Category: Soccer America Daily

[MAKING A LIST] With its 3-0 win over England in Sunday’s quarterfinal at the 2008 Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Chile, the USA kept its record intact of reaching the semifinals of every women’s world championship it has entered.

[UNDER-20 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP] Japan and Brazil, the only unbeaten and untied teams left in the Under-20 Women’s World Cup, fell in Monday’s quarterfinals.

[ENGLAND] Liverpool went one point clear of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League Monday, despite being held to a 0-0 draw by West Ham United.

[SPAIN] Real Madrid has moved to solve its striking problems by signing Ajax Amsterdam’s Dutch forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, according to Spanish media reports.

[AWARDS] Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo won the Ballon d’or (“the Golden Ball”) as the 2008 Player of the Year. Cristiano Ronaldo, who led United to the Premier League and Champions League double, outdistanced Argentine Lionel Messi and Spaniard Fernando Torres as the 53rd recipient of the award, formerly known as the European Player of the Year.

[ENGLAND] Arsenal came from behind to beat Chelsea, United won the Manchester derby despite having Cristiano Ronaldo red-carded.

[GERMANY] Hoffenheim and Bayern both won ahead of their table-top meeting Friday, while Michael Bradley scored at the wrong end for Borussia Moenchengladbach as it lost at home to Cottbus.

[ITALY] Inter moved six points clear at the top after its city rival AC Milan was beaten 3-1 at Palermo.

[SPAIN] Real Madrid lost to Getafe while Barcelona strolled to a win at Sevilla. Jozy Altidore started for Villareal as it won on the road and moved up to second place.

[UNDER-20 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP] The USA moved into Thursday’s semifinal at the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Chile thanks to a 3-0 win over England on Sunday. Portland’s Keelin Winters broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute and UCLA freshman Sydney Leroux, a former Canadian youth international, added two late goals to put the Americans in the final four against the winner of Monday evening’s quarterfinal between Brazil and Germany.

[AMERICANS ABROAD] Goalkeeper Brad Friedel set the English Premier League record for most consecutive appearances. Jozy Altidore got his first Spanish La Liga start. Edgar Castillo helped Santos advance to the Mexican semifinals. Michael Bradley had a rough day in the Bundesliga.

[ENGLAND] MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis‘ appointment as Arsenal’s chief executive represents only the latest in a move of American-bred executives to play major roles in top English Premier League clubs. Others have backgrounds as diverse of the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the president of Nike’s Jordan Brand.

[UNDER-20 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP] Despite a 2-0 loss to China in its final first-round game, the USA won Group B at the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Chile. The Americans will return to Chillan to face England, which finished second in Group A, in the quarterfinals on Sunday (TV: ESPN360com, 5 pm ET).

[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Despite losing at home, Inter Milan advanced from the Champions League group phase Wednesday night. Liverpool and Atlético Madrid joined them, but Chelsea and Roma must wait another two weeks to secure a Round of 16 spot.

[UEFA CUP] American Oguchi Onyewu was in the starting lineup as Standard Liege beat Partizan, 1-0, in Belgrade and took over first place in the UEFA Cup’s Group C. For all the UEFA Cup group action…

[MLS] One of the founding fathers of Major League Soccer is heading back home. Deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis, who moved to the USA from England in 1992 to work on the 1994 World Cup and helped launch MLS, has accepted the position as CEO of Arsenal Football Club, effective in January.

[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] The precision of Dwayne De Rosario, the strength of Brian Ching, and the determination of the entire Houston Dynamo lineup has earned a spot in the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals.

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

[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Manchester United, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid were among seven clubs to secure a place in the knockout phase of the Champions League in Tuesday’s group play.

[MLS] If there’s an MLS expansion draft on a Wednesday, somebody must be working late in Northern California on Tuesday night. The offices of Match Analysis in Emeryville is where Seattle Sounders FC president Adrian Hanauer and technical director Chris Henderson spent the entire day and much of the night in preparation for the MLS expansion draft to be conducted Wednesday starting at 1 p.m. Eastern. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney looks at likely Seattle picks. …