Rising Akron senior Pablo Moreira scored four goals to give the Bradenton Academics a 7-0 victory at the Cocoa Expos and take over first place in the PDL’s Southeast Division. The Tacoma Tide moved into first place in the Northwest Division with a 3-0 over the Cascade Surge on goals by Stefan Tangen, Rory Agu and Taylor Hoss. Other divisional leaders: Cape Cod Crusaders (Northeast), Ocean City Barons and Hampton Roads Piranhas (Mid-Atlantic), Chicago Fire Premier (Great Lakes), St. Louis Brass (Heartland), Laredo Heat (Mid-South) and San Fernando Valley Quakes (Southwest). For complete PDL results and goalscorers …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2007 Gold Cup Television Schedule
Group play concludes with two Group C games in Houston: Mexico-Panama on Univision and Honduras-Cuba on TeleFutura. Mexico advances to the quarterfinals with a win. A tie or loss could set up a USA-Mexico meeting in the quarterfinals and a loss could knock the Tri out altogether.
Posted inSoccer Business Insider, Story
Just Imagine the Possibilities
The first issue of Soccer Business Insider kicks off with Clive Toye, arguably the founder of modern American soccer marketing. As president of the New York Cosmos in the 1970s, the former English sports journalist brought Brazilian legend Pele and German superstar Franz Beckenbauer to America and put the North American Soccer League on the map. His unique perspective on the rise of the U.S. soccer market lays the groundwork for our diverse columnists to come. Enjoy!
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
The Problem with Becks’ Success
As New York Sun columnist Paul Gardner points out, everything about the David Beckham signing has been positive for Major League Soccer-so far. The global publicity was “much more than we’d ever dreamed of,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber has said. Even better has been Becks’ return to the first team at both Real Madrid and […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Do or Die for Tri on Wednesday
Mexico was on the receiving end of the biggest shock at the 2007 Gold Cup so far, when Honduras stole a deserved last-minute win from the Tricolores at Giants Stadium on Sunday. Hugo Sanchez’s men now travel to Houston needing a win against tricky Panama to ensure safe passage to the next round and the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
All Eyes on Riquelme, Palermo in Buenos Aires
On Wednesday in Buenos Aires, the Copa Libertadores final begins. It’s a competition that’s often described as South America’s UEFA Champions League. Usually a showcase for the region’s up-and-coming stars, this year’s final is punctuated by the appearance of a two key veterans on one of the competition’s most storied teams. Indeed, the final is […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Honeymoon Over for Benitez, New Liverpool Owners
It may be that the British soccer press has little to talk about now that the domestic and international seasons have ended, but speculation has it that Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is already fed up with American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks for not getting it done on the financial end. The Times says […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Andean Outrage at FIFA Altitude Ban
More criticism of FIFA’s international ban on games at high altitude, this time from The Guardian’s Rodrigo Orihuela, who points out that the calls for reversing the decision are growing louder. The FIFA ruling bans international matches from being played at an altitude higher than 2,500 meters, a move aimed squarely at three South American […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“Mexico is the best team in the area, the best team in CONCACAF, and it is going to the Confederations Cup. To go to the Confederations Cup means you have to win the Gold Cup. There can be no excuses. We have to win the Gold Cup, and [Coach] Hugo Sanchez and all the players know it.”
— Justino Compean, president of the Mexican soccer federation, a day after the Tri’s 2-1 loss to Honduras, its first defeat ever to a CONCACAF team in group play at the Gold Cup. Compean also revealed that Mexico would meet the USA at Azteca Stadium on Sept. 9. (La Opinion)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Linsi steps down as FIFA general secretary
Urs Linsi, FIFA’s general secretary the last five years, is leaving world soccer’s governing body. Linsi, 55, took over following the departure of Michel Zen-Ruffinen in 2002. Markus Kattner, FIFA’s finance director, will be its acting general secretary.
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USA remains on course by grinding out points
Three days after clinching a spot in the Gold Cup quarterfinals by beating Trinidad & Tobago, the USA finishes Group B play against El Salvador at Gillette Stadium needing only a point to clinch first place and with some questions to resolve (TV: Fox Soccer Channel and TeleFutura, live, 7 pm ET). Which forward combination, not to mention alignment, is best? Which of the eight defenders Coach Bob Bradley has used in the first two games will get the call, considering that Carlos Bocanegra and Frankie Hejduk are carrying cautions and will be suspended in the quarterfinal if they receive another one? If Pablo Mastroeni, who sat out the first two Gold Cup games serving a suspension he received at the World Cup last summer, gets a start, who plays with him in midfield? Is this a good time to recall Oguchi Onyewu, who is eligible after serving a suspension against T&T? Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney examines all of Bradley’s options …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2007 Gold Cup Television Schedule
The USA is back in action on Tuesday when it faces El Salvador in a game televised on Fox Soccer Channel and TeleFutura …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS Statistics (through June 10)
With his hat trick against New York on Sunday, D.C. United midfielder Ben Olsen moves into a tie for fifth in MLS goals with four for the season. Eddie Johnson, who is off on national team duty, continues to lead all goalscorers with nine goals, two more than New York’s Juan Pablo Angel and New England’s Taylor Twellman. For complete MLS statistics ..
