In the two 2008 meetings of state rivals Houston and FC Dallas there have been 10 goals scored (including two stoppage-time equalizers), 49 fouls committed, and two players ejected.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Revived D.C. United settles for tie
Who says draws are dull? For the second straight night, conference rivals served up entertaining four-goal fare. Following Houston’s last-gasp equalizer that earned it a 2-2 tie in Dallas on Wednesday, D.C. United jumped out to a 2-0 lead at Gillette Stadium Thursday but the Revs (6-3-2, 20 points) battled back to gain a point and take over first place in the East, although they have played two more games than Chicago and Columbus, which are a point back in second place.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Riquelme strikes twice for Boca
[LIBERTADORES CUP] Juan Roman Riquelme scored twice as defending champion Boca Juniors tied Brazil’s Fluminense in the first leg of their Libertadores Cup semifinal game in Buenos Aires. In the other semifinal, Mexico’s America tied Liga de Quito, 1-1, in Mexico City.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Santos takes lead in Mexican final
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Santos, with 21-year-old New Mexican product Edgar Castillo, won the first leg of the Mexico’s Clausura championship final, 2-1, at Cruz Azul. Santos, for which Castillo played the full 90 at left back, hosts the second leg Sunday (6 pm ET, live on Azteca America).
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
"The images from South Africa were horrible. They’re putting an enormous strain on the soccer World Cup. … If the scenes repeat themselves, FIFA will rethink its decision in favor of South Africa and, if necessary, pull the plug."
— Willi Lemke, the United Nations’ Special Advisor on Sport, who said he hoped recent attacks against foreigners in South Africa — in which 56 people died and up to 100,000 were displaced — were a lone outbreak of violence. (Reuters)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Mourinho for Mancini?
[ITALY] For weeks now, reports out of Italy have circulated that “the Special One,” Jose Mourinho, was poised to take over as coach of three-time Italian champion Inter Milan, and speculation intensified following the confirmation that Coach Roberto Mancini had been sacked on Thursday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Czechs confuse L nations
[OFF THE POST] The Czech soccer federation apologized and two of its officials have taken the fall after the Czechs, while hosting Lithuania, played the national anthem of Latvia before the game and hung the Lithuanian national flag upside down.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Dutch unimpressive in tie
[EURO ’08 COUNTDOWN] The Netherlands’ defensive deficiencies were exposed on Thursday when the Oranje had to settle for a 1-1 tie with Denmark Thursday in a friendly played in Eindhoven … Recalled strikers Alessandro Del Piero and Antonio Cassano could get starts in Italy’s three-player attack when Italy faces Belgium Friday in Belgium … For the latest Euro ’08 news …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS TV Schedule
West leader Los Angeles travels to Toronto FC, whose six-game undefeated streak ended last Saturday against D.C. United. … New York, hoping to shake off last Sunday’s 5-1 loss to Chicago, travels to Houston, which tied FC Dallas, 2-2 on Wednesday. … San Jose has a chance to get out of the West cellar when it plays at Real Salt Lake. … Chivas USA, on a two-game win streak, hosts Columbus, whose six-game unbeaten run ended last week against the Revs. … On Sunday, Colorado aims to beat FC Dallas for the first time since 2004. … For all of this week’s MLS action on television …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Finding the Right Place to Play
Imagine this scenario: You’re sitting in a cafe in Switzerland watching Euro 2008. You don’t speak any French, German or Italian, but you are handed the thickest menu you have ever seen. This thing is like 50 pages long. You open it and start flipping through. You have no idea what you’re looking at. To boot, you’re a picky eater. The waiter comes and you point to a random item and hope …
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Blatter’s ‘6+5 Rule’ Top Of FIFA Agenda
FIFA President Sepp Blatter opened the world soccer governing body’s 58th congress in Sydney on Thursday, and the main issue on the agenda is his proposed rule limiting the number of foreign players on club teams. Blatter wants to limit the number of foreigners starting a game for any one team to five by 2012. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
D.C. United Wants ‘$225 Million’ Subsidy For New Stadium
D.C. United is lobbying the District of Columbia government for $225 million in public money for a new stadium at Poplar Point, east of the Anacostia River in an area of poverty and high unemployment. But the long-discussed project, first mooted almost a decade ago, is still several obstacles away from receiving any kind of […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Beasley: We Gave Them Too Much Respect
The U.S. was simply not up to what Doug McIntyre calls the “huge task” of taking on a team that included seven starters from last week’s Champions League final. But in spite of the “predictable” 2-0 defeat, the “American players emerged from their plush dressing rooms … looking as though they’d just dropped a vital […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
England Learns Little By Playing U.S.
