SAO PAULO (AP)—Ronaldo is set to play himself in an Iranian movie about a Palestine girl who was killed before realizing her dream of meeting him.

Ronaldo has reached a deal to be part of the movie and will start filming as early as September in Lebanon, according to officials at the Brazil-Iran chamber of commerce, which is helping produce the movie.

Still without a title, the movie is based on the true story of Alneyrab, a 13-year-old girl who dreamed of meeting the soccer star when he visited the Middle East on a humanitarian mission in 2005. She was only able to watch her idol pass through along with his entourage, and later was killed in a conflict in the region.

Ronaldo’s agent, Fabiano Farah, confirmed to Globo’s Web site that Ronaldo has signed a pre-contract for the movie.

The 32-year-old Ronaldo, who is thriving with Corinthians in his comeback from the third serious knee injury of his career, will appear in some scenes that take place in the girl’s dreams, said Farrokh Faradji Chadan, president of the Brazil-Iran chamber of commerce.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)—Former Brazilian soccer star Romario has been arrested in a child support case involving his first wife.

Police spokesman Analder Lopes says Romario was taken into custody for allegedly failing to make child support payments to Monica Santoro, who has custody of the couple’s children, 15-year-old Romarinho and 19-year-old Moniquinha.

Lopes says he does not know how much Romario owed his ex-wife and added the player’s lawyers promised to present documents proving he had made the payments. He did not provide further information.

In 2004, Romario, one of Brazil’s 1994 World Cup champions, was detained for the same reason, but was released in a few hours after proving he had paid his wife.

BOSTON (AP)—The owner of the New England Patriots and New England Revolution has joined an effort to bring the FIFA World Cup to the U.S. in 2018 or 2022.

Robert Kraft, CEO of The Kraft Group, accepted Wednesday an invitation to join the board of directors for the USA Bid Committee.

Kraft led the successful bid for Foxboro Stadium to serve as one of the nine host venues during the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

The U.S., Australia, England, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico and Russia have formally declared their desire to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022. Netherlands-Belgium and Portugal-Spain have each submitted joint bids for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, while Qatar and South Korea have applied as candidates to play host only to the tournament in 2022.

Mixed Nuts, Spring Cup Champions

Match Day Recap

WCWFC Co-ed Cup Final: Spring 2009, By Neil Cruz

Windy City Wanderers F.C is taking over. Forgive me if that sounds a bit bold but allow me to provide you with a brief history of playing soccer in Chicago. Like many of you I used to wait along the side lines for a pick-up game on the fields at Montrose or the park on Belmont and Marine Drive. What I loved was the fact that you could meet individuals from every nationality and play to your hearts’ content. Unfortunately, consistency was always an issue as people would either show up or not show up at all. Not to mention the ever arrogant European ex-pat who could not understand that pick-up is for fun and not a World Cup qualifier. In addition, there was also the issue of elitism in many competitive leagues making hard for someone to be a part of without a resume of college or semi-pro experience.

With the spring session of the WCWFC co-ed and men’s league in the record books, the things Chicago soccer enthusiasts looked for in a soccer league were accomplished and even exceeded. Some of these things include, several leagues on quality fields, excellent competition, unique tournaments, a fan network with the Chicago Fire, and consistent weekly pick-up games is what many individuals had been clamoring for years. Add to the mix a laid back meeting spot (Sully’s House) and you have an organization where soccer is king and not an afterthought to softball or flag football.

The WCWFC co-ed Cup tournament final took place this past Sunday June 12^th, at the Rauner Family YMCA. After a grueling cup competition, filled with tough matches, heartbreaking losses and developing rivalries all in attendance were treated to a competitive albeit lopsided final.

