Fresh from its triumph in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final, the Mexican national team has announced
its roster for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against the United States on Aug. 12 in Mexico
City.
The group contains several of the team's top Gold Cup performers, as well as most of Mexico's
premier European-based players.
The 2009 MLS All-Stars take on English club Everton tonight in the 2009 MLS All-Star Game at Rio
Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah (9:30pm, ESPN2).
The MLS All-Stars will look to improve to 6-0 against international competiton in the MLS vs.
foreign club format, with Everton being the fifth English club to take up the challenge.
U.S. men's national team goalkeeper Tim Howard put on a show on Wednesday night, making a
handful of spectacular saves before stopping a pair of penalty kicks to give Everton a victory
against the MLS all-stars in the 2009 MLS All-Star Game at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.
Goals from Brad Davis and Louis Saha left the score tied after 90 minutes, leaving the sides to
settle the match on penalty kicks.
                    Photo courtesy New York Red
BullsÂ
BY DYLAN BUTLER
MARABELLA, Trinidad – While their form back in the United States has been dreadful, the New
York Red Bulls view their trip to Trinidad & Tobago as a chance for a fresh start, a possible rare
bright spot in an otherwise forgettable season.
In what is certainly no surprise, the New York Red Bulls announced today that they have waived
Khano Smith.
The Bermudian winger was a bust for the Bulls, starting in just six of eight games and was
productive in none. The highlight of his forgettable stint in New York was a cross that led to an
own goal against his former club, the New England Revolution, in a 1-1 draw on March 28.
It was supposed to be a chance at redemption for D.C. United. A new crack at the CONCACAF
Champions League, a competition that saw them post a dismal 0-5-1. But whatever optimism that D.C.
coming into the preliminary was quickly diffused by a stubborn LA Firpo opponent that held a
reserve-heavy United in check Tuesday night.
Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has become the latest superstar to want a move away from
the Premiership in favor of La Liga.
On Thursday, Mascherano's brother Sebastian claimed that the Argentine midfielder desires to
play with Barcelona, citing the idea of playing daily with compatriot Leo Messi is an appealing
one.
Welcome live to Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella, Trinidad where the New York Red Bulls hope
to salvage something from their miserable season tonight in the opening leg of the CONCACAF
Champions League Preliminary Round against Caribbean champions W Connection.
Will a change of venue bring about a change of fortunate for the Red Bulls, who have gone 24
consecutive games without a win in Major League Soccer?
Welcome live to Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella, Trinidad where the New York Red Bulls hope
to salvage something from their miserable season tonight in the opening leg of the CONCACAF
Champions League Preliminary Round against Caribbean champions W Connection.
Will a change of venue bring about a change of fortunate for the Red Bulls, who have gone 24
consecutive games without a win in Major League Soccer?
Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano has become the latest superstar to want a move away from
the Premiership in favor of La Liga.
On Thursday, Mascherano's brother Sebastian claimed that the Argentine midfielder desires to
play with Barcelona, citing the idea of playing daily with compatriot Leo Messi is an appealing
one.
It was supposed to be a chance at redemption for D.C. United. A new crack at the CONCACAF
Champions League, a competition that saw them post a dismal 0-5-1. But whatever optimism that D.C.
coming into the preliminary was quickly diffused by a stubborn LA Firpo opponent that held a
reserve-heavy United in check Tuesday night.
                    Photo courtesy New York Red
BullsÂ
BY DYLAN BUTLER
MARABELLA, Trinidad – While their form back in the United States has been dreadful, the New
York Red Bulls view their trip to Trinidad & Tobago as a chance for a fresh start, a possible rare
bright spot in an otherwise forgettable season.
In what is certainly no surprise, the New York Red Bulls announced today that they have waived
Khano Smith.
The Bermudian winger was a bust for the Bulls, starting in just six of eight games and was
productive in none. The highlight of his forgettable stint in New York was a cross that led to an
own goal against his former club, the New England Revolution, in a 1-1 draw on March 28.
U.S. men's national team goalkeeper Tim Howard put on a show on Wednesday night, making a
handful of spectacular saves before stopping a pair of penalty kicks to give Everton a victory
against the MLS all-stars in the 2009 MLS All-Star Game at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.
Goals from Brad Davis and Louis Saha left the score tied after 90 minutes, leaving the sides to
settle the match on penalty kicks.
The 2009 MLS All-Stars take on English club Everton tonight in the 2009 MLS All-Star Game at Rio
Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah (9:30pm, ESPN2).
The MLS All-Stars will look to improve to 6-0 against international competiton in the MLS vs.
foreign club format, with Everton being the fifth English club to take up the challenge.
Fresh from its triumph in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final, the Mexican national team has announced
its roster for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against the United States on Aug. 12 in Mexico
City.
The group contains several of the team's top Gold Cup performers, as well as most of Mexico's
premier European-based players.
The 2009 Gold Cup is in the books, and while no American fan wants to remember how poorly the
tournament ended for the U.S. national team, there were still some great performances to draw from
it.
The once untransferable Franck Ribery is now for sale. It is just going to cost two arms and
two legs to get him.
Bayern Munich President Franz Beckenbauer has touched on the Ribery transfer topic quite a bit
this summer, and his latest statement claims that Ribery is available to any club willing to spend
€94 million ($133.
Weeks after initially saying that Franck Ribery wouldn't be sold at any price, Bayern Munich has
now decided to set a price tag.
And it ain't cheap.
Bayern has set a €94 million asking price for the French star, increasing speculation that
there still may be hope for Real Madrid to add another jewel to its already absurd collection of
world stars.
Good evening everyone. As another busy summer rolls along, a new competition officially enters the
fray with the preliminary rounds of the CONCACAF kicking off tonight. Starting off the competition
will be D.C. United, who take on a team from El Salvador,
With Ives on vacation and out of the country, I'll be coming to you live from the press box at
RFK Stadium with commentary and insight from the match.
Manchester City has been awfully busy in the transfer window this summer, but the club doesn't
look to stop now, having set its sights on Arsenal defender Kolo Toure.
Toure is reportedly close to landing a deal with Manchester City, with a medical all that could
be left before his official signing.
Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa could become the newest Galactico.
Arbeloa says he has nearly completed a move to Real Madrid, and that all parties involved
will benefit from his transfer. Arbeloa has also insisted that he has the most desire to complete
the move.
The Spanish defender, who played with Spain in the Confederations Cup, started 29 games for
Liverpool last season, helping the club reach a second place finish in the English Premier
League.
With the MLS season in full swing, for some clubs an already congested schedule is about to
become even more cluttered as the CONCACAF Champions' League preliminary rounds kickoff tonight.
D.C. United gets things rolling for MLS, and there is potential for a Jose Francisco Torres
appearance with Pachuca later on tonight.
                                        Photo
by ISIphotos.com
by GIANFRANCO PANIZO
If you were hoping to see Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan continue his recent tear at
the MLS All-Star game, then you may be disappointed to know he might not play.
After a Gold Cup-induced two week hiatus, the SBI MLS Power Rankings are back and you might
think you're looking at some 2008 rankings when you see who is on top now.
The Columbus Crew is hot, red-hot, champion hot, and Toronto FC found out just how hot last
Saturday when Jason Garey buried a Frankie Hejduk cross in the net in stoppage time for a 3-2 Crew
win.
It was a dream start for D.C. United on Saturday. With a hectic schedule looming, a Christian
Gomez brace had United out to a 2-0 lead at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Missing
midfielder Clyde Simms through injury and Santino Quaranta still on Gold Cup duty, it was a
promising first 21 minutes of the match.
                                               Â
   Photo by ISIphotos.comÂ
If you were beginning to worry about being able to see the USA-Mexico World Cup qualifier on
August 12th in English, it appears your fears are about to subside.
The city of Houston will play host to the 2010 MLS All-Star Game, MLS officials announced on
Monday.
The 15th playing of the event will be held either at Robertson Stadium or Reliant Stadium next
summer. The 2009 All-Star Game is being played on Wednesday night at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy,
Utah.
A week after delivering the fastest assist in Danish Superliga history, Feilhaber continued his
impressive run of form with a game-winning goal in Aarhus' 3-2 win over Randers FC on Monday. The
goal, which came in the 45th minute, helped Aarhus climb to first place in the league after two
games played.
                                               Â
                           Photo by
ISIphotos.com
Now that the CONCACAF Gold Cup and FIFA Confederations Cup are behind us, we can start taking
stock of the U.
It was bound to happen eventually, but not like this.
The U.S. men's national team's unbeaten streak against Mexico on American soil began modestly
enough back in 2000, when Mexico fielded a patchwork team consisting of the players from just two
Mexican league teams. Nobody seemed to care though as the American rattled off a 3-0 victory.
                                               Â
                Photo by ISIphotos.com
U.S. national team midfielder Ricardo Clark looks to be the latest American to parlay
Confederations Cup success into a transfer move, with Italian side Livorno reportedly ready to
complete a deal for the Houston Dynamo midfielder.
The USA-Mexico rivalry is ready to resume today as the the U.S. national team takes on 'El Tri'
in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final at Giants Stadium today (3pm, Fox Soccer Channel/Univision).
The Americans are looking to win a third straight Gold Cup while Mexico is looking to win its
first match vs.
Those with good memories will remember when David Beckham scored a goal last season against the
Kansas City Wizards from the defensive half of the field. On Saturday night, the Wizards garnered a
measure of revenge for that highlight-reel goal.
Wizards midfielder Claudio Lopez picked up a turnover near midfield and blasted a left-footed
shot over the head of LA goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts and into the net during KC's 1-1 tie vs.
                                               Â
                            Photo by
ISIphotos.com
With the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup final at Giants Stadium today set to give us another classic USA
vs.
