1836 is history in Houston; Dynamo it is

March 6, 2006

Houston 1836 is no more. Nearly one month after the embattled franchise chose to withdraw their first choice of name after outcry from some in the Latino community, the team today unveiled their new name in Houston: the former San Jose Earthquakes will henceforth be known as the Houston Dynamo.

Wigan 1 Manchester United 2

March 6, 2006

Wigan suffered late heartbreak as an own goal from Pascal Chimbonda gifted Manchester United an undeserved come-from-behind victory.

EPL Gallery, Mar. 6

March 6, 2006

Figueroa to miss World Cup

March 6, 2006

Argentine striker Luciano Figueroa damaged ligaments in his left knee in River Plate's victory over Estudiantes and will miss six months, ruling him out of the rest of the Clausura championship and any chance of making the World Cup.

Wigan 1-2 Man Utd: Own goal heartbreak

March 6, 2006

Wigan 1-2 Man Utd: Own goal heartbreak

by England

New UEFA trophy to be unveiled in Paris

March 6, 2006

New UEFA trophy to be unveiled in Paris

by UEFA Champions League

New Champions League trophy to be unveiled in Paris (Reuters)

March 6, 2006

A new UEFA Champions League trophy will be unveiled at the traditional handover ceremony in Paris on Friday as the competition celebrates its 50th year.

Freak Chimbonda own goal earns victory for United (AFP)

March 6, 2006

Pascal Chimbonda's freak injury-time own goal gifted Manchester United a 2-1 victory at Wigan as Paul Jewell's team were left to rue a host of missed chances at the JJB Stadium.

Chelsea needs two-goal win in the Champions League (AP)

March 6, 2006

Chelsea needed a two-goal win over visiting FC Barcelona last year -- and got it. This year, the English champions need a similar result but will have to score their goals on the road. Barcelona hosts Chelsea on Tuesday in the second leg of the second round of the Champions League. The Catalan team won the first game 2-1 two weeks ago.

Klinsmann scolded by Beckenbauer for absence (Reuters)

March 6, 2006

(Adds Klinsmann quotes in paras 7-9)

Beckenbauer blasts Klinsmann

March 6, 2006

Franz Beckenbauer on Monday blasted Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann, who is already under fire after a 4-1 loss to Italy last week in a friendly. Beckenbauer refrained from joining the criticism of Klinsmann after the Italy rout, but is angry that he flew home to California instead of attending a workshop of World Cup coaches which started Monday. "The coach of the host country has to be there - that is beyond question.

Juventus needs to overcome first-leg loss

March 6, 2006

Champions League: Juventus last won the Champions League 10 years ago and will have to overcome a 3-2 first-leg loss when it hosts Werder Bremen. In Bremen, Juventus led 2-1 until the 87th minute when the hosts scored twice in five minutes.

Angry Defoe has Jol sympathy

March 6, 2006

Tottenham boss Martin Jol sympathises with frustrated England striker Jermain Defoe and was not surprised by his display of anger at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Keane: We were lucky to win

March 6, 2006

Tottenham striker Robbie Keane admitted his side were fortunate to gain maximum points after their thrilling 3-2 win over Blackburn at White Hart Lane.

Calmund investigated for fraud

March 6, 2006

Former Bayer Leverkusen manager Reiner Calmund is under investigation for fraud involving a player deal, Bielefeld police said Monday.

Lampard on track to face Barca after completing training (Reuters)

March 6, 2006

Chelsea's Frank Lampard is in line to face Barcelona after completing a training session on the eve of Tuesday's crunch Champions League game.

Rijkaard wants Barcelona fans to cheer Chelsea (Reuters)

March 6, 2006

By Simon Baskett

Litex defender Venkov to have Achilles' tendon surgery (Reuters)

March 6, 2006

Bulgaria and Litex Lovech defender Mihail Venkov is to undergo Achilles' tendon surgery and could be out for up to two months.

Allianssi out of Finnish schedule pending appeal (Reuters)

March 6, 2006

Finnish side Allianssi Vantaa have been omitted from the league's 2006 first division schedule until a dispute over their licence is resolved, officials said on Monday.

PREVIEW-Soccer-Villarreal target famous Glasgow double (Reuters)

March 6, 2006

(Updates with news that Sorin is out and correct stats in para 5-6 to make it clear Rangers have won on Spanish soil but it was not against Spanish opposition)

Mourinho aiming to take the pressure off his players (Reuters)

March 6, 2006

By Simon Baskett

Beleagured McCarthy sacked by Sunderland

March 6, 2006

Beleagured McCarthy sacked by Sunderland

by England

Gers tight-lipped on Le Guen speculation

March 6, 2006

Gers tight-lipped on Le Guen speculation

by Europe

Robben appeals red card

March 6, 2006

Robben appeals red card

by England

England arrange November Holland friendly

March 6, 2006

Dutch date for England

by World Cup

Under-fire Ronaldo recalled by Real Madrid

March 6, 2006

Under-fire Ronaldo recalled by Real Madrid

by UEFA Champions League

Namouchi doubtul for Rangers at Villareal

March 6, 2006

Namouchi doubtul for Rangers at Villareal

by UEFA Champions League

Der Kaiser raps Klinsmann California dreaming

March 6, 2006

Der Kaiser raps Klinsmann California dreaming

by World Cup

Chelsea needs a two-goal win over Barca

March 6, 2006

Champions League: Chelsea needed a two-goal win over visiting Barcelona last year and got it. This year, the Blues need a similar result but will have to score their goals on the road.

