The Bitter Fruit of the Transfer Market

Ball Harambee by Bagga Wilks

Transfers at the eleventh hour can strengthen or weaken a team. It also means not good news for those already in the roster. The transfer of Fellaini from Everton to Manchester United will unquestionably strengthen the Manchester United mid-field. It will mean Anderson might never be a regular starter for Manchester United and Cleverly will see less playing time.

Arsenal is the beneficiary of the Gareth Bale trade to Real Madrid as it made Ozil available. In his first game Ozil settled in right after the referee’s whistle even though it often takes players coming into the EPL one year to adjust. Wenger’s patience paid off and as they displayed against Sunderland Arsenal, will be a contender all season.

Mourinho acquired the players he wanted to possible triumph in his return to Stamford Bridge. Samuel E’too made his debut. Willian, the Brazilian, was not included in the roster and the new Chelsea is still struggling to find the right chemistry.

Manchester City is also struggling to integrate new players and a new coach. They are far from sharp and could only manage a draw at Stoke City. The departed Tevez is rejoicing as he will get to play regularly as the point striker for Juventus in Serie A. Juventus has readily integrated Tevez into the lineup even though they could only manage a draw against the newly reconstructed Inter Milan.

A.C. Milan sent Prince Boateng to Schalke in the Bundesliga, and re-possessed Kaka who had wallowed in Real Madrid’s bench since he transferred to La Liga a couple years ago. Kaka will now play regularly and try to get back to the form of the old Kaka. He joins with Balotelli and Robinho but Robinho against Torino was not in the game. Kaka did not sparkle. A.C. Milan drew 2-2 with Torino in a game that Torino deserved to win.

Across the river in La Liga, Spain, Neymar is settling in and his combined play with Messi should produce numerous highlights. One wonders why Alex Song transferred to Barcelona as in the prime of his career when he had established himself in the EPL. He has become a bench warmer at Barcelona.

Bale scored in his debut for Real Madrid but Real Madrid’s game ended up as a draw. All eyes are on Bale to determine if he can live up to the money spent for his acquisition. Like Ozil, he might not need much time to justify the bounty on his head.

Those who have lost places as a result of eleventh hour trades will certainly seek new pastures in the January transfer market.

Soccer and Racism in Europe

Ball Harambee by Basil Wilson

Kevin Prince Boateng, a star player for A.C. Milan’s Soccer Team, playing in a friendly, was so incensed by the racial taunts coming from a section of fans from the opposing team, that he kicked the ball in the stands and walked off the field. His fellow teammates supported his protest and also walked off the field. The friendly soccer match ended prematurely. The incident graphically illustrates the persistence of vulgar racism in professional soccer in Europe.

The highly competitive soccer leagues in Europe, particularly the English Premier League, the Bundesliga in Germany, La Liga in Spain and Serie A in Italy attract the best soccer players in the world. The top clubs, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham (EPL), Real Madrid and Barcelona (La Liga), Bayern Munich (Bundesliga) and A.C. Milan, Juventus and Inter Milan (Serie A) are owned by wealthy entrepreneurs who are willing to spend lavishly on attracting to their clubs the super-stars in the game. The drive to procure silver transcends homogeneity and the top clubs have become racially and ethnically diverse. As an example, the A.C. Milan team includes many top Italian players but also Brazilians, Africans and Europeans of mixed heritage.

Soccer is the most globalized sports and in recent decades, the top teams have become stunningly diverse. The soccer world body, FIFA, has sought to stage the World Cup held every four years in places outside of Western Europe. In 2010, the World Cup was staged in South Africa. In 2014, it will be held in Brazil and in 2018 the World Cup will be staged in Russia.

The violent racism among fans is unsurprisingly concentrated in Eastern Europe and Russia. The Russian team in St. Petersburg, Zenit, fans recently demanded that the club not sign to the team black players or homosexuals. Paradoxically, Zenit recently signed for a lot of money the Brazilian forward known as “Hulk” who has gotten the cold treatment from his fellow Russian teammates.

