Category: Soccer America Daily

[U-17 WORLD CUP SCOREBOARD/VIDEO]. Spain beat Ghana, 2-1, on an overtime goal by Bojan Krkic to reach the U-17 World Cup final, in which it will meet the winner of the Nigeria-Germany semifinal. But Krkic, who is on the verge of cracking Barcelona’s first team, was ejected for a second yellow card late in the game and will miss the final.

No jail for drunk Danish field invader

The inebriated Danish fan who stormed the field and attacked referee Herbert Fandel during a European Championship qualifier in June will have to perform 40 hours of community service but his 30-day prison sentence for attempted assault and illegal entry is suspended because the court said he had already suffered significant consequences after the assault. Denmark was tied, 3-3, against Sweden when the fan rushed the field and attempted to punch Fandel. The game was abandoned and Sweden was awarded a 3-0 win.

Spanish Federation nixes Catalonia-USA friendly

The USA’s Oct. 14 friendly against Catalonia, has been vetoed by the Spanish soccer federation. “There’s an agreement between clubs and the league that all games played by autonomous selections have to be played during Christmas holidays since it doesn’t leave the clubs in a tough spot and the players don’t risk injury,” federation spokesman Jorge Carretero said. The friendly between the USA and Catalonia would have fallen between Spain’s Euro 2008 qualifier at Denmark on Oct. 13 and a friendly against Finland in Helsinki on Oct. 17.

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“Yes, for your country, you’ve got to haven’t you? Previous players have before. You would do anything to play for your country. I have never played with a painkilling injection but everyone is their own person and if they want to do it then it is up to them.”

— England defender Micah Richards joins the debate on whether midfielder Steven Gerrard should take a needle so he can play on a broken toe in England’s Euro 2008 qualifier against Israel on Saturday. (Reuters)

W-League products at the Women’s World Cup

[MAKING A LIST] There are 54 current or former W-League players representing nine teams at the 2007 Women’s World Cup that will kickoff Monday.

The entire Canadian team has played in the W-League, and 13 members of the U.S. team have experience in the W-League. Other nations with W-League representatives headed to the tournament are Australia (6 players), Ghana (4), New Zealand (2), Japan (1) and Norway (1).

Four players headed to China less than two months after the conclusion of their club play in the W-League are Jodi-Ann Robinson and Sophie Schmidt of the Vancouver Whitecaps, Jersey Sky Blue’s Formiga (Brazil) and Ottawa Fury’s Faye White (England).

Promising Matchup: Chivas USA vs. D.C. United

by Ridge MahoneySeptember 6, 2007

[MLS TV PREVIEW] Since day one of the preseason, the theme of Chivas USA’s 2007 season has been maintaining the progress it achieved in 2006 despite a coaching change and the departure of two Mexican star attackers. In the third year of its existence Chivas USA is butting up against the top tier of MLS, and can crack through the barrier separating it from the elite teams this week when it plays D.C. United (Thursday) and Red Bull New York (Sunday) at the Home Depot Center, where it has posted the league’s best home record (7-0-1). Critics of MLS wondering how the league can showcase itself without David Beckham should tune in to this national telecast on Thursday night.

Soccer’s $2 billion summer industry

by Paul KennedySeptember 5, 2007

An increase in television revenues and the arrival of new owners have triggered record spending by English Premier League clubs on the transfer market. English teams spent more than 530 million pounds ($1.1 billion) on players on the 2007 winter and summer markets, according to a report by Deloitte & Touche LLP. Spending by teams from Europe’s big 5 leagues during the summer window that ended Aug. 31 totaled about $2 billion.

Imports threaten England national team

Trevor Brooking, English soccer’s director of development, blames the mass importation of foreigners by English Premier Leagues for the lack of depth at key positions on the England national team that is in a fight to qualify for Euro 2008. Of the 118 goals scored this season, only nine have been scored by English strikers.

Highest Transfer Fees-Summer 2007

Huge increases in TV revenues have had an inflationary effect on the European transfer market. Here are the 15 highest transfer fees, based on estimations from club and media reports, during the summer transfer market that ended Aug. 31.

OBITUARIES: Gift Leremi and Gustavo Eberto

Two young soccer stars, South African international Gift Leremi and former Argentine U-20 goalie Gustavo Eberto, died on Monday. Leremi, 22, was killed when he was flung from his car when it went off the road and overturned outside of Johannesburg. Eberto died after a 20-month battle with testicular cancer at the age of 24.

MLS late wheelings and dealings

by Ridge MahoneySeptember 5, 2007

The international transfer window has closed, yet MLS teams may still sign and trade players prior to the Sept. 15 deadline, and several teams are doing just that. Sometimes teams are just adding depth, and sometimes they’re looking for that missing piece to make it all fit together. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney looks at reinforcements in Chicago, New York and New England.

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“He’s had a few headlines this week, some welcome, some unwelcome.”

