Nicolas Anelka did not leave Chelsea FC for Chinese soccer for one last paycheck. He revealed that his passion for local cultures and the chance to experience a new way of life were behind his decision to sign with Shanghai Shenhua, according to FIFA.com. “I’ve always had fond feelings about Asia,” Anelka said. “I have been obsessed with the local cultures during my previous trips to the likes …

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Nicolas Anelka Chose China's Shanghai Shenhua Because of Obsession With Asian Cultures

A magnificent goal by Mehmet Topal was enough to give the visitors victory Can Stoke do it on a wet and windy night in Stoke? That’s the question on everybody’s lips as Tony Pulis’s side take on the mighty Valencia, six-time Spanish champions and winners of four major European trophies. The mighty Valencia, whose team of 2000 and 2001 was perhaps the greatest side fated to never win the European …

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Stoke City v Valencia – as it happened | Scott Murray

It was a day of triumph for Manchester clubs in the UEFA Europa League as United beat Ajax and City recovered to win at Porto, while Spanish sides Atletico Madrid and Valencia defeated Lazio and Stoke City respectively.

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United cruise as City, Atletico fight back

Fiorentina’s journey back from administration was long, painful but ultimately successful

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Viola alert for Rangers

Only three home sides in the round of 32 recorded first-leg victories as the likes of Manchester United FC, Manchester City FC and Club Atlético de Madrid won away on Thursday.

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United, City and Atlético enjoy away success

Hannover 96 2-1 Club Brugge KV Jan Schlaudraff’s impudent spot kick completed a stirring fightback for the German hosts after Maxime Lestienne had given the visitors the lead.

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Hannover comeback thwarts Club Brugge

Udinese Calcio 0-0 PAOK FC The Serie A side made most of the first-leg running at the Stadio Friuli without being able to break through a well-drilled PAOK back line.

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Udinese held up by resolute PAOK

Franck Songo’o played for Cameroon in the Beijing Olympics and played last season for Spanish side Albacete.

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Timbers sign MF Franck Songo'o of Cameroon

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Thursday, February 16, 2012) – The Colorado Rapids announced on Thursday that the club has acquired on loan midfielder MartÃ-n Rivero, a 22-year-old playmaker most recently with Rosario Central in his native Argentina.

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Rapids Acquire Argentinian Attacking Midfielder Martí n Rivero

Munich – Hannover 96 were pushed to the limit by Christoph Daum’s Club Brugge in the first leg of their Europa League Round of 32 tie, but managed to engineer themselves an advantage going into the second leg courtesy of a 2-1 win at the AWD-Arena that was largely down to the introduction of Artur Sobiech.

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Super-sub Sobiech saves the day

MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact have traded Brian Ching back to the Houston Dynamo, the team he never wanted to leave.

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Montreal Impact send forward Ching back to Houston Dynamo for conditional pick

BRADENTON, Fla. – Three Seattle Sounders FC players scored as the Rave Green beat the U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team, 3-0, in their fourth training game of the 2012 preseason at IMG Soccer Academy on Thursday afternoon.

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Preseason Training Game: Seattle Sounders FC 3 Vs. U.S. Under-17 0

HARRISON, NJ (February 16, 2012) – The New York Red Bulls announced today that midfielders Joel Lindpere (Estonia) and Rafa Marquez (Mexico) and defender Roy Miller (Costa Rica) have all received call ups from their respective national teams for international friendlies that take place on Wednesday, Feb. 29. In addition, forward Juan Agudelo has been called into United States Under-23 camp for a …

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New York Trio Called up by Respective National Teams; Agudelo to U.S. Under-23 Camp

Published: Thursday, 16. February, 2012 in category M.L.S. The Portland Timbers have signed Cameroonian midfielder Franck Songo’o, it was announced today. Songo’o joins the Timbers after playing the past six seasons in the top leagues in England and Spain.

