Wednesday 5 October 2011

Finally, in the 78th minute, after Sounders FC had thrown everything but a loose boot and extra shin guard at Chicago keeper Sean Johnson, Fredy Montero again found the ball on his foot in front of the Fire goal.

This is how it went all night. Great chances at both ends. Remarkably entertaining soccer that was almost too good to end too soon. Goalkeepers too frugal to allow anything cheap.

It took almost the entire game for the breakthrough score.

Seattle Sounders FC claimed its third consecutive U.S. Open Cup triumph on Tuesday, dispatching a game Chicago Fire side 2-0 before a record crowd of 35,615 at CenturyLink Field. But six weeks from now, will it matter?


THREE-attle! Sounders win third straight US Open Cup trophy!!!!


Seattle Sounders 2 – Chicago Fire 0 (US Open Cup final, October 4, 2011)



Everyone loves spotting the next big thing and the 2011/2012 season appears no different from any other, young starlets are making their name all across the globe.

The midst of international week seems a good time to reflect on those youngsters that have made a major impression at the start of the campaign.


New York Red Bulls 2 – Los Angeles Galaxy 0 (MLS, October 4, 2011)



The Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame and its blue ribbon selection committee today announced the 12 members that will make up the 2011 inaugural Hall of Fame class. The Tacoma Stars were shut out of the voting except for Steve Zungul, a player who made his name with other clubs.


Kashima Antlers 3 – Yokohama F.Marinos 2 (AET) (Nabisco Cup, October 5, 2011)



The recent hiring of Jurgen Klinsmann as the head coach of the Stars and Stripes has finally given the 25-year-old a chance to establish himself in the starting XI. In addition, after a slow start for his club Rangers FC this season, Edu has responded well with some of the best performances of his career over the past few weeks. He has scored a goal and dished out one assist in his past three appearances for the club.


Skill Show Vol. 50



NO JOKE! Last year, a great short film was made about a then 69-year-old Pele coming out of retirement in an effort to score one last goal for the Brazilian national team. The current president of Pele's former club, Santos, might have taken that surreal film a little more seriously than most, because he's doing everything in his power to get Pele to play for the Copa Libertadores winners in the Club World Cup this December.



Gamba Osaka 3 – Jubilo Iwata 1 (Nabisco Cup, October 5, 2011)



He hails from deep in the heart of Texas, stands 6-3, and his father played football at Virginia Tech. But Brek Shea, a decent quarterback and safety in middle school, has always been an independent thinker, so he ditched his shoulder pads for shin guards and followed his true love — soccer.


A Tribute to the "Il Codino D'Oro"


With US national team camp now underway in Miami, Sporting Kansas City forward Teal Bunbury is aiming to show what he can do under head coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

Bunbury, 21, has been capped twice by the US national team and the last time was in January against Chile when he scored via a penalty in a 1-1 draw.


Cerezo Osaka 1 – Urawa Red Diamonds 2 (Nabisco Cup, October 5, 2011)



French newspaper Le Parisien claims that PSG officials will meet with Beckham, 36, in Los Angeles on Wednesday in order to offer the global football icon a tempting deal.

Director of football Leonardo revealed last month that PSG were considering a move for the former England captain and it appears the Qatari-owned club intend to snap up the LA star when his MLS contract expires in November.

Or could "Golden Balls" be heading back to Sunny England for a coaching position?


Two Bikes one game!!



Seconds after scoring with an insouciant backheel for City during the Manchester derby at Old Trafford in 1974, Denis Law was a picture of mortification. Thinking that he was responsible for sending his beloved United down, Law refused to celebrate and, despite other results exonerating the striker of responsibility for his former club's relegation, he said last year that he still felt "inconsolable". "How long did the feeling last?" he continued. "How long ago was the game? Thirty-odd years. There is your answer."