AMSTERDAM – Mikkel Diskerud and Rosenborg completed their Tippeligaen silver medal rally on Sunday evening, edging out second place with a 4-1 closing day victory over visiting Strømsgodset.
The US midfielder went the distance as the Troll Kids won their sixth straight game and ninth in the last 10. They finished two points ahead of beaten Odds BK to grab a seeded place in the first qualifying round of the 2015-2016 Europa League, which kicks off next July.
Around the horn on the final day of play in the Norwegian top flight, Michael Stephens set up the 87th minute winner as Bob Bradley's Stabæk signed off with a 2-0 win at Sogndal.
Midfield mate Andrew Jacobson, who also worked the full 90, released Stephens to feed Luc Kassi for his sixth assist of the season. Ending the term with but one loss in the last six matches, Stabæk finished a point away from the better half of the table in ninth.
Zarek Valentin made an early comeback from injury, playing the final seven minutes of Bodø/Glimt's 3-2 win against guests Viking.
The right back had been feared lost for the season after suffering a left Achilles injury during the second game back in April. With the win, Glimt ended up safely in 13th place.
To the south in Germany's Bundesliga, Julian Green came on for the final 11 minutes of Hamburg's 2-0 loss at Wolfsburg. The loss dipped HSV back into the bottom three.
Elsewhere, Fabian Johnson was an unused sub in Borussia Mönchengladbach's first defeat across all competitions this term, a 1-0 loss away to nearby rivals Borussia Dortmund. The result knocked 'Gladbach down to third place.
One flight below, Alfredo Morales patrolled central park as league leaders Ingolstadt clawed back twice for a 3-3 home share with Union Berlin. Though they remained the last unbeaten team thanks to a 90th minute equalizer, the hosts saw their first-place advantage cut to four points.
Jann George went unused as Greuther Fürth fell 3-0 to visiting Karlsruhe. A second straight home loss dropped Fürth to 13th place.
Greg Seltzer covers Americans based in Europe for MLSsoccer.com.
