“There have been five goalless draws this season, home and away against Stoke City, away at Aston Villa and at Anfield against Fulham and West Ham United, but this was worse. This was a match that Liverpool had won and contrived to draw, in a way that must have felt like defeat.” Martin Samuel analyzes […]
Author Archives: Soccer America
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
ESPN’s Thursday Night Decision Not All Bad
The decision to cancel ESPN2’s regular Thursday night MLS broadcast may not be as bad as it sounds, writes Frank Giase, because there could be a number of benefits to spreading the games out across the week from Wednesday to Saturday. “One of the problems the past two years was that the schedule was […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
MLS Teams Must Feed The Noise
His regular column in the Chronicle may not win any prizes for originality, but former pro Glenn Davis makes a fair point Tuesday in calling on those MLS teams with quiet stadiums to pull out all stops this season to create “more passionate environments.” In stringent economic times, teams are going to be hard […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ronaldo Not Fit To Start Brazilian Season
Brazilian soccer’s biggest signing will be sidelined as the new season kicks off this week, writes Brain Homewood. Ronaldo, 32, who joined Corinthians last month, is still struggling to regain fitness following a long term knee injury he suffered last February. “It’s best not to make a prediction,” said the former Barcelona, Real Madrid, […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Robinho Goes AWOL From City Training Camp
Having failed to secure the services of Kaka, Manchester City found itself without another Brazilian, striker Robinho, who went missing from the team’s training camp in Tenerife on Monday. The club refused to comment on reports that the player had returned to South America after falling out with City manager Mark Hughes. Other reports […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Man. City: Milan ‘Bottled’ Kaka Sale
AC Milan “bottled” the transfer of Brazilian midfielder Kaka to Manchester City, according to City’s Chief Executive Garry Cook, returning home from Italy after the Serie A club turned down the EPL team’s $150 million offer for the player. Cook said that although he knew a deal wouldn’t be easy, Milan’s celebrations at Kaka’s […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Joint Iberian bid announced
[WORLD CUP 2018/2022] Spain and Portugal are the latest countries to enter the race to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup when they announced a joint bid to stage the tournament.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. gold campaign highlighted by 14-0 triumph
[U.S. UNDER-18 NATIONAL TEAM] The U.S. under-18 men’s national team won its first tournament under new coach Mike Matkovich when it won the Australian Youth Olympic Festival on Monday with a 5-0 win over Australia in Sydney. That followed a 14-0 win over China in which Adam Jahn scored five goals — four in a span of six minutes.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Liverpool drops two points in Merseyside derby
[ENGLAND] A late goal by Tim Cahill gave Everton a 1-1 tie at its city rival Liverpool and cost the Reds the outright lead in the Premier League. Afterwards, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, whose exit looked to be increasingly likely following the news he had rejected an offer of a contract extension, pleaded for patience.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I was just so angry at myself. For a little while, it was like I had no more hope. I worked so hard to get there, and then that happened. I learned the hard way that one dumb move can ruin everything. Something like that won’t happen again.”
— U.S. under-17 national team standout Carlos Martinez, who was dismissed from U.S. Soccer’s U-17 residency program in October for violating a team rule but invited back to the program in mid-January. (ESPN Soccernet)
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
Catch the U-20 South American Championship all week long. Cup action continues with the English FA Cup. The U.S. men’s national team is back in action with a friendly against Sweden.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Castillo starts with win at Club America
[AMERICANS IN MEXICO] New Mexico product Edgar Castillo went the full 90 for Club America in a 2-1 win over his former club, Santos, in the first weekend of the Clausura 2009 championship.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Onyewu hits own goal; Friedel and Villa roll on
[AMERICANS IN EUROPE] Title hopes for Rennes (Carlos Bocanegra) took a blow as its long undefeated streak ended. Brad Friedel helped keep Aston Villa near the top of the English Premier league. Landon Donovan made his third straight friendly game appearance for Bayern Munich. Oguchi Onyewu struck the wrong goal in Belgium. For a wrapup of Americans in Europe. …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
International Weekend Scores
The Scottish Premier League race tightened as Rangers moved to within one point of Celtic, which fell at Aberdeen, 4-2. In France, Lyon and Bordeaux remained 1-2, while Monaco suffered another embarrassing collapse, this time without Freddy Adu on the field. It was winning, 2-0, at Caen when it gave up two late goals and had to settle for a 2-2 tie. For all the results of the major European leagues and the first day of play in Mexico …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“If Kaka is worth $150 million then [Cristiano] Ronaldo and Lionel Messi must be worth that, too. And as Cristiano has just been named World Player of the Year ahead of those two, you could say he is worth more – $180 million. There would be no chance of a deal, and that is the attitude of the owners even more than me. Cristiano is fully settled down here now.”
— Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson reiterates that his club won’t sell Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo as soccer ignores the global economic crisis. (goal.com)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Roy Gordon receives NSCAA’s Honor Award
[AWARDS] Roy Gordon, who just completed his 32nd season as the head coach of the University of Mary Washington men’s program he founded, received the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s Honor Award, the association’s highest award. Jim Lennox, Bob Barry, Charlotte Moran and Peter Broadley were honored for their long-term contributions to soccer. Mike Pantalione of Yavapai College was recognized as Coach of the Year for the fifth time in his JC coaching career, For more on them and all the 2008 NSCAA/adidas National Coach of the Year awards …
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
Various European leagues are in action during the weekend and the Mexican Clausura 2009 season opens.
(All times Eastern unless noted. TV programming is always subject to change. Check your local listings.)
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Hull City Signs United’s Manucho On Loan
EPL newcomer Hull City has signed Manchester United's Angolan striker Manucho, 25, on loan until the end of the season. It is hoping to secure a work permit for him in time to play against Arsenal Saturday.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Benitez Rejects Latest Contract Offer
“The owners feel that the manager’s decisions need to be subject to the chief executive. But I know that I am subject to results and to our fans and they are the best judges I will ever have.” Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez explains that having to be accountable to Chief Executive Rick Parry on playing […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Not Real Or Milan, But Portsmouth
Liverpool has accepted a bid from Portsmouth for winger Jermaine Pennant, 26, the player surprisingly linked in recent weeks with both Real Madrid and AC Milan. He will discuss personal terms with the FA Cup holders "over the next few days," the Portsmouth website said.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Hamm Happy As WPS Logo, No More
“Today I have no desire to do any kind of fitness, like stand up on a line, race out and be timed. I still go out and run to stay healthy, but I also know when it really hurts, I can stop.” Mia Hamm tells LZ Granderson she has no plans to come out of […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Hughes Already Planning For Kaka
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is so confident that his team will sign Brazilian playmaker Kaka from AC Milan that he has already worked out a 4-1-4-1 formation incorporating all the team’s expected signings during this month’s transfer window, report Daniel Taylor and Graham Chase. Hughes and his staff “have devised an adventurous system that […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Calderon Quits As Real President
Ramon Calderon resigned as president of Spanish champion Real Madrid Friday after an emergency board meeting at the Bernabeu, Reuters reports, quoting Spanish media. It said that Calderon, in office since 2006, had been under pressure to quit since the newspaper Marca published allegations earlier this week of irregularities at the club’s general assembly last […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Atlanta Won’t Make MLS In 2011
A lack of commercial and local government partners, as well as the moribund economy, mean that Atlanta won’t be fielding an MLS team in 2011, writes Dan Chapman. But Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who submitted the city’s application last October, hasn’t ruled out trying for a possible franchise for the city in 2013. Kim Shreckengost, […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Garber: St. Louis Must Strengthen Investor Base
St. Louis’ chances of landing a Major League Soccer franchise in 2011 hinge on the city strengthening its investor base, according to MLS Commissioner Don Garber . “It’s a great soccer market and we hope to be here at some point,” Garber said Thursday, in town for the NSCAA convention. “It’s got most of what […]