Champions League elite eight kicks off

Since we're down to the quarterfinals, I will add Champions League highlights clips to the video rotation. I will do the same for the last edition of the UEFA Cup once they hit the final four.

Manchester United 2 Porto 2

Still clearly hobbled by injuries quality-wise, the Red Devils managed to grab a late lead thanks to a super throw-in set play that allowed Rooney to flick for Tévez to net. However, United got dizzy at the back near time, leaving Porto sub Mariano unmarked at the far post for a last gasp equalizer (and second away goal).



Villarreal 1 Arsenal 1

Jozy Altidore was surely up and hollering at home when Marcos Senna put the Yellow Submarines ahead with a long range screamer, but Manu Adebayor pulled the visitors level with a supreme strike midway through the second half.




- Greg Seltzer

Someone's knocking at the do'

... but would Christian Vieri ring the bell in MLS?

We may soon find out because Italian mag Chi reports that the artist formerly known as Bobo is off to L.A. for a Galaxy trial (in Italian). The former Italy strike hero was allowed out of his Atalanta contract on Friday and has reportedly wasted no time in heading for the plastic women... err, I mean, finding a new employer.

UPDATE: Wow!!! I called the office of Vieri's agent, and of course, he wasn't in (they rarely are, I've found). His secretary suggested I try his mobile and asked if I needed the number, which I actually did not.

When he picked up, I told him why I was calling and he proceeded to shout at me something barely intelligible containing the phrase 'journalist invasion'. He then asked me if I understood, to which I replied 'No, sir, I'm afraid I do not'.

Being told that his office suggested I try his mobile (again, my mode of contact with agents about 75% of the time) only kicked off another round of 'This is an invasion!' prattle, so I said goodbye and hung up.

That was weird.

UPDATE UPDATE: L.A. boss Bruce Arena has told Steven Goff that the story is rubbish, which is hardly surprising based on the truth percentage of Italian reports.


- Greg Seltzer

A few things...

I do not care for the guy with the hammer 'n power saw across the way. He very diligently gets started excruciatingly early in the morning. Damn him and his infernal saw, damn him to hell...

#1 - Soccer Insider Steven Goff reports that Valencia are out and Villarreal may be in as the MLS All-Star Game opponent. And Jozy would be back from loan... I'm diggin' it.

#2 - Still in the mood to chuckle over the dire-ish straits of El Tri? Cue Luis Bueno over at Sports Illustrated.

#3 - New York Red Bulls draft pick Babajide Ogunbiyi has moved from Norwegian trials to one at Leeds United.

A few corrections on the article: it's MLS, he has yet to play in the league and (unless I'm mistaken) never played a competitive match for Nigeria's U-23 team.

#4 - The U.S. Under-20 National Team was drawn into Group C for this autumn's World Cup in Egypt. They will face (in order): Germany, Cameroon and South Korea

#5 - Revs striker (and St. Louis homeboy) Taylor Twellman is dealing with the major hassle that is a neck injury. It is not pleasant, I know. I sure hope he's back out there before too long.

#6 - Red Card ace Luis Arroyave talked with Eddie Johnson about being back in USMNT camp.

#7 - MLS Daily contributor Jason Davis with a very measured look at MLS insistence that they must play on FIFA dates... and apparently, at the same time as USMNT matches.

#8 - Adi Akinbiyi is coming soon to an MLS stadium near you.

What? I didn't say anything bad. Sheesh.

#9 - My WPS hometown side St. Louis Athletica dropped their franchise opener 1-0 at home to the Chicago Red Stars - and another I-55 rivalry is born.

(shakes fist at Lindsay Tarpley)

#10 - In the "if you missed it" file today: my feature bit on D.C. United thunderdome warrior Ben Olsen.

Also... and I can only imagine you'll find me a real stat/list geek for this... I looked up my recent World 2014 U.S. roster "projection" (is it even that this far ahead?) to see where all the players I listed are currently working their games.

Well, of the 106 players I pooled, MLS unsurprisingly leads the way. Over half, 56 to be exact, are now playing in the home league (or, at least, are on a roster competing for pitch time... you know what I mean).

Who was next? American college/youth clubs have 12 of those prospects and the top three flights of England have 11. Germany and Norway (!) came next with six, followed by Denmark (four), France, Italy, Scotland and Sweden (each with three).

In all, the players could be found in 17 countries on three continents... and not a single one playing in the Eredivisie. Erm, what the hell? How many integral USMNT World Cup players bloom in the Netherlands before we all catch on?

At the very least, we are no longer ignoring their levee expertise. Rant over.

