Soccer By Ives

Wednesday Ticker: Crew ties Toluca, Jones targeting World Cup, and more

The Columbus Crew looked primed for a blowout loss after falling behind 2-0 to Toluca in CONCACAF Champions League action, but the MLS power climbed off the mat and sent yet another Mexican team away from Crew Stadium without a win.

Missing several key players due to injury and suspension, the Crew didn't look to have the weapons to recover from the early two-goal deficit, but Steven Lenhart stepped up and scored two goals to help Columbus salvage a 2-2 tie in the first-leg of their quarterfinal series.

The Crew will now head to Mexico for next Wednesday's second leg in Toluca needing a win or a draw of 3-3 or more to advance to the Champions League semifinals. Columbus will be attempting to become the first MLS team to win a competitive match in Mexico.

Here are some other stories to get your Wednesday going:

Evening Ticker: Clark returns to training, Real Salt Lake acquires Gil and more

photo by ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

The U.S. national team currently has a long list of injuries its trying to deal with, but Ricardo Clark is one name that can now be scratched off.

After missing the last few weeks with a calf injury, Clark returned to training for Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday. Eintracht manager Michael Skibbe said the former Houston Dynamo midfielder returned quicker than the expected four weeks because he went through intensive rehabilitation and put in extra sessions of rehab.

Clark likely won't see time in Eintracht's match this weekend against VfB Stuttgart, but he could make his Bundesliga debut when the club hosts Schalke 04 on March 6.

Here are some more stories from Tuesday:

Copa Libertadores: Ronaldo, Adriano ready for debuts

By NESTOR F. SEBASTIAN

Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Adriano will get their first taste of this year's Copa Libertadores competition as their sides kick off their campaigns in the third week of action, which will also see former Boca Juniors goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri making his debut with a new team.

Ronaldo, who announced his retirement date yesterday, and Roberto Carlos are geared up for their Corinthians squad that will host Racing Club of Uruguay tomorrow while Adriano, along with strike partner Vagner Love, look to lead Flamengo as they welcome Chile's Universidad Catolica.

Today, "The Duck" Abbondanzieri hopes to make a successful debut with Brazil's Internacional, where he joined just last week after having his contract rescinded with Boca.

Here is a preview of this week's matches:

This Weekend's Soccer on TV

 

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Remember two weeks ago, when you had to wake up bright and early to watch the Merseyside Derby in order to catch a glimpse of Landon Donovan and Tim Howard in a big European match?

Get ready to do it again.

Donovan and Howard lead Everton against red-hot Wayne Rooney and Manchester United in the weekend's marquee match, a match you'll have to wake up early on Saturday morning to see (though seeing it in HD on ESPN2 will make it even more worthwhile).

Everton-Manchester United isn't the only top match in England this weekend. Manchester City takes on Liverpool in a match with major implications in the race for fourth place in the Premier League.

If you're looking for some non-EPL action, you can do worse than the Sao Paulo classico between Palmeiras and Sao Paulo. Inter Milan-Sampdoria also promises to be an entertaining affair.

Here are SBI's Top 10 Matches to Watch, as well as This Weekend's Soccer on TV:

Copa Libertadores Rewind: Peruvian and Chilean clubs shine

By NESTOR F. SEBASTIAN

The unpredictability and parity was demonstrated this week in the second week of Copa Libertadores group-stage matches as Chilean and Peruvian clubs got off to strong starts to their respective campaigns.

Both of Chile's top teams, Colo Colo and Universidad de Chile, achieved 1-0 victories over their Venezuelan counterparts, Deportivo Italia and Caracas FC, but it was Colo Colo that should have capitalized on various opportunities for a comfortable lead only to be thwarted by Italia's Bolivian veteran goalkeeper, who made some key saves to keep the deficit to a minimum. U. de Chile got off to quick start with a 2nd-minute penalty after a rookie push in the box by Caracas' Jose Manuel Rey. The Chileans, however, let Caracas accomodate itself, with the Venezuelans close to equalizing towards the end of the match.

The real story of the week was Peru's top teams, Alianza Lima and Universitario de Deportes, both of whom produced exceptional displays at home against Argentina's Estudiantes de la Plata and Lanus.

Friday Kickoff: Onyewu trains with USMNT, English clubs win in Europa and more

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Oguchi Onyewu took to the practice field Thursday and trained for the first time since being sidelined with a ruptured patellar tendon in the U.S. men's national team's World Cup qualifier vs. Costa Rica last October.

