United Triumph over Ecuador's LDU Quito in FIFA Club World Cup Final

At around 7 am Eastern Time (definitely did not wake up in time...), Manchester United emerged victorious over a tough LDU side in the annual FIFA Club World Cup, the premier club competition staged in Japan pitting the world's continental champions against each other for the right to be called the best club on the planet.

Goalscorer Wayne Rooney commented after the match: "t was a very difficult game especially after going down to 10 men. I'm very happy to have scored and for us to become the best club in the world is something we can be very proud of." Gee, that was insightful.

In-form Rooney, named player of the tournament, put United 1-nil up after receiving a pass from Cristiano Ronaldo and slotting an angled shot into the bottom corner past helpless LDU goalkeeper Jose Cevallos. United had been reduced to ten men when Serbian enforcer Nemanja Vidic saw red for elbowing Claudio Bieler in the grill. United become the first English club to win this competition in its current format, having failed to reach the final in 2000; Liverpool had lost in the competition's final in 2005.

Third place in the Tournament went to Japan's Gamba Osaka, who defeated opposite semifinalists Pachuca by a score of 1-0. Earlier on Sunday.

Striker Masato Yamazaki scored the winner in the 30th minute when he volleyed a superb pass from fellow forward Ryuji Bando past goalkeeper Miguel Calero.

ASotD 12/19: Aguirre Nails Pigeon

It was a sad day for poultry everywhere as Gaston Aguirre killed a pigeon on the pitch with our Absolute Stunner of the Day in the Argentine Apertura...

Cristiano vs. Ahly ASotD 12/18

A lesser-known Cristiano of Austrailia's Adelaide United struck this sweet stunner against Al Ahly in the FIFA Club World Cup 12/18/08. First highlight of the video...

Maryland Terps Edge North Carolina Tarheels in 2009 NCAA College Cup

Earlier today, the number-two-ranked Maryland Terrapins emerged victorious over number thirteen UNC Tar Heels 1-0 in this year's 50th edition of the annual College Cup final. The goal came courtesy of terrifying Terp Graham Zusi, who pressured the UNC back line throughout the match. Maryland enjoyed most of the possession percentage and created far more chances than UNC were able to muster; the Blue-Man Group rarely threatened on the offensive even after going down 1-nil, not even managing a shot on net within the opening 70 minutes. It was the Freshwater Turtles' 3rd, and wholly deserved, consecutive victory over UNC this season.

To their credit however, the Ceruleans had knocked off number-one-ranked Wake Forest just yesterday by a scoreline of 1-0. Maryland faced the St. John Red Storm in the other semifinal. It appeared as though UNC's most creative players had run out of ideas at just the wrong time, and the Maryland defense stood stalwart when called upon while effectively distributing the ball up to its midfield and forward lines once it had regained possession.

To make this 50th annual Cup all the more special, commentary of the utmost clarity and the deepest incisiveness was provided by all-American legends JP Dellacamera and John Harkes!

ASotD 12/14: Mirko Vucinic

At Absolute Stunners, goals become the Stunner of the Day for all kinds of reasons.  Sometimes we award cracking long distance strikes, sometimes scintillating solo slalom runs, sometimes brilliant bursts of creativity, and sometimes audacious chips.  This one qualifies as a none of the above.  

What is so stunning about this goal is Vucinic's celebration.  The Montenegrin's antics can only be described as outrageous.

Let's walk through Mirko's moves:

1) Fire a rebound home from 16 yards into the bottom right corner.  Game winner!  3-2 over Cagliari!  

(Will Mirko play it cool since his squad just eked past a shite side at home?)

2) No!  Immediately tear off jersey revealing...another identical jersey.

(What article of clothing comes next?  Perhaps he is wearing a third jersey?)

3) Remove shorts.  Parade around in tightey-whiteys.  Run 50 meters around the Stadio Olimpico track away from Daniele De Rossi and Simone Perrotta.

4) Kick billboard!

5) Gingerly reapply shorts.

6) Receive yellow card.

I have seen outrageous celebrations before, but this one must be tops...or should that be bottoms?