[AMERICANS ABROAD] Texan Juan Francisco Torres started and played the first half for Pachuca as it fell at home, 1-0, to San Luis in the first leg of their wild-card playoff game. San Luis’ U.S. U-23 defender Michael Orozco missed the game with a muscle injury.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Sounders FC sign first player, from Sounders
[MLS] Seattle Sounders FC, which begins MLS play in 2009, made its first player signing. Coming on board is French forward Sebastien Le Toux, who currently plays for USL-1 defending champion Seattle Sounders.
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
The Runs
I suppose it’s a pretty safe bet that no one would argue against the idea that soccer is all about movement? Running, jogging, jumping, twisting, turning, falling — that sort of thing.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Real crushes slumping Barcelona
[SPAIN] What better way to celebrate your title than to pound your archrival. That’s what Real Madrid did in crushing Barcelona, 4-1, at the Bernabeu Stadium on Wednesday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. under-15 boys national team roster
[YOUTH] The U.S. under-15 boys national team is headed to Madrid Friday for 10-day camp. U-15 coach Jim Barlow, the Princeton University head coach, has named 20 players for the trip to Madrid, where they will take on, among others, youth teams from La Liga’s Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. For the complete U-15 roster …
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Blatter Seeks Foreigner Restrictions
FIFA President Sepp Blatter is once again calling for a quota system to limit the number of foreign players on each club team. His decision comes as a response to the Champions League dominance of the English Premier League over the past two seasons, during which time three of the competition’s four semifinalists have come […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Everton Eyes $9 Million Michael Bradley
The Liverpool Echo reports that Everton manager David Moyes has been eyeing U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley. According to the paper, Moyes has had a long-standing interest in the player,and sent over a scouting delegation to watch him play in Heerenveen’s Champions league playoff clash against Ajax. Unfortunately, the U.S. international was sent off after just […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Gallardo’s Adjustment Continues
Marcelo Gallardo, who played 44 times for Argentina and scored 14 goals, is one of the most accomplished players to play for D.C. United. Earning a guaranteed $1.9 million this season, he is the highest paid player in team history by some margin, which means the burden of expectation weighs heavily on his shoulders. “So […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Garber: MLS to Consider Champions League Concessions
In a conversation with Washington Post blogger Steven Goff, MLS Commissioner Don Garber pledges to ease the crowded MLS fixture list for clubs that qualify for next season’s Concacaf Champions League. “But don’t read too much into it,” Goff says, because both legs of the quarterfinal (February and early March) and the first leg of […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“There was no sex or drugs that night.”
— Police inspector Carlos Augusto Nogueira on the Ronaldo run-in with transvestite prostitutes, who recanted their accusations against the Brazilian striker. Ronaldo has lost a $4.8 million endorsement contract with a cell phone company because of the incident, although prostitution is not illegal in Brazil. (AP)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
The rich get richer
[OFF THE POST] Newcastle United’s billionaire owner Mike Ashley won $2.5 million with a single spin of the roulette wheel when the ball landed on black 17 at a London casino. Ashley, ranked Britain’s 54th richest man, wears a Newcastle replica jersey with the No. 17 to his team’s games.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
The cases for, and against, Kreis
[REF WATCH/VIDEO] A blatantly blown offside call in a 2-2 tie with the Galaxy last Saturday that cost Real Salt Lake a goal triggered a riposte from Coach Jason Kreis regarding officiating decisions that had gone against his team.Without passing judgment on Kreis’s timing or rhetoric, examining a few of the incidents and decisions reveals how a simple case of inadequate positioning can lead to a bad call, and how coaches and players may not be aware of instructions by which officials are directed to interpret certain situations.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. under-14 boys national team camp roster
[YOUTH] The U.S. under-14 boys national team is taking part in an eight-day camp at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., under the supervision of Coach Manny Schellscheidt. For the complete roster …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
The rise of FC Dallas’ Arturo Alvarez
Shifting to a three-man back line is the most visible difference between last year and this year for FC Dallas, yet another, more subtle change may have even greater long-term effects. A flank midfielder for most of his five-year pro career, Arturo Alvarez is playing up top for FC Dallas as a speedy, raiding foil for the burly Kenny Cooper and attacking midfielder Juan Toja.
