“I’m not nearly self-confident enough to say I knew what I was doing. But if you’ve been around pro sports long enough you can quickly pick up when someone has a fire in their stomach which can lead to success in their profession.” Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts looks back on his appointment early […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Angel: All Credit To Osorio
“[New York Coach Juan Carlos Osorio] took over a team that’s been losing. Then you have one of your Designated Players retiring, then arguably the best young player in this country was sold to Europe. Then toward the end of the year you have two guys suspended for performance-enhancing substances. So it hasn’t been easy.” […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Seedorf Doubts Beckham Can Play For Milan
“I don’t even know if he’ll be able to play for us. I mean the first goal is for him to get fit and in the best shape possible. But I don’t know if he’ll play, that’s another thing completely.” AC Milan’s Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf adds himself to the list of doubters about David […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ronaldo’s Reps Ready To Talk
Cristiano Ronaldo’s representatives are ready to begin talks with Manchester United over a new contract, even though he penned a five-year deal last year for $179,000 a week, reports Andy Hunter. United, however, want to wait until the end of this season before resuming talks. Ronaldo, 23, is 19 months into the five-year contract, and […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Police To Investigate Drogba Coin-Throwing
London police are to investigate the incident that saw Chelsea striker Didier Drogba throw a coin back into the crowd during his team’s League Cup defeat at home to Burnley Wednesday. Drogba, who apologized for his behavior after the match, threw an object back into the section of Burnley supporters behind the goal moments after […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
FIFA To Review 2018/2022 World Cup Bidding Timetable
Soccer’s world governing body FIFA is reviewing its plan to hold a dual tender for hosting rights to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, Matt Scott reports. A quarter of the 24 members on FIFA’s powerful executive committee last month questioned the plan. They said that, with the vote set for March 2011, deciding the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Maradona May Quit As Argentina Coach
Argentine media reported Wednesday that Diego Maradona may quit as Argentina coach over his choice of an assistant, after just one week in charge. Maradona is due to make his coaching debut in Glasgow next week in a friendly against Scotland. The reports said Maradona has run into a deadlock with Argentina soccer federation President […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Wynalda: Will Donovan Test Himself?
Eric Wynalda’s been uncharacteristically quiet of late, but he spoke to Andrea Canales about Landon Donovan’s current training stint with Bayern Munich and a possible long-term move to Europe. “This is a gut check to see how much heart you have,” Wynalda said. “It’s not how much skill you have. It’s a test. My only […]
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SCOREBOARD: NCAA Division I Women
USC begins its NCAA Division I women’s title defense Thursday against Boston University in in Provo, Utah. In Thursday’s other first-round game, regional host BYU, the Mountain West champion, faces surprise ACC finalist Virginia Tech. For all the first-round matchups …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SOCCER AMERICA INTERVIEW: Oklahoma State’s Yolanda Odenyo
Swede Yolando Odenyo is a big reason Oklahoma State tied a school record with 17 wins and enters the NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament. Odenyo earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors. She talks about the Cowgirls’ chances in the NCAA Tournament.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SCOREBOARD: NCAA Division 2 & 3 Men
The NCAA Division II Men’s Tournament opened Wednesday’s with a miracle comeback in Jefferson City, Tenn., where Francis Marion came back from three goals down in the last half hour and defeated Carson-Newman, 4-3, on a golden goal by Kyle Clinton. For more on Wednesday’s openers and the complete NCAA Division 2 and 3 men’s schedules …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: Men’s Conferences
Men’s conferences swung into tournament action in a big way on Wednesday. Finals were set in two conferences: UC Irvine vs. UC Santa Barbara in the Big West and Boston University vs. Binghamton in the America East. Perhaps the biggest shocker was SMU’s 3-0 loss at home to South Carolina in the Conference USA’s quarterfinals — a loss that left the Mustangs in danger of not being selected to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 15 years. For all the results and schedules …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
