Category: Soccer America Daily

[OFF THE POST] After failing to establish himself in the Romanian league, 24-year-old Adrian Patulea traveled to England in hopes of earning a contract with a professional team. Patulea asked coaches at several different clubs to give him a trial but they refused, citing complications with his work forms. Frustrated, the Romanian striker decided to take drastic measures to be noticed by Lincoln City coach Peter Jackson

[CRIME & PUNISHMENT] Southampton winger Nathan Dyer has been ordered to commit 60 hours of community service by the Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court. The 20-year-old was charged along with teammate Bradley Wright-Phillips and three other men for committing burglary at a Southsea nightlub. Dyer, whose salary works out to $10,000 a week, pled guilty to stealing three cell phones and $300 worth of cash from purses in the club’s coatroom.

[TRANSFER TALK] Liverpool has captured the signature of Robbie Keane from Tottenham Hotspur. The Ireland captain signed a four-year deal with the Anfield club, while the two sides agreed to a $38 million transfer fee that could rise to $40.5 million, depending on performance-related clauses. In an unprecedented gesture, Liverpool also will throw in money directed to a Tottenham charity to appease Spurs management for the manner in which the deal was struck.

[VIDEO] South Korea goalkeeper Jung Sung-Ryeong scored a long-distance goal in a U-23 friendly against the Ivory Coast.

[NATIONAL CHAMPIONS-BOYS] North Texas teams swept the boys championships in the U-16 to U-19 age groups at the US Youth Soccer National Championships in North Little Rock, Ark. Its four boys titles were the most ever by teams from one state association in a single year. For a roundup of all the boys championships and all the results and goal scorers …

[NATIONAL CHAMPIONS-GIRLS] The Dallas Texans Red made history when they won three girls titles at the US Youth Soccer National Championships in North Little Rock, Ark. For a roundup of all the girls championships and all the results and goal scorers …

Led by two goals from rising U.S. U-20 star Felix Garcia, the defending champion Laredo Heat beat the Austin Aztex 3-1, to reach the semifinals of the Premier Development League. Two Canadian teams — the Thunder Bay Chill and Vancouver Whitecaps residency team — advanced to the final four, where they will also be joined by the Reading Rage. For all the PDL playoff results …

Former U.S. international Christie Welsh had a goal and an assist to lead the Washington Freedom to a 2-1 overtime win over the host Atlanta Silverbacks in the W-League’s Eastern Conference final. Former WPSL power FC Indiana won the Central Conference title when the Lionesses beat the Ottawa Fury, 4-3. The Seattle Sounders will join Washington, FC Indiana and the regular-season champion Pali Blues at the W-League championship tournament July 31-Aug. 2 in Virginia Beach, Va. For all the W-League playoff results …

The Puerto Rico Islanders moved to within one point of the Charleston Battery at the top of the USL First Division when they came back from two goals down to beat the Minnesota Thunder, 3-2, on Sunday. For all the weekend results and goal scorers …

[YOUTH] The USA raced out to a 4-0 lead and held on to beat Costa Rica, 4-1, and win the first Concacaf Under-17 Girls Championship Sunday night at Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya, Trinidad.

[MLS NAMES & NUMBERS/VIDEO] FC Dallas, whose crowd of 21,020 was twice that of the other three MLS games last weekend, rewarded its fans with a 4-0 rout over the Los Angeles Galaxy. For the weekend MLS highlights …

[BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP] Brazil won its third straight FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup with a 5-3 win over Italy in which Bruno and Sidney each scored twice.

[NATIONAL CHAMPIONS-BOYS] The Kansas City Wizards Juniors moved into Sunday’s final of the McGuire Cup with a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Nike Rush, their second win in two days in the U-19 boys group at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in North Little Rock, Ark. For more on Day 2 and all the boys results, goal scorers and schedules …

[NATIONAL CHAMPIONS-GIRLS] Sting Dallas, made up of players from last year’s runner-up from the Dallas Texans Red, won its second game in the U-18 girls group at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in North Little Rock, Ark., with a 2-0 win over FC Delco Fury on Thursday. For more on Day 2 and all the girls results, goal scorers and schedules …

[MLS] Houston and San Jose are sharing more than history in this expansion season of the Quakes, who were reincarnated this season after leaving the Bay Area two and a half years ago.

U.S. under-20 national team coach Thomas Rongen called up six MLS players for the Milk Cup, which begins Monday in Northern Ireland. The call-ups include 16-year-old Abdus Ibrahim, who scored his first MLS goal recently for Toronto TC, Jorge Flores, the former Sueno MLS winner who has scored three goals for Chivas USA, and New England’s Brandon Manzonelli, who had two assists for the U-20s in their recent 3-0 win over Mexico. For the complete U-20 roster …

[TRANSFER TALK] Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Muntari appears to be headed to Italian champion Inter Milan in a move that effectively puts an end to talk of England midfielder Frank Lampard rejoining his former Chelsea boss, Jose Mourinho, at Inter.

Disadvantaged by a lack of conditioning, West Ham United knew keeping pace with an in-season MLS All-Star squad would prove difficult. Yet flair and focus, as much as fitness, propelled the All-Stars past West Ham, 3-2, at a sold-out BMO Field Thursday. They pushed the pace early in the match and twice came back quickly from conceding a goal to score one of their own.

The packed house of 20,844 at BMO Field for the MLS All-Star Game caused some consternation before kickoff when large sections booed and whistled during the U.S. national anthem. The fans wanted to hear the Canadian national anthem — just as they wanted to see their Canadian players. They were rewarded in the second half when Ontario favorites Jim Brennan and Dwayne De Rosario came on.