Category: Soccer America Daily

[NAMES & NUMBERS] The Los Angeles Galaxy is doing its share to keep MLS scoring on the upswing. After its win in Dallas, the Galaxy has scored a league high 19 goals while conceding 16. Only D.C. United, which got spanked by Chivas USA, has given up more goals (17). For the weekend’s MLS highlights. …

Columbus could muster only a scoreless tie with Toronto but kept its lead in the East. For the up-to-date MLS standings and leading scorers, all the weekend summaries and this week’s schedule. …

[CHAMPIONS] Lyon added to its legend when it won its seventh straight French league title, beating Auxerre, 3-1, on Saturday to finish four points ahead of Bordeaux, which tied, 2-2, at Lens. No other team from a big five European league has won six straight titles, let alone seven.

[WPS] The Chicago entrant in the new Women’s Professional Soccer has named Englishwoman Emma Hayes, a coach at the top-ranked Arsenal Ladies Football Club in London, as its head coach and director of soccer operations.

[BRAZIL TOUR] Ronaldinho is out but Kaka, Alexandre Pato and Robinho will be the headliners for Brazil’s two-game tour of the United States. For the complete Brazil roster …

U.S. national team head coach Bob Bradley has named a pool of 33 players who have been called for friendlies against England, Spain and Argentina, beginning with a game against England May 28 at Wembley Stadium. For a look at who’s invited …

By beating Real Salt Lake, 2-0, Thursday night with two second-half goals, the Colorado Rapids confirmed their status as best team in the Western Conference. coff if you will at their 4-4-0 record, good for a three-point lead over FC Dallas (2-2-3). The Rapids aren’t scintillating enough to scare people, but they’re good enough to win.

[AMERICANS ABROAD] U.S. defenders Daniel Hernandez and Edgar Castillo started in wins for Chiapas and Santos, respectively, in the first leg of their quarterfinal series in Mexico’s Torneo Clausura.

Eastern Conference teams will look to continue their dominance of Western opponents in three East-West clashes on Saturday: New England-San Jose, Chicago-Houston and Chivas USA-D.C. United. For all the MLS weekend action on television …

Portsmouth and Cardiff City, two unlikely teams, meet in Saturday’s English FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. Italy’s Scudetto will be decided on Sunday when leader Inter Milan and second-place Roma, one point back, travel to Parma and Catania, respectively. Mexico’s playoffs continue with the second leg of the quarterfinals, while league play concludes in Germany and Spain. For all the weekend international action on television …

[WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING] Two new venues and an old standby are destined to host the three U.S. home matches in the semifinal phase of 2010 World Cup qualifying.

[DATEBOOK] The CONCACAF version, that is. Modeled after the European competition but with a dash of Libertadores Cup thrown into the mix, the confederation club championship will feature 24 teams vying for the regional title and a spot in the 2009 World Club Cup.

[EURO ’08 COUNTDOWN] The Czech Republic will head to the European Championship next month without captain Tomas Rosicky and former European Player of the Year Pavel Nedved. For the Czech roster …

[LIBERTADORES CUP] Mexican club Atlas held defending Libertadores Cup champion Boca Juniors to a 2-2 tie in the first leg of their quarterfinal series on Wednesday.

Play in Week 7 of Major League Soccer kicks off Thursday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, where the Colorado Rapids meet Real Salt Lake in the Rocky Mountain Cup series. For all this week’s MLS games on television …

[UEFA CUP] Nothing — not a midnight prank that robbed them of a good night’s sleep, the specter of Glasgow Rangers’ manager Walter Smith‘s past close calls or the relatively unknown reputation of their club – could prevent Zenit St. Petersburg players from completing a remarkable run in the UEFA Cup by lifting the trophy.

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

[MLS] With David Beckham in tow, the Los Angeles Galaxy headed back on the exhibition circuit, and it had no more luck Tuesday night than it has had in MLS, where it’s again playing below .500 almost two months into the 2008 season.

[MLS] You have to give the Colorado Rapids some credit; they’re throwing everything but the kitchen sink at their ESPN2 Thursday night clash against Rocky Mountain rival Real Salt Lake. Midweek attendances for MLS games remain problematic, especially those played before summer vacations commence, but Colorado is attacking the midweek malaise in several manners.

[EURO ’08 COUNTDOWN] Sweden recalled veteran striker Henrik Larsson in a surprise move for the European Championship. Larsson, who retired from international play after the 2006 World Cup, did not play in the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign but has scored six goals in 11 games for his club, Helsingborg. His return to international soccer is the third of his career. For the complete Sweden roster …

[UEFA CUP] American DaMarcus Beasley traveled with Rangers to Manchester, but he is not expected to be included in the Scottish club’s squad for Wednesday’s UEFA Cup final against Zenit St. Petersburg (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, live, 2:30 pm ET) that would make him the first American to play in a European cup final.

[YOUTH] The U.S. under-20 women’s national team is in Clemson, S.C. for a two-week training camp  as Coach Tony DiCicco puts the team through some final preparations before next month’s CONCACAF Qualifying in Puebla, Mexico. For the complete under-20 women’s roster …