[MLS AWARDS] A goal scored by a goalkeeper — Red Bulls’ Danny Cepero vs. Columbus – is among the five finalists in MLS Goal of the Year Voting. Fans will pick between his 80-yard free kick and strikes by Cuauhtémoc Blanco (last year’s winner), Geoff Cameron, Will Johnson and Robbie Rogers.
Category: Story
Americans on the verge of history
[UNDER-17 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP] Winner of the inaugural competitions at the Women’s World Cup in 1991, Women’s Olympic Soccer in 1996 and Under-19 (now Under-20) Women’s World Cup in 2002, the United States is in position to make it 4-for 4. Kazbek Tambi‘s girls came back from a goal down in the last half hour to beat Germany, 2-1, Thursday night and move into the final of the first Under-17 Women’s World Cup Sunday against North Korea in New Zealand.
Respect Is A Two-Way Channel
“Football is characterized by its room for human error. Many would argue it’s a trait that is integral to the game itself but the [Respect] campaign has so far only appeared to increase tensions between referees and managers.” Dan Bryant on the English FA’s increasingly derided campaign for players and managers to respect referees.
USA Drops Three Places In FIFA Rankings
The United States dropped three places to No. 27 on the latest FIFA world rankings. Those are the ratings everyone says are meaningless until their country climbs 20 places or reaches the top 10.
AEG Not Interested In Newcastle
“Neither AEG nor anyone affiliated with the organization are in negotiations or are contemplating the purchase of Newcastle United Football Club,” read a statement from Anschutz Entertainment Group.
Gamba Osaka Crowned Asian Champions
It took Japanese side Gamba Osaka less than 15 minutes to kill off Adelaide United in the second leg of the Asian Champions League final Wednesday. After winning the first leg 3-0 two weeks ago in Osaka, Brazilian forward Lucas struck twice in the opening quarter of an hour to finish the series at 5-0 […]
EPL Doping Tests Will Be ‘Invasion Of Privacy’
The spokesman for England’s professional soccer players has spoken out against tough new doping rules for the Premier League, claiming that they will constitute an invasion of privacy. The English FA has signed up to the World Anti-Doping Association code, and from July next year a pool of up to 30 players must be available […]
Chicago’s Bakary Backbone
The Chicago Fire was concerned that defender Bakary Soumare would be unable to make the transition from the college game to Major League Soccer, writes Nick Firchau, but those doubts were banished long before Soumare, 23, was nominated for this season’s Defensive Player of the Year award. “‘We always had the idea that he would […]
Coach of the Year Needs New TV
Sigi Schmid, the 55-year-old Columbus Crew boss who has been deservedly crowned MLS Coach of the Year, probably “watches more televised soccer than any other person in America,” according to Shawn Mitchell. “Sundays are for European games and MLS highlights from the weekend,” writes Mitchell. “Mondays are dedicated to watching recordings of the upcoming opponent. […]
Scots Still Wary Of Team GB
Assurances from soccer’s world governing body FIFA that a united British team at the 2012 Olympics will not threaten the independence of the four individual nations — Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland — are not softening the Scottish FA’s opposition to the concept. “We await with interest the outcome of FIFA’s deliberations next month […]
Bayern Munich To Set Up Academy In India
“Our philosophy is different from other clubs of Europe who go into Asia for making money. Our slogan is to create friends and have long-lasting commitments.” Bayern Munich President Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in West Bengal Wednesday, announcing the club’s first soccer academy outside Germany.
Everton Can’t Find A Buyer
“It has never been more difficult to find buyers. It’s no longer a question of price negotiation — it’s, ‘Should we?’ People are wondering if now is the time to spend.” Everton owner Keith Harris admits he’s having a hard time finding a buyer for the club.
MORNING BRIEFING: N.C. State ready for No. 1 Wake
It’s the No. 1 seed against the No. 8 seed, top-ranked and unbeaten Wake Forest against N.C. State in Wednesday’s ACC quarterfinals. A mismatch? Hardly. The Wolfpack is one of the hottest teams in the country, and Coach George Tarantini is relishing the opportunity to take on the mighty Demon Deacons.
