Soccer America Archives

[OFF THE POST] Hundreds of Russian fans are expected to travel to Cardiff for next month’s World Cup qualifier between Wales and Russia despite travel warnings advising Russians not to travel to Britain because of the swine full outbreak. The fans are being urged to take precautions by drinking Welsh whiskey.

[TELEVISION WATCH] The USA-Mexico Gold Cup was a ratings bonanza for Fox Soccer Channel and Univision. It was the most-watched telecast on FSC since becoming a Nielsen-rated network in October 2008 but its audience was less than one-tenth of the 5.4 million viewers on Univision. Indicative of the huge clout of the Hispanic soccer market, KMEX Univision 34 in Los Angeles drew 1.1 million watchers — 47 percent greater than the same evening’s combined primetime viewership of ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and three other network stations in that market.

[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Toronto FC and D.C. United need better performances and results than they attained in the first legs when they square off against Puerto Rico Islanders and Luis Angel Firpo, respectively, in the away matches of their Concacaf Champions League series Tuesday.

[MLS] Curt Onalfo was one of five coaches who were in their third MLS seasons as head coaches. The Kansas City coach was the first to be fired, but two of the other coaches could find themselves on the way out if the downturns of their teams continue.

[MLS] The soccer catchphrase — three and out — is routinely attached to teams that crash out of a competition after the first round, which often consists of a triad of games. For many well-known MLS coaches, it’s also been three and out — three seasons and they’re gone. The latest to fall at that hurdle is Curt Onalfo, whose tenure as Kansas City head coach blew up 18 games into his third season Saturday when FC Dallas pummeled the Wizards, 6-0, at Pizza Hut Park.

[USL-1] The Portland Timbers extended their unbeaten streak to 18 games, but Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Minnesota left it two points behind Charleston (with two games in hand). Carolina joined the Timbers in a tie for second place thanks to its 3-0 victory over Austin. For all the USL-1 results and standings …

[HALL OF FAME] Jeff Agoos and Joy Fawcett received their red jackets as National Soccer Hall of Fame members at the Induction 2009 Ceremony Sunday in Oneonta, N.Y. Also honored was retired New York Times sports writer Alex Yannis, who received the Colin Jose Media Award for career excellence in soccer communications.

[USL-1] The Portland Timbers extended their unbeaten streak to a USL-1 record 18 games, but Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Minnesota left them two points behind Charleston (with two games in hand). Carolina joined the Timbers in a tie for second place thanks to its 3-0 victory over Austin. For all the USL-1 results and standings …

[PDL] The Chicago Fire will play in the Premier Development League final for the first time since finishing as runner-up in 2003 when it travels to face the Ventura County Fusion in Saturday’s final.

[W-LEAGUE] The Pali Blues and Washington Freedom, winners of the last two W-League championships, will meet Friday in the 2009 final after earning victories in the semifinals. The Pali Blues crushed the Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues, 4-0, while the Freedom ended the Ottawa Fury’s bid to return to the finals for a third straight year with a 3-1 win on penalty kicks after their game ended in a scoreless tie.

[WPSL] The Long Island Fury won the 2009 Women’s Premier Soccer League with a 1-0 win over California’s Ajax America on a goal by 18-year-old Molly Bruh at Adelphi University’s Competition Field.

[AMERICANS ABROAD] Goalie Brad Guzan stopped two shots to help Aston Villa win the Peace Cup with a shootout victory over Italian giant Juventus in the final in Seville, Spain. The final marked the third straight game 20-year-old defender Eric Lichaj started at right back for Villa.

[WPS] Thomas Anderson, a volunteer as a locker-room attendant at FC Gold Pride games, was charged with eight felony counts of a lewd or lascivious act on a child younger than 14 after two witnesses reported seeing him acting inappropriately with a child at a July 19 WPS game at Buck Shaw Stadium.

The 2009-10 season began in Belgium and the Netherlands. Having lost American star Oguchi Onyewu to AC Milan, two-time Belgian champion Standard Liege had to settle for a 2-2 tie at home with St. Truiden. Dutch champion AZ lost at Heracles, 3-2. For all the results and goal scorers …

[WPS] With one week remaining in the regular season, Saint Louis Athletica clinched second place in Women’s Professional Soccer and the home-field advantage in the Super Semifinal thanks to its 1-0 victory over the Boston Breakers and the Washington Freedom’s 3-2 loss to FC Gold Pride.