After granting a spot in next year's first division of Brazilian football, Vasco da Gama finished the combo and took home the dubious title of champion of the second division. Wearing a commemorative jersey (not very tasteful, if I may say), the club cameback to beat America-RN at a packed Maracana.

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Carlos Alberto, current idol, and Roberto Dinamite, current president and greatest idol, show where Vasco is going next year.

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Vasco da Gama is back from hell. The Brazilian giant granted its return to the first division of Campeonato Brasileiro less than a year after being relegated. Vasco was another giant that, as it's been happening a lot lately, felt the results of the poor administrations that control most of Brazilian football.

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In the second division of Campeonato Brasileiro, goalie Marcio was the main name of the match involving the two sides from Goiania. His team, Atletico-GO, beat Vila Nova 2-1. And he scored the first goal with a beautiful free-kick. Atletico-GO is on its way to first division. With the victory, the club seats in third with 47 points.

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When Maradona, or even Messi, used their hands to score, the referees had a few excuses. The hands were close to the head, the pace was too fast, other players were in front of him, the linesman did not help...

However, what happened in the match Ceara Parana for the second division of Campeonato Brasileiro is hard to defend.

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uslsoccer.com
For one hour on Saturday night, the Charlotte Eagles looked poised to erase the memory of their previous two defeats in the 2006 and 2008 USL-2 Championship match. Both times, the Eagles had fallen behind early and despite late rallies, they had come up short twice. This time, the Eagles scored first but were unable to hold off the surging Richmond Kickers, as Edson Elcock equalised in the 63rd minute and John DiRaimondo and David Bulow scored in the final 7 minutes of the match to claim the match and the championship with a 3-1 victory. Click to continue reading...

USL-2 Playoffs
Saturday, August 22
Harrisburg City Islanders 0:1 Richmond Kickers
Delicate lifts Kickers into USL-2 final Richmond Times-Dispatch
Charlotte Eagles 1:0 Wilmington Hammerheads
Hammerheads fall in semifinals to Charlotte StarNewsOnline.com
USL-1
Saturday, August 22
Minnesota Thunder 0 - 1 Cleveland City Stars
City Stars end winless streak by defeating Minnesota clevelandcitystars. Click to continue reading...

Apparently the Great Wall of China supports The Steel Army and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds...

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Official Press Release (Pittsburgh Riverounds)
Season Finale A Success On The Pitch And At The Gate
Neither the Pittsburgh Riverhounds nor Crystal Palace Baltimore had any possibility of making the United Soccer Leagues Second Division playoffs, so only pride and perhaps future employment were on the line when they met Saturday night in the final match of the year for both sides at Chartiers Valley Stadium in the South Hills. Click to continue reading...

Timbers defender Cameron Knowles has surgery on broken leg, out for season The Oregonian
Friday, August 14
Minnesota Thunder 1 - 0 Miami FC Blues
Blues splutter on offense Miami Herald
Saturday, August 15
Portland Timbers 4 - 1 Rochester Rhinos
(Timbers' 22nd straight game without defeat)
Portland routs Rhinos Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Pore, Keita help Timbers keep streak alive The Oregonian
Montreal Impact 0 - 1 Puerto Rico Islanders
Krause scores in 37th as Islanders win 1-0 over visiting Impact The Canadian Press
Carolina RailHawks 0 - 0 Vancouver Whitecaps
Whitecaps and RailHawks fail to disturb the net Vancouver Sun
Western Mass Pioneers 0 - 3 Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte in playoffs against Maryland Charlotte Observer
Wilmington Hammerheads 2 - 2 Richmond Kickers
Kickers settle for tie with Wilmington Richmond Times-Dispatch
Crystal Palace Baltimore 0 - 1 Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Palace falls 1-0 to Pittsburgh in regular season finale The Examiner
Sunday, August 16
Minnesota Thunder 2 - 2 Austin Aztex
Aztex lose lead, settle for tie with Minnesota Austin American-Statesman Click to continue reading...

While who plays who and schedules have yet to be determined, we now know the five clubs that will battle for the 2009 USL-2 Championship.

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Tuesday, August 11
Cleveland City Stars 1:4 Charleston Battery
Cleveland Rocked Charleston Post and Courier
Wednesday, August 12
Portland Timbers 1:0 Montreal Impact
Streaking Timbers fall on Impact Ottawa Citizen
Timbers' unbeaten streak at 21 games The Oregonian
Real Maryland Monarchs 0 - 2 Wilmington Hammerheads
Victory means finale at Richmond for first place StarNewsOnline. Click to continue reading...

