Chelsea Makes History as Europa League Champion

Chelsea becomes the first English team to win all three major European club competitions. (Martin Meissner)

Unlikely as it may seem, Chelsea is a European Champion once again. Last year, the club made an unlikely run to defeat Bayern Munich in dramatic fashion to win the Champions League final. Today, Chelsea earned the club's first Europa League trophy by beating Benfica, 2-1, in similar fashion with a goal in stoppage time.

Chelsea becomes the first English team to win all three major European club competitions, having won the Champions League last year and the Cup Winners’ Cup, which is no longer in existence. Today's win helps to bring closure to what can be described as a tumultuous season. This has seemingly become the norm for a club that has lately made an art of collecting trophies in unconventional fashions.

There are always high expectations for Chelsea and coming off a Champions League title made this situation even more extreme. Things not begin as the club had hoped. After a slow start in the Premier League, Chelsea had to settle for trying to secure a Champions League spot for next season’s tournament. Meanwhile, the Blues struggled in this season's competition. A disgraceful 3-0 loss to Juventus in November not only essentially eliminated the club from contention, but cost highly-decorated manger Roberto Di Matteo his job.

Chelsea supporters were shocked by Di Matteo’s dismissal, but became even more vexed by the appointment of the unpopular Rafael Benitez as the interim manager. Many questioned the club's direction and leadership at the top. A surprising loss to Corinthians in the World Club Cup final in December only fueled their fury.

With the turn of the calender year, things slowly began to turnaround for the club. The Europa League final presented Chelsea with one final opportunity for redemption. This would be the club's last opportunity to lift a trophy, be it one they had never won before.

The match did not start out the way the English side had hoped. Benfica, one of the top Portuguese clubs, was the aggressor for the opening whistle. Much the way Bayern dominated in its final against Chelsea last year, Benfica took control early and frankly was the better team. The Blues had to be grateful when the whistle blew, and the sides went to their locker rooms scoreless at the intermission.

To begin the second half, Benfica controlled the pace of play once again, until Chelsea caught the break they had been looking for. Goalkeeper Peter Cech threw the ball forward to midfield. Midfielder Juan Mata was on the receiving end and precisely passed it towards striker Fernando Torres. Torres broke through the Benfica defense, was able to dribble around goalkeeper Artur  and bury it for his ninth goal in Europe this season.

Benfica would not be deterred. The Portuguese side's persistent pressure finally paid off as they were rewarded a penalty kick. Oscar Cardozo calmly drilled it home to level the score.

Last year, Chelsea faced similar adversity against Bayern Munich with limited time left to play. Chelsea steadily improved as that game went on. That was true of today's match as well. Despite the setback, the Blues seemed to brim with confidence as they advanced forward a stream of scoring opportunities.

As stoppage time waned on, Chelsea earned one final corner kick. Mata's booming kick was headed to the far post. Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic kept his eyes on the ball the whole time. As he backpedaled into position, he rose over the Benfica defense and hit an arching header that was placed beautifully in the corner of the net for the match-winning goal.

Chelsea now joins Bayern Munich, Ajax and Juventus as the only clubs to have won all three major European club competitions (the Champions League, the Europa League and the Cup Winners’ Cup). The Blues also become only the second club to win both major competitions back to back and the first to hold them at the same time.

Chelsea's campaign may have gotten off to a tumultuous start, but is coming to an end in glorious fashion. Benitez will leave the club with yet another accomplishment to add to his impeccable record. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will rest easier tonight knowing that his club has now won its 11th trophy in his 10 years at the helm and made history yet again.

Man Dies Trying to Dribble Soccer Ball to World Cup in Brazil

Richard Swanson planned to walk from Seattle to Sao Paulo, Brazil, for next year’s World Cup. (Bill Wagner)

Do you have a bucket list? What have you dreamed of doing that other people might think is utter nonsense? Richard Swanson, a 42-year old man from Seattle, Washington decided that he was going to try and live out one of his dreams. He wanted to go to the World Cup. Like many Americans, Swanson had been recently laid off work. He did not have a steady stream of income, but he would not let this stop him.

Swanson decided to walk and dribble a soccer ball at his feet from Seattle to Sao Paulo, Brazil. His goal was to make it in time for next year’s international soccer tournament. Described as an "avid runner, soccer player, and all-around lover of the Pacific Northwest," Swanson planned to visit 11 countries during his one-year-plus trip south. Along the way, he would dribble an "indestructible" soccer ball to promote the One World Futbol Project, a charity that donates these balls to people in disadvantaged communities.

"All these pieces just started to come together in a way that — it almost felt that, it felt natural, it felt that I was doing what I should be doing, that this was my next leg in my life," Swanson said in a YouTube video before he started the trek.

Swanson was collecting monetary donations and asking people for places to sleep and food to eat as he journeyed south. He documented his journey with YouTube videos, Facebook posts and a website that he maintained, which included a map that tracked his travels via GPS.

Tragically, Swanson's journey ended prematurely Tuesday morning when he was mowed down by a pickup truck south of Lincoln City, Oregon. This was only two weeks and a few hundred miles into his journey. The public was informed of the accident via Swanson's Facebook.

“It is with a heavy heart to notify you that Richard Swanson passed on this morning,” someone posted on Swanson's “Breakaway Brazil” Facebook. “His team, family, friends, and loved ones will miss him and love him dearly. You made it to Brazil in our hearts, Richard. Team Richard.”

Outpourings of support and prayers filled the Facebook page. Among those who wrote, were the two sons, 18 and 22, Swanson leaves behind.

“We love you dad..with all our hearts!” Devin Swanson wrote. “You are a inspiration to all to continue doing what you love! One day..I will continue your journey in your name!”

Even though Swanson never made it to Brazil or saw a World Cup game in person, I do not believe he would wanted to go any other way. If you watch Swanson's YouTube videos, it is plain to see that he believed this is what he was supposed to do. Swanson passed way trying to accomplish what he dreamed of doing. This is his message to us. Do not let your dreams just be dreams. You can pursue them and seek to bring them to fruition.

Africa Cup of Nations Group A Preview and Predictions

Striker Siyabonga Sangweni celebrates his goal during South Africa's 2-0 victory over Angola. (kickoff.com)

The group stage of the African Cup of Nations is beginning to come a close. Final match days will decide which two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage. Group A is the first group to have its final match day. That day is Sunday, January 27.

Before I preview the two matches, let's look at the all important group table and the possible advancement scenarios that come as a result.

(Graphic credit: ESPN.com)

South Africa will advance if:

• They win or draw against Morocco
• Cape Verde does not defeat Angola.

Cape Verde will advance if:

• They defeat Angola
• They draw with Angola and South Africa defeats Morocco
• South Africa draw with Morocco and Cape Verde outscores Morocco

Morocco will advance if:

• They defeat South Africa
• They draw with South Africa and Cape Verde draws with Angola
• Morocco outscores Cape Verde

Angola will advance if:

• They defeat Cape Verde and South Africa defeats Morocco

Now that we have that mostly straightened out, we can focus on previewing this group's two final matches.

Angola vs. Cape Verde - 12:00 PM EST, ESPN3

In their opening game Angola played to draw with Morocco. Angola then got dominated by South Africa in a 2-0 loss. Cape Verde has drawn twice so far. The first was a scoreless one with South Africa. They played Morocco to a 1-1 draw in their second game. Angola has yet to score in the year's tournament, but Manucho Goncalves is their main threat to do so. Luis Carlos Platini has Cape Verde's only goal thus far. Angola needs to win this have any chance of advancing. The problem with that is that it plays exactly into Cape Verde's plans.

Prediction: Cape Verde 1 Angola 0

South Africa vs. Morocco - 12:00 PM EST, ESPN3 

As the tournament hosts, South Africa is playing under high expectations. Their fans were not too pleased with a 0-0 draw to Cape Verde in their opening match. South Africa though appeased them in the next game by scoring two goals in the group's only victory so far. Siyabonga Sangweni got them on the board first and Micheal Majoro added the second in the 62nd minute. In Morocco's opening game against Angola, neither team could find a way to score that ended in a 0-0 draw. They trailed Cape Verde 1-0 in their second game. Youssef El Arabi delievered the equalizer in the 78th minute to earn Morocco its second draw of tournament. All that South Africa needs is a draw to be certain that they will advance. I think they will back more defensively and hold off Morocco to pick up their result.

Prediction: South Africa 1 Morocco 1

Overall Prediction: South Africa (Group A winner) and Cape Verde (Group A runner-up) advance

Demba Ba Scores Twice in Chelsea Debut

Demba Ba scored two goals Saturday in his debut for Chelsea. (Sang Tan)

Controversy surrounded Stamford Bridge following Chelsea's shocking defeat to last-place QPR. The Blues just wanted to put the disappointment behind them. On Friday, they completed their acquisition of Senegalese striker Demba Ba, who came over in a transfer from Newcastle. As it turned out, he was exactly the remedy they were looking for.

Ba got his first run just about 24 hours later. Chelsea, the current FA Cup holders, began their defense of the trophy on Saturday at Southampton. Ba's arrival allowed manager Rafa Benitez to fellow striker Fernando Torres a day off after his recent heavy workload. He decided to give Ba the start in his place.

Chelsea came out confident, but surprisingly it was the home side that struck first. In the 22nd minute, Southampton took advantage on the counter. Jason Puncheon's pass found Jay Rodriguez in space. Rodriguez made the most of it as he was able to chip the ball past the charging Ross Turnbull.

Chelsea had the answer though. Juan Mata was the one that challenged the Southampton defense. He sidestepped his defender and put the ball past Artur Boruc. The ball was headed towards the net and Ba beat Steven Davis to provide the final touch into the net. Just like that, Ba had a goal in his debut for the Blues.

In the waning stoppage time of the first half, Chelsea struck again. Ashley Cole was able to cut the ball back to Victor Moses, was able to finish it on a half-volley. Seven minutes into the second half, the Blues netted another when Mata's cross found Branislav Ivanovic for a simple header.

Ba was rewarded for his excellent movement throughout the match. He was on the receiving end of a pass from Eden Hazard in the box. Ba was able to fend off Southampton captain Jose Fonte to bury it past Boruc. He looked set to complete a hat trick, but was denied by the Polish goalkeeper.

With seven minutes left in the match, Frank Lampard drew a penalty kick on a foul by Davis. He buried to put the icing on Chelsea's 5-1 rout of Southampton. Lampard joins Kerry Dixon at second on the all-time Chelsea goal scorer list with 193 goals. He is ten away from overtaking Bobby Tambling to become the most prolific marksman in club history.

The contrast between Ba and Torres is a pleasant surprise for Chelsea supporters. While it took the Spaniard 14 games to score his first goal for the Blues, he watched as the newcomer buried two in his debut. The goals are not the only difference either. Ba's movement and understanding of the game were far superior to Torres' form of late.

"It is always important for a striker to score goals but Ba's movement and understanding of the team was really impressive as well," said Benitez. "It is important for the team to have different options in attack and Ba gives us that."

12 Best Athletes to Ever Wear No. 12

Quarterback Terry Bradshaw was a four-time Super Bowl champion wearing No. 12 for the Pittsburgh Steelers. (Fox Sports)

In honor of the date being 12/12/12, I thought it would be fitting to give tribute to the 12 best athletes to ever wear No. 12.

12. Bob Griese: Griese was a two-time All-American quarterback and kicker at Purdue. He was the No. 1 pick in the 1967 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. Griese is famous for quarterbacking the Dolphins to their perfect 1972 season. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990.

11. Jarome Inginla: Iginla has spent the entirety of his 15-year career as a member of the Calgary Flames. Despite never bringing home the Stanley Cup, he has made himself a local legend. Inginla has scored 516 goals in his career, including 81 game-winning goals. He will be a lock for the Hall of Fame when ever he does decide to retire.

10. Dickie Moore: Moore was among the NHL's best shooters and puckhandlers of his time. As a member of the Montreal Canadiens, he led the NHL in goals and assists once time each. Moore played an important role on six championship teams, including five consecutive Stanley Cups from 1956-60. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1974.

9. Yvan Cournoyer: Cournoyer donned No. 12 for the Canadiens throughout his 17-year career after getting it from Moore. He finished his career with 428 goals and 435 assists. Cournoyer won the Stanley Cups 10 times, which is the second most in NHL history. He was a Hall of Fame inductee in 1982.

8. Thierry Henry: Henry is one of the best footballers of this generation. He was a member of the French national team that won the World Cup in 1998. Henry became an international star in the English Premier League as a top striker for Arsenal. During his career with The Gunners, he earned nearly every award the sport has to offer.

7. John Stockton: At point guard, Stockton led the Utah Jazz to 19 consecutive playoff appearances, but was never able to bring a NBA championship home. He led the league in assists for nine consecutive seasons. Stockton finished with a NBA record 15,806 assists, which is 3,800 more than the next closest player.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

6. Jim Kelly: Kelly is the only player in Buffalo Bills history to have his number retired. This honor is likely the result of leading the Bills to four consecutive losses in the Super Bowl. During his 11-year career, Kelly made 160 starts and threw 237 career touchdown passes. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002.

