The U.S. U-17 boys national team tied the Municipal reserves, 2-2, Wednesday in Guatemala City, Guatemala. After Manuel Leon gave Municipal the lead, the USA responded with goals by Mykell Bates and Billy Schuler to take a 2-1 lead, but Diego Chicas responded for Municipal seven minutes after Schuler's go-ahead goal. The USA will face […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
MLS: D.C. United and Dynamo down their Mexican foes
By Ridge Mahoney The MLS team that will train for more than a week in Mexico prior to the CONCACAF Champions' Cup semifinal second legs won't have the edge that its league counterpart does. D.C. United will leave for Guadalajara next week deadlocked with Chivas Guadalajara, 1-1, following their first leg at RFK Stadium, giving […]
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U.S. SOCCER: Bradley welcomes 13 'Europeans' for March friendlies
For the first time since becoming interim coach of the USA, Bob Bradley will welcome a large contingent of foreign-based players into training camp. Bradley has included 13 European-based players, including his 19-year-old son, Michael Bradley, in the 24-man roster for friendlies against Ecuador (March 25 in Tampa) and Guatemala (March 28 in Frisco, Texas). […]
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GERMANY: Schalke looks to end skid
Schalke 04, which has never won the German Bundesliga title, is on the verge of collapse after managing just two points in its last four games, but it received good news this week with the return of three players to training this week. Christian Pander, Gerald Asamoah and Gustavo Varela could all play in Saturday […]
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OFF THE POST: Termite Trouble
In Houston, Texas, they postponed a game because they couldn't turn the lights on. In Chile, it was little insects that forced First Division club O'Higgins to postpone its game on Wednesday against Universidad Chile. It happens that termites chewed so determinedly into the stands of Estadio El Teniente – a 1962 World Cup venue […]
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1. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“Didn’t we just do it?” — D.C. United captain Ben Olsen, after a 1-1 tie with Chivas Guadalajara at Washington’s RFK Stadium, upon being asked to imagine what it will be like playing in front of a Mexican audience. (Washington Post)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
2. MLS: D.C. United and Dynamo down their Mexican foes
By Ridge Mahoney The MLS team that will train for more than a week in Mexico prior to the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup semifinal second legs won’t have the edge that its league counterpart does. D.C. United will leave for Guadalajara next week deadlocked with Chivas Guadalajara, 1-1, following their first leg at RFK Stadium, giving […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
3. U.S. SOCCER: Bradley welcomes 13 ‘Europeans’ for March friendlies
For the first time since becoming interim coach of the USA, Bob Bradley will welcome a large contingent of foreign-based players into training camp. Bradley has included 13 European-based players, including his 19-year-old son, Michael Bradley, in the 24-man roster for friendlies against Ecuador (March 25 in Tampa) and Guatemala (March 28 in Frisco, Texas). […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
7. YOUTH: U-17s draw with Municipal reserves
The U.S. U-17 boys national team tied the Municipal reserves, 2-2, Wednesday in Guatemala City, Guatemala. After Manuel Leon gave Municipal the lead, the USA responded with goals by Mykell Bates and Billy Schuler to take a 2-1 lead, but Diego Chicas responded for Municipal seven minutes after Schuler’s go-ahead goal. The USA will face […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
6. GERMANY: Schalke looks to end skid
Schalke 04, which has never won the German Bundesliga title, is on the verge of collapse after managing just two points in its last four games, but it received good news this week with the return of three players to training this week. Christian Pander, Gerald Asamoah and Gustavo Varela could all play in Saturday […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
5. ENGLAND: Leaders busy on two fronts
Manchester United’s lead over Chelsea is down to six points, following the Blues’ 1-0 win at Manchester City in their Premier League makeup game, and both face the prospect of playing league games on Saturday and FA Cup replays on Monday. Manchester United hosts northwest England rival Bolton Wanderers on Saturday (TV: Setanta Sports USA, […]
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4. SPAIN: Barcelona faces Recre threat
Recreativo Huelva, this season’s La Liga surprise, will be out to ambush Barcelona when the Spanish league co-leaders travel to on Saturday (TV: GolTV, live, 2:30 pm ET). Recre has already beaten such big teams as Real Madrid, Valencia and Atletico Madrid, and has won praise for its combination of possession soccer and lightning counterattacks. […]
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ALGARVE CUP: USA completes dominant performance
The USA will be installed as the heavy favorite to win the 2007 Women's World Cup thanks to a dominating performance at the 2007 Algarve Cup in Portugal combined with shockingly bad showings by reigning world champion Germany and 2007 Women's World Cup host China. The USA beat Denmark, 2-0, Wednesday on goals by Kristine […]
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MLS YOUTH INITIATIVE: Innovation or Replication?
