Category: Story

Wins by Columbus and New England created a four-way tie with Kansas City and Toronto FC for third place in the Eastern Conference. With only its second win (in 12 games), Los Angeles moved to within two points of third place in the Western Conference. For all the game summaries, standings, leading scorers and this week’s schedule …

[WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING] The Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South Korea became the first teams to join host South Africa at next year’s World Cup finals when they clinched berths on Saturday. South Korea returns to the seventh straight time, the Netherlands qualified for the finals for the sixth straight time, and Japan made it four in a row. Australia was playing in Asian qualifying for the first time. For a look at all the qualifying action in Europe, Asia, South America and Africa …

[HEXAGONAL] Javier Aguirre tried to reassure Mexico’s nervous supporters after his second stint as the Tri’s national team coach began with a 2-1 loss at El Salvador. Only Trinidad & Tobago’s 3-2 loss at home to leader Costa Rica kept Mexico from sinking to last place in Concacaf’s World Cup 2010 qualifying competition. It should be noted, though, the Tri was in worse shape eight years when Aguirre revived Mexico’s struggling national team and led it to the World Cup finals.

[MLS WINNERS & LOSERS] After being sidelined for all but 65 minutes of the 2009 season, Taylor Twellman hit the field on Sunday and made some history. Last year’s MVP indicated he’s even hotter this year. It was a bad week for the coach most likely to get the sack. And the red cards flew again around the league, including an ejection for a knee to the groin.

[WPS] The inaugural Women’s Professional Soccer race is a runaway. The first-place Los Angeles Sol has double the point total of its closest rival after its 3-1 win over Washington left it with a 12-point lead over the second-place Freedom. The Sol, which got two goals from the league’s top scorer, Frenchwoman Camille Abily, is the only team in the league with a winning record (7-1-3) and positive goal difference (plus-11).

[USL-1] Rarer than a first-minute goal is a first-minute red card, but the Austin Aztex recovered from the rapid dismissal of Michael Callahan for a late tackle on a Charleston player and earned a 1-1 tie with the undefeated Battery on Sunday.

[WORLD CUP QUALIFYING] The margin of victory might have been more, or there could have been no margin at all, as both the USA and Honduras came within whiskers of making plays that would have changed the result. Three days after their 3-1 loss at Costa Rica, the Americans proved that they could come back from an early goal.

[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] For his 23-man roster to face Italy, Brazil and Egypt at the World Cup rehearsal in South Africa next week, Coach Bob Bradley has selected five MLS players, 17 European-based men, and Jose Francisco Torres of the Mexican league. The roster includes players who ply their trade in 11 different nations.

[USA-HONDURAS REPORT CARD] Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players and comments on their performance in Saturday’s 2-1 win over  Honduras in Chicago.