For the second straight season, the Columbus Crew's Chad Marshall was selected as the league's best defender. Marshall was named as the MLS 2009 Defender of the Year Thursday, joining Carlos Bocanegra and Robin Fraser as the award's only two-time winners.

2009 has been a tremendous success for Marshall, named in July as an All-Star, and earning five caps with the U.

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For the second straight season, the Columbus Crew's Chad Marshall was selected as the league's best defender. Marshall was named as the MLS 2009 Defender of the Year Thursday, joining Carlos Bocanegra and Robin Fraser as the award's only two-time winners.

2009 has been a tremendous success for Marshall, named in July as an All-Star, and earning five caps with the U.

Click to continue reading...

For the second season in a row, the Columbus Crew's Chad Marshall was named the best defender in Major League Soccer. Marshall joins Carlos Bocanegra as the only other player to win consecutive MLS Defender of the Year awards. Also on Thursday, MLS announced Alex Prus as the Referee of the Year and Greg Barkey as Assistant Referee of the Year. Click to continue reading...

1) I've updated the home/away records for each MLS team in each season through 2009:
Check them out here.
2) If Omar Gonzalez wins the Rookie of the Year award, he'll be the youngest winner ever. He was 20.72 years of age as of July 1st. The current record-holder is Carlos Bocanegra in 2000, at 21. Click to continue reading...

Now that we have officially qualified for the World Cup, it is time for the first installment of Bradley's Babes: 23 for 2010 our attempt to answer the question, "Who should we take along?"Â Â But instead of taking the standard approach doing our best to guess who Bob will take to South Africa we decided to focus on who we would like him to take.

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On my ESPNChicago.com Chicago Fire blog, I take a quick look at some international soccer news involving a couple of former Fire players. Most noteworthy was Rennes defender Carlos Bocanegra, who returned from his one-game suspension.
• From red to green: Former Fire defender helps Rennes blank Montpellier Click to continue reading...

by FRANCO PANIZO

If you were looking for battles between Americans then this weekend is perfect for you.

Up to five different matches pit Americans against each other, including Edgar Castillo and Tigres UANL's tilt against Michael Orozco's San Luis.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

If you were looking for battles between Americans then this weekend is perfect for you.

Up to five different matches pit Americans against each other, including Edgar Castillo and Tigres UANL's tilt against Michael Orozco's San Luis.

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Rennes and defender Carlos Bocanegra will host first place Montpellier on Saturday at Stade de la Route-de-Lorient. Click to continue reading...

by FRANCO PANIZO

The injury bug has bitten a number of the Americans Abroad recently, but there are still plenty of healthy players to keep an eye on this weekend as club soccer resumes.

Jose Francisco Torres is one of those players. After showing well as a sub in the U.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

The injury bug has bitten a number of the Americans Abroad recently, but there are still plenty of healthy players to keep an eye on this weekend as club soccer resumes.

Jose Francisco Torres is one of those players. After showing well as a sub in the U.

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U.S. 2 Costa Rica 2

Carlos Bocanegra, left, and Jonathan Bornstein celebrate his dramatic last-gasp equalizer against a stunned Costa Rica. (AP Photo)

One of the more magnificent tie games you'll ever see had the U.S.' young guns blaze back in the dying seconds against Costa Rica from two goals behind despite being down to 10 men after the injury to Gooch tonight in Washington D.

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The ratings barely matter. The game in a nutshell: Wide-open start, five minutes of awful defense, U.S. dominance thereafter.
GK Tim Howard 5: Not at fault on the goals; little else to do.
D Steve Cherundolo 5: Not in the vicinity on first goal. Click to continue reading...

It was a bit of a shock when U.S. Soccer's Michael Kammarman called today's press conference to order and said he had an announcement -- Charlie Davies was in a single-car accident with a fatality on the George Washington Parkway, a scenic route along the Potomac River in Virginia.
Kammarman made it clear that the team and U. Click to continue reading...

Landon is ready. Carlos Bocanegra is ready. Are you ready? Click to continue reading...

CONCACAF WORLD CUP QUALIFYING – ROUND 9
PREVIEW: HONDURAS vs UNITED STATES
It's the biggest week for World Cup qualifying and CONCACAF is not the exception. The United States, Mexico, Honduras, and Costa Rica are fighting for three spots to qualify directly while El Salvador still has an outside shot of coming away with the playoff spot. Click to continue reading...

