Tag: olympics

[RECAP] When Californian Michael Orozco made his Mexican First Division debut in 2006 at age 20, he was red-carded two minutes after he came off the bench. He recovered from the ignominious start to earn a starting spot in the San Luis defense, and after 32 appearances was called into the U.S. U-23 national team. On Wednesday, Orozco was red-carded in the third minute of the USA’s final Olympic group game, which it had entered minus two key players because of their card problems. For midfielder Michael Bradley it marked the second time in his short career that he was suspended for a key game in a major tournament.

[OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN] Canada’s roster for the Olympic women’s soccer competition is loaded by current and former collegians, led by two-time Soccer America Player of the Year Christine Sinclair.

[REF WATCH] A total of six American referees have been assigned to officiate the men’s and women’s soccer tournaments at this Summer’s Olympic Games in China.

The Olympic men’s soccer tournament is one of the most peculiar competitions in sports: an under-23 tournament that allows each team to field three overage players, although these so-called wild-cards don’t take part in the qualifying play. It means U.S. coach Peter Nowak can make significant changes to the team that qualified for the 2008 Games in China with a second-place finish in Concacaf. So what are his options?

As soon as the euphoria of qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Games began to subside late Thursday began the speculation of which over-age players head coach Peter Nowak and U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley might select. A 1-0 overtime loss to Honduras in the final on Sunday offered opportunities.

[USA-HONDURAS GRADES] Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. U-23 players in their 1-0 loss to Honduras in Olympic qualifying on Sunday.

Duly, but certainly not dully, did the U.S. under-23 team qualify for the 2008 Olympics Thursday night in Nashville, the City of Music, by composing and playing a tune its rivals appreciated but never matched in tempo or timbre. Every member joined in to play melodic passages, and with a pair of Freddy Adu free kicks and a stirring, sweeping movement that Sasha Kljestan ended with a sharp, stinging arpeggio did the USA beat Canada, 3-0, to confirm its August reservation in China.

[USA-CANADA GRADES] Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. U-23 players in their 3-0 win over Canada in Olympic qualifying on Thursday.

The U.S. U-23s have scored just three goals – two from the penalty spot – in their first three games of Olympic qualifying, but they won their group and face Canada on Thursday for a ticket to China next summer. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney explains how the USA, which failed to qualify four years ago, can succeed.

[TV SCHEDULE] The USA aims to bounce back from its 1-1 tie with Cuba in Concacaf Olympic qualifying play when it faces Panama on Thursday. For the complete TV schedule and results.

A disappointing 1-1 tie with Cuba in the opening game of the CONCACAF Olympic qualifiers leaves the Americans tied with the Cubans in second place and pondering changes borne by practicality more than necessity. Freddy Adu marked an opening period of USA dominance by curling home a shot in the 14th minute but a Cuban revival and a moment of laxity in the American defense enabled Yordany Alvarez to drive a low ball that Roberto Linares redirected past keeper Chris Seitz three minutes before halftime.

Peter Nowak will have a deep squad of players to pick for the U.S. under-23 national team that will attempt to qualify for next year’s Olympic Games. Players must be born on or after Jan. 1, 1985. Ten U-23 candidates have been capped at the senior level. Many U-23 possibles are from the U.S. U-20 team that reached the quarterfinals of the 2007 U-20 World Cup in Canada. Here’s a list of some of the leading candidates.