1
May

Portland Timbers make 8-year-old’s wish come true

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Eight-year-old Atticus Lane-Dupre loves soccer. Last fall, he started to feel pain while playing with his team, The Green Machine. He was diagnosed with cancer (Wilms’ tumor) and missed the last game of the season as a result of the treatment he was receiving.

Atticus’ wish was simple: To play in a scrimmage against the Portland Timbers with The Green Machine.

Without hesitation, the Timbers teamed up with Make-A-Wish Oregon to grant Atticus’ wish. On Wednesday morning, a select group of Timbers players played against Atticus and The Green Machine at JELD-WEN Field.

We’ll let the video take it from here:

More than 3,000 fans showed up to cheer on Atticus and The Green Machine as they beat the Timbers 10-9, with Atticus scoring four goals on Wednesday. What a stunning display of support from the Portland community. They gave him a day he’ll never forget.

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Images and video courtesy of Major League Soccer.

29
Apr

Linesman assaults youth player after match

Following the conclusion of a Russian reserve league match between Amkar Perm and Terek, linesman Musa Kadyrov committed an unforgivable act. Right after the final whistle blows, the linesman drops his flag and begins to assault an 18-year-old Amkar defender. After punches and kicks were landed, his teammates swooped in for the rescue.

To add insult to injury, Terek players took the opportunity to create even more chaos.

The attacked defender told the Guardian:

“The ref blew the final whistle and I started walking to our bench, when suddenly someone came from behind, pushed me to the ground and began kicking and punching me,” the 18-year-old Amkar player told reporters.

“Terek players then joined the attack. Someone grabbed me by the throat, another hit me … bloodying my face.”

The Russian football association has, rightfully, acted quickly and pushed for a lifetime ban for the out of control linesman.

19
Apr

A full-scale brawl broke out at the end of the final Copa Libertadores group stage match between Gremio and Huachipato after Gremio manager Vanderlei Luxemburgo allegedly teased his counterpart Jorge Pellicier.

Following the spat, several Huachipato players attempted to chase down Luxemburgo, who then fell to the ground as chaos around him ensued. Players, coaches, ball boys, fans, you name it and they were involved before riot police eventually interfered.

So what did Luxemburgo say to spark such chaos? According to Reuters, Pellicier was quoted as saying: “He tried to make fun of us… That’s unsporting conduct. He said we should go on holiday, making a gesture with his hand.”

Luxemburgo kind of had a point, though it certainly was unsportsmanlike. With the two sides settling for a draw, Gremio advanced to the round of 16 while Huachipato missed out on goal difference.

PS: Anyone else find it hilarious that some of them seriously started to throw and kick soccer balls at the riot police? What’s that gonna accomplish?

17
Apr

Arsenal and Everton’s goalless draw yesterday was as fiery tempered as they come. Even Arsene Wenger and David Moyes were in bullish moods after the brusing game. Tensions nearly boiled over at half-time though.

Just as the players were entering the tunnel for the break, Everton’s Kevin Mirallas decided to really wind up Arsenal’s midfield lynchpin Jack Wilshere. With a perfectly-executed schoolyard trick, Mirallas sprayed Wilshere with his water bottle, sparking the desired reaction from England’s young star.

Fortunately, a beady-eyed cameraman managed to catch the incident, so you can just click and watch above. Enjoy!

6
Apr

On Saturday, Eric Abidal got his first taste of action after a long 13 months away from the game following his liver transplant almost a year to the date. That combined with Tito Vilanova’s return to the Camp Nou sidelines for the first time since January made for an emotional night in Barcelona.

To cap it all off, Alexis Sanchez and Cesc Fabregas had a rare offensive explosion in Barcelona’s 5-0 victory over Mallorca.

Whether you’re a Barca fan or not, you can’t help but root for Abidal and applaud his arduous battle from what many considered to be a career-ending condition:

“It was a very special moment for me after a year out,” said Abidal, wearing a shirt with ‘Merci mon cousin’ on the front.

“I want to thank my cousin as without him I would not be here today. It is a unique moment,” he added.

Read more here.

1
Apr

Bursaspor goalkeeper Harun Tekin must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed or something. Usually, when a fan runs onto the pitch, the invader is greeted by smiles and some head-shaking from the players (heck, Messi apparently even hugs them). But not Mr. Tekin, ohhh no!

Tekin, probably upset over his team’s impending 2-0 loss to Kasimpasa, didn’t even let the pitch invader get past his six yard box, pummeling the poor lad with a flurry of left and right hooks. Maybe Tekin should consider taking up boxing to let out his rage.

As Cristiano Ronaldo might say, “Calma! Calma!”

28
Feb

Diego Maradona appears to have a new girlfriend?

Diego Maradona appears to have a new girlfriend. His ex-partner just gave birth to a baby he fathered. And the same ex-partner is also involved in a legal dispute with the Argentine football great’s former wife.

In the last few days local media have been awash with news and photos about a new woman in Maradona’s life, who has been identified as 22-year-old Rocio Geraldine Oliva.

Maradona, 52, has declined to confirm the relationship - but he also hasn’t denied it. A photo of Maradona holding a poster with the words ”Rocio Te Amo” (Rocio I love you), and another photo of the two toasting each over glasses of champagne have been widely circulated in the Argentine media.

”I’m fine, relaxed and in love with Diego,” Oliva said Wednesday in a television interview. ”What others say means nothing to me.”

Reports about the new romance surfaced two weeks ago when Maradona’s long-time partner Veronica Ojeda gave birth in Buenos Aires to a baby boy who was named Diego Fernando. He has already been nicknamed ”Dieguito,” and Maradona - who is working in Dubai - has yet to return to Argentina to see him.

21
Feb

Big-spending Russian’s Zenit resist Liverpool’s charge

A Jamie Carragher error ultimately proved costly as Liverpool were edged out of the Europa League despite a fine 3-1 comeback against Zenit St. Petersburg.

The veteran defender, making his 150th - and now last - European appearance, gifted Zenit’s star forward Hulk a goal that gave the Russians a 3-0 aggregate lead early in the second leg of the last-32 tie.

Read more here.