Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story

Champions League Draw Could Prove Too Much For Liverpool And Arsenal

Even England’s top-four elite has its upper and lower classes,” writes Kevin McCarra, noting that in the Champions League group phase draw both Arsenal and Liverpool “were assigned uncomfortable quarters.” One or possibly both of the teams could be eliminated before the knockout stage. Liverpool struggled to squeeze past Standard Liege in the qualifying round, […]

Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story

Ruiz Raring To Go For Toronto

Rumors that Carlos Ruiz was unhappy about his trade from the L.A. Galaxy to Toronto FC have been greatly exaggerated. The Guatemalan striker told Dean McNulty that he is fine with the move, and has long wanted to work in tandem with TFC’s Honduran playmaker, Amado Guevara. “Toronto is a fantastic city,” he insisted. “I […]

Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story

SCOREBOARD: Soccer America Men’s Top 25

[UPDATES] The NCAA Division I men’s season began Friday with 20 teams in the Soccer America Top 25 in action. A late rally gave No. 4 Maryland a 2-1 win over No. 11 UCLA at the Home Depot Center, while No. 10 Notre Dame fell to No. 12 Akron, 3-0, at the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic. Three Top 25 teams have lost to unranked teams. No. 5 Sabta Clara lost at Loyola (Ill.), 2-1, on Saturday. No. 15 UMass fell to Holy Cross, 1-0, while No. 18 Virginia fell to St. John’s by the same score on Friday. For all the Top 25 schedules and results ….

Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story

UPDATE: Reyering moves to gridiron

This should have been Yannick Reyering‘s fourth season on the Virginia men’s soccer team, but because of his participation with German club VfL Osnabrueck the NCAA took away one year of eligibility. Instead, he joined the Virginia football team, for which he should debut as its placekicker on Saturday against USC at sold-out Scott Stadium.

Posted inSoccer on TV., Story

Soccer on TV

A busy Friday includes the Super Cup clash between Champions League winner Manchester United and UEFA Cup champ Zenit St. Petersburg. The full slate of MLS action this weekend starts on Friday, and Fox Soccer Channel’s men’s college coverage opens with a UCLA-Maryland clash. Italian Serie A and Spain’s La Liga kick off this weekend.

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

MLS Weekend Action: Arena’s Second Game

[TV] Action starts on Friday, when Colorado – in Coach Gary Smith‘s second game — hosts Real Salt Lake. Smith, like Galaxy coach Bruce Arena, lost in his debut. … Arena’s Los Angeles travels to New England on Saturday. … New York vs. D.C. United is crucial to both teams’ playoff hopes. … Nigerian Emmanuel Ekpo, the first MLS player to win an Olympic medal, rejoins the Columbus Crew, which travels to Dallas. … Kansas City and San Jose meet for the first time this season. … Chivas USA hosts Toronto FC … and on Sunday Chicago, which has the league’s best road record, is guest to two-time defending champ Houston. For TV info on this weekend’s MLS action …

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

Chinese government cracks down on wisecracks

[OFF THE POST] The International Herald Tribune reports that China’s Propaganda Department has ordered Chinese media to stop bashing China’s men’s soccer team, which exited in the first round in the Olympics. It also had two players ejected: one for kicking an opponent in the groin and the other for throwing an elbow. While even China’s captain mocked the team — “We play soccer like the Brazilians play Ping-Pong” – the Chinese press has criticized it to such an extent that the Central Propaganda Department reportedly “demanded that the press not overly quip or sneer at the Chinese men’s soccer team.”

Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“It’s more than 30 years down the road now so I can tell you. It was in a match between my team, Nancy, and Nantes in 1975 — and I was happy to do it. I also did it once in another match, but I cannot remember which one. But that was all. Never again.”

— UEFA president Michel Platini admits that he took a dive or two during his illustrious playing career. Platini said his plan to experiment with five officials at a youth tournament later this year is intended to make it harder for players to simulate being fouled. (Reuters)

Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

USA names 20-man squad for Cuba, T&T

[WORLD CUP 2010] U.S. coach Bob Bradley has named a 20-man roster for qualifying games against Cuba Sept. 6 in Havana and Trinidad & Tobago Sept. 10 in Bridgeview, Ill. Included is 22-year-old Mexico-based defender Michael Orozco, now famous for his 3rd-minute red card in the USA’s loss to Nigeria at the Olympics. Absent again is Kenny Cooper while fellow striker Eddie Johnson returns.

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