While the biggest concern for most national team coaches often involves injuries to star players, Palestine coach Izzat Hamzeh worries about more basic problems, like assembling enough players for a team. Negotiating players' exits from Gaza and the West Bank makes this feat difficult, especially for away matches. On Tuesday, Hamzeh managed to gather a […]
Author Archives: Soccer America
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Adebayor Urges Arsenal to Get More Players
After Tuesday's loss to Manchester United in the Champions League semifinal, Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor urged his club to spend big money on top signings at the end of the season or risk increasing its trophy-less spell. "I think we have taken a step backward," Adebayor is quoted as saying by The Daily Mail. "Not […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Wambach Claims ‘No Intent’ to Cause Daniela Harm
“For a league that is just over six weeks into its inaugural season, Women’s Professional Soccer now faces its first big controversy,” writes Christa Mann. The Washington Freedom’s Abby Wambach, a player known for her tenacious attitude, likely ended Brazilian star Daniela‘s season on Sunday with an ill-advised slide-tackle in midfield. Daniela, who scored two […]
Posted inSoccer America Classifieds, Story
Soccer America Classifieds
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Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
American Soccer, Games of the Week: USL, Austin-Puerto Rico on Friday; MLS, Houston-FC Dallas on Saturday; WPS, Chicago-Sky Blue FC on Sunday. Catch a full slate of Mexican action and other international matches this weekend.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Bulls run wild in Hawaii
The Honolulu Soccer Club Bulls, the only Hawaii team to win a U.S. Youth Soccer national championship, swept the under-17 to under-19 boys titles at the Hawaii State Cup at the Waipio Soccer Complex. For all the under-14 to under-19 boys and girls winners …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Santa Clara Sporting dominates in Cal North
Santa Clara Sporting, which created a sensation when it won the under-15 age group at the 2009 Dallas Cup, dominated play at the Cal North State Cup, beating Cal Odyssey, 6-0, in the final to finish with seven wins and goal margin of 28-1 in its run to the state title.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Youth league asks for leniency
Priscilla Bellcase is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from Florida’s Big Sun Youth Soccer League during her term as treasurer. The league has asked a circuit judge that she be spared jail time for “humanity” reasons, but he argues that it would send the wrong message if she only gets probation.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Region I Premier League finals set
The Region I Premier League moves into the semifinals and finals of its under-14 to under-18 boys and girls groups May 9-10 at the Kirkwood Soccer Complex in Delaware. PDA, Spirit United, FC Stars of Massachusetts and Albertson all have four teams in the semifinals. For all the semifinal pairings …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
U.S. under-15 boys national team roster
U.S. under-15 boys national team coach Jim Barlow will take 20 players, all born in 1994, to Moenchengladbach, Germany, May 15-24. The roster includes three players each from the Houston Dynamo Academy and De Anza Force and two players from Dallas Texans and Aztecs Premier. For the complete roster …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Florida club joins Academy
Florida’s Weston Soccer Club will join the California Development Academy, Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards Juniors, McLean (Va.) Youth Soccer and NJSA 04 as new Development Academy members for the 2009-10 season in a late move that signals a possible shakeup in South Florida.
Posted inYouth Soccer Reporter, Youth What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“It just feels safer because now the coaches and the parents will be restrained from doing anything. Talking to me. Questioning me about a call.”
— Referee Ryan Heddinger, 15, on the Calgary Minor Soccer Association’s decision to require a “field marshal” at every game because of bad behavior by parents. The association has had two-thirds of its referees quit after their first year, leaving one in every nine games without a referee. (CBC)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“The guy has continuously bought Newcastle United into disrepute. It really isn’t good enough. In the short time he has been at Newcastle, he has either been injured, in prison or in trouble. Enough is enough.”
