DV8 Named MLS MVP

The Portland Timbers' midfielder deserved the award after the season he had.

Time's Up For Sunil

The besieged boss of US Soccer won't seek re-election.

UEFA Champions League, Group D: Barca, Juve Reach Knockout Stage; Europa League Round of 32 For Sporting CP

Group D play in the UEFA Champions League closed on Tuesday with two games.

At Barcelona:

Paco Alcacer (59') and Jeremy Mathieu (OG-90'+1) each scored once as Barcelona clinched top spot in Group D after their 2-0 home blanking of Sporting CP.  The Lions will play in the Europa League's knockout stage.  Watching with great interest, prior to the match,  is Barca coach Ernesto Valverde.

Associated Press photo by Manu Fernandez

At Piraeus, Greece:

Juan Cuadrado (15') and Federico Bernardeschi (90') each scored a goal as Juventus clinched a knockout-stage berth after blanking Olympiacos 2-0 on the road.  The players on the visiting Italian powerhouses celebrated their big road win, as shown here.

Associated Press photo by Thanassis Stavrakis

Final Group D Standings:

1. FC Barcelona (GP: 6; GD: +8; PTS: 14)
2. Juventus (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 11)
3. Sporting CP (GP: 6; GD: -1; PTS: 7)
4. Olympiacos (GP: 6; GD: -9; PTS: 1)

FC Barcelona and Juventus advanced to the Champions League knockout stage while Sporting CP qualified for the Europa League's Round of 32.

UEFA Champions League, Group C: Roma, Chelsa To Knockout Stage; Mattress Makers To Europa League

Group C action in the UEFA Champions League concluded with two contests on Tuesday.

At London:

Stefan Savic's own goal in the 75th minute proved costly as Chelsea came back to gain a 1-1 home draw with Atletico Madrid that put the hosts in the Champions League's knockout stage.  Saul Niguez scored for the Mattress Makers in the 56th minute as the Spanish club will play in the Europa League's knockout rounds.

At Rome:

Diego Perotti scored the only goal of the match in the 53rd minute as AS Roma locked up top spot in Group C with their 1-0 home win over Qarabag as the Azerbaijani club's European adventure ended.  Here are the happy Wolves celebrating their group-clinching victory.

Associated Press photo by Alessandra Taratino

Final Group C Standings:

1. AS Roma (GP: 6; GD: +3; PTS: 11)
2. Chelsea (GP: 6; GD: +8; PTS: 11)
3. Atletico Madrid (GP: 6; GD: +1; PTS: 7)
4. Qarabag (GP: 6; GD: -12; PTS: 2)

AS Roma and Chelsea advanced to the Champions League's knockout stage while Atletico Madrid qualified for the Europa League's Round of 32.

NOTE: AS Roma had a win and a draw in their two games against Chelsea.

UEFA Champions League, Group B: Bayern Top PSG At Home; Despite Home Loss, Bhoys Go To Europa League

Action from Group B in the UEFA Champions League came to a close on Tuesday with two games.

At Munich, Germany:

Corentin Tolisso scored twice (37', 69') as Bayern Munich, in a battle of clubs who already advanced to the knockout stage, defeated visiting Paris Saint-Germain 3-1.  Here's PSG's Marquinhos (left) and Bayern's Mats Hummels challenging for the ball.

Associated Press photo by Matthias Schrader



At Glasgow, Scotland:

Jozo Simunovic's own goal in the 62nd minute lifted RSC Anderlecht to a 1-0 road win over Celtic in the Champions League finale for both clubs, even though the Bhoys will be playing in the Europa League's knockout stage.  Anderlecht's Leander Dendocker and Pieter Gerkens, pictured here, celebrate the Scottish club's own goal.

Photo from London Mirror website by Ian MacNicol

Final Group B Standings:

1. Paris Saint-Germain (GP: 6; GD: +21; PTS: 15)
2. Bayern Munich (GP: 6; GD: +7; PTS: 15)
3. Celtic FC (GP: 6; GD: -13; PTS: 3)
4. RSC Anderlecht (GP: 6; GD: -15; PTS: 3)

Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich advanced to the Champions League's knockout stage while Celtic qualified for the Europa League's Round of 32.