The concept of premier and first division in the co-ed division has provided a new challenging format different from any other league in the city. Teams can rise to the premier division from the first division and teams can also be relegated. Yet the Cup competition is even more unique in that it that allows all of the co-ed teams to battle it out during the course of the season to determine the best overall team. Was it hard work? Absolutely! Was it confusing at first? A bit… Yet over the past two months we have been treated to a series of entertaining and competitive matches.

This past Sunday pitted the Mixed Nuts against the Small Bar. Both teams encountered stumbling blocks throughout the season and each team had difficult games against their respective rivals. Gone were some favorites as Neal’s Indian Grill, The Champagne Footballers, Atlas, Los Medicos and the Bad News Bears who were all eliminated in prior rounds.

Due to some technical difficulties, the game began shortly after the scheduled time of 7:30 p.m. Both the Mixed Nuts and Small Bar would not only be battling each other but the setting sun as well. Surprisingly, there were some players missing on both sides with neither side having more than one substitute, What made it more surprising was that this was a WCWFC Cup final game as well.

The Mixed Nuts got on the board early and often en route to a 5-0 drubbing of the Small Bar. Small Bar had various opportunities to score but were unable to capitalize. Rob Johnson provided a good deal of the offense with incredible throw-ins’ and free kicks that looked like they were placed by hand rather than foot, but the strikers could not capitalize. Missing from the ranks of the Small Bar were players Rejii Hayes and goalkeeper Clay Cochran. (Ballz to the Wall Award Recipient) A questionable call came towards the end of the first half where Small Bar strikers claimed a hand ball in the penalty area by the defenders of the Mixed Nuts. Their pleas went unanswered by referee Carlos and play was ordered to continue…

Team captain J.C Groon opened the scoring in the 11’ minute for the Mixed Nuts with a brilliant header that found its way into the corner of the net. Mike Flanagan a late arrival added a second goal towards the end of the half. In the second half, Groon muscled his way past a defender to score two minutes into the half. Small Bar was unable to muster much offense during the second half except for a few shots that sailed over the oppositions net. Flanagan added two more goals at the 47’ and 49’ minute which included a deflected shot that the Small Bar goalkeeper could not control. Shortly towards the end of the half the final goal sailed past the keeper for a final score of 5-0.

As the cup was presented to the Mixed Nuts and the team photo was taken, team captain J.C Groon gathered his players who will be ready to defend their trophy for the summer session. Groon added a few comments which were primarily a set of clichés about team work and having a great season. The best comment came from a member of the Mixed Nuts who stated his feelings about his experience in the league and his first cup title, “it was worth the sunburn!” Summer session begins this weekend at the Rauner YMCA. Congratulations to the Mixed Nuts and to WCWFC for a successful spring campaign, here’s to a great summer… See you on the pitch

By Grahame Jones

CARSON, Calif. - The fans came to see Cuauhtemoc Blanco. They ended up having to settle for Terry Vaughn.

In yet another Major League Soccer match in which the game officials succeeded in grabbing the limelight, Chivas USA on Thursday night suffered a devastating 3-2 loss to the unbeaten Fire.

The Fire’s tying and winning goals were scored in the 89th and 90th minutes, respectively, the latter on Blanco’s second successful penalty kick of the night, this one six minutes into stoppage time.

It was a fast-paced and incident-packed game spoiled to a large extent by refereeing that left Chivas Coach Preki angrily pointing his finger at Vaughn in a post-game confrontation.
Vaughn handed out 11 yellow cards (seven to Chivas USA) and one red card. It was a spirited match, but not especially mean-spirited, and there are surely better ways to keep players in line.

Paulo Nagamura gave Chivas (7-2-3) the lead in the 16th minute, catching Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch by surprise when he unleashed a swerving shot from more than 30 yards.

Bush was slow to move to his left and Nagamura had his fourth goal of the season, tying him with Eduardo Lillingston for the team lead.

Nine minutes later, the Fire (5-0-6) was back on level terms.

