Weekend action kicks off Friday with a USL-1 Northwest derby. The U.S. women are back in action, against Canada, on Saturday. There’s five MLS games, titles races in Germany and Spain are in the final stretch, and the Mexican quarterfinals will be settled.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Still winless Salt Lake shares spoils with Rapids
Well, Freddy Adu used his touches well, but Nicolas Hernandez and Jeff Cunningham usually didn’t, and Atiba Harris treated the ball as he would a bucket of snakes: avoid it if at all possible.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Barcelona embarrassed in 4-0 Copa del Rey loss to Getafe
Barcelona’s season of misfortune continued as its blew a three-goal cushion against Getafe in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey and was knocked out of the Spanish cup competition after falling, 4-0, in Madrid on Thursday night. Barcelona must regroup for the stretch drive in La Liga race, where it leads with five games remaining, two points ahead of Real Madrid and four in front of Sevilla. If Real Madrid beats Espanyol on Saturday, Barcelona will need to beat Real Betis in Seville on Sunday to keep sole possession of first place.
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Schalke dreams of title conquest at Ruhr rival
[TV PREVIEW] Saturday’s Ruhr derby between Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund in Dortmund will take on added significance as Schalke 04 has a chance of wrapping up its first Bundesliga title. Schalke is a point ahead of VfB Stuttgart and two clear of third-place Werder Bremen with two games left to play. A Stuttgart loss at Bochum and a Werder Bremen loss or tie against Eintracht Frankfurt would give Schalke the title if it beats Dortmund.
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As much as $100 million on line in EPL finale
[TV PREVIEW] As much as $100 million could be on the line when Sheffield United hosts Wigan Athletic at Bramall Lane on Sunday on the final day of the English Premier League season. England’s three UEFA Cup spots will also be decided.
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New faces highlight MLS Week 6 action
[TV PREVIEW] The goal watch in Toronto continues as the Fire goes north of the border. Expected to make their MLS debuts are Pablo Richetti for FC Dallas in Kansas City and Juan Pablo Angel for the New York Red Bulls hosts Colorado. Alejandro Moreno reunites with Sigi Schmid. What’s up with Carlos Ruiz? Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney previews all of the weekend’s MLS action.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
Article 21873
"People forget that I am still 17 years old. People criticize me and say I’m not this, I’m not that. Gosh! Come on! I’m still learning. I’m on track – I’m definitely on pace with the goals I set for myself, and hopefully I keep progressing."
— Freddy Adu (USA Today)
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Road weary Club America plays to 3-3 tie at Atlas in Mexican playoffs
Two days after facing Colo Colo of Chile in Santiago for the second leg of their Libertadores Cup quarterfinal series, Club America was back in action on the road — this time in Guadalajara against Atlas. The Eagles, who traveled 15 hours (including connections) to get from Santiago to Guadalajara, blew a lead three times against Atlas and settled for a 3-3 tie in the first leg of their quarterfinal series in Mexico’s Torneo Apertura.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Ze Roberto comes to Santos’ rescue in Libertadores Cup
Former Brazil national team midfielder Ze Roberto scored twice to lead Santos from 2-0 down to beat Caracas FC, 3-2, on Thursday and reach the Libertadores Cup quarterfinals, 5-4, on aggregate. Gremio beat Sao Paulo, 2-0, on goals by Tcheco and Diego Souza on Wednesday to win the all-Brazilian series, 2-1, on aggregate, while the Parana and Flamengo, other two Brazilian teams to reach the knockout phase, both are out.
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Pariani, starter on 1950 U.S. World Cup team, dies
[OBITUARY] Gino Pariani, the inside right for the 1950 U.S. World Cup team that produced one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history, died on Wednesday at the age of 79 after a two-year battle with bone cancer.
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U.S. women’s streak on line against Canada
[AUCTION] The U.S. women’s national team carries a 40-game unbeaten streak into Saturday’s international friendly against Canada at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, live, 7 pm ET/6 pm CT).
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Filling a player’s ’emotional tank’
A player’s “emotional tank” is similar to a car’s gas tank. When the tank is full, the player runs well. With an empty tank, the player does not run at all. Coaches, parents and players can fill or drain tanks, depending on how they communicate.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Freddy Adu hit in head by golf ball
“I was scared — scared for him,” Real Salt Lake forward Jamie Watson told KSL TV after he witnessed teammate Freddy Adu get pegged in the head by a 300-yard drive on hole 9 at Sandy’s Old Mill golf course. “I didn’t want to be the guy who was with Freddy when he died. That’s what I was worried about mostly. I was like ‘Freddy please be all right.'” In fact, Adu continued golfing and shot 39 on the back nine.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
Article 21865
“Two finals in three years – not bad for a little club.”
— Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, whose team eliminated Chelsea in the European Champions League semifinals, chides Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho, who once referred to Liverpool as a “little club.” In the May 23 final, Liverpool faces AC Milan, which Liverpool beat for the 2005 crown. (BBC)
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Bradley makes cameo in Heerenveen win over Ajax
Midfielder Michael Bradley was an 82nd minute sub for Heerenveen in its 1-0 win over Ajax Amsterdam in the semifinal first-leg of the Dutch playoffs for a spot in next years European Champions League.
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Gladbach turns down Keller’s offer to stay
Goalkeeper Kasey Keller is one of at least seven players leaving Borussia Moenchgladbach, which has been relegated to the German Second Division. Gladbach general manager Christian Ziege said he was surprised that Keller, 37, offered to stay with the relegated team, but said giving the 25-year-old Christofer Heimeroth the No. 1 keeper spot next season is part of the club’s rebuilding process.
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Salt Lake hopes upswing continues vs. Rapids
[TV PREVIEW] What does a stirring comeback in the debut of Jason Kreis as head coach bode for the future of Real Salt Lake? Real scored more goals in its first game under Kreis than it had in its first four games of the season when Coach John Ellinger, was still in charge. On Thursday, against Colorado (9 pm ET, ESPN2), upbeat Real hopes to continue its progress with by winning its first game of the season. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney previews the “Rocky Mountain Cup” clash.
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FC Copenhagen repeats at Danish champion
FC Copenhagen clinched back-to-back Danish Super League titles when it beat Broendby, 1-0, on Wednesday to extend its lead over second-placed FC Midtjylland to 13 points with four games to play.
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Mourinho slams EPL schedulers for meaningless clash
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho used the backdrop of Wednesday’s meaningless 0-0 draw in the top-of-the-table clash between champion Manchester United and his second-place Blues to rip the Premier League for its 2006-07 scheduling.
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Sevilla and Roma win domestic cup matches
Roma scored four goals in the first 30 minutes to beat defending champion Inter Milan, 6-2, in the first leg of the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday. Sevilla reached the final of Spain’s Copa del Rey for the first time in 45 years by beating Deportivo Coruna, 2-0, at home to cruise into the final, 5-0, on aggregate.
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Nantes relegated in France for first time in 44 years
Despite beating Bordeaux, 1-0, Nantes was assured of being relegated from the First Division after a record 44 consecutive years in the top flight.
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GOLAZO: Incredible ‘rabona’ strike by Andres Vasquez
[VIDEO ] Peruvian-born Andres Vasquez, 19, scored an unbelievable goal for Swedish club IFK Gothenburg in a 4-0 win over Oerebro on May 7. The long-range goal came with what in Spanish is called a rabona, whereby the player moves one foot behind the other to shoot. Vasquez, who moved to Sweden as a young child, has played for Sweden’s U-21 team in unofficial games but the goal has given him major publicity in his home country, prompting Peruvian coach Julio Cesar Uribe to promise him a national team call-up. “I’ve seen videos of Maradona shooting like that many times and I wanted to copy him,” said Vasquez of the goal.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
MLS Defends Player Salaries
The L.A. Times’ Graehme L. Jones spoke with MLS Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis about the controversy that erupted after the MLS Players Union released the salaries of all 359 of the players in MLS. Gazidis called it “a little bit disingenuous for the union to disclaim ownership of those figures” after the union collectively bargained […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Galaxy Outlasts Red Bulls in Open Cup Thriller
For those able to travel to the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Tuesday night, the knockout bout between the L.A. Galaxy and New York Red Bulls in the (unbroadcasted) Lamar Hunt Open Cup was an eventful affair. According to MLSNet, the Bulls absolutely dominated the qualifying match but fell, 3-1, in overtime. Strikers Jozy […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Beasley Set to Leave in Man City Clear-Out
It looks like DaMarcus Beasley will return to Dutch champion PSV Eindhoven after Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce made it clear he’ll be clearing house in the offseason. The on-loan American midfielder is likely to join a long list of players who failed to earn a permanent stay in Pearce’s revolving-door clubhouse. Last year’s temps, […]