Monthly Archives: July 2008

[TRANSFER TALK] Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Muntari appears to be headed to Italian champion Inter Milan in a move that effectively puts an end to talk of England midfielder Frank Lampard rejoining his former Chelsea boss, Jose Mourinho, at Inter.

U.S. under-20 national team coach Thomas Rongen called up six MLS players for the Milk Cup, which begins Monday in Northern Ireland. The call-ups include 16-year-old Abdus Ibrahim, who scored his first MLS goal recently for Toronto TC, Jorge Flores, the former Sueno MLS winner who has scored three goals for Chivas USA, and New England’s Brandon Manzonelli, who had two assists for the U-20s in their recent 3-0 win over Mexico. For the complete U-20 roster …

[MLS] Houston and San Jose are sharing more than history in this expansion season of the Quakes, who were reincarnated this season after leaving the Bay Area two and a half years ago.

[NATIONAL CHAMPIONS-GIRLS] Sting Dallas, made up of players from last year’s runner-up from the Dallas Texans Red, won its second game in the U-18 girls group at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in North Little Rock, Ark., with a 2-0 win over FC Delco Fury on Thursday. For more on Day 2 and all the girls results, goal scorers and schedules …

[NATIONAL CHAMPIONS-BOYS] The Kansas City Wizards Juniors moved into Sunday’s final of the McGuire Cup with a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Nike Rush, their second win in two days in the U-19 boys group at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in North Little Rock, Ark. For more on Day 2 and all the boys results, goal scorers and schedules …

[OFF THE POST] Swedish fast food chain Max bit off a bit more than it could chew when it decided to stand up to UEFA and its corporate sponsor McDonald’s.

[MLS] The Houston Dynamo can go home now. In Washington since Friday, first for the SuperLiga game against D.C. United on Saturday, the Dynamo finally got in the twice-postponed league match with D.C. United on Wednesday. Barely. Unbelievably, the teams endured another power outage and heavy rains that flooded the field at RFK Stadium. D.C. United officials had said they’d go all night to get the game in. They almost did. It was after midnight when the Dynamo prevailed, 2-0.

[TRANSFER TALK] West Ham United, which faces the MLS All-Stars Thursday in Toronto, made its first major signing of the summer when it signed Swiss international Valon Behrami.

Does the soccer world care if the MLS can run its winning record against foreign opposition in the All-Star Game to 5-0? No. But the fact the MLS All-Stars-West Ham game is being televised to nearly 100 countries and approximately 300 media credentials have been issued shows the game is being taken seriously. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney reports from Toronto, where Landon Donovan and the boys from MLS are ready for the challenge.

[AMERICANS ABROAD] “Brad Friedels don’t grow on trees.” Those were Blackburn Rovers chairman John Williams‘ words in announcing his club would not part with its 37-year-old American goalkeeper. Famous last words, they were. Friedel looks to be headed to Aston Villa in a move that could result in his salary being doubled to $5.2 million a year.

[NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS-GIRLS] Both defending girls champions lost on Day 1 of the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in North Little Rock, Ark. For more on Day 1 and all the girls results, goal scorers and schedules …

[NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS-BOYS] Coached by former U.S. national team star Tab Ramos, the NJSA Gunners got off to a winning start at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in North Little Rock, Ark. on Wednesday with a 2-1 win over the Grand Rapids Crew Juniors. For more on Day 1 and all the boys results, goal scorers and schedules …