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Morning Ticker: Red Bulls tie W Connection, Fulham rolls in Europa League and more

The New York Red Bulls still didn't find a victory, but the club finally found a good result, scoring a 2-2 road draw vs. W Connection in the first leg of their two-game series in CONCACAF Champions League qualifying action.

The Red Bulls looked to be in danger of an embarrassing loss when a Juan Pablo Angel header clearance helped set up the opening goal for W Connection, but Austrian midfielder Ernst Obster made his Red Bulls debut in style, sending a Dane Richards cross at goal, where it took a deflection before beating the W Connection goalkeeper to equalize.

Alfredo Pacheco gave the Red Bulls the lead with his own long shot/cross attempt, which also took a big deflection before beating the keeper, but Pacheco took the lead away with a terrible clearance attempt that W Connection's Hughton Hector turned into a 72nd-minute equalizer.

The Red Bulls return to action next week when they play host to W Connection at Giants Stadium.

Here are some other stories to get your day going:

Fulham win Europea League opener

Bobby Zamora was supposed to be wearing a Hull City uniform by now, but he rejected a transfer move there, choosing to stay with Fulham. That move paid off handsomely for the Cottagers, who saw Zamora score a goal, draw a penalty and set up another goal inFulham's 3-0 Europa League victory against FK Vetra on Thursday.

Clint Dempsey started and played 81 minutes for Fulham while Eddie Johnson dressed but did not play for the Cottagers.

Dempsey wasn't the only American to see Europa League action on Thursday. U.S. goalkeeper Troy Perkins, fresh from his stint as the starting U.S. goalkeeper in the Gold Cup, started and played 90 minutes in Valarenga's 2-1 home-leg loss to Greek club PAOK Salonica.

Here are all the results from the Europa League's third round of qualifying.

Castillo joins Dnipro on loan

Mexican national team striker's club team struggles are well-documented, but now he has found a new club to try and play for. Shakhtar Donetsk has loaned Castillo to Dnipro for the year.

Castillo was one of the players called in by Mexico for the Aug. 12 World Cup qualifier vs. the United States.

Bobby Robson dead at 76

Former England, Newcastle United and FC Barcelona manager Bobby Robson has passed away at the age of 76. He succumed after a long battle with cancer.

Robson helped lead England to deep runs in the 1986 and 1990 World Cup and also led Newcastle to the UEFA Champions League. Robson also helped start the career of a certain club coach named Jose Mourinho, who served as his translator while at FC Barcelona.

Bayer Munich wins Audi Cup

Goalkeeper Michael Rensing made a pair of penalty kick saves to help Bayern Munich defeat Manchester United in penalty kicks in the Audi Cup final in Germany. The match ended scoreless in regulation before Bayern prevailed on spot kicks.

In the Audi Cup's other action, Boca Juniors defeated AC Milan on penalty kicks.

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These are just some of the stories making the rounds this morning. What did you think of the Red Bulls performance last night? Are you encouraged by seeing Eddie Johnson dress for a Europa League match? Are you enjoying watching Nery Castillo move further and further away from big-time club soccer?

Share your thoughts below.

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