Category: Story

[WPS] The first-place Los Angeles Sol hosts the second-place Washington Freedom in a battle of Women’s Professional Soccer’s two hottest teams. Both head into the Sunday game (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, live, 6 pm ET/3pm PT) with five-game unbeaten streaks. For all the weekend action …

[HEXAGONAL] Javier Aguirre begins his second stint as Mexico’s national team coach when the Tri visits El Salvador’s Cuscatlan Stadium on Saturday (TV: Telemundo, live, 9 pm ET). Eight years ago, he turned the Tri’s foundering World Cup 2002 campaign around and led it to the finals. In its first three games of the 2009 Hexagonal, Mexico lost two of its three games, so it needs at least a point in San Salvador to reverse course.

[WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING] The Netherlands will become the first European country to reach next year’s World Cup finals if it beats Iceland in Reykjavik on Saturday. For a look at the key European games and all the World Cup qualifying action on television …

[HEXAGONAL] About a decade ago, U.S. keeper Kasey Keller succinctly stated the plight of American soccer players when he said, “We hate playing away games, at home.” Just such a scenario is likely Saturday at Soldier Field in Chicago, where tens of thousands of Honduran fans – bolstered by their team’s 3-1 thumping of Mexico in its last qualifier – are expected to fill much, if not most, of the renovated stadium that can seat 60,000 fans if full. (TV: 8 pm ET, ESPN & Galavision).

[MLS] One could check the result of Thursday night’s match at RFK Stadium and assume the 2-0 win registered by surging United against the reeling Red Bulls had unfolded in a straightforward manner, and one would be wrong.

[MLS PREDICTIONS] National team call-ups will stretch the depth of many MLS teams this weekend. Chivas USA will be missing two starters when it hosts Seattle, as will Houston for its match against the Fire, and the Rapids for their visit to Salt Lake City. The Galaxy is only four ties away from tying the league record (13) as it heads north of the border to Toronto, and D.C.’s 2-0 win over New York Thursday keeps the Red Bulls four points back of sixth-place Columbus with both teams facing tough road games against Eastern Conference rivals. For all of Soccer America’s predictions, as well as TV viewing information, and to see how we fared last week. …

[TV WATCH] If you believe ESPN2’s commentators, Costa Rica didn’t beat the USA by playing good soccer. The Ticos were simply fortunate that the Americans made a lot of mistakes. If you thought for a second that Costa Rica scored some brilliant goals, the ESPN2 experts quickly set you straight.

[WPS] The Los Angeles Sol came from behind to tie the Chicago Red Stars, 1-1, and extend its lead at the top of Women’s Professional Soccer to nine points. The first midweek game in WPS history drew an announced crowd of only 3,832 on a cold and cloudy evening at the Home Depot Center.

[COSTA RICA-USA REPORT CARD] Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players and comments on their performance in Wednesday’s 3-1 loss at Costa Rica.

[MAKING A LIST] The 3-1 loss to Costa Rica marked the fourth straight time the USA has fallen to Ticos on the road in the Hexagonal. It was arguably the worst performance by the Americans in San Jose with their participation in the World Cup not yet decided. Indeed, it was the worst performance ever by the Americans against any foe in the first half of the Hexagonal.

[WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING] A crushing defeat in Costa Rica adds even greater importance to the next U.S. match in the Hexagonal, against Honduras Saturday in Chicago. At Ricardo Saprissa Stadium in San Jose on Wednesday, Americans were second-best for most of the match in all areas of the field and could have lost by a greater margin.

[MLS PREDICTION] MLS has scheduled another nine-match slate of games despite this being a FIFA international double-fixture week, with the action kicking off Thursday at RFK Stadium, where D.C. United welcomes longtime rival (but seldom equal) New York.

[SA WEEK 11 TEAM OF THE WEEK] Rare wins for FC Dallas and San Jose earned players on those teams mention in Week 11, and the scoring form of Colorado forward Conor Casey got him another nod as well as Player of the Month honors from MLS.