Samuel Eto’o, the Cameroon striker and the highest paid soccer player in the world, was given a $28 million annual contract for three years by a Russian club, Anzhi, that is based in Moscow but plays matches in Dagestan. What we are seeing unfold in Russia is the clash of the billionaires’ urge to win versus the traditional culture of racism.

In the summer of 2012, the European cup was held betwixt Poland and Ukraine. The Ukraine and Poland and much of Eastern Europe are plagued with a persistent residue of fascism and racism. In the post-communist era the fascism that was previously repressed is now coming to the fore and many of these fans attend games giving fascist salutes, engaging in racial taunts and throwing banana skin on the playing surface.

Prior to the staging of the European Cup in the summer of 2012, there were more than a couple of nasty incidents involving racist fans and black players. The English full back, Danny Rose, was pelted with flying objects while representing England in an under 21 match against the Serbian national under 21 team. What was shameful about the incident is that the Serbian Football Federation failed to take disciplinary action.

The racial incidents were kept under control in the European Cup of 2012. There have been associations like Never Again, established to stamp out racism in soccer. But the incident recently in Italy involving Kevin Boateng, a Ghanaian and also of German heritage, underscores the difficulty that Europe is having in dealing with the forces of racism. Italy was a hotbed of fascism in the 1930s and the Mussolinic tendencies have not disappeared.

In England, recent incidents have not involved fans per se but players. The Football Association has adopted a policy of zero tolerance vis-à-vis racism. Anton Ferdinand, a defender at Queens Park Rangers in the EPL, accused John Terry, the Chelsea captain, of racial taunts after a match in the early part of the 2012-2013 season. Terry was suspended for a few games. Also, Luis Suarez, the Uruguayan playing for Liverpool was brought before the FA Disciplinary Board and suspended for 8 matches for his racial taunts directed at Patrice Evra, the black Frenchman and captain at Manchester United.

In another couple of weeks in the United States, the National Football League will stage the Super-Bowl. American professional sports have come a long way from the post-World War 2 years when Jackie Robinson broke the color bar. Playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Jackie Robinson, for the first couple of years, had to endure vicious racial taunts.

There was a time in American football when blacks were not given the opportunity to compete as quarterbacks. American professional sports, baseball, football, basketball, are in more of an advanced stage than Europe. Racism in some form still exists but fans, irrespective of their hue, come to cheer their heroes irrespective of their race. Those professional teams are now highly integrated.

Western Europe is certainly more advanced than the United States in terms of health care, alleviating poverty, coping with unemployment, upward mobility and equality but on matters of race in professional sports, the United States has become comfortable with racial and ethnic diversity and has moved beyond the Jackie Robinson era.

Europe is still struggling with its fascist and racist atavisms. Despite the globalized nature of professional soccer, there is still a lot of enlightening that must be undertaken to bring Europe into the new world of diversity.

Race to the Top, Race to the Bottom

By Bagga Wilks

In the long and torturous soccer season, the race is not necessarily for the swift but for those who can endure it to the end.

La Liga
In the Spanish La Liga there is Barcelona and Real Madrid and the rest. This Saturday, April 16, 2011, the two Spanish League giants will clash. In addition, there is the strong possibility that both will play each other twice in the Champion League semi-final.

This Saturday, we will not only see two of the great soccer teams in the world but on display will be two of the great players in the game, Messi of Barcelona and Ronaldo of Real Madrid.

Barcelona has a comfortable lead over Real Madrid in La Liga. To narrow the 8 point gap, Real Madrid will have to win on Saturday and hope that Barca stumbles down the stretch. Valencia is in third place with 60 points and Villareal is in fourth with 54 points, a large separation between the men and the boys. At present, Almeria, Malaga and Hercules are poised for relegation.

Serie A
Coming down the homestretch, the Serie A race is among 3 teams. A.C. Milan, who defeated Fiorentina last Sunday with 68 points, the tenacious Napoli with 65 points and the unpredictable Internazionale with 63 points.

