[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] After losing its first two games, the USL-1’s Puerto Rico Islanders needed to beat Mexico’s Cruz Azul if they hoped for a repeat of last year when they qualified for the knockout stage of the Concacaf Champions League. A 3-3 tie was a major disappointment for Puerto Rico, not the least because it led, 3-1, at the half and had three shots hit the woodwork …
Monthly Archives: September 2009
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
D.C. drought is finally over
[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] A decidedly low-key setting didn’t deter D.C. United, which ended a victory drought in the Concacaf Champions League group phase by beating San Juan Jabloteh, 1-0, Tuesday night in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
UEFA Champions League Results
The outcomes of several UEFA Champions League matches weren’t decided on Tuesday until the last quarter of an hour. Manchester United and AC Milan won thanks to late goals, while Bordeaux gained a point at Juventus with a goal a quarter of an hour before the end. For all Tuesday’s results and Wednesday’s schedule with television coverage …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
What we learned on Tuesday …
[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] It was a rough night for home teams on the first day of play in the group stage of the 2009-10 UEFA Champions League. Only two teams won at home, putting several big clubs in early pressure. Here’s four things we learned on Tuesday …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Soccer America Women’s College Scoreboard
[COLLEGE] Lauren Hill‘s eighth goal of the season broke a 1-1 tie just before halftime, and No. 11 Michigan State pulled away to defeat Detroit, 3-1. For all Tuesday’s results …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Soccer America Men’s College Scoreboard
[COLLEGE] Defending national champion Maryland’s offense broke out on Tuesday, and the Terrapins rolled over Duquesne, 7-0. Sophomore Casey Townsend led Maryland with a hat trick. Other ACC winners included No. 22 N.C. State and No. 25 Virginia. For all Tuesday’s results …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Rising Star: Toronto’s Sam Cronin
[MLS] In his rookie year, Sam Cronin has become a significant contributor in the midfield for Toronto FC. His efforts were rewarded this summer as Cronin joined the U.S. national team for the Gold Cup. Now, he turns his attention to helping Toronto FC reach the playoffs for the first time in team history. Get to know the 22-year-old in this profile by Soccer America’s Bryan Alvarez that covers on and off-field experiences.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Forlan Blames Wrong Studs for Man U Departure
Uruguyan striker Diego Forlan never achieved the form at Manchester United predicted for him. He took 27 games to score his first goal for the club. But Forlan says one incident in particular enraged manager Alex Ferguson enough to end his time with the club. "Ferguson wanted me to play with high studs, the interchangeable […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Burley to Remain Manager of Scotland
The Scottish FA has decided to keep George Burley as Scotland manager. "We have today given our full backing to George as Scotland national coach," SFA chief executive Gordon Smith said in a statement. The 53-year-old Burley's position had been in doubt since Scotland's 1-0 loss to Netherlands last Wednesday, a result that ended Scotland's […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Platini’s Plan for ‘Financial Fair Play’
UEFA, European soccer's governing body, approved UEFA president Michel Platini's plan for "financial fair play" on Tuesday. The plan aims to force clubs to live within their means, to ban clubs from spending more than their revenue. "That (living within your means) is the basis of accounting but it hasn't been the basis of soccer […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Adebayor Incident Recalls Controversial Past Celebrations
Goal celebrations have long been a colorful and contentious part of soccer. Robbie Fowler pretended to sniff the coke as he bent over the touchline. Paul Gascoigne mimicked pouring booze down his throat. Celebrations often take on political tones. Paolo Di Canio marked a goal he scored for Lazio with a fascist salute. Scottish club […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
FA Charges Adebayor For Stomp and Celebration
The English FA has charged Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor on dual counts of misconduct during Saturday's Premier League game against Arsenal. First, Adebayor's alleged stomp on Robin van Persie left the Arsenal striker with a cut on his face. "Under the fast-track disciplinary process, Adebayor has been charged with violent conduct following an incident […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Los Angeles Teams Still Looking For Offense
“The suggestion might seem counterintuitive, but on a weekend when the Galaxy allowed a franchise-record six goals in a 6-3 loss to Dallas and Chivas USA shut out New England 2-0, it was the attacking deficiencies of both Carson-based teams that caught the eye,” writes Nick Green of the Los Angeles Daily News. Both teams […]
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
UC Santa Barbara readies Harder Stadium for 2010 finals
COLLEGE CUP NEWS … UC Santa Barbara will host the Men’s College Cup for the first time in 2010, and the school has begun or is seeking support for several stadium projects. Phase I includes a facelift to Harder Stadium, the former football stadium. Phase II includes a new scoreboard and new plaza and entrance off Stadium Road, projects for which fundraising is underway. (Click here for photos of the work.)
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Upstarts are off to perfect starts
WOMEN’S NEWS … Of the nine NCAA Division I women’s teams who are still unbeaten and untied after Week 4, three have never made the NCAA Tournament:
— Louisiana Tech (7-0-0) set a school record for goals and shots (52) in its 12-0 win over Delta State on Sunday. It was 6-0 at the half, and even after Kevin Sherry pulled his starters, it was all Lady Techsters. Sub Brittany Coffinbargar needed only 17 minutes to record her first three goals of the season. Sherry has turned things around in three seasons at the WAC school. The Lady Techsters were 2-14-1 in 2007 and improved to 10-5-5 in 2008, tying Minnesota, Texas State and Washington for the biggest improvement.
— Mississippi State (6-0-0) is off to its best start ever. The Bulldogs defeated East Tennessee State, 2-0, on Sunday afternoon thanks to a pair of goals by Kat Walsh. “She has really been playing excellent soccer the last two weekends,” Coach Neil Macdonald said. One of the top freshmen for MSU is Monica Alvarado, who played for MLS club FC Dallas’ girls program and has played at the U-17, U-20 and now senior levels for Mexico.
