“Colombian soccer champion America de Cali are first to admit cocaine dollars had a hand in their sporting heyday. But after years of paying the price, they’re trying to wipe the slate clean,” writes Reuters’ Helen Popper in an inspiring report on the team’s (and the city’s) efforts to make a new name for themselves […]
Monthly Archives: March 2009
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Man City Owner Wants Messi and Maradona
Manchester City board member and self-proclaimed Argentina aficianado Dr. Sulaiman Al-Fahim continues his quest to bring overnight success to the long-struggling EPL side, this time setting his sights on Barcelona’s 21-year-old midfield maestro Lionel Messi, as well as Diego Maradona in what would equate to a General Manager role. “I do not know if Maradona […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Brazil’s Ronaldo Returns To Action
Playing in his first professional match in Brazil since 1994, Ronaldo returned to the field in the 68th minute of an opening round Brazilian Cup clash with Itumbiara, helping Corinthians hold on to a 2-0 win and advance in the tournament. It was Ronaldo’s game since undergoing surgery after a knee injury suffered with AC […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
U.S. U-20s Aim for 7th World Cup Trip
The Thomas Rongen-coached U.S. U-20 men’s national team will be trying to secure its seventh consecutive FIFA U-20 World Cup appearance when it kicks off the eight-team CONCACAF qualifying tournament in Trinidad & Tobago with a group match vs. Jamaica on Friday. The USA will go on to face Group A opponents Honduras on March […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
When the ‘Bad Guys’ Win?
At a PACT (Parents and Coaches Together) presentation last year, one of the parents asked a very pointed question: “Why do the bad guys always win?” It was a difficult question, one which kept PACT presenters discussing possible answers for over a year.
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Donovan’s Return a Big Plus for MLS
This is an unfortunate moment for MLS. With David Beckham quietly trashing the league, either directly or implicitly, every time he opens his mouth, with Landon Donovan letting it be known that he’d prefer to play in Germany, with FC Barcelona withdrawing its bid for a Miami franchise, the league’s image (at least in the eyes of foreign observers) has been suffering.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Donovan on bench as Bayern falls again
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Days before his loan spell comes to an end, Landon Donovan watched from the bench as Bayern Munich was ousted from the German Cup it was defending with a 4-2 loss at Bayer Leverkusen. The defeat, on the heels of a dismal league run, had German press speculating on Coach Juergen Klinsmann‘s job security.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Islanders’ magic befuddles Marathon
[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] The only MLS influence in the Concacaf Champions’ League semifinals will come from a few of its former employees. Ex-D.C. United striker Nicholas Addlery, former Crew goalie Bill Gaudette, and the first of two Northern Irish head coaches hired by Dallas, Colin Clarke, were among the celebrants in San Pedro Sula Wednesday after the USL’s Puerto Rico Islanders defeated CD Marathon, 1-0, in the second leg of their quarterfinal series.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
UNAM no match for Cruz Azul
[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] The venue changed, but the flow of play and result didn’t. Cruz Azul — leading its quarterfinal series with Mexico City rival UNAM, 1-0, from the first leg – dominated Pumas on their own field, and took the second leg by the same 1-0 score Wednesday at Estadio Olimpico Universitario.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Steven’s a player of high energy and enthusiasm and that’s how we expect him to play.”
— Newcastle coach Chris Hughton condones his defender Steven Taylor throwing an elbow at Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo during a 2-1 Man U win. (AFP)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Quakes rebound to down Chivas
[MLS] No look at the calendar is needed to perceive that the MLS preseason is ebbing away. The marking is tighter, the pace is faster, and a team like Chivas USA, which played its first MLS opponent in 2009 Wednesday at Home Depot Center, finds out quickly what it’s been missing.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Dallas beaten in Brazil
[MLS] FC Dallas scored early, on the hour, and late, yet those three goals weren’t quite enough to match the output of the team’s host in Brazil, Clube Atletico Paranaense, which defeated its MLS partner club, 4-3, Wednesday at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. women strike quickly against Danes
[ALGARVE CUP] The USA got first-half goals from midfielders Angie Wonzuk and Tina DiMartino, the only starters who weren’t members of last year’s Olympic gold-medal team, and cruised to a 2-0 win over Denmark Wednesday in Lagos, Portugal, to begin its bid for its third straight Algarve Cup title.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Edu and Rangers fall in late stunner
[AMERICANS IN BRITAIN] Maurice Edu earned his second straight start for Glasgow Rangers, which was stunned by Inverness, 1-0, at Ibrox on Wednesday and lost the lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League it had shared with archrival Celtic. In the English Premier League, troubles continued for Brad Friedel’s Aston Villa when it fell at Manchester City, 2-0.
