Did you notice how raucous the atmosphere became and how full the stadium got by the end of the USA-Canada match? Barely at a quarter capacity once the first semifinal began, Soldier Field was nearly full mid-way through the second-half as Mexico’s fans arrived in droves. And boy did they want Canada to win: Landon […]
Monthly Archives: June 2007
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Arsenal at Crossroads
The 12 percent stake American billionaire Stan Kroenke recently purchased in EPL club Arsenal effectively divided the North London club. On one side are those who accept the idea of foreign ownership as the direction the sport is moving in, and on the other are shareholders who refuse to let their beloved club fall into […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Thai Prime Minister to Ring in Changes at Man City
Over the last few days, the other team from Manchester, England, has been grabbing all the headlines. First, exiled Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced that he had secured 55.9 percent of Manchester City’s shares to secure his $163 million takeover of the club. Then on Thursday, the billionaire confirmed he’d met with former England […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Canadians Feel Cheated After Gold Cup Semi
Unsurprisingly, the Canadian press is irate that Atiba Hutchinson’s goal in the last minute of the CONCACAF semifinal against the U.S. was disallowed. The Americans, 2-1 winners, can argue they were the better team, but Canada really deserved more from its comeback, which began in the 75th minute when Iain Hume turned Carlos Bocanegra and […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
The U.S. women’s national team continues preparations for the 2007 World Cup when it takes on Brazil in a friendly (a rematch of the 2004 Olympic gold medal game won by the USA) on Saturday in New Jersey (ESPN2 & Univision). The U.S. men meet archrival Mexico in the Gold Cup final on Sunday (Fox Soccer Channel and Univision). In USL action on Friday, Rochester hosts Atlanta. Also on the United Soccer Leagues front, the Fox Channel Soccer’s “USL Breakaway” provides highlights and player and coach features (Friday, 6/29).
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Good hire, bad circumstances
CHANGE IN CHICAGO. The Fire has dropped head coach Dave Sarachan, who’d bought himself some time by starting the season with three wins and a tie but had lost six of the last eight with a squad depleted by national-team call-ups and injuries.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS on TV this Weekend
Saturday: New England-Toronto FC 7:30 pm ET (Direct Kick), Colorado-FC Dallas 9 pm ET (Direct Kick), Real Salt Lake-D.C. United 9:30 pm ET (Fox Soccer Channel & Fox Sports en Espanol), Los Angeles-Columbus (live), 10:30 pm ET (Direct Kick, Hdnet); Sunday: Kansas City-Houston 5 pm ET (Telefutura).
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA REPORT CARD: Donovan, Dempsey & Beasley stand out
Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players’ performance in their 2-1 Gold Cup semifinal win over Canada.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA ousts Canada, welcomes Mexico
This U.S. team insists on winning dangerously, but it does keep winning. Whether by external forces or by its own design the USA is finishing matches in the bunker, not in the driver’s seat. Not for the first time in this Gold Cup did the Americans score early, assume control, and then scramble frantically to preserve a victory that seemed be a formality. From Chicago, Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney reports on the 2-1 semifinal win over Canada, which sets up a U.S. Gold Cup final clash with archrival Mexico …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
"We did things to put ourselves in that position, whether it was a bad call or not. We dug ourselves a hole."
