[MLS] Talk about an inconvenient conflict! Toronto FC’s Dwayne De Rosario was selected to the MLS All-Star First XI for the All-Star Game July 29 against Everton in Sandy, Utah, but he’ll be unavailable because of his club’s CONCACAF Champions League preliminary match against the Puerto Rico Islanders the same day. Chicago’s Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who was narrowly beaten out by De Rosario in the voting for the fifth and final midfield spot, will take De Rosario’s spot on the team.
Category: Soccer America Daily
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Carlos Ruiz moves to Mexico
[UPDATE] Carlos Ruiz, who played a supporting role in the much-publicized “The Beckham Experiment” as the overpaid (for purposes of getting the Los Angeles Galaxy under the salary cap) foreign star, is on the move for a second time since leaving Major League Soccer. After a successful Apertura campaign at Paraguayan club Olimpia, he got his wish to move to closer to family in Guatemala and the United States, signing with Mexican club Puebla, where he will replace former FC Dallas teammate Ramon Nunez.
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Murphy manages powerless Livingston
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Former MLS assistant coach John Murphy is the first American to manage a Scottish pro club, taking over second-level Livingston, but it’s hardly a glamorous position. The club’s stadium has been without electricity since last month because it has been unable to pay the bill, and fans weren’t be allowed to see Saturday’s pre-season friendly against Falkirk because local police declined to issue a safety certificate for the stadium.
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Big weeks for Sanchez and Watson
[USL TEAMS OF THE WEEK] Minnesota’s Ricardo Sanchez, who had a goal and an assist in the Thunder’s 3-0 win over Montreal, and former U.S. U-17 international Jamie Watson, who had a goal and three assists in the Wilmington Hammerheads’ 4-0 victory over the visiting Western Mass Pioneers, earned the USL First Division and Second Division Player of the Week honors, respectively. For the USL-1 and USL-2 Teams of the Week …
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Krupnik joins Red Bulls from Israel
[MLS] The struggling New York Red Bulls signed 29-year-old American defender Leo Krupnik from Maccabi Haifa, champion of the Israeli Premier League, in a move that will take effect after the international transfer window opens on July 15.
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U.S. internationals on the move abroad
[MAKING A LIST] Danny Szetela returned to Spanish club Racing Santander after spending the last year and a half on loan to Italian Serie B club Brescia. For all the U.S. internationals who have made confirmed moves over the summer …
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International soccer returns to Baghdad
[IRAQ] Iraq played its first home game in Baghdad since the 2003 invasion toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein, beating Palestine, 4-0, on Monday. The 45,000-seat Shaab Stadium, which seats about 45,000 people, was packed with fans — indicative of the improvement in conditions.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“It’s a fabulous challenge, but I’d rather work with those two than two lousy players.”
— Los Angeles Galaxy coach Bruce Arena on having to settle difference between his team’s two stars, David Beckham and London Donovan. (USA Today)
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Schelotto leads in all-star voting
[MLS] Seven first-time all-stars joined runaway vote leader Guillermo Barros Schelotto and perennial stars London Donovan, Dwayne De Rosario and Shalrie Joseph on the MLS All-Star First XI for the 2009 MLS All-Star Game, which will be played on July 29 at Real Salt Lake’s Rio Tinto Stadium when the MLS All-Stars play England’s Everton (TV: ESPN2 and Galavision, live, 9:30 p.m. ET).
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Beckham and Donovan make peace
[MLS] On Saturday, David Beckham called Landon Donovan “unprofessional” for attacking his professionalism in the new book The Beckham Experiment. On Monday, the Los Angeles teammates said they had made peace at a meeting with Coach Bruce Arena, allowing them to move forward in their bid to end the Galaxy’s skid of three straight seasons without making the MLS playoffs.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“It’s unprofessional in my eyes. In every soccer player’s eyes throughout the world it would be unprofessional to speak out about a teammate especially in the press and not to your face. But I’m going to turn it on a positive spin because that’s what this needs. But in 17 years, I have played with the biggest teams in the world and the biggest players and not once have I been criticized for my professionalism.”
— David Beckham on Landon Donovan questioning the Englishman’s commitment to the Los Angeles Galaxy in the book “The Beckham Experiment” by Grant Wahl. (AP)
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Galaxy rules the Depot [VIDEO]
[MLS NAMES & NUMBERS] The Los Angeles Galaxy continued its SuperClasico dominance over Chivas USA. Seattle’s Freddy Montero came with in one-goal of the league scoring lead. Toronto FC benefitted from Chad Barrett’s rejuvenation.
