As predicted by my Facebook buddy Bruce of DuNord a spell ago, Clint Dempsey has just put Fulham up with mere moments to play in leg two regulation by scoring a disturbingly gorgeous goal.Down 4-1 on aggregate, the home side Cottagers have rallied with four, Dempsey's putting them in front. Stay tuned for updates until the whistle and the clip.

"Was this the face that launch'd a thousand ships?" Perhaps not, but even if his name won't immediately sell tickets, the product Robert Pirès produces will. (Photo: Newscom)

Being a fan of Major League Soccer means throwing a grain of salt at each rumor of incoming talent. There are a number of prominent European players who like the idea of MLS, living in the States players who aren't afraid to share their feelings with the media.

The Los Angeles Galaxy were victim of the Loubriel Curse (to get eliminated from the CCL on a suicide-win in Puerto Rico) Wednesday, as L.A. defeated the Islanders 1-2, but still got eliminated from the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League (CCL).

It was a loss that tasted like a win to the Islanders and the sellout crowd of close to 13,000 fans that cheered and celebrated this win (in aggregate) with their Puerto Rican team, that advanced to the CCL Groups Round by leading the series aggregate 5-3, on account of their 4-1 routing of the Galaxy in Los Angeles last week.

Read that scoreline again. And again. Fulham 4, Juventus 1. Wonderful. Unbelievable. Wonderful.

I can not imagine how this can be bettered. From whatever angle you look at this game it was astonishing. There we were, 4-1 down on aggregate, a goal down in the first minute, playing against an Italian side that, one would assume, would be able to defend a big lead without too much trouble.

I've never been a big fan of the away goals rule because it seems like an odd rule that exists only as a cruel and unusual punishment to knock a losing team out of a cup tournament. But the match between Manchester United and Bayern Munich was a perfect example of how well it can work and how it adds an important subtext to a game that is already filled with numerous plot lines.

Despite the media's rampant love-in for Barcelona, which intensified in the UK after the Catalans' destruction of Arsenal, last night's Champions League semi final was predictable. Unlike Wenger, Mourinho had the nouse to come up with a sensible gameplan. His players carried it out perfectly, and gave themselves a realistic chance of progressing to the final.

Bayern Munich will meet either Inter Milan or FC Barcelona in the final of the 2009/10 UEFA Champions league on May 22nd following their 0-3 win at Olympique Lyon earlier today. The result saw FC Bayern win the home and away series 4-0 on aggregate to make their first UEFA Champions League final appearance since they won [.

FC Barcelona knocked out by Inter despite the victory. Aggregate Barca - 2, Inter - 3

FC Barcelona's dream came of defending their Champions League crown at the home of their rivals came to an end after being knocked out byt Italian Champion Inter Milan. Inter Milan, who were reduced to 10 men for almost an hour following the dismissal of Motta, held firm in defense.

Rafael Sobis, Leandro and Giuliano notched second-half goals to lead Brazil's Internacional to a 3-2 win (5-3 on aggregate) over Mexican side Chivas de Guadalajara in the second leg of the 2010 Copa Libertadores final at the Beira-Rio stadium last night. Internacional won the first leg 2-1 in Mexico last week on Guadalajara's synthetic pitch and [.

By Chris Wright

After his rash announcement last week that, though still visibly unfit, he should still be commanding a place in the Arsenal starting XI, striker Nicklas Bendtner has found himself linked with many of Europe's elite, with Juventus said to be 'monitoring developments' (reading the papers?

photo credit: batrax

Starting this Wednesday, Chelsea will take on Inter in a two match aggregate that will decide who will move on to the quarter finals of the UEFA tournament. And the big story behind this match-up is who other then Inter manager Jose Mourinho. The man was the last manager to hoist a title with the Blues in the Premiership and the Coach of the Year looks to defend his Serie A title this season with Inter.

I wasn't planning on blogging it, but the match has become interesting in the last few minutes. Two goals in two minutes between Pachuca and Comunicaciones has made the match 1-1 and 2-2 on aggregate. So if there is no additional scoring in the next 10-12 minutes, the tie will go to extra time...but if the Guatemalans can score another goal before the end of regulation time, they would go through on away goals!