Charlotte Eagles veterans Dustin Swinehart and Ben Johnson have announced they will retire at the end of the 2009 season.

Dustin Swinehart has been the cornerstone of the Eagles offense for the past twelve seasons. As the Eagles' all-time leading scorer on the field and an integral part of the Charlotte Eagles' organization off the field, he will truly be missed.

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Friday, August 7
W-League Final
Pali Blues 2:1 Washington Freedom
Pali repleats as W-League champs USLsoccer.com
Charleston Battery 2:1 Vancouver Whitecaps
Charleston chews up weary Caps Vancouver Sun
Battery beats Whitecaps, 2-1 Charleston Post and Courier
Crystal Palace Baltimore 0 - 0 Harrisburg City Islanders
City Islanders go goalless again PennLive. Click to continue reading...

Friday, July 31
Vancouver Whitecaps 3:1 Rochester Rhinos
Marlon James scores two goals as Whitecaps win 3-1 over Rhinos The Canadian Press
Whitecaps top Rhinos 3-1 with two-goal effort from James Vancouver Sun
Rhinos swamped by Whitecaps Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Saturday, August 1
Vancouver Whitecaps o:0 Cleveland City Stars
Road weary Whitecaps fit to be tied The Globe and Mail
Austin Aztex 0:3 Carolina RailHawks
RailHawks burn Aztex with balanced attack The News & Observer
Aztex fall to Carolina Austin American-Statesman
Montreal Impact 1:1 Miami FC Blues
Mauro Biello scores as Montreal Impact draw Miami FC 1-1 The Canadian Press
Impact surrender late goal The Globe and Mail
Marcina saves the day; playoffs still in sight for Miami FC Miami Herald
Portland Timbers 1:1 Minnesota Thunder
Timbers' record unbeaten streak up to 18 games The Oregonian
Saturday, August 1
Charlotte Eagles 1:1 Bermuda Hogges
Real Maryland Monarchs 0:1 Richmond Kickers
Kicker win, stay tied for first Richmond Times-Dispatch
Wilmington Hammerheads 2:0 Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Sunday, August 2
Harrisburg City Islanders 0:0 Real Maryland Monarchs
Struggling City Islanders manage scoreless draw With Real PennLive. Click to continue reading...

Miami FC Blues 0:4 Carolina RailHawks
Newcomer feels right at home The News & Observer
Richardson's hat trick leads RailHawks' romp Cary News
Western Mass Pioneers 0:3 Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Hounds crush Western Mass 3-0 pittsburghriverhounds.com Click to continue reading...

Cleveland City Stars 1:4 Rochester Rhinos
Menyongar sparks Rochester Rhinos with two goals Rochester Democrat & Chronicle
Montreal Impact 2:2 Austin Aztex
A pair of second-half goals gives Montreal a 2-2 USL tie with Austin Aztex The Canadian Press
Aztex again fumble away win in closing moments Austin American-Statesman
Puerto Rico Islanders 2:4 Vancouver Whitecaps
James scores twice, Whitecaps roll to 4-2 win over Islanders The Canadian Press
Whitecaps score crucial 4-2 win over Islanders Vancouver Sun
Charlotte Eagles 0:0 Crystal Palace Baltimore
The Eagles and Crystal Palace End in 0-0 Draw charlotteeagles. Click to continue reading...

Puerto Rico 1:0 Montreal Impact
Impact fail to score for fifth straight game, fall 1-0 to Islanders The Canadian Press
Impact continue to struggle with loss to Islanders TSN
Portland Timbers 3:0 Miami FC Blues
Timbers extend their record unbeaten streak to 16 games OregonLive. Click to continue reading...

Official Press Release (Pittsburgh Riverhounds)
Long Road Trip Ends With Pittsburgh Going 1-3
(Harrisburg) – The defensive-minded Pittsburgh Riverhounds put up another good fight, but fell 1-0 to the Harrisburg City Islanders before 2,413 fans at the Skyline Sports Complex on City Island in the state capital. Click to continue reading...

Charleston Battery 1:1 Rochester Rhinos
Charleston ties Rochester, in sole possession of first Charleston Post and Courier
Rhinos record third straight tie Richmond Democrat and Chronicle
Austin Aztex 0:1 Minnesota Thunder
Thunder Outlast Austin Aztex 1-0 mnthunder.com
Richmond Kickers 2:1 Crystal Palace Baltimore
Kickers collect road win at Crystal Palace Baltimore Richmond Times-Dispatch
Palace's playoff hopes dwindle with 2-1 defeat to Richmond Examiner. Click to continue reading...

