The U.S. Open Cup got a little testier this week with club executives exchanged barbs. It began when Seattle’s Adrian Hanauer expressed disappointment that the U.S. Soccer Federation chose RFK Stadium as the site for the Sept. 2 championship game between the Seattle Sounders and D.C. United. He also questioned the legitimacy of bid process […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Donovan, Howard to Revive Memories at All-Star Game
Landon Donovan remembers his first goal in MLS. It came in 2001 against U.S. teammate Tim Howard. “I think Richard Mulrooney played a long ball and I got behind their defense and I remember as I got closer to Timmy he kept backing up, which was a little strange,” Donovan, then playing for the San […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Clicking for Kicks
To develop skills and master the game, the next best thing to playing is to watch. But a common lament among American coaches, one I’ve heard even from U.S. national team coaches, is their young players don’t watch enough soccer.
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
The USA faces Mexico Gold Cup final on Sunday. The World Football Challenge — Chelsea, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Club America — resumes Friday. David Beckham’s next appearance with the Galaxy is in Kansas City on Saturday.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
U.S. under-17 girls camp roster
U.S. under-17 girls national team coach Kazbek Tambi called in 22 players to a training camp that begins Tuesday in Pearl River, N.Y.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Chicago Magic is sold to group with indoor ties
The Chicago Magic, one of the big names in youth soccer, has been sold. Rampage Futbol LLC, owner of the Rockford Rampage professional indoor team, acquired the Magic from Hallmark Properties. As part of the club’s restructuring, former El Salvador and MLS star Raul Diaz Arce has been named the club’s academy director.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Five girls teams remain perfect
The girls finals are set in two age groups — U-18 FC Bucks Vipers vs. Ohio Elite SA and U-15 Dallas Texans vs. San Diego Surf — after the completion of the second day of play at the U.S. Youth National Championships in Lancaster, Mass. The only other girls team to win its first two games was three-time finalist PDA Fire in the U-17 competition. The big upset of the day was Eclipse Select’s 2-1 win over defending champion Colorado Rush Nike in the under-19 division. For all of the girls’ highlights from Lancaster …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Four-goal game highlights DSC romp
Ralph Lundy, son of the longtime College of Charleston coach of the same name, scored four goals to lead Discoveries Soccer Club Green to an 8-1 win over East Fishkill Thunder Thursday that secured the South Carolina team a place in the under-18 boys final at the U.S. Youth National Championships in Lancaster, Mass. For all of Thursday’s boys highlights …
Posted inYouth Soccer Reporter, Youth What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“What we were able to pull off with everybody helping out shows [Chelsea] that we’re for real. And we’re very impressed with what they’ve done for us.”
— Kevin Healey, president of the Baltimore Bays, who helped bring the World Football Challenge to Baltimore, where a sellout crowd of 71,000 will watch Chelsea play AC Milan on Friday. Chelsea signed a four-year deal with the Bays valued at more than $100,000 to the Bays in 2009. (Baltimore Sun)
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Girls Results-US Youth Soccer National Championships
Play continued Thursday at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in Lancaster, Mass. Here are all the girls results and goal scorers from Day 2 …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Boys Results-US Youth Soccer National Championships
Play continued Thursday at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in Lancaster, Mass. Here are all the boys results and goal scorers from Day 2 …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Trillium Cup and former MLS Cup rivals meet
[MLS PREDICTIONS] TFC and the Crew continue their Trillium Cup tradition in Columbus, former MLS Cup opponents Houston and New England square off in Texas, and the Galaxy takes its four-game winning streak to Kansas City on a weekend that features two games on the ESPN family of networks as well as a Saturday night Fox Soccer Channel tussle in San Jose. For all of Soccer America’s predictions, as well as TV viewing information, and to see how Ridge Mahoney, who was perfect last week, fared so far this season …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Defenders earn highest marks
[USA-HONDURAS REPORT CARD] Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players and comments on their performance in their 2-0 semifinal win over Honduras in the Gold Cup …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Memo leads Mexico into final
[GOLD CUP] Mexico survived the disappointment of conceding the tying goal three minutes into stoppage time at the end of regulation to defeat Costa Rica in a shootout Thursday and move into Sunday’s Gold Cup final against the USA, a repeat of the final won by the Americans two years ago.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Mandela meets Robinho
[SOUTH AFRICA] Manchester City players, in Johannesburg on a preseason tour, met Nelson Mandela on his 91st birthday and presented him with a No. 91 jersey. Upon meeting the young-looking 25-year-old Brazilian star Robinho, Mandela said, “You are a baby! What are you doing here?”