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MLS Results
Both conference races tightened. Only one point separates the top four teams in the Eastern Conference. Wins for Colorado and Los Angeles moved them to within three points of slumping Chivas USA. For all the game summaries, standings, leading scorers and this week’s schedule …
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Cristiane’s hat trick is a first
[WPS] Brazilian Cristiane became the first player in Women’s Professional Soccer to score a hat trick when she scored all three goals for the Chicago Red Stars in a 3-1 win over FC Gold Pride that kept them in the hunt for a playoff berth.
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Punchless Islanders remain in first place
[USL-1] Despite playing to a pair of 0-0 ties at Rochester and Cleveland, the Puerto Rico Islanders remained in first place in the USL First Division. Portland (three games in hand) and Charleston (one game in hand) trail Puerto Rico by two points.
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Altidore headed to Greece
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Jozy Altidore, the 19-year-old striker who scored in the USA’s 2-0 upset over Spain at the Confederations Cup after failing to breakthrough with Spanish club Villarreal, is reportedly headed to Greek champion Olympiakos.
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Haiti and Panama claim last spots
[GOLD CUP] Despite blowing a lead in stoppage time, Haiti managed to reach the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup with its 2-2 tie against the USA Saturday at Gillette Stadium. Panama joined Haiti on Sunday as the two wild-card teams in the quarterfinals when the Canaleros’ 4-0 win over Nicaragua gave them four points, one more than Jamaica, third in Group A, and set up a date with the USA on Saturday in Philadelphia. For all the Gold Cup results and schedules …
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Davies moves to France
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Striker Charlie Davies, 23, who has spent the summer playing in the Confederations Cup, where he scored in the 3-0 win over Egypt, and in the Gold Cup, is moving from Swedish club Hammarby to French club Sochaux.
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Aguirre suspended for three matches for ‘aberration’
[GOLD CUP] One of the most bizarre sideline incidents in recent history landed Mexico coach Javier Aguirre a three-game suspension. “El Vasco” sat in the stands Sunday and watched Mexico beat Guadeloupe, 2-0, to clinch the Group C title at the Gold Cup.
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Holden the hero in U.S. rally
[USA-HAITI REPORT CARD] Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players and comments on their performance in their 2-2 win with Haiti in the Gold Cup …
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How USA survived Haiti scare
[GOLD CUP] While fans are usually more impressed by talent, coaches know the value of experience, especially when a seemingly undermanned opponent gains the upper hand and a game gets out of hand. Only a few of the American players chosen by Coach Bob Bradley to face Haiti Saturday in the final game of Concacaf Gold Cup group play had significant number of caps and another handful came in at zero.
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Holden rescues USA
[GOLD CUP] Haiti came within a minute of handing the USA its first loss ever in group play at the Gold Cup, but a 24-yard blast from Stuart Holden in the second minute of stoppage time earned the Americans a 2-2 draw that clinched first place in Group B.
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Kicking & Screening debuts in Manhattan [VIDEO]
[MOVIE WATCH] Soccer has a rich tradition in film, so it’s only natural that a film festival has been dedicated to the Beautiful Game. Organized by Rachel Markus and Greg Lalas, the Kicking & Screening International Soccer Film Festival will take place at five locations in New York over five days, beginning Tuesday. It opens with perhaps with one of the best documentaries ever made about soccer, French filmmaker Stephane Meunier‘s behind-the-scenes look at the 1998 World Cup championship team, “Les Yeux dans les Bleus.”
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I made a mistake. I spoke about something between the team publicly, and when David comes, I’m going to talk to him about it, man to man. The past year was hard for all of us, but I shouldn’t speak publicly like that. I should and will talk to David.”
— Landon Donovan, who was highly critical of Los Angeles Galaxy teammate David Beckham in the new book The Beckham Experiment, saying “he wasn’t committed” last season when the Galaxy failed to make the playoffs for the third straight year. (goal.com)
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Gold Cup disgrace
[GOLD CUP] Chaos reigned Thursday night at Houston’s Reliant Stadium, where Mexico’s reputation suffered another blow. In a match Panama coach Gary Stempel called a “disgrace,” Mexico coach Javier Aguirre and three players — one Mexico and two Panamanian — were ejected. Police needed to be called in to quell trouble in the stands late in the game, and one of the worst-behaved crowds ever seen at a major match in the United States pelted objects at injured Panamanian Blas Perez. The Canaleros needed police protection after their 1-1 tie with favored Mexico qualified Guadeloupe, Canada and, yes, the USA for the quarterfinals.