[VIDEO] Click HERE video of Freddy Adu’s first goal for Benfica in Portuguese league play, the winner in a 2-1 victory last Sunday over Maritimo. Adu scored six minutes after entering the game in the 80th minute.
Author Archives: Soccer America
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
1860 Munich advances in German Cup
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Defender Gregg Berhalter and forward Josh Wolff helped 1860 Munich down fellow Second Division club Mainz 05, 2-1, in the second round of the Germany Cup. Right back Steve Cherundolo played 120 minutes for Hannover, which went down, 2-0, to fellow First Division club Schalke 04 in overtime. Defender Heath Pearce, who hadn’t seen action in more than a month for First Division Hansa Rostock, started in midfield in a 6-0 win over Second Division Kickers Offenbach. In England, defender Jonathan Spector was a halftime sub for West Ham in its 2-1 fourth-round League Cup win over second-tier Coventry.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
FIFA postpones extra ref experiment
FIFA has decided not experiment with extra assistant referees to monitor penalty area action at December’s World Club Cup, having decided the Japan-hosted tournament, which features the six continental club champions, was too high profile. The experiment, in which an additional linesperson would stand behind each goal and assist the referee with decisions on penalty-area incidents, will instead be carried out at next year’s women’s U-17 World Cup in New Zealand or the women’s U-20 World Cup in Chile.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Two backs, I need two midfielders and I need two quality strikers. I think this club and its supporters need different kinds of players to excite them.”
— Toronto FC coach Mo Johnston, whose contract was renewed despite the team’s last-place finish in MLS, announces slight changes to the squad he put together for the club’s inaugural season. (MLSNet.com)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. U-18s fall in France
In its first action of the two-year cycle leading up to the 2009 Under-20 World Cup, the U.S. U-18 boys national team fell to host France, 3-1, on Tuesday night at the Limoges Tournament.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Soccer Development Academy Weekend Report
With a 4-2 win over South Florida rival Schulz Academy, Miami FC Kendall moved to 5-0-1 in the U-15/16s division in the inaugural U.S. Soccer Development Academy. Other weekend highlights included hat tricks by Cesar Avalos for Birmingham and Matthew Tobin for the Clearwater Chargers in the Chargers’ 6-4 win and Austin Savage‘s Academy-leading eighth goal of the season for South Carolina’s Bridge FA in a 2-2 tie with the Virginia Rush. For all the weekend game reports …
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Who deserves the honors?
MLS has announced three finalists for each of its end-of-season awards. Here’s the view on the major honors from this perspective.
Posted inGrassroots Soccer Biz, Story
Creating partnerships key to grassroots success
Partnerships with businesses, cities, schools and other soccer organizations will build your success.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Roma-Lazio: Must-See TV
All eyes will be on the Eternal City Wednesday night for the biannual derby between AS Roma and Lazio (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, live, 3:25 pm ET). One of the world’s great rivalries alongside Rangers-Celtic in Glasgow or Boca-River in Buenos Aires, form means absolutely nothing when these two bitter enemies square off. In fact, […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Arena Criticizes Angel’s Performance
Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena criticized star striker Juan Pablo Angel following Saturday’s first-leg playoff clash with the New England Revolution, telling reporters the Colombian “could have done a better job of making himself available” during the 0-0 draw. Despite having the majority of possession, New York had a hard time creating meaningful chances — […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Brazil Handed 2014 World Cup
In what will surely go down as one of the least surprising decisions in World Cup history, FIFA on Tuesday confirmed that five-time world champion Brazil would host the 2014 finals. The result was never in doubt, really, as Brazil was the only country bidding to host a tournament that soccer’s world governing body had […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Valencia Pursues Mourinho
Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has become the hot favorite to succeed Quique Sanchez Flores at Valencia following the latter’s dismissal on Monday, according to reports. Ironically, the move would bring the Portuguese tactician back to Stamford Bridge, as Valencia travels to London to play Chelsea in the Champions League on Dec. 11. Valencia […]
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
North Carolina women receive $1 million gift
The rich get richer: North Carolina, winner of 18 NCAA Division I women’s championships, is the recipient of a $1 million gift honoring its most diehard fan to help endow scholarships and its operating budget.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
CROWD COUNT: Women’s Soccer’s Largest Crowds