#11 - Okay, time to drop a few MLS weekend thoughts (here are all the boxes and videos):

• Somehow, FC Dallas have managed to go 0-3 and rank dead last in MLS offense while leading the league in shots, running second in shots on goal and fourth on corner kicks and fourth on fouls suffered... crazy.

• I feel bad for Danny Cepero. Danny, Danny, Danny... were you trying to go back from whence you came? Oh, it was painful (media player link).
  
  To be fair, I will note that he does currently lead the league in saves.
  

• I saw some really lame ejections in Europe this weekend, but I'm also left wondering how Revs forward Kenny Mansally managed to avoid a red card for his Cam Neely running the keeper impersonation. Yeesh.

• Two guys who were talked about as the possible top pick, eventual #1 Steve Zakuani and L.A. defender Omar Gonzalez, each scored their first MLS goals this week - as did Freddie Ljungberg. We also had two tricks, from Robbie Findley and Conor Casey.
  

• Why are the Crew being outworked? Especially after a 4-1 defeat? Hmmm, still winless through four.

• The Wizards finally broke their 2009 home duck in the third try. Fittingly, they won on a virtual pond.
  
  The Distracter was doubly pleased because she loves the rain. Her exact reply on hearing the news was: 'Yay! Did they use magic?'.
  

• The L.A. Galaxy broadcast unit managed to mispell two Rapids names on their pre-game line-up card graphic. We had "Collin Clark" and "Connor Casey" (boy, that didn't work out so well).
  
  C'mon, guys. Gotta spell the names right. It also grinds my gears every time I see "Corey Gibbs" or "DeMarcus Beasley" in print somewhere.
  

• Of course, poor spelling is the least of Bruce Arena's concerns after watching his defense play Marco Polo with Mr. Casey.

#13 - Speaking of bad red cards, did anyone see Pompey's Glenn Johnson receive his second yellow walking papers for... well... for being kicked (3:15 mark). Awful.

#14 - I nearly forgot; West Ham defender Jonathan Spector did suffer a concussion Saturday against Sunderland and is slated to miss a couple of games.

That's another rather unpleasant injury. I once lost my edge and swung around to crack my head on the boards of a hockey rink. And I do mean I hit it hard, Jack. Thump!

When I came to, I was informed that I had suffered a "minor concussion". I lost a lot of respect for that doctor as soon as the modifier came out of his mouth. I would have sneered at him, but I wasn't exactly controlling my face at that moment.

I did have the mental faculties to realize that I was not up for whatever concussion rated higher on the scale. The one I had unnerved me quite enough, thank you very much.

Anyway... feel better soon, Spec!


- Greg Seltzer

Who likes goals?

I'm just gonna get this out of the way now, then do A few things in the morning. You guys will all be watching baseball tomorrow. Go Cardinals!!

I wonder how many times Federico Macheda actually dreamed of hitting a massively important late winner at Old Trafford before today. Frankly, just having the idea AND confidence to attempt that touch-and-turn at 17 makes my eyes pop. Go on, watch it again.



I believe what Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain does here can be described as "getting on his horse". Giddyup.



Hammarby's Emil Johansson clears the chamber with feeling on opening day.



Wolfsburg's Grafite absolutely toys with Bayern Munich for the 5-1. Yep.



Finally, Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh shows big guys can be nimble to hit a winner.



- Greg Seltzer

Letter from London

At Wembley this week with 85,000 others I watched David Beckham slip further off the MLS radar as England, mirabile dictu, recorded their fifth straight win to maintain a 100% record in their 2010 World Cup qualifiers, downing Ukraine 2-1.
The LA exile looked sharp, slicing the Ukrainian backline open a number of times with the spinning crosses which have become his speciality in his twilight years. It was from such a Becks set-piece that England grabbed their winner in the 85th, and though Fabio Capello has him down only as an impact subsitution, Goldenballs looks a shoe-in for his fourth WC Finals in 2010.

News that England's former boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has got the heave-ho down Mexico way brought few smiles to Anglo faces. Despite the icy Swede's catalogue of off-field pecadilloes and frustrating failure to haul the national team beyond the last eight of any tournament, he remains liked in England, perhaps because of his much-remarked resemblance to a beloved childrens' TV woodpecker, Professor Yaffel.

Far more pleasing for us was Bolivia annihilating our bogey team Argentina 6-1 in La Paz. Muchas gracias chicos! And Diego Maradona was coaching them too!

The Hand of God did not appear in the Andes on Wednesday. Diego, of course, scored one of the greatest goals of all time, against England in World Cup '86, but blotted his copybook by scoring with his hand minutes earlier. Aston Villa's Steve Hodge was the clot who provided the assist, either through misclearing or trying a suicidal backpass, yet he managed to come away with Maradona's No. 10 jersey at the final whistle, a priceless piece of soccer memorabilia he still guards to this day.

