There was much to be excited about for U.S. soccer fans after Landon Donovan’s emphatic hat trick led the U.S. men’s national team past Ecuador, 3-1, in Tampa on Sunday. If Donovan could start showing that kind of form, producing the type of finishes he did, he would easily solidify the title of this country’s […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ronaldinho: the People’s Choice
The New York Times has a profile on Ronaldinho, Barcelona’s Brazilian star and the man many still consider to be the best player in the world despite his third-place finish at the 2006 FIFA awards. He is a one-man endorsement machine, appearing in billboards throughout Barcelona and commercials around the world for his sponsors, Nike, […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
USA: Donovan eviscerates Ecuador with hat trick
By Ridge Mahoney He's asked the question a lot, especially after he shreds a defense as he did Sunday in a 3-1 thumping of Ecuador that featured the skills and speed and guile at which mere mortals can only marvel, and a killer instinct Landon Donovan sometimes lacks. ''It's not like other sports, especially basketball, […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
MLS WRAP: Preseason fine-tuning
By Ridge Mahoney South Carolina and Puerto Rico were the venues for competitions over the weekend mixing teams from MLS and USL. Dema Kovalenko scored in the final minute and Richard Mulrooney debuted for Toronto FC against several of his former San Jose teammates on Saturday in the Carolina Challenge Cup. Kovalenko's goal scraped out […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
HALL OF FAME: Rothenberg to be inducted
Alan I. Rothenberg, former President of the U.S. Soccer Federation and chairman and chief executive officer of the 1994 World Cup organizing committee, will be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Rothenberg's induction will take place on Aug. 26 in ceremonies at the Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, N.Y. Rothenberg will be […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
EURO '08: Turks stun Greece in Athens
Turkey remained unbeaten and untied in Euro '08 qualifying with a stunning 4-1 victory over archrival Greece, the defending European champion, in Athens on Saturday. The Turks, who went into the game with 12 players injured or suspended, recovered from an early deficit to crush Greece thanks to goals by Tuncay Sanli, Gokhan Unal, Metin […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
USA-Ecuador REPORT CARD: Donovan, Feilhaber shine brightest
By Ridge Mahoney SOCCER AMERICA REPORT CARD (1=low; 5=average; 10-high) RATING PLAYER (CLUB CAPS/GOALS) STARTERS: 6 Tim Howard (Everton ENG 18/0) 6 Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96 GER 39/1) 5 Oguchi Onyewu (Newcastle ENG 18/1) 5 Jim Conrad (Kansas City 20/1) 4 Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham ENG 44/6) 5 Clint Dempsey (Fulham/ENG 25/6) 7 Benny Feilhaber (Hamburg […]
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MLS COUNTDOWN: Reyna leads New York revival quest
By Mike Woitalla The New York Red Bulls (nee MetroStars) are hands down the most disappointing MLS club over the league's first 11 seasons. Their 157 regular-season losses are a league record in futility and to have trophy-less team in its biggest market must be especially frustrating for MLS. Big-name coaches and an array of […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
7. MLS WRAP: Preseason fine-tuning
By Ridge Mahoney South Carolina and Puerto Rico were the venues for competitions over the weekend mixing teams from MLS and USL. Dema Kovalenko scored in the final minute and Richard Mulrooney debuted for Toronto FC against several of his former San Jose teammates on Saturday in the Carolina Challenge Cup. Kovalenko’s goal scraped out […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
1. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“We’re certainly pleased with the outcome. I thought it was an exciting game, highlighted of course by a great performance by Landon. Throughout this camp, you could tell that he had really stepped things up in terms of his role on the team. He was our captain today; more than that, he really came through […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
3. USA-Ecuador REPORT CARD: Donovan, Feilhaber shine brightest
By Ridge Mahoney SOCCER AMERICA REPORT CARD (1=low; 5=average; 10-high) RATING PLAYER (CLUB CAPS/GOALS) STARTERS: 6 Tim Howard (Everton ENG 18/0) 6 Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96 GER 39/1) 5 Oguchi Onyewu (Newcastle ENG 18/1) 5 Jim Conrad (Kansas City 20/1) 4 Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham ENG 44/6) 5 Clint Dempsey (Fulham/ENG 25/6) 7 Benny Feilhaber (Hamburg […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2. USA: Donovan eviscerates Ecuador with hat trick
By Ridge Mahoney He’s asked the question a lot, especially after he shreds a defense as he did Sunday in a 3-1 thumping of Ecuador that featured the skills and speed and guile at which mere mortals can only marvel, and a killer instinct Landon Donovan sometimes lacks. “It’s not like other sports, especially basketball, […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
5. MLS COUNTDOWN: Reyna leads New York revival quest
