John O’Brien may not be available for the United States’ friendly against Uruguay on May 12, because that is the day Ajax will face Utrecht in the Dutch Cup final, likely in search of clinching Holland’s double as league and cup champions.
Jonny Walker, meanwhile, continued to help his Chilean club, Universidad Catolica, remain in contention for the South American club title by making several key stops in a 3-1 victory over Once Caldas that clinched Catolica’s berth in the Copa Libertadores second round.
Netherlands
Dutch Cup
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John O’Brien (Ajax, D1) vs. PSV Eindhoven, 3-0. Started: 90 minutes. Ajax moved into the May 12 Cup final against Utrecht. Ajax has won 14 Dutch Cups, but is seeking its first in the past three years. Andre Bergdolmo scored on a penalty kick in first-half stoppage time and the Amsterdam club added two insurance tallies in the last 10 minutes of the game.
England
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Brad Friedel (Blackburn, PL) vs. Chelsea, 0-0. Started: 90 minutes. The draw did little to help Blackburn’s efforts to avoid relegation. Rovers sits three points clear of the drop zone with five matches remaining. Friedel had a decent game, although he was saved by the woodwork in the seventh minute, and by his defender, Stig Inge Bjornebye, who broke up a centering pass that got past Friedel midway through the first half. Friedel’s fumble in the 48th minute gave Eidur Gudjohnsen Chelsea’s best chance of the day, but he scooped it over the crossbar.
Chile
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Jonny Walker (Universidad Catolica, D1) vs. Once Caldas, 3-1. Started: 90 minutes. With both teams needing a result to avoid elimination from the Copa Libertadores, Catolica controlled the match under rainy, cold and sloppy conditions. The victory propelled Walker’s Chilean team among the final 16 in the South American club championship. Catolica, which finished second in its group to Olimpia of Paraguay, faces Sao Caetano of Brazil in a two-match playoff starting April 24 at home.
