Tijuana wins Liga de Ascenso

Top-seeded Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente have just won the Mexican Liga de Ascenso and will compete in La Primera next season, for the 2011 Apertura starting late this summer. Los Xoloitzcuintles (the Mexican name for the dog breed that English speakers call the "Mexican Hairless Dog") won the promotion on an unusual rule.

The Beautiful Game (pt. 43)

L'arc de Saint George, Wembley Stadium

Photo: Faintlightofdawn

Special 1 TV (S.2 Ep.28)

I bet you this show won't be back unless Man U beats Barcelona in the CL finals...

Brave words.



Video: Doitchampions

Corruption in Argentina?

I know what you are thinking... "How could a country who's Primera A was ~$40mil in debt before the season started only to suddenly have investments of about that much by Qatar prior to the World Cup 2022 bid, which of course there is NO relation to *cough cough*, be a part of a corruption allegation?"

Well, I'll tell you how. Former ref Javier Ruiz claims that several current refs, as well as himself before he retired, would frequently take bribes to guarantee wins and titles. His best example? River Plate finished 4th in the 2010 Apetura and is now fighting relegation. He cites the rumor that River Plate management has not been paying the customary bribes in a timely fashion and hence they are losing games by questionable decisions.

So, what will happen? Probably not much considering the league almost didn't get off the ground this season. Argentina is well known for it's tight reins on it's teams and refs, so you can probably guess that Ruiz may disappear or at best get denounced and "proven" wrong.

Photo: aff

USWNT v Japan Highlights

Abby Wambach puts on a clinic and gets 1 goal and 1 assist in the 2-0 win as a tune up for the WWC 2011 in Germany while Madison, WI native Lindsey Tarpley tears another ACL in the 75th and will miss the Cup.



Women's World Cup starts in 41 days in Germany (June 26th- July 17th)with single game tickets still available through Fifa.com

Video: USSoccer.com

Jesus Corona dropped from Gold Cup

A few hours ago, the Federacion Mexicana de Futbol (FMF) announced that goalkeeper Jesus Corona of Cruz Azul would be removed from the Gold Cup roster. By now I'm sure you have seen the video of Corona head-butting a Morelia assistant after the ugly brawl between Cruz Azul players and a stupid fan who invaded the field. Corona will be replaced by Jonathan Orozco of Monterrey. This is not the first time Jesus Corona was dropped from Mexico's roster before a major competition for fighting. He was also removed from the South Africa 2010 World Cup squad for a bar fight. Does that guy ever learn? Christian Gimenez, Cruz Azul's brilliant central midfielder, will be suspended six games for his beating of the stupid fan. Gimenez is from Argentina so there is no possibility of him representing his nation in international competition.

Photo: Getty Images

Morelia Monarcas, UNAM Pumas in El Gran Final

The finals of the 2011 Torneo Clausura are set. #2 finisher UNAM Pumas will take on #3 finisher Morelia Monarcas in “El Gran Final” after a pair of ugly semifinal games ended in violence yesterday. UNAM Pumas hosted Guadalajara Chivas, who upset top finisher UNL Tigres in the first round. The first leg was a strange 1-1 draw at Guadalajara, so UNAM needed only to win at home or even tie 0-0 to advance to the finals.