There were only 37 people in the stands when English amateur clubs Holker Old Boys clashed with Chadderton FC and nobody had a video camera. But eyewitnesses confirmed that Holker Old Boys’ captain Graham Capstick did indeed score with a header from 57 yards out. “I can honestly say that he scored with a header from inside his own half,” Holker right back David Robinson told the Evening Mail.
Author Archives: Soccer America
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Sevilla faces Espanyol in all-Spanish UEFA Cup final
Defending champion Sevilla beat Spanish rival Osasuna, 2-0, and advanced, 2-1, on aggregate to the final of the UEFA Cup, where it will meet Espanyol in an all-Spanish clash May 16 in Glasgow. Espanyol beat Werder Bremen of Germany, 2-1, away to go through, 5-1, on aggregate in Thursday’s other semifinal.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Milan Baros merely wanted to tell [Stephane M’Bia] something he didn’t know how to say in French: ‘leave me alone and give me breathing space.'”
— A statement from French club Lyon, claiming its Czech striker Milan Baros wasn’t trying to insult Rennes’ Stephane M’Bia when Baros pinched his own nose and waved his hand in front of it while facing the Cameroon-born midfielder. Baros has been suspended for three games for the gesture. (Reuters)
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Article 3350
On the menu for U.S. viewers this weekend are title contenders in England (Fox and Setanta), Germany (Gol TV) and Spain (Gol TV). Mexico’s last two playoff spots will be determined on Saturday (Galavision). MLS action kicks off with red-hot Kansas City hosting Columbus (Direct Kick Package).
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Yanks’ Nationals Need to Play Abroad
Kenya Brown of Yanks Abroad says the U.S. national team’s dominance of the CONCACAF region is getting a little tiresome. Notwithstanding the team’s respectable 3-0-1 record in international friendlies this year, these meaningless games are made all the more so by the fact that each of them has been played at home. In fact, the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ferguson Blames Fatigue, but Defense Cost United
Sir Alex Ferguson was a little more gracious in defeat than Jose Mourinho after Manchester United followed Chelsea out of the Champions League, but excuses still had to be made and blame still had to be placed. For not the first time, Fergie blamed the English Premier League for its scheduling, which burned out his […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Milan “Miracle” a Vindication for Italian Soccer
Milan’s 3-0 victory over “the big man of English football” descended upon Italy Wednesday night like a holy vindication. Indeed, since the national team lifted the World Cup last July, Italian soccer has been through trying times, including a series of match-fixing scandals, poor attendance, the riots in Sicily and the resulting stadium bans and […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
‘Listless’ D.C. United Needs a Jolt Tonight
Even if D.C. United brings its “A game” to RFK Stadium Thursday night when it plays the New England Revolution (ESPN 2, Live 7 pm ET), the Screaming Eagles would be forgiven for wondering if that even makes their side the favorite anymore. The Revs are a team in good form (2-1-1), while United is […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Jason Kreis Retires, Becomes RSL Head Coach
Real Salt Lake Thursday afternoon announced a significant management reshuffling. Team captain Jason Kreis, the league’s all-time leading scorer, has now retired from the game and will take over as RSL head coach, effective immediately. Kreis is set to run Thursday’s practice in preparation for Saturday’s match at home to the league-leading New York Red […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Small-Sided Games: What’s all the fuss?
For quite a few years now US Youth Soccer, U.S. Soccer, AYSO and the NSCAA have advocated playing less than 11-a-side soccer for our younger players.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
‘The biggest financial prize in world soccer’
A report by accountancy firm Deloitte & Touche says that the teams promoted this season from the English second tier to the English Premier League will be rewarded with up to $120 million, thanks to the EPL’s new TV deal. Birmingham City and Sunderland have already clinched promotion. Four other teams will play off for the remaining spot, which will be decided in a May 28 final at the new Wembley, a game the report called, “the biggest financial prize in world football.”
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Libertadores Cup win streak ends for Brazil’s Santos
Santos could have broken the Libertadores Cup record of eight straight wins it shares with Vasco da Gama by beating Caracas FC in Venezuela on Wednesday night but tied, 2-2. In a battle between the only two Argentine clubs left in the competition, Boca Juniors beat Velez Sarsfield even though Martin Palermo missed his second penalty kick in four days. Palermo is famous for missing three penalty kicks in one game while playing for Argentina against Colombia in 1999.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS goal dearth continues
Last season, MLS averaged 2.62 goals per game, its lowest besides the 2.61 its teams mustered in 2004. Fans are seeing even fewer goals in early going of the 2007 season. The first 26 games have an average of 2.27 goals. Kansas City leads the league in scoring, having notched nine goals in its first four games for a 2.25 average. New England’s Taylor Twellman leads the league in scoring with four strikes in four games, followed by Eddie Johnson, who’s notched three goals, which exceeds his output of the 2006 season.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
AMERICANS ABROAD: Castillo and Orozco meet in Mexico ‘repechaje’
New Mexico product Edgar Castillo, 19, was a 55th-minute sub for Santos Laguna as it fell at home, 1-0, to San Luis in the first leg of the Mexican repechaje, the preliminary playoff round of the Clausura 2007. Californian Michael Orozco, 21, came on for San Luis in the 86th minute.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Goalkeeper follies in Scotland & Brazil
[VIDEO]. Aberdeen’s Darren Mackie scored without immediately realizing it in last Saturday’s Scottish Premier League 3-0 win over Kilmarnock because, while he was walking back down field, Kilmarnock keeper Alan Combe hurled the ball into the back of Mackie’s head, from which it rebounded 8 yards into the back of the net. Matching Combe’s in the super blunder was Cruzeiro goalie Fabio. After giving up the third goal in a 4-0 loss against in the Brazilian derby against Atletico Mineiro, Fabio was walking back to his goal area to fetch the ball. But his teammates had kicked off with a different ball. Fabio didn’t notice an Atletico player had intercepted the new ball until he saw the shot blaze past him and into the goal [VIDEO]. An angry Fabio then picked both balls out of the net.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I thought I might do 45 minutes but ended up doing the full 90. It was quite a hot day but I felt OK at the end, and the next day I was able to do a bit of gardening in the greenhouse. Both teams acted like perfect gentlemen, and they just got on with it. They were very polite and respectful.”