UEFA Champions League, Group A: Red Devils, Basel Advance to Knockout Stage; Horses To Europa League

The final week of UEFA Champions League group-stage play  commenced on Tuesday with eight games, two of them in Group A. 

At Lisbon:

Mohamed Elyounoussi (5') and Dimitri Oberlin (65'; that's him, here, celebrating after scoring his insurance goal) each scored once as FC Basel blanked SL Benfica 2-0 on the road to advance to the Champions League's knockout stage.

Associated Press photo by Armando Franca

At Manchester, England:

Romelu Lukaku (64') and Marcus Rashford (66') each scored a second-half goal two minutes apart as Manchester United came from behind to overtake visiting CSKA Moscow 2-1 to win Group A and advance to the knockout stage, while relegating the visiting Horses to the Europa League's Round of 32.  Here's Red Devils' goalkeeper Sergio Romero appealing to the officials for offside after the Russian club scored a goal, courtesy of Vitinho in the 45th minute.

Associated Press photo by Dave Thompson

Final Group A Standings:

1. Manchester United (GP: 6; GD: +9; PTS: 15)
2. FC Basel (GP: 6; GD: +6; PTS: 12)
3. CSKA Moscow (GP: 6; GD: -2; PTS: 9)
4. SL Benfica (GP: 6; GD: -13; PTS: 0)

Manchester United and FC Basel advanced to the Champions League's knockout stage while CSKA Moscow qualified for the Europa League's Round of 32.

World Cup Draw

The draw for group-stage play in next year's World Cup took place on Friday in Moscow.

The tournament opens in Moscow on June 14.

GROUP A:

Russia (Host Country)

Saudi Arabia

Egypt 

Uruguay



GROUP B:

Portugal

Spain

Morocco

Iran



GROUP C:

France

Australia

Peru 

Denmark



GROUP D:

Argentina

Iceland

Croatia

Nigeria



GROUP E:

Brazil

Switzerland

Costa Rica

Serbi



GROUP F:

Germany

Mexico

Sweden

South Korea



GROUP G:

Belgium

Panama

Tunisia

England



GROUP H:

Poland

Senegal

Colombia

Japan

MLS Cup Playoffs: It's A Sounders-Reds Title Rematch After Seattle Finishes Off Houston In West Final

At Seattle:

Victor Rodriguez (22'), Clint Dempsey (57'), and Will Bruin (73') each scored once on Thursday as the Seattle Sounders dominated the visiting Houston Dynamo 3-0 in game two of Major League Soccer's Western Conference Final and finished off their guests 5-0 on aggregate.

The Sounders will pay a visit on Toronto FC in a rematch of last year's MLS Cup Final, which Seattle won in the penalty-kick shootout (also at Toronto).

The 2017 MLS Cup Final will kick off on December 9 at 1:00 PM Pacific Time and will air on ESPN and UniMas.

I've Heard Of Going Out On Top

This, though, is silly.

The Deltas closed up shop last Friday, just days after winning the NASL title.

MLS Cup Playoffs: Jozy Makes Things Rosy For TFC As His Goal Sends Reds To MLS Cup Final

At Toronto:

Jozy Altidore scored the only goal of both the match and the series in the 60th minute on Wednesday as Toronto FC defeated the visiting Columbus Crew 1-0 in game two of Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference playoff final and won their second straight conference crown by that same score on aggregate.

The Reds will host the MLS Cup Final on Saturday, December 9 (1:00 PM Pacific Time, ESPN) against the winner of the Western final between Seattle and Houston (the Sounders lead the series 2-0 on aggregate), which will be decided on Thursday in Seattle.

GREMIO DEFEAT LANUS TO CAPTURE THIRD COPA LIBERTADORES TITLE; BRAZILIAN CLUB TO PLAY IN FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP SEMIS

At Lanus, Argentina:

In Wednesday second match of the Copa Libertadores Final, Fernandinho (26') and Luan Vieira (41') each scored once as Gremio, despite finishing the game with ten men,  defeated Lanus 2-1 on the road in game two and won their third South American club championship----their first since 1995---3-1 on aggregate.

The Brazilian club will play in the semifinal round of the FIFA Club World Cup, set to open next Wednesday in the United Arab Emirate.

Gremio will face off against the winner of the Wydad Casablanca-Pachuca match on December 12 at Al Ain, UAE.

Cincinnati, Detroit, Nashville, Sacramento

These cities have made the cut for the upcoming round of MLS expansion.

New Boss For The Rapids

This fellow, a Seattle native, recently coached the Kiwis' national team.

New Zealand just missed out on qualifying for Russia 2018.

After reaching the Western Conference final last season, Colorado had a dismal 2017 campaign.

New Sheriff In San Jose

Despite making the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in five years (only to be blown out by Vancouver in the knockout round), the Quakes decided on Friday to move in a new direction.

This completed a year in which the Earthquakes named a new president and general manager, as well has having made two coaching changes.

URAWA RED DIAMONDS CAPTURE AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CROWN

At Saitama, Japan:

In Saturday's second game of the AFC Champions League, Rafael Silva scored the series-winning goal in the 88th minute as the Urawa Red Diamonds defeated visiting Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia 1-0 in game two and took the championship 2-1 on aggregate.

The title was the Red Diamonds' second continental championship, their first in ten years.

The Japanese club will play in the quarterfinal round of next month's FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Europa League

24 games were contested in Europa League group-stage play on Thursday.

GROUP A:

At Astana, Kazakhstan:

Cedric Bakambu scored twice in the final half-hour (65', 83') as Villarreal held off Astana 3-2 on the road to clinch a berth in the knockout stage.

At Netanya, Israel:

Josef Husbauer scored both goals (45'+1, 54') in Slavia Prague's 2-0 road triumph against Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Group A Standings:

1. x-Villarreal (GP: 5; GD: +5; PTS: 11)
2.     Slavia Prague (GP: 5; GD: +1; PTS: 8)
3.     Astana (GP: 5; GD: +2; PTS: 7)
4. z-Maccabi Tel Aviv (GP: 5; GD: -8; PTS: 1)

x-Clinched berth in Europa League knockout stage

z-Eliminated from tournament



GROUP B:

At Elbasan, Albania:

Ali Sowe scored the game winner in the 56th minute as Skenderbeu Korce held off visiting Dynamo Kiev 3-2.  Due to Partizan Belgrade's victory over Young Boys, though, the Albanian club was still eliminated from the tournament.

At Belgrade, Serbia:

Ognjen Ozegovic scored the game-winning goal in the 53rd minute as Partizan Belgrade defeated visiting BSC Young Boys 2-1 to gain a berth in the knockout stage.

Group B Standings:

1. x-Dynamo Kiev (GP: 5; GD: +3; 10)
2. x-Partizan Belgrade (GP: 5; GD: +2; PTS: 8)
3. z-Skenderbeu Korce (GP: 5; GD: -3; PTS: 5)
4. z-BSC Young Boys (GP: 5; GD: -2; PTS: 3)

x-Clinched berth in Europa League knockout stage

z-Eliminated from tournament



GROUP C:

At Braga, Portugal:

Fransergio scored twice (81', 90'+3) as SC Braga defeated TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 3-1 to lock up a berth in the knockout stage while eliminating the German club in the process.

At Razgrad, Bulgaria:

Kerim Frei scored the winning goal in the 27th minute as Istanbul Basaksehir kept their chances of advancing in the tournament alive by knocking off Ludogorets Razgrad 2-1 on the road.

Group C Standings:

1. x-SC Braga (GP: 5; GD: +2; PTS: 10)
2.    Ludogorets Razgrad (GP: 5; GD: +2; PTS: 8)
3.    Istanbul Basaksehir (GP: 5; GD: -2; PTS: 5)
4. z-TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (GP: 5; GD: -2; PTS: 4)

x-Clinched berth in Europa League knockout stage

z-Eliminated from tournament



GROUP D:

At Milan, Italy:

Andre Silva (38', 70') and Patrick Cutrone (42', 90'+3) each scored twice, once in each half, as AC Milan sealed top spot in Group D after demolishing visiting Austria Vienna 5-1.

At Athens:

Sergio Araujo (45'+ 2) and Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (55') each scored once as AEK Athens find themselves on the cusp of advancing to the knockout stage after erasing a two-goal deficit to gain a 2-2 home draw with Rijeka. 

Alexander Gorgon scored twice (8', 28') for the now-eliminated Croatian club.

Group D Standings:

1. y-AC Milan (GP: 5; GD: +9; PTS: 11)
2.    AEK Athens (GP: 5; GD: +1; PTS: 7)
3.    Austria Vienna (GP: 5; GD: -7; PTS: 4)
4. z-Rijeka (GP: 5; GD: -3; PTS: 4)

y-Won Group D and clinched berth in Europa League knockout stage

z-Eliminated from tournament

NOTE:  In the two games contested between Austria Vienna and Rijeka, the Austrian club outscored the Croatian club 5-4 overall, 4-3 on away goals.



GROUP E:

At Liverpool, England:

Bryan Cristante (GP: 12' , 64') and Andreas Cornelius (88', 90'+4) each scored once as Atalanta scored four goals in the second half en route to a 5-1 road fist-beating of Everton as the Italian club locked up a berth in the knockout stage.

At Decines-Charpieu, France:

Mouctar Diakhaby (29'), Nabil Fekir (32'), Mariano Diaz Mejia (67'), and Myziane Maolida (80') each scored once as Lyon advanced to the knockout stage after blasting visiting Apollon Limassol 4-0.

Group E Standings:

1. x-Atalanta (GP: 5; GD: +9; PTS: 11)
2. x-Lyon (GP: 5; GD: +8; PTS: 11)
3. z-Apollon Limassol (GP: 5; GD: -6; PTS: 3)
4. z-Everton (GP: 5; GD: -11; PTS: 1)

x-Clinched berth in Europa League knockout stage

z-Eliminated from tournament



GROUP F:

At Moscow:

Jefferson Farfan scored twice (17', 51') as Lokomotiv Moscow upended visiting FC Copenhagen 2-1.

At Tiraspol, Moldova:

Jairo de Macedo da Silva scored the only goal of FC Sheriff's 1-0 home win over Fastav Zlin in the 11th minute.

Group F Standings:

1.    FC Sheriff (GP: 5; GD: +2; PTS: 9)
2.    Lokomotiv Moscow (GP: 5; GD: +3; PTS: 8)
3.    FC Copenhagen (GP: 5; GD: +2; PTS: 6)
4. z-Fastav Zlin (GP: 5; GD: -7; PTS: 2)

z-Eliminated from tournament



GROUP G:

At Lucerne, Switzerland:

Carlos Antonio de Souza Junior scored the game's lone goal in the 50th minute as Lugano defeated visiting Hapoel Be'er Sheva 1-0.

At Plzen, Czech Republic:

Milan Peterzela (49') and Jan Kopic (76') each scored once as FC Viktoria Plzen joined Steaua Bucharest in the knockout stage by blanking the visiting Romanian club 2-0.

Group G Standings:

1. x-Steaua Bucharest (GP: 5; GD: +3; PTS: 10)
2. x-FC Viktoria Plzen (GP: 5; GD: +3; PTS: 9)
3. z-Lugano (GP: 5; GD: -3; PTS: 6)
4. z-Hapoel Be'er Sheva (GP: 5; GD: -3; PTS: 4)

x-Clinched berth in Europa League knockout stage

z-Eliminated from tournament



GROUP H:

At Barysaw, Belarus:

Red Star Belgrade held hosts FC BATE Borisov to a 0-0 stalemate.

At Cologne, Germany:

FC Cologne kept their chances of advancing alive after knocking off visiting Arsenal 1-0.  Sehrou Guirassy successfully converted a penalty kick in the 82nd minute for the Billy Goats.
  The Gunners, nevertheless, locked up top spot in Group H.

