Two years after Manchester United was outclassed by Barcelona in the Champions League final, Alex Ferguson believes the Spanish champions are even better going into their rematch on Saturday. Since Barcelona won its third European title in 2009, Pep Guardiola's side has won two Spanish titles and is constantly lauded as football's best-ever team.

Dubai's Al Wasl club says it has made a bid for Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan and is awaiting a response from the Spanish club. The club, which earlier this month hired Argentine legend Diego Maradona as coach, said in a statement Tuesday it initially made an offer which Atletico Madrid rejected so it has made an "improved bid." Al Wasl did not provide details of how much it...

German champions Borussia Dortmund have signed Croatian attacking midfielder Ivan Perisic from Belgian Club Bruges, Bild newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has told an aide to ban an Associated Press sports writer after he asked a question about midfielder Ryan Giggs. Ferguson was speaking at a news conference Tuesday ahead of Saturday's Champions League final against Barcelona when the AP's Rob Harris asked him a question about Giggs, who was named in the British parliament on Monday as the soccer star...

The Fire is struggling in Major League Soccer play, but its U.S. Open Cup game tonight against the San Jose Earthquakes might be the tonic it needs to turn the season around.

Landon Donovan of the U.S. team, right, and Argentina's Javier Mascherano hit the turf during their friendly match in March.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Real Salt Lake traveled to the Lone Star state over the weekend to face FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park on Sunday, not bringing back a win, but a 0-0 draw.

Freddy Adu, who hasn't played for the US National Team in two years, has been named to the Gold Cup roster.

The United States will open play in the Concacaf Gold Cup against Canada in Detroit on June 7. Bob Bradley, the coach of the United States national team, released his 23-man roster for next month's friendly match against Spain and for the Concacaf Gold Cup tournament.

So Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich wields the axe again. Carlo Ancelotti was relieved of his duties as manager in a corridor at Goodison Park within an hour of the final match of the season.

Never mind the rights and wrongs of the actual decision, he deserved more than being informed of his fate in a corridor at another team's ground. Just a year ago the Italian led Chelsea to the domestic double.

Five factors that led to his downfall:

(none)...

No Class, No Continuity originally appeared on About.com World Soccer on Monday, May 23rd, 2011 at 05:58:38.

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Not a goal was scored in Major League Soccer on Sunday as both matches ended in scoreless draws. FC Dallas held out Real Salt Lake in a match delayed by lightning in the 83rd minute for almost two hours. It was the second time in the last three home games for Dallas that the game was suspended due to lighting.

Kevin Hartman made two saves and FC Dallas extended its shutout streak to 399 minutes with a 0-0 tie against Real Salt Lake on Sunday night. The game was delayed by lightning in the 83rd minute for 1 hour, 52 minutes. It was the second time in the last three home games for FC Dallas that the game was suspended due to lighting.

Kevin Hartman made two saves and FC Dallas extended its shutout streak to 399 minutes with a 0-0 tie against Real Salt Lake on Sunday night.

Stefan Frei made three saves and undermanned Toronto FC tied 0-0 with the Colorado Rapids on Sunday night. Frei made two saves in the second half for his third shutout of the season. Midfielder Oscar Gordan (groin) didn't make the trip while injuries kept midfielders Jacob Peterson (ankle) and Tony Tchani (knee) were out.

Kevin Hartman made two saves and FC Dallas extended its shutout streak to 399 minutes with a 0-0 tie against Real Salt Lake on Sunday night. The game was delayed by lightning in the 83rd minute for 1 hour, 52 minutes. It was the second time in the last three home games for FC Dallas that the game was suspended due to lighting.

Vurnon Anita scored in the 87th minute to lift Dutch champion Ajax to a 2-1 win over D.C. United in a friendly at RFK Stadium on Sunday. Anita dribbled deep into United territory and then smacked home a left-footed strike past goalkeeper Steve Cronin and inside the left post for the winner. In the 10th minute, Miralem Sulejmani beat United's starting keeper Bill Hamid off a pass from Nicolas...