Category: Section 2 Around the Net

“Time to learn Spanish,” Zlatan Ibrahimovic has posted on his Twitter page. The Sweden striker signed a five-year contract with Barcelona after passing a medical test on Monday that will send him from Inter Milan to Barcelona. The $65.6 million move contracts the 27-year-old until 2014 with a buy-out clause set at $357 million. As […]

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre doesn't appreciate the press calling Mexico's Gold Cup winning squad a "B team." "I remember having read – and I hated it – that this was a 'B' team. And now it might be the base,'' Aguirre fired back at reporters. But the only players from the squad that routed the […]

When U.S. national team goalkeeper Tim Howard joined Everton FC from Manchester United three years ago, he knew he was joining a club that had seen some legendary players, players like Neville Southall, regarded as one of the finest keepers in British soccer history, and 1966 England World Cup winners Ray Wilson and Alan Ball. […]

The Los Angeles Galaxy has rescinded the lifetime ban it originally imposed on a fan who jumped onto the field during an ill-tempered exchange between David Beckham and the home crowd. The unidentified Galaxy supporter leaped from the "Riot Squad" fan section onto the field at halftime of Beckham's return to the Home Depot Center […]

In 2007, the English Premier League sold its China rights exclusively to the pay-TV broadcaster, a decision that analysts believe hampered efforts to grow in the world’s most populous country and allowed the NBA to consolidate its lead in the battle for the hearts and wallets of Chinese sports fans. This year, Chinese television station […]

"Hard economic times can also foster innovation," writes Tom Dunmore of Pitchinvasion.net, "and it's no surprise that a supporter-owned and run club, FC United of Manchester, this summer became the first club I've heard of to allow supporters to set their own season ticket prices." The Unibond League club, which was formed in protest of […]

While he watched the Mexican players receive their championship medals and the Concacaf Gold Cup trophy on Sunday, U.S. striker Brian Ching was already looking forward to the World Cup qualifier on Aug. 12 between the two clubs. “It’s not going to be hard to carry over those emotions,” Ching said. “Standing on the field […]

On Saturday, Bordeaux, the champion of France's Ligue 1, defeated Ligue 2 champ Guingamp 2-0 to take the French Champions Trophy, the first of the league's official competitions held outside France. Played in Montreal's Olympic Stadium, the game was hosted by the United Soccer League's Montreal Impact, which will play a friendly against Bordeaux at […]

Jason Garey headed home the winner in the 92nd minute, two minutes into four minutes of stoppage time, to give the Crew a 3-2 victory over Toronto FC in Columbus Crew Stadium. "That's why you play the game, for moments like that," Garey said after scoring his third goal in the past two games. Garey's […]

Since July 18, 497,846 fans have filled eight U.S. stadiums for games involving a dozen club and national teams. And that's not counting the fans that gathered for the Sunday's Concacaf Gold Cup final and World Football Challenge games. The numbers don't lie about the growing interest for the game in the USA, particularly for […]

Landon Donovan enjoys the unique format of the MLS All-Star game. For the eight-time all-star, the game isn't simply an exhibition but a chance for players to prove themselves against high-profile competition. On Wednesday, the MLS all-stars will face Everton of the English Premier League at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. The format differs […]

Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton has been selected to replace Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad on the MLS All-Star team. Onstad strained his back in a 1-0 loss to New England on Saturday night. Thornton is second in the MLS in shutouts (seven) and third in goals-against average (0.88) and went 401 minutes without allowing […]

Steve Davis suggests that the packed stadiums popping up all over America this summer show the depth and diversity of this country’s love for soccer. Davis writes: “I tell people all the time that there are plenty of soccer fans in this country, it’s just that only a relatively small percentage like MLS. But since […]

New U.S. players are taking turns in the spotlight. Defender Clarence Goodson, who scored the opening goal in the U.S.’s 2-0 win over Honduras on Thursday, represents the sixth American newbie to get his first goal during the tournament. The U.S. continued its pattern of spreading the goal-scoring wealth, as Goodson represents the 10th U.S. […]

The jury at Liverpool Crown Court found Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard not guilty of affray on Thursday. The court accepted Gerrard’s explanation that he acted in self-defense when he punched businessman Marcus McGee at the Lounge Inn bar on Dec. 29 in a dispute over music. Gerrard admitted throwing three punches but said only one […]

After missing a number of chances to put the game way, Mexico capitalized on its final one during penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie with Costa Rica. Guillermo Ochoa came up with the big save on Costa Rica’s Froylan Ledezma, the substitute who scored the tying goal late in regulation stoppage time. Mexico’s Carlos Vela […]

The blockbuster striker-swap between Barcelona and Inter Milan came closer to completion on Friday after Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who would head to Barcelona for Samuel Eto'o plus cash, agreed to terms with the Spanish club. "There are agreements in principle with the player and with Inter and the documents are being drawn up," Barcelona sporting director […]

Landon Donovan remembers his first goal in MLS. It came in 2001 against U.S. teammate Tim Howard. “I think Richard Mulrooney played a long ball and I got behind their defense and I remember as I got closer to Timmy he kept backing up, which was a little strange,” Donovan, then playing for the San […]

The U.S. Open Cup got a little testier this week with club executives exchanged barbs. It began when Seattle’s Adrian Hanauer expressed disappointment that the U.S. Soccer Federation chose RFK Stadium as the site for the Sept. 2 championship game between the Seattle Sounders and D.C. United. He also questioned the legitimacy of bid process […]

D.C. United advanced to the U.S. Open Cup championship game for the second straight summer Tuesday night with a 2-1 victory over the USL-1 club Rochester Rhinos at the Maryland SoccerPlex. Injuries to both teams, however, tempered any celebrations. Rhinos midfielder Darren Kenton broke his ankle when it twisted beneath a challenge for the ball […]

Toronto FC came up short on the scoreboard on Wednesday night, losing the Carlsberg Cup on penalty kicks in a friendly against Argentine River Plate after scoreless regulation play. But the exhibition match allowed several reserves to see field, and it gave two new members of the TFC strike force to show what they could […]

Wake Forest forward Cody Arnoux is set to join the American revolution at Everton. The Premier League team, whose starting keeper is Tim Howard, was impressed by the American youngster during his trial at Everton in March. Arnoux looks poised to sign a contract with the Liverpool-based club, making him the second American player to […]

Burnley FC, a club recently promoted to the English Premier League, has plans to stay in the top flight and grander plans to establish new sources of talent to help make that happen. One of Burnley’s ideas is to establish feeder clubs in the United States, with the hope of uncovering some gems on this […]

Newly promoted Serie A Club Livorno wants Landon Donovan. Livorno's president Aldo Spinelli has been in talks with Donovan's agent and sponsors with a view to signing the 26-year-old. But any deal would likely be a short-term one. "I think at this point it will be done for next season only, seeing as the sponsors […]

Just days after South America produced the youngest ever professional soccer player in 12-year-old [now 13] Mauricio Baldivieso, the continent has now brought a 46-year-old player out of retirement. On Wednesday, America de Cali of Columbia re-signed Antony de Avila, the 5-foot-3 in striker nicknamed "El Pitufo," or "The Smurf." De Avila is America de […]