Soccer

Their colonial history notwithstanding, the English often like to think of themselves as being good at doing the right thing.

In deciding that John Terry should no longer captain the national team while accused of a racially aggravated crime, the English Football Association did the right thing.

Fabio Capello was either incapable or unwilling to accept that, and so said "ciao!" to his $9 million-a-year job as England coach. In doing so, the Italian demonstrated how little he learned about the English psyche in four years in charge of the Three Lions.

PLEASANT VIEW -- While football signings grab a share of the attention on national signing day thanks to sheer volume, the local soccer seniors made their presence felt as well.

And likely will make their presence felt at universities across the nation over the next 4-5 years.

OGDEN -- Each year the National Federation of State High School Associations names a single coach as girls soccer National Coach of the Year.

For 2011, that coach was St. Joseph Catholic High School's own Alexis (Alex) Salvo.

"I really don't want to make this award about me," Salvo said. "I really feel this award belongs to the whole school."

CAIRO -- Soccer fans rushed the field after the home team won an unexpected victory over Egypt's top club Wednesday, setting off clashes and a stampede that left at least 73 people dead and 1,000 injured in a Mediterranean port city, officials said.

OGDEN -- Weber State University women's soccer coach Tim Crompton announced Monday that Mike Manning has joined the Wildcats' staff as an assistant coach.

Manning, who served as the teams volunteer assistant coach in 2011, replaces longtime Wildcats coach Tom VudhiVadhana, who retired last month.

"I'd really like to thank coach Crompton for giving me this opportunity," Manning said. "It has been a lifelong goal of mine to be able to coach at the highest collegiate level."

Manning is well known in the Utah and regional coaching circles, having coached in the Utah Olympic Development Program since 2006. He enters his seventh season with the ODP in 2012.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The final goal in the game that put the U.S. women's soccer team into the Olympics was scored by Alex Morgan, the super-sub who made her name at last year's World Cup.

That's the same Alex Morgan who wasn't a sub at all in the Americans' previous game, leading to an interesting moment in a meeting with coach Pia Sundhage.

The formality is that the U.S. beat Costa Rica 3-0 Friday night to earn a ticket to London. The game was quite a bit more suspenseful than expected, with the Americans overcoming some early sloppiness and waiting until deep into the second half to put the game away.

SANDY -- Real Salt Lake has invited fans of the Claret-and-Cobalt old and new to Rio Tinto Stadium this Saturday, when they will host an open house from 1 to 4 p.m.

During the free-admission event, fans will have the chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at RSL's home, go back-and-forth with RSL personalities during question-and-answer sessions and take advantage of special offers on tickets and merchandise.

The RSL open house will be the best time to secure a spot at the team's 2012 home opener on March 17 vs. the New York Red Bulls, as the afternoon will include an exclusive window to purchase single-game tickets in advance of the general public sale on Feb. 1.