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The United States Soccer Federation have suspended Chicago Fire midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco from all U.S. Open Cup matches for two years.
The suspension, which almost certainly signals an end top Blanco's participation in the oldest soccer tournament in America, was due to Blanco's actions in an Open Cup match versus DC United on July 8th. Blanco was ejected for shoving a United player and then head-butted a DC United official who told him to leave the pitch.
The USSF ruling calls for at least a six match ban, so if Chicago plays fewer Cup matches over the next two years the ban could extend into 2011.
Since the Open Cup is a USSF sponsored event, Major League Soccer reps said they would wait for the soccer body's ruling before deciding whether or not to add additional league punishment for the incident.
JULY 30
Atlante 0-1 New England (Gillette Stadium)
Security was brought on the field at the conclusion of the New England Revolution's 1-0 over Mexican club Atlante to break up fights instigated by a completely classless Atlante team.
New England midfielder Shalrie Joseph headed home the only goal of the match in the 30th minute, but the second half was dominated by cheap shot after cheap shot by Atlante.
Frustrated by a superior team, Atlante resorted to cheap fouls late in the second half, and the two teams nearly came to blows after Shalrie Joseph went down from an apparent low blow. Referee Carlos Batres (read: asshat) completely lost control of the match, as he was unwilling to show anyone the door despite several oppotunities until the 87th minute when he gave Atlante's Luis Rey his walking papers.
After the whistle, the pushing a shoving began, and all hell broke loose when both Jay Heaps and Chris Albright were punched by Atlante players. On the replay it was clear that Heaps was punched by Atlante douchebag keeper Frederico Villar. But inexplicably Jay Heaps was shown a red card, but Villar was not. Also shown red cards were Atlante thug Alan Zamora and Luis Venegas.
Atlante should be barred from the tournament in the future for their dispicable antics. Since the tournament is put on by Soccer United Marketing, the marketing arm of MLS, it is impossible to sanction or suspend players; however, SUM should petition CONCACAF to have some kind of punishment for the Atlante players who threw punches.
But MLS fans can wave goodbye to Mexican clubs because it will be an all-MLS SuperLiga final, as New England will face the Houston Dynamo in the SuperLiga final, in a rematch of MLS Cup 2007.
Guatemalan club CSD Municipal have loaned midfielder Marco Pappa to the Chicago Fire for the remainder of this season through the end of 2009.
Pappa, 20, will likely debut tonight against visiting EPL club Everton. Chicago return to MLS action on Saturday against Chivas USA.
In other trade news, Los Angeles is still shopping Carlos Ruiz to all-comers. New York and Dallas have reportedly expressed interest in el pescadito.
In a shocking turn of events, Kenny Cooper will stay with FC Dallas and refuse offers to join either Cardiff City or ROsenborg, according to an official press release by Major League Soccer.
Cooper, 23, reportedly was planning to visit both teams in order to make a decision, but Dallas, meanwhile, was pressuring the league to decline the £2,000,000 bids made by each club.
"We received offers from multiple international clubs for Kenny Cooper during this transfer window," said FC Dallas general manager Michael Hitchcock's statement read, "but we elected to decline them all. The international interest is a credit to Kenny, FC Dallas and the ever increasing talent level in Major League Soccer."
"It was a massive opportunity for Kenny with the possibility to play against the best teams in the world and a lucrative offer that could have set him for life."
JULY 29
Pachuca 0-2 Houston (Robertson Stadium)
The Houston Dynamo knocked out the 2007 SuperLiga champs Pachuca 2-0 at Robertson Stadium tonight to advance to the finals of the Mexican-U.S. club competition.
It hasn't been the season they hoped for in MLS for the Houston Dynamo, but in SuperLiga they've played more like the 2007 Houston Dynamo than the 2008 version. After dominating for long stretches in the first half, Pachuca looked strong out of the gate in the second half. Pachuca had a goal called back for a bogus offside call and then things went from bad to worse for the Mexican club, as Dynamo defender Bobby Boswell tucked in a Craig Waibel glancing header to make it 1-0 Houston in the 77th minute. Then, Substitute Corey Ashe added another in a similar play, heading in a cross that found its way to the young midfielder at the back post in the 87th minute.
The Dynamo will face the winner of tomorrow night's match -- New England vs. Atlante at Gillette Stadium -- on August 5.
Both Cardiff City and Rosenborg have tendered offers to MLS for the services of FC Dallas striker Kenny Cooper, but it appears that the Rosenborg's's UEFA Cup bid has Coop leaning toward Norway.
According to reports, Cooper will travel to Norway and Wales to discuss the details of each off before making a decision, but many pundits are guessing that Rosenborg is the more attractive offer for the American up-and-comer.
