We don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves, but Saturday seemed like a positive one in Steve Zakuani's journey back from his leg injury.

Here's what the official practice report had to say about his performance: "Perhaps the best highlight came in the final minute as Steve Zakuani, who played the full 40 minutes, flew down the left side with blazing speed.

We all have our ghosts. For Steve Zakuani, that ghost is memories of his former self.

As the Seattle Sounders midfielder continues his recovery from a horrific leg injury that cost him the final six months of the 2011 season, the progress he has made is obvious. On Friday, Zakuani was able to participate in full training for the first time since that April 22 tackle broke his right leg.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

The U.S. women's national team won 14-0 over the Dominican Republic on Friday. Yes, the women's soccer team won by that score. Amy Rodriguez scored five goals.

At halftime, Abby Wambach told her teammates to keep scoring in the Olympic qualifier, despite being up 7-0, because goal differential can impact Olympic qualifying qualifying.

Photo by Jose L. Argueta/ISIphotos.com

By AVI CREDITOR

The majority of D.C. United's offseason roster questions have not fully been answered, and as the club's preseason got underway with the first day of training on Wednesday, it is clear that there is plenty to be done before the team takes its final shape.

Here we go again.

The world's top rivalry takes center stage when Real Madrid hosts Barcelona in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarterfinals (4 p.m., GOLTV/ESPN3.com), the first of two meetings in a week's time that will determine which club advances to the semifinals.

Real Madrid need a late winner from Jose Callejon to beat Real Mallorca and ensure they continued with their amazing streak that has seen them win 3 fixtures since their infamous 3-1 home loss to Barcelona.

Madrid do not seem like letting go of the top spot at least for now and though their arch rivals Barca are yet to play, a win for the Catalans will only bring them to within 5 points of Madrid.

Real Madrid need a late winner from Jose Callejon to beat Real Mallorca and ensure they continued with their amazing streak that has seen them win 3 fixtures since their infamous 3-1 home loss to Barcelona.

Madrid do not seem like letting go of the top spot at least for now and though their arch rivals Barca are yet to play, a win for the Catalans will only bring them to within 5 points of Madrid.

Villa removed from pitch following leg injury (Photo: AP Photo)

Horrible news out of Japan this morning where FC Barcelona defeated Al-Sadd 0-4 in the Club World Cup semi-final and will move on to play Santos in the final.

In the 36th minute of the first half David Villa was injured running down a through ball and when he tried to control the pass twisted is left leg and fell to the ground.

Al Sadd vs Barcelona 0-4 Highlights 2011 Video Club World Cup Goals Adriano Keita is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Al Sadd vs Barcelona 0-4 Highlights 2011 Video Club World Cup Goals Adriano Keita is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Al Sadd vs Barcelona 2011 ( Barca vs Al Sadd video below) Final score and result:- Al Sadd vs Barcelona 0-4 ( Adriano*2, Keita, Maxwell) Nissan Stadium, Yokohama- Club World [.

David Villa Leg Injury 2011- Barca forward breaks leg against Al Sadd in Club World Cup is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

David Villa Leg Injury 2011- Barca forward breaks leg against Al Sadd in Club World Cup is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Spanish striker David Villa is likely to be out for a lengthy spell ( see Villa leg injury video below) on the sidelines after breaking his leg in [.

The two strongest teams in MLS over the past three seasons square off tonight for a chance to play in the 2011 MLS Cup Final as the Los Angeles Galaxy take on Real Salt Lake at Home Depot Center (9pm, ESPN).

The Galaxy come in as Supporters Shields winners and the favorites against an RSL side that struggled late in the regular season, but showed against Seattle in the playoffs that they were back to the form that helped them reach the CONCACAF Champions League Final last spring.

Look I know. I've put this off for far to long. Can you blame me? Who wants to relive last Tuesday night? The time has come to put some thoughts to html (otherwise Tweed may murder me). So join me after the break as we discuss what went right and what went wrong.

Pavel Pardo owned this game for the Fire.

Roger Espinoza put in another solid performance for Honduras going 74 minutes, but Honduras fell to the US 1-0 tonight down in Miami on a nice finish by Clint Dempsey. Sporting KC's other player involved in this game, Teal Bunbury, did not make the 18 man US roster for the game tonight. Espinoza played the role that he's made his own for Honduras as of late.

Maritimo's Baba left training early with what looked to be a right leg injury. The 23 year old Senegal striker was off to a great start to the season currently tied atop the Portuguese League with 5 goals so far this season.

One More Game

Goalkeeper Chase Harrison will remain with the Philadelphia Union for at least one more game, as the emergency back up is still the only active goalkeeper on the team's roster besides current starter Zac MacMath.

