[USL-1] It took six games, but the Montreal Impact, one of the favorites to win the USL First Division title, finally got its first win on Sunday. The Impact, who replaced John Limniatis as head coach with Marc Dos Santos three days earlier, blew out the Austin Aztex, 4-0, getting three goals in 11 minutes.
Monthly Archives: May 2009
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
The Delights – and the Dangers – of Sporting Delusions
The way that so many people involved in sports manage to live happily with the most extraordinary delusions continues to bewilder me.
Posted inYouth Soccer Reporter, Youth What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I know that lots of teams have called and I am flattered. It means a lot when people check in with you when you are hurt. I have ambition to be a top player… I know I have to work hard to get there and find the right environment.”
— U.S. under-17 national team standout Charles Renken, who suffered his second serious knee injury in two years and missed U-17 qualifying. His agent said he’s attracted interest from a dozen European First Division clubs. (ESPN Soccernet)
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
NSCAA/adidas High School Girls Rankings
St. Pius X High School, which won the Georgia Class AAA title with a 3-0 win over North Hall, is the top-ranked girls team. For the NSCAA/adidas Top 20 rankings …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
NSCAA/adidas High School Boys Rankings
Led by North Carolina-bound Enzo Martinez, South Carolina’s Northwestern High School is the top-ranked boys team among high schools playing spring soccer. For the NSCAA/adidas Top 20 rankings …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
U.S. U-14 boys national development roster
The U.S. U-14 boys national development program completed training at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. where 36 players trained for a week and saw competition against local U-16 teams.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
U.S. U-18s head to Portugal
Mike Matkovich has called in 18 players for the U.S. U-18 boys national team’s trip to Portugal, where it will face Finland, Germany and Portugal at the annual Lisbon International, the biggest tournament of the year for the squad.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Mia Hamm joins Slammers’ staff
Slammers FC, one of the top girls programs in Southern California, has added Mia Hamm to its coaching staff. Hamm will work with older age teams whose athletes are approaching college. She will work on state, regional, national, and international championship preparations.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Newcomers added to U-20 national team
In its first camp since qualifying for the Under-20 World Cup Sept. 24-Oct. 16 in Egypt, U.S. under-20 national team coach Thomas Rongein will bring in 20 players for a camp beginning May 23 in Sarasota, Fla., to be held in conjunction with the Development Academy Spring Showcase. Rongen called up six players who were not part of qualifying, including Gerson Mayen, who has had an excellent spring for MLS’s hottest team, Chivas USA. Also called up was the younger brother of a rising senior national team star …
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Foreign experience, even short, is usually worth it
For every player who heads over to Europe from MLS and makes it, a la Carlos Bocanegra or Clint Dempsey, another dozen or so come back, some to great fanfare, some to barely a murmur.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Bosnia and Poland Warned by FIFA Over Hooliganism
FIFA has warned Bosnia-Herzegovina and Poland they face ejection from the World Cup if their fans continue to display hooliganism. On Friday the world soccer governing body fined Bosnia’s soccer federation $45,000 and Poland’s federation $22,500 for unruly fan behavior during World Cup qualifying on March 28. Bosnia fans interrupted a qualifier in Belgium for […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Milan To Consider Offers for Ronaldinho
AC Milan wants Ronaldinho to stay but it would consider a transfer request if the Brazilian playmaker made one, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Friday. The 29-year-old has struggled since his move to Serie A from Barcelona in July and has only managed the bench recently, prompting media speculation he could move this summer. “Our […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Wenger OK With Adebayor Joining Rival Club
Arsene Wenger has opened the door to Emmanuel Adebayor leaving Arsenal this summer by stating he would have no problem in selling a player to Chelsea or any other big four rival. Adebayor, who has endured a turbulent season after he came, in Wenger's words, "close to leaving the club" last summer. He has emerged […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Rookie and Vet Partner in Galaxy D