Chivas USA defender Shavar Thomas, in a moment of madness, grabbed a handful of Wilman Conde’s jersey and dragged the Fire player to the ground in the penalty area. There was no argument about it being a penalty kick, although Nagamura did protest loudly and received a yellow card for his trouble.

Blanco stepped up and blasted the kick past Zach Thornton in the Chivas USA net and tied it up at 1-1.

There was an unsavory and unnecessary incident later in the half that added to the frayed tempers on the field. Chivas midfielder Sacha Kljestan wrapped his arm around Conde’s neck and pulled him down in a move more reminiscent of rugby than soccer.

Vaughn was late in making the call and, strangely, did not see fit to give Kljestan what would have been a deserved yellow card. That had Fire coach Denis Hamlett up off the bench and screaming, only to have the game’s fourth official, Baldomero Toledo, get in his face and order him to sit down.

More drama followed.

First, Conde was given a yellow card throwing an elbow that knocked Lillingston to the grass long after the ball had gone.

Then, Chivas USA’s Cuban striker Maykel Galindo made a run into the Fire penalty area and was brought down by Conde. Vaughn again pointed to the penalty spot and Galindo scored on the resulting kick to put Chivas back in front, 2-1, near the end of the first half.

Before the kick was taken, Vaughn managed to issue yellow cards to the Fire’s Gonzalo Segares and Galindo for alleged “unsporting behavior.”

The second half had no sooner started than Vaughn was at it again, this time giving Blanco a yellow card for “dissent.”

The Mexican international was again involved in the 63rd minute when he was crudely chopped down by Chivas captain Jesse Marsch, who was ejected after receiving his second yellow card and thus a red card.

That left Chivas to play a man short for the final 27 minutes plus stoppage time while trying to hold its one-goal lead.

Patrick Nyarko’s tying goal at 88:29 put paid to that idea, and when Chivas defender Mariano Trujillo shoved Brian McBride down in the penalty area, Blanco settled matters.

Blanco will leave the Fire on Friday to help rescue Mexico’s floundering national team, which heads into a critical June 6 road match in El Salvador in danger of failing to qualify for next summer’s World Cup in South Africa.

“I’m there to support them. For me that’s the most important,” Blanco said. “For me the most important thing is getting to the World Cup.”

After Mexico won only one of its first three matches in the final round of Cup qualifying, its soccer federation cleaned house last month, firing coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and replacing him with Javier Aguirre. Aguirre then added Blanco, 36, who had retired from the national team, to his roster.

The Fire’s Gonzalo Segares (Costa Rica) and Bakary Soumare (Mali) also have been called to serve with their respective national teams for World Cup Qualifying matches and will report after Sunday’s Fire game.
*Note: There is a photo gallery of Fire players in action on the Chicago Tribune website. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/soccer/fire/chi-chicago-fire-photos,0,3171533.photogallery

The Chicago Fire PDL will begin Cup play June 9th against the Milwaukee Bavarians on the Toyota Park Training Field
 
CHICAGO, IL (May 28, 2009) – The Chicago Fire Player Development Team (PDL) has qualified for the U.S. Open Cup after their 1-0 win against the Fort Wayne Fever on May 24th.  The team will take on the Milwaukee Bavarians, the Region 2 Amateur Champion, during their first game on June 9th at 5:00 PM on the Toyota Park Training Field.
 
The esteemed U.S. Open Cup is the oldest cup competition in United States soccer, and it is also one of the oldest cup competitions in the world.  In 2009, it will enter its 96th tournament in its history.  The U.S. Open Cup is open to any men’s team in the United States, both amateur and professional, and the levels of qualifying for the tournament vary.  The Chicago Fire PDL Team secured their
position after their win over the Fort Wayne Fever and also due to their first place ranking and impressive record of 3-0-1 in their four match-ups.
 
