FYI
I will be off Friday and Monday enjoying all that Seattle has to offer. So our good friend Graham Fox will be filling in. I have no doubt you will like it. His work here in the past has been fantastic. Have fun everyone, and don't miss MLS Cup.
- Bruce
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If last Saturday's USA game at Slovakia was disappointing, then yesterday's game at Denmark was down right pathetic. Click to continue reading...

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On Thursday Toronto FC is expected to name Preki as their new head coach.
dN
Incredible quote from Real Salt Lake head coach Jason Kreis on his teams tough regular season: "I was very overconfident. I think I added to what was a little bit of an underlying thing on the team that we were a bit overconfident going into this season. Click to continue reading...

Bayern Munich forward Miroslav Klose is being told to stay home.
His kids have swine flu, so the team is putting the 31 year old on quarantine.
Is that virus still around? Glad I missed it (knocks on wood).
To the links:

• Sir Alex gets two-game sideline ban.

Click to continue reading...

2009 DU NORD MLS BEST 11
The 2009 du Nord MLS Best 11 will be announced on Sunday night at 6pm Central time live on the United Mania Podcast, with Martin Fernandez, Mike Martin & Chris Webb! Hear it live at United Mania then, or download the podcast of the show later.
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MLS Semifinal #1 is tonight! Click to continue reading...

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The Associated Press with an article on German goalkeeper Robert Enke who took his own life yesterday. He had been suffering badly from depression, and left behind a suicide note. There are quotes from the players wife, the German chancellor, his doctor and players & coaches. Click to continue reading...

In the midst of a playoff run, and one win from a spot in the MLS Cup, news from Utah today hint that Real Salt Lake minority Dave Checketts is close to selling his 49 percent stake in the club.

According to the Deseret News, Checketts is in the later stages of negotiations with Utah real estate developer Dell Loy Hansen for the shares Checketts' owns in the club.

Click to continue reading...

By TRAVIS CLARK

In the midst of a playoff run, and one win from a spot in MLS Cup, Real Salt Lake� is reportedly close to seeing a new minority owner buying into the club.

According to the Deseret News, RSL owner Dave Checketts is in the latter stages of negotiations with Utah real estate developer Dell Loy Hansen to sell Hansen a 49 percent stake in the club.

Click to continue reading...

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Columbus & Salt Lake square off in the 2nd leg of their first round playoff series. The winner advances to the Semifinals.
dN
6 teams have already secured their spot in the Round of 16 knock out stage - Chelsea, Porto & Sevilla, Bordeaux, Lyon & Manchester United. Click to continue reading...

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Got this note yesterday from a great reader named Anthony who lives in Glasgow: Have you heard of any fans making the trip to Bratislava for the Nov 14 game? I haven't heard anything and US Soccer hasn't even released info about tickets, but I got a cheap flight from Edinburgh to Bratislava so I'm going for the weekend in hopes I can get a ticket there and looking to meet up w any other US fans before the game to march and sing to the stadium together. Click to continue reading...

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DC United announced that head coach Tom Soehn has resigned, so the team now join New York, Kansas City and Toronto in the hunt for a new leader.
MLS PLAYOFF NEWS
It was great to see that New England had scrubbed their field of all football lines for Sunday's game. Click to continue reading...

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The USA U17 team gets a win, 1-0 over Malaei, at the World Cup giving them 3 points from 2 games. Last group stage game is Sunday against the United Arab Emirates.
MLS PLAYOFF NEWS
Don Ruiz of the Tacoma News Tribune writes about the Sounders experienced players who will need to lead this team in the playoffs. Click to continue reading...

Sign up now to follow us on Twitter: @dunord
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American goalkeeper Brad Guzan had an absolutely HUGE game for Aston Villa last night in the English League Cup. He saved a Penalty Kick during regulation time, then saved 3 more during the PK Shoot Out to decide the winner! Click to continue reading...

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Huge shout out to Brian & Stephanie Pederson on their wedding! Brian is a member of the PDL team Rochester Thunder, and a very cool guy! Congrats!
-We nicknamed Brian "The Farmer" years ago, but its all been in good fun, and he embraced us as fans!
LAMAR HUNT US OPEN CUP
Final Match:
-Wed Sep 2
DC United v Seattle Sounders FC
Venue: RFK Stadium - Washington DC
dN
Jose Romero of the Seattle Times on the feud between the teams on who should host the final. Click to continue reading...

