[Ricochet]

Soccer Notes from the Washington Post

United's Hristo Stoitchkov received his long-awaited green card, opening a slot for the acquisition of another foreign player. The green card makes him a permanent resident and exempt from MLS's limit of three senior international players per team.

Meantime, United's pursuit of Honduran national team striker Carlos Pavon, the top player on its wish list, appeared to come to an end yesterday when Pavon turned down United's latest offer, according to those involved in the negotiations. The sticking point was Pavon's insistence to re-enter the free agent market after this MLS season. . . . United forward Santino Quaranta sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee at a U.S. under-20 camp in Houston and could miss two to three weeks