Author Archives: Soccer America

Greg Petersen wants to put his stamp on the El Paso Patriots. He better check his horoscope to see if itÆs in the cards. On a night when Bulgarians were scoring all over the country, Bisser Georgiev scored twice and added an assist to lead the Patriots to a season-opening 4-2 victory over U.S. Pro-40 […]

John Gaughan Worcester, Mass. I have closely followed the rumors about Mexican striker Luis Hernandez an his potential move to MLS. It seems that all parties concede that Hernandez must play in L.A. because of the number of tickets he will sell there. However, San Jose and New England are the only two teams with […]

Quakes shake up enthusiastic crowd by downing MetroStars The change from then to now was palpable: Fans with blue hair, relentless drummers behind the north goal, Khodadad Azizi advocates decked out in Iranian colors. There was a buzz seldom felt in Spartan Stadium the past few years. Then was the past few years, devoid of […]

It’s a safe bet that the American Olympic hopefuls won’t have to dodge flaming seat cushions this time around. For the first time in history, the U.S. men’s team doesn’t travel during qualification play for the Olympics. The Americans are the host. And they have taken the tournament to the self-proclaimed Sweetest Place on Earth, […]

N.S. Fusco New York, N.Y.. Where can I find the “rulesö for scoring assists on goals? Mike Woitalla: While FIFA does not provide a written definition for assist, even though it uses them to settle Golden Boot awards at major tournaments, hereÆs MLSÆs: ôAssists, worth one point (compared to two for a goal) in determining […]

Andrew Merz New York, N.Y.. I hate to be the PC militia, but I thought this might be worth noting after Mike Woitalla’s recent response to allegations of sexism in SA. (Q&A with the SA Editors: April 13, 2000) Mr. Woitalla pointed to the recent article by Senior Editor Scott French, “US Soccer: Pitched Battled […]

Doug Sershen Durham, N.C. The recent trade of Junior Agogo from Chicago to Colorado once again brings up the confusing and illogical “system” MLS employs for the classification of its players. By my estimation Junior should be a Junior … International, that is. Clearly, Agogo is not a Transitional International since he’s too young. But […]

Former U.S. national team midfielder Mike Sorber was acquired today via trade with the New England Revolution. Sorber, who was waived by the MetroStars on Feb. 21, was placed in a special waiver draft, which was held today (reverse order of current standings) and New England, with the 1st overall selection chose Sorber, Chicago had […]

Teams run into snags with new player classifications MLS coaches may soon be required to check for passports and green cards as well as determine whether a promising young player can cut the ball back from the goal line under pressure. The league operates in a Byzantine world of player codes and classifications, and more […]

Saturday, April 15 (7:00 p.m.) Colorado Rapids at Tampa Bay Mutiny (FOX Rocky Mountain) Season series: Colorado leads 1-0 (Rapids lead 1-0 in aggregate goals). All-time regular season series: Series tied 6-6. Key players out: Colorado: M Ross Paule (knee strain-IR), F Henry Zambrano (hamstring strain), GK Adin Brown (U.S. Olympic Team), M Joey DiGiamarino […]

Six TFC teams and guests China and Brazil will play in the first Women’s Gold Cup June 23-July 3 in Hershey, Pa., Louisville, Ky., and Foxboro, Mass. For information call (877) 407-8497. Groups Group A: USA, Brazil, Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago. Group B: Canada, China, Guatemala, Mexico. Venues HERSHEY, Pa.: Hersheypark Stadium FOXBORO, Mass.: […]

Under-20 international friendly April 12 in Buenos Aires, Argentina Argentina 1 USA 1 Goals: Arg. n/a 34; Davis 20. USA lineup — Delvin Countess, Jose Burciaga, Alexander Yi, Akwari Nelson, Oguchi Onyewu, Philip Salyer, Kenneth Cutler, Trevor Perea, Kyle Beckerman (Kyle Martino, 62), Brad Davis (Abe Thompson, 62), Kelly Gray (Jordan Cila, 68). Note: The […]

Sheryl Martinez Fremont, Calif. I have waited patiently, but still see your publication as sexist. There are new things happening daily regarding the professional women’s league, yet your publication never, I repeat, never prints anything. Can you please devote some print, preferably an entire issue, to women’s soccer, not college, that will discuss venues, coaches, […]

