Soccer America Archives

Women’s conference play begins in the Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC this weekend. For the complete Top 25 results and schedules …

Brilliant Brazil exposes inconvenient truth

by Mike WoitallaSeptember 28, 2007

[VIDEO] Regardless of which keeper stood between the U.S. posts, what mistakes Coach Greg Ryan made or the red card to Shannon Boxx, the difference between the teams in Brazil’s 4-0 rout of the USA was skill. Dribbling, trapping, shooting, passing. Brazil topped each category. And Brazil entertained.

Goalkeepers Are Different

by Ridge MahoneySeptember 28, 2007

[ANALYSIS] Did goalkeeper Hope Solo or Coach Greg Ryan, or both, permanently impair their national-team futures, and is their dispute just another example of an American coach clashing with his keeper(s)? Steve Sampson and Bruce Arena infuriated both Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel by platooning them, and on the eve of the 1994 World Cup round of 16 match against Brazil (some irony, there), coach Bora Milutinovic seriously pondered dropping Tony Meola in favor of Friedel because he believed Meola’s public comments about trying out for an NFL team as a placekicker called into question his focus, not to mention his priorities. English soccer journalist Brian Glanville wrote a book, “Goalkeepers Are Different,” which is a novel, not a declaration of truth. Still, physically, temperamentally, and psychologically, they are unlike field players.

Galaxy upends bumbling Wizards

by Ridge MahoneySeptember 28, 2007

Kansas City took the principle of squandering chances to the extreme Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium, and plunged both its short- and long-term prospects into doubt. With a record Arrowhead MLS crowd of 32,867 in attendance, the Wizards (10-11-6) could have picked up three valuable points in the standings and also built some momentum at the gate. Instead, the fans saw two Kansas City players sent off, Eddie Johnson and his mates flub numerous chances, and the Galaxy steal out of town with a 1-0 win courtesy of a Gavin Glinton header. Big crowd, big letdown.

Chivas USA’s Chicago clash highlights MLS weekend

by Ridge MahoneySeptember 28, 2007

[TV PREVIEWS] Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney previews the weekend’s six MLS games, which include a Texas shootout and Cuauhtemoc Blanco‘s visit to Chivas USA …

Women’s World Cup Results

The Women’s World Cup final will be matchup of the tournament’s most exciting attack, Brazil (with 17 goals in five games), and its best defense, Germany (which has yet to allow a goal in five games).

TV PREVIEW: International weekend headliners

by Paul KennedySeptember 28, 2007

Roma hosts Inter Milan in a battle of Serie A leaders. It’s a 1-2 clash of Bayern Munich at Bayer Leverkusen in Germany. Bernd Schuster returns to Getafe for the first time since taking over as Real Madrid coach. Newcastle travels to Manchester City with Obafemi Martins taking on a key role in the absence of Michael Owen.

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“It was the wrong decision, and I think anybody that knows anything about the game knows that. There’s no doubt in my mind I would have made those saves. And the fact of the matter is, it’s not 2004 anymore. It’s not 2004. And it’s 2007 and I think you have to live in the present and you can’t live by big names. You can’t live in the past. It doesn’t matter what somebody did in an Olympic gold-medal game in the Olympics three years ago. Now is what matters.”

— U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo, who was benched for the Women’s World Cup semifinal by Coach Greg Ryan in favor of Briana Scurry, who was the goalkeeper when the USA beat Brazil, 2-1, in the 2003 Olympic gold medal game. The Americans lost, 4-0, to Brazil on Thursday. (VIDEO)

Seattle aims for fourth title in USL-1 final vs. Atlanta

The Seattle Sounders will be aiming for their fourth USL First Division title Saturday (Fox Soccer Channel, 10 pm ET) when it hosts the Atlanta Silverbacks, who are making their first final appearance. The Sounders won titles in 1995, 1996 and 2005. And this year’s championship game marks their third final appearance in four years. Here’s how that run compares to past USL clubs …

Bobby Convey injured in training

[AMERICANS IN ENGLAND] Two days after scoring for Reading in its 4-2 English League Cup loss to Liverpool, midfielder Bobby Convey limped off the practice field with a leg injury. Preliminary reports indicate Convey won’t be available this weekend, when he was hoping to make his first English Premier League start in 11 games. Convey, who was used as a sub in five EPL games this season, missed most of last season with a knee injury, appearing in only nine games (one start).

Soccer on TV., Story

Soccer on TV

The USL-1 title will be decided on Saturday, when the Seattle Sounders host the Atlanta Silverbacks (Fox Soccer Channel, 10 pm ET). The English Premier League’s most American team, Fulham (Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey & Kasey Keller), visits Chelsea on Saturday. MLS’s “Mexican” team, Chivas USA, hosts Chicago and its Mexican hero, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, on a weekend that will further shape the playoff field. Santos Laguna and U.S. product Edgar Castillo aim to extend their season-long unbeaten streak when they face Chiapas on Saturday. On Sunday, Germany faces Brazil in the Women’s World Cup while while the USA goes for third against Norway.

