Here's one of those random news stories we read about every season:

Born in the same Liverpool suburb as current well-known midfielders Steven Gerrard and Joey Barton, Peter Reid had a solid playing career, most notably at Bolton, Everton, and Manchester City. He won the FA Cup and old First Division twice (both at Everton). Click to continue reading...

Supporters of the United States national team (myself included) have complained openly and often about the officiating we've received at the last two world cups including an apparent handball on Torston Frings on the goal line in the 2002 Quarterfinals which was missed by EPL official Hugh Dallas and the almost criminal call by Dr. Click to continue reading...

From the US Soccer website

The U.S. team will play Japan in the semifinal at Beijing Workers Stadium on Monday, August 18th. The match kicks off at 8:00 am CT and will be broadcast live on MSNBC, Universal HD and the NBC Olympic Soccer Channel.

The Americans have made the semifinal round in all nine world championships FIFA has held for women?

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From the US Soccer website

The U.S. team will play Japan in the semifinal at Beijing Workers Stadium on Monday, August 18th. The match kicks off at 8:00 am CT and will be broadcast live on MSNBC, Universal HD and the NBC Olympic Soccer Channel.

The Americans have made the semifinal round in all nine world championships FIFA has held for women's soccer, including the last four Olympic Games.

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USA Women Olympic Match Report from du Nord reader Adam.

Quarterfinals:
-Fri Aug 15
USA 2-1 Canada

After a marathon match that included a rain delay and extra-time, the US emerged from the quarterfinals victorious over regional rivals Canada.

The US took the lead in the 12th minute when Angela Hucles tapped in a header from Heather O'Reilly. Click to continue reading...

Good morning folks. The Olympic men's soccer quarterfinals kick off today with four quality match-ups. the games have taken place or are taking place this morning, but since they aren't being shown live I am not posting results until later today.

Here are today's match-ups:

• Brazil vs.

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Tomorrow we enter the Olympic soccer quarterfinals where we face Belgium. In this post I'll try a new format for a match preview, so sit back and enjoy the read.

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It sounds like Lindsey Dolich likes the USWNT's chances - but is NOT taking Canada lightly (nor are we). There were major doubts that Swede Pia Sundhage would pull the strings for a team left reeling after the loss of superlative striker Abby Wambach. But, somehow, Sundhage delicately guided a vulnerable U. Click to continue reading...

While we lament the loss of the Nigerian Super Falcons in the Women's Olympic football tournament, praise must be heaped on the African men, who all swept into the quarterfinals of the men's Olympic tournament.

One thing we know for sure is that Africa will be represented in the semi-finals, as Nigeria take on Ivory Coast in the last eight. Click to continue reading...

...but am not a good enough writer to communicate. Here you go, I suggest checking it out.

He's right you know. Commentator Marcelo Balboa said during the Dutch telecast something to the effect of "get your yellow card suspension over with now before the quarterfinals" I have to respectfully disagree. Click to continue reading...

Photo by ISIphotos.com

The task was already going to be tough, but when U.S. Olympic defender Michael Orozco drew a red card just four minutes into the U.S. team's crucial Olympic match against Nigeria, the job turned into trying to swim in a shark tank with your foot cut off.

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I watched the first two USA games, and they were pretty underwhelming. This doesn't surprise me. Playing with 10 men, U.S. soccer team eliminated by Nigeria BEIJING (AP) -- Promise Isaac and Victor Obinna scored Wednesday to lead Nigeria over a 10-man United States team 2-1, earning a place in the quarterfinals of the Olympic football [. Click to continue reading...

Wow, wow, wow. Even the Phillies' loss has not dampened my amazement and feeling of great good fortune. The USWNT is through to the quarterfinals (not too surprising) and has won their group (pretty darn surprising) and is starting to score some goals (excellent news). To date, five different people have scored, [. Click to continue reading...

Jozy Altidore meets the Nigerians

A big day in US soccer as the men's national team take on the Nigerians, the 1996 Olympic winners. A win or a draw should see them through the quarterfinals. They had a golden opportunity to seal the deal against the Netherlands but were undone by a 93rd minute equalizer by Gerald Sibon.

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Despite their poor start in game 1 the USA women won for the second straight match today and finished first in their group, after Norway were blown out by Japan.

The USA beat New Zealand 4-0 today, while Japan won 5-1 over Norway.

That means the group stage ended like this:

6 USA (GD +3)
6 Norway (GD -1)
4 Japan
1 New Zealand

The USA will now face Canada in the Quarterfinals on Fri Aug 15 in Shanghai. Click to continue reading...

With the deciding game of the group stage coming up tomorrow for the US men, Peter Nowak has the most difficult decision of his career to make.  A win or a draw sees the US advance to the quarterfinals of the Olympics, so the right lineup will make the whole difference.  The most troubling part of the [. Click to continue reading...

NEWS: They began their Olympic campaign with a shocking loss last week. On Tuesday, they closed out the first round by winning their group. Talk about turning the tables around. The U.S. women are in the quarterfinals after a convincing... Click to continue reading...

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.

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From the US Soccer website:

U.S. WOMEN TO FACE NEW ZEALAND IN SHENYANG; WIN CLINCHES SPOT IN QUARTERS:
The U.S. Olympic Women's Soccer Team will face New Zealand on Tuesday, Aug. 12, at the Shenyang Olympic Sports Center Stadium with a win guaranteeing a spot in the quarterfinals. The USA currently sits second in Group G with three points behind Norway (six points) and a win over the Kiwis will clinch the second spot in the group, earning a quarterfinal match against the winner of Group F.

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From the US Soccer website:

U.S. WOMEN TO FACE NEW ZEALAND IN SHENYANG; WIN CLINCHES SPOT IN QUARTERS:
The U.S. Olympic Women???s Soccer Team will face New Zealand on Tuesday, Aug. 12, at the Shenyang Olympic Sports Center Stadium with a win guaranteeing a spot in the quarterfinals. The USA currently sits second in Group G with three points behind Norway (six points) and a win over the Kiwis will clinch the second spot in the group, earning a quarterfinal match against the winner of Group F.

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I've been taking some time this morning to catch up on Olympic soccer news and, in particular, how the Swedish team is doing. Their performance at the Olympics has paralleled that of the USWNT in ways that have surprised me, as I thought they'd be one of the stronger sides coming out of the [...]SHARETHIS. Click to continue reading...

Photo by ISIphotos.com

It's okay to admit it. The U.S. Olympic team's 2-2 tie vs. the Netherlands feels like a loss, doesn't it? Just seconds from the biggest win in U.

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Before the Olympics began, U.S. midfielder Freddy Adu predicted the Americans would turn a few heads.

"A lot of people aren't giving us a chance to make it out of that group, but we're going to surprise a lot of people," he said. "I think we have a real good shot when you add guys like Brian McBride, Michael Parkhurst and Brad Guzan in goal.

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The USA was so close to advancing to the quarterfinals.  They held a 2-1 lead until the last minute of the game, but the Dutch came back for the tie.  The USA would have been through, but now have to win against Nigeria to guarantee their place in the quarterfinals.  The US went down early when a cross [. Click to continue reading...

Manchester City's 2007-2008 campaign was their best since rejoining the Premiership after a few years of purgatory in England's lower levels. Manager Sven-Göran Eriksson compiled a very respectable 19-11-15 record in his first year on the job, guiding the club to a 9th-place finish, a trip to the Carling Cup quarterfinals, and a berth [. Click to continue reading...