Author Archives: Soccer America

Real Salt Lake has traded two draft picks, a second round 2010 SuperDraft pick and a conditional 2011 pick, to the San Jose Earthquakes for Brazilian striker Pablo Campos. The 26-year-old will travel with Salt Lake to play the Columbus Crew on Saturday. "We've scouted Pablo now for two years and we are very excited […]

Rangers midfielder Maurice Edu is progressing well after knee surgery and is set to return to action in September. The United States international incurred the injury in the Glasgow club's title-clincher against Dundee United. The injury forced Edu to sit out the Scottish Cup final win over Falkirk in May. "Even when I hurt my […]

Argentina's Estudiantes won its first Copa Libertadores title in 39 years when it came from behind to hand Cruzeiro its first home defeat by 2-1 in the final on Wednesday. Estudiantes clinched its fourth title 2-1 on aggregate after the teams played to 0-0 in the first leg of the final last week in La […]

Fifa.com traces the history of arguably the biggest derby in Brazil, Gremio vs. Internacional, which takes place this Saturday. While the states of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro boast four big clubs apiece, Rio Grande do Sul is entirely divided by what is called the Gre-Nal derby. Gremio and Internacional fans seldom agree. The […]

For the first time since 1968, the U.S. men’s national soccer team will play an official game in Philadelphia. As part of this year’s Concacaf Gold Cup, the Stars & Stripes will take on Panama in the second game of Saturday’s quarterfinal doubleheader at Lincoln Financial Field. Canada meets Honduras in the opener at 5 […]

It’s been two years since Danny Szetela played in Major League Soccer with the Columbus Crew. After stints with Racing Santander in Spain’s La Liga, and Brescia Calcio in Italy’s Serie B, the midfielder will return to his home country to join D.C. United. D.C. United acquired the 22-year-old through the allocation draft after FC […]

Iraq can start hosting matches for its national team and club teams in Asian continental competitions after a decision announced Wednesday by the Asian Football Confederation. The AFC cleared the city of Irbil to host matches, following the successful friendly between Iraq and Palestine last week. Before this match, Iraq had not played at home […]

Aston Villa made its first significant move of the transfer window, signing Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing for about $20 million. The Teessiders have accepted Villa's bid for the England international whose participation in the 2009-10 season may be delayed by a foot injury sustained toward the end of Boro's unsuccessful fight against relegation. The move […]

Mexican striker Carlos Vela, having been sidelined by injury in his first Gold Cup match against Nicaragua, expects to be match fit by Sunday and ready to take on quarterfinal rivals Haiti. "Every day I feel better with more confidence to get things done," Vela explained to reporters in Dallas. "I still have an annoyance […]

Former U.S. Olympic team midfielder Danny Szetela is on his way back to Major League Soccer. According to multiple sources, Szetela has agreed to a new contract with MLS after ending his deal with Spanish club Racing Santander. Szetela spent the past season and a half on loan to Italian club Brescia, but is now […]

Construction workers in South Africa have agreed to end a weeklong strike that threatened to derail the completion of already tightly scheduled projects for the World Cup, union officials and employers said Wednesday. Workers agreed on a pay increase of 12 percent, below the earlier demand of 13 percent. Work will commence on Thursday. "The […]

The 2008 All-Star Game MVP, Chicago Fire midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco, will replace the 2006 MLS All-Star MVP, Dwayne De Rosario, in this year's All-Star First XI. De Rosario is unavailable for the All-Star Game due to his club's participation in the Concacaf Champions League. Toronto FC faces the Puerto Rico Islanders in the preliminary round […]