AMSTERDAM – Rosenborg midfielder Mikkel Diskerud opened his season account on Monday, bagging the home side's second goal in a 4-0 cruise past Brann.
Just past intermission, the US international saw his rebound turned home for the opener. Scant moments later, Diskerud doubled the lead by capping an excellent team move from the slot. The rout lifted Rosenborg into the Tippeligaen penthouse through two rounds.
In nearby Denmark, Conor O'Brien went the distance in midfield to help FC Nordsjælland reclaim the Superliga's second Champions League slot with a 3-1 triumph over visiting FC Midtjylland. The Wild Tigers fought back from an early deficit to win for the seventh time in their last eight home tilts.
To the south in Belgium's Jupiler League, Sacha Kljestan worked 79 minutes as league leaders Anderlecht collapsed late to suffer a 2-1 home defeat against Genk.
The midfielder could have given the champs a two-goal cushion shortly after the break, but fired his big chance agonizingly wide. By dropping the first game of the championship hexagonal, the Mauves had their tabletop cushion sliced to a single point.
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Over in England's Championship, Zak Whitbread experienced a rough return to the Leicester City line-up in a 2-0 loss at Barnsley. Falling for the fifth time in seven winless games, the Foxes slipped out of the promotion playoff zone.
Conor Doyle watched from the dugout as an improving Derby County won for the third straight time, 2-1 at Leeds United.
In the German second division, Joseph Gyau played the first half of St. Pauli's see-saw 2-2 draw with guests Paderborn. The young winger missed a good chance and drew a yellow card as the Pirates moved nine points clear of the danger zone.
Next door in the Dutch second flight, Charles Kazlauskas held down right midfield as Helmond Sport tentatively grabbed first place with a 2-1 derby victory at Den Bosch. Including Friday's win over FC Eindhoven, the southerners have won all six grudge matches against their two biggest rivals in the past year.
