The Old Firm derby was as exciting as you'd expect. Rangers beat Celtic 4-2 at Celtic Park in a game where 2 players (Daniel Cousin and Jan Venegoor of Hesselink) were sent off. 2 goals from ex Celtic player Kenny Miller sunk the hearts of the home team, Daniel cousin scored the games opener with a tremendous solo effort. Man of the match Pedro Mendes scored one of the goals of the season with a superb drive from 30 yards. Giorgios Samaras and Shunsuke Nakamura got the goals for Celtic.
On Saturday all 5 away teams won which is something to remember for a pub quiz one day.
Motherwell finally got their first win of the season with a john Sutton goal enough to beat Hibs.
Aberdeen were lucky to get a win over a tenacious St. Mirren who could have done with a point. Darren Mackie got the only goal of the game.
Hamilton were beaten by a superior Hearts team and it looks like the honeymoon period for Accies is over. 2-1 the final score.
Douglas Imrie's goal 5 minutes from time gave Inverness Caley the win over Falkirk who took the lead on the hour mark. Caley came back to win 2-1.
Dundee United were surprised by Kilmarnock who beat the home side 2-0. goals from Gavin Skelton and Danny Invincible giving Killie the 3points.
Rangers are top of the league on goal difference with Killie second. It looks like my pre season predictions of Falkirk and St. Mirren fighting it out in the relegation zone looks likely to come true. dundee united were tipped to fight for a UEFA cup place this year but haven't got their season going yet.
Feel free to post any questions in the comment box.
*For anyone in the US - De Marcus Beasley was injured for the Old Firm game, Maurice Edu was on the bench and almost got on but Cousin's sending off forced Walter Smith to re-think his subs. Hopefully he'll get his debut soon.
31 August 2008
29 August 2008
Freddy Adu...Where Are You?
Gruffgoat contributor Chris pointed out a glaring omission on the US Men's Roster just announced for Cuba and T&T - that omission is Freddy Adu.
I thought Freddy had a very good showing in the Olympic tournament so I'm wondering why he didn't make the top 20 cut?
If any of you fans out there know what's going on with Freddy or have any theories; by all means share them here...
I thought Freddy had a very good showing in the Olympic tournament so I'm wondering why he didn't make the top 20 cut?
If any of you fans out there know what's going on with Freddy or have any theories; by all means share them here...
Top 20 named for Upcoming Cuba and Trinidad & Tobago Qualifiers
As I look at this roster, I feel a bit optimistic. We actually have a little bit of depth as a nation finally. Let's hope the team can start to gel a bit and show us a bit more consistency.
Beasley, DaMarcus | Glasgow Rangers (Scotland)
Bocanegra, Carlos | Rennes (France)
Bradley, Michael | SC Heerenveen (Holland)
Califf, Danny | FC Midtjylland (Denmark)
Cherundolo, Steve | Hannover 96 (Germany)
Ching, Brian | Houston Dynamo (MLS)
Clark, Ricardo | Houston Dynamo (MLS)
Dempsey, Clint | Fulham FC (England)
Donovan, Landon | Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)
Edu, Maurice | Glasgow Rangers (Scotland)
Guzan, Brad | Aston Villa (England)
Hejduk, Frankie | Columbus Crew (MLS)
Howard, Tim | Everton FC (England)
Johnson, Eddie | Cardiff City (Wales)
Kljestan, Sacha | Chivas USA (MLS)
Lewis, Eddie | Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)
Onyewu, Oguchi | Standard de Liege (Belgium)
Orozco, Michael | San Luis (Mexico)
Pearce, Heath | Hansa Rostock (Germany)
Wynne, Marvell | Toronto FC (MLS)
Beasley, DaMarcus | Glasgow Rangers (Scotland)
Bocanegra, Carlos | Rennes (France)
Bradley, Michael | SC Heerenveen (Holland)
Califf, Danny | FC Midtjylland (Denmark)
Cherundolo, Steve | Hannover 96 (Germany)
Ching, Brian | Houston Dynamo (MLS)
Clark, Ricardo | Houston Dynamo (MLS)
Dempsey, Clint | Fulham FC (England)
Donovan, Landon | Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)
Edu, Maurice | Glasgow Rangers (Scotland)
Guzan, Brad | Aston Villa (England)
Hejduk, Frankie | Columbus Crew (MLS)
Howard, Tim | Everton FC (England)
Johnson, Eddie | Cardiff City (Wales)
Kljestan, Sacha | Chivas USA (MLS)
Lewis, Eddie | Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)
Onyewu, Oguchi | Standard de Liege (Belgium)
Orozco, Michael | San Luis (Mexico)
Pearce, Heath | Hansa Rostock (Germany)
Wynne, Marvell | Toronto FC (MLS)
27 August 2008
NASA Classic a success
For those of you who attended the NASA Classic this past weekend, I hope you agree with me that the tournament was a success.
