The New York Red Bulls sent two teams to the Mediterranean International Cup in Spain, where they both reached the second round. The U-14s went unbeaten, going 4-0-1, while the U-15s, playing up in the U-16 division, advanced to the round of 16 before falling to Valencia.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
U.S. star sidelined for U-17 qualifying
The USA will put its perfect record of having qualified for every FIFA U-17 World Cup since the tournament’s inception in 1985 on the line when it faces Cuba, Canada and Honduras at the 2009 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, beginning Tuesday in Tijuana, Mexico, but the Americans will be without their most heralded player, 15-year-old midfielder Charles Renken, who is again sidelined with a knee injury.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Texans make Dallas Cup history
The Dallas Texans Red made history when they became the first club to win three titles in the same year at the Dr. Pepper Dallas Cup, capturing the U-19, U-14 and U-13 titles at this year’s 30th edition of the tournament. The surprise was the Santa Clara (Calif.) Sporting’s run to the championship in the U-15 division.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Fergie Blasts Rafa’s Arrogance
On the eve of Sunday’s FA Cup game between Manchester United and Everton at Wembley, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson came to Everton’s defense, taking aim at Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, manager of Everton’s Merseyside rival and United’s challenger for the EPL lead. “He called Everton a small club which points to his arrogance. They […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Hart To Coach Canada at Gold Cup
Two years ago as interim coach, Stephen Hart led Canada to the semifinals of the Gold Cup, where it fell to the USA. In 2009, he’ll again be in charge of Canada as interim coach at the Gold Cup. The Canadian Soccer Association on Friday named Hart, the CSA’s technical director, as interim coach through […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Klinsmann Targets Bundesliga Title
With its UEFA Champions League campaign over, Bayern Munich can concentrate on the Bundesliga title race. It’s been a rocky first season for Coach Juergen Klinsmann, but he still thinks Bayern can defend its title. “Qualifying for the Champions League is mandatory,” he said before Saturday’s game against Arminia Bielefeld, “but, of course, our target […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ramirez Replaces Arellano at Chivas Guadalajara
Things are looking up at Chivas USA, which has the best record in MLS after four weeks. The situation at Chivas Guadalajara is another matter. Guadalajara named Francisco Ramirez, the assistant to former Mexico coach Sven-Goran Eriksson best known for his run-in with Frankie Hejduk after February’s USA-Mexico qualifier, has been named its new coach, […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Claudio Lopez Happy in Kansas City
Not all Designated Players have worked out in MLS. Claudio Lopez is an exception. The former Argentina national team star not only has had an impact on the field for the Kansas City Wizards, but he and his family are so happy to be in Kansas City that he took a pay cut to remain […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Real Salt Lake Gets Lucky on Davies Lottery
Real Salt Lake has landed U.S. under-20 national team captain Kyle Davies through a lottery, adding another player with European experience to its roster. Davies, 20, has spent the last two years in the Southampton FC youth system. “One thing we have done with our team and have had quite a bit of success […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
D.C. United hosts New England in the MLS Game of the Week on Friday. In WPS, the Chicago Red Stars take on Sky Blue FC on Sunday afternoon. England’s FA Cup hits the semifinal stage this weekend. Archrivals meet in Mexico (Chivas-Club America) and Argentina (Boca Juniors-River Plate).
