The U.S. men face Switzerland in a friendly in Basel on Wednesday. The Los Angeles Galaxy needs another win on Thursday, when it hosts New York, to keep its playoff hopes alive. Midweek broadcasts also include European Championship 2008 and South American World Cup 2010 qualifying. Besides live and delayed coverage on GolTV, the South American qualifiers will also be available in theaters on closed circuit, on pay-per-view on DISH Network and for a fee online at JUMPTV.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Lapira leads Notre Dame comeback against No. 1 UConn
Joseph Lapira woke up at just the right time, scoring two goals to lead Notre Dame back from a 2-0 deficit and help the Irish eventually earn a 3-3 tie with top-ranked Connecticut in a Big East showdown on Saturday afternoon. Lapira, who scored 22 goals for Notre Dame last season and won the Hermann Trophy as college soccer’s top player, was held to just two goals in Notre Dame’s first 12 games before matching his 2007 total against UConn at Alumni Field.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Soccer America Men’s Top 25 Results
Saint Louis, New Mexico and San Diego State were double winners over the weekend. For the complete Top 25 weekend results and goalscorers …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Aggies knock off No. 1 Texas
Texas A&M continued its domination of Texas at home, knocking off the No. 1 Longhorns, 2-0, in front of 5,552 fans, the second largest crowd at the Aggie Soccer Stadium. The physical match produced one red card and five yellow cards, and Texas goalkeeper Dianna Pfenninger received stitches after a collision with Melissa Garey, sister of Columbus Crew forward Jason Garey, that led to a penalty kick converted by Ashlee Pistorius for her Big 12 record 70th career goal.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Soccer America Men’s Top 25
Unbeaten Wake Forest regained the No. 1 ranking in the Soccer America’s Men’s Top 25 after last week’s No. 1 Connecticut had to settle for a 3-3 tie at Notre Dame. Santa Clara, SMU and Brown move into the top five. For the complete Top 25 …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Soccer America Women’s Top 25 Results
After slow starts, 2006 Women’s College Cup finalists North Carolina, Notre Dame and Florida State are coming on strong. All three teams completed perfect weeks with wins on Sunday. For all the Top 25 results and goalscorers …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Soccer America Women’s Top 25
UCLA took advantage of Texas A&M’s 2-0 victory over last week’s No. 1 Texas and moved into the top spot in the Soccer America Women’s Top 25. Pac-10 rival Stanford moved into No. 2, while streaking Penn State and Purdue climbed into the top five behind Virginia. For the complete Top 25 …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Entry to another country is a privilege, and all countries retain the right to exclude individuals in accordance with their immigration policy.”
— New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, who called “unjust” FIFA’s decision to force the postponement of New Zealand’s World Cup qualifying game against Fiji because New Zealand did not grant an entry visa to FIFA goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau. New Zealand denied the visa citing travel sanctions imposed after last December’s military coup in Fiji, claiming Tamanisau’s father-in-law was in the armed forces. The Fiji federation said Tamanisau is not married. (New Zealand Herald)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Houston aims for top of the West
[TV PREVIEW] Houston has two road games to make up the four points separating it from Western Conference leader Chivas USA, which opened the door a crack by losing its first home game of the season Sunday to Colorado, 2-1. Houston’s final home game of the season is this Sunday against Chivas USA at Home Depot Center. If the conference crown is to be doubt until then, the Dynamo need at least a point against Real Salt Lake on Monday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. women thump Mexico
In the first of a three-game series of friendlies against Mexico, the U.S. women routed Mexico, 5-1, in St. Louis, Mo., in front of more than 10,000 fans. With Briana Scurry in goal, the USA came back after Mexico took a third-minute lead through Evelyn Lopez with goals by Heather O’Reilly, Abby Wambach (two goals), Kristine Lilly and Carli Lloyd.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Solo’s Sorry
Prior to the U.S. women’s 5-1 win over Mexico on Saturday in its first game since its third-place finish at the Women’s World Cup, goalkeeper Hope Solo released a statement through U.S. Soccer in which she apologized for lashing out following the 4-0 semifinal loss to Brazil: “I would like to apologize to my teammates, coaches and everyone else adversely affected by my comments at the Women’s World Cup. This public apology comes later than it should have, but I hope that does not diminish the fact that I am truly sorry. I made a mistake and I take full responsibility for my actions. I let my teammates down and have lost their trust. …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Galaxy stays alive; Crew bids adieu
The teams that had to win to stay alive in the playoff hunt did, but for the Crew, beating the Revs, 3-2, wasn’t enough because the Fire picked up a precious point by tying D.C., 0-0. Three games finished 2-1: Colorado staved off elimination by ending Chivas USA’s home unbeaten record; Los Angeles downed 10-man Toronto for its fifth straight win; and New York blasted another hole into Kansas City’s sinking ship. Ridge Mahoney explains the playoff picture and recaps the all the weekend’s MLA action …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Coach insists Germany still has work to do