Winning Championships and the Management Factor: AC Milan 3-0 Inter

Again we saw the significance of management in the derby spectacle of A.C. Milan v Inter Milan. Leonardo has done a decent job with Inter Milan since the club fired Rafael Benitez. Both Allegri, the A.C. Milan manager and Leonardo, the Inter Milan manager are “young Turks” as head coaches in the world of soccer. Leonardo still has a lot to learn as a tactician. Allegri seems to be learning fast as a manager. He is beginning to recognize that mid-field cannot be comprised of runners and has brought in the aging but still formidable Seedorf in mid-field. He played the indefatigable Prince Boateng right behind strikers Pato and Robinho. It might have been a blessing for Allegri and A.C. Milan that Ibrahimovic missed the game as a result of a prior red card.
Allegri has been skillful in putting together the A.C. Milan team. Van Bommel at defensive mid-field has made quite a difference and the pace and creativity of Pato and Robinho make quite a dynamic strike force.
The Inter-Milan team revolves around Sneidjer’s playmaking but the team lacks the combination of youth and experience that is the case with A.C. Milan. A.C. Milan won 3-0 and the title is now within their grasp and that will be a remarkable achievement for the young manager, Allegri.

A manager’s job is to make a collection of players into a “well-oiled” machine. To achieve greatness, great teams need the guidance of great managers. Sir Alex Ferguson and Allegri have shown that the critical role of the conductor of the symphony is to ensure that everyone plays from the same musical score.

Oguchi Onyewu talks w/ Futbolr TV

Caught up with super defender USMNT Oguchi Onyewu to discuss moving on loan to Dutch side FC Twente and Upcoming friendly against Argentina
www.futbolr.com

A Reason to Leave AC Milan

Outside of playing for Flamengo, Ronaldinho the aging brazilian maestro loves to party. There's not much competition to Carnival in Rio de Janeiro and throw in hanging out with QB Tom Brady & Model wifey Gisele. In that case, Milan has nothing on Rio. All I ask is that we can get Ronaldinho styled in Futbolr, because his casual look is UFC couture on crack

Ronaldinho: Au Revoir to Europe

By Baggawilks
Ronaldinho began his segment of his European Soccer career in 2001 at Paris San Germain and ended in 2011 with his return to Flamengo. Over that 10 year career, much was accomplished.
Ronaldinho was born in a football family. His father, Joao, played for the local team in Port Allegre but his father died when Ronaldinho was still a tender age. The family moved out of the favela when his brother, Roberto, signed a professional contract with the Club Gremio. Roberto’s career was cut short when he suffered a knee injury. Ronaldinho’s unique talent for the game was discernable from the early years. Playing for a local Under 13 team, he managed to score 23 goals as his team won 23-0.

Seedorf speaks on Oguchi Onyewu at AC Milan

Click link below to read good article on Dutch & AC Milan veteran the great Clarence Seedorf who speaks with writer Michael Lewis on what it takes to make an impact at the highest levels of European soccer as a 34-year-old, what he sees in the American game, and his thoughts on fellow Milan player Oguchi Onyewu.

"He's training hard. He's always disciplined. He's always a good teammate and a great professional," Seedorf said in an interview last week. "So from that point of view, you really can't ask any more from him. So it's a really a matter of will he get a chance to show himself? A lot of times, it's a matter of timing in careers. You come maybe at the right moment or the wrong moment in a club where you have more or less chances to play."

Click Here to read full article

Coaches and Superstars

By
Bagga Wilks

The Brazilian, Robinho, was transferred from Real Madrid to Manchester City with a great deal of money and even greater fanfare. Robinho never found his footing under Mark Hughes or his successor, Roberto Mancini. Robinho played fairly well his first season in the English Premier League. In his second season, he got injured playing for his country and after his recovery never really got back his ‘samba” rhythm. He lost confidence in his game and the Manchester City coaches lost confidence in him.
Robinho was in a hostile work environment and went back on loan to play for his old club in Brazil, Santos. He recovered his form and confidence and played decently for his country in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa under Dunga.

Weekend of the Unpredictable

By Bagga Wilks
Chelsea was clobbered by lowly placed Sunderland which again demonstrates that the so-called weaker teams in the English Premier League are playing an excellent brand of football. Chelsea was a wounded giant on Sunday as they took the field without their central defenders, Alex and Terry and without their formidable mid-field player, Essien who is serving suspension for a red card.
Sunderland exploited the weakened Chelsea defense and was able to breach that make-shift defense three times to boost their standings and to tighten the race at the top of the tables.

Milan Sputters, Arsenal Sizzles Belatedly

By Bagga Wilks

Milan got clobbered in the Championship League by Mourinho’s Real Madrid and it is clear if Allegri continues to play 4-3-3 against the top teams of the world, they will suffer a similar fate.

Against Juventus, Milan was instrumental in rejuvenating Juventus’ season. Juventus showed on Saturday, October 30, 2010, the porous nature of Milan’s mid-field and defense. In the early minutes of the contest, Milan’s offense was potent. Ibrahimovic and Pato stormed the Juventus keeper but as the game settled, Milan’s weakness in mid-field and in the last four became apparent. As a formation 4-3-3 is anachronistic and the outstanding coaches play with essentially one striker and pack the mid-field with capable defensive players.

USMNT Oguchi Onyewu on Futbolr Radio part 1

USMNT & AC Milan defender discusses w/ Futbolr Radio his recent goal vs Poland, Maurice Edu and new players to the USA National Team...For full interview go to www.futbolr.com

Champions League Draw Last 16...Sets up Dream Reunions

Stuttgart v Barcelona

Olympiakos v Bordeaux

Inter v Chelsea

Bayern Munich v Fiorentina

CSKA Moscow v Sevilla

Lyon v Real Madrid

Porto v Arsenal

AC Milan v Manchester United

First legs to be played February 16/17, 23/24;
Second legs to be played March 9/10, 16/17

Who will be the Champions?

Soccer on TV this Week Dec. 8-11

Tuesday, December 8
2:15pm Juventus vs Bayern München, Setanta, UEFA Champions League
2:45pm Wolfsburg vs Manchester U, FSC, UEFA Champions League
2:45pm Marseille vs Real Madrid, FSE, CSN, UEFA Champions League
5:00pm Zürich vs AC Milan, FSE, Setanta, Delayed UEFA Champions League
5:00pm Juventus vs Bayern München, FSC, Delayed UEFA Champions League
7:00pm Juventus vs Bayern München, FSE, Delayed UEFA Champions League
7:00pm Marseille vs Real Madrid, FSC, Delayed UEFA Champions League
9:00pm Zürich vs AC Milan, FSC, Delayed UEFA Champions League

Wednesday, December 9
11:00am Al Ahli vs Acukland City FC, FSC, FIFA Club World Cup
2:45pm Inter Milan vs Rubin Kazan, FSC, UEFA Champions League
2:45pm Dynamo Kyiv vs Barcelona, FSE, Setanta, UEFA Champions League
4:45pm Inter Milan vs Rubin Kazan, Setanta, Delayed UEFA Champions League
5:00pm Inter Milan vs Rubin Kazan, FSE, Delayed, UEFA Champions League
5:00pm Dynamo Kyiv vs Barcelona, FSC, Delayed, UEFA Champions League
6:45pm Olympiacos vs Arsenal, Setanta, Delayed UEFA Champions League
7:00pm Olympiacos vs Arsenal, FSE, Delayed, UEFA Champions League
7:00pm Stuttgart vs Unirea Urziceni, FSC, Delayed, UEFA Champions League
8:30pm Dynamo Kyiv vs Barcelona, Setanta, Delayed UEFA Champions League
9:00pm Olympiacos vs Arsenal, FSC, Delayed, UEFA Champions League

