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Morning Ticker: Timbers trade for Zizzo, U.S. U-17s advance to quarters and more

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Photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com

By AVI CREDITOR

The Portland Timbers' list of offensive acquisitions got a little bit longer on Wednesday, with the team acquiring former United States youth national team midfielder Sal Zizzo from Chivas USA in exchange for allocation money.

Chivas won a weighted lottery for the rights to Zizzo last July, and he played in 10 matches for the team. In Zizzo, the Timbers acquire a 23-year-old winger with a top-notch pedigree. After two years at UCLA, Zizzo signed with Hannover 96 in Germany in 2007. He suffered an ACL injury and missed the 2009-2010 season before signing with Major League Soccer. The Timbers are reportedly enamored with Zizzo's versatility and speed and expect him to contend for a starting spot.

Zizzo joins Darlington Nagbe and Kenny Cooper as major post-expansion draft additions for Portland. 

Here are a few more stories from around the soccer world:

U.S. U-17s ADVANCE IN CONCACAF CHAMPIONSHIP

It didn't have to play a single minute on Wednesday, but the United States Under-17 national team advanced to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF championship by virtue of Cuba and Panama's scoreless draw.

The United States, which defeated Cuba in its opening game of group play, holds a two-point lead over both Cuba and Panama with just a game against Panama on Friday remaining. Regardless of the result, the U.S. U-17s will be a part of the quarterfinals, where it will play either El Salvador or Costa Rica with a spot in the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup on the line.

TWENTE TOPS RUBIN KAZAN

A full slate of Europa League matches is set for this afternoon, but in the day's early match, FC Twente topped Rubin Kazan in Moscow, 2-0, in the first leg of their Round of 32 tie.

Oguchi Onyewu started and went the distance for Twente, which takes its lead and two away goals into the return leg.

GATTUSO CHARGED BY UEFA

AC Milan captain Gennaro Gattuso has been charged with "gross unsporting conduct," and he will be subject to punishment at a hearing on Monday.

Gattuso headbutted Tottenham assistant coach Joe Jordan in the aftermath of Spurs' 1-0 victory over Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday. He was involved in an incident during the match as well and also picked up a yellow card that prohibits him from playing in the return leg.

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Do you like the Zizzo trade for Portland? Who would you rather see the U17s face in the quarterfinals? Happy to see Onyewu getting another 90 minutes under his belt? What do you think the punishment should be for Gattuso?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I agree, it looks like they are gonna try to outscore opponents, then again maybe those guys they have brought in on D show something we don’t get to see. I think not having Dax is gonna hurt though.

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  2. “Sticks and stones” there tough guy. Maybe people shouldn’t be so damn sensitive. Or maybe someone in Gattuso’s position should be professional.

    There’s a marked difference from name-calling and physical retaliation. No, you shouldn’t call people names, but even if they do it doesn’t give you a right to strike them.

    That’s called “civilized society”

    Only a “F***ing (Italian or otherwise) B****rd” doesn’t get that.

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  3. Do you mean Perlaza, the Colombian striker? He is still a trialist, but it sounds like his contract will eventually be worked out. He will be training with the team in AZ.

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  4. And the lack of a “mystery star CM” means Portland is loaded up front and wildly questionable down the middle and in defense.

    I’m wondering if that Panamanian? forward on trial didn’t pan out so Timbers went for Zizzo instead?

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  5. If you’re gonna open your mouth, be prepared for the consequences. Some guys talk back, some guys let their fists do the talking. Different methods.

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  6. Yea, I’m with ya Senor(a) Gustator. I was being silly. Group stages with 3 teams is pretty lame when two teams advance. Cuba and Panama should have gone to extra time then penalty kicks if we’re talking about fairness. At least it would have been in their players hands. But instead, we have this stupid format and it’s about who gets the best result against us. And that is lame.

    So, what can we expect from Panama? A 5-5-0 all defense formation hoping to get the point or hold the USA to 1 goal so they can go through on goal differential. I hope that doesn’t happen at this level because the focus should be about playing the game, and not some youth coach pretending to be Jose Mourinho.

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  7. To be fair, that just guaranteed it to US with a game in hand. They weren’t all waiting, dreaming, hoping that if only if only Panama would tie la Isla de los Cochinos!

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  8. Dang, coffee out my nose hurts. If we’re lucky an announcement at end of the season- or sooner- about his immediate retirement is made.

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  9. I’m just wondering who the heck is going to score goals for Chivas USA? Getting Pearce was a great move. They are clearly building from the back up but do they have any offensive now? They might be the first team in the history of soccer to go the whole season without scoring a goal or giving up one. How many 0-0 games will they have this year?

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  10. Right, buddy.

    Are you saying that Gattuso wasn’t spitting all kinds of crazy trash at Crouch each time he was trying to instigate an altercation (every header the two went up for)? But see, Crouchy had the professionalism not to throw a tantrum.

    People say things all the time, players and coaches. And while it’s not commendable, there is a huge discrepancy between talking and repeated physical attacks.

    Gattuso put his hands on Jordan during the game (similar to what got Ronaldo a card in el clasico) and sought him out with feverish fervor after the game, during which he head-butted him.

    Go ahead, try to defer blame.
    There’s no excuse.

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  11. Major fail there on my reading guys, my bad. That’s what I get for waking up so early to read about soccer news when living in the West Coast? Well back to hoping Twente wins it then, then Rangers are my 2nd choice, followed by Man City & Villareal

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  12. I know Rubin Kazan are fast and keep up with someone like Barcelona, but I was really hoping for Twente to take this competition. I doubt they get 3 goals in Russia, and isn’t really cold still there? lol

    Well guess I’ll root for Villareal, Sevilla and Rangers? Although I’m hoping Man City go far, would help with the crazy spending and I’d like to see Tevez win something soon?

    Portland just needs to find some Center backs, which isn’t exactly a hard thing to do? Wonder if Michael Parkhurst will come home? Even if they don’t do too good this year a nice high draft pick for a CB or defensive mid top prospect could help them! MLS is getting more competitive, last year’s bad teams DC, Houston, Philly, and even to an extent Chivas should be much better. KC will challenge for a playoff spot & so will TFC, just leaves Chicago who are kind of stagnant and Revs to wonder? Hmmmm…

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  13. I’m with you, but not really buying the whole “grab” argument. He shoved him by getting his hand on Jordan’s throat.

    I do want to know if it’s true what Gattuso is claiming that Jordan called him a F***ing Italian B****rd?

    If so Jordan and Spurs should face a fine and Jordan a few games suspended himself.

    But Gattuso should get a nice 7 game suspension

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  14. Gattuso should receive around a seven match ban. As usual, he was completely out of control that match. Beyond the headbutt issue, he was also caught on camera grabbing Jordan’s throat. Without a doubt, his behavior deserves a lengthy suspension and hefty fine.

    Although I’m not sure he can be punished further since he received a yellow card on the play, Flamini should consider himself lucky if he doesn’t receive any fine or suspension for his ridiculous two-footed challenge on Corluka when the ball was basically already out of play.

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  15. I’m liking what Portland is doing. I rate Zizzo highly as a winger, and heaven knows they’re going to have to surround Cooper with speed.
    Man, that ‘Allocation Money’ must be the definition of journeyman, he seems to be traded every day.

    Reply

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