The Columbus Crew-Toronto FC rivalry has developed into one of the better ones in the league,
due in no small part to the scores of TFC fans who make the trip down to Ohio. Those fans were sent
home sad on Saturday night when Jason Garey headed home a last-second game-winning goal to give
Columbus a 3-2 victory and sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference.
The Mexican national team wash pushed to the brink by a game Costa Rica squad, but 'El Tri'
stepped up and converted all five of its penalty kicks to defeat Los Ticos, 5-3 in penalties.
If you missed the match, and Costa Rica's last-minute equalizer, here are the highlights:
What did you think of Mexico's performance last night?
We know you watched last night's USA win vs. Honduras, but in case you didn't, or in case you
just in case you want to see the highlights one more time, here they are:
What did you think of the U.S. goals? Did you come away impressed with Troy Perkins?
The European season does not start for another few weeks for most clubs, but that does not mean
there won't be top-quality matches to watch this weekend.
One of the most intrigung matches takes place on Sunday, when the Milan derby kicks off as part
of the World Football Challenge.
                                               Â
                        Photo by ISIphotos.com
The U.S. men's national team has reached the CONCACAF Gold Cup final yet again, and has done so
with using basically the same lineup for the quarterfinals and semifinals.
                                               Â
           Photo by ISIphotos.com
In case you haven't already heard it, I made a guest appearance on the ESPN Soccer Podcast, the
U.S. Soccer Show, today.
Jen Chang, David Mosse and I discuss all things American soccer, from the Gold Cup, to the MLS
title race, to the transfer rumor mill (and Landon Donovan's future).
                                               Â
                     Photo by ISIphotos.com
Major League Soccer has some juicy match-ups this week, including some that even the impartial
fan will want to see.
                                               Â
                             Photo by
ISIphotos.com
Major League Soccer has fined LA Galaxy star David Beckham $1,000 for his actions during the
Galaxy's recent friendly versus AC Milan.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is encouraging Xabi Alonso to remain with the club despite Real
Madrid's efforts to lure the Spanish international.
Alonso has become Madrid's latest target in a summer where los merengues are
collecting superstars at will, having already signed players like Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Chicago Fire defender Bakary Soumare is replacing Brian Ching on the MLS All-Star Game roster.
Ching is being excused from the All-Star Game to recover from the CONCACAF Gold Cup, where he has
started for the U.S. men's national team.
Soumare is coming off an MLS Best XI season and will be making his first MLS All-Star Game
appearance.
                                               Â
                       Photo by ISIphotos.com
If you're an American soccer fan who wants some help getting into the mood for Sunday's Gold Cup
final between the U.
                                               Â
                       Photo by ISIphotos.com
If you're an American soccer fan who wants some help getting into the mood for Sunday's Gold Cup
final between the U.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is encouraging Xabi Alonso to remain with the club despite Real
Madrid's efforts to lure the Spanish international.
Alonso has become Madrid's latest target in a summer where los merengues are
collecting superstars at will, having already signed players like Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Chicago Fire defender Bakary Soumare is replacing Brian Ching on the MLS All-Star Game roster.
Ching is being excused from the All-Star Game to recover from the CONCACAF Gold Cup, where he has
started for the U.S. men's national team.
Soumare is coming off an MLS Best XI season and will be making his first MLS All-Star Game
appearance.
                                               Â
                     Photo by ISIphotos.com
Major League Soccer has some juicy match-ups this week, including some that even the impartial
fan will want to see.
Major League Soccer has fined LA Galaxy star David Beckham $1,000 for his actions during the
Galaxy's recent friendly versus AC Milan. Beckham confronted Galaxy fans who were heckling him,
leading to one fan leaving the stands in an attempt to reach Beckham.
"We support our players interacting with fans, whether it is at clinics, charity events or by
high-fiving their supporters in the stands while celebrating a goal," MLS commissioner Don Garber
said.
                                               Â
           Photo by ISIphotos.com
In case you haven't already heard it, I made a guest appearance on the ESPN Soccer Podcast, the
U.S. Soccer Show, today.
Jen Chang, David Mosse and I discuss all things American soccer, from the Gold Cup, to the MLS
title race, to the transfer rumor mill (and Landon Donovan's future).
                                               Â
                        Photo by ISIphotos.com
The U.S. men's national team has reached the CONCACAF Gold Cup final yet again, and has done so
with using basically the same lineup for the quarterfinals and semifinals.
The Mexican national team wash pushed to the brink by a game Costa Rica squad, but 'El Tri'
stepped up and converted all five of its penalty kicks to defeat Los Ticos, 5-3 in penalties.
If you missed the match, and Costa Rica's last-minute equalizer, here are the highlights:
What did you think of Mexico's performance last night?
We know you watched last night's USA win vs. Honduras, but in case you didn't, or in case you
just in case you want to see the highlights one more time, here they are:
What did you think of the U.S. goals? Did you come away impressed with Troy Perkins?
                                           Â
Photo by ISIphotos.com
For the third time in two months Honduras put up a fight, but for the third time it wasn't
enough.
The U.S. national team scored a goal just before halftime, and held Honduras' in check the rest
of the way before a Kenny Cooper insurance goal helped give the United States a 2-0 victory in the
Gold Cup semifinals on Thursday night.
The U.S. men's national team will take on Honduras for the third time in less than two months
tonight in the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals at Soldier Field in Chicago.
The Americans have beaten the 'Catrachos' in the previous two meetings, once in World Cup
qualifying, and once in the Gold Cup Group Stage.
Oguchi Onyewu's AC Milan debut came and went and while it was just 45Â minutes in a friendly,
that doesn't mean we can't look at the performance and analyze how he did.
Onyewu's performance was a solid one marred by one moment, a beautiful volley finish by young
Mexican striker Enrique Esqueda.
The European season does not start for another few weeks for most clubs, but that does not mean
there won't be top-quality matches to watch this weekend.
One of the most intrigung matches takes place on Sunday, when the Milan derby kicks off as part
of the World Football Challenge.
Brazilian striker Adriano left Serie A earlier this year because he had lost the desire to
play. After regaining that desire, and his form with Flamengo, he could soon be heading back to
Italy.
Sampdoria sporting director Beppe Marotta has revealed that his club would consider making a
move for Adriano if he was interested in returning to Serie A.
If you don't know much about English club Burnley FC, it might be because the small club has
spent the past 23 years outside of the English top flight. That drought ended last spring when
Burnley earned promotion to the English Premier League.
The club has plans to stay in the top flight and grander plans to establish new sources of
talent to help make that happen, and one of Burnley's ideas is to establish feeder clubs in the
United States, with the hope of uncovering some gems on this side of the pond.
Wake Forest striker Cody Arnoux is set to join the American revolution at Everton.
Arnoux, pictured above (right) during his trial at Everton in March, is set to sign a contract
with the Liverpool-based club today, making him the second American player to join Everton this
summer.
AC Milan is taking on Club America in the World Football Challenge in Atlanta tonight in what
could be Oguchi Onyewu's first match for Milan.
The match is scoreless at halftime, and chances are we will see Onyewu in the second half. That
being the case, you can feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play on the
second half of action in the comments section below.
                                               Â
                        Photo by ISIphotos.com
We are a day away from the U.S. national team's Gold Cup semifinal against Honduras and if
you're feeling a bit concerned about the U.
                                               Â
                        Photo by ISIphotos.com
We are a day away from the U.S. national team's Gold Cup semifinal against Honduras and if
you're feeling a bit concerned about the U.
The Seattle Sounders needed an 89th minute goal to survive and an overtime strike from Stephen
King to reach the first final in the MLS club's young history as the Sounders rallied to post a 2-1
overtime victory against the Houston Dynamo in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals on Tuesday night.
Chelsea began its World Football Challenge campaign in style on Tuesday, posting a 2-0 victory
against Inter Milan at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard
scored goals for the Blues, who defeated former manager Jose Mourinho.
John Terry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, two of the most high-profile transfer targets this summer,
both played for their current teams even as speculation swirled about where they may be going.
Generally speaking, a victory that brings you one step away from back-to-back U.S. Open Cup
trophies is cause for celebration. But for Tom Soehn and D.C. United, injuries that sent players on
both sides to the hospital overshadowed whatever feelings of triumph a win like that might
typically bring.
                                               Â
                     Photo by ISIphotos.com
By CHRISTA MANN
An international, an unknown, and an under-performing player made quite the impact in Week 17
of Women's Pro Soccer.
U.S. national team defender Oguchi Onyewu could make his debut for AC Milan tonight when the
Italian power takes on Club America (7pm, ESPN2) at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta in World Football
Challenge action.
Onyewu trained fully with Milan on Tuesday, his first practice session since joining on a free
transfer, and is expected to see action.
                                               Â
                  Photo by ISIphotos.com
We are three days removed from David Beckham's home season debut for the Los Angeles Galaxy, as
well as the fan backlash that accompanied it, and it's still a bit mind-boggling that Beckham is
really going to get away with his actions without so much as a slap on the wrist.
                                               Â
                  Photo by ISIphotos.com
We are three days removed from David Beckham's home season debut for the Los Angeles Galaxy, as
well as the fan backlash that accompanied it, and it's still a bit mind-boggling that Beckham is
really going to get away with his actions without so much as a slap on the wrist.
U.S. national team defender Oguchi Onyewu could make his debut for AC Milan tonight when the
Italian power takes on Club America (7pm, ESPN2) at the Georgia Dome in World Football Challenge
action.
Onyewu trained fully with Milan on Tuesday, his first practice session since joining on a free
transfer, and is expected to see action.
                                               Â
                     Photo by ISIphotos.com
By CHRISTA MANN
An international, an unknown, and an under-performing player made quite the impact in Week 17
of Women's Pro Soccer.
