Even if it didn’t come out quite right, many in the U.S. soccer industry understood exactly what Los Angeles Galaxy President/General Manager Alexi Lalas was trying to get at when he recently defended MLS against some critical Brits: Beckham is a great signing – but the league is not in need of a savior.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Dos Santos leads Mexico past Gambia in U-20 World Cup opener
Barcelona’s Giovanni Dos Santos lived up to his billing as one of the players to watch at the U-20 World Cup, scoring on a volley from 25 yards for Mexico to start it on its way to a 3-0 win over Gambia in their opening Group C game. Portugal opened with a 2-0 win over New Zealand thanks to a pair of goals by Bruno Gama. In Monday’s only other game, Austria and Congo tied, 1-1.
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U.S. REPORT CARD: Good games for Clark and Moor (in debut)
Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players’ performance in their 3-1 Copa America loss to Paraguay …
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USA pays for brain lock and squandered chances in Paraguay loss
Nothing redeems a mediocre performance more than clinical finishing. Nothing mars a commendable showing like squandered opportunities. Create, battle, and squander sums up the 3-1 U.S. loss to Paraguay Monday night in Barinas, Venezuela. The defeat left the Americans with a 0-2 record, a minus-5 goal difference, and a very slim chance to advance.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Dallas Texans send eight teams to Region III youth semifinals
[REGION III YOUTH RESULTS] The US Youth Soccer Region III Championships moved on despite early morning rain that pushed back play by an hour in Oklahoma City. There have been 20 consecutive days of rain that broke a 70-year-old record. The Dallas Texans went 7-1 in Monday’s quarterfinals. Its U-19 boys team has already qualified for Tuesday’s semifinals. North Carolina’s CASL Elite was 4-0 in boys quarterfinal action. For complete Region III quarterfinal results …
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Maine’s Coastal SC reaches U-17 boys final at Region I youth championships
[REGION I YOUTH RESULTS] Host state Maine is sending its second team ever to the US Youth Soccer Region I Championship finals. The Coastal SC’s U-17 boys beat Connecticut’s South Central, 1-0, on an overtime goal by Eddie Jones to advance to Tuesday’s final in Portland. The Coastal SC, which had been playing down a man since early in the second half, has yet to concede a goal at the regionals. FC Delco defeated the defending national champion Baltimore Casa Mia Bays, 4-1, in a shootout in their U-18 boys semifinal. FC Delco, Casa Mia Bays and PDA all had two teams advance to the boys finals. PDA had three girls teams qualify for the finals. FC Delco and FC Stars of Massachusetts have two teams apiece in the girls championship games. For complete Region I semifinal results and goalscorers …
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U.S. U-20s face typical European obstacle in methodical Poles
[USA-POLAND PREVIEW] Before the FIFA U-20 World Cup started, U.S. coach Thomas Rongen described Poland, which the USA faces Tuesday in probably a must-win game in Montreal, as “a typical Eastern European country that’s going to be very hard to break down and very methodical in their approach.” To those attributes can be added opportunism and determination and resiliency. Poland upset Brazil, 1-0, on the opening day of play with a long-range free kick by Grzegorz Krychowiak and a staunch defensive display following the ejection of Real Madrid’s Krzysztof Krol in the 27th minute.
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Sky Blue knocks off Washington Freedom in W-League showdown
[W-LEAGUE RESULTS] In a battle of future teams in the 2008 women’s pro league, Jersey Sky Blue handed the Washington Freedom its first defeat of the 2007 W-League season with a 3-0 win. North Carolina stars Tobin Heath and Casey Nogueira provided all the scoring. Ohio State’s Swiss international, Lara Dickenmann, set up all three goals — playing a one-two with Heath and feeding Nogueira with long passes. Villanova’s All-American, Jillian Loyden, picked up the shutout in goal.
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Fresno’s Campos leads field in battle for PDL scoring crown
[PDL RESULTS] As the PDL entered the final month of the regular season, the race for the goalscoring continued. Four players have hit double figures in goals: Brazilian Pablo Campos of Fresno Fuego leads the PDL with 13 goals. Dwight Barnett, the former NJCAA Player of the Year at Herkimer County, has 12 goals for Cape Cod. D3 college players Andrew Wheeler (York College) and Ross Schunk (University of Redlands) have 11 and 10 goals, respectively, for unbeaten Hampton Roads and Los Angeles.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I would score 49 out of 50 times. Unfortunately, it was the wrong time to miss it.”
— Drew Moor, whose otherwise encouraging debut at right back for the USA on Monday night was marred by a wide-open header right in front of the Paraguay goal he hit tamely straight to keeper Aldo Bobadilla with the score 2-1 in Paraguay’s favor late in their Copa America match. Minutes later, Paraguay put the game away with a third goal and won, 3-1.
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Argentina beats Colombia, loses Crespo for tournament
For the second straight game, Argentina brushed aside the minor inconvenience of falling behind on a early goal and recovered to score four goals. Against the USA, the Argentines conceded a penalty kick by Eddie Johnson in the 9th minute yet prevailed, 4-1. Against Colombia on Monday night in Maracaibo, a clever back heel by Edixon Perea put the Argentines in a hole in the 10th minute, but they again recovered to win, 4-2, and join Paraguay and Mexico in the quarterfinals.