Cardiff City plays in The Championship division of England and were runners-up in the 2007-08 FA Cup, just missing a UEFA Cup spot by virtue of their 1-0 loss to Portsmouth in the final.
Rosenborg qualified for the UEFA Cup by winning their third round matches in the UEFA Intertoto Cup. They qualified for the Intertoto Cup by finishing fifth in the Norwegian Premier League. It's all very confusing, but the bottom line is that if Cooper plays in Norway he will have the opportunity to play on a larger stage (albeit for a short time only) than in Cardiff.
GOALKEEPER
J. Busch (CHI)
DEFENDERS
E. Robinson (HOU), A. Serioux (DAL), M. Harrington (KC)
MIDFIELDERS
B. Davis (HOU), S. Miglioranzi (CLB), D. DeRosario (HOU), J. Jewsbury (KC)
FORWARDS
K. Cooper (DAL), D. Huckerby (SJ), D. Oduro (DAL)
JULY 28
Toronto 1-2 Real Salt Lake (RES)
Three pretty goals, all in the second-half, decided this contest between two perennial underachievers. Real Salt Lake centerback Jamison Olave redirected a searching ball from near midfield past TFC goalkeeper Greg Sutton in the 63rd minute. Then, Amado Guevara equalized for the visitors in the 84th, with a perfectly placed free-kick from about 20-yards out, and it seemed like RSL would have to settle for a depressing draw at home. Enter hero, stage right, as Robbie Findlay put the Fightin' Mormons back on top in the 87th minute, collecting a Kyle Beckerman rebound and hitting a right-footer past Sutton for the win.
Further proof that the FC Dallas front office has absolutely no clue what they are doing, the Hoops traded Arturo Alvarez to the San Jose Earthquakes on Monday for allocation money and a 2009 SuperDraft first-round pick.
Alvarez began his career with the original Quakes in 2003 before Dallas acquired him for the 2005 season. Last year, he was a regular starter for Dallas scoring three goals and adding three assists. MOdest numbers to be sure, but Alvarez has already equaled those numbers with half the season yet to be played.
And although he didn't make the final cut, U.S. Olympic coach Peter Nowak thought enough of the 23-year-old striker to invite him into camp in preparation for the Beijing Games.
This move makes absolutely no sense for Dallas, especially given that their best forward, Kenny Cooper, may be headed to Cardiff City shortly. Perhaps Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman let the 4-0 win over the Galaxy to go to his head. Allow me to set the record straight. No, you are not an offensive juggernaut. Yes, the Galaxy defense is that bad.
We ranked Alvarez and his frosted bangs No.1 in our U.S. Pool Party (players who deserve a call-up to the national team).
And in an apparent quest to remake FC Dallas into his old team Southern Methodist University, Hyndman traded second and third round selections in next year's SuperDraft to Colorado for former SMU midfielder Bruno Guarda on Monday.
Ok, what would you do in this situation? You are the GM of a professional soccer franchise. Thanks to a complicated and convoluted player acquisition policy, you have acquired the rights to a aging superstar. But this player doesn't want to play for your team and has stated on the record that he would only join the league if he could play in his home town. The league wants him back in the league, his home town club wants him on their roster, and you, well, you are in the driver's seat, with all the bargaining chips, looking down from the bird's eye view, master of you domain, etc., etc.
These were the circumstances that Reds GM Mo Johnston and coach John Carver found themselves in when Brian McBride decided he wanted to finish his career at home in Illinois with the Chicago Fire. TFC holds the designated player allocation and therefore have first dibs at McBride. So with all that bargaining power what did MoJo and the Reds do? Well, according to Ives Galarcep, the trade will look a little something like this:
The trade between Chicago and Toronto FC for the rights to Brian McBride does involve Chad Barrett. A source with knowledge of the deal confirmed to SBI that the package I discussed last night is, in fact, what Toronto will receive. TFC will acquire Barrett, a first-round pick and allocation money in exchange for the allocation spot Chicago will now use to acquire McBride.
JULY 27
New York 1-1 San Jose (BS Stadium)
The Earthquakes scored both goals in this one, unfortunately one of them was in their own net. Darren Huckerby gets his first goal in MLS, and defender Eric Denton accidentally plays a goal into his own net. New York continues to match bystanders.
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Los Angeles 0-4 Dallas (PHP)
An explosion of offense at Pizza Hut Park, as Kenny Cooper leads FC Dallas in a rout of Los Angeles. Cooper scored twice in two and then helped create a goal for Dominic Oduro in the 36th minute to put the game away at halftime. The Galaxy's occassionally potent offense never got going in this one and Dallas' Abe Thomspn added a fourth in the 89th.
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Chicago 0-0 Kansas City (CAB)
Mired at the bottom of the table, a scoreless draw at home doesn't decrease the heat on coach Curt Onalfo's seat (hey, that rhymed). Kansas City fired eight shots on goal but Jon Busch saved each one, while Kevin Hartman picked up a clean sheet on the other end, saving five.
