Columbus Crew

Kirk Urso, an NCAA champion at North Carolina and a midfielder for the Columbus Crew, died Sunday morning at a hospital in Columbus, Ohio. A coroner in Franklin County said the cause of death for Urso, 22, has not been determined. The MLS rookie was pronounced dead at 1:50 a.m. at Grant Medical Center. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday. Urso had not played since May, when he underwent groin surgery. He appeared in six games this season but was not in attendance at the team's 1-0 loss to  D.C. United on Saturday in Washington.

Kirk Urso, an NCAA champion at North Carolina and a midfielder for the Columbus Crew, died Sunday morning at a hospital in Columbus, Ohio. A coroner in Franklin County said the cause of death for Urso, 22, has not been determined. The MLS rookie was pronounced dead at 1:50 a.m. at Grant Medical Center. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday. Urso had not played since May, when he underwent groin surgery. He appeared in six games this season but was not in attendance at the team's 1-0 loss to  D.C. United on Saturday in Washington.

Two significant matches will be played today on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean. In London, Everton will take on Arsenal, knowing that a victory over the defending English champion will greatly enhance its chances of qualifying for the European Champions League next season. In Columbus, Ohio, Major League Soccer's Crew will take on Deportivo Arabe Unido (DAU) of Panama, knowing that anything less than a victory will eliminate it from the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

High-scoring striker Edson Buddle is back with the Galaxy after agreeing to a deal Wednesday, only hours after being released by his German club. Buddle scored 42 goals in 87 regular-season games over four years with the Galaxy before accepting an 18-month contract to play for Ingolstadt in the 2 Bundesliga following the 2010 Major League Soccer season. Buddle, 30, also played with the Columbus Crew, New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC before joining the Galaxy. His best MLS season was his final one, in which he scored a career-high 17 goals and was named to the U.S. World Cup team.

In the cargo hold of the Spanish caravel, Nina, docked at the wharf of this scenic Chesapeake Bay town, First Mate Ernesto (Teto) Perez Dominguez gestures toward his bunk, which hangs from chains, and puts a hand upon his forehead. "For two years I have slept on that bed," he says in Spanish. "Two years away from my wife and children. But that's not even the worst part. Can you imagine what it is like with a hangover?"

Dema Kovalenko's cubicle in the Galaxy locker room is right next to David Beckham's. Apart from that, the two midfielders have little in common. Beckham, 35, earns $6.5 million a year from the Galaxy; Kovalenko, 33, earns $144,118. Beckham is from England and his previous club was Real Madrid. Kovalenko is from Ukraine and his previous club was Real Salt Lake. Beckham was sidelined for six months this season after suffering a torn left Achilles' tendon in March. Kovalenko was sidelined for three months this season after suffering a right hamstring strain in April.

Preki scored twice and had two assists as the Kansas City Wiz (3-1) scored a 6-4 victory over the Columbus Crew (2-2) in a Major League Soccer game Thursday before 8,854.--Associated Press

Brian McBride and Marcelo Carrera scored early goals as the Columbus Crew defeated the New York-New Jersey MetroStars, 2-0, on Sunday, extending the Crew's winning streak to eight games. Columbus (14-16), playing before 31,550 at Ohio Stadium, took a one-point lead over New England for fourth place in the Eastern Conference and the final playoff spot. The MetroStars are 14-16.

Officials * Referee: Kevin Terry * Assistant referees: Chip Reed and Laszlo Nagy * Fourth official: Paul Tamberino Coaches * Bruce Arena (Washington): Winner of five NCAA titles at Virginia, two MLS Cup victories, a U.S. Open Cup and, this season, the CONCACAF Champions Cup, making D.C. United not only the top team in the United States, but also in all of North and Central America and the Caribbean. * Bob Bradley (Chicago): Arena's assistant the last two years with D.C.

Brian Maisonneuve and Brian McBride scored in the first five minutes Saturday night and the Columbus Crew went on to their fifth consecutive victory, 2-1, over the Kansas City Wiz (16-13) at Columbus, Ohio. Maisonneuve scored on assists by Ricardo Iribarren and Robert Warzycha in the third minute. McBride scored two minutes later on a header off an assist by Warzycha. The Crew (21-16) is 5-0 since Coach Tom Fitzgerald took over for Timo Liekoski.

After more than a dozen failed corner kicks, it was a blocked free kick that brought the Galaxy a 1-0 victory Wednesday night against the Columbus Crew. Galaxy midfielder David Beckham had attempted 14 corner kicks, all falling harmlessly, and a handful of free kicks before he was fouled in the 68th minute. From about 25 yards out, Beckham blasted the ensuing free kick off the wall of Columbus defenders in front of him. The ricochet bounced directly to Galaxy defender Sean Franklin, a few yards to Beckham's left.

Up in the Home Depot Center press box Saturday night, someone from the stadium's catering staff was intently watching the Ducks and the Kings on television. Why? Because down on the field, Chivas USA and the Columbus Crew were playing a game of such crashing boredom that even hockey seemed preferable to the soccer on offer. For 45 agonizing minutes, absolutely nothing happened. The ball and 22 players moved around the field, but even the patterns they created were dull.

Dema Kovalenko's cubicle in the Galaxy locker room is right next to David Beckham's. Apart from that, the two midfielders have little in common. Beckham, 35, earns $6.5 million a year from the Galaxy; Kovalenko, 33, earns $144,118. Beckham is from England and his previous club was Real Madrid. Kovalenko is from Ukraine and his previous club was Real Salt Lake. Beckham was sidelined for six months this season after suffering a torn left Achilles' tendon in March. Kovalenko was sidelined for three months this season after suffering a right hamstring strain in April.

GALAXY TONIGHT VS. COLUMBUS When: 7:30. Where: Home Depot Center. On the air: TV: FSW (delayed, 9:30 p.m.); Radio: 1150, 1220. Records: Galaxy 13-5-5, Crew 13-5-5. Record vs. Crew: 1-0. Update: Saturday's game pits the two best teams in MLS, according to Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena. "Over the past two years, L.A. and Columbus have been a step above everyone else in the league," Arena said, "so we're facing the best team in the league.

David Beckham is back — a little longer of hair and a little shorter of breath, but back nonetheless. The Galaxy midfielder, sidelined for almost six months after surgery in March to repair a torn left Achilles' tendon suffered while playing on loan for AC Milan in Italy, has been taken off the disabled list and said Thursday that he is ready and eager to return to the fray. Whether that return will come Saturday night when the Galaxy plays host to the Columbus Crew in Carson remains up in the air, sort of like the wandering Englishman's latest hairstyle.

Despite his team being stuck in last place in Major League Soccer's Western Conference, Martin Vasquez continues to exude confidence. Chivas USA's first-year coach thinks that with just under half the MLS season still to go, and with a trio of new players in the mix, he and his squad can turn things around and still make a run at the playoffs. "We were in a hole, we hit rock bottom, but little by little we've been trying to get out of that hole," Vasquez said Saturday evening before Chivas' game against the Columbus Crew at Home Depot Center.

Brian McBride scored twice as the Columbus Crew defeated the Dallas Burn, 2-1, in Major League Soccer on Sunday. McBride broke a 1-1 tie in the 75th minute on a penalty kick after Pete Marino was tripped in the penalty area. He also scored in the sixth minute. Jorge Rodriguez tied it in the 53rd. Columbus improved to 2-1 while Dallas dropped to 1-2.