Photo by Tracy Allen/ISIphotos.com

Dominic Oduro won't be the only member of the Chicago Fire getting his first taste of international soccer in Wednesday's Ghana-Chile friendly at PPL Park.

Patrick Nyarko has been called in as a late addition to Ghana's roster, marking his first call-up on the international level.

We should pay more attention to FC Basel 'keeper Yann Sommer. He's matured into quite the hottie while we've been busy with other things, hasn't he?

We're warming to this observations business. It's quick, easy and most importantly, allows us to sneak out of the office for an extended lunch break.

Inter vs Marseille 2-1 Highlights 2012 Champions League Video Goals Milito Brandao Pazzini Mandanda Red card Video is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Inter vs Marseille 2-1 Highlights 2012 Champions League Video Goals Milito Brandao Pazzini Mandanda Red card Video is a post from Soccer Blogger.

As the curtains draw open for the AFCON tournament, attention will definitely be on a number of players who are set to retire once a winner is revealed on February 12th.

For many it will mark an end to the golden generation of some of the continent's truly brightest talents but also the beginning for a new breed of stars who will look to carry on from where their predecessors left.

Asamoah Gyan's superb free-kick helped Ghana into the African Nations Cup quarter-finals, as they beat Mali 2-0 today. Andre Ayew scored their second securing their last 16 spot.

Botswana vs Mali 1-2 Africa Cup of Nations 2012 Highlights Goals Ngele Dembele Keita Video AFCON is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Botswana vs Mali 1-2 Africa Cup of Nations 2012 Highlights Goals Ngele Dembele Keita Video AFCON is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Botswana vs Mali 2012 ( Botswana Mali Video Below) Final score and result:- Botswana vs Mali 1-2 ( Ngele/ Dembele, Keita) 1st February, 2012- Africa Cup of Nations [.

Mali made it to the semifinal of the Africa Cup of Nations after defeating the co-hosts Gabon on penalty kicks. Gabon played a good match with massive home support that included Gabon's long-time president Omar Bongo. It was an intense match where Gabon took the lead early in the second half by Eric Mouloungui.

Ghana vs Tunisia Africa Cup of Nations 2012 Highlights 2-1 Goals Mensah Khelifa Ayew Video Tunisie is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Ghana vs Tunisia Africa Cup of Nations 2012 Highlights 2-1 Goals Mensah Khelifa Ayew Video Tunisie is a post from Soccer Blogger.

Captain John Mensah puts Ghana ahead through his third international goal. Saber Khelifa equalized after beating Samuel Inkoom to a lofted ball. The match headed to extra time and in the 110th minute, Abedi Pele's son, Andre Ayew scored the winner after Tunisia's goalie, Aymen Mathlouthi coughed up Inkoom's cross right into his path.

When you're playing for Tunisia in extra time of an Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal against Ghana, one thing you definitely don't want to do is make a point to elbow an opponent in the face. As Aymen Abdennour found out after shoving Andre Ayew and then elbowing him away from the ball in the 108th minute on Sunday (skip to the end of the video), this will earn a straight red card.

Zambia vs Ghana Africa Cup of Nations 2012 Highlights 1-0 Semifinal Gyan penalty miss Emmanuel Mayuka Goal Video is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Zambia vs Ghana Africa Cup of Nations 2012 Highlights 1-0 Semifinal Gyan penalty miss Emmanuel Mayuka Goal Video is a post from Soccer Blogger.

Ghana vs Mali African Cup of Nations 2012 Highlights 0-2 Video Goals Diabate Vorsah Red Card is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Ghana vs Mali African Cup of Nations 2012 Highlights 0-2 Video Goals Diabate Vorsah Red Card is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Ghana vs Mali 2012 ( Ghana Mali AFCON Video below) Final score and result:- Ghana vs Mali 0-2 ( Diabate*2) Nuevo Estadio de Malabo- 11 February, 2012- Africa [.

Asamoah Gyan's weekend was full of surprises for Ghanian soccer fans. The striker wrote a letter to the country's football association (FA) informing the national team's leadership that he would be retiring "indefinitely" from international play.

The 26-year-old has claimed that he has not fully recovered psychologically from missing a crucial penalty in the 120th minute of Ghana's loss to Uruguay in the 2010 World Cup Quarterfinals.

Marseille vs Inter 1-0 Highlights Video 2012 Champions League Goal Andre Ayew But is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Marseille vs Inter 1-0 Highlights Video 2012 Champions League Goal Andre Ayew But is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Marseille vs Inter 2012 ( Olympique Marseille Inter video below) Final score and result:- Marseille vs Inter 1-0 ( Andre Ayew) Stade Velodrome, Marseille- 22.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

Late goals were on display yet again as a pair of stubborn underdogs put a couple of European giants in shaky standing in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.

Bayern Munich provided most of the pressure but were fairly inept in front of goal and were punished in the closing stages against FC Basel, surrendering a late goal in a 1-0 loss in their first leg in Switzerland.

COUNTDOWN TO MLS 2012 - SEASON 17
And
Coming Sun Mar 11 to NBC Sports
STARTERS
Jurgen Klinsmann will announce the USA roster on Thursday for the match on Wed Feb 29 at Italy.
dN
Ricardo Clark has been loaned out by Eintracht Frankfurt to Stabaek in Norway.

Andre Ayew scored a 93rd minute header to give Marseille a precious 1-0 win over Inter Milan at the Stade Velodrome leaving coach Claudio Ranieri fighting for his job. In a tight and edgy encounter, both sides struggled to muster up any significant chances as the pair clashed for the first time since their UEFA [.

It was a night of shocks in the Champions League as Inter Milan and Bayern Munich both suffered late defeats to dent their chances of progressing onto the quarter finals of the tournament.

In Marseille, it took a 93rd minute header from Andre Ayew to hand the home side a significant advantage ahead of the return leg in two weeks time while Swiss club Basel broke the hearts of many Bayern fans with Valentin Stocker's 86th minute strike.

PSP photographer Paul Rudderow was on hand for rain soaked Wednesday night's 1–1 draw between Ghana Football Association and Federacion de Futbol de Chile at PPL Park. Here's a look at what he saw.

The opening handshake

The Ghana starters

The Chile starters

Pile up at midfield

Dominic Oduro holds off Lucas Dominguez

Shelly Ali Muntari takes the leg from under Alexis Sanchez

Luis Casanova holds off Jonathan Mensah

Jonathan Mensah turns between Gary Medel and Jose Rojas

Matias Fernandez moving up field

Matias Fernandez backheels to Humberto Suazo

Junior Fernandes gets up first

Marcelo Diaz slide tackles Andre Ayew

Happy Chile fans

Derek Owusu Boateng takes on Jose Rojas and Osvaldo Gonzalez

Derek Owusu Boateng walks over Marcelo Diaz

Anthony Annan stretches for the ball

Daniel Agyei moving up field

Alexis Sanchez goes up for a header

Champions League: Chelsea hopeless while Inter, Madrid and Bayern have work to do - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

The Champions League quarter final contestants will be decided this week, as the final four fixtures of the round of 16 take place on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. After stellar performances from the underdogs in the respective first legs, four favourites have work to do to make the last eight.

Bayern Munich v. Marseille Preview: Bayern look to pile more misery on Marseille and close in on home final - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

In the history of the European Cup/Champions League, there have been only three occasions that one of the finalists was in a final held at their home stadium: 1957 (Real Madrid beat Fiorentina), 1964 (Inter beat Benfica), and 1984 (AS Roma lost to Liverpool).

PSG vs Marseille 2-1 Highlights 2012 Jeremy Menez Ayew Alex Goals Video is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

PSG vs Marseille 2-1 Highlights 2012 Jeremy Menez Ayew Alex Goals Video is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter PSG vs Marseille 2012 ( Video Paris Saint Germain Marseille BELOW) Final score and result:- PSG vs Marseille 2-1 ( Jeremy Menez, Alex/ Andre Ayew) Parc des Princes, Paris- 20.