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“It is not about whether I can move on, I wasn’t the one booing, at the end of the day I play my game, whether I get booed or not doesn’t matter to me. … To be honest all I’m going to do is play my football, if it’s not good enough for some people, as long as it’s good enough for myself and the team nothing else matters.”
— David Beckham continues endearing himself to Los Angeles Galaxy fans. (ESPNSoccerNet)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. understudies book a date with Mexico
[GOLD CUP] The USA advanced to its third straight Gold Cup final with its third win over Honduras in the last two months, a 2-0 victory in Thursday’s semifinals thanks to goals by Clarence Goodson and Kenny Cooper at the end of each half, both set up by Stuart Holden. The USA meets Mexico Sunday in the final at Giants Stadium (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, Univision, live, 3 pm ET). Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney explains how the Americans succeeded sans their most dynamic players. …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Sol clinches regular-season title
[WPS] The Los Angeles Sol clinched the inaugural Women’s Professional Soccer regular-season title in anticlimactic fashion. Its 0-0 tie at last-place FC Gold Pride gave it the title with two games to spare and a bye into the WPS Championship at the Home Depot Center on Aug. 22 (TV: Fox Sports Net and select regional outlets, live, 4 pm ET/1 pm PT).
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ronaldo Takes Role In Film About Palestinian Tragedy
Brazil's three-time world player of the year Ronaldo has agreed in principle to star in a film about a Palestinian child fan of his who dies in a refugee camp, it was reported on Wednesday. The two-time World Cup winner will be with his club Corinthians in the Middle East – for a Sept. 15 […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Former MetroStar De Avila, 46, Signed By Colombian Club
Just days after South America produced the youngest ever professional soccer player in 12-year-old [now 13] Mauricio Baldivieso, the continent has now brought a 46-year-old player out of retirement. On Wednesday, America de Cali of Columbia re-signed Antony de Avila, the 5-foot-3 in striker nicknamed "El Pitufo," or "The Smurf." De Avila is America de […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Donovan Getting ‘Serious’ Interest From Italy, Livorno
Newly promoted Serie A Club Livorno wants Landon Donovan. Livorno's president Aldo Spinelli has been in talks with Donovan's agent and sponsors with a view to signing the 26-year-old. But any deal would likely be a short-term one. "I think at this point it will be done for next season only, seeing as the sponsors […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Burnley Wants American Feeder Clubs
Burnley FC, a club recently promoted to the English Premier League, has plans to stay in the top flight and grander plans to establish new sources of talent to help make that happen. One of Burnley’s ideas is to establish feeder clubs in the United States, with the hope of uncovering some gems on this […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Wake Forest Star Arnoux Set To Join Everton
Wake Forest forward Cody Arnoux is set to join the American revolution at Everton. The Premier League team, whose starting keeper is Tim Howard, was impressed by the American youngster during his trial at Everton in March. Arnoux looks poised to sign a contract with the Liverpool-based club, making him the second American player to […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Toronto Attackers Make Long-Awaited Debuts
Toronto FC came up short on the scoreboard on Wednesday night, losing the Carlsberg Cup on penalty kicks in a friendly against Argentine River Plate after scoreless regulation play. But the exhibition match allowed several reserves to see field, and it gave two new members of the TFC strike force to show what they could […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
D.C. Open Cup Win Dampened by Injuries
D.C. United advanced to the U.S. Open Cup championship game for the second straight summer Tuesday night with a 2-1 victory over the USL-1 club Rochester Rhinos at the Maryland SoccerPlex. Injuries to both teams, however, tempered any celebrations. Rhinos midfielder Darren Kenton broke his ankle when it twisted beneath a challenge for the ball […]