This is the third time the team has qualified for the U.S. Open Cup tournament in its nine seasons. The last time they qualified was in 2005 and they also qualified in 2004.  The 2009 Chicago Fire PDL Team is one of eight teams from the larger 67-team Premier Development League to qualify for the tournament.  Even more impressive is the fact that both the Chicago Fire PDL Team and the Chicago Fire First team have qualified for the tournament.
 
“It’s a great honor to qualify for the tournament.  The Chicago Fire is the only organization in the country with two teams that have qualified.  It’s an honor to represent the badge of the Chicago Fire in the U.S. Open Cup,” says John Dorn, President of Chicago Fire PDL.
 
“I am very proud of the effort of our players in a tough four game stretch,” says Larry Sunderland, Head coach and director of the Chicago Fire PDL. “I’m confident we will see certain players in the Major League Soccer level in the next few years and we look forward to representing the Chicago Fire in the U.S. Open Cup.” 
 
For more information on the Premier Development League, visit http://pdl.uslsoccer.com/, and to read about the U.S. Open Cup and to view the 2009 tournament schedule and scores, visit www.usopencup.com/.

LONDON (AP)—Carlos Tevez’s farewell to Manchester United fans celebrating their latest title was another painful chapter in a life and career that simply refuses to go in a straight line.

Seemingly unwanted by Man United, the 24-year-old Argentine striker is reluctantly looking for another club even though he wants to stay and fans have been pleading for months for manager Alex Ferguson to make the loan permanent.

What seems on the outside to be a logical move just doesn’t happen in the world of Carlos Tevez.

The small but tough striker, who bears scars on his neck and chest after a childhood scalding, has weaved through tangled transfers and rule-breaking controversies, none his own fault. Now he appears to be leaving United in a move that clouds the club’s most recent championship.

Tevez, whose tournament-leading eight goals helped Argentina win its first Olympic soccer gold medal at the Athens Games, is one of the many South American stars whose contracts are owned by various investors because clubs cannot afford the transfer or salary.

When he moved from Argentina’s Boca Juniors to Brazil’s Corinthians, the transfer fee of almost $20 million was a record for a Brazilian club. Some said it was far too much to spend on one player. But the bulk of the money came from the English-based Media Sports Investment, and the criticism abated when his goals led Corinthians to league titles.

He had problems at Corinthians, however. He fought with a teammate during training, and the club considered legal action against him after he went missing and was seen singing in a Buenos Aires nightclub with a group he helped form.

MSI eventually sold Tevez on to England’s West Ham, along with fellow Argentina star Javier Mascherano. That caused another furor on the other side of the Atlantic.

Premier League rules say that clubs cannot buy players from a third party and fined West Ham $11 million. Tevez continued to play for the Hammers, however, and his goal on the final day of the Premier League championship saved the club from relegation.

That led to more legal trouble for West Ham when Sheffield United, which went down instead, won a compensation claim after arguing that Tevez shouldn’t have been allowed to keep playing for the club.

Tevez finally thought he’d found a stable home at Old Trafford, where he arrived on a two-year loan last season with a view to a permanent transfer. He helped the Red Devils win two straight Premier League titles, a Champions League title, a Club World Cup and a League Cup.

The fans loved him because of his work ethic, his persistence in tackling after losing the ball and his skills in scoring or setting up goals.

“The fans love a trier,” said Ferguson, ducking questions about why the team won’t spend the estimated $37.5 million to buy him.

So Tevez is resigned to leaving at the end of the season, either because the club won’t complete the complicated transfer with the people who own his contract or because the Red Devils don’t want him any more. The official line from the club is that nothing will be decided until after the season.

Tevez had moved his wife and young daughter to England and has repeatedly said he and his family were happy in Manchester. But he felt betrayed by the club and told Argentine media he also was upset at being frequently left on the bench.

Although he seemed to enjoy the title celebrations at Old Trafford on Saturday, he wore an Argentina national team shirt instead of Man United colors toward the end of the ceremony.

