[SCOUTING REPORT] It’s been more than 20 years since the USA has lost a game in Olympic men’s qualifying to a team other than Mexico with a berth still at stake. The Americans will be heavily favored in Group A of the 2008 CONCACAF qualifying tournament that begins Tuesday in Tampa. A first-place finish in the group will set up a date against the runner-up from Group B with an Olympic berth on the line March 20 at Nashville’s LP Field. Here’s a look at Group A opponents Cuba, Honduras and Panama.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
The FA Cup’s Giant Killer
For the first time in a dozen years, England’s Big Four will not feature in the FA Cup semifinals. Portsmouth opened another memorable weekend in the competition by shocking Manchester United, 1-0, at Old Trafford. That victory was later eclipsed by Barnsley’s improbable 1-0 win at home to Chelsea. It was the team’s second consecutive […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Wizards Complete Lopez Signing
After two weeks of the kind of frustrating deliberations that recalled the failed signing of countryman Juan Sebastian Veron by D.C. United, the Kansas City Wizards finally signed Argentine striker Claudio Lopez as the club’s first Designated Player. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the contract is for one year. Lopez, a veteran […]
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The Importance of Away Fans
ESPN Soccernet columnist Ives Galarcep weighs in on the problems facing away fans at MLS stadiums. As the league adds more teams and more stadiums, and as fan bases become more solidified, the opportunity arises for large groups of fans to travel together to an opposing stadium, just like they do in Europe. Galarcep argues […]
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Camacho Quits as Benfica Coach
After just seven months on the job, Benfica coach Jose Antonio Camacho resigned on Sunday, following a frustrating 2-2 draw with Leiria, the last-place club in the Portuguese Liga. That result left second-place Benfica 14 points behind leader FC Porto with eight games remaining. Three days earlier, the Lisbon club fell, 2-1, at home to […]
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Adu, U.S. Prepare for Olympic Quest
The United States can be considered something of a dark horse for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, says the New York Times’ Jack Bell. For the first time ever, the U.S. U-23 team will be made up exclusively of professional players, most of whom play in MLS. It’s also a young team made up of […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer On TV
Midweek action includes the final UEFA Champions League round-of-16 game; CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying, in which the USA starts its quest Tuesday against Cuba; CONCACAF Champions Cup play, featuring MLS clubs D.C. United and Houston; and Libertadores Cup clashes.
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Keller & Friedel meet in EPL stalemate
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller, once rivals for the U.S. national team goalkeeping spot, faced off when Blackburn and Fulham met on Saturday. The result was satisfactory for neither.
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Nowak picks his Olympic hopefuls
[ROSTER] For much of the past year, players have flipped back and forth between the U.S. national team and the Olympic team, which makes for some interesting dynamics when it comes time to select squads for competitions, as Olympic/under-23 Coach Peter Nowak did yesterday. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney checks out the U.S. roster for Olympic qualifying.
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U.S. Youth Soccer ODP National Championship Results
Two Cal South teams won two titles (’91 boys and ’92 girls) at the 2008 US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program National Championships completed on Sunday at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. North Texas (’91 girls) and Indiana (’92 boys) also won championships. For all the results and goal scorers …
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Beckham sparkles in Hong Kong
For the second time in three games on the western-most leg of its Asian tour, the Galaxy ended regulation tied but lost on penalty kicks. Not to be blamed, though, is David Beckham, whose excellent play created numerous chances his teammates failed to convert.
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Real Madrid widens lead over Barcelona
[EUROPEAN RACES] Real Madrid’s lead over archrival Barcelona in Spain’s La Liga is stretching like an elastic band. It went from nine points at the beginning of February to two at the end of the month and back to eight after Villarreal beat Barcelona 2-1 on Sunday.
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Chivas USA leaves Texas winless
With keeper Brad Guzan back in Southern California tending to an MCL sprain, Chivas USA lost to Houston, 1-0, on Friday and Toronto FC, 3-2, on Sunday in its last two matches of the Texas Pro Soccer Festival.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Refs don’t protect skillful players. I think about the Arsenal player [Eduardo] and I’m scared sometimes to do skills because some players do unbelievable fouls and the ref protects the defender, not the skilled player! It’s very disappointing and I’m thinking a lot about changing my game. When referees don’t give penalties, yellow cards or reds, it’s difficult to play.”
— Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo after a 1-0 loss to Portsmouth in the FA Cup in which he suffered repeated fouls and was denied a penalty kick call on one of them. Arsenal forward Eduardo suffered multiple leg fractures two weeks ago from a foul by Birmingham’s Martin Taylor. (ManU Website)
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Upset FC Dallas sees positives
The preseason has yet to end, but FC Dallas Coach Steve Morrow is already in midseason form, at least in regards to the officiating. He’s not happy. Good fields, good weather and good competition are the elements most sought for proper preseason training, yet a fair shake from the officials doesn’t hurt, and Morrow felt so strongly his team was wronged in a 3-1 loss to Brazilian club Avai FC Sunday in Florianoplis he nearly pulled his players off the field Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney explains.
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Lower division clubs shine in FA Cup
[ENGLAND] In one of the wildest weekends in English FA Cup history, three lower divisions clubs reached the semifinals for the first time in 100 years. Portsmouth is the only English Premier League club left in the final four that also includes Championship League (second division) clubs Barnsley, Cardiff City and West Bromwich.
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U.S. women remain perfect under Sundhage
[ALGARVE CUP] The U.S. women’s national team made it five wins in five international matches under new coach Pia Sundhage when it beat Italy, 2-0, on Friday at the Algarve Cup in Alvor, Portugal.
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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.
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Kallman sisters reunited at Minnesota
Krystle Kallman, a three-year starter at center back for West Virginia and key member of last year’s Big East Tournament championship squad, is joining younger sister Kylie Kallman at Minnesota for her final year of eligibility.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
International stars headed to Cal
California has signed Australian national team defender Clare Polkinghorne, who played for the Matildas at the 2007 Women’s World Cup, where they reached the quarterfinals. She is the second international player to sign with the Bears for the fall, joining Iceland national team midfielder Katrin Omarsdottir (9 caps).
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Furman inks former U-17 Klute
Chris Klute, who played for the USA at the 2007 Under-17 World Cup in South Korea, heads Furman’s seven-player recruiting class.
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Rutgers and New Mexico pick up ACC transfers
Rutgers and New Mexico have landed ACC players Yannick Salmon and David Murphy, respectively, in moves that should bolster both programs.
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Red Bull’s Kassel signs with Maryland
Maryland has landed one of the country’s top men’s prospects in Matt Kassel, but there’s a chance that the midfielder from Bridgewater, N.J., may never play a game for the Terrapins. Kassel is a member of Red Bull New York’s youth program and attended a preseason mini-camp. He’s eligible to be signed by the Red Bulls under the terms of MLS’s new policy allowing clubs to sign players they have developed in their academy programs.
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Virginia lands prep phenom Agorsor
Coming off a disappointing 12-8-2 season, Virginia’s men’s program was in need of a jumpstart, and the Cavs got it in the form of one of the nation’s top recruiting classes, led by Casa Mia Bays star Chris Agorsor. The 2007 NSCAA National High School Player of the Year is graduating after three years at Maryland’s McDonogh School and drew interest from numerous clubs abroad, including Juventus, Ajax, PSV, Sevilla, Tottenham and Newcastle.
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NCAA Division I Men’s & Women’s Coaching Changes
All seven NCAA Division I men’s coaching vacancies have been filled. All but four of the 37 women’s jobs that opened up have been filled. For all the coaching moves …