Argentine striker Emmanuel Villa is joining Cruz Azul from English Championship club Derby County, the Mexican club said on Monday. "We have reached an agreement with Derby County of England for the transfer of Emmanuel Villa, who will arrive (in Mexico) on Tuesday to undergo a medical and sign a contract," Cruz Azul said in […]
Monthly Archives: June 2009
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
American Keeper Cervi Completes Move to Celtic, Finally
So who is the first American to complete a move to Europe this summer? No, not any of the Confederations Cup players. Try goalkeeper Dominic Cervi, who finally received his Italian passport and is finalizing his long-awaited move to Scottish powerhouse Glasgow Celtic. The former Chicago Fire draft pick had been waiting for a year […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Revelatory Striker Grafite to Stay at Wolfsburg
Brazilian striker Grafite has agreed to extend his contract with German champion Wolfsburg until 2012. Grafite, the leading scorer in the Bundesliga last season, scored 28 goals. Grafite formed a strike partnership with Edin Dzeko that produced a total of 54 goals, making them the most prolific partnership in Bundesliga's history. Wolfsburg coach Armin Veh […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Southampton Left Without Owner
The gloom at Southampton deepened today when the Pinnacle group, the consortium fronted by Matthew Le Tissier, formally withdrew from the race to take over the stricken League One club, leaving the administrator, Mark Fry, left to scrutinize two bids from abroad as he desperately seeks new owners. "It is with great regret and frustration […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Soccer-based Film Festival Opens in New York
The first film festival in the United States dedicated to soccer movies, the Kicking and Screening International Soccer Film Festival, will unspool at five locations July 14-18 across New York City. "Soccer and film are passions – they crystallize things and make us feel," said one of the event's founders, Rachel Markus. "When we watch […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
U.S. Open Cup Brings Rivalries and Underdogs to Fore
One of the biggest rivalries in American soccer will be rekindled as longtime foes Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders FC highlight the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. In their first meeting since Seattle's "promotion" to MLS, the high-flying Sounders will travel to PGE Park to take on a Timbers team that […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Mexican-American Castillo Says He Would Play for USA
The United States national team just might get back one that got away. New Mexico native Edgar Castillo, who seemed unlikely to ever play for the country of his birth after representing Mexico's Under-23 team in Olympic qualifying, said recently he'd be willing to take advantage of a new FIFA rule allowing players cap-tied at […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Dynamic Donovan Drove USA
After watching him work and sweat and dart and chase and tackle and fight and pass and score in five Confederation Cup games, I have to say Landon Donovan didn’t surprise me.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Gold Cup alters MLS action in July
[MLS] To the rigors of travel and summer heat comes the biennial player drain known as the Concacaf Gold Cup. Numerous changes to the Gold Cup rosters altered yet again the options and choices for MLS coaches.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Gay ref fights for job in Turkey
[REF WATCH] Veteran referee Halil Ibrahim Dincdag has sued the Turkish soccer federation after it did not renew his license because he is gay. “They thought I was an ant that they could crush, they thought I would run away and hide in a corner,” Halil Ibrahim Dincdag said. “But they have destroyed my life and I will fight them to the end.”
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Germany routs England for triple youth crowns
[U-21 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP] Germany, winner of the most recent U-17 and U-19 European titles, made it a triple by routing England, 4-0, in the U-21 final in Sweden. The Germans got a pair of goals from Bayern Munich’s Sandro Wagner and one apiece from Werder Bremen’s Mesut Ozil, the man of the match, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Gonzalo Castro.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Revs and Fire set for semifinal showdown
[SUPERLIGA] Frequent playoff opponents New England and Chicago are set for a SuperLiga semifinal meeting following the conclusion of group play last weekend. Kenny Mansally‘s goal Sunday at Gillette Stadium carried the Revs to a 1-0 win over Altas, which hit the woodwork twice in the second half but finished the tournament without a goal and with a record of 0-1-2.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I would play for the United States. … They have a lot of good players. I don’t think I’d come in and be handed anything. But I’d like a chance to compete [for a starting spot].”