The field conditions were great and thanks in large part to tropical storm Fay, the weather was awesome for a late August soccer tourney.
Instead of the sweltering summer heat which would normally have been hanging over the players, the weather was windy and overcast – make it a pleasant outing. The rain really didn’t arrive until late Sunday and by then, all of the champions were crowned.
25 August 2008
Football Week in Review - 18-25th August
With another great week in football that saw its end with a great match between Manchester United and Portsmouth, I look back at all that made it special.
This week started early with a game between DC United and the New England Revolution. This match comes after New England lost to San Jose 4-0 and DC beat Colorado 1-0. A very hard fought battle by both sides, but it seemed like The Revolution wanted it more. DC ended up losing 2-1 with Jamie Moreno scoring the lone goal for United. The one issue I saw that I hoped the team could rectify was finishing inside the final 20% of the field. DC held possession for a majority of the game, but could not put the ball in the net.
The next game that was on was the US Women's Gold Medal match against Brazil. I missed much of the game and was only able to catch the overtime. It turned out not to matter as the only goal scored in the game was scored in the 96th minute and the US Women took home the gold. The final 15 minutes were extremely tense and the game could have gone either way, but the ladies held out.
After getting back to Blacksburg my days of seeing live DC United matches comes to an end, but now I get to see the Virginia Tech team live. Friday night the Hokies took on VCU in an exhibition game before the season starts. The game ended in a 1-1 tie because of an amazing free kick from VCU. Tech had problems sticking the ball in the net because they would just pass in front of the goal over and over until the ball was taken away. One other time a player tried to fake out the goalie instead of taking an easy shot. With the loss of Patrick Nyarko to the Chicago Fire there is a gap left for a pure goal scorer and that role has not been filled. Only time will tell if Tech can get it together and try for a repeat of last year's Final Four appearance.
Saturday morning was the start of the second week of EPL. I didn't get to see many games this week, but the few that I did get to watch were really exciting. The first one was Tottenham against Sunderland. Amid turmoil with trying to figure out the Berbatov situation Tottenham was not on their best game and ended up losing 1-2 to Sunderland. Berbatov did not play in the game and most likely will not play until he is transfers or otherwise acts to the organization's preference. The game seemed likely to end in a tie until a beautiful late goal to give Sunderland the three points. A great turn around after last week's 1-0 loss to Liverpool for the club. Tottenham is still searching for their first point.
Next up would be my match of the week. If you failed to watch Fulham's win over Arsenal then you really missed out. With a struggling Arsenal side, Fulham rallied together to beat them 1-0 is an extremely close game. Fulham seemed to gain strength out of their Week 1 loss to Hull City while Arsenal played as poorly as they looked against West Brom. Wegner is going to have to get their squad in much better shape if they hope to finish in time to grab a Champions League spot by the end of the season.
One game I didn't see which would have been even better than Fulham's win over Arsenal was Stoke's 3-2 win over an extremely surprised Aston Villa squad. I'm not sure where these Championship teams came from but if the first two weeks are any indication they won't be going back down any time soon.
Later Saturday night we switch from English football back to MLS. DC United played their third game in 7 days, but did not look fatigued in the least. They put an impressive 3 goals in Colorado's net while letting none in their own. DC's keeper Louis Crayton secured his second shutout in three starts and looks to be United's choice for the rest of the season. The three goals came from two new United players, Joe Vide and Quavas Kirk, while the third was scored by Santino Quaranta. Joe Vide's goal seems to be a lock for goal of the week in MLS and word's cannot accurately describe how great it was. Hopefully DC can ride this great win into next week's match against New York.
