Andy, meet Ed. More competition up front for Eddie Johnson and Clint Dempsey at Fulham, as the west London side follows up the signing of forward Bobby Zamora with England striker Andy Johnson from Everton.
Monthly Archives: August 2008
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Top English Ref Suspended
Referee Mark Clattenburg has been dropped from officiating this weekend’s Community Shield game between Manchester United and Portsmouth at Wembley “pending inquiries into reports of the official’s alleged debts.”
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Beckham Was ‘Very Close’ To Choosing Milan Over L.A.
David Beckham was “very close” to joining AC Milan instead of the L.A. Galaxy, he said in an interview with the U.K.-based soccer monthly. But although he “thought the opportunity through seriously…things took a different course.” Any other revelations? The player reiterated that he is not in California because of Hollywood, and that he […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
‘EPL Abroad’ Will Be Waste Of Time And Money
Manchester United played Portsmouth in a friendly in Nigeria last week, attracting 35,000 fans to a stadium that holds 60,000. Of those, 10,000 crashed into the stadium without paying, writes Lawrence Donegan. Despite this, the game is being touted as an example of the potential future success of the Premier League’s proposed global winter break […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Columbus Gets Good Deal On Noonan
Columbus Crew coach Sigi Schmid thinks that his team got a good deal by signing Pat Noonan, 28, from Aalesund of Norway, by way of New England, in exchange for a first-round pick in next year’s draft. “I don’t think we’re going to get a player as good as Noonan in the first round,” he […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Coaches Struggle To See Benefits of Barca-Red Bulls Rout
What happens when one of the best teams in the world plays one of the worst teams in Major League Soccer? The winning coach is bemused at how easy it was, while the losing coach becomes irritated when asked why his team was so outclassed. “It’s a little bit strange,” said Barcelona coach Josep […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Guatemala Serves World Cup Notice To U.S.
The United States’ forthcoming World Cup opponents Guatemala routed Bolivia, 3-0, in an exhibition game in Washington D.C. Wednesday, serving notice that they will be no pushover in a group that also contains Cuba and Trinidad & Tobago. And the star of the evening was a former MLS player no one can remember. Mario […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Olympic Soccer Highlights
[VIDEO] In addition to live online coverage, NBC offers video highlights of Olympic men’s and women’s soccer action from China …
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Olympic Soccer TV Schedule
The USA-Japan men’s game will be replayed tonight on Universal HD at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET. Soccer will also be available on various NBC networks, including MSNBC, USA, CNBC and Telemundo. Complete soccer coverage will be available on the NBC Olympic Soccer Channel and online at nbcolympics.com. Check with your television provider for the availability of the NBC Olympic Soccer Channel.
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Men’s Soccer Scoreboard
Host China tied New Zealand, 1-1, on an 89th-minute goal by Manchester United’s Dong Fangzhuo. It was one of five games whose outcome was decided by goals in the last quarter of an hour. Italy was the only team to win by more than one goal. New Jersey product Giuseppe Rossi, a former Man. United player, scored in the Azzurrini’s 3-0 victory over Honduras. For all the results and goal scorers …
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Messi stays and delivers for Argentina
Playing despite a ruling that favored his club team, Barcelona, Lionel Messi scored one goal and set up another to lead Argentina to a 2-1 victory over the Ivory Coast in its Olympic men’s opener on Thursday.
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Postgame from Tianjin
[REACTION] U.S. coach Peter Nowak acknowledged that his team was far from perfect in its opening win over Japan, but he praised his players for their effort. His players said the turning point when they got a second wind to start to second half …
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Guzan and Edu stand out
[USA-JAPAN REPORT CARD] Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players’ performance in their 1-0 win over Japan on Thursday …
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
USA-Japan Coverage
U.S. men just good, and lucky, enough
Anyone who had bet that the U.S. women would be at the bottom of their group after one game at the 2008 Olympic Games and the U.S. men would be at the top figured to cash in, and cash in big.
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
What They’re Saying
“It felt like an eternity as the ball was rolling out to the top of the box. I just wanted to get it on frame because there were a bunch of people in front of me. I hit it left-footed and it crawled over the line. I think it’s the first goal I’ve scored that hasn’t touched the back of the net.”
— U.S. midfielder Stuart Holden on the clearance that led to the shot that squeezed under the left hand of goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa and slithered over the goal line for the winning goal in the USA’s 1-0 win over Japan.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Zero tolerance in Bulgaria
[REF WATCH] Referees in Bulgaria can expect less job security this season after the federation’s referee chief announced refs will be ousted for "serious" errors.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Facebook group revives players career
[OFF THE POST] Mark McGregor‘s career appeared to be over. Released by League Two club Port Vale in April, the 31-year-old failed to impress during a trial with Mansfield and was looking at a bleak, club-less future.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Red Bulls sign Venezuelan defender
[MLS] The New York Red Bulls signed Venezuelan defender Gabriel Cichero, a 24-year-old defender who has played for Venezuela’s Deportivo Italia, Bulgaria’s Vihren Sandanski and Uruguay’s Montevideo Wanderers.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Pat Noonan returns
[MLS] Forward Pat Noonan, who had helped New England to three runner-up finishes before spending 2008 with Norwegian club Aalesund, has joined the Columbus Crew.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Barcelona thumps the Bulls
[VIDEO] A crowd of 38,152 at Giants Stadium watched Spanish giant Barcelona thump the New York Red Bulls, 6-2, in a friendly on Wednesday. Barcelona was up 3-0 within the first 24 minutes.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
FIFA loses battle to force Olympic releases
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has upheld the appeals filed by FC Schalke 04, SV Werder Bremen and FC Barcelona, who were protesting FIFA’s orders to release players – Rafinha, Diego and Lionel Messi, respectively — for the men’s Olympic tournament, an under-23 competition. But it seems unlikely that Barcelona will demand Messi to return from China and the German clubs have already given the Brazilians permission to stay in China. FIFA President Sepp Blatter, however, said the decision could have dire consequences in the future.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA falls in FIFA rankings
The U.S. men’s national team dropped to No. 31 in the FIFA world rankings, its lowest placing since being at No. 35 in October 1997.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Sir Alex Ferguson heard my arguments, I heard his and, in fact, it was settled that the best for both parties would be for me to stay. Therefore, I can confirm that, next season, I will play for Manchester United. Before rumors emerge saying that I will play against my will, I want to make this clear – whoever says or writes that is lying. I will play for Manchester with all my heart and soul. I will fight and honor that shirt with the same commitment and dedication as always.”
— Cristiano Ronaldo finally ends the tug-of-war between Man U and Real Madrid. (The Guardian)
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
The Joys & Frailties of One Touch Soccer
It’s odd how the idea of entertaining soccer has become almost a dirty word, or a dirty two words. Try mentioning it any soccer discussion and you’re quite likely to get trashed as — take your choice — a romantic, a purist, a wimp, a know-nothing or just a plain idiot. Entertaining soccer, bah — the very idea!
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
UEFA Champions League Results
Longtime European contender Anderlecht was knocked out of the UEFA Champions League when the Belgian club fell to BATE Borisov of Belarus in the second round of qualifying. Another surprise was Cypriot club Anorthosis Famugusta’s win over Rapid Vienna. For all the results …