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Columbus 2-0 Colorado (DSG Park)
The Rapids drop consecutive matches at home. Crew noob Steven Lenhart, making his first MLS start, scored his third goal of the year in the 21st minute, and substitute Jason Garey chipped the keeper in the 75th. Lenhart didn't see the second half, however, after throwing an elbow into Facundo Erpen's face in the 42nd minute and receiving a red card. Maybe he thought he was a Wet Ham supporter.
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For the fourth consecutive match, the MLS All-Stars were able to defeat their foreign competition, as MLS's best players beat the Hammers 3-2 at BMO Field in Toronto. But most importantly, no one got injured.
The Hammers jumped out to an early lead when Dean Ashton beat Revs keeper Matt Reis with a low, right-footer. But a minute later All-Star MVP Cuauhtemoc Blanco backheeled a pretty, no-look pass to Colorado midfielder Christian Gomez who returned the favor with a right-footed blast of his own.
MLS would take the lead in the 43rd minute, when FC Dallas winger Juan Toja (who had one of his better games in a subpar season so far for the mulleted one) flipped a ball over the retreating West Ham backline to Blanco who cut back and hit a curling shot inside the far post.
The halftime show was entertaining as well for a change, too. No, I'm not talking about whatever hack musician that was warbling outside of the stadium. I'm talking about Don Garber and Rob Stone getting pelleted with streamers by the TFC fans. And Stone chucking a roll back and exclaiming like a 12-year-old, "I got 'em in the head."
Back to the game, in the second half a deflection off Jimmy Conrad's head from an Ashton blast knotted things up again. But the entrance of native son Dwayne DeRosario had already breathed new life into the MLS attack and the dreaded Dynamo won and converted a penalty kick which proved to be the winner.
It probably should have been 4-2, if not for a terrible offside call that disallowed a goal by Red Bulls striker Juan Pablo Angel. See, even in the MLS All-Star game the referees in MLS are terrible. And, yes, it was entertaining, but I still hate the MLS All-Star game.
A side note, Garber announced that MLS would be adding two more teams by 2011, making it an 18-team league. I've already voiced my reservations about this. He also strongly hinted that the deal to bring Brian McBride home to Chicago had been worked out. Announcement forthcoming.
JULY 23
Houston 2-0 DC United (RFK Stadium)
RFK Stadium wasn't the only thing showing wear on Wednesday, as the Houston Dynamo beat DC United 2-0 in a driving rain. Coming off a miserable performance in SuperLiga, DC's troubles continued against the Dynamo and not even a three-hour delay (due to power outages and lightning) could help the United get back on track. The Dynamo's Brian Mullan scored in the 20th minute and Brian Ching added another in the 79th.
According to The Times (UK), the Los Angeles Galaxy have targeted recently released Peruvian winger Nolberto Solano.
Solano, 33, played for L.A. coach Ruud Gullit at Newcastle in 1998-99. He has 82 caps with the Peruvian national team and 20 goals.
According to the reports, the Galaxy are "in talks" with Solano. But the question is now he would fit into the roster. Abel Xavier, who had some choice words for Gullit, was waived to make room for Eduardo Dominguez, so the addition of Solano, cast doubt on Carlos Ruiz's future with the club, despite a recent start (and goal) for L.A.
Viva la Impact. The USL.1's Montreal Impact have won the Canadian Championship series and earned a berth as the Canadian Champion to the CONCACAF Champions League after a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC in the final match of the Canadian tournament.
Montreal, entered the game with six points, and needed just a point to win the group, while Toronto FC faced a must-win situation. The final team in the group, Vancouver (USL.1) was already eliminated from contention.
Reds captain Jim Brennan served a ball to Rohan Ricketts putting the home side up 1-0 in the 15th minute, but the Impact's Roberto Brown equalized just 11 minutes later.
It's quite a blow for the up-and-down MLS club with a $2.5 million payroll, but not surprising given Toronto's inability to find a consistent scorer.
The Daily Mirror (UK) is reporting that Aston Villa is attempting to sign 37-year-old American goalkeeper Brad Friedel for two million pounds as a "short-term solution" before going after Wayne Hennessey from Wolves next year.
This move would leave Villa's other goalkeeping target -- fellow American Brad Guzan -- as the odd man out.
Guzan, 23, is still awaiting a work permit so the $4 million move from Chivas USA can be finalized, but if Friedel is the "short-term" solution" and Hennessey is the "long-term solution," what is Guzan? Break only in case of emergency?
Villa, who is owned by American entrepreneur Randy Lerner, could become the new Fulham. In the past they targeted (but didn't sign) U.S. national teamer Frank Simek and they signed 18-year-old American defender Eric Lichaj.