QUESTION ON MY MIND
How did Arturo Alvarez get FIFA clearance so quickly to change from the USA to El Salvador? And conversely why is it taking so long for the same to happen with Jermaine Jones and Edgar Castillo to the USA?
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Phil Ball is back! Click to continue reading...

Real Salt Lake has announced that forward Yura Movsisyan will be staying with the club for the entirety of the 2009 MLS season, postponing his move to Danish side Randers FC until his contract with the league expires on January 1, 2010. The club's second-leading scorer this season had hoped to make the move during the upcoming summer transfer window, but the two sides have been unable to agree on a transfer fee. Click to continue reading...

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Last night was a huge night of upsets in the US Open Cup as Harrisburg, Wilmington, Charleston & Rochester all knocked off MLS sides! Hooray Beer! Sadly my Thunder were dumped out after the game ended 3-3 and we lost 4-2 on PK's to Kansas City (Damn!).
dN
Happy Canada Day! Click to continue reading...

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The cheap seats for the July 22 visit to Toronto FC & BMO Field by Real Madrid are $140. Yes, you read that right.
dN
The Mail & Guardian in Johannesburg, South Africa reports that security for stadiums, training grounds, hotels and VIPs during the Confederations Cup was not even hired until Friday May 29 and that the company contracted only had 1 day to hire and train employees. Click to continue reading...

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Shout me down on Twitta: dunord
dN
Maurice Edu got the news he did not want - he needs knee surgery and could be out 2 months or more. That means we probably won't see him again until Rangers preseason. Damn.
TEAM AMERICA
US Soccer has a Q & A with Clint Dempsey as he gets his 50th cap tonight. Click to continue reading...

All quiet on the Wasatch Front?
At least for now... However our friends at MLSR partner RSLFM give us the lowdown on some moves that we will be keeping our eyes open for in the days/weeks ahead:
"Secret Trialist" at RSL training at Xango Field in Lehi, UT yesterday. � Not sure who it is yet--but stay tuned. Click to continue reading...

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Tweedly Deedly Deet Me ala Twitter: dunord
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Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine are the 2009 UEFA Cup Champions! Congrats or as they say in Ukrainian: вітання
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Luis Figo: "I am ready to consider offers from American clubs or Japanese sides. Click to continue reading...

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Yes, I am a Twit, are you? Find me: dunord
dN
The Amazing Zizou Speaks Champions League! See video of Zinedine Zidane talking about the Champions League final (Wed May 27). From Adidas. And they promise more cool interviews to come.
MLS
Chivas USA will get a big boost to their defensive depth this weekend as long time Mexican star Claudio Suarez is finally healthy for the first time this season. Click to continue reading...

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So I am trying to figure out exactly why someone has tagged a Banksy-esque stencil of Andriy Shevchenko on a trash can that I walk past every day.
MLS
Week 9 Matches:
-Sat May 16
Toronto FC v Chicago Fire - 3pm Central on Direct Kick
Venue: BML Field, Toronto ON
New England Revolution v Colorado Rapids - 6:30pm Central on Direct Kick
Venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough MA
New York Red Bulls v Houston Dynamo - 6:30pm Central on Direct Kick
Venue: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford NY
FC Dallas v Seattle Sounders FC - 7:30pm Central on Direct Kick
Venue: Pizza Hut Park, Frisco TX
Real Salt Lake v Kansas City Wizards - 8pm Central on Direct Kick
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy UT
Chivas USA v DC United - 10pm Central on FSC
Venue: Home Depot Center, Carson CA
-Sun May 17
Los Angeles Galaxy v Columbus Crew - 2pm Central on Telefutura
Venue: Home Depot Center, Carson CA
dN
Bob Hunter of the Columbus Dispatch has some juicy Crew trade rumors to float past us including the team ditching Pat Noonan & Alejandro Moreno. Click to continue reading...

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Gabba Gabba Twitter: dunord
dN
Atlante of Cancun Mexico has claimed the first ever CONCACAF Champions League title.
dN
Louis van Gaal coach of AZ Alkmaar has been hired to take over Bayern Munich as soon as the current season ends! Click to continue reading...

