Carlos Costly scored two goals, the second in the 90th minute, to give Honduras a stunning 2-1 victory over Mexico on Sunday before 68,123 fans at Giants Stadium in the Gold Cup. The loss — only the second ever for Mexico in group play at the Gold Cup — came two days after the Tri had to rally from one goal down to beat Cuba, 2-1, in its opener. Panama, which beat Honduras, 3-2, on Friday night, tied Cuba, 2-2, to take over the Group C lead. Long-range goals by 42-year-old Jocelyn Angloma and David Fleurival gave upstart Guadeloupe a 2-1 win over Canada Saturday night in Group A.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Problems continue for Los Angeles and Columbus
[MLS WEEKEND WRAPUP] Rough times for the Crew and Galaxy continued, and the Fire lost at home again. D.C. United, Houston and Chivas USA extended their winning streaks, and FC Dallas kept its lead in the Western Conference. For Ridge Mahoney’s breakdown on all the MLS action …
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Vancouver reclaims USL-1 lead over Rochester
[USL RESULTS] The Vancouver Whitecaps reclaimed first place in the USL-1 Sunday with a 1-0 victory over the Minnesota Thunder on a goal by Tony Donatelli. They have a one-point lead over the Rochester Rhinos, who tied Carolina, 2-2, on Friday and beat Portland, 2-1, on Saturday. The expansion California Victory finally picked up its first victory with a 1-0 win over Vancouver on Thursday. For complete USL results and goalscorers …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
SMU’s Mann dies unexpectedly a week after graduation
Jordan Mann, a member of SMU’s 2005 NCAA Men’s College Cup team, died unexpectedly May 26 at his home in Prairie Village, Kan. Mann, who had graduated from SMU a week earlier with a degree in finance, died of apparent natural causes according to the Prairie Village Police Department, pending an autopsy. Mann starred at Shawnee Mission East High School and for the Kansas City Legends and played at Furman for two seasons before before transferring to SMU in 2005. Mann played for the Mustangs 18 games in 2005 and 16 in 2006.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Tom Stone named Texas Tech women’s coach
Tom Stone, who led the Atlanta Beat to the inaugural WUSA championship in 2001, has been named the women’s head coach at Texas Tech, where he succeeds Neil McGuire, who left to become the California women’s coach. Stone, the first coach hired in WUSA, had the best winning percentage of any coach in the league and was selected as the WUSA All-Star Game coach in 2001 and 2003. Mostly recently, he was an assistant at Clemson and also worked as the technical director of the Top Hat Soccer Club in Atlanta.
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NCAA D1 Men & Women Coaching Changes
[MAKING A LIST] Women’s vacancies were filled at Loyola Marymount and Texas Tech, leaving Louisiana Tech as the only women’s program not to name a permanent replacement …
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UCLA assistant Mallia is named Loyola Marymount women’s coach
Two years ago, Joe Mallia came west from Loyola (Md.), which led to five consecutive MAAC women’s titles as head coach, to become the women’s assistant at UCLA. Now, Mallia is moving to nearby Loyola Marymount to become the head coach of one of the rising women’s programs. Mallia is replacing Gregg Murphy, who left the program in May. Murphy served as head coach of the Lions for 11 seasons. LMU advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2006.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Marquette receives $1 million gift for new stadium
Thanks to a lead gift of $1 million from KBS Construction, Inc., and its chairman, Dennis Klein, Marquette launched a campaign for a new soccer stadium to be named for the Klein family. The new stadium, to be constructed on the current home Valley Fields, will feature a top-quality natural-grass pitch, partially covered spectator seating, team locker and meeting rooms, concessions and restrooms. The cost of the new stadium, which will be funded through private gifts, will total approximately $5 million.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
MLS Teams Look to Brazil, Argentina for Guidance
But what exactly is the point of these partnerships, asks Ian Plenderleith of USSoccerPlayers.com? Atletico Paraenense and Atletico Mineiro are hardly renowned global powerhouses, so there’s no cross-marketing appeal for the MLS clubs. However, Plenderleith opines that the appeal for Dallas and United is all about youth development, which is precisely what makes these savvy […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
U.S. Opener Nothing to Shout About
No one in the American soccer press was overly impressed by the red white and blue’s 1-0 Gold Cup opener against Guatemala on Thursday. If anything, the match was punctuated by physical play, encapsulated best by the unnecessary challenge made by Oguchi Onyewu on Guatemala’s Rodriguez that earned him a second yellow card and a […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Beckham’s Story Approaches its Conclusion
David Beckham’s return to form for both Real Madrid and England is perhaps the most remarkable story of the player’s career. It’s been a captivating turnaround, especially when you consider that in January Beckham was forced into the stands by his club after making the decision to join Major League Soccer — making an England […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Denmark Pays Heavy Penalty for Ref Attack
By any standard, last Saturday’s heated Scandinavian derby between Denmark and Sweden was an ugly affair, but the manner in which the match was abandoned was especially shocking considering the countries’ proud history for having peaceful fans. Nevertheless, it was Denmark that imploded. With the match tied 3-3 in the 89th minute, FC Sevilla defender […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
Montreal hosts Portland in USL action on Friday, when Mexico opens its Gold Cup campaign against Cuba. Then comes Big Saturday: The USA’s Gold Cup clash with Trinidad & Tobago (Fox Soccer Channel, TeleFutura) and three other Gold Cup clashes; two MLS games; and Gol TV tracks the Spanish La Liga race between Barcelona and Real Madrid, airing both teams’ games.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“We adhere to FIFA’s rules and regulations regarding the release of players. If David continues to be called up we’ll drive him to the airport.”
