Soccer America Archives

U.S. striker Abby Wambach is set to go in a nearly must-win game on Friday against Sweden (ESPN, 5 am ET) despite a sore toe – suffered in a pre-tournament friendly – and stitches in her head from a clash during the 2-2 opening tie against North Korea.

Bolivia, with Jaime Moreno, falls to Peru

D.C. United forward Jaime Moreno played the last 61 minutes for Bolivia in its 2-0 friendly loss to Peru in Lima. Former MLS midfielder Joselito Vaca went the full 90 for the Bolivians.

Record crowd for Brazil-Mexico in New England

Kleber, Kaka and Afonso struck for Brazil in a 3-1 friendly win over Mexico in front of 67,584, a record for a soccer game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. On Wednesday, Brazil beat the USA, 4-2, in Chicago with 43,543 in attendance. Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa kept the score down with 11 saves.

D.C. United books a playoff spot

by Ridge MahoneySeptember 13, 2007

No Jaime Moreno, no problem. With the league’s all-time leading scorer away on international duty, D.C. United widened its lead atop the Eastern Conference and overall MLS standings by beating Real Salt Lake, 2-1, with goals by Luciano Emilio and Christian Gomez. D.C. (15-6-4) officially clinched a playoff spot, which had hardly been in doubt, and also increased its unbeaten streak to nine games. Yet the victory – its eighth in that nine-game run – is among the toughest D.C. has carved out this season.

Beckham takes to booth for So Cal Clasico

by Ridge MahoneySeptember 13, 2007

David Beckham will be in the ESPN2 commentary booth as his Galaxy mates try to climb out of the Western Conference cellar. Riding a one-game winning streak after beating Colorado, 3-1, last Saturday, the Galaxy will have Landon Donovan back after he played a role on both U.S. goals in a 4-2 loss to Brazil. The victory broke a six-game losing streak in MLS play and reversed a humiliating 3-0 loss to Colorado during the skid. … Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney previews the Clasico and explains the Beckham rumors …

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“I’m sorry Fergie, I didn’t know it was you.”

— What Kevin Reynolds said after he punched Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson in the groin in an unprovoked attack at a London train station. Reynolds, described as a homeless alcoholic, then chanted, “Fergie, Fergie, shut your mouth.” The 43-year-old, who had 105 previous convictions including several assaults, had been released from prison five days earlier. (The Scotsman)

Scots pull Euro upset

Scotland beat France for the second time in European Championship qualifying with a stunning 1-0 win Wednesday night in Paris. Other key results: England picked up its second 3-0 victory in four days, beating Russia at Wembley. The Czech Republic’s 1-0 win over Ireland all but ended the suspense in Group D. Poland and Finland remained 1-2 in Group A after their 0-0 tie in Helsinki. Portugal and Serbia tied, 1-1, in an ill-tempered affair in Lisbon.

St. Louis Moves Closer to MLS Expansion

Jeff Cooper’s investment group this week crossed “the last of the major hurdles” in its effort to bring professional soccer to St. Louis after the Collinsville City Counsel approved funding for a massive $572.9 million development project that would include a soccer stadium, 240 hotel rooms, several youth soccer fields and nearly 500,000 square feet […]

Chivas USA’s Identity Crisis

Chivas USA may be enjoying the best season in its short existence but it has the biggest drop in attendance of any team in MLS this season. Chivas has averaged 12,191 fans at home this season, a 19 percent drop from a year ago, representing less than half the Home Depot Center’s 27,000-seat capacity, yet […]

Wahl on Becks, U.S. Women, U.S. Men

Grant Wahl of SI.com talks Beckham, the U.S. women's team opener and the U.S. men vs. Brazil. To make Becks a success next season, Wahl names five things the global superstar needs. One, the L.A. Galaxy and England manager Steve McClaren have to be on the same page when it comes to internationals. A player […]

United, Liverpool Lead CL Reform Resistance

During a UEFA meeting of Europe’s top clubs, Manchester United chief David Gill and Liverpool’s Rick Parry called on UEFA President Michel Platini to abandon his plans to grant a Champions League berth to the winner of the domestic cup competition in Europe’s bigger leagues. Given the TV cash haul guaranteed to qualifying clubs, it’s […]

Chivas USA names new president

Shawn Hunter, a former NHL, NBA and, most recently Anschutz Entertainment Group executive, has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of Chivas USA. Last week, Javier Leon left his post as Chivas USA CEO and GM.