Beckham Heads to England to Visit Ill Father

David Beckham arrived in London on Thursday to visit his father, who has been hospitalized after suffering a heart attack. The England midfielder, who hasn’t played a game for the Los Angeles Galaxy since Aug. 30 because of a knee injury, took the first flight from Los Angeles to London after hearing the news. […]

Checketts on the State of RSL and MLS

In an interview with the Deseret Morning News, Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts says first-year coach Jason Kreis has done about as well as he could possibly do, given the circumstances. Kreis took over for John Ellinger after four games. RSL is 5-11-6 under Kreis and won’t make the playoffs for the third straight year. Checketts said […]

Inter Milan Boss Slams Mourinho Speculation

Inter Milan boss Massimo Moratti has denied speculation that Coach Roberto Mancini’s job is in danger. Jose Mourinho’s departure from Chelsea and disclosure that he might like to learn Italian — he already speaks Portuguese, Spanish, French and English — prompted speculation that he might be in line to replace Mancini at the Italian champions. “I […]

English FA Issues Charges Against Chelsea

More bad news for Chelsea, which has gotten off to a slow start in the English Premier League and Champions League. The Blues have been charged by the Football Association with failing to control their players during 2-0 loss at Manchester United. Referee Mike Dean reported the club after at least four players surrounded him […]

Story, Youth Soccer Insider

Reviving the pickup game

There can be many reasons why so few pickup games happen in youth soccer. They include a sedentary lifestyle, the vacant lot doesn’t exist any longer, even the design of neighborhoods nowadays means there is little or no yard on which to play, parents are reluctant to let their kids play away from home without adult supervision, soccer facilities are closed except for scheduled events, or the kids simply don’t know how to organize a game.

Penn State women warm up for Big Ten showdown with 5-0 win

[WEDNESDAY ACTION] No. 11 Penn State shut out Colgate, 5-0, in the Nittany Lions’ final tuneup before beginning Big Ten women’s action against No. 21 Illinois on Sunday at Jeffrey Field (TV: Big Ten Network, live, 3 pm ET).

Unbeaten Michigan rolls on; BC settles for tie

[WEDNESDAY ACTION] Nine games into the 2007 men’s season, No. 12 Michigan has already eclipsed last year’s win total. The Wolverines’ 2-0 win over Oakland on Wednesday gave them an 8-0-1 record. They finished the 2006 season at 7-10-4. Despite a 34-17 advantage in shots and 13-3 edge in corner kicks, No. 6 Boston College had to settle for a scoreless draw with Yale.

Northwestern christens new field with victory

[WEDNESDAY ACTION] No. 5 Northwestern opened its new Lakeside Field with a 1-0 victory over Chicago area rival Loyola (Ill.), the fifth straight shutout win for the Wildcats (7-0-1), setting a new school record.

Armstrong steps down as UCSD coach for health reasons

[RETIREMENT] After nearly 26 full years at the helm of the UC San Diego men’s program, pioneering coach Derek Armstrong announced his retirement on Monday afternoon for health reasons as he readies for surgery later on this week.

Hustling Hoosiers end skid

by Paul KennedySeptember 27, 2007

After losing three straight games, Indiana coach Mike Freitag lit a fire under his Hoosiers, who beat Butler, 2-0, on Wednesday night in front of 1,054 fans at Armstrong Stadium. “I think the message has gotten through,” said Freitag. “The guys who get on the field are the guys who are going to hustle and get things done.”

Strong starts prime SEC teams for conference openers

[CONFERENCE FOCUS] No. 10 Tennessee hosts No. 15 South Carolina Thursday in the Southeastern Conference women’s opener, which will be televised live as Fox Soccer Channel’s NSCAA Game of the Week at 8 pm ET. Both teams were unranked at the beginning of the season, but they have climbed into the Top 25 with strong starts. Across the SEC, optimism is high. Indeed, the SEC may be deeper than it has ever been. For a look at the SEC field going into conference play …

Adu scores for Benfica in Portuguese Cup

Freddy Adu came on at halftime for Benfica in its third-round Portuguese Cup game against fellow First Division club Estrela Amadora and scored from the penalty spot in stoppage time to tie the game, 1-1. Adu also took and converted Benfica’s first penalty kick in the shootout, which Benfica won, 5-4.

Fulham, with three Americans, fall in League Cup

[AMERICANS ABROAD] Kasey Kelley, in his second appearance since joining the club on Aug. 23, Carlos Bocanegra and Clint Dempsey played the full 90 for Fulham in its 2-1 loss to Bolton in the third round of the English League Cup. Goalkeeper Brad Freidel had an easy day in Blackburn’s 3-0 win over Birmingham. Frank Simek started for second-tier Sheffield Wednesday in its 3-0 loss to Everton. In midweek German First Division action Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 celebrated a 2-0 win over Arminia Bielefeld.

MLS Playoff Race