"Well, this is not the same Samuel Eto'o we saw at Barcelona," said Andy Gray after an admittedly uncharacteristically poor miss from Eto'o offered Chelsea momentary reprieve. The chance was squandered midway into the second half, as both teams grappled doggedly in a gripping encounter for the right to progress into the last eight of this year's increasingly compelling Champions League.

On a busy sports Wednesday that saw a double OT battle between the Gators and BYU, soccer stole the show as Fulham's Clint Dempsey scored on an incredible cross-field shot that landed in the top corner of the net against Juventus. Not only did this extend the lead to three goals for the Cottagers, but it also gave them the 5-4 aggregate win over Juve in the Europa League.

Clint Dempsey can add another goal to his highlight reel. Coming on in the 71st minute with Fulham already even on aggregate with Juventus at 4-4, he sent a floating ball in from distance that found the upper corner in the 82nd. Fulham won 3-1 on the night and 5-4 on aggregate, advancing to the next round of the Europea League.

photo credit: Gabyu

Lyon sought AND destroyed yesterday.

Lyon defeated Bordeaux 3-1 in their Ligue 1/Champion's League match yesterday that represents the first leg of their set in the Champion's League. With Bordeaux so far out in front in Ligue 1 you wonder whether they are tired, just didn't have it in them, or they just got bitten by the one team that has their number.

photo credit: wonker

Arsenal and Barcelona tangled for their first of two legs at Emirates Stadium, but Barcelona won the day 2-0. In aggregate scoring I'm not sure how Arsenal plans to get that back.

Oh, did I mention that Cesc Fabregas probably broke his leg in the match and now Arsenal will be without him in the second leg at Camp Nou?

Jose Mourinho maintained his 100% record in the Champions League quarter-finals as Inter knocked out CSKA Moscow to reach the semi-final stage for the first time since 2002/03.

Wesley Sneijder scored the all-important early goal at the Luzhniki Stadium to add to Diego Milito's 65th-minute strike in Milan, leaving Inter in charge of their destiny and the Russians needing three goals.

Bayern beat United and took a spot in the Champion's League Semi-Finals on away goals. I know, that's a crappy way to lose, but you've got to have a tie-breaker when you're doing aggregate scoring. Anyways...

United seems to think that the Germans were doing something that ONLY Germans do.

Bill "The Wall" Gaudette earned his second shutout of the year as the Puerto Rico Islanders won a berth in the semifinals of the 2010 CFU Clubs Championship Cup with a 3-0 win over Racing de Gônaïves (Haiti) in the 2nd leg of their 2nd Round match.

Josh Hansen scored 2 goals (8′ & 49′) and David Foley scored the 3rd goal (38′) of the game.

By Ollie Irish

After last night's damp squib you know tonight will be awesome, whatever happens. How can it not be? Mourinho, Guardiola, Messi, Xavi, Zlatan, Sneijder (set to start despite injury doubts), Eto'o etc etc. And that's just the attacking talent.

From the moment the Cesc Fabregas transfer saga started, there have been various counter accusations from both Arsenal and Barcelona fans. Blogs are the medium of communication in the modern world and promptly became the battle ground between Gunner and Cules. I believe the whole story started with Guillem Balague writing about a meeting that has taken place between Fabregas and Arsene Wenger He reported that Fabregas requested Wenger to allow him to move to Barca.

Puerto Rico Islanders 1 Galaxy 2.

So the Galaxy fall to the Division 2 team 5-3 on aggregate.

The Galaxy went into the game needing to win by four clear goals; they could manage just one, six minutes from time, from Sean Franklin. The Islanders even gave the Galaxy a helping hand, scoring the Galaxy's first for them on an own goal.

By Ollie Irish

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Celtic's Shaun Maloney and Bragas Osorio Alan during the Champions League, third qualifying round, second leg at Celtic Park, Glasgow.

After the spirit-crushing 3-0 defeat at Braga in the first leg, Celtic's Champions League adventure was over almost before it kicked off.

Steven Gerrard's second goal in a 4-0 rout over Real Madrid in the Round of 16 of the 2008-2009 Champions League campaign is at #83 in the countdown as a fantastic example of a team-goal of epic awesomeness. Up 2-0 in the first half, and 3-0 on aggregate after an against-the-grain 1-0 win in Madrid (from [.

