The End of the Global Blog

What you are reading here is the final post of ussoccer.com's Global Blog. Do not worry: you can still follow all the action of our guys abroad by going to the MNT Blog, which will immediately start featuring the same updates you would previously have found on the Global Blog. When we merge the two blogs, you'll notice some differences in the way the MNT Blog looks. Upgrading the look of the MNT Blog allows us to post larger videos, among other things, something we think everyone will enjoy.

In short, you can still expect the same type of coverage of our MNT players who are playing in leagues around the world and you'll still get the same great look at the MNT during camps and international breaks. You'll get both these things in one place - at the MNT Blog.

Thanks to everybody who kept up with the Global Blog and we hope that you'll continue reading over at the MNT Blog.

Better Highlights: Le Mans vs. Rennes

Highlights from Rennes' 1-1 draw with Le Mans this past weekend:

Standard Move into First Place

Standard Liege capped a great weekend by beating Genk 2-0 on Sunday. Friday the 13th was unkind to Anderlecht, as the challengers to Liege's title went down 2-1 to KV Mechelen. Oguchi Onyewu and company took the field on Sunday knowing that a win could take them top of the table, even on games played with their rivals. Liege did just that, claiming all three points to put themselves one point ahead of Anderlecht.

Sunday Results

• Heath Pearce started at left midfield for Hansa Rostock, playing 57 minutes in a 1-1 draw.
• Michael Orozco and San Luis fell 2-1 to Puebla.
• Benny Feilhaber made his return from injury by coming on as a late sub for AGF Aarhus.
• Eddie Johnson came on as a second half sub in a 1-1 draw for Cardiff City.
• Last night, Pachua and José Francisco Torres fell 2-0 to Monterrey:

Highlights: Everton v. Stoke City

Highlights of Tim Howard and Everton's win over Stoke City:

Highlights: Bolton v. Fulham

Highlights of Clint Dempsey and Fulham's win over Bolton:

Last Minute Equalizer for Rennes

Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes kept pace with a European spot by rescuing a last minute draw yesterday against Le Mans. Moussa Sow popped up in injury time to tie the score at 2-2 and keep Rennes in 7th spot in Ligue 1.

Saturday Results

• Michael Bradley scored twice in Borussia Mönchengladbach's 4-2 win over FC Cologne. Bradley opened the scoring in the first half before adding a late penalty to ensure 'Gladbach of all three points.
• 
  
• Clint Dempsey and Fulham bounced back from their recent struggles to claim a 3-1 victory over Bolton at the Reebok Stadium
• Tim Howard and Everton withstood lots of second half pressure from Stoke City and saw out the 3-1 victory at Goodison Park.
• Frank Simek entered as a second half sub but he couldn't help Sheffield Wednesday overturn a 2-1 loss to Watford.
  

What We're Watching

Lots going on this weekend, so head to your local U.S. Soccer Official Bar to take in some of the action. If you're up early enough on Saturday, you may just see us there catching the massive Premier League game between Manchester United and Liverpool from Old Trafford. Here's what else we'll be watching this weekend.

Saturday

11 a.m. ET - Everton vs. Stoke City, FSC - David Moyes is celebrating seven years in charge of Everton this weekend and the and he's spoke of returning the club to its days of winning trophies. No silverware on the line this weekend but three points never hurts.

7 p.m. ET - Monterrey vs. Pachuca, Telemundo - José Francisco Torres and Pachuca face Monterrey in a clash between first and second in the Primera División's Group 1.

7:30 p.m. ET - Bolton vs. Fulham, FSC (delayed) - Clint Dempsey's goal in Fulham's last match failed to help the Cottagers get the win, and Fulham ended up falling to Blackburn at home. With three losses in a row in all competitions, Fulham will look to get back on track this weekend with a visit to the Reebok Stadium.

Sunday

12 p.m. ET - Aston Villa vs. Tottenham, FSC - Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan and Aston Villa look to stave off Arsenal and Everton in their quest for the much-coveted fourth place spot in the Premier League.

5 p.m. ET - Puebla vs. San Luis, Azteca America - Michael Orozco and San Luis face Puebla in this Sunday afternoon matinée.

Tim Howard on ChannelBee

Check out Tim Howard's interview with ChannelBee where he answers a series of rapid fire questions including whether or not he believes in ghosts, who the most famous person is in his mobile and past fashion disasters. Good times.

Also, watch the interview with Mr. T.

Highlights of Clint's Goal

Here are some not-very-good highlights of Clint's Dempsey's goal, which was indeed his fifth in the Premier League. Thanks for nothing, soccernet.



Update - Found some better highlights:

Fulham v Blackburn

Dempsey Scores but Fulham Go Down

An early Clint Dempsey goal for Fulham wasn't enough to beat Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday, with two late goals condemning the Cottagers to a 2-1 loss.