Rookie Omar Gonzalez and veteran Gregg Berhalter have formed a formidable partnership in the middle of the Galaxy defense. Still a work in progress, the Galaxy defense has allowed only 10 goals in eight games. "I think it's going OK," Berhalter, who turns 36 in August, said of the partnership. "I've said it's something that […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Chivas USA’s Stepanovic Adjusting Quickly
Moving to the United States to play professional soccer can be tough, especially if you don't speak the language and have never visited the country before. But Chivas USA's Bojan Stepanovic is finding success both on and off the field. He has grown more accustomed to his new team and his new home in Los […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Montreal Impact Make Coaching Switch
USL's Montreal Impact announced that Marc Dos Santos will take over as interim head coach, replacing John Limniatis. Under Limniatis in 2009 the Impact has struggled for results, winless in its first four regular-season games (0-3-1) and shut out 1-0 by Toronto FC, Wednesday, in its first game of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship. According to […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
In MLS action, red-hot Chivas USA hosts D.C. United on Saturday, which is also when Chicago defends its undefeated record in Toronto. On Sunday in WPS, Boston meets Washington. In international play, catch the Mexican League playoffs and action from various leagues from around the world.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Toronto can douse the Fire
[MLS PREDICTIONS] San Jose, stuck near the bottom of the overall standings at 1-5-2, takes its turn as the bye team during a week that features a matchup of conference leaders (Chivas USA vs. D.C. United), followed by defending champion Columbus at Los Angeles the following day at Home Depot Center. Toronto and Chicago, a point apart in the Eastern Conference in second and third, respectively, meet at BMO Field; 2006 and 2007 MLS Cup winner Houston heads to 2008 finalist New York, which knocked it out of the playoffs last year. For all of Soccer America’s predictions, as well as TV viewing information, and to see how we’ve fared on prediction so far this season …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Hopes alive for Whitbread & Millwall
[AMERICANS ABROAD] English second division club Reading, whose goalkeeper is American Marcus Hahnemann, saw its quest to return to the English Premier League dashed on Tuesday with a 2-0 loss to Burnley in the promotion playoffs. But defender Zack Whitbread‘s hopes of moving up the ladder, from the third to second tier, got a boost on Thursday when he helped Millwall to 1-1 tie with Leeds and a 2-1 aggregate win that takes Millwall to the promotion final.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“He’s been feeling his groin for a week now.”
— Newcastle coach Alan Shearer explains why forward Obafemi Martins was out of action. (BBC)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Poor economy dooms charity match
[SIGN OF THE TIMES] The “All-Stars for Hope” charity match scheduled for June 14 at Giants Stadium was scrapped because of the lack of corporate sponsors. “The current economic situation has brought down all of our hopes to organize what should have been one of the greatest soccer games in U.S. history,” the event’s Web site said. The game was supposed to feature such stars as Cristiano Ronaldo and Thierry Henry.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS teams set to face Mexican opponents
[SUPERLIGA] The 2009 SuperLiga competition between MLS clubs Chicago, New England, Chivas USA and Kansas City, the four 2008 playoff teams not entered in the 2009 Concacaf Champions League, and four Mexico teams will begin June 20-29 with the group stage. The competition, which concludes with the semifinals on July 15 and final on Aug. 5, also features San Luis, Santos, Tigres and Atlas, none of which qualified for the 2009 Clausura playoffs that began this week.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Young Texans shine in Mexican playoffs
[AMERICANS ABROAD] U.S. national team midfielder Jose Francisco Torres scored the second goal in Pachuca’s 3-1 win at Jaguares in the first leg of their quarterfinal clash on Thursday. Another young Texan, Marco Vidal, helped Indios upset Toluca, 1-0. And Ramon Nunez, a Honduras native who was raised in Dallas, notched an assist in Puebla’s win over Monterrey.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Week 8: Sol and Sky Blue debut on Universal Sports
[WPS] The WPS weekend kicks off with the Los Angeles Sol and Sky Blue FC in the first Friday night game and the first WPS game broadcast on Universal Sports. For a look at all the weekend WPS action …
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Klose Returns for Bayern’s Title Run
Defending champion Bayern Munich will welcome striker Miroslav Klose back from injury this weekend as the club prepares for the last two matches of a thrilling Bundesliga title scrap. Bayern (63 points) sits behind leaderr VfL Wolfsburg on goal difference and faces a Hoffenheim club on Saturday that led the league at the halfway mark […]