Morning Kickaround

I spent a few hours last night with Washington's newest pro club, Real Maryland, which will make its USL2 debut Sunday afternoon at Maryland SoccerPlex. I plan to have a feature about the club in Saturday's print editions, but for now, a few things you should know:

-- Salvadoran forward Ronald Cerritos, who had 71 goals and 57 assists in 10 MLS seasons, is the most well-known player. "It's exciting because it is another opportunity," he said. "I was playing in El Salvador and I never thought I would play here again. When they talked to me, I was very interested. I'm 33 years old; this is the reality. The future is obviously coming soon, but I like this project. I think we will do well."

-- Dennis Alas, a Salvadoran midfielder, is the club's other high-profile player. You may remember him for receiving a yellow card -- his second -- during a World Cup qualifier against the United States in 2004 at Foxborough for having a gold chain around his neck. (The teams had been warned not to wear jewelry.)

-- Pablo Gomez, younger brother of MLS star Christian Gomez, has signed with Real and is awaiting a visa. He is 21 and comes from Nueva Chicago's youth system.

Okay, what else can I offer?

*Celtic-Rangers today. Celtic is four points behind, but has played two more matches than its visiting Glasgow rival.

*Another World Cup qualifier not involving the USA will be played on U.S. soil because of an inadequate field elsewhere: Mexico-Belize. Last month Anguilla moved its home leg against El Salvador to Estadio RFK and, after shutting out the Salvadorans in the second half to keep the aggregate score at 16-0, the Anguillans celebrated as if they had just won the World Cup. Belize will not have such an opportunity, I fear.

*Forward Jamil Walker, who was unable to earn a DCU roster spot after recovering from an Achilles' tendon injury, scored during his trial with the USL1's Carolina Railhawks.

*Let's chat at 1 p.m. ET today. Submit your questions and follow the discussion right here.

*Back later with DCU updates from RFK.