Soccer America Archives

Led by two goals from rising U.S. U-20 star Felix Garcia, the defending champion Laredo Heat beat the Austin Aztex 3-1, to reach the semifinals of the Premier Development League. Two Canadian teams — the Thunder Bay Chill and Vancouver Whitecaps residency team — advanced to the final four, where they will also be joined by the Reading Rage. For all the PDL playoff results …

[NATIONAL CHAMPIONS-GIRLS] The Dallas Texans Red made history when they won three girls titles at the US Youth Soccer National Championships in North Little Rock, Ark. For a roundup of all the girls championships and all the results and goal scorers …

[NATIONAL CHAMPIONS-BOYS] North Texas teams swept the boys championships in the U-16 to U-19 age groups at the US Youth Soccer National Championships in North Little Rock, Ark. Its four boys titles were the most ever by teams from one state association in a single year. For a roundup of all the boys championships and all the results and goal scorers …

[AMERICANS ABROAD] Monaco finalized the loan deal that brings American Freddy Adu from Benfica to the French league. Jerome de Bontin, Monaco’s French-American president, said Thursday that the club has an option to buy Adu for 5 million euros ($8 million), and he was on the lookout to sign another American before the end of the French transfer window in August. Adu and de Bontin talked to Soccer America’s Paul Kennedy at the U.S. Olympic training camp in Palo Alto, Calif.

[YOUTH] The USA qualified for the 2008 Under-17 Girls World Cup in New Zealand, but it wasn’t easy. After cruising to three wins by a margin of 24-1 in group play, it needed a stoppage time goal by defender Crystal Dunn, to defeat Mexico, 1-0, in the semifinals at Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya, Trinidad. The other result was a stunner: Costa Rica, 2-0 over Canada.

The packed house of 20,844 at BMO Field for the MLS All-Star Game caused some consternation before kickoff when large sections booed and whistled during the U.S. national anthem. The fans wanted to hear the Canadian national anthem — just as they wanted to see their Canadian players. They were rewarded in the second half when Ontario favorites Jim Brennan and Dwayne De Rosario came on.

Disadvantaged by a lack of conditioning, West Ham United knew keeping pace with an in-season MLS All-Star squad would prove difficult. Yet flair and focus, as much as fitness, propelled the All-Stars past West Ham, 3-2, at a sold-out BMO Field Thursday. They pushed the pace early in the match and twice came back quickly from conceding a goal to score one of their own.

[TRANSFER TALK] Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Muntari appears to be headed to Italian champion Inter Milan in a move that effectively puts an end to talk of England midfielder Frank Lampard rejoining his former Chelsea boss, Jose Mourinho, at Inter.

U.S. under-20 national team coach Thomas Rongen called up six MLS players for the Milk Cup, which begins Monday in Northern Ireland. The call-ups include 16-year-old Abdus Ibrahim, who scored his first MLS goal recently for Toronto TC, Jorge Flores, the former Sueno MLS winner who has scored three goals for Chivas USA, and New England’s Brandon Manzonelli, who had two assists for the U-20s in their recent 3-0 win over Mexico. For the complete U-20 roster …

[MLS] Houston and San Jose are sharing more than history in this expansion season of the Quakes, who were reincarnated this season after leaving the Bay Area two and a half years ago.

[NATIONAL CHAMPIONS-GIRLS] Sting Dallas, made up of players from last year’s runner-up from the Dallas Texans Red, won its second game in the U-18 girls group at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in North Little Rock, Ark., with a 2-0 win over FC Delco Fury on Thursday. For more on Day 2 and all the girls results, goal scorers and schedules …

[NATIONAL CHAMPIONS-BOYS] The Kansas City Wizards Juniors moved into Sunday’s final of the McGuire Cup with a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Nike Rush, their second win in two days in the U-19 boys group at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in North Little Rock, Ark. For more on Day 2 and all the boys results, goal scorers and schedules …