AMSTERDAM – Several Americans laced up for Easter Monday action in Europe, Mikkel Diskerud worked all 90 in his first start of the young Tippeligaen season as Rosenborg settled for a 2-2 share at Bodø/Glimt.
The US midfielder helped cancel out the home side's early opener in the 11th minute, slipping Alexander Søderlund into the area to set up Morten Gamst Pedersen's equalizer. Diskerud also eventually teed up the former Blackburn wing ace for a late shot at a victory-sealing third, but Pedersen shot over and Glimt rallied to re-knot the contest eight minutes from time.
Though they remained unbeaten through four matches, Rosenborg slipped to four points off the top in seventh place with the result. Glimt, still missing injured right-back starter Zarek Valentin, stand a point back of the Troll Kids in ninth.
Meanwhile, Bob Bradley's Stabæk dropped back to break-even with a tough 2-1 loss at Odds BK. With Michael Stephens going the distance in midfield, the Blue Ones fell just short in their attempt to level a very tight contest late. Stabæk fell to eighth place and four points shy of the league leaders through four games.
Turning focus to the English second flight, late Huddersfield Town sub Duane Holmes got revenge on former loan employers Yeovil Town, keying the winning rush in a 2-1 away victory that mathematically clinched their place in the Championship next season.
The slippery playmaker entered a scoreless game in the 67th minute, saving his biggest play for last. As stoppage time ticked away, Holmes wiggled out of central park in order to release Adam Hamill, who fought through a tackle to set up Adam Clayton's winner. By halting a 10-game winless slide, Huddersfield ensured they would partake in back-to-back second division campaigns for the first time in 13 years.
Elsewhere, a decent outing from Oguchi Onyewu (above) was not enough as Sheffield Wednesday squandered an early two-goal lead to fall 3-2 against visiting Charlton.
The Owls center back chalked up a game-high nine pass interceptions, to go with four clearances, three tackles and a positive day of passing out of the back. However, Onyewu was also among the culpable on the first of three Marvin Sordell goals as the Addicks sniper sentenced Wednesday to their first loss in five.
Birmingham City handyman Will Packwood made his return to the lineup, replacing injured countryman Jonathan Spector at right back in a 4-2 home defeat against Blackburn.
It was a hot-and-cold shift for the youngster, who pitched in with 11 clearances and nodded just over from a restart in the game's opening minutes. On the other hand, Packwood had a trying time with Rovers left winger Joshua King, whose cross from the flank assisted on the away side's second goal. The defeat, Birmingham's third in a row, leaves the club dangling over the trap door on goal differential.
Finally, in Belgium's championship hexagonal playoff, Sacha Kljestan was a helpless bench bystander as Anderlecht blew a golden chance to sound a three-peat warning in a 1-0 loss at 10-man Genk. Having already missed a potential winning penalty, the Mauves were stung by a Thomas Buffel lob a minute from time to stay four back of leaders Standard Liège in fourth place through five rounds.
