Soccer America Archives

“Corruption lurks as a background concern for UEFA, but it is infrastructure that presents the more pressing problem for teams, fans and journalists. Donetsk is getting there, just about, but one venue is not enough.” Eastern Europe soccer expert Jonathan Wilson assesses the state of Poland and Ukraine’s soccer, transport and leisure infrastructure as both […]

Mexican Fed Head Confident Of Recovery

“We are in first place in the group, but just by a hair and that’s not comfortable. We did not think it would be so much of a struggle in the qualification rounds. We are concerned because our expectations were to be already qualified. But we see light at the end of the tunnel. We […]

Midseason Signings Paid Off For Salt Lake

Although there’s no way of knowing for sure, Real Salt Lake would likely not have made the MLS postseason without its trio of midseason additions in the shape of Robbie Russell, Clint Mathis and Will Johnson, writes James Edward. It’s a view that garners credence from RSL coach Jason Kreis. “I really didn’t think we’d […]

Toronto Gets DP Green Light

Toronto FC owner Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment has given the team the go-ahead to sign a designated player. But, as Morgan Campbell reports, “that doesn’t mean they’re going to do it.” The team’s entire 2009 business plan was approved by the MLSE board of directors at an all-day meeting Monday. But TFC Chief Operating […]

Columbus Awaits The Return Of Busch And McBride

The Chicago Fire’s visit to the Columbus Crew for Thursday’s Eastern Conference final will mark the return to Ohio of two key players from the Crew’s past. One is Fire forward Brian McBride, who from 1996 to 2003 scored 71 goals in 183 appearances for the Crew. The other is Jon Busch, the MLS Goalkeeper […]

Lest We Forget, Houston’s Season Is Not Over

It was easy to forget in the light of its shock playoff defeat to New York that the Houston Dynamo’s season is not yet over. The team still has to play its outstanding Concacaf Champions League group game at home to Salvadoran club Luis Angel Firpo on November 26, a game it must win to […]

Could Obama Boost U.S. World Cup Bid?

If America’s image abroad has been improved overnight by the election of Barack Obama to the office of President, who’s to say that hasn’t bettered the country’s chances of hosting the World Cup in 2018 or 2022? U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati acknowledges that U.S. chances have been done no harm by the Democrat’s […]

SMALL COLLEGES: NCAA Division 2 & 3 Men’s Draws

The draws for the NCAA Division II and III Men’s Tournaments were held on Monday. The Division II Tournament begins on Wednesday, and the Division III championship begins a day later. For the complete schedules …

AWARDS: Soccer America Men’s Team of the Week

Matt Murphy, who scored important goals in a pair of wins that gave UC Irvine its first Big West regular-season title, is the Soccer America Men’s Player of the Week. For all the Soccer America Men’s Team of the Week selections for games played Nov. 3-9 …

TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: Men’s Conferences

Action heats up this week in 18 NCAA Division I men’s conferences that will send their conference champions to the NCAA Tournament. Tuesday will feature first-round play in the ACC and quarterfinal action in the CAA. For all the results and schedules …

SMALL COLLEGES: NCAA Division 2 & 3 Women’s Draws

The draws for the NCAA Division II and III Women’s Tournaments were held on Monday. Both tournaments begin with first- and second-round play this week. For the complete schedules …

AWARDS: Soccer America Women’s Team of the Week

Sophie Schmidt, the Canadian Olympian who led Portland to a 4-1 victory in a winner-take-all WCC match at San Diego, is the Soccer America Women’s Player of the Week. For all the Soccer America Women’s Team of the Week selections for games played Nov. 3-9 …

MORNING BRIEFING: Powerhouses claim top seeds

by Paul KennedyNovember 11, 2008

Top-ranked Notre Dame (21-0-0) heads the 64-team NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament field. UCLA, Stanford and North Carolina, ranked 2-3-5 in the final Soccer America Women’s Top 25, are the other No. 1 seeds in one of the most competitive fields in women’s history. For all the tournament entrants and first-round schedule …

Scorer fined for handcuff celebration

[ENGLAND] Ipswich Town midfielder David Norris was fined by his club for celebrating a goal with a handcuff gesture that was interpreted as a dedication to his former teammate Luke McCormick, who is serving a prison sentence for killing two boys in a drunk-driving car accident on the way home from Norris’ wedding in June of 2007.

Players vs. Police

[OFF THE POST] A Bolivian Libertadores Cup qualifying game between Aurora and Wilstermann featured a players vs. police brawl that ignited after a dozen officers took to the field to remove red-carded Aurora defender Eduardo Zenteno. His teammates’ battle against the cops, summoned after Zenteno delayed his departure, included karate kicks and corner-flag swinging.

Jair Marrufo named MLS Ref of the Year

[MLS AWARDS] Jair Marrufo, one of the U.S. Soccer’s four full-time referees in the program launched last year, has been named 2008 MLS Referee of the Year. Kermit Quisenberry was named the MLS Assistant Referee of the Year.

Rapids to name Smith head coach

[MLS] The Colorado Rapids scheduled a press conference Tuesday to name their new head coach, which to the surprise of no one is interim head coach Gary Smith, who moved up from his position as assistant coach when Fernando Clavijo resigned in late August.

Poise, not just luck, carried Bulls to victory

by Ridge MahoneyNovember 11, 2008

[MLS] Houston coach Dominic Kinnear and his players are correct in saying they conjured up enough scoring chances to win most games in a stunning 3-0 playoff loss to New York at home Sunday, but left unsaid was the fact their finishing and/or the decisive touch just didn’t measure up that of a much more clinical opponent.

Charlie Davies finishes with 14 goals in Sweden

[AMERICANS ABROAD] Massachusetts product Charlie Davies, 22, scored both of Hammerby’s goals in a 5-2 loss at Norrkoping on the final day of the Swedish 2008 First Division season, giving him 14 goals to tie him with Helsingborgs IF’s Henrik Larsson for fourth place among the Allsvenskan’s leading scorers.

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“How can it not make a difference? Now when you think of America, you don’t think George W. Bush or war. You think of this man, Obama, who has made history and given hope to millions. The men who vote on World Cup hosts are not immune to those same feelings. If the U.S. bid stacks up in terms of infrastructure and organization, then Obama could be a huge factor.”

— “A high-placed FIFA source” indicates that the election of Barack Obama increases the chances of the USA winning the bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup. (Yahoo!Sports)

REPORT CARDS: Quarterfinal Leaders

[MLS] Dane Richards (New York Red Bulls) and Yura Movsisyan (Real Salt Lake) were the highest-rated players based on the grades of Soccer America editors during the MLS quarterfinals that concluded Sunday.

River claws a draw, Boca steals a win

by Ian PlenderleithNovember 11, 2008

[ARGENTINA] River Plate battled back from a three-goal deficit to claim a draw in Diego Simeone‘s final game as coach.

Soccer on TV., Story

Soccer on TV

by Soccer AmericaNovember 10, 2008

MLS semifinal play kicks off Thursday as Columbus hosts Chicago with a trip to MLS Cup on the line. The other MLS Cup finalist will be determined on Saturday when Real Salt Lake hosts New York. The Mexican league’s weekend matches and the Fox Sports en Espanol weekend schedule will be updated in Friday’s Soccer on TV e-letter.

Hughes Gets City Vote Of Confidence

by Soccer AmericaNovember 10, 2008

“We are calm and under control and we on the board have the highest regard for Mark. I am personally committed to him as I am committed to the partnership between executive chairman Garry Cook, Mark and myself. This is a winning team that is going through a learning curve right now.” Manchester City Chairman […]