— Canada goalie Pat Onstad takes it easy on the linesman who nullified Canada’s last-minute goal in the 2-1 loss to the USA. But Canadian midfielder Dwayne De Rosario said, "It was definitely a goal. No question." (Houston Chronicle)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA-Mexico, Gold Cup History
The USA and Mexico have only met in the Gold Cup three times. The USA prevailed in their meeting in the semifinals of the first Gold Cup in 1991, and Mexico won in the final of the 1993 and 1998 Gold Cups. Here’s a look at the three meetings …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Davis powers Houston past Chivas USA with second-half hat trick
The hat tricks keep on coming! Brad Davis scored three goals in the second half for his first career hat trick to lead the Houston Dynamo past Chivas USA, 4-0, Thursday night at Robertson Stadium. Both teams went into the game with three-game winning streaks, but the Dynamo prevailed to move ahead of Chivas into second place in the Western Conference, three points behind leader FC Dallas, which has played two more games.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Wolff makes pitch for Quakes to play in 2008 MLS season
Oakland A’s co-owner Lewis Wolff visited the MLS league headquarters this week along with several staff members of Earthquakes LLC to make his pitch to start play next season, with stadium arrangements to be decided. Wolff is discussing with the City of San Jose a two-pronged proposal. He is seeking city approval to re-zone of large parcel of land from industrial use to residential, on which would be built housing. Those residential developments would supply funds that would be used to build a stadium on city-owned land south of the San Jose International Airport.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Galaxy’s Yallop isn’t done wheeling and dealing
L.A. Galaxy coach Frank Yallop isn’t done revamping his roster. Los Angeles acquired veteran midfielder Chris Klein from Real Salt Lake in exchange for rookie forward Robbie Findley and U-20 midfielder/defender Nathan Sturgis and signed 33-year-old Honduran international Carlos Pavon, and Yallop is discussing options for Santino Quaranta with several clubs.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2007 Gold Cup Television Schedule
The USA and Mexico meet in the final of the Gold Cup on Sunday. The game will be shown live at 3 pm ET on Fox Soccer Channel and Univision …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. U-17s finish third in group at pre-World Cup tournament
The USA’s under-17 boys national team finished third in its group at an eight-team international team in South Korea when it beat New Zealand, 1-0, Thursday on a goal by Brek Shea. The Americans had lost their first two games to Japan (1-0 on a goal in the 90th minute) and Nigeria (2-1). For the USA’s game summaries …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Riquelme heads Argentina’s Copa America roster
[COPA AMERICA COUNTDOWN] Less than a year after leaving the Argentina national team, midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme is back. Riquelme, who led Boca Juniors to the 2007 Libertadores Cup title, has been included in Argentina’s squad for the Copa America, where it opens against the USA next Thursday. Midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, who had been recalled by Coach Alfio Basile following an absence of more than two years, was named to the Copa America roster. Also in the Copa squad is veteran Javier Zanetti, who also missed the 2006 World Cup. For more on Argentina and its roster …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Cal South teams dominate at Region IV youth championships
[REGION IV QUARTERFINALS] Cal South led all state associations with 27 teams represented in the quarterfinals of the US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships that will be played Friday in Las Vegas. The boys teams include the U-18 Arsenal FC, U-16 Real So Cal and U-15 Valley United Blast, all defending national champions in their age groups. Arizona and Colorado are next with 14 teams apiece in the quarterfinals. Arizona’s Sereno White and Real Colorado National have eight and seven teams, respectively, in the final eight of the 16 boys and girls divisions. For complete quarterfinal pairings …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
FIFA settles lawsuit with MasterCard for $90 million
FIFA and MasterCard settled the latter’s lawsuit, paving the way for FIFA to go ahead with its sponsorship agreement with MasterCard rival Visa International. MasterCard, which had sponsored the World Cup for 16 years, will drop its sponsorship of the next two World Cups under a $90 million settlement with FIFA announced on Thursday. FIFA will pay $87.5 million by June 30 and $2.5 million by Sept. 30.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
No Time to Overlook Canada
Given Canada’s performances so far — especially a comprehensive 3-0 cruise over Guatemala in the quarterfinal — the U.S. is in no position to look past its big neighbor to the North in anticipation of a final showdown against Mexico, says Grahame L. Jones of the L.A. Times. And it’s a good thing Coach Bob […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Newcastle May Lose Martins, Owen
Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce just found out Obafemi Martins, his other first-choice striker, also has a buyout clause in his contract. That means that both he and Michael Owen are free to leave for a set price, and there’s nothing Allardyce or Newcastle can do about it. At just 22, the highly-talented (not to mention […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Celtic to Open 30 Youth Academies in U.S. and Canada
Yep, you read that right: Scottish giant Celtic plans to open no less than 30 youth academies in the U.S. and Canada over the next five years. Why, you ask? Like other major clubs — Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Chivas de Guadalajara, Atletico Paranaense and Atletico Mineiro all have partnerships of some kind with Major […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Canada Embraces the World’s Game
Something strange is happening in Canada, writes Stephen Brunt of The Globe & Mail: the hockey-mad country has suddenly embraced the world game. Brunt remarks on how suddenly soccer has taken hold of the country. Toronto FC has already effectively sold out its entire inaugural MLS season, tickets to the U-20 World Cup at the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Prodigal Son Riquelme Returns Copa to Buenos Aires
It was always probable that Boca Juniors would ride out its 3-0 first-leg victory against Gremio to record a sixth Copa Libertadores title, but Juan Roman Riquelme’s two goals in Porto Alegre Wednesday night sealed the victory in grand style: the 5-0 aggregate win was the largest margin of victory in a final in the […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
A Case for High School Ball
Club coaches and high school coaches can work together to develop a player not only in technical and tactical skills and awareness but also with the intangible experience for playing for something greater than themselves: their community.