Minneapolis United Soccer for the City

As he readies himself for the biggest challenge of his career – Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund – Bayern Munich defender Dante spoke to FIFA.com.

Guangzhou Evergrande and Kashiwa Reysol, who both won their first legs, were again victorious over Central Coast Mariners and Jeonbuk Motors respectively, while Lekhwiya and Esteghlal also advanced.

AC Milan defender Daniele Bonera has penned a new contract which will keep him at San Siro until June 2015.

Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed he will leave Malaga at the end of the season, with the Chilean coach heavily tipped to fill the vacancy left by Roberto Mancini at Manchester City this summer.

Lerin Duarte, Miquel Nelom, Dwight Tiendalli and Jens Toornstra have earned first call-ups to the Netherlands squad for the friendlies against Indonesia and China PR.

Xavi was among those present as Barcelona’s Medical Services was granted FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence status. Afterwards, he told FIFA.com the significance of having a medical centre of such calibre available to those at the club.

Bayern Munich defender Holger Badstuber faces a ten month spell on the sidelines following an operation to remove the cruciate ligament in his right knee, his club have confirmed.

Football development, through initiatives such as Goal and 11 For Health, will set the tone for the next FIFA Congress in Mauritius.

Liverpool striker Andy Carroll has withdrawn from the England squad for the friendly games against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil because of a foot injury, the Football Association have announced.

Claudio Reyna has left his position as U.S. Soccer Youth Technical Director, which he has held since April 2010, for a new role with the MLS expansion club New York City Football Club.

Clint Dempsey has continued his knack for big goals in big games over his 2012-13 campaign with both the U.S. Men's National Team and at Tottenham Hotspur.

Edinson Cavani stars along with Rafael Benitez, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Bayern Munich and CSKA Moscow in FIFA.com's latest stats review.

An important new study suggests that statins, the cholesterol-lowering medications that are the most prescribed drugs in the world, may block some of the fitness benefits of exercise, one of the surest ways to improve health.

Giuseppe Rossi, after a battle with injuries, made his debut for Fiorentina in the final game of the Serie A season in Italy.

Next season's A-League schedule has been announced with the season to conclude in May partly to assist national team preparations should the Socceroos qualify for Brazil 2014.

Ferran Soriano, a top executive at Manchester City, has long seen a future for soccer in the U.S. stretching back to his days at Barcelona.

The second round of the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup lived up to the excitement of the first round as four different PDL teams emerged victorious against NASL and USL PRO teams to find their way into Round 3 of the 100th edition of the tournament.

Minnesota United FC’s campaign in the 100th Lamar Hunt US Open Cup was a short one after falling to the Des Moines Menace 1-0 thanks to Brandon Fricke’s 86th minute goal. Minnesota had the run of play through most of the second half, but the Menace made the most of a late corner as Fricke’s glancing header from Jimmy Tulloch’s cross found its way past a sprawling Matt VanOekel and in at the far post to send the upset-minded Menace to a third round match against Open Cup holders Sporting Kansas City.

“It’s a tough one to take, it really is,” Minnesota head coach Manny Lagos said after the game. “Des Moines executed the kind of game plan you have to in a situation like this, so credit of course to them, but we’re disappointed not to do better with the chances we created throughout the game.”

The Menace tested VanOekel in the 23rd and 24th minute as Shadow Sebele and Albert Edward both shot from 20 yards, each eying the top corner and each denied by VanOekel’s fingertips. At the other end, Minnesota’s Pablo Campos brought a sprawling save out of Angevine with a curling right-footed shot from the top of the penalty area. Minnesota forward Travis Wall also had a shot cleared off the goal line following a scramble in the box.

Minnesota threatened throughout the second half as Des Moines looked content to counter. Wall missed a chance in the 57th minute to put United FC ahead, sending a shot wide as he fell backward after a corner fell to the ground in the box. Substitute Geison Moura had a goal waved off 10 minutes later after Campos was called offside when heading the ball down. In the 73rd minute, Campos dragged a tight-angle shot wide, and five minutes later he fought through multiple defenders before sending a shot just over the bar.

Content to counter, it was a rare push forward that set up Des Moines’ game-winning corner kick. Tulloch’s cross found Fricke peeling off his marker near the penalty spot, and his glancing header found the corner just inside the far post.

Minnesota was unlucky not to find an immediate equalizer as Campos rose well to head a Michael Reed free kick off the bar before Des Moines scrambled it clear. Minnesota had almost exclusive hold of the ball in the final minutes and stoppage but couldn’t find another shot on goal.

Game Summary

Minnesota starting lineup: GK – VanOekel; D – Davis, Dias, Brent Kallman, Venegas; M – Rodriguez (Heitor-Piffer 84), Arguez, Reed, Ibarra; F – Wall (Moura 59), Campos

Minnesota unused substitutes: GK – Hildebrandt; D – Buro, Tobin; M – de Silva, F – Bracalello

Des Moines starting lineup: GK – Angevine; D – Diem, Edward, Fricke (c), Vollmer; M – Hoek, Lax, Sebele, Thaden (Harmon 49); F – Santamaria (Wright 66), Tulloch

Des Moines unused substitutes: GK – Pais; D – Alabi; M – Jupic, Roberson; F – Chester

Scoring Summary

DMM – Brandon Fricke (Jimmy Tulloch) 86

Misconduct Summary

MNU – Cristiano Dias (caution) 34
DMM – Sean Hoek (caution) 42
DMM – Dylan Lax (caution) 67

Attendance: 1,009

The post Minnesota United FC falls to Des Moines Menace late in USOC action appeared first on MN United FC.

Manager Tony Pulis has left Stoke by mutual consent following seven successful years at the club.

Who should the top players from Major League Soccer face in the all-star game on July 31?