Soccer America Archives

“I don’t know the kind of superlatives I can lay on him. He’s an ideal player to have. He brings a work ethic that’s second to none to our club. He produces on game days and knows how to deal with coaches, players teammates and press. He’s been the perfect package, to date. He hasn’t been 100 percent [ribs], yet he plays and you don’t hear him complain. He’s been superb.”

— New York Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena on his Colombia forward Juan Pablo Angel, whose 14th goal of the season gave the Bulls a 1-0 win over Chicago. (New York Post)

Santos undefeated after six games

[AMERICANS IN MEXICO] Santos Laguna is no longer perfect in Apertura 2007 play but remains undefeated after a 2-2 with Atlante in which Edgar Castillo played his sixth-straight full game for Santos. Jesus Padilla, 20, who was born in Mexico and raised in San Jose, Calif., made his third appearance, all as a sub, in Chivas Guadalajara’s 1-0 win over Tigres.

Berhalter scores third for 1860 Munich

[AMERICANS IN GERMANY] Defender Gregg Berhalter converted a late penalty kick for his third goal in four games this season to earn 1860 Munich a 1-1 tie with FC Koeln and keep his club undefeated and at the top of the German Second Division. Forward Josh Wolff played first 54 minutes for 1860. Only one American saw action in First Division play.

European-based players dominate U.S. roster

[ROSTER] Coach Bob Bradley has named a 19-man roster for the USA’s friendly against Brazil on Sept. 9 in Chicago that includes 14 European-based players. Among the MLS players is Landon Donovan, who will be looking to set a U.S. national team record by scoring his 35th goal. 1860 Munich’s Josh Wolff returns to the squad for the first time since the 2006 World Cup.

Soccer America Women’s College Top 25 Weekend Results

The 2007 NCAA Division I women’s season kicked with several big upsets, notably South Carolina’s 1-0 win at No. 1 North Carolina. No. 3 UCLA fell to No. 8 Texas on Sunday in Houston, and No. 2 Notre Dame had to settle for a 0-0 tie in its opener against Michigan.

Soccer America Men’s College Top 25 Weekend Results

No. 9 Notre Dame and No. 12 Indiana knocked of No. 1 UCLA at the adidas IU Credit Union Classic. Other upsets: Gonzaga over No. 4 UC Santa Barbara, Fairfield over No. 10 St. John’s, Ohio State over No. 13 West Virginia, Akron over No. 18 New Mexico, Monmouth over No. 21 Norh Carolina.

USL First Division Results

With one week left in the USL First Division season, Portland, Seattle, Montreal, Atlanta, Rochester, Puerto Rico and Vancouver have clinched playoff berths. Vancouver became the seventh team to clinch with its 1-0 win over Minnesota on Thursday. Miami FC is in eighth place with 31 points but it has finished its season. Either Carolina (two games) Charleston (one game) could pass Miami. Both teams have 29 points. For complete USL First Division results and goalscorers …

Americans score in Europe

[AMERICANS IN ENGLAND] Clint Dempsey might have finally nailed down a starting role for Fulham. In his second straight start of the season he scored his second straight goal. With the Fulham down 2-0 late in the first half, Dempsey scored with a powerful header to set the Cottagers on the way to a 3-3 tie. Teammate Carlos Bocanegra contributed by denying Jermaine Jenas a chance before Dempsey’s strike. Keeper Kasey Keller, who debuted for Fulham last week, was on the bench because starter Antti Niemi was back from injury. Two other American keepers did see action.

WEEKEND ROUNDUP: International Soccer Headliners

by Paul KennedySeptember 4, 2007

[VIDEO] Soccer America begins its weekly series, during the international club season, reviewing the weekend’s big TV matches, with a look at the players, coaches and matches making headlines around the world. Chelsea fell back into a tie with Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton at the top of the English Premier League after dropping a 2-0 decision at Aston Villa that prompted Blues manager Jose Mourinho to say the big teams will not have an easy ride in 2007-08. At the other end of the EPL table, Spurs’ struggles are putting pressure on Dutch manager Martin Jol. Dutch youngster Wesley Sneijder is off to a flying start at Real Madrid, while Juventus also remained perfect since returning to Serie A thanks to a dramatic 3-2 win at Cagliari.

Super hat trick in Paraguay

Jose Burgos came on as a 77th minute sub for 12 de Octubre with his team trailing 2-0 against Olimpia and notched a hat trick within 10 minutes.

D.C. thumps Dallas; Bulls blank Blanco

by Ridge MahoneySeptember 4, 2007

D.C. handed Dallas its worst loss ever at Pizza Hut Park; New York edged Chicago in a battle of DPs; Kansas City came out of Houston with a point; Columbus and Colorado tied to remain deadlocked in the final playoffs spot; and Real Salt Lake dropped the Galaxy deeper into the Western Conference cellar. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney reviews last weekend’s MLS action …

Danny Szetela signs with Spain’s Racing Santander

The Columbus Crew’s Danny Szetela, who scored thrice for the USA at this year’s U-20 World Cup, has signed a two-year contract with Spanish First Division club Racing Santander. The 20-year-old New Jersey product had been linked to Italy’s AS Roma.

