Peruvian-born, Miami, Florida based midfielder Fabrizio Pittaluga traveled over 1,300 miles and emerged from a group of 160 players to capture the Chicago Fire's annual Open Tryout. Pittaluga will join the Fire for the first phase of preseason training camp in Ave Maria, Florida, located less than 120 miles away from his hometown of Miami.

Sadness as Gary Ablett dies aged 46

FORMER Liverpool and Everton defender Gary Ablett died on New Year's Day at the age of 46. His death came twenty years to the day since his last game for Liverpool, a club he'd joined straight from school in 1982. That last game for the Reds was at home to Sheffield United, a 2-1 win for a side, now managed by Graeme Souness, was a shadow of the one he'd made his debut for five years previously and with which he'd won two league winners medals and one FA Cup winners medal.

Entering the home straight. And a word for Tweetsport who have been massively supportive of this blogathon.
And they've adopted Alzheimer Scotland's quite stunning Football Memories project as their site charity. All their help has been massively appreciated.
A topic suggested by @nroberts88
I venture south of the border and consider Everton.

The 2011-12 Development Academy Season Rolls on.
The weekly Development Academy newsletter is out. Read it here.
Some highlights:
- U.S. U-15 Boys National Team Camp Continues - U.S. Soccer Director of Scouting Tony Lepore has called 36 players into camp, which began last Sunday, Oct.

Georgia United has started its first Academy season in strong from, compiling a 3-0-2 record in the U-17/18 age group and a 3-1-1 record in the U-15/16 age group. This weekend the team faces a strong test against the Concorde Fire in a cross-town derby between the two Atlanta-based clubs. Houston will also witness a derby as Texans SC Houston faces the Houston Dynamo.

There is not any positive news to report for the US U17 team. They knew they had a tall task facing a superior German side, and Germany showed that there is a wide gap between the talent level of the two teams. The Germans were dangerous from the outset, pressing the issue with great teamwork, passing, and pressure on goal.

By CALEB SONNELAND

The United States U-17 National Team was dumped out of the U-17 World Cup by a lethal German side that showed little mercy in dismissing the States with a 4-0 win.

Despite registering only one less effort at goal (15) than the Germans (16), the United States couldn't capitalize on its chances and fell behind 3-0 going into the half thanks to goals from Koray Guenter (20'), Mitchell Weiser (40'), and Samed Yesil (43').

Here are some stats for the U-17 vs. Germany at halftime, the score is 3-0 in favor of the Europeans ...
USA / GER
Shots: 13 / 10
Shots on goal: 9 / 5
Corners: 4 / 3
Fouls: 1 / 5
Possssion: 50 / 50
Other halftime facts.

• Cabrera changed his lineup in the third match against New Zealand when he started Alfred Koroma, giving the forward his first start of the tournament. The head coach will have to change his lineup at least once more against Germany as he'll be without the services of suspended team captain Marc Pelosi.

The search for that elusive 5th U.S. Open Cup championship continues tonight when the Chicago Fire kick-off against the Rochester Rhinos at 6:35 PM CST at Sahlen's Stadium. In order to get some insider perspective on the Rochester Rhinos, we turn to Jeff Di Veronica of Devo's Direct Kicks. Jeff's answers will add to the picture but the overall landscape is the Fire face a very tough opponent in Rochester.

Luck was not a lady for the Chicago Fire in all things U.S. Open Cup last night. Well perhaps it was if the lady in question was passive aggressively figuring out a way to rain on our parade. See, the Fire did not lose last night. The Chicago Fire PDL team didn't lose either. However, what happens next for both teams is indeed unfortunate.

The U-17s got off to a flying start on Sunday, routing the Czech Republic 3-0 in their World Cup opener. Goals came from Alejandro Guido, Esteban Rodriguez, and Alfred Koroma, respectively. (Captain Marc Pelosi came close, seeing a great shot from distance go off the crossbar.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

By ADAM SERRANO

The United States Under-17 team got off to a fast start in their FIFA U-17 World Cup campaign with an impressive 3-0 victory over the Czech Republic Sunday night in Torreon, Mexico.

Goals from midfielders Alejandro Guido, Esteban Rodriguez and forward Alfred Koroma were the difference as the Americans opened group play with a win for the first time since 2005.

This past Saturday marked the return of MLS Futbolito to South Florida. This year the Miami Ultras signed up to play in the tournament for the first time. Uncle Ed, your humble bloggererer was signed on as the Coach. Here are my notes and comments of my debut as coach.
1.- The coach was the last to show up.

U-15/16 Performer of the Week: Eddy Milien – Midfielder, Weston FC
Milien scored two goals, including the game-winner, in a 3-0 win against Kendall SC on Sunday. The midfielder born in 1995 started and went the distance in that match, which was his 12th start on the season. He has appeared in 19 of Weston FC's 20 matches this season, and has helped his team to a 9-8-3 record by scoring a team-high 11 goals.

PEAK PERFORMERS:
U-15/16 Performer of the Week: Stefanos Stamoulacatos – Forward, Empire United
Stamoulacatos scored all three of Empire United's goals in a 3-2 win against the New England Revolution on Sunday, after helping earn a 1-0 win against FC Greater Boston on Saturday.

Today I'd like to reach out to the soccer community for a noble cause. Our good friends at Soccer 5 at Kendall Soccer Park are helping out Jasmine Aleman from FIU and her fellow students who are putting on a tournament at Soccer 5 in order to raise funds for a life saving operation for a close friend at FIU who was injured in a horrific car accident.