“I feel a lot of pain to have to leave Manchester United because of the fans. It’s hard for me to accept this,” Tevez said. “Each day that goes by is more difficult for me because I know that I am not going to play at the club anymore.”

Although Ferguson is likely to rest most of his front-line players in Sunday’s final league game at Hull, there is still the Champions League final May 27 against Barcelona. If Tevez is not in the lineup or on the bench, that will signal his United career is over.

A cold wind blew in again this past Sunday for the WCWFC Premier League matches at the Rauner YMCA turf. “Maybe it will be warm one of these days”, stated league coordinator Matt Rosine. Regardless, play continued and three quite competitive games were played throughout the evening. Since Sunday was Mother’s Day, many team rosters were much smaller than usually. For those who took care of motherly duties early, they would have to carry the slack of their missing team mates. Sunday had it all, goals, skilled play, sloppy play, one touch passing, bone-head plays, amazing saves and two women about to fight!! I LOVE THIS GAME!

The first match of the evening pitted the Los Chupa Cabras Locos against Atlas. Chupa Cabras came into the game at the bottom of the table hoping to make up some ground after consecutive losses in cup and league play. It would be a tough mountain to climb as Atlas scored at the 1:25 mark with a goal from Ayman Mowad. Even before the Cabras could regroup, Ayman struck again with another goal at the fourth minute off of an assist by Heather Bushouse. It took fifteen minutes for the Cabras to get their first shot on goal. Saher Esmeir provided most of the offense for his team with four shots on goals during the first half. Peter Boutsikakis a former member of Team Olympiakos was solid in his role as a central defender preventing Atlas from running up the score even more.

Brian Duggan began to put the game out of reach early with at goal at 14:40 making the score 3-0. Five minutes later, Rui Kaneya scored on the beleaguered goal keeper Ricardo Bernal to make the score 4-0. Ayman struck again thirty seconds later with a shot that went over the crossbar. Mercifully, halftime came with all but five minutes for the Cabras to discuss strategy in order for the score to not get any further out of control. The second half brought more complications as three further goals were added on new goalkeeper Yiannis Skarpathiotis. The Chupa Cabras did avoid the shutout through a strike by Wajiw Casey in the 51^st minute of play. The final twenty minutes brought a bit of calm and as the final whistle blew Atlas gained a valuable three points in a 7-1 victory.

The second game between the Bad News Bears and the Mixed Nuts turned into a veritable scoring bonanza as a combined ten goals were scored in the match. Both teams entered as favorites to win both league and cup competition although the Bears would distance themselves from their rivals. The only thing missing from the Bears were logos indicating their sponsorship from Chico’s Bail Bonds rather than the sponsorship logo from Sully’s House. Simply put the Bears had a simple formula to win the game: Pete Bogira to Mecoas Ware constantly peppering the opposing goal keeper. The Mixed Nuts only had 10 players and were missing their team captain J.C Groon - a crucial cog in the Mixed Nuts machine.

Before most players had even fully stretched, Mecoas Ware was at work scoring a breakaway goal just 1:42 into the match. The Mixed struck back only three minutes later and tied the game at one a piece. The combination of Bogira and Ware struck seven minutes later for another goal in a match that was quickly evolving into a high scoring affair. Pete Bogira scored in the 20^th minute with what was arguably the best goal of the evening. A strike from thirty yards beat the goalkeeper who was unable to get a hand on an impressive, curving strike. Another goal came at the 24^th minute that was a result of a three player combination of Pete Bogira, Carl Brinker and none other than Ware finished for a 3-1 lead. John Booth added another goal to seemingly put the match out of hand and push the score up to 4-1 by halftime. The Mixed Nuts did make a push in the second half scoring three goals but two more goals from Mecoas Ware put the game out of reach for a final score of 6-4 in favor of the Bad News Bears.