Dempsey scored in the second minute, poking home with his left foot for his fourth Premier League goal of the season.

We'll be back tomorrow with some highlights...

Better Highlights: Gladbach v Hamburg

Better highlights from Gladbach's win over Hamburg this weekend:

Better Highlights: Rennes v Auxere

Carlos Bocanegra's goal from this weekend. As the announcer points out, he was also voted the sexiest player (Joueur le plus sexy) at Rennes by voters on the club's website. A good week all around!

Eddie Johnson's Goal

Eddie Johnson scored for Cardiff City on Saturday, to the delight of the Ninian Park crowd and City manager Dave Jones. Here is the goal. Great soundtrack selection by whoever did this. We'll have better highlights from this game later on, so check back:

Standard Liege Wins, Still in Second

On Friday, Standard Liege won, moving to the top of the table ahead of Anderlecht. However, on Monday morning Liege are back in second place, with Anderlecht victorious in their game last night. Regardless, here are highlights from Friday's win for Liege:

Highlights from Mexico

Michael Orozco and San Luis fell 2-0 to UNAM on Saturday.



José Francisco Torres and Pachuca beat U.A.G. 3-2.

Highlights from Denmark

Michael Parkhurst played the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 tie against AAB. Click here for highlights.

Good to be Back

Rennes made it three wins from four, as Carlos Bocanegra returned from yellow card suspension to score the winning goal in a 2-0 victory against Auxerre. Bocanegra was alert at the near post to head home Mickael Pagis' cross in the 9th minute. Rennes remains in 6th place, three points out of a Champions League spot. The top four in Ligue 1 qualify for Europe, with fourth place dropping into the Europa League.

Everton into Semis

Everton is going to Wembley for the first time in 14 years, after Louis Saha's second half header sent the Toffees through to the semifinals of the FA Cup. Tim Howard was in goal for he 2-1 victory against Middlesbrough, making two saves in the winning effort. Intrigue is building for the historic cup competition, and Everton have been drawn to face Manchester United, Howard's former club, in the semifinals.

Saturday Results

• Eddie Johnson scored his first goal for Cardiff City in a 3-0 win against Doncaster Rovers. After entering the game midway through the first half, Johnson curled home a left-footed effort in the 60th minute to open his account for Cardiff.

• Borussia Mönchengladbach lifted themselves off the foot of the Bundesliga table with an impressive 4-1 win against Hamburg. Michael Bradley played the full 90 minutes for 'Gladbach, who are up to 19th place with the victory.
• Bayern Munich easily beat Hannover 96, the 5-1 victory keeping them four points behind Hertha Berlin at the top of the table. Landon Donovan entered the game as a late second half sub. Steve Cherundolo started and played the full 90 minutes for Hannover.
• Clint Dempsey and Fulham were knocked out of the FA Cup with a 4-0 loss to Manchester United.
• Standard Liege's 1-0 win sent Oguchi Onyewu's team to the top of the Belgian table.
  

A Rare Home Loss

Clint Dempsey and Fulham suffered a rare loss at Craven Cottage yesterday, with a 90th minute Hull City winner condemning the Cottagers to defeat.

West Ham up to Seventh Place

No, seriously. Highlights from their 1-0 win against Wigan yesterday. Jonathan Spector entered the game in the second half.

Highlights from a 0-0 Snoozer

Wednesday Results

• Jonathan Spector came off the bench to help West Ham earn a 1-0 win away to Wigan Athletic.
• Clint Dempsey played 90 minutes but Fulham fell at home in an unlikely loss to Hull City.
• Tim Howard had to make only one save in Everton's uneventful 0-0 draw with Blackburn Rovers.
• Rangers fell to second place in the SPL with a 1-0 loss to Inverness. Maurice Edu started the game, his second consecutive appearance in midfield for Rangers, before being subbed off in the second half.
• Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes eased past Lorient in the Coupe de France Round of 16, winning 3-0.
  

Midweek Action

Lots of midweek games around the world this week:

In England, Tim Howard and Everton travel to Ewood Park to face Blackburn Rovers. You can see this game delayed on FSC at 5:00 p.m. ET. Clint Dempsey and Fulham host Hull City at Craven Cottage, while Jonathan Spector and West Ham lineup against Wigan Athletic.

Rangers will look to keep their noses out in front of Celtic in the SPL, with Walter Smith's side facing Inverness at Ibrox later today. Pedro Mendes is still out, which means Edu could again get the start for Rangers, whose goal difference advantage at the top of the SPL was trimmed to just four goals this weekend.

In continental cup action, Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes host Lorient in the Round of 16 of the French Cup.

Better Highlights: Everton v. WBA

Highlights from Everton's 2-0 win over West Brom this weekend:

San Luis Win on the Road

It's been an indifferent start to the season for San Luis, but this weekend they turned things around with a 2-0 victory away to Club America. Michael Orozco played the full 90 minutes for San Luis, who beat America at the Azteca to remain in 3rd place in Group 3.

