After 80 minutes of disciplined defensive soccer, the United States broke through Mexico,
scoring a brilliant late goal that ultimately sealed the nation's first ever win on Mexican soil in
75 years.
Heading into tonight's contest at the Estadio Azteca, the U.S. had played away to Mexico 24
times but fell short of a win on each of those occasions.
The U.S. Under-17 Women's National Team will face Mexico on Monday, May 7 (6:30 p.m. ET/4:30
p.m. local) for the Group B title. The USA, like Mexico, has already clinched a berth in the
semifinal round, but with a win or a draw against the Mexicans, the U.S. wins Group B and would
then face the Group A runner-up (Panama) on Thursday, May 10.
Group B action in the 2012 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualilfying Tournament kicks off Friday evening
at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Honduras faces Panama in the first match (9 p.m. ET,
mun2/concacaf.com), followed by Mexico against Trinidad & Tobago (11:30 p.m. ET, Telemundo/
concacaf.com).
The top two teams advance to the semifinals, with the first-place finisher meeting the second-place
finisher from Group A, and vice versa, so the U.
For nearly 45 minutes, the United States under-23 national team forgot who they were.
US soccer has been making up for a shortage of on-the-ball talent by developing tough, athletic,
and hard-working players for a long, long time. The defining moment of the 2010 World Cup was
Landon Donovan's lung-bursting downfield run to score the winner over Algeria.
Bem-vindo a Bootcamp Monday! We're almost reaching the end of this
month's edition as Brasil prepares to face Mexico in a friendly tomorrow. We know
there are many Mexican Futbolita readers, so if you'd like to say "OIII!"Â
to Mano's men, they're putting up at Hotel Camino Real, where a
churro or two would be most welcome if you'd like to slip past those buff security guys
(just kidding).
By Andrew Villegas Paging Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl, I have the topic and title for your next
book: The Márquez Experiment. In a lot of ways, the Rafa Márquez experiment in NY was a more
important experiment than the David Beckham experiment was for MLS. Márquez was supposed to bring
in Mexicans — a huge [.
Landon Donovan and Mexico go hand-in-hand like meat and rabid dogs. It seems that every time
Donovan plays against Mexico, be it the national team or a Mexican club, Donovan seems to bring out
some emotions from Mexican supporters.
He certainly has drawn some emotions out from the locals here in Morelia.
The U.S. Men's National Team will take the field at Estadio Azteca tonight trying to beat a
Mexico team riding a wave of confidence and good form. The Americans will also be trying to win in
a stadium they have never won in, a city they have never won in, and a country they have never won
in.
Estadio Azteca is one of the most historic stadiums in the world that presents a rare and imposing
opportunity for players. The Mexicans have only lost eight times in their history at this vaunted
venue.
Landon Donovan and former U.S. veterans Kasey Keller talk about the value and the experience of
playing here.
The U.S. men's Under 23 national team's failure to even reach the semifinals of the CONCACAF
Olympic Qualifying tournament was a blemish on soccer in America. There's no way around that fact.
Yet, as Mexicans rejoice south of the border, across the pond and even throughout Houston and the
U.S., it's fair to say the [.
Against T&T, Summer Green scored her sixth goal of the tournament
The U.S. U-17 WNT has qualified for the semifinal round at the 2012 CONCACAF U-17 Women's
Championships, but there is much more work to be done in this tournament, starting with a match
against Mexico on May 7 in the Group B finale, the winner of which will finish first in the group
and earn a semifinal match with the second place team from Group A.
South Korea dominated the early stages of their men's Olympic football semi-final against what
Jonathan Pearce summed up perfectly as "a higgledy-piggledy mess" of a Brazil side. This led to the
fleeting prospect of a South Korea v. Mexico final. And, as those two sides met at Newcastle in one
of the tournament's direst games, it was just as well the prospect was only fleeting.
I went into yesterday's Olympic qualifying games at Livestrong Sporting Park, just looking for a
little entertainment as a neutral. I ended up seeing a great game between El Salvador and Honduras
and a good performance by Mexico in their win over Canada.
The opening act ended up being much better than the main event.
Throughout Toronto FC's CONCACAF Champions League series with the LA Galaxy, I was most impressed
with two playres - Ryan Johnson and Torsten Frings. Johnson needs no explanation - his goals were
clutch and well-taken. He nearly scored the dagger with a rocket from outside the box late in the
second leg but still had a tremendous series overall.
Well, we're a day away from the decisive CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal legs; the ones
involving MLS teams anyway. We'll have one guaranteed MLS semifinalist and the other MLS side is
ahead on aggregate in their series.
With the ice storm following the snow storm Seattle Sounders FC canceled today's practice. It
was to be the formal opening to training camp, even though most players have participated in
voluntary workouts for some time. They've been doing that not just because of the roster
competition, but because game one this year is in the CONCACAF Champions League against Santos
Laguna.
"Drugs are out at SkyDome? BMO Field it is."
