After the night Nick Rimando had in goal for Real Salt Lake, there's no question he'd like to
have one moment back.
Rimando, who saved a Brad Davis penalty and a point-blank Will Bruin header late in the second
half, committed a foul on Mac Kandji that led to a last-second penalty, one that Colin Clark
converted to give the Houston Dynamo a 1-0 victory over RSL at BBVA Compass Stadium Thursday
night.
SOMERVILLE, MA- The Boston Breakers extended their winning run to two games by beating the New
York Fury 2-0 at Dilboy Stadium on Saturday night in front of 2,117 fans. Match kick-off was
delayed 45 minutes thanks to thunder showers in the area. And while lightning didn't strike twice,
Kyah Simon did, scoring her eighth and ninth goals of the season in the win.
Soccer America recaps Chelsea's victory over Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League semifinal
yesterday.
Playing with 10 men, Chelsea came back from 2-0 down to tie Barcelona and improbably move into the
final of the UEFA Champions League. Brazilian Ramires' goal in stoppage time of the first half
turned the game around for the Blues.
One of the most anticipated matchups of the weekend that just went by was the San Jose-Real Salt
Lake tilt. It may not have gone the way RSL wanted but the match did indeed live up to the billing
- two red cards, four goals, including a stoppage-time winner, and drama throughout was what this
game produced.
Matt Reis was easily the Revs top performer on Saturday. (Photo: Chris Aduama/aduama.com)
After each match the contributors to New England Soccer Today will rate the performances of
the New England Revolution players who made an appearance on a 1 to 10 scale (1 horrendous, 5
average, 10 perfection).
After every match this season, the staff here at The Bent Musket will be putting together player
ratings. Ratings are on a 1-10 scale, with 5 representing a thoroughly average performance, and 6 a
decent/capable showing. The final ratings will be averages of individual ratings from Corey Major
and Brendan Schimmel.
Connecticut FC Azul did their best to play spoiler and keep the USL PDL Northeast Division title
race down to the last day, but the Ottawa Fury found the goal they needed through Alex Rodriguez
ten minutes from the end of regulation time to win 1-0 and clinch first on Friday night at
Algonquin College Soccer Complex in Ottawa.
After each match the contributors to New England Soccer Today will rate the
performances of the United States National Team players who made an appearance on a 1 to 10 scale
(1 horrendous, 5 average, 10 perfection). This week Sean Donahue and Brian O'Connell contributed
ratings for the USA's 4-1 loss to Brazil.
New England's 2012 season began as we all expected. The Rev's lost their two opening road
matches, including a 1-0 loss at San Jose and a whopping 3-0 spanking by Sporting. Things turned
around only narrowly with the club's home opener, as the club rode past the absences of Darrius
Barnes, John Lozano, Stephen McCarthy, and Benny Feilhaber to find a 1-0 win over Portland.
The scoreline is flattering. This was a QPR side that made its ambition clear enough with its
number of signings. It was Man City doing all the early pressing forcing corners and set pieces,
one of which Yaya Toure scored from after Carlos Tevez's shot caromed off Bobby Zamora and fell to
the big man.
The scoreline is flattering. This was a QPR side that made its ambition clear enough with its
number of signings. It was Man City doing all the early pressing forcing corners and set pieces,
one of which Yaya Toure scored from after Carlos Tevez's shot caromed off Bobby Zamora and fell to
the big man.
Paging Nuri Sahin. Please return immediately to Real Madrid, do not stop at duty free to pick up
chocolate bonbons, board the next flight. We have a problem. Only one point against the also rans.
Luka may not do it.
Getafe's heroes were Juan Valera with a superbly placed header and then Abdel Barrada, the pick
of the Azulones, in a breakaway with Adrian Colunga, finishing with aplomb.
Even Gary Cahill admits as much. That goal turned the tables on Reading as goalie Federici was
sent upfield for a corner in a desperate search for the equalizer. It left him stranded while
Chelsea made its breakaway move for the fourth and final goal.
Welcome to another edition of Monday Morning Centre Back
The Dynamo drew 2-2 with the Columbus Crew last night, coming back from a goal down late to
equalize and then holding on late as the Crew came close to becoming the first MLS team to win at
BBVA Compass Stadium. It wasn't the reaction match I was hoping for after last week's loss to New
York, but it's a point and the Dynamo offense looked sharp, especially in the first half.
