Monthly Archives: November 2008

“We haven’t heard anything from Bayern Munich about Landon [Donovan] going on loan to that team.”

— MLS Commissioner Don Garber at a press conference last Friday. On Thursday, Bayern Munich’s official Web site reported that Landon Donovan had gotten the oral go-ahead from MLS to go on loan to Bayern Munich from Jan. 1 until the beginning of the MLS season in March in a deal similar to Galaxy’s teammate David Beckham’s with AC Milan. The Bayern Web site also cited Bayern coach Juergen Klinsmann as saying he could imagine a longer-term acquisition of Donovan.

Crew strikes at critical moments

by Ridge MahoneyNovember 24, 2008

[MLS CUP 2008] Sunday at Home Depot Center met two of the three original MLS teams never to play for the league title, and Columbus prevailed over the stubborn NewYork Red Bulls, 3-1, to end a five-year run of Supporters’ Shield failures in the final. Guillermo Barros Schelotto set an MLS Cup record by assisting on goals by Alejandro Moreno, Chad Marshall and Frankie Hejduk to down New York, which played perhaps its best postseason game at both ends of the field. A goal by John Wolyniec tied the game briefly in the second half, but ultimately New York was cruelly punished for its lapses.

Alejandro Moreno: Three titles with three teams

by Mike WoitallaNovember 24, 2008

[MLS CUP 2008] Alejandro Moreno, who scored Columbus’ crucial opening goal, has now won three MLS titles with three different teams. The Venezuelan’s American soccer adventure began at a youth tournament in Texas.

Friedel ties EPL record

by Paul KennedyNovember 24, 2008

[AMERICANS ABROAD] Brad Friedel tied an English Premier League record when he made his 166th straight appearance in a stellar effort to hold Manchester United in a 0-0 tie. Youngster Preston Zimmerman scored his first league goal, and reports continue that Oguchi Onyewu could be headed to France during the January transfer window.

Strange Muntari goal gives Inter win over Juve (VIDEO)

[ITALY] Inter topped Juventus in the weekend’s big game on a bizarre goal from Sulley Muntari, while Milan could only tie in Torino.

Barca held at home, Real ekes out a win

[SPAIN] Real Madrid closed the gap on Barcelona to three points at the top of La Liga after the Catalan club could only tie at home to Getafe.

Hoffenheim pulls clear as Leverkusen loses

[GERMANY] It was another high-scoring weekend in the Bundesliga as Hoffenheim took advantage of a Bayer Leverkusen loss to move three points clear at the top.

Big four fail to score

[ENGLAND] Manchester City beat Arsenal, 3-0, on a low-scoring weekend as all of the Premier League’s top five clubs failed to find the net.

Yanks cruise into U-20 quarterfinals

[UNDER-20 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP] The USA moved into the quarterfinals of the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Chile with a 3-0 win over Argentina in Saturday.

USA opens against Mexico in February

[WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING] Like it did in qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, the USA opens at home against archrival Mexico in the final round of World Cup 2010 qualifying.

Americans face tough task in South Africa

[2009 CONFEDERATIONS CUP] The USA received no favors when it was drawn with reigning World Cup champion Italy, South American champion Brazil and African champion Egypt in Group B the 2009 Confederations Cup June 14-28 in South Africa. Euro ’08 champion Spain’s opposition in Group A will be Iraq, New Zealand and South Africa.

No Bulls on Best XI

[MLS HONORS] Three members of the Columbus Crew made MLS’s 2008 Best XI team while the other MLS Cup 2008 finalist New York Red Bulls were not represented.

Kenny Cooper gets ‘Comeback’ Award

[MLS HONORS] FC Dallas forward Kenny Cooper, who scored 18 goals in 2008 after recovering from a broken shinbone suffered in 2007, was named MLS Comeback Player of the Year.

Soccer on TV., Story

Soccer on TV

On Sunday, Columbus battles New York for the MLS crown. Complete Mexican playoff schedule was not available at press time. Check local listings.

Germany Lost Without Ballack, Frings

German national team coach Joachim Loew has told his players that form will count over experience when it comes to selection. But after Wednesday's mediocre defeat at home to England, the German press has concluded that the only winners were the absent captain Michael Ballack (injured) and midfield veteran Thorsten Frings (not selected). Both players […]

Danny Cepero And Post-War Decolonization

In the run-up to MLS Cup, the story continues to be Danny Cepero, and here's the latest angle: it's not just for sporting reasons that the RB New York goalkeeper is happy the team's season has been extended with every unlikely playoff win. Each further game has given him a valid excuse not to hand […]

Wizards Get Stadium Tax-Break

The Kansas City Wizards received a boost toward its plan for a soccer specific stadium in the southeast of the city Thursday when the Missouri Development Finance Board approved $30 million in tax credits toward the $1 billion mixed-use project, reports Randy Covitz. The approval "clears the way for the LANE4 Property Group and the […]

Crew In Danger Of Losing Schmid

These should be happy days for Sigi Schmid, says Steve Davis, given that the Columbus Crew coach is just 90 minutes from lifting his second MLS Cup. But for the second time in his career, Schmid is finding that success is not necessarily enough to secure him a new contract It would be ironic if […]

Gallas A Captain But Not A Leader

"The team captain has a unique position in English football," writes Dan Bryant. And few things in soccer irk an English fan more than "a perceived lack of effort from a player; a captain represents something the rest of the team can look up to, a shining example, leading his team to glory." Arsenal's French […]

Confed Cup Crowds Will Be A Challenge

"We have a major challenge to fill the stadium for every match, not only the games involving high-profile teams." Danny Jordaan, chief executive of South Africa's 2010 World Cup Organizing Committee, admits it will be tough getting crowds to the 2009 warm-up tournament, the Confederations Cup, also in South Africa. The United States, as Gold […]

Arsenal Will Seek Walcott Compensation

As Theo Walcott faces an expected 12 week-absence with a dislocated shoulder sustained training with the England team, Arsenal will seek compensation of up to $1.6 million from the English FA under the insurance deal that covers players injured while on national team duty.

Hahnemann Eyes Seattle In Long Run

"It has always been the plan to go back to Seattle, only my good pal Kasey [Keller] is there at the moment for the next couple of years. Hopefully then that will present me with an opportunity to play there." Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann looks to end his career in MLS.

Copa Sudamericana Finalists Set