Some Soccer News for Apr 14, 2016

It's Day 105 of 2016.


At a public speaking event today MLS commish Don Garber said that Minnesota would be joining MLS in 2017. Waiting for official confirmation.

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All the latest news from Minnesota United - injuries (Anor, Calvano, Jordan + Nicht out), tryouts (Ceus, Watson-Siriboe + Blake) and quotes from CCC (Coach Carl Craig.) By Jeff Rueter of Northern Pitch.

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Ben Speas tells us all about THAT goal! And a little about his life. By Jack Bell of NASL.

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NASL Week 3:
-Fri Apr 15
Jacksonville v Miami
(4 more games coming on Sat)

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The energy that the soccer fans and the people of Sacramento are kicking out for a potential MLS team is fantastic. They can't get into the league fast enough.

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UEFA Champions League Semifinals featuring Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Real Madrid!

• Draw: Fri Apr 15

• Semis: 1st Leg: Apr 26 + 27 and 2nd Leg: May 3 + 4

• Final: May 28 in Milan Italy at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza

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For the 2nd time in 3 years Atletico Madrid has bounced Barcelona from the UCL! Sid Lowe of the Guardian was on the scene.

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Comparing the four UCL Semifinalers. Atleti, Man City, Bayern + Real. By Sid Lowe and Raphael Honigstein of the Guardian.

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Copa Libertadores - on Wednesday 3 more, Boca Juniors (ARG), Corinthians (BRA), and Gremio (BRA), advanced to the knock out stages.

• Already advanced (5 of 16): Atletico Nacional(COL), Deportivo Tachira(VEN), Nacional (URU), Pumas UNAM(MEX), Toluca(MEX)

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"Allen Chapman, the referee who officiated Sunday's controversial LA Galaxy-Portland game, was removed from his weekend MLS assignment." From Paul Kennedy of Soccer America.

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LA head coach Bruce Arena feels the Nigel De Jong situation is engulfed in hysteria. By Scott French of Four Four Two.

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MLS Week 7 - midweek games:
-Wed Apr 13
Sporting Kansas City 1-2 Colorado Rapids
Portland Timbers 1-3 Dallas
San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 New York Red Bulls
-Fri Apr 15
Houston v LA - 6:00pm CT on UniMas
(9 more games coming on Sat & Sun)

My MLS Notes:

• The guy I predicted would be the big newcomer signing this year, Shkelzen Gashi, has gotten off to a slow start in Colorado, but he made the difference last night scoring his first goal, the game winner in KC. He also made a huge defensive play clearing a ball off the line that had beaten the MacMathlete. Here's to many more.

• And Portland is off to their traditional slow start. Even after a championship season nothing has changed.

• Former Portland forward Maxi Urruti hounded Jack Jewsbury into coughing up the ball twice leading to Dallas goals!!!

• Gorgeous goal by Fabian Castillo!

• Oh Red Bull, what are you smoking? Or did someone spike the punch?

• Wondo with goal #5! He is now tied at #4 with Ante Razov on the MLS all-time goal scoring list with 114. (Still 30 behind LD though)

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The four teams at the bottom of the MLS barrel with the least points? It's one helluva list:
2 Columbus
3 Red Bull
4 Seattle
5 Portland

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Bob Bradley + HAC - 5 games left - the race is on for 3rd place in Ligue 2 + promotion to Ligue 1 - Up next: Sat Apr 16 Le Havre v Nancy

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Group Stage for Women's Olympic Tournament (12 teams):
A
Brazil
China
South Africa
Sweden
B
Australia
Canada
Germany
Zimbabwe
C
Colombia
France
New Zealand
USA

Group Stage for Men's Olympic Tournament (16 teams):
A
Brazil
Denmark
Iraq
South Africa
B
Colombia
Japan
Nigeria
Sweden
C
Fiji
Germany
Mexico
S Korea
D
Algeria
Argentina
Honduras
Portugal

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A boy can dream can't he?

Rumours are wrong! Not going anywhere and Everton FC has a fantastic Manager in Roberto Martinez!https://t.co/G1fQiBmHzB

— Jürgen Klinsmann (@J_Klinsmann) April 13, 2016

The Bird Is The Word