Author Archives: Paul Kennedy

[ENGLAND] Manchester United recorded its 13th straight shutout when it beat West Ham United, 1-0, in London on Ryan Giggs‘ superb goal on Sunday. The victory kept United two points in front of Liverpool, with a game in hand. The Reds had sneaked past Portsmouth, 3-2, on Saturday in a game they were in danger of losing.

[ITALY] AC Milan’s 1-1 tie with Reggina on Saturday proved costly. The result dropped the Rossoneri eight points behind leader Inter Milan a week before their derby, and Brazilian star Kaka was injured with a foot injury that will keep him out of action for at least two weeks.

[HEXAGONAL COUNTDOWN] Four years ago, Trinidad & Tobago qualified for the World Cup for the first time after finishing fourth in the Hexagonal and then beating Bahrain in a playoff. The Soca Warriors hope to do better and claim one of the three automatic berths from Concacaf to the 2010 World Cup. They hope to steal three points in San Salvador on Wednesday when they face El Salvador, a team in shambles.

[HEXAGONAL PREVIEW] Coming off a strong semifinal round, where it won its group ahead of Mexico, Jamaica and Canada, Honduras certainly has demonstrated it has the talent to claim one of the three automatic berths from Concacaf to next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa, but the Catrachos, hit hard by injuries and suspensions, open the Hexagonal Wednesday with a tricky match at Costa Rica on Saprissa Stadium’s artificial turf.

[2018/2002 WORLD CUP] The 2018/2022 World Cup bid process officially began on Monday, and one of the two World Cups is surely the USA’s to lose. But there is no certainty in a much more sophisticated soccer world than the one that existed 21 years ago when the USA was awarded the 1994 World Cup.

[2018/2022 WORLD CUP] Sunil Gulati‘s first act as chairman of the USA Bid Committee was to announce the hiring of David Downs, President of Univision Sports since 2001, as its executive director. Gulati also announced the other initial members of the bid committee: U.S. Soccer CEO Dan Flynn, MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Phil Murphy, the former National Finance Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

[ENGLAND] It looks like Liverpool, not Chelsea, will be Manchester United’s principal challenger in its title defense. Liverpool beat an uninspired Chelsea team, 2-0, on a pair of late goals by Spaniard Fernando Torres and kept itself within striking distance of leader United. The Red Devils, 1-0 winners over Everton, lead Liverpool by two points and Chelsea by five and have a game in hand on both teams.

[ITALY] With assists on two goals in AC Milan’s 3-0 win at Lazio on Sunday, David Beckham looks more and more comfortable on the Serie A club’s right wing, prompting Coach Carlo Ancelotti to add him to the roster for the upcoming UEFA Champions League series against Werder Bremen.

[GERMANY] The Bundesliga resumed as it left off with tiny Hoffenheim the surprise leader. Despite having lost top scorer Vedad Ibisevic, the former Saint Louis University star, for the rest of the season with a knee injury during the winter break, Hoffenheim brushed aside Energie Cottbus, 2-0, on Saturday.

[SPAIN] Nothing seems to stop Barcelona. Despite trailing at Racing Santander and having two players sent off, Barca still won, 2-1, on a pair of goals by sub Lionel Messi and extended its unbeaten streak to 20 games and its winning streak to nine games. Winner of six straight wins, Real Madrid still trails its archrival by 12 points.

[USA-MEXICO COUNTDOWN] Mexico received good news when captain Rafael Marquez returned to action ahead of schedule with Spanish leader Barcelona — and got sent off, meaning he’ll miss next weekend’s La Liga action and be rested for the World Cup 2010 qualifier against the United States on Feb. 11. Marquez was one of seven European-based players called up by Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson for the Hexagonal opener.

[WORLD CUP 2018/2022] U.S. Soccer has announced that it will hold a teleconference on Monday at which time President Sunil Gulati should formally announce its plans to submit simultaneous bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

[ENGLAND] Liverpool’s hopes of its first Premier League title look dimmer after its 1-1 tie at Wigan on Wednesday left it two points behind defending champion Manchester United, which has a game in hand. The result left the Reds needing a victory when they host Chelsea on Sunday. Also on Wednesday, U.S. keeper Tim Howard helped Everton tie Arsenal.

[ITALY] For the second straight game, David Beckham scored for AC Milan, but he had to leave the game with a groin injury that threatened to complicate possible talks of a transfer from the Los Angeles Galaxy to the Rossoneri — or at least put a damper on his hopes for a recall for England’s next international match.

For the first time since Soccer America began its annual rankings of the Best Boys Clubs in 2004, the Baltimore Bays are No. 1, edging last year’s top-ranked club, the Dallas Texans. For Soccer America’s Top 30 Boys Clubs …

A banner year propelled the Dallas Texans back into the top spot in Soccer America’s annual Best Girls Club rankings. They moved ahead of their frequent opponent on the national stage, Eclipse Select. For Soccer America’s Top 30 Girls Clubs …