The only game on Sunday I wanted to watch was West Ham against Manchester City. However, after a red card to the Hammers and 2 quick goals by City I had to turn off the game in disgust. The game ended up being a 3-0 win for City who have recovered from their 4-2 loss to Villa in the first week.
The last match of the week was Manchester United facing their Community Shield foes Portsmouth. After getting Tevez back and the lads on United playing superb football, there was never a doubt that they would win the match. They seemed to have the same problem with putting the ball in the net that DC United had earlier in the week, but the duo of Ferdinand and Vidic kept the chances for a comeback close to zero. Once United get Ronaldo back or finally sign Berbatov they will have no problem winning games when they can get a plentiful amount of goals.
This week started early with a game between DC United and the New England Revolution. This match comes after New England lost to San Jose 4-0 and DC beat Colorado 1-0. A very hard fought battle by both sides, but it seemed like The Revolution wanted it more. DC ended up losing 2-1 with Jamie Moreno scoring the lone goal for United. The one issue I saw that I hoped the team could rectify was finishing inside the final 20% of the field. DC held possession for a majority of the game, but could not put the ball in the net.
The next game that was on was the US Women's Gold Medal match against Brazil. I missed much of the game and was only able to catch the overtime. It turned out not to matter as the only goal scored in the game was scored in the 96th minute and the US Women took home the gold. The final 15 minutes were extremely tense and the game could have gone either way, but the ladies held out.
After getting back to Blacksburg my days of seeing live DC United matches comes to an end, but now I get to see the Virginia Tech team live. Friday night the Hokies took on VCU in an exhibition game before the season starts. The game ended in a 1-1 tie because of an amazing free kick from VCU. Tech had problems sticking the ball in the net because they would just pass in front of the goal over and over until the ball was taken away. One other time a player tried to fake out the goalie instead of taking an easy shot. With the loss of Patrick Nyarko to the Chicago Fire there is a gap left for a pure goal scorer and that role has not been filled. Only time will tell if Tech can get it together and try for a repeat of last year's Final Four appearance.
Saturday morning was the start of the second week of EPL. I didn't get to see many games this week, but the few that I did get to watch were really exciting. The first one was Tottenham against Sunderland. Amid turmoil with trying to figure out the Berbatov situation Tottenham was not on their best game and ended up losing 1-2 to Sunderland. Berbatov did not play in the game and most likely will not play until he is transfers or otherwise acts to the organization's preference. The game seemed likely to end in a tie until a beautiful late goal to give Sunderland the three points. A great turn around after last week's 1-0 loss to Liverpool for the club. Tottenham is still searching for their first point.
Next up would be my match of the week. If you failed to watch Fulham's win over Arsenal then you really missed out. With a struggling Arsenal side, Fulham rallied together to beat them 1-0 is an extremely close game. Fulham seemed to gain strength out of their Week 1 loss to Hull City while Arsenal played as poorly as they looked against West Brom. Wegner is going to have to get their squad in much better shape if they hope to finish in time to grab a Champions League spot by the end of the season.
One game I didn't see which would have been even better than Fulham's win over Arsenal was Stoke's 3-2 win over an extremely surprised Aston Villa squad. I'm not sure where these Championship teams came from but if the first two weeks are any indication they won't be going back down any time soon.
Later Saturday night we switch from English football back to MLS. DC United played their third game in 7 days, but did not look fatigued in the least. They put an impressive 3 goals in Colorado's net while letting none in their own. DC's keeper Louis Crayton secured his second shutout in three starts and looks to be United's choice for the rest of the season. The three goals came from two new United players, Joe Vide and Quavas Kirk, while the third was scored by Santino Quaranta. Joe Vide's goal seems to be a lock for goal of the week in MLS and word's cannot accurately describe how great it was. Hopefully DC can ride this great win into next week's match against New York.
The only game on Sunday I wanted to watch was West Ham against Manchester City. However, after a red card to the Hammers and 2 quick goals by City I had to turn off the game in disgust. The game ended up being a 3-0 win for City who have recovered from their 4-2 loss to Villa in the first week.
