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Diskerud, Boyd score to guide teams to UEFA Europa League group stage

Diskerud (ISI)

Photo by ISIphotos.com

In a short time, Mix Diskerud has made a major impact on his new team.

Diskerud scored his first goal since joining Rosenborg on loan from Stabaek, and it is one that put Rosenborg in the UEFA Europa League group stage, as his beautiful 87th-minute, left-footed volley from the top of the box gave the club a 2-1 victory (3-2 on aggregate) over Polish side Legia Warsaw in the final qualifying round. For Diskerud, it was just his fourth game since joining Rosenborg on a loan that extends through the end of the season. He and Rosenborg will take part in Friday's Europa League group stage draw, but he won't be the only American involved.

Steve Cherundolo, Terrence Boyd and Josh Gatt will be joining Diskerud among those eagerly awaiting the outcome of the draw after their respective teams clinched places in the group stage as well. Jozy Altidore, however, will miss out on the group stage after his AZ Alkmaar side was routed in Thursday's second leg.

Cherundolo's Hannover 96 added a 5-1 win to a 5-3 first-leg win to coast on a 10-4 aggregate. Cherundolo played the opening 70 minutes to help cement his team's place in the Europa League field.

Boyd's Rapid Vienna came back from a 2-1 first-leg deficit to win 3-0 in the second leg and advance on a 4-2 aggregate. Boyd scored the second goal, and while Rapid already had the edge on away goals after their first goal, Boyd's tally created a larger margin for error, one that never came into play for the Austrian power.

Gatt, meanwhile, maintained his run of fine form, assisting on the opening goal and playing 74 minutes in Molde's 2-1 win over Heerenveen, which gave the Norwegian side a 4-1 aggregate victory and a place in Friday's draw.

On the other end of the spectrum, Altidore's European exploits for the season came to an abrupt halt, as AZ were eliminated by Anzhi Makhachkala, falling to the high-spending Russian side 5-0 (6-0 on aggregate). Altidore started and played the first 60 minutes of the match.

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Happy to see young players like Boyd, Diskerud and Gatt coming up with big contributions for their teams on a big stage? Disappointed that Altidore's run in Europe this season is already over?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Gatt had a very good game. If his finishing were better, he would have netted at least two. His assist on Molde’s first and series clinching goal was brilliant. I’m making a bold prediction that his performance over the past two weeks will earn him an immediate call up for the games against Jamaica. He showed the ability to perform very well against a quality opponent in a meaningful game. I am not sure what more you could ask of a player.

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  2. You should of mentioned the other American’s who will be awaiting the Europa League draw:

    -Brad Friedel (Tottenham)
    -Alejandro Bedoya (Helsinberg)
    -David Yelldell (B. Leverkusen)
    -Bryan Gerzicich (Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona)
    -Oguchi Onyewu (Sporting Lisbon)

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  3. Good to see Diskerud playing well. He has potential to be very good. I hope an Eredivisie team or Bundesliga team come in for him at the end of the Norwegien season which by the way happens to end right around the same time the January transfer window opens.

    AZ sure could use Diskerud as a CM or CAM.

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  4. Probably not, but at least he has his club situation sorted for the near term and will be on the field. I’m with you on his potential, and I;m very interested to see where he ends up at the end of the Norwegian season.

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  5. Is it at all possible he (Mix) gets called in for a more attacking mid option for the qualifiers? I would say based on more recent call ups Zusi would obviously be ahead of him, but I like Mix’s potential.

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  6. Right, we’re all going to be looking at that FRIENDLY against soccer powerhouse south africa. Come on they’re both youngsters that ppl get over excited about. Ill pay attention when they do things in the big leagues, or are even playing in the big leagues…

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  7. First off I AM bummed Jozy won’t be playing some possible bigger clubs in Europe but I have to also say that he already has. Jozy has been to Old Teafford and Anfuekd and has played on a World Cup stage. I am thrilled these other young guys will get that taste this season. So pumped to watch them develop. Mix’s goal was sick!! His teammates mobbed him after. This was/is a great day for the USMNT’s future!!!

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  8. It’s disappointed to not see them ALL in Europe, but I’m sure Altidore will make the best of it and bag plenty of goals in the Eredivisie. I’m still excited for the exposure for the rest of our younger Americans will get in Europe.

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  9. One day we’ll look back at the goal in South Africa when Agudelo scored. We’ll see that the play was all Diskerud. We will look back on the two careers and one will be flourishing the other, not so much. Guess which is which?

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