Longtime readers of MLSR know that we love the US Open Cup.
For that reason we will try to bring you a radio stream of tonight's play-in game between Seattle Sounders FC and Real Salt Lake.
Tomorrow night San Jose hosts Red Bull New York.
As for tonight's match. Click to continue reading...

I couldn't believe it either. Then I saw the trailed over at The Original Winger.
What say you?
The links:

• Sergio Ramos apologies for sneaking out to go watch a bullfight. [ESPN]
  
• Team too good to be relegated. [Off the Post]
  
• Some D.C. United contest to check out.

Click to continue reading...

Apparently Espindola's orbit has spun him back to the Wasatch front.
Courtesy of an RSL fan and the Deseret News:

SANDY — Luis Miguel Escalada hasn't played a single minute of Real Salt Lake's first three games, and the deadline to pick up the option on his loan from his South American club is April 15.

Click to continue reading...

Argentine striker Fabian Espindola is likely on his way back to Real Salt Lake, the Deseret News reported over the weekend. His addition to the roster is expected to be finalized before the MLS transfer deadline on April 15th, giving RSL some added depth at forward behind Robbie Findley and Yura Movsisyan. Click to continue reading...

DC travels to Sandy, Utah for their second road game of the year in a city that usually spells a loss and ugly play. But that was Rice-Eccles Stadium and the concrete turf that entailed. A new history can be written at Rio Tinto, and DC get their first chance to do that tonight.

Sitting on 5 points from 2 draws and a win, DC is traveling with an almost absolutely healthy squad for a chance, minus apparently Ben Olsen, who Goff reports may have been left at home.

Click to continue reading...

Landon Donovan to Andrea Canales on potential interest from Bayern Munich: "I would love for it to happen." See Los Angeles Galaxy section for the full article.
MLS Scoreboard
Week 26
Matches & Scores:
-Thu Sep 18
Columbus 3-1 New York - CC goals by Frankie Hejduk, Robbie Rogers & Eddie Gaven. Click to continue reading...

Busy day for me -- some behind-the-scenes work and Friday's story on the Galaxy.

COMING TODAY (all times p.m. ET, home teams listed first)

- UEFA Cup on TV, with a big game for Americans on FSC (all times p.m. ET):

Besiktas-Metalist, 1:30, Setanta
Tottenham-Wisla Krakow, 3, FSC
Napoli-Benfica, 3, Setanta Premium
Lorraine-Motherwell, 3:30, Setanta
Everton-Standard Liege, 5, FSC (delay -- yes, that's Tim Howard vs.

Click to continue reading...

The 3rd and final Super Classico of the season is tonight - I will be at the Sweetwater in St Paul watching all the action!
MLS Scoreboard
Week 21
Matches & Scores:
-Thu Aug 14
Chivas USA v Los Angeles - 10pm on ESPN2
Venue: Home Depot Center, Carson CA
Match preview by Andrea Canales at Soccernet. Click to continue reading...

The first match played at the new SSS in Sandy, Utah will be against the Red Bulls.
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports,
"According to RSL, field irrigation and drainage systems are complete, and the natural grass playing surface is 30 days away from establishing its root structure before becoming playable.

Click to continue reading...

I am very excited to see Houston & Pachuca battle it out once again. This time in the SuperLiga semifinals! Every time these two teams meet it's a masterpiece of a game! Oh Yeah!
~and~
The frustratingly talented Arturo Alvarez has been sold by FC Dallas to San Jose. The Earthquakes also gave up a future draft pick in the deal. Click to continue reading...

I've really enjoyed seeing more coverage of soccer in Utah (although it's pretty RSL-centric). I wanted to get a better feel for the coverage, so I asked Michael Lewis from the Salt Lake Tribune James Edward of the Deseret News if they'd be willing to answer some questions in a joint interview. They were both happy to respond, and the following is the result:

Covering soccer seems like a dream job to a lot of fans, how did you end up in your positions?

Click to continue reading...

Last night my family and I went to take in the Ogden Outlaws BYU Cougars game, and watch the fireworks afterward. It was a hard fought game, though the Cougars (who have come to expect to beat the Outlaws) have to be disappointed with their play and the result. With the fireworks show after the game, and then yardwork that needed to be done this morning, I haven't been able to get to my write-up until now.

Click to continue reading...