Fantasy Soccer

 Did you always dream about having a fantasy roster for your favorite leagues? If so then you might want to check out ESPNsoccernet Fantasy Soccer. There are several leagues to choose from. They are : English Premier Fantasy, La Liga (Spain), UEFA Champions League Fantasy, Serie A Fantasy (Italy), Mexico Fantasy, Argentina Fantasy, and MLS Primetime Fantasy. Points are generated based on what your players did in the real games. There are some really great prizes if you get the most points in the overall league. You can create your own mini-league that people can access only if they have the mini-league password. you can also send invitations to other people. I have my own mini-league. If you wish to join my mini-league ( I have Serie A, La Liga, EPL, and MLS) please let me know. Post a comment with your email address and the league you wish to join. The best part is that the whole thing is completely free. Go to http://games.espn.go.com/frontpage/soccer.

                                                         -Anthony-

AC Milan Ends Early Season Gloom

Marco Borriello, back from loan, is ready to make an impact.

AC Milan has ended their horrible early season form with three consecutive wins, starting with Lazio(4-1) and continuing with the reigning champions, Inter. Milan has utilized their Brazilian connection to their fullest extent, along with Marco Borrielo. The deadly combination of Borrielo and Alexandre Pato has also proven to be effective. Ronaldinho, who has been heavily criticized during this stage in his career, has also been in good form. He just scored his first goal for AC Milan against Inter, which turned out to be the only goal of the match. Currently, AC Milan are just three points from being in the top spot, which is currently held by Lazio. The other big clubs, excluding Inter (ahead by one point) , are either tied (Juventus) or behind (Roma, Fiorentina) AC Milan. For complete standings, go to http://soccernet.espn.go.com/league?id=ita.1&cc=5901.

                                                     -Anthony-

Serie A Kick Off!!!

The Italian Serie A kicked off with some good matches earlier this week on Sunday. One match that I’m sure surprised us all was the Bologna-AC Milan match. Bologna’s Marco Di Vaio got the match going with a goal in the 18th minute. It took Milan some time to respond when Massimo Ambrosini headed in a cross by Ronaldinho during the 41st minute.  Then later on in the 79th minute Francesco Valiani scored a beautiful goal from outside the box that found the upper left corner. Another match was Juventus vs Fiorentina. Last time these two teams faced each other it ended up with Juventus losing 3-2. This match was a different story, although neither side would come away with all three points. Both sides brought good lineups even with Fiorentina’s Adrian Mutu missing. Juventus scored first with a goal by Pavel Nedved in the 39th minute. The match appeared to be going Juve’s way when Felipe Melo was sent off in the 83rd minute. But when all seemed lost for Fiorentina ex-Milan player Alberto Gilardino scored in the 89th minute to tie up the match. Other scores: Inter Milan 1-1 Sampdoria; Cagliari 1-4 Lazio; Chievo Verona 2-1 Reggina; Torino 3-0 Lecce; Roma 1-1 Napoli; Catania Calcio 1-0 Genoa; Atalanta 1-0 Siena; Udinese 3-1 Palermo.

                                                                   -Alexander-

Germany Beats Portugal in Euro

Germany ran away today with what seemed like an easy win. The final score was three to one. The goals were made (in order) by Bastian Schwiensteiger (Germany), Miroslav Klose (Germany), Nuno Gomes (Portugal), Michael Ballack (Germany), and Postiga (Portugal).

Ac Milan Struggle

Ac Milan’s hopes for a Champion’s League were stalled yet again with a loss to Atalanta. There only grain of hope remains in the fact that Udinese beat Fiorentina, 3-1. The first half started off with Atalanta dominating. Floccari kept on penetrating Milan’s defense. Milan had horrible marking in that first half. Floccari’s pressure finally paid off when in the thirty-second minute he scored. Ten minutes later, Langella scored a beauty. Langella ran flicked the ball over the sliding tackle of a surprised Nesta, ran on to the flick and buried it past Zeljko Kalac. The half ended two to nothing. The second half started off with a bang. Atalanta had alot of chances to score and widen their lead. Ac Milan suddenly awoke and struck back with a goal from Massimo Ambrosini. Unfortunately, the goal did not count. The rest of the half was all Ac Milan. Paolo Maldini latched onto a cross with his head and scored a beautiful header. Ac Milan was fired up and ready to go. They suddenly recieved the best of chances: a penalty. As Pirlo stepped back, I thought, I hope this goes in. I had no doubt that Pirlo could bury it with ease. Pirlo then fired the one shot that will haunt me for the days to come. Pirlo shot right and Copolla cannoned right. I couln’t believe it! Yet I had to. Nesta was red carded towards the end of the match. The final score was 2-1.

                                                               -Anthony-

Ac Milan beats Empoli

Ac Milan is getting closer and closer to their Champion’s League spot. Rising star, Alexandre Pato, put the visitors in front with an early goal in the 11 minute. Empoli bounced right back, with Antonio Busce, slotting it past Zeljko Kalac. The game went on, the score line unchanging, until the 85 minute. The Rossoneri broke down Empoli’s resistance, all thanks to Kaka. First, the Brazilian playmaker crossed it to Massimo Ambrosini, who headed the ball in. Next Kaka sealed the deal himself, thanks to the efforts of Alberto Paloschi.

                                           -Anthony-

Sad Day in San Siro

Ac Milan was defeated at home today. Arsenal became the first English team to beat Milan at home, in the San Siro. The score was 2-0. Both goals were very late. This left Ac Milan no chance of striking back. Fabregras scored in the 84 minute. Adebayour scored in the 92. Eduardo was injured and could not play.

                                                -Anthony-

Juventus falls to Fiorentina

The Bianconeri who are desperate for points fell to the Viola earlier today.  The game winner was scored by Pablo Daniel Osvaldo, who was later sent off for taking off his shirt.  The action first started when Massimo Gobbi scored in the 19th minute with Buffon rapidly approaching he lightly tapped under the Italian goalkeeper.  Juve’s response came 10 minutes later when former Aston Villa midfielder Mohamed Sissoko scored his first goal for Juve. It happened when Sebastian Frey punched away a dangerous ball put into the box by Christian Molinaro.  Sissoko was glad to receive the ball biking the ball over Frey and several others.  The Bianconeri were looking like themselves again in the beginning of the 2nd half. The second goal for Juventus was due to sloppy defending by the visiting side. Molinaro again lifted a dangerous ball into Fiorentina’s box, finding Mauro German Camoranesi who volleyed it low under Frey.  However Juventus’s back line was weak and unfortunately it was to be their undoing.  Papa Waigo who had been subbed in for Mario Santana exploited that weakness and found an equalizer.  Then in stoppage time Osvaldo scored and the Viola found a win even with their lead scorer Adrian Mutu injured.  Sadly Juve couldn’t keep their dreams of a scudetto alive.

                                                                             -Alexander-