Former University of Maryland and D.C. United forward Alecko Eskandarian has joined the NASL New York Cosmos as an assistant coach. Alecko, the 2002 Hermann Award winner with the Cavaliers, ended his pro career after playing 136 matches with 36 goals, after suffering concussion syndrome. Eskandarian’s father Andranik played for the Cosmos during their glory days in the 1970s-80s. Most recently he served as the youth technical director for the Philadelphia Union of MLS…..Bethesda, Md., native Mike Jeffries, 50, the 1983 Hermann Trophy winner as a senior at Duke University and former MLS head coach with Dallas, has been named the head coach of the USL’s Des Moines Menace in the Premier Development League. Jeffries is the eighth Menace head coach in franchise history…..Yes, he’s still playing. DaMarcus Beasley came off the bench to score a pair of late goals to give Puebla a 3-1 victory over San Luis in Mexico’s Liga MX….U.S. MNT midfielder Jose Torres was released by Pachuca, his longtime Mexican League club where he made 154 appearances over six seasons, but was picked up by Tigres, and started in its 4-1 win over Toluca to keep its unbeaten streak intact and the club in first place…..U.S. MNT midfielder Sacha Kljestan has resigned with Anderlecht through the 2016 season…..New York Red Bulls’ Thierry Henry has said that soccer officials should deduct points from teams whose fans racially abuse players. Several players have been targets of abuse from supporters in recent weeks, including U.S. national forward Jozy Altidore while playing for his Dutch club AZ Alkmaar……U.S. MNT midfielder Mikkel Diskerud, 22, has signed a new two-year contract with Norwegian Tippeligaen club Rosenborg……Clint Dempsey and Tottenham kept their Champions League position with a 2-1 EPL win over Newcastle, while Brad Guzan and Aston Villa scratched their way out of the drop zone with a 2-1 win over West Ham. Dempsey went the distance for Spurs, while Brad Friedel dressed, but did not play for Newcastle. Guzan made several key saves for Villa……Everton slipped in the EPL standings after a 2-0 loss to Manchester United. Tim Howard, just back from the CONCACAF World Cup qualifier in Honduras, was in goal for Everton….American teenager Marc Pelosi has been called up by Liverpool from its U-21 team for Europa League play. Pelosi, 18, was born in Germany, but grew up in Northern California and was a key midfielder on the U.S. Under-17 national team. Liverpool has advanced to the Round of 32 of the Europa League….Without a team again!….In January the MLS Philadelphia Union addressed the status of Freddy Adu for the 2013 season. Head coach John Hackworth, in a letter to season-ticket holders, said that the club had tried to work with Adu in the offseason to adjust his contract, but Adu had rejected those overtures and while he continued to be on the Union’s list of players and is being paid by the club, he was not part of the club’s plans for the future. The Union is seeking to trade or loan him…..Amanda Vandervort has assumed the office of Vice President of Marketing for the NSCAA Executive Committee, which is the second step in a five-year process leading to serving as the NSCAA president. Vandervort also currently serves as the Director of Social Media for Major League Soccer and is the FIFA Marketing and Communications Instructor…..D.C. United has acquired defender James Riley from Chivas USA in exchange for a 2015 second round Supplemental Draft pick. Riley, who tied Dan Kennedy for most minutes played (2,880) last year at Chivas USA (32 games played/games started), has played over 200 games in Major League Soccer. He played collegiate soccer at Wake Forest…..Brek Shea’s transfer deal from MLS FC Dallas to Stoke City of the English Premier League was settled when he obtained a work permit. Shea scored a goal for the Stoke reserves in a 2-1 loss against Burnley. He is expected to make his EPL debut for the Potters against Fulham on Feb. 23.