Landon Donovan's agent Richard Motskin has confirmed to Yanks Abroad that the 26-year-old might want a crack at the Premiership in his old age.
Donovan was recently quoted by the English media giant as saying, "The older I get and the more I play, the more I'm yearning for that highest level I can play at."This story takes on a slightly different meaning when paired with Abel Xavier's complaints about how Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit "doesn't listen to his players." Are the two related? Is Gullit running one of America's best players out of his own domestic league? Or could it be that the once sacred cow of LA is finally sick of being the supporting actor to David Beckham's lead?
Recently waived Galaxy defender Abel Xavier spoke with Soccer Insider Steven Goff, and dished on his firing and on the atmosphere his former boss Ruud Gullit:"[Being let go] was a personal issue and had nothing to do with football. [Coach] Ruud Gullit made a personal decision. He doesn't like me for a long time. ... He has too much power. You can't give that much power to a coach because you start to lose your identity as a club. The identity of the Galaxy should always prevail."Yeah, he personally thought you were terrible. Personally, so did I. Last week, Gullit called Xavier "a bad apple."
"[Gullit] doesn't respect the players, he doesn't communicate with the players. He never wants to listen to the players. It's a bad environment. He doesn't like players with personality. The players are afraid to speak out because, for most of them, their jobs are not guaranteed. They are afraid of losing their jobs. Look at Carlos Ruiz: One week Ruud Gullit wants to trade him and the next week he wants to be his best friend. ... With all the friction between the coach and the players, how can you have a healthy environment?"He makes a good point using Ruiz, who started last weekend after not seeing the field in quite sometime (even after he recovered from an injury).
It was just a friendly, but the fans didn't get the memo, as over 100 people were involved in fights during halftime of Columbus and West Ham United's exhibition at Crew Stadium last night.
According to reports, West Ham supporters entered the North end and were taunted by member of the Crew supporter groups that sit there. Several brawls broke out between over a 100 Crew fans and some 30 West Ham supporters according to reports in the Columbus Dispatch.
Police and stadium security were needed to separate the groups. Maybe they were fighting over who has the most racist fan base. By the way, West Ham won the game 3-1 if anyone cares.
JULY 20
New England 1-1 Chivas USA (Titan Stadium)
New England is through to the semifinals of SuperLiga as the Group B winner, after getting a point on the road against Chivas USA in their final group match. The Revolution will play Group A runners-up Atlante in the semis. Revs man-in-the-middle Shalrie Joseph came through with a header in the 79th minute and cancelled out Ante Razov's goal for Chivas USA scored 20 minutes prior. Pachuca's draw in the nightcap bounced Chivas by virtue of the head-to-had tiebreaker.
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Santos 1-1 Pachuca (2nd half) (PH Park)
SuperLiga defending champs Pachuca weathered a furious second-half by already-eliminated Santos Laguna and escaped with a 1-1 draw, good enough to earn them a trip to the semifinals as Group B runners-up. A sixth minute goal by Pachuca's Damian Alvarez held up till the 72nd minute when Santos Laguna's Colombian striker equalized. Despite earning just a point, Pachuca advances over Chivas USA due to the head-to-head tiebreaker. Pachuca will face the Houston Dynamo in the semis.
JULY 19
Houston 3-1 DC United (RFK Stadium)
United, playing without stars Jaime Moreno and Marcelo Gallardo, crash out of the SuperLiga, as they surrendered two goals in the first half and spent the second half playing ctach up. Ricardo Clark got the scoring going for the Dynamo with a nice near side glancing header off a Brad Davids corner. Ex-United defender got a measure of revenge against his old mates with the second goal. Francis Doe injected the home crowd with some life with a goal in the 76th minute, but Stuart Holden took the air out of their sales, adding a third for Houston in the 84th minute.
Houston clinches first place in Group A with the win, their group-winning, plus-five goal differential and Chivas' loss to Atlante.
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Atlante 2-0 CD Guadalajara (2nd half) (BS Stadium)
In a repeat of the 2007 Apertura semifinals, Atlante defeated Chivas in the final game of Group A, knocking the goats out of the SuperLiga tournament. The 2007 Apertura champions will advance to the SuperLiga semifinals as the second-place team in the group.
GOALKEEPER
J. Cannon (SJ)
DEFENDERS
C. Marshall (CLB), R. Cochrane (SJ), I. Joy (RSL)
MIDFIELDERS
J. Rojas (NY), T. Cooke (COL), G.B. Schelotto (CLB), J. Jewsbury (KC)
FORWARDS
K. Cooper (DAL), L. Donovan (LA), J.P. Angel (NY)
JULY 19
San Jose 0-0 Toronto (BMO Field)
After dominating much of the match against MLS worst club, TFC continues to search for a consistent scorer, as 11 shots went begging in this scoreless draw. San Jose debuted DP Darren Huckerby, while the Reds gave 16-year-old forward Abdus Ibrahim his first start, but neither could find their way to the scorer's sheet. Toronto's futility in front of goal, which included a blocked PK, was jeered by the home fans, as they once again settled for a draw.
