Category: Story

[MLS] Houston and San Jose are sharing more than history in this expansion season of the Quakes, who were reincarnated this season after leaving the Bay Area two and a half years ago.

U.S. under-20 national team coach Thomas Rongen called up six MLS players for the Milk Cup, which begins Monday in Northern Ireland. The call-ups include 16-year-old Abdus Ibrahim, who scored his first MLS goal recently for Toronto TC, Jorge Flores, the former Sueno MLS winner who has scored three goals for Chivas USA, and New England’s Brandon Manzonelli, who had two assists for the U-20s in their recent 3-0 win over Mexico. For the complete U-20 roster …

[TRANSFER TALK] Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Muntari appears to be headed to Italian champion Inter Milan in a move that effectively puts an end to talk of England midfielder Frank Lampard rejoining his former Chelsea boss, Jose Mourinho, at Inter.

Disadvantaged by a lack of conditioning, West Ham United knew keeping pace with an in-season MLS All-Star squad would prove difficult. Yet flair and focus, as much as fitness, propelled the All-Stars past West Ham, 3-2, at a sold-out BMO Field Thursday. They pushed the pace early in the match and twice came back quickly from conceding a goal to score one of their own.

The packed house of 20,844 at BMO Field for the MLS All-Star Game caused some consternation before kickoff when large sections booed and whistled during the U.S. national anthem. The fans wanted to hear the Canadian national anthem — just as they wanted to see their Canadian players. They were rewarded in the second half when Ontario favorites Jim Brennan and Dwayne De Rosario came on.

[YOUTH] The USA qualified for the 2008 Under-17 Girls World Cup in New Zealand, but it wasn’t easy. After cruising to three wins by a margin of 24-1 in group play, it needed a stoppage time goal by defender Crystal Dunn, to defeat Mexico, 1-0, in the semifinals at Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya, Trinidad. The other result was a stunner: Costa Rica, 2-0 over Canada.

[AMERICANS ABROAD] Monaco finalized the loan deal that brings American Freddy Adu from Benfica to the French league. Jerome de Bontin, Monaco’s French-American president, said Thursday that the club has an option to buy Adu for 5 million euros ($8 million), and he was on the lookout to sign another American before the end of the French transfer window in August. Adu and de Bontin talked to Soccer America’s Paul Kennedy at the U.S. Olympic training camp in Palo Alto, Calif.

[NATIONAL CHAMPIONS-BOYS] The Kansas City Wizards Juniors moved into Sunday’s final of the McGuire Cup with a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Nike Rush, their second win in two days in the U-19 boys group at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in North Little Rock, Ark. For more on Day 2 and all the boys results, goal scorers and schedules …

[NATIONAL CHAMPIONS-GIRLS] Sting Dallas, made up of players from last year’s runner-up from the Dallas Texans Red, won its second game in the U-18 girls group at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in North Little Rock, Ark., with a 2-0 win over FC Delco Fury on Thursday. For more on Day 2 and all the girls results, goal scorers and schedules …

[NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS-GIRLS] Both defending girls champions lost on Day 1 of the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in North Little Rock, Ark. For more on Day 1 and all the girls results, goal scorers and schedules …

[AMERICANS ABROAD] “Brad Friedels don’t grow on trees.” Those were Blackburn Rovers chairman John Williams‘ words in announcing his club would not part with its 37-year-old American goalkeeper. Famous last words, they were. Friedel looks to be headed to Aston Villa in a move that could result in his salary being doubled to $5.2 million a year.

Does the soccer world care if the MLS can run its winning record against foreign opposition in the All-Star Game to 5-0? No. But the fact the MLS All-Stars-West Ham game is being televised to nearly 100 countries and approximately 300 media credentials have been issued shows the game is being taken seriously. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney reports from Toronto, where Landon Donovan and the boys from MLS are ready for the challenge.

[TRANSFER TALK] West Ham United, which faces the MLS All-Stars Thursday in Toronto, made its first major signing of the summer when it signed Swiss international Valon Behrami.