Not imposing enough?The other day, Jose Mourinho made news by claiming that last season was his best ever as a coach. Truth is, he did do very well. Real came in second in La Liga, won the cup, and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. Now, whether that's really better than any of the seasons with Porto, Chelsea, or Inter is another question.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

Whether it was injuries, being out of form or something else, DaMarcus Beasley had a hard time getting minutes at the club level in recent years.

Those days are long gone, with Beasley's latest performance serving as the latest piece of evidence that Beasley is back.

A few days ago, I wrote about different ways of measuring a team's performance - either in absolute or relative terms. Relative metrics are useful if we are interested in drilling a little deeper into what players or teams are able to do, given the resources they have or in relation to some other event on the pitch, not simply whether they do a lot or a little (like scoring or possessing the ball).

Adebayor knocks in his first goal on a sweet possession while Defoe finally sees the back of the net as Spurs get their first win of the season.szólj hozzá: Wol 0-2 TotVideo: goalsarena
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By FRANCO PANIZO

Stuart Holden's road to recovery is officially complete.

Having been sidelined since March with a devastating knee injury, Holden played in his first official match of the season for Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday. The U.S. men's national team midfielder started and went the distance in Bolton's 2-0 triumph over Aston Villa in the third round of the Carling Cup, a promising return for a player looking to get back to the form that had many considering him one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Michael Bradley has wasted little time settling in with Italian club Chievo.

The U.S. men's national team midfielder earned his second straight start in a week, going a full 90 minutes and having a hand in both goals in Chievo's 2-1 win vs.

By DAVID MOSSE

Boca Juniors looks to get back in the win column on Sunday (5:10 p.m. ET) against Independiente after being very fortunate to salvage a 1-1 draw with San Lorenzo last time out. Goalkeeper Agustin Orion has earned rare reviews and a national team call since joining Los Xeneizes, but he was partly at fault for Gabriel Mendez's free kick.

CARSON, Calif. – Portland Timbers defender Rodney Wallace scored the lone goal of the match for Costa Rica in the 65th minute, shortly after entering the game for his debut, and it would be all the visitors would need to leave the U.S. with a 1-0 win.

The U.S. Men's National Team started strong on Friday night, but failed to find the back of the net, and Costa Rica made them pay with an improved second half effort and the eventual goal from Wallace.

Jurgen Klinsmann's second game as the man in charge did not go exactly as expected. Playing on home soil against an experimental Costa Rica squad the expectation for the United States was to get a result Instead, the loss to Costa Rica, while not a disaster in any sense, did provide some answers as we move forward with the Klinsmann era.

By Chris Wright

Pies' pick of the ten (don't count them, we know there's eleven!) best snaps from this weekend's international footballing action from arooooouuund the glooooobe...

Martin Skrtel airs his considerable ink after Slovakia's 0-0 draw with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin

During a training session in Calcutta, Lionel Messi pulls what we believe the kids would call a bit of a 'derp face'

England fans drape a flag on the Soviet Army Monument opposite the Vasil Levski Stadium in Sofia, Bulgaria

Michal Kadlec's ill-gotten penalty hits the back of the net to chalk up a late equaliser (2-2) for the Czech Republic against Scotland at Hampden Park

US Virgin Islands keeper Carlos Claxton sits dejected on the pitch after Haiti had just put their sixth unanswered goal past him in Port-au-Prince

Silhouetted Albanian supporters light flares before the start of their World Cup qualifier against France in Tirana

Giampaolo Pazzini and Andrea Ranocchia enjoy some Isotonic japery during Italy's pre-Slovenia training session at the Coverciano sports center near Florence

Peephole Pringle: Philipp Lahm removes his shredded jersey during Germany's 6-2 drubbing of Austria on Friday night

Your guess is as good as mine as to what's going on in this goal-mouth still from Israel qualifier against Greece in Tel Aviv

After becoming the first side to qualify for Polkraine 2012 on Friday, Germany warm down with a few 'eye-level crotch scissors'

Ronaldinho talks to a friend following a training session ahead of Brazil's friendly against Ghana at Craven Cottage tonight

Photos: PA

By Chris Wright

Pies' pick of the ten (don't count them, we know there's eleven!) best snaps from this weekend's international footballing action from arooooouuund the glooooobe...