5. Roger Staubach: As a quarterback for Navy, Staubach won the Heisman Trophy in 1963. He then served his tour of duty in Vietnam. Staubach returned home to lead the Dallas Cowboys to their first two Super Bowl championships. He became a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

4. Joe Namath: Namath is more of a legend because of his swagger, rather than his actual statistics. He guaranteed a win in Super Bowl III and delivered on his promise.  When Namath wasn't acting in movies and television commercials, he threw for 27,663 passing yards in his football career. Just like Staubach, he was a part of the 1985 class for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

3. Tom Brady: Brady was a sixth-round draft pick by the New England Patriots in 2000. He took over the starting job after Drew Bledsoe was injured in Week 2 of the 2001 season and led the Patriots to their first Super Bowl title. Brady has thrown for 43,812 yards (nearly 25 miles) and 329 touchdowns. He is a two-time MVP and has won three Super Bowls.

2. Roberto Alomar: Regarded by many as the greatest second baseman of all time, Alomar was a 12-time All-Star, 10-time Gold Glove winner, and led the Toronto Blue Jays to back-to-back World Series championships in 1992 and 1993.  Alomar wore No. 12 for each of the eight teams he played for during his career. His 2,724 career hits and 1,1,34 RBIs led to his Hall of Fame induction in 2011.

1. Terry Bradshaw: Bradshaw didn't put up huge statistical numbers, but he knew how to lead his football team to victories. He finished his career with a 107-51 record and four Super Bowl rings. Bradshaw was named MVP of the NFL in 1978 and was also the Super Bowl MVP twice. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989.

Honorable Mention: Michael Jordan
Jordan made the No. 23 famous, but was forced to wear No. 12 for one game in 1990. On Valentine’s Day in Orlando, he had his jersey stolen from the locker room prior to the game. Jordan scored 49 points in 47 minutes, but the Bulls lost in overtime 135-129.

"That has never happened to me before,'' Jordan told the Orlando Sentinel at the time. ''It's pretty irritating because you're accustomed to certain things and you don't like to have things misplaced.''

Jordan may have been frustrated, but my guess is that the fans in Orlando were more than happy. They got to witness history in the making, Jordan have another outstanding game and their team pull off a surprising victory.

Oscar Shines Brightly in Chelsea FC Starting Debut

In his Chelsea FC debut, Oscar celebrates one of his two goals in their 2-2 Champions League draw with Juventus. (AP Photo)

In terms of this year's UEFA Champions League, the pressure may be greatest on Chelsea FC. As the reigning champions of Europe, they must overcome history if they hope to repeat this year as champions. Since 1990 and the beginning of the Champions League era, no club has managed to successfully defend their European crown.

Chelsea's title defense began with their greatest competition in the group stage. In recent years, Juventus has emerged as the class of Italian football in Serie A. It was Chelsea that got on the scoreboard first with a pair of first half goals (more about those is forthcoming). Juventus answered with one goal to pull within 2-1 at halftime.

As Chelsea tried to hold on for the crucial victory, they set back defensively. However, poor decision making and play allowed Juventus multiple opportunities to comeback. The Italians took full advantage in the 80th minute when Fabio Quagliarella scored the equalizer. Juventus had chances to score a winner, but the final whistle sealed a draw for both sides.

While it is easy for Chelsea to be disappointed by the result, there were certainly a number of positives that emerged from the game. The foremost being the emergence of a blossoming star. Oscar is one of the young superstars coming out of Brazil ready to burst onto the international scene. Just 21 years of age, the midfielder has a world of potential in his footballing prowess.

When acquiring Oscar for a cool 25 million pounds, many openly wondered if Chelsea had panicked and overpaid for a young talent that only had potential to accomplish great things. Making his club debut as a starter, Oscar left little to doubt that he is ready for the big stage. His first goal did benefit from some good fortune when his shot deflected off a Juventus player and into the net.

Only two minute later, Oscar's second goal was the result of pure skill and the talent he has been blessed with. His beautiful strike didn't even grant Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon a hope of saving it. The goals weren't the only thing that caused Oscar to shine brightly before his peers, supporters, and viewers around the world. His play all over the field was superb to say the least.

When writing about Oscar's performance, ESPN.com's Phil Lythell described it as follows, "The strike (first goal), though, filled the youngster with confidence and his second goal a couple of minutes later was a thing of beauty, leaving everyone in Stamford Bridge wide-eyed and open-mouthed. His tricks and flicks were all measured and to the benefit to the team, every backheel purposeful rather than indulgent. Given room to operate, he began to dictate Chelsea's forward momentum and became the central figure in the home side's display."

Chelsea did have to settle for a draw with Juventus. However, regardless of how they play in the Champions League, they have witnessed the emergence of a new star. Oscar is not only loaded with potential, but is capable of making a significant impact immediately. It will be a joy to get to watch him mature and grow with both Chelsea and his native Brazilian national team.

Real Madrid Stuns Manchester City with Late Goals

Real Madrid's Christiano Ronaldo celebrates his game-winning goal in their comeback win over Manchester City. (Pierre-Philippe Marcou)

In the UEFA Champions League group stage, it could be argued that no team could use a big win more than the two powerhouses pitted in this matchup. Manchester City, the reigning English Premier League champions, got off to a rough start in its title defense. Despite winning both of their home games, they have had to settle for draws in their two road matches, the latter coming at Stoke City. With expectations high as ever this season, that simply isn't going to cut it with management and the supporters.

Real Madrid, a perennial  European football power, has struggled to begin their season as well. Through four La Liga games, they are a mere 1-2-1. Losses to teams like Getafe and Sevilla are unheard of for Real Madrid. With the star power they have throughout their roster, European dominance is expected from the Spanish side.

As Manchester City and Real Madrid took the field for a Champions League group stage match, both knew the importance of getting off to a good start. While both teams racked up great scoring opportunities throughout the first half, a common problem continued to plague both sides. Neither one could find a way to score the goals they ought to.

On the road, Manchester City was more than happy to sit back and defend. They would focus on using the counterattack to generate their scoring opportunities. Their strategy paid off in the 68th minute. Yaya Toure gained control of the ball and cut through the heart of the Real Madrid. He found substitute Edin Dzeko for the easy finish. Just like that, the visitors led 1-0.

