By MLS standards, Real Salt Lake was an all-star last season, finishing fifth overall with an average attendance of 16,366 fans per game. However, that, like many official MLS attendance figures, was a gross overstatement, as the team’s internal data revealed fewer than 10,000 paying customers per game. Why the discrepancy? Promotions and giveaways accounted […]
Monthly Archives: December 2006
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Champions League: Tough Draws for Liverpool, Real Madrid
The Champions League draw in Nyon, Switzerland, produced two standout matches for the tournament’s second round. The headliner pits 2005 winner Liverpool against last year’s champion Barcelona, while Real Madrid will play Bayern Munich for the 17th time in the competition. The English Premier League’s other teams will be very satisfied with what appear to […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Changes Afoot for Soccer’s ‘Ultimate Stage’?
Few in soccer would argue that the quality of play in the annual UEFA Champions League surpasses that of FIFA’s World Cup. After the dour soccer on display at last summer’s championship, pundits across the world reiterated as much. Among soccer officials, it’s one of those widely assumed but seldom spoken notions. However, UEFA chief […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
IN MEMORIAM: Lamar Hunt, a man of honor
The accolades and tributes you are reading in the aftermath of Lamar Hunt's death are incredible, staggering, almost incomprehensible. They suggest an entrepreneurial colossus, a gargantuan driven by ambition, burning with fervor, consumed by conquest. Not so, not in the sense that a Jerry Jones or George Steinbrenner or Don King suck up all surrounding […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
WORLD: Sevilla aims for first in Spain
With first-place Barcelona set to play Internacional of Brazil Sunday in the final of the Club World Cup in Yokohama (TV: Fox Soccer Channel & Fox en Espanol, 5 am ET), second-place Sevilla will have a chance to move into Spain's La Liga on Sunday when it travels to Andalucian rival Recreativo Huelva (TV: Gol […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
5. OBITUARY: Ahmet Ertegun, Cosmos founder
Ahmet Ertegun, who along with his brother Nesuhi, was inducted into the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame in 2003, died on Thursday at age 83. The Erteguns founded the New York Cosmos, the USA’s most famous soccer club, which, by bringing Pele and Franz Beckenbauer to the NASL popularized the sport in America. Ahmet was […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
GAME ON TV (thru 12/18): Your Viewing Guide
(All times ET unless noted. Consult your regular television listings guides for availability in your area. Schedules are subject to change.) FRIDAY, Dec. 15 FOX SOCCER CHANNEL FIFA Club World Cup AUCKLAND CITY-JEONBUK MOTORS, 5th Place (live), 5 am. FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL FIFA Club World Cup AUCKLAND CITY-JEONBUK MOTORS, 5th Place (live), 5 am. […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
1. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“There is no doubt that MLS and the sport of soccer in America would not be where it is today without Lamar Hunt’s passion, commitment and unrelenting love of the game. He dreamed more than 30 years ago that America could someday be a Soccer Nation. And he lived to see that dream come true." […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2. IN MEMORIAM: Lamar Hunt, a man of honor
By Ridge Mahoney Senior Editor, Soccer America The accolades and tributes you are reading in the aftermath of Lamar Hunt‘s death are incredible, staggering, almost incomprehensible. They suggest an entrepreneurial colossus, a gargantuan driven by ambition, burning with fervor, consumed by conquest. Not so, not in the sense that a Jerry Jones or George Steinbrenner […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
4. CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP: USL1’s Islanders knocked out
W Connection of Trinidad & Tobago defeated the Puerto Rico Islanders, 1-0, in the deciding match of Group C to advance to the next round of the Caribbean qualifiers of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. In the sixth minute, W Connection took the lead thanks to a goal by Andre Toussaint. The Islanders had several close […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
3. WORLD: Sevilla aims for first in Spain
With first-place Barcelona set to play Internacional of Brazil Sunday in the final of the Club World Cup in Yokohama (TV: Fox Soccer Channel & Fox en Espanol, 5 am ET), second-place Sevilla will have a chance to move into Spain’s La Liga on Sunday when it travels to Andalucian rival Recreativo Huelva (TV: Gol […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Hunt’s 10 Most Memorable Soccer Moments
U.S. Soccer suffered yet another tragedy this year as Lamar Hunt, a pioneer of the game here in the United States, succumbed to cancer on Wednesday night. Big Apple Soccer has a fitting tribute to the man who devoted much of his life to seeing the U.S. become a soccer nation. Hunt was asked once […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Schmid: Generation adidas Trip a Success
