[RECAP] When Californian Michael Orozco made his Mexican First Division debut in 2006 at age 20, he was red-carded two minutes after he came off the bench. He recovered from the ignominious start to earn a starting spot in the San Luis defense, and after 32 appearances was called into the U.S. U-23 national team. On Wednesday, Orozco was red-carded in the third minute of the USA’s final Olympic group game, which it had entered minus two key players because of their card problems. For midfielder Michael Bradley it marked the second time in his short career that he was suspended for a key game in a major tournament.
Category: Story
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Colorado lands Cory Gibbs
[MLS] Struggling Colorado has signed defender Cory Gibbs, 28, a Florida product who started his pro career at age 21 in Germany, where he played for FC St. Pauli in the first, second and third divisions. Gibbs played one season in MLS, for FC Dallas in 2004, before returning to Europe, but has spent two years battling injury.
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
What They’re Saying
“Those guys are my boys. They played so hard tonight and you can’t even express your feelings in the right way right now. For me, they won a gold medal in this game tonight. Of course, in the soccer world we still have to move on. There are a lot of things we can improve at the international level, but we’re going in the right direction. For those boys to play like that, it was quite a journey. The last five minutes with 50,000 people chanting ‘U-S-A’ was quite a feeling. … I’ll cherish this moment forever.”
— U.S. men’s coach Peter Nowak after his team was eliminated from the Olympic tournament with a 2-1 loss to Nigeria.
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Men’s Soccer Scoreboard
All Asian teams including host, and both Concacaf teams have been eliminated. The quarterfinal matchups are: Nigeria-Ivory Coast; Italy-Belgium; Argentina-Netherlands; and Brazil-Cameroon. For all the results and goal scorers …
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Postgame from Beijing
[REACTION] Coach Peter Nowak and U.S. players discuss the disappointing loss against Nigeria, the red card to Michael Orozco that forced them to play a man down for 86 minutes, and on why they’re proud of their effort at the Games.
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Olympic Soccer TV Schedule
Soccer action resumes on Friday when the U.S. women face Canada in the quarterfinals. Complete soccer coverage is available on the NBC Olympic Soccer Channel and online at nbcolympics.com. Check with your television provider for the availability of the NBC Olympic Soccer Channel.
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
USA-Nigeria Men’s Coverage
Loss to Nigeria eliminates USA
Make that two kicks in the teeth for the U.S. men’s Olympic team, along with being booted out of the tournament in heroic yet heartbreaking fashion. Down a man for more than 90 minutes — counting stoppage time — courtesy of Michael Orozco’s wayward elbow shortly after kickoff, the U.S. succumbed to Nigeria, 2-1, to finish third in Group B at 1-1-1. With the U.S. trailing 2-0 in the 77th minute, Sacha Kljestan banged in a penalty kick to trim Nigeria’s lead in half, and in the final minutes Charlie Davies hit the crossbar with a header that could have propelled the U.S. into the knockout phase.
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Guzan heads class
[NIGERIA-USA REPORT CARD] Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players in their 2-1 loss to Nigeria on Wednesday …
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Gullit Was ‘Disrespectful,’ Says Donovan
David Beckham claimed that departed L.A. Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit was "comfortable with the players," but Landon Donovan was "less inclined to buy into that line of thinking," writes Grahame Jones. The forward spoke of being disrespected by Gullit, while acknowledging the difficulties for first-time foreign coaches of taking on a team in Major League […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
United Reaps Reward Of Taking Open Cup Seriously
It's rarely been the case in recent years, but D.C. United has started taking the U.S. Open Cup seriously. It took the revolutionary step of fielding a first-choice lineup against New England Tuesday and reached the final with a 3-1 win. The Revs, by contrast, rested several players, with elimination the predictable consequence. "We have […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Diving Dusty Takes the Plaudits For Charleston
Meanwhile further south, United Soccer League Division One’s Charleston Battery reached its first ever Open Cup final by beating the Seattle Sounder on penalty kicks. The Battery hero was Dusty Hudock, who “literally saved the Battery’s chance at a national championship,” writes Andrew Miller. Hudock, who has been with the Battery 10 years, made two […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Stoke Boss Gets Ready For EPL Reality
Last season Derby County was the EPL’s relegation favorite before a ball had been kicked. This season, newcomers Hull City and Stoke City are in the same position ahead of Saturday’s kick-off. Stoke’s manager Tony Pulis is realistic about the task ahead, and has spent the summer coping with the new realities of life in […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
‘Football Punk’ Magazine Aims For Slice Of U.K. Market
As English soccer becomes increasingly focused on money, weddings and celebrity wives, and less on the actual game, a new magazine aims to cash in on the decline of quality soccer journalism and lower the tone of the medium even further. ‘Football Punk magazine, owned by former Liverpool defender Phil Babb, is set to become […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
EPL Captains Back FA’s ‘Respect’ Campaign
Which is easy to do off-field, perhaps less so in the middle of an intense professional game. We’ll see.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Keller To Join Sounders
In a long anticipated move, U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller, 38, is to join MLS expansion franchise the Seattle Sounders.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Rapids Pick Up Cory Gibbs
U.S. defender Cory Gibbs joined the Colorado Rapids Tuesday after the L.A. Galaxy passed up its chance to sign the player.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Fall Far West Regional League Entrants
While regional leagues have been part of the soccer scene in Regions I-III for several years, Region IV struggled to get a competition off the ground. But this fall Region IV has attracted many of the region’s top clubs that are competing in under-14 to under-18 boys and girls divisions over five weekends. For all the Fall Far West Regional League entrants …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Well-known Arizona club Sereno’s officials suspended in forgery case
Two former members of the Phoenix area’s Sereno Soccer Club were suspended by the Arizona Youth Soccer Association following its investigation into what it concluded was the forgery of a player form that resulted in Sereno being kicked out of this year’s McGuire Cup finals.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
RISING STAR: Ryan Kawulok
Ryan Kawulok won three state titles with the Colorado Storm before joining the Colorado Rapids academy program, who opened in 2007. He is headed to the University of Portland.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Disney all-stars headed to Chelsea tournament
The Disney Soccer Showcase under-16 all-stars, chosen from players competing at the 2007 Disney’s Soccer Showcase, are headed to England to play in Chelsea’s inaugural youth cup Aug. 22-25 against seven other youth teams.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Surf finishes 19th at Nike Manchester United Premier Cup
It took six games, but the San Diego Surf finally got a win at the 2008 Nike Manchester United Premier Cup in England.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
D.C. United moves in Open Cup final
Two MLS teams with different approaches met in the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup. Playing at full strength, D.C. United beat the defending champion New England Revolution, which started only three players who have started at least half of their MLS games, 3-1, on Tuesday to advance to the final.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USL’s Battery heads to Washington
The Charleston Battery will travel to Washington for its first U.S. Open Cup final on Sept. 3 after knocking off the Seattle Sounders on penalty kicks Tuesday in the tournament’s other semifinal at Blackbaud Stadium.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Soccer Job Openings
[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.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Olympic bracket works in U.S. women’s favor
[RECAP] All’s well that ends well. The USA, which began the Olympic women’s competition with a 2-0 loss to Norway, ended up winning the group. The USA’s 4-0 win over New Zealand combined with Japan’s 5-1 victory over Norway moved the Americans into Friday’s quarterfinal against Canada. Instead of facing the possibility that they would have to face Brazil and Germany in the next two rounds, Pia Sundhage‘s women avoid the 2007 Women’s World Cup champions and runners-up before the gold-medal game.