Charleston Battery 0:0 Cleveland City Stars
Battery Tie City Stars WCBD
Portland Timbers 1:1 Miami FC Blues
Win slips away from Blues Miami Herald
Late goal spoils Miami FC upset bid SunSentinel.com
Timbers match USL record for longest unbeaten streak OregonLive.com
Vancouver Whitecaps 1:2 Carolina RailHawks
Whitecaps lose 2-1 to RailHawks Vancouver Sun
Hawks take out Caps The News & Observer
Real Maryland Monarchs 1:3 Wilmington Hammerheads
Jaime Watson leads Hammerheads to share of first StarNewsOnline
Bermuda Hogges 0:5 Western Mass Pioneers
Pioneers boss Bermuda Hogges 5-0 MassLive. Click to continue reading...

Official Press Release (Pittsburgh Riverhounds)
Saturday's Match Ends Pittsburgh's Month On The Road
(Harrisburg, PA) – The Pittsburgh Riverhounds continue their four-game road swing Saturday night against one of the two teams tied for the top spot in the United Soccer Leagues Second Division. Click to continue reading...

Puerto Rico Islanders 0:0 Rochester Rhinos
Rhinos pressed in draw with Puerto Rico Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Carolina RailHawks 1:0 Charleston Battery
Battery Stumbles Charleston Post and Courier
Montreal Impact 0:3 Minnesota Thunder
Montreal Impact fall 3-0 to Minnesota Thunder in USL action The Canadian Press
Portland Timbers 2-1 Austin Aztex
Timbers beat Austin 2-1 on Claesson's late goat OregonLive. Click to continue reading...

Rochester Rhinos (USL-1) 2:1 Wilmington Hammerheads (USL-2)
Match Report USOpenCup.com
Rhinos chalk up key win Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
DC United (MLS) 2:1 Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2)
Match Report USOpenCup.com
United holds on, moves into semifinals Washington Times
Hunt's over for Islanders PennLive. Click to continue reading...

Austin Aztex 1 - 0 Cleveland City Stars
Aztex defeat Cleveland 1-0 on the road Austin American Statesman
Puerto Rico Islanders 0:0 Miami FC Blues
Blues let scoring chances slip away against top team in USL-1 Miami Herald
Portland Timbers 1:1 Minnesota Thunder
Timbers earn tie in road match Statesman Journal
Bass scores late, salvages a draw for Thunder Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Austin Aztex 1:4 Rochester Rhinos
Rhinos' four-goal surge lifts team Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Charleston Battery 1:0 Montreal Impact
Antoniuk scores in 68th as Charlston Battery down Montreal Impact 1-0 The Canadian Press
Battery back in first place Charleston Post and Courier
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Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2:1 Bermuda Hogges
Charlotte Eagles 2:1 Wilmington Hammerheads
Hammerheads fall behind early, lose to Charlotte StarNews Online
Crystal Palace Baltimore 1:3 Harrisburg City Islanders
City Islanders takes down Crystal Palace late PennLive. Click to continue reading...

It was a fantastic night on Tuesday for USL clubs in U.S. Open Cup Play. Wilmington, Rochester, Harrisburg City and Charleston all defeated their opponents from Major League Soccer to advance to the tournament quarterfinals. Ocean City and Minnesota both fell, but played well in their matches.
From Triangle Offense:
The RailHawks & Panama, the USL & the MLS: Night of the long knives? Click to continue reading...

News out of Bermuda from earlier in the week, from The Royal Gazette:

Former Trinidad international Marlon Rojas has walked out on Bermuda Hogges mid-season in frustration over his lack of game time, The Royal Gazette can reveal.
Rojas, who has failed to officially notify Hogges of his decision to quit, has been conspicuous by his absence at training in recent weeks and is no longer part of coach Kyle Lightbourne's plans.

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Austin Aztex 2:2 Cleveland City Stars
Aztex settle for draw as Cleveland scores late Austin American-Statesman
Puerto Rico Islanders 2:1 Carolina RailHawks
RailHawks fall is Islanders The News & Observer
Puerto Rico 2, Carolina 1 RailHawks Report
Rochester Rhinos 2:1 Minnesota Thunder
Rochester Rhinos hang on to edge Minnesota Rochester Democrat & Chronicle
Harrisburg City Islanders 0 - 0 Charlotte Eagles
Eagles don't win or lose at home Charlotte Observer
Richmond Kickers 2 - 1 Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Delicate scores twice as Kickers trip Pittsburgh Richmond Times-Dispatch
Harrisburg City Islanders 2 - 3 Wilmington Hammerheads
Hammerheads knock off league-leading City Islanders StarNews Online
Islanders continue to struggle on the road PennLive
C. Click to continue reading...