That lead didn't last long. With Real Madrid pressing forward, Marcelo cut inside with the ball. He let a shot rip that was deflected off Manchester City's Javi Garcia and past goalkeeper Joe Hart for the equalizer. However, with the game winding to a close, it was the visitors who earned a free kick in the attacking third. Man City's Aleksandar Kolarov's kick curled through the box and into the net to put them back in the lead.

Even though there was only four minutes remaining in the game, there was still enough time for an attacking team like Real Madrid to answer. In the 87th minute, Madrid's Karim Benzema drove the ball into the box from the flank. His beautifully struck shot beat Hart for the equalizer. Suddenly, things were level pegging once again. However, the attacks didn't stop there as play went back and forth from end to end.

In stoppage time, Real Madrid tried to piece together one last strong attack. Christiano Ronaldo found an opening and let a long shot rip. It dipped dramatically as it traveled and scurried under the outstretched arms of Hart. As the final whistle blew, Real Madrid had come all the back to secure victory for themselves.

By scoring two goals in the last four minutes, Real Madrid dramatically changed the outcome of their match and group's momentum. They will look to build off this victory with sustained high levels of play. This is another disappointing result for Manchester City. After struggling last season in the Champions League, they need to try and put this defeat behind them as quickly as possible.

Barcelona Beats Real Madrid in First Leg of Supercopa

Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez celebrates with his teammates what proved to be the winning goal. (Andres Kudacki)

European football (soccer) is just getting underway into a new season. One of the most anticipated matchups throughout every season is El Clasico. This is any matchup between Spain's biggest club rivals, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. The first match between both these sides occurred yesterday. They were facing off in the first leg of two in the Supercopa.

The home side, FC Barcelona, came out strong at Camp Nou early. They controlled possession, tempo, and had multiple opportunities to score in the first half. Two of the best scoring chances came at the feet of Lionel Messi. Both times, he accomplished the difficult part of cutting through the Real Madrid defense to free himself for a shot in the box. Both shots though went begging just outside the respective posts. The sides went into the intermission still level at 0-0.

When the better team fails to put one in the net, it often seems to be that the team that is playing worse strikes first. That happened right away in the second half. In the 55th minute, Real Madrid earned a corner kick. Mesut Ozil sent the cross into the box, where Cristiano Ronaldo headed home the ball. Just like that, FC Barcelona, who had outplayed Real Madrid, trailed in the second half. That didn't stay that way for long. Under a minute later, Barcelona's Javier Mascherano played a beautiful ball over the top to Pedro, who buried it past Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas. All was level 1-1.

Both defenses began to get stretched as the match wore on. Real Madrid's defenders had been lucky not to get called for penalty kicks earlier in the game. Their luck ran out in the 70th minute when Madrid's Sergio Ramos took down Barca's Andres Iniesta in the box. Messi smoked home the penalty to put the home side up 2-1. In the 78th minute, FC Barcelona sealed the deal with little bit of their fabulous magic. Iniesta dribbled through three Real Madrid challenges to play a through ball to Xavi Hernandez, who played it by Casillas for the goal.

Now trailing 3-1, Real Madrid pushed the accelerator to try to get at least a goal back in the waning moments of the first leg. On the counterattack, Barcelona's Messi first had a chance to all but seal up the championship. His point-blank attempt was denied by Casillas. The save turned out to be huge as Real Madrid proved they weren't done yet. In the 85th minute, an error by Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes led to an easy goal by Madrid's Angel Di Maria. Barcelona's lead was suddenly cut to 3-2. That will be the aggregate heading into the decisive second stage.

FC Barcelona outplayed Real Madrid in nearly every aspect of the match. The problem is that they didn't take advantage of more of the scoring opportunities they had could come back to haunt them in the second leg. If I were a Real Madrid supporter, player, or coach, I would be pleased with my side's result. For how poorly they played, they are heading home down just one goal. That is certainly a manageable deficit to overcome. It will be interesting to see how things turn out in the second leg on next Wednesday. In my opionion, the title is Barca's to lose at this point in time.

Fellaini Helps Everton Stun Manchester United

Everton's Marouane Fellaini celebrates his goal that turned out to be the winner against Manchester United. (Peter Powell)

One of the biggest storylines coming into this Premier League season was Dutch scoring machine Robin van Persie's 24 million pound transfer from Arsenal to Manchester United. United was already among the favorites to win the Premier League. With the addition of van Persie, the United faithful were already salivating about the possibilities. Manchester United got their first chance to prove themselves at Everton on Monday evening.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson made the interesting choice to leave van Persie on the bench to begin the game. Injuries also led to changes in the United starting lineup. The only regulars in the back four were Antonio Valencia at right back and Nemanja Vidic in the center. The defensive uncertainty was evident from the very beginning. Everton got a number of good opportunites in the first half, but all were denied by Machester United goalkeeper David de Gea.

Marouane Fellaini was an attacking machine for Everton throughout the game. The midfielder from Belgium created his own shots, set up others with opportunities, and wreaked havoc on the United defense. Fellaini's efforts were finally rewarded in the 57th minute. On the Everton corner kick, midfielder Darron Gibson sent a cross into the box. Fellaini rose up and headed it inside the near post for the goal. Just like that, Everton was suddenly up 1-0.

In the 68th minute, van Persie got his first opportunity with Manchester United as he came on as a substitute. As Everton began to sit back defensively, United gained more possession and scoring opportunities. Their best chance to level the score probably came in the 79th minute. Van Persie worked the ball down the right side and managed to find a charging Shinji Kagawa. Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard came out and made the save though to protect his lead. Manchester United had a few more opportunities, but came up empty.

As the final whistle blew, the Everton crowd cheered their side's hard fought victory. The win was only Everton's fourth home victory over Manchester United in 21 Premier League matches. The win is huge for the home boys, Everton. Wins this big don't come around that often, especially this early in the season. Fellaini was the definite man of the match. His play was clearly the difference in jump starting the Everton offense and testing the United defense.

The opening match loss is very disappointing for Manchester United. The team seemed to have definite rust, and their inexperience playing together was evident. United will have to work hard to get everyone healthy and van Persie integrated into the scheme in order to begin playing better. It will be interesting to see how they rebound from this disappointing loss.

Liverpool and Arsenal Struggle in Premier League Openers

West Bromwich Albion midfielder Zoltan Gera celebrates his goal with teammate Shane Long. (Darren Staples)

Yesterday, the Premier League saw its new season begin. While most results came as expected, a couple of perennial contenders struggled in their first game. These two clubs are Liverpool and Arsenal. My blog post will briefly recap the action in both matches and look at went wrong for the two favored clubs.

