[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] Unlike its depressing defeats against Italy and Brazil, in beating Egypt, 3-0, the USA. exploited flaws and characteristics it had detected, but only because its execution and spirit matched the occasion.
Monthly Archives: June 2009
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Rodriguez gets first pro goal
[WPS] It took 11 games, but Amy Rodriguez, the No. 1 pick in the 2009 WPS Draft, finally got her first goal, scoring in the Boston Breakers’ 2-0 win over the struggling Chicago Red Stars. Frenchwoman Camille Abily added to her leading-league tally, scoring in the leader Los Angeles Sol’s 2-0 win over FC Gold Pride.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
South Africa gets confidence boost
[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] South Africa’s Brazilian coach, Joel Santana, could breathe a sigh of relief. Even though the Bafana Bafana fell to Spain, 2-0, in Saturday’s Group A finale, they advanced to the semifinals when Iraq could only tie New Zealand, 0-0.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Italy’s Lippi not about to make changes
[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] The USA didn’t just need to beat Egypt by three goals. It needed a three-goal Brazil victory over Italy in the other Group B game on Sunday — which it got, thanks to three Brazilian goals scored in the last eight minutes of the first half. Italy’s early exit immediately put Coach Marcello Lippi on the defensive.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Revs, Fire win openers [VIDEO]
[SUPERLIGA] MLS teams managed two wins and a tie in the four SuperLiga matches played last weekend to kick off the third annual matchup of American and Mexican club teams. Defending champion New England rallied to down Santos Laguna, 4-2, and a goal by Mexican international Brian McBride enabled Chicago to beat San Luis, 1-0. Kansas City played out a scoreless tie with Atlas, and UNL (Tigres) beat Chivas USA, 2-1, thanks to a spectacular bicycle-kick goal by Armando Pulido.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“It’s like that quote from ‘Dumb and Dumber’: ‘So you’re telling me there is a chance.’ That’s what we kept saying.”
— Defender Jonathan Bornstein explains the USA’s unlikely passage into the semifinals of the Confederations Cup after losing its first two games before downing Egypt, 3-0. (AP)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Bulls finally snatch a point [VIDEO]
[MLS WINNERS & LOSERS] The Red Bulls finally got a point and FC Dallas notched a rare home win. The Los Angeles Galaxy lost a second straight as it was once again let down by its backline leader.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS Results
It was a good week for MLS clubs at the bottom of the standings. New York, last in the Eastern Conference, earned a point in a 1-1 tie with Seattle, while the Western Conference’s bottom two teams, FC Dallas and San Jose, both won. For all the game summaries, standings, leading scorers and this week’s schedule …
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Lust for Goals Propels USA Into Semifinals
Stunning is the word, I think, for the USA’s rebirth at the Confederations Cup. Did I think the USA could beat Egypt? Maybe, but certainly not by 3-0.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Santa Clara Sporting takes two National Cup VIII regional titles
Santa Clara Sporting led all teams with two titles at U.S. Club Soccer’s National Cup VIII regionals that concluded Tuesday in Modesto, Calif. Girls play will take place this weekend. For all the Modesto boys champions …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Teams advance to Presidents Cup finals
US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup champions — representing 27 different clubs — were crowned in three of four regions. The Region I Presidents Cup will be held June 20-21 in Kirkwood, Del. The national finals will take place July 17-19 at the WRAL Soccer Complex in North Carolina.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
National spring high school champs crowned
South Carolina’s Northwestern High School and Atlanta’s St. Pius X are the top ranked teams in the final NSCAA/adidas High School Spring Rankings for boys and girls, respectively.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Loaded U-20 women’s team to play in Germany
The U.S. under-20 women’s national team, loaded with some of the USA’s top young talent, headed to Germany for matches against the England and German U-19s, who are both preparing for the UEFA Under-19 Women’s Championships. For the U.S. roster …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
USA gets Egypt ’09 sneak preview
The U.S. under-20 men’s national team heads to Cairo, Egypt, on Sunday to continue preparations for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt. Thomas Rongen‘s Americans will play two international friendlies against Egypt on June 27 and June 29. For the U.S. roster …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Surprises at Region IV boys quarterfinals
The Ventura County Fusion’s DMS 11 upset the defending champion Cisco Toros of Arizona, 3-2, in under-19 boys quarterfinal action Friday at the U.S. Youth Soccer Region IV Championships in Lancaster, Calif. In another surprise, the 2009 Dallas Cup U-15 champion Santa Clara Sporting fell to Sereno White of Arizona, 3-1, in boys quarterfinal action. For all of Friday’s quarterfinal results …
Posted inYouth Soccer Reporter, Youth What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“As the custom is with Nigerian football, if this show of shame were brought upon the nation by a national team failing to perform in a World Cup competition, the coach and every member of the team would have been sacked by now. So, why not do the same to administrators, managers and our so-called leaders who are bringing shame to the country everyday?”