Thursday, December 10

Friday, December 11
11:00am TP Mazembe vs Pohang Steelers, FSC, FIFA Club World Cup
2:45pm Ajax vs NEC, ESPN360.com, ESPND, Netherlands
5:00pm NCAA Cup Semi-Finals: Wake Forest vs Virginia, ESPNU,ESPN2
7:30pm NCAA Cup Semi-Finals, Akron vs North Carolina, ESPNU

Soccer on TV this Week Oct. 16-22

Friday, October 16

1:45pm Ghana vs Brazil, ESPN, ESPN360.com, Galavision, FIFA U-20 World Cup FINAL

8:00pm Birmingham vs Boston U, FSC, Men's College Soccer

Saturday, October 17
7:30am Aston Villa vs Chelsea, ESPN2, England Premier

9:30am SC Freiburg vs Bayern München, GolTv, Germany

9:30am Manchester U vs Bolton, Setanta, England Premier
10:00am Portsmouth vs Tottenham, FSE, England Premier
10:00am Sunderland vs Liverpool, FSC, England Premier
10:00am Blackpool vs Plymouth, ESPN360.com, England Championship

12:00pm Nottingham vs Newcastle, ESPN360.com, Setanta, England Championship

12:00pm Juventus vs Fiorentina, FSC, Italy Serie A

12:30pm Hamburger vs Leverkusen, GolTv, Germany
12:45pm Ajax vs Willem II, ESPN360.com, Netherlands

2:30pm Montreal Impact vs Vancouver Whitecaps FSC USL Finals
2:40pm Genoa vs Inter Milan, FSE, Italy Serie A
2:45pm PSV vs Heerenveen, ESPN360.com, Netherlands
3:00pm Lille vs Rennes Setanta, France
4:00pm Valencia vs Barcelona, GolTv, Spain
4:00pm Toronto FC vs Real Salt Lake, Direct Kick, MLS

6:00pm New England Revolution vs Chicago Fire, FSC MLS
8:00pm DC United vs Columbus Crew, Direct Kick, MLS

8:00pm Monterrey vs Jaguares, Telemundo, Mexico
8:30pm Kansas City Wizards vs Seattle Sounders FC, Direct Kick, MLS
8:30pm FC Dallas vs Colorado Rapids, Direct Kick, MLS

9:45pm Atlas vs Querétaro FC, Telemundo, Mexico

10:00pm San Luis vs Pumas UNAM, Telefutura, Mexico
10:30pm Chivas USA vs San Jose Earthquakes, Direct Kick MLS

Sunday, October 18
8:00am Blackburn vs Burnley, Setanta, England Premier
9:00am Lazio vs Sampdoria, ESPN360.com, FSC, Italy Serie A
11:00am Wigan vs Manchester City, FSC, England Premier
1:00pm Athletic Bilbao vs Sporting Gijón, GolTv, Spain
1:00pm CD Toluca vs Tigres UANL, Telemundo, Mexico
1:00pm Morelia vs Pachuca, FSE, Mexico
2:30pm AC Milan vs AS Roma, FSC, Italy Serie A
2:45pm Toulouse vs PSG, Setanta, France
3:00pm Osasuna vs Atlético Madrid, GolTv, Spain
3:00pm Houston Dynamo vs LA Galaxy, Telefutura, MLS
3:00pm Florida vs Georgia, ESPNU Women's College Soccer

Monday, October 19

3:00pm Fulham vs Hull City, ESPN2, England Premier
8:00pm Santos Laguna vs Chivas Guadalajara, Telefutura, Mexico
8:00pm CD Toluca vs DC United, CONCACAF Champions League