The movie 'The Damned United' is No.5 at the UK Box Office this week. It is an engrossing, if light-hearted adaptation, of the brilliant novel of the same name by noir-writer David Peace, imagining Brian Clough's fiery 44 days as coach of English Champions Leeds United in 1974.

Michael Sheen (The Queen, Frost-Nixon) is superb as the ineffable manager, while Colm Meaney (Star Trek etc) is as convincing as his nemesis and predecessor at Leeds, Don Revie. Five years after his death and with more books in the pipeline, Clough's legend persists. As a coach he was a master motivator, taking two small clubs - Derby and Nottingham Forest, to the English title and the heights of Europe. As a personality he was supreme - arrogant, hilarious, intimidating and captivating in the same breath. 97% of the nation wanted him to coach England, but the FA ran scared. Middlesbrough and Nottingham have erected statues to him, with another one is being made for Derby. In a nod to nostalgia, Derby appointed Clough's son Nigel as boss earlier this year.

Peace's book is 'historical faction' and if not the best ever soccer novel, certainly one of the finest books concerning a great sport which until the 1990s had a paucity of good literature to accompany it.

Lastly, for the first time in my life, I was glad to see Chel$ki win. The Blues' 2-0 win at Newcastle allowed us a first chance to watch Alan Shearer in agony. Shearer's demi-god status among the Geordie deluded, I mean faithful, has been an unhealthy presence hovering around the club for too long. I salute Alan for leaving the comfort of the soccer show sofa for the real test of the touchline, a move his know-it-all colleagues should copy, but sincerely hope his eight games in charge end in ignominious relegation and dismissal, so The Toon can become a big team again.

-Sean O'Conor, London

Zimm strikes again!

[Photo: KSV Superfund]

It's only halftime at Linz, but Kapfenberg striker Preston Zimmerman has rung the bell to put his side up 2-0. The American did not start the match, entering on the half hour - nine minutes later, he netted his third league goal of the season from a corner kick.

I'll post the clip here when it goes up...

UPDATE: Here it is (site requires quick, easy register).


- Greg Seltzer

A few things...

A lot going on, so let's not shuffle our feet...

#1 - Some worrisome news out of Seattle: police have opened an investigation into possible sexual assault and stalking by Sounders strike phenom Fredy Montero - who had just been named MLS Player of the Month for March.

For a myriad of reasons, I sure do hope this is not true. But even if it is a false accusation, that is a whole other nightmare.

Urgh. Not cool - however this plays out.

#2 - What does FSC have planned for Champions League coverage? Ronald Blum reports they plan to show over 100 matches (live or tape-delayed) and spread the broadcasts to other Fox networks.

#3 - If you're wondering how DaMarcus Beasley felt about playing left back against Trinidad & Tobago... well... Red Card ace Luis Arroyave reports he kinda agrees with me.

Also on Thursday, the Gold Cup draw took place. The 'Nats get Grenada, Honduras and Haiti.

#4 - By the way, did anyone else catch during the USMNT broadcast Wednesday when JP Dellacamera relayed that T&T forward Stern John (currently with Southampton, but on loan to Bristol City) told him that he wants to return to the Columbus Crew in 2010?

#5 - FC Dallas has opened the season poorly, and of course, 3rd Degree is the place to go for their training scuttlebutt.

#6 - Okay, now seriously, super-for-real this time: Albert Celades and Carlos Johnson are ready for Red Bulls duty. Yes. We're sure of it now.

Meanwhile, N.Y. Post all-star Brian Lewis also digs into the Johnson agent brouhaha a little further. Very strange stuff.

#7 - A pair of Kansas City Wizards will take part of a charity event called Tour de Forks, which is both hilariously named and involves going around town to eat all sorts of delicious food.

I'm jealous.

The not so tasty news is the Wizards must fight through some injuries to avoid dropping the first three games of the season at home against San Jose his weekend. Can you believe Davy Arnaud might not play when I left Kyle Beckerman on my fantasy bench this week? %#$*@!

#8 - Some hearty Revs morsels: another versatile, tough-nosed player is on the way in the person of former Ghana youth international Emmanuel Osei, star man Steve Ralston could return this weekend and the scratch list still includes Matt Reis and Taylor Twellman.

#9 - The Toronto Sun looks into the crowd trouble at Columbus last weekend.

And while we're on the subject of TFC, Carl Robinson hung his Wales boots to focus on MLS Cup and working towards a soccer job for when he retires.

