Category: Soccer America Daily

[YOUTH] The USA qualified for the 2008 Under-17 Girls World Cup in New Zealand, but it wasn’t easy. After cruising to three wins by a margin of 24-1 in group play, it needed a stoppage time goal by defender Crystal Dunn, to defeat Mexico, 1-0, in the semifinals at Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya, Trinidad. The other result was a stunner: Costa Rica, 2-0 over Canada.

[AMERICANS ABROAD] Monaco finalized the loan deal that brings American Freddy Adu from Benfica to the French league. Jerome de Bontin, Monaco’s French-American president, said Thursday that the club has an option to buy Adu for 5 million euros ($8 million), and he was on the lookout to sign another American before the end of the French transfer window in August. Adu and de Bontin talked to Soccer America’s Paul Kennedy at the U.S. Olympic training camp in Palo Alto, Calif.

[NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS-BOYS] Coached by former U.S. national team star Tab Ramos, the NJSA Gunners got off to a winning start at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in North Little Rock, Ark. on Wednesday with a 2-1 win over the Grand Rapids Crew Juniors. For more on Day 1 and all the boys results, goal scorers and schedules …

[NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS-GIRLS] Both defending girls champions lost on Day 1 of the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in North Little Rock, Ark. For more on Day 1 and all the girls results, goal scorers and schedules …

[AMERICANS ABROAD] “Brad Friedels don’t grow on trees.” Those were Blackburn Rovers chairman John Williams‘ words in announcing his club would not part with its 37-year-old American goalkeeper. Famous last words, they were. Friedel looks to be headed to Aston Villa in a move that could result in his salary being doubled to $5.2 million a year.

Does the soccer world care if the MLS can run its winning record against foreign opposition in the All-Star Game to 5-0? No. But the fact the MLS All-Stars-West Ham game is being televised to nearly 100 countries and approximately 300 media credentials have been issued shows the game is being taken seriously. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney reports from Toronto, where Landon Donovan and the boys from MLS are ready for the challenge.

[TRANSFER TALK] West Ham United, which faces the MLS All-Stars Thursday in Toronto, made its first major signing of the summer when it signed Swiss international Valon Behrami.

[MLS] The Houston Dynamo can go home now. In Washington since Friday, first for the SuperLiga game against D.C. United on Saturday, the Dynamo finally got in the twice-postponed league match with D.C. United on Wednesday. Barely. Unbelievably, the teams endured another power outage and heavy rains that flooded the field at RFK Stadium. D.C. United officials had said they’d go all night to get the game in. They almost did. It was after midnight when the Dynamo prevailed, 2-0.

[OFF THE POST] Swedish fast food chain Max bit off a bit more than it could chew when it decided to stand up to UEFA and its corporate sponsor McDonald’s.

Former MLS keeper Matt Jordan is alive and well and playing for Montreal, which by scraping out a 1-1 tie with Toronto FC Tuesday night at BMO Field captured the Nutrilite Championship and qualified as the Canadian representative in the CONCACAF Champions League.

American goalie Brad Friedel, who has played every Premier League game in the last four seasons at Blackburn Rovers, has asked to leave — the latest shock wave for the Lancashire club.

[EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES] Soccer America provides the latest on employment opportunities for soccer-related positions. They also include college coaching opportunities, as well as opportunities in pro soccer, youth soccer, the soccer industry and television.

[MLS] First it was bad weather. Then it was a power outage. The D.C. United-Houston Dynamo fixture is looking like the game that may never get played.

[YOUTH] The USA won Group A of the CONCACAF Under-17 Girls Championship with a 9-1 win against Trinidad & Tobago Tuesday night at Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya, Trinidad.

[OFF THE POST] In Saturday’s Russian league derby between Lokomotiv Moscow and Spartak Moscow, the referee was forced to stop play in the 74th minute when a shirtless man ran onto the field. Stadium officials were slow to react, so Spartak defender Radoslav Kovac jumped into action.

W-League playoff action begins Wednesday with the Northern and Northeast divisional rounds. The three conference champions, who will be crowned this weekend, will join the regular-season champion Pali Blues at the W-League championship tournament July 31-Aug. 2 in Virginia Beach, Va. For this week’s W-League playoff schedule …

[MLS] Seattle’s preparations for a spectacular launch in 2009 took another step forward with the announcement of a multi-year local TV deal, nearly nine months before it plays an official league match.

[MLS] Robbie Findley scored eight goals last year, leading all rookies, while splitting time with Real Salt Lake and Los Angeles. This year, Findley is focused on helping Real Salt Lake earn its first-ever MLS playoff spot. He saw action with the U.S. U-23 national team in Olympic qualifying and is an alternate for the Olympic team

[TRANSFER TALK] Claude Makelele, one of the world’s best defensive midfielders for a decade, has joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, fulfilling his desire to end his playing career in France. The 35-year-old Makelele joins the Parisian club after spending five years at Chelsea where he won two league titles.

Premier Development League playoff action begins Tuesday with Thunder Bay playing host to the Colorado Rapids U-23 and the Kalamazoo Outrage visiting the Chicago Fire in Central Conference action. Conference semifinals and finals will take place this weekend at Reading, Michigan, Central Florida and Fresno. For this week’s PDL playoff schedule …

[NORDIC CUP] The U.S. under-23 women’s national team successfully defended its Nordic Cup title with a 3-0 win over Germany for its fourth consecutive shutout of the tournament.