The last match of the week was Manchester United facing their Community Shield foes Portsmouth. After getting Tevez back and the lads on United playing superb football, there was never a doubt that they would win the match. They seemed to have the same problem with putting the ball in the net that DC United had earlier in the week, but the duo of Ferdinand and Vidic kept the chances for a comeback close to zero. Once United get Ronaldo back or finally sign Berbatov they will have no problem winning games when they can get a plentiful amount of goals.
24 August 2008
SPL Review - 23/08/08
An entertaining weekend of football in the SPl this week.
Aberdeen held Rangers, in the early kick off game, to a 1-1 draw with Rangers having a late goal by DaMarcus Beasley ruled out for offside when he was clearly a yard on. Davie Weir opened the scoring for Rangers in a half they dominated, Derek Young equalised just before the break for The Dons.
Shaun Maloney had an impressive return to Celtic in their comfortable 3-0 victory over Falkirk. Glenn Loovens and Marc Crosas were given debuts as goals from Giorgios Samaras(2) and defender Steven McManus gave The Celts a good confidence boost ahead of next weeks Old Firm game against Rangers. 3 defeats on the bounce for Falkirk.
Hamilton's dream start to the season hit a snag as they were beaten by Kilmarnock 1-0. Manuel Pascali's was enough to win the game for Killie. Hamilton also had David Graham sent off with 10 minutes left.
A battling performance from 10-men St. Mirren ended in a 2-1 defeat to a Hearts team who deserved the win. Michael Stewart's penalty won the game for the Jambos after a man of the match performance. St Mirren should take heart from the game though and be confident of picking up a few points in the next few weeks.
Caley and Hibs battled out a 1-1 draw with Don Cowie and Colin Nish scoring. The score was what both teams deserved with a lot of good play from both of them. Djebi-Zadi was given his debut from the bench for Caley and looked comfortable.
John Sutton's return to the SPL with Motherwell started well with a goal against visitors Dundee United after 34 minutes which was cancelled out by Lee Wilkie 6 minutes later. Motherwell's problems up front from last week don't seem to have changed with the void Ross McCormick left is all to see. Chris Porter missed a penalty for motherwell who should be encouraged by their good play.
Next week sees the first old Firm of the season so I'll do a quick preview for you guys.
If you have any questions about the Scottish game feel free to post them in the comments and i'll answer them in next week's review.
Aberdeen held Rangers, in the early kick off game, to a 1-1 draw with Rangers having a late goal by DaMarcus Beasley ruled out for offside when he was clearly a yard on. Davie Weir opened the scoring for Rangers in a half they dominated, Derek Young equalised just before the break for The Dons.
Shaun Maloney had an impressive return to Celtic in their comfortable 3-0 victory over Falkirk. Glenn Loovens and Marc Crosas were given debuts as goals from Giorgios Samaras(2) and defender Steven McManus gave The Celts a good confidence boost ahead of next weeks Old Firm game against Rangers. 3 defeats on the bounce for Falkirk.
Hamilton's dream start to the season hit a snag as they were beaten by Kilmarnock 1-0. Manuel Pascali's was enough to win the game for Killie. Hamilton also had David Graham sent off with 10 minutes left.
A battling performance from 10-men St. Mirren ended in a 2-1 defeat to a Hearts team who deserved the win. Michael Stewart's penalty won the game for the Jambos after a man of the match performance. St Mirren should take heart from the game though and be confident of picking up a few points in the next few weeks.
Caley and Hibs battled out a 1-1 draw with Don Cowie and Colin Nish scoring. The score was what both teams deserved with a lot of good play from both of them. Djebi-Zadi was given his debut from the bench for Caley and looked comfortable.
John Sutton's return to the SPL with Motherwell started well with a goal against visitors Dundee United after 34 minutes which was cancelled out by Lee Wilkie 6 minutes later. Motherwell's problems up front from last week don't seem to have changed with the void Ross McCormick left is all to see. Chris Porter missed a penalty for motherwell who should be encouraged by their good play.
Next week sees the first old Firm of the season so I'll do a quick preview for you guys.
If you have any questions about the Scottish game feel free to post them in the comments and i'll answer them in next week's review.
