DALLAS vs. DYNAMO MLS SOCCER

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Clarence Goodson scored an unassisted goal in the 23rd minute as FC Dallas beat Houston 1-0 in the opener of their two-game playoff series Saturday night.

The second game of the aggregate-goal Western Conference semifinal series will be Friday in Houston, where the Dynamo had two wins as part of a 3-0-1 regular-season record against FC Dallas.

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Goodson, who was named the team’s defender of the year earlier in the day, knocked a shot into the left corner of the net from inside the goalie’s box.

The goal was set up by a throw-in from the right side by Adrian Serioux. The pass from 30 yards bounced off Dynamo defender Ryan Cochrane and directly to Goodson.

FC Dallas goalie Dario Sala made a two-handed save to stop a direct shot by Houston’s Brian Ching in the 87th minute. The ball deflected off Sala’s fingertips to Ching, who tapped it to teammate Dwayne DeRosario for a shot at an open net from 12 yards. DeRosario pulled his shot wide right.

Sala finished with four saves for his first playoff shutout.

The Dynamo finished with a 15-9 advantage in total shots and had nine corner kicks to none for FC Dallas.

The bad blood between FC Dallas captain Carlos Ruiz and Houston continued as Ruiz picked up a yellow card in the 19th minute after tripping Dynamo defender Eddie Robinson.

In the teams’ last meeting Sept. 30, Houston’s Ricardo Clark kicked Ruiz in the right shoulder while Ruiz was lying on the ground. Clark received a nine-game suspension, the longest in MLS history, and will miss the playoffs.

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David Beckham

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Beckham News

MADRID, Spain – AP

David Beckham was minutes away from a perfect Hollywood ending.

The 32-year-old soccer star-pop icon, who likely played his last game for a European club, was taken off the field moments before Real Madrid rallied to win the Spanish league title for the first time in Beckham’s four years with the team.

The England midfielder was replaced in the 66th minute with what appeared to be a recurrence of an ankle injury. But he still managed to limp around the field in celebration‚ in front of a huge crowd that included his wife, Victoria, and friends Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes‚ after his team beat Mallorca 3-1 to win its 30th league title.

“I couldn’t have dreamt it any better,” Beckham said Sunday. “It’s been about winning the title for the last six months and we’ve deserved it tonight.”

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It was the culmination of a season that can easily be called the most difficult of his life. But even being shunned by both Madrid coach Fabio Capello and England coach Steve McClaren over the last year didn’t keep Beckham from proving he still has the skills to compete at the highest level.

“It’s been an incredible experience but all I remember now is the great things. Winning this tonight now puts to bed everything else,” said Beckham, who was dropped from the Madrid lineup in January after signing a five-year, $32.5 million contract to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy of MLS.

But with Madrid again eliminated early from the Champions League and the team in fourth place in the league‚ six points behind leader FC Barcelona‚ Capello begrudgingly recalled the former England captain.

“A major fault of mine this season was not recognizing Beckham’s potential,” Capello said Sunday.

Beckham’s good looks and pop star wife Victoria have made him an international marketing magnet.

After the game, he did a lap of honor with an England flag draped across his back, soaking in the atmosphere at the famous Santiago Bernabeu stadium for one last time.

Instead of playing in front of 90,000 fans at Madrid and Barcelona, Beckham will turn out in front of about 8,000 people at some Major League Soccer games, even though his presence will inevitably boost attendance.

“David Beckham will have a greater impact on soccer in America than any athlete has ever had on a sport globally,” Timothy J. Leiweke, president and CEO of AEG and owner of the Galaxy, said after the signing.

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A Reason To Love Soccer (Football)

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Manchester United fans and police clash

BBC

Manchester United’s Champions League match against Roma was marred by violence involving supporters before and during the game.
Local media reported clashes between fans as they made their way to the Olympic Stadium in Rome.

During the game United fans clashed with police wielding batons.

Italian police said 18 United fans had been taken to hospital and two were being kept there overnight. Two Roma supporters also needed treatment.

Manchester United warned fans before the game they could be attacked by Roma supporters, sparking criticism from Rome’s mayor.

During the game, which Roma won 2-1, both sets of fans could be seen throwing missiles at each other.

Italian police said 18 Manchester United fans were taken to hospital

The two sets of supporters were separated in one section of the ground by a barrier with riot police gathered on the Manchester United side.

After each goal both sets of fans surged towards the barrier.

At one stage, riot police with shields and batons were seen repeatedly striking Manchester United supporters.

One female fan was seen being pushed in the face by a police officer while another supporter was repeatedly struck with a baton as he lay on the floor.

TV pictures showed one Manchester United fan with blood pouring from his face as others tried to pick him up.

‘Pretty vicious’

A Manchester United fan, David Pearce, said: “”Italian police attacked the Manchester United crowd. I tried to help a girl who’d fallen down and one of the policemen hit me with a baton.

“It’s absolute pandemonium. It’s just terrible.”

Around 5,000 United fans had bought tickets for the game but a further 1,000 were expected to travel without tickets.

William Gaillard, from UEFA, said the body was very concerned at the number of violent incidents so far this year.

It’s absolute pandemonium. It’s just terrible.
David Pearce, Man Utd fan

“We are in an emergency situation and we feel that it’s definitely very sad to see these scenes in European football this season.”

Violent reputation

Before the game Manchester United fans were warned in letters and on the club’s website to avoid certain areas of the city as they could be attacked by Roma’s hardcore ‘ultra’ fans.

They were warned to avoid using Rome’s underground network to reach the Olympic Stadium, and to also keep away from the Ponte-nenni bridge and the Campo de Fiori.

Rival fans hurled missiles at each other across a barrier

The city’s mayor Walter Veltroni criticised Manchester United officials and said the advice could create a “negative climate”.

Italian football has a reputation for violence among its fans.

In February the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) suspended all matches after a policeman was killed at a Serie A game between Catania and Palermo.

Three Middlesbrough fans were stabbed and 10 others hurt during fights with Roma fans at the Uefa quarter finals last year.

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