Generally speaking, a victory that brings you one step away from back-to-back U.S. Open Cup
trophies is cause for celebration. But for Tom Soehn and D.C. United, injuries that sent players on
both sides to the hospital overshadowed whatever feelings of triumph a win like that might
typically bring.
Chelsea began its World Football Challenge campaign in style on Tuesday, posting a 2-0 victory
against Inter Milan at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard
scored goals for the Blues, who defeated former manager Jose Mourinho.
John Terry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, two of the most high-profile transfer targets this summer,
both played for their current teams even as speculation swirled about where they may be going.
The Seattle Sounders needed an 89th minute goal to survive and an overtime strike from Stephen
King to reach the first final in the MLS club's young history as the Sounders rallied to post a 2-1
overtime victory against the Houston Dynamo in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals on Tuesday night.
Landon Donovan figured to start drawing fresh interest from European clubs after his command
performance in the Confederations Cup. The first of those clubs has emerged, and it could bring
Donovan to Serie A.
According to the Gazzeta dello Sport, Donovan is being targeted by recently promoted
Italian club Livorno.
Landon Donovan figured to start drawing fresh interest from European clubs after his command
performance in the Confederations Cup. The first of those clubs has emerged, and it could bring
Donovan to Serie A.
According to the Gazzeta dello Sport, Donovan is being targeted by recently promoted
Italian club Livorno.
                                               Â
                               Photo by
ISIphotos.com
The U.S. men's national team beat Honduras just two weeks ago in Gold Cup group play, but it
will be much more difficult this time around.
                                               Â
                                          Photo
by ISIphotos.com
MLS fans have grown accustomed to the MLS All-Star Game Format of having a team of MLS stars
face a foreign club, and given the previous alternative of East vs.
After Benny Feilhaber's impressive performance in the Confederations Cup, it was assumed that he
would be able to ride the momentum into a successful club season. It didn't take him long to prove
it.
On Monday, Feilhaber assisted on the game-winning goal in AGF Aarhus' season opener, and it
only took him 16 seconds.
                                               Â
                        Photo by ISIphotos.com
Didn't think you would get a second straight day with Your Questions Answered, did you?
Welcome to the second installment of the latest Your Questions Answered session.
                                               Â
                        Photo by ISIphotos.com
Didn't think you would get a second straight day with Your Questions Answered, did you?
Welcome to the second installment of the latest Your Questions Answered session.
After Benny Feilhaber's impressive performance in the Confederations Cup, it was assumed that he
would be able to ride the momentum into a successful club season. It didn't take him long to prove
it.
On Monday, Feilhaber assisted on the game-winning goal in AGF Aarhus' season opener, and it
only took him 15 seconds.
                                               Â
                                          Photo
by ISIphotos.com
MLS fans have grown accustomed to the MLS All-Star Game Format of having a team of MLS stars
face a foreign club, and given the previous alternative of East vs.
                                               Â
                               Photo by
ISIphotos.com
The U.S. men's national team beat Honduras just two weeks ago in Gold Cup group play, but it
will be much more difficult this time around.
                                               Â
                         Photo by ISIphotos.com
The above picture isn't of David Beckham at Pizza Hut Park, or staring at a pocket of Chivas USA
fans during a playing of the Home Depot Clasico.
Houston Dynamo head coach Dom Kinnear probably didn't like the fact that Fredy Montero scored a
questionable goal against the Dynamo recently, but that didn't stop him from selecting the
Colombian striker to the MLS All-Star Team.
Montero and teammate Jhon Kennedy Hurtado were two of the six players chosen by Kinnear as
reserves for the MLS All-Star Game against Everton on July 29 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah.
                                               Â
                         Photo by ISIphotos.com
The above picture isn't of David Beckham at Pizza Hut Park, or staring at a pocket of Chivas USA
fans during a playing of the Home Depot Clasico.
Houston Dynamo head coach Dom Kinnear probably didn't like the fact that Fredy Montero scored a
questionable goal against the Dynamo recently, but that didn't stop him from selecting the
Colombian striker to the MLS All-Star Team.
Montero and teammate Jhon Kennedy Hurtado were two of the six players chosen by Kinnear as
reserves for the MLS All-Star Game against Everton on July 29 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah.
Manchester City is close to signing Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor.
Adebayor underwent a medical with the club on Saturday morning, and is finalizing personal
terms before making an estimated £25 million ($41 million) move from Arsenal to Manchester
City.Â
Once signed, the Togo international, who scored ten goals and assisted on four others last
season, will join Roque Santa Cruz, Carlos Tevez and Robinho in one of the most potent offenses
in the Premiership.
The U.S. national team will be looking to take a step closer to a third straight CONCACAF Gold
Cup title today when it takes on Panama in the quarterfinals.
These teams have met in the past two Gold Cups, with the Americans winning the 2005 final via
penalty kicks, and the 2007 quarterfinals in a tight 2-1 match.
                                               Â
                           Photo by ISIphotos.com
The U.S. national team's 2-1 overtime victory over Panama in Saturday's Gold Cup quarterfinal
wasn't the prettiest game ever played, but it had its share of drama and a great response from a
U.
While it may feel like a relatively slow day in the soccer world, but there are actually
several good matches worth watching on this sunny (at least on the East Coast) Sunday.
The second pair of Gold Cup quarterfinals is underway in Dallas, while MLS also has a match on
the slate with New England facing Chivas USA.
While both CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals on Saturday night were tightly contested, Sunday's
quarterfinals were anything but.
Mexico and Costa Rica both scored blowout victories on Sunday in Dallas to set up a great
semifinal match-up. Costa Rica rolled to a 5-1 victory against Guadeloupe, while the Mexicans were
never troubled in posting 4-0 victory against Haiti in front of a sold-out crowd of 82,252 at
Dallas Cowboys Stadium, the first event at the new stadium.
Panama was always going to make it a fight, but the 2009 U.S. Gold Cup team showed on Saturday
that it capable of taking a punch and still finding a way to win.
The U.S. national team went into Saturday's Gold Cup quarterfinal as the favorite, but anyone
expecting the Panamanians to be a pushover doesn't know much about CONCACAF.
                                               Â
                      Photo by ISIphotos.com
David Beckham's welcome home to the Home Depot Center was far from a warm one, but that didn't
stop him from making an impact.
Welcome to the latest installment of Your Questions Answered, where I field questions, take
weeks to answer them, and then crank out some intriguing responses to get you talking and thinking
that I'm either a soccer genius, or an idiot.
Yes, it once again took me a month to get to the Q&A, but given how busy the last month has been
for the national team you might understand my issue.
                                               Â
                        Photo by ISIphotos.com
The USA-Mexico World Cup qualifier on Aug. 12 in Mexico City is going to be broadcast in
English.
                                               Â
                        Photo by ISIphotos.com
The USA-Mexico World Cup qualifier on Aug. 12 in Mexico City is going to be broadcast in
English.
Welcome to the latest installment of Your Questions Answered, where I field questions, take
weeks to answer them, and then crank out some intriguing responses to get you talking and thinking
that I'm either a soccer genius, or an idiot.
Yes, it once again took me a month to get to the Q&A, but given how busy the last month has been
for the national team you might understand my issue.
                                               Â
                      Photo by ISIphotos.com
David Beckham's welcome home to the Home Depot Center was far from a warm one, but that didn't
stop him from making an impact.
Panama was always going to make it a fight, but the 2009 U.S. Gold Cup team showed on Saturday
that it capable of taking a punch and still finding a way to win.
The U.S. national team went into Saturday's Gold Cup quarterfinal as the favorite, but anyone
expecting the Panamanians to be a pushover doesn't know much about CONCACAF.
While both CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals on Saturday night were tightly contested, Sunday's
quarterfinals were anything but.
Mexico and Costa Rica both scored blowout victories on Sunday in Dallas to set up a great
semifinal match-up. Costa Rica rolled to a 5-1 victory against Guadeloupe, while the Mexicans were
never troubled in posting 4-0 victory against Haiti in front of a sold-out crowd of 82,252 at
Dallas Cowboys Stadium, the first event at the new stadium.
While it may feel like a relatively slow day in the soccer world, but there are actually
several good matches worth watching on this sunny (at least on the East Coast) Sunday.
The second pair of Gold Cup quarterfinals is underway in Dallas, while MLS also has a match on
the slate with New England facing Chivas USA.
The U.S. national team's 2-1 overtime victory over Panama wasn't the prettiest game ever played,
but it had its share of drama and a great response from a U.S. team that was facing elimination a
half-time deficit.
Kyle Beckerman's equalizer and Kenny Cooper's penalty provided the difference against a
physical Panama team that looked poised for an upset before eventually being worn down by a result
American team.
The U.S. national team will be looking to take a step closer to a third straight CONCACAF Gold
Cup title today when it takes on Panama in the quarterfinals.
These teams have met in the past two Gold Cups, with the Americans winning the 2005 final via
penalty kicks, and the 2007 quarterfinals in a tight 2-1 match.
Manchester City is close to signing Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor.
Adebayor underwent a medical with the club on Saturday morning, and is finalizing personal
terms before making an estimated £25 million ($41 million) move from Arsenal to Manchester
City.Â
Once signed, the Togo international, who scored ten goals and assisted on four others last
season, will join Roque Santa Cruz, Carlos Tevez and Robinho in one of the most potent offenses
in the Premiership.
                                               Â
                             Photo by
ISIphotos.com
By CHRISTA MANN
Week 17 in Women's Pro Soccer began with Wednesday match-ups between the Chicago Red Stars and
Boston Breakers along with the Washington Freedom against Sky Blue FC (New Jersey).
