Monthly Archives: February 2008

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says that goal difference could be crucial in determining the fate of the EPL title. Good thing the Red Devils thumped Newcastle 5-1 this weekend, a result that moved them four goals ahead of league leader Arsenal on goal differential. “We’re scoring a lot of goals and, you never […]

Infighting Escalates at Chelsea

The Associated Press reports of serious infighting at Chelsea Football Club following the English Premier League giant’s loss to Tottenham in the Carling Cup final last weekend. According to the report, the Blues squad was split by “jealousies and unhappiness” over the coaching staff’s preparations for the final, which ended in a 2-1 defeat. Several […]

Eduardo Injury Cripples Croatia’s Euro 2008 Hopes

The Guardian’s Jonathan Wilson agrees with Croatia’s newspapers that without Eduardo Croatia do not stand a chance of winning Euro 2008. After ending England’s bid to qualify for the finals in Austria and Switzerland, Croatia had become everyone’s favorite dark horse to pull off the unthinkable — just as Greece did in Portugal four years […]

D.C., Red Bulls Lose Philadelphia-Area Fans

Philadelphia soccer fans will have some choosing to do when MLS announces the City of Brotherly Love as its 16th franchise, as expected on Thursday, says ESPN writer Ives Galarcep. Philadelphia has always been a soccer-rich area, producing such quality players as Reading’s Bobby Convey, New England’s Chris Albright and Jeff Parke and Jon Conway […]

Soccer on TV., Story

Soccer on TV

Midweek action includes an Italian Serie A clash in which Roma can keep its title hopes alive with a win over leader Inter Milan. There’s also Libertadores Cup action and domestic cup matchups in Spain and Germany.

Heavy-hitters join AEG in Houston

by Ridge MahoneyFebruary 26, 2008

[MLS] The league is adding two heavy-hitters to its lineup of operator-investors and in one case, the pun is intended. Houston Dynamo president and general manager Oliver Luck is meeting the media Tuesday to officially announce a partnership by which two companies will purchase 50 percent of the team. Boxer Oscar De La Hoya and his company, Golden Boy Productions, and one of its shareholders, Brener International Group, LLC, are joining MLS.

Real gaffe against Getafe [VIDEO]

[OFF THE POST] Real Madrid’s grasp on the Spanish La Liga lead loosened with Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Getafe, which scored while Real Madrid players celebrated what they thought was a goal of their own. “They have scored a goal against us like in a match for 4-year-olds,” Real midfielder Guti said. “We can’t afford to lose games in this way.”

‘Lion-hearted cobra’ Jaqua starts scoring streak in Austria

[AMERICANS ABROAD]. Oregon product Nate Jaqua, who joined Altach last month from the Houston Dynamo, has scored in each of his first two games for the Austrian First Division struggler. Jaqua’s second goal was an 88th minute gamewinner.

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“Taylor’s brutal start [to the game] destroyed the ambition of a small but great soccer nation to hope for a European title.”

— From an editorial in the Croatian daily Jutarnji List on the Martin Taylor foul that broke the leg of Brazilian-born Croatian national team striker Eduardo in last weekend’s Arsenal-Birmingham game. Arsenal striker Eduardo, who turned 25 on Monday, moved to Croatia as a 16-year-old and was instrumental in its successful qualifying campaign, during which it knocked out England, for the 2008 European Championship. (Reuters)

Iraq drops Olsen after one qualifier

[IRAQ] Norwegian Egil Olsen lasted all of one World Cup qualifier as coach of Iraq’s national team, the reigning Asian champion.

MLS Offseason Player Moves

In deals already finalized, MLS clubs have signed 16 foreigners: four from Argentina and Colombia and one each from Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Poland, Scotland and Switzerland. For all the team-by-team offseason player moves …

USA to face Mexico and Jamaica in Olympic women’s qualifying

[DATEBOOK] The USA was drawn into Group A along with Jamaica and Mexico for 2008 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament that will take place April 2-12 at the Estadio Olimpico Benito Juarez in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

Ramos Recalls Mourinho in Carling Cup Glory

“Never in recent memory has the Carling Cup made a group of supporters so absurdly happy as it did Tottenham’s yesterday,” writes Sam Wallace of the Independent. Why, because Tottenham supporters have reason to believe that yesterday’s 2-1 triumph against Chelsea is the sign of many things to come from Juande Ramos, the former Sevilla […]