MLS announced today that Mamadou "Futty" Danso will be suspended one game and fined for the
vicious hit to the head he delivered to Calen Carr (who is wearing protective headgear for
goodness' sakes!!) late in the 0-0 draw on Tuesday night at BBVA Compass Stadium.
BRIDGEVIEW, IL.- Defending MLS Cup champs LA Galaxy used a brace from Robbie
Keane to shut out the Chicago Fire, 2-0, in front of a sold out crowd at Toyota Park on Sunday
afternoon.
The much-needed win helped LA avoid a three-game losing skid, after dropping consecutive matches
to San Jose and Philadelphia earlier in the week.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. - To call Marco Pappa an enigmatic player at times might be an
understatement.
The Chicago Fire midfielder joined the Fire on a loan during the 2008 season, which was later
extended into a permanent move. At times, he's been one of the league's most talented players. At
other times though, he's been criticized for not putting forth a complete effort.
Ask Dominic Oduro if goal line technology might change the game in a good way.
On Sunday, Oduro was the latest to be denied a score because the humans officiating on the field
could not keep up with a player on a breakaway and a deflected shot. While replays clearly showed
that the Chicago Fire striker had netted a goal, a sliding defender's late arrival was credited
with keeping the ball from crossing the line.
Brad Evans play as a right mid started a little while ago. It was due to the strong play of Andy
Rose and the benching of Fredy Montero and then just continued, except for those times when he was
used at right back or at center mid. He's even popped up at left mid for a bit. There was a theory,
one I really wanted to be true because I like fun tactical stuff and I like how Evans plays, that
he was now being used as a roving midfielder.
NEWTON, Mass. – The Boston College women's soccer team kicked off the 2012 season in style,
cruising past Providence College on their way to a 3-0 victory in front of 831 at the Newton Campus
Soccer Field.
Senior Kristen Mewis, who was named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List earlier this week, led the
charge with a goal and an assist, while freshman McKenzie Meehan and junior Patrice Vettori also
scored.
Last Wednesday Bradley Wiggins' big yellow Tour de France victory parade passed near to a town
synonymous with its greatest ever champion – Mourenx, site of the coming of age of the
indomitable Belgian, Eddy Merckx. From the moment his breakaway victory there on the 17th stage
of the 1969 Tour, people spoke in hushed tones about Merckx's achievement.
[In the future, I'm going to try to write and post these reactions
right after games. The PGR will be a supplement to recaps. This kind of post is part of a "rebirth"
for the Brotherly Game that I've pondered lately, something I think is necessary for both myself
and the site. Enjoy. - Scott, Mg Ed]
A header and then a long range attempt, resulting in a goal.
After every match this season, the staff here at The Bent Musket will be putting together player
ratings. Ratings are on a 1-10 scale, with 5 representing a thoroughly average performance, and 6 a
decent/capable showing. The final ratings will be averages of individual ratings from Steve Stoehr,
Corey Major, Matty Jollie, and Abram Chamberlain.
Liverpool declare independence, King Kenny to lead them to league title - originally posted on
Soccerlens.com
Liverpool have declared their independence as a separate and sovereign nation, electing King
Kenny as their first leader. Liverpool will also breakaway from the English Premier League with
immediate effect to form their own Liverpool Premier League, where they, as the only members, will
be guaranteed silverware each season.
Newcastle tore West Brom apart in the first half this afternoon, and scored three magical breakaway
goals, two through number 9 Papiss  Cisse, and one from the mercurial Ben Arfa. The goals came
from Ciise after 5 minutes, Ben Arfa after 11 minutes and Cisse  again after 33 minutes  to
make that five goals in just 6 [.
The Revolution Youth Academy teams reeled off three wins in New Jersey during the St. Patrick's
Day weekend, including a sweep of Match Fit Chelsea on Sunday.
The U-18s took a 4-1 win over Match Fit Chelsea U-18s on Sunday in West Windsor, N.J., thanks
to goals from Manuel Andrade (9′), Ramario Osorio (44′) Devin Devoy (48′) and Peguy Ngatcha
(57′).
Fabio Caballero (above, left) of Olimpia isn't the only player with a happy trail (and bad
underwear) on the pitch these days, Kickettes.
Although we're prepared to forgive the latter on the basis that by revealing his furry fortune
finder, Caballero has kicked off another debate in our office about male grooming: is a little map
guiding a person on their journey to a footballer's nethers helpfully hairy or scary?
