Soccer update-- more on recent cancellations

We recently reported that Real Madrid's match at Rayo Vallecano had to be cancelled due to acts of sabotage to the electrical system. (See photos of the damaged electrical equipment above and below) 

The match was finally played today, resulting in a 2-0 Real Madrid victory.

Below: Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring for Real Madrid

In other news, due to the recent cancellation of AS Roma's match at Cagliari, Serie A officials have decided to award a 3-0 victory to Roma. Cagliari have announced that they will appeal this decision.

Soccer update-- cancellations and more

Today's La Liga match between Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano was cancelled due to sabotage. (Apparently an electrical cable was cut.)

Above and below: Workers attempt to fix the lights 

Below: Fans outside the Estadio de Vellecas

In Italy, today's match between AS Roma and Cagliari was cancelled due to a dispute between Cagliari and Serie A authorities about whether home fans would be allowed to attend the match.

And finally, Milan's disastrous season continued with a 2-1 loss to Udinese. Highlights included two Milan players sent off with red cards (Cristian Zapata and Kevin Prince-Boateng) and continued speculation about whether Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri will be fired.

Below: Milan players after the match

World soccer update

Above: Inter manager Jose Mourinho runs onto the field to grab a stray ball. (There also seems to be a balloon on the pitch as well.)

At one point today, first place Inter Milan were beating Chievo Verona 4-2, and Roma were losing to Cagliari 1-0. The Inter fans began celebrating, believing that the Scudetto was theirs. But then Cheivo scored, Roma scored, and then Roma scored again, and the crowd became quiet. When it was all over, both Roma and Inter had won, so the Scudetto will not be decided until next weekend, the final weekend of the season.

In other news, Chelsea beat Wigan Athletic 8-0, winning them the Premier League title. Believe it or not, eight is not the largest number of goals conceded by Wigan this season-- they gave up nine against Tottenham back in November. (Remember this the next time some Premier League-supremacist starts going on about the UK being the land of fair play and competitive football.)

Below: Chelsea celebrate their championship

Match report: Cagliari 2 - Milan 3

Above: Davide Astori right after scoring an own goal to put Milan ahead 3-2

• Goals scored: Borriello 7', Ragatzu 17', Huntelaar 19', Matri 32', Astori (own goal) 38'
• What happened: Five goals were scored in the first half. The last time these two teams met, seven goals were scored.
• What else happened: Both Inter and Roma won, so Milan are still in third place.
• Questions about this game: Was Huntelaar's goal from an even longer distance than the one Pirlo scored against Real Madrid in the Champions League?
• What this match teaches us: Neither team seems to be able to play defense.

Match report: Milan 4 - Cagliari 3

• Goals scored: Seedorf 5', Matri 9', Lazzari 30', Borriello 38', Pato 40', Ronaldinho 62' (penalty), Nene 69'
• What happened: Milan scored first. Then Cagliari scored twice. Then Milan scored three times in a row. Then Cagliari scored.
• Which goal was the best: Pato's
• Milan players who could not play due to suspension: Nesta
• Milan players who played very well: Ronaldinho, Pato, Borriello, Dida
• Milan players who played very badly: Pirlo. He was basically unable to run, pass, or keep control of the ball.
• Milan players who played very, very badly: Kaladze. He filled in for Nesta and contributed to all three Cagliari goals.
• Things Kaladze seemed unable to do today: Mark opposing players, clear the ball, execute the offside trap.
• Milan players who made their first appearance of the season and who look eerily like Seedorf even down to the white shoes: Rodney Strasser
• What this match teaches us: Without Nesta, Milan's defense appears to be terrible.

Above: Borriello scores Milan's second goal

Below: Ronaldinho scores Milan's fourth goal

Below: Leonardo congratulates Ronaldinho

Highlights are below: