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U.S. men's schedule, results
Friedel continues his strong play, leading Blackburn to 1-1 draw with Southampton.
Lewis leads Preston to 2-0 upset of Birmingham City in Worthington Cup.
U.S. goalkeepers record three shutouts in England, but only one emerges with a victory.
O'Brien is frustrated by lack of improvement with his
Achilles in injury.
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.
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Americans Abroad Friedel decides to end delay, have surgery on ailing left knee.
By Robert Wagman
(Saturday, November 16, 2002) -- American Brad Friedel will have surgery on his damaged left knee next week, leaving the Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper out of action for about four weeks and absent for at least two matches in England' Premier League. Friedel will return to the United States for the arthroscopic procedure to repair cartilage damage. U.S. national-team doctor Bert Mandelbaum, a knee specialist, will perform the surgery in Los Angeles next week, possibly on the same day he operates on the left knee of U.S. midfielder Claudio Reyna who plays for Sunderland of the Premier League. Friedel and Rovers coach Graeme Souness had hoped that the keeper could continue to play on the gimpy knee until the Premiership's winter break after the Christmas holidays. However, after Blackburn was eliminated from the UEFA Cup on Thursday night, it was decided to do the surgery immediately. "We don't want to delay it as we have a busy program over Christmas," Souness said. "I always said the Premiership was our priority, and that's how it remains." Friedel will play tomorrow against high-flying Everton and then fly to Los Angeles. The club says it expects he will miss Rovers' next two league games, against Charlton Athletic and Fulham, but he might be able to return for the December 7 match against Bolton Wanderers. A more realistic estimate might have him missing four league matches and returning to face Manchester United on December 22. Friedel has been struggling with the loose cartilage in his left knee for more than a month. Two weeks ago, he aggravated it in warmups before a sensational performance, making 10 saves in a 2-1 victory at league-leading Arsenal. Veteran Irish international Alan Kelly will be in goal during Friedel's absence. The decision to operate now was made following Rovers' 2-0 home loss to Glasgow Celtic Thursday which gave the Scottish champion a 3-0 aggregate victory in the two-match series. Friedel played well in the contest, but could do little to stop Swedish international Henrik Larsson in the 14th minute. Larsson, who many think is the best forward playing in Europe today, was sent in free on Friedel when defender Craig Short slipped to the ground. Friedel came out quickly to block the angle, but Larsson chipped his shot over the advancing American for his 21st goal of the season. Rovers hit the crossbar once, but could not get the equalizer. Celtic pounded shot after shot at the Blackburn goal, several missing narrowly and Friedel saving others. Finally, in the 67th minute, former Rovers midfielder Chris Sutton sealed the match and series for Celtic, marking his return to Ewood Park. Unmarked at the near post, he put away a crisp point-blank header off a corner kick from Stilian Petrov.
Robert Wagman is a SoccerTimes senior correspondent and can be
e-mailed at bobwagman@soccertimes.com.
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