American Brad Friedel admitted he has mixed feelings over his $5 million move from Blackburn, with which he had played for eight seasons, to Aston Villa. “Making this move was a very easy decision and a very difficult decision to make all at the same time,” he told the Villa web site. “I’d been at […]
Category: Story
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Cooper Headed to Cardiff?
American striker Kenny Cooper appears to be one step closer to returning to English soccer with the report that second-level Cardiff City has agreed a fee of around $4 million with MLS. Cooper, who back his pro career in the Manchester United system, scored twice for FC Dallas in its 4-0 win over Los Angeles […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Nigerians Wild about the EPL
The Manchester United-Portsmouth friendly that drew 30,000 fans Sunday in the Nigerian capital of Abuja underscored a troubling problem for Nigerian soccer. Fans love the EPL, while local clubs struggle to stay afloat. “When you look at the stadiums, you’ll find that the stands are virtually empty,” says Ismaila Lere, sports editor at the Daily […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Gallas’ Mea Culpa
Arsenal captain William Gallas apologized for setting a bad example last season and promised to learn from his errors if Manager Arsene Wenger makes him captain again for the upcoming campaign. “You know I learned a lot, you want to be the best captain, give good advice to your players, but sometimes you can make […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Messi Set to Join Barcelona on U.S. Tour
Barcelona President Joan Laporta is confident of winning the Spanish club’s case with the Argentine federation and expects star Lionel Messi to join in on its U.S. tour that begins next Sunday against Chivas in Chicago.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Chelsea Stars Going Nowhere
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon expects Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko to be with the Blues when the new Premier League season begins Aug. 16.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Morales Helps RSL Reach Top
In a league dotted with Argentine playmakers, Javier Morales doesn’t get the attention of Marcello Gallardo (D.C. United) and Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus), but he has been just as valuable for Real Salt Lake, Morales arrived last season with fellow Argentines Fabian Espindola and Matias Mantilla and has helped turn around RSL, which is in […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Scorers push MLS to the brink
The glow on Kenny Cooper‘s face lit up his corner of the MLS All-Stars locker room as he and his teammates decompressed after beating West Ham United, 3-2, at BMO Field Thursday.
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
Salt Lake hosts Toronto in a rare Monday night MLS game. Catch Superliga 2008 semifinal action on Tuesday and Wednesday. Numerous European preseason friendlies are scattered throughout the week. Broadcast times of Mexican league games will appear in Friday’s Soccer on TV e-letter.
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Sparkling MLS All-Stars Highlight An Expansion Problem
There was good news and there was not-so-good news to report from the MLS All-Star Game. Mostly it was good news. The soccer was good — attractive, attacking stuff, with five goals to show for it — and the sunshine, the color and the lively fans produced a terrific atmosphere. Everything combined to give — at least visually — a sparkling telecast.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
North Texas boys teams clean up
[NATIONAL CHAMPIONS-BOYS] North Texas teams swept the boys championships in the U-16 to U-19 age groups at the US Youth Soccer National Championships in North Little Rock, Ark. Its four boys titles were the most ever by teams from one state association in a single year. For a roundup of all the boys championships and all the results and goal scorers …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Dallas Texans make girls history
[NATIONAL CHAMPIONS-GIRLS] The Dallas Texans Red made history when they won three girls titles at the US Youth Soccer National Championships in North Little Rock, Ark. For a roundup of all the girls championships and all the results and goal scorers …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS Results
Only one home team managed a win in the four MLS clashes following the All-Star Game. For all the weekends MLS results, scoring leaders and this week’s schedule.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
PDL Playoff Results
Led by two goals from rising U.S. U-20 star Felix Garcia, the defending champion Laredo Heat beat the Austin Aztex 3-1, to reach the semifinals of the Premier Development League. Two Canadian teams — the Thunder Bay Chill and Vancouver Whitecaps residency team — advanced to the final four, where they will also be joined by the Reading Rage. For all the PDL playoff results …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
W-League Playoff Results
Former U.S. international Christie Welsh had a goal and an assist to lead the Washington Freedom to a 2-1 overtime win over the host Atlanta Silverbacks in the W-League’s Eastern Conference final. Former WPSL power FC Indiana won the Central Conference title when the Lionesses beat the Ottawa Fury, 4-3. The Seattle Sounders will join Washington, FC Indiana and the regular-season champion Pali Blues at the W-League championship tournament July 31-Aug. 2 in Virginia Beach, Va. For all the W-League playoff results …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USL-1 Results
The Puerto Rico Islanders moved to within one point of the Charleston Battery at the top of the USL First Division when they came back from two goals down to beat the Minnesota Thunder, 3-2, on Sunday. For all the weekend results and goal scorers …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Vidal makes Mexican First Division debut
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Dallas product Marco Vidal made his Mexican First Division debut when he started for Juarez Indios Juarez in its 1-0 loss to UAG Saturday in the club’s debut at the top level of Mexican soccer.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA claims first Concacaf Under-17 Girls Championship
[YOUTH] The USA raced out to a 4-0 lead and held on to beat Costa Rica, 4-1, and win the first Concacaf Under-17 Girls Championship Sunday night at Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya, Trinidad.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Dallas finds winning way, big time
[MLS NAMES & NUMBERS/VIDEO] FC Dallas, whose crowd of 21,020 was twice that of the other three MLS games last weekend, rewarded its fans with a 4-0 rout over the Los Angeles Galaxy. For the weekend MLS highlights …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Another world title for Brazil
[BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP] Brazil won its third straight FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup with a 5-3 win over Italy in which Bruno and Sidney each scored twice.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
MLS expansion contradicts its ambitions
More than one MLS general manager or team executive has expressed concerns that for all the proclamations that MLS wouldn’t repeat the mistake of the NASL, in more than a few cases it has done exactly that.
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
The Mexican Primera Division kicks off this weekend with all nine games available on U.S. television. Among the games is Juarez club Indios’ game against UAG. Indios feature young American midfielder Marco Vidal.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
2018 Longshot: Israel-Palestine World Cup
While England and the United States are among the countries expected to bid for the right to host the 2018 World Cup, Israeli filmmaker Eytan Heller is promoting the idea of a joint Israel-Palestine bid. “The original idea came in 2006 during the World Cup when I traveled to Ramallah,” Heller said. “I was amazed […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Yorke Sidelined with Suspected Fractured Cheekbone
At 36, Trinidad & Tobago midfielder Dwight Yorke’s EPL comeback hit a snag when he suffered a suspected fractured cheekbone in Sunderland’s game against Vitoria Setubal in Portugal.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
King Karel’s Comeback
Former Czech Republic national team coach Karel Bruckner is coming out of retirement at the age of 68 to take over as coach of Austria for World Cup 2010 qualifying.