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
CalClasico deserves more respect
Before there was the SuperClassico, before hordes of TFC fans made the eight-hour trek to Columbus, before Houston and FC Dallas tangled in their own Texas Two-Step, several times a season would meet the polar opposites of MLS and California, San Jose and Los Angeles.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Week 5: Galaxy goes north seeking first win
[MLS PREDICTIONS] Among the teams seeking their first victory of the season is the beleaguered Los Angeles Galaxy, whose game against the San Jose Earthquakes was set in Oakland to accommodate a Beckham crowd, which instead must settle for a postgame firework show. 2008 runner-up New York looks for its first win when it hosts Real Salt Lake. Houston tries to end a four-game winless streak when it hosts Colorado. Also hosting is winless FC Dallas, which welcomes Toronto. The league’s top team so far, Chivas USA, hosts Seattle, which lost for the first time last week. For all of Soccer America’s predictions, as well as TV viewing information, and to see how we fared last week …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
New champion to be crowned
[USL-2 PREVIEW] A new USL Second Division champion will be crowned following the promotion of last year’s winners, the Cleveland City Stars, to the USL-1. The contenders include Charlotte, Richmond, Crystal Palace Baltimore and Harrisburg. Here’s a look at nine teams in order of last year’s finish …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA heads to Tijuana for qualifying
[CONCACAF UNDER-17 CHAMPIONSHIP] U.S. under-17 national team coach Wilmer Cabrera named 20 players whom he’ll take to 2009 CONCACAF U-17 Championship April 21-May 2 in Tijuana, Mexico. USA, the only country to qualify for every FIFA U-17 World Cup since the tournament’s inception in 1985, has one notable omission: 15-year-old midfield star Charles Renken, who has been in residency five semesters but is again sidelined with a knee injury. For the complete roster …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Surgeries for Cherundolo, Altidore
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Jozy Altidore, who scored four goals in the last two U.S. World Cup qualifiers, will be out for up to a month because of toe-nail surgery. Steve Cherundolo, who’s been missing from his right back position with the USA, is due to undergo hip surgery and will miss the rest of the Bundesliga season.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Week 4: Chicago opens at Toyota Park
[WPS] The Chicago Red Stars, who won and tied their first two games on the road, are the last WPS team to open at home when they host Sky Blue FC in the WPS Sunday on FSC (TV: 6 pm ET). For a look at this weekend’s WPS action …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Not speaking English is a problem. You’ve always got his interpreter running around the training ground. Sometimes you pass the ball through the middle and he chases it. And the interpreter is running alongside him and he gets in there and heads into the net!”
— Tottenham Hotsput coach Harry Redknapp on his Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko‘s communication issues. (BBC)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
UEFA Cup Results
The UEFA Cup is down to four teams — two Ukrainian and two German. Dynamo Kiev and Shakhtar Donetsk will meet in one semifinal, while Hamburg will faces Werder Bremen in the other. For all of Thursday’s results and goalscorers …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Getting the most out of a Director of Coaching
Over the years more of our 6,000 youth soccer clubs have become increasingly professional. The clubs are paying more attention to facilities, staff and programming. Among the staff some clubs have hired are coaches. A number of clubs have the coaches do administration as well as coaching.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
China Names Gao National Team Coach
Former China national team striker Gao Hongbo was named as the new national team coach on Thursday. At 43, he is the youngest coach in 30 years. The popular Gao was sent to a closed camp for a three-day grilling by federation officials in February with three other candidates. China failed to qualify for the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Vieri To Try Poker
Italian Christian Vieri, recently linked to a move to MLS’s Los Angeles Galaxy, says he’ll try his luck at poker while continuing his search for a new club. The 35-year-old forward quit Serie A side Atalanta after fans jeered him during a training session. “I enjoy cards a lot,” Vieri told Sportweek magazine, “but my […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Cuban defectors join Miami FC
Pedro Faife and Reinier Alcantara, Cuban national team players who defected before last October’s World Cup 2010 qualifying match against the USA in Washington, have signed contracts with the USL First Division’s Miami FC. ”Being in South Florida,” Miami FC general manager Luiz Muzzi said, “it’s nice to have signed two Cuban players, but more […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Pato Needs To be Protected
AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani doesn’t like the way his prize talent is being treated. He has demanded that Serie A referees keep an eye Brazilian teenager Pato Alexandre. “He is being scientifically targeted the moment he steps on the field with the hope that, given that he is young, he will become a […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Barca’s Yaya Toure Seeks Advice from Brother
Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure says he’ll get advice from his brother, Arsenal defender Kolo Toure, on Chelsea, Barcelona’s opponent in the Champions League semifinals. “I must speak with my brother about Chelsea,” he told the Daily Mirror. “Kolo will know all about them, especially after playing in a big game against Chelsea this weekend.” Yaya […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Arsenal’s Wenger Up For Man. United Challenge
Unbeaten in 18 English Premier League games, Arsenal has advanced to the semifinals of the English FA Cup and UEFA Champions League with a remarkable run impossible to have imagined just four months ago. Manager Arsene Wenger, for one, never seemed to doubt that his young team would find its form. “I feel that confidence […]