At half-time today, I admit that I feared the worst. We were losing 2-0 and staring in the face of exit from a competition which, realistically, offered our best opportunity of silverware this season. Fast forward 45 minutes, and Arsenal had completed one of the more memorable comebacks of recent times.

Crashing out in the FA Cup against their bitter rival, Liverpool, obviously left a bitter taste for Manchester United especially since they were not actually outplayed in the match but lose out due to a defensive error.

The club's manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, was the one who voived out his disappointment and disbeliefs with the Red Devils' failure in advancing from the competition especially since the tactician believes that his team played better than their opponent.

One of the most anticipated matchups of the weekend that just went by was the San Jose-Real Salt Lake tilt. It may not have gone the way RSL wanted but the match did indeed live up to the billing - two red cards, four goals, including a stoppage-time winner, and drama throughout was what this game produced.

Image: REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes.

Fabio Caballero (above, left) of Olimpia isn't the only player with a happy trail (and bad underwear) on the pitch these days, Kickettes.

Although we're prepared to forgive the latter on the basis that by revealing his furry fortune finder, Caballero has kicked off another debate in our office about male grooming: is a little map guiding a person on their journey to a footballer's nethers helpfully hairy or scary?

Soccer America recaps Chelsea's victory over Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League semifinal yesterday.
Playing with 10 men, Chelsea came back from 2-0 down to tie Barcelona and improbably move into the final of the UEFA Champions League. Brazilian Ramires' goal in stoppage time of the first half turned the game around for the Blues.

The story of US National Team players abroad begins and ends with Clint Dempsey this weekend. That's what happens when an American scores three goals in the Premier League. Dempsey was the difference in a game that showed little promise in the first-half, but turned into a 5-2 win for Fulham over Newcastle United.

by Ed Bishop
By the end of the Wednesday night's contest at the Independence Events Center the scoreboard looked more like that of a blowout football game rather than a soccer match as the Missouri Comets routed the Syracuse Silver Knights 33 to 12. The Comets showed every indication that they're starting to hit their stride as they improved their record to 11-8 and continued to make their playoff push to secure the second spot in the Central Division with their second win in a row.

Having already qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics by winning Friday's game versus Costa Rica, the USWNT's win over Canada in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament was the icing on the cake. The Canadian side came into tonight's match with a lot of confidence, but when it came time to perform, fell quite short.

What's stopping you, Kenya? is a post from: Just Football

Sudan aside, there's a glaring geographical gap at this year's African Cup of Nations. Andrew Crawford has a few ideas why:

Watching the current African Cup Of Nations (ACON), it is somewhat tellingly awkward how there isn't a stronger presence from countries from East Africa, although the same could be said for almost every ACON and since it began.

The schedules are set for Madison United's 19th annual President's Cup indoor soccer tournament, which will feature a record 88 teams playing Feb. 18 and 19 at Keva Sports Center in Middleton and BreakAway Sports Center in Madison.

The tournament kicks off at 7:30 a.m. Feb. 18 at BreakAway, and the final games of the opening day will kick off 12 hours later over at Keva.

A late withdrawal prompted changes to two Men's Over-30 groups and the schedule for Madison United's 19th annual President's Cup indoor soccer tournament, which is next weekend at BreakAway Sports Center in Madison and Keva Sports Center in Middleton.

The St. Charles Celtics pulled out of the event and were replaced by Madison-area team Galaxy.

It was a little like the old youth soccer days for the four Men's Over-30 teams that kicked off Madison United's annual President's Cup indoor tournament Saturday morning at BreakAway Sports Center, up and on the field bright and early.

Well, maybe.

"I don't know," Madison United's Jared Burdick (Madison La Follette/UW-Platteville) said.

Fourteen teams collected the maximum points possible Saturday as Madison United's 19th annual President's Cup indoor soccer tournament started at BreakAway Sports Center in Madison and Keva Sports Center in Middleton.

