The English FA Cup moves into the semifinals with West Bromwich-Portsmouth on Saturday and Barnsley-Cardiff City on Sunday, both at Wembley Stadium. In Spain, second-place Villarreal and third-place Barcelona will face key tests on Sunday in their bids to remain within striking distance of leader Real Madrid, which is at Mallorca on Saturday. For all the weekend TV action …
Category: Story
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Report: Beckham Departure Triggers Real Madrid Losses
Newspapers in Spain are reporting that Spanish champion Real Madrid has been forced to take out a loan of $49 million to cover day-to-day losses which were partly incurred due to the loss of David Beckham to the Los Angeles Galaxy last year. According to a study by the University of Catalonia, the England international’s […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Restored Quakes Resume California Derby
“Not many expansion teams are born with so many ready-made story lines.” So says Ann Killion of the San Jose Mercury News in her preview of the Earthquakes’ return to MLS, which begins Thursday against the Los Angeles Galaxy (ESPN 2, 10:30 PM ET). Indeed, several ready-made story lines hover over the clash, but perhaps […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Interview: David Beckham
David Beckham has message for those who think the former Real Madrid player came to Los Angeles to take it easy and live out a golden retirement: “As much as it is a great lifestyle over here for my wife and kids, the most important thing is for people to realize I am here for […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
FIFA Denies WC Contingency Plan Report
FIFA on Thursday dismissed a report on insurance fears over the 2010 World Cup, saying that both FIFA and the World Cup’s Local Organizing Committee have insurance in case South Africa fails to pull off the event. British paper the Guardian had reported that FIFA was forced to build a contingency fund worth $800 million […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Soccer’s Top 50 Earners
FIFA World Player of the Year Kaka makes more money per year playing soccer than any other player on the planet, according to a list of the game’s top 50 earners that’s been circulating the Internet. The list, which has no source, represents players’ annual wages from playing soccer only and does not include endorsements. […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Deivid slays Goliath
[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] In a little more than an hour, Brazilian Deivid went from goat to hero, leading Fenerbahce to a 2-1 win over mighty English club Chelsea in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal series. Deivid overcame his own goal in the 13th minute to score the winning goal late in the game after Colin Kazim-Richards scored the equalizer for Fener 16 minutes earlier.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Mexico and Canada romp in openers
[WOMEN’S OLYMPIC QUALIFYING] Captain Evelyn Lopez scored four goals in the first 53 minutes to lead host Mexico to an 8-1 victory over Jamaica in the opening game of Group A play at the Concacaf Olympic women’s qualifying tournament being played at the Estadio Benito Juarez in Ciudad Juarez. As expected, Group B favorite defeated Trinidad & Tobago, 6-0.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Houston blows home-field advantage
[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP] MLS champion Houston Dynamo settled for a scoreless tie against Saprissa in front of 10,260 fans at Robertson Stadium in Texas despite out-shooting the Costa Rican club 17-8. They meet in the second leg of the semifinal series next Wednesday in Costa Rica.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Blanco and Fire host rampant Revs
[PREVIEW] In kicking off its 2008 broadcast schedule with a doubleheader, ESPN2 couldn’t do much better than trot out a double feature, complete with heroes and villains and subplots and themes, linked by a live intermission.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
O’Brien and Xavier fined, suspended
[CRIME & PUNISHMENT/VIDEO] Colorado Rapids midfielder Ciaran O’Brien was fined $500 and suspended for two games for his foul that injured Los Angeles Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz, who underwent knee surgery and is out for four to six weeks. Galaxy defender Abel Xavier was fined a total of $1,600 and received an automatic one-game red card suspension for his actions in the game on Saturday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS TV SCHEDULE
ESPN2 opens its coverage of MLS’s 13th season with a doubleheader on Thursday. First up is a chance for Chicago chance to avenge its 2007 semifinal loss to New England. Then the Los Angeles Galaxy hopes to bounce back from its season-opening drubbing from Colorado when its hosts the reincarnated San Jose Galaxy.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
19-year-old hits MLS’s Goal of the Week
[VIDEO] New England Revolution midfielder Sainey Nyassi, 19, earned MLS Sierra Mist Goal of the Week honors for Week 1 for his solo effort in the 3-0 win over the Houston Dynamo on Saturday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Beckham on Leno Show