Man U coach Alex Ferguson attacked in train station

Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson was attacked by a 40-year-old man at London’s Euston train station while en route to a 9/11 charity event. Ferguson suffered a leg injury but was able to attend the event.

Brazil, Mexico clash in USA

[TV PREVIEW] Brazil, coming off Sunday’s 4-2 win over the USA in front of 43,543 fans in Chicago, faces Mexico on Wednesday in Foxborough, Mass., where ticket presale reached the 60,000 mark. The game will be televised live on Telemundo at 8 pm ET. Brazil is preparing for its World Cup qualifying opener, at Colombia on Oct. 16.

Spain eyes rebound against Latvia

[TV PREVIEW] Spain, which was held to a scoreless tie by Iceland on Saturday and is tied for third in Group F of 2008 European Championship qualifying, needs a win over Latvia in what is one of 21 qualifiers on Wednesday. France, coming off a scoreless tie with Italy and atop Group B, hosts Scotland. England hosts Russia, which sits a point above it in second place of Group E. Croatia leads the group.

Resurgent Real takes on red hot D.C.

by Ridge MahoneySeptember 12, 2007

[TV PREVIEW] Should the league’s best team be wary an opponent at the opposite end of the totem pole? As usual in MLS, the answer is yes. RSL has but four wins, but three of them have come in the last six games and that stretch includes a 1-0 victory over Western Conference leader Houston. For its first win of the season, after starting out with five losses and six ties, RSL beat United, 2-1, June 23 with a pair of goals by rookie Robbie Findley. (RSL still has six ties and would surely celebrate getting one at RFK.)

U.S. women punished during stitch-up

[VIDEO] North Korea scored twice while U.S. striker Abby Wambach was on the sidelines getting several stitches to stop bleeding from a gash in her head. Wambach had opened the scoring for the USA and Heather O’Reilly struck seven minutes after the Koreans’ second goal to earn the Americans a 2-2 tie in their Women’s World Cup opener.

Soccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

“I ran off, ran back on; obviously it wasn’t fast enough.”

— U.S. striker Abby Wambach, who was on the sidelines for nine minutes getting stitches while North Korea scored twice. The USA’s Women’s World Cup opener ended in a 2-2 tie.

Soccer Business Insider, Story

Awaiting Soccer’s Double Scoop of Success

It is time for professional soccer to create a truly unique experience for its audience.

U.S. Women Humbled by North Korea in Opener

Billed by Nike as “the best team you’ve never heard of,” the post-Mia Hamm U.S. women’s national team looked anything but in a tepid performance in their World Cup opener against “mysterious” North Korea. In fact, the U.S. was fortunate to escape from the match with a 2-2 draw; the Koreans dominated possession and nearly […]

U.S. Soccer Talks to Capello

Allen Hopkins of ESPN weighs in on the latest MLS rumors and other assorted goings-on. Top of his list is the continuing talks between former Juventus and Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello and U.S. Soccer. According to Hopkins, Capello met with U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati and national team coach Bob Bradley in London last […]

MLS Needs More Latin American Players

Post-David Beckham — or more pointedly, post-David Beckham’s latest injury — Major League Soccer is in a familiar predicament: it has “a selling job to do,” says the New York Sun’s Paul Gardner, who says the league needs to realize that not only does it have to sell the rest of its players, it also […]

Mexico-Brazil Sequel Should be Even Better

Brazil is the best team in the world, says Luis Bueno, writing for the Press Enterprise, and it’s not often that both the U.S. and Mexican national teams get a chance to play the five-time World Cup champions mere days apart. The U.S. already turned in a respectable performance against the world No. 1 on […]

College Soccer Reporter, Story

CROWD COUNT: College Soccer’s Largest Crowds

The second weekend of the regular season saw Creighton set a school record for the largest men’s soccer crowd for its showdown with UCLA. Maryland (men) and North Carolina (women) also drew large crowds.

College Soccer Reporter, Story

Boilermakers keep cool and knock off Portland