Group H Standings:

1. y-Arsenal (GP: 5; GD: +4; PTS: 10)
2.    Red Star Belgrade (GP: 5; GD: 0; PTS: 6)
3.    FC Cologne (GP: 5; GD: 0; PTS: 6)
4.    FC BATE Borisov (GP: 5; GD: -4; PTS: 5)

y-Won Group H and clinched berth in Europa League knockout stage

NOTE:  Red Star Belgrade defeated FC Cologne 1-0 on the road on September 28.  The two clubs will again meet on December in the Serbian capital.



GROUP I:

At Konya, Turkey:

Wilfred Moke's own goal in the third minute of second-half stoppage time enabled Marseille to gain a 1-1 road draw with Konyaspor.  Nejc Skubic successfully converted a penalty kick for the hosts in minute #82.

At Wals-Siezenheim, Austria:

Moanes Dabour (26'), Andreas Ulmer (45'+1), and Huang Hee-chan (67') each scored once as FC Red Bull Salzburg dominated visiting Vitoria de Guimaraes 3-0 to lock up top spot in the Group I

Group I Standings:

1. y-FC Red Bull Salzburg (GP: 5; GD: +6; PTS: 11)
2.    Marseille (GP: 5; GD: 0; PTS: 7)
3.    Konyaspor (GP: 5; GD: -2; PTS: 5)
4.    Vitoria de Guimaraes (GP: 5; GD: -4; PTS: 4)

y-Won Group I and clinched berth in Europa League knockout stage



GROUP J:

At Ostersund, Sweden:

Dmytro Hrechyshkin (OG-40') and Saman Ghoddos (77') provided the scoring as Ostersund blanked visiting Zorya Luhansk 2-0 and clinched a berth in the knockout stage.

At Bilbao, Spain:

Aritz Aduriz scored twice (PK-35', PK-66') while Inaki Williams scored the winning goal in the 82nd minute as Athletic Bilbao defeated visiting Hertha BSC Berlin 3-2 to knock the German club out of the tournament.

Group J Standings:

1. x-Ostersund (GP: 5; GD: +4; PTS: 10)
2.    Athletic Bilbao (GP: 5; GD: +1; PTS: 8)
3.    Zorya Luhansk (GP: 5; GD: -4; PTS: 6)
4. z-Hertha BSC Berlin (GP: 5; GD: -1; PTS: 4)

x-Clinched berth in Europa League knockout stage

z-Eliminated from tournament



GROUP K:

At Nice, France:

Mario Balotelli (PK-5', 31') scored twice as Nice locked up a knockout-stage berth with their nice 3-1 home win over SV Zulte Waregem.

At Rome:

Luis Alberto's equalizer in the 42nd minute was good enough for Lazio as the Young Eagles locked up top spot in Group K after their 1-1 home deadlock with Vitesse Arnhem. 

Bryan Linssen scored for the Dutch club in the 13th minute.

Group K Standings:

1. y-Lazio (GP: 5; GD: +6; PTS: 13)
2. x-OGC Nice (GP: 5; GD: +6; PTS: 9)
3. z-SV Zulte Waregem (GP: 5; GD: -6; PTS: 4)
4. z-Vitesse Arnhem (GP: 5; GD: -6; PTS: 2)

y-Won Group K and clinched berth in Europa League knockout stage

x-Clinched berth in Europa League knockout stage

z-Eliminated from tournament



GROUP L:

At Saint Petersburg, Russia:

Emiliano Rigoni scored the winning goal at 43 minutes as Zenit Saint Petersburg defeated visiting Vardar 2-1.

At Trondheim, Norway:

Mikel Oyarzabal scored the only goal in the 90th minutes as Real Sociedad joined Zenit in the knockout stage after knocking out Rosenborg 1-0 on the road.

Group L Standings:

1. x-Zenit Saint Petersburg (GP: 5; GD: +10; PTS: 13)
2. x-Real Sociedad (GP: 5; GD: +12; PTS: 12)
3. z-Rosenborg (GP: 5; GD: -5; PTS: 4)
4. z-Vardar (GP: 5; GD: -17; PTS: 0)

x-Clinched berth in Europa League group stage

z-Eliminated from tournament

Copa Libertadores Final: Gremio Take Series Opener

At Porto Alegre, Brazil:

In Wednesday opening match of the Copa Libertadores Final, Cicero Santos scored the game winner in the 82nd minute as Gremio defeated visiting Lanus 1-0.

The series will conclude next Wednesday at Lanus, Argentina.

The winner would advance to the semifinal round of next month's FIFA Club World Cup, to be staged in the United Arab Emirates.

UEFA Champions League, Group D: Barca Lock Up Berth In Knockout Stage; Lions Stay Alive

Two Group D games in the UEFA Champions League were contested on Wednesday.

At Turin, Italy:
A 0-0 road stalemate with Juventus clinched a berth in the knockout stage of the tournament---and lock up top spot in Group D for Barcelona.  Veteran Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon waves to the fans at the conclusion of the match.

Associated Press photo by Antonio Calanni

At Lisbon, Portugal:
Bas Dost scored twice (40', 66') as Sporting CP stayed alive in the tournament by defeating Olymiacos 4-1, knocking the Greek club out of European competition.  Here's the hometown Lions' Bruno Cesar (left) scoring his team's other goal in the 43rd minute as The Legend's Bjoern Engels (center) and Leonardo Koutris (right) challenge fruitlessly.

Associated Press photo by Armando Franca

Group D Standings:

1. y-FC Barcelona (GP: 5; GD: +6; PTS: 11)
2.    Juventus (GP: 5; GD: 0; PTS: 8)
3.    Sporting CP (GP: 5; GD: +1; PTS: 7)
4. z-Olympiacos (GP: 5; GD: -7; PTS: 1)

y-Won Group D and clinched berth in Champions League knockout stage

z-Eliminated from European competition

UEFA Champions League, Group C: Blues Blast Qarabag, Clinch Berth In Round of 16; Mattress Makers Knock Off Roma To Stay Alive

Two games were contested in Group C of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

At Baku, Azerbaijan:

Willian scored twice (36', 85') as Chelsea demolished Qarabag 4-0 on the road to clinch a berth in the knockout stage and knock the Azerbaijani club from European competition.  Here's the Blues' Eden Hazard celebrating after scoring the English club's first goal of the match by converting a penalty kick in the 21st minute.

Associated Press photo by Pavel Golovkin

At Madrid:
Antoine Griezmann (69'; that's him celebrating here) and Kevin Gameiro (85') each scored once in the second half as Atletico Madrid blanked visiting AS Roma 2-0 to stay alive in the tournament and prevent the Italian club from clinching a knockout-stage berth.

Associated Press photo by Francisco Seco

Group C Standings:

1. x-Chelsea (GP: 5; GD: +8; PTS: 10)
2.    AS Roma (GP: 5; GD: +2; PTS: 8)
3.    Atletico Madrid (GP: 5; GD: +1; PTS: 6)
4. z-Qarabag (GP: 5; GD: -11; PTS: 2)

x-Clinched berth in Champions League knockout stage

z-Eliminated from European competition

UEFA Champions League, Group B: Wednesday Triumphs For Bayern, PSG

Two games were contested in Group B of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

At Brussels, Belgium:

Corentin Tolisso scored the winning goal in the 77th minute as Bayern Munich defeated RSC Anderlecht 2-1 on the road.  Here's Bayern Arjen Robben (left), battling Anderlecht's Serigne Mbodji for the ball.

Associated Press photo by Geert Vanden Wijngaert

At Paris:
Neymar (9', 22') and Edinson Cavani (28', 79') each scored twice as Paris-Saint Germain destroyed visiting Celtic 7-1.  In this snapshot, we see PSG's Layvin Kurzawa (left) being challenged by the Bhoys' Thomas Rogic.

Associated Press photo by Christophe Ena

Group B Standings:

1. x-Paris Saint-Germain (GP: 5; GD: +23; PTS: 15)
2. x-Bayern Munich (GP: 5; GD: +5; PTS: 12)
3. z-Celtic (GP: 5; GD: -12; PTS: 3)
4. z-RSC Anderlecht (GP: 3; GD: -15; PTS: 0)

x-Clinched berth in knockout stage of Champions League

z-Eliminated from Champions League contention but still alive for berth in Europa League knockout stage