The Tampa Bay Rowdies and Crystal Palace Baltimore have now joined the Team Owners Association (TOA). This has brought the number of teams to 9 for the TOA, who will release a name for the league next week.

This is throwing the USL into chaos at this point. I wonder with this loss of teams if USL will decide to rework the league rules and spending to allow a merge of USL-1 and USL-2 and make it just United Soccer League.

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Last night I attended a presentation of Kansas City's World Cup Bid. I had already seen and heard a large portion of the info when I tagged along for the bid tour a few weeks ago, but last night a few new media (bloggers) and I got to see it all packaged.In case you did not know already, the United States is bidding to get the World Cup for either 2018 or 2022. Click to continue reading...

The United States dropped three places to 14th in the latest FIFA Rankings. FIFA once again extended the rankings period, this time to include the playoffs for the final six World Cup slots. The United States played twice during the rankings period, losing to Slovakia and Denmark. Mexico moved up three places to 16th. Click to continue reading...

Maybe if Thierry Henry was back with Arsenal , he could get himself out of a fix by helping the rest of the Arsenal crew dressing up and having a bit of fun with the kids at Great Ormond Street Hospital! Theo Walcott,Cesc Fabregas,Andrey Arshavin,Bacary Sagna all took part in the Fundraising video and showed the [. Click to continue reading...

The Germans become comic book heroes before our very eyes. Looking back at Russian disappointment. (Russian Football Now) Hands were flying in Brazil yesterday too. (See The Cup) The US World Cup uniform leaks. (Football Fashion) The pitch invader from Sweden-Denmark gets a huge fine. (BBC) Take the stadium aerial challenge and waste loads of time at work. Click to continue reading...

With J Hutcherson -- So about that game in Denmark yesterday.... Look, I'm hardly the type to try to turn a disappointment into a suggestion of something better. The version of the United States on display against Denmark, and to a lesser extend Slovakia, ended up representative of the same old problems. Click to continue reading...

Take one look at the scoreline from the United States' 3-1 defeat by Denmark, and it's tempting to assume that the more inexperienced elements of manager Bob Bradley's lineup were to blame. But closer inspection reveals that some veteran performers should bear most of the responsibility.
Winners and Losers
Lessons learned from Denmark and Slovakia Click to continue reading...

Denmark notched three unanswered second half goals to come back from 0-1 down against the United States in Aarhus yesterday. Â FC Dallas stirker Jeff Cunningham had given the Yanks the a surprise lead in the 26th following a Danish defensive error. The match also saw the United States debut of former Mexican international Edgar Castillo. Click to continue reading...

Die Amerikaner sind ein verrücktes Volk und das beweisen sie uns ja an jeder Ecke. Sogar in ihrer ungeliebten Sportdisziplin, dem Fussball, müssen sie etwas besonderes sein, wie das dann aussieht, das seht iher hier in diesem Video von der „American East Championship"... Crazy Americans, mehr kann man zu diesem Elfmeterduell nicht mehr sagen, oder? Click to continue reading...

Jimmy Conrad got his 27th cap earlier today coming on for Jonathan Spector in the 70th minute of the United States 3-1 loss to Denmark. The US led 1-0 at the half thanks to a Jeff Cunningham goal, but struggled right out of the game in the second half, giving up 3 goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Click to continue reading...

The United States ended their 2009 slate with a resounding dud, being blitzed in a poor second half start at NRGi Park in Aarhus, Denmark Click to continue reading...

Jeff Cunningham scored his first international goal, but three second half goals saw the United States lose to Denmark.

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Six teams qualified for next year's World Cup in South Africa today, finalizing the field that will compete in the first World Cup in African soil.

France, Slovenia, Uruguay, Portugal, Greece and Algeria advanced to the finals ending the dreams of Ireland, Russia, Costa Rica, Ukraine and Egypt in the process.

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The United States traveled to play Denmark for their second friendly of the international break. They lost to Slovakia 0-1 on Saturday and were looking to get a result on Wednesday's match. Here's a recap of the match along with video highlights.

Denmark beats the United States 3-1 Video Highlights

The United States did not come out strong as Denmark had most of the possession and chances early.

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1. Halftime: Again the United States gives up a goal shortly after the half, this time to a team that had just made three substitutions. Keeping shape early in the second-half continues to be an issue, with the US getting caught panic defending. Someone should have been marking Johan Absalonsen, who had way too much time to make his turn in the US box. Click to continue reading...

The United States got a first-half goal that stood into halftime, but couldn't hold up over the second 45, losing 3-1 to Denmark on Wednesday in Aarhus. Jeff Cunningham scored from the top of the arc in the 26th-minute for the opener. For Denmark, the story of the game was making three changes to start the second-half, Johan Absalonsen got too much space in the US box and scored a 47th-minute equalizer - 70 seconds. Click to continue reading...

The USMNT meet Denmark, today at NRGi Park, Aarhus, 8:30 p.m. local time (2:30 p.m. ET), and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN Classic at 2:25 p.m.

There maybe a reason for Bob Bradley's faith in Jonathan Bornstein. They both began their national careers on 20 January, 2007 against Denmark and Bornstein repaid his coach's faith by scoring the game winner.

