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Wednesday Kickoff: Earthquakes rally again, Puyol to sign new deal and more

Steven Lenhart (Getty Images)

By FRANCO PANIZO

The San Jose Eathquakes are the MLS comeback kings of 2012, and Swansea City were the latest team to find that out.

Inspired by two late goals from Steven Lenhart, the Earthquakes rallied to a 2-2 draw with Swansea in a friendly played at Buck Shaw Stadium on Tuesday night. Lenhart scored in the 79th and 85th minutes to erase a 2-0 deficit and give the Earthquakes a result against the Premiership club in its U.S. summer tour finale.

Swansea had jumped out in front courtesy of goals from Danny Graham and Chico in the 41st and 60th minute, respectively. But that was not enough to put away San Jose, who once again showed its never-say-die attitude by pulling out two goals in the closing minutes.

Here are some more stories to get your Wednesday going:

PUYOL SET TO SIGN NEW BARCA DEAL

Carles Puyol may be on the wrong side of 30 and coming off knee surgery, but Barcelona still believes he will prove serviceable for the coming years. The 34-year-old Barcelona captain is on the verge of signing a new deal with the club that will extend his current deal by at least one year. Puyol has previously declared his desire to finish his career with the Spanish giants. 

SKY TO COVER RANGERS AS PART OF NEW TV DEAL

Apparently not even a freefall in divisions is enough to stop Rangers from getting TV coverage. Sky Sports is set to show five Rangers games in the Scottish Third Division (the fourth tier of Scottish soccer) this season as part of a new TV deal to cover Scottish soccer for at least the next five years. The new agreement is subject to ratification, however, by SPL clubs later this week. 

MONTERREY BEGINS QUEST FOR CCL THREE-PEAT WITH WIN

If Monterrey were hoping to begin their run at a third consecutive CONCACAF Champions League title in style, they did just that on Tuesday. The Mexican club routed Panamanian outfit Chorrillo FC, 5-0, in their first group match of the 2012-2013 CONCACAF Champions League. Angel Reyna netted a hat-trick while Jose Basanta and Abraham Carreno each scored a goal in the club's home game.

PIENAAR OFFICIALLY REJOINS EVERTON

Steven Pienaar is back at Everton on a full-time basis. The South African midfielder officially rejoined the Blues on a permanent deal from Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday, signing a contract that will keep him at Goodison Park until the end of the 2016 season. Pienaar left Everton in January 2011 on a full transfer to Tottenham, but he returned to the Blues on loan for the second half of the 2011-2012 campaign.

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???? Can't believe the Earthquakes came back to get a result again? Do you see Monterrey winning the CCL for a third consecutive time?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. He’s actually doing the “cabbage patch” dance move, which is not shocking considering he wears the cabbage patch kid haircut. (And for people who missed the 80s, yes, those are both real things.)

    Reply

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