The United States can clinch a spot in next summer's World Cup Finals in South Africa against Honduras. It's an important match for both teams. Here's a preview of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying match on Saturday, October 10, 2009 along with a prediction. A video preview of the match can be found here.

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Honduras will be without Captain Amado Guevara for the mammoth clash with the United States on Saturday. While the USA is without Clint Dempsey, the Americans come in with a full complement of players otherwise. (Except for Mo Edu, who of course has been injured for some time now.)

Confidence has been high at US Camp this week in Miami.

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Bob Bradley is being dealt a dilemma for the final two World Cup qualifiers for the CONCACAF region - win 1 and your in, but with a number of players sitting on yellow cards, if any of them accumulate another card in a US loss in Honduras on Saturday, they would not be able to play in the all-important final qualifying match against Costa Rica the following week. Click to continue reading...

Bob Bradley announced his 22-man roster for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers against Honduras and Costa Rica last week. Here it is in case you haven't seen it yet:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa: 5/3 SO), Tim Howard (Everton: 14/8 SO)

DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes: 24/3), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA, 4/0), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover: 19/0), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards: 1/0), Clarence Goodson (IK Start: 1/0), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan: 18/1), Jonathan Spector (West Ham: 3/0)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach: 13/4), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo: 7/1), Clint Dempsey (Fulham: 20/5), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus: 4/0), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo: 3/0), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew: 0/0), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca: 6/0)

FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (Hull City: 11/6), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids: 5/0), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo: 16/6), Kenny Cooper (1860 Munich: 1/1), Charlie Davies (FC Sochaux: 5/2), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy: 33/11)
*numbers indicate all-time World Cup Qualifying caps/goals

You'll notice Jimmy Conrad replaces Jay DeMerit and his infected eye, and FrankenCooper makes a rare appearance in a full strength US MNT squad.

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Carlos Bocanegra sees red, while Charlie Davies puts in a full 90 minute shift in a winning effort in weekend French soccer action. Click to continue reading...

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by FRANCO PANIZO

Carlos Bocanegra has made a career out of solid defending and timely tackles, and this weekend he prevented a potential goal with a last-second challenge.

Unfortunately for Stade Rennes, Bocanegra did so with his hands.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

Carlos Bocanegra has made a career out of solid defending and timely tackles, and this weekend he prevented a potential goal with a last-second challenge.

Unfortunately for Stade Rennes, Bocanegra did so with his hands.

Click to continue reading...

                                                                         Photo by ISIphotos.com

With the roster now selected, it is time to consider the options U.S. head coach Bob Bradley has when selecting his starting lineup in next weekend's World Cup qualifier vs.

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                                                                         Photo by ISIphotos.com

With the roster now selected, it is time to consider the options U.S. head coach Bob Bradley has when selecting his starting lineup in next weekend's World Cup qualifier vs.

Click to continue reading...

Conor Casey has been named part of the U.S. men's national team roster of 22 players that will train in advance of World Cup qualifiers against Honduras and Costa Rica.

The U.S. first travels to San Pedro Sula to face Honduras, with kickoff at 8 p.m. (Mountain) on Oct. 10 at the Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano.

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Here is our USA Roster for the final two CONCACAF World Cup qualifying games, to be played Oct 10 at Honduras, and Oct 14 v Costa Rica in Washington DC.
G:
Brad Guzan - Aston Villa
Tim Howard - Everton
D:
Carlos Bocanegra - Stade Rennes
Jonathan Bornstein - Chivas USA
Steve Cherundolo - Hannover
Jimmy Conrad - Kansas City Wizards
Clarence Goodson -Start
Oguchi Onyewu - AC Milan
Jonathan Spector - West Ham
M:
Michael Bradley - Monchengladbach
Ricardo Clark - Houston Dynamo
Clint Dempsey - Fulham
Landon Donovan - Los Angeles Galaxy
Benny Feilhaber - AGF Aarhus
Stuart Holden - Houston Dynamo
Robbie Rogers - Columbus Crew
Jose Francisco Torres - Pachuca
F:
Jozy Altidore - Hull
Conor Casey - Colorado Rapids
Brian Ching - Houston Dynamo
Kenny Cooper - 1860 Munich
Charlie Davies - Sochaux
Two comments:
-Are you surprised to see Jimmy Conrad back on the team? Click to continue reading...

