Winners:
HERCULEZ GOMEZ, who scored twice last weekend in MLS play and the Open Cup quarterfinal, hit two again as Los Angeles downed USL1 club Minnesota, 5-2, in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals. Minnesota had reached the semis by eliminating three MLS teams: Real Salt Lake, Kansas City and Colorado. In the other semifinal, FC DALLAS shook off its dismal league form and downed Chicago, 1-0, on a Ronnie O'Brien goal, thus denying the Fire chance to win its fourth Open Cup crown. The victory marked Dallas' first at Pizza Hut Park, where it's winless in five MLS games.
Vincenzo Iaquinta's hat trick gave Italian club UDINESE a 3-0 European Champions League win over Greece's Panathinaikos. Udinese, which fought against relegation three seasons ago before Coach Luciano Spalletti rebuilt it into the club that finished fourth last season, has also won its first two Serie A games,
Dutch striker DENNIS BERGKAMP, 36, came on as a 73rd minute sub for short-handed Arsenal and notched the gamewinner in the Gunners' 2-1 win over Swiss club Thun in Wednesday's Champions League clash. Bergkamp has announced he will retire after this season.
Losers:
A week after directing profane abuse at his England teammates and an England assistant coach while earning a suspension for England's next World Cup qualifier, WAYNE ROONEY brought his bad manners to Manchester United's Champions League clash against Spain's Villarreal. After receiving a yellow card for a foul during the scoreless tie, Rooney applauded referee Kim Milton Nielsen sarcastically, clapping inches from Nielsen's face, and received a red card. English tabloid The Sun has dubbed Rooney a "Wayniac."
Brazilian club Corinthians' Argentine forward CARLOS TEVEZ is being threatened with prosecution by the wing of the Sao Paulo police department that deals with sexual and racial discrimination because of comments he made about two women referee assistants. Said Tevez, "When soccer gets more serious, women shouldn't be taking part [as match officials]. It's a question of capabilities."