Posted inYouth Soccer Reporter, Youth What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Nothing like that should ever happen to any kid. I just think there are a lot of leagues out there, and it’s not just soccer, that need to be brought under control.”
— Pawtucket (R.I.) resident Jeff Southworth on the need to intervene in youth sports disputes. His daughter quit her soccer team after police were called when her coach came to Southworth’s house and they clashed over league matters, including whether he could videotape games. (AP)
“I can’t imagine anyone being for it. I just don’t think they want anyone at that level getting involved in our sports.”
— Ken Conte, president of North Providence East Little League, on a bill pending in Rhode Island that would create a seven-member council appointed by the state senate to settle disputes in youth sports leagues.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
U.S. Youth Soccer ODP Boys ’91 International Tournament Rosters
U.S. Youth Soccer ODP boys ’91 regional teams will compete in Costa Rica March 9-13 against the Costa Rica national youth team, as well as youth teams from Alajuela, Brujas and Heredia. For complete rosters …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Richmond Kickers name complex Ukrop Park
The Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club will call their new 34.5-acre sports complex, slated to open in June 2009, Ukrop Park, in honor of the Ukrop family, which donated to the project and owns a store adjacent to the site.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Eastside the story of Washington championships
Eastside FC cleaned up at last weekend’s Washington Youth Soccer state championship, capturing the U-18 and U-17 boys state titles and the U-16 and U-15 boys titles in the Challenge Cup divisions. For all the winners …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Top-ranked girls team upset in thriller
Featuring 12 players headed to Division I college programs, Pleasanton (Calif.) Foothill High School was one of the most heralded teams to ever come out of Northern California. The Falcons, who had given up only five goals in their first 21 games, were the heavy favorites to win California’s North Coast Section 3A championship but lost to San Ramon Valley, 4-3, after giving up all four goals in the last 15 minutes of regulation and overtime.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Younger players rising in ranks
The second year of play in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy has seen an influx of younger players into the U-15/16 programs, which has in turn expanded the player pool for the U-15 boys national team.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Dallas Texans claim second title
With one game to spare, the Dallas Texans won the 2009 U.S. Youth Soccer National League U-16 boys championship. The Texans have also clinched the
U-17 girls title. For all the news and results from last weekend’s National League boys play in Georgia …
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Argentine Playmaker Happy in the Heartland
"It was my decision for some time to have an experience outside my country, so when I had this conflict with my former club, I saw this opportunity. The United States has always been a place I have been interested in and when Kansas City approached me, it became an easy decision. There were other […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Schmeichel’s Secret to Success Between ManU Pipes
“When you look at a potential United keeper you need to ask yourself: Is he technically good enough? Is he brave enough? Is he mentally tough enough? Is he organized and confident enough? [Edwin] Van der Sar answers all these questions positively. I played against him at international level and he always impressed me, but […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Trying Times Can’t Turn Back Women’s Soccer in Turkey
“Soccer is seen as a man’s game in Turkey. We’ve had men come to watch our practices and yell at our players: ‘What are you doing here? You should be at home, cooking!’ It’s going to take time to change this.” Nupert Ozbar, one of the few accredited female soccer coaches in Turkey, and the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Terrorist Cricket Attack Prompts World Cup Crisis Talks
A Tuesday terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in Pakistan that resulted in eight deaths and seven others wounded has led FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke to call a “crisis evaluation committee” meeting next Tuesday, March 10 in Johannesburg to “discuss taking security to a maximum level” for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. […]