Onyewu took part in 30 minutes of light training with the U.S. national team, which is preparing for Wednesday's friendly vs. El Salvador in Tampa. He is expected to train with the team on Friday before the national team leaves Carson, California for Tampa.

Onyewu underwent surgery to repair the ruptured tendon just four months ago, and is expected to rejoin club team AC Milan by the end of the month.

Here are some other stories to get your Friday going:

Copa Libertadores: Group Stage resumes

By NESTOR F. SEBASTIAN

With last week's full menu of 13 games kicking off Copa Libertadores' group phase, the tournament continues this week with a light schedule as six matches have the three remaining Argentine representatives facing tricky away ties, two of Chile's top sides making their debuts and two Venezuelan squads starting off their campaigns on the road.

Colon and Newell's Old Boys, both from Argentina, were bounced from the competition by Chile's Universidad Catolica and Ecuador's Emelec, respectively, in last week's second-leg preliminary stage matches that determined the final two tickets in the current group pool.

Meanwhile, defending champions Estudiantes de la Plata romped Peru's Juan Aurich in their debut at home while four teams snatched impressive away wins, most notably Peru's Alianza Lima, which took a 3-1 victoy versus Bolivar in La Paz, Bolivia. Mexican representatives Monterrey and Morelia opened their Libertadores seasons with losses to Sao Paulo and Banfield, respectively.

Here's a preview of this week's matches, which will be shown on Fox Sports en Espanol:

Mid-Day Ticker: FIFA proposes rule change, Togo appeals ACN ban and more

By AVI CREDITOR

The double-whammy that is the red card/penalty kick may be no more.

FIFA has submitted an item for the International Football Associations Board to review that would downgrade a red card to a yellow on a foul that denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity in the box.

Instead of a team losing a player (for the remainder of the game and subsequent suspension) and facing the penalty, the proposed change would lighten the punishment and make the incident slightly less dreadful for the offending team.

Players committing a last-man foul outside of the penalty area could still be vulnerable to seeing red under the rule change.

The IFAB meeting will be March 6, and other issues up for review include goal-line referees and stopping during the run up to taking a penalty.

Here are a few other stories that will help get you to the weekend:

Copa Libertadores: Group stage to kick off

By NESTOR F. SEBASTIAN

A full slate of matches is scheduled to bombard fans this week as the group phase of the Copa Libertadores gets underway with 13 scheduled tilts, including the remaining second-leg matches that will determine the last two sides to join the record 40-team set-up.

Defending champions Estudiantes de la Plata, with captain Juan Sebastian Veron, open up their title defense at home against Peruvian side Juan Aurich while Brazil's Cruzeiro--fresh off of their 7-0 rout of Bolivia's Real Potosi last week---travel to Argentina to face a tough Velez Sarsfield.

Here is a quick preview of all matches, most of which will be broadcast on Fox Sports en Espanol:

South American Ticker: Robinho dazzles in Santos return, Ortega's struggle and more

 

By NESTOR F. SEBASTIAN

Robinho showed his appreciation to his old club Sunday. The diminutive striker made his return to Santos a memorable one by notching a late match-winner with a mind-boggling back-heel goal to help his side to a 2-1 away in against Sao Paulo in the Paulista tournament.

The Brazilian is currently looking for some productive first-team soccer but is also desperate to bring back the magic and characteristics that made him the talk of the footy world before suffering a dip in form with Manchester City, who approved his loan to Santos until the summer.

In Sunday's contest, Sao Paulo equalized with about 20 minutes left with a Roger header after 18-year-old sensation Neymar had put Santos up earlier with a nifty penalty kick. Robinho entered the match in the 58th minute and combined nicely with Neymar before grabbing the winner with about five minutes left.

Here is Robinho's winner (at the 1:05 mark):

Here are some other stories from the weekend in South America:

Copa Liberatores second legs resume tonight

By NESTOR F. SEBASTIAN

All 12 teams currently contending for the spots available for the group phase of the Copa Libertadores are still very much alive heading into this week's second-leg matches, with Argentina's Colon, Peru's Juan Aurich and Venezuela's Deportivo Tachira enjoying first-leg victories while the other three remaining matches were deadlocked in draws.

Following the conclusion of this week's second legs, group phase matches pitting 40 teams will begin next Monday with the tournament lasting through August with a break during the World Cup. Estudiantes de la Plata and South American Player of the Year Juan Sebastian Veron have their work cut out to repeat as champions as many squads look strong enough to dethrone the Argentine side.