Highlights from Parkhurst's Debut

We mentioned that Michael Parkhurst made his Danish league debut on Sunday, well here are some highlights of said debut. They feature Parkhurst drawing a red card for being kicked by an opposing player during FC Nordsjaelland's 1-1 draw with Vejle.

Click here for highlights.

Late Drama for Rennes

Rennes did the rest of Ligue 1 a solid by snatching a point at the death in their game against Lyon, which finished 1-1. Carlos Bocanegra had a goal disallowed for Rennes, who needed a stoppage time equalizer to grab the tie at the Stade Gerland. Rennes remain 10 points out of first place, but the gap at the top has been trimmed to just four points, with Lyon holding the edge over PSG.

Liege Trim the Gap

A 4-0 win by Oguchi Onyewu and Standard Liege cut the gap at the top of the Belgian Jupiler League to just two points. Liege beat Cercle Brugge easily while Anderlecht slipped up with a 1-1 draw to Mouscron. Liege face Mons on Friday and a win could take them top of the table...

Gladbach Mired in a Mess

Borussia Mönchengladbach's latest loss leaves them four points away from safety. The 2-1 defeat to Hertha Berlin came in spite of Michael Bradley's second half penalty:

2-1 Hertha Berlin vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach Hig… - MyVideo

Great Clip from the BBC Gossip Column

Browsing the ever-enjoyable BBC Gossip Column this morning, we came upon this great nugget:

Clint Dempsey has promised to record an FA Cup final song if Fulham reach the Wembley final. The American midfielder goes by the alias 'Deuce' and says his rapping will eclipse the efforts of Liverpool players in the 1990s. "I've heard about FA Cup final songs - especially that Anfield Rap," he said. "I was thinking about hanging up my mic and retiring, but if we get to Wembley I can do better than that." (The People)

Debut for Parkhurst

Michael Parkhurst made his FC Nordsjaelland debut on Sunday, going 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Vejle. That is all.

Sunday Gameday

We're here at Smallbar in Chicago, part of the Official U.S. Soccer Bar Program, and we've settled down with our coffee ahead of some games this Sunday.

One result from England is already in the books, with West Ham United defeating Manchester City 1-0. Jonathan Spector came off the bench for the Hammers to help keep the clean sheet as West Ham

First up at 9 a.m. (well, alongside the Carling Cup final), Brad Guzan, Brad Friedel and Aston Villa take on Stoke City at Villa Park. Villa have won their last five games at home and they'll be recalling most of their first team after Thursday's loss to CSKA Moscow.

For now, you can check out these highlights from Clint Dempsey and Fulham's 0-0 draw with Arsenal yesterday:

Everton Take Easy Win

Everton and Tim Howard gained ground on struggling Arsenal with a 2-0 win over struggling West Brom. Howard made five saves in the winning effort, while Everton are now unbeaten in three games.

Saturday Results

• Maurice Edu went 90 minutes for Rangers in their 1-0 win over Hamilton Academical.

• Michael Bradley scored from the penalty spot but it proved to be in vain as Borussia Mönchengladbach went down 2-1 to Hertha Berlin.

• Steve Cherundolo returned to the starting lineup for Hannover 96 who won 1-0 against Bayer Leverkusen.

• Tim Howard kept a clean sheet as Everton beat relegation-threatened West Brom 2-0 at Goodison Park.
• Clint Dempsey and Fulham fought hard for a 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal.
• Jay DeMerit and Watford beat Crystal palace 2-0 to climb up to 17th in the English League Championship table.
• José Francisco Torres and Pachuca lost 5-0 to Chivas.
  

What We're Watching

Saturday

7:40 a.m. - Everton vs. West Brom, Setanta - Tim Howard and Everton clash against bottom-of-the-table West Brom in the early match on Saturday morning. West Brom will be going for their first win at Goodison Park in 30 years.

10 a.m. - Arsenal vs. Fulham, FSC - Clint Dempsey and Fulham travel to the Emirates Stadium where Arsenal will be putting their unbeaten home record on the line in a London derby. Check out a video preview of the game here.

Sunday

7:25 a.m. - West Ham vs. Manchester City, Setanta - Jonathan Spector will look to make his second consecutive Premier League start in a game where former Hammer Craig Bellamy's return to Upton Park with new team Manchester City is the main storyline.

11 a.m. - Werder Bremen vs. Bayern Munich, Gol TV - Bayern Munich and Landon Donovan travel to the Weserstadion to face Werder Bremen on Sunday. Bayern thrashed Sporting Lisbon mdiweek, and will look to carry that form into the Bundesliga where they've suffered a recent dip in form.


2:55 p.m. - Lyon vs. Rennes, Setanta - In a match that could have major title implications, Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes face league leaders Lyon at the Stade Gerland. Rennes, who beat Lyon earlier in the year, are 10 points away from Lyon, but a win for Rennes could pull themselves (and the rest of the chasing pack) closer to the seven-time league champions.

