4-13-11

Two more big games in Champions League play today Real Madrid vs. Tottenham, Schalke vs. Inter, who will join Barcelona and Manchester United in the Semi's?

Watch today's Champions League games here!

Three things are a given when it comes to Sounders FC games at Qwest Field: a passionate crowd, attack-minded play and complaints about the artificial turf.

Quotes from Sounders practice on Tuesday and practice photo's (I wouldn't call it practice) from Tuesday.

3 Sounders made team of the Week for week 4 of the MLS Season.

The New York Cosmos are bringing out all the stops to be the 20th team in the MLS come 2013.


Total Skill vol. 39



You don’t see this too often overseas. An American quits on his club in England. Was it an acrimonious departure? Well, the manager says his team will be better off without him.


Goal of the Week Nominee



For five years, the number of consecutive unbeaten La Liga games (managed by a Cruyff-inspired Barcelona side en route to the Spanish title in 1974) stood at a quite remarkable twenty-six. The current Barcelona side recently sailed past this total and now has a loftier target in sight; the sole notable domestic landmark neither of Spain’s big two can lay claim to and one that remains the preserve of a little corner of the Basque country. Real Sociedad from San Sebastián may be a modest club historically, but between April 1979 and May 1980 and spanning a remarkable thirty-eight League games, they were impossible to beat.


Manchester United 2 – Chelsea 1 (Agg. 3-1) (Champions League quarter final second leg, April 13, 2011)



It was getting to the point of being embarrassing for American strikers outside of Major League Soccer. The goals just weren't coming. Nobody could find the net. And then, with no warning, the goals started falling.


Shakhtar Donetsk 0 – Barcelona 1 (Agg. 1-6) (Champions League, quarter-final second leg, April 12, 2011)



Manchester United have dreams of partying like it was 1999 again, that was the last time they won the Treble. Now they are in the Semi's in the Champions League, Semi's in the FA Cup, and lead the EPL.


Pass of the Week



The Beckham experiment is going out with a bit of a yawn, will we see him play one more year in MLS? Will we see him use his option to buy an MLS franchise at the end of his contract?

Colo Colo 2 – Deportivo Tachira 1 (Copa Libertadores, April 12, 2011)



Chelsea’s Fernando Torres must be wondering where it all went so wrong. Once widely considered the world’s greatest attacker, Torres is now a shadow of his glorious former self, although a £50 million price tag would cast a shadow over even the most talented of players.


LDU de Quito 2 – Godoy Cruz 0 (Copa Libertadores, April 12, 2011)



I’ve been meaning to write up something like this for a few weeks now. Ever since New York Red Bulls star young striker Juan Agudelo scored a goal for the US National team against Argentina, I thought to myself, and said to others around me at the time, boy I hope this kid doesn’t bolt MLS too soon!


Liverpool 3 – Manchester City 0 (Premier League, April 11, 2011)



Sunday in Scotland saw the final of the Alba Challenge Cup. Ross County won the trophy courtesy of a straightforward 2-nil victory, which was set up for them by a horrendous error from QoS keeper David Hutton after just eight minutes of the match.

Hutton had all the time in the world to put his foot through the ball when he received a backpass in the opening stages of the game. But instead of lacing the ball upfield, bizarrely the keeper dallied in possession which allowed County forward Andrew Barrowman the opportunity to close the goalie down.

Then, like a rabbit caught in the headlights, Barrowman pounced on Hutton. He’ll never score an easier goal in his career.


MLS Saves of the Week



One American is about to hit Gold in Australia!


Goal of the Week Nominee