One week after going on sale to the general public, 26,000 tickets have been sold for the USA’s friendly against Mexico Feb. 6 at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
OFF THE POST: Butt trap ignites riot in Peru
A Peruvian game was abandoned by referee Percy Rojas after fighting in the stands spilled onto the field. The chaos started when Universitario players tried to beat up Sport Ancash midfielder Efrain Viafara – igniting a brawl between the squads — because they felt he insulted them by controlling a pass with his buttocks. The on-field melee inspired the opposing fans to have at it while Ancash led, 2-1.
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ODP Boys Interregional adidas all-stars
The adidas all-Star teams from the recently completed US Youth Soccer ODP Boys Interregionals were selected for the ’92, ’93 and ’94 age groups.
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UEFA Champions League TV Schedule
Because of AC Milan’s commitments at the Club World Cup in Japan, the deciding Group D matches in the UEFA Champions League have been moved up to Tuesday. For what’s at stake and the TV listings …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I like the money, but of course teachers should get more than us. I’m not saying footballers should save the environment and change the NHS [National Health Service], but if we portrayed ourselves 15 percent better then it would help.”
— Longtime American English Premier League goalkeeper Brad Friedel, who has created a soccer self-help manual provisionally titled “Bling Free Zone.” (Times)
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
Midweek action includes two European Champions League games; the Copa Sudamericana final between Mexico’s Club America and Argentina’s Arsenal, which won the first leg, 3-2; and the first leg of the Mexican League Apertura 2007 final between Atlante and UNAM Pumas.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Is MLS Ready for a Recession?
Sure, Major League Soccer is coming off its best-ever year, but how would an economic recession impact the league’s fortunes? MLS Commissioner Don Garber insists there’s no direct correlation between the country’s economic performance and consumer spending on sporting events and merchandise. USSoccerPlayers’ J Hutcherson is not so sure. Some people look at American sports […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Milan’s Unbelievable Home Slump
What has happened to European Champion AC Milan? The Rossoneri have yet to win a home game in Serie A this season and have failed to score a single goal at the San Siro since September. Saturday’s match vs. Juventus was yet another 0-0 draw, leaving Milan fans bemused as to how a side with […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Report: Mourinho Keen on England Job
Speculation is rife that former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho is so keen to take the England job that he’s already drafted a “blueprint” for English success, according to the Guardian. And he would be quite a popular choice, too: the British paper says there’s already “a groundswell of public support” for the Portuguese manager. The […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
UEFA Reveals New Match-Fixing Scandal
UEFA, the region’s governing body for the sport, revealed that it had handed over a list of 26 matches to Europol that may have been influenced by Asian betting syndicates. In a statement, UEFA said that an early warning system implemented several years ago to detect unusual betting patterns flagged several matches in the preliminary […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
England’s EPL Influence Continues to Fade
Whoever Steve McClaren’s England successor is, he will have to rebuild the team using players from a league whose English influence is diminishing. Amid controversy over a lack of English players in first-teams across the English Premier League, the Telegraph looks at the hard numbers, using the starting 11 from each EPL team over the […]
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Americans face Man U
[AMERICANS IN ENGLAND] Fulham (with Americans Clint Dempsey and Carlos Bocanegra) faces Manchester United on Monday (TV: Setanta USA, 2 pm ET). Over the weekend, West Ham’s Jonathan Spector played the last 11 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Chelsea, which scored in the 76th minute through Joe Cole. Goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann and midfielder Bobby Convey started in Reading’s 1-1 tie with Middlesbrough. One of the EPL’s American keepers celebrated a win.
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Cherundolo tops in clash of Americans
[AMERICANS IN GERMANY]. Right back Steve Cherundolo made his 15th start of the season for Hannover 96 as it won, 3-0, at Hansa Rostock, for which Heath Pearce came on at halftime for his eighth appearance of the season.
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Season ends for Santos, Castillo against UNAM
[AMERICANS ABROAD] In the Mexican Apertura 2007 semifinals, Edgar Castillo again went the full 90 as Santos downed UNAM Pumas, 4-2, but was eliminated, 5-4, on aggregate.
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Beckham delivers in New Zealand
[VIDEO] The Los Angeles Galaxy’s David Beckham, playing the full 90 minutes despite being obligated to go just 55 minutes in Saturday’s exhibition against Wellington Phoenix, helped set up three goals and scored from the penalty spot in a 4-1 win in front 31,853 fans in New Zealand.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I’ve got it signed, I want to frame it and keep it for my kids. Every kid in the world knows who David Beckham is and my kids are just the same.”
— Ross Aloisi, captain of New Zealand’s Wellington Phoenix, in a good mood after his team’s 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy because he swapped jerseys with David Beckham. (The Dominion Post)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
DaMarcus Beasley sidelined for months
Glasgow Rangers’ American midfielder DaMarcus Beasley will be sidelined for months because of a knee injury that requires surgery. Beasley, 25, suffered ligament damage last Tuesday in a collision with VfB Stuttgart Raphael Schaefer in a Rangers’ 3-2 Champions League loss.
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Raul rediscovers scoring form at Real Madrid
[INTERNATIONAL HEADLINERS] Raul continued his scoring spree with two goals for La Liga leader Real Madrid. Arsenal held on to the top spot in the EPL after being tested in both halves at Aston Villa. Lanus won its first Argentine championship, while giant Corinthians was condemned to relegation in a controversial end to the Brazilian season.
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Italy and France drawn to meet at Euro ’08 finals
[EURO 2008 SCHEDULE] There’s no getting away from each other. World Cup 2006 finalists Italy and France were drawn in the same group for the 2008 European Champions finals — and their coaches saw it coming.
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Kaka is runaway winner of 2007 Golden Ball
Brazilian Kaka was awarded the 2007 Golden Ball (Ballon d’Or) as the winner of the former European Player of the Year award.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Franklin Pierce and Tampa take NCAA D2 titles
After five women’s titles, Franklin Pierce finally won its first NCAA Division II men’s championship, and Tampa, winner of three men’s crowns, won its first women’s title at the 2007 Division II championships in Orange Beach, Ala.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
USC enters uncharted territory
[ELITE 8] In contrast to fellow semifinalists UCLA, Notre Dame and Florida State, which all played in last year’s Women’s College Cup, USC continued its trek through uncharted territory by posting a 1-0 win at West Virginia on Friday night that moved the Women of Troy to the final four for the first time.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Irish trio on song against Duke
[ELITE 8] The trio of Kerri Hanks, Brittany Bock and Michele Weissenhofer struggled for a good part of the 2007 season, but they have certainly lived up to their reputation as the nation’s premier forward trio in the NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament. Hanks, Bock and Weissenhofer — who now have combined for 130 career goals and 97 assists — each scored for Notre Dame, which moved into the semifinals for the ninth time in the last 14 years with a 3-2 win over Duke Friday night.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Another Talonen hat trick leads ‘Noles past UConn
[ELITE 8] If you haven’t heard of Sanna Talonen, the Finnish frosh, before, you certainly have now. The 23-year-old Talonen, a member of Finland’s senior national team, sent Florida State to the Women’s College Cup for the third consecutive season and for the fourth time in five years with a hat trick in the Seminoles’ 3-2 win over Connecticut Friday night at the Seminole Soccer Complex.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Adams powers UCLA past Portland
[ELITE 8] No. 1 UCLA joined North Carolina and Massachusetts as the only teams to reach the semifinals of the NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament five straight years when the Bruins outlasted Portland, 3-2, Friday night in a battle of West Coast powers.