MNT Players Sent Packing

A tough night for MNT players in the UEFA Cup, as both Aston Villa and Standard Liege were eliminated from European competition. Brad Guzan and Aston Villa went down 2-0 to CSKA Moscow (3-1 on aggregate) while Oguchi Onyewu and Standard Liege bowed out meekly with a 1-1 draw to Braga (4-1 on aggregate).

Tough Start for San Luis

Michael Orozco and San Luis fell 1-0 to Paraguayan side Libertad in a Group 8 Copa Libertadores clash last night. Orozco went 90 minutes for San Luis, who were undone by an early Luis Ramírez goal. The loss drops San Luis to the bottom of Group 8. Next up in the Copa Libertadores is a match away to Universitario of Perú on Mar. 10.

Better Highlights: Gladbach v Hannover

Some longer highlights from Gladbach's 3-2 win over Hannover this weekend:

Better Highlights: Nice v Rennes

Forgot to link to this from a few days ago...

Short Highlights from Fulham's Win

That about says it all...

Dempsey Scores as Fulham Progress

Fulham progressed to the sixth round of the FA Cup, courtesy of tonight's 2-1 win over Swansea. Clint Dempsey scored the tying goal for Fulham, who had gone behind early in the second half. Dempsey turned home a Simon Davies corner in the 77th minute, before teammate Bobby Zamora scored four minutes later to seal Fulham's passage to the quarterfinals. There they will meet Manchester United. Come back later as we scour the internet for highlights...

Brad Guzan on Life in England

MNT Goalkeeper Brad Guzan caught up with us at ussoccer.com and we asked the Aston Villa goalkeeper about his first season in the Premier League, preparations for this week's UEFA Cup game with CSKA Moscow, and his experience so far in World Cup qualifying.

Listen to the full podcast here.


Image courtesy of isiphotos.com

Better Highlights: Newcastle v Everton

Hard to get better highlights of this 0-0 snoozer but we tried...


On another note, Everton received some bad news today when it was revealed that midfielder Mikel Arteta will be out for the remainder of the season.

Fulham Ready for Replay

Fulham face a fifth round FA Cup replay against Swansea on Tuesday, the two sides having drawn 1-1 in the original match ten days ago. Fulham manager Roy Hodgson could rotate his squad for the game, so it remains to be seen whether or not Dempsey will play after the midfielder played 90 minutes this weekend.

Standard Setback

Standard Liege's title hopes took a shot on Sunday, when Oguchi Onyewu's team was defeated 4-2 by rivals Anderlecht. The victory lifts Anderlecht four points above Liege, with both teams having played the same number of games. The loss capped a tough week for Liege in which the reigning Belgian champs also lost 3-0 to Braga in the UEFA Cup. Gooch and Co. will try to turn things around in the second leg of that playoff later this week...

Better Highlights: Fulham v West Brom

Long highlights from Fulham's 2-0 win over West Bromich Albion...

Sunday Results from England

Clint Dempsey played the full 90 minutes for Fulham as the Cottagers turned out for an easy 2-0 win over West Brom.

Tim Howard was hardly busy as Everton tied 0-0 with Newcastle United. Howard was required to make zero saves as Newcastle played most of the second half down a man.

Better Highlights: Bolton v West Ham

Here are some longer highlights from West Ham's game against Bolton yesterday. Jonathan Spector started for West Ham and assisted on the Hammers' only goal...

Pachuca Cruise

José Francisco Torres and Pachuca ran out to a 3-0 win over Indios on Saturday, keeping alive their unbeaten streak in Group 1 of Mexico's Primera División. Torres started in his customary midfield role for Pachuca, who next face Chivas a week from today.

Rennes Back on Track

Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes got back on track with a 1-0 victory over Nice on Saturday. In claiming a rare three points on the road, Rennes remained in sixth place ahead of next week's clash with league leaders Lyon.

Bayern Munich Highlights

Highlights from Bayern Munich's loss to FC Cologne earlier today:

Feilhaber Nearing Return

Check out this video interview with Benny Feilhaber who is back training with Aarhus as he nears full recovery from injury...

Saturday Results

Borussia Mönchengladbach gave up a two goal lead but managed to find a late winner in their 3-2 victory over Hannover 96. Michael Bradley played the full 90 minutes for 'Gladbach, while Steve Cherundolo made a late substitute appearance for Hannover after recovering from injury.

Bayern Munich failed to take the summit of the Bundesliga after going down 2-1 to FC Cologne. Donovan came off the bench to start the second half, but couldn't help his team come back from two goals down at the Allianz Arena.

In England, Jonathan Spector got the start for West Ham but two early goals condemned the Hammers to defeat against Bolton. West Ham fought back valiantly, with Spector getting the assist on Scott Parker's second half goal, but it proved to be a mere consoloation effort as Bolton held out for the 2-1 win.

Jay DeMerit and Watford claimed a vital away win in the English Championship, beating Blackpool 2-0 to boost their chances of avoiding the drop. DeMerit captained the side and played the full 90 minutes for the Hornets.

Check back later this weekend for highlights...

What We're Watching

A Center Circle reference for all you readers out there. Here's what we're checking out on TV this weekend:

SATURDAY

7:40 a.m. ET - Aston Villa v Chelsea, Setanta - After a midweek game that saw him play 90 minutes against CSKA Moscow, Brad Guzan will likely return to a reserve role for Villa's Premier League game against Chelsea on Saturday. The match pits England's third and fourth -place teams, with Villa holding a slim two-point lead over Chelsea. For added intrigue, this is Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink's first Premier League game in charge.

10 a.m. ET - Bolton v West Ham, FSC - Jonathan Spector will look for some time off the bench as the Hammers travel north to face Bolton.

11:30 a.m. ET - Bayern Munich vs. Cologne, Gol TV (replay) - Landon Donovan could make his first competitive start for Bayern Munich as Luca Toni has failed to shrug off an injury from last week. After slipping against Hertha Berlin last Saturday, Bayern will try to keep up their challenge for the Bundesliga title. Of course, Lukas Podolski could also feature, so tune in late Saturday morning to see if Donovan's in the starting eleven.

2:55 p.m. ET - Nice v Rennes, Setanta - Faltering Rennes look to right the ship as Carlos Bocanegra's team travels to face Nice on Saturday. Rennes have fallen off the pace in Ligue 1, but a victory here could reignite their claims to a UEFA Champions League spot for next season.

8 p.m. ET - Pachuca v Indios, Telefutura - José Francisco Torres and Pachuca will try to keep their unbeaten start going when they host Group 1 rivals Indios on Saturday night.

SUNDAY

8:25 a.m. ET - Fulham v West Brom, Setanta - After a midweek loss away from home, Fulham host West Brom at Craven Cottage, a ground where they have enjoyed great success so far this year. Clint Dempsey and Fulham are out in front of the pack in the bottom half of the Premier League table, but they'll need some points to put further distance between themselves and the strugglers in the relegation fight.

3 p.m. ET - Newcastle vs. Everton (replay), FSC - Try to stay away from the internet on Sunday before tuning in at the end of the weekend to catch Tim Howard traveling to Tyneside to visit Newcastle United.

Rangers Cruise to Victory

Rangers moved on to the quarterfinals of the Scottish Cup with an easy 4-0 victory over Forfar Athletic on Wednesday night. DaMarcus Beasley started for Rangers, but was removed after 72 minutes following a ridiculous challenge that brought a red-card for the guilty Forfar player. Reacting to the tackle, acting manger Ally McCoist (who apparently manages Rangers' cup games) said that Beas will be fine. Rangers face Kilmarnock in SPL action this coming weekend.

Fulham Downed by United

Clint Dempsey and Fulham were put to the sword by Manchester United last night, the league leaders overpowering Roy Hodgson's side to earn an easy 3-0 win. Of more interest to Hodgson will be how his team rebounds for Saturday' home game against West Bromich Albion.

UEFA Cup Results

Aston Villa fought back from one goal down to get a 1-1 draw with CSKA Moscow at Villa Park last night. Brad Guzan played the full 90 minutes for Villa in the net, making four saves. The tie heads back to Russia next week, with Villa taking the field at the Luzhniki Stadium with a mind to overturn CSKA's away goals advantage.


Elswhere in the UEFA Cup, Oguchi Onyewu and Standard Liege crashed to a disappointing 3-0 loss away to Braga. The Belgian champs will have to overturn that large deficit in next week's return leg if they want to have a hope of advancing to the next round.

Better Highlights

From Werder Bremen vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach, featuring Michael Bradley's second half goal:

Midweek Action

Clint Dempsey and Fulham travel to Old Trafford to face league leaders Manchester United in a game that was originally slated to be played last August. It got postponed, blah blah blah, and now here we are nearly six months later ready to play the game. You can see it live on Setanta Sports, with coverage beginning at 2:55 pm ET.


After its midseason break the UEFA Cup is back, this time in the knockout stage with the Round of 32. Brad Guzan and Aston Villa host CSKA Moscow at Villa Park while Oguchi Onyewu and Standard Liege travel to Portugal to face Braga at this really great stadium.

You can follow both these games with live text updates on uefa.com

Everton Move On

Everton earned passage to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup with a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday. Tim Howard made seven saves for the Toffees, who have been drawn against the winner of West Ham/Middlesbrough in the upcoming round of eight.

Next up for Everton is a trip to Newcastle Utd. on Saturday.