Tuesday, October 20

2:45pm Debreceni VSC vs Fiorentina Sky Sports Red UEFA Champions League
2:45pm Barcelona vs Rubin Kazan, FSE,UEFA Champions League
2:45pm Inter Milan vs Dynamo Kyiv, FSC, UEFA Champions League
2:45pm Rangers vs FC Unirea, Setanta, UEFA Champions League
2:45pm VfB Stuttgart vs Sevilla, Sky Sports Red Button, UEFA Champions League
2:45pm Olympiakos vs Standard Liège, Sky Sports Red UEFA Champions League
2:45pm Liverpool vs Lyon, Sky Sports HD 1,UEFA Champions League
2:45pm AZ Alkmaar vs Arsenal Setanta Ireland, UEFA Champions League
8:00pm CD Toluca vs DC United, FSC, CONCACAF Champions League

Wednesday, October 21

2:45pm Juventus vs Maccabi Haifa FC, Sky Sports Red Button, UEFA Champions League
2:45pm Real Madrid vs AC Milan, FSC, FSE, UEFA Champions League
2:45pm Zürich vs Marseille, Sky Sports Red Button, UEFA Champions League
2:45pm FC Porto vs APOEL Nicosia, Sky Sports Red Button, UEFA Champions League
2:45pm Chelsea vs Atlético Madrid ITV HD, UEFA Champions League
2:45pm VfL Wolfsburg vs Besiktas JK, Sky Sports Red Button, UEFA Champions League
2:45pm Bordeaux vs Bayern München, Sky Sports HD 3, UEFA Champions League
10:00pm Metapan vs Houston Dynamo, FSC, CONCACAF Champions League

Thursday, October 22

8:00pm Chicago Fire vs Chivas USA, ESPN2, ESPN360.com, ESPND, MLS

Champions League Group Stage are in...

Champions League Group Stage: Barcelona To Play Inter Milan
The UEFA Champions League draw took place on Thursday in Monaco, and the result presents some mouthwatering clashes.
Aug 27, 2009 1:00:24 PM


The pick of the ties sees Barcelona face Inter in Group F, where Samuel Eto'o and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are set for immediate returns to their former clubs.

Elsewhere, Manchester United face some long away trips while AC Milan and Real Madrid will tangle in a glamour tie in Group A.

Group A

Bayern Munich
Juventus
Bordeaux
Maccabi Haifa

Group B

Manchester United
CSKA Moscow
Besiktas
Wolfsburg


Group C

AC Milan
Real Madrid
Marseille
Zurich


Group D

Chelsea
Porto
Atletico Madrid
APOEL


Group E

Liverpool
Lyon
Fiorentina
Debrecen

Group F

Barcelona
Inter
Dynamo Kyiv
Rubin Kazan


Group G

Sevilla
Rangers
Stuttgart
Unirea Urziceni

Group H

Arsenal
AZ Alkmaar
Olympiakos
Standard Liege

Soccer On TV This Weekend Feb 12-18

Thursday, February 12
8:30pm Universitario vs Deportivo Quito, FSE, Copa Libertadores

Friday, February 13
2:30pm TSG Hoffenheim vs Bayer Leverkusen, GolTv, Germany Bundesliga

Saturday, February 14
7:45am Fulham vs Swansea, Setanta, England FA Cup
9:45am West Ham vs Middlesbrough, Setanta Sports, England FA Cup
10:00am Sheffield Utd vs Hull, FSC, England FA Cup
11:30am Berlin vs Bayern Munich, GolTv, Delayed, Germany Bundesliga
12:00pm Monaco vs Marseille, Setanta Sports 2, France
12:00pm Lazio vs Torino, FSC, FSE, Italy Serie A
12:30pm Watford vs Chelsea, Setanta Sports, England FA Cup
1:45pm PSV Eindhoven vs AZ Alkmaar, ESPN 360, Netherlands Eredivisie
2:00pm Atlético Madrid vs Real Betis, GolTv, Spain La Liga
2:30pm Napoli vs Bologna, FSC, FSE, Italy Serie A
3:00pm PSG vs St Etienne, Setanta Sports, France
4:00pm Valencia vs Espanyol, GolTv, Spain
4:30pm Blackburn vs Coventry, FSC, Delayed, England FA Cup
6:00pm Palmeiras vs Paulista, GolTv, Delayed
6:00pm Monterrey vs Cruz Azul, Telemundo, Mexico Primera Division
8:00pm Monarcas vs Puebla, FSE, Mexico Primera Division
8:00pm Pachuca vs UNAM, Telefutura, Mexico Primera Division
9:00pm Tigres vs San Luis, Telemundo, Mexico Primera Division
9:15pm Portsmouth vs Manchester City, Setanta Sports, Delayed, England
10:00pm Monarcas vs Puebla, Azteca America, Delayed, Mexico
10:00pm Necaxa vs Tecos, Galavision, Mexico Primera Division
11:00pm Blackburn vs Coventry, FSE, Delayed, England FA Cup