Martin Skrtel airs his considerable ink after Slovakia's 0-0 draw with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin

During a training session in Calcutta, Lionel Messi pulls what we believe the kids would call a bit of a 'derp face'

England fans drape a flag on the Soviet Army Monument opposite the Vasil Levski Stadium in Sofia, Bulgaria

Michal Kadlec's ill-gotten penalty hits the back of the net to chalk up a late equaliser (2-2) for the Czech Republic against Scotland at Hampden Park

US Virgin Islands keeper Carlos Claxton sits dejected on the pitch after Haiti had just put their sixth unanswered goal past him in Port-au-Prince

Silhouetted Albanian supporters light flares before the start of their World Cup qualifier against France in Tirana

Giampaolo Pazzini and Andrea Ranocchia enjoy some Isotonic japery during Italy's pre-Slovenia training session at the Coverciano sports center near Florence

Peephole Pringle: Philipp Lahm removes his shredded jersey during Germany's 6-2 drubbing of Austria on Friday night

Your guess is as good as mine as to what's going on in this goal-mouth still from Israel qualifier against Greece in Tel Aviv

After becoming the first side to qualify for Polkraine 2012 on Friday, Germany warm down with a few 'eye-level crotch scissors'

Ronaldinho talks to a friend following a training session ahead of Brazil's friendly against Ghana at Craven Cottage tonight

Photos: PA

By DAVID MOSSE

Mexican striker Guillermo Franco can't stop scoring, but suddenly Velez Sarsfield has stopped winning with Sunday's 2-1 loss to Olimpo representing the third straight match without a victory in all competitions. The reigning Clausura champions showed more initiative throughout, but lacked ideas offensively and were undone by some slack defending following the intermission.

After the Pioneers raced out to an early one goal lead, Cal got a hat trick from senior forward Katie Benz to send the Bears past DU 4-2.

Forward Kristen Hamilton scored on a pass from forward Kaitlin Bast and fired past diving Cal goalkeeper Emily Kruger.

Cal's Benz would start the second half just as quickly as Hamilton started the first, scoring in the 47th minute to tie the score at 1-1.

The Rangers women's soccer went 2-for-2 on matches during the long holiday weekend.

The women socked the Concordia University at St. Paul, Minn., Golden Bears 5-0 on Labor Day.

Forward Jordan Miller scored two goals for the Rangers, midfielders Marissa Davis, Erin Kettmann and Kikki Arnold each had one goal.

Click here to view the embedded video.

New England Manager Steve Nicol put it best: "Both teams were as bad defensively as each other."

In a game that featured eight goals—two by way of penalty kicks—the Union overcame a three-goal deficit to salvage a draw at home against the Eastern Conference bottom-dwelling Revolution on Wednesday night.

DU scored twice in the second half to tie No. 11 Notre Dame 2-2 on a rainy Friday evening at Notre Dame's Alumni Stadium.

"Our group showed a lot of character to come back from two down against a quality team in Notre Dame," head coach Bobby Muuss said. "Like Creighton, they are an opponent that can certainly be playing the last weekend of the season.

Quick Recap:

Not the result the Portland Timbers wanted but the Timbers play mediocre soccer in the first half but show they are the better team in the second half. However no one finds the back of the net and the Timbers earn their first 0-0 draw of the season.

First Half:

The start of the game was a pretty typical start for a road game.

The Portland Timbers did the bare minimum to help their case in the wildcard race with their scoreless draw against the Philadelphia Union. While they started the week tied for tenth with the New York Red Bulls, the boys in green are now definitely on the outside looking in, but their hopes are still alive and well.

Chelsea have ordered Fernando Torres to explain himself after reports in the Spanish media suggested that the striker had criticised his team-mates.

The 27-year-old is thought to have told a Spanish website that many of the current Chelsea players are ‘very slow', particularly the older members of the squad.

Thievery. Robbery. A mugging.
The crime rate is high in Morelia, and that doesn't stop from extending onto the soccer fields there.
Estadio Morelos was site of one of the biggest non-violent crimes in Morelia's recent history. On Tuesday, the Galaxy had a goal and a victory stolen from them.

Thievery. Robbery. A mugging.
The crime rate is high in Morelia, and that doesn't stop from extending onto the soccer fields there.
Estadio Morelos was site of one of the biggest non-violent crimes in Morelia's recent history. On Tuesday, the Galaxy had a goal and a victory stolen from them.

Photo courtesy of Maryland Media Relations

John Stertzer got his second chance, and he took it well.

Stertzer made up for a missed penalty kick in the first overtime period by heading home the game-winner in the second overtime to lift No. 2 Maryland (Fox Soccer/SBI) to a thrilling 4-3 victory over UMBC Tuesday night.

This piece by the TSG staff collective

Ruiz is to Dempsey as Utah is to Bodhi. Book it!

News of a Point Break remake hit TSG like someone telling you Curt Onalfo was taking over your favorite footie club.

We wretched, screamed "dear god, no" and then immediately pulled out our tattered DVD case holding a copy of Keanu's finest hour with Mr.

The New England Revolution will finish the season winless in the Pacific and Mountain time zones after they fell 3-0 to the Portland Timbers at Jeld-Wen Field tonight. The loss has all but mathematically ruled the Revolution out of the playoffs, while three points was exactly what Portland needed to keep their postseason hopes a very real possibility.

The Portland Timbers got the vital 3-0 win at home on Friday night they needed to stay in the playoff hunt, while ending any dreams of the postseason still held by the New England Revolution.

Despite several chances, Milton Caraglio failed to find the back of the net on Friday. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.

BY ADAM SERRANO

CARSON, Calif.-- The Los Angeles Galaxy showed no ill effects from their midweek loss in the CONCACAF Champions League, beating the Vancouver Whitecaps in relatively easy fashion for the second time this season.

Mike Magee scored twice and Robbie Keane tallied the other adding an assist as the Galaxy were able to handle the Whitecaps, 3-0.

John Melcher and Garrett Getschow each scored twice and the Air Force men's soccer team scored three goals in the first seven-plus minutes as the Falcons won its fourth straight game with a 6-1 victory Sunday over Buffalo at Cadet Soccer Stadium.

The Falcons, off to their best start since 2001, improved to 5-1-o, while the Bulls fell to 4-3-1.

The Joy of Six: classic Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool games | Scott Murray

From a 14-goal double-header in 1963 to a Klinsmann classic, here's a selection of some great matches between the two sides 1) Liverpool 5–2 Tottenham Hotspur (First Division, 12 April 1963); Tottenham Hotspur 7–2 Liverpool (First Division, 15 April 1963) It was Easter weekend, and Spurs were going for the title in a three-way tussle with Everton and Leicester City.

The goalscorers celebrate Brilliance all over the pitch on Sunday. Adam got the red card he should have got at the lane last year, and the pace of Bale and the error Liverpool made by giving him too much space led to the second red card. However, even without the red cards we were well on top of the game and had the beating of Liverpool from the moment Modric's shot hit the back of the net.

The University of Maryland's perfect start is a thing of the past.

Using a defense-first mentality, Seton Hall held the nation's No. 1 team (Fox Soccer/SBI) to a 0-0 draw in New Jersey Tuesday night.

Maryland outshot Seton Hall 23-6 and had a 13-0 edge in corner kicks, but the Terrapins (7-0-1) couldn't break through and were held to less than two goals for the first time all season.

By JOSE M. ROMERO

Winning was what they wanted. Losing was what they absolutely could not do. But a draw was what happened for the Portland Timbers Wednesday night at Jeld-Wen Field, a difficult result to take since Portland let its lead in the game slip away.

The University of Denver women's soccer team avenged its loss against Middle Tennessee in the 2010 Sun Belt Conference Championship game on Friday, earning a 4-2 win over the Blue Raiders in the SBC opener for both teams.

Kristen Hamilton led DU with her second two-goal game of the season, while Nicholette DiGiacomo and Bria Beardsley also scored.

By GARRETT DAVEY

KANSAS CITY, Kansas -- On a night when both teams had aspirations of taking a hold of first place in the Eastern Conference, neither team could muster the goals needed to walk away with all three points

Sporting Kansas City dominated for stretches, and created more chances on Friday night at Livestrong Sporting Park, but managed just one goal against a resolute Philadelphia defense.

By DAVE GUBALA

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill -- The Chicago Fire knew they couldn't afford anything less than a win on Sunday afternoon and started the match like a team intent on securing all three points.

The Fire did just that after jumping out to an early 3-0 lead and fending off a late New England rally to post a 3-2 victory at Toyota Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Northern Colorado women's soccer team showed Sunday just how explosive its offense can be in a 4-2 victory at home over South Dakota.

For a team that scored just three goals in its first seven games, the Bears (3-5-2) have found their offense to the tune of eight goals in their last three matches.

Bri Rodriguez -- Chicago Red StarsEclipse Select Communications
CHICAGO -- Eclipse Select Soccer Club alumna and University of West Virginia junior midfielder Bri Rodriguez (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley High School) tallied a game-winning goal for a 1-0 overtime win over the University of Rutgers in Big East Conference play Sunday in Morgantown, W.

By Charlie Corr
ESPNChicago.com
The Chicago Fire garnered a signature win when they absolutely needed it. And most importantly for Chicago, the team now finds itself in a realistic position to catch a playoff spot with only four regular-season matches remaining.
The Fire won for the fifth time in their past six matches and were led by midfielder Marco Pappa's hat trick en route to a 3-0 victory against Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium in front of 20,762 at Sandy, Utah.

By FRANCO PANIZO

The MLS playoff race in the Eastern Conference just became a little more intense, and we can thank the Chicago Fire for that.

Midfielder Marco Pappa snapped a personal three-month scoring drought in dramatic fashion, delivering a hat-trick to help the streaking Fire pulled off a stunning 3-0 victory over 10-man Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Wednesday night.

The blog has been quiet for a few days, and for a reason. I´ve been busy working on a little side project. Before too long, I´ll tell you more about that, but one of the things that have come of out of it has been a more detailed look at various performance indicators across leagues with better and more recent data.

By THOMAS FLOYD

The last time D.C. United recorded back-to-back league wins, Tom Soehn was the coach, Josh Wicks was in goal, and the attack was led by Ben Olsen, Christian Gomez, Luciano Emilio and Jaime Moreno.

That was June 2009. Needless to say, a lot has changed for United and now-coach Olsen in the past 27 months, but the lack of any sort of winning streak has continued.