Real Punished in Extraordinary Circumstances

Another lackluster performance, another loss for Real Madrid, although this one came in rather extraordinary circumstances, it must be said. Getafe won with a single goal that came as the Spanish champions were celebrating a goal that had been called offside. While most of the team was saluting supporters in the stands, Getafe restarted play […]

Wednesday Clash to Determine Italian Title Race

Suddenly, we have a Serie A title race on our hands — maybe. AS Roma cut Inter Milan’s lead to nine points on Sunday, beating Fiorentina 1-0 as the Nerazzurri escaped with a 1-1 draw against Sampdoria. The two-point recovery could prove crucial if the Romans manage to come away with three points when they […]

Red Bulls Have Nearly $1 Million to Spend

Big Apple Soccer does the math following the departures of Dema Kovalenko and Francis Doe, figuring that the New York Red Bulls now have at least $800,000 of cap room to fill, as seven players have left the team since the end of last season. However, the figure doesn’t include new money for players like […]

Gomez debuts for Rapids against RSL

by Ridge MahoneyFebruary 25, 2008

[MLS WATCH] Midfielder Christian Gomez got his first taste of the Rocky Mountain Cup rivalry since being traded to the Rapids by D.C. United; he played the last 30 minutes of a 2-2 tie in Lauderhill, Fla. on Friday.

J-League team thumps MLS champ

by Ridge MahoneyFebruary 25, 2008

[PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIP] An Aloha Stadium less than half-full seemed less than ideal for a rather remarkable final day of play of the inaugural Pan-Pacific Championship Saturday. Brazilian striker Bare embarrassed MLS champion Houston – which featured the league’s stingiest defense last year — by scoring four goals as Japanese club Gamba Osaka crushed the Dynamo, 6-1, in the PPC final. The Galaxy and David Beckham had a better day in the third-place game.

Real Madrid’s lead over Barcelona shrinks

[EUROPEAN RACES] Last year it was Barcelona that blew a big lead, allowing to Real Madrid to overtake it and capture La Liga title. This year it’s Real Madrid that’s in danger of collapsing. On Sunday, Real Madrid lost to Madrid club Getafe, 1-0, at home, reducing its lead over Barcelona, a 5-1 winner over Levante, to two points from eight just a week ago. Spanish manager Juande Ramos, who won five cups at Sevilla, needed only five months to win his first cup title at Tottenham. Spurs edged defending champion Chelsea, 2-1, to win the English League Cup title on Sunday.

Haitian legend Sanon dies at 56 (VIDEO)

[OBITUARY] Like fellow Haitian Joseph Gaetjens, Emmanuel Sanon scored a legendary goal in World Cup history. But unlike Gaetjens, whose goal gave the USA a 1-0 victory over England at the 1950 World Cup, the goal by Sanon, who died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 56 Thursday at his home in Florida, did not hold up.

Nike snares France contract from adidas with megadeal

[BUSINESS] After almost 40 years, the French national team will be leaving adidas for Nike. The value of the deal to supply French soccer federation teams with Nike apparel is more than four times the current adidas deal and is believed to be more than three times the value of the most lucrative deal in international soccer, Nike’s agreement with Brazil.

Relegation woes for EPL Americans

[AMERICANS IN ENGLAND] Reading, Fulham and Derby, which have a total of eight Americans in their rosters, occupy the three spots in the English Premier League’s relegation zone. The debut of striker Eddie Johnson on Saturday, when he replaced compatriot Clint Dempsey in the 76th minute, couldn’t prevent Fulham’s 1-0 loss to West Ham.

Own goal by Cherundolo; Bradley’s Heerenveen slides (VIDEO)

[AMERICANS IN EUROPE] Defender Steve Cherundolo‘s unlucky own goal contributed to Hannover 96’s 2-1 loss to relegation threatened VfL Bochum in Germany. In the Netherlands, Michael Bradley‘s team, Heerenveen fell 3-2 to Nijmegen and slipped to sixth place. In Belgium, Standard Liege with Oguchi Onyewu, slipped out of first place.

Horror foul sparks debate in England

by Mike WoitallaFebruary 25, 2008

[ENGLAND WATCH] Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger‘s initial reaction to the foul by Birmingham’s Martin Taylor that inflicted multiple fractures on Arsenal forward Eduardo‘s leg was that Taylor should be banned for life. While others came to Taylor’s defense — claiming the cleats-up lunge was unintentional and that he did not have a record of thuggish play — the incident has forced a reexamination of the English league’s attitude toward reckless tackling.

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying