[USA-GUATEMALA] Guatemala will face the United States Wednesday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo., with a new coach, Benjamin Monterroso, but without its longtime star, MLS veteran Carlos Ruiz.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Osorio method forges Red Bulls’ winning mentality
A goalie, especially a young one, might be the worst player to ask about how a successful head coach manages and prepares a team. The tinkering of lineups and personnel and formations and tactics by Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio has attracted much notice and some disdain, but as keeper Danny Cepero notes, the Osorio Method that has sent the Red Bulls to the MLS final is as much about what a player is between the ears as what he does between the lines.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“A trick? I wouldn’t say so. It’s up to the referee to decide if it should be penalized, otherwise I don’t see where the problem is … Good taste is relative.”
— Pietro Lo Monaco, chief executive of Italian Serie A club Catania, whose coach, the former MLS goalie and coach Walter Zenga, has been accused of using dirty tricks in having his players dropped their shorts to block the sight of the opposing goalie on free kicks. The Sicilian team carried out the maneuver to perfection Sunday when three players dropped their shorts practically to their knees so Torino goalie Matteo Sereni couldn’t see the kick by Giuseppe Mascara, who scored during Catania’s 3-2 victory. (AP)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
A bit too fanatic
[OFF THE POST] Fans of Argentine second division club Chacarita, fearing they’d be late to their team’s game against Talleres, hijacked a pair of a couple of buses and pointed knives at the drivers with instructions to drive faster.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Arsenal Fears WPS Exodus
“I told the players that they had until this Monday [November 17] to let me know if they were going or staying. If they decide to go they’ll have to leave for America in January and that doesn’t give me much time to bring in replacements.” Arsenal women’s team Manager Vic Akers has given his […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Fumbling In The Dark With Maradona
“Having Maradona as our coach creates anticipation like your wedding night. It’s tremendously exciting, and you really hope that it will be wonderful, but you never actually know what’s going to happen.” Julio Grondona, the President of the Argentine FA, knows it won’t be easy going with Diego Maradona as national team coach.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Blame The System For NY Success
“Ten wins in 30 games. A goal differential of minus 6. A team with only one road win in the regular season. Your 2008 MLS Cup winner? It might just be the New York Red Bulls.” Gareth Wheeler says don’t blame New York, blame the system.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Miami Decision ‘Within Next Month’
“We have always stated that one of the conditions for us was starting in March, 2010. We will not negotiate on that, and MLS understands our position. Therefore, because the timeframe is relatively short, we expect MLS will make a decision about our franchise in the very near future … say the next month or […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Why Beckham Missed England Call-Up
“This is my system. If you are fit and you are playing, it’s possible to be in the squad. He played his last game three weeks ago. If he had played in the [MLS] playoffs, it would have been OK.” England Manager Fabio Capello explains David Beckham’s omission from the England squad to play Germany […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
The Impossible Demands On Flawed Referees
“Premier League managers will never respect referees,” writes Simon Barnes. “Respect is an impossible idea and the worthy campaign intended to inspire it is doomed to failure.” He cites the weekend red card shown to Emmerson Boyce of Wigan Athletic for his foul on Newcastle’s Shola Ameobi, which replays showed was clearly not a foul, […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Egypt’s Al-Ahly Takes African Crown
Al-Ahly of Egypt won the African Champions League Sunday, beating Coton Sport of Cameroon 4-2 on aggregate. It was a record-breaking sixth triumph for the club in the competition, and followed the Egyptian national team’s victory in the African Nations Cup at the start of the year. After winning the first leg 2-0 in Cairo […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
When Busch Comes To Shove
It all went sour when the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year bumped into the MLS Coach of the Year following Thursday’s Eastern Conference playoff final. But then Chicago Fire stopper Jon Busch and his former coach, the Columbus Crew’s Sigi Schmid, have been at odds ever since Busch complained about the way Schmid traded him […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ugly Win Down To Luck And Passion
However you want to analyze the reasons why RB New York has made it to the MLS Cup final, there's no discounting a certain amount of good fortune. Even coach Juan Carlos Osorio acknowledged the role of divine intervention after its opponents, Real Salt Lake, hit the woodwork three times during Saturday's game. "We have […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Kreis Regrets Not Punishing ‘Negative’ NY
Salt Lake Coach Jason Kreis was a mixture of frustration and stoicism after his team’s 1-0 weekend defeat to New York in the Western Conference Final. On the one hand he’s been in the game long enough to know “that’s just how the game goes.” Referring to his team’s failure to convert pressure and chances […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Rough end to RSL dream
I have to say, right now I am most envious of Salt Lake City’s fans.
