3. U.S. ABROAD: Friedel's Blackburn wins UEFA Cup group opener

• by Soccer America , Oct 20, 2006

With American Brad Friedel in goal, Blackburn defeated Polish club Wisla Krakow, 2-1, on the road Thursday night in their UEFA Cup group opener.

Friedel was helpless on the Wisla goal that took a deflection off a Blackburn defender. Blackburn recovered to win on second-half goals by Robbie Savage and David Bentley.

American Michael Bradley didn't get off the bench in Heerenveen's 0-0 tie at Spanish club Osasuna. He was set to go in for Lasse Nilsson late in the game when Nilsson was sent off with his second yellow card for walking off the field too slowly.

The 0-0 tie was not unexpected. It was Heerenveen's fifth straight game without a goal, and the fourth game in a row Osasuna went scoreless.