Former Villarreal goalkeeper Mariano Barbosa will join Atlas of Mexico from River Plate after fellow Argentine and River teammate Marcelo Ojeda failed a medical with a blood disease. Barbosa comes to the Red and Blacks on a three-year contract. Barbosa, 24, played for Villarreal between 2005 and 2007.
Universidad de Chile Capture Country’s Crown
Uruguayan coach Sergio Markarian ended his tenure at Universidad de Chile in style, winning the Chile championship final. Chilean Juan Manuel Oliveira scored a diving header in the 63rd minute to give “the U” a 1-0 away win over Union Espanola in the second leg of the Apertura final on Tuesday night, for a 2-1 […]
Swiss Tycoon Buys Southampton
Former FA Cup winner Southampton has a buyer. Swiss tycoon Markus Liebherr, a member of one of Europe’s top business dynasties, paid an undisclosed amount to buy the club from its administrators. Liebherr, 61, said in a statement on the club’s website (www.saintsfc.co.uk): “I believe we have a superb opportunity to rebuild this great club. […]
Costa Rica Holds Off Jamaica
Celso Borges‘ goal in the 64th minute gave Costa Rica a 1-0 win over Jamaica in their Gold Cup match Tuesday night in Columbus, Ohio. Borges slid to get under a low cross from second-half substitute Pablo Herrera, knocking the ball beneath the arm of goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts. Jamaica played a man down after referee […]
Gerba Strikes Again for Canada
For the second game in a row, Ali Gerba provided all the offense Canada needed. Gerba scored in the 32nd minute as Canada remained undefeated at the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 1-0 victory over El Salvador last night. El Salvador defender Manuel Salazar misplayed a cross from Canadian captain Paul Stalteri. The ball fell […]
Workers Strike in South Africa Threatens 2010 World Cup
South African construction workers went on an indefinite strike Wednesday at stadiums being built for the 2010 World Cup — a move that could derail Africa’s historic first World Cup tournament. About 70,000 workers at stadiums across the country downed tools after wage negotiations deadlocked earlier this week. Workers are demanding a 13 percent pay increase while employers are only offering a 10.4 percent rise.
ESPN gains soccer foothold in England
[TELEVISION] It’s time to say goodbye to ESPN America in Britain and say hello to ESPN. In the wake of its acquisition of rights to broadcast 46 Premier League matches in the 2009-10 season, ESPN will launch the new network on Aug. 3.
Kraft joins board of directors
[WORLD CUP 2018 BID] Robert Kraft, a founding investor of Major League Soccer, is the latest addition to the board of directors of the USA Bid Committee seeking the 2018 or 2022 World Cup. Best known as the owner of the NFL powerhouse New England Patriots, Kraft was influential in bringing the 1994 World Cup to Foxboro Stadium and has owned MLS’s New England Revolution since its launch in 1996.
MLS teams fill three of four semifinal spots
[U.S. OPEN CUP] Three of the four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinalists will be MLS teams following completion of the quarterfinal round.
USA ’09 on television
[GOLD CUP] Wednesday’s USA-Honduras match will kick off at 9 pm ET on Fox Soccer Channel and TeleFutura. For the complete Gold Cup television schedule …
Canada rolls on
[GOLD CUP] Canada has played miserably in World Cup qualifying in recent competitions but the Gold Cup is another matter. The 2007 semifinalists rolled to their second straight win in arguably the toughest group at the 2009 Gold Cup, beating El Salvador, 1-0. Hexagonal leader Costa Rica rebounded from its 2-1 loss to El Salvador with a 1-0 win over Jamaica in Tuesday’s other Group A game in Columbus, Ohio.
Traditional intensity is likely
[USA-HONDURAS] The site and the names have changed but once again the U.S. and Honduras will play an important soccer match in a stadium rife with history.
Patience pays off for Gooch
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Oguchi Onyewu‘s signing with AC Milan is an example of being in the right place at the right time. For the last year and a half, Onyewu has been linked with dozens of clubs big and small. But instead of lowly English Premier League club Birmingham City, rumored as recently as last month to have wrapped up a deal with the U.S. national team defender, it’s AC Milan that won the Gooch sweepstakes, signing the free agent to a three-year contract.