— Former Nigerian women’s national and current Newberry College men’s coach Sam Okpodu, calling for Nigeria to replace those organizing the 2009 Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria before FIFA pulls the plug on the tournament. (Nigerian Guardian)
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
We pick MLS’s best players
The midpoint of the 2009 MLS season, conveniently enough, dove-tails with the start of summer, and thus a staggering load of international competitions and friendly matches. The first half of the league season won’t much resemble what follows, but for the past three months, these are the players who have been essential to their teams’ success.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Egypt Players Robbed During Game Against Italy
Members of Egypt’s team had their Johannesburg hotel rooms burgled while they were upsetting Italy 1-0 at the Confederations Cup on Thursday. Only one of the five rooms that had been invaded had cash, she said, but it was unclear how much money was stolen. “We’re busy investigating,” national police spokeswoman Sally De Beer said. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
South Africans Defend the Noisy Vuvuzela
As the rest of the world complains that the relentless noise created by vuvuzela trumpets during Confederations Cup games pains its ears, South African fans defend their noisemakers. South Africans take pride in instrument as a unique part of their culture. "This is our voice. We sing through it," said Chris Massah Malawai, a 23-year-old […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
New England Tests Veteran Striker Jankauskas
Edgaras Jankauskas, the 34-year-old Lithuanian striker, has appeared more than 50 times for his country. Jankauskas played for Portuguese giants FC Porto when the club won the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Champions League in 2003 and 2004. He also starred for Benfica, Real Sociedad, Hearts and CSKA Moscow at various points during his lengthy […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Semifinals Set for Copa Libertadores
Cruzeiro booked its spot in the Copa Libertadores semifinals with a 2-0 win over fellow-Brazilian team Sao Paulo on Thursday, while Estudiantes of Argentina defeated Uruguay's Defensor Sporting to advance. Sao Paulo had two players sent off and Cruzerio took advantage of its extra men to come away with a 4-1 aggregate victory after winning […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
U.S. Tries To Explain Itself After Brazil Loss
U.S. coach Bob Bradley and his players assesed their 3-0 Confederations Cup loss to Brazil on Thursday. Obviously, they lamented the early goal conceded and Sasha Kljestan‘s ejection, but Landon Donovan pointed out Brazil’s overall advantage: “They pass the ball very well. Athletically, even if you do get a chance to get around them and […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Goal spree Propels Toronto FC into Champions League
On Thursday, Toronto FC needed to win by at least four goals over the Montreal Impact to win the Canadian Nutrilite Championship and represent Canada in the 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League. Toronto put in six goals, winning 6-1 with an epic attacking display to earn the first trophy in team history. With the heavens pouring […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
The SuperLiga competition — Mexican clubs vs. MLS clubs — kicks off this weekend with a pair of games on both Saturday and Sunday. In the USL Game of the Week, Portland hosts Minnesota. The weekend is full of MLS action and a WPS clash between Los Angeles and FC Gold Pride. Weekend FIFA Confederations Cup action includes USA-Egypt and Italy-Brazil on Sunday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Not so popular
[OFF THE POST] Fans of Brazilian club Palmeiras who want to see its coach, Vanderlei Luxemburgo, sacked because of the team’s elimination from the Libertadores Cup have created a website called “Luxa Out.” The site received nearly 50,000 hits in the first day.