Photo by ISIphotos.com
North Korea showed plenty of determination and ability, but the U.S. Under-20 women's national
team finished its chances and played well enough defensively to make their two goals stand up as
tournament stars Sydney Leroux and Alex Morgan scored first-half goals to lead the United States to
a 2-1 win in the Under-20 women's World Cup final on Sunday in Chile.
Photo by ISI Photos
Several stars from the soccer and basketball worlds will gather in Manhattan on Wednesday
evening for a charity event that should be a sight to behold.
Steve Nash and Claudio Reyna have organized a charity 8-on-8 soccer game that will feature
international soccer star Thierry Henry as well as several NBA stars.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
It was about 10 months ago when most U.S. national team fans first saw or heard about Carlos
Martinez.
The young Under-17 national team player wowed spectators with his two game-winning goals in last
winter's Nike Friendlies and eager and overzealous fans began penciling him in as one of the
potential stars of the national team program even though he was just 15 at the time.
This weekend was a memorable one for Americans Abroad as two recent MLS transfers made their
European club debuts, while a few other Americans found the net.
Maurice Edu (pictured) made his debut for Glasgow Rangers on Saturday in a 2-1 win over
Kilmarnock while U.S. Olympic teammate Jozy Altidore impressed in his La Liga debut for
Villarreal.
Photos by ISIphotos.com
The U.S. women's Olympic team's worst nightmare has happened.
U.S. forward Abby Wambach broke her left leg during the U.S. team's match against Brazil on
Wednesday night in San Diego (a 1-0 USA win) and now she will miss the Olympics.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
While the list of MLS Combine invitees has been released, you cannot get a real sense of how the
2009 MLS Draft might shake out until you see the Generation adidas players that will be in the
mix.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
Major League Soccer has taken its first step toward setting up what could be one of the deepest
drafts in recent memory by landing one of the college game's most coveted prospects.
There are goals, and then there are GOALS. Wednesday's soccer action in Europe featured plenty
of quality scores, but none as jaw-dropping as the 40-yard bomb by David Bentley against his former
club, Arsenal, on Wednesday.
You can see the video of the goal here (for now).
The goal was the first of eight scored in a match that ended with Tottenham scoring two goals in
the final minutes to salvage a 4-4 tie against their London arch-rivals.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
Ike Opara was widely-regarded as the best defender, and one of the best players available in the
2009 MLS Draft, but only if he actually entered the draft.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
Some nine months after being an MLS first round draft pick, goalkeeper Dominic Cervi looks set
to reap the rewards for passing up a minimum salary contract offer from MLS.
Cervi is set to sign a three-year deal with Celtic FC.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
One week down and three to go as we slowly move toward the 2009 MLS Draft in St. Louis and every
passing week produces more information, more names and more scenarios we could see come draft day
on Jan.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
You knew things were bad in Los Angeles Galaxy land after Sunday's loss to San Jose. Now, we
have some insight into just how bad things have been.
SI.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
The U.S. Under-17 residency program in Bradenton, Florida has produced many of the best players
in American soccer and the next crop of would-be Freddy Adus, Jozy Altidores and Michael Bradleys
is set to be revealed.
Big, bad Brad Friedel posted another victory last weekend as he and Aston Villa kept on
rolling.
Friedel was one of few bright spots for Americans Abroad last weekend. How bad were things?
Consider this linep of Americans:
------------------------------Jozy Altidore-----------------------------
DaMarcus Beasley-----------Freddy Adu-------------Clint Dempsey
---------------------Michael Bradley---Maurice Edu------------------
Heath Pearce------Jay DeMerit----Jonathan Spector---Frank Simek
-------------------------------Brad Guzan------------------------------
Like that team?
While it may just feel like yesterday when the Columbus Crew were lifting the MLS Cup trophy, it
is already time to think about the 2009. The 2009 MLS Draft is just a month away, meaning it isn't
too early to start thinking about how the draft may turn out once the league's 15 teams are done
with what is being considered a deep and talented draft class.
Hello everybody. Today marks the second phase of group matches, with Portugal and the Czech Republic facing off with the winner clinching a quarterfinal place.
Portugal looked extremely impressive in beating Turkey, 2-0, in their opener while the Czechs struggled and were probably outplayed in their 1-0 opening win against Switzerland.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
Wouldn't you know it. After three months off, You Write the Caption has made a strong comeback,
with this week's entry drawing a new record for submissions entered.
Let's face it, the above photo of Josh Wicks can't help but inspire the comedy writer in all of
us.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
The task is simple, but far from easy. Avoid defeat against Nigeria and the U.S. men's Olympic
team advances to the quarterfinals of the tournament. Secure a victory against Nigeria and the
Americans advance AND avoid facing Argentina in the quarters.
Serbian national team coach Radomir Antic has claimed victory in the chase to land Neven
Subotic, stating that the defender has chosen to play for Serbia rather than the United
States.
There has still been no public declaration from Subotic on the matter but Antic's public
announcement sounds more legitimate than the previous reports that surfaced last month saying
Subotic would play for Serbia.
