[AMERICANS ABROAD] In midweek English Premier League action, keeper Brad Friedel assisted on Aston Villa’s goal in a 1-0 win over Portsmouth that moved it into third place. Clint Dempsey and Fulham didn’t fare so well against Sunderland.
Author Archives: Soccer America
What They’re Saying
“It depends on what it is they’re looking to do. We think David has been an important part of our league and a great ambassador and I hope that he stays in Major League Soccer for an extended period of time. If it’s something that makes sense for him and the Galaxy we’ll certainly be supportive of that, but it’s way too premature to comment.”
— MLS Commissioner Don Garber on AC Milan’s desire to turn David Beckham‘s loan into a transfer. (Goal.com)
Short-handed Panama clinches Gold Cup berth
[DIGICEL UNCAF CUP] Panama beat Guatemala, 1-0, on a goal by Alberto Zapata in the 31st minute and advanced to the semifinals of the Digicel Uncaf Cup, where it will face host Honduras Friday in the semifinals.
United’s Van der Sar breaks shutout mark
[ENGLAND] Manchester United goalie Edwin van der Sar set an English shutout record when United’s 5-0 win over West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday extended his scoreless streak to 1,032 minutes, beating the previous record of 1,025 set by Chelsea’s Petr Cech in 2004-05.
Hughes: No Special Treatment For Robinho
“Robinho was told my feelings about the situation and the intention is to fine him. But there is a disciplinary procedure that has to be gone through. When that has run its course then Robinho will face some disciplinary measures.” Manchester City manager Mark Hughes denies there will be any special treatment for his Brazilian […]
Still No Arshavin For Arsenal
“It is not true a fee has been agreed. We are not close to concluding any transfer; [Andrei] Arshavin or anybody else. At the moment it is all quiet.” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says there is still no deal in the long running quest to sign the Zenit St. Petersburg midfielder.
Investors Line Up Bid To Buy Chelsea
“We have no intention of launching a hostile takeover. This is only possible as a friendly deal.” Holger Heims, a German investment manager at Falcon Equity, one of a group of up to eight international investors mulling a bid for Chelsea.
Wanted: Rangers’ Fans For Chat With Police
“The footage of the attack on PC [John] Goodwin is like watching bees around a honey pot. He was repeatedly punched and kicked in a horrendous attack.” Detective Superintendent Geoff Wessell on the public release of 49 photographs of Glasgow Rangers fans the police would like to talk to in connection with various public order […]
FIFA Worried About World Cup Attendances
FIFA is no longer worried that the stadiums in South Africa will be ready in time for the 2010 World Cup. Now it’s fretting about whether or not they’ll actually be filled. “The biggest challenge is in filling the stadiums and we need to teach our people that there’s nothing wrong with buying tickets […]
Gomez To Replace Gallardo At D.C.?
Steven Goff has “an unsubstantiated hunch … that something is brewing” at D.C. United involving its current and past Argentine playmakers, Marcelo Gallardo, 33, and Christian Gomez, 34, now at the Colorado Rapids. United’s investors, he writes, “would love to dump Gallardo’s bloated contract” because they realize the player’s “past his prime, underwent additional […]
Nigeria Faces Ax As Youth World Cup Host
Soccer’s world governing body FIFA has said it may have to ditch Nigeria as host to this fall’s Under-17 World Cup due to a serious lack of preparation. “FIFA’s executive committee will have to decide next month if it wishes to carry on with Nigeria or move the tournament elsewhere,” spokesman Emmanuel Marades told […]
Suspended Conway Trains With New York
Banned RB New York goalkeeper Jon Conway has been joining in with preseason practice sessions, even though he still has to serve four games of a 10-game suspension, reports Frank Giase. The team did its homework and found out that Conway, who was punished along with now departed defender Jeff Parke for violating Major […]
Milan Says It Would Buy Beckham
AC Milan is ready to buy midfielder David Beckham if he can get out of his contract with the L.A. Galaxy, Milan CEO Adriano Galliani said Tuesday. “If the player were free, we’d buy him,” Galliani said. Beckham, he added, “would be overjoyed as well, because he’s back playing with a great club.” Milan, Galliani […]
Arena expects Beckham & Donovan back
[MLS] Los Angeles Galaxy coach Bruce Arena says he expects David Beckham back from his loan spell with AC Milan in time for the 2009 MLS season.
A true journeyman
[OFF THE POST] German goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel, 35, has signed for his 24th club, the Norwegian third division’s Mangerud Star.
Chivas USA re-sign Swiss midfielder
[MLS] Swiss midfielder Raphael Wicky, who earned $160,000 last year but was limited to five games (138 minutes), has been re-signed by Chivas USA.
El Salvador clinches berth in Gold Cup despite loss
[DIGICEL UNCAF CUP] Host Honduras beat El Salvador, 2-0, for its third straight win at the Digicel Cup Cup and moved into the semifinals, where it will face Guatemala or Panama, which meet Tuesday in the final game of the group stage. Despite the loss, El Salvador moved into the semifinals ahead of Nicaragua, which could only tie Belize, 1-1, and clinched a berth this summer’s Gold Cup.
What They’re Saying
“He just told me that was the first one he’s scored since he was 12.”
— U.S. midfielder Robbie Rogers on what Sacha Kljestan, 23, said after his free-kick goal against Sweden, Kljestan’s first goal in a hat trick as the USA beat Sweden, 3-2, in last Saturday’s friendly.
2009 USL First Division Schedule
The USL First Division will kick off its 2009 season on April 11 with two games, including a match between the defending champion Vancouver Whitecaps and the Charleston Battery. The biggest change in the league format is the creation of a two-leg series, used in earlier rounds of the playoffs in USL-1 since 2000, to decide the championship. For the complete schedule …
NY Prospect Faces A Degree Of Choice
"With sports you never know what is going to happen. One thing I know I'll always have is my degree." Santa Clara's Jide Ogunbiyi, selected at No. 18 in the 2009 SuperDraft by RB New York, faces the choice of either reporting for training camp immediately, or finishing his final year at college to earn […]
Chicago’s Goal: Get Over The Hump
"We were so close, 45 minutes away from being in [MLS] Cup. We just couldn't quite get over the hump. It's just more motivation for this year. With the same guys returning, we're looking forward to more good times." Chicago Fire midfielder Justin Mapp signals the official opening of Preseason Optimism.
Keller Ready To Lead
"They saw me as that [a leader] in August when they signed me. I wouldn't know any other way to do it, but obviously I'll take as big a role as they want me to take." Seattle Sounder FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller on talk that he's the obvious choice for team captain.
Johnson Still Finding His Feet At Cardiff
“The season hasn’t gone the way everyone expected it to, and it hasn’t gone the way I expected it to. But I came to another very good team with good players. The guys I’ve been competing with have been scoring goals, and when I got my opportunity, I didn’t put the ball in the net […]
Warzycha’s Plan Of Attack
"I do like to take chances and be aggressive. I like to score goals. But I like to stay within a system, too. I want every player to have responsibility. I'm not going to be one of these coaches talking about how he's going to play aggressive, attractive soccer and use three or four forwards, […]
FA Calls For Strong Measures Against Violent Millwall Fans
The English Football Association has called for "the strongest possible sanctions" against Millwall fans found guilty of violence and vandalism during Saturday’s fourth round FA Cup defeat at Hull City. A section of the visiting support ripped out 50 seats, threw missiles, and destroyed toilets before, during and after the game. Police made 12 arrests. […]