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By Clemente Lisi - NEW YORK, NY (Nov 17, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- The United States continues the European tour this week, playing Denmark on Wednesday in another test against a mid-tier team headed to next year's World Cup. The US will be looking to reverse Saturday's 1-0 loss to Slovakia. Denmark may actually be an easier opponent than Slovakia, even though they're six places higher in the FIFA Rankings. Click to continue reading...

Yes, the Philadelphia Union kit is rich in American history; it's blue and gold color scheme reflects the uniform of the early American Revolution, it's collar boldly highlights Benjamin Franklin's "Jungite Aut Perite" (Join or Die) rallying cry, and the crest highlights 13 stars for each of the original colonies, along with the "Don't Tread [. Click to continue reading...

Positives:

A) The USA with their below full strength team played patient ball control. They took their time to build up their attack. Having no Donovan and Davies meant that the US had to give up their fast counterattacking edge. But the tactical switch was achieved quite effectively showing that the US is capable of this approach.

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Slovakia and the United States played in a friendly on Saturday, November 14, 2009. Both teams have qualified for next summer's FIFA 2010 World Cup Final. Here's a recap of the match along with video highlights.

Slovakia beats United States 1-0 Video Highlights

The United States dominated possession, especially in the 2nd half, but struggled to convert any chances as they lost to Slovakia.

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1. Making Possession Count: Slovakia had limited opportunities and never really threatened the United States goal from the run of play in the first-half and early in the second. On the other end, too many of the US chances ended up directly at the keeper. Whether it was from distance or on the run with time in the box, the shot selection wasn't causing enough problems for Slovakia keeper Jan Mucha. Click to continue reading...

The United States had a hard time getting their attack in sync on Saturday in Slovakia, losing 1-0. Though the US dominated possession, they couldn't turn that into goals. Slovakia took full advantage of their best chance of the game, a 26th-minute penalty when Vladimir Weiss was taken down in the box. Click to continue reading...

From the US Soccer website's game notes:

There are a few instances in sporting history of father's coaching their son's at the highest level. A couple of famous ones include - Cesare and Paolo Maldini in soccer and Cal Ripken Sr. and Jr. in baseball.

"But how about having two teams with this phenomenon playing against each other - anyone heard of that happening?

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A sharpshooting contest which Jozy Altidore wins with some sweet stuff. Steve Cherundolo is hard done by poor service in the end. The clip shows Altidore really relaxed with his infectious personality coming through.

The US meets Slovakia for the first time. Bob Bradley has some serious questions up front with Charlie Davies out.

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The Galaxy are one victory from reaching MLS Cup 2009 thanks to 2009 Coach of the Year Bruce Arena

The Los Angeles Galaxy began the 2009 season at best as a team in transition, at worst as a team in turmoil. Despite initial problems, the Galaxy now stands only one game from winning the Western Conference.

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United States and Sochaux striker Charlie Davies has been released from hospital after being injured in a car crash last month near Washington DC. Click to continue reading...

Hannover 96 goalkeeper Robert Enke died on Wednesday after being hit by a train. The 32-yer-old Enke had eight caps for the German National Team and played with Benfica and Barcelona. He was a teammate of United States internationals Steve Cherundolo and Sal Zizzo. He was in goal for Hannover's 2-2 draw with Hamburg on Sunday. Click to continue reading...

World Cup qualifying is over and the United States Men's National Team is set to play two friendlies in the next eight days that could tell us a lot about what fringe players have a chance to go to...

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I've always said that one of the realistic options for the disaffected USL owners was to leave and then just setup their own league away from the USL umbrella. Today, that appears to be what has happened, with everyone bailing on Francisco Marcos and the USL. I have not been following this all that closely, but where does this leave Portland, who has one more year to go before they join MLS. Click to continue reading...

The financial crisis has highlighted a dilemna in capitalist society, especially so in the United States. Simply put, some corporations and institutions have been deemed just too big to fail - the damage of letting their poor decisions break them would be so great for society that it is deemed in the public interest to bail them out. Click to continue reading...

Well we don't get too many chances to highlight the league's best defenders here at the STO, but this week it was announced that Chad Marshall of the Columbus Crew was named MLS 2009 Defender of the Year. It was a great regular season for Marshall and the Crew and like all winners of the award being on a strong team is part of the criteria.

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Take time this weekend to sign up to support Kansas City's bid to bring the World Cup here. Not just to the United States but to Kansas City. There is a very good chance and we want to help that bid in every way possible.Sign the petition below please!!!The economic boom from be a World Cup host city is only rivaled by the Olympics with little to no need to spend money. Click to continue reading...

David Beckham journey continues as recent confirmed reports in Italy suggest that he is on his way back to AC Milan for another loan deal. We have witnessed in the past big players moving from their clubs like Brazilian legend Ronaldo moved from Inter Milan to Real Madrid, Luis Figo from Barcelona to Read Madrid, Andriy Shevchenko from AC Milan to Chelsea, Thierry Henry from Arsenal to Barcelona, recently Kaka from AC Milan to Real Madrid and other big players had to move from one club to another at some stage of their careers.

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These USA vs Italy matches have gotten to be quite something. The U- 17 World Cup match today was no exception. A missed penalty made the difference.

The USA had their chances including a penalty awarded for a handball on Federico Mannini in the 17th minute. But Jack McInerney saw his penalty kick saved by replacement goalie Francesco Bardi.

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