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
On Wednesday, the U.S. men (already assured of passage to the final-round phase of qualification play for the 2010 World Cup) hosts Guatemala . Also on Wednesday, the USA kicks off its Women’s U-20 World Cup campaign. Midweek international friendlies include Germany vs. England. On Sunday, Columbus battles New York for the MLS crown. The Mexican playoff schedule will appear in Friday’s Soccer on TV e-letter.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SCOREBOARD: NCAA Division 2 & 3 Women
Unbeaten and untied Grand Valley State advanced in the NCAA Division II Women’s Tournament. Unbeaten Williams, Lynchburg, Messiah and Johns Hopkins moved into the round of 16 in the NCAA Division III Women’s Tournament. For all the weekend results …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SCOREBOARD: NCAA Division I Women
The four No. 1 and No. 2 regional seeds all moved into the third round of the NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament. Top-ranked Notre Dame needed a late goal to beat Michigan State, 1-0, in the second round. Two other No. 1 seeds, North Carolina and Stanford, won their second-round games in convincing fashion. UCLA’s game against San Diego was postponed until Monday night because of the poor air quality in the Los Angeles area. For all the results and schedules …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
MORNING BRIEFING: Unseeded teams make round of 16
Four unseeded teams remain alive after the first two rounds of the NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament. Minnesota, James Madison, Rutgers and Illinois all moved into next weekend’s round of 16 with upsets.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SCOREBOARD: NCAA Division 2 & 3 Men
Top-ranked Lynn fell to Tampa, 3-2, in the second round of the NCAA Division II Men’s Tournament on Sunday. Three unbeaten teams — Montclair State, Hobart and Trinity (Texas) — are still alive in the NCAA Division III Men’s Tournament. For all the weekend results …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
POLLS: Soccer America Men’s Top 25
Wake Forest is No. 1 in the final Soccer America Men’s Top 25 of the 2008 season. Creighton, Maryland, Akron and South Florida round out the top five. For this week’s Soccer America Men’s Top 25 and last week’s results …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: Men’s Conferences
Regular-season champions took it on the chin in men’s conference tournament action over the weekend. Unbeaten Wake Forest (3-2 loser in overtime to Virginia, which fell to Maryland, 1-0, in the ACC final) and Loyola (Md.) (1-0 loser to Fairfield in the MAAC final) were upset. Campbell had its 12-game winning streak snapped when it fell to Jacksonville, 4-3, in the Atlantic Sun final. The biggest surprise was UNC Greensboro’s victory in the Southern Conference. The No. 7 seed Spartans, who began the tournament with a 6-11-1 record, beat College of Charleston, 2-1, in the final. For all the results and all-tournament teams …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
MORNING BRIEFING: Evaluating the men’s bubble teams
We don’t envy the NCAA Division I men’s soccer committee with its task of picking the at-large teams for the 2008 NCAA Division I Tournament — the 26 teams that will join the 22 conference champions. The rash of weekend upsets and number of low-ranked conference champions ate into the number of places available for at-large teams.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. products to face off in playoffs
[AMERICANS IN MEXICO] The quarterfinals of the Apertura 2008 include a faceoff between young American defenders Edgar Castillo (Santos) and Michael Orozco (San Luis). And on the last day of regular season play, Daniel Hernandez received his third red card of the season.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Bocanegra vs. Adu
[AMERICANS IN FRANCE] Defender Carlos Bocanegra went the full 90 for Rennes as it won at home, 2-1, against Monaco, for which Freddy Adu was a a 69th minute sub.