By Mike Woitalla The New York Red Bulls (nee MetroStars) are hands down the most disappointing MLS club over the league’s first 11 seasons. Their 157 regular-season losses are a league record in futility and to have trophy-less team in its biggest market must be especially frustrating for MLS. Big-name coaches and an array of […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
6. HALL OF FAME: Rothenberg to be inducted
Alan I. Rothenberg, former President of the U.S. Soccer Federation and chairman and chief executive officer of the 1994 World Cup organizing committee, will be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Rothenberg’s induction will take place on Aug. 26 in ceremonies at the Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, N.Y. Rothenberg will be […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
4. EURO ’08: Turks stun Greece in Athens
Turkey remained unbeaten and untied in Euro ’08 qualifying with a stunning 4-1 victory over archrival Greece, the defending European champion, in Athens on Saturday. The Turks, who went into the game with 12 players injured or suspended, recovered from an early deficit to crush Greece thanks to goals by Tuncay Sanli, Gokhan Unal, Metin […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Soccer Surges as Global TV Audiences Decline
Television audiences worldwide are splintering, as people prefer spending more time with Internet-enabled devices than curling up in front of the boob tube to watch primetime. However, soccer bucks that trend big-time, especially for international games, which continue to grow their audience thanks to greater demand and expanded television coverage. Because of this, the Financial […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Blatter: Violence, Big Business Threatening Soccer
Across the globe, violence and the commercial interests of big corporations are resulting in a kind of PR crisis for the world’s game, says FIFA President Sepp Blatter. While the interest of big business is overriding that of club supporters, violence and poor safety standards in stadiums are also contributing to soccer’s tarnished image, Blatter […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Red Bulls Bet on Altidore
Unless the New York Red Bulls make a last-minute addition before the opening day of the MLS season, it’s very likely 17-year old Jozy Altidore will be starting against the Columbus Crew on April. Aside from Altidore and John Wolyniec, the Bulls don’t have any other healthy strikers with MLS experience. Altidore isn’t all that […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
MLS Expansion in Full Force
For those in the soccer industry, the process of popularizing soccer in America has been a long and at times fruitless undertaking. For the past 11 years, the massive project has ever so slowly been building momentum through the growth of MLS. Following that big announcement in January, league officials are now hoping we can […]
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CONNECTICUT: Huskies make statement in Florida
Looking to erase memories of a disappointing end to the 2006 season, the Connecticut men's team spent spring break in Florida, where it went 3-1 in a very successful display against strong opposition. The Huskies opened with a 3-1 win over 2006 NCAA Division I semifinalist Virginia. Jamaican O'Brian White scored two goals and Finnish […]
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TRANSFER: Houston lands Mexican international Nieva
Houston has added sophomore transfer Christine Nieva from Arizona State. Nieva, who has played in midfield an as a forward, is a native of Dallas and represented Mexico at the 2006 Under-20 Women's World Cup. She also has played for Mexico at the senior level, debuting against the USA in the farewell game for Mia […]
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UNDER-21 WOMEN: Collegians crush English powers
Loaded with college stars, the U.S. under-21 women's national team swept all three games on its trip to England, beating FA Women's Premier League teams Blackburn (2-0), Everton (6-2) and Leeds (5-0). The highlight was USC sophomore Amy Rodriguez's hat trick against Everton, second in the FA Women's Premier League. In the win over Leeds, […]
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RECRUITING: Sleeper joins U-18 quartet at UVa
ACC power Virginia confirmed the signing of what is one of the top men's recruiting classes for 2007. Coach George Gelnovatch has brought in four players with experience on the U.S. U-18 national team: T.J. Cyrus (Virginia Rush), Colin Given (VardarStars, Mich.), Danny Louisignau (Baltimore Bays out of Wilmington, Del.) and Jimmy Simpson (PWSI Courage, […]
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Ohio junior Merritt killed in fall at hotel
Sarah Merritt, a 20-year-old member of the Ohio University soccer team, died while on spring break in Hilton Head Island, S.C., after she fell from a fifth-floor balcony at her hotel. According to witnesses, Sarah Merritt was climbing from the exterior balcony of one room to another at the Comfort Inn & Suites when she […]
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COLLEGE CUPS: Cary gets two more finals
The NCAA has selected SAS Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. to host the 2008 Women's College Cup and 2009 Men's College Cup, extending its run as a host of the college final fours to seven years in a row. ''Hopefully, the NCAA feels like they've found a semi-permanent home,'' said Charlie Slagle, CASL CEO, co-chair […]