Heavily indebted Premier League clubs Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool were accused of “financial doping” in a British parliamentary report Monday. The report, which came after a year-long inquiry, claims that the worldwide economic meltdown should serve as a warning to clubs operating risky business models. Legislators urged English soccer authorities to curb “ludicrous levels […]
Monthly Archives: April 2009
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Howard saves two PKs, Gooch scores a pair
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Goalkeeper Tim Howard helped Everton reach the FA Cup final by saving two penalty kicks against his former club, Manchester United. Defender Oguchi Onyewu scored twice for Belgium’s Standard Liege. In Scotland, Maurice Edu scored the gamewinner for Glasgow Rangers. But it didn’t go so well for Michael Bradley in Germany.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
AZ ends Dutch dominance of big three
[EUROPEAN RACES] Despite losing its third game of the season, AZ Alkmaar clinched the Dutch league, marking the first time since 1981 that the championship won’t go to PSV, Ajax or Feyenoord, the big three.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Everton and Chelsea advance to FA Cup final
[ENGLAND] Everton and Chelsea will meet in the English FA Cup final May 30 after winning their semifinal matches at Wembley Stadium. Everton’s shootout victory — courtesy of two saves by American keeper Tim Howard — ended Manchester United’s bid for five titles this season. Chelsea came from behind to down London rival Arsenal, 2-1.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Chivas takes Super Clasico in Ramirez’s debut
[MEXICO] Playing for its third coach in a month, Guadalajara defeated Club America, 1-0, Sunday at the Jalisco Stadium to win the Super Clasico, the biggest game of the Mexican league season.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Three strugglers get their first wins [VIDEO]
[MLS NAMES & NUMBERS] Houston, FC Dallas and New York finally won, leaving defending champ Columbus, which had a bye, and Los Angeles, the league’s only winless teams. The Chicago Fire is undefeated after five games for the first time in club history. Jaime Moreno hit another milestone. Chivas USA remained undefeated by handing Seattle its second straight loss.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Sorry, Energie Fans! Certainly one can lose at Schalke. But we did not put up enough defense against the class of the individuals of this opponent. … True compensation will come at the next game.”
— Steffen Heidrich, general manager of German club Energie Cottbus, in an apology to 600 Cottbus fans who traveled to its game against Schalke 04 and witnessed a 4-0 Cottbus loss. The apology included a promise of free tickets to those fans for Cottbus’ next game. (FCenergie.de)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
International Weekend Results
Lyon’s hopes of winning its eighth straight French league title are fading. Porto maintained its four-point lead in Portugal. Only one point still separates in Celtic and Rangers in Scotland. For all the weekend results and standings in Europe’s major leagues and Mexico …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS Results
The defending champion Columbus Crew and Los Angeles Galaxy are the only winless MLS teams after five weeks and find themselves in the Eastern and Western Conference basements, respectively. For all the game summaries, standings, leading scorers and next weekend’s schedule …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Marta’s Sol remains perfect
[WPS] Starting her first game of the season, two-time Olympic gold-medalist Aly Wagner set up Brazilian star Marta for the only goal to lead the Los Angeles Sol to a 1-0 win over FC Gold Pride for its third consecutive shutout victory of the season.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Islanders get their revenge
[USL-1] The Puerto Rico Islanders gained revenge for their loss to the Vancouver Islanders in last year’s USL-1 championship with a 2-1 victory on Saturday at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium. Nicholas Addlery, who played the Whitecaps last season, scored both goals for Puerto Rico. Carolina took the early lead in the USL-1 with its second win, a 1-0 victory over Rochester. In its debut, expansion Austin tied Minnesota, 1-1, at home, while Cleveland, with Real Salt Lake keeper Chris Seitz playing on loan in goal, fell in its USL-1 debut at Miami FC, 3-1.
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Red Bull Arena: A new era for New York soccer
It looked like a burned-out aircraft hangar. It was certainly big enough, a towering hulk of intertwined metal beams with a gaping hole in the middle. A huge metallic donut.
Posted inYouth Soccer Reporter, Youth What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I try to do a lot of hard work on my fitness, and sometimes you have to suck it up and go outdoors. I wear spikes on my shoes. They have sort of grippers on the bottom so you can run. I couldn’t out-run a bear, but luckily he didn’t seem interested in me.”