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by FRANCO PANIZO

It is the final weekend of club action before the international break, meaning the last chance for some key U.S. national team players to get some much-needed playing time before the upcoming World Cup qualifiers vs. Honduras and Costa Rica.

Midfielder Michael Bradley looks to continue his recent run of playing time when Borussia Moenchengladbach take on Neven Subotic and Borussia Dortmund, while AC Milan defender Oguchi Onyewu looks to build on his impressive mid-week Rossoneri debut with a match against Serie A bottom-feeders Atalanta.

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by FRANCO PANIZO

It is the final weekend of club action before the international break, meaning the last chance for some key U.S. national team players to get some much-needed playing time before the upcoming World Cup qualifiers vs. Honduras and Costa Rica.

Midfielder Michael Bradley looks to continue his recent run of playing time when Borussia Moenchengladbach take on Neven Subotic and Borussia Dortmund, while AC Milan defender Oguchi Onyewu looks to build on his impressive mid-week Rossoneri debut with a match against Serie A bottom-feeders Atalanta.

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No surprises. No gimmicks.

Goalkeepers: Tim Howard (Everton), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa).
Defenders: Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Spector (West Ham), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hanover), Clarence Goodson (Start), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City).

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Carlos Bocanegra will be defending againt the Auxerre strike force, while Charlie Davies will be looking to make LeMans leak goals in this weekend's Ligue 1 action. Click to continue reading...

Not much change as one might expect at this stage of the competition, while Robbie Rogers, Landon Donovan and Jonathan Bornstein all retain their spots.

A victory in either game and the U.S. has booked a spot in South Africa.

The squad (with club and WC caps and goals):

Goalkeepers - Brad Guzan (Aston Villa: 5/3 SO), Tim Howard (Everton: 14/8 SO)

Defenders - Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes: 24/3), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA, 4/0), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover: 19/0), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards: 1/0), Clarence Goodson (IK Start: 1/0), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan: 18/1), Jonathan Spector (West Ham: 3/0)

Midfielders - Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach: 13/4), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo: 7/1), Clint Dempsey (Fulham: 20/5), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus: 4/0), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo: 3/0), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew: 0/0), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca: 6/0)

Forwards - Jozy Altidore (Hull City: 11/6), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids: 5/0), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo: 16/6), Kenny Cooper (1860 Munich: 1/1), Charlie Davies (FC Sochaux: 5/2), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy: 33/11).

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The United States has basically sewn up a World Cup berth. Political trouble in Honduras coupled with the complete collapse of Costa Rican football (outside the youth level) in the past few months has the US virtually assured passage from CONCACAF. But Bob Bradley still is not leaving anything to chance, calling an experienced squad to the final two qualifiers against reeling sides.

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The US roster for the World Cup qualifiers at Honduras on Oct. 10 and against Costa Rica on Oct. 14:

Goalkeepers: Tim Howard (Everton), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa).
Defenders: Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Spector (West Ham), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hanover), Clarence Goodson (Start), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City).

Click to continue reading...

The United States has two key 2010 World Cup Qualifiers in the CONCACAF region and has named their roster. The two matches will be against Honduras on October 10 and against Costa Rica on October 14. Here's the full roster named on Thursday, October 1, 2009.

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION

GOALKEEPERS (2): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa: 5/3 SO), Tim Howard (Everton: 14/8 SO)

DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes: 24/3), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA, 4/0), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover: 19/0), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards: 1/0), Clarence Goodson (IK Start: 1/0), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan: 18/1), Jonathan Spector (West Ham: 3/0)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach: 13/4), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo: 7/1), Clint Dempsey (Fulham: 20/5), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus: 4/0), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo: 3/0), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew: 0/0), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca: 6/0)

FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (Hull City: 11/6), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids: 5/0), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo: 16/6), Kenny Cooper (1860 Munich: 1/1), Charlie Davies (FC Sochaux: 5/2), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy: 33/11)

*numbers indicate all-time World Cup Qualifying caps/goals

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