Here is a preview of this week's games, which will be broadcast on Fox Sports En Espanol (times are EST):

Mid-Day Ticker: Paraguayan striker shot; Arena makes Hall of Fame and more

By AVI CREDITOR

One of Paraguay's most prolific scorers is in a fight for his life.

Salvador Cabanas, a starting striker for the Paraguyan national team and Club America in Mexico, was shot in the head in the bathroom of a Mexico City bar on Monday. He is listed in critical condition.

Cabanas, 29, was reportedly at the bar with his wife early Monday morning at the time of the shooting. Two suspects have been apprehended, but details surrounding the shooting are still unclear.

Cabanas, who scored two goals in Club America's win over San Luis on Jan. 17, was conscious upon arrival to the hospital and underwent surgery to remove the bullet from his head.

He was expected to be an integral part of Paraguay's World Cup squad, which is grouped with Italy, New Zealand and Slovakia. 

In other Monday news:

Morning Ticker: Guzan wins again, Klinsmann nixes Bundesliga return and more

by FRANCO PANIZO

Brad Guzan got one of his rare starts for Aston Villa on Tuesday, playing in place of Brad Friedel in the Carling Cup quarterfinals, and he did not disappoint.

Having led Villa to the quarters with a heroic penalty shoot-out performance vs. Sunderland in the last round of the tournament, Guzan delivered again, making seven saves as Aston Villa beat Portsmouth, 4-2.

Aston Villa's win puts the Villains into the Carling Cup semis along with Manchester United, which beat Tottenham on Tuesday. Manchester City faces Arsenal and Blackburn plays Chelsea in today's quarterfinals.

Here are some more stories to help get your Wednesday going:

Sunday Ticker: Van Persie suffers major injury, Maradona suspended and more

Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie could miss three months or more of the English Premier League season after suffering torn ankle ligaments during the Netherlands 0-0 tie vs. Italy on Saturday.

Van Persie injured his right ankle after a hard challenge by Italy and Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini just 15 minutes into the friendly.

The injury is devastating news to a red-hot Arsenal team that was already coping with the loss to injury of Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner.

Here are some other stories from the weekend to get you through a somewhat slow Sunday in the soccer world:

World Cup Qualifying: Costa Rica, Saprissa Ready For Uruguay

By NESTOR F. SEBASTIAN

It's been all business in the Uruguayan and Costa Rican camps this week, ahead of their first-leg playoff match at San Jose's Saprissa stadium, with no bulletin-board material or off-key quotes to rile each other up.

Instead, it's generally been a pleasant environment for players, media corps and managers, both of whom have praised each other's squad's games and achievements but have also divulged very little information on their respective teams' workouts.

A majority of Uruguay's players, including Atletico Madrid's Diego Forlan, have been in Guatemala since Monday, training on artificial turf in one of Guatemala City's training centers in anticipation of the famed surface in Saprissa. But most of the players have brushed off the effects of the field. Even manager Oscar Washington Tabarez, who appeared somewhat miffed at the constant questions about the Ticos' home-field advantage at a press conference this week, labeled it a non-issue.

Meanwhile, the Costa Ricans are in good spirits and have been straight-laced in their statements to the press, proclaiming respect for the Uruguayans but firmly indicating that there is no fear. Tico fans and press realize the tradition that Uruguay boast and the type of players it produces but Costa Rica have developed their own tradition, albeit a recent one, but nonetheless a growing one that's seen its national team qualify to the World Cup in the past two editions with its most successful one in 1990 when they reached the second round.

This Weekend's Soccer on TV

 
  
Call it Rafa's Last Stand.

When Manchester United travels to Anfield on Sunday to take on Liverpool, the defending EPL champions will have a very real chance of beating the struggling Reds and pushing Rafa Benitez one step closer to the exit door.

Liverpool has already lost four matches this year in the EPL, and dropped more points in Champions League at mid-week, making Sunday's match a virtual must-win for the under-fire Spanish manager.

Manchester United-Liverpool is the most high-profile meeting in a weekend filled with rivalry match-ups. Boca-River, Chivas-Club America and West Ham-Arsenal are among the most heated rivalries around and you may want to try and catch each one.

Then you have MLS, which comes down to its final weekend with several crucial tilts that will help shape the MLS playoff field, including Chivas USA-Houston and Seattle-FC Dallas.

Here is this weekend's soccer TV schedule, as well as SBI's Top 10 Matches to Watch: