CONCACAF Champions Cup: Pachuca Repeats

At Pachuca, Mexico:

Mexican club Pachuca repeated as champions of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, defeating Costa Rican club Deportivo Saprissa 2-1 at home Wednesday night in game two of the two-game final, taking the series on aggregate 3-2.

Anything To Get Their Clubs Into The AFC (Asia) Champions League

Looks like India's nascent pro soccer league is going to be put in the hands of a private company:

India's nascent professional soccer league will be placed in the hands of a private company to meet eligibility rules for clubs to play in Asia's Champions League.
The Indian soccer federation and the clubs will have equity in the company that will take over for the second season of the I-League starting in September, the federation said in a statement on Tuesday after an executive meeting. The Asian Football Confederation and world governing body FIFA have been pushing India to raise the standard of the game, to tap talent in the vast nation with a booming economy.

Remeber, this is a country whose national team had qualified for the 1950 FIFA World Cup only to withdraw after officials insisted that their players wear shoes. They haven't qualified since.

Behind Closed Doors: CSKA Sofia Clinches Bulgarian League Crown

Time for soccer made in Bulgaria:

CSKA Sofia clinched their 31st Bulgarian league title behind closed doors on Wednesday after a 3-1 win at mid-table Botev Plovdiv with three matches remaining.
No spectators watched the match as Botev were serving a two-match ban for crowd violence.
Victory secured the title as CSKA now have a 13-point lead over second-placed Levski Sofia, who have four games left.
"It's a pity that we won the title in the absence of the fans,", said CSKA coach Stoycho Mladenov told reporters.
"Football is a game for the fans and I think that the Bulgarian Football Union should reconsider its policy. No one likes to play in such silence."

Well, geez, Louise, coach, if the Botev fans behaved themselves, this game would not have been played behind closed doors.

Still, he did make a good point about the Bulgarian soccer federation's decision.

PSG Soap Opera: Banned From Next Season's League Cup

More problems for Paris Saint Germain:

PSG, already in the Ligue 1 relegation zone, could have been punished with a points deduction. Instead, they remain on 38 points and 18th in the 20-team top flight.
The banner was briefly unfolded after the interval of the final on March 29, which PSG won 2-1 against northern club Racing Lens. It referred to a film about the life of the Ch'tis, a nickname for the people of northern France, which is breaking box offices records in France.
It read: 'Paedophiles, unemployed, inbred: welcome chez les Ch'tis.'

UCL: Didier Drogba Double And Frank Lampard Penalty Kick Punch Blues' Ticket For Moscow

At London:

After Fernando Torres' equaliser (64') forced Liverpool's semifinal series with Chelsea into overtime, the Blues' Didier Drogba (pictured here celebrating) scored with turned out to be the series winner at 105 minutes (to go with his earlier tally at 33') to send hosts Chelsea into next month's UEFA Champions League final against Manchester United by winning their two-game series with the Reds 3-2 in game two and 4-3 on aggregate. Frank Lampard, in his first match since the recent passing of his mother, converted on a successful overtime penalty kick (98') for the West London club.


Chelsea will play Manchester United in the first-ever all-England Champions League final on May 21 at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

Photo © Getty Images

UCL: Paul Scholes Punches Red Devils' Ticket For Moscow

At Manchester, England:

Paul Scholes (seen here celebrating with teammates) scored the game's (and series') only goal at 14 minutes of game two of their UEFA Champions League semifinal series, lifting Manchester United to a 1-0 home win (and series win on aggregate) over Barcelona. The two-time European club champions will play in the May 21 final at Moscow.

Photo © Getty Images

Who Gives A Rat's Posterior Section?

With roughly six weeks before the start of the UEFA 2008 finals in Switzerland and Austria, this may be the attitude of some Austrians:

The three-week tournament, this year's biggest soccer event, is expected to bring millions of tourists and euros to joint hosts Austria and Switzerland.

Some Austrians, though, say there is little interest in the country, especially with fears that the national team will prove an embarrassment.

"I'm no football fan and I don't really care that the tournament is happening here," said 27-year-old doctor Thomas Jasik, sitting by a hotdog stand in the capital.

"It doesn't help that the (Austrian) team is not very good. Austrians are great at skiing but when it comes to football -- forget it!" he said, laughing and shaking his head.

A quarter of Austrians do not care that Euro 2008 is being held in their country, according to a recent survey of 1,000 people by marketing group Makam, although a majority said it was positive that Austria was a host.

While teams from the host countries automatically qualify, a petition started last year by the son of former national player Werner Kriess pleaded with Austria not to take part because they were not good enough. It has collected more than 10,000 signatures online.

Geez, Louise, what're ya scared of?

UEFA Cup Semis: Zenit Gains Road Draw; Goose Eggs For Fiorentina and Rangers

Thursday marked the opening of semifinal round play in the UEFA Cup:

At Munich:

Thanks to Ferreira Lucio's own goal (62'), Zenit Saint Petersburg gained a 1-1 road draw in game one of their two-game series with Bayern Munich, whose Franck Ribery scored at 19 minutes.

At Glasgow, Scotland:

Guests Fiorentina and Rangers battled to a 0-0 stalemate in game one of their series.

CONCACAF Champions Cup: Saprissa Salvages Home Draw In Finals Opener

At San Jose, Costa Rica:

A goal in the final minutes by Victor Cordero lifted Saprissa a 1-1 home draw with defending champions Pachuca in the opening game of the championship final of the final edition of the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday.

The series finale will take place next Wednesday at Pachuca, Mexico.

PSG Soap Opera Continues

Right, pal, blame everyone but yourself....

'If we have reached that point, it's perhaps because of the chairman, it's perhaps because of the coach, it's a lot because of the players,' he told a news conference a day after announcing his resignation.
'I'm angry with the players because they played the first part of the season gripped by fear.
'It's hard to play in Paris because of the pressure but when you play in Paris you are not allowed to be scared,' he added.
'I told them so on Monday. I also told them that nobody is asking them to love each other but that I ask them to present a united front because today the destiny of the club is at their feet.'

Anyhow, this relegation-threatened club named a new president on Wednesday.

Looks Live Silvio Won't Wear Two Hats After All

Looks as if Silvio Berlusconi, when he starts his third stint as Italy's prime minister, will step down as president of AC Milan.

'I will have to give up the presidency of Milan and this pains me. My new role is incompatible,' Berlusconi, who is expected to be sworn in early next month after winning last week's general election, told Italy's Radio Radio station.

Good luck.

From The "You Think They Learned Their Lesson" Department:

Moggi had already been banned from football for five years after the first part of the probe for leading attempts to secure compliant referees for some teams' games.
He is now accused of giving foreign mobile telephone SIM cards to match officials to create a secret system of communication with them, the FIGC said on its website.
Moggi is also accused of breaking FIGC rules by carrying out the functions of a club director for Messina, a second-division side who were in the top flight when the scandal broke, while he was also a senior executive of Juventus.
Nine current and former referees and assistants, along with a former refereeing official, are accused of using the SIM cards provided by Moggi.

Could this spell more trouble for "The Old Lady" as they are fighting for a shot at next season's UEFA Champions League?

UCL Semis: Blown Cristiano Ronaldo Spot Kick Helped Assure Scoreless Draw

At Barcelona:

Manchester United and Barcelona battled to a 0-0 stalemate in game one of the two clubs' semifinal series in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. The Red Devils' Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured here showing his disappointment) blew what would be the best scoring chance for either team with his failed penalty kick in the third minute of play.

Photo © Getty Images

UCL Semis: Reds Blow Series Opener

At Liverpool, England:

John Arne Riise's own goal (90'+5) enabled Chelsea to gain a 1-1 road draw with Liverpool in the opening game of the two clubs' two-game semifinal series on Tuesday night. Dirk Kuyt scored the Reds' goal at 43 minutes. Pictured here celebrating is the Blues' Ashley Cole.

Photo © Getty Images

PSG Soap Opera Continues

More proplems for PSG:

'Alain Cayzac has decided to hand his resignation to the board of directors, who will meet in the next few weeks,' the club said in a statement.
'Paul Le Guen, whose motivation and energy are intact, has been confirmed in his duties,' it said of the coach.