#10 - This Is American Soccer's Adam Spangler gets us a preview look at a photo exhibit meant to raise money so that New York youth outfit FC Harlem can have their very own home field. Great stuff.

#11 - Geez, I almost forgot myself... my latest S365 concoctions are a great talk with Chivas USA skipper Jesse Marsch (one of the league's under-heralded aces) about their fast start, a quick word with busy mover Gregg Berhalter, and naturally, my U.S. v T&T Player Ratings (which were far sunnier than the El Salvador variety).

Later today, I'll post a bit with D.C. United star Ben Olsen.

#12 - A quick look at the Prem finds Stevie G signing a Reds extension and then pleading not guilty in court, while Arsene Wenger goes completely insane (as if Arsenal would benefit from this craziness anyway).

#13 - NSC pal Ian Joy took his injury absence from the squad as a chance to sit with the supporters as they crushed Columbus 4-1 on Thursday night.

#14 - As he always does, Luis Bueno feeds our Mexican editorial cartoon hunger with a couple on Sven's firing.

#15 - As I expected, Gregg Berhalter has signed with Los Angeles.


- Greg Seltzer

Nananana! Nananana! Hey Hey-ey! Adios!

Yup... the Mexican federation decided that Wednesday's 3-1 WCQ loss to Honduras was too much to bear and sacked manager Sven Goran Eriksson. To me, the axe served as belated punishment for coaching Lazio to some success.

And, per usual, Touchline dazzler Luis Bueno has Mexico pegged cold. Succinct. Accurate.

Here are the highlights from El Tri's defeat (snicker). I tried to find a Sven presser in English, but no luck.




Meanwhile, in an almost completely different in every way manager story, Alan "Eight Days" Shearer faced the delightful UK press for the first time since taking over at Newcastle.





- Greg Seltzer

Hat trick alert!

Jozy x 3 = Enjoy...








- Greg Seltzer

Cry for me, Argentina? Ha!

While I wait for the USMNT highlights to surface, let's look to CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying where then-cellar dwellers Bolivia put an astonishing 6-1 hurtin' on Argentina.

Don't believe me? See for yourself, split into halves...






- Greg Seltzer

Changes are afoot!

Four to be exact, including (gulp) DaMarcus Beasley at left back.

Howard; Hejduk, Onyewu, Bocanegra, Beasley, Bradley, Mastroeni, Donovan, Dempsey, Ching, Altidore

Subs: Guzan, DeMerit, Bornstein, Edu, Kljestan, Torres, Johnson

Highlight and interview clips after...

UPDATE: 'Nats win 3-0 on a Jozy Altidore hat trick. It will be a happy, smiley U.S. Player Ratings at S365 tomorrow.


- Greg Seltzer

OMG what are you waiting for?!?!?!

I just found this press release from Chivas USA in the ol' inbox:

CARSON, Calif. (Wednesday, April 1, 2009) – Chivas USA unveiled today the ‘All You Can Eat’ Pack, a $25 ticket that also includes all the hot dogs, nachos, popcorn and soda that you can eat at twelve Red-and-White home games at The Home Depot Center during in the 2009 MLS season. Starting with this Sunday’s match against the defending MLS champion Columbus Crew, fans can purchase Chivas USA’s All You Can Eat Pack by calling 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visiting cdchivasusa.com.

I'd just not eat all day, then head out to the HDC in sweatpants and be like Homer Simpson in that seafood restaurant. And then I'd be like this guy...




- Greg Seltzer

GrandeSoccer?

This just in: American forum BigSoccer has been sold to a Mexican telecom giant for $4 million and change. The new owners plan to entice Mexican-Americans to join up for a monthly service that includes live streaming broadband content and more.

Hmmm. This should be interesting...

UPDATE: I'm sure you'll all sussed on by now that this was an April Fool's Day prank. Well done, BigSoccer. I claim no credit whatsoever, but hope I helped unnerve everyone just a little by spreading it around.

To re-live some of the best AFD jokes played by the media, go here. Maybe some day, I'll explain the Dutch sense of humor.


- Greg Seltzer

Berhalter appears headed to L.A.

1860 Munich have agreed to let veteran defender Gregg Berhalter out of the last few months of his contract. The 35-year old former U.S. international is set to join an MLS club for the first time, and I'm being told it's Los Angeles.

If you can understand/somewhat decipher German, here is a video interview with GB.

I will try talk to Gregg as soon as I can, but first I must... erm... locate him.

UPDATE: Found him. As is to be expected, he wouldn't let on as to where he was headed or even if a destination club had been decided yet.


- Greg Seltzer