[EURO 2008 QUALIFYING] Germany became the first team to qualify for the Euro 2008 finals when it clinched one of the top two spots in Group D with a 0-0 tie with Ireland in Dublin on Saturday. The Czech Republic is in line to capture the second berth in Group D, while several other groups are almost decided. Croatia and England both can wrap up berths in Wednesday. Romania, Croatia, Spain and Sweden are all in good shape.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
World Cup 2010 Qualifying Results
World Cup qualifying kicked off in South America, Africa and Asia. FIFA ordered the New Zealand-Fiji game suspended because of a dispute over the New Zealand government’s failure to grant a visa for the Fifi starting goalie. For all the qualifying results …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Riquelme and Rey golazos power Argentina and Venezuela in World Cup qualifying
[VIDEOS] Argentina star Juan Roman Riquelme and Jose Manuel Rey of Venezuela were the stars of the first day of World Cup 2010 qualifying in South America. Riquelme, who has not played this season for Spanish club Villarreal, didn’t show any signs of being rusty. he scored two superb free kicks in the first half to lead Argentina to a 2-0 win over Chile on Saturday. Rey converted a free kick from 45 yards out to give Venezuela, the only South American team to have never played in the World Cup, a 1-0 win in Ecuador.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Euro 2008 Qualifying Results
Both Poland (Group A) and Greece (Group C) stretched their leads from two to four points with wins in Euro ’08 qualifying on Saturday. Romania opened up a three-point lead in Group H when it beat the Netherlands, 1-0. For all the results, goalscorers and standings …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
OFF THE POST: China boot camp backfires
The Chinese Olympic team and national team players were given crew cuts and put through a military-style boot camp, to “make the army’s spirit the national team’s soul,” said Chinese soccer federation co-director Nan Yong. The players practiced standing at attention, marching, running in formation and saluting. But two players ended up getting suspended from the Olympic team for asking an army officer a “lewd question.” Dai Lin, 19, and Jiang Chen, 21, had queried whether he had ever been with a prostitute.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Reality Weighs on International Appearances
In a perfect world, national team coaches would be able to call up the best players to play for their country all the time. But, as the International Herald Tribune’s Rob Hughes points out, things like injuries, egos, politics and poor decision-making always get in the way. In England, the politics of club vs. country […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Becks Unlikely to Play TFC
David Beckham may be back training full-time with the L.A. Galaxy, but team GM Alexi Lalas says he’s unlikely to return against Toronto FC this weekend. “The good news is that he is training and doing everything that all the other players are doing,” Lalas told Reuters in a telephone interview on Thursday. “I doubt […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Raul Omission at a Sensitive Time for Spain
Despite returning to top form, Real Madrid striker Raul has once again been left off of Luis Aragones’ national team squad, a decision that’s drawn the ire of soccer officials and media critics across Spain. Raul has scored four goals and three assists in nine games so far this year, recalling the form of his […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
UEFA President Rails Against Video Replay
UEFA President Michel Platini adamantly opposes the idea of using video replay to make on-field decisions, saying the introduction of technology would disrupt the flow of matches and bring about the end of traditional refereeing. “Video is a big problem for me. You would have to stop the game every 10 seconds, for every decision […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Wenger Slams Foreign Quota Proposal
Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger and others have railed against FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s proposal to introduce a foreign player quota. A few weeks ago, the FIFA President floated the idea, claiming that a foreign player quota would encourage greater competition in the world’s biggest leagues, which are often dominated by a handful of clubs. Wenger […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
South American qualifying for the 2010 World Cup kicks off this weekend. Besides live and delayed coverage on GolTV, the South American qualifiers will also be available in theaters on closed circuit, on pay-per-view on DISH Network and for a fee online at JUMPTV. There’s also European Championship qualifying and Mexico meets Nigeria in a friendly on Sunday. D.C. United’s trip to Chicago highlights the MLS action.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Soccer America Men’s Top 25 Results & Schedules
No. 1 Connecticut travels to No. 3 Notre Dame Saturday in a battle of Big East powers. Two other important Top 25 showdowns pit No. 9 Northwestern against No. 13 Indiana in the Big Ten and No. 10 Harvard against No. 14 Brown in the Ivy League. For the complete Top 25 results and schedules …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Soccer America Women’s Top 25 Results & Schedules
A pair of in-state clasicos should draw huge crowds this weekend. No. 1 Texas travels to College Station to face No. 14 Texas A&M at Aggie Soccer Stadium, where the Longhorns have lost every game they’ve played. No. 15 BYU will put its unbeaten record on the line Saturday when it meets Utah at South Stadium in a battle of two of the nation’s top forwards, BYU’s Katie Larkin (12 goals) and the Utes’ Adele Letro (15 goals). For the complete Top 25 results and schedules …