Most of the sweet weekend games haven't started yet, so why not kill time with some tube?We begin
with another promo clip from Wayne Rooney's Street Striker challenge show. In this clip, you get to
see a bit of how the show works and meet a few of the kids. I despise and avoid most "reality
challenge" programs, but I love this show!
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These are all from the Champions League and Europa League, and they are all of superb
quality...Let's begin with a thunderbolt from Liverpool's Ryan Babel. I'm tellin' ya, Rafa... don't
sell this one away on the cheap.Atlético Madrid's Sergio Aguero rescues his side a point against
Chelsea with a choice free kick.
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Columbus center back Chad Marshall has trophy-cased his second straight MLS Defender of the Year
prize.Seeing as how he suits up in a few hours to decide the Crew's first round playoff tie, the
award celebration will be either delayed and heightened or subdued.- Greg Seltzer
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The game is in the 20th minute and U.S. ace Jack McInerney has just seen a penalty kick saved by
the the Italy keeper.As always, you can follow along at the U.S. Matchtracker or watch on
ESPN360.Back with the major updates only, followed by the wrap...--29'Beretta puts Italy ahead
1-0.- Greg Seltzer
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U.S. Soccer is inviting nominations for four "Best of 2009" categories, including (ahem) Best
Soccer Blog, until November 20th.As they say, a nod's as good as a wink to a blind bat. Eh, eh?-
Greg Seltzer
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A little lunchtime viewing for you all...Let's begin with ESPN's MLS playoff first leg wrap, just
in case you missed some of it.Yesterday we saw the MLS Goal of the Year nominees, and now it's time
to run down the Save of the Year candidates.As always, we look back at MOTD2's 2 Good 2 Bad.We got
back to ESPN to talk Champions League for two glamour teams in a pickle: Liverpool and Real
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BAM!G - Guzan, Howard, PerkinsD - Bocanegra, Marshall*/Califf/Gibbs, Castillo, Cherundolo, Conrad,
Goodson, Pearce, SpectorM - Bradley, Beckerman*/Cronin, Cameron*/McCarty, Dempsey,
Donovan*/Beasley/Bedoya, Feilhaber, Torres, WhiteF - Altidore, Casey, Cunningham,
Findley*/CooperThe players marked with an asterisk may or may not be available, depending on MLS
leg two results this week.
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I thought this deserved its own post. The full MLS awards list and announcement schedule is in the
article, listed below are the glamour prizes, with my balloted winner marked by an
asterisk:Goalkeeper of the Year FinalistsKasey Keller – Seattle Sounders FCDonovan Ricketts –
Los Angeles Galaxy*Zach Thornton – Chivas USAComeback Player of the Year FinalistsBrian McBride
– Chicago FireBen Olsen –
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How fun must it be to work on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia? This show is like Seinfeld with
the evil turned up to 11. Sometimes, the best comedy of manners is the one without any (also see
Curb Your Enthusiasm)...#1 - A few local all-stars hook us up with the view heading into respective
first round deciders:- Bernardo Fallas on HOU/SEA- Nick Green on LA/CHV- Shawn Mitchell on
CLB/RSL#2 -
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I'll get A few things up later, but for now, things are still accumulating nicely... Let's start
with Denny Landzaat's classy Kakkerlakken consolation from yesterday. The trick is, you must watch
through the entire highlight package to see it. You had to know I was gonna allude to this match
somehow.
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[Photo: IK Start]IK Start defender Clarence Goodson scored his club's final goal of the 2009
Tippeligaen season to cap a 2-0 win over old MLS foe Troy Perkins and Vålerenga. Not only do we
have the highlight clip, but we also have a closing day interview with the hero.- Greg Seltzer
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There were many candidates his week, and I ended up splitting it between a pair of fightback 3-2
away wins: Michael Bradley's 'Gladbach keeping Hamburg from the top and Napoli doing the deed at
Juventus.- Greg Seltzer
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Thanks to Jack McInerney's second goal of the tournament and a second consecutive shutout, the U.S.
Under-17 National Team has topped the UAE 1-0 to finish second in group play.Provided Italy gain at
least in draw in their ongoing match with Uruguay, they will be the Americans' World Cup round of
16 opponent.
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NSC reader Jeremy was putting the fright into trick-or-treating Goats fans last night, and sent us
the pic to prove it.- Greg Seltzer
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For the first time in nearly two season, Clint Dempsey has scored in consecutive Fulham league
matches. The U.S. star took part in a fine build and then capped it off to clinch a 3-1 win over
Liverpool.- Greg Seltzer
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If you go tricking and/or treating, and end up at house of my good ol' Ajax-USA buddy Jim, this is
the lit pumpkin you will encounter. It is truly... klassiek.If anyone else out there has cut a
soccer Jack O'Lantern (wasn't he a dashing striker for Arsenal in the '30's?), take a pic send it
over and I'll add you to the post.