— Los Angeles Galaxy president Alexi Lalas on future call-ups of David Beckham to the England national team, which might conflict with the Galaxy’s MLS and friendly games. Lalas added that MLS fans understand that “the bigger picture is important. (BBC Radio Five Live)
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Galaxy’s quest continues, D.C. renews New York rivalry
[TV PREVIEW] Los Angeles and FC Dallas meet with neither team in good form, Chicago hosts Chivas USA in a .500 showdown, the Red Bull Road Show stops at RFK, and struggling Columbus hosts the defending champs.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Depleted Dynamo still strong enough to zap Rapids
Every team needs a Stuart Holden, a local lad with talent and spirit and a willingness to work his way off the reserve squad, onto the regular 18, and occasionally onto the field. Holden, who had played just 78 minutes this season prior to Houston’s game with Colorado Thursday, scored the winning goal just seconds after replacing Chris Wondolowski as Houston downed Colorado, 2-1, for its second straight victory despite missing five players because of national-team duty or injury.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2007 Gold Cup Television Schedule
The USA is back in action on Saturday when they face Trinidad & Tobago in a game televised on Fox Soccer Channel and TeleFutura. Univision will show Mexico games on Friday night and Sunday afternoon. For complete Gold Cup results and TV listings …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
REPORT CARD: Donovan and Beasley stand out
Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players’ performance in their 1-0 Gold Cup win over Guatemala …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Shaky U.S. win not much to build on
Only in light of the fact the U.S. can play erratically against a regional minnow and still win can any satisfaction be derived from its 1-0 victory over Guatemala in the Group B opener of the Gold Cup at Home Depot Center Thursday night. Guatemala had scraped out a 0-0 tie when the teams met in late March and threatened a few times to do the same after falling behind to a Clint Dempsey goal in the 26th minute set up by his former New England teammate Taylor Twellman. The USA can take some credit for preserving the victory against a spunky opponent and enduring the final 17 minutes a man short, but too often it frantically scrapped and flailed, rather than using its superior class to govern the tempo.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Azteca America sets mark for Pachuca-Club America final
Ever heard of Azteca America? Unless you’re a fan of Mexican soccer, you may have never heard of the Spanish-language network, but it drew more male viewers ages 18-34 for its coverage of the Mexican league final between Pachuca and Club America than any other sports programming on U.S. broadcast networks for the week of May 21-27.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Spanish title race could be decided on Wednesday
[TV PREVIEW] Real Madrid fans are dreaming of what was only unthinkable just a few short months ago. The Merengues could end a four-year drought without a trophy on Saturday by clinching Spain’s La Liga title if they beat Real Zaragoza away and Barcelona and Sevilla lose their matches against Espanyol and Real Mallorca, respectively.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Cuba is the underdog in Group C
[GOLD CUP PREVIEW] Cuba returns to the Gold Cup for the fourth straight time — a record for a Caribbean team — having finished third at the 2007 Caribbean championship. Coach Raul Gonzalez’s goal is to reach the quarterfinals, though Cuba finds itself the underdog in arguably the toughest group with four-time Gold Cup champion Mexico, 2005 runner-up Panama and Honduras.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Absences cast doubt on Honduras’ chances
[GOLD CUP PREVIEW] On paper, Honduras has more talent than any team in the Gold Cup except Mexico and the United States, but absences and injuries have taken their toll. Among others, star David Suazo, rumored to be headed to Inter Milan from Cagliari, is injured and unavailable for the Gold Cup. Julio Cesar “Rambo” Leon, another Italian-based player, will miss the Bicolor’s first two games against Panama and Mexico because of Genoa’s Serie B promotion playoff against Napoli on Sunday.
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Rising star Perez leads Panama’s Canaleros
[GOLD CUP PREVIEW] Panama headed to the Gold Cup with one of the rising stars of CONCACAF soccer. Blas Perez scored two spectacular goals to lead Colombian champion Cucuta to a 3-1 win over Boca Juniors last week in the first leg of the Libertadores Cup semifinals, but he wasn’t with Cucuta for the second leg Thursday night in Buenos Aires. Perez, who will play next season for Spanish club Hercules, and Jose Luis Garces of Portuguese club Belenenses should give the Canaleros one of the most dangerous frontlines in the tournament.
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Mexico’s Sanchez eyes Gold Cup title — and revenge
[GOLD CUP PREVIEW] A Gold Cup title in his first big test as Mexico’s national team coach would be a feather in the cap of Coach Hugo Sanchez. If that means beating the USA in the final in Chicago, all the better. Revenge for the 2-0 loss to the USA in his Tri coaching debut is certainly on Sanchez’s mind. Like U.S. coach Bob Bradley, Sanchez will have to have to take into account that his Tri will have to play in the Copa America right after the Gold Cup, but he has selected a full-strength squad for the CONCACAF competition in which it opens against Cuba on Friday at Giants Stadium.