Before the start of the Clausura 2009 season, Francisco "Panchito" Mendoza joined the club of his dreams as he left Chivas USA of the MLS and returned home to play for Guadalajara. Now, Mendoza is off on another far-flung journey, this time to the jungles of southern Mexico. Leaving the Chivas family for the first […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
North Korea Advances to First World Cup Since 1966
With a draw against Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, North Korea did enough to join South Korea, Australia and Japan as an automatic qualifier from Asia for South Africa 2010. It will mark North Korea's first appearance in the World Cup since 1966 in England, when the team famously defeated Italy at Middlesbrough's Ayresome Park. North […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Toronto FC Releases Winger Ricketts
Toronto FC announced that it has released Rohan Ricketts after two seasons with the club. The 26-year-old England-native had been a consistent member of the starting lineup for The Reds. A veteran of the English leagues, Ricketts played spells with Tottenham, Wolves, and Barnsley before joining Toronto in April of 2008. Since joining TFC, Ricketts […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
German-American Jones Could Join USA in September
Earlier this month at the 59th FIFA Congress, soccer’s governing body announced that the age restrictions regarding players’ international status would be lifted. Within days, Schalke midfielder Jermaine Jones, who has played in three friendlies for Germany, announced he would offer his services to the United States. Though many U.S. fans and journalists imagined the […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Barcelona headed to the Stick
[DATEBOOK] European champion Barcelona will play Mexican club Chivas Aug. 8 at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park on the third and final game of its August tour of the West Coast.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Sky Blue escapes from the cellar
[WPS] Sky Blue FC escaped from the Women’s Professional Soccer cellar with a 1-0 win over the Chicago Red Stars on Wednesday. The loss, combined with FC Gold Pride’s 1-1 tie at Boston, left the Red Stars, winless in their last seven games, in last place.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Heartbreak for Iran in Seoul
[WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING] One of the most dramatic World Cup games in recent memory ended in heartbreak for Iran Wednesday. For Iran’s deciding Group B qualifier against South Korea in Seoul, seven Iranian starters wore green tape in support of opposition leader Mir Hossain Mousavi, a symbolic protest to the controversial presidential election visible on Iranian television. Coached by Iranian-American Afshin Qotbi, Iran was nine minutes away from qualifying for the World Cup 2010 finals when …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Great entertainment at the Q
[MLS] Thrills, suspense, wild emotional swings, and comic relief are all elements of great entertainment, the field in which Seattle Sounders FC majority investor Joe Roth and minority partner Drew Carey impart their real jobs.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
South Africa ’09 on television
[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] The USA resumes play in Group B at the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa against Brazil. For the tournament’s complete television schedule …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Delighted in defeat
[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] Everyone seemed to come out of Wednesday’s Spain-Iraq match a winner. Spain won, 1-0, to move into the Confederations Cup semifinals and it extended its streaks to 14 straight wins and 34 games without a defeat. Iraq coach Bora Milutinovic could also claim personal victory, saying he was delighted Iraq held the heavily favored Spaniards to one goal — a feat that should impress teams looking for an emergency coach at World Cup, where he has already taken five different teams.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA’s focus is on Brazil
[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] To keep alive its slim hopes of advancing to the Confederations Cup semifinals, the USA must at least accomplish something it has never done at this level when it faces Brazil Thursday (9:55 a.m. ET, ESPN2, TeleFutura) in Tshwane/Pretoria.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“It’s a local sound and I don’t know how it is possible to stop it. I always said that when we go to South Africa, it is Africa. It’s not western Europe. It’s noisy, it’s energy, rhythm, music, dance, drums. This is Africa. We have to adapt a little.”
— FIFA President Sepp Blatter on complaints the din of the vuvuzela, the noisy plastic trumpet blown at the Confederations Cup, was a distraction.
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
The Boring Bora Way
There are, I suppose, a whole bunch of different reasons for enjoying a soccer game — but aside from the obvious one of seeing your own team win, they probably all boil down to one thing: exciting action.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Puebla Signs Veteran Borgetti
On Tuesday, Puebla introduced its newest player, veteran Mexican striker Jared Borgetti, who said he came for one reason. "I came to play," Borgetti said in a press conference. "That's the proposition and that's what drives, try to do the best job possible and try to help the team gain its objectives." Borgetti had a […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Australia Finishes Off Impressive Qualifying Campaign
Australia came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 with a second-half double from Tim Cahill on Wednesday to finish top of Asian World Cup qualifying Group One. Both countries had already reached the 2010 finals in South Africa with their last qualifier deciding who would take the plaudits in the group. Cahill struck just before […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
First-Place United Prepares for Tough Away Stretch
After working its way back into sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference, D.C. United enters one of the toughest stretches of its season. The team now must deal with a string of three road games against some of the hottest teams in the league following its convincing win Saturday over the Chicago […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Iran’s U.S. Connection: Coach Afshin Ghotbi
Afshin Ghotbi, the former Los Angeles Galaxy assistant coach, has a shot at completing one of soccer’s all-time quick fix projects with his new team, Iran. Appointed Iran’s head coach in April, Ghotbi and Iran need to avoid defeat Wednesday night in Seoul against South Korea to keep their hopes of World Cup qualification alive. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Chivas USA Faces Familiar faces in SuperLiga
After a tough road trip last week, Chivas USA sets aside MLS play until July 11 to focus on SuperLiga 2009. Tournament play begins on Saturday as the Red-and-White battle Mexico's Tigres UANL at The Home Depot Center. SuperLiga takes on special significance for Chivas USA stars Eduardo Lillingston, Mariano Trujillo and Claudio Suarez. The […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
U.S. Players Believe In Win Over Brazil
Landon Donovan knows USA faces a tough task tomorrow against Brazil in its second FIFA Confederations Cup game. However, the U.S.'s all-time top scorer is confident his team can grind out a result against the star-studded Seleção. "We had the opportunity to see some of their (Brazil's) game against Egypt and I have to be […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
In the USL Game of the Week, Portland hosts Minnesota. The weekend is full of MLS action and a WPS clash between Los Angeles and FC Gold Pride. In the FIFA Confederations Cup, the USA faces Egypt and Italy takes on Brazil (Sunday).
Posted inSoccer America Classifieds, Story
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.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Rudy retires after 28 years in women’s soccer
Jim Rudy, one of the pioneers in women’s college soccer, has announced his retirement after 21 seasons as the University of Massachusetts women’s soccer head coach. He produced three final four teams in 28 years at UCF and UMass and finishes with a 313-160-28 lifetime women’s coaching record.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Men’s Recruiting Classes
Harvard landed Parade All-American Scott Prozeller and Brian Rogers, both members of 2008 Development Academy under-17/18 all-conference teams. San Francisco’s incoming class includes a pair of transfers who should help the Dons’ defense, goalie Franco Carotenuto, a D2 standout, and central defender Kyle Dagan from Notre Dame. For both classes …
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
USF’s Visser gets contract extension
University of San Francisco head coach Erik Visser, who guided the Dons to the 2008 West Coast Conference championship and their 31st NCAA Tournament berth, was rewarded with a contract extension.
Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story
Maine players find new homes
Instead of preparing for the 2009 fall campaign, University of Maine men’s soccer coach Pat Laughlin and assistant Trevor Singer spent recent weeks helping their players find places to play after Maine dropped the men’s soccer and women’s volleyball as part of its cost-cutting measures. The Bears were contacted by just about every major program in the country.