MELBOURNE, Australia -- Spains all-time leading goal scorer David Villa will play a 10-match guest stint in the A-League with the rebranded Melbourne City. Russ Francis Jersey . Villa, a member of Spains World Cup team in Brazil, left Spanish league champions Atletico Madrid and will play in New York Citys inaugural MLS campaign beginning in March next year. To build match fitness, Villa will be loaned to sister club Melbourne City, which changed its name from Melbourne Heart after being bought by English Premier League champion Manchester City this year. The A-League season begins in October. "Its very good for me in every sense," Villa said in a statement released by Melbourne City on Thursday. "From a football point of view its the opportunity to play in a new league in a different country, and of course it will be ideal for me to get some competitive football in the period before the MLS season gets under way. "What Ive always done throughout my career is do the best I possibly can. Ill be giving everything for the team, just like I have with every club Ive played for." Villa has scored 56 goals in 94 matches since making his first appearance for Spain in 2005. Citys head coach John vant Schip said Villa was still "at the peak of his game." "He is playing in his third World Cup in Brazil, has just won the Spanish league and is an instinctive and gifted striker who will contribute significantly to Melbourne City FC," vant Schip said. "We are confident David will be an incredible asset to the playing group and his experiences in Europe and for his country will help our players not only on the pitch, but in training as well." The 32-year-old Villa scored 15 goals in 47 games for Atletico Madrid this season, with his last match for the club being the Champions League final loss to cross-town rival Real Madrid. Australia media were comparing the 10-match stint as the biggest coup for the A-League since Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero signed with Sydney FC on a two-year contract. Del Piero scored 24 goals for Sydney and was the clubs leading scorer in both seasons he played. He left the team as a player at the end of this season, but says he might remain with the club in an off-field capacity. Aaron Hernandez Jersey . - Diego Fagundez scored his team-leading 13th goal of the season in the 76th minute to lift the Revolution to a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Crew on Saturday night that kept New Englands playoff hopes alive. Nick Buoniconti Jersey . The union filed a grievance late Thursday, one day after Goodell suspended four players who participated in bounties from 2009-11. The complaint says Goodell is prohibited from punishing players for any aspect of the case occurring before the new collective bargaining agreement was signed last August.WASHINGTON - Chad Barrett scored in the 39th minute to help the Seattle Sounders beat D.C. United 1-0 on Saturday night. Seattle (11-3-2) won its third straight and extended its undefeated streak to five games. Gonzalo Pineda lofted a cross and Barrett headed the feed from the penalty spot to inside the upper left corner of the goal past goalkeeper Bill Hamid. The goal was Barretts third goal in four gaames and his fourth of the season. Jeff Garcia Jersey. United (7-5-4) held a significant possession advantage but couldnt find the net. In the 82nd minute, Eddie Johnson narrowly missed tying the game when his header fell wide. Both teams played without their top scorers — Seattles Clint Dempsey is playing for the U.S. in the World Cup, and Uniteds Fabian Espindola is serving a suspension. ' ' '
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