— Antony Warren, an 82-year-old retired referee who was lured out of the stands at a Gwynedd League game in Wales to replace the assigned referee, who suffered a pregame injury. Warren borrowed referee gear and his 78-year-old wife kept time. (BBC)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Milan-Liverpool, championship ledger
AC Milan and Liverpool, who meet in the final of the UEFA Champions League on May 23 in Athens, have a long history of success in Europe. Before they met in the 2005 final, they had won a combined 11 European Cup titles in 14 appearances in the final. Milan’s six championships rank second behind only Real Madrid’s nine. Liverpool’s come-from-behind victory over Milan in Istanbul was the Reds’ fifth title in six appearances in the final.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Forza Milan!
AC Milan put on a display of attacking soccer reminiscent of the great Milan teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s and crushed Manchester United, 3-0, on Wednesday night to advance to the UEFA Champions League final. All but forgotten as a European contender after last season’s Calciopoli scandal left it reeling, Milan was far the better team over the two legs of its 5-3 aggregate victory over United, which had been the toast of Europe for its 7-1 demolition of Italian club Roma in the quarterfinals. Milan moved into the final against Liverpool on May 23 in Athens, which will be a rematch of the 2005 final in which Milan blew a 3-0 halftime lead and lost to Liverpool on penalty kicks.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
MLS Expansions: Northwest is Next
Where or where will MLS go next? League commissioner Don Garber is touring the nation in search of the destinations for its next set of expansion teams. Local dailies across the country are reporting talks between MLS and investors in various cities, including Philadelphia, Atlanta, the Bay Area, Cleveland, Miami, St. Louis, Portland and Seattle. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Beasley Faces Uncertain Future
In 2005, DaMarcus Beasley became the first U.S. international to play in a Champions League semifinal with the Dutch club PSV Eindhoven; he was also the club’s leading scorer in the competition with four goals. Now, two injury-hit seasons later, Beasley is faced with the prospect of having to find a new club at season’s […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Blatter Insists South Africa Will Host in 2010
Two days after revealing FIFA’s backup plan for South Africa 2010 on BBC television, FIFA President Sepp Blatter has come out insisting that the 2010 World Cup would be staged in South Africa. “It will take place in South Africa … I have no doubts,” he said, adding, “The plan B is South Africa, plan […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Chelsea, Mourinho Deserved to Lose
If there is a consensus among British sports writers following Chelsea’s Champions League exit at Anfield Tuesday night, it’s that the better team won despite the outcome being decided by penalties. Yet after the match, a defiant, sour-faced, sore-losing Jose Mourinho accused Liverpool of playing for penalties. “Chelsea tried to win it in 90 minutes,” […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Reina Robbed During CL Semi
It was a mixed night for Liverpool hero Pepe Reina. After the 24-year-old Spanish goalkeeper guided his team to the Champions League final with two fantastic saves in a penalty kick shootout, Reina returned home to find his house had been robbed. Among the missing items, were a Bang & Olufsen entertainment system, some jewelry, […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Liverpool again overcomes Chelsea to reach Champions League final
Liverpool defeated Chelsea, 4-1, Tuesday night on penalty kicks to reach the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons. Two years ago, the Reds beat Chelsea, 1-0, at home for a 1-0 aggregate victory en route to their fifth title in Europe’s most important competition, This time, both teams won, 1-0, at home, with the Reds’ 1-0 win on Tuesday setting the stage for the decisive shootout before a vocal Anfield crowd in rare form.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Singing
“Wise, Wise, whatever have you done? You’ve taken Leeds to Division One. You won’t win a cup, you won’t win a shield, your biggest game will be Huddersfield.”
— A chant, to the tune of “Lord of the Dance,” from fans of English second-tier club Barnsley directed Leeds coach Dennis Wise. Leeds United, for which American Eddie Lewis plays in midfield, will be relegated to England’s third tier (Division One) unless it wins its last game of the season against Derby on Sunday by eight goals and Hull loses. (BBC)