Harrison was signed by the Union as a temporary replacement for third string goalkeeper Thorne Holder, who continues to be hampered by symptoms relating to the 25-year-old's second concussion of the year.

Manchester City chief executive officer Garry Cook has paid the ultimate price for an ill-mannered email mishap.

Cook resigned on Friday after being found culpable of sending an offensive email to defender Nedum Onuoha's mother that mocked her battle with cancer. Cook reportedly meant to send the response to City's director of football, Brian Marwood, but instead mistakenly sent it Dr.

The Philly Soccer Page " Does Valdes' suspension have an upside?
But if there is a silver lining to Valdes' absence, it may be in the psychological effect it has on the team.

The Paunovic Factor | Philly Union Talk

As the Union's season grinds on, the playoff picture remains blurry.

(Photos: Michael C. Long)

After shaking off a right leg injury, first year Independence midfielder Sinead Farrelly put in her best performance of the season in the WPS Super Semifinal. Having gotten the best of magicJack and US National Team member Megan Rapinoe, the no. 2 pick in the 2011 WPS Draft has her sights set on claiming the league title in her first season.

Pique out three weeks with leg injury (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

In a closed training session on Tuesday defender Gerard Pique suffered an injury to his left leg that will keep him sidelined for up to three weeks.

Via the clubs website the injury a statement was issued confirming the injury and that the player will be unavailable for Friday's Super Cup match against Porto.

Well, the Quakes' 11 game winless streak continued after last night's 2-0 loss to the Galaxy. The Quakes have now not won in the last 12 games, since their 4-2 win against DC United on June 24. Los Angeles' newest signing, Robbie Keane, opened the scoring in the 21st minute and Mike Magee, who stymied the Quakes in July while in goal, put the nail in the coffin in the 90th minute.

Newcastle United get their US pre-season tour underway with a 0-0 draw against Sporting Kansas City and Ben Arfa is stretchered off with a leg injury. The 100 degree Fahrenheit climate was described as 'brutally hot' in Kansas as Newcastle lined up to take on Sporting Kansas City in the first of three matches as [.

An offensive explosion the likes of which the Colorado Rapids haven't produced in three months proved to be not quite enough on the road against the Seattle Sounders.

Wells Thompson and Jeff Larentowicz scored in the first half to put the Rapids up 2-1 at the break. Seattle came back with three second-half goals and held on after a late Caleb Folan strike to win 4-3 on Saturday.

This one has been sort of floating around in the background for a bit, but this post at the ever reliable and always well sourced MLS Rumors seems to have kicked the speculation up a notch. Here is the original article MLS Rumors references, dated May 28th.

On the face of it, Djibril Cisse is the kind of player I'd love to see the Sounders going after.

After pulling off a stunning stoppage time goal to steal a point in Houston, the Red Bulls came home for a mid-week tilt against the defending MLS Cup Champion Colorado Rapids. This was a side that was missing several players due to injury including Jamaican international striker Omar Cummings with a leg injury.

Portuguese International and Manchester United winger Nani looks to be out for at least four weeks with a nasty leg injury suffered during Manchester's recent game against Liverpool when Jaime Carragher's high tackle cut open Nani's leg so deep it exposed his shinbone.Man U medics are a bit worried as there is a possibility of infection and any complications in his healing could see Nani

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A crazy crazy night!

It was the best of games; it was the worst of games.

For 45 minutes on Saturday, Arsenal were unplayable. They led within seconds and looked out of sight after ten minutes thanks to a three-goal salvo from Theo Walcott, Johan Djourou and Robin van Persie.

BERLIN — Borussia Dortmund were 13 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga on Saturday after second-placed Mainz lost at Stuttgart and champions Bayern Munich drew 1-1 at Wolfsburg in a game where both sides missed penalties. Borussia had blitzed Leverkusen with three goals in six minutes on Friday as Jurgen Klopp's young side [.

DORTMUND, Germany — Borussia Dortmund extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to 13 points on Friday, blitzing second-placed Bayer Leverkusen with three goals in just six minutes for a 3-1 win at home. Having already begun 2011 with a ten-point lead, Dortmund hit second-half goals in quick succession from teenager Mario Goetze [.

VILLA PARK, Ill. -- The Chicago Riot posted a late rally but fell to the Omaha Vipers, 13-11, on Sunday in Major Indoor Soccer League action at the Odeum Sports and Expo Center.
In the fourth quarter, the Riot's Fred Degand posted a power play goal and Eric Duda netted a three-pointer to cut a seven-point deficit to 13-11.