Weekend action kicks off Friday evening with USL-1 action from Puerto Rico, which hosts San Francisco-based California Victory. Los Angeles faces Chelsea on Saturday is supposed to be David Beckham‘s Galaxy debut, but the England star may sit it out or be limited to a brief appearance because of an ankle injury. On Sunday, MLS regular-season action returns from the All-Star break with four games. Also on Sunday, Argentina takes on the Czech Republic in the U-20 World Cup final.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Totti Retires from Italy
Italy striker Francesco Totti on Friday said he was retiring from international competition. The 2006 World Cup winner announced his decision during a news conference on Friday, citing “various physical reasons.” The AS Roma captain had surgery on his left ankle last year, and said it can no longer support playing for both club and […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Rossi Demand Wanes as Tevez Draws Closer to United
Barely three weeks ago, reports from Italy were linking Serie A’s biggest clubs to 21-year-old Italian-American starlet Giuseppe Rossi, who had put in a sterling loan spell at Parma in the second half of last season to help the Italian giant stave off relegation. But demand for the Manchester United striker has died down now […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Becks’ ESPN Buzzkill; Rumors at RSL, FCD
If he makes any appearance at all, David Beckham’s L.A. Galaxy debut against Chelsea, says SI.com’s Grant Wahl, will most likely be a “token appearance” because ESPN was planning a “blowout Beckham extravaganza,” featuring 19 cameras, including one just for Becks and one for his celebrity pals. Coverage on Saturday begins with a Beckham special […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
It’s Blanco’s Debut, Too
It’s a weekend of coming-out parties for Major League Soccer’s two most famous acquisitions. On the one hand, you have David Beckham, who’s listed as “doubtful” for Saturday’s clash between the L.A. Galaxy and Chelsea — you can bet that ESPN and MLS are desperate for him to get 10 minutes on national television — […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
MLS All-Star Coach Nicol Hits Back at Critics
New England Revolution coach Steve Nicol hit out at critics over the level of play in Major League Soccer Thursday night after coaching the league’s All-Stars to a 2-0 victory over Scottish champion Celtic. “First of all, if you look at the people that are probably criticizing and having a go, they probably don’t know […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I’m sure [Celtic] will have 100 excuses, but to be honest, the game could’ve been 4-0 or 5-0.”
— Landon Donovan after the MLS All-Stars downed Glasgow Celtic, 2-0. (Houston Chronicle)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Colombians lead MLS All-Stars to convincing win over Celtic
The news regarding David Beckham is that there is no news, so the world can wait a little longer to learn if he will play Saturday against Chelsea, and MLS officials can savor a fourth straight victory by its all-stars against a foreign team. Colombians Juan Pablo Angel, who was named MVP, and Juan Toja scored excellent goals and Dwayne DeRosario dominated midfield as the MLS All-Stars beat Glasgow Celtic, 2-0, at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. DeRosario put through Angel to evade Celtic FC keeper Artur Boruc, whose herioics kept the game close, and stroke his shot into an empty net. Toja pounced on a partially blocked free kick to fire past Boruc from close range.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS conference leaders, archrivals clash on Sunday
[TV PREVIEW] Los Angeles faces Chelsea on Saturday 8:30 pm ET (ESPN & Telefutura) in what is supposed to be David Beckham’s Galaxy debut, but the England star may sit it out or be limited to a brief appearance because of an ankle injury. On Sunday, MLS regular season action returns from the All-Star break with three games televised on the MLS Direct Kick Package, including the clash of conference leaders New England and Houston at 4 pm ET. Columbus meets Toronto FC at 5 pm ET, and Kansas City faces Colorado 8 pm ET. Archrivals New York and D.C. United meet on Telefutura at 5 pm ET.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
UEFA Cup First Round, First Leg Results
Qualifying for the 2007-08 UEFA Cup began with the first leg of the first-round series on Thursday. The shock result was Andorran club Santa Coloma’s 1-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Univision’s coverage of Mexico-Argentina beats out ESPN’s Home-Run Derby audience
Univision’s coverage of the Mexico-Argentina semifinal match from the Copa America on July 11 attracted 6.9 million viewers to rank 26th among all programming for the week on broadcast television. The viewership of the Mexico-Argentina game beat out the 6.8 million viewers who tuned in two nights earlier on ESPN to watch the Home Run Derby in San Francisco.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Posh special on NBC takes time slot
NBC’s special “Victoria Beckham: Coming to America” won its time slot, according to Nielsen overnights, and beat out the previous week’s programming in the same time slot. The Monday show averaged a 2.2 adults 18-49 rating for 8-9 pm, 16 percent better than NBC’s summer-to-date primetime average of 1.9.