As mentioned on this blog, PSG lost this past weekend 3-0 to Caen

Luca Toni Helps Bayern Capture German Cup

At Berlin:

Luca Toni scored twice to lead Bayern Munich to a 2-1 overtime victory over Borussia Dortmund to capture the German Cup, their 14th win in Germany's biggest domestic soccer cup competition.

Another Relegation Battle For PSG

This time, they may not be so fortunate:

Paris, capital of the vice-champions of the world, will be the only major European capital with no club in the top flight of national football.

It has been a calamitous week and a calamitous season for PSG, a club who seem to lurch from humiliation to disgrace to crisis. On Friday, the French interior ministry ordered the dissolution of the largest of the club's official clans of supporters, Les Boulogne Boys.

Last Sunday, PSG, leading with seven minutes to go, managed to lose 3-2 at home to Nice and fall into the relegation zone of Ligue 1 with five games to play. In between they scrambled a 1-0 cup victory against Carquefou, an amateur team from the fifth level of French football.

Ouch!

Oh, well, PSG lost again Saturday night, this time on the road at Caen 3-0.

Valencia Cops King's Cup

Valencia, slogging through a rough domestic season, knocked off Getafe 3-1 Wednesday night to win the Copa del Rey title.

It is Spain's biggest domestic cup competition, that country's answer to England's FA Cup.

From The "People Are No Damned Good Department....

Serbia's governing soccer body is begging fans not to fight ahead of Wednesday's domestic cup semifinals:

A 27-year-old man was shot dead by a firearm and a 17-year-old boy seriously wounded on Monday when rivals fans clashed at Futog train station near the northern city of Novi Sad. The clash appeared to have been agreed in advance by Vojvodina Novi Sad and Partizan Belgrade fans who fought in Novi Sad two days earlier ahead of an incident-free league match. Four people were injured and 30 arrested after running battles in the city centre and one was treated for stab wounds.

Yes, sports fans, hooliganism is still alive and well, at least in the Balkans.

We Have Our UEFA Cup Semifinalists

The quarterfinal round of the UEFA Cup concluded on Thursday:

At Getafe, Spain:

Two overtime period goals from Luca Toni (115', 120') enabled Bayern Munich to reach the semifinal round, defeating hosts Getafe by drawing on 3-3 on the road in game two and drawing 4-4 on aggregate. Their three away goals enabled the longtime German powers to advance.

At Saint Petersburg, Russia:

Despite losing game two at home 1-0, Zenit Saint Petersburg still won their two-game set with Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 on aggregate.

At Eindhoven, Netherlands:

Adrian Mutu's double (38', 53') provided all the scoring in game two as Fiorentina defeated hosts PSV Eindhoven 2-0 and win the series 3-1 on aggregate.

At Lisbon, Portugal:

After a scoreless series opener, Rangers, thanks to goals from Jean-Claude Darcheville (60') and Steven Whittiker (90'+2), defeated Sporting 2-0 in game two on the road and the series on aggregate by the same score.

CONCACAF Champions Cup: Broken Record (No MLS Clubs In Final)

Both semifinal series in the CONCACAF Champions Cup concluded Wednesday:

At Washington:

Despite dropping a 2-1 road decision in game two, defending champions Pachuca of Mexico still won their two-game set with DC United 3-2 on aggregate.

At San Jose, Costa Rica:

Goals from Celso Borges and Jairo Arrieta powered Saprissa to a 3-0 home win in game two over the Houston Dynamo, enabling the Costa Rican club to win the series 3-0 on aggregate.

Red Devils and Barca In UCL Semis

The two remaining UEFA Champions League quarterfinal series concluded Wednesday:

At Manchester, England:

Carlos Tevez (pictured here, battling with Roma's Philippe Mexes) headed in the only goal of the match (70'), lifting Manchester United to a game-two 1-0 home win over AS Roma, securing a semifinal berth for the Red Devils as they won their series 3-0 on aggregate.



At Barcelona:

Yaya Toure (seen here celebrating with Samuel Eto'o) scored the game's lone goal at 43 minutes as Barcelona handed visiting Schalke a second 1-0 setback in the series that Barca took 2-0 on aggregate.