Gers support worries Alvarez

March 6, 2006

Villarreal captain Quique Alvarez fears the number of Rangers fans inside El Madrigal could far outweigh the home crowd.

Villarreal seeks place in quarterfinals

March 6, 2006

Villarreal aims to continue its meteoric rise by eliminating Glasgow Rangers on Tuesday to reach the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time.

Moyes slams undignified Jose

March 6, 2006

David Moyes has hit out at Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho for snubbing West Brom counterpart Bryan Robson following Saturday's bad-tempered tussle at The Hawthorns.

Robson: Robben red spot on

March 6, 2006

West Brom manager Bryan Robson has backed referee Mark Halsey's decision to red card Chelsea winger Arjen Robben after his challenge on Jonathan Greening during Saturday's heated Premiership clash at The Hawthorns.

Chelsea to pick up FA charges

March 6, 2006

The Football Association are on Monday expected to hit Chelsea with three charges relating to Saturday's stormy clash with West Brom.

I am still Germany's number one, says Kahn (Reuters)

March 6, 2006

Goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, fighting with Jens Lehmann for the number one spot in the Germany team for the World Cup, believes he still has the edge over his rival.

Mourinho abuse raises temperature for Barca-Chelsea clash (AFP)

March 6, 2006

Chelsea have been given a taste of the hostility they can expect in Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium after Jose Mourinho was jostled and spat at on his arrival in the Catalan city.

Sunderland sack McCarthy (AFP)

March 6, 2006

Mick McCarthy's three-year reign at Sunderland finally came to an end when the former Ireland manager was sacked by the club currently anchored to the bottom of the English Premiership.

Sunderland sack McCarthy as manager (Reuters)

March 6, 2006

(adds quotes, details)

Beckenbauer slams Klinsmann for hiding in USA (AFP)

March 6, 2006

Franz Beckenbauer, head of the 2006 World Cup Organising Committee, offered some stinging criticism to Germany manager Jurgen Klinsmann after he failed to attend the World Cup coaches workshop.

Gers tight-lipped on Le Guen speculation

March 6, 2006

Gers tight-lipped on Le Guen speculation

by Europe

Wenger sticks to his guns over Pires contract

March 6, 2006

Wenger sticks to his guns with Pires

by England

Ball takes Black Cat reins after Mick sack

March 6, 2006

Ball takes Black Cat reins after Mick sack

by England

Beleagured McCarthy sacked by Sunderland

March 6, 2006

Beleagured McCarthy sacked by Sunderland

by England

Rent-a-quote ref Jeff mouths off once again

March 6, 2006

Rent-a-quote ref Jeff mouths off again

by John Brewin, Editor

Robbo: Ref Halsey right to red-card Robben

March 6, 2006

Robbo: Ref Halsey right to red-card Robben

by England

Mourinho gets hostile reception in Spain

March 6, 2006

Mourinho gets hostile reception in Spain

by UEFA Champions League

Yorke ridicules 'arrogant' former boss Souness

March 6, 2006

Yorke ridicules 'arrogant' former boss Souness

by England

Messi angered by Mourinho 'actor' slurs

March 6, 2006

Messi angered by Mourinho 'actor' slurs

by UEFA Champions League

Deportivo's Andrade set to miss World Cup

March 6, 2006

Deportivo's Andrade set to miss World Cup

by Europe

Santos go clear in disputed Palmeiras clash

March 6, 2006

Santos go clear in disputed Palmeiras clash

by Global

Serie A Roundup, Mar. 5

March 6, 2006

Serie A Wrap: Marco Materazzi headed in an 89th-minute equalizer Sunday to help Inter Milan end AS Roma's 11-match winning streak in a 1-1 draw. Third-place Inter slipped 14 points behind league leader Juventus and also lost ground on second-place AC Milan.

Liverpool players are running out of steam

March 6, 2006

Liverpool's remarkable Champions League triumph last year and the need to qualify for this year's version from round one has seen the Anfield outfit play more games than Rafa Benitez would have hoped. Nick Webster says the Reds are running out of gas.

Monday's Made Up Gossip

March 6, 2006

Rafa and Jose off to Italy, Ruud just off and all the other rumors...

Chelsea in trouble after ill-tempered West Brom clash

March 6, 2006

Robson started it claims Jose

by England

Ligue One Roundup, Mar. 5

March 6, 2006

Marseille held Paris Saint-Germain to a 0-0 draw Sunday in the French league despite fielding a reserve team against its biggest rival.

Mexican League Roundup, Mar. 5

March 6, 2006

Los Tuzos de Pachuca tied 1-1 with Pumas on Sunday to remain the only unbeaten team after eight rounds in Mexico's Clausura championship.

Brazilian League Roundup, Mar. 5

March 6, 2006

Substitute midfielder Leo Lima converted a penalty kick in the 86th minute and Santos beat rival Palmeiras 1-0 Sunday to extend its lead in the Sao Paulo state championship.

Argentine League Roundup, Mar. 5

March 6, 2006

River Plate beat Estudiantes 3-1 Sunday to grab a share of first place in the Argentine first-division championship.