[VIDEO] David Beckham appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on Tuesday, April 1.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Quakes renew rivalry on the road
There were R-words being bandied about the hotel lobby yesterday as the new San Jose Earthquakes prepared to open their second life against their old rivals from Los Angeles, but rarely was heard a reference to rivalry. Or revenge.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Soccer Development Academy Results
Two MLS clubs are tied for first place in their respective divisions in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s U-17/18 Age Group. The New York Red Bulls, led by Haitian U-17 Johnny Exantus, are tied for first with the Baltimore Bays in the Mid-Atlantic, while the Columbus Crew are tied with the Michigan Wolves in the Great Lakes. In the U-15/16 Age Group, the top MLS clubs are D.C. United (second in the Mid-Atlantic) and Chicago Fire (third in the Mid-America). For all the weekend U.S. Soccer Development Academy results and goal scorers …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
National High School Spring Rankings
Led by tournament MVP Thomas Wollersheium, South Carolina’s Spring Valley won the 2008 Palmetto Cup and is the top-ranked team in the NSCAA/adidas high school boys national spring rankings. Spring Valley beat Bishop England, 4-1, in the final of the tournament that was hosted by Brookland-Cayce High School and featured teams from Oklahoma, Tennessee and Virginia, in addition to South Carolina. Defending Georgia Class 5A champion Parkview is No. 1 in the girls rankings.
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
The Perils of the MLS Skill Gap
Just what the Los Angeles Galaxy needed: Carlos Ruiz out of action for four or more weeks. His injury, courtesy of a primitive tackle from Colorado rookie Ciaran O’Brien, should ring some pretty noisy alarm bells for MLS and for MLS referees.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Arsenal’s Wenger blasts no-penalty call
[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Dutchman Kirk Kuyt scored a precious away goal in Liverpool’s 1-1 tie at Arsenal on Wednesday but almost cost Liverpool the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal series when he pulled down Arsenal’s Alexandre Hleb in the penalty area.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Lalas: I’m the Ringmaster of This Circus
In an interview that was obviously conducted before L.A.’s 4-0 opening day drubbing in Colorado, Los Angeles Galaxy General Manager Alexi Lalas says he’s “very happy” with the team’s progress, although he admits its “experiencing some massive growing pains.” Lalas doesn’t elaborate, but one would assume he means on the field. As several columnists have […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Revs Lose Ralston, Twellman for Several Weeks
The first week in MLS produced major injuries for the New England Revolution. Taylor Twellman, the Revolution’s all-time leading goal scorer, will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery after suffering an injury during a training session last Thursday. Twellman, named to the starting lineup against Houston, was a late scratch because of the injury that should keep […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
TFC to Sign Derby County’s Robert
Derby County midfielder Laurent Robert is on the verge of signing with Toronto FC, The Star reports. The 32-year-old practiced with the team on Tuesday, wearing the No. 30 jersey. TFC business managers Paul Beirne and Mo Johnston were also on hand at the training session; afterwards, the reporter spotted the pair conversing with a […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Man. United Earns Roma Praise
Thankfully, the violence was kept to a minimum in Rome Tuesday night as Manchester United defeated AS Roma, 2-0, in Champions League quarterfinals. In fact, Guardian correspondent Ed Vulliamy points out that by the end of a match that United thoroughly deserved to win, the Roma fans had “sung, chanted and saluted the losers at […]
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U.S. Youth Soccer Girls ODP Rosters
[YOUTH] U.S. Youth Soccer ODP girls teams are participating in an international tournament, beginning Thursday in San Jose, Costa Rica. The four regional teams are made up of U-15 and U-16 players to compete against the U-17 national teams of Trinidad & Tobago and Costa Rica and the U-20 national teams of Chile and Honduras. For complete rosters …
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Cristiano Ronaldo, a man for all situations
[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Whether he plays wide or in the middle, whether it’s up front or in midfield, whether it’s on the ground or in the air, there’s no stopping Cristiano Ronaldo. The 23-year-old Portuguese star scored his 10th goal in his last 11 appearances in Europe and 36 goals in all competitions this season to lead Manchester United past Roma, 2-0, in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal series on Tuesday in Rome.