Sorry I'm just reposting the press release today, not feeling the greatest this morning.
From the Comets.
(Syracuse, NY) The holiday season didn't start off the way the Comets hoped it would as they lose to the Syracuse Silver Knights tonight 18-8. Cory Elenio and Savisa Ubiparapovic each had a hat trick for the Knights while Lucas Rodriguez led the Comets with 4points on two goals.

It was an exciting end to Champions League qualification in Group F as Leaders Arsenal slumped to a shock 3-1 away defeat to Olympiakos while Marseille made it through to the last 16 with a 3-2 win over Dortmund.

Arsenal who had already qualified for the knock out stages prior to last night's match, played the match without its stars as Coach Arsene Wenger took the opportunity to test some of his players.

Pasillo is the Spanish term for "hallway." However, in the world of La Liga, it has a secondary meaning: guard of honor. After a team wins either La Liga or the Copa del Rey, at the very start of their next game, it's customary that the opposing players will stand in two lines near the entrance tunnel, forming a hallway, and salute the champions as they enter the field.

The Major League Soccer Cup Final is upon us! It may not be the Timbers facing off today in Carson, California but the Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles Galaxy should provide plenty of entertainment. Continuing in the tradition of recent years, the weather at the Home Depot Center for the MLS Cup is rainy and should lend itself to a sloppy, physical game that, while maybe not the best soccer ever played on American shores, will certainly be a passionate finale to a memorable 2011 season.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Union

Playoff tickets are now on sale!

Kerith Gabriel reports in the Daily News that Faryd Mondragon, who is a finalist for Soccer America's Goalkeeper of the Year, will start against Toronto. "I am not used to being out, so it felt like forever," Mondragon said.

Sunderland Q&A: Transfers, Fans and Footballing Identity - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Earlier this month Roker Report (Sunderland blog) editor Simon Walsh asked us if we'd like to do a Q&A on Sunderland and here it is. We talk about Sunderland's transfer policy, footballing identity (or lack thereof) as well as whether Sunderland will be in a relegation battle this season.

Click here to view the embedded video.

"And I applaud the team because there was a lot of heart, even in a very difficult situation, a very physical game, they did the job done so it's a very positive sign especially being behind and then also the young group we have."

Well said, Peter Nowak.

Juan Mata was formerly introduced to the media yesterday at the training ground and guess what, one of his comments was immediately pulled by The Sun and made into a dig a Fernando Torres with a headline of "I'm not just here to help Torres" which isn't the way the comment was meant. It's part and parcel of this media witch hunt that surrounds Torres and Chelsea ahead of our games.

Lucas Leiva is hoping Liverpool can pick up from where they left off prior to the international break, and start September with a bang by winning at Stoke City on Saturday.
The new-look Reds side saw a return of seven points from their first three games in the Barclays Premier League, and having impressed many onlookers with their array of attacking football under Kenny Dalglish, the Brazilian midfielder is eager for the squad to continue performing.

Well we have had a day or so now to evaluate our 0-0 draw against Stoke so I thought I would tell you exactly where I am about the result and the performance.
We always knew Stoke away was going to be a hard and physical game so it came as no surprise some tackles were flying in and the physical stuff set pieces happened as they did.

COLUMBUS, OH - The Revolution knew that they were in for a physical game against the top of the east Crew, and a physical game is just what they got. Benny Feilhaber's goal just before the half was encouraging, but not enough to keep the Revs on pace to defend the lead and take the 3 points back home to Foxborogh.

Seattle's Setup: Seattle set up in their usual 4-4-2. Scott got the start at left center back, only his second career start at center back and had an up and down match. Carrasco played in the center of midfield mostly in front of the heat-seeking missile Ossie Alonso, who played in his usual holding midfield spot.

The win expectancy chart doesn't look pretty. A two goal rally is rare and difficult, more so on the road. Particularly when the weather and the referee shift it to a slow, physical game. That isn't the only chart like device that makes things worrisome. Look at how few times Seattle was inside the 18 with trackable actions (passes, shots, possession) by key offensive players.

On Wednesday evening the Fort Lauderdale Strikers traveled to Bayamon to take on the Puerto Rico Islanders. The island is a tough place for NASL opponents to get points, as the Islanders prevailed, 3-1, in a physical game where tempers flared more than once. The four-game series between the two clubs has ended for the regular season, with each side recording a win and drawing twice.

On Wednesday evening the Fort Lauderdale Strikers travelled to Bayamon to take on the Puerto Rico Islanders. The island is a tough place for NASL opponents to get points, as the Islanders prevailed, 3-1, in a physical game where tempers flared more than once. The four game series between the two clubs is ended for the regular season, with each side recording a win and drawing twice.

Call it an episode of Chester Shore.

Shots shots shots-shots-shots. But not much game.

Breaking down the defense

The Union huffed and puffed (and an appearance by Hugh Jackman nearly blew the house down), but Jimmy Nielsen and shooting display worthy of a Die Hard villain left Philadelphia with a single point from two matches against inferior competition.

Thoughts on the United States 1-0 win over Panama;

• Freddy Adu has grown up. He played with confidence, did not try and do more than he is capable, and opened up the game for the United States. His vision to see Donovan and hit him in space is why he was labeled as special.
• Bob Bradley once again made the changes that carried the United States to the win.

Few thoughts on the first half;

• The USA are getting possession in a deep position in midfield so their transition into the attacking third is much slower than against Jamaica. Credit to Panama for making the adjustments necessary to limit space high in the midfield.
• The United States is playing a much more physical game, matching the physical intensity of Panama.

An impressive Jamaica side beat Grenada 4-0 Monday night at the Home Depot Center while an unimpressive Honduras side could only manage a 0-0 draw against rival Guatemala.

Jamaica was simply too good for Grenada as they dominated the natch from the opening whistle, peppering the Grenadian goal with shots.

Paul Gardner writes of the opportunity for us to finally see 'the beautiful game' in tomorrow's UEFA Champions League final between Manchester United and Barcelona.

It was only some 10 months ago that we were getting ready for the World Cup final -- a game between Spain and the Netherlands that promised to give us everything that such a game should -- the very best of soccer.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

Welcome to the USL, Los Angeles.

The expansion L.A. Blues started off their existence with a couple of victories on the road over Sevilla FC Puerto Rico and fellow newcomer Antigua Barracuda FC. Walter Gaitan is off to a blistering start with three goals in two games.

New York heads down I-95 to PPL Park to take on the (shockingly) first-place Union tomorrow. Most teams heading on the road will usually be looking to take a point, let alone when facing a team that's at the top of the conference. But the Red Bulls aren't most teams. With the amount of talent on this team, and against a bitter rival, you'd be believe New York will be looking to send a message to the Union, and the rest of the league for that matter, by taking all three points in Chester.

La Liga Lowdown, Jornada 22: Europe beckons for resurgent Athletic Bilbao is a post from: Just Football

Over the past few seasons, not much has happened at Athletic Bilbao. A string of mid-table finishes and a close call with relegation has seen their existence in the Spanish top-flight become somewhat unspectacular, shall we say.

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~Victoria Concordia Crescit~

For many, there is some reason behind their support for their club. For some it might be the tradition, for some social approval, success of their club or for their star players or managers. It often puzzles the bystanders as to what limits the fans might go for their clubs.

Arsene Wenger has talked a lot about tackling. Invariably the discussion gets hijacked by clueless hacks and pundits who convert that into an Arsenal V Rest of the League debate and take pride in highlighting one or two poor tackles by Arsenal players.

According to a number of morons who have the privilege of influencing public opinion, Arsenal are just as bad as any other team when it comes to tackling.