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De Rosario leads Canada to Group A title at Gold Cup
Houston Dynamo star Dwayne De Rosario scored twice within three minutes in the first half to give Canada a 2-0 victory over Haiti Monday at Miami’s Orange Bowl in the final day of Group A action at the Gold Cup. The victory gave Canada first place in Group A ahead of Costa Rica, which beat Guadeloupe, 1-0, on Walter Centeno‘s goal on a free kick in the 13th minute of Monday’s other Group A finale.
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U.S. U-16s win two in a row in Ukraine
The U.S. U-16 boys national team beat Japan, 3-1, on Monday for its second straight win at the Viktor Bannikov Memorial International Tournament in Kiev, Ukraine. Charles Renken scored two goals and Ryan Finley added a third in the win over Japan that came two days after a 3-1 win over host Ukraine. Finley scored two goals, and Dersu Abolfathi added a goal. Ben Speas tallied two assists in the win over Ukraine.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Olsen Hat-Trick Leads D.C. Past NYRB
Ben Olsen isn’t the kind of guy who’s supposed to bag impressive hat-tricks like he did against the New York Red Bulls at RFK on Saturday. Older now (30), a more “feisty,” “disruptive,” “blue-collar” Olsen is expected to put in sensible, gritty performances-nothing too flashy, never leaving United exposed defensively. But for a team that […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
With or Without Becks, MLS on ‘Stable’ Ground
As usual, it’s absolutely killing a British sports writer-Nick Harris of the Independent-to concede that Major League Soccer has 1) good players and 2) serious prospects for growth. He starts by equating the standard of play in MLS to a mid-table Coca-Cola Championship (English second division) team, or a slightly better than average Scottish Premier […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Capello: We Messed Up with Beckham
Strange forces may be pulling Real Madrid and David Beckham toward the La Liga title, but nothing will pull the reborn England international away from his five-year commitment to Major League Soccer and the Los Angeles Galaxy. Despite claims to the contrary from Real President Ramon Calderon in comments following the Zaragoza game on Saturday, […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Divine Intervention in Spain
If you’re the kind that’s easily spooked, stay away-stay far away-from what’s happening with David Beckham and Real Madrid in Spain. After Real Madrid’s improbable last-gasp draw in Zaragoza was mirrored by an equally improbable last-gasp draw in Barcelona, you might have got the feeling that someone else is calling the shots out there. Even […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
The weekend is highlighted by four Gold Cup quarterfinals, including the USA-Panama rematch of the 2005 final on Saturday on Fox Soccer Channel and Univision. Fans can watch David Beckham’s final game for Real Madrid, which hosts Real Madrid with La Liga title on the line on Sunday. In addition, there is a full slate of MLS games.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
More dramatics in Spanish league race for the ages
The Spanish league race, one of the most memorable in history, produced more dramatics on Saturday when all three games involving the title contenders ended in ties. Ruud van Nistelrooy, Lionel Messi and Raul Tamudo played starring roles with two goals apiece in key games. Real Madrid, the leader by virtue of its edge in the tiebreaker with Barcelona, needed a last-minute goal from its Dutch scoring ace, van Nistelrooy, to tie Real Zaragoza, 2-2, on the road. It looked like Barcelona would take a three-point lead into the last day of the season, but Raul Tamudo scored with 25 seconds remaining to give neighbor Espanyol a 2-2 tie with Barca, leaving the defending champion tied with Real Madrid going into the final day. Messi emulated his hero Diego Maradona with a goal similar to Maradona’s first goal against England at the 1986 World Cup — the famous Hand of God.
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San Lorenzo clinches Argentina’s Torneo Clausura
San Lorenzo beat Arsenal, 4-2, at home on Sunday to win Argentina’s Clausura championship, its first title since 2001. The win gave it a four-point lead over Boca Juniors with one game to play
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2007 Gold Cup Scoreboard
After two games, the USA is the only team to have clinched a berth in the quarterfinals. Surprise Guadeloupe leads Group A. In another surprise, Panama is first in Group C ahead of Mexico going into their clash on Wednesday night in Houston. For complete game summaries …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“There is no intention of getting out of the Galaxy deal, or reneging on the Galaxy deal.”
— Simon Oliveira, David Beckham‘s agent. Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon was quoted as saying he would try to persuade the England star to stay with the Spanish team in Spain, using an escape clause in Beckham’s Galaxy contract to back out of the deal. (Galaxy President Alexi Lalas said there is no escape clause in Beckham’s contract with the MLS club.) (AP)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA cruises into Gold Cup quarterfinals
With 10 different starters from the team that opened the Gold Cup on Thursday, the USA defeated Trinidad & Tobago, 2-0, Saturday to clinch a berth in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup. Goals by Brian Ching and Eddie Johnson gave the Americans the victory before an announced sell-out crowd of 27,000 at the Home Depot Center. After two games, they are the only team to have clinched a berth in the final eight.