— Marshall (6-0-0) has been a model of efficiency, parlaying nine goals into six wins, the most recent being a 1-0 victory over Ohio on Sunday. Then again, the Herd hasn’t needed much offense. It has yet to allow a goal. Erika Duncan‘s goal in the 87th minute ended Ohio dominance in the series (seven wins and a tie in eight previous games). “We really wanted this win,” Marshall coach Kevin Long said. “We wanted to break the spell that Ohio had over us.”
* TUESDAY TOP 25 ACTION:
No. 11 Michigan State vs. Detroit
This week’s Soccer America Women’s Team of the Week
This week’s Soccer America Women’s Top 25
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Loyola Marymount highlights WCC turnaround
MEN’S NEWS … What a difference a year makes! Last year at this time, no WCC men’s team had a record above .500. This year, every WCC team has a record above .500 except Santa Clara, which is 2-2-0.
The biggest win to date came Sunday night when Loyola Marymount upset unbeaten UC Santa Barbara, 2-1, on the road for Coach Paul Krumpe‘s 100 career win. Rafael Baca and Phil Da Silva spotted LMU to a 2-0 lead and redshirt freshman Max Young shut out the Gauchos for the first 86 minutes.
WCC RECORDS
Loyola Marymount (3-1-0)
San Diego (3-1-0)
St. Mary’s (2-0-2)
Gonzaga (3-1-2)
San Francisco (2-1-0)
Portland (2-1-1)
Santa Clara (2-2-0)
* DEMON EXPLOSION. DePaul scored 13 goals in 20 games last season but had eight in two games over the weekend. The Blue Demons upset previously unbeaten UC Irvine, 3-2, on Friday and cruised to a 5-1 victory over Buffalo two days later to claim the championship of the Marquette Invitational.
The wins gave DePaul three in a row for the week, and in all three games Soccer America Player of the Week Steffen Vroom opened the scoring. “It’s great when he scores because it relaxes everybody,” said teammate Mark Plotkin. “It gives us the confidence to score even more goals.”
* TUESDAY TOP 25 ACTION:
No. 7 Maryland vs. Duquesne
No. 22 N.C. State vs. Campbell
No. 25 Virginia vs. Mount St. Mary’s
This week’s Soccer America Men’s Top 25
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Inter Milan-Barcelona highlights Day 1
[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] The 2009-10 UEFA Champions League, available for the first time on the Fox networks, kicks off this week with Day 1 of the group stage. Several exciting matches are on tap, mostly notably a clash between Barcelona and Inter Milan. For a look at Day 1’s top matches and the complete television schedule …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Soccer America Women’s Team of the Week
[COLLEGE] Sixth-year senior Jordan Angeli, whose goal on a 35-yard rocket was instrumental in Santa Clara’s 2-0 victory over Notre Dame, is Soccer America Women’s Player of the Week for games played Sept. 7-13. For the Soccer America Women’s Team of the Week …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Soccer America Men’s Team of the Week
[COLLEGE] DePaul’s Steffen Vroom, who scored the first goal in three victories, two of them against ranked teams, is Soccer America Men’s Player of the Week for games played Sept. 7-13. For the Soccer America Men’s Team of the Week …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Costa Rica fires coach
[WORLD CUP QUALIFYING] Despite its strong start, which included a 3-1 home win over the USA, in the final round of World Cup qualifying, Costa Rica fired Coach Rodrigo Kenton after the Ticos lost their last three Hexagonal games, dropping them to fourth place. Thanks to four wins in their first five games, Costa Rica remains in position to qualify, but the Costa Rican federation showed its traditional impatience and will put a new man in charge for its final two games, at home against Trinidad & Tobago and at the USA.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
UEFA lifts Eduardo suspension
[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] UEFA has overturned its two-game ban on Arsenal striker Eduardo for diving in a game against Glasgow Celtic after an appeal by the English club. “We were able to show there was contact between the keeper and Eduardo and that the decision should be annulled,” said a statement from Arsenal.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Seattle leads crowded wild-card race
[MLS] Kansas City and FC Dallas crept into playoff contention, barely, by posting vital victories last week. Since they meet this weekend, only by winning can either team realistically stay in the hunt. Counting those two outsiders, there are nine teams vying for the four wild-card spots, allotted by overall points, with the top two finishers in each conference earning guaranteed places. (The top two currently being Columbus and Chicago in the East, and Houston and Los Angeles in the West.) Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney explains which teams are poised to reach the playoffs.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Mayen replaces Wallace on U.S. roster
[UNDER-20 WORLD CUP] After the University of Denver’s Sam Garza, Anthony Wallace of FC Dallas has also been scratched from the U.S. roster for the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt because of a knee injury. Wallace has been replaced on the U.S. roster by Gerson Mayen. Jorge Flores, Mayen’s Chivas USA teammate, will probably move into Wallace’s left back spot. Garza had been replaced by Hertha Berlin’s Bryan Arguez.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. U-20 matches to be aired live
[TELEVISION WATCH] The USA’s three group games at the 2009 Under-20 World Cup in Egypt will all be shown live on cable television, beginning with the Group C opener against Germany on Sept. 26. For the television schedule of U.S. group games …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“This is what they do on TV.”
— What Franscio A. Cruz said when he was asked why he ran onto a soccer field in the middle of a Centinela Soccer League game and dropped his pants and underwear after a goal. The 22-year-old Wisconsin man was tentatively charged with lewd and lascivious behavior. (Wisconsin State Journal)