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Americans Abroad: Weekend Rewind

Mikkel Diskerud 1 (Reuters) 
 
By FRANCO PANIZO

If there is one young American Abroad player who is currently flying under the radar, that player is midfielder Mikkel Diskerud.

Diskerud made his fifth consecutive start and eleventh overall for Stabaek in its 3-1 win against Stromsgodset. The 19-year-old, who has scored a goal and assisted on another this season, went the distance in the victory that saw Stabaek move up to ninth place in Norway's standings.

It wasn't all good news this weekend, however. Jose Francisco Torres and Pachuca were eliminated from the Liguilla with a 1-0 defeat to Toluca in the second leg of the semifinals tilt, while Benny Feilhaber and AGF Aarhus were trounced from Denmark's first division after a 3-0 loss to Odense BK.

Here is how the Americans Abroad fared this weekend:

Italy

  • Oguchi Onyewu did not dress in AC Milan's 3-0 win vs. Juventus on Saturday.

France

  • Charlie Davies did not dress in Sochaux's 2-1 loss vs. AJ Auxerre on Saturday.

Greece

  • Eddie Johnson did not dress in Aris Salonika's 0-0 draw vs. Olympiakos on Sunday. He is with the U.S. national team and is recovering from a hamstring injury.
  • Freddy Adu dressed but did not play in Aris Salonika's 0-0 draw vs. Olympiakos on Sunday.

Denmark

  • Benny Feilhaber came off the bench and played 33 minutes in AGF Aarhus' 3-0 loss vs. Odense BK on Sunday.
  • Michael Parkhurst started and played 90 minutes in FC Nordsjaelland's 3-3 draw vs. Ebjerg on Sunday.
  • Marcus Tracy did not dress in Aalborg BK's 0-0 draw vs. Koge on Sunday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
  • Chris Rolfe did not dress in Aalborg BK's 0-0 draw vs. Koge on Sunday. He is recovering from a hamstring injury.

Sweden

  • Alejandro Bedoya and Orebro SK play Trelleborgs FF on Monday.
  • Ryan Miller started and played 90 minutes in Halmstads BK's 2-0 win vs. Djurgarden on Saturday.
  • Michael Thomas dressed but did not play in Halmstad's BK's 2-0 win vs. Djurgarden on Saturday.

Norway

  • Clarence Goodson started and played 90 minutes in IK Start's 3-0 win vs. Kongsvinger on Sunday.
  • Hunter Freeman started and played 90 minutes in IK Start's 3-0 win vs. Kongsvinger on Sunday.
  • Mikkel Diskerud started and played 90 minutes in Stabaek's 3-1 win vs. Stromsgodset on Sunday.
  • Steve Clark dressed but did not play in Honefoss BK's 3-0 loss vs. Rosenborg on Sunday.

Mexico

  • Jose Francisco Torres started and played 90 minutes in Pachuca's 1-0 loss vs. Toluca in the second leg of the semifinals of the Liguilla. Pachuca is eliminated with on a 3-2 aggregate.

Argentina

  • Michael Hoyos dressed but did not play in Estudiantes La Plata's 4-1 win vs. Colon de Santa Fe on Sunday.

———-

What do you think of Diskerud making his eleventh start for Stabaek? Think Pachuca and Torres deserved to reach the Liguilla final? Where do you see Feilhaber playing next season?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Haha, I agree with you there. Actually, I personally think he’s the best of the three, but obviously the least experienced guy is not going to get the starting nod…

    Reply
  2. yeah, saw that game….even a blind squirrel.

    Listen, Im a proponent for Torres in the center mid role after the bradley era, however, he isnt a defensive midfielder by any stretch of the imagination but he doesnt have to be if he is played to his strength which is in the attack.

    Reply
  3. “You don’t have to specify other positions; why do you have to with goalies?”

    Because if you didn’t some team would do exactly what you are thinking; list a field player as a goalkeeper.

    In England’s case they could legitimately do it with Wayne Rooney who is probably a better goalkeeper than whoever is England’s no. 3.