What They’re Saying
“We need to get out of the ghetto of being a role model for girls. You can’t make dads feel like they’re visiting Chuck E. Cheese’s.”
— Andy Crossley, the Boston Breakers’ director of business development, on the need for first-year Women’s Professional Soccer to develop a following beyond young girls. (The New York Times)
Soccer America Classifieds
Welcome to Soccer America Classifieds, Soccer America’s email newsletter connecting soccer companies and organizations to Soccer America members each week. Soccer America Classifieds feature soccer classified advertisements on the latest soccer job openings, soccer products and soccer opportunities. Read Soccer America Classifieds each Wednesday.
Whitehill and Osborne Welcomed Back to National Team
Pia Sundhage, the U.S. women’s national team coach, has recalled Cat Whitehill and Leslie Osborne to the U.S. women’s squad for two internationals against Canada on July 19 and 22. Both Whitehill and Osborne have been sidelined from national team duties by knee injuries since before the 2008 Olympics, which the United States won without […]
Feilhaber Joins National Team for Honduras Match
Midfielder Benny Feilhaber has joined the U.S. team for Wednesday night’s first round Gold Cup match against Honduras in Washington, D.C.. Feilhaber, who played in all five U.S. games during the Confederations Cup, will fill one of seven additional roster spots that CONCACAF allotted the team. Feilhaber joins Brad Guzan, Jonathan Bornstein, Sacha Kljestan, Ricardo […]
Canada Building Momentum, Chemistry at Gold Cup
An organized Canadian side opened the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 1-0 win over Group A opponent Jamaica last Friday in Los Angeles, Canada’s third consecutive victory under interim coach Stephen Hart. “It’s obviously important in the first game of a tournament to get off to a good start and we managed to do […]
Despite Flu Outbreak, Copa Libertadores Final Expected to Go Ahead
A recent swine flu outbreak in Buenos Aires cast doubt over the proceedings of the first leg of the final of the Copa Libertadores, Latin America’s most prestigious club competition. But the two finalists, Cruzeiro of Brazil and Estudiantes of Argentina, are scheduled to play Wednesday in La Plata, Argentina, located about 35 miles southeast […]
Fire’s Carr Returns From Knee Injury
The Chicago Fire’s Calen Carr suffered a severe MCL sprain last July that threatened his greatest attribute, his speed. A year later, he is back to dispel any doubts about his recovery. “I think when you go through a major injury, especially a knee injury, you have a lot of questions that pop into your […]
Bradley Gets Inconsequential Four-Game Suspension
U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley has been suspended for four games by FIFA, soccer’s governing body, for “committing acts of misconduct against opponents and match officials” in the USA’s 2-0 upset of Spain on June 24, a FIFA spokesman has confirmed to SI.com. But Bradley will still be available for the USA’s World Cup qualifier at […]
Onyewu Makes Jump to Milan
Oguchi Onyewu‘s outstanding performances for the U.S. national team in the Confederations Cup boosted his profile – a lot. The center back has joined AC Milan on a three-year contract the club said Tuesday, becoming the first U.S. player to join Serie A in more than 10 years. Onyewu joins Milan from Standard Liege in […]
Player accused of shooting fan out on bail
[COLOMBIA] Javier Florez of Colombian team Atletico Junior was released on bail after being arrested on charges that he shot to death a fan who had taunted him after a key loss at Once Caldas in the Copa Mustang.
2008 Collegians Abroad
[MAKING A LIST] Anton Peterlin, who signed with English Premier League club out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, is the latest player to move from the college ranks last season to a club abroad.
Wambach to return home in search for 100th goal
[U.S. WOMEN] U.S. women’s national team coach Pia Sundhage named 18 WPS players and three collegians for matches against Canada July 19 at Marina Auto Stadium in Rochester, N.Y., and July 22 at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, S.C. For the U.S. roster …
