San Jose Earthquakes 0-1 Chivas USA

An early goal from Justin Braun was enough for Chivas USA to beat the San Jose Earthquakes at the Buck Shaw stadium and seal their spot in the 2008-09 MLS Playoffs.

Braun’s seventh minute strike was assisted by Alecko Eskandarian, who has found the back of the net in the last three games Chivas have played, and ensures that Preki Radosavljevic’s side confirm their place in the playoffs for the third year running.

The loss severely damages the Earthquakes’ chances of becoming the first expansion team to qualify for the playoffs.

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USA book spot in final round of qualifiers, beat Cuba 6-1

The USA maintained their unbeaten record in qualification for the 2010 World Cup when they thrashed Cuba 6-1 at the RFK Stadium in Washington. The victory, the fourth for the USA in as many games in the third qualification round, sees them sit atop Group 1 with 12 points. With Guatemala and Trinidad seven points behind, the USA are guaranteed of going into the next round as one of the two top teams from the group.

Rangers winger DaMarcus Beasley opened the scoring in the 10th minute, and doubled USA’s lead in the 30th minute. Jenzy Munoz then scored for the visitors two minutes later ( the first goal to have been conceded by the USA in qualification), but any hopes that the Cubans harboured of getting something out of the match were crushed when Yoel Colume was sent off for a second bookable offence before half time.

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Slovenia 2-0 Northern Ireland- WC 2010 Qualifier

Slovenia scored two goals in one minute to run out 2-0 winners at home against Nigel Worthington’s Northern Ireland. Milivoje Novakovic gave Slovenia the lead in the 84th minute, and Zlatan Ljubijankic doubled it seconds later to end NI’s hopes of coming out of Maribor with something.

As many as nine players were booked in the game, and NI defender Jonny Evans will miss their next qualifier against San Marino.

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