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Do-or-die for Rapids, Crew and Galaxy

[MLS WEEKEND PREVIEWS] Colorado, Columbus and Los Angeles must win to keep their playoff hopes alive, Kansas City can clinch a postseason spot by beating New York, and Chicago will greatly enhance its playoff chances with a victory on the penultimate weekend of the MLS regular season. Chivas can clinch the Western Conference crown by beating the Rapids on Sunday.

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Deja vu in South American qualifying

[WORLD CUP 2010] South America officials didn’t wait until the 2010 World Cup qualifying draw to begin the long road to the finals in South Africa, and they didn’t waste time figuring out the schedule. If the 2010 qualifying schedule looks familiar to fans, it’s because it is the same as was used for the 2002 and 2006 qualifiers! That means Argentina hosts Chile Saturday and Brazil travels to Colombia Sunday in this weekend’s top matches. For previews of this weekend’s opening qualifiers …

Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“I believe that my feeling of being offended is the same one felt by the majority of women in Trento. I would hope that the team — which also receives public funding — would want to find a remedy for this situation as soon as possible.”

— Iva Berasi, a councilwomen of the Italian city of Trento, is not too pleased that the city’s Fourth Division club, Trento Calcio 1921, signed a sponsorship deal with Austrian-based brothel Casa Bianca. (UPI)

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Dida suspended for milking fan attack

[VIDEO] AC Milan’s Brazilian goalkeeper Dida has been banned for two Champions League games for exaggerating the effects of a light slap to the face by a field invader in Glasgow during AC Milan’s 2-1 loss to Celtic last week.

The Celtic fan, who received a lifetime stadium ban from the club, ran onto the field after Dida gave up a goal and delivered what looked like a gentle strike. Dida started to pursue the culprit for a few steps before dropping to the ground.

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OFF THE POST: Not such a clever way to fix a game

During a Cameroon First Division game, Bamboutos FC’s coach calls Federal SC captain Nkoun a Rim to the sideline for a chat late in the second half after Federal tied the game, 2-2. Shortly afterward, Bamboutos captain Koss Roger hits the floor and acts injured. In full view of the spectators, already suspicious because of the sideline conference, Bamboutos’ trainer hands Roger an envelope. Roger returns to action and hands the envelope to Nkoun a Rim, who makes a lackluster effort in the play that leads to Bamboutos’ winning goal. Cameroon’s federation has relegated Bamboutos FC two divisions and has banned the officials and players involved in the incident for at least two years.

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Brazil finally plays at home again

Brazil, which has taken to playing its friendly games abroad, will play its first home game in more than two years when it faces Ecuador in World Cup qualifying on Wednesday. Its last home game was 3-0 win over Venezuela Oct. 12, 2005 in qualifying for the 2006 World Cup. The game against Ecuador also marks its first at Maracana Stadium since a 5-0 win over Bolivia in 2000.

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Hope Solo back with USA

Goalkeeper Hope Solo, who was kicked off the U.S. team during the Women’s World Cup, has been invited back by Coach Greg Ryan for the team’s three-game series with Mexico, which kicks off Saturday in St. Louis. After being benched for the USA’s semifinal against Brazil and replaced by Briana Scurry, Solo lashed out at Ryan and said she would have saved the goals Brazil put past Scurry in the 4-0 loss. Scurry is also on the 20-player roster for the Mexico series.

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Edgar Castillo back with Mexican national team

Edgar Castillo is still eligible to represent the USA because his appearance for Mexico in an August friendly against Colombia wasn’t official FIFA competition. But Castillo, who starts at left back for Santos, the Mexican league’s top team this season, is back in camp with the Mexican national team, which is preparing for friendlies against Nigeria on Sunday and Guatemala on Wednesday.

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Chivas USA aims for top in Big D

[MLS TV PREVIEW] These Western Conference foes haven’t played since the Fourth of July, when a 2-0 Dallas victory over Chivas USA at Pizza Hut Park reversed a loss by the same score in late May at Home Depot Center. Since that last meeting, Brazilians Denilson and Ricardinho have relocated in Texas, a player has been traded from one team to the other, Carlos Ruiz has picked up a suspension that rules him out of Thursday’s game, Dallas has clinched a playoff spot, and Chivas USA has climbed up the overall standings to challenge for the league’s best record.

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