Author Archives: Soccer America

Dutchman Guus Hiddink, who took the Netherlands and South Korea to the semifinals at the last two World Cup, is confident Australia will do well affter naming an experienced squad for the World Cup with 20 European-based players. Goalkeepers: Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough/ENG), Zeljko Kalac (AC Milan/ITA), Ante Covic (Hammarby/SWE), Defenders: Michael Beauchamp (Central Coast), Craig […]

Hawaiian Natasha Kai came off the bench to head in the winning goal in the 65th minute as the USA beat Japan 1-0 in a womenÆs friendly on Tuesday. The victory gave the Americans a sweep of the two-game series in Japan and extended U.S. head coach Greg RyanÆs record to 14-0-4 since taking over […]

Pule ôAceö Ntsoelengoe, one of the many South African stars of the North American Soccer League, died Monday at the age of 50. Ntsoelengoe, who had been working as a youth coach at Kaizer Chiefs, was found slumped in his car at a hotel in Lenasia. Like many South African stars of the 1970s, Ntsoelengoe […]

Goalkeepers: Cristian Mora (LDU Quito), Edwin Villafuerte (Dep. Quito), Damian Lanza (Aucas). Defenders:Ulises de la Cruz (Aston Villa/ENG), Neicer Reasco (LDU Quito), Paul Ambrosi (LDU Quito), Giovanny Espinoza (LDU Quito), Ivan Hurtado (Al Arabi/QAT), Jorge Guagua (El Nacional), Jose Luis Perlaza (Olmedo). Midfielders: Edison Mendez (LDU Quito), Antonio Valencia (Recreativo/SPA), Edwin Tenorio (Barcelona), Marlon Ayovf […]

BOYS Rank School Prev. W-L-T 1 Christian Brothers (Memphis, Tenn.) 2 14-0-0 2 Lincoln East (Lincoln, Neb.) 5 15-0-0 3 Randolph (Huntsville, Ala.) 2 22-1-0 4 Norman North (Norman, Okla.) 4 15-1-0 5 Auburn (Auburn, Wash.) 17 14-0-2 6 Thomas Dale (Chester, Va.) 8 11-0-0 7 Broken Arrow (Broken Arrow, Okla.) 7 15-0-0 8 Greenbrier […]

Columbus Blast Cup April 1-2 April 8-9 Ohio Under 18 Boys Serie A1 Blast FC U-17 3 Blast FC U-18 2 Under 16 Boys Serie A Ohio Galaxies 2 Worthington United 1 Under 14 Boys Serie A COSA Express 3 Northstars 2 Under 14 Boys Serie A Central Ohio SA Express 3 Northstars 2 Crossroads […]

Goalkeepers: Andreas Isaksson (Rennes/FRA), John Alvbage (Viborg/DEN), Rami Shaaban (Fredrikstad) Defenders: Erik Edman (Rennes/FRA), Petter Hansson (Heerenveen/HOL), Teddy Lucic (BK Hacken), Olof Mellberg (Aston Villa/ENG), Karl Svensson (IFK Gothenburg), Mikael Nilsson (Panathinaikos/GRE), Fredrik Stenman (Bayer Leverkusen/GER) Midfielders: Daniel Andersson (Malmo), Niclas Alexandersson (IFK Gothenburg), Kim Kallstrom (Rennes/FRA), Tobias Linderoth (FC Copenhagen/DEN), Christian Wilhelmsson (Anderlecht/BEL), Anders […]

By Mike Woitalla Executive Editor, Soccer America Magazine Sam's Army has been turning U.S. games into festivals for more than a decade. The 1994 World Cup in the USA was the best-attended finals in history, and the host's four games averaged more than 86,000 fans per game. But something was missing. This was especially apparent […]

By Mike Woitalla Executive Editor, Soccer America Magazine Despite daily training and weekly games, some MLS players find time to pursue ventures outside the pro game. Troy Perkins (D.C. United)A FULL, INTERESTING DAY He spends half his day in front of the goal and the other half behind a desk. D.C. United goalkeeper Troy Perkins, […]

By Ridge Mahoney Senior Editor, Soccer America Magazine Regardless of who the U.S. fields in the World Cup or what formations are used, forward Brian McBride is a vital element for its hopes of reaching the second round. Tell Brian McBride how lucky he is, and he'll readily agree, but not solely for the reasons […]

By Mike Woitalla Executive Editor, Soccer America Magazine Juergen Klinsmann's revolutionary approach to resurrecting a fallen power has its detractors. Not long after Juergen Klinsmann became a soccer star, he visited a juvenile prison in the central German town of Adelsheim. ''Why they were locked up was of no interest to me,'' Klinsmann explains in […]

EnglandÆs tentative squad for the World Cup includes 17-year-old forward Theo Walcott, who hasnÆt played a first-team game for Arsenal since joining the Gunners from Southampton in January. England coach Sven Goran Eriksson admitted heÆs never seen Walcott play. Another uncapped player in the England squad is Tottenham teenager Aaron Lennon. Wayne Rooney is in […]

