North-East rivals Sunderland on Sunday with the Aussie putting in a full shift in midfield where he bossed the game in the absence of Black Cats toughnut Lee Cattermole.
The Australian showed why he's been linked with a series of Premier League clubs with an assured display, while Socceroos team-mate Scott McDonald ran his socks off in attack.
McDonald unleashed an early dipping drive from range which forced Sunderland keeper Simon Mignolet into action.
Boro would go ahead on 16 minutes through Barry Robson, but Sunderland eventually levelled thanks to Fraizer Campbell on 59 minutes.
Moments after Campbell's goal, Williams also turned out to be the hero when his low volley fizzed just wide.
In Italy's Serie B on Saturday, Socceroo Carl Valeri scored his first goal of the season as Sassuolo continued their charge towards promotion with a 2-0 win over Hellas Verona.
After Emanuele Terranova had given Sassuolo a 13th-minute lead, Valeri doubled their advantage on 23 minutes with a fine headed goal.
Valeri played a full game in the win which moves Sassuolo a point clear at the top of Italy's second tier.
In England's FA Cup on Friday, Tim Cahill thundered a second-half header against the woodwork as Everton knocked out Mark Schwarzer's Fulham 2-1.
With Everton trailing 1-0, Cahill had a back post header well saved by David Stockdale, starting for the injured Schwarzer.
Late in the first-half, with scores at 1-1, Cahill again went close when he fired wide from a goalmouth scramble.
With Everton leading 2-1, the Aussie had his best chance to score when his header from Phil Neville's cross hit the bar from barely six yards out.
Elsewhere in the FA Cup over the weekend, Richard Garcia had one of his side's best chances to score as Hull City were stunned by League Two club Crawley Town 1-0.
Garcia, who started and was replaced on 65 minutes, had a close-range prod saved by Scott Shearer only minutes after Matt Tubbs had given Crawley the lead.
Elsewhere, Shane Lowry was suspended as Millwall drew 1-1 with Southampton, Chris Herd was out injured as Aston Villa lost 3-2 at Arsenal, while Brad Jones wasn't involved in Liverpool's 2-1 win over Manchester United.
In England's Championship on Saturday, Adam Federici kept a clean sheet after making some excellent saves in Reading's 1-0 victory over Neil Kilkenny's Bristol City. Kilkenny started on the bench and was an 86th-minute sub.
Federici was very impressive, though, making fine saves to thwart Chris Wood, Stephen Pearson and Albert Adomah throughout the contest.
Elsewhere, Ryan Williams was an unused sub as Portsmouth won 3-0 at Peterborough.
In Germany's Bundesliga on Sunday, Mathew Leckie was an 89th-minute substitute as Borussia Monchengladbach won 3-0 at VfB Stuttgart.
Elsewhere, Mitchell Langerak was back on the bench as Dortmund won 3-1 over Hoffenheim, while Nikita Rukavytsya didn't make the Hertha BSC squad which lost 2-1 at home to Hamburg SV.
In Holland's Eredivisie on Saturday, Brett Holman's AZ Alkmaar dropped out of top spot after a 2-0 loss at Roda JC.
Holman, who started and played 70 minutes in the defeat, had an opportunity to score at 1-0 down, when Maarten Martens found him, but his left-footed shot was saved by Roda keeper Pawel Kieszek.
Elsewhere, Michael Zullo was an unused sub while Adam Sarota and Tommy Oar didn't make the squad as Utrecht lost 2-0 at Heerenveen, while Jason Davidson wasn't in the Heracles side which defeated Excelsior 3-0.
In Scotland's Premier League on Saturday, Matt McKay missed out again as Rangers won 4-0 over struggling Hibernian, while Aaron Mooy was an unused sub in St Mirren's goalless draw at Inverness.
In Spain's Segunda Division on Saturday, David Carney didn't make the Alcorcon squad which won 3-1 over Las Palmas.
In UAE's Emirates Cup on Friday, Lucas Neill's Al Jazira defeated Al Ain 4-0, while Mark Bresciano's Al Nasr drew 1-1 at Ajman.