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Timbers Sign Songo'o

U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team head coach Caleb Porter named a 23-player roster as the group convenes Feb. 19 for a 10-day training camp in Frisco, Texas. The camp culminates with a match against Mexico’s U-23 National Team on Wed., Feb. 29 at FC Dallas Stadium.

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U.S. U-23 Start Olympic Qualifying Preparation

The former Flamengo and Deportivo La Coruna striker completes the organising committee amidst reports that CBF could lose its top official

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Former Brazil international Bebeto joins 2014 World Cup organising committee

HOUSTON, TX (Thursday, February 16, 2012) — Houston Dynamo defender Kofi Sarkodie has been named to the 23-player roster for the upcoming U.S. Under-23 men’s national team training camp.

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Dynamo Defender Kofi Sarkodie Called in for U.S. Under-23 National Team Training Camp

S.S. Lazio 1-3 Club Atlético de Madrid Tournament specialist Falcao scored twice as the 2010 UEFA Europa League winners came from behind to establish a convincing advantage.

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Falcao at the double as Atlético outshine Lazio

SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Earthquakes defender Ike Opara has been selected to join the U.S. Olympic squad in camp from Feb. 19-29 as head coach Caleb Porter works to finalize a roster ahead of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2012 Summer Games.

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Earthquakes D Ike Opara Named to U.S. Olympic Camp Roster

Sporting Kansas City forward Teal Bunbury was named to the United States Under-23 Men’s National Team roster for a training camp to be held from February 19-29 in Frisco, Texas, U.S. Soccer announced on Thursday.

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Sporting KC Forward Teal Bunbury Invited to U.S. Under-23 National Team Training Camp

Go to TSN.ca for details. #TSN

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Manchester United beats Ajax in Europa League round of 32

Kia Canada and Toronto FC (TFC) mark their second annual customized vehicle build with seven-time Canadian award-winning OptimaFully customized Kia Optima SX embodies the athleticism of Kia’s vehicle line …

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Kia Canada reveals Toronto FC Special Edition Kia Optima Turbo SX at the Canadian International Auto Show

Munich – Schalke made hard work of a side who hadn’t played a competitive match since December, but did just enough to earn themselves a slight advantage in their Europa League Round of 32 tie against Viktoria Pilsen by grinding out a 1-1 draw away from home in the first leg.

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Schalke suffer in Pilsen

Penalty conceded by Andoni Iraola (Athletic de Bilbao) after a foul in the penalty area.

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Lokomotiv Moscow 2 Athletic Bilbao 1 matchcentre 16/02/2012

Jason Lowe is confident Blackburn Rovers Football Club can avoid relegation. The Lancashire club have suffered a dreadful campaign in the Premier League, but a 3-2 win over Queens Park Rangers last weekend has lifted them out of the drop zone.

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Lowe confident of Blackburn Rovers survival

Barry Robson has confirmed he will leave Middlesbrough in the summer, having lined up a move to join MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps.

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Robson leaving Boro for MLS

The director of a Hungarian film which focuses on the lives of a family of Roma as their community faces a series of deadly attacks says he hopes it will help tackle discrimination.

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Hungarian Roma killings movie premieres in Berlin

MILAN, Italy: Juventus missed the chance to retake the lead in Serie A as Parma held them to a 0-0 draw on Wednesday. AC Milan had gone top with a 2-1 win at Udinese on Saturday but the draw, Juve’s 10th in 22 league games this season, left them a point behind the rossoneri.

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Parma slow Juventus Serie A title charge

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers have signed Cameroonian midfielder Franck Songo’o, it was announced today. Songo’o joins the Timbers after playing the past six seasons in the top leagues in England and Spain. Timbers general manager Gavin Wilkinson made the announcement.

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Timbers Sign Midfielder Franck Songo'o

33-year-old Scotsman set to move abroad with Canadian club after successful spell at the Riverside could end in promotion for Boro later this term

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Middlesbrough's Barry Robson to join MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps in summer