Author Archives: Ridge Mahoney

[ENGLAND-USA GRADES] Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players’
performance in their 2-0 loss to England on Wednesday.

When the USA faces England at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday (TV: ESPN Classic, live, 3 p.m. ET, Galavision, 7 p.m. ET/PT), the players up top must step up. U.S. coach Bob Bradley at the very least must find a suitable attacking companion for Landon Donovan (or a tandem to free Donovan to play elsewhere) for the rugged schedule ahead over the next 18 months, and the Wembley game will give him a chance to evaluate the form of his European-based forwards.

[ENGLAND-USA] The addition of one MLS player and all-too-English weather highlighted the first few days of preparation for the USA men’s national team friendly against England at Wembley on Wednesday (TV: ESPN Classic, live, 3 p.m. ET, Galavision, 7 p.m. ET/PT).

What had been billed as a reunion — a meeting of old and new — transformed into a rivalry when the San Jose Earthquakes hosted the defending MLS champion Houston Dynamo Thursday night on national television. The Quakes are still last in the Western Conference, but after upending Houston, 2-1, at Buck Shaw Stadium they are no longer winless at home, and more importantly, they are generating some real, genuine attitude.

[MLS] Toronto reversed its second loss of the season and plunged D.C. deeper into the depths by beating United, 1-0, at BMO Field Wednesday night on a rain-slickened surface perfect for slide tackles but not so conducive to sharp soccer.

[MLS] Two new names will appear on the San Jose roster for Thursday’s reunion match against Houston (ESPN2, 10:30 p.m. ET), but neither is the big name its fans are hoping for. Yet both have won league titles.

Three slices of advice to MLS coaches wishing to keep employment: (1) don’t lose at home; (2) don’t lose at home in front of a buzzing, capacity-plus crowd never before seen in your facility that includes incredulous management execs, and; (3) don’t get blown out 5-1 by a team incapable of shutting out 11 tykes on tricycles. That’s what happened to FC Dallas on Sunday when it fell to the Los Angeles Galaxy, and less than 48 hours later Coach Steve Morrow was fired.

By beating Real Salt Lake, 2-0, Thursday night with two second-half goals, the Colorado Rapids confirmed their status as best team in the Western Conference. coff if you will at their 4-4-0 record, good for a three-point lead over FC Dallas (2-2-3). The Rapids aren’t scintillating enough to scare people, but they’re good enough to win.

[WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING] Two new venues and an old standby are destined to host the three U.S. home matches in the semifinal phase of 2010 World Cup qualifying.

[MLS] You have to give the Colorado Rapids some credit; they’re throwing everything but the kitchen sink at their ESPN2 Thursday night clash against Rocky Mountain rival Real Salt Lake. Midweek attendances for MLS games remain problematic, especially those played before summer vacations commence, but Colorado is attacking the midweek malaise in several manners.