Photos © Getty Images

Reds and Blues Reach UCL Semis

Two quarterfinal round series concluded Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League:

At Liverpool, England:

Goals from Sami Hyypia (30'), Fernando Torres (69'), Steven Gerrard (PK-85', seen here celebrating with Fernando Torres afterward), Ryan Babel (90'+2) enabled Liverpool to defeat visiting Arsenal 4-2 in game two of the clubs' two-game series. The Reds advanced to the semifinal round on aggregate, 5-3.

At London:

Goals from Michael Ballack (4', pictured here) and Frank Lampard (87') lifted Chelsea to a 2-0 game two home win over Fenerbahce, enabling the Blues to take the two-game set 3-2 on aggregate.


Photos © Getty Images

Cardiff To Face Portsmouth In FA Cup Final

At London:

Joe Ledley's goal at 9 minutes held up as Cardiff defeated fellow League Championship club Barnsley 1-0 in FA Cup semifinal action, thus setting up a May 17 final at Wembley against EPL club Portsmouth.

Pompey Reach FA Cup Final

At London:

Nwankwo Kanu provided the lone goal of the match (54') to lift English Premiership club Portsmouth to a 1-0 FA Cup semifinal round victory over League Championship club West Bromwich Albion.

Pompey will face the winner of the other semifinal (Cardiff vs. Barnsley, both League Championship clubs) in the final at Wembley Stadium on May 17.

CONCACAF Champions Cup: Uphill Climb For MLS Clubs

Semifinal-round action commenced Tuesday and Wednesday in the CONCACAF Champions Cup:

At Pachuca, Mexico:

Luis Montes provided both goals (63', 81') as defending champions Pachuca blanked visiting DC United in game one of their two-game series on Tuesday.

At Houston:

The Houston Dynamo and visiting Costa Rican club Deportivo Saprissa battled to a 0-0 deadlock in their series opener on Wednesday.

Zenit Blast Leverkusen On Road In Series Opener; Getafe and PSV Helped By Away Goals Rule----For Now; Goose Eggs For Jers and Lions

Quarterfinal round action in the UEFA Cup began on Thursday:

At Leverkusen, Germany:

Four different scorers each tallied once as Zenit Saint Petersburg bludgeoned Bayer Leverkusen 4-1 on the road in game one of the clubs' two-game home-and-away set.

At Glasgow, Scotland:

Visiting Sporting and Rangers battled to a 0-0 stalemate in game one.

At Munich:

Cosmin Contra's equalizer at 90 minutes enabled Getafe to gain a 1-1 road deadlock with Bayern Munich in their series opener.

At Florence, Italy:

Danny Koevermans was the man as his 63rd-minute tally enabled PSV Eindhoven to battle Fiorentina to a 1-1 draw on the road in game one.

UCL Semis: Reds and Gunners Draw Opener With Big Away Goal For Liverpool; Canaries Take Opener Against Chelsea

Two quarterfinal round series started play Wednesday in the 2007-08 UEFA Champions League:

At London:

Dirk Kuyt scored a key goal on the road (26', pictured here;
© Getty Images) that enabled Liverpool to draw 1-1 in game one against Arsenal. Emmanuel Adebayor scored at 23 minutes to give the Gunners a short-lived lead.

At Istanbul, Turkey:

Deivid's game winning score (81', seen here celebrating;
© AFP) enabled Fenerbahce to bounce back from his early own goal (13') to defeat Chelsea 2-1 in game one at home. Kazim Kazim (65') scored the Yellow Canaries' other goal.

Road Wins For Red Devils and Barca

The 2007-08 UEFA Champions League entered the quarterfinal round Tuesday as two two-game series opened:

At Rome:

Goals by Cristiano Ronaldo (39') and Wayne Rooney (66') propelled Manchester United to a 2-0 game-one road win over AS Roma. Both goal scorers are seen here celebrating.

At Gelsenkirchen, Germany:

Bojan Krkic (pictured here celebrating) scored the game's only goal at 12 minutes, lifting Barcelona to a 1-0 series-opening road win over Schalke 04.


Both Photos © Getty Images