Sunday, February 15
6:30am Ajax Amsterdam vs Feyenood, ESPN 360, Setanta Sports, Netherlands
7:30am Celtic v Rangers, Setanta Premium, Setanta Sports, Scotland Scottish
9:00am Juventus vs Sampdoria, FSC, Italy Serie A
11:30am Derby vs Manchester Utd, FSC, England FA Cup
1:00pm Toluca vs Indios, Telemundo, Mexico Primera Division
2:00pm Sao Paulo vs Corinthians, GolTv, Brazil Campeonato Paulista
2:30pm Inter Milan vs AC Milan, FSC, FSE, Italy Serie A
4:00pm Nacional vs Danubio, GolTv, Uruguay Primera Division
5:00pm Santos vs Gudalajara, Univision, Mexico Primera Division
7:00pm Atl. Madrid vs Getafe, GolTv, Delayed, Spain La Liga
7:00pm Juventus vs Sampdoria, FSE, Delayed, Italy Serie A

Monday, February 16
2:45pm Arsenal vs Cardiff City, Setanta Sports, England FA Cup

Tuesday, February 17
5:00pm LDU Quito vs Palmeiras, FSE, Copa Libertadores
7:00pm Boca Juniors vs Dep. Cuenca, FSE, Copa Libertadores

Wednesday, February 18
3:00pm Manchester United vs Fulham, Setanta Sports, England Premier
7:30pm Sao Paulo vs Ind. Medellin, FSE, Copa Libertadores
8:30pm Suwon S.B. vs Shandong, FSC, PAN-PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIP
11:00pm LA Galaxy vs Oita Trinita, FSC, PAN-PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIP

American's help Rangers FC draw AC MILAN

Tonight Milan played a friendly at Ibrox Park against Glasgow Rangers. Rangers point of view it was a chance for a host of fringe players to get involved and the big plus was Maurice Edu who did well in midfield all night. Not much happened in the first half, with the only highlight coming from a Ronaldinho free kick that shaved the post. Rangers FC opened the score in the 66th minute through DaMarcus Beasley, who profited from a misunderstanding between Silva, who did not make the best of impressions tonight, and Darmian. It was his USA team mate Edu who set the chance with a good ball through.

Milan managed to tie the score just four minutes later through Pato, who had just come in to replace an ineffective Shevchenko, after Kaká wreaked havoc in the Rangers' defence. The 2007 Golden Ball winner then got himself on the score-sheet as well, giving Milan the lead with a terrific run and shot from inside the area in the 78th minute.

However, the home side managed to come back to make it 2-2 with a goal from defender Sasa Papac, who made a smart run into the area and beat Dida in the 81st minute.

BECKHAM HELPS AC MILAN THRASH LAZIO

David Beckham created two goals as AC Milan thrashed Lazio 3-0 at Rome's Stadio Olimpico on Sunday to move into second place in Serie A. The victory cut Inter Milan's lead at the top to six points after their bitter city rivals were held to a 1-1 draw at home to lowly Torino.

Beckham was chief orchestrator with pin-point crosses to create the first two goals before Kaka rounded off the scoring late on. Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said the difference between the two teams was merely quality. "Lazio had a lot of pressure and maybe the only thing they lacked was a clinical finish but we held onto the ball well," he said.