Monthly Archives: September 2007

Rob Hughes of the International Herald Tribune paints a tail of two cities in his review of the weekend’s Euro 2008 qualifiers. London and Milan are two of the world’s biggest soccer cities, Wembley and the San Siro two of its temples. Both stadiums have played host to some historic matches; on Saturday, both hosts […]

Lalas: No Excuses Galaxy Disappointment

It’s no surprise we haven’t heard much from the Los Angeles Galaxy now that the media hubbub surrounding David Beckham’s sprained left knee has died. After all, Becks may be out of the picture for the rest of the season and the team is unlikely to make the playoffs. In fact, a kind of “weary […]

Section 2 Around the Net, Story

U.S. Strategy in a Quandary

J Hutcherson of USSoccerPlayers serves up a critical review of the U.S. national team’s strategy (or lack thereof) in the wake of its 4-2 loss to Brazil on Sunday. He says that this team has proved to be at its strongest in and in front of goal, in central defense and midfield. “It gets dicey […]

Soccer on TV., Story

Soccer On TV

The USA opens its Women’s World Cup campaign on Tuesday, against North Korea. European Championship qualifying continues on Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, Mexico plays Brazil in a friendly. The Chivas USA-Galaxy clasico takes place on Thursday.

ACC powers take it on the chin

by Paul KennedySeptember 10, 2007

Last week began with ACC teams ranked 1-2-3-4 in the Soccer America Men’s Top 25, but only No. 1 Wake Forest emerged unscathed. Duke was tripped up by Villanova, 1-0, on Friday. Virginia got a rude welcome from SMU on its first trip to Texas in 20 years, falling, 5-1. Maryland fell at home to West Virginia, 1-0, on a goal 35 seconds into overtime.

Santa Clara women pummel Notre Dame

So much for the Santa Clara women being thin up front The Broncos inflicted a 7-1 defeat on Notre Dame Friday night at their Santa Clara adidas Classic. The seven goals were the most Notre Dame has ever allowed in a game and were two more than it allowed during the entire 2006 regular season.

Soccer America Men’s Top 25

Wake Forest remained No. 1 in the Soccer America Men’s Top 25 rankings for the second week in a row. Connecticut and Indiana both climbed five places each to No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. Seven unranked teams moved into the Top 25.

Soccer America Men’s Top 25 Weekend Results

UCLA, the preseason No. 1, has still yet to score after settling for a 0-0 tie at Creighton Saturday before a record crowd of 5,812. For complete results and goalscorers in Top 25 action …

Soccer America Women’s Top 25 Weekend Results

It was a tough weekend for top-ranked women’s teams. All top five teams either lost — Portland, Notre Dame (twice), Texas A&M and Texas — or were tied — Santa Clara. For complete results and goalscorers in Top 25 action …

Soccer America Women’s Top 25

Santa Clara, which crushed former No. 2 Notre Dame, 7-1, at its annual adidas Classic, took over as the new top-ranked team in the Soccer America Women’s Top 25. Stanford, the winner of the Santa Clara tournament, jumped seven spots to No. 3, behind North Carolina.

Five reasons why the USA will win the Women’s World Cup

by Paul KennedySeptember 10, 2007

[THE FAVORITES] Soccer America continues its examination of the favorites with a look at the USA, which heads into the 2007 Women’s World Cup as the odds-on favorite. After all, they are undefeated in their last 47 games and have yet to lose under their rigorous coach, Greg Ryan. The U.S. women believe they may be the best women’s team ever assembled. They are surely “The Greatest Team You’ve Never Heard Of,” as they have been billed by team sponsor Nike. They take to the field for the first time on Tuesday when they face North Korea in Chengdu (TV: ESPN2, live, 4:55 am ET). Here are five reasons why the USA will win the Womens World Cup.

U.S. REPORT CARD: Dempsey gets his ninth U.S. goal

by Ridge MahoneySeptember 10, 2007

Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players’ performance in their 4-2 loss to Brazil on Sunday.

Ronaldinho touch dooms USA

by Ridge MahoneySeptember 10, 2007

Rarely does a losing team believe the scoreline did it justice, but after the U.S. fell to Brazil, 4-2, at Soldier Field in Chicago, a case could be made that the Americans deserved better.