Aside from the impressive performance of Ware, the game also had one of the first dust-ups that I have written about. Two players, of which I could only obtain one of names of who were involved in the fracas. Both players were cited for engaging in rough play that resulted in tempers boiling over and both players exchanging shoves, scratches and a punch to the back and supposed “biting.” Yes biting. Both women were shown red cards and left the field in disgust. At the end of the game, I overheard two Mixed Nuts players’ stating that the player of the Bears had not only punched/forearmed their teammate in back but also bit her! After conferring with referee Carlos, no player was bit during the course of the match but rumors still persist…

The final match of the evening evolved into the most exciting of all three. Neal’s Indian Grill and Team Small Bar played in a game that demonstrated why the Premier league provides some of the best co-ed competition of all of any adult recreational league. Not to mention, the game included the heroics of Clay Cochran. If you don’t know about Clay, get to know him, if you don’t want to know him, then you have no choice especially if you play in the Sunday afternoon leagues. Cochran dug deep and summoned the spirit of his college years. While short in statue, his heart was that of giant making twelve crucial saves en route to a 1-0 defeat of Neal’s Indian Grill.

Rejii Hayes goal at the 39’ minute was the difference maker as Indian Grill’s goalkeeper’s Jeremy Zoladz only mistake of the evening put his team down by one. The final twenty-five minutes of the match were played at a frenetic pace. Brett Holmes continuously cut through the defense of Small Bar but could not finish as he had in previous weeks. Clay Cochran made three incredible saves in consecutive fashion that prevented the Indian Grill from tying the game. Kudos to both teams for an extremely well-played and entertaining match.

Special recognition to goal keeper Clay Cochran who is this weeks’ “Ballz to Wall” recipient, last week the award went to goalkeeper Nathan Wilusz of the co-ed first division. The “Ballz to the Wall Award” is an unofficial weekly award given to that player who demonstrates superior skills and excellence in the field of adult recreational athletics. This award is not affiliated with WCWFC and is strictly an honor provided by my writing staff.

Currently, the Bad News Bears are the top of the Premier Division table with nine points trailed by Atlas with seven. The Chupa Cabras need to re-organize in order to avoid relegation at the end of the season as they are at the bottom of the table with one point. Neal’s Indian Grill, Mixed Nuts and Small Bar are middle of the table with six and five points respectively.

Cup action returns this weekend as both first and Premier and First division team’s battle for the right of WCWFC’s best co-ed squad. See you on the pitch…

Finally, the sun came out! This was the only thought that came to mind as I arrived at the Rauner YMCA Turf field this past Sunday morning. League play resumed after last week’s WCWFC Cup games. Many teams were licking their wounds while other teams were celebrating victories that they hoped would carry over into this week. Conditions could not be better as the warm sun was a welcome change from rain and temperatures in the upper 30’s.

The first match of the morning pitted the Strangers United against the Chicago Liverpool Football Club. Strangers United who had suffered a loss in Cup play the previous week, returned with a vengeance with a decisive win over a depleted CLFC.

The combination of Shannon Rosine and D.K Thomas was effective throughout the match combining on two goals. Both goals were practically identical as Rosine was able to loop a cross into the area that Thomas put away on both occasions. The duo almost struck again for a third time but Thomas was unable to reach the cross and CLFC went into the half down by a score of 2-0.

CLFC tried to recuperate through a goalkeeper change, Bryn Griffiths shed the keepers’ jersey and put on the traditional Carlsberg red jersey as he hoped to provide a spark for CLFC. The goal keeping change proved to be quite puzzling as Griffiths was replaced by Meredith Lansdown.

Most doubts were quickly put to rest as Lansdown had a relatively solid 30 minutes allowing only one goal to find the back of the net. Unfortunately, Chicago Liverpool was left to walk alone as a lack of substitutions provided few offensive options for the Reds.

