Americans Abroad

Russell provides assist as Rosenborg claims Norwegian championship.

By Robert Wagman (in Washington, D.C.)
SoccerTimes

(Sunday, October 31, 2004) -- American defender Robbie Russell played the entire game and assisted on a goal, helping Rosenborg clinch the Norwegian first-division Tippeligaen championship with an easy 4-1 triumph today over FC Lyn Oslo.

Rosenborg (14-6-6) and Vålerenga (13-4-9) each had 48 points and a plus-18 goal differential, but Rosenborg took the crown having scored 52 goals during the season to Vålerenga's 40.

Vålerenga, which defeated Stabæk 3-0, looked to be headed for the title before a late goal by Rosenborg provided the slim championship margin.

Russell assisted on the third goal for Rosenborg which now moves to the Royal tournament featuring the top four clubs from Norway, Denmark and Sweden.

Languishing in the English Premier League, Rovers rode Friedel's strong goalkeeping to a 2-2 draw with visiting Liverpool before 26,314 at Ewood Park Saturday.

Rovers got off to a slow start with Liverpool going straight onto the attack. Djibril Cisse, who later broke his leg and is lost to Liverpool for the season, forced a fine save from Friedel who scrambled to his left to deny the Frenchman after just two minutes. Three minutes later, Milan Baros came close to opening the scoring when he outpaced the Rovers back line, but Friedel got just enough on the ball to deflect it wide.

When John Arne Riise put Liverpool (5-3-2, 17 points) ahead 1-0 in the seventh minute, the match seemed ready to turn into the one-sided affair that many expected. However, Friedel continued his hot effort with six of his nine saves coming in the opening 30 minutes.

Jay Bothroyd tied the game in the 16th minute and Brett Emerton put Rovesr ahead 2-1 in the 45th minute. Milan Baros tied the game for the Reds at 2-2 in the 54th minute, but two fine Friedel saves near the end, on Riise and Milan Baros, allowed Rovers to earn a point and escape the EPL basement.

Blackburn (1-6-4, 7), still sits in the drop zone, tied for 18th place with Southampton (1-6-4) which leads Rovers by nine in goal differential. Both lead Norwood (0-4-6) by a point.

Sinking Fulham halted its three-match Premiership losing streak with a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. United States defender Carlos Bocanegra went the distance for Fulham, playing more defensively and pushing forward less than recently as part of a solid performance by the back line.

Striker Brian McBride did not play for Fulham while his U.S. teammate, goalkeeper Kasey Keller was again on the bench for Tottenham. Spurs keeper Paul Robinson had a fine day, making several fine saves despite giving up a pair of goals.

U.S. midfielder Claudio Reyna continues to nurse a bad leg and will miss his seventh straight outing when Manchester City hosts Norwich tomorrow.

U.S. keeper Tim Howard, after recording a shutout in Manchester United's 3-0 Carling Cup decision over Crewe Alexandra, was back in the stands Saturday as Ricardo Lopez backed up Roy Carroll. Coming off last weekend's thrilling 2-0 upset of Arsenal to snap the Gunners' 49-match EPL unbeaten streak, United was upset by Portsmouth 2-0.

Morrell put Coventry ahead 2-1 in the 51st minute. U.S. midfielder Bobby Convey entered for Paul Brooker in the 58th minute and gave Reading some spark, but Coventry increased its advantage to 3-1 when Eddie Johnson scored in the 66th minute.

Dave Kitson scored five minutes later for Reading.

Two goals in the final minute of the first half sent Preston North End down to a 3-0 loss at the hands of Ipswich Town. U.S. midfielder Eddie Lewis went the distance on the left flank, but didn't theaten in the attack often with North End on the defensive for most of the afternoon.

American defender Frankie Simek had his best match since joining Queen Park Rangers who ended a string of two straight league defeats with a comfortable 3-0 home victory over Burnley. Simek played 90 minutes and blocked two shots early in the second half that helped keep Burnley off the scoreboard.

In the Netherlands, U.S. midfielder DaMarcus Beasley started for PSV Eindhoven which played a lackluster 0-0 road draw at FC Utrecht Friday night.

In a very physical match, PSV had the advantage most of the way, but was thwarted by the fine goalkeeping of Rene Ponk. Beasley could not get much going on the left wing and was replaced by Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink in the 79th minute.

Eindhoven is the lone undefeated team in the Eredivisie at 7-0-2 with 23 points, one ahead of Feyenoord Rottderdam (7-2-1) and two ahead of AZ Alkmaar (6-1-3), both of which have played an additional game.

U.S. defender\midfielder John O'Brien was not dressed for Ajax Amsterdam which defeated NEC Nijmegen 1-0 at home. Earlier in the week, he did not dress for the Ajax reserves who drew 1-1 with the Volendam.

American defender Charles Kazlauskas, who has become a reserve for NEC, came on for striker Bjorn Van Der Doelen in the 87th minute.

On Saturday, Standard faces 17th-place Mons with second-place Anderlecht looming November 10.

Chris Courtney contributed to this report from Belgium

Robert Wagman is a SoccerTimes senior correspondent. E-mail Robert Wagman.