(The Chicago Fire booked its place in the 2009 SuperLiga Final on Wednesday with it's 2-1
victory against an injury-depleted New England side. The Fire will now face Tigres in the final on
Aug. 5. SBI correspondent was at the semifinal and gives us his report on the match.)
Â
By CARL SETTERLUND
In soccer terms, being on the wrong side of thirty is an indicator that a player is in decline
and can't quite have the effect on the game that they used to.
When Chivas USA was shopping around Alecko Eskandarian last month there were plenty of teams
wary of taking a chance on an injury-prone player earning a six-figure salary. The Los Angeles
Galaxy didn't worry so much, choosing instead to take a chance on a proven MLS goal-scorer.
Eskandarian has repaid that faith pretty quickly, scoring two goals in three matches since
joining the Galaxy.
The U.S. men's national team will face Panama for the third-straight CONCACAF Gold Cup on
Saturday (8pm, Fox Soccer Channel) in Philadelphia, with a spot in Thursday's semifinals on the
line. The Americans will field a very short-handed squad against a Panama team that has some talent
but will still come in as the underdogs.
It's been 11 days since their last competitive match, and with the Colorado Rapids heading to
the nation's capital on Saturday, D.C. United will be anxious to be back home for their first
league match at RFK since June 13. Their home record of 4-0-4 leaves a bit more points on the table
than most team's would prefer, but they remain right in the thick of things in what is becoming a
tightly-contested Eastern Conference.
                                Photo by
ISIphotos.com
The Chicago Fire is considered one of the deepest teams in Major League Soccer and will now have
that depth tested as the Easter Conference power is forced to deal with the loss of star striker
Brian McBride.
                                Photo by
ISIphotos.com
The Chicago Fire is considered one of the deepest teams in Major League Soccer and will now have
that depth tested as the Easter Conference power is forced to deal with the loss of star striker
Brian McBride.
It's been 11 days since their last competitive match, and with the Colorado Rapids heading to
the nation's capital on Saturday, D.C. United will be anxious to be back home for their first
league match at RFK since June 13. Their home record of 4-0-4 leaves a bit more points on the table
than most team's would prefer, but they remain right in the thick of things in what is becoming a
tightly-contested Eastern Conference.
The U.S. men's national team will face Panama for the third-straight CONCACAF Gold Cup on
Saturday (8pm, Fox Soccer Channel) in Philadelphia, with a spot in Thursday's semifinals on the
line. The Americans will field a very short-handed squad against a Panama team that has some talent
but will still come in as the underdogs.
(The Chicago Fire booked its place in the 2009 SuperLiga Final on Wednesday with it's 2-1
victory against an injury-depleted New England side. The Fire will now face Tigres in the final on
Aug. 5. SBI correspondent was at the semifinal and gives us his report on the match.)
Â
By CARL SETTERLUND
In soccer terms, being on the wrong side of thirty is an indicator that a player is in decline
and can't quite have the effect on the game that they used to.
When Chivas USA was shopping around Alecko Eskandarian last month there were plenty of teams
wary of taking a chance on an injury-prone player earning a six-figure salary. The Los Angeles
Galaxy didn't worry so much, choosing instead to take a chance on a proven MLS goal-scorer.
Eskandarian has repaid that faith pretty quickly, scoring two goals in three matches since
joining the Galaxy.
The former U.S. Olympic team midfielder has re-signed with Major League Soccer and was allocated
to D.C. United on Wednesday, completing his return to the league just two years after leaving the
Columbus Crew to sign with Racing Santander.
                                               Â
           Photo courtesy of DCUnited.com
Â
Danny Szetela could have kept on chasing the European dream, but he had spent enough time on the
bench to know that he needed a complete change of scenery.
                                               Â
                             Photo by
ISIphotos.com
David Beckham faced the New York (and some international) media on Wednesday. He got some
softball questions, but also some tough questions, including one from Grant Wahl, author of the
controversial book "The Beckham Experiment.
The U.S. men's national team's stunning upset of Spain in the 2009 Confederations Cup semifinal
was a game that won't soon be forgotten by American fans. Now, the victory has been awarded for its
dramatic impact with an ESPY Award for Best Upset in American sports. The national team won the
award at the ESPY Award Ceremony on Wednesday night in Los Angeles.
The Chicago Fire moved one step closer to silverware on Wednesday night, riding a Cuauhtemoc
Blanco free kick to knock off the New England Revolution, 2-1, in the SuperLiga semifinals.
The victory means the Fire will now face Mexican side Tigres in the SuperLiga final. Tigres
defeated Santos Laguna, 3-2, in the second semifinal at Gillette Stadium.
Discerning Canadian soccer fans can be forgiven for being a tad bit ambivalent about the
Canadian national team's success during the preliminary round of the Gold Cup.
Â
We've seen the movie before after all. A plucky Canuck team surprises the critics (and terrifies
the bookies) by playing attractive, winning football at the CONCACAF championships.
The New York Red Bulls take on David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy tonight at Giants
Stadium. The English superstar is set to play his first game for the Galaxy this season, which
might explain the larger than usual crowd tonight (though not the usual crowd for a Beckham
game).
The Red Bulls will be looking to end their own miserable winless streak and has the strongest
lineup they've fielded in months.
                                               Â
     Photo by ISIphotos.com
When Landon Donovan and David Beckham embraced before Thursday night's match between the Los
Angeles Galaxy and New York Red Bulls, the gesture suggested that the two had put aside any issues
that may have arisen from Donovan's comments about Beckham in the recent book, "The Beckham
Experiment.
Maybe it was the goal vs. Brazil. Or maybe it was a stint with Bayern Munich that went better
than previous German excursions. Perhaps it was simply enjoying a summer where he recaptured the
form that has made him arguably the best player in U.S. national team history.
Whatever the reason, Landon Donovan has a swagger these days that he's never had before, a
confidence and a belief that he can dominate any game and give any team he plays on a good chance
of winning.
Maybe it was the goal vs. Brazil. Or maybe it was a stint with Bayern Munich that went better
than previous German excursions. Perhaps it was simply enjoying a summer where he recaptured the
form that has made him arguably the best player in U.S. national team history.
Whatever the reason, Landon Donovan has a swagger these days that he's never had before, a
confidence and a belief that he can dominate any game and give any team he plays on a good chance
of winning.
                                               Â
     Photo by ISIphotos.com
When Landon Donovan and David Beckham embraced before Thursday night's match between the Los
Angeles Galaxy and New York Red Bulls, the gesture suggested that the two had put aside any issues
that may have arisen from Donovan's comments about Beckham in the recent book, "The Beckham
Experiment.
The New York Red Bulls take on David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy tonight at Giants
Stadium. The English superstar is set to play his first game for the Galaxy this season, which
might explain the larger than usual crowd tonight (though not the usual crowd for a Beckham
game).
The Red Bulls will be looking to end their own miserable winless streak and has the strongest
lineup they've fielded in months.
Discerning Canadian soccer fans can be forgiven for being a tad bit ambivalent about the
Canadian national team's success during the preliminary round of the Gold Cup.
Â
We've seen the movie before after all. A plucky Canuck team surprises the critics (and terrifies
the bookies) by playing attractive, winning football at the CONCACAF championships.
The Chicago Fire moved one step closer to silverware on Wednesday night, riding a Cuauhtemoc
Blanco free kick to knock off the New England Revolution, 2-1, in the SuperLiga semifinals.
The victory means the Fire will now face Mexican side Tigres in the SuperLiga final. Tigres
defeated Santos Laguna, 3-2, in the second semifinal at Gillette Stadium.
The U.S. men's national team's stunning upset of Spain in the 2009 Confederations Cup semifinal
was a game that won't soon be forgotten by American fans. Now, the victory has been awarded for its
dramatic impact with an ESPY Award for Best Upset in American sports. The national team won the
award at the ESPY Award Ceremony on Wednesday night in Los Angeles.
                                               Â
                             Photo by
ISIphotos.com
David Beckham faced the New York (and some international) media on Wednesday. He got some
softball questions, but also some tough questions, including one from Grant Wahl, author of the
controversial book "The Beckham Experiment.
                                               Â
           Photo courtesy of DCUnited.com
Â
Danny Szetela could have kept on chasing the European dream, but he had spent enough time on the
bench to know that he needed a complete change of scenery.
The former U.S. Olympic team midfielder has re-signed with Major League Soccer and was allocated
to D.C. United on Wednesday, completing his return to the league just two years after leaving the
Columbus Crew to sign with Racing Santander.
                                               Â
                    Photo by ISIphotos.com
Dominic Kinnear is used to having loaded rosters to choose from when making out his starting
lineups for the Houston Dynamo, but the task he'll have as MLS All-Star head coach will be a little
bit tougher.
                                               Â
                 Photo by ISIphotos.com
In case you didn't know, the Beckham Circus has arrived in the New York area, and while there
isn't exactly the type of buzz that existed during his first visit to the area with the Galaxy,
there's still some excitement in the air.
                                               Â
                          Photo by
ISIphotos.com
If you followed SBI's pre-draft coverage as well as the 2009 MLS Draft, you knew that this
year's rookie class had the chance to be a special one.
                                               Â
                       Photo by ISIphotos.com
If the U.S. men's national team is going to successfully defend its CONCACAF Gold Cup title, it
will do so with a very short-handed squad.
The best team oil money can buy is set to land yet another key weapon ahead of the upcoming EPL
season by acquiring striker Emmanuel Adebayor from Arsenal in a 25 million pound transfer.
The move for Adebayor comes in the same week Manchester City completed the move for Argentine
striker Carlos Tevez, who now means City boasts a strike force of Adebayor, Tevez and Roque Santa
Cruz.
                                               Â
                    Photo by ISIphotos.com
While there were no real shocking selections in the 2009 MLS All-Star First XI, there were still
plenty of question marks surrounding some of the picks, as well as how some of the voting broke
down.