Four of the 15 largest women’s crowds this season were at games played last weekend, including a sellout crowd at Portland for the Pilots’ game against Santa Clara, the second largest crowd in UCLA history for the Bruins’ showdown with USC and two 3,000-plus crowds at Texas A&M.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Soccer America Women’s Team of the Week
Tennessee junior Kylee Rossi, who scored three goals in wins over Auburn and Alabama, was named to the Soccer America Women’s Team of the Week for the second straight week, for the third time this season and the sixth time in her career. For the complete Team of the Week for games played Oct. 22-28 …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Soccer America Women’s Player of the Week
Portland sophomore Michelle Enyeart, who scored the first goal in a pair of shutout victories over ranked WCC opponents, is the Soccer America Women’s Player of the Week for games played Oct. 22-28.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Soccer America Men’s Team of the Week
Connecticut’s O’Brian White, who was selected to the Soccer America Men’s Team of the Week for the fourth time this season, was one of seven juniors named to the Soccer America Men’s Team of the Week for games played Oct. 22-28. For the complete Team of the Week …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Soccer America Men’s Player of the Week
Boston College’s Alejandro Bedoya, whose first-half goal gave the Eagles a 1-0 victory over previously unbeaten Wake Forest on Saturday, is the Soccer America Men’s Player of the Week for games played Oct. 22-28.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Ramiro Corrales celebrates Norwegian title
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Californian Ramiro Corrales, who played nine seasons in MLS and won two titles with San Jose, helped Brann win its first Norwegian title in 44 years. Brann clinched the 2007 championship by taking a nine-point lead with one game to play and qualifies for the UEFA Champions League, which as already drawn an influx of investment in the club.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Referee swears back
Referee Danny McDermid has been charged by the English FA “with using abusive and/or insulting words” toward Leeds United coach Dennis Wise, who claimed that McDermid told him to “f*** off” after Wise cursed at McDermid, who ejected Wise at halftime of a 1-1 tie with Gillingham. McDermid has until Nov. 13 to respond to the charge. The FA suspended Wise for three games and fined him $10,000 protesting the ejection Tresor Kandol, who had received two yellows for dissent. The second was for sarcastically applauding the ref.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS attendance second best in history
The MLS 2007 regular-season attendance average of 16,770 is the highest since the inaugural season of 1996, when attendance averaged 17,406. The 2007 season also marked the first time attendance average broke the 16,000-mark since the inaugural season. And for the first time in MLS history, three teams averaged more than 20,000: Los Angeles (24,252) D.C. United (20,967) and Toronto FC (20,130). Total attendance for the season’s 195 games was 3,270,210.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS scoring up just a tiny bit; D.C. is tops again
2007 MLS regular-season games averaged 2.66 goals, compared to 2.62 in 2006. But the 2007 season was the third lowest-scoring year in the league’s 12-year history. MLS averaged more than three goals per game in six of its first seven seasons but hasn’t hit the 3.0 mark since 2002. For the third straight season, D.C. United was the league’s highest scoring team, notching 56 goals in 30 games for 1.87 per game strike rate. Two teams, Colorado (0.97) and Toronto (0.83) mustered less than a goal per game. For year-by-year scoring averages and this year’s team-by-team breakdown …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Here in the United States, more kids than in any other country in the world are playing soccer. In my opinion, they play soccer because of the freedom of the game, because they feel freedom to be creative on the field. They can express themselves on the field and freedom is something the kids love. We have to take advantage of that, and guide them to use that freedom in the best way.”
— New U.S. U-17 national team coach Wilmer Cabrera.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Toronto’s Dichio with three Goal of the Year nominations
[VIDEO] Toronto may have finished with the worst MLS 2007 record while scoring the fewest goals, but its striker Danny Dichio has three goals among the 34 that are in the running for 2007 Sierra Mist Goal of the Year. Voting to pare the nominees down to five finalists concludes on Oct. 31. Two other players, New England’s Taylor Twellman and Chicago’s Cuauhtemoc Blanco each have a pair of goals in the running.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
American Blazer laments change in World Cup bid policy
Chuck Blazer, the only American on FIFA’s executive committee, says it’s disappointing that FIFA has dropped the rotation policy for determining the host of the World Cup, thus preventing a CONCACAF nation from automatically hosting the 2018 World Cup. The USA would have had to outbid Mexico and Canada, but these CONCACAF countries will now surely face competition from heavyweights England and China.