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Argentina routs unhappy Chile, 3-0, in Under-20 World Cup semifinals
Argentina moved closer to defending its Under-20 World Cup title when it beat Chile, 3-0, in their semifinal on Thursday in Toronto. Argentina, which meets the Czech Republic in the final, got goals from Angel Di Maria, Claudio Yacob and Maximiliano Moralez. Chile had two players sent off and fought with police and security officers after the game. One member of the Chilean delegation was subdued by taser during the brawl.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
UEFA Champions League, First Round, First Leg Results
Qualifying for the 2007-08 UEFA Champions League began with the first leg of the first-round series on Wednesday. The 32-team field for the group stage will be completed after three rounds of qualifying in July and August.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
FIFA Mulls Amalgamation in Parts of Europe
FIFA is considering amalgamating the leagues of certain countries in Eastern and Central Europe. As the Guardian’s Jonathan Wilson says, it’s a bold idea, but one fraught with difficulty. Wilson, who supports the idea, sat in on a FIFA conference about amalgamation, but was unaware of “how many problems become apparent as soon as you […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
New-Look RSL Given International Test
A somewhat new-look Real Salt Lake stepped onto its new practice field for the first time on Wednesday. With the return of U.S. U-20 stars Freddy Adu, Chris Seitz and Nathan Sturgis — who’s barely had a chance to train with RSL since arriving with Robbie Findley on June 21– and the addition of defensive […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Rapids’ Say Angel as Good as Becks
If you ask Colorado Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo, New York Red Bulls forward Juan Pablo Angel is every bit as good as David Beckham. “Beckham brings the whole package with Hollywood fame, but you take away the goals Angel has scored and [the Red Bulls] are at the bottom of the table,” Clavijo says. “I […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
All-Stars Shouldn’t Fear Celtic
Ian Plenderleith of USSoccerPlayers says MLS is on to something in ditching the East vs West All-Star format in favor of inviting the world’s best teams to compete against its players. It’s a pro-marketing and pro-competition move in the sense that both sides have an incentive to win: MLS wants to shirk its reputation as […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Keys to good corner kicks
The corner kick is an incredible opportunity to score, and it’s something players can practice on their own, because unlike a cross that you’re hitting during the run of play, the corner kick is always taken from the same distance, give or take the few yards by which the width of fields varies from stadium to stadium.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Chivas USA is latest MLS casualty in Open Cup
Chivas USA became the fifth MLS team to fall in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup when it lost, 3-1, to the USA-1’s Seattle Sounders, for whom Sebastien Le Toux scored twice. The Sounders face MLS’s Colorado Rapids in the quarterfinals Aug. 7 in Seattle.
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MLS creates Latin American Advisory Board
MLS has created the Latin American Advisory Board (LAAB), which will look to disseminate targeted information as well as acting as a sounding board for the Latin American community. Upon receiving feedback, the board will advise MLS and its teams on the best practices in order to engage the Latin American public. Organized by World Cup veteran and current MLS Fan Development manager, Wilmer Cabrera, the LAAB is made up of key members of the Latin American community who live in the United States and are involved in soccer at a high level. For the list of LAAB members and bios …
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MLS unveils Coaching Diversity Initiative
MLS has announced the creation of the Coaching Diversity Initiative, which requires the league’s teams to interview candidates of diverse backgrounds for any open technical staff position. Technical staff positions include head coach, assistant coaches, youth coaches and technical director. Currently, among the 13 teams in MLS, there are two minority head coaches — Colorado’s Fernando Clavijo and Chicago’s Juan Carlos Osorio — and nine minority assistant coaches. Not a single black coach has been among the more than 60 head-coach hirings since the league’s inauguration in 1996.
MLS’s Coaching Diversity Initiative resembles similar measures taken in recent years by Major League Baseball and the National Football League.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
The Earthquakes revival
Less than four months after holding a press conference at the Oakland Coliseum stating the Earthquakes could return as early as 2008, Oakland A’s co-owner Lewis Wolff and San Jose Earthquakes, LLC are gearing up for an April kickoff. The MLS Board of Governors voted Tuesday to approve a San Jose franchise. By purchasing an expansion option from MLS, Wolff had also acquired the logos, colors, etc. used by the Quakes before AEG moved the team to Houston after the 2005 season.
Just about a year ago, negotiations with San Jose State University, where the previous Quakes played, regarding a new on-campus facility broke down.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
OFF THE POST: Copa America-related fratricide in Africa
A dispute between Ugandan brothers over the Copa America final resulted in fatal stabbing, according the New Vision newspaper. Brothers Sam Naluswa and Moses Kyegombe were watching the Brazil-Argentina game and after Brazil scored its second goal, Kyegombe, an Argentina supporter, turned off the television. Naluswa, a Brazil fan, lashed out at him and their father broke up the scuffle. But Naluswa allegedly followed his brother home after Brazil’s 3-0 win and stabbed Kyegombe, who died on the way to the hospital.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS All-Stars aim for another win over Brits
[TV PREVIEW] The MLS All-Stars, who in last year’s All-Star Game downed defending English Premier League Champion Chelsea, take on Scottish champion Glasgow Celtic Thursday night in Commerce City, Colo., (9 pm ET, live, ESPN2 & Galavision). Two other MLS All-Star Games have been against visiting clubs. The All-Stars defeated Fulham in 2005 and Chivas Guadalajara in 2003. MLS All-Star coach Steve Nicol has announced a starting 3-5-2 lineup of Matt Reis; Jimmy Conrad, Michael Parkhurst, Jonathan Bornstein; Ronnie O’Brien, Shalrie Joseph, Ricardo Clark, Dwayne De Rosario, Juan Toja, Eddie Johnson, Juan Pablo Angel. For the complete MLS All-Star roster …