The Sounders preseason actually features some rather tough opponents. While the most of MLS is beating on each other, college teams or the US U-17 squad the Sounders are facing the 7th in League, 2nd in Playoff Vancouver Whitecaps FC (one time still to come). They took on the most storied team in Norwegian history in Rosenborg BK (1st in League, quarterfinals in Cup).

Hunter Freeman, Clay Goodson and high-flying Start travel to Bergen to take on Brann while something has to give when Steve Clark and Honefoss host Kongsvinger in Eliteserien action.

Newcastle United have again made contact with Norwegian side FC Brann to sign their highly-rated midfielder Erik Huseklepp, who Newcastle have been interested in for at least a year. Erik Huseklepp Newcastle target The report suggests Newcastle tried to do a deal earlier this week, but his club Brann have become greedy and are now [.

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By TRAVIS CLARK

Fresh off the heels of a 1-0 loss to Florida International University on Sunday, Dallas was ready to bounce back in the next preseason friendly.

They managed just that in a Tuesday win over the New England Revolution, scoring twice and keeping a cleansheet in Orlando, Florida.

The Sounders took 5th in the La Manga Cup II for 2010 with their win over SK Brann of Norway. But again, these matches aren't necessarily about wins/losses, but instead about competing for time. That window is narrow (unless the rules change) as March First approaches. The competition for the last 1 or 2 Developmental spots is seems to be down to Lamar Neagle and Mike Fucito.

By TRAVIS CLARK

D.C. United wrapped up a three-week stint in Florida with two wins in two matches played this morning.

In two split-squad friendlies, United beat the U.S. U-17 squad 5-2, and at the same time had another XI go up against Florida Gulf Coast University.

By TRAVIS CLARK

D.C. United wrapped up a three-week stint in Florida with two wins in two matches played this morning.

In two split-squad friendlies, United beat the U.S. U-17 squad 5-2, and at the same time had another XI go up against Florida Gulf Coast University.

"Ac Milan have an old squad". "Arsenal play pretty football". "Steffen Iversen is a bit fat". The footballing world is full of these tired, old, yet inescapably accurate clichés. "Rosenborg won in spite of not playing all that well" is well on it's way towards becoming one of them.

Yes, Rosenborg have picked up exactly where they left off last season, and on a pitch that as the game wore on became better suited to a snowball-fight than a game a of football, Rosenborg picked up three crucial opening-day points against fellow title-hopefuls Molde.

Rosenborg in shabby performance-shocker, but this time they didn't get away with it. In other news Viking thoroughly battered brainless Brann and Aalesund are top of the table, though manager Kjetil Rekdal remains distinctly unimpressed..

Start-sympathizing NFN-readers 1 0 NFN Yes, Start have continued their peculiarly good run against the league's top dogs by holding Rosenborg to an embarrassing 3-3 draw at Lerkendal.

The whole Tippeliga-thing isn't really working out so far for Hønefoss who were thumped 6-0 at Åråsen. Elsewhere Kongsvinger are also pointless after the first three, pre-season favorites Rosenborg, Molde, Viking and Stabæk all dropped points and there were more peculiar pleasantries from Kjetil Rekdal.

Noisy neighbors, weird allegories and some more Brann-bashing in this weekend's preview..

Saturday

Lillestrøm (5th) Stabæk (9th)

The fifth round kicks off with one for the neutrals on Saturday, as Henning Berg's new-look Lillestrøm take on sexy Stabæk.

Noisy neighbors, weird allegories and some more Brann-bashing in this weekend's preview..

Saturday

Lillestrøm (5th) Stabæk (9th)

The fifth round kicks off with one for the neutrals on Saturday, as Henning Berg's new-look Lillestrøm take on sexy Stabæk.

Yes, the naysayers, doom-mongers and other ne'er-do-wells were all shown up in spectacular fashion this Sunday as plucky underdogs Brann picked up a point..

"I have to give credit to the boys for playing a fantastic game," Brann-manager Steinar Nilsen enthused to TV2 after the game after his team had snapped their losing-streak by drawing 1-1 with Vålerenga.

Well that was strange. Eight rounds in and the Tippeliga still doesn't make much sense, but even in that context Vålerenga inflicting a 6-1 smackdown on Odd was a bit of a bolt from the blue. Also, reluctant and grudge-laden credit where it's due: Brann were really quite good..

They were, honestly.

We here at NFN-towers are a privileged bunch. Unlike every other media-outlet, we don't need to talk up our product. We don't need to feed and pamper our golden goose. Like pear-cider peddler and occasional comedian Mark Watson, we can give it to you straight. Round 9 of the Tippeliga was utter dross.

A displaced Stabaek welcome in fellow strugglers Brann while Hunter Freeman and Start look to shake off a devastating loss up when they head north to faceTromso.

Mikkel Diskerud and Stabaek got back on the winning track with a win over Brann while it was heartbreak again for Start's American duo of Hunter Freeman and Clay Goodson who fell to league leaders Tromso.

Tromsø are desperately clinging to the top of the table like a man whose kitchen floor is covered in corrosive acid, while in altogether more reassuring news: Brann are terrible again..

The Tippeliga rages on, petulantly oblivious to the crammed schedules of NFN-staffers, and all sorts of things happened while we had a blip in our coverage.

The second round of the cup's been played, and it contained a fair amount of action. Referee blunders, underdogs giving a good fight until nearly the end... But the fourteen Tippeliga teams that did manage to get through one way or another isn't what everyone's talking about.

No, what is being discussed is not only that two teams were going out of the cup (accompanied by a huuuge amount of schadenfreude all over the country), but the fact that they were also outplayed by their respective opponents.

A Stabaek squad, riddled with injuries will travel to Bergen to face Brann, Sunday while Start plays host to Eliteserien powerhouse Aalesund.

Not long after Clarence Goodson had bagged the lone goal (from a Hunter Freeman assist, no less) for a 1-0 IK Start win over Aalesund FK, Stabæk's Mikkel Diskerud opened the scoring in what would be a 2-2 draw at Brann. - Greg Seltzer

photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

While most of the Americans Abroad contingent is either currently resting or preparing for the upcoming seasons, two players were busy scoring goals this past weekend.

Clarence Goodson and Mikkel Diskerud each scored goals for their respective clubs on Sunday, and both were headers.

Hunter Freeman and Clay Goodson powered Start to a win over beleaguered Brann while Mikkel Diskerud and Stabaek's troubles continue after falling to Stromsgodset at home.

Oh yeah, in addition to the league being just as delighfully wacko and devoid of logic as we should hope for not to mention making up for often lacking in true quality there's also been a cup this year that is also showing some surprises; one of the biggest ones happening last night.

But first, let's have a general update.

As the battle for the may-be-important fourth place rages on, the mainstream media still prove to be a bunch of clueless cowards, preferring to seek out pretend drama that may or may not become real at some point in the future. NFN will thus be the only provider of the real drama RIGHT NOW, and we'll start by once again puttin up the part of the league table that really matters:

4 Aalesund 39
5 Odd Grenland 38
6 Strømsgodset 37
7 Start 35
8 Haugesund 35
9 Viking 34
10 Lillestrøm 33
11 Stabæk 33

As you can see, seven teams are still within reach of that glorious fourth place.