Rennes Down to Sixth

Rennes 1-1 draw with Nancy on Saturday dropped Carlos Bocanegra's team down to sixth place in Ligue 1, ten points behind Lyon at the summit. Bocanegra played all 90 minutes for Rennes,

Bradley's Goal from Saturday

Michael Bradley scored the tying goal in Gladbach's 1-1 draw with Werder Bremen on Saturday. Here it is:

Pachuca Push Past Pumas

Pachuca and José Torres defeated U.N.A.M. 3-2 on Saturday, keeping the Gophers top of Group 1 in the México Primera División. Torres played the full 90 minutes for Pachuca, who will face Puebla in a Thurdsay match-up south of the border.

Heartbreak for Watford

Seventy-four minutes into their 5th Round FA Cup tie with Chelsea, Jay DeMerit and Watford were up 1-0 at Vicarage Road. Fifteen minutes later...well, that's soccer. A tough one for the Hornets who looked set to pull off the upset of the round before Nicolas Anelka's late hat-trick left the home side stunned...

Bayern Munich Highlights

Yesterday's highlights from Bayern Munich's 2-1 loss to Hertha Berlin:

Standard Stay Top

Standard Liege won easily on Saturday, defeating Tubize 4-0 to stay top of the league. Oguchi Onyewu started the match for Liege, before being subbed off early in the second half. Liege remain five points clear of Anderlecht, who play on Sunday.

Results from Germany

Michael Bradley grabbed a late equalizer for Borussia Mönchengladbach as his club earned a point in a 1-1 draw with Werder Bremen. You may have heard about Bradley's other two goals this week...

Landon Donovan came on as a first half sub for the injured Luca Toni, but he couldn't help Bayern get the win against high-flying Hertha Berlin. Bayern fought back from a goal down, but a late goal from Adreiy Voronin sent Hertha to the top of the table.

Highlights to follow...

Longer Highlights: Bayern Beats Dortmund

Landon Donovan arrived in camp last night, landing in Columbus on Monday following Bayern's 3-1 victory over Dortmund the day before. Donovan came on as a second half sub, helping Bayern to score two late goals to grab the points at the Allianz Arena.

Pachuca Beat America; Torres Headed North

José Torres and Pachuca beat America 3-1 on Sunday, earning a tough away victory to take them to the top of Group 1. Torres played the full 90 minutes for Pachuca, and the diminutive midfielder will now head north to join up with the U.S. national team in Columbus. He's expected to arrive tomorrow afternoon.

Extended Highlights from England

Wigan v. Fulham


Everton v. Bolton

Three Goals Three Points

Everton beat Bolton 3-0 on Saturday, with the emphatic victory keeping them at 6th in the table. Brazilian debutant, Jo, scored twice for the Toffees who ran out to a comfortable victory at Goodison Park. Tim Howard played 90 minutes and had to make three saves in the win.

Standard Liege Five Points Clear

Standard Liege continued their good form, making it six league games unbeaten with a 2-0 win over Kortrijk on Friday. Oguchi Onyewu played 90 minutes for Liege, who are now five points clear of Anderlecht, who have two games in hand, at the top of the Belgian league.

Gladbach Get a Point

Michael Bradley and Borussia Mönchengladbach were victim of a last minute equalizer on Saturday, drawing league leaders TSG Hoffenheim 1-1. 'Gladbach took the lead towards the end of the first half, and held on for the majority of the second period until a late goal from Wellington rescued a point for the league leaders. Bradley played the full 90 minutes for 'Gladbach who plays Werder Bremen next Saturday.


1-1 Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. 1899 Hoffenheim H… - MyVideo

Sometimes a Win Is Not Enough

José Torres and Pachuca carried a 1-0 deficit into the second leg of their Copa Libertadores qualifier with Universidad de Chile on Wednesday. Though Pachuca fought hard, their 2-1 win was not enough to send them into the competition proper, and the Mexican side crashed out on away goals. Torres played the full 90 minutes for Pachuca, who took the lead in the 86th minute but failed to find the decisive goal in a frantic final few minutes. Pachuca returns to Primera División action this weekend with a match against Club América on Sunday.

Howard and Everton Beat Rivals

Tim Howard and Everton sent Liverpool packing in the FA Cup, squeaking out a 1-0 victory over their bitter rivals after 120 minutes of soccer. A first leg failed to find a winner and it looked like the second leg was heading for the dreaded penalty shootout until 19-year old Dab Gosling popped up in the 118th minute to be the hero. Everton will now face Brad Guzan and Aston Villa in the fifth round of the FA Cup, after Villa also earned a win in today's replays.

Guzan Goes for Villa

Brad Guzan helped Aston Villa to a 3-1 victory over Doncaster on Wednesday night. Guzan made four saves in goal for Villa, who advanced to the fifth round of the FA Cup with the easy victory. Interestingly, Villa's next three games come in three different competitions. On Saturday they take on Blackburn in the Premier League. After the international break they'll meet victorious Everton on Feb. 14 in the FA Cup before hosting CSKA Moscow in the first leg of the UEFA Cup round of 32 on Feb. 18.