The only interesting question raised by the “meandering, leaden-footed friendly” between England and the U.S. at Wembley on Wednesday was, “How close can a game of international football come to being completely pointless?” The question is posed by Barney Ronay, who had a sense of déjà vu watching Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
McBride In Line For The Fire?
Now that he’s parted ways with Fulham, retired U.S. national team striker Brian McBride, 35, could well be set to join his hometown club, the Chicago Fire. But although it’s long been rumored that Illinois is McBride’s preferred destination, Toronto FC will be the team that owns his rights if he comes to Major League […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
The Texas two tie after late DeRo goal
[MLS] When the two MLS Texas rivals get together, “there’s goals in them there games!”
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
No frills, no thrills, from Banality Bob
The only difference between the recent performances of Bob Bradley’s USA against Poland and Switzerland, and the display against England yesterday, was that the USA won the first two games. Yesterday it lost, thereby exposing the truth that all three games featured a side that is virtually devoid of attacking ideas.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Open Cup Draw
The 2008 U.S. Open Cup will begin June 10 with 32 teams from the USL-1, USL-2, PDL and USASA competing in the first round.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Poor marks after schooling in Wembley
[ENGLAND-USA GRADES] Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players’
performance in their 2-0 loss to England on Wednesday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
England too strong, and too smart, for USA
The best thing that can be said from an American perspective about the U.S. match against England at the new, improved Wembley Stadium Wednesday is that it’s over.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Red Bulls name a new boss
[MLS] New York Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio and Sporting Director Jeff Agoos will now be reporting to Erik Stover, who has been named the club’s managing director. Stover replaces Marc de Grandpre, who resigned on April 9.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“After much consideration with my family, we have decided to leave Fulham after four and a half fantastic years. I have always stated my intention to return to America at some stage and this seems like the right moment in my career to move on.”
— American forward Brian McBride, who scored 32 goals in 139 English English Premier League games for Fulham and last season helped it avoid relegation. He was twice named Fulham’s Player of the Season. (Fulhamfc.com)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Dramatic moves on final day for cuts
[EURO ’08 ROSTERS] No coach had a tougher time getting down to his 23-player limit for Euro ’08 than France coach Raymond Domenech. An emotional Domenech said Wednesday cutting the seven players from his short list was the toughest decision of his career. Among the players he told at the team camp in Tignes to go home were striker Djibril Cisse and keeper Mickael Landreau. Two sensational goals by 22-year-old rookie Bafetimbi Gomis on Tuesday against Ecuador earned him a place in Domenech’s squad. Turkey’s final cuts included high-profile veterans Ibrahim Kas, Halil Altintop and Yildiray Basturk. For all the final Euro ’08 rosters …
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
A Funny Way With English
Five months into the job, England coach Fabio Capello conducted his first press conference in English Tuesday, with some interesting results. According to Jim White, he may already have introduced a new phrase into the language. When Capello was asked who his captain would be for Wednesday’s game against the U.S., he replied, “John […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Oh Dear, The 39th Step Again
Sunil Gulati also reiterated that he’s not opposed to the idea of the Premier League playing a 39th game abroad if the plan is ever approved by FIFA, UEFA and the FA. One man firmly opposed is Brian Glanville, who groans at the prospect of the matter being “exhumed” next week at the Premier League […]