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Wednesday Kickoff: Rapids beat Wizards, Red Bulls land winger and more

The Colorado Rapids scored a measure of revenge on Tuesday night, beating the Kansas City Wizards in U.S. Open Cup play just three days after suffering a regular season loss to the Wizards.

Midfielder Wells Thompson scored twice to help give the Rapids a 2-1 victory over KC. Rookie striker Teal Bunbury scored the Wizards' lone goal.

Colorado will next face the winner of the three-team bracket including New York, Philadelphia and New England. The Red Bulls play host to the Union on April 27th, with the winner facing the Revolution in May.

Here are some other stories to get your Wednesday going:

REPORT: RED BULLS SIGN DANISH WINGER

The Red Bulls have been expected to upgrade at the left wing position for some time and appear to have found their man as Danish media reports have the club signing Vejle winger Brian Nielsen.

The 23-year-old winger is expected to battle for playing time on the left flank with current starter Sinisa Ubiparipovic, a central midfielder who has been plugged into the role early in the season. The signing of Nielsen would also signal the end to a possible return by popular Dutch winger Dave Van Den Bergh, who had been linked to a possible return to the club.

ENGLAND PLAYERS TO USE HIGH-ALTITUDE SLEEP TENTS

Just when you thought you'd heard of every possible way to prepare for the World Cup, now comes word that England national team players will be using high-altitude sleep tents to help get them ready for the altitude in South Africa during the World Cup.

The opening World Cup match between the United States and England will be played in Rustenberg, located almost 5,000 feet above sea level.

BARCELONA WON'T TARGET FABREGAS

After having been considered a logical destination for Cesc Fabregas for years, Barcelona has informed Arenal that it does not intend to make a move for the Spanish star this summer.

This news comes amid reports that Manchester City will make a major transfer move for Fabregas.

NEWS & NOTES

Chivas USA defender Ante Jazic is set to miss six-to-eight weeks after suffering a sprained right MCL during the Rojiblancos' 2-0 win vs. the New York Red Bulls.

Columbus defender Danny O'Rourke was fined an additional $500 to go along with the red card he received during the Crew's 2-2 tie vs. FC Dallas last Saturday. O'Rourke was fined for making a offensive gesture toward the match referee. His total fine for the incident is $750 and he will miss the Crew's match vs. Real Salt Lake while he serves his red card suspension.

Juventus has given Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez a deadline by which to signal his interest in managing the Italian giants next season. Juve is interested in Benitez but the Spaniard must decide whether to walk away from a lengthy Liverpool contract.

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What do you think of these developments? Surprised to see the Wizards lose? Disappointed the Red Bulls won't be signing Van Den Bergh? Do you see Fabregas staying at Arsenal?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Yup, like when Everton got that kid from the PDL side or Sporting Braga got Gabe from the USL…. absolutely pathetic clubs… downright embarassing.

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  2. I know that name. In the FIFA09 game, Brian Nielsen was a young player you could buy pretty cheaply and his ratings would improve a lot over 2-3 seasons. He was a hidden gem.

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  3. It’s nice to see MLS managers being proactive in signing talent. for a good part of this decade it’s been the same old faces playing the same old boring, minor league football. I for one appreciate managers like Backe, Arena, and Schmid who are actively trying to make MLS better. MLS will never be the EPL, but it’s a sign of progress when good, young players from Europe and Latin America are choosing to play here instead of their own leagues.

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  4. I usually agree with what you post, but can’t we wait to see him before making such a judgment? After all, using that logic, some might have said the same about Lindpere. So far, the moves Soler and Backe have made have been very good, and I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

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  5. As a redbulls fan, I’m hoping this will be a good signing for the team, since it looks like this guy is young and a decent left wing. It is disappointing to see what has happened to DVB though. It doesn’t surprise me that the new management didn’t take him. But he is a talented player and hopefully he finds work somewhere soon. Also, what preperations does the USMNT have in mind for the WC,besides the warmup games with the Czechs and Turks? Also, I know the US training camp is situated nicely for the USMNT first 3 games but how long before the tournament will the USMNT arrive

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  6. Its only pathetic if they are busts like most of Osorio’s signings from obscure leagues. If you can pick up some hidden gems like a Lindpere rather than go throught the hassles of signing bigger names in leagues that demand more, you’re doing your club a huge favor. More productive signings and more room for another DP. Maybe Backe knows what he’s doing…scouting in his old stomping grounds. Did anyone care where Lindpere came from when he blasted home that first goal at RBA…or the second vs CHI. Lets give this kid a chance and Backe the benefit of the doubt until he proves otherwise.