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2007 Copa America TV Schedule
The Venezuela looks to clinch a berth in the quarterfinals of the Copa America for the first time when it hosts Uruguay in one of two Group A finales televised on TeleFutura and GolTV (English). For the complete Copa America TV schedule …
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2007 Under-20 World Cup TV Schedule
The USA plays its second game at the Under-20 World Cup on Tuesday when it meets Poland in Montreal. Coverage begins at 4:45 pm ET on ESPNU and at 5 pm ET on Galavision. For the complete Under-20 World Cup schedule …
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Scenarios for U.S. advancement at the Copa America
[COPA AMERICA STANDINGS] With two losses in two games, the USA is a longshot to reach the quarterfinals of the Copa America as one of the two third-place teams with the best record. First, it must beat Colombia in their final Group C game on Thursday. Then, it must get help in one of the other groups. Its best shot is if Peru beats or ties Bolivia, the USA would probably advance if it beats Colombia and host Venezuela beats Uruguay by a combined margin of three goals. The USA could also advance if it beats Colombia and Mexico beats Chile by a combined margin of four goals.
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
It’s a week full of Copa America, U-20 World Cup and MLS action.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Government to Help with English Takeovers
In England, there exists “fit and proper person” safeguards implemented by the country’s soccer association that help prevents clubs from being taken over by, well, the wrong sort of person. But what are they? When was the last time they were used? To revisit those standards, English Sports Minister Richard Caborn organized a mandatory meeting […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Roma Coach Plays Down Scudetto Chances
Realist? Pessimist? Reverse psychologist? Those questions about Roma coach Luciano Spalletti linger in the air following comments he made about next year’s title contenders in Serie A. Despite finishing second last year, Spalletti ruled his Giallorossi out of having any serious chance of contending for the 2007-08 Scudetto. Instead, the battle for top spot will […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
From the Transfer Market
The summer transfer market has been busy as ever, and Arsenal is once again involved in the big news of the day, signing Croatia striker Eduardo Da Silva from Dinamo Zagreb for an estimated $32 million to fill the gaping hole left by Thierry Henry’s departure for Barcelona. Da Silva has led Croatia’s strong Euro […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Preparing for Fire Sale, Coaching Change
Turmoil in Chi-town: the Chicago Fire has more problems than the dour 0-0 home showing it put in against Colorado over the weekend, says Nick Firchau of the Daily Southtown. No decision has been made on a successor to Coach Dave Sarachan — the interim coach is Denis Hamlett — and owner Anschutz Entertainment Group […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
For USA, Beware Santa Cruz and the Counterattack
One of the positive takeaways from the late 4-1 dusting Bob Bradley’s men received against Argentina is that the relatively inexperienced U.S. midfield held its own for 65 minutes against one of the world’s best. The U.S. plays Paraguay Monday, which cannot boast the same midfield pedigree as Argentina although it looked deadly sharp against […]
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FC Delco and Bays dominate at Region I youth boys championships
[REGION III YOUTH PAIRINGS] FC Delco of Pennsylvania has five teams and the Baltmore Bays have four in Monday’s boys semifinals at US Youth Soccer Region I Championships in Portland, Maine. All 15 state associations are represented in the semifinals. New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania lead with each having 12 teams advancing to the semifinals. Maryland is sending nine and New York East is sending eight. Virginia has seven continuing, Connecticut has six and Massachusetts has five. Host Maine has three teams continuing.
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Dallas Texans advance nine teams in Region III youth championships
[REGION III YOUTH PAIRINGS] The Dallas Texans sent nine teams into the knockout phase of the US Youth Soccer Region III Championships in Oklahoma City.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I think we impressed a lot of people for 60-65 minutes. The question is, can we do it now for 90 minutes?”
— Veteran goalie Kasey Keller, on his U.S. team that held Argentina even for an hour before collapsing and must put on a more sustained performance in Monday’s game against Paraguay at the Copa America in Venezuela.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Paraguay’s Santa Cruz regains form at right (wrong?) time
The USA is unbeaten in four games against Paraguay — including a 3-0 victory at the 1930 World Cup in Uruguay — but Bob Bradley‘s team will be the underdog when they meet Monday in Barinas at the Copa America. Paraguay’s No. 1 threat is Roque Santa Cruz, who scored its first three goals in its 5-0 demolition of Paraguay on Thursday night.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA must put it all together to get a result against Paraguay
[COPA AMERICA PREVIEW] The glaring disparity in talent that was evident when Argentina beat the USA, 4-1, last Thursday won’t be as prevalent Monday when the Americans take on Paraguay in Barinas, Venezuela, yet Paraguay looked tremendous in its 5-0 win against Colombia, playing a fluid, organized game unlike its rigid, defense-first squads at previous World Cups. If the Americans are again rocked back on their heels, they could be chasing the game for longer than they did against Argentina.