— Newcastle legend Malcolm MacDonald on midfielder Joey Barton,who was suspended “until further notice” by Newcastle United after Barton’s locker room confrontation with Coach Alan Shearer after Barton received yet another red card for violent play. Barton had two assault convictions last year and spent 74 days in prison for assaulting a 16-year-old. His long list of transgressions include a training ground attack on former Manchester City teammate Ousmane Dabo that left his victim with a fractured eye socket in April 2007. (AFP)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Week 4: James claims award after Vancouver debut
[USL] St. Vincent & the Grenadines international Marlon James, whose hat trick powered Vancouver past Minnesota, 3-2, in his Whitecaps’ debut, and Damico Coddington, who scored one goal and was taken down for the penalty that led to the second goal in the Bermuda Hogges’ 2-1 win over Harrisburg, are the USL First Division and Second Division Players of the Week. For the teams of the week …
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Olympiakos Triumphs in Historic Cup Final
In what will go down as the greatest ever Greek Cup final, Olympiakos won the Greek Cup 15-14 on penalties after a 4-4 draw, two red cards and 120 minutes of drama at the OAKA Spiros Louis Stadium in Athens on Saturday. Englishman Matt Derbyshire, whose arrival to Olympiakos had been met with mixed reactions […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
U.S. ‘Nemesis’ to Ref Confederations Cup
Jorge Larrionda, the referee who sent off three players in the United States' group stage draw with Italy at the 2006 World Cup, will work the Confederations Cup in South Africa this June. The Uruguayan, who had dismissed Italian Daniele De Rossi and Americans Pablo Mastroeni and Eddie Pope with 47 minutes played of the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Former France Star Named New Marseille Coach
Didier Deschamps will replace Eric Gerets as Marseille coach starting next season. Marseille announced on its web site Tuesday that Deschamps, a former France midfielder, has agreed to a two-year contract and will start in June. The 40-year-old Deschamps returns to management after quitting Juventus at the end of the 2006-2007 season, when he guided […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Manchester United Makes Big Bid for Bayern’s Ribery
Manchester United has made a stunning offer of about $93 million for the Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery. Sources in Munich confirmed the bid has been received for the France international, who has made his desire to leave Germany known in the past few weeks. United's offer, which comfortably eclipses the record $66 million paid […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Henry to Miss Chelsea Clash
Thierry Henry will miss Barcelona's Champions League semifinal encounter with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. The French forward scored two goals against Real Madrid over the weekend but picked up a knee injury in the second half that proved more serious than originally thought. In addition to missing the crucial clash with Chelsea, Henry […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Fire Wants More Than Unbeaten Record
Yes, the Fire is the only unbeaten team through the first seven league games. But having tied five of those games, two after jumping out to a lead at home, Chicago wants more points. "Being unbeaten doesn't mean anything," Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch said. "Yeah, we are undefeated, but we are in games where we […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“We are obviously frustrated. … We cannot keep tying. … We were in control of the game. One lapse of concentration cost us.”
— Forward Patrick Nyarko of Chicago Fire, which is MLS’s only undefeated team but has tied five times, blames the defenders after a one-goal lead didn’t holdup against 10-man Seattle. (Goal.com)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Brazilian star Daniela downed by Wambach [VIDEO]
[WPS] After Daniela scored twice for St. Louis in a 3-3 tie with Washington on Sunday, the Brazilian was injured by a vicious tackle from the Freedom’s Abby Wambach, who received only a yellow card. “There was no excuse for it,” said St. Louis keeper Hope Solo.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
McBride leads goalscorers
[MLS STATS] After seven weeks of action, the league’s leading scorer is 36-year-old Brian McBride while 20-year-old Gerson Mayen is the assist leader. For individual stat leaders in various categories. …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Attendance average falls below 15,000 mark
[MLS STATS] Toronto FC drew 19,998 for its tie with Columbus and a 21,006 crowd in Los Angeles watched the Galaxy get their first win last weekend. But neither Colorado nor New England broke the 10,000 mark
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Scoring rate dips
[MLS STATS] Only one of the seven games last weekend had more than two goals — D.C. United’s 2-1 win over New York — and the leaguewide per game scoring average dropped to 2.52. Real Salt Lake and Chicago are the league’s highest scoring teams; New England and New York are the least productive …