"Leaving aside Chelsea's fate — and let's be honest, having to beat CFR Cluj at home to qualify is not exactly the stuff of cliffhangers — this is the drabbest conclusion yet to a group stage that, results-wise, has been as easy to predict as a North Korean general election." Sam Wallace fails to feverishly […]
Author Archives: Soccer America
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Cristiano Ronaldo ‘At Home’ With Man. United
Picking up the Ballon d'Or he won last week, Manchester United and Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo said at the weekend he is happy with United, despite the summer's thwarted transfer move to Real Madrid. "It's not the time to talk about other clubs at the moment," Ronaldo said. "I'm happy here [at Manchester United] and […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Chelsea’s Injuries Cause Scolari Concern
Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is worried that long-standing problems with the team's medical department is depriving him of key players as the west London team gears up to challenge for the Premier League and Champions League titles. "The Brazilian coach has been surprised and frustrated by the number of injuries suffered by his squad […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Sao Paolo Takes Third Straight Brazilian Title
Sao Paulo won the Brazilian championship for the third year running and for the sixth time overall with a 1-0 road win at Goias in the season's final game at the weekend. Striker Borges scored the first-half winner for Sao Paulo as it finished three points clear of Gremio. Figueirense and former South American champion […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Pitfalls Await Foreign Dabblers In MLS
Spanish giant Barcelona and its President Joan Laporta are tough competitors, writes Andrea Canales, but that doesn't mean they'll know how to succeed in Major League Soccer should they land the Miami franchise. "It's nothing new for foreigners to bluster into MLS full of confidence and flush with capital and success elsewhere," she writes. "That […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Galliani Hopes Beckham Falls In Love With Milan
AC Milan Chief Executive Adriano Galliani has said he hopes L.A. Galaxy midfielder David Beckham will fall in love with the Serie A club during his loan spell and decide to stay longer. “Let’s hope he falls in love, the problem is that he has lots of advertising contracts,” Galliani said. “Let’s hope feelings prevail, […]
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
St. John’s storms back to oust Indiana
St. John’s accomplished one of the great comebacks in the history of the NCAA Division I Men’s Tournament when it came back from two goals down with less than nine minutes to play and beat Indiana, 3-2, in overtime.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
NAIA WOMEN: Lee snatches first title
Lee University of Tennessee won the NAIA women’s title with a 3-0 win over Concordia (Ore.) in Saturday’s final in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
NCAA DIVISION III WOMEN: Messiah does the double again
Messiah gained revenge for its loss to Wheaton (Ill.) in last year’s NCAA Division III Tournament final with a 5-0 victory in this year’s final that denied the Thunder a three-peat.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN: Godoy and Charette, Seattle Pacific’s winning combo
Best known for its men’s soccer program, winner of five national titles, Seattle Pacific won its first NCAA Division II women’s championship on Saturday when the Falcons edged previously undefeated West Florida, 1-0, in final.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
NAIA MEN: Tiny Bethel stuns top seeds
Fielding a team entirely comprised of foreign players, unseeded Bethel College of Tennessee completed its stunning march to the NAIA men’s title with a 4-0 win over No. 1 seed Oklahoma City in the semifinals and a 2-1 overtime win over No. 2 seed Rio Grande in the final at the 50th annual National Championships hosted by Fresno Pacific University.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
NCAA DIVISION III MEN: MVP didn’t play a minute
Nick Blossey didn’t play a minute of the NCAA Division III Men’s Tournament but he was voted its Most Outstanding Player, coming off the bench in the shootout in the final to stop three shots and lead Messiah to a 3-0 win on penalty kicks after its game with Stevens Institute ended in a 1-1 tie.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
NCAA DIVISION II MEN: Cal State Dominguez dominates in final
Cal State Dominguez Hills, best known as the home of the Home Depot Center, won its second NCAA Division II men’s title with a 3-0 win over Dowling Sunday at Tampa’s Pepin-Rodd Stadium
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Maryland rolls to 14th win in a row
Maryland is returning to the Men’s College Cup for the first time since winning the national title in 2005 thanks to a 1-0 win over Creighton on Saturday at Ludwig Field. The win was the Terps’ 14th in a row and gave them 21 on the year — a program-best.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Carolina gets hot at the right time
North Carolina picked the right time to get hot. The Tar Heels, who entered the NCAA Division I Men’s Tournament with a five-game losing streak, advanced to the College Cup with a 1-0 win over Northwestern on Saturday at Fetzer Field.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
RECORD BOOK: North Carolina’s 19 titles
North Carolina has won 19 out of the 27 NCAA Division I women’s championships. The Tar Heels have never gone more than two years without winning a title. Five of the last eight UNC titles have come against Notre Dame in the final.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Beasley gets start; few minutes for Adu
[AMERICANS ABROAD] DaMarcus Beasley got his first Scottish Premier League start since Oct. 25 when he went 79 minutes for Glasgow Rangers in a 7-1 win over Hamilton.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I’d like to congratulate North Korea on a wonderful effort. It was obviously very difficult for us to hold onto the lead because they kept coming at us and giving us trouble possessing the ball, but I am very, very proud of my players tonight. We won because we played very good defense throughout this tournament and because Sydney Leroux and Alex Morgan scored as many goals as they did.”
— Coach Tony DiCicco after guiding the USA to the U-20 Women’s World Cup title.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Galaxy triumphs in New Zealand exhibition
[MLS] A two-for-one ticket deal failed to fill the 32,000-capacity Mt. Smart Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand but the 16,600 who did show up were by all accounts satisfied with the performance of David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy in a 3-0 win over the Oceania All-Stars.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Castillo scores but Santos falls
[MEXICO] U.S. product Edgar Castillo scored for defending champ Santos in its second-leg semifinal clash with Toluca but Santos fell 2-1, which combined with the first leg’s scoreless tie sends Toluca to the Apertura 2008 final against Cruz Azul.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Boruc Beaten Badly By Bounce [VIDEO]
[OFF THE POST] Hibernian’s John Rankin scored on Celtic keeper Artur Boruc with a shot taken just outside the center circle.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ronaldo ‘Nearly Joined Arsenal’
"I was within an inch of [joining Arsenal]. I have a lot of respect for [manager Arsene] Wenger, he is a very clever man." Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo reveals how destiny almost took him to north London.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Drew Carey On The Catwalk
"I like the loose jackets, because I'm fat. I love the colors. We want to stand out, not be like the other teams." Comedian and Seattle Sounders FC minority owner Drew Carey models the team's new colors.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Derby And Norwich Cleared In Match-Fixing Probe
"Based on the information gathered as a result of detailed enquiries, there is no evidence to suggest any irregularities around the progress or result of the game." The English FA clears Derby County and Norwich City of any involvement after allegations that their game earlier this season was rigged at the behest of Far East […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Schmid In Second Day Of Seattle Talks
Out of contract Columbus Crew Coach Sigi Schmid was on the West Coast Thursday for talks with Seattle Sounders FC GM Adrian Hanauer, with talks about the head coaching position "expected to continue" Friday, reports José Miguel Romero.