— Mexican-American left back Edgar Castillo, who is once again eligible to play for the USA after FIFA loosened restrictions on players switching national teams. Castillo, born and raised in New Mexico, played for Mexico’s U-23 team and in friendlies for its full national team after the U.S. national team program showed no interest in his services. (USSoccerPlayers.com)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Dempsey, Howard win individual honors
[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] U.S. midfielder Clint Dempsey, who scored against Egypt, Spain and Brazil, won the adidas Bronze Ball. The USA’s Tim Howard was named the tournament’s top keeper (adidas Gold Glove). For Confederations Cup 2009 award winners …
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Galaxy’s Defense Sparks Win Over Dynamo
The Los Angeles Galaxy players said it wasn't a desperate situation but they sensed some urgency. In need of a home win after a 1-2-4 home record this season, the Galaxy relied on stingy defense to beat Western Conference leader Houston Dynamo, 1-0. A first-half goal from Todd Dunivant helped give the Galaxy 18 points, […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Egypt Demands Retraction of Prostitution Claims
Scandal erupted last week when several newspapers blamed the robberies of Egyptian soccer players on prostitutes that Egyptian players allegedly brought back to their rooms during the Confederations Cup in South Africa. But Egyptian diplomats are expecting a police investigation to force these newspapers to retract their stories and clear the players' names. "We are […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Altidore Wants Out of Villarreal
In the wake of the United States’ 3-2 loss to Brazil in the Confederations Cup final, U.S. striker Jozy Altidore stressed the importance of the U.S. player getting playing time for their club teams. Of the 23 players on the U.S. roster, only seven are regular starters in the top division of a European league. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
England-Germany in U-21 Final
After advancing past Sweden on penalties, England faces Germany in the final of the U-21 European Championship on Wednesday. Germany is the current European Under-17 and Under-19 champion. But England has appeared the best team in the tournament to most neutrals, as Stuart Pearce's B squad outplayed Germany in the final group match. Germany has […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Revs Advance in SuperLiga
The New England Revolution entered Sunday's match against Atlas with a chance to clinch advancement in the SuperLiga with either a win or a draw at home. An already battered squad, the Revs ost Mike Videira to a red-card suspension. Local product Nico Colaluca stepped into Videira's spot to make his debut for the Revolution. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Mixed Feelings From Donovan
After taking a 2-0 lead before halftime, the USA watched an inspired Brazil roar back in the second half to score three goals and win the Confederations Cup, 3-2 FIFA.com spoke to Landon Donovan, who scored the USA's second goal on a swift counterattack, about the game and what it means for the national team. […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
The Concacaf Gold Cup kicks off on Friday. The USA starts the tournament the next day with a match against Grenada. Catch American soccer Games of the Week throughout the holiday weekend: USL, Cleveland-Austin (Friday); MLS, Columbus-D.C. United (Saturday); and WPS, Washington-Los Angeles (Sunday). Look for updates in Wednesday’s and Friday’s Soccer on TV.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
An exciting third-place finish for Spain
[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] European champion Spain and host South Africa served up a thriller in the third-place game, which the Spaniards won, 3-2, after a flurry of late goals.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS Results
Thanks to its 3-0 over Colorado, Seattle joined Western Conference rivals Houston and Chivas USA as the top three teams in the overall MLS standings. For all the game summaries, standings, leading scorers and this week’s schedule …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Emotions tell the tale of dramatic final
[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] There’s no secret to gauging how much a victory, or loss, means to those who experience those results. Just look at the faces and the body language, and listen to the voices. Brazilians are used to winning cups and trophies and medals in soccer; there are myriad domestic honors up for grabs and no nation has captured more World Cups, and as it turns out, Confederations Cups as well. They laughed, they danced, they embraced and they cried after rallying to beat the USA, 3-2, Sunday to win the competition for the third time.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Islanders regain top spot
[USL-1] The Puerto Rico Islanders split on their trip through the Carolinas, winning 2-1 at Carolina two days after they fell at Charleston, 1-0. Their win over the RailHawks was good enough to move them back into first place, one point ahead of the Battery.