West Bromwich Albion 3 Liverpool 0
Both teams had numerous opportunities to score, but came up short in their effort. Liverpool striker Luis Suaraz could have likely had a hat trick in the first half, but could not find the back of the net. West Bromwich finally broke through in the 43rd minute. Zoltan Gera buried a powerful strike to put his side up 1-0 just before the half. The Liverpool defense that had struggled all day suffered a big blow when defender Daniel Agger was sent off with a red card. They then gave up two penalty kicks in the stretch of four minutes. Shane Long missed the first one, but Peter Odemwingie scored the second one to increase the West Bromwich Albion lead to 2-0. In the 77th minute, West Brom substitute Romelu Lukaku put the icing on the cake. Liverpool struggled with the lack of being able to score on their golden opportunities. Their poor self-control and discipline defensively helped cost them the game as well.

Arsenal 0 Sunderland 0
Arsenal probably had a feeling that they would miss Robin van Persie and his knack for scoring goals. Now, they know it without a doubt. Despite firing away 23 shots throughout the match, Arsenal only managed to get three on goal. That is an embarrassing statistic when one considers that this is Premier League football. While Arsenal did out possess and frankly out play Sunderland, their inability to score was their clear downfall. Call me crazy, but it seems obvious to me that you have to score to win. Arsenal must find their offensive identity quickly if they are going to have any shot at competing with the best.

Alex Morgan Lifts USA Past Canada in Epic Olympic Semifinal

Alex Morgan's header in the final minute of stoppage time propelled the U.S. women past Canada to a 4-3 victory. (Mark J. Rebilas)

Knowing that reigning World Cup champion Japan awaited the winner in the gold medal match, the United States and Canada squared off in the second pivotal semifinal. While the U.S. women had won 26 straight matches against their northern neighbors over the past 11 years, they knew they would have to play well to contain the most dangerous player on the field, Canadian striker Christine Sinclair. The match gained an added edge when Canadian manager John Herdman accused the U.S. side of illegal tactics on set pieces. Needless to say, there was energy in the air as the match got under way.

The United States took control of the match early on, especially in the midfield. Their quickness to the ball setup a number of crosses into the box. Defensively, the U.S. women did well to hold Sinclair in check. Sinclair and the Canadian attack were buying their time waiting for a defensive lapse. Their opportunity came in the 23rd minute when a run by Canadian defender Marie-Eve Nault caught the United States off guard. Nault played it to Melissa Trancredi who found Sinclair for the easy goal. Just like that, it was 1-0 Canada.

That's how the score remained until the 54th minute, when the Americans got just a bit lucky. Marking up on a corner, Canadian defender Desiree Scott left the near post to double-team dangerous American Alex Morgan. Megan Rapinoe's cross bent and ended up in the net going directly through the spot vacated by Scott. With that the score was level at 1-1.

Fourteen minutes later, Canada found their answer. Sinclair connected on a cross from Trancredi to give them another one goal advantage. The lead was short lived as Rapinoe buried a bullet from inside the box for her second equalizer. Sinclair and the Canadiens weren't done just yet either. A corner kick off the foot of Sophie Schmidt found Sinclair in the air to complete her hat trick. Canada had taken the crucial 3-2 advantage.

In the 80th minute, the game took a controversial turn with a pair of questionable calls by Norwegian referee Christiana Pedersen. The first came when she whistled Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod for holding the ball longer than six seconds. It is an extremely rare call to make, especially given the time left in the game. The call gave the United States an indirect free kick right inside the area. Rapinoe took the kick and blasted it at the Canadian wall. The ball glanced off the elbow of Canada's Nault. Pedersen immediately awarded the Americans a penalty kick, ignoring once again the time on the clock and the fact that Nault appeared to have her arms close to her chest. Regardless, American Abby Wambach scored the penalty kick off the left post to tie the score 3-3.

Both the United States and Canada had their opportunities in the final minutes of regulation, but neither could find the winner. The script appeared to be the same in the period of extra time. However, in the final minute of stoppage time, the U.S. women appeared to have a little bit of Olympic magic left in them. Subsitute Heather O'Reilly sent a long cross into the Canadian box. Alex Morgan's header on the end of it found the net from six yards out. That meant the United States had comeback to beat Canada 4-3 to advance to the gold medal match.

My first reaction is to give my condolences to the Canadian women. They really played their hearts out. Christine Sinclair's performance was truly one for the ages. I sincerely believe that Pedersen, the referee, missed both those pivotal calls. The six-second goalkeeping call is almost always precluded by a warning. Canada's keeper McLeod was given no such warning. The hand ball call could have gone either way, but given the efforts of the defender and the nature of the timing of the game, I think a no call would have been the more advisable one. Regardless, Canada will take on France next with the bronze medal on the line. The Canadiens are seeking their first Summer Olympics medal in a traditional team sport since 1936.

The U.S. women were on the verge of missing the gold-medal match for the first time. Three times they faced a one-goal deficit. Each time they managed to find an answer when they needed it. Yes, there was some luck gained and grace bestowed upon them by the official, but those weren't the main thing that made the difference. That was the U.S. women's determination and unwillingness to give up when the going got tough. They are the better team for it. Now, they square off in a much anticipated rematch with the Japanese. Last summer, the Americans were defeated by the Japanese in penalty kicks in the World Cup final. It will be interesting to see how both sides come out with a gold medal on the line for the victor.

Euro 2012 Final: Preview & Prediction

Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and his Spanish counterpart Iker Casillas could both be pivotal in deciding the Euro 2012 Final. (Reuters)

When Spain and Italy played to a 1-1 draw in the group stage match, I doubt very many people thought it would be a preview of the final. As it turns out, the two sides survived to reach the final, but in very different manners.

Spain was always among the favorites to win Euro 2012. After all, the Spaniards are looking to win a historic third consecutive major tournament. With seven points in Group C, Spain advanced as the group winner to play France in the quarterfinals. Xabi Alonso scored twice to lead the Spanish to a 2-0 victory. In the semifinals, they met Portugal in an Iberian showdown. A physical display by both sides led to a still scoreless line following 120+ minutes of play. In the penalties, it was the Spaniards who were the stronger and proved to be the victors.

