[ITALY] Fiorentina striker Alberto Gilardino has been suspended for two games after being adjudged to have intentionally scored a goal with his arm in Sunday’s win at Palermo.
U.S. Under-20 Women’s World Cup roster
U.S. under-20 women’s national team coach Tony DiCicco named the 20 players who will represent the USA at the 2008 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup, which takes place Nov. 19-Dec. 7 in Chile.
What They’re Saying
“I want to apologize for my comments after our game on Saturday night against Kansas City. I was still caught up in the heat of the match. I regret implying that we were looking for payback. I know my comments don’t reflect the feelings of my teammates or the club.”
— A statement by New England midfielder Shalrie Joseph released by the club. During the Revs’ game against Kansas City, Khano Smith was red-carded for a foul on Hercules Gomez, who earlier this month delivered a tackle on Rev Steve Ralston that broke Ralston’s right fibula and ended his season. Joseph told the Boston Globe that “we definitely wanted to give him [Gomez] payback and make him know we didn’t appreciate what he did to Ralston.”
Seattle takes the DP plunge
[MLS] 2009 expansion franchise Seattle Sounders FC is set to sign an English Premier League veteran with plenty of international experience as a Designated Player and is in the midst of its coaching search. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney looks at the DP choice and the early candidates for the coaching position.
Soccer on TV
GAMES: Live and same-day delay on national TV
CONCACAF Champions’ League continues as Houston faces Firpo on Tuesday and D.C. United squares off against Marathon on Wednesday. MLS Playoffs begin on Thursday as New England hosts Chicago. The European leagues do double duty with games in the midweek and on the weekend. The Mexican league’s weekend matches and Gol TV’s weekend schedule will be updated in Friday’s Soccer on TV e-letter.
Vanney’s A Quality Guy
“He’s a real quality guy and I’m happy today that we were able to at least recognize him at the end there. It has to be a thrill to step on the field and be given the captain’s armband by David Beckham.” L.A. coach Bruce Arena pays tribute to defender Greg Vanney, who retired Saturday.
Ljungberg Ready To Sign For Seattle?
Former Arsenal and West Ham United midfielder Freddie Ljungberg looks set to sign a two-year deal with Seattle Sounders FC. The 2009 expansion franchise is showing that it’s truly looking to become a proper Major League Soccer team by luring an aging European pro to the league who’s long past his best.
Galliani: Milan Move Was Beckham’s Idea
The proposed loan move to AC Milan from the L.A. Galaxy was “[David] Beckham’s idea,” according to Milan Vice President Adriano Galliani. “It was the player who contacted us via his lawyers, having previously stated his intention to play at Milan.” This story’s becoming as tortuous as a Posh Spice reality show.
Ballack Promises Apology To Loew
“I will sit down with [German national team coach] Joachim Loew as soon as my injury permits and apologize for my behavior.” German captain Michael Ballack issues a statement getting ready to retract his criticisms of Loew in a newspaper interview last week (though one wonders about the location of his injury if he still […]
Osorio Welcomes ‘New Season’
“This is a different season right now. Everyone has the same chance.” RB New York coach Juan Carlos Osorio welcomes his side’s back-door entry to the playoffs, ignoring his verdict Friday that the side didn’t deserve to be there.
Palestine Plays At Home, At Last
FIFA President Sepp Blatter witnessed a historic game at the weekend in the Palestinian West Bank when he saw the Palestine national team play its first ever match on home soil (although it was actually turf). The game against Jordan ended 1-1 in front of a capacity 6,500-crowd in a new stadium. “We are here […]
Dissent And Retribution At The Revs
If the New England Revolution carries its current form into the playoffs, Coach Steve Nicol faces a long winter with no games and nothing to complain about. So he made sure to let off some final regular-season steam at referee Kevin Stott after the Revs lost 3-1 at home to Kansas City on Saturday. They […]
Rapids Pause Before Next Coaching Move
Meanwhile the side that Salt Lake eliminated with its late equalizer, the Colorado Rapids, is taking its time over whether or not to make interim head coach Gary Smith’s position a permanent one. Smith himself seems unsure of his wishes. “I think I need to sit down, take a deep breath,” he told Brian Forbes. […]
Kreis: We Were Due Some Luck
It’s arguable whether or not Real Salt Lake’s “perfect ten” record (10-10-10) merits a place in the postseason, but after four barren years Coach Jason Kreis believes unequivocally that that his side deserves to be there, and welcomes the little bit of luck that took them into the playoffs. “There’s been a lot of points […]
Width Of The Woodwork Separates D.C. From Playoffs
The late winning goal by Columbus Crew’s Brad Evans was irrelevant to D.C. United by the time it finally ended the team’s tardy but impressive final-day bid for the postseason, writes Steven Goff. “A tie would not have done United any good, and with each agonizing miss during a scoreless game, its hopes faded into […]
Luck, and momentum, decide playoff spots
What is momentum, or Big Mo, as proponents of sports, both team and individual, sometimes like to call it?
MORNING BRIEFING: Wake Forest seniors celebrate
On Senior Night, No. 1 Wake Forest’s seniors came through as Sam Cronin, Jamie Franks and Marcus Tracy all scored in the 5-2 win over Boston College. Akron clinched its fourth consecutive Mid-American regular-season championship with a 2-0 win over Western Michigan. Winners of Top 25 clashes were Michigan (over previously unbeaten Northwestern) and Connecticut (playing without stars O’Brian White and Akeem Priestley) over Notre Dame. North Carolina and Virginia both were upset in ACC matches.
CROWD COUNT: USC-UCLA clash draws 7,804 fans
Defending women’s champion Southern California came close in its bid to break the attendance record for a regular-season women’s game, drawing 7,804 fans at the Los Angeles Coliseum for a 2-1 loss to UCLA on Friday night. The regular-season attendance mark of 8,204 was set in 2006 when Texas A&M hosted North Carolina. For this season’s top men’s and women’s crowds …
POLLS: Soccer America Men’s Top 25
Akron moved up to No. 2 behind top-ranked Wake Forest, while Maryland jumped two places to No. 4. No. 3 Creighton and No. 5 Northwestern rounded out the top five. For this week’s complete Soccer America Men’s Top 25 and last week’s results …
POLLS: Soccer America Women’s Top 25
There was no change in the top six spots in the Soccer America Women’s Top 25. Florida State moved up one spot to No. 7, while Big 12 teams Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State all climbed up two or more spots to round out the top 10. For this week’s Soccer America Women’s Top 25 and last week’s results …
MORNING BRIEFING: Visitors claim big road wins
Women’s weekend play featured four big conference matchups involving Top 25 teams, and the visiting teams won all four games: UCLA over USC (Pac-10), North Carolina over Virginia (ACC), Florida over LSU (SEC) and Texas A&M over Colorado (Big 12). For a look at all the action …
Playoff Time! Salt Lake and New York Join Party
[MLS] The New York Red Bulls, despite winning just two of their last nine games, snuck into the playoffs because D.C. United fell, 1-0, to Columbus on Sunday while Real Salt Lake reached the postseason for the first time in club history thanks to a 1-1 tie with Colorado on Saturday.
MLS Results, Stats & Playoff Schedule
The Los Angeles Galaxy missed out on the playoffs for a third straight year but Landon Donovan, who struck from the penalty spot in a 2-2 tie with FC Dallas, captured the regular-season scoring crown with 20 goals. For MLS game summaries, final standings, leading scorers, and MLS quarterfinal playoff TV schedule. …
Clint Dempsey on target
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Clint Dempsey scored his first English Premier League goal of the season. Borussia Moenchengladbach gave Michael Bradley his third start of the season. For a wrap-up of how U.S. players fared for their foreign clubs. …
Barcelona hits five, Villarreal and Atletico share eight (VIDEO)
[SPAIN] Barcelona and Real Madrid continued to pressure league-leading Valencia during a free-scoring weekend in La Liga.
