Two months ago, the Chicago Fire had only won one of its last 12 games and was in danger of becoming the worst team in MLS, but a lot has changed at Toyota Park in the last two months. Juan Carlos Osorio replaced Dave Sarachan as head coach, Chris Rolfe returned from injury and the […]
Author Archives: Soccer America
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
For Man United, A Flat Victory at Inflated Prices
Manchester United might have notched its first win of the season this weekend, but The Independent’s James Lawton says the Red Devils look a shadow of their former selves. Of course the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo (suspended) and Wayne Rooney (injured), who combined for nearly 50 goals last season, doesn’t help, but it would seem […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Klinsmann to Replace Yallop in L.A.?
Following back-to-back 3-0 defeats and a winless streak extending back to before the All-Star break, the L.A. Galaxy is operating in emergency mode. Coach Frank Yallop is still in charge despite guiding his team to just three wins in 18 MLS games. However, he may not be around for long, says the London Times, whose […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Sevilla Midfielder Still in Critical Condition
Since his collapse during FC Sevilla’s 4-1 win over Getafe this weekend, Antonio Puerta has remained in critical condition in a hospital in Seville. The midfielder lost consciousness twice during play, suffering cardiac arrest in both instances as well as after the match. “The patient’s situation, 36 hours after being brought in, continues to be […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Italian Giants Deliver on Opening Day
With the exception of Inter Milan, whose opening day celebrations evaporated with an inexplicable lapse of concentration from Julio Cesar, Italy’s giants looked giant indeed on the first day of the new Serie A season. Juventus picked up where it left off two seasons ago, scoring three goals in the last two minutes to brush […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Rossi scores in La Liga debut; Barca draws
[SPAIN] Giuseppe Rossi, a 20-year-old New Jersey product who now represents Italy, scored in his Spanish La Liga debut for Villarreal, converting a penalty kick in a 3-0 win over regional rival Valencia. Rossi left the USA at age 13 for the youth program of Italian club Parma, which sold him in 2004 to Manchester United. Last season he was back in Parma, saving it from relegation with nine goals in 19 games. Also on the first weekend of the La Liga season Sevilla defender Antonio Puerta suffered two cardiac arrests during his team’s 4-1 win over Getafe. And Barcelona disappointed.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Hamm, Foudy, Rothenberg & Smith in Hall of Fame
[PROFILES] Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Alan Rothenberg and Bobby Smith were inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame on Sunday. …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Young Yanks meet in Mexican league game
[AMERICANS IN MEXICO] Four days after U.S. product Edgar Castillo, who has dual citizenship, debuted for the Mexican national team, he helped Santos Laguna become the last Mexican League team with a perfect record with a 1-0 win over defending champion Pachuca. Both teams came into the game with a 3-0-0 record. Castillo went the full 90 in all four Santos’ wins. Texas-born Jose Francisco Torres, a 19-year-old, went the full 90 in his second start of the season for Pachuca.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Beasley gets his first Scottish Premier League goal
[VIDEO] Making his third Scottish Premier League appearance, American winger DaMarcus Beasley notched his first goal since joining Glasgow Rangers in the offseason. In the 2-1 win over Kilmarnock, which keeps Rangers’ perfect after four games, Beasley scored in the 52nd minute after chasing down a loose ball and lofting it home from six yards. Jean-Claude Darcheville scored the winner after a Beasley effort popped the ball into his path in the 76th minute.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Second Division wins for Yanks
[AMERICANS IN GERMANY]. Defender Gregg Berhalter and attacker Josh Wolff helped 1860 München to a 3-0 win over 1899 Hoffenheim to keep their team on top of the German Second Division with a perfect record after three games. For fourth-place Mainz, 18-year-old defender Neven Subotic made his third start of the season in a 4-1 win over fellow 2006-07 relegation victim Borussia Moenchengladbach. In the First Division, both Americans who saw action came out on the losing end.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Keller starts, Dempsey scores for Fulham
[AMERICANS IN ENGLAND] Clint Dempsey, after three appearances off the bench, got his first start of the season for Fulham and scored in the 6th minute in a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa. Goalkeeper Kasey Keller, signed last week, also started, as did defender Carlos Bocanegra. Fulham’s fourth American, Brian McBride, is sidelined until December after undergoing surgery for a dislocated knee cap.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Win over 10-man Belgium keeps USA alive at U-17 World Cup
[VIDEO] A 2-0 win over Belgium in its third and final first-round was enough to send the USA to the second round of the U-17 World Cup despite having lost its first two games, to Tajikistan and Tunisia. The USA, which got goals through Kirk Urso and Mykell Bates, faces Germany in the round of 16 on Thursday. The Americans played with a man advantage for 54 minutes after Belgium’s Christian Benteke was red-carded for a high slide tackle on Sheanon Williams.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“You try to imagine the hysteria surrounding his arrival but when he’s here it’s so different. It’s not been easy. It’s been kind of testing, to be honest. At the start of the year there was so much anticipation that we would win every game and David wasn’t even here then. He wasn’t here for the start of the season either. Then we had injuries and it was: ‘Why aren’t you winning?’ Obviously we need to.”