Many thought Italy was simply hoping for a nice run at Euro 2102 to put its somewhat bleak recent history to rest. We have come to discover that the Italians had greater plans than that. They managed to advance from the group stage by the narrowest of margins over Croatia. Like the Spaniards, the Italians had to endure the drama of penalty kicks. Theirs came in the quarterfinals against England. A clutch goal by Andrea Pirlo and a crucial save by Gianluigi Buffon helped Italy to advance over England. In the semifinals, the Italians came in big underdogs to Germany. However, some great team play by the Azzurri led to two beautiful first half goals by Mario Balotelli. The Germans tried to recover, but the Italians held on to win 2-1.

There are many great players in this final, but there a few that I would recommend you keep an eye on more than the rest. Few players play the game as beautifully and seemingly effortlessly as Andrea Pirlo. His dribbling skill, ability to control the flow of the match, and capability to be a lethal scorer are just some of the aspects of his wonderful game. Spain's offense hasn't been as dominant as it can be, but one of the main man who is creating opportunities for himself and his teammates is David Silva. Silva's maneuverability could be a crucial aspect of the Spanish attack. For Mario Balotelli, Euro 2012 has been a microcosm of his career. There's been the highs, lows, and amazing goals. If he has any more of the latter, the Italians could be in very good shape.

Then, of course, there are the two goalkeepers. Italy's Gianluigi Buffon and Spain's Iker Casillas are two of the best in the world. Buffon's keen instincts and reactions are unparalleled in Europe. He wears his passion for the game and love for his country on his sleeves for all to see. Casillas uses his speed and excellent positioning to his advantage. His calm demeanor anchors the Spanish defense. Both men are their respective country's captains and mean so much to the success of their sides.

Deciding a winner among these two sides is a difficult task, but I believe I have come to my decision. The Italians are thriving coming off their shocking upset of Germany. They have improved drastically as the tournament has worn on. The Spanish have of course played very well, but have at times looked complacent and tired. I expect a hard fought 90+ minutes will result in a level 1-1 scoreline. In the extra time, I believe Pirlo will find a little extra magic left and will put home a beautiful strike from distance. The Italians will hold on to win 2-1 in extra time. That's my prediction. Now, we just have to wait and see what happens. The start of the match is only a little over 12 hours away. I can hardly wait.

Italy Advances Past England in Penalty Kicks

The Italians celebrate their much deserved victory over England. (Michael Sohn)

With the final semifinal spot on the line, England and Italy knew exactly what was expected of them. The two sides matched up well and often play very similar styles. Both are defensively minded with talent that can create offensive opportunities instantaneously.

The first fifteen minutes saw great action on both ends as the teams settled into the match. The Italians elected to make a slight tweak to their midfield alignment on the field. The result was really compete domination by the Azzurri (Italians).

Sure England had occasional opportunities off set pieces and nice runs, but they struggled to gain any sense of flow or rhythm for much of the game. The only thing that kept England in it was their goalkeeper, Joe Hart, and his helpful goal posts. Regulation ended with the first 0-0 scoreline of Euro 2012. But it definitely wasn't for a lack of opportunities. There continued to be quality chances in the extra half-hour of play, but nothing seemed to be able to find the net. Despite out shooting England 35-9, the Italians were forced to decide things with the English in a penalty shootout.

In the penalties, Mario Balotelli and Steven Gerrard both put home their sides' first attempt. The Italians second attempt by Riccardo Montolivo was shanked just wide of the post. Wayne Rooney calmly gave England the 2-1 advantage. Andrea Pirlo beautifully chipped in the equalizer for the Italians. With a chance to regain their edge, England's Ashley Cole saw his shot ricochet off the crossbar. Substitute Antonio Nocerino brought the advantage back to the Italians up 3-2. Ashley Cole tried to level things for England, but the quick instincts of Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon allowed him to make the huge save. With a chance to win it for the Italians, Alessandro Diamanti made no mistake, sealing the 4-2 penalty shootout victory.

The Azzurri were the better side from start to finish. Fortunately for them, they came out on top in the always chancy penalty shootout. While there were many standout out players, the man of the match has to be Andrea Pirlo. His ability to create in the midfield lead to many of the Italians' finest scoring opportunities. Additionally, his goal in the shootout was the one that proved to be the game changer. For England, it is another disappointing exit. They have been knocked out of Euro 2004, the 2006 World Cup, and now Euro 2012 in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals. Italy will have to rest up and prepare quickly for their semifinal Thursday against Germany.

Alonso's Two Goals Lifts Spain to Victory Over France

Xabi Alonso celebrates one of his two goals he scored against France. (Michael Buholzer)

Looking to win their third straight major international tournament, Spain has had the bullseye on their back since the onset of Euro 2012. They have also had the microscopic scrutiny of their fans and experts observing their every move. Following a lackluster effort in their final group win over Croatia, Spain looked to rebound against France in the quarterfinals.

Speaking of rebounding, that is exactly what France looked to do as well, after their surprising 2-0 loss to Sweden in their final group match. The French knew that they would have to play much better if they were to have a shot at knocking out the Spanish.

The quarterfinal got underway with Spain gaining control of the majority of possession and scoring opportunities. In the 18th minute, Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta played a beautiful through ball to Jordi Alba. Alba made a few invasive dribbles and sent a pinpoint cross across the box. Xabi Alonso was there to head it powerfully into the far post corner of the net. France tried to answer with an equalizer, but struggled to maintain possession. The French did get a quality opportunity in the 32nd minute. Yohan Cabaye elected to blast a long range free kick at the net. It tested Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas, but he was able to lift it out of play for a corner. The halftime whistle blew and Spain's lead stood at 1-0.

To begin the second half, France came out with a barrage of opportunities, but a lack of quality finishes. Spain seemed content to maintain possession and lock down defensively. As time passed, the French were forced to press forward more and more, which opened up space in the back for Spain to counter. They had some opportunities, but Hugo Lloris was equal to the task. In stoppage time, Spanish substitute Pedro Rodriguez carried the ball into the French box. When he was taken down by French right back Antony Reveillere, the referee immeadiately awarded a penatly kick. The man of the match, Xabi Alonso, stepped up, fooled Lloris, and calmly buried the ball that sealed the deal.

It was a remarkable performance by Alonso. In his 100th international cap, he scored the only two goals of the match. Typically known to hang back more defensively as a midfielder, Alonso stepped and did what his nation needed him to do. The French were basically a no show. They had opportuinites, but one shot on net simply is not going to cut it against Spain. The Spanish didn't play their best game. I felt as though they got complacent at times with the lead and the fact that they are simply the better team. The Spaniards will need a much better effort against Portugal in the semifinals.