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Now, I remember the thing I forgot to do yesterday!The USWNT defeated world #1 Germany away on
Thursday night, and I simply kept forgetting to post it up here. It won't happen again, I swear.-
Greg Seltzer
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St. Pat's attacker Ryan Guy fired an early second half decider for a 2-1 win at Drogheda United.The
proud new papa celebrated with his fifth goal of the season, giving the Saints a shot at avoiding
the relegation playoff in next Friday's closing day visit from Shamrock Rovers.As always, we cross
our fingers hoping that the St.
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Loose-lipped AC Milan exec Adriano Galliani has boasted that the club are on the verge of
officially announcing a completed deal to bring L.A. Galaxy star David Beckham back for another
January-to-June loan spell. He would then return (presumably for good) to MLS after appearing for
England at World Cup 2010.
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Former USWNT superstar Mia Hamm has pulled a Chili Palmer, becoming a movie producer to adapt
Harvey Araton's Alive and Kicking: When Soccer Moms Take the Field for the big screen.That's all
fine and good... but I still wanna see her throw a stuntman down restaurant stairs.What can I say?
I'm just like that.
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It was a 54th minute Alex Shinsky that the keeper should have done better on that won the day for
the U.S. Under-17's.The World Cup group win moved our boys level on points with second place UAE,
their closing day opponent. Here are the highlights.- Greg Seltzer
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Thanks to an NSC reader's diligence (and Spanish), we have a proper video report of ambitious Aston
Villa keeper Brad Guzan's lights out display on Wednesday night. I thought it deserved it's own
post.- Greg Seltzer
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Tonight on 30 Rock, Liz and jack visit Kenneth's hometown. Oh my, this should be good...#1 - Via
Columbus Dispatch all-star Shawn Mitchell, Crew defender Chad Marshall has been suddenly upgraded
all the way to probable. Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake have picked up a few small knocks here and
there.An upset course diverted?
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Yesterday, we had the good side of this coin go up at S365. Today, we flip it to the ugly side.
Yep, several MLS field players just didn't fit the billing in 2009 and now it's time to pick on
them. But just a little. I promise.And just as the "nice list" was made completely of playoff
participants, the "naughty list" is full of players watching 'em on TV like the rest of us.
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Isn't awful how work always gets in the way of TV viewing? Bastards...We start this week with
MOTD2's "2 Good 2 Bad" - a little later than usual, but it still counts.Our ESPN friends run down
their Top 10 MLS Goals of the Season, and then John Harkes answers JPD's burning questions about
the playoffs.
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At the least, Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill hinted that #2 keeper Brad Guzan may be set to
challenge #1 Brad Friedel after last night's dominant Carling Cup display. The former Chivas USA
saw off a penalty in regulation and three more in the shootout to completely foil Sunderland.I'm on
the lookout for any highlights, but for now, you can just bask in O'Neill's Guzan fawning.
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I was waiting to do this until I finished Top 5 List #1 - and then I just copied after cutting it
without pasting. It's gone. I friggin' just flat lost it. I have to do it all over again. Right
now, the way I feel about having to do it all over again, I would punch a baby unicorn in the
eye...#1 - I somehow, idiot that I am, managed to post up my MLS playoff preview without deleting
it like an
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No LIVE today for our U-17 World Cup kickoff, but I will come back at halftime with an update and a
few words, naturally followed by all the roundup regalia after the final whistle.Here is your USA
line-up, we start this one off at the top of the hour:Edwards; Kitchen, Herold, Watts, Polak; Gil,
Palodichuk, Duran, Shinsky; Jerome, McInerneyAs always, you can follow along at US Soccer's
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Well, USMNT coach Bob Bradley is now 2-for-2 in World Cup tune-up friendly foes after setting up a
November 14th match at fellow South Africa travelers Slovakia.As you can see, this side - led by
Napoli ace Marek Hamšík - is no joke.- Greg Seltzer
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It's gonna be a couple of really heavy content days from me in both usual places, so let's kick
that izzle off early...We begin with Dutch leaders FC Twente who tear Groningen apart with three
fine goals - so let's just see them all.Everton's Louis Saha gets his side back in with a properly
blistering drive (WARNING: Mind your volume, the audio is a bit crackly at the start).
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Well, folks, the road to MLS Cup has now been fully paved. Here are your first round two-leg
match-ups, the underdogs host first:Columbus v Real Salt LakeLos Angeles v Chivas USAHouston v
SeattleChicago v New EnglandThe fun starts Thursday night at the same building where the road ends,
Qwest Field.I have a pair of MLS season Top 5 Lists in the works, one each for S365 and NSC.
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Fulham attacker Clint Dempsey has just nodded home to knot things all up 2-2 at Manchester City.
Still about six minutes to go, video clip to come...- Greg Seltzer
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Yes, sir. When Helmond Sport handyman Charles Kazlauskas finally ties it (video link) up 3-3 midway
through the second half, he runs to grab the ball and bring it back to the center spot in search of
a winner.Of course, AGOVV Apeldoorn scored to reclaim the lead two minutes later, requiring another
HS equalizer - which they got for a 4-4 draw.
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