A record 88 teams hit the turf, all playing at least two group matches – four Women's Open teams and four Men's Open sides played three times, completing pool play.

The largest President's Cup in the 19-year history of Madison United's annual indoor soccer tournament wrapped up Sunday night.

And when the small, rubber pellets settled at Keva Sports Center, a few hours after the final games of the weekend at BreakAway Sports Center in Madison, there was a little bit of everything:

A first-time champion, a repeat winner, teams setting and tying President's Cup records for titles in their respective divisions and a Cinderella story, with plenty of close games, close calls and drama to boot.

By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (Feb 21, 2012) US Soccer Players -- About a decade ago, I was working on a series on the potential for a European Super League and talking to people who knew enough to have an opinion one way or the other. Most believed the big clubs of Europe would get what they wanted one way or another, either through an actual breakaway league or through pushing UEFA toward the.

Photo: Earl Gardner

Given the erratic nature of the preseason, we have elected to invert our usual post-match format and lead with player ratings. Preseason games are opportunities for positional and tactical experimentation, and so individual player performances become the most important factor in the evaluation of the team as they build towards the regular season.

Arsenal's best breakaway act of 2011 returned to London last night to present the BRIT awards for Best Breakthrough Act to ginger troubadour Ed Sheeran. Cesc Fabregas teamed up with Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger to present the award and managed to avoid fluffing his line. Perhaps he was scouting for new music for Pep's next [.

Today's Chef's Special

Image via Wikipedia

Cockrell.... plucked, stuffed and served on a mound of mashed spuds

As the euphoria from Sunday's astonishing win over our noisy neighbours starts to die down we should be giving thanks to whatever deities inspired that Lazarus like resurrection.

The Revolution Youth Academy teams reeled off three wins in New Jersey during the St. Patrick's Day weekend, including a sweep of Match Fit Chelsea on Sunday.

The U-18s took a 4-1 win over Match Fit Chelsea U-18s on Sunday in West Windsor, N.J., thanks to goals from Manuel Andrade (9′), Ramario Osorio (44′) Devin Devoy (48′) and Peguy Ngatcha (57′).

Newcastle tore West Brom apart in the first half this afternoon, and scored three magical breakaway goals, two through number 9 Papiss Cisse, and one from the mercurial Ben Arfa. The goals came from Ciise after 5 minutes, Ben Arfa after 11 minutes and Cisse again after 33 minutes to make that five goals in just 6 [.

Liverpool declare independence, King Kenny to lead them to league title - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Liverpool have declared their independence as a separate and sovereign nation, electing King Kenny as their first leader. Liverpool will also breakaway from the English Premier League with immediate effect to form their own Liverpool Premier League, where they, as the only members, will be guaranteed silverware each season.

New England's 2012 season began as we all expected. The Rev's lost their two opening road matches, including a 1-0 loss at San Jose and a whopping 3-0 spanking by Sporting. Things turned around only narrowly with the club's home opener, as the club rode past the absences of Darrius Barnes, John Lozano, Stephen McCarthy, and Benny Feilhaber to find a 1-0 win over Portland.

After every match this season, the staff here at The Bent Musket will be putting together player ratings. Ratings are on a 1-10 scale, with 5 representing a thoroughly average performance, and 6 a decent/capable showing. The final ratings will be averages of individual ratings from Steve Stoehr, Corey Major, Matty Jollie, and Abram Chamberlain.

Maybe Chris Penso should be disciplined as well?

MLS announced today that Mamadou "Futty" Danso will be suspended one game and fined for the vicious hit to the head he delivered to Calen Carr (who is wearing protective headgear for goodness' sakes!!) late in the 0-0 draw on Tuesday night at BBVA Compass Stadium.

After each match the contributors to New England Soccer Today will rate the performances of the United States National Team players who made an appearance on a 1 to 10 scale (1 horrendous, 5 average, 10 perfection). This week Sean Donahue and Brian O'Connell contributed ratings for the USA's 4-1 loss to Brazil.