Monthly Archives: September 2008

Striker Razak Omotoyossi scored twice on Sunday give Benin a 3-2 win over 2006 World Cup finalist Angola that earned the West African nation a place in the final round of the African qualifying for the 2010 World Cup finals. Nigeria and Cameroon are the only other teams to clinch berths in the final round. For all of Sunday’s African results …

Puerto Rico remained in first place in the USL First Division with a 1-0 win over Vancouver just a day after it had beaten Alajuelense of Costa Rica to reach the group stage of the Concacaf Champions League. For all the USL-1 results, goal scorers and standings …

The expansion San Jose Earthquakes moved to within two points of third place in the Western Conference with a 2-1 win over D.C. United. For all the weekend results, standings, leading goal scorers and schedules …

Hall of Famer Ray Bernabei, Executive Director of the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NISOA) for the last 33 years, died on Friday in Orlando, Fla., from complications of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

[MLS NAMES & NUMBERS] Argentine Guillermo Barros Schelotto made a case for 2008 Most Valuable Player with one goal and two assists in the Columbus Crew’s 4-0 win over the New England Revolution in the battle of MLS’s two best teams.

[WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING] Brazil beat Chile, 3-0, in Santiago on Sunday in the only South American World Cup 2010 qualifier to climb from sixth to second place and ease the pressure on beleaguered coach Dunga.

[USA-TRINIDAD & TOBAGO] Trinidad & Tobago’s Soca Warriors will be without captain Dwight Yorke, who returned to English club Sunderland under pressure, when they face the USA Wednesday in their World Cup 2010 qualifier.

[CUBA-USA] The most impressive performance from the USA at Saturday’s 1-0 win over Cuba came after the game when Landon Donovan kept a straight face as he said, “I thought we played very well.” In fact, the unconvincing effort against a soccer minnow was a stark reminder that the U.S. national team isn’t making progress.

The surprise of the opening day of play in Europe was France’s 3-1 loss to Austria that will put new pressure on Coach Raymond Domenech to resign. Italy needed a stoppage time goal to beat Cyprus, 2-1. It wasn’t until after halftime that England scored against Andorra. Two Joe Cole goals were all the scoring in a 2-0 England win. in South America, Argentina had to settle for a 1-1 tie against Paraguay. New Zealand, starting five players who attended U.S. colleges and also played in MLS, clinched  the Oceania title with a 3-1 victory at New Caledonia. For all results and goal scorers …

[WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING] Canada’s World Cup 2010 hopes appear to be over after it fell to Honduras, 2-1, in Montreal on Saturday, leaving it with one point after two games at home and a date at Mexico on Wednesday in Group B in front of it.

Books and artwork are among the few items the U.S. Department of the Treasury allows Americans to bring back from Cuba, so I take a walk down the Paseo de Prado where Havana artists sell their paintings. But on Saturday the pedestrian-only path is overrun by about a hundred young volunteers passing out condoms and educational material on the prevention of STDs. The Plaza de Armas in Old Havana is as usual, with scores for vendors selling used books. It’s of little surprise what books dominate the vendors’ displays.

Against Cuba, Clint Dempsey was moved from the frontline into the midfield and scored his third goal of the qualifying campaign after striking twice in the preliminary round against Barbados. After the game, he spoke about the Cuban fans’ warm reception …

[CUBA-USA REPORT CARD] Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla grades the U.S. players’ performance in their 1-0 win over Cuba on Saturday. …

Mike Woitalla reports from Havana
In what was surely the least intimidating atmosphere the USA will face in their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, it eked out a 1-0 over Cuba in Havana. The Cuban fans filled only half the Pedro Marrero Stadium and were more than 30 yards from the field because of the running track. They applauded as the American players were introduced, giving their loudest welcome to Landon Donovan. And they cheered when the Americans waved goodbye.