MLS and WUSA want a women’s league ù will they share? This women’s-pro-soccer-league idea is really catching on. Everybody, it seems, wants in. There’s, of course, WUSA ù the Women’s United Soccer Association ù Discovery Communications boss John S. Hendricks’ brainchild, which has, at least on paper, everything anyone could ever want from a pro […]

Here are the quotes from MLSÆs fourth weekly teleconference (April 11) of the 2000 season. The guests: MLS executive vice president: Ivan Gazidis Miami Fusion defender: Francis Okaroh Chicago Fire forward: Ante Razov Ivan Gazidis’ Opening Comments: “I’d like to start by addressing the Mexican player for Los Angeles. I don’t have any comments to […]

Monroe Bryant Oakland, Calif. Is a goalkeeper allowed to wear a helmet in a game? Mike Woitalla: I would certainly not permit it. Rule IV (1) (a): Player’s Equipment, states that “The basic compulsory equipment of a player shall consist of a jersey or shirt, shorts, stockings, shinguards and footwear.” No mention of helmet, plus […]

A handful of MLS clubs boast custom facilities while most remain guests at their own practices Occidental, Azusa Pacific, USC, Loyola Marymount, Rio Hondo, Pasadena City, Cal Tech. The list of former Los Angeles Galaxy training sites has grown each year since MLS kicked off in 1996. Oh, and don’t forget the ominous “Area H.” […]

Soccer America MagazineÆs MLS Team of the Week from games played April 8. Goalkeeper Joe Cannon (2) San Jose Defenders Rusty Pierce (1) New England Mauricio Wright (2) San Jose John Doyle (2) San Jose Ricardo Iribarren (1) Dallas Midfielders Ted Eck (1) Dallas Ben Olsen (1) D.C. United Wilmar Perez (2) Columbus Forwards Johnny […]

On the move: The Minnesota Thunder announced the signing of forward Luis Labastida. Minnesota also re-signed forward Gerard Lagos and inked newcomers John Menyongar and defender Ubusuku Abukusumo à The Seattle Sounders traded defender Jason Annicchero to the San Diego Flash for an undisclosed amount of cash. In 51 games over the last two seasons, […]

Germany’s Juergen Klinsmann, 35, won the World Cup and European Championship. The goalscorer who played in the leagues of Germany, Italy, France and England now makes his home in California. SOCCER AMERICA: Why aren’t you playing in MLS? JUERGEN KLINSMANN: A very simple reason. My decision to retire after World Cup ’98 was a family […]

The Kansas City Wizards claimed defender Tahj Jakins off of waivers. Jakins, 24, was the first overall selection in the 1997 college draft by the Colorado Rapids. (He attended UCLA.) The Rapids waived Jakins on April 5. He has appeared in one game this season, playing 57 minutes. Overall, he has played in 61 MLS […]

The Colorado Rapids filled their fourth foreigner slot with Junior Agogo, a British citizen who was born in Ghana. Agogo arrives from the Chicago Fire in exchange for a 2001 third-round draft pick. Agogo, 20, had joined the Fire in February from Sheffield Wednesday of the English Premier League. Agogo scored three goals and added […]

Host Panama earned the tie (1-1) it needed against Cuba to win the TFC Group C and advance to the final round of Olympic qualifying in Hershey, Pa. Panama got a goal from Roberto Brown in the 72nd minute, three minutes after Lester More scored to give the Cubans a 1-0 lead. Panama had beaten […]

Cuba’s 0-0 tie with Bermuda April 7 in Panama City eliminated the Bermudans from the Olympics. Cuba must beat host Panama April 9 to clinch the Group C title and take the final berth in the six-team TFC final round April 21-30. Standings: Panama 3 points; Cuba, Bermuda 1.

April 8 in Guadalajara Honduras 2 (Turcios 5, Ramirez 90) Jamaica 0. Half: 1-0. Att.: 1,000. Honduras — Valladares, Rosales, Izaguirre, Montoya, Turcios, Guerrero, R.Suazo, F.Pavon, Ramirez, Oliva (Cabrera, 57), D.Suazo. Jamaica — Ricketts, Johnson (Curtis 50), M.Williams (Davis 79), Hue, Smith, P.Graham, Griffiths, Powell, F.Taylor, Kelly (R.Graham 74), Stewart. Mexico 5 (Beltran 2, 45, […]