                                               Â
      Photo by ISIphotos.com
David Beckham took part in his first practice with the Los Angeles Galaxy on Monday, and while
one might have expected him to be taking questions about his time in AC Milan and his return to LA,
all anybody wants to talk about his Landon Donovan.
Remember back when players would never (or almost never) think of signing for an arch-rival?
Those days are long gone now as money talks more loudly than loyalty and players no longer rule
out any potential destination. Former Liverpool legend Michael Owen to Manchester United?
                                        Photo
by ISIphotos.com
Chicago Fire star Cuauhtemoc Blanco has been selected to replace Toronto FC standout Dwayne
DeRosario on the MLS All-Star Game First XI, MLS announced on Tuesday.
                                               Â
                Photo by ISIphotos.com
Charlie Davies' long and busy summer with the U.S. national team appears to be over (for
now).
The young striker, who has been with the team for both the Confederations Cup and Gold Cup, is
heading to France to join up with new club Sochaux, and thus won't be available for the U.
                                               Â
 Photo by ISIphotos.com
Former U.S. Olympic team midfielder Danny Szetela is on his way back to Major League Soccer, but
he won't be coming back to Columbus or heading home to New Jersey.
                                               Â
                        Photo by ISIphotos.com
If you are a U.S. national team fan intent on traveling to Mexico for the highly-anticipated
World Cup qualifier between Mexico and the United States, your chance to get tickets is coming.
                                               Â
                       Photo by ISIphotos.com
If the U.S. men's national team is going to successfully defend its CONCACAF Gold Cup title, it
will do so with a very short-handed squad.
                                               Â
                        Photo by ISIphotos.com
If you are a U.S. national team fan intent on traveling to Mexico for the highly-anticiplated
World Cup qualifier between Mexico and the United States, your chance to get tickets is coming.
                                               Â
 Photo by ISIphotos.com
Former U.S. Olympic team midfielder Danny Szetela is on his way back to Major League Soccer, but
he won't be coming back to Columbus or heading home to New Jersey.
                                               Â
                Photo by ISIphotos.com
Charlie Davies' long and busy summer with the U.S. national team appears to be over (for
now).
The young striker, who has been with the team for both the Confederations Cup and Gold Cup, is
heading to France to join up with new club Sochaux, and thus won't be available for the U.
Chicago Fire star Cuauhtemoc Blanco has been selected to replace Toronto FC standout Dwayne
DeRosario on the MLS All-Star Game First XI, MLS announced on Tuesday. DeRosario was voted to the
First XI, but he will be unable to play in the All-Star game because Toronto FC has a CONCACAF
Champions League game on July 29th, the same day The MLS All-Stars face Everton at Rio Tinto
Stadium in Sandy, Utah.
Remember back when players would never (or almost never) think of signing for an arch-rival?
Those days are long gone now as money talks more loudly than loyalty and players no longer rule
out any potential destination. Former Liverpool legend Michael Owen to Manchester United?
                                               Â
      Photo by ISIphotos.com
David Beckham took part in his first practice with the Los Angeles Galaxy on Monday, and while
one might have expected him to be taking questions about his time in AC Milan and his return to LA,
all anybody wants to talk about his Landon Donovan.
                                               Â
                    Photo by ISIphotos.com
While there were no real shocking selections in the 2009 MLS All-Star First XI, there were still
plenty of question marks surrounding some of the picks, as well as how some of the voting broke
down.
The best team oil money can buy is set to land yet another key weapon ahead of the upcoming EPL
season by acquiring striker Emmanuel Adebayor from Arsenal in a 25 million pound transfer.
The move for Adebayor comes in the same week Manchester City completed the move for Argentine
striker Carlos Tevez, who now means City boasts a strike force of Adebayor, Tevez and Roque Santa
Cruz.
The MLS All-Star First XI was announced on Monday, and as expected, Seattle led the way withÂ
selections, only not as many might have thought.
Kasey Keller and Freddie Ljungberg were named to the MLS All-Star First XI in their first
seasons in the league. Voted on by fans, players and media, the MLS All-Star First XI is the group
of players who received the most votes, but isn't necessarily the group that will start against
Everton at the All-Star Game at Rio Tinto Stadium on July 29th.
It must feel good to be Benny Feilhaber right now.
After an impressive performance for the U.S. national team in the Confederations Cup, and after
a solid showing as a substitute in a 2-1 Gold Cup victory over Honduras last week, Feilhaber
scored twice in his first summer appearance for AGF Aarhus on Monday.
                                               Â
                    Photo by ISIphotos.com
So you probably heard about the false alarm reports of Jozy Altidore heading to Greek powerhouse
Olympiakos on loan (the interest in Altidore had been in the Greek papers for weeks).
It was a game that didn't have much meaning from a results standpoint (at least not for the
Americans), but the U.S. national team's 2-2 tie vs. Haiti on Saturday certainly still had plenty
of value for the United States.
Along with giving head coach Bob Bradley a chance to see every player he hadn't seen in the
team's first two matches, it also helped provide the U.
When Red Bulls sporting director Erik Stover and technical director Jeff Agoos went to Austria
last week to meet with Red Bull management about the struggles of the worst team in MLS, it was
thought that the meeting would result in the firing of one or both of them, and the firing of head
coach Juan Carlos Osorio.
With their head coach serving a suspension, the Mexican national team used a first-half blast
from Gerardo Torrado to cruise to a 2-0 victory over Guadeloupe on Sunday.
Panama joined Mexico in the Gold Cup quarterfinals courtesy of its 4-0 mauling of Nicaragua.
When the midweek match-up between the L.A. Sol and St. Louis Athletica opened Week 16 in Women's
Pro Soccer, it set the stage for tonight's games between Sky Blue FC (New Jersey) at the Boston
Breakers (6:00 PM on FSC) and the Chicago Red Stars against the Bay Area's FC Gold Pride (8:00 PM
Comcast).
                                               Â
  Photo by ISIphotos.com
Mexican national team coach Javier Aguirre will not be on the sidelines for today's Guadeloupe
after being suspended for three matches for his run-in with Panama's Ricardo Phillips.
The final day of the CONCACAF Gold Cup Group Stage takes place today, with Mexico trying to win
Group C by knocking off 2-0 Guadeloupe (7pm, Univision).
The scenarios are very intriguing today for 'El Tri', who could win Group C with a win, but who
could wind up playing the United States as a third-place team if they lose and Panama wins its game
against Nicaragua (5pm, Galavision).
When the midweek match-up between the L.A. Sol and St. Louis Athletica opened Week 16 in Women's
Pro Soccer, it set the stage for tonight's games between Sky Blue FC (New Jersey) at the Boston
Breakers (6:00 PM on FSC) and the Chicago Red Stars against the Bay Area's FC Gold Pride (8:00 PM
Comcast).
The final day of the CONCACAF Gold Cup Group Stage takes place today, with Mexico trying to win
Group C by knocking off 2-0 Guadeloupe (7pm, Univision).
The scenarios are very intriguing today for 'El Tri', who could win Group C with a win, but who
could wind up playing the United States as a third-place team if they lose and Panama wins its game
against Nicaragua (5pm, Galavision).
Mexican national team coach Javier Aguirre will not be on the sidelines for today's Guadeloupe
after being suspended for three matches for his run-in with Panama's Ricardo Phillips. The
suspension means Aguirre would return to the Mexico sidelin no sooner than the Gold Cup final. If
Mexico is eliminated before the Gold Cup final then Aguirre would miss the Aug.
The CONCACAF Gold Cup is front and center in the minds of many American soccer fans this week,
but while the U.S. national team is playing on Saturday there will also be a handful of great MLS
match-ups.
Like rivalries? Want to see the league's best face off? Then this is your weekend.
The Gold Cup resumes tonight as the final round of group stage play commences from Miami, Fl.
In the first game of the night, Costa Rica will look to climb from its third place position as they
take on a Canadian team that currently sits in first and has yet to allow a goal.
In the second match of the night, the last-place Jamaicans will look to keep their slim Gold
Cup dreams alive as they play an El Salvador side that currently stands in second with three
points.
                                        Photo
by ISIphotos.com
Â
BY DYLAN BUTLER
It's a good time to be Charlie Davies.
After a breakthrough performance at the FIFA Confederations Cup and scoring a goal in the
CONCACAF Gold Cup against Grenada, the 23-year-old forward will get to play in front of family and
friends from the Boston area for the first time in a U.
Group A finished in dramatic fashion on Friday night as Canada and Costa Rica assured themselves
of a place in the quarterfinals while Jamaica eliminated El Salvador.
In the first match of the double-header played at FIU Stadium in Miami, Fl.
                                               Â
      Photo by ISIphotos.com
Two games, two wins, two shutouts.
The start to the U.S. national team's Gold Cup has been far different from the team's
Confederations Cup opening and the team's early success has fans excited about a new crop of
American players.
The U.S. men's national team is in Foxborough, Mass. tonight to take on Haiti at Gillette
Stadium in the final Group B match for both teams. a win or draw clinches first place in the group
for the USA, which has already secured a place in the quarterfinals.
The Americans will look to field a different looking squad as midfielders Freddy Adu and Benny
Feilhaber have left the team.
While the U.S. national team is attracting much of the attention from U.S. fans tonight, some
MLS fans are passing on watching the national team in order to see their club teams play in key
league fixtures.
The afternoon included a Seattle 2-1 win against Houston, as well as a scoreless draw between
New England and Kansas City.
                                               Â
                            Photo by ISIphotos.com
When Landon Donovan's comments bashing LA teammate David Beckham were released in excerpts from
the upcoming book, "The Beckham Experiment" you just knew Beckham wouldn't be happy.