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Los Angeles 2-2 New York (Giants Stadium)
Over 46,000 were on hand to see the home side recover from an early deficit only to surrender an equalizer in injury time. The Galaxy, apparently unable to trade away the Guatemalan striker, started Carlos Ruiz who finally got off the snide scoring the first goal of the match. But Red Bulls new addition Jorge Rojas set up Dave van den Bergh for the equalizer in the 35th minute, a powerful right-footer inside the left post. Juan Pablo Angel chose finesse over power and chip the keeper from near the left-side endline in the 71st, but Landon Donovan evened things up again with his 12th goal of the season two minutes into extra time, a "wonder goal" apparently.
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Colorado 2-2 FC Dallas (PH Park)
Colorado's bookends of two Dallas goals forced the Hoops to a draw. Herculez Gomez got things going quickly with a goal in the fifth minute. The other three goals came in the second half, as Kenny Cooper's penalty kick tied it and Juan Toja's second goal of the year in the 64th minute put FC Dallas on top for approximately three minutes. That's when Conor Casey scored his third of the season to lock things at 2-2.
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Real Salt Lake 0-0 Chicago (Toyota Park)
Our second scoreless draw of the night. These teams couldn't find the goal in a goal-making factory. A total of four shots of goal combined. It's enough to make someone headbutt someone. Please tell me Blanco headbutted someone.
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According the article, the man first stripped naked in the restroom and began walking in the aisle, and Revs GM Craig Tornberg confronted him and told him to go put his clothes on. When the man re-emerged from the restroom, he beelined for the emergency exit. It was then that the players and members of the coaching staff sprang into action.
Members of the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer were among those who grabbed the passenger near an exit door, FBI spokesman Gary Johnson said. Tie wraps were placed on the man, whose name was not immediately released. He was taken into custody in Oklahoma City and placed under psychiatric evaluation, Johnson said.
Shortly before the incident, Tornberg said he saw the man, described as clean-cut and in his early 20s, crying and "talking a lot of gibberish."
Washington Post blogger Steven Goff is reporting that the Galaxy will waive Portuguese defender Abel Xavier to make room for Argentine Eduardo Dominguez.
All I have to say is it is about time that they got rid of Dr. Zaius. He has to be the worst "star" player MLS has aquired since Luis Hernandez.
It wasn't exactly a triumphant return for Kansas City forward Josh Wolff, but the second-half substitute did manage to score the equalizer in a 3-3 draw against Columbus at Crew Stadium. No word on whether the Crew's attendance figures included people who meant to watch this game on TV but forgot. The clubs combined for five goals in 11 minutes in the first half. Following a Frankie Hejduk own goal, Roger Espinoza put KC up 2-0, but it was one of the shortest two-goal leads in league history, as Guillermo Barros Schelotto's free-kick and Alejandro Moreno's tap in knotted things up and then Chad Marshall's header put the Crew on top before the halftime whistle. Wolff's goal wouldn't come till the 75th minute. He still needs to work on that goal celebration, though.
Here are U.S. Olympic team coach Peter Nowak's selections for the Beijing Games:
2008 U.S. MEN’S OLYMPIC TEAM ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS: Patrick Ianni (Houston Dynamo), Michael Orozco (San Luis), Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution), Nathan Sturgis (Real Salt Lake), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)
MIDFIELDERS: Freddy Adu (SL Benfica), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Benny Feilhaber (Derby County), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Danny Szetela (Brescia Calcio)
FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Brian McBride (out of contract), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)
Alternates
Goalkeeper: Dominic Cervi (Out of Contract)
Defender: Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew)
Midfielder: Dax McCarty (FC Dallas)
Forward: Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)
ANALYSIS: This could be the strongest Olympic team the U.S. has ever fielded. Nowak's pick for the three senior players* (Brian McBride, Brad Guzan and Michael Parkhurst) demonstrates that veteran leadership is needed both in defense and in the attack. The biggest question mark for this team could be in goal, however, as Guzan has yet to reclaim his Goalkeeper of the Year form from 2007 and Chris Seitz is relatively untested at this level, despite playing in Olympic qualifiers, having only started three games for Real Salt Lake.
Senior coach Bob Bradley could take note of Nowak's selections in the midfield. On defense, the selection of Michael Parkhurst to a U.S. team is a long time coming. Patrick Ianni has been superb recently in SuperLiga play against some top flight forwards in the Mexican league.
Freddy Adu and Michael Bradley lead this list of superb players. Benny Feilhaber will have to prove match fit by August after sustaining a torn meniscus in his right knee in May. Most recently he was left home by Derby County's for s series of preseason matches, but word is he's close to recover and should be ready to go.
But the pièce de résistance was Nowak's selection of McBride to lead this group of young forwards into battle. He's been there and done that and will therefore be able to calm the often excitable Jozy Altidore. There was some question as to whether Charlie Davies would be left off to make room for the alliterative one, Robbie Rogers. It is nice to see that Nowak made room for both players.
* Only three players over the age of 23 are allowed per squad
An article in today's Columbus Dispatch claims that the padded attendance numbers of the Columbus Crew belie an "apathy" among its fan base to support the team during the week and in foul weather.According to internal club documents obtained by The Dispatch, the attendance figures announced by the Crew after each of its eight games this season are on average 3,243 higher than the number of tickets scanned at stadium gates.
Also, the Crew is behind budget in ticket sales and ticket revenue. The team has had an average paid attendance of 9,987, 888 below its projection of 10,875. Its gross ticket revenue has averaged $185,964.25 per game, more than $11,000 less than budgeted.
West Ham United are whining because the airline that was to be used to bring them to Toronto for the 2008 All-Star game went out of business. I'm not sure why they're "mad at MLS" because of this. And now they must fly in (gasp) economy, instead of first class. They are also worried about hurting themselves on BMO Field's artificial turf. Wow, they aren't even here yet and they're already setting up excuses for why they won't win.
JULY 16
Pachuca 0-1 New England (Gillette Stadium)
New England's Khano Smith was first to declare, "The kick is mine." He strode forward and calmly converted the game's only goal, a penalty awarded in injury time for a handball in the box. The Revs took the full three points and guaranteed themselves a place in the semifinals of SuperLiga. After 90-plus minutes of scoreless soccer, injury time was extended nearly nine minutes after Pat Phelan went down in the 91st minute and was carted off the field in a neck brace. It was determined that he had a concussion, but they took the defender to a hospital for observation to be sure.
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Santos 0-1 Chivas USA (HDC)
Halftime substitute Ante Razov was the hero for Chivas in this one, scoring the game's only goal in the 73rd minute. In order to advance, Chivas USA will have to fare better against New England than Pachuca fare against Santos in the final games of Group B.
The final chapter of a 14-year, storied career was a bit of a bummer, but despite the repeated injuries that kept him on the sideline more than in the game, Claudio Reyna will go down as one of the greatest American midfielders this country has ever produced.
He was, after all, the first Captain America.
Reyna was the first ambassador of soccer for the United States, traveling to Germany, England and Scotland, and not simply playing but earning respect and paving the road for those Americans destined to follow in his footsteps.
He is living proof of the American dream. The son of an Argentine immigrant, Reyna moved to the United States with his family when he was five. His family settled in the soccer-crazed area of North Jersey that produced other American greats like Tab Ramos and John Harkes. His greatness on the pitch would manifest early, as his high school team at Saint Benedict's Prep would go undefeated in his time on the team, an impressive 65-0 record. From high school, he was recruited by collegiate powerhouse University of Virginia. With the NASL out of business for quite some time and MLS years away, UVA was the place for a phenom to hone his talents. And, again, he was successful, as the Cavaliers took home the NCAA title each of his three years on the team.
It didn't take too long for Europe to come a calling for the swarthy maestro of the midfield. First, it was German giants Bayer Leverkusen who were signing the checks. But as Landon Donovan would discover years later, pitch time was at a premium for Americans in Germany (especially with Leverkusen), so Reyna made the most of a loan to VFL Wolfsburg, becoming the first American to captain a major European club.
After five years in Germany, and a disappointing showing at the 1998 World Cup, Reyna opted for a change in scenery and headed to Scotland to play for one of the biggest clubs in Europe, Scotland's Rangers for over $3 million in transfer fees. Among the Old Firm, Reyna would show his versatility moving from central midfield to right back and becoming a regular starter with the Scottish powerhouse.
Meanwhile, Reyna was continued to be the stabilizing force for a young, talented, but inexperienced, national team. "Captain America," as he was dubbed in Europe, helped this group of young Americans, like Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley, reach the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup, and a few bad calls from beating the World Cup runners' up Germany.
After two seasons with Rangers, Reyna transfered to the EPL's Sunderland, who paid nearly $6 million for his services, but in his second season, he suffered an ACL tear that would sideline him the entire 2003-04 season. Unfortunately, it was to be the start of an injury-riddled close to Reyna's career. In 2003, Reyna joined Manchester City but saw little action with his new club, as injury kept him in the trainer's room more than on the field. The 2006 World Cup? Well, we won't go into that. I come to praise Reyna, not to bury him.
