Real Madrid faces MLS opponents on Friday (Toronto FC) and Sunday (D.C. United). On Friday, Vancouver hosts Charleston in USL action. In Europe, France and Germany begin their league seasons on the weekend. Look for updates Friday’s Soccer on TV.
Author Archives: Soccer America
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Switching vodka for whiskey
[OFF THE POST] Hundreds of Russian fans are expected to travel to Cardiff for next month’s World Cup qualifier between Wales and Russia despite travel warnings advising Russians not to travel to Britain because of the swine full outbreak. The fans are being urged to take precautions by drinking Welsh whiskey.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I’d be embarrassed if I were the host of this event after that game.”
— Australia coach Alen Stajcic after Monday’s final of the Asian U-19 women’s championship won by host China, 2-1, in Wuhan ended in a mass brawl with fans pelting the Matildas with water bottles as they left the field. (Reuters)
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
New MLS Players Union After Free Agency, Guaranteed Contracts
“As other big leagues seek concessions from players, the Major League Soccer Players Union has proposed significant increases in its members’ rights, including free agency and league-wide guaranteed contracts,” as part of a newly proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement, reports the Sports Business Journal. Although already shot down by the league in 2004, free agency “would […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Carragher on Alonso, Mascherano
Loyal, long-time Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher asks for the likes of the seemingly already-gone Xavi Alonso and Javier Mascherano to remain at the club or at least resolve their impending exits in a timely fashion. “When you have gone as close as we did last season,” said Carragher, “you don’t want to lose anyone from […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Man City’s Hughes Maligns EPL Managers’ Mind Games
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes attributes jealousy as the cause for comments from the likes of Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger and Liverpool’s Rafael Benitez that have suggested his historically small club’s off-season spending spree has “distorted the transfer market.” “I have never had to court publicity myself because I played for […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Schmid, Evans Embarrassed by Sounders’ ‘Shocker’
“I hate to get embarrassed, and we got embarrassed today. Over the course of 30 games, sometimes you’re going to have a shocker like we had today. We just need to make sure that doesn’t become the norm.” That was Seattle Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid, speaking about Saturday’s surprising 4-0 loss to San Jose […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ibsen ‘Saved By the Beach’
In what was “supposed to be an article about how (Zak) Ibsen, a 37-year-old guy, represented the United States as it attempted to qualify for this autumn’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai,” the New York Times’ Jack Bell ends up chronicling the journeyman’s surprising story about “how crystal meth helped end his M.L.S […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Adu Out at Benfica, Accepting Offers in Eredivisie
How bad have things become for one-time wunderkind Freddy Adu? Bad. Why bad? Well, according to goal.com, he was recently told by Benfica coach Jorge Jesus that he’s “no longer needed at the club.” The curt dismissal is yet another sobering blow to the once white-hot future of the 20-year-old American forward, who was flush […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Despite Historic Galaxy-Barca Crowd, MLS Disconnect Remains
The biggest American soccer crowd in 15 years, a brilliant bender from David Beckham, and a spirited effort from Lionel Messi and his star-studded supporting cast had everything coming up roses for the Aug. 1 match between L.A. and FC Barcelona in Pasadena. But while it’s easy for MLS Commish Don Garber to call […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Charleston maintains lead [#33485]
[USL-1] The Portland Timbers extended their unbeaten streak to 18 games, but Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Minnesota left it two points behind Charleston (with two games in hand). Carolina joined the Timbers in a tie for second place thanks to its 3-0 victory over Austin. For all the USL-1 results and standings …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Charleston maintains lead
[USL-1] The Portland Timbers extended their unbeaten streak to a USL-1 record 18 games, but Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Minnesota left them two points behind Charleston (with two games in hand). Carolina joined the Timbers in a tie for second place thanks to its 3-0 victory over Austin. For all the USL-1 results and standings …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Back in 1998, it was 100 times worse and it affected me 100 times worse. This is nothing.”
— Los Angeles Galaxy star David Beckham, saying the hostile reception he has received from some Galaxy fans since his return in mid-July has been nothing compared to the criticism he received after being red carded in England’s loss to Argentina at the 1998 World Cup in France. Beckham received boos from the record Rose Bowl crowd throughout much of Saturday’s Galaxy-Barcelona game, in which he scored a brilliant goal on a free kick.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Fire and Fusion to meet for championship
[PDL] The Chicago Fire will play in the Premier Development League final for the first time since finishing as runner-up in 2003 when it travels to face the Ventura County Fusion in Saturday’s final.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Pali Blues and Freedom advance to final
[W-LEAGUE] The Pali Blues and Washington Freedom, winners of the last two W-League championships, will meet Friday in the 2009 final after earning victories in the semifinals. The Pali Blues crushed the Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues, 4-0, while the Freedom ended the Ottawa Fury’s bid to return to the finals for a third straight year with a 3-1 win on penalty kicks after their game ended in a scoreless tie.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Bruh goal gives Fury second title
[WPSL] The Long Island Fury won the 2009 Women’s Premier Soccer League with a 1-0 win over California’s Ajax America on a goal by 18-year-old Molly Bruh at Adelphi University’s Competition Field.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Gold Pride locker-room attendant arrested on molestation charges
[WPS] Thomas Anderson, a volunteer as a locker-room attendant at FC Gold Pride games, was charged with eight felony counts of a lewd or lascivious act on a child younger than 14 after two witnesses reported seeing him acting inappropriately with a child at a July 19 WPS game at Buck Shaw Stadium.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
International Results
The 2009-10 season began in Belgium and the Netherlands. Having lost American star Oguchi Onyewu to AC Milan, two-time Belgian champion Standard Liege had to settle for a 2-2 tie at home with St. Truiden. Dutch champion AZ lost at Heracles, 3-2. For all the results and goal scorers …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS Results
Columbus and Chicago stayed 1-2, separated by one point in the Eastern Conference, with wins over the weekend. Houston opened up a six-point lead in the Western Conference thanks to its 4-3 win over D.C. United and Seattle’s 4-0 loss at San Jose on Sunday. For all the game summaries, conference standings and leading scorers …
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Rampone Named Sky Blue FC’s Third Coach
After Ian Sawyers and Kelly Lindsay, U.S. national team captain Christie Rampone is Sky Blue FC’s third coach of the season. She will finish the 2009 WPS season as the club’s player-coach following Lindsay’s shock resignation. “She left without saying anything to me,” Sky Blue president and CEO Thomas Hofstetter said about Lindsey. “She gave […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
U-17 Star McInerney on Dutch Tryout
U.S. under-17 national team striker Jack McInerney, who overshadowed several other more highly touted teammates by scoring five goals in three games at 2009 Concacaf U-17 qualifying in Tijuana, is off Saturday on a 12-day tryout at Dutch club Vitesse. “I’m real excited, a little nervous,” he said. “It’s my first trial, so this should […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Bobby Robson Dies After Battle With Cancer
Bobby Robson, one of the most respected English coaches in modern history, died Friday at the age of 76 after a long battle with cancer. Robson played for England 20 times during his playing career with Fulham and West Bromwich Albion and later made a name for himself as a manager at Ipswich Town. He […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Beckham’s Back Problems Are Concern
David Beckham hoped be able to play in Saturday’s Los Angeles Galaxy exhibition with Spanish giant Barcelona despite back problems that forced him to miss practice Thursday at the Home Depot Center. The English star said the pain flared up a few days ago but it did not prevent him from working out in the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Barcelona Players Praise Donovan
Landon Donovan‘s strong game against Spain in the semifinals of the 2009 Confederations Cup not only helped give the USA an historic 2-0 win, it earned the Los Angeles Galaxy star rare respect for an American player among the elite of European soccer. The three FC Barcelona members attending a the press conference in Beverly […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Cooper Finally Gets European Transfer
FC Dallas forward Kenny Cooper, who has wanted to return to Europe for several seasons, has gotten his wish, moving to German second division club TSV 1860 Munich on a transfer pending a medical examination. Cooper joined FC Dallas from Manchester United in 2006 and scored 40 goals in 93 appearances for Dallas. “Kenny has […]