Category: Section 2 Around the Net

Making his first public appearance in Southern California since returning from loan to AC Milan, David Beckham addressed criticisms from teammate Landon Donovan in the book, “The Beckham Experiment” that he was fully committed to the Galaxy last season before leaving on loan to AC Milan. Primarily, Beckham defended his own professionalism while criticizing Donovan’s […]

When David Beckham returns to the Galaxy this weekend he and teammate Landon Donovan will have some tension to alleviate. Donovan says he is eager to explain his criticisms of Beckham's commitment to the team that appear in a soon-to-be published book, "The Beckham Experiment." "I don't apologize for what I said," Donovan said Thursday. […]

The rivalry between Chivas USA and the Los Angeles Galaxy has always been a tempestuous one, but Saturday's SuperClasico is shaping up to be the most intriguing editions of the battle yet. Plot lines abound, such as the media frenzy surrounding Landon Donovan's recent criticisms about teammate David Beckham, or last week's trade of striker […]

“There were quite a few clubs that contacted me, like Manchester United, Inter Milan and Barcelona, but I decided to come here,” Karim Benzema said of joining Real Madrid. “I’ve dreamed about playing here since I was 15 years of age.” The French international added: “Real Madrid president Florentino Perez spoke to me about the […]

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho fired back at journalists’ questions with the type of terse, bizarre and controversial lines that he has become famous for. Mourinho even strangely joked that a reporters’ line of questioning sounded “gay” when he was pressed to give a clue about the type of defender he was looking for. “You […]

Striking construction workers at 2010 World Cup stadiums have until Tuesday to consider a new offer by employers, according to the AP. The strike, which entered its third day Friday, is threatening to derail already tight schedules for construction projects supposed to be completed by December. Union official Rufus Dizana says employers offered workers a […]

LDU Quito added the South American Supercup to its 2008 Copa Libertadores victory when it beat Internacional of Brazil 4-0 on aggregate on Thursday. LDU, which lost the Club World Cup final 1-0 to Manchester United last December, beat Internacional 3-0 at home in the second leg. Argentine striker Claudio Bieler scored twice, once in […]

AC Milan completed the signing of U.S. international Oguchi Onyewu this week on a free transfer from Belgian club Standard Liege. Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday reports the 27-year-old defender will fly to Italy’s fashion capital at the start of next week to undergo a routine medical with the Rossoneri before finalizing […]

Freddy Adu played his final minutes in the 2009 Gold Cup against Honduras. He now returns to Portuguese club Benfica for preseason training in the hopes of earning the playing time that has eluded him of late. “This will be the last game that Freddy will appear in the Gold Cup,” U.S. coach Bob Bradley […]

Questions have surrounded Real Salt Lake striker Yura Movsisyan since word broke that he signed with Danish Superliga club Randers FC last weekend. Details of the commitment remain murky while the MLS and Randers sort out the details. Movsisyan says he will join the Horses as soon as circumstances permit. “If they come to an […]

English Premier League club Everton is hoping to complete a deal for the 22-year-old American Anton Peterlin by the end of the week. Graham Smith, Peterlin’s coach at the Ventura County Fusion, believes Peterlin can succeed in England but says he will need time to adapt. “A 22-year-old boy like Anton Peterlin, probably David Moyes […]

Brazil’s Cruzeiro ground out a scoreless draw at Estudiantes in the first leg of the final in the Argentine city of La Plata on Wednesday. Brazil national team goalkeeper Fabio made five brilliant saves for the visitors, including two against dangerous strikes from Juan Sebastian Veron. “We had the best chances… but their goalkeeper had […]

Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky hopes to be back in action during the opening weeks of the new campaign after almost 18 months out with injury. The Czech star last played against Newcastle in the FA Cup in January 2008. Since then a combination of injuries in his hamstring and knee tendons, which proved difficult to […]

Ronaldo scored three times as Corinthians beat Fluminense 4-2 in a Brazilian championship game at the Pacaembu stadium in Sao Paulo on Wednesday night. The goals marked Ronaldo’s first of the Brasileiro this season. The 2002 World Cup champion scored several goals in the Paulista State Championship and the Copa do Brasil, two championships that […]

Freddy Adu and Santino Quaranta share a difficult past. The two Maryland natives once shared RFK Stadium’s field as teenagers on D.C. United, both forced into adulthood too soon and eventually shipped off for unflattering reasons – Adu because of impetuousness, Quaranta because of a drug addiction. “He’s come a long way. I’m just very […]

South African construction workers went on an indefinite strike Wednesday at stadiums being built for the 2010 World Cup — a move that could derail Africa’s historic first World Cup tournament. About 70,000 workers at stadiums across the country downed tools after wage negotiations deadlocked earlier this week. Workers are demanding a 13 percent pay increase while employers are only offering a 10.4 percent rise.

For the second game in a row, Ali Gerba provided all the offense Canada needed. Gerba scored in the 32nd minute as Canada remained undefeated at the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 1-0 victory over El Salvador last night. El Salvador defender Manuel Salazar misplayed a cross from Canadian captain Paul Stalteri. The ball fell […]

Celso Borges‘ goal in the 64th minute gave Costa Rica a 1-0 win over Jamaica in their Gold Cup match Tuesday night in Columbus, Ohio. Borges slid to get under a low cross from second-half substitute Pablo Herrera, knocking the ball beneath the arm of goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts. Jamaica played a man down after referee […]

Former FA Cup winner Southampton has a buyer. Swiss tycoon Markus Liebherr, a member of one of Europe’s top business dynasties, paid an undisclosed amount to buy the club from its administrators. Liebherr, 61, said in a statement on the club’s website (www.saintsfc.co.uk): “I believe we have a superb opportunity to rebuild this great club. […]

Uruguayan coach Sergio Markarian ended his tenure at Universidad de Chile in style, winning the Chile championship final. Chilean Juan Manuel Oliveira scored a diving header in the 63rd minute to give “the U” a 1-0 away win over Union Espanola in the second leg of the Apertura final on Tuesday night, for a 2-1 […]

Former Villarreal goalkeeper Mariano Barbosa will join Atlas of Mexico from River Plate after fellow Argentine and River teammate Marcelo Ojeda failed a medical with a blood disease. Barbosa comes to the Red and Blacks on a three-year contract. Barbosa, 24, played for Villarreal between 2005 and 2007.

Oguchi Onyewu‘s outstanding performances for the U.S. national team in the Confederations Cup boosted his profile – a lot. The center back has joined AC Milan on a three-year contract the club said Tuesday, becoming the first U.S. player to join Serie A in more than 10 years. Onyewu joins Milan from Standard Liege in […]

U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley has been suspended for four games by FIFA, soccer’s governing body, for “committing acts of misconduct against opponents and match officials” in the USA’s 2-0 upset of Spain on June 24, a FIFA spokesman has confirmed to SI.com. But Bradley will still be available for the USA’s World Cup qualifier at […]

The Chicago Fire’s Calen Carr suffered a severe MCL sprain last July that threatened his greatest attribute, his speed. A year later, he is back to dispel any doubts about his recovery. “I think when you go through a major injury, especially a knee injury, you have a lot of questions that pop into your […]

A recent swine flu outbreak in Buenos Aires cast doubt over the proceedings of the first leg of the final of the Copa Libertadores, Latin America’s most prestigious club competition. But the two finalists, Cruzeiro of Brazil and Estudiantes of Argentina, are scheduled to play Wednesday in La Plata, Argentina, located about 35 miles southeast […]