With two kids of his own now, Cap turned toward home, hoping that a return to where it all began would provide him with one last accomplishment before he called it quits. Hopes were high that Reyna could indeed resuscitate his career with Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls.
But the twilight of his career was over before it really began, as injuries again plagued the midfielder and forced him to the sideline once more. It has been a frustrating two seasons with New York. What could have been a glorious end to a fantastic career has turned into one nagging injury after another and conjectures by some (ok, by me) that his heart just wasn't in it anymore.
But there were moments, when he wasn't injured, beautiful moments when Red Bulls fans saw a glimpse of the old Cap, the maestro, threading the needle to the new hope for America Jozy Altidore or finding fellow EPL veteran Juan Pablo Angel.
And it should be these moments that U.S. fans remember and cherish now that Captain America has decided to hang up his shield. Happy retirement, Captain. You earned it.
JULY 15
Atlante 3-2 DC United (RFK Stadium)
United's struggles in SuperLiga play continue, as Atlante's Luis Gabriel Rey scored a brace and Christian Bermudez added a third for the Mexican club. DC's Francis Doe equalized early, but with the score 1-1, Atlante pulled ahead with goals on either side of halftime. Luciano Emilio scored his first goal of the tournament, and United poured the pressure on. But the early hole United dug for themselves proved too deep and now the MLS side must hope for positive results in the final game against Houston.
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CD Guadalajara 1-0 Houston (Robertson Stadium)
A 71st minute goal by Chivas' Omar Arellano, his second goal of the tournament, was the difference, as the Mexican giants remained undefeated in SuperLIga play. Without five of their starters, including midfielder Dwayne DeRosario who was sent off for an absolutely ridiculous red card in the match against Atlante, the Dynamo struggled to find their form offensively.
Here's interesting story by the Associated Press on former New England Revolution player Chase Hilgenbrinck, 26, who retired from Major League Soccer to enter a seminary to become a Roman Catholic priest.
“It’s not that I’m ready to leave soccer. I still have a great passion for the game,” he said in a telephone interview. “I wouldn’t leave the game for just any other job. I’m moving on for the Lord. I want to do the will of the Lord, I want to do what he wants for me, not what I want to do for myself.”
GOALKEEPER
K. Hartman (KC)
DEFENDERS
J. Conrad (KC), I. Joy (RSL), R. Corrales (SJ)
MIDFIELDERS
J. Morales (RSL), J. Mapp (CHI), T. Cooke (COL), C. Lopez (KC)
FORWARDS
J. Thorington (CHI), R. Findlay (RSL), R. Johnson (SJ)
JULY 13
JULY 12
Atlante 0-4 Houston (Robertson Stadium)
Houston shredded an ill-prepared Atlante for three goals in the first half and added one for good measure at the top of the second half. This one featured fine, handcrafted goals made in the USA by Dwayne DeRosario, a brace by Stuart Holden, and Brian Mullan. A perfect performance by the defending MLS Cup champs, marred by a stupid decision by referee Courtney Campbell to send off two players just because they breathed on each other after the whistle. The correct call would have been two yellows and to wave play on. Are these MLS refs? Where's Jason Kreis when we need him?
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CD Guadalajara 2-1 DC United (RFK)
DC United's "sure thing" from the spot, Jaime Moreno, missed a game-tying penalty in the 78th minute and United fell to South of the Border rivals Chivas 2-1 in the first game of Group A play. Omar Riveron scored for Chivas Mexico in the 24th minute, and and Gonzalo Pineda made it 2-0 on the other side of halftime. But four minutes after Pineda's goal, Luciano Emilio pulled one back. Still, despite several chances United failed to equalize.
JULY 12
Columbus 0-2 Real Salt Lake (R-E Stadium)
With their coach sitting out the match due to suspension, Real Salt Lake ended Columbus' unbeaten streak at five games, with two goals by Javier Morales in the third minute and Robbie Findlay in the 78th.
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Colorado 1-1 San Jose (BS Stadium)
Two terrific headers decided this contest. San Jose Rookie Ryan Johnson scored his third goal of year off a set piece for Colorado in the 62nd minute, but Colorado's Conor Casey equalized just 12 minutes later.
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Toronto 1-2 Chicago (Toyota Park)
A John Thorington goal in the 92nd minute gave Chicago the full three points at home against Toronto. Fire forward Chris Rolfe scored his fourth of the year just six minutes in, but second-half sub, 17-year-old Adbsu Ibrahim, scored an equalizer in his first match for TFC.
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The Major League Soccer Players Union (MLSPU) have slammed the U.S.-Mexican club tournament known as SuperLiga ahead of this weekend's opening matches, calling the $1 million purse "misleading."