— U.S. under-18 girls national team forward Kelly Cobb on training she does at Bear Mountain near her home in Chugiak, Alaska. With an outdoor season of only five months and only one serious rival to her club team, the Cook Inlet Velocity, she spends extra time training. (ussoccer.com).
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
High School Girls Spring Rankings
St. Pius X of Atlanta remained the top-ranked team in the NSCAA/adidas National Ranking ahead of St. Joseph’s Academy of St. Louis and Sierra of California. For the top 20 girls rankings …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
High School Boys Spring Rankings
Bellarmine Prep of Tacoma, Wash., has taken over as the No. 1 team in the NSCAA/adidas National Rankings. Cody of Wyoming moved up to No. 2. For the top 20 boys rankings …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Red Bull teams excel in Spain
The New York Red Bulls sent two teams to the Mediterranean International Cup in Spain, where they both reached the second round. The U-14s went unbeaten, going 4-0-1, while the U-15s, playing up in the U-16 division, advanced to the round of 16 before falling to Valencia.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
U.S. star sidelined for U-17 qualifying
The USA will put its perfect record of having qualified for every FIFA U-17 World Cup since the tournament’s inception in 1985 on the line when it faces Cuba, Canada and Honduras at the 2009 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, beginning Tuesday in Tijuana, Mexico, but the Americans will be without their most heralded player, 15-year-old midfielder Charles Renken, who is again sidelined with a knee injury.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Texans make Dallas Cup history
The Dallas Texans Red made history when they became the first club to win three titles in the same year at the Dr. Pepper Dallas Cup, capturing the U-19, U-14 and U-13 titles at this year’s 30th edition of the tournament. The surprise was the Santa Clara (Calif.) Sporting’s run to the championship in the U-15 division.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Fergie Blasts Rafa’s Arrogance
On the eve of Sunday’s FA Cup game between Manchester United and Everton at Wembley, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson came to Everton’s defense, taking aim at Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, manager of Everton’s Merseyside rival and United’s challenger for the EPL lead. “He called Everton a small club which points to his arrogance. They […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Hart To Coach Canada at Gold Cup
Two years ago as interim coach, Stephen Hart led Canada to the semifinals of the Gold Cup, where it fell to the USA. In 2009, he’ll again be in charge of Canada as interim coach at the Gold Cup. The Canadian Soccer Association on Friday named Hart, the CSA’s technical director, as interim coach through […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Klinsmann Targets Bundesliga Title
With its UEFA Champions League campaign over, Bayern Munich can concentrate on the Bundesliga title race. It’s been a rocky first season for Coach Juergen Klinsmann, but he still thinks Bayern can defend its title. “Qualifying for the Champions League is mandatory,” he said before Saturday’s game against Arminia Bielefeld, “but, of course, our target […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ramirez Replaces Arellano at Chivas Guadalajara
Things are looking up at Chivas USA, which has the best record in MLS after four weeks. The situation at Chivas Guadalajara is another matter. Guadalajara named Francisco Ramirez, the assistant to former Mexico coach Sven-Goran Eriksson best known for his run-in with Frankie Hejduk after February’s USA-Mexico qualifier, has been named its new coach, […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Claudio Lopez Happy in Kansas City
Not all Designated Players have worked out in MLS. Claudio Lopez is an exception. The former Argentina national team star not only has had an impact on the field for the Kansas City Wizards, but he and his family are so happy to be in Kansas City that he took a pay cut to remain […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Real Salt Lake Gets Lucky on Davies Lottery
Real Salt Lake has landed U.S. under-20 national team captain Kyle Davies through a lottery, adding another player with European experience to its roster. Davies, 20, has spent the last two years in the Southampton FC youth system. “One thing we have done with our team and have had quite a bit of success […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
D.C. United hosts New England in the MLS Game of the Week on Friday. In WPS, the Chicago Red Stars take on Sky Blue FC on Sunday afternoon. England’s FA Cup hits the semifinal stage this weekend. Archrivals meet in Mexico (Chivas-Club America) and Argentina (Boca Juniors-River Plate).