Expectations have risen around US Soccer after a successful World Cup campaign this past summer, and as we head towards a cycle for the 2014 World Cup, the hiring of Bob Bradley shows a commitment towards moving our team towards a standard that includes contention for a round of 16 berth.
George Vecsey of the New York Times writes of how Bradley is the right coach for the US team, and the right move for US Soccer.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Real Salt Lake became the first Major League Soccer team to clinch a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals after registering a 1-1 tie against Toronto FC at BMO Field on Tuesday night.

Javier Morales converted a free kick to help erase a 1-0 Toronto lead and push RSL back to ten points in Group A.

By Chris Wright

Manchester United veteran Paul Scholes has only just undergone his obligatory seasonal reappraisal i.e. the week that follows a particularly adept display when his fellow pros line up to wax lyrical about his 'vision' etc.

However, the 35-year-old midfielder has revealed that he came perilously close to retiring last season after a slump in his form saw him struggle to hold down a berth in United's first string.

After netting his second international goal in the space of four days, England's greenhorn winger Adam Johnson is for all the right reasons attracting considerable attention, thus helping to drag the nation's spotlight away from his more 'scandal-mired' cohorts.

The 23-year-old replaced the injured Theo Walcott (who rolled an ankle in the build up to the opening goal) after ten minutes of England's Euro 2012 qualifier with Switzerland had elapsed last night, and duly set about stating his case for a regular starting berth with aplomb punctuating his endeavour with an opportune second-half strike.

Another year, another trailblazer. Cardiff City's defeat against a wounded and angry Leicester City side has left Queen's Park Rangers atop the pile. 3-0 wins over Middlesbrough and Ipswich send out a statement of intent and the chasing pack will already be nervous that one berth has already been reserved.

By Chris Wright

By process of elimination, the AP have deduced that Manchester City will be without both Emmanuel Adebayor and Joleon Lescott for their opening Europa League game with Red Bull Salzburg tomorrow as neither player was present at Manchester Airport this morning as City's 20-man squad departed for Austria.

Half the field has been set for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany following the completion of the second legs of the European playoffs last Thursday. Norway, Sweden, France and England all won their playoff series and join host Germany and Asian qualifiers Korea DPR, Australia and Japan in the Women's World Cup which kicks off June 26, 2011.

Real Salt Lake and Seattle take the field in CONCACAF Champions League action tonight. One team has dreams of a quarterfinal berth, another is looking to register its first point in the group stage.

RSL takes on Panamanian side Arabe Unido tonight (live at 8pm, shown on tape delay at 11pm on Fox Soccer Channel) in what should be a tough road match, but a match the defending MLS champions can win.

Real Salt Lake and Seattle take the field in CONCACAF Champions League action tonight. One team has dreams of a quarterfinal berth, another is looking to register its first point in the group stage.

RSL takes on Panamanian side Arabe Unido tonight (live at 8pm, shown on tape delay at 11pm on Fox Soccer Channel) in what should be a tough road match, but a match the defending MLS champions can win.

West Chester, Penn. – Danesha Adams' 103rd minute goal in the first overtime ended the playoff hopes for the Boston Breakers, as the Philadelphia Independence took a 2-1 victory to secure a berth in Sunday's WPS Final against FC Gold Pride.

Lauren Cheney scored the opening goal in the 22nd minute to put the Breakers on top until Caroline Seger knotted it up at on apiece in the 29th minute.

Hercules-Sevilla

You may think that this is a bizarre LLTO Match of the Week selection, but I find it to be quite relevant at the moment considering Hercules were the giant slayers a few weeks back at Nou Camp. This weekend the new boys will be tested again by a top four club last year and a top four hopeful this season in Luis Fabiano's Sevilla.

WAKEMED SOCCER PARK / CARY Since the Carolina RailHawks' last home league game a Sept. 11 nil-nil draw with the Portland Timbers the RailHawks have played two road matches and, in the process, clinched a berth in the upcoming USSF D2 playoffs. Prior to last night, it appeared the RailHawks would likely play out side during their last two regular season home games in advance of the playoffs, perhaps while also hoping to fine tune a few trouble spots, heal a few nagging injures, and continue integrating a number of recent roster additions.

And it appears that the time of the sackings has officially begun.

Sevilla has fired their manager Antonio Alvarez after a dreary start to the season in a shock move and the top four club from last season is replacing Alvarez with former Mallorca man Gregorio Manzano. Alvarez's side suffered a 2-0 loss against Hercules on Sunday and the surprising new boys enjoyed their second huge upset of the season following their shock victory over Barcelona a few weeks back at the Nou Camp.

The Chicago Fire's playoff chances haven't quite been eliminated, but San Jose can throw some more dirt on the grave with a win today as the Fire visits the Earthquakes.

Chicago-San Jose is one of two MLS matches on the schedule, with the Colorado Rapids playing host to the Philadelphia Union.

With the baseball playoffs looming, Evan Longoria was out of the lineup for the sixth straight game on Wednesday. Tampa Bay Rays fans have to be nervous about going into the most important part of their season without their star player. (Nevermind, scratch that. Tampa Bay Rays fans suck.)

Longoria is dealing with a strained left quadriceps.

On Wednesday evening the UEFA Champions League completed its second round of fixtures in the group stage. Current holders of the prestigious trophy Internazionale Milan were involved, as were one of the biggest clubs in the world Manchester United. Other clubs playing in the round included Catalan giants Barcelona, German Werder Bremen and French Lyon.