In an email published on Goal.com, the MLSPU said that prize money for winning the tournament for an MLS club isn't fairly divided among the players:
"What has not been revealed by the league is that its New York office has unilaterally set its own bonus structure for players, who will receive only a small fraction of the $1 million....If an MLS team wins SuperLiga, the players on that team won't split $1 million. Instead, they will receive only 15% of the prize money. This puts MLS players at a significant competitive disadvantage as the Mexican clubs are not operating under the same rules. Indeed, it is our understanding that the players on last year's winner Pachuca split the entire $1 million prize amongst themselves ... It's a shame that MLS doesn't pay its players -- the persons responsible for making the tournament exciting -- their fair share of the proceeds," the statement continued. "Their refusal to do so has left the players with a bitter taste in their mouths as they enter the tournament."
According to part-time ESPN writer/blogger, Ives Galarcep, Brad Guzan's English dream has been revived, as the American goalkeeper has been able to secure a work permit from the notoriously stingy British government.
According to the article:
The Chivas USA goalkeeper is heading to Aston Villa on a $1.5 million transfer after Villa and Major League Soccer agreed to the fee and completed the transfer on Friday, sources with knowledge of the deal confirmed to ESPNsoccernet.
According to the San Jose Mercury News, Huckerby has signed with the San Jose Earthquakes after Toronto sold San Jose the Discovery Player rights for money and a San Jose DP slot.
Huckerby rejected a bid by Toronto FC after visiting the club and expressing concern over BMO Field's artificial grass surface, according to reports from various English and Canadian media. Of course, if he agrees to a contract in MLS he'll have to play on a few turfgrass surfaces in the course of the season anyway.
Huckerby's last club was Norwich City, where he was enshrined in the Norwich City Hall of Fame, where he was instrumental in winning his side promotion to the EPL in 2004-05. At one time he was a rumored prospect of Liverpool and Celtic. He is currently out of contract.
New York 1-2 Kansas City (CA Ballpark)
Goals by Jimmy Conrad and Davy Arnaud, his first of the season on either side of halftime were enough to hold off the charging Bulls, as returning hero Juan Pablo Angel scored his third goal of the year in the 71st.
Here's your starting eleven for the stupidest idea ever...even dumber than bungy jumping weddings or giving the Coreys a reality show.
Matt Reis (NE)
DEFENDERS
J. Conrad (KC), F. Hejduk (CLB), M. Parkhurst (NE)
MIDFIELDERS
D. Beckham (LA), C. Blanco (CHI), S. Joseph (NE), S. Kljestan (CHV), R. Rogers (CLB)
FORWARDS
K. Cooper (DAL), L. Donovan (LA)
GOALKEEPERS | Fans | Players | Media | Coach/GMs | Combined |
| Reis | 11.8 | 57.8 | 62.2 | 77.3 | 52.3 |
| Busch | 10.6 | 8.2 | 15.6 | 11.4 | 11.4 |
DEFENDERS | Fans | Players | Media | Coach/GMs | Combined |
| Parkhurst | 9.2 | 31.0 | 47.8 | 47.7 | 33.9 |
| Hejduk | 17.3 | 36.2 | 31.1 | 31.8 | 29.1 |
| Conrad | 10.8 | 28.4 | 26.7 | 38.6 | 26.2 |
| Segares | 6.8 | 10.8 | 27.8 | 20.4 | 16.4 |
| Soumare | 5.6 | 9.5 | 25.6 | 11.4 | 13.0 |
MIDFIELDERS | Fans | Players | Media | Coach/GMs | Combined |
| Beckham | 38.9 | 49.6 | 82.2 | 79.6 | 62.6 |
| Blanco | 25.9 | 40.1 | 74.4 | 54.6 | 48.8 |
| Joseph | 7.7 | 40.5 | 48.9 | 65.9 | 40.8 |
| Kljestan | 9.1 | 46.1 | 24.4 | 56.8 | 34.1 |
| Rogers | 13.0 | 38.4 | 24.4 | 45.4 | 30.3 |
| DeRosario | 17.3 | 37.1 | 23.3 | 38.6 | 29.1 |
| Ralston | 6.0 | 14.2 | 23.3 | 25.0 | 17.1 |
| Schelotto | 14.6 | 16.0 | 25.6 | 9.1 | 16.3 |
| Edu | 14.1 | 12.5 | 16.7 | 18.2 | 15.4 |
FORWARDS | Fans | Players | Media | Coach/GMs | Combined |
| Donovan | 29.3 | 66.8 | 82.2 | 93.2 | 67.9 |
| Cooper | 7.4 | 30.6 | 33.3 | 40.9 | 28.1 |
| Emilio | 5.7 | 12.5 | 38.9 | 15.9 | 18.3 |
| Ching | 6.4 | 12.5 | 7.8 | 25.0 | 12.9 |
