Soccer America Archives

Former U.S. national team captain and current ESPN analyst John Harkes says that the USA has done well enough starting its World Cup qualifying campaign with nine points from three games, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement. “We’re playing well, but we’re not playing great,” Harkes told Jack Bell. “The battle in […]

Shares In Manchester United Sponsor AIG Suspended

Shares in American insurance giant and Manchester United sponsor AIG were suspended on Wall Street Tuesday after a 74 per cent crash in its stock “indicated the business is spiraling toward collapse.” AIG’s former boss Hank Greenberg, most of whose multi-billion-dollar fortune is tied up in AIG, said if the company is allowed to […]

Let the Businessmen Rush To MLS

Greg Lalas hails last week’s financial analysis of Major League Soccer by Forbes Magazine, and claims that the healthy appraisal of the league’s financial outlook will bring serious investors rushing to knock at the MLS door. Being assessed by Forbes “is a firm sign of MLS’ arrival on the main stage, a watershed moment on […]

MORNING BRIEFING: Women’s stars head to U-20 camp

by Paul KennedySeptember 16, 2008

Many of women’s soccer’s top players will take a week-long break from the college game to attend an Under-20 Women’s World Cup training camp beginning Sunday in Sunrise, Fla. Their absence later in the fall could have a big impact on the race for the 2008 national championship.

MORNING BRIEFING: Six remain perfect

by Paul KennedySeptember 16, 2008

No. 1 Wake Forest, the defending national champion, is one of six Division I men’s teams that are still perfect after three weeks. Drake, Western Illinois, Evansville, Loyola (Md.) and Appalachian State will all face big tests soon.

AWARDS: Soccer America Women’s Team of the Week

Brenna Hogue, who stopped all 30 shots she faced in two games for Brown against national powers Penn State and UCLA, is Soccer America Women’s Player of the Week. For all the Women’s Team of the Week selections for games played Sept. 8-14 …

AWARDS: Soccer America Men’s Team of the Week

Notre Dame’s Dave Donohue, who had a hat trick and an assist in the Irish’s 4-1 win over Marquette, is Soccer America Men’s Player of the Week. For all the Men’s Team of the Week selections for games played Sept. 8-14 …

LEADERS: NCAA Division I Women’s Scorers

Freshmen Laura Heyboer (Michigan State), Sarah Hagen (Milwaukee) and Danielle Foxhoven (Portland) rank 3-4-5 among the NCAA Division I women’s points leaders. For all the NCAA Division I goal and point leaders …

LEADERS: NCAA Division I Men’s Scorers

Daniel Revivo (Winthrop) and MfanaFuthi Bhembe (Alabama A&M) narrowly trail NCAA Division I men’s goals and points leader Samuel Petrone (Seton Hall). For all the NCAA Division I goal and point leaders …

UEFA Champions League TV Schedule

American teenage star Jozy Altidore could make his European debut for Spanish club Villarreal Wednesday when it faces English champion Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League. For all Tuesday and Wednesday games on television …

Los Angeles names Rogers women’s coach

[WPS] A day before the first Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) allocations will be announced, the Los Angeles team named Abner Rogers as its head coach.

Wambach headed to Washington

[WPS] The first Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) allocations will be announced, and according to the Washington Post’s Soccer Insider, star Abby Wambach is headed (back) to the Washington Freedom.

There at the bell on Wall Street

[U.S. WOMEN] Monday was one of the worst days in the history of American finance, and members of the U.S. women’s national were there from beginning to end. A group of players rang the opening bell at the NASDAQ in the morning and others rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange in the afternoon.

D.C. United doesn’t learn its lesson

by Ridge MahoneySeptember 16, 2008

[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Hurricane Ike has put off Houston’s entry into the Concacaf Champions League but there’s no such reprieve for D.C. United. Injuries have crippled the MLS club recently, but it has also thrown points away, as it did on Saturday when a late goal allowed FC Dallas to escape RFK Stadium with a 2-2 tie. United will need to be focused when it hosts Costa Rican power Saprissa in the opening group game of the Concacaf Champions League.

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“From a sports point of view, for me it is a disappointment because Robinho had everything here to triumph. But you have to respect his dream to be a good player in a mediocre club in England.”

— Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster on Brazil international Robinho’s move from the Spanish champions to Manchester City at the transfer deadline. (AFP)

Witchcraft sparks deadly riot

[AFRICA] A stadium riot in Congo that caused 13 deaths reportedly started when players retaliated to a goalkeeper’s use of witchcraft. During game between Nyuki System and rival Socozaki, Nyuki’s goalkeeper ran up the field chanting spells in hopes of reversing Socozaki’s lead, according to Radio Olapi.

RISING STAR PROFILE: Ely Allen

by Bryan AlvarezSeptember 16, 2008

[MLS] Rookie midfielder Ely Allen out of the University of Washington has seen action in half of the Los Angeles Galaxy’s games this season, starting 11 times and enjoying the company of superstars David Beckham and Landon Donovan. Get to know Allen in this profile by Soccer America’s Bryan Alvarez that covers on- and off-field experiences. …

Scottish Club Soccer Could Look To Canada

A look at the Canadian model might help Scottish club soccer break the tedious dominance of its domestic league by Rangers and Celtic.

Carver’s Dream Team

“When I can get everyone together…I think we’ve put down a benchmark on what we can actually achieve.” Following his team’s 1-1 tie with league-leaders Columbus, Toronto FC coach John Carver dreamily imagines the day when he’ll have his full roster available.

Kreis Doesn’t Get The Point

“Last week, we were disappointed with a point and this week, we would have been disappointed with a point. Now after not even getting one, it would have been decent to get it.” Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis juggles with the mathematics of disappointment after RSL’s 2-1 defeat to RB New York.

United ‘Confident’ That AIG Will Survive

Manchester United is confident that troubled insurance giant AIG will be able to continue fulfilling its $25 million-a-year sponsorship obligation to the team.

Beckham A Dud In Kansas City

“On the one hand, there was definitely a buzz about Beckham being in town,” writes Joe Posnanski. “On the other, to be brutally honest, he was an utter and complete non-factor in the game.”

Fox Soccer Channel To Be Rated By Nielsen

Fox Soccer Channel is to be rated by Nielsen starting next month, measuring how many people across the U.S watch the English Premier League, Italy’s Serie A and Saturday night’s Major League Soccer broadcast. FSC, which began as Fox Sports World in 1998, is currently available in more than 33 million homes. It was […]

‘Wild West’ EPL Attracts U.S. Owners

Why have so many wealthy Americans become attracted to the English Premier League? One of the main reasons, writes Joe Nocera, is because the league allows them to operate with more freedom. While soccer “is the most global sport with the greatest reach,” and while there is more money to be made out of […]

Ottawa Poised For MLS bid