My View By Mike Woitalla Executive Editor, Soccer America Magazine Strong arguments have long been made that professional clubs should take a lead role in developing young American players. ''If we ever aspire to be a soccer-playing country that can compete with Brazils, Argentinas, Italys, etc., on a consistent basis and eventually conquer them, we […]
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Defense is Key for United Against Chivas
It’s hard to say who has the tougher task tonight: the Dynamo against Pachuca or D.C. United against Chivas? You could argue in fact that it’s a tossup, since the Mexican teams are the defending champions of both Mexican First Division championships held in 2006. However, the focus may be a little different for the […]
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Japanese Exec Scours Asia for Talent for MLS
Marketing move or league improvement strategy: David Beckham may not be the only face Japanese soccer fans recognize in MLS next year, says the Japan Times, as former national team players Takashi Hirano and Takuya Yamada recently held trials with the New England Revolution. In the end, the Revs decided not to take either player, […]
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Kinnear: Pressure is on Pachuca
Its cancellation Wednesday night has set up an impressive doubleheader Thursday evening for Fox Soccer Channel, as the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal between MLS champ Houston Dynamo and Mexican powerhouse Pachuca will be followed immediately by the other semi between D.C. United and Chivas de Guadalajara. The Houston Chronicle says tonight’s match-up is easily the […]
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English Football League May Scrap Draws
It’s an American idea that American soccer even abandoned, but various reports indicate that the English Football League board is set to consider doing away with draws altogether, letting matches be decided instead by penalty shoot-outs. The BBC said no timetable was given for implementing the proposal if it was to pass. The idea came […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Way Out on the Left in the U.S.
Soccer has often been called the sport of communists and socialists, but nowhere is this connection more evident than … the USA? Indeed, Steven Wells of the Guardian says communist soccer clubs and leagues have sprouted up like mushrooms across the suburban U.S., where you can find “uncountable hordes of them” competing in unsuspecting places […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
8. OFF THE POST: Termite Trouble
In Houston, Texas, they postponed a game because they couldn’t turn the lights on. In Chile, it was little insects that forced First Division club O’Higgins to postpone its game on Wednesday against Universidad Chile. It happens that termites chewed so determinedly into the stands of Estadio El Teniente – a 1962 World Cup venue […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
UEFA: Hammer falls on Valencia and Inter Milan
UEFA came down hard on Valencia and Inter Milan following their postgame brawl in last week's Champions League. Valencia defender David Navarro was suspended for seven months — one of the harshest penalties UEFA has ever handed out — five other players were also suspended, and both teams were fined $204,000. After Inter midfielder Nicolas […]
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ODP: US Youth Soccer champs meet in Frisco
Sixteen teams will compete in the 2007 US Youth Soccer ODP National Championships March 16-18 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. Regional ODP champions in the 1989 and 1991 age groups will play in semifinal matches on Friday and championship matches on Sunday. FINAL FOUR ENTRANTS: 1989 Girls: Eastern Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Texas and […]
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CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP: Lights out in Houston; game postponed till Thursday
By Ridge Mahoney A blown transformer and subsequent power failure at Robertson Stadium in Houston forced a postponement of the CONCACAF Champions' Cup semifinal first leg between the Dynamo and Pachuca originally scheduled for Wednesday night. Instead, the game will be played at Robertson at 6 pm (ET) on Thursday, setting up a Fox Soccer […]
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MLS: Right Side Fred
By Ridge MahoneyDiscussions were held last night to resolve the situation of Brazilian midfielder Fred, who is poised to join D.C. United though his contract with Australian club Melbourne doesn't expire until June 30. Under FIFA rules, players under contract are free to negotiate with other clubs during the last six months of their contract's […]
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OFF THE POST: Photographer arrested for blackmailing Italian players
The Italian press has reported that photographer Fabrizio Corona has been arrested for taking pictures of celebrities, including four top soccer players, in potentially embarrassing situations and demanding payments by threatening to sell the photos to newspapers. Three soccer stars admitted paying Corona after he took shots of them at nightclubs with female companions.