Story, Youth Soccer Insider

General Principles in Cleat Selection

by Soccer AmericaAugust 31, 2007

Soccer is constantly immersed in a dynamic of strategic change and physical demand as players become stronger, faster, more agile, and fit at younger ages. Manufacturers of soccer cleats are now required to meet the needs of youth and adolescent players by integrating concepts previously reserved for the elite professional player.

MLSNet Sees Beckham Bounce

by Soccer AmericaAugust 31, 2007

MLSNet.com, the official Web site of Major League Soccer, has seen a 117 percent boost in Web traffic over the previous year since the arrival of David Beckham to MLS, according to comScore Media Metrix, which chronicles the flow of traffic to Web sites. According to the measurement firm, traffic to MLSnet.com hovered at 230,000 […]

Dein Leads New Arsenal Takeover Bid

by Soccer AmericaAugust 31, 2007

English giant Arsenal, the club that famously said it would not be bought, is starting to look like a prime target for a takeover, says the Independent’s Sam Wallace. Earlier this week, the club’s former vice chairman, David Dein, sold his 14.58 percent stake in the club to an investment group in return for being […]

Real-Villarreal Showdown Gets Top Billing

by Soccer AmericaAugust 31, 2007

There has been no word yet that the Spanish league resolved its dispute with its television distributor, so don’t expect to see many La Liga games televised this weekend, but the show goes on, nevertheless. Without a doubt, this weekend’s headliner is the clash between Real Madrid and Villarreal at El Madrigal. The Yellow Submarine […]

Denilson May Play for FCD Saturday

by Soccer AmericaAugust 31, 2007

FC Dallas’ new designated player Denilson received his work permit on Thursday, which means the 2002 World Cup winner could make his MLS debut as early as this Saturday against D.C. United. However, before Denilson is cleared to play, FCD has to release one of the four players currently occupying its international slots. The Brazilian’s […]

Puerta’s Heart Failure One of Many Cases

by Soccer AmericaAugust 31, 2007

It’s a paradox that playing sports is supposed to be good for you, and yet some people die as a result of playing them, says Rob Hughes of the International Herald Tribune. Indeed, FC Sevilla’s Antonio Puerta was not the first soccer player to die from cardiac arrest while playing; he wasn’t even the only […]

Soccer on TV., Story

Soccer On TV

by Soccer AmericaAugust 31, 2007

Highlighting this weekend’s MLS slate is Cuauhtemoc Blanco‘s visit to the New York Red Bulls with the Chicago Fire on Saturday.

Jepson’s streak at Duke to end

by Soccer AmericaAugust 31, 2007

[MEN’S NOTEBOOK] Duke captain Tim Jepson, who has started every game since he became a Blue Devil and played all but 100 minutes in 2006, will be held out of Duke’s two games this weekend with a pulled muscle. For news on the Clemson-South Carolina clash and Northwestern and Ohio State …

Irish eyes on showdown with No. 1 UCLA

by Paul KennedyAugust 31, 2007

[MEN’S PREVIEW] Notre Dame will open the 2007 campaign Friday at the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic when the ninth-ranked Fighting Irish face No. 1 UCLA. It was at last year’s tournament in Bloomington that Joseph Lapira scored four goals in a 5-4 win over Indiana, beginning his remarkable campaign that resulted in his being named the Soccer America Player of the Year and Hermann Trophy winner. Notre Dame, which meets No. 7 Maryland on Sunday, is coming off a hot preseason during which it topped No. 18 New Mexico and No. 16 Northwestern by identical 3-0 scores.

Soccer America Men’s Top 25 Results & Schedules

by Soccer AmericaAugust 31, 2007

No. 9 Notre Dame and No. 12 knocked of No. 1 UCLA at the adidas IU Credit Union Classic. Other upsets: Gonzaga over No. 4 UC Santa Barbara, Fairfield over No. 10 St. John’s, Ohio State over No. 13 West Virginia, Akron over No. 18 New Mexico, Monmouth over No. 21 Norh Carolina.

Move to name street after South Carolina’s Berson

by Soccer AmericaAugust 31, 2007

There is Bryant Drive (named after the legendary football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant) that runs along the southern flank of the University of Alabama campus. The late Adolph Rupp and Dean Smith have basketball arenas named after them on the campuses of Kentucky and North Carolina. How about Mark Berson Way?

Florida aims for record crowd — and win over might Notre Dame

by Soccer AmericaAugust 31, 2007

[WOMEN’S PREVIEW] Florida is looking to set a school attendance record when the No. 12 Gators host No. 2 Notre Dame on Sunday afternoon at Pressly Stadium (TV: Sun Sports, FSN Florida, live, 1:30 pm). The game has been dubbed “Let’s Pack Pressly” and Florida is conducting several promotions, including Gator Soccer t-shirts courtesy of Sun Sports for the first 2,500 fans. Florida looks to be for real. The Gators beat No. 6 Texas A&M, 3-1, in an exhibition game and meet No. 7 Florida State on Sept. 9.