RPI: Wake Forest No. 1 in latest rankings
Top-ranked Wake Forest is now No. 1 in the latest RPI index of NCAA Division I men’s programs released on Monday. For the RPI rankings of the top 25 teams and the teams on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
MORNING BRIEFING: Virginia overcomes major losses
First, Virginia lost Chris Agorsor, the nation’s top freshman prospect, with a knee injury in September. Then, Tony Tchani, since named the ACC Freshman of the Year, went down with a knee injury of his own in late October. You’d think the Cavaliers were done for the year, but they exploded for a 4-2 win over Duke in the Wednesday’s quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament in Cary, N.C.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Americans on the verge of history
[UNDER-17 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP] Winner of the inaugural competitions at the Women’s World Cup in 1991, Women’s Olympic Soccer in 1996 and Under-19 (now Under-20) Women’s World Cup in 2002, the United States is in position to make it 4-for 4. Kazbek Tambi‘s girls came back from a goal down in the last half hour to beat Germany, 2-1, Thursday night and move into the final of the first Under-17 Women’s World Cup Sunday against North Korea in New Zealand.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Keeper’s goal among finalists [VIDEO]
[MLS AWARDS] A goal scored by a goalkeeper — Red Bulls’ Danny Cepero vs. Columbus – is among the five finalists in MLS Goal of the Year Voting. Fans will pick between his 80-yard free kick and strikes by Cuauhtémoc Blanco (last year’s winner), Geoff Cameron, Will Johnson and Robbie Rogers.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I tried to celebrate the goal and I received some things at me. The big mistake I did was to throw it back so if someone was hurt I just want to apologize for it.”
— Cheslea forward Didier Drogba, who tossed a coin back into the crowd that was thrown at him by Burnley fans during an English League Cup game on Wednesday. He received a yellow card for returning the money. The were no reports of coin bruise. (BBC)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Similar teams are evenly matched
[MLS SEMIFINAL PREVIEW] For the Eastern Conference finalists Columbus and Chicago, the similarities go beyond the presence of a dynamic playmaker, a quality left back, a solid holding midfielder, a rugged striker, and a strong back four. Both teams are talented, hungry, well-coached, and long overdue heading into their meeting at Crew Stadium Thursday (7:30 ET, ESPN2). Chicago has lost in two MLS Cups, the 2000 and 2003 editions, after capturing the title in its first season a decade ago. Columbus, an original member of MLS when it began operations in 1996, has never reached the final hurdle, much less cleared it.
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Making A Mockery of the Goal of the Year
I was as shocked and amused as anyone by Danny Cepero’s 80-yard goalscoring feat for the Red Bulls against the Columbus Crew. The sort of crazy moment that lightens things up, that quickly becomes a conversation piece.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Villarreal out of Copa del Rey
[SPAIN] Jozy Altidore played through for Villarreal as it was knocked out of the Copa del Rey by third-tier Polideportivo Ejido.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Chelsea and Liverpool out of the League Cup
[ENGLAND] Chelsea was eliminated from the League Cup on penalty kicks by second-tier Burnley. Liverpool lost, 4-2, at on-fire Tottenham Hotspur.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
AEG Not Interested In Newcastle
“Neither AEG nor anyone affiliated with the organization are in negotiations or are contemplating the purchase of Newcastle United Football Club,” read a statement from Anschutz Entertainment Group.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
USA Drops Three Places In FIFA Rankings
The United States dropped three places to No. 27 on the latest FIFA world rankings. Those are the ratings everyone says are meaningless until their country climbs 20 places or reaches the top 10.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Respect Is A Two-Way Channel
“Football is characterized by its room for human error. Many would argue it’s a trait that is integral to the game itself but the [Respect] campaign has so far only appeared to increase tensions between referees and managers.” Dan Bryant on the English FA’s increasingly derided campaign for players and managers to respect referees.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Everton Can’t Find A Buyer
“It has never been more difficult to find buyers. It’s no longer a question of price negotiation — it’s, ‘Should we?’ People are wondering if now is the time to spend.” Everton owner Keith Harris admits he’s having a hard time finding a buyer for the club.