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: Men’s Conferences
In Tuesday conference tournament action, George Mason crushed Hofstra, 5-0, and Northeastern beat Old Dominion on penalty kicks in the CAA. Conferences in action on Wednesday: ACC, America East, Atlantic Soccer, Atlantic Sun, Big West, Conference USA and Missouri Valley. For all the results and schedules …
LEADERS: NCAA Division I Men’s Scorers
With another big week, Akron sophomore Steve Zakuani extended his lead among NCAA Division I men’s scorers in points (45) and retained the lead in goals (19). For all the NCAA Division I leaders …
MORNING BRIEFING: Tennessee’s Lady Vols become winners
Perhaps the most remarkable story of last weekend’s conference tournaments was Tennessee’s SEC championship. With an 8-10-1 record, the Lady Vols’ only path to an eighth straight NCAA Tournament appearance was to win the SEC Tournament in Orange Beach, Ala. To make their task more difficult, Preseason All-American Kylee Rossi was sidelined with a hip injury that has ended her career.
LEADERS: NCAA Division I Women’s Scorers
After big weekends at the Horizon League Tournament, Cynthia Morote-Ariza of Loyola (Ill.) and Milwaukee’s Sarah Hagen are 1-2 in points among NCAA Division I women’s players. Hagen now leads in goals and Morote-Ariza is still No. 1 in assists. For all the NCAA Division I leaders …
Bayern star denies Botox use
[OFF THE POST] Bayern Munich’s Argentine defender Martin Demichelis denied rumors that he injects Botox into his lips before games. “It’s laughable,” Demichelis told BILD newspaper. “I don’t have an earring, any piercings or tattoos. And yet I am supposed to be using Botox?”
What’s Donovan doing at Bayern Munich?
Landon Donovan is training for 10 days at Bayern Munich to stay fit, according to Bayern coach Juergen Klinsmann. But some German media have called his visit a trial and speculate that he could be a replacement for unhappy striker Lukas Podolski, the subject of winter transfer rumors.
Playoff failures fill out preliminary roster
[USA] Coach Bob Bradley dipped deeply into the ranks of the vanquished to pick a preliminary squad of 19 players for next week’s World Cup qualifier against Guatemala in Commerce City, Colo., Nov. 19. Teams that missed the MLS playoffs – including Colorado, Toronto FC and FC Dallas – as well as those eliminated last weekend in the conference semifinals fill most of the slots.
Third Crew year a charm for Schmid
[MLS] The Columbus Crew has already won three prestigious awards in the 2008 postseason yet for one of those so honored the most important trophy is yet to be handed out. Coach of the Year Sigi Schmid guided the Crew to the Supporters’ Shield with a league-best record of 17-7-6 by melding a myriad mix of talents and personalities, and extracting performances like that of Chad Marshall, named 2008 Defender of the Year after finishing the 2007 season on injured-reserve following several concussions
Landon Donovan is 2008 Honda Player of the Year
[U.S. SOCCER] Landon Donovan was voted 2008 Honda Player of the Year, winning the award for a record fifth time. Donovan, of the Los Angeles Galaxy, was MLS’s leading scorer in the 2008 regular season with 20 goals. He also played nine games for the U.S. national team, scoring three and notching five assists during a year that saw the USA advance to the semifinal round of 2010 World Cup qualifying.
Schmid is MLS Coach of the Year
[MLS AWARDS] The Columbus Crew’s Sigi Schmid was named MLS Coach of the Year and San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Darren Huckerby won the Newcomer of the Year Award.
Soccer Job Openings
[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.
Under-17 Women’s World Cup Scoreboard
The United States faces Germany in the semifinals of the Under-17 Women’s World Cup Thursday in Christchurch, New Zealand (kickoff: 1 am ET; Wednesday 10 pm PT). In the first game of the doubleheader at North Harbour Stadium, North Korea faces England. For all the results and schedules …