Beasley Scores in Friendly

Altidore Loaned to Xerez

Jozy Altidore has completed a loan move to second division side Xerez CD, and will be unveiled on Monday according to Xerez' website. With Villarreal's squad returning to full fitness after some early season injuries, Altidore has found playing time hard to come by in recent weeks so hopefully this move gets him some experience with the side that is currently leading the Spanish second tier.

As a side note, you may remember Villarreal manager Manuel Pelligrini stating that nobody would be going out on loan during the winter period. Well, things always change.

Villarreal's club website also confirmed the move, which will last until the end of this season.

San Luis Gets First Win of Clausura

Michael Orozco and San Luis grabbed their first win of the 2009 Clausura, beating Jaguares 2-1 on Saturday. Orozco went the full 90 for San Luis, who are up to second in Group 3 with the win. Now the Mexican club faces a long trip down to Buenos Aires, where they'll meet San Lorenzo in Copa Libertadores action on Wednesday.

McBride set for Dramatic Return?

On skysports and soccernet you can find rumors stating that former MNT striker Brian McBride is in talks to make a loan move back to Fulham. Believe what you want, but one thing that's certain is McBride's legendary status at the London club. The now-Chicago Fire player scored 40 goals in over 150 appearances for Fulham, served as the club's captain, and returned late last season after injury to spearhead a successful fightback against relegation. The Blog is pretty sure he'd be welcomed back at Craven Cottage...

He's also the subject of numerous tribute videos on YouTube. Including this one.

Goalless Draw No Fun for Anybody

Rennes and Carlos Bocanegra were held to a 0-0 draw by Toulouse at home on Saturday. With that, Rennes missed the opportunity to close the gap with leaders Lyon, who are in action today. In fact, the match between Ligue 1's 4th and 5th place sides was pretty dour, by all accounts. Up next for Rennes: a match with Le Havre before the international break.

Three Points for Fulham

Fulham are back up to ninth place after a 3-1 win over a Portsmouth team that is hitting the proverbial self-destruct button. Clint Dempsey assisted on the Cottagers' first goal, playing Andy Johnson through to open the scoring. Up next for Fulham is an away date at Wigan on February 7.

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Bundesliga is Back

The winter break is over in Germany, and Bundesliga action has started back up again.

Michael Bradley and Borussia Mönchengladbach need a big second half of the season, but unfortunately that didn't start this weekend. Gladbach went down 2-0 to Stuttgart, with Bradley playing the full 90 minutes.


0809-18: VfB Stuttgart - Borussia Mönchengladbach - MyVideo


Landon Donovan made his Bundesliga debut for Bayern Munich, coming on as a second half sub against Hamburg. Unfortunately Bayern went down 1-0 at the HSH Arena.

1-0 Hamburger SV vs. Bayern Munich Highlights - MyVideo

Howard and Everton Fall to League Leaders

Tim Howard and Everton put in a valiant effort but ended up on the wrong side of a 1-0 defeat against high-flying Manchester United. A Ronaldo penalty was the difference between the two sides, though Howard kept his team in the game by making seven saves. Next up for the Toffees is a Fourth Round FA Cup replay against bitter rivals Liverpool. Be sure to check back here on Wednesday for the highlights of that game from Goodison Park.

Liege at Top with Win

Standard Liege and Oguchi Onyewu kept up their good form in Belgium with a 3-0 win over Roeselare. The win keeps Liege at the top of the table, two points ahead of Anderlecht, who still has a game in hand.

Pachuca Downed in Santiago

José Torres and Pachuca fell 1-0 to Universidad de Chile in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores preliminary round on Wednesday. Torres started for Pachuca, who will have to make up the one goal deficit in the return leg in Mexico next Wednesday.

Everton Draw with Arsenal

A late Robin Van Persie goal rendered honors even Goodison Park, as Tim Howard and Everton shared the points with visiting Arsenal. After the late slip, Everton have no time to rest, and they face the league leaders Manchester United on Saturday. Howard will suit up against his former club, while Everton look to improve on their sixth place standing in the league.

Fulham Stumble at Sunderland

Fulham and Clint Dempsey fell to a 1-0 defeat away to Sunderland on Tuesday, with T&T international Kenwyne Jones scoring the only goal of the game. Dempsey went the full 90 for the Cottagers, who will look to get back on track this coming weekend against Portsmouth.

Bayern Through to Next Round

Bayen Munich demolished VFB Stuttgart 5-1 in the DFB Pokal Cup on Tuesday. Landon Donovan entered the game as a second half sub, replacing Luca Toni in the 67th minute to make his competitive debut for Bayern. Up next for Bayern is a match against Hamburg on Saturday, as the Bundesliga commences its second half of the season.

Donovan Could Debut

Bayern Munich begin the second half of the season tonight, as they face VFB Stuttgart in a Cup match from the Mercedes-Benz Arena. Landon Donovan could be in line for his competitive debut tonight, as Bayern look to advance to the final 16 of Germany's cup competition. We'll try to put up some highlights here later today/tonight, so check back to see if Donovan makes his first official appearance for Bayern Munich.

Left Unsettled - Liverpool and Everton Will Meet Once More

Liverpool and Everton drew their fourth round FA Cup game 1-1, with Steven Gerrard canceling out Joleon Lescott's first half goal to force a replay to be held at Goodison Park. Meeting for the second time in the space of six days, Tim Howard and Everton put in a dogged defensive performance to ensure another meeting between the two sides, this time on the Toffee's home turf. On the back foot for much of the afternoon, Everton got a big performance from Howard, who made eight saves in the draw. The FA Cup 4th round replay will be held on Feb. 4.

Liege Leave it Late

Oguchi Onyewu and Standard Liege got a goal five minutes from time to earn a 1-0 victory over Westero in the Belgian League. Liege are still in second place, one point behind leaders Anderlecht.

Rennes into Final 16

Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes advanced to the last 16 of the Coupe de France with a 2-0 win over St. Etienne yesterday. Two goals from Jimmy Briand were the difference for Rennes, who get back to Ligue 1 action with a match against Toulouse next week.

Orozco and Torres Do Battle in Mexico

San Luis hosted Pachuca last night in Primera División action from Mexico. Michael Orozco went the full 90 for San Luis, but his team was on the losing end of a 2-1 scoreline. José Torres entered the game as a second half sub for Pachuca, who next face Universidad de Chile in their opening match of the Copa Libertadores.

Dempsey Gets Assist in Win

Clint Dempsey assisted on Fulham's first goal as the cottagers ran out to a 4-2 win over Kettering Town in the FA Cup. Dempsey played 90 minutes for Fulham, who have been drawn against Swansea in round five of the knockout tournament.

Watford to face Chelsea in FA Cup

Jay DeMerit scored the opening goal of Watford's 4-3 win over Crystal Palace in the FA Cup yesterday. Up next? Chelsea. Watford will host the London club on Feb. 14 in the 5th round of the touranment. Jay had some comments on the match, saying ""It's a tough game of course but this is what we play for. Ever since I've been here we've never been short of cup runs and it's always good to get in these situations.''

Here's DeMerit speaking to skysports.com about the tie. Over at The Mirror, Jay says that the team hopes this can kick start a good run of form in the Championship, where things haven't been going so well for Watford.


Watch (SoccerforYankees.com) FA Cup 1/24/09 Watford v Crystal Palace in Sports Online | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Bocanegra and Rennes Aim High

Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes had an excellent start to the season, going 17 games unbeaten to close out 2008. The unbeaten streak has ended, but Rennes will look to back to their winning ways this weekend, as they take on St. Etienne in the Coupe de France.

Carlos spoke to Ligue 1's official website during the week, and said that Rennes are pushing to keep pace with leaders Lyon. Read the whole interview in English here.

Here's a quote from the article where Carlos talks about the club's goals for the season:

"Our ambitions have not changed but they have become more realistic. Why shouldn't we aim for top spot? It will be difficult as there are some good teams both behind us and in front of us but we are very much in the mix. Lyon are only five points ahead of us so why not?"

Rennes are in fourth in the table, but with three points next weekend against Toulouse, they can potentially leapfrog Marseille in the third spot. Stay tuned...

Donovan Scores Twice for Bayern

Landon Donovan continued spurt of good form for Bayern, as the on-loan LA Galaxy forward scored twice in a 5-0 victory over lower division side Mainz. Donovan came on as a second half sub and played the last half hour. The two goals take his pre-season tally to four for Bayern. Check out the full highlights of the game below:

Better Look at a Great Goal

For those of you who missed Michael Bradley's great volley from earlier this week, here it is again - this time with a better frame rate:

Extended Highlights of Bayern Friendly

Here are extended highlights of Bayern Munich's friendly against Kaiserslautern from earlier today:

Donovan Scores in Bayern Friendly

Landon Donovan scored in Bayern Munich's friendly against Kaiserslautern on Monday. Bayern has returned from their stint in Dubai, and Donovan scored a late header to seal a 2-0 victory. Donovan entered the game as a substitute in the second half.

Rennes Finally Lose

Rennes unbeaten run finally came to an end this past weekend, after Carlos Bocanegra's team lost 1-0 to Lille. The loss dropped Rennes to 4th place in the Ligue 1 table, five points behind leaders Lyon. Bocanegra and Rennes will look to get back on track with next Saturday's Coupe de France game against St. Etienne. Rennes' next League match comes against Toulouse on Jan. 31.