— Aston Villa coach Martin O’Neill on defender Zat Knight, who on Wednesday was jailed with his brother after a drug raid on his family home and on Sunday scored in a 2-0 win over Chelsea. (The Guardian)

Women’s pro league launch delayed to 2009

Originally scheduled to launch in 2008, the seven-team pro Women’s Soccer LLC now aims for a 2009 launch. League commissioner Tonya Antonucci said, “Careful consideration was taken in timing the launch of the league, as team owners are being judicious to ensure that this league is sustainable and successful in the long run. It’s a simple matter of preparation and operational readiness.”

U.S. Open Cup another all-MLS affair

For the 10th time since MLS’s launch in 1996 the U.S. Open Cup will be an all-MLS affair. In the semifinals on Tuesday, FC Dallas defeated the Seattle Sounders (USL-1), 2-1, on overtime goals by Carlos Ruiz and Abe Thompson. The New England Revolution also needed overtime, beating USL-1 club Carolina RailHawks 2-1 with a winner from Pat Noonan.

Soccer America Women’s College Top 25 Weekend Results

The 2007 NCAA Division I women’s season kicked with several big upsets, notably South Carolina’s 1-0 win at No. 1 North Carolina. No. 3 UCLA fell to No. 8 Texas on Sunday in Houston, and No. 2 Notre Dame had to settle for a 0-0 tie in its opener against Michigan.

European-based players dominate U.S. roster

[ROSTER] Coach Bob Bradley has named a 19-man roster for the USA’s friendly against Brazil on Sept. 9 in Chicago that includes 14 European-based players. Among the MLS players is Landon Donovan, who will be looking to set a U.S. national team record by scoring his 35th goal. 1860 Munich’s Josh Wolff returns to the squad for the first time since the 2006 World Cup.

Berhalter scores third for 1860 Munich

[AMERICANS IN GERMANY] Defender Gregg Berhalter converted a late penalty kick for his third goal in four games this season to earn 1860 Munich a 1-1 tie with FC Koeln and keep his club undefeated and at the top of the German Second Division. Forward Josh Wolff played first 54 minutes for 1860. Only one American saw action in First Division play.

Santos undefeated after six games

[AMERICANS IN MEXICO] Santos Laguna is no longer perfect in Apertura 2007 play but remains undefeated after a 2-2 with Atlante in which Edgar Castillo played his sixth-straight full game for Santos. Jesus Padilla, 20, who was born in Mexico and raised in San Jose, Calif., made his third appearance, all as a sub, in Chivas Guadalajara’s 1-0 win over Tigres.

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“I don’t know the kind of superlatives I can lay on him. He’s an ideal player to have. He brings a work ethic that’s second to none to our club. He produces on game days and knows how to deal with coaches, players teammates and press. He’s been the perfect package, to date. He hasn’t been 100 percent [ribs], yet he plays and you don’t hear him complain. He’s been superb.”

— New York Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena on his Colombia forward Juan Pablo Angel, whose 14th goal of the season gave the Bulls a 1-0 win over Chicago. (New York Post)

Danny Szetela signs with Spain’s Racing Santander

The Columbus Crew’s Danny Szetela, who scored thrice for the USA at this year’s U-20 World Cup, has signed a two-year contract with Spanish First Division club Racing Santander. The 20-year-old New Jersey product had been linked to Italy’s AS Roma.

D.C. thumps Dallas; Bulls blank Blanco

by Ridge MahoneySeptember 4, 2007

D.C. handed Dallas its worst loss ever at Pizza Hut Park; New York edged Chicago in a battle of DPs; Kansas City came out of Houston with a point; Columbus and Colorado tied to remain deadlocked in the final playoffs spot; and Real Salt Lake dropped the Galaxy deeper into the Western Conference cellar. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney reviews last weekend’s MLS action …

Super hat trick in Paraguay

Jose Burgos came on as a 77th minute sub for 12 de Octubre with his team trailing 2-0 against Olimpia and notched a hat trick within 10 minutes.

WEEKEND ROUNDUP: International Soccer Headliners

by Paul KennedySeptember 4, 2007

[VIDEO] Soccer America begins its weekly series, during the international club season, reviewing the weekend’s big TV matches, with a look at the players, coaches and matches making headlines around the world. Chelsea fell back into a tie with Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton at the top of the English Premier League after dropping a 2-0 decision at Aston Villa that prompted Blues manager Jose Mourinho to say the big teams will not have an easy ride in 2007-08. At the other end of the EPL table, Spurs’ struggles are putting pressure on Dutch manager Martin Jol. Dutch youngster Wesley Sneijder is off to a flying start at Real Madrid, while Juventus also remained perfect since returning to Serie A thanks to a dramatic 3-2 win at Cagliari.

Americans score in Europe

[AMERICANS IN ENGLAND] Clint Dempsey might have finally nailed down a starting role for Fulham. In his second straight start of the season he scored his second straight goal. With the Fulham down 2-0 late in the first half, Dempsey scored with a powerful header to set the Cottagers on the way to a 3-3 tie. Teammate Carlos Bocanegra contributed by denying Jermaine Jenas a chance before Dempsey’s strike. Keeper Kasey Keller, who debuted for Fulham last week, was on the bench because starter Antti Niemi was back from injury. Two other American keepers did see action.

USL First Division Results