23 August 2008
Full Morning of Saturday EPL Football on Tap
Seven matches today folks. I'm off to my own football tourney so feel free to use this post to discuss the action. Here are today's EPL fixtures in East Coast time:
Blackburn v Hull, 10:00AM
Liverpool v Middlesbrough, 10:00AM
Newcastle v Bolton, 10:00AM
Stoke v Aston Villa, 10:00AM
Tottenham v Sunderland, 10:00AM
West Brom v Everton, 10:00AM
Fulham v Arsenal, 12:30AM
Blackburn v Hull, 10:00AM
Liverpool v Middlesbrough, 10:00AM
Newcastle v Bolton, 10:00AM
Stoke v Aston Villa, 10:00AM
Tottenham v Sunderland, 10:00AM
West Brom v Everton, 10:00AM
Fulham v Arsenal, 12:30AM
22 August 2008
Video of Gustavo Cabrera leveling Eddie Lewis - starts at 1:25
The quality of this video leaves a bit to be desired but they run it through enough slow motion shots that you will certainly get the point.
Argentina v. Nigeria: A Flashback to 1996
The Olympic gold medal men’s match is once again set. The two foes are familiar faces on this stage, Argentina and Nigeria. Perhaps it’s Argentina's turn to pull even in today’s rematch in Beijing; because 12 years ago in Athens…Georgia that is…Nigeria won their first and only international trophy in the form of Olympic gold.
I remember sitting high in the stands on that August day in 1996 at a woefully unfit for purpose stadium at the University of Georgia.
The stadium motto, between the hedges, proved to be a sticky point for football. The old American football stadium has a famous row of hedges planted around the field. The problem of course is that an American football field need only be 50 yards wide, while the minimum width for a FIFA approved international match is 70 yards. This meant, to the great consternation of many UGA faithful, that the hedges had to come out. The University showcased their horticultural talents as the hedges themselves were treated with great dignity and replanted after the Olympics left town.
The match itself was electric. 86,117 were in attendance to watch an inspired Super Eagles, led by Jay-Jay Okocha, Uche Okechukwu, and of course, the colorful Taribo West take on an equally talent rich Argentina with players like Crespo, Simeone, Zanetti, Ortega, and Claudio López.
As if this embarrassment of riches on the playing field were not enough, we were also treated to the fine referring of the great Pierluigi Collina.
The match details I’m afraid are a bit hazy after so many years and thousands of matches later, but in spite of going down a goal twice in the match (one of which was a Penalty Kick awarded on an Ortega dive in the box) the final 3-2 result was a spectacular coup for the Super Eagles and they have not been able to repeat it since.
Today’s match features a youthful and hopeful Nigerian side; however, they do not have the long list of A grade players like they did in Georgia so many years ago. In spite of that, they have played fantastic attacking football this tournament and have delivered great goals. They will be looking to earn Nigeria’s second major tournament victory.
Argentina on the other hand are still able to spring forth magical players such as Lionel Messi, Juan Riquelme, and Sergio Aguero and, after sending Brazil to the bronze medal match, will be quite confident in their ability to bring home gold for the Albicelestes.
I remember sitting high in the stands on that August day in 1996 at a woefully unfit for purpose stadium at the University of Georgia.
The stadium motto, between the hedges, proved to be a sticky point for football. The old American football stadium has a famous row of hedges planted around the field. The problem of course is that an American football field need only be 50 yards wide, while the minimum width for a FIFA approved international match is 70 yards. This meant, to the great consternation of many UGA faithful, that the hedges had to come out. The University showcased their horticultural talents as the hedges themselves were treated with great dignity and replanted after the Olympics left town.
The match itself was electric. 86,117 were in attendance to watch an inspired Super Eagles, led by Jay-Jay Okocha, Uche Okechukwu, and of course, the colorful Taribo West take on an equally talent rich Argentina with players like Crespo, Simeone, Zanetti, Ortega, and Claudio López.
As if this embarrassment of riches on the playing field were not enough, we were also treated to the fine referring of the great Pierluigi Collina.
The match details I’m afraid are a bit hazy after so many years and thousands of matches later, but in spite of going down a goal twice in the match (one of which was a Penalty Kick awarