Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack's preseason preparations suffered a setback. The Germany international has flown back to England for treatment after suffering a break in his toe. Ballack, who featured in Chelsea's 2-0 win over the Seattle Sounders last Saturday, will miss the remaininggames of the Blues' tour of America. He could be back in action […]
Monthly Archives: July 2009
Arsenal Midfielder Nasri Out For Three Months
Samir Nasri fractured his fibula in preseason training and will be out of action for three months, say reports confirmed by Arsenal's web site. This comes as a blow to the Gunners as the French international had cemented himself as a key player for Arsenal, and will miss the opening months of the Premier League […]
Soccer on TV
The World Football Challenge is highlighted this week on the ESPN Networks. Catch Chelsea, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Club America in action. The Gold Cup concludes this week with semifinals on Thursday (USA-Honduras, Mexico-Costa Rica) and the final on Sunday. Look for updates in Friday’s Soccer on TV.
U.S. girls team sweep Canada in Boulder
The USA went 3-0 in games against Canada during the recent under-20 and under-18 camps for girls national teams at the University of Colorado in Boulder.
Chivas USA’s Zamora added to U-20 team
Cesar Zamora, an 18-year-old outside midfielder and defender who was promoted from Chivas USA’s development team to its first team in late May, has been added to the U.S. under-20 national team for its trip to Argentina, where he will join two Chivas teammates.
Rennie named to U.S. Club Soccer youth development post
Former Duke University coach John Rennie has been named U.S. Club Soccer’s Director of Youth Development and will work with the organization’s clubs to improve the skills of their young players.
Massachusetts sets pace at Presidents Cup
Massachusetts produced two winners — the Crusaders United under-16 boys and Sachem FC under-17 girls — at the 2009 U.S. Youth Soccer Presidents Cup finals held at the WRAL Soccer Complex in Cary, N.C. For all results and goal scorers of the boys and girls championship and consolation finals …
Finals Week Leading Scorers
D.C. United’s Andy Najar, a high school sophomore, FC Greater Boston’s Charlie Rugg, who is headed to Boston College, and FC Dallas striker Bryan Leyva, who has courted by clubs in Mexico, France and Spain, were the top scorers at U.S. Development Academy Finals Week with four goals apiece. For all the leading scorers …
Finals Week Placements
Besides the champion Carmel United (U-17/18) and Derby County Wolves (U-15/16), the IMG Soccer Academy, PDA, CASL Chelsea FC Academy, Chicago Magic AS Monaco, Washington Premier FC and New York Red Bulls won placement games at the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Finals Week. For all the results and goal scorers …
No. 1 Wolves capture Academy crown
A nifty goal by Dzenan Catic in the sixth minute was all the top-seed Derby County Wolves would need to beat Cal Odyssey, 1-0, in the final of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy under-15/16 championship at The Home Depot Center.
What They’re Saying
“I’m very proud, he’s got a lot of talent.”
— Julio Cesar Baldivieso, coach of Bolivian club Aurora, on his son, Mauricio, who became the youngest player to ever play a South American first division game when he came on in a 1-0 loss at La Paz. Mauricio turns 13 on Wednesday.
Three from Dynamo added to All-Star team
[MLS] Houston coach Dominic Kinnear picked three Dynamo players and two from Seattle to address the balance of power for the MLS All-Star team that plays Everton a week from Wednesday. Added to the original list of 11 starters from the Dynamo are goalie Pat Onstad, midfielder Brad Davis, and forward Brian Ching.
Preteen makes pro debut
[SOUTH AMERICA] Mauricio Baldivieso, a few days shy of his 13th birthday, played the last nine minutes for Aurora in a 1-0 loss to La Paz in the Bolivian first division, making him the youngest player to make a pro debut in South America.
Eto’o-Ibrahimovic trade in the works
[TRANSFER WATCH] American-style player trades rarely take place in soccer, but Barcelona and Inter Milan have a blockbuster in the works: Inter will send Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Barca in exchange for Cameroon star Samuel Eto’o and cash.