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 opportunities in pro soccer, youth soccer, the soccer industry and television.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Soccer Development Academy Results
The New York Red Bulls and U.S. youth national team, the only unbeaten teams in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s U-17/18 Group, went 1-0-1 in weekend action. Carmel United Soccer Club, which entered the weekend with the best winning percentage of any team in the U-15/16 Group, fell to Vardar, 4-1, and was held to a 1-1 tie by the Michigan Wolves on its trip to the Detroit area. For all the weekend results and goal scorers …
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
RSL’s Kreis Has Harsh Words for MLS Refs
Real Salt Lake Coach Jason Kreis on Monday chastised Major League Soccer’s referees for a series of poor decisions that have cost his team valuable points. “I have a team doing their best to reward fans through a frustrating time and a frustrating few years. I feel the players are doing what they need to, […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Landon Donovan on Fast Start and Beckhamania
In an interview with The New York Times’ Jack Bell, Landon Donovan reflects on “Beckhamania” and his burgeoning partnership with the world’s most recognizable soccer star. “It was, believe it or not, as incredible an experience to be a part of as it seemed at the time,” the L.A. Galaxy striker said. “This year, I […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Crestfallen Ronaldo Responds to Media
By now you’ve probably heard the unfortunate story of three-time former World Player of the Year Ronaldo. Last week, the AC Milan striker invited three prostitutes back to a hotel only to find out once he got to the hotel room that they were transvestites. The media, of course, has delighted in the Brazilian legend’s […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Keegan: EPL the Most Boring League in the World
Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan believes the English Premier League “is in danger of becoming one of the most boring but great leagues in the world,” because “the top four next year will be the same top four as this year.” The former England manager added that Newcastle is “a million miles away from challenging […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
MLS Standings Reveal Stark Disparity Between East and West
It may be very early days in the 2008 MLS season, but the Newark Star Ledger’s Frank Giase points out that never before has the balance of power been so heavily concentrated in one conference. As it stands, the league’s top five teams are in the East, with Columbus (5-1-0) in first place with 15 […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Dempsey renews with Fulham
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Attacker Clint Dempsey, who joined EPL club Fulham in January of 2006, has signed a two-year contract extension with Fulham through 2010. The 25-year-old started 28 league games, made seven appearances off the bench this season and leads the team with six goals. Fulham climbed out of the relegation zone last weekend and can ensure survival with a win over Portsmouth on Sunday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Americans to figure in Mexican postseason play
[AMERICANS ABROAD] The Mexican Clausura 08 postseason kicks off this Wednesday with first-leg repechaje (play-in) games for quarterfinal spots. San Luis, for which U.S. U-23 defender Michael Orozco started 11 of 17 regular season games, faces Pachuca, for which Texan Jose Francisco Torres played eight games. Earning spots straight into the quarterfinals were Santos Laguna (Edgar Castillo), Chiapas Jaguares (Daniel Hernandez) and Chivas Guadalajara (Jesus Padilla).
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
D.C. United is latest to cash in on jersey ads
The most recognized and most successful team in Major League Soccer has joined the ranks of the sponsored jersey. Commissioner Don Garber is in Washington, D.C., Tuesday for the formal announcement of a front-jersey sponsorship deal for D.C. United. Volkswagen will pay United between $3.1 million and $3.7 million per year for the next four years to display its logo on the front of the D.C. jersey, which will otherwise remain essentially the same, with the D.C. United crest and four stars – representing its four MLS titles – remaining. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney provides the details on shirt sponsorship income around the league.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I was told in no uncertain terms by American football coaches and baseball coaches that I would amount to absolutely nothing if I stuck to playing soccer. You’re an idiot for doing it. Now I get to go back and say ‘Hey look, it worked out!'”
— American goalkeeper Brad Friedel, whose professional career of a decade and a half has been spent mostly in the English Premier League. (SkySports)