[EXTENDED U.S. U-20 VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS] The USA has been the story of the Under-20 World Cup in Canada. It clinched first place in its group at the U-20 competition for the third straight time thanks to a pair of breathtaking performances: a 6-1 demolition of Poland and a 2-1 victory over Brazil, the first by an American men’s team against Brazil in a FIFA competition in 18 years. The goals, all golazos, left the Americans on top of the U-20 scoring charts with nine goals in three games. Once again, Freddy Adu was brilliant against Brazil, and the U.S. goals — both scored by Jozy Altidore — spectacular. For Ridge Mahoney’s report and all the video highlights …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2007 Under-20 World Cup TV Schedule
Play at the Under-20 World Cup resumes on Wednesday when the USA faces Uruguay in Toronto in a game televised on ESPNU and Galavision. Eight second-round games will be played Wednesday and Thursday. For the complete Under-20 World Cup schedule …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
New York takes lead in tight MLS Eastern Conference race
[MLS WEEKEND REPORT] The Eastern Conference is tighter than ever — two points cover the top five teams — after the Crew and Red Bulls win, and the West is a two-horse race following Houston’s seventh victory in its last eight games.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Red Bulls Routed in Houston
“Houston, We Have a Problem,” came the post-game headline from Big Apple Soccer after the New York Red Bulls were thrashed, 4-0, by resurgent MLS champ Houston Dynamo. Once again, the Bulls were all over the place at the back, as the Dynamo repeatedly carved its way through midfield, playing balls in behind the Bulls’ […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Tevez to Undergo United Medical in Venezuela
According to the Associated Press, Carlos Tevez will undergo a medical in Venezuela as English champion Manchester United closes in on a two-year loan move for the West Ham United striker. The Argentine is currently playing in the Copa America in Venezuela with the national team. A joint announcement is expected later on Friday from […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
L.A.’s New (Beckham) Look is Leaked
The arrival of David Beckham means many things to the L.A. Galaxy. One of them is a new look, which was supposed to be kept under wraps until David’s arrival in Los Angeles next week. However, the new uniforms are now available for public viewing after adidas (accidentally) posted the item for sale on its […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
CONMEBOL Displeased with Weak U.S. Roster
CONMEBOL, the South American soccer federation, expressed its displeasure with the third-string team the United States sent to the 2007 Copa America in Venezuela. U.S. coach Bob Bradley clearly used the tournament as an opportunity to blood new talent for the national team, bringing in just seven players from the squad that lifted the CONCACAF […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
U-20s with a Chance to Top Group vs. Brazil
It’s a nice feeling to say that the U.S. has a good chance against Brazil Friday night. And yes, we are talking about soccer — a World Cup, in fact. Following the U-20 national team’s 6-1 drubbing of Poland in Group D on Tuesday, the U.S. has suddenly become something of a dark horse to […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Making a case for the seven pending All-Star selections
MLS’s “First XI,” determined by voting, for the July 19 All-Star Game against Celtic is a solid group. Seven more players are to be picked — five by Coach Steve Nicol and two by Commissioner Don Garber — and there are far more candidates who merit serious consideration than allotted places.
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
This weekend’s televised action kicks off on Friday evening with the USA’s match against Brazil at the U-20 World Cup (ESPNU & Galavision) and a USL clash between Rochester and Carolina (Fox Soccer Channel). Gol TV provides Copa America quarterfinal action on Saturday and Sunday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“In all three games, I think we had moments when we played well. We still must be more consistent over 90 minutes in order to move to the next level. As we have said over the last few weeks, it is a great challenge to play in back-to-back tournaments. You run into situations with the various clubs, and as a result we brought a younger team here. This is an excellent tournament. The atmosphere in the stadiums, the passion, is something that is very special. We greatly appreciate the opportunity to have played in the 2007 Copa America.”
