The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced today the signing of forward Cristian Nazarit on a free transfer. The 20-year-old striker comes to the club from Colombian Primera A side Independiente Santa Fe and will be added to the club's roster upon the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC).

Restrepo was an NCAA champion at Virginia in 2009
Former U-17 goalkeeper Diego Restrepo has taken the next step in his professional career with America de Cali in his native Colombia. Since leaving residency, Restrepo has become an NCAA champion with Virginia before moving down to South America to try to break into the professional game.

courtesy: virginiasports.com
CHARLOTTESVILLE - Former Cavalier goalkeeper and 2009 ACC Tournament and NCAA College Cup Most Valuable Player Diego Restrepo has signed a multi-year contract to play professional soccer for Colombia's America de Cali.
"I'm very excited to join America de Cali, one of the most historic clubs both in Colombia and in South American soccer," Restrepo said.

Photo courtesy of Chicago Fire

The Chicago Fire has had such a good return on its South American forward signings that the club decided to go back to the well again.

Chicago signed 20-year-old Colombian forward Cristian Nazarit on a free transfer from top-flight Colombian team Independiente Santa Fe, the club announced on Wednesday.

American goalkeeper Diego Restrepo says he will be plying his trade in South America after agreeing to terms with Colombian club America de Cali.

Udinese wing back Pablo Armero has been linked with Liverpool this week as a potential solution to the Reds' left back problem, but who is he?
Armero is Colombian and started out life playing for America de Cali in his native country. The wing back had already played and impressed for Colombia's U17s, making him a player with tremendous promise for his club.

The championships in all of the major European leagues are already spoken for, but there's still plenty on the line in this weekend's soccer around the world.

The five-team relegation battle in England's Premier League is one thing to keep an eye on, as is the race for spots in next year's European competitions.

By NESTOR F. SEBASTIAN

The Copa Libertadores -- without global marketing and SuperBowl-like build-up -- has remained one of the more prestigious competitions in the world. Its passion, purity and pressure is what drives all South American-based players to step it up a notch in the intense challenges that the Copa offers.

With the international fixture period leaving most of the world's top leagues on breaks, and many of the top national teams having played on Friday, the options for soccer viewing this weekend are limited.

That doesn't mean there still aren't some juicy matches to keep you entertained this Labor Day Weekend.

It's a relatively quiet Saturday in the soccer world on this Labor Day Weekend, but that doesn't mean there still aren't some tasty match-ups to help you get your soccer fix tonight.

Real Salt Lake takes on the Philadelphia Union in a pivotal match for both squads. RSL would normally be the heavy favorite at home, but missing several key players to international duty will level the playing field against a Union side that has struggled on the road all season.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Union

Zac MacMath is listed as questionable with a left ankle sprain in Tuesday's injury report (see below). Faryd Mondragon and Thorne Holder are still listed as out.

Sebastien Le Toux was named MLS Player of the Month by North American Soccer Reporters.

The UnionDues is reporting that a source close to the situation told the site that Philadelphia Union midfielder Roger Torres has bought out the remainder of his contract with Colombian club America de Cali. Speculation on the move is that that either the Union are set to sign the 20-year-old to a contract, or a European club may swoop in and take the talented Colombian off to another continent.

Friday, Dec. 2
Euro 2012 draw 12pm ESPNews, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com
Caen v Marseille 2pm foxsoccer.tv
Leverkusen v Hoffenheim 2:30pm ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com
Genoa v AC Milan 2:30pm Fox Soccer, ESPN3.com, foxsoccer.tv
Crystal Palace v Derby 2:30pm Fox Soccer Plus, foxsoccer.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Jozy Altidore has been no stranger to scoring nice goals this season, but the one he bagged this weekend is arguably among his best of the year.

Altidore finished off a beautiful passing sequence in AZ Alkmaar's match against Heerenveen when he got an open look from close range after a beautiful first touch that got him by a defender.

Diego Restrepo earned the start for America de Cali on Saturday for the Colombian Clausura quarterfinals but the club played to a disappointing draw at home to Once Caldas in the first leg.

The last few days have been a wild ride for American goalkeeper Diego Restrepo who is now being looked upon to guide America de Cali in a pivotal time in the club's history.

One of the writers for another SB Nation MLS blog is wondering if the Seattle Sounders get enough from their Vegas Combine. Shouldn't a team with Seattle's resources be able to capture more talent out of the draft than just those that attend the MLS Combine? Possibly this is true, but it ignores that the Sounders Vegas Combine discovered many talents and it offers the scouting and coaching staff a three day calibration clinic.

17.12.2011 - 13 veces campeón colombiano (junto a Millonarios el más campeón) y 4 veces finalista de la Copa Libertadores, América de Cali descendió hoy, por primera vez en su historia, a la segunda división del fútbol colombiano.
Con un promedio de 1.76 quedó (anteúltimo) en definición de Promoción para dirimir la permanencia vs el subcampeón de la Segunda, Patriotas de Tunja.

.caligula

With the relegation of Colombian powerhouse America de Cali for the first time in the team's 84-year history, speculation was that Roger Torres' loan may finally turn into a permanent transfer to the Philadelphia Union. Instead, it appears that Cali's fall could bring in a different player to MLS and Philadelphia.

21.12.2011 - "Me dijeron que no pasaría diciembre", denunció (públicamente) Carlos Chávez, el arquero de Patriotas que, con la conversión de su penal sentenció el ascenso de su equipo y el histórico descenso de América de Cali a la divisional B colombiana.