Dallas, Galaxy Improve to 2-0 in CONCACAF Champion's League

MLS continued it's strong performance in the CONCACAF Champion's League yesterday netting 2 more wins and improving to 8-1-1 through the first two rounds. In fact, the only MLS side to lose was Toronto FC, and they lost to FC Dallas. While there's still a lot of soccer left to played, if you're an MLS fan, you have to like what you've seen thus far. Last year, 4 MLS teams made the Round of 16, but only two of them advanced. Real Salt Lake. The year before that, only one MLS squad advanced beyond the Round of 16. This year, the four American MLS sides are the only teams that haven't lost at least one match. We'll see if this year's group can sustain their high level of play the rest of the way.

Photo Credit: lagalaxy.com

A quick recap of the last two days of matches. Dallas defeated Toronto 1-0 yesterday after getting washed out less than halfway through the match the day before. Coincidentally, Dallas was also leading that match 1-0 in the first half. In the replay, defender Jack Stewart scored in first half stoppage time heading home a cross from Ugo Ihemelu. It was a big moment for Stewart who hasn't played in an MLS regular season game since 2007, and only just joined Dallas last week on loan from the NSC Minnesota Stars of the North American Soccer League (NASL). The Galaxy also improved to 2-0 yesterday as they remained unbeaten in the Robbie Keane era by defeating Costa Rican Champions Alajuelense 2-0. Keane did not factor in the scoring, but he didn't need to as Omar Gonzalez headed in a David Beckham corner and Chad Barrett came off the bench to score a late insurance goal to clinch the win for the Galaxy. It was Barrett's first appearance for the Galaxy since July 4th.

In other matches Comunicaciones defeated Herediano 2-0 behind second half goals from Marbin Ceballos and Bryan Ordoñez. The Costa Rican side has now been outscored 7-0 in its first two matches. Isidro Metapán also won by a 2-0 margin taking out Mexican side Santos in El Salvador. Metapán got goals from Paolo Suárez, his second in as many matches, and Christian Javier Bautista in picking up their first points. Tauro FC and Pumas UNAM drew 0-0 in Panama as Pumas have now been shut out in two straight matches, and Morelia blasted Honduran side Motagua 4-0 getting goals from four different players: Rafael Márquez Lugo, Joao Rojas, Diego Jiménez and Édgar Lugo.

Here's a look at the next round of matches that kicks off on September 13th:

9/13 - LA Galaxy @ Morelia
9/13 - Isidro Metapán @ Real España
9/13 - Santos Laguna @ Colorado Rapids
9/14 - Tauro @ FC Dallas
9/14 - Toronto FC @ Pumas UNAM
9/14 - Seattle Sounders @ Herediano
9/14 - Monterrey @ Comunicaciones
9/15 - Alajuelense @ Motagua

Two More for Altidore

Jozy Altidore seems to enjoy playing for AZ Alkmaar. The 21 year old striker has only been with the Dutch club for a little over a month, logging just 215 minutes, but he's already scored 5 times including a pair of goals in yesterday's 6-0 Europa League win against Aalesunds FK (Norway). With the win, AZ Alkmaar advances to the Group Stage of the tournament where they have drawn FC Metalist Kharkiv (Ukraine), Austria Vienna (Austria) and Malmo (Sweden). For the complete tournament draw, click here. Jozy's play hasn't gone unnoticed by new U.S. National Team coach Jurgen Klinsmann as Altidore has been added to the preliminary 24 man squad for upcoming exhibitions against Costa Rica (9/2) and at Belgium (9/6). It will be interesting to see if his performance in Europe will translate to newfound success with the National Team.

Photo Credit: mlssoccer.com

He's Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack

With Travis Hafner sidelined and possibly needing season ending foot surgery, the Indians needed to make a move. Guess who's back in Cleveland?

Photo Credit: monstermarketplace.com

All that's missing now is Manny Ramirez, Kenny Lofton, and Carlos Baerga.

How to Erase a 7-1 Deficit in 3 Swings or Less

The Bronx Bombers made history tonight by hitting not one, not two, but THREE grand slams against the A's to erase a 7-1 deficit after three innings and win in a blow out 22-9. It marked the first time in Major League History that one team had hit three grand slams in the same game which is kind of amazing when you think about it. Considering there's been an individual player who hit two grand slams in the same INNING (Fernando Tatis), it's hard to believe that no team has ever hit three in a game. Until now that is.

