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.
————————-
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.