Monthly Archives: June 2008

[GROUP C REPORT CARDS] The Netherlands, 3-0 winner over Italy in its opening game, outdid itself with a 4-1 win over France. Romania moved into second place in Group C and has a shot at reaching the quarterfinals after it held Italy to a 1-1 tie. Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla and Paul Kennedy grade the players.

Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla grades the U.S. players’ performance in their 8-0 win over Barbados on Sunday. …

The USA had prepared with friendlies against England, Spain and Argentina – three matches in which the Americans failed to score. Meeting Barbados on Sunday, for their first game of 2010 World Cup qualifying, must have felt like a clash against a Sunday league pub team – and it sure looked like it. Within a minute, Clint Dempsey scored the first goal of a 8-0 rout. A walk in the park next Sunday in the second leg will send the USA into the semifinal group stage of Concacaf qualifying for South Africa 2010. The first-leg win set a couple of U.S. records and included some unique moments. …

[WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING] Long-time indoor star John Barry Nusum scored two goals to lead Bermuda to a 2-1 win at Trinidad & Tobago in the biggest upset of the first leg of second-round qualifying in the Concacaf zone. Coached by American Ian Mork, Belize held Mexico scoreless for more than an hour before the Tri won, 2-0, before more than 50,000 fans in Houston.

Paraguay extended its lead in the South American zone of 2010 World Cup qualifying when it beat Brazil, 2-0, on Sunday and second-place Argentina had to settle for a 1-1 tie at home to Ecuador. China was eliminated from contention in Asia, while upsets abounded in Africa. For all the results and goal scorers …

[OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN] For the third time this year, the U.S. women’s national team edged Australia by one goal, winning, 2-1, in their opening match of the Peace Queen Cup in Suwon, South Korea.

Toronto FC, undefeated at home this season, hosts Colorado. …D.C. United, on a three-game undefeated streak that came after a four-game losing run, hosts New York. … In its first home game in two months, Kansas City hosts Columbus. … San Jose plays in Oakland to accommodate for the large crowd expected for David Beckham and Los Angeles. … Real Salt Lake aims for its first road win when it visits Chivas USA. … FC Dallas, which is expected to name a new coach soon, hosts Chicago. For all the weekend’s MLS TV action. …

The Revs have depth up front and in goal, and the Dynamo doesn’t. New England extended its unbeaten regular-season run against the two-time defending champs to six games by winning, 2-0, at Robertson Stadium Thursday with goals by veteran Steve Ralston and rookie Kheli Dube, and a penalty-kick save by Matt Reis

[OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN] In perhaps the last major test before U.S. women’s national team coach Pia Sundhage picks her squad for the 2008 Olympics. the U.S. women open play Sunday at the 2008 Peace Queen Cup in Suwon, South Korea.

Two years ago began a changing of the guard for the U.S. men’s national team, with the retirement of several veterans following a disappointing showing at the 2006 World Cup. On the eve of qualifying play for the 2010 tournament, not all of the questions that faced the national team at that time have been answered. A promising crop of midfielders has emerged to supplant Claudio Reyna, a solid group of central defenders has taken over for Eddie Pope, and the search continues for a rugged targetman in the mold of Brian McBride. The campaign begins Sunday (5 p.m. ET, ESPN2, Galavision) at Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., against Barbados in a two-game series, with the second leg set for June 22 in Bridgetown.

[AUSTRIA-POLAND REPORT CARD] Co-host Austria replied to a controversial goal with one of its own in stoppage-time to tie Poland, 1-1, and retain slim hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals. Substitute Ivica Vastic stepped to the penalty spot after Polish midfielder Mariusz Ledwandowski allegedly pulled down Sebastian Proedl as they grappled for position awaiting a free kick. He drove the ball past keeper Artur Boruc, whose spectacular saves frustrated Austria during a furious onslaught during the first 30 minutes, after which Poland took a 1-0 lead when Roger Guerreiro, who looked to be a shade offside, tucked away a pass from Marek Saganowski. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the players.