U.S. national team second-choice goalkeeper Brad Guzan has yet to appear for the English Premier League’s Aston Villa since his summer move from Chivas USA, but for now he’s happy to be learning at the feet of his compatriot and namesake Brad Friedel. “Being able to train with him day in and day out, and […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
What’s The Use Of Home Advantage?
Luis Arroyave asks a pertinent question about the playoffs: what’s the use of “home advantage”? The Chicago Fire will clinch home advantage in the Eastern Conference if it beats New York Thursday, but, he asks, “does the Fire even want it?”
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Tough World Cup Draw For Cameroon, Nigeria
The draw for the final round of African World Cup qualifying Wednesday has pitted Cameroon in the same group as Morocco, and Nigeria in the same group as Tunisia. In the other three groups, the favorites to advance are Egypt, Ghana and Ivory Coast. “It is indeed a very difficult group,” said Cameroon’s German coach […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ballack Attack’s Loew Selection Policy
Chelsea midfielder and German national team captain Michael Ballack has criticized German coach Joachim Loew for showing a lack of respect to the team’s established senior players. After Loew dropped Ballack’s teammate Torsten Frings to the bench for last week’s World Cup qualifiers, the captain lamented Loew’s policy that national team selection is now based […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Milan Claims Beckham Has Agreed To Loan
David Beckham has agreed to join AC Milan on loan in January, the club’s Vice President Adriano Galliani told the BBC. “Beckham has chosen Milan,” said Galliani. “He’ll stay here in Milan on loan for a few months. Our squad is ultra-competitive and it will remain this way but Beckham is something different and intriguing.” […]
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
LEADERS: NCAA Division I Women’s Scorers
Michigan State freshman Laura Heyboer maintained her lead in points (44) and goals (18) among NCAA Division I women’s scorers. For all the NCAA Division I leaders …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
LEADERS: NCAA Division I Men’s Scorers
Akron sophomore Steve Zakuani remains the NCAA Division I men’s leader in goals (15) and points (35). For all the NCAA Division I leaders …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
JUNIOR COLLEGES: NSCAA/adidas Rankings
Brookdale (D3 men) and Cerritos (D3 women) have taken over the top spots in this week’s NSCAA/adidas JC rankings. Yavapai (D1 men) and Darton (D1 women) round out the top spots in the JC rankings. For all the rankings …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SMALL COLLEGES: NSCAA/adidas Women’s Rankings
Grand Valley State, No. 1 in the NCAA Division II women’s rankings, improved to 16-0-0. Williams is still No. 1 in Division III at 11-0-0. They are the only unbeaten and untied teams left in the D2 and D3 women’s ranks. For the NSCAA/adidas D2 and D3 women’s rankings …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SMALL COLLEGES: NSCAA/adidas Men’s Rankings
For the second time in three years, Eckerd upset top-ranked Lynn, 2-1, in overtime. The loss dropped Lynn (12-1-0) to second place in the NCAA Division II men’s rankings behind Midwestern State (12-1-0). Trinity (Texas), first in the Division III rankings, is 14-0-0. For the NSCAA/adidas D2 and D3 men’s rankings …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
MORNING BRIEFING: No. 2 Creighton draws on road
No. 1 Wake Forest romped before a record crowd at Davidson, but No. 2 Creighton was held to a 0-0 tie at Missouri State. In Tuesday night’s other surprise, Virginia had to settle for a 2-2 tie with unfancied Longwood after blowing a late 2-0 lead. For all the Tuesday action …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
CONFERENCE WATCH: Big 12
Texas A&M’s back-to-back losses to Kansas (1-0 away) and Missouri (3-0 at home) last weekend threw the Big 12 regular-season race wide open. With two weeks left in the regular season, Colorado leads the Big 12 and could wrap up a share of the title with a win over second-place Texas A&M in its final regular-season game on Sunday in Boulder. If the Buffs falter, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Nebraska or Texas could pass them.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Dynamo Duel
[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Houston, with a game in hand, plays Group B leader UNAM (1-0-3, 6 points) at Robertson Stadium Wednesday (10 p.m. ET, Fox Soccer Channel, Galavision).
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Mexico City Madness
[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Strange scenes are nothing new to Concacaf competitions, yet the truly bizarre befell D.C. United in its 2-0 loss to Mexican club Cruz Azul.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Tie is enough for Impact
[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Montreal (USL-1) advanced to the quarterfinals by playing out a 1-1 draw with Honduran club Olimpia Tuesday night at Saputo Stadium.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Injury curse hits Chivas USA again
[MLS] The depth that Chivas USA coach Preki and his players are touting as one of their attributes heading into the playoffs has taken another pair of hits.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“As a dad I know how hard it can be to get kids to eat fruit and vegetables and things they need but these are meals they would probably eat already. They are just more healthy and are designed to get the kids eating the things they need without necessarily realizing they are eating well.”
— David Beckham, unburdened of MLS postseason play, has partnered with British food manufacturer GO3 on a new line of health food snacks for children. (The Sun)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Soccer Job Openings
[EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES] Soccer America provides the latest on employment opportunities for soccer-related positions. They include college coaching opportunities, as well as jobs in pro soccer, youth soccer, the soccer industry and television.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Champions League goal glut
[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League group play produced a hatful of goals, with a net-busting average 4.5 per game. Arsenal, Lyon and Villarreal were the big scorers.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Angel’s Quality Is NY’s Saving Grace
RB New York’s Juan Pablo Angel proved Saturday night why he is probably “the best, most skilled and classiest finisher in Major League Soccer,” writes Jack Bell. His two goals in the 3-1 victory over the Columbus Crew included “the gamewinner — a goal of sheer beauty.”
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Formerly Fit And Proper Thaksin Found Guilty Of Corruption
Former Thai prime minister and Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has been found guilty on corruption charges in his homeland and sentenced to two years in jail. Thailand will file an extradition request with the U.K. so that Thaksin can serve his sentence and face other corruption charges.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
English FA To Investigate Drogba’s Vidic Punch Fantasy
A wish expressed in his autobiography by Chelsea striker Didier Drogba that he had punched Nemanja Vidic in the Champions League final last May is to be studied by the English Football Association. It’s not known if the governing body’s study will take the form of a 10,000 word literary dissertation or if it will […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Olympic Stadium Could Host Impact QF
The Montreal Impact could play indoors at the Olympic Stadium in February if the team advances to the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals. The team is in talks with the stadium’s operators over safety concerns about the amount of snow that will be on the stadium roof in mid-winter.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
1860 Munich Cuts Player For Cocaine Use
German second division side 1860 Munich annulled the contract of former Turkish U-21 international Berkant Goktan after he tested positive for cocaine. The club said it had no choice after the player turned down an offer of help for his drug problem. Goktan scored 10 goals in 24 games last season, though he has been […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
May This Galaxy Rest In Pieces
Another day, another L.A. Galaxy obituary, but this one from Nick Green is well worth reading as he picks up a funereal metaphor and runs with it all the way to the crematorium. “The Galaxy of Los Angeles died Saturday in the MLS trauma unit after a long, painful, and ultimately futile struggle for postseason […]