Euro 2012: Czechs and Greeks First to Advance to Last Eight

This Polish supporter's prayers were unable to get the co-hosts a win. (Shaun Botterill) 

A nation of 40 million turned their gaze upon their city of Wroclaw. They hoped and prayed that somehow their team could find a way to win so that they could live to play another day of football. This nation was Poland, one of the co-hosts for the Euro 2012 tournament. The Poles needed a win over neighboring Czech Republic in order to advance. Things looked promising early as the hosts had a considerable amount of quality chances. Unfortunately, they all went begging. As the first half drew to a close, momentum seemed to start to shift in favor of the Czechs. The two sides went to halftime scoreless. The Czechs came out pressing once again to start the second half. The Poles knew they would have to take some chances because they had to score to be able to win. However, one of those chances led to a turnover. The Czechs counterattacked beautifully as striker Milan Baros held the ball long enough to set up midfielder Petr Jiracek for the pretty goal. The Poles tried all they could to score the two goals they needed, but came up empty against Petr Cech and the Czech defense. The Czechs held on to win 1-0.

Greek players celebrate their goal in the first half stoppage time. (Michael Sohn)

When Russia beat the Czech Republic 4-1 in their opening match, they quickly became one of the tournament favorites. However, a surprising draw with Poland meant the Russians needed a draw or win against last place Greece to advance. Russia had plenty of opportunities in the first half to get on the board first, but most of them were long range efforts that were poorly taken. Just when it seemed as though the Russians would have to settle for a scoreless draw headed into halftime, the Greeks earned a seemingly inconsequential thrown in. However, a misplay by a Russian defender left the ball at the feet of Greek captain Giorgos Karagounis. Karagouins dribbled in and struck a low, hard shot into the back of the net. The Greeks came out in the second half knowing that they could focus on doing what they do best playing defense. The Russians still had a plethora of chances to find an equalizer, but struggled to find a quality finish. Despite having 25 shots on goal, they could not put one in the back of the net. As the final whistle blew, the Greeks stormed the field, knowing they had completed the improbable upset.

Group A ended up far from what was expected. The Poles gave a valient effort and deserve to be commended. They gave their home crowd all they could ask for and were in it to the very end. The Czechs certainly didn't have the prettiest group stage effort, but they still managed to advance as the group's winners. The Russians went from tournament favorites to early exit in a matter of little more than 90 minutes. They have to be disappointed, but will for sure be back with vengence on their minds. The Greeks, well they gave their countrymen something to believe in. A nation in desperate need of hope may have just found it a team of young men who refuse to give up. In the last eight, the Czech Republic awaits the runner-up of Group B, while Greece will play Group B's winner.

Euro 2012: Group C Becomes Even More Crowded

Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic scores the equalizer. (Dimitar Dilkoff)

Even though they came into the day as the group leader, Croatia was the underdog to Italy. It was obvious why early. The Italians had a plethora of opportunities. Despite all of those chances, they only managed to put one in the net. In the 39th minute, Andrea Pirlo beautifully scored off a free-kick. The Italians took the 1-0 lead into halftime. Following halftime, the Croatians made some adjustments defensively and began to thrust more men forward. Their chances began to increase and improve. Finally, in the 72nd minute, the Croatians pulled level when Mario Madzukic was able to bury a tough-angle short-range shot. Both teams had opportunities down the stretch to score the winner, but it simply wasn't meant to be.

Spanish striker Fernando Torres netted two goals in 4-0 rout of Ireland (Getty Images)

After Vincente del Bosque didn't start any strikers in Spain's first group match, the Spanish coach elected to start the somewhat controversial Fernando Torres. Torres responded well and buried the game's first goal in just the 4th minute. Despite being outplayed badly, the Irish only trailed by one at halftime. However, their luck ran out in the second half. Spain made the most of their opportunities. David Silva scored early in the half. Torres followed up with his second goal of the match. Cesc Fabregas put the icing on the cake with his goal in the 83rd minute. The Spaniards dominated the Irish the whole game, and it was accurately evidenced in the final score of 4-0.

So where does this leave Group C? Let me tell you. First off, the Irish are eliminated with zero points through two matches. That means that Spain, Croatia, and Italy are battling for the top two spots to advance. Spain and Croatia are tied for the group lead with 4 points, having won and drawn one game each. Italy is the one in need of help. The Italians have just two points because of two draws so far this tournament. They do get to play the Irish in the final group match. Spain and Croatia should be a great battle as they square off in their final group game. Both of the final matches for Group C will be played on Monday. It remains to be seen which two teams will advance to the quarterfinals out of this group.

Denmark and Germany Win Group B Openers

With EURO 2012 under way, many eagerly awaited the opening games of Group B. The group commonly referred to as the Group of Death saw Denmark square off against the Netherlands and Portugal play Germany.

Michael Krohn-Delhi celebrates after scoring in the 24th minute. (Carl Recine)

With the other three teams among the favorites to win the tournament, Denmark was the clear underdog of the group. However, they didn't let that show against the Netherlands. In the 24th minute, the Danes caught a break when the ball came loose in the box. Michael Krohn-Delhi found the ball, dribbled around two Dutch defenders, and buried the tough angle shot. The Dutch had countless opportunities to tie, but they were all either off target or saved by Stephan Andersen. Their best opportunity came following a poor turnover by Andersen. Arjen Robben's left-footed blast struck the post. The Danes did a good job holding possession and did enough to hold on to pull off the colossal upset.

Mario Gomez celebrates his game-winning header in the 72nd minute. (Martin Meissner)

With Portugal and Germany on tap, we hoped we were in for a great match and neither side disappointed. For the first 70 minutes, both sides had quality opportunities, but struggled to finish. German coach Joachim Loew decided he would try subbing veteran striker Miroslav Klose for Mario Gomez. Just then, the Germans had an opportunity. Sami Khedira sent a cross into the box that was deflected off a Portuguese defender. The ball found Gomez's head, and he was able to square his body in time to bury it. The Portuguese desperately tried to find an equalizer. They had a plethora of opportunities, but they all went begging. German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer came up with two stellar saves late to help seal the win. The Germans were the better side, but it was a hard fought battle from start to finish.

The Group of Death received a big shakeup right from the start. Portugal and the Netherlands both have zero points and will likely need to win both of their final games to have a shot at advancing. Denmark, who no one gave a chance in this group, now has three points and is confident to play spoiler to a couple more tournament favorites. The Germans have to be pleased earning three points as well from their opening game. Group B's next matches will take place on Wednesday, June 13.

Brazilians Bring U.S. National Team a Reality Check

Marcelo celebrates his goal with teammates Neymar and Hulk. (AP Photo)

The U.S. Men's National Team came into tonight's game with much hype. They had won five straight, including a convincing 5-1 win over Scotland. However, the team they were about to play wasn't anything like the Scots. This was a real test. Brazil.