Most expensive transfer deals (2009 summer)
[TRANSFER WATCH] Despite a worldwide recession, European clubs are spending huge sums on the 2009 summer transfer market. Real Madrid has spent almost $300 million, while Manchester City has already spent over $100 million and its spending could reach $200 million by the end of August. Bayern Munich, Juventus, Lyon and Chelsea also have made deals that rank in the 2009 summer’s top 10 most expensive transfer deals. Here’s the list …
What They’re Saying
“We boo a lot of players. They don’t come out and challenge our guys. We’re just here as fans. He was saying, ‘Come down here, come down here, come down here.’ The guy came down there.”
— Ricardo Vigil, a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy fan club Riot Squad, gives his version of David Beckham‘s confrontation with a fan at halftime of Sunday’s friendly against AC Milan at the Home Depot Center. (Los Angeles Times)
Fallout: Beckham vs. Fan [VIDEO]
[MLS] David Beckham‘s confrontation with a fan during halftime of the Los Angeles Galaxy’s friendly with AC Milan on Sunday at the Home Depot has prompted the club to issue a statement from general manager and head coach Bruce Arena while the fan claimed Beckham challenged to come down to the field.
Caught with his pants down
[OFF THE POST] Brazilian forward Marquinhos has been scolded by his Japanese club, Kashima Antlers, for taking his shorts off and putting them on properly after noticing he had them on backward shortly before kickoff of a game against Kawasaki Frontale. The brief disrobing in full view of the crowd upset club president Kazumi Ohigashi.
USA recalls Parkhurst for semifinal
[GOLD CUP] Back and forth they go, and where it stops, nobody knows. Defender Michael Parkhurst, released from the U.S. Gold Cup team last week to attend preseason training in Denmark, has been recalled as cover for Jimmy Conrad, who suffered a possible concussion against Panama in a hard collision Saturday and left the match shortly before halftime. The USA faces Honduras again in the semifinals Thursday at Soldier Field
Running the rule over World Cup candidates
Not for declaration and certainly not for vindication, here’s a rundown on the status of certain MLS players as they vie for spots in the 2010 World Cup squad of 23.
Lyon Signs Defender Cissokho Amidst Busy Offseason
Lyon has signed French defender Aly Cissokho from FC Porto on a five-year contract worth $24.3 million. Earlier this month, Lyon signed striker Lisandro Lopez from Porto for about $39 million, which could rise to $46 million with performance bonuses. The seven-time French champion has also signed winger Michel Bastos from Lille. Cissokho will likely […]
Reserves Help Crew Tie Home Unbeaten Record
Missing half of its starting lineup and most of its goalscoring power because of injury, national team duty or suspension, the Columbus Crew relied on reserves against Real Salt Lake. Forwards Jason Garey and Steven Lenhart combined for three goals in a 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake that extended the Crew’s home-unbeaten streak to […]
Costa Rica Cruises Past Guadeloupe in Gold Cup
Alvaro Saborio scored two goals and Costa Rica advanced to the Gold Cup semifinals for the first time since 2003, beating Guadeloupe 5-1 Sunday in the first sporting event played at the new Cowboys Stadium. Costa Rica (2-1-1) will face Mexico in the semifinals. To open the scoring, startlet Celso Borges scored a reverse bicycle […]
Mexico Coach Watches Team Advance From Stands
With suspended coach Javier Aguirre sitting in the stands, Mexico advanced to the Concacaf Gold Cup semifinals by defeating Haiti 4-0 Sunday night. Controversial callup Miguel Sabah scored two goals. And Giovani Dos Santos had a goal and two assists for Mexico (3-0-1), which has won the Gold Cup four times since its inception in […]
Galaxy Impresses Against AC Milan
David Beckham didn’t receive a heartwarming homecoming, but he did what he does best in helping the Los Angeles Galaxy tie his former team, AC Milan, 2-2, in Sunday’s spirited exhibition at The Home Depot Center. The 34-year-old Englishman, playing in his first home game since returning from a five-month loan with the Italian powerhouse, […]