                                               Â
                             Photo by
ISIphotos.com
Haiti was one minute away from the biggest upset in its national team's history, and one minute
away from taking the Gold Cup Group B lead from heavy favorites the United States.
                                               Â
                             Photo by
ISIphotos.com
Haiti was one minute away from the biggest upset in its national team's history, and one minute
away from taking the Gold Cup Group B lead from heavy favorites the United States.
                                               Â
                            Photo by ISIphotos.com
When Landon Donovan's comments bashing LA teammate David Beckham were released in excerpts from
the upcoming book, "The Beckham Experiment" you just knew Beckham wouldn't be happy.
While the U.S. national team is attracting much of the attention from U.S. fans tonight, some
MLS fans are passing on watching the national team in order to see their club teams play in key
league fixtures.
The afternoon included a Seattle 2-1 win against Houston, as well as a scoreless draw between
New England and Kansas City.
The U.S. men's national team is in Foxborough, Mass. tonight to take on Haiti at Gillette
Stadium in the final Group B match for both teams. a win or draw clinches first place in the group
for the USA, which has already secured a place in the quarterfinals.
The Americans will look to field a different looking squad as midfielders Freddy Adu and Benny
Feilhaber have left the team.
                                               Â
      Photo by ISIphotos.com
Two games, two wins, two shutouts.
The start to the U.S. national team's Gold Cup has been far different from the team's
Confederations Cup opening and the team's early success has fans excited about a new crop of
American players.
Group A finished in dramatic fashion on Friday night as Canada and Costa Rica assured themselves
of a place in the quarterfinals while Jamaica eliminated El Salvador.
In the first match of the double-header played at FIU Stadium in Miami, Fl.
                                        Photo
by ISIphotos.com
Â
BY DYLAN BUTLER
It's a good time to be Charlie Davies.
After a breakthrough performance at the FIFA Confederations Cup and scoring a goal in the
CONCACAF Gold Cup against Grenada, the 23-year-old forward will get to play in front of family and
friends from the Boston area for the first time in a U.
The Gold Cup resumes tonight as the final round of group stage play commences from Miami, Fl.
In the first game of the night, Costa Rica will look to climb from its third place position as they
take on a Canadian team that currently sits in first place and has yet to allow a goal.
In the second match of the night, the last-place Jamaicans will look to keep their slim Gold
Cup dreams alive as they play an El Salvador side that currently stands in second with six
points.
The CONCACAF Gold Cup is front and center in the minds of many American soccer fans this week,
but while the U.S. national team is playing on Saturday there will also be a handful of great MLS
match-ups.
Like rivalries? Want to see the league's best face off? Then this is your weekend.
                                               Â
    Photo by ISIphotos.com
How wild was last night?
If you watched Mexico-Panama last night hoping to get some insight into the U.S. national team's
biggest rival you were treated to a night filled with ugliness, absurdity and unintentional
comedy.
                                               Â
                           Photo by ISIphotos.com
The U.S. men's national team has secured a place in the Gold Cup quarterfinals, but still needs
a result on Saturday vs.
Meetings between the Mexican national team and Panama are always heated, but Thursday night's
clash in the CONCACAF Gold Cup took the rivalry to new, uglier levels.
Fan violence in the stands and clashes on the field turned the match into an ugly encounter as
three red cards and one very unfortunate intervention by Mexican head coach Javier Aguirre (and his
subsequent ejection) transformed the match into a farce.
                                            Â
Photo by ISIphotos.com
This past Monday marked the deadline for media ballots for the MLS All-Star Team, meaning I
could no longer keep putting off my selections as I tried to choose in some of the toughest
all-star selection races in recent memory.
Stadium construction workers in South Africa have gone on strike, thus jeopardizing the
completion of venues for the 2010 World Cup.
What does this mean? Should we be worried? Is Sepp Blatter ringing Sunil Gulati on speed-dial
and praying for USA 2010? Okay, so maybe that's a pipe dream, but this news certainly doesn't bode
well for South Africa's World Cup.
The U.S. men's national team will look to move astep closer to qualifying for the CONCACAF
Gold Cup quarterfinals tonight by beating Honduras in the marquee match-up of Group B (9pm,
FSC).
The Americans are coming off a 4-0 thrashing of Grenada in their first match while Honduras is
fresh from a tough 1-0 victory against Haiti.
                                               Â
          Photo by ISIphotos.com
Santino Quaranta fought back tears as the national anthem played at RFK Stadium on Wednesday
night. He was overcome with emotion at the chance he had worked so hard to get, the place on the
U.
                                               Â
                         Photo by ISIphotos.com
It didn't start out as the prettiest game, and for long stretches the USA-Honduras match looked
capable of being an upset loss for the Americans, but a strong defense and a pair of dangerous
substitutes turned last night's Gold Cup match in the U.
                                          Â
Photo by ISIphotos.com
Landon Donovan raised plenty of eyebrows with his comments about David Beckhamin the upcoming
book "The Beckham Experiment". Now, Donovan is admitting that he probably should have made his
comments directly to Beckham.
                                               Â
                            Photo by
ISIphotos.com
The Mexican Football Federation has announced that the USA-Mexico World Cup qualifier in Mexico
City on Aug.
                                               Â
                     Photo by ISIphotos.com
By TRAVIS CLARK
The look on his face said it all. After scoring the first goal in last night's Gold Cup match,
the emotion surged over Santino Quaranta, the D.
The Mexican National Team is in action tonight as it tries to keep pace with Gold Cup group leaders
USA and Canada. Mexico takes on Panama in group B play (10 pm, Univision). Guadeloupe is facing
Nicaragua in the early match of the night(8pm, Galavision). If you are watching tonight's matches
please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section
below.
The Mexican National Team is in action tonight as it tries to keep pace with Gold Cup leaders USA
and Canada. Mexico takes on Panama in group B play. Guadeloupe is facing Nicaragua in the early
match of the night. If you are watching tonight's matches please feel free to share your thoughts,
opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
                                               Â
                     Photo by ISIphotos.com
By TRAVIS CLARK
The look on his face said it all. After scoring the first goal in last night's Gold Cup match,
the emotion surged over Santino Quaranta, the D.
                                               Â
                            Photo by
ISIphotos.com
The Mexican Football Federation has announced that the USA-Mexico World Cup qualifier in Mexico
City on Aug.
                                          Â
Photo by ISIphotos.com
Landon Donovan raised plenty of eyebrows with his comments about David Beckhamin the upcoming
book "The Beckham Experiment". Now, Donovan is admitting that he probably should have made his
comments directly to Beckham.
                                               Â
                         Photo by ISIphotos.com
It didn't start out as the prettiest game, and for long stretches the USA-Honduras match looked
capable of being an upset loss for the Americans, but a strong defense and a pair of dangerous
substitutes turned last night's Gold Cup match in the U.
                                               Â
          Photo by ISIphotos.com
Santino Quaranta fought back tears as the national anthem played at RFK Stadium on Wednesday
night. He was overcome with emotion at the chance he had worked so hard to get, the place on the
U.
The U.S. men's national team will look to move astep closer to qualifying for the CONCACAF
Gold Cup quarterfinals tonight by beating Honduras in the marquee match-up of Group B (9pm,
FSC).
The Americans are coming off a 4-0 thrashing of Grenada in their first match while Honduras is
fresh from a tough 1-0 victory against Haiti.
Stadium construction workers in South Africa have gone on strike, thus jeopardizing the
completion of venues for the 2010 World Cup.
What does this mean? Should we be worried? Is Sepp Blatter ringing Sunil Gulati on speed-dial
and praying for USA 2010? Okay, so maybe that's a pipe dream, but this news certainly doesn't bode
well for South Africa's World Cup.
                                            Â
Photo by ISIphotos.com
This past Monday marked the deadline for media ballots for the MLS All-Star Team, meaning I
could no longer keep putting off my selections as I tried to choose in some of the toughest
all-star selection races in recent memory.
(With today's Gold Cup match between Honduras and the U.S. national team marking their first
meeting here in Washington D.C. in eight years, I couldn't help but think back to that meeting two
World Cup cycles ago, a match and a day among the most memorable of my career.)
-----------------
Fans clad in blue banged on the closed gates of RFK Stadium, demanding to be let into watch a
very important World Cup qualifier, only these fans weren't Americans.
                                               Â
                     Photo by ISIphotos.com
The Canadian national team took a major step toward qualifying for the CONCACAF Gold Cup
quarterfinals with a 1-0 victory against El Salvador on Tuesday night in Columbus, Ohio.
                                               Â
                                   Photo by
ISIphotos.com
Alecko Eskandarian wasted no time making an impact with his new club and the result is another
Galaxy win and another LA move up the SBI MLS Power Rankings.
                                               Â
                               Photo by
ISIphotos.com
The New York Red Bulls are enduring one of the worst seasons in Major League Soccer history, a
season so bad that the normally uninvolved Red Bull ownership in Salzburg, Austria has taken
notice.
Fans really do have a say in what happens with a club. Well, at least in Italy they do.
One day after AC Milan had around 300 supporters protesting outside of its first preseason
training for lack of major off-season signings, the club has made bids for forwards Klaas-Jan
Huntelaar (Real Madrid)Â and Luis Fabiano (Sevilla).
                                               Â
                            Photo by
ISIphotos.com
BY DYLAN BUTLER
WASHINGTON, D.C. --Â As news of Oguchi Onyewu's move to AC Milan on a free transfer reached the
U.
Four MLS and four USL teams will combine for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals, with
two USL-2 sides looking to go glory hunting into the semifinals.
In the only all-MLS tie, Kansas City Wizards are travelling to the Starfire Sports Complex in
Tukwila, WA to take on Seattle Sounders FC.
