All you who criticized Bruce Arena, said the game had passed him by, said he relied too much on old veterans...all you who said Dema Kovalenko was a one-dimensional hack...all you who said there was no way Ricketts or Berhalter would make it through the whole season...all you who said that Beckham and Donovan couldn't work together. Click to continue reading...

A nifty second half goal by Cuauhtemoc Blanco gave the Chicago Fire the goal it needed to advance past the New England Revolution in a hard fought Eastern Conference semifinal at Toyota Park Saturday. With the victory Chicago advances to the Eastern Conference final for the second straight year where they will host Real Salt Lake next week. Click to continue reading...

I'm well aware that Thursday night is the night to go out for young, drunken & collegiate, so if you are between the ages 18 & 23 and currently share an apartment/dorm room that hasn't been cleaned since August with a guy named "Bodie" I'm cool with you ignoring this post.
Now for everyone that is still here may I remind you that there is a game tonight with super-sized playoff implications. Click to continue reading...

With J Hutcherson -- Look at it this way. It wouldn't be as much fun without a struggling club like Dallas throwing up yet another shock result. Los Angeles Galaxy coach Bruce Arena's "our worst game of the season" comments aside, LA dropping a 6-3 result at home isn't necessarily all that embarrassing. Click to continue reading...

The Colorado Rapids played their prettiest soccer in the 2-2 home draw against Seattle earlier this season. They have played their most professional soccer in the last two home victories which included a tight 1-0 win over Toronto last night.
Sometimes, it's about digging deep and finding ways to win. Click to continue reading...

Chicago Fire technical director Frank Klopas is going to be inducted into the Illinois State Soccer Association Hall of Fame.
The ISSA will announce the induction this Saturday during the Fire's game against the Columbus Crew at Toyota Park. An official induction ceremony and banquet will take place Oct. Click to continue reading...

A fourth minute goal by Stuart Holden held up as the game winner, sending the Chicago Fire to their first losing streak of the 2009 campaign.
ASN's Nicholas Smyth reports from Bridgeview, Ill., and supplies player ratings for the home side.

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Jeff Cunningham and Kenny Cooper combined with an own-goal by CJ Brown gave the Chicago Fire their first defeat of the season--by a lopsided 3-0 score at that. With three starters missing due to injuries and international call-ups, a letdown by Denis Hamlett's side was somewhat to be expected. Click to continue reading...

Women's Professional Soccer went with a game a day Friday to Sunday. The weekend's shock result was in Bridgeview, where FC Gold Pride won on the road. Sky Blue FC 1 - Los Angeles 1 Marta scored for the Sol in the 80th minute, taking the best opportunity of the game and turning it into three points. "Even though it was an individual play that I scored the goal on, it was the result of. Click to continue reading...

A terrific performance by Cuauhtemoc Blanco was all but squandered at Toyota Park Saturday night, as the Chicago Fire let the Kansas City Wizards get away with a point from a 2-2 tie.
Jeff Tobin reports from Bridgeview, Ill., and supplies Fire player ratings. Click to continue reading...

Slick stuff from the Bridgeview massive. Best thing I've seen this week. But is it better than
T. Isaac Halasima's winner of an advert for RSL from a few weeks back? You tell me. Click to continue reading...

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - The Chicago Red Stars of Women's Professional Soccer held their first-ever media day (a week later than originally scheduled). The team is coming off a 1-0-1 road trip in its inaugural season, and now the Red Stars can call Toyota Park their home base for the next five matches. Chicago hosts Sky Blue FC this Sunday (5 p. Click to continue reading...

A quick video from US Soccer of US supporters taking booze buses from a couple of Chicago bars to the Trinidad match at Bridgeview. Watching it reminds me that I'm going down to D.C. for the US-Cuba World Cup Qualifier next weekend. I'll be embedded with the North Jersey Brigade, who are rolling down to the nation's capital 60 deep. Click to continue reading...

Hey y'all. SF from The Offside Rules in for Il Bruce as he traverses his way across the midwest. He's on his way back home from last night's US match in Chicago last night so let's start there. Then we'll hit some MLS stuff. Then that's it because frankly I feel too disconnected to the Mexican and Euro leagues right know to even bother; long-distance relationships (no matter how hot she is) kinda suck. Click to continue reading...

The United States men can all but stamp their ticket to the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2010 World Cup with a victory over Trinidad and Tobago tonight (7 p.m., ESPN2, Galavision) at Bridgeview, Ill. What?! You don't... Click to continue reading...

We'll discuss separately whether the USA's second 1-0 qualifying win is a wonderfully efficient and professional performance or a boring show by a team that should have the confidence to get after it.

No U.S. fans will be complaining about the standings, at least. With Trinidad and Tobago managing only a home draw against Guatemala, the USA could clinch a spot in next year's finals with two games to play.

Click to continue reading...

U.S. vs. Cuba
Sept. 6
Havana, Cuba
8 p.m. ET, ESPN Classic
ESPN360.com
U.S. vs. Trinidad & Tobago
Sept. 10
Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Ill.
8 p.m. ET, ESPN2
ESPN360.com
Cuba cautiously optimistic
U.S expects hostile reception in Cuba Click to continue reading...

NEWS: He was a couple of hours late, but Bob Bradley finally released a 20-man roster that is set to take on Cuba (Sept. 6 in Havana) and Trinidad and Tobago (Sept. 10, Bridgeview, Ill.) in World Cup qualifying action.... Click to continue reading...

Sir Bob has released his 20-man roster for next week's World Cup qualifier in Cuba (Sept. 6) and for the home match in Bridgeview, Ill., against Trinidad and Tobago (Sept. 10). GOALKEEPERS: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan. DEFENDERS: Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu, Heath Pearce, Frankie Hejduk, Danny Califf, Steve Cherundolo*, Michael Orozco, Marvell Wynne. Click to continue reading...

NEWS: While we await Bob Bradley's list of U.S. call-ups for the upcoming qualifiers, against Cuba (Sept. 6, Havana) and Trinidad and Tobago (Sept. 10, Bridgeview, Ill.), we bring you Mexico's, which Sven-Goran Eriksson announced earlier today: Keepers: Oswaldo Sanchez... Click to continue reading...

Chicago acquire a 20 year old midfielder.
Read all about it here.
Follow the stories that led up to it here.
Chicago Fire press release:
BRIDGEVIEW, ILL. -- The Chicago Fire announced Wednesday the club has acquired the services of midfielder Marco Pappa (full name: Marco Pablo Pappa Ponce) on a one and a half year loan from Guatemalan side CSD Municipal. Click to continue reading...

This comes to us courtesy of a Chicago MLSR reader who claims "inside knowledge" of the Blanco determination at the US Soccer Federation.

"Hi, I wish to be anonymous but I can tell you I have a connection inside the USSF and that is where my info comes from. After reviewing video supplied to them by MLS and D.

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I haven't watched this game. But a quick look at the stats had me wondering what the Rapids were doing. Last week the Fire lost 1-0 to KC. They had 19 shots to KC's 10. The week before they traveled to San Jose, winning 1-0 and getting off 9 shots to San Jose's 19. The week before that they beat NE at Bridgeview 4-0 getting off 10 shots to New England's 7. Click to continue reading...