Former U.S. national team stars Alexi Lalas and Carla Overbeck have been elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame. The two players will be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame at the Induction 2006 ceremonies on Aug. 28 in Oneonta, N.Y. Lalas received 95 votes and Overbeck 85 votes on the 113 […]

USL First Division Friday, May 5 Miami 0 Rochester 3 (Ball 7, 48, Gbeke 58). Virginia Beach 1 (Simmonds 75) Atlanta 0. Portland 1 (Bartlome 21) Vancouver 1 (Donatelli 53). Saturday, May 6 Portland 2 (Gutierrez pen. 31, Ready 69) Minnesota 1 (Knox 45). Sunday, May 7 Puerto Rico 0 Rochester 1 (own goal 68). […]

First Leg April 25 LDU Quito (Ecua.) 4 (Murillo 10, 12, Vera 63, Candelario 74) Atl. Nacional (Col.) 0. Estudiantes (Arg.) 2 (Galvan 80, Calderon pen. 90) Goias (Brazil) 0. April 26 Guadalajara (Mex.) 3 (Esparza 45, Borboa 51, Medina 79) Independiente (Arg.) 0. Palmeiras (Brazil) 1 (Edmundo pen. 36) Sao Paulo (Brazil) 1 (Aloisio […]

Abby WambachÆs hat trick gave the USA a 3-1 win over Japan Sunday in a womenÆs friendly played at KumamotoÆs KK Wing Stadium. Japan shocked the Americans early as 19-year-old Azusa Iwashimizu scored on a header in the third minute. The goal marked the first time the U.S. team had fallen behind under Coach Greg […]

May 6 in Foxboro, Mass. New England 4 Los Angeles 0. Goals: Twellman 5, Ralston (Cancela) 39, Joseph (Cancela) 43, Joseph pen. 69. New England — Reis, Riley, Parkhurst, Heaps, Dorman, Hernandez (Lochhead, 24), Joseph, Ralston (Larentowicz, 73), Twellman, Cancela, Dempsey (Brown, 77). Los Angeles — Hartman, Ihemelu, Veris, Dunivant, Marshall (Ngwenya, 46), Albright, Saragosa, […]

Ecuador will be unbeatable wherever it plays at the World Cup if a shaman has his way. Tzamarenda Naychapi – a 36-year-old Ecuadoran priest who practices magic for healing, divination and controling events – is visiting all 12 World Cup venues in Germany before the tournament starts. ''I come to Leipzig to purify this important […]

After Portugal's Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari took himself out of the running, the English FA hired Middlesbrough coach and Steve McLaren to replace Sven-Goran Eriksson after the 2006 World Cup. Here are the England coaches over the last half century. Only Alf Ramsey managed to lift a major title. Walter Winterbottom 1946-62 World Cups: […]

Nancy's rugged play in a 1-0 win over Nice drew criticism from the French press, prompting midfielder Pascal Berenguer to declare, ''We are no butchers.'' The French Butchers' Union responded with an official complaint, declaring Berenguer's comment a ''blatant insult to their profession.'' Berenguer apologized: ''I delivered these words without any ulterior motive. It's a […]

Brazilian Ronaldinho, currently the world's greatest, developed his brilliant skills with the help of his mutt, Bombom, while growing up in Porto Alegre. ''Bombom loved to play with me,'' Ronaldinho told Brazilian newspaper Zero Hora. ''When all my friends got bored, I would go play with him. We would stay battling for the ball all […]

(All times ET unless noted. Consult your regular television listings guides for availability in your area. Schedules are subject to change.) FRIDAY, May 5 SETANTA SPORTS USA England LEEDS-PRESTON NORTH END, League Championship Promotion Playoff, Semifinals, 1st Leg (live), 2:30 pm. TELEMUNDO Friendly MEXICO-VENEZUELA (live), 11 pm. SATURDAY, May 6 ESPN2 MLS NEW ENGLAND-LOS ANGELES […]

By Ridge Mahoney Believe Bruce Arena when he says there aren't any backups on his World Cup team. The players do. Doubtful may be the chances of Tim Howard, Jimmy Conrad, Ben Olsen or Brian Ching to start a game, but for months Arena has stressed every player could be called upon and no one […]

By Ridge Mahoney Senior Editor, Soccer America As a proposal to build a soccer stadium in suburban Sandy fell apart in the aftermath of leaked documents spelling out the team's financial status, rumors arose that perhaps Real Salt Lake operator-investor Dave Checketts would move the team. Phoenix and San Antonio were mentioned in news reports […]

Barcelona players were able to begin their celebrations at halftime of their 1-0 win over Celta on Wednesday because Valencia, the only team within reach of first place, had already fallen, 2-1, to Mallorca. The Catalan club coached by Dutchman Frank Rijkaard became the first team to repeat as La Liga champions since it pulled […]