— U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley after the USA exited the Copa America with its third straight loss, 1-0 to Colombia on Thursday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Angel heads MLS First XI for All-Star Game
Colombian Juan Pablo Angel of the New York Red Bulls heads the players named to the MLS All-Star First XI for the 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game bwteen the MLS All-Stars and Scottish Premier League champion Celtic on July 19. Angel led in total voting percentage ahead of 2006 MLS All-Star MVP Dwayne De Rosario of the Houston Dynamo. Angel and fellow Colombian Juan Toja (FC Dallas) are the only first-year players on the first XI. Second-year player Jonathan Bornstein of Chivas USA is the only other player with no pevious All-Star Game experience.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
More disappointment for Canada at U-20 World Cup
There was more bad news for host Canada at the Under-20 World Cup. Canada’s U-20s dropped their second straight match at the Under-20 World Cup, falling to Austria, 1-0, on a header by Rubin Okotie in the 47th minute. The Canada-Austria game drew 31,000 fans in Edmonton as the U-20 event continued to generate extraordinary interest in Canada. Six of the first nine dates were sellouts, including the Poland-Brazil and USA-South Korea doubleheader in Montreal that drew 55,800 fans. The U-20 World Cup in Canada is on track to break the record turnout of 1,155,160 in Mexico in 1983 — and double the turnout two years ago in the Netherlands.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. REPORT CARD: Youngsters Guzan, Kljestan and Nguyen stand out against Colombia
Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players’ performance in their 1-0 Copa America loss to Colombia …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2007 Copa America TV Schedule
The Copa America moves into the quarterfinals with four games over the week. Both of Saturday’s games are repeats of group matches: Venezuela-Uruguay and Brazil-Chile. Mexico faces Paraguay in a repeat of their friendly Paragauay won last month. Argentina, a 1-0 winner over Paraguay to finish as the only team to win all three games in group play, meets Peru in Sunday’s other quarterfinal match. For the complete Copa America TV schedule …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. exercise at the Copa America ends pointless
A tough, rugged game against Colombia in which four U.S. players made their first Copa America appearance produced promising moments but nothing more than a 1-0 defeat and an 0-3 record in the competition. Finishing pointless in the standings is also how the entire exercise of taking a young, largely inexperienced team to so prestigious a competition will be deemed: pointless.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2007 Under-20 World Cup TV Schedule
The USA closes out group play at the Under-20 World Cup on Friday when it faces Brazil in Ottawa in a game televised on ESPNU and Galavision. Group play continues through Sunday. For the complete Under-20 World Cup schedule …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Red-hot Houston and D.C. United meet on Sunday
[MLS WEEKEND PREVIEWS] Two hot teams collide as Houston hosts D.C. United; Chivas USA and the Revs stage a rematch; Toronto FC and Chicago square off to see who can keep pace in the East; the Crew can squeeze the standings even tighter at home against Real Salt Lake; the Rapids and Red Bulls hope to rebound after being blanked; and the revamped (again) Galaxy get a stern test against Kansas City.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
From the PDL to EPL: Colin Miller
Colin Miller, the longtime coach of the PDL’s Abbotsford Rangers, was hired as the first team assistant coach for the newly promoted English Premiership club Derby County. The former Canadian international and one-time interim head coach of the Canadian men’s national team will work under Derby manager Billy Davies, a former teammate of Miller’s with Glasgow Rangers.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Tryouts: The whys, why-nots and maybes
In a typical club system where parents fund their child’s experience and pretty directly the club and its employees — team formation can be the most difficult part of the year.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Tiny Town Has a Huge Influence for Colombia
For Wednesday’s clash between the U.S. and Colombia, Jack Bell of the New York Times profiles a small Colombian town that’s having a big influence on the national team: Cúcuta, a sprawling Andean town of 600,000 people residing on Colombia’s eastern border with Venezuela. Cucuta is home to Colombian Clausura champion Cúcuta Deportivo, which won […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Chelsea to Finalize Malouda, Bring Back Alex
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said the Blues would unveil Florent Malouda at Stamford Bridge next week. The asking price for the 27-year-old Lyon winger is $34.12 million, but Kenyon would not discuss a transfer fee. He said Malouda would be the club’s final signing of the summer. Which means this will be the quietest […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Calderon Expects Schuster, Kaka at Real Next Week
Getafe coach Bernd Schuster is expected to be unveiled next week as the new coach of Real Madrid, Merengues President Ramon Calderon told Spanish radio on Thursday. “I think he [Schuster] has sorted out his contract and has to pay compensation, but the logical thing is that he will be the next coach of Real […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Man United Close to Tevez Deal
According to various reports across the Web, sought-after West Ham striker Carlos Tevez is on the verge of joining Manchester United. The fee has been pegged at around $40 million, although neither West Ham nor United is commenting on the speculation. The Argentine international has said he won’t make a decision about his future until […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Luciano Emilio scores 8th goal in D.C. United win
Brazilian Luciano Emilio moved to within a goal of MLS leadings scorers Juan Pablo Angel (New York) and Eddie Johnson (Kansas City) with his eighth strike, the decider in D.C. United’s 1-0 win at Kansas City. Toronto won its first road game of the season, over hapless Real Salt Lake, 2-1. Landon Donovan struck twice from the penalty spot as Los Angeles downed Chicago, 2-0, in front of the biggest Fourth of July crowd (24,333). FC Dallas notched its fourth shutout in five games with a 2-0 win over Chivas USA. Colorado and Columbus played to a scoreless tie.