According to MLSnet, last week’s trip to England for Major League Soccer’s “Generation adidas” was a resounding success. The MLS youngsters got a chance to play against the reserve sides of several English clubs. The squad was comprised of 21 members of the league’s developmental program and they remained in England from Dec. 1-10. “What […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
FIFA Favorite Ronaldinho Leads Barca to CWC Final
European champion FC Barcelona eased past Mexico’s Club America, 4-0, on Thursday to book a place in Sunday’s Club World Cup final against South American champ Internacional in Yokohama. Ronaldinho, who has been rumored to three-peat as FIFA’s World Player of the Year this year, led the Catalans with a goal and an assist. “We […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Gerrard Keen on Dubai Takeover
A takeover by Dubai International Capital could be exactly what Liverpool needs to ensure the long-term future of captain Steven Gerrard. Reports keep coming in that DIC is on the verge of completing an $882 million takeover of the storied English club, and Gerrard couldn’t be happier. He told the Guardian he was “excited” and […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Onyewu Could Leave in January
It’s looking more and more likely that Oguchi Onyewu, the U.S. national team defender, will leave Belgian club Standard Liege during the January transfer window, possibly for England or Spain, according to the 24-year old, who spoke with the Soccer Times. Onyewu nearly joined Middlesbrough over the summer; in fact, the central defender actually left […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
ARGENTINA: Estudiantes stuns Boca in playoff
Last week, Boca Juniors coach Ricardo La Volpe said he would be hanged if his team didn't win Argentina's Torneo Apertura. After Estudiantes stunned Boca, 2-1, in a playoff on Wednesday, La Volpe did something less dramatic. He said he was quitting. The playoff ended a stunning reversal late in the Argentine season and a […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
Lamar Hunt dies
Lamar Hunt, the man who may have done more to advance soccer's cause in the USA than any other individual, died on Wednesday at age 74 from complications of cancer. Hunt was a leading investor in the NASL from its founding. He returned to the pro soccer scene when MLS launched in 1996 as investor-operator […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
COPA SUDAMERICANA: A first for Mexican soccer
Pachuca, Mexico's oldest club, came from behind to beat Colo Colo, 2-1, in Santiago and capture the Copa Sudamericana on Wednesday. Pachuca won, 3-2, on aggregate to become the first Mexican team to win a South American club competition. CONMEBOL began inviting Mexican teams to the Libertadores Cup and other South Americans competitions in the […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
MLS: Players on the Move
NATE DOWN TO ONE. Agent Pat McCabe says by the weekend Nate Jaqua will know if he has found a club in Europe. There supposedly had been interest from several clubs but apparently the choices have been boiled down to one, which McCabe would not specify. ''There is no resolution yet on Nate,'' said McCabe […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
U.S. ABROAD: Friedel's Blackburn wins UEFA Cup group
American Brad Friedel was in goal as Blackburn Rovers shut out French club Nancy, 1-0, on Wednesday to win its UEFA Cup group. The win in Europe was a welcome relief for Blackburn, which has struggled in the English Premier League with one win, one tie and six losses in its last eight games. Nancy […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
1. Lamar Hunt dies
Lamar Hunt, the man who may have done more to advance soccer’s cause in the USA than any other individual, died on Wednesday at age 74 from complications of cancer. Hunt was a leading investor in the NASL from its founding. He returned to the pro soccer scene when MLS launched in 1996 as investor-operator […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
3. MLS: Players on the move
By Ridge Mahoney NATE DOWN TO ONE. Agent Pat McCabe says by the weekend Nate Jaqua will know if he has found a club in Europe. There supposedly had been interest from several clubs but apparently the choices have been boiled down to one, which McCabe would not specify. “There is no resolution yet on […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2. U.S. ABROAD: Friedel’s Blackburn wins UEFA Cup group
American Brad Friedel was in goal as Blackburn Rovers shut out French club Nancy, 1-0, on Wednesday to win its UEFA Cup group. The win in Europe was a welcome relief for Blackburn, which has struggled in the English Premier League with one win, one tie and six losses in its last eight games. Nancy […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
5. COPA SUDAMERICANA: A first for Mexican soccer
Pachuca, Mexico’s oldest club, came from behind to beat Colo Colo, 2-1, in Santiago and capture the Copa Sudamericana on Wednesday. Pachuca won, 3-2, on aggregate to become the first Mexican team to win a South American club competition. CONMEBOL began inviting Mexican teams to the Libertadores Cup and other South Americans competitions in the […]