On the one hand, I am insanely busy right now. Booo. On the other hand, I finally have Setanta set up at my new apartment so I can watch the games properly. Yaaaay. So here we go...

Manchester United 2–0 Bolton
Yes, okay, that penalty was ridiculous. I'm not even going to try to defend that. Click to continue reading...

Rafa Benitez heads into today's 208th Merseyside derby declaring that his team must win it for the fans.

Liverpool did the double over Everton last season and today's clash at Goodison Park will be the ninth time the Liverpool manager has experienced the unique derby atmosphere.

The Reds boss admits that he enjoys taking on David Moyes' side - but only when his team wins. Click to continue reading...

Reina
Arbeloa Skrtel Carragher Dossena
Kuyt Gerrard Alonso Riera
Torres Keane

It was exactly what was feared. When the best you can say was at least Liverpool didn't lose, against a team many tip for relegation, it's not a good day at the office.

It's bad, bad déjà vu reminiscent of the draw against Birmingham early last season, except the strike force was Torres and Keane instead of Kuyt and Voronin. Click to continue reading...

While Arsenal skipper William Gallas has had his critics in the past, striker Emmanuel Adebayor believes the Frenchman stood up to be counted last night. The Togo hitman was full of praise for the former Chelsea defender as he scrambled home a valuable equaliser two minutes from time to earn the Gunners a 1-1 draw in [. Click to continue reading...

Rafa Benitez refused to get carried away with his first League win over Manchester United.

Ryan Babel stepped off the bench to fire the winner with 13 minutes remaining after Liverpool had come from behind having conceded after just three minutes.

But after Wes Brown put through his own goal in the 27th minute there was only one team that looked likely to take all three points. Click to continue reading...

Wizards 2 Galaxy 0.

This was a game that looked like it involved the two last-place teams in the league, at least until the Wizards scored two goals in two minutes to dispose of the Galaxy.

The largest Wizards crowd of the season - 26,113 - watched as the Galaxy winless streak reached 12 games, a stretch that has seen L.

Click to continue reading...

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Real Salt Lake forward Fabian Espindola is set to miss four to eight weeks with an ankle injury suffered in RSL's tie vs. Los Angeles on Saturday. The injury could have been much worse, but not much more embarrassing.

Click to continue reading...

Fifth episode in Nike's "What the Pros Know" series. After What Ruud Knows, What Wayne Knows, What William Knows, and the inspiring What Joe Knows, it's Barcelona and Spain midfielder Andrés Iniesta's turn to share thoughts about footy. This one's pretty short actually (just under two minutes), so don't expect a miracle recipe for success. Click to continue reading...

Reina
Arbeloa Skrtel Carragher Dossena
Alonso
Kuyt Mascherano Lucas Keane
Torres

I am not used to Liverpool setting up shop to come away with a point on the road, and I'm not happy about it. Without Gerrard and with Torres going off after 26 minutes thanks to an injury, Liverpool were without invention and rarely looking like getting a goal. Click to continue reading...

It took a long time for Liverpool to score on a strong Liege defense, but when it came, it was bittersweet for American defender Oguchi Onyewu.  Gooch played a flawless match, practically taking Fernando Torres out of the game, but Liege lost on a goal two minutes from the end of extra time and crashed out [. Click to continue reading...

Oral Roberts University men's soccer team played to a 1-1 tie against Drury on Monday night at the ORU Soccer Complex to wrap up exhibition play. The Golden Eagles finished the preseason with a 1-0-2 record.

ORU sophomore Vince Tizzone headed a cross from Josh Erickson into the net four minutes into the second half to give the Golden Eagles the 1-0 lead.

Click to continue reading...

FC Lahti and TamU kicked off the 18th round on Friday and the matched ended in a 2-2 draw. Dramatically, TamU were up by one until the 90th minute. Then Jari Litmanen scored in stoppage time and two minutes later Jonne Kemppinen gave the hosts the lead. Nobody expected TamU to get a result anymore, [. Click to continue reading...

The annual August friendly is not really something Azzurri fans look forward too. In Italy, people are away vacationing at the beach and therefore are not in front of the televisions watching the game. In addition to that, the August friendly every two years takes place after a major tournament, which means we usually get to see a new manager in his first game in charge, experimenting with new tactics, players, and playing style.

Click to continue reading...

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Toronto FC forward Danny Dichio looked clear-headed and alert as he walked out of Giants Stadium following TFC's 2-0 loss to the Red Bulls. The big English striker left the match after just playing two minutes when Red Bulls defender Gabriel Cichero caught Dichio with an elbow to the face.

Click to continue reading...

Everton and Blackburn played out a very entertaining game which Blackburn ran out 3-2 winners thanks to a last minute goal from Andre Ooijer. David Dunn gave Blackburn the lead in the 21st minute but just on the stroke of half-time a Mikel Arteta free kick ensured the sides went in level at the break. Click to continue reading...

It was a crazy night at Home Depot Center. Between an early goal, a rally, en elbow and subsequent broken jaw and a stoppage-time equalizer, the game had a little of everything.

Of course, the on-the-field action wasn't the only thing that made the night a crazy one.

First, celebrity chef Ingrid Hoffmann was there. Click to continue reading...

The Cheer Up Alan Shearer Predictions League : Season 4

It doesn't seem like two minutes since the last trophy was awarded to Shane but it's time for the return of the mighty CUAS Predictions League.

As ever, three points for the correct result, one for the right outcome and none for getting it completely wrong. Click to continue reading...

We had an idea this would happen, but we're sad nevertheless.

The Nigeria women's football team, the Super Falcons, were beaten 3-1 by Brazil on Tuesday at the Workers' Stadium in Beijing in their final group game at the Olympics.

The result left the Nigerian women bottom of the group with three defeats from three matches, and eliminated from the tournament.

Click to continue reading...

A match report by our dear reader Adam. He covered the 2007 World Cup for us here at du Nord. Give him some good feedback won't you. -Bruce


Group Stage Match 1

USA 0-2 Norway

For the first time ever in a major tournament, the US lost its first game and now finds itself in last place of its group. Click to continue reading...

Home United opened up the SLeague title race last night at Jalan Besar by beating SAF 2-1 in front of a crowd that topped 4,000. The biggest of the season in Singapore so far.


Kengne Ludovick opened the scoring on 15' and added a second on 68'. Therdsak Chaiman pulled a goal back for SAF two minutes later to set up an exciting finale but Home held on for a crucial three points that blew the title race wide open. Click to continue reading...

Columbus Crew 3 Kansas City Wizards 3: Both back lines will be doing some extra work this week that's for sure. After Kansas City with two goals up with two goals in two minutes, Columbus put three in within twelve. It took the re debut of Josh Wolff to deny Columbus all three points as Wolff's 75th minute equalizer gave KC a share of the spoils.

Click to continue reading...

After a very disappointing effort in Charleston last night, the Timbers are headed home for what they hope will be a prosperous Thursday match on their home pitch against Carolina. One point from this past trip has really put the pressure on with the likes of Montreal and Rochester charging up the table in hot pursuit of a middle or better playoff spot. Click to continue reading...

In his return to the lineup for Kansas City, Josh Wolff salvaged a point for the Wizards in Columbus tonight. Kansas City came out strong, pressuring Columbus high and not giving them a lot of space. The Wizards capitalized on that pressure in the 22nd minute, when a Claudio Lopez free kick was not fully cleared. Click to continue reading...

It's a slow news day, so while we're stuck twiddling our thumbs for Sebastien Squillaci's transfer to Sevilla to be finalized, here is a short, two minute video tour of the Stade de Gerland. It's an "insiders" tour, meaning you get to see some of the VIP suites as well as restricted areas such as the locker rooms, tunnels, etc.

Click to continue reading...

First half:
Martin
Darby Carragher Hobbs Agger Insua
Pennant Plessis Lucas Benayoun
Pacheco

Second half:
Cavalieri
Skrtel Hyypia Agger
Degen Spearing Plessis Aurelio Insua
Flynn Pacheco

Subs:
Gerrard for Plessis 66'
Voronin for Pacheco 66'
Kelly for Agger 77'

Goals:
Benayoun 43'

Liverpool was announced as a 4-4-1-1, but the formation looked like a 5-4-1 to me, with the fullbacks often getting forward in support, in the first half. Click to continue reading...

A few quick items to finish the day:

*Red Bull New York has sold more than 40,000 tickets for its July 19th game against the Galaxy. Last year you'll recall New York prevailed 5-4 on a Juan Pablo Angel goal two minutes from the end of regulation despite a dominating performance by David Beckham that included two assists before a crowd of more than 66,000.

Click to continue reading...

When i saw this skit in the early 80's my brother was reading half the German philosophers in this skit.At the time i had never heard of any of them.What made me spill my milk was Beckenbauer was a surprise starter and well just watch it all.Its only two minutes but the punchline still makes me split my gut. Click to continue reading...

Ante Razov finally broke open a game that appeared heading for a scoreless draw when he scored from a direct free kick from 28 yards out two minutes from the end of regulation time with a lovely left foot blast that gave Joe Cannon no chance.

What a relief.

And considering the Earthquakes' attacking options off the bench included former Chivas USA reserve striker John Cunliffe and Chivas' forwards included former Sunday rec league player Justin Braun, this was a game that appeared headed for a scoreless draw.

Click to continue reading...

For the first 35 minutes or so this was a frenetic, yet largely directionless game, punctuated only by a 16th minute Jonathan Bornstein shot that Earthquakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon did well to hold onto with one hand.

Then, while the half ended 0-0, the scoring chances started coming fast and furious beginning in the 37th minute.

Click to continue reading...

USSR 3-4 Belgium, 1986. First half Second half Extra time And what about the second goal in this game, Dynamo Kiev v Atletico Madrid.  About two minutes into the tape, the players make this goal through pure instinct.  Incredible: Click to continue reading...

A choppy first half with neither team finding their rhythm ended with the teams tied at one apiece on two rather strange goals.

The first came from a direct free kick in the 26th minute when the speedy Dane Richards bested Jonathan Bornstein yet again down the right hand side to draw the foul.

Click to continue reading...

It was a goal fest tonight in Ecuador with the first goal coming only two minutes into the match via LDU Quito's Claudio Bieler.

Scoring Summary

LDU Quito

Claudio Bieler (2')
Joffre Guerron Mendez (28')
Jairo Campos (33')
Patricio Urrutia (45')

Fluminense

Darío Conca (11')
Thiago Neves (51')

The second leg will be played on July 2nd at Maracanã Stadium. Click to continue reading...

Euro 2008 semi finals, tactical battles, Ronaldo's transfer saga and violence in Bosnia all feature on this week's the good, the bad and the ugly. Good Good of course for Germany and Turkey who go through in two very contrasting games. Germany - Portugal was open and pulsating with lots of goals, while Croatia - Turkey was [. Click to continue reading...

Yes, I was enraptured by the monsterous flu bug that's been terrorizing cubicled wokplaces across the country. Or so I'm told. Anyway, I got it, it sucked, I passed out, I went to the ER, I waited, I waited some more, and 48 hours later, boom! Here's today's post.

*It's been much too long since I last gave the US Women's National Team some love. Click to continue reading...