AMSTERDAM — It was a bittersweet Sunday for Statesiders in Europe, highlighted by Køge center back Brad Rusin scoring an early contender for American Exports goal of the year in a 3-1 losing cause at Lyngby.
With his team down one in the 42nd minute, the Indiana native gobbled up a loose ball at midfield and hopped on his horse to gallop through some free space. Rusin then burst his way through three defenders into the area and slotted the ‘keeper from a sharp angle.
Elsewhere in Denmark's SAS Liga, Conor O'Brien dressed for SønderjyskE for the first time but did not see action in a 1-1 draw at Silkeborg.
Across the water in Sweden, Alejandro Bedoya got the winning play started as Örebro topped home side Gefle 1-0. The US international picked a pocket in the right corner and wiggled into the area to fire hard on goal from an acute angle, with the rebound eventually teed up for Paulinho to curl home.
Next door in Norway's Tippeligaen, Mikkel Diskerud put in a steady full shift as Stabæk stormed back from early deficit to beat visiting IK Start 4-1.
Over in Germany, young Hertha Berlin defensive handyman Alfredo Morales made his DfB Pokal debut with 13 mop-up minutes in the visitors' 4-0 cruise past fifth flight hosts ZFC Meuselwitz.
With transfer buzz still surrounding him, Jermaine Jones worked an able second half to help Schalke bounce seventh division home side FC Teningen by an 11-1 count.
Hannover 96 skipper Steve Cherundolo came on for the final 26 minutes as the Reds marched on with a 6-0 walk at fifth tier side FC Anker Wismar.
Edson Buddle made a late cameo as Ingolstadt advanced with a 4-1 victory at sixth flight FC Oberneuland.