— Los Angeles coach Frank Yallop in a Times of London article headlined “Klinsmann tipped for leading role in LA.” Southern California resident Juergen Klinsmann served as L.A. Galaxy technical adviser in 2004 before taking over as coach of Germany’s 2006 World Cup team. On Friday, the Galaxy named assistant coach Paul Bravo Director of Soccer. (Times)
Posted inSoccer Business Insider, Story
Sponsorships and the RSVP Rule
It’s time to get real about the numbers we use to invite potential sponsors to the soccer “party.” Our industry’s reputation suffers every time a sponsorship proposal is built on claims that are not delivered.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Platini Breathes Life into Domestic Cup Competitions
Thanks to UEFA President Michel Platini, winning the F.A. Cup might mean something once again. The Frenchman has proposed to make the domestic cup winner from Europe’s biggest leagues an automatic qualifier for the UEFA Champions League; UEFA will consider the matter next week. Platini’s original intention was to reduce the number of entrants from […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Philadelphia Confident of Expansion Success
Major League Soccer will be doling out a pair of franchises before the end of the year, and Philadelphia officials believe their city is close to being one of them. As Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Bob Ford points out, Philly, with one of the largest markets and a great sports tradition, has long been a target […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Things Get Uglier for the Galaxy
Chivas USA’s 3-0 second half drubbing of the L.A. Galaxy capped off what was a decidedly ugly evening for the David Beckham Show: the ill-tempered affair was marked by ugly defending, ugly attacking and the ugliest of team brawls involving the man himself. A “crude” foul against Beckham literally kicked it all off as the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
New Ronaldo is “Like a Model”
AC Milan insists that Ronaldo (the “original” Ronaldo that is) will be back to his best for the Rossoneri this season, after doctors discovered a condition that has been affecting his form-and his weight. Called hypothyroidism, the condition is caused by insufficient production of hormones by the thyroid gland and can lead to weight gain, […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Is an elite team right for your child?
Committing to travel-team soccer can have a profound impact on family life.
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
The Italian Serie A (Fox) and Spanish La Liga (Gol TV) seasons kick off this weekend. There’s six MLS games and the USL-2 championship. In their final home game before departing for the Women’s World Cup in China, the U.S. women face Finland on Saturday. The U.S. boys fight for survival in the U-17 World Cup very early on Sunday morning. Americans abroad with televised games this weekend include Tim Howard (Everton), Brad Friedel (Blackburn), Edgar Castillo (Santos), Michael Orozco (San Luis) and Steve Cherundolo (Hannover).
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Still hope for U.S. U-17s after second loss
[VIDEO] The USA lost its second straight game at the U-17 World Cup, falling 3-1 to Tunisia in a game that featured three penalty-kick goals. The Americans, who opened with a 4-3 loss to Tajikistan, meet Belgium in their third and final group game on Sunday (2:45 am ET, live, ESPNU & Galavision; ESPNU rebroadcast at noon ET.). A win over Belgium, which beat Tajikistan, 1-0, could enable the Americans to advance with help from other results.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. women face Finland in World Cup sendoff
The USA plays its last home game before departing for the Women’s World Cup in China when it hosts Finland in a friendly Saturday at the Home Depot Center (ESPN2, live, 9:30 pm ET).
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Richmond hosts Harrisburg in USL-2 final
The Richmond Kickers defend their USL-2 crown when they host the Harrisburg City Islanders in the 2007 final on Saturday (Fox Soccer Channel, delay, 10:00 pm ET).
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“If Chelsea is naive and pure then I’m Little Red Riding Hood.”
— Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez on Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho‘s comments that Chelsea players are “pure and they are clean. We don’t have divers, we don’t have violent people.” (BBC)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Brazilian ball wizard Denilson joins FC Dallas
Denilson, who in 1998 set a transfer fee record with a $40 million move from Sao Paulo to Spanish club Real Betis, has been signed by FC Dallas. The 29-year-old, who played in 12 World Cup games for Brazil in its 1998 runner-up finish and its 2002 title win, arrives from Saudi Arabian club Al-Nasr. Denilson becomes the fourth World Cup winner in MLS. The other three all played for Red Bulls/Metros: Lothar Matthaeus (Germany 1990), Branco (Brazil 1994) and Youri Djorkaeff (France 1998).