    Reply
  4. Wow, Lletget? Hopefully we hang on to him. That’s disturbing. A policy like that doesn’t make sense to me, it doesn’t really have any sort of positive impact on the players that do stay and develop here. Is it supposed to offer some type of incentive? (I know it’s probably not really a formal ‘policy’ but it’s an interesting trend to point out)

    Reply
  5. Does anyone know how the Norwegian league rates?

    I don’t mean to be condescending but in those game highlights it looks like they are playing in a US college stadium w/o a whole lot of fans.

    Reply
  6. As I understand it, the Boca ab injury is related to an ankle or hamstring tweak that was causing him to favor his stronger leg and causing him to run differently, putting stress on his abs. I believe it’s expected to be no big deal.

    Reply
  7. dude, how is norway half way across the world from Holland?!?! take your own advice, moron! he should be there because he is a USMNT prospect and any chance at the national level is good.

    further, have you even looked at the lineup? there are a lot more than just Chivas USA and Akron kids playing.

    Reply
  8. Better vision…better touch…more intelligent…

    Knock on him is his inability to defend and is slower than those two, however, you really don’t need that much speed from your center mid.

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  9. We all see flashes of brilliance from the kid…however, Benny needs to flip the switch on now if he ever hopes to sniff the starting lineup instead of these 20 minute cameos. We currently have a few under 23’s that are going to make him an after-thought in the MF if he doesn’t start showing some intelligent and consistent play…prancing around on the pitch with the ball in his own half as if he were Xavi.

    MOVE THE FRIKIN BALL FORWARD!

    Reply
  10. The impression that USSF, Sunil and Rongen gives is, if you want to be considered for the US, you must play academy or here in the states until 21. If you play outside these guidelines there will be consequences, Subotic, Rossi, Gyuan, Mix, Renken, Letget, etal. So Subotic is not a one time mistake. Their will be others until the philosophy and structure are changed.

    Reply
  11. A year ago Mixi Diskerud had said he’d play for whoever called him up first, the US or Norway. With Norway starting Euro qualifying later this year I’m afraid they can burn a call-up to cap tie him.

    Diskerud was on the Starbaek team that won the Norweigian Tip. (League) two years ago, but I don’t know if he had enough appearances to get a winner’s medal.

    Reply
  12. AA breaking news…..Ollie at Who Ate All the Pies is reporting that Gooch has extended his contract for anothe year, from 2012 to 2013….for free. Interesting move; not sure I get it.

    Reply
  13. We’ve got a few scattered around: one of note in the second division in Germany, one at Celtic, a few great talents in MLS.

    Reply
  14. I thought he played well also, but I was a little disapointed he was so withdrawn on the attack especially considering Toluca played a man down in the second half. He was a good set up man, but I would have liked him to rip a few shots off from the top of the box. Pachuca let Toluca off easy that game.

    Reply
  15. Perkins cant start for DC!

    This is a comment from 10 years ago, but it still hasnt happened. If it was really true, then you wouldnt have Coundol, Frei, Neilson, Ricketts, Onsted, starting in MLS. Heck you wouldnt have old guys like Thornton still with jobs.

    Other than Guzan, who is still yet to breakthrough, the US has not produced a good young goalkeeper in a while.

    Reply
  16. The manager for Aris rotates 4 players for the 2 winger starting spots on the team since there is a game ever 3 days.

    Adu has started 3 of the 5 playoff games so far but didn’t play in the other 2.

    Sat out this game, should start final game on Wednesday.

    Reply
  17. This is the exact wording in the 2010 rule:

    Each association will then be required to provide FIFA with a final list
    of no more than 23 players (three of whom shall be goalkeepers).

    Reply
  18. Whats worse than saying a shallow comment?? By saying that you represent all of us, that it.

    So according to your logic, we shouldnt play Altidore, Onyewu and Spector who are all not in top form and are not getting regular minutes

    Reply
  19. I had heard Norway wanted to bring him into camp. I believe he was rated as one of the top 5 young players in the Norwegian League. However he has stated that he wants to play for the US. So hopefully, BB or the next coach brings him in after the WC.

    Reply

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