The MLS playoff race is shaping up to be the tightest ever as wins by D.C. United, Colorado and New England tighten things considerably. Only three point separate the seven teams currently battling for the seven playoff berths. For all the weekend game summaries, current standings and leading scorers …
Category: Story
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
International Results
Bayern Munich finally got its first win of the German season when it beat defending Bundesliga champion Wolfsburg, 3-0, Celtic and Rangers remain perfect in Scotland, while Braga is the surprise leader in Portugal. For all the weekend results and current standings …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Four teams clinch berths in playoffs
[USL-1] Carolina, Charleston and Puerto Rico joined leader Portland in clinching berths in the USL First Division. Rochester, Montreal and defending champion Vancouver are in line to clinch the remaining three playoff spots.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Arsenal’s Wenger to get apology for sending off
[ENGLAND] Luck was not with Arsenal when the Gunners lost to defending champion Manchester United, 2-1, on Saturday. To make matters worse, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was sent off for kicking an empty water bottle late in the game — a decision by referee Mike Dean on the advice of fourth official Lee Probert that was called an error and will result in an apology.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
New Galacticos fail to impress in opening win
[SPAIN] Real Madrid debuted its $300 signings on Saturday, but they struggled to beat Deportivo Coruna, 3-2, in La Liga opener on Saturday in Madrid. Cristiano Ronaldo, the most expensive signing at $131 million, converted a penalty kick, but he otherwise wasn’t much of a factor in the game. Real needed goals from holdovers Lassana Diarra and Raul to pull out the win.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Beckham hits net; D.C. keeper goes beserk [VIDEO]
[MLS NAMES & NUMBERS] Only of one the weekend’s seven games had more than one goal. Included in five 1-0 decisions were the New York Red Bulls’ second straight win since their coaching change, David Beckham‘s first goal of the season, and D.C. United keeper’s assault of a teammate.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Soccer America Women’s Top 25
[COLLEGE] The top four teams — No. 1 North Carolina, No. 2 Stanford, No. 3 Portland and No. 4 Notre Dame — remained unchanged in the Soccer America Women’s Top 25, but there was lots of changes in the rest of the rankings. For this week’s Top 25 rankings as well as last week’s results …
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Diving witch hunt detracts from real problems
Arsenal’s Eduardo got on to the field in the 79th minute of Saturday’s game against Manchester United. His entry was greeted by shouts of “Cheat!” from the Man U fans, and Eduardo was duly booed each time he played the ball.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Backline: Sasho Cirovski
Like many of the players he now coaches at the University of Maryland, Sasho Cirovski faced the choice of when to go pro.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
U.S. Soccer Development Academy Champions
The second season of U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy program concluded in mid-July with a repeat champion of sorts and a club whose partnership with an English team has benefited both parties.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Youth Beat: The Internet Impact
The game will always be played on the field, but everything that leads up to it has become easier thanks to high technology.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Women’s Professional Soccer: All-Star Team
Women’s Professional Soccer’s First XI – its first-choice team for the 2009 All-Star Game against Sweden’s Umea – confirmed the impact foreign players had on the first-year league. Foreigners claimed seven of the 11 spots in balloting by fans, media, coaches and players:
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
MLS: The Dynamo’s Stuart Holden
Houston Dynamo midfielder Stuart Holden has parlayed a solid performance at the Gold Cup and a greater role with the MLS team into contention for a spot on the U.S. World Cup roster.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
U.S. Soccer: Jonathan Spector
Injuries have ruled Jonathan Spector out of important competitions the past few years, but his return to fitness primed him for the Premier League season with West Ham as well as more regular duty on the U.S. national team.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
USYS National Championship Series
A small club from South Carolina, Discoveries SC, stole the show at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships, winning the U-18 title with a scintillating performance.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
2009 Women’s College Soccer Preview
The defending champion Tar Heels, aiming for North Carolina’s 20th national championship in 28 years, could be one of the great Anson Dorrance teams of all time. Stanford, with a strong returning frontline and a pair of incoming U-17 internationals, could have the best shot of dethroning UNC.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
2009 Men’s College Soccer Preview
Major college programs such as defending champion Maryland and 2007 winner Wake Forest are sending players to the pros in record numbers. But they remain national contenders because of their ability to quickly recruit replacements. In a new development, many of the top recruits have spent time in pro academy programs here or abroad.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
USA-Mexico: Azteca Heartbreak
A 2-1 loss to Mexico as Hexagonal qualifying play resumed after a two-month break extended a run of U.S. futility in Mexico to 24 games and again exposed the Americans’ deficiencies.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Bonus restrictions need overhaul
It’s not one of the major points of negotiation while MLS and the players’ union discuss a new collective bargaining agreement, but something has to be done about the financial strictures placed on international competitions.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
North Texas Aims For Another Record Crowd
FC Dallas will return to its old home, the Cotton Bowl, on Sept. 30 when it will face the New England Revolution as part of a doubleheader that also features an international friendly between Mexico and Columbia. “What a great opportunity to play a pre-game to such a prestigious game for our community,” Dallas coach […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Superclasico Fan Friendly Canceled
The Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA have as heated a rivalry as you'll find in MLS. In a token offer of peace and reconciliation, the two rival supporter groups, Chivas USA's Union Ultras and the Galaxy's Angel City Brigade, scheduled an exhibition match to be played prior to the Superclasico at the Home Depot […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Aiming For New Transfer Approach
Organizers of the inaugural Globe Soccer conference hope it will serve as an opportunity for more fair and transparent transfers during the midseason transfer window. Recalling Major League Baseball’s “winter meetings,” the conference aims to facilitate trade deals under the same roof. The conference is set for Jan. 4 in Dubai. Globe Soccer founder Enrico […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
UEFA Pushing Fair Financial Measures Along
The Professional Football Strategy Council (PFSC) unanimously recommended that UEFA’s Executive Committee approve the Financial Fair Play concept at UEFA’s upcoming meeting in Nyon in September. The PFSC is composed of representatives from the European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL), the players (FIFPro Europe), the clubs (ECA) and the UEFA vice-presidents. As UEFA says on its […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Shevchenko to Leave Chelsea
Andriy Shevchenko's disappointing three-year stint with Chelsea is almost over. Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed Friday that the striker will leave before the transfer window closes next week. "Shevchenko will decide to return to go to play in another team," Ancelotti said. "I spoke with Shevchenko and he would like to play with continuity. Here […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
The Diminishing Beckham Factor
Ian Plenderleith compared David Beckham‘s visit last weekend to RFK Stadium to his previous seasons’ appearances, which included a sellout crowd in 2007 of almost 47,000. “In 2008 when LA came to DC, that attendance dropped to just under 36,000. [This season’s] crowd was slightly above 22,000. That’s still well ahead of D.C. United’s home […]