Photo Credit: nytimes.com

Robinson Cano hit the first one connecting off of Rich Harden in the 5th inning to cut the A's lead to 7-6. An inning later it was Russell Martin's turn. Facing Fautino De Los Santos with two outs, he hit his second homer of the game just clearing the scoreboard in right to give the Yankees their first lead at 10-7. It marked the 4th time this season that Martin had a multi-homer game. Then in the 8th, with the score 17-8, it was Curtis Granderson who made history unloading against Bruce Billings and depositing the ball into the Yankees bullpen. It was Granderson's 36th home run of the season and one for the history books. 

One other thing of note from this game. It marked the first time in Jorge Posada's career that he played second base as he came on late as a defensive substituion. He even made a play! Definitely a bizarre day at Yankee Stadium.

Strasburg Update

Four starts in the books for Nationals uber-prospect Stephen Strasburg. The hard throwing right-hander took the mound again on Monday for Class A Hagerstown and tossed 3 innings allowing 2 hits and 1 earned run. He walked a batter and struck out six and was saddled with the loss. The 3 innings ties for his longest start during his rehab and the six strikeouts represents a season high. Strasburg has now thrown 9 1/3 innings, and while he's been touched up for 8 runs (7 earned) on 11 hits he's fanned 18, nearly 2 per inning. His numbers are a bit skewed thanks to his rough outing against the Lexington Legends last week. If you took that game out, he would have an ERA of just 2.35.

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It's believed that Strasburg will make two more starts in the minors before returning to the mound in Washington. Here's a quick recap of his 4 minor league starts:

Game 1 - 8/7 - Hagerstown - 1 2/3 IP 3 H 1 R 0 BB 4 K- Opponents 3/8
Game 2 - 8/12 - Potomac - 3 IP 2 H 0 R 0 BB 5 K - Opponents 2/12
Game 3 - 8/17 - Hagerstown - 1 2/3 IP 4 H 5 R 2 BB 3 K - Opponents 4/9
Game 4 - 8/22 - Hagerstown - 3 IP 2 H 2 R 1 BB 6 K - Opponents 2/12

TOTAL 9 1/3 IP 11 H 8 R 3 BB 18 K - Opponents 11/41 (.268)

Champions League Draw Set

The 2011-2012 UEFA Champions League draw was set today. Here's the list of each of the groups. Over the next couple days, we'll try and go a little more in depth which each of the remaining 32 teams.

GROUP A

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Bayern Munich - Germany

Villareal - Spain

Manchester City - England

Napoli - Italy

GROUP B

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Inter Milan - Italy

CSKA Moscow - Russia

Lille - France

Trabzonspor - Turkey

GROUP C

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Manchester United - England

Benfica - Portugal

FC Basel - Switzerland

Oţelul Galaţi - Romania

GROUP D

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Real Madrid - Spain

Lyon - France

Ajax - Netherlands

Dinamo Zagreb - Croatia

GROUP E

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Chelsea - England

Valencia - Spain

Bayer Leverkusen - Germany

Genk - Belgium

GROUP F

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Arsenal - England

Marseille - France

Olympiacos - Greece

Borussia Dortmund - Germany

GROUP G

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Porto - Portugal

Shakhtar Donetsk - Ukraine

Zenit St. Petersburg - Russia

APOEL - Cyprus

GROUP H

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Barcelona - Spain

AC Milan - Italy

BATE Borisov - Belarus

Viktoria Plzeň - Czech Republic

New FIFA Rankings Released - Netherlands #1

FIFA's new set of World Rankings came out today and for the first time in 13 months Spain is not ranked first. Instead it's the team Spain beat last summer to win the World Cup, the Netherlands, who has taken over the number one ranking. It's the first time the Dutch have ever been ranked number one, and they can thank the Italians as it was Italy who defeated Spain two weeks ago 2-1 in a friendly. The reigning World Cup champs dropped to number two, with Germany, England, Uruguay, Brazil, Italy, Portugal, Argentina and Croatia rounding out the top ten.

Photo Credit: netherlands.worldcupblog.org

Mexico still leads the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) holding steady at number 20, but the United States closed the gap a little bit moving up two spots to number 28. Jamaica (43) and Honduras (50) are the only other CONCACAF teams in the Top 50. The Ivory Coast drops one spot to number 15, but is still the highest ranked African team by a large margin, Japan is tied with Ivory Coast at number 15 to lead Asia's Football Confederation, and New Zealand leads the Oceanic Football Confederation coming in at number 94.

For the complete rankings, check the FIFA website.