Category: Section 2 Around the Net

Clint Dempsey didn’t immeditaly know his goal against Egypt, which gave the USA a 3-0 win, clinched passage to the semifinals of the Conferedations Cup. But the U.S. players soon got word that, combined with Brazil’s 3-0 triumph over Italy, the USA earned date on Wednesday with European champion Spain. “I was just happy that […]

On Thursday, Toronto FC needed to win by at least four goals over the Montreal Impact to win the Canadian Nutrilite Championship and represent Canada in the 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League. Toronto put in six goals, winning 6-1 with an epic attacking display to earn the first trophy in team history. With the heavens pouring […]

U.S. coach Bob Bradley and his players assesed their 3-0 Confederations Cup loss to Brazil on Thursday. Obviously, they lamented the early goal conceded and Sasha Kljestan‘s ejection, but Landon Donovan pointed out Brazil’s overall advantage: “They pass the ball very well. Athletically, even if you do get a chance to get around them and […]

Cruzeiro booked its spot in the Copa Libertadores semifinals with a 2-0 win over fellow-Brazilian team Sao Paulo on Thursday, while Estudiantes of Argentina defeated Uruguay's Defensor Sporting to advance. Sao Paulo had two players sent off and Cruzerio took advantage of its extra men to come away with a 4-1 aggregate victory after winning […]

Edgaras Jankauskas, the 34-year-old Lithuanian striker, has appeared more than 50 times for his country. Jankauskas played for Portuguese giants FC Porto when the club won the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Champions League in 2003 and 2004. He also starred for Benfica, Real Sociedad, Hearts and CSKA Moscow at various points during his lengthy […]

As the rest of the world complains that the relentless noise created by vuvuzela trumpets during Confederations Cup games pains its ears, South African fans defend their noisemakers. South Africans take pride in instrument as a unique part of their culture. "This is our voice. We sing through it," said Chris Massah Malawai, a 23-year-old […]

Members of Egypt’s team had their Johannesburg hotel rooms burgled while they were upsetting Italy 1-0 at the Confederations Cup on Thursday. Only one of the five rooms that had been invaded had cash, she said, but it was unclear how much money was stolen. “We’re busy investigating,” national police spokeswoman Sally De Beer said. […]

Earlier this month at the 59th FIFA Congress, soccer’s governing body announced that the age restrictions regarding players’ international status would be lifted. Within days, Schalke midfielder Jermaine Jones, who has played in three friendlies for Germany, announced he would offer his services to the United States. Though many U.S. fans and journalists imagined the […]

Toronto FC announced that it has released Rohan Ricketts after two seasons with the club. The 26-year-old England-native had been a consistent member of the starting lineup for The Reds. A veteran of the English leagues, Ricketts played spells with Tottenham, Wolves, and Barnsley before joining Toronto in April of 2008. Since joining TFC, Ricketts […]

With a draw against Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, North Korea did enough to join South Korea, Australia and Japan as an automatic qualifier from Asia for South Africa 2010. It will mark North Korea's first appearance in the World Cup since 1966 in England, when the team famously defeated Italy at Middlesbrough's Ayresome Park. North […]

Before the start of the Clausura 2009 season, Francisco "Panchito" Mendoza joined the club of his dreams as he left Chivas USA of the MLS and returned home to play for Guadalajara. Now, Mendoza is off on another far-flung journey, this time to the jungles of southern Mexico. Leaving the Chivas family for the first […]

On Wednesday, Uruguayan club Nacional advanced to its first Copa Libertadores semifinals since 1989 thanks to a scoreless draw with Brazil's Palmeiras at Centennial Stadium. Nacional advanced on the away-goal rule, thanks to Santiago Garcia's goal 10 minutes from the end of the 1-1 draw in San Pablo three weeks ago. On Wednesday, Nacional was […]

As part of its epic search to find a new stadium, D.C. United has provided a survey that asks fans to rank their preferred location for construction. Available on the club's website, http://www.dcunited.com, the survey provides three options: lower Montgomery, Loudoun, and the District. "We're engaging fans for some thoughts on a few different municipalities," […]

There's an air of invincibility for D.C. United, even when trailing late in matches on the road. In these games, D.C. United has gritted out four ties and two wins in six close contests. On Wednesday night, the Eastern Conference leaders dug out another result against the Seattle Sounders at Qwest Field. They earned a […]

Landon Donovan knows USA faces a tough task tomorrow against Brazil in its second FIFA Confederations Cup game. However, the U.S.'s all-time top scorer is confident his team can grind out a result against the star-studded Seleção. "We had the opportunity to see some of their (Brazil's) game against Egypt and I have to be […]

After a tough road trip last week, Chivas USA sets aside MLS play until July 11 to focus on SuperLiga 2009. Tournament play begins on Saturday as the Red-and-White battle Mexico's Tigres UANL at The Home Depot Center. SuperLiga takes on special significance for Chivas USA stars Eduardo Lillingston, Mariano Trujillo and Claudio Suarez. The […]

Afshin Ghotbi, the former Los Angeles Galaxy assistant coach, has a shot at completing one of soccer’s all-time quick fix projects with his new team, Iran. Appointed Iran’s head coach in April, Ghotbi and Iran need to avoid defeat Wednesday night in Seoul against South Korea to keep their hopes of World Cup qualification alive. […]

After working its way back into sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference, D.C. United enters one of the toughest stretches of its season. The team now must deal with a string of three road games against some of the hottest teams in the league following its convincing win Saturday over the Chicago […]

Australia came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 with a second-half double from Tim Cahill on Wednesday to finish top of Asian World Cup qualifying Group One. Both countries had already reached the 2010 finals in South Africa with their last qualifier deciding who would take the plaudits in the group. Cahill struck just before […]

On Tuesday, Puebla introduced its newest player, veteran Mexican striker Jared Borgetti, who said he came for one reason. "I came to play," Borgetti said in a press conference. "That's the proposition and that's what drives, try to do the best job possible and try to help the team gain its objectives." Borgetti had a […]

FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, is considering abolishing age limits for the Olympics and barring all players with World Cup experience. FIFA president Sepp Blatter had initially suggested reducing the present under-23 limit, but Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, suggested that such a change would affect the quality of the Olympic competition […]

Roberto Martinez's protracted move from Swansea City to Wigan Athletic was finally made official on Monday. Martinez will rejoin the club that he helped propel out of the Third Division. Latics chairman Dave Whelan beamed to the press about getting the Spaniard, "I am excited to have Roberto back. Memories are brought back from 1995. […]

Celtic announced that Tony Mowbray will replace Gordon Strachan as the club's manager. Strachan quit last month after missing out on the Scottish Premier League title. "Celtic Football Club is delighted today to confirm that Tony Mowbray has been appointed the new Celtic manager," a club statement said. The 45-year-old Mowbray was given permission to […]

“Let’s not get carried away and say that the day of the tough, tackle-happy enforcement presence in the holding midfield spot is dead. It’s not,” writes Steve Davis of MLSnet.com. Davis, however, diagnoses a trend in the MLS toward favoring more deep-lying playmakers over traditional tacklers. Winning the ball and covering ground remains a priority,” […]

Midfielder/forward Pat Noonan has talent, versatility and an impressive resume. The former New England Revolution standout is a two-time Major League Soccer All-Star and former scoring champion (tied in Amado Guevara with 30 points on 11 goals and eight assists in 2004). His credentials are impressive, but they were not enough to keep him on […]