Photo
by ISIphotos.com
Major League Soccer released the list of 65 players it has invited to the 2009 MLS Player
Combine, set for January 9-13 at Lockhart Stadium in Ft.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
Maybe it was fitting that Ryan Cochrane, a player Alexi Lalas helped draft with the original San
Jose Earthquakes four years ago, scored San Jose's game-winning goal on Sunday. Better yet, maybe
it was more fitting to see Frank Yallop celebrate a victory over the manager he was dumped for, a
manager whose job is in jeopardy.
Photo
by ISIphotos.com
At this time of year, you can usually expect your share of Christmas and other holiday
cards in your mailbox.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
The details finally emerged on the Carlos Ruiz trade from LA to Toronto FC on Thursday and they
were shocking to say the least. The LA Galaxy shipped Ruiz to Toronto FC for a pair of supplemental
draft picks.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
Danny Szetela's five-year professional career has included many things. From the dispersal draft
that landed him with the Columbus Crew as a 16-year old, to the transfer that saw him go from MLS
to Spanish club Racing de Santander, to his first U.
Standing in the middle of an energized crowd, Jozy Altidore rattled off autographs and posed for
picture after picture. Even after most of the other stars who played in the Steve Nash/Claudio
Reyna charity match in Manhattan's Chinatown, Altidore stood on the turf at Nike Field and signed
and posed for fans eager to meet American soccer's most exciting young star.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
The Los Angeles Galaxy has traded Carlos Ruiz to Toronto FC, sources told SBI on Tuesday
evening. Details of the deal were not available yet. To make room for Ruiz on the roster, TFC has
waived French midfielder Laurent Robert.
So it's the day after the Los Angeles Galaxy's awful 3-1 loss to Chicago on Thursday and you're
probably wondering where the Galaxy will go from here. I can tell you where at least one of their
players is.
None other than David Beckham is in New York City today along with wife Victoria to promote
their fragrance lines.
Major League Soccer/Tiffany
Major League Soccer unveiled its new MLS Cup trophy at a ceremony in New York City on Wednesday
morning. The Tiffany-designed trophy has been named in honor of Los Angeles Galaxy owner Phil
Anschutz and will be presented to the winner of MLS Cup on Nov.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
U.S. national team fans weren't the only ones who caught a glimpse of Kenny Cooper's performance
against Guatemala on Saturday.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
See that picture? It's Benny Feilhaber after he scored the eventual game-winning goal for the
U.S. national team in a packed Soldier Field to defeat Mexico in the 2007 Gold Cup final.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
It is that time of year again. Time for European leagues to kick off and time for American
players to ply their trade throughout Europe (and Mexico).
This week marked the first week for the English Premier League and German Bundesliga, meaning
several names joined the list of Americans playing abroad.
If you haven't seen Red Bulls goalkeeper Danny Cepero's amazing 80-yard free kick goal from
tonight's 3-1 win against Columbus, fear not. Here is the video, courtesy of MLSNet.com:
WOW.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
New England midfielder Pat Phelan is recovering from a concussion suffered during last night's
SuperLiga match between the Revolution and Pachuca (which the Revs won, 1-0, on a late Khano Smith
PK).
Photo by ISIphotos.com
With the deadline fast approaching for players to make transfer moves in Europe, several
American standouts remain in limbo with just days to go before decision day.
Oguchi Onyewu, Michael Bradley, Frank Simek and Heath Pearce have all been mentioned as
potential transfer targets this summer.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
Plenty of moving and shaking going on in the transfer market today, though sadly there are no
completed deals to report on the Americans in the mix just yet.
If you were to take a poll asking people who the best defenders in MLS are, the list would
include each of the following names:
-
Chad Marshall
-
Michael Parkhurst
-
Bakary Soumare
-
Bobby Boswell
At least three of those names enjoyed career-type seasons while the fourth, Parkhurst, still
played at a very high level.
The funny folks from I'm On Setanta Sports were going to have a hard time topping last
week's episode, and while this week's installment of IOSS wasn't as funny, it still provides plenty
of laughes.
Enjoy:
Top Lines of the Clip:
-
Yours sincerely, Danny Shittu
-
Rafa Benitez has just asked Spurs if they can take back Robbie Keane
-
He's here, he's der, he's swearing everywhere, Joe Kin-near, Joe Kin-near
-
I threw the game against Porto?
Good afternoon to the folks on the West side of the country (and the MLS standings). Here are
some news items and notes for you to peruse as your day winds to a close:
FC Dallas signs Sikora
FC Dallas said goodbye to Colombian midfielder Juan Toja over the weekend, but have already
replaced him.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
If you think that Jose Francisco Torres' decision to play for the U.S. national team instead of
Mexico didn't have an impact south of the border, think again.
Not only did the Mexican national team actively recruit Torres at the same time as the United
States, Mexico also attempted to convince Torres to change his mind even after Torres was named to
the U.
What is a Designated Player slot worth?
Two years ago, when the New York Red Bulls acquired Chivas USA's DP slot, it cost a former MLS
MVP in Amado Guevara. Last year, when D.C. United acquired Colorado's DP slot, the cost was as
former MVP (Christian Gomez) and a first-round pick.
