The Fire Passed on Borgetti

According to Luis Arroyave's blog "The Red Card" Jared Borgetti was once on the Chicago Fire's radar when the team was looking to sign a designated player.

The Fire backed off once it heard Borgetti and the Colorado Rapids were in contract discussions. According to Guppy (the Fire's GM), Borgetti to the Rapids was a done deal until Borgetti "reneged" and signed with Mexico's Cruz Azul.

Jared Borgetti career stats:

Senior clubs
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1994–1996 1997–2004 2004 2005 2005–2006 2006 2007-	CF Atlas Santos Laguna Dorados de Sinaloa Pachuca Bolton Wanderers Al-Ittihad Cruz Azul	63 (21) 295 (189) 14 (8) 15 (8) 19 (2) 15 (10) 19 (5)
National team
1997-	Mexico	87 (43)

Revs win U.S. Open Cup

The New England Revolution finally has something to put in its trophy case. Congrats New England - you've been working hard for years to have some hardware.

After three previous failures in the MLS Cup finals and one loss in the U.S. Open Cup championship, the Revolution beat FC Dallas 3-2 on Wednesday night to win the U.S. Open Cup.

The Cup, which has crowned a national champion since 1914, is open to all amateur and professional teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The winning team receives $100,000.

The full name of the tournament is the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, named for the Kansas City Chiefs owner and soccer pioneer who owned three MLS teams, including FC Dallas.

United falls to Chivas 1-0

Chivas de Guadalajara used their home-field advantage to its full extent, defeating D.C. United 1-0 in the second leg of their Copa Sudamericana series on Tuesday night at Estadio Jalisco to advance on away goals.

In last Wednesday's first leg at RFK Stadium, D.C. United played a man down for more than a half, and despite taking a 2-0 lead, saw Sergio Santana pull one back for Chivas heading into the second leg. That goal proved to be the decider, after the teams finished the series 2-2 on aggregate.

The lads played a good game, but just couldn't come up with a goal in the closing moments.

For the United that's it for the tournament competitions. The only two things they can win are the Supporters Shield (which they have a really good chance at) and MLS Cup.

Beckham Update

From the LA Times:

David Beckham has returned to Los Angeles from England to resume rehabilitation work on his right knee and hopes to play for the Galaxy again before the end of the Major League Soccer season, his spokesman said Tuesday. Glenn Lehrman said Beckham flew back from London on Sunday after visiting his father, Ted, who was hospitalized last week after suffering a heart attack. Meanwhile, Lehrman scoffed at reports in England's Daily Mirror that claimed Beckham was unhappy at the quality of play in MLS and was considering a six-month loan to Sunderland of the English Premier League.

Sunderland is coached by Beckham's former Manchester United teammate Roy Keane, but the club has discounted the rumor, as has the Galaxy.

"There will be no loan moves or short-term contracts," one of Beckham's spokesman said. "He is under contract to the Galaxy."

Alessandro Del Piero in MLS?

Ives Galarcep in his latest post lays out reasons why Alessandro Del Piero should consider a move to MLS. It's worth a read and a brief dream. I hope Galarcep is right, but not on DC United (who needs to find a way to keep the players they have happy.)

Alessandro Del Piero career stats:

Senior clubs
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1991–1993 1993–	Padova Juventus	014 00(1) 519 (218)
National team
1995–	Italy	85 (27)

Keane Wants Beckham On Loan At Sunderland

This was on Goal.com earlier today. I'm not sure how much this is wishful thinking by the English Press:

According to the Daily Mirror, Sunderland boss has sounded out his former Manchester United team-mate David Beckham about a six-month loan spell with the Black Cats when the American MLS season ends in November.

England midfielder and former captain Beckham has only made five appearances for the LA Galaxy since joining the MLS side in June, because a succession of ankle and knee problems have greatly restricted his playing time.

Now Keane is said to want Beckham to lend his experience to Sunderland, battling to consolidate their place in the Premier League after last season's promotion.

Beckham would join his former Manchester United team mates Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole at Sunderland if ythe loan can be agreed with the Galaxy.

And the move could benefit Beckham, who is hoping to force his way into the England squad ahead of next summer's Euro 2008 tournament in Austria and Switzerland.

But given that the Galaxy invested a reported £128million in Beckham when they signed him from Real Madrid, Sunderland could face a struggle to arrange a loan deal.

A friend who was at Tottenham vs. Villa last night!

In an instant EPL classic last night, the Spurs scored 3 furious goals to rally to gain a 4-4 draw with Villa.

Younes Kaboul scored in injury time to give Tottenham a 4-4 draw with Aston Villa in the English Premier League on Monday. Kaboul's strike capped a three-goal rally in the final 21 minutes after Tottenham fell behind 4-1 in the 59th at White Hart Lane.

My friend Mike just moved over to London and sent me an e-mail with an eye witness account of the Tottenham vs. Villa match. Here's what he had to say:

"...went to see Tottenham vs. Villa last night (my dad's a lifetime Villa fan), one of the coolest sporting events I've ever been to, was Spurs 125th birthday, they went down 4-1 with 30 minutes to play and came back to draw in injury time---seriously intense."