Next Tuesday, in the gleaming controversy-free halls of CONCACAF's New York headquarters, the draw
for the Champions League knockout phases will be held. Our beloved TFC will be entering this stage
for the first time and as reward will face one of two Mexican powerhouses - Santos Laguna and
Monterrey, or, star-laden MLS rival LA Galaxy.
Three points behind co-group leaders Morelia and Alajuelense in CONCACAF Champions League play,
the Galaxy face a must-win game at 7 o'clock tonight at Home Depot Center against the Mexicans
(live on Fox Soccer and Telefutura).
Realistically, if the Galaxy don't win - a tie wouldn't help them much - their international
campaign is all but over, but they may have to play Morelia without three of their key players.
"Oooh, we don't love turtling..."THE BUZZ:
A surprisingly festive atmosphere despite a small crowd at BMO Field as the number of Pumas
supporters in attendance was well in the hundreds. Giant golden kitty cat faces everywhere - Nick
Soolsma must have been in heaven. Actually, it was quite possibly the largest ever away support
number at a TFC match - despite the "away" supporters all having 416 phone numbers.
With Donovan Ricketts in goal - the first choice Galaxy keeper sat out this one and was replaced
by Josh Saunders - the Galaxy would arguably have won this game.
In fact the Galaxy came within 10 minutes of a famous away win at altitude in Mexico, but
Saunders failed to hold shots that led to both goals in the last 10 minutes in Morelia's come from
behind victory.
MORELIA, Mexico -- To say that Landon Donovan is Public Enemy No. 1 when he faces Mexican
opposition may be a bit of an understatement.Â
Ahead of Tuesday's CONCACAF Champions League match with Morelia, the perception that Mexicans
have of the Los Angeles Galaxy captain is that of a vile man, who people in a local marketplace
label a "racist" and someone who undoubtedly "hates Mexicans.
With both the U.S. men's national team and U.S. women's national team claimed shutout wins, U.S.
Soccer just needed a victory from Caleb Porter's Under-23 side to enjoy a dream leap year day.
Porter's team got that win and it did so in convincing fashion against a formidable foe.
The U.S. team once again practiced indoors at BC Place (with the weather so far in Vancouver, trust
us when we say outdoors would not be too much fun), this time in preparation for its final Group B
match vs. Mexico. The CONCACAF neighbors will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m. PT. Fans can
watch the game live on Universal Sports Network, Universalsports.
                    PHOTO COURTESY LA GALAXY
BY ADAM SERRANO
MORELIA, MEXICO – Three points were there for the taking, but errors in goal and by the
officiating crew in the last ten minutes proved disastrous for the Los Angeles Galaxy, who fell 2-1
to Monarcas Morelia in their CONCACAF Champions League match.
Amid a din of murmuring, creaking metal stools and an endless rotation of disarming corridos,
the two men sat, mostly unremarkable among the assembled crowd, each focused on the solitary lemon
wedge that had accompanied their Coronas.
League One side Hartlepool United traveled to London to play their final match of the season and
about 170 of the club's fans made the trip dressed as Smurfs. First-place Charlton won the match
3-2, but that didn't stop the Hartlepool supporters from enjoying what's become a tradition of
dressing up for their final match each season, as well as any other big matches they feel like
watching in a costume.
This is the LAST team to get a mock-up logo. Its been bad luck, really.
Overcast Saturday afternoon. Fresh, yet not cold. Props to the scheduling gods for picking a
kickoff closer to the train schedules. Don't have to wait an hour before the match, won't have to
wait 45 mins after it.
Chicago is 1-1-2 and Toronto has neither earned a point nor scored a goal at home.
Messi has won every possible tournament at his club, FC Barcelona. Argentina regularly produces
world class soccer players that excel in Europe. Argentina has also won two World Cups. So, the
question arises: why hasn't the pulga lifted any trophies with the
albiceleste?
Mexico seemed ready to settle for a draw with Venezuela, but two late goals coming in a span of
a minute lifted El Tri to a 3-1 victory over the South Americans.
Fielding a squad largely comprised of players competing for a spot on the Olympic qualifying
team, the Mexicans won on Wednesday night courtesy of goals from Rafael Marquez Lugo and Oribe
Peralta in the 88th and 89th minutes, respectively.
I begin with a basic and ironic premise: when dealing with racism, we too often think in terms
of black & white. No, not black people and white people, but rather innocence/guilt, right/wrong,
good/evil. The most dangerous aspect of evil is its ability to snuff out empathy, even for its own
evil bad-ass self.
Tomorrow night the Rapids play their final group stage game of the Champions League in Torreon,
Mexico against Santos Laguna. With a win Colorado will clinch 2nd place in the group and a spot in
the quarterfinals. With an extremely unlikely 4 goal win they will win the group. A draw or loss
does not eliminate them, but it leaves their fate in the hands of Real Espana and Isidro Metapan
who play on Thursday.
We continue our new series on the Free Beer Movement. It's called "Brews and Views" and we pose
a question or topic to various prominent soccer persons and, well, they give us their view on
it.
We've got loads of get people that have already responded to our call for essay submissions and
each week we'll feature a unique perspective on the current topic/question at hand.