The CONCACAF Gold Cup returns to action tonight and the scene shifts to Crew Stadium in
Columbus, Ohio with Group A matches. Here is the schedule of games:
Jamaica vs. Costa Rica 7p (TeleFutura)
El Salvador vs. Canada 9p (Galavision)
If you will be watching today's matches, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and
play-by-play in the comments section below.
The CONCACAF Gold Cup returns to action tonight and the scene shifts to Crew Stadium in
Columbus, Ohio with Group A matches. Here is the schedule of games:
Jamaica vs. Costa Rica 7p (TeleFutura)
El Salvador vs. Canada 9p (Galavision)
If you will be watching today's matches, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and
play-by-play in the comments section below.
Four MLS and four USL teams will combine for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals, with
two USL-2 sides looking to go glory hunting into the semifinals.
In the only all-MLS tie, Kansas City Wizards are travelling to the Starfire Sports Complex in
Tukwila, WA to take on Seattle Sounders FC.
                                               Â
                            Photo by
ISIphotos.com
BY DYLAN BUTLER
WASHINGTON, D.C. --Â As news of Oguchi Onyewu's move to AC Milan on a free transfer reached the
U.
Fans really do have a say in what happens with a club. Well, at least in Italy they do.
One day after AC Milan had around 300 supporters protesting outside of its first preseason
training for lack of major off-season signings, the club has made bids for forwards Klaas-Jan
Huntelaar (Real Madrid)Â and Luis Fabiano (Sevilla).
                                               Â
                               Photo by
ISIphotos.com
The New York Red Bulls are enduring one of the worst seasons in Major League Soccer history, a
season so bad that the normally uninvolved Red Bull ownership in Salzburg, Austria has taken
notice.
                                               Â
            Photo by ISIphotos.com
U.S. national team midfielder Michael Bradley has been handed a four-match suspension by FIFA
for his run-in with referee Jorge Larrionda following the U.
                                               Â
                               Photo by
ISIphotos.com
If Grenada was the appetizer then the U.S. Men's national team's next Gold Cup opponent has to
be considered the main course, but while Honduras should provide a tougher test than the 'Spice
Boys', this isn't the same Honduras team that pushed the U.
Real Salt Lake striker Yura Movsisyan has signed a pre-contract with Danish club Randers,
meaning he will leave MLS after the current season to join Randers on January 1, 2010. Movsisyan is
in the final year of his MLS contract and is allowed to sign with a new club six months before his
current contract expires.
You know how you can tell when a player is truly a mega-star? When a stadium fills just to see
his introductory press conference.
Cristiano Ronaldo was unveiled at the Bernabeu on Monday in front of a crowd of more than 60,000
fans (with some reports putting the figure as 80,000).
                                               Â
      Photo by ISIphotos.com
Toronto FC want Julian DeGuzman badly and is prepared to break the bank (of Montreal) to make it
happen.
SBI correspondent and Canadian soccer expert Duane Rollins reported on his website, The 24th
Minute, that TFC has made a seven-figure offer for the soon-to-be-former Deportivo La Coruna
star.
After a summer of speculation about where he may wind up, Oguchi Onyewu has signed with one of
the biggest clubs in Europe.
Onyewu has signed with AC Milan, joining the Italian giants on a free transfer. Milan announced
the signing on its club website.
A standout for Standard Liege over the past five seasons, Onyewu left the Belgian club after
helping lead Liege to a pair of Jupiler League championships.
                                               Â
            Photo by ISIphotos.com
U.S. national team midfielder Michael Bradley has been handed a four-match suspension by FIFA
for his run-in with referee Jorge Larrionda following the U.
After a summer of speculation about where he may wind up, Oguchi Onyewu has signed with one of
the biggest clubs in Europe.
Onyewu has signed with AC Milan, joining the Italian giants on a free transfer. Milan announced
the signing on its club website.
A standout for Standard Liege over the past five seasons, Onyewu left the Belgian club after
helping lead Liege to a pair of Jupiler League championships.
                                               Â
      Photo by ISIphotos.com
Toronto FC want Julian DeGuzman badly and is prepared to break the bank (of Montreal) to make it
happen.
SBI correspondent and Canadian soccer expert Duane Rollins reported on his website, The 24th
Minute, that TFC has made a seven-figure offer for the soon-to-be-former Deportivo La Coruna
star.
You know how you can tell when a player is truly a mega-star? When a stadium fills just to see
his introductory press conference.
Cristiano Ronaldo was unveiled at the Bernabeu on Monday in front of a crowd of more than 60,000
fans. Wearing the Real Madrid uniform, and the number nine shirt, Ronaldo went through the usual
introductory fanfare.
Real Salt Lake striker Yura Movsisyan has signed a pre-contract with Danish club Randers,
meaning he will leave MLS after the current season to join Randers on January 1, 2010. Movsisyan is
in the final year of his MLS contract and is allowed to sign with a new club six months before his
current contract expires.
                                               Â
                               Photo by
ISIphotos.com
If Grenada was the appetizer then the U.S. Men's national team's next Gold Cup opponent has to
be considered the main course, but while Honduras should provide a tougher test than the 'Spice
Boys', this isn't the same Honduras team that pushed the U.
                                       Photo by
ISIphotos.com
Seattle Sounders forward Nate Jaqua has been slapped with a civil lawsuit accusing him of
sexually assaulting a college student in Portland two years ago.
The $10 million lawsuit was filed on Tuesday, almost two years to the day when the accuser says
Jaqua raped her in a cemetary.
Tonight is a U.S. national team match-day, but that isn't stopping Major League Soccer from
playing five matches tonight, including three at the same time as the USA-Grenada match. American
soccer fans--at least the ones who follow MLS--will be torn between watching their own teams or
watching a USA B-Team against an overmatched opponent.
The U.S. men's national team plays its first match since the Confederations Cup as it begins
CONCACAF Gold Cup play tonight vs. Grenada.
Most of the U.S. team's top stars are sitting this tournament out, leaving the event as an
opportunity for young players to prove they belong, and veterans a chance to show they still have
what it takes to contribute to the first team.
                            Photo
by ISIphotos.com
BY DYLAN BUTLER
SEATTLE -- The United States National Team did something on Saturday night that it failed to do
a week ago in South Africa -- protect a two-goal halftime lead.
It didn't take Alecko Eskandarian long to make an impact with his new club.
The well-traveled striker scored a goal in his first match with the LA Galaxy and it proved to
be the game winner in a 1-0 LA victory against New England. The victory moved the Galaxy into a tie
for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference at the halfway point.
Carlos Tevez is already accustomed to wearing light blue while on national team duty with
Argentina. It appears he is ready to wear the color full-time as he is on the verge of signing with
Manchester City.
The former Manchester United striker is set to join United's cross-town rival in a deal sure to
anger United fans who grew to love the mercurial striker.
                                               Â
                             Photo by
ISIphotos.com
So what exactly did we learn from the U.S. men's national team's 4-0 drubbing of Grenada on
Saturday?
Oguchi Onyewu has apparently caught the eye of none other than mega-million-spending club Real
Madrid, who could land the U.S. defender if its bid for Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa falls
through.
That's what Spanish website Mundo Deportivo is claiming in a report released today.
Oguchi Onyewu has apparently caught the eye of none other than mega-million-spending club Real
Madrid, who could land the U.S. defender if its bid for Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa falls
through.
That's what Spanish website Mundo Deportivo is claiming in a report released today.
                                               Â
                             Photo by
ISIphotos.com
So what exactly did we learn from the U.S. men's national team's 4-0 drubbing of Grenada on
Saturday?
Carlos Tevez is already accustomed to wearing light blue while on national team duty with
Argentina. It appears he is ready to wear the color full-time as he is on the verge of signing with
Manchester City.
The former Manchester United striker is set to join United's cross-town rival in a deal sure to
anger United fans who grew to love the mercurial striker.
It didn't take Alecko Eskandarian long to make an impact with his new club.
The well-traveled striker scored a goal in his first match with the LA Galaxy and it proved to
be the game winner in a 1-0 LA victory against New England. The victory moved the Galaxy into a tie
for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference at the halfway point.
                            Photo
by ISIphotos.com
BY DYLAN BUTLER
SEATTLE -- The United States National Team did something on Saturday night that it failed to do
a week ago in South Africa -- protect a two-goal halftime lead.
The U.S. men's national team plays its first match since the Confederations Cup as it begins
CONCACAF Gold Cup play tonight vs. Grenada.
Most of the U.S. team's top stars are sitting this tournament out, leaving the event as an
opportunity for young players to prove they belong, and veterans a chance to show they still have
what it takes to contribute to the first team.
Tonight is a U.S. national team match-day, but that isn't stopping Major League Soccer from
playing five matches tonight, including three at the same time as the USA-Grenada match. American
soccer fans--at least the ones who follow MLS--will be torn between watching their own teams or
watching a USA B-Team against an overmatched opponent.
 By CHRISTA MANN  The Chicago Red Stars opened Week 15 on Wednesday with the
league's first-ever come from behind victory. Â With three more games on tap for this holiday
weekend, let's hope for a few more surprises from some unsuspecting Women's Pro Soccer teams.Â
Today, New Jersey's Sky Blue FC will kick things off against the Boston Breakers and the Bay Area's
FC Gold Pride returns from a bye week to host the St.
New Toronto FC signing Ali Gerba helped the Canadian national team kick off the Gold Cup with a
1-0 victory against Jamaica on Friday night in the tournament's first match.
Canada is joined atop Group A by El Salvador, which used a late goal from Osael Romero to
knock off Costa Rica, 2-1, in the nightcap at Home Depot Center.
It is the Fourth of July, the day to celebrate our country's independence, as well as to enjoy
a holiday.