Super stuff from Messi in the Spanish Super Cup.Barcelona beat Sevilla 3 -2 on aggregate to win the cup for a record 9th time.They beat them 4 - 0 in the second leg- three goals courtesy one Lionel Messi.

Suarez opened the scoreline for Ajax today versus Dynamo Kiev. The Argentine somehow found the back of the net from a tough angle without having a glance! Ajax move on from a 3-2 aggregate win.

Jozy Altiodre started and went 72 minutes for Villarreal on Thursday, winning 2-1 on the night and 7-1 on aggregate over Dnepr Transmash at Spartak Stadium in the Europa League qualifying round. Tied at 1-1 on the night, Villarreal were reduced to ten men when Marquez Cristobal was red carded in the 68th minute.

This is the last day I'm talking about the controversial calls made in the RailHawks' 2-0 series-clinching win over the Montreal Impact in the USSF D2 semifinals on Saturday. I promise.

But before we shut it down and begin previewing this weekend's first leg of the championship, let's look at each of the two goals in question.

Hekari United are the defending champions

This weekend sees the beginning of a new campaign in Oceania's elite football competition, the O-League. Having established itself as a regular feature of the football calendar since it was rebranded with a new format in 2007, the anticipation ahead of this tournament is growing mainly because of last season's shock victory of Papua New Guinea's PKR Hekari United FC.

"Someone will pop up and make the difference for us"
Frank Yallop, San Jose Earthquakes Coach

The New York Red Bulls beat the Earthquakes 1-0 in San Jose to take the lead in their MLS playoff tie. Can the Quakes come back on the road to beat the Red Bulls on aggregate?

After coming home with a one goal lead on aggregate from San Jose, the New York Red Bulls knew that the Earthquakes were never going to give up without a fight at Red Bull Arena. The Quakes absolutely knew they dodged a massive bullet at Buck Shaw Stadium as the shoreline could've been at least four goals to nil.

The Los Angeles Galaxy advance in the MLS Cup with a victory against the Seattle Sounders. LA was the top-seeded side beating Seattle on a 3-1 aggregate. The game was over after the half with both Edson Buddle and Omar Gonzalez scoring. LA Galaxy dominated Seattle, but in the second half LA pulled back and allowed Seattle get possession.

Deportivo edged past Valencia 4-3 on aggregate after this draw at home to Valencia.

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Atlético Madrid are pure entertainment. The Jekyll and Hyde of Spanish football added another chapter to their colourful past as they achieved what no other team had ever achieved in Copa del Rey history; to come back from a first-leg 3 goal deficit. And in typical Atlético style, they did it hard way.

*Brad Guzan, uncharacteristically let in four goals at home for Aston Villa tonight, but the Midlanders advanced to the League Cup Final at Wembley thanks to six in reply. Ten goals at Villa Park tonight (7-4 on aggregate), no advert for defending. Man City or Utd, currently performing a soccer version of Trading Places, await in the final on Feb 28th.

It will go down as one of the most memorable Carling Cup semi-finals in history.

Blackburn Rovers, 1-0 down from the first leg jumped out to a 2-0 advantage on aggregate through two goals from Nikola Kalinic.
But Villa got back on level terms when former Blackburn defender Stephen Warnock scored and then Blackburn defender Christopher Samba was sent off for bringing down Gabriel Agbonlahor inside the box.

It will go down as one of the most memorable Carling Cup semi-finals in history.

Blackburn Rovers, 1-0 down from the first leg jumped out to a 2-0 advantage on aggregate through two goals from Nikola Kalinic.

But Villa got back on level terms when former Blackburn defender Stephen Warnock scored and then Blackburn defender Christopher Samba was sent off for bringing down Gabriel Agbonlahor inside the box.

By Chris Wright

Hands, knees, sneeze!

Following initial interest in the summer, Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho is reportedly preparing a fresh €11.5 million bid for Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas. 'The Special One' may also opt to offer Spurs a cash-plus-player deal with Sulley Muntari being used as aggregate.

Barcelona have yet to suffer a defeat in la Liga and will complete half of their season's fixtures this weekend. In 18 matches played, the Catalans have won a remarkable 14 matches and drawn the remaining four games. Barca have the best defensive record with a mere 10 goals conceded and have scored a league high 46 goals.