Thomas would add the finisher midway through the second half for a 3-0 lead. The Strangers kept up the pressure throughout the match; Mukta Valdva point blank shot went wide of the goal keeper. Arif Ismail also two shots on goal for the Strangers. Aside from Thomas’ goals, Ismail’s aggressive play was a highlight of the match. Ismail forced corner kicks and was continuously running down loose balls to provide further scoring chances for his team.

Strangers United all took a collective gasp as Nathan Wilusz went balls to the wall against the CLFC powerhouse known as “Remy”. Wilusz was clutching his ribs after a collision with Remy but was able to continue. Shortly after this play, Ismail quoted that Wilusz has been a key element to the team’s success. He is simply “superhuman,” quoted Ismail.

The second match of the morning was a tale of two halves as Bakgat 11 faced off against FC Hangover. Bakgat was featuring fresh out the box Puma jerseys with their names on the back! The feel of polyester and rayon was stimulating as Bakgat started the match with two quick goals from Vince McClelland. Bakgat was solid defensively through the collective effort of Bob Scalise and Robert Thomas.

Bakgat began a progressive decline after the 17^th minute. Tristan Gunn and Brad Schweiger combined with two goals at the 17^th and 18^th minute to even the score at 2-2. After Bakgat’s keeper picked up the a pass from his own player, the Hangover had another chance to score even though there was some confusion over the concept of an indirect kick. The play amount to very little as the shot went wide of the net. The second half brought more misfortune for Bakgat who were unable to stop the combination of Gunn and Schweiger who blew the game open with five goals for a final score of 7-2. Bakgat was a completely different squad in the second half, poor clearances by the keeper, players running into each other and few shots on goal left the first glorious fifteen minutes as a distant memory.

The third match of the morning between Los Medicos and the Champagne Footballers resulted in a forfeit win that was more sparkling cider than champagne. The Footballers earned a precious three points due to Los Medicos inability to field any women for the game. Two weeks of no-shows have resulted in two losses in both cup and league competitions for the Medicos. A member of Los Medicos made it clear to remind me that, “of course we were demoralized last week; we had no goalie and were playing with nine player, geez! Yeah that is demoralizing and so was another loss… Unfortunate, but look for the Medicos to heal their wounds through the use of vicodin and whiskey for this Sunday’s match against the unlucky Bakgat 11. Below is the lineup for this Sunday’s upcoming matches. See you all on the pitch…

WCWFC Coed First Division Schedule 5/8/09

WCWFC First Division Matches

Match One: 9:00am

Bakgat 11(H) vs. Los Medicos(A)

Location: Rauner YMCA Outdoor Turf Field

Statistics: View

View Event Info

Match Two: 10:20am

The Champagne Footballers(H) vs. Strangers United(A)

Location: Rauner YMCA Outdoor Turf Field

Statistics: View

View Event Info

Match Three: 11:40am

FC Hangover vs. Chicago Liverpool F.C

WCWFC Premier Division Matches

Match One: 3:45pm

Atlas(H) vs. Los Chupacabras Locos(A)

Location: Rauner YMCA Outdoor Turf Field

Statistics: View

View Event Info

Match Two: 5:05pm

Bad News Bears(H) vs. Mixed Nuts(A)

Location: Rauner YMCA Outdoor Turf Field

Statistics: View

View Event Info

Match Three: 6:25pm

Small Bar(H) vs. Neal’s Indian Grill (A)

LONDON (AP)—The Wembley Stadium turf will be dug up and replaced following criticism from soccer teams.

The Football Association said Friday that a new sand-soil playing surface will be installed in time for a semiprofessional cup final on May 9.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger branded the grass “a disaster” after his team lost to Chelsea on Saturday in the FA Cup semifinals. Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson called the surface “dead” following his club’s penalty shootout defeat to Everton the next day.

The FA Cup final will be played at Wembley on May 30.

The 90,000-seat stadium opened two years ago at a cost of $1.57 billion. The stands block much of the sunlight from the grass, which has also been damaged by concerts and other sports events.