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U.S. men's schedule, results
Reyna's Sunderland season is over after knee diagnosis is as bad as expected.
Friedel's solid effort can't prevent Blackburn 1-0 loss to Celtic in UEFA Cup.
Reyna goes down with apparently serious knee injury.
Hobbled Friedel still sensational for Rovers who upset Arsenal 2-1.
Keller, Friedel continue to roll, while Reyna sinks in England.
Walker apparently OK after scary collision in Universidad de Católica goal.
Bayer Leverkusen is considering Donovan recall to revive sagging fortunes.
Keller, Hotspur best Friedel and Rovers 2-1 on fluke goal.
Keller posts shutout despite strained strained calf; Reyna enjoys Sunderland success.
Sanneh, Stewart lead European clubs with key goals for second straight week.
Keller is top-ranked goalkeeper in England's Premier League; Friedel is rated sixth.
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U.S. goalkeepers record three shutouts in England, but only one emerges with a victory.
Americans Abroad O'Brien frustrated by lack of progress with his Achilles injury.By Robert Wagman (in Washington, D.C.)
(Tuesday, November 5, 2002) -- United States midfielder John O'Brien does not appear close to returning to the lineup to powerful Ajax of Amsterdam following his Achilles tendon injury. When O'Brien walked off the field in the 71st minute of a match against Roosendaal on September 21, his injury seemed minor, but it has proven more serious then initially thought and resistant to treatment. This week, Ajax published an interview with an obviously disappointed O'Brien, who has missed both Dutch league action and Ajax's Champion League matches. "My Achilles' tendon was already slightly irritated, O'Brien said. "We knew that. As soon as the other guys were leaving, to play for their national teams, I was going to take some rest. But then I got that kick (on September 21). After a week, I did some running, but that hurt too much. So I started from scratch, doing exercises. After a few weeks, I returned to the training pitch. It didn't go well. I still have problems running, jogging and accelerating. When I strain the tendon, I feel it immediately." Difficulty rehabilitating an Achilles injury is not new for O'Brien. He suffered a severe strain in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and did not get back into action until December. "Of course, I try to return to action as soon as possible, but every time I cross a certain limit, I am thrown back," O'Brien said. "That's very frustrating. How do you get rid of that frustration? That's the question. . . I try to do things that help. I bike a lot, because I can do that without any pain, and then I try to clear my mind. I have to make sure I don't get irritated during those exercises. "The timetable for my recovery is very vague. I can't say when I'll return. I no longer have a specific game in mind for which I want to be back. All I'm thinking of is that tendon. But when I'm fit again, I'll be really fit." Also in the Netherlands, U.S. attacker Earnie Stewart, battling nagging injury problems all season, came off the bench to start the second half for NAC Breda which fell 1-0 to FC Utrecht. The dull match took on some life in the second half and NAC created some chances, Utrecht won the match with a goal in the 81st minute.
Robert Wagman is a SoccerTimes senior correspondent and can be
e-mailed at bobwagman@soccertimes.com.
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