Category: Soccer America Daily

Columbus and Houston stayed on top of the East and West, respectively. For all the weekend results, standings, leading goal scorers and schedules. …

[AMERICANS ABROAD] Bundesliga veteran Steve Cherundolo returned to his right back spot with Hannover 96 and helped it beat Bayern Munich, 1-0. But other U.S. national team players sat out their team’s weekend action. …

[ENGLAND] Bolton Wanderers and Hull City tried different approaches to playing on the road at much stronger teams Saturday. The lesson was clear, as Hull took plaudits and points from its thrilling 2-1 win at Arsenal.

[EUROPE] Never mind the quality, feel the breadth. Europe’s soccer governing body UEFA will vote Friday to expand the European Championships from 16 to 24 finalists, beginning 2016.

[GERMANY] The remarkable rise to the heights of the Bundesliga by German small-town team 1899 Hoffenheim has had its ugly side too. The team’s local benefactor Dietmar Hopp has been subject to sustained verbal abuse from opposition fans, but he’s not the kind of man to take it lying down.

[MLS] The league’s two biggest foreign stars faced off when the Los Angeles Galaxy traveled to Chicago, and in front of a sellout crowd of 20,156, Cuauhtemoc Blanco stole the show from David Beckham in a 3-1 Fire win. Blanco was involved in the passing sequences that led to both of Chris Rolfe‘s goals and the Mexican scored one himself in between.

[ROSTER] U.S. coach Keith Tozer and his 14-man squad have arrived in Rio de Janeiro where the USA will compete in the FIFA Futsal World Cup.

[WORLD CUP 2010] Brazil coach Dunga, who’s clinging on to his job after poor results and dismal play in general, has named a 22-man squad for next month’s qualifiers against Venezuela and Colombia that doesn’t included AC Milan’s Ronaldinho

Toronto FC, which didn’t get a single shot on goal in last week’s 2-0 loss to Kansas City and is winless in its last five games, faces defending champ Houston. … The league’s top two teams meet when Columbus (the only team that has clinched a playoff spot) travels to New England, which lost to the Crew, 4-0, on Sept. 6. … New York, whose Juan Pablo Angel has scored eight goals in his last 10 games, hosts Colorado. … San Jose, on a nine-game unbeaten streak, hosts Real Salt Lake. … Kansas City aims to keep playoff hopes alive when it faces Chivas USA. … On Sunday, D.C. United defends its spot just inside the playoff zone when it meets FC Dallas. For all this weekend’s TV Schedule, standings and leading goalscorers …

[WPS] Four of the first five selections in the initial WPS International Draft were Brazilians. The Bay Area team selected former W-League star Formiga with the No. 1 pick. FIFA World Player of the Year Marta was taken by Los Angeles with the No. 3 pick. Daniela (St. Louis) and Cristiane (Chicago) were also taken in the first round.

[SPAIN] Anything Barcelona can do, Real Madrid can do better. After the Catalans scored six at the weekend at bottom side Sporting Gijon, Real showed no pity and smashed the same team for seven at the Bernabeu.

[ITALY] Juventus was held at home by visitors Catania Wednesday in a refreshingly open game on an evening of few surprises in Serie A. Both Milan sides scraped wins by single-goal margins.

[AMERICANS ABROAD] Freddy Adu finally earned his first start with French club Monaco, but it ended in defeat as it fell to defending champion Paris St. Germain, 1-0, in the round of 32 of the French League Cup. In English League Cup action, Brad Guzan made his debut for Aston Villa, which fell at home to QPR, 1-0.

[OFF THE POST] A Pennsylvania woman who had been bringing her loaded handgun to her 5-year-old daughter’s soccer games and practices has had her concealed-weapons permit revoked by the Lebanon County sheriff.

[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] There was a silver lining to D.C. United’s latest defeat in international play. The Montreal Impact outshot Mexico’s Atlante but settled for a scoreless tie at home to keep USL clubs undefeated the regional championship.

[OFF THE POST] A church in England is marketing to soccer fans in hopes of boosting Sunday morning attendance. “Because Jesus has already taken the penalty, you can be saved!” is one of the campaign’s ad slogans appearing in game programs.

[AMERICANS ABROAD] Whether it’s Benfica or Monaco, Freddy Adu is finding that it isn’t easy to get playing time in Europe. Five weeks after arriving from the Olympics, where he represented the USA, the 19-year-old forward has played just 23 minutes in three brief appearances, though he could get a start on Wednesday when Monaco faces Paris St. Germain in the League Cup.

[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.

[GERMAN CUP] Energie Cottbus can’t win in the Bundesliga, but took advantage of no less than three penalty kicks in Tuesday’s German Cup tie to beat Borussia Moenchengladbach, which did not use American midfielder Michael Bradley. Americans who did see action were Hannover’s young midfielder and 1860 Munich’s veteran defender.