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“We were pleased with our performance but not satisfied with the result. We are continuing to make progress as a team, and I felt like over 90 minutes we did a much more solid job tonight.”
— U.S. coach Bob Bradley after a 4-2 friendly loss to Brazil extended his team’s losing streak to five games.

Fire boosts playoff cause; D.C. United rules East

[MLS WRAP] Chicago boosted its playoff chances with a win in Columbus. Denilson scored his first MLS goal in FC Dallas’ 2-0 win over woeful Toronto, whose league record scoreless run hit the 732-minute mark. Nate Jaqua hit a hat trick for Houston in its 4-3 win over Real Salt Lake. And in another barn-burner, D.C. United downed New England, 4-2, to add to its first-place lead over the Revs in the East as Luciano Emilio upped his league-leading scoring tally to 18 goals. Los Angeles ended an eight-game winless streak with a 3-1 win over Colorado. Chivas USA remains unbeaten at home after a 3-0 win over the New York Red Bulls.

WINNERS & LOSERS: Euro 2008 Qualifying

by Paul KennedySeptember 10, 2007

Steve McClaren‘s patch-work England squad captured its must-win showdown with Israel. Strikers Ruud van Nistelrooy and Miroslav Klose came up big for the Netherlands and Germany, respectively. Keeper Ricardo‘s blunder cost Portugal two points. The Italy-France game in Milan was marred by an ugly display by San Siro fans.

Euro 2008 Qualifying Results

Germany, Croatia and Romania were the only group leaders to win their Euro 2008 qualifiers on Saturday. France and Poland stayed on top in their groups thanks to ties on the road. Sweden’s 0-0 tie at home with Denmark was enough to keep it in first place in Group F. Idle Greece stayed on top in Group B

Nigeria wins third U-17 World Cup

[AWARDS] Nigeria won its third U-17 World Cup title by prevailing on penalty kicks after a scoreless tie with Spain. The Nigerians also lifted the title in 1985 and 1999, matching Brazil’s three titles. Germany, which had eliminated the USA in the round of 16, took third place with a 2-1 win over Ghana.

Castillo & Santos roll on in Mexico

[AMERICANS ABROAD]. Santos Laguna thumped Club America, 4-0, to remain the only unbeaten team after seven game days in the Apertura 07. Santos’ U.S. product Edgar Castillo went the full 90 for the seventh straight game.

U.S. Women: All In A Day’s Work

by Ridge MahoneySeptember 7, 2007

They don’t want to talk about it, but the U.S. women’s national team has been unbeaten since Coach Greg Ryan took charge in early 2005. The secret? Practice and more practice. Ryan has insisted the player do hundreds of repetitions, and the work has paid off at both the ends of the field. Sixteen years […]

Youth Beat: U.S. Soccer Development Academy

by Mike WoitallaSeptember 7, 2007

The U.S. Soccer Federation has integrated the country’s top youth clubs into the national team program. This fall marks the launch of a youth league in which every game will be an audition for the national team program. By creating the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, for U-16 and U-18 boys, the Federation is in effect […]

MLS’s Latin American Connection

by Ridge MahoneySeptember 7, 2007

A splash of millionaire-salaried players under the Designated Player rule may not be the most important factor in the efforts of MLS teams to upgrade their quality. A stream of South Americans has changed the talent level and flavor this season. League officials are adamantly repeating that the 2007 season is about far more than […]

Julie Foudy Finds Another Forum

by Ridge MahoneySeptember 7, 2007

Hall of Famer has taken to new roles as ESPN sports reporter and first-time mother. She’s co-hosting MLS games, she’s working on ESPN programs such as “Outside the Lines” and during the Women’s World Cup in September she’ll be in the Bristol studios as well as China. She’s on the air, everywhere. It’s Julie Foudy, […]

Wambach Seeks Redemption

by Ridge MahoneySeptember 7, 2007

Abby Wambach blames herself for the loss to Germany in the semifinals of the 2003 Women's World Cup. She's also quick to point out she missed her penalty kick in the only U.S. setback of the last two and a half years, a shootout loss to Germany at the 2006 Algarve Cup. No player has […]