In their history, the U.S. came into tonight's match with a 1-15-1 record against the Brazilians. Granted this was basically Brazil's Olympic team. In the Olympics, teams are limited to players under 23 years old and three older players.  So there was a glimmer of hope for a potential upset bid by the confident Americans.

The glimmer vanished fairly quickly. The Americans started out trying to create for Hercules Gomez, who started at striker. The Brazilians' first chance can when Hulk dribbled through the center of the U.S. defense and into the box. His blast forced a quality save by goalkeeper Tim Howard. Howard didn't get an opportunity to save the next shot because Leandro Damiao's shot inadvertently struck the arm of American center back Oguchi Onyewu. Despite the protests of the Americans, the referee immediately awarded the Brazilians the penalty kick. Young phenom Neymar buried it to gain the 1-0 advantage.

The Americans tried to counter, but Brazilian goalkeeper Rafael would have none of it. In the 26th minute, Brazil capitalized on some poor defending, as Silva's header found the net off a corner. The Americans showed signs of life before the end of the first half. Michael Bradley played a nice through ball to Fabian Johnson on the outside. Johnson played a low cross in that found the head of Gomez to trim the deficit to one.

But in the second half, it was the Brazilians who capitalized on their opportunities. In the 55th minute, Neymar cut through the U.S. defense and found Marcelo for the easy goal. The Americans had opportunities to get back in it, but couldn't find the net. Their best opportunity probably came in the 63rd minute. Gomez had a powerful shot that was beautifully saved by Rafael. His rebound though came right out to Terrence Boyd. Boyd's blast was amazingly denied by Rafael as well. In the 87th minute, substitute Pato put the icing on the cake, as he scored to make it 4-1 off a nice cross from Marcelo.

The main difference in this game is that the Brazilians capitalized on their opportunities, while the Americans did not. While the Americans may claim that the score was not indicative of the game, the bottomline is that you have to score to win. The Brazilians have understood that concept for decades. The backline for the U.S. clearly had holes exploited. They need to be much tighter in order to give Howard a chance to succeed. Finally, the Americans did way too much complaining, especially their leader, Landon Donovan. There were some questionable calls, including the hand-ball in the box, but that is always going to be the case. Donovan spent way too much time whining, rather than actually creating chances. He clearly needs to set a better example on the field. The Americans are making progress, but this is a reminder that there is still a long ways to go.

Manchester City Wins First Premier Title Since 1968

Photo Credit: Dave Thompson/AP Photo

Manchester City has been considered to be the second-rate team of their city for decades. They have had to live in the shadow of their bitter rival, Manchester United. Today, Manchester City needed a win over Queens Park Rangers. If they won the match, it would mean that they would win their first Premier League Title since 1968. Not only would they win it, but they would keep their inner-city rival, Manchester United, from winning the title. With United's 1-0 defeat of Sunderland in the books, City knew they were playing a must-win game.

Neither Manchester City or Queens Park Rangers played particularly well in the first-half. In the 39th minute, City pieced together some nice passing to set up a short angle shot for Pablo Zabaleta. The Argentinian's shot found the net, thanks in part to some poor goalkeeping work by Patrick Kenny. The lackluster half came to a close, but at half-time, QPR received news that a loss could potentially mean relegation from the Premier League. Wanting desperately to avoid that fate, QPR came out with a renewed energy to begin the second half. It didn't take long before that energy forced a mistake by City's defender Joleon Lescott. Lescott attempted to head the ball clear, but his header ricocheted backwards to the feet of QPR's Djibril Cisse, who buried the equalizer.

With the match still level at 1-1, Man City caught a break when QPR's captain, Joey Barton, got issued a red card in the 55th minute for elbowing Carlos Tevez in the face. Despite being down to ten men, QPR's defense refused to give in. In the 66th minute, QPR was rewarded when an unmarked Jamie Mackie headed home a ball from Armand Traore. The panic began to set in for City and their fans as they felt the title slipping away. Into stoppage time, they went still down 2-1. About a minute into stoppage time, City earned a corner. David Silva's beautiful ball into the box found the head of Edin Dzeko, who finished in cleanly. City's late heroics weren't over yet. Forward Sergio Aguero's shot found the bottom right corner. City's improbable comeback was complete.

The two late goals secured Manchester City's first Premier League Title since 1968. Granted that some of this success is due to the money that was spent to bring in many of these players. Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour has made more than a $1 billion dollar investment since purchasing the club from former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2008. The real credit though has to go to the players. In what was a crazy and surprising Premier League season, Man City was the most consistent club by far. As a result, they are unquestionably the most deserving of the title. The atmosphere of Manchester, England has changed today. No longer does United remain forever supreme. Today belongs to City's players, coaches, fans, and everyone associated with the club.

Italian Soccer Player Morosini Dies During Match

Soccer is the very heart of so many people around the world. They love playing and watching the game. Unfortunately, tragedy struck the sport for the second time in less than a month. Just a few weeks ago, Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba suffered cardiac arrest during a FA Cup match in England. Muamba was able to be revived and appears to be on the road to recovery. Italian Piermario Morosini was not as fortunate. Morosini was playing for Livorno, while on loan from Udinese. During today's match, Morosini collapsed on the field suddenly. He tried to get up, but fell once again. Play continued for quite a bit, as no one knew the seriousness of what was taking place. Medical personnel tried to revive the fallen Morosini, but were unable to do anything. Leonardo Paloscia, a doctor in attendance at the game, was the first respondent. Afterwards, he said, "Morosini never had a single heartbeat again."

Morosini used soccer to help overcome a difficult youth. His father died when he was only two years old. His mother died when he was 15, and his brother passed away shortly after. This left him an orphan with just an older sister left as family. Morosini excelled as a footballer and played for many Italian clubs. He also made 18 appearances for Italy's U-21 squad. He died at the age of 25.

Morosini's death reminds us just how fragile life can be. Soccer is a physically draining game. Running continually for 90+ minutes is not an easy task for one's body. My hope is that some good will come from this tragedy. I would implore all athletes to go get a thorough checkup at a doctor's office. Don't get me wrong. I am not saying that Morosini's death would have been preventable. That we cannot know. I am just saying take what precautions you can. Live a healthy life, love those around you, and make sure that you are right with God. Death can occur just this suddenly. My prayers and thoughts go out to Piermario Morosini's family and friends during this difficult time.

Photo Credit: Dino Panato/Getty Images