There is plenty of soccer to watch today between your trips to the beach, the park and the
grill, between MLS action and the U.S. national team's opening Gold Cup match against Grenada.
SEATTLE -- Brad Evans has seen his share of special moments at Qwest Field, but hearing the
national anthem on the Fourth of July while wearing the U.S. National Team jersey will no doubt be
a highlight of his young career.
The 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup kicks off tonight as 11 teams try to take the crown away from the
U.S.national team.
The United States is fresh from its Confederations Cup final appearance and will be fielding a B
team in this tournament. It is not alone in that regard, with Mexico also leaving most of its top
European players home.
Confederation Cup players are back but many more Gold Cup call-ups leave their teams as we head
into the second half of the MLS season.
This week's slate of games features one very good Eastern Conference clash, one reunion in
Dallas and quality inter-conference battle in Colorado as the Chicago Fire take on the Rapids in aÂ
tilt loaded with quality match-ups.
                                               Â
       Photo by ISIphotos.com
Why hasn't Jose Francisco Torres been playing for the U.S. national team lately?
That question has been on the minds of many observers who have wondered about Torres' lack of
playing time in recent weeks, including zero appearances in the Confederations Cup.
                                               Â
                                   Photo by
ISIphotos.com
 Manchester United has lost Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez this summer and has just added
Antonio Valencia as a replacement.
If you have never heard the name Eric Frimpong (pictured in blue), then chances are you aren't
familiar with his story. It is a sad story of a soccer player who seemingly had the world at his
feet before a series of events changed his life forever.
ESPN the Magazine's Sam Alipour has written about Frimpong's story, and it is a must-read.
Freddy Adu was forced to watch every minute of the U.S. national team's dream run to the final
of the Confederations Cup from the bench. That most likely will not be the case for him in the
Gold Cup.
While nobody ever accused Landon Donovan and David Beckham of being best friends, their already
awkward relationship isn't likely to ever blossom into BFF status after Donovan's revelations in
Grant Wahl's soon-to-be-released book, the Beckham Experiment.
We will have to wait a few weeks before Beckham returns to the Galaxy and the awkwardness
reaches record heights at Home Depot Center, there is no reason we can't begin to have some fun
with it now.
                                               Â
            Photo by ISIphotos.com
Fiorentino Perez said he was bringing in a new group of 'Galacticos'.
He was not kidding.
Real Madrid has added Karim Benzema to Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo in the Real Madrud summer
haul, and now Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery wants to be next.
Sal Zizzo is close to finalizing a loan deal from Hannover 96 to Fortuna Dusseldorf of Germany's
Bundesliga II.
The one-year loan deal is in the final steps of negotiations with Zizzo just needing to pass a
physical before officially joining the recently promoted club.
Zizzo, who transferred to the Hannover in 2007 following his impressive performance at the
U-20 World Cup, played in only five games for Hannover this past season.
U.S. Open Cup matches don't generally have the heated rivalry factor, but the Portland
Timbers-Seattle Sounders third-round match-up isn't your normal rivalry.
Forged from the days of the old NASL, and kept alive for decades in the A-League and USL,
Timbers-Sounders is one of the most intense, and arguably the best rivalry in the United
States.
                                               Â
                        Photo by ISIphotos.com
American soccer fans weren't the only ones watching the U.S. national team's run to the
Confederations Cup final, and the stellar performances from several American players to make it
happen.
Are you both in a state of mourning over the death of Michael Jackson, and enjoying the glow of
the U.S. national team's Confederations Cup success? If so, the folks at The Onion Bag have come up
with your dream jersey.
The above jersey is NOT official, but an Onion Bag creation, so no, Oguchi Onyewu did not give
up his number to honor Michael Jackson.
                                              Â
Photo by ISIphotos.com
Jozy Altidore leads the group of seven American players added to the U.S. men's national team
roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. U.S. head coach Bob Bradley called on seven players from his
Confederations Cup squad to fill out the 30-man roster after CONCACAF granted the United States
seven extra roster spots due to the U.
It took forever, but we FINALLY got around to the last You Write the Caption contest. How could
you forget this image of an enraged Michael Ballack chasing down Norwegian referee Tom Henning
Ovrebo during Chelsea's Champions League semifinal loss to Barcelona (yes, it's been that
long).
It may have been more than a month ago, but this image is still funny, and so are the top
entries from the contest.
Sal Zizzo is close to finalizing a loan deal from Hannover 96 to Fortuna Dusseldorf of Germany's
Bundesliga II.
The one-year loan deal is in the final steps of negotiations with Zizzo just needing to pass a
physical before officially joining the recently promoted club.
Zizzo, who transferred to the Hannover in 2007 following his impressive performance at the
U-20 World Cup, played in only five games for Hannover this past season.
It took forever, but we FINALLY got around to the last You Write the Caption contest. How could
you forget this image of an enraged Michael Ballack chasing down Norwegian referee Tom Henning
Ovrebo during Chelsea's Champions League semifinal loss to Barcelona (yes, it's been that
long).
It may have been more than a month ago, but this image is still funny, and so are the top
entries from the contest.
                                              Â
Photo by ISIphotos.com
Jozy Altidore leads the group of seven American players added to the U.S. men's national team
roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. U.S. head coach Bob Bradley called on seven players from his
Confederations Cup squad to fill out the 30-man roster after CONCACAF granted the United States
seven extra roster spots due to the U.
Are you both in a state of mourning over the death of Michael Jackson, and enjoying the glow of
the U.S. national team's Confederations Cup success? If so, the folks at The Onion Bag have come up
with your dream jersey.
The above jersey is NOT official, but an Onion Bag creation, so no, Oguchi Onyewu did not give
up his number to honor Michael Jackson.
                                               Â
                        Photo by ISIphotos.com
American soccer fans weren't the only ones watching the U.S. national team's run to the
Confederations Cup final, and the stellar performances from several American players to make it
happen.
U.S. Open Cup matches don't generally have the heated rivalry factor, but the Portland
Timbers-Seattle Sounders third-round match-up isn't your normal rivalry.
Forged from the days of the old NASL, and kept alive for decades in the A-League and USL,
Timbers-Sounders is one of the most intense, and arguably the best rivalry in the United
States.
CONCACAF has ruled that the U.S. men's national team will be allowed seven extra roster slots
for the Gold Cup because of the U.S. team's participation in the Confederations Cup. The ruling
means the United States now has 30 roster spots.
So what seven players will be added? Those names haven't been revealed yet.
When six MLS teams took the field on Tuesday night in U.S. Open Cup play, the group was expected
to be able to handle competition from lower level USL teams (and one PDL team). By the end of the
night, only D.C. United was able to win in regulation, while four other MLS teams saw their U.
While he may not boast the soccer resume of Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert is apparently a soccer
fan now. You can thank the U.S. national team's run through the Confederations Cup for making it
happen.
Enjoy this clip of Colbert discussing the sport we love, with his own unique spin:
The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30cIs it Time to Care About Soccer?
                                               Â
                              Photo by
ISIphotos.com
The U.S. men's national team's run to the Confederations Cup final has helped boost it into
uncharted territory in the world rankings.
As we grind our way from the post-Confederations Cup glow to the CONCACAF Gold Cup, things in
the American soccer world have slowed down quite a bit. There was the rash of U.S. Open Cup upsets
last night, tonight's much-anticipated Seattle SOunders-Portland Timbers Open Cup match, but not
much else going on really.
                                              Â
Photo by ISIphotos.com
The Los Angeles Galaxy was in the market for a forward and Chivas USA was trying hard to unload
one of its surplus of forwards, so the Home Depot Center neighbors reached yet another deal, with
Alecko Eskandarian heading to the Galaxy for allocation money.
South America will see its Copa Libertadores finalists determined this week when the
second legs of the semifinals are sorted out with Club Nacional of Montevideo, Uruguay hosting
Argentina's Estudiantes de la Plata in the first match-up tonight while tomorrow's all-Brazilian
affair has Gremio welcoming Cruzeiro.
South America will see its Copa Libertadores finalists determined this week when the
second legs of the semifinals are sorted out with Club Nacional of Montevideo, Uruguay hosting
Argentina's Estudiantes de la Plata in the first match-up tonight while tomorrow's all-Brazilian
affair has Gremio welcoming Cruzeiro.
                                              Â
Photo by ISIphotos.com
The Los Angeles Galaxy was in the market for a forward and Chivas USA was trying hard to unload
one of its surplus of forwards, so the Home Depot Center neighbors reached yet another deal, with
Alecko Eskandarian heading to the Galaxy for allocation money.
As we grind our way from the post-Confederations Cup glow to the CONCACAF Gold Cup, things in
the American soccer world have slowed down quite a bit. There was the rash of U.S. Open Cup upsets
last night, tonight's much-anticipated Seattle SOunders-Portland Timbers Open Cup match, but not
much else going on really.
                                               Â
                              Photo by
ISIphotos.com
The U.S. men's national team's run to the Confederations Cup final has helped boost it into
uncharted territory in the world rankings.
While he may not boast the soccer resume of Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert is apparently a soccer
fan now. You can thank the U.S. national team's run through the Confederations Cup for making it
happen.
Enjoy this clip of Colbert discussing the sport we love, with his own unique spin:
The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30cIs it Time to Care About Soccer?
When six MLS teams took the field on Tuesday night in U.S. Open Cup play, the group was expected
to be able to handle competition from lower level USL teams (and one PDL team). By the end of the
night, only D.C. United was able to win in regulation, while four other MLS teams saw their U.
CONCACAF has ruled that the U.S. men's national team will be allowed seven extra roster slots
for the Gold Cup because of the U.S. team's participation in the Confederations Cup. The ruling
means the United States now has 30 roster spots.
So what seven players will be added? Those names haven't been revealed yet.
