Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story

Blanco Brilliant in Fire Debut

On the day after Beckham’s landing, Cuauhtemoc Blanco made his Chicago Fire debut against Glasgow Celtic, the team the MLS All-Stars beat 2-0 last Thursday. The Daily Southtown’s Nick Firchau says that while Blanco’s unveiling was a decidedly lower-key affair, the Mexican star fared better than the injured Becks in his debut. Easily the best […]

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

Revs & Dynamo serve up a barn-burner

New England and Houston, leaders of the MLS’s East and West conferences, played to a 3-3 tie at New England in a game that saw Houston’s 746-minute shutout streak come to an end. John Wolyniec headed home the winner in the New York Red Bulls’ 1-0 win over D.C. United after Jozy Altidore nodded on a Claudio Reyna free kick. Argentine Guillermo Barros Schelotto scored twice as Columbus downed Toronto FC. Colorado, winless since late May, enjoyed a 2-2 tie with Kansas City.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

Iraq victory at Asian Cup touches off wild celebrations back home

Iraq, Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia moved into the semifinals of the Asian Cup with wins over the weekend. Captain Younis Mahmoud scored twice to give Iraq a 2-0 win over upstart Vietnam and advance to the semifinals of the Asian Cup for the first time since 1976. Iraqis of all backgrounds took to the streets to celebrate the victory by the team of Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish players. Three people were killed and 25 others injured by stray bullets in Baghdad.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“He brings something special to the team. You notice in 75 percent of the times we got in the attacking third, it was through him that we created the better chances.”

— Chicago coach Juan Carlos Osorio on Mexican attacker Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who like fellow MLS superstar newcomer made his debut in a friendly against a British club. But Blanco spent much more time on the field than Beckham and scored in the 30th minute for the Chicago Fire in a 1-1 tie Glasgow Celtic. (USA Today)

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

Blanco scores in Fire debut; RSL beats Everton

Saturday’s Galaxy-Chelsea game wasn’t the only international friendly played over the weekend in the United States. Tigres of Mexico won the World Series of Football with a 3-0 win over Suwon Blue Wings of South Korea in the first game of the doubleheader with the Galaxy-Chelsea game at the Home Depot Center. Mexican star Cuauhtemoc Blanco scored in his Chicago Fire debut as the MLS club tie Scottish champion Celtic, 1-1, before 15,719 fans. Playing without Freddy Adu, rumored to headed to Benfica of Portugal, Real Salt Lake beat Everton of England, 2-0, before 12,221 fans. Mexico international Israel Lopez scored twice on free kicks to give Cruz Azul of Mexico a 3-1 win over Libertadores Cup champion Boca Juniors in the final of the inaugural Copa Panamericana in Glendale, Ariz.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

The Beckham Era Begins

He debuted. He played. He didn’t get hurt, or at least, didn’t apparently injure himself any further. Now what? Now that Chelsea won, and the Galaxy lost, and David Beckham has been officially presented in a match of that hoary 1-0 scoreline, can American soccer resume normal behavior?

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

Friedel and Califf earn wins in Intertoto Cup

Americans Brad Friedel (Blackburn Rovers), Danny Califf (AaA Aalborg) and Charlie Davies (Hammarby) were in action as the Intertoto Cup, Europe’s summer competition that serves as qualifying for the UEFA Cup, moved into the third round. Blackburn and Aalborg both won on the road, while Hammarby tied Dutch club Utrecht, 0-0, at home. For complete Intertoto Cup results …

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Argentina beats Czech Republic to repeat as U-20 champion

Argentina successfully defended its Under-20 World Cup title and won for the sixth time when it defeated the Czech Republic, 2-1, on Sunday in Toronto. The Czechs took the lead in the second half on a fine goal by Martin Fenin, but the Argentines recovered thanks to goals by Sergio Aguero, the tournament’s MVP and top scorer, and Mauro Zarate. Aguero scored off a through ball from playmaker Ever Banega, and Zarate beat Czech keeper Radek Petr to the near post with a fierce shot from the edge of the area in the 86th minute.

Posted inSoccer on TV., Story

Soccer on TV

Weekend action kicks off Friday evening with USL-1 action from Puerto Rico, which hosts San Francisco-based California Victory. Los Angeles faces Chelsea on Saturday is supposed to be David Beckham‘s Galaxy debut, but the England star may sit it out or be limited to a brief appearance because of an ankle injury. On Sunday, MLS regular-season action returns from the All-Star break with four games. Also on Sunday, Argentina takes on the Czech Republic in the U-20 World Cup final.

Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story

Totti Retires from Italy

Italy striker Francesco Totti on Friday said he was retiring from international competition. The 2006 World Cup winner announced his decision during a news conference on Friday, citing “various physical reasons.” The AS Roma captain had surgery on his left ankle last year, and said it can no longer support playing for both club and […]

Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story

It’s Blanco’s Debut, Too

It’s a weekend of coming-out parties for Major League Soccer’s two most famous acquisitions. On the one hand, you have David Beckham, who’s listed as “doubtful” for Saturday’s clash between the L.A. Galaxy and Chelsea — you can bet that ESPN and MLS are desperate for him to get 10 minutes on national television — […]

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