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  7. should be a good time–the stadium is definitely the reason i’m going. and the fact that i can take the path train there. i was also excited about the first 2 games this year, although i’m a little worried after last week’s loss. hopefully juan pablo has a big game vs. dallas…

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  8. The high altitude tents are a great idea. This should be a given for teams playing far above sea level. the trick is, it needs to be implemented far in advance to allow your body to build its red blood cell count. You cant just sleep in the tent for a few days and benefit greatly from it. The US should follow suit.

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  9. Man City is going to buy Fabregas. Then they’re going to buy Gerrard, Torres, Kaka, Benzema, Rooney, Ferdinand, Ronaldinho, Beckham and Tevez (again, just for good measure).

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  10. Agree. I don’t know anything about him, but I do like the fact that we have had a few younger european players come over lately.

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  11. It’s official: there is no softer bunch of dandies on earth than England’s national football team.

    Also official: RBNY should absolutely NOT have to search England’s 4th tier or Denmark’s 2nd tier for players. This is nothing short of pathetic.

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  12. Hans Backe was quote in something I read that the leftie will be someone we’ll like. I like the fact that this guy is young. Don’t know anything else about him.

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  13. Hope you enjoy your first game. While I love the EPL and Bundesliga, if we don’t support OUR league, it will never get better.

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  14. I am thinking I need one of those sleeping chambers.

    The full 90 minutes is tough for me, I feel like I need a sub in the 60th minute…..and I am only watching.

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  15. Far as Metro goes, kudos to the front office for recovering nicely from the Luke Rogers FAIL. Soler really seems to be pillaging the lower Euro divisions the way they’ve done to MLS. He is putting it all on the line right away by going to Austria and saying sign this guy for us. From what I understand, fans of his current team aren’t happy at all to be losing Nielsen to RB. I’m thinking at worse, a young Euro skilled winger who’s been capped at every youth level and can push Ubi & others if only for the simple ability to get a good cross in now and then. At best, imagine a younger, defensively capable DVDB.

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  16. No one actually saw the game except for the people immediately present, but the teams (I think both teams) tried to make due with a live-text feed from the pitch.

    Wells got his two goals on assists, one from Jaime Smith and the other from Claudio Lopez (within one minute of Lopez coming on the field), but some reports have also said that Ballouchy played a key role in that last goal as well.

    Bunbury shocked everybody though. Unassisted goal in the first 4. Holy crap.

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  17. Disagree. Cesc is the ideal replacement for Xavi, who we can’t expect to continue to perform at his exquisite level forever. He’s 30 now. If not Cesc, then who? No one on the current team is as well suited for the role as Cesc.

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  18. 92 game, 15 goals is a pretty tidy number for a 23 year old midfielder. As a DC fan, I don’t like this – as a MLS fan, I like seeing this new influx of European players.

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  19. Wait… Wells Thompson scored 2 goals? There has to be some mistake! Did anyone see this game? Did the keeper drop the ball at Wells’ feet on the goal line?!

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  20. VDB is far too good a player for someone not to pick him up. I’d take him at DC in a heartbeat!

    Wonder how good this new guy is… Wikipedia, YouTube, and FIFA 10 here I come ; )

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  21. Does Nielsen have two legs? If so, chances are that he’s already an improvement over Sinisa, who is a hard working player but who think the nature of the sport is to pass the ball to any player with a jersey different than his.

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  22. Definitely don’t need him. He’d be relegated to a similar role he has with the Spanish team. Just no room to plug him in. Maybe once Xavi hits a wall or is too old it’d be a good move. Not yet though.

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  23. probably gonna take a week or two (just guessing) until his paper work is sorted out and he’s assimilated into the team. Maybe in time for the open cup game vs. philly?

    I dont know much about the player but it seems this could not have happend without the coordination between the two RedBull clubs and Biersdorfer aka the man who looks over all clubs in the sporting division.

    NY finally has their s… together from the top on down.

    RB just needs to stay in the playoff hunt right now and reload come the summer signing window with a DP or 2 and make a run for it!

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  24. Will Nielson play this weekend? I’m going to the game–first time I’ve ever been to a Red Bulls game and I’ve lived in the city for 6 years.

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  25. Red Bulls are definitely bringing a Euro makeover to the 2010 roster as opposed to the Latin flavor a few years back with Osorio. Too early to say it’s much better or is it just a good coach who happens to be Euro?

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