Author Archives: Ridge Mahoney

[GOLD CUP] On the face of it, the task for the U.S. national team is simple: Start off defense of your Gold Cup title with a Fourth of July match in Seattle against one of the smallest nations in Concacaf. Except that things work differently in Concacaf, and though the days of guest competitors from other confederations and the wrong national anthems being played are things of the past, hopefully, just a few days before the tournament began came news of a curious development.

[MLS PREDICTIONS] The second half of the MLS season officially starts during the weekend, as Friday’s match represents the exact midpoint – game No. 113 of 225 – of the 2009 campaign. Many of the matchups are even: Chicago and Colorado face off with identical 5-3-6 marks; only a tie separates Columbus and D.C, which both have – like Chicago and Colorado – five wins and three ties; and the Galaxy and Revs also separate by just a point as .500 teams with very different records. For all of Soccer America’s predictions, as well as TV viewing information, and to see how we’ve fared so far this season. …

[MLS] The Galaxy isn’t waiting for the arrival of David Beckham to accelerate its playoff pursuit.

[U.S. OPEN CUP] Houston succeeded on two fronts Wednesday by playing a lot of its reserves while beating the USL-1 Austin Aztex, 2-0, in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

[U.S. OPEN CUP] A rivalry born in the North American Soccer League and renewed in various forms turned another page Wednesday in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Seattle, formerly a fierce foe of Portland in the NASL as well as more recently in the A-League and United Soccer Leagues (USL), topped the Timbers, 2-1, at PGE Park in Portland.

[MLS] Though many teams are stretched for roster openings and salary-cap space, moves are inevitable with the opening of the domestic transfer window July 15 and the passing of the June 30 contract guarantee date. Several teams have already waived and signed players, and in a rather curious move Red Bull New York traded allocation money to Colorado in exchange for goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul. Soccer American’s Ridge Mahoney looks at key player moves around the league. …

[U.S. OPEN CUP] D.C. United fielded many of its reserves for a U.S. Open Cup match against the PDL (fourth-tier) Ocean City Barons, and encountered enough resistance that it needed one of its veterans to supply the breakthrough.

[U.S. OPEN CUP] Four-time U.S. Open Cup champion Chicago didn’t get past the round of 16 this time around.

[U.S. OPEN CUP] Penalties abounded as Kansas City outlasted Minnesota, 4-2, in a shootout following a 3-3 tie in regulation and overtime to win their U.S. Open Cup round of 16 match in Blaine, Minn.

[U.S. OPEN CUP] Rochester advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup Tuesday by beating Columbus, 5-3, in a shootout following a 1-1 tie through 120 minutes of regulation play and overtime.

[U.S. OPEN CUP] Former Red Bull Randi Patterson scored two of the goals as the USL-1 Charleston Battery added another MLS team to its list of U.S. Open Cup victims by beating Chivas USA, 3-1, Tuesday at Blackbaud Stadium in round of 16 play.

[U.S. OPEN CUP] They dressed only 15 players and incredibly ended the match with just eight on the field, yet still the New England Revs battled into overtime before losing, 2-1, to Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2) in the U.S. Open Cup Tuesday in New Britian, Conn. The Revs were one of four MLS teams eliminated by lower-division clubs in the six round of 16 games played on Tuesday.

[SUPERLIGA] Frequent playoff opponents New England and Chicago are set for a SuperLiga semifinal meeting following the conclusion of group play last weekend. Kenny Mansally‘s goal Sunday at Gillette Stadium carried the Revs to a 1-0 win over Altas, which hit the woodwork twice in the second half but finished the tournament without a goal and with a record of 0-1-2.

[MLS] To the rigors of travel and summer heat comes the biennial player drain known as the Concacaf Gold Cup. Numerous changes to the Gold Cup rosters altered yet again the options and choices for MLS coaches.

[BRAZIL-USA REPORT CARD] Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players and comments on their performance in their 3-2 loss to Brazil in the Confederations Cup final. …

[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] There’s no secret to gauging how much a victory, or loss, means to those who experience those results. Just look at the faces and the body language, and listen to the voices. Brazilians are used to winning cups and trophies and medals in soccer; there are myriad domestic honors up for grabs and no nation has captured more World Cups, and as it turns out, Confederations Cups as well. They laughed, they danced, they embraced and they cried after rallying to beat the USA, 3-2, Sunday to win the competition for the third time.

[MLS PREDICTIONS] SuperLiga commitments leaves just eight teams playing four games this weekend, and three of the teams also played Wednesday. The Crew can put pressure on idle D.C. United by beating New York, Toronto visits Rio Tinto Stadium for the first time, and two Western Conference matches close out the action on Sunday. For all of Soccer America’s predictions, as well as TV viewing information, and to see how we’ve fared so far this season. …

[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] Its first appearance in a FIFA final matches the USA against mighty Brazil, which beat the Americans, 3-0, in group play but only narrowly defeat host South Africa in its semifinal. With midfielder Michael Bradley suspended, Coach Bob Bradley could give Benny Feilhaber his first start of the season and move Landon Donovan into central midfield.

[MAKING A LIST] Here’s a look at the top 10 wins in U.S. men’s history, as selected by the editors of Soccer America. Though some historic results have been recorded in friendlies, the significance of wins in competitive events – both for their domestic value as well as international status – takes precedence.

[MLS] Whatever might cure Red Bull road ills it won’t be found north of the border. For the second time in 11 days, New York visited BMO Field, and the outcome didn’t differ. Paulo Vitti and Dwayne De Rosario scored on either side of halftime in a 2-0 TFC win that extends New York’s winless streak in all competitions to nine games.