Rochester Rhinos 2 - 0 Austin Aztexs
Rochester Rhinos end skid with win in Austin, Texas Rochester Democrat & Chronicle
Aztex fall 2-0, stay winless in league play in June Austin American-Statesman
Wilmington Hammerheads 3 - 0 Real Maryland Monarchs
Real Maryland suffers two loses over the weekend Potomac Soccerwire
W-League Results Click to continue reading...

Vancouver Whitecaps 1:2 Montreal Impact
Impact rebound from TFC loss by beating Whitecaps The Globe and Mail
Impact bounces back from humiliation Montreal Gazette
Montreal Impact continues to frustrate Vancouver Whitecaps with 2-1 win Vancouver Sun
Miami FC Blues 1:0 Cleveland City Stars
Miami FC tops Cleveland City Miami Herald
Charleston Battery 0:1 Puerto Rico Islanders
Islanders hand Battery second straight defeat Charlston Post and Courier
Battery lose second straight in Puerto Rico The Digitel
Richmond Kickers 2 :2 Charlotte Eagles
Eagles rally to tie Kickers Richmond Times-Dispatch
USL Eagles OK with tie against Richmond Charlotte Observer
Real Maryland Monarchs 0 - 4 Harrisburg City Islanders
Shipalane fuels Islanders PennLive. Click to continue reading...

Carolina RailHawks 1:1 Austin Aztex
Aztex draw against Carolina, 1-1 Austin American-Statesman
RailHawks draw Austin, pull into 1st-place tie carolinarailhawks.com
Minnesota Thunder 1:5 Portlan
Portland 5, Minnesota 1: Coach's tongue-lashing lifts Timbers to victory OregonLive. Click to continue reading...

All matches scheduled for June 30th, all times Eastern
For more information visit USOpenCup.com
Ocean City Barons (PDL) at DC United (MLS)
Maryland Soccerplex - Boyds, MD (7:30 pm)
Chicago Fire (MLS) at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL-2)
Legion Stadium - Wilmington, NC (7 pm)
Columbus Crew (MLS) at Rochester Rhinos (USL-1)
Marina Auto Stadium - Rochester, NY (7 pm)
Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2) at New England Revolution (MLS)
Veterans Stadium - New Britain, CT (7 pm)
Chivas USA (MLS) at Charleston Battery (USL-1)
Blackbaud Stadium - Charleston, SC (7:30 pm)
Kansas City Wizards (MLS) at Minnesota Thunder (USL-1)
National Sports Center - Blaine, MN (8:05 pm)
Houston Dynamo (MLS) at Austin Aztex (USL-1)
Nelson Field - Austin, TX (8:30 pm)
Seattle Sounders FC at Portland Timbers (USL-1)
PGE Park - Portland, OR (10 pm)
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Real Maryland Monarchs (USL-2) 0:1 (et) Ocean City Barons (PDL)
Ocean City Barons win Open Cup game; will play D.C. United next Press of Atlantic City
Wilmington Hammerheads (USL-2) 3:3 Carolina RailHawks (USL-1)
Wilmington advances on PKs (4-2)
RailHawks booted out of U. Click to continue reading...

USL has released the First and Second Division Teams of the Week. Read the full press release HERE.
USL First Division Team of the Week
Goalkeeper: Nick Player (MIN)
Defenders: Davis Hayes (POR), Wes Knight (VAN), Cristian Arrieta (PR), Matt Bobo (CHA)
Midfielders: Pato Aguilera (CLE), Jonathan Steele (PR), Godfrey Tenoff (CLE)
Fowards: Diego Serna (MIA), Brian Cvilikas (MIN), Charles Gbeke* (VAN)
USL Second Division Team of the Week
Goalkeeper: James Thorpe (MASS)
Defenders: Ed Hayden (PITT), Sascha Gorres (RICH), Andrew Marshall (CPB), John Borrajo (RM)
Midfielders: Nicki Patterson (HARR), Lucio Gonzaga (RM), Pat Healey (CPB)
Fowards: Almir Barbosa (MASS), Machel Millwood (CPB)
*We find it strange that Charles Gbeke was selected for Team of the Week. Click to continue reading...

Two of tonight's U.S. Open Cup matches will be shown on USLLive.com:
Wilmington Hammerheads (USL-2) at Carolina RailHawks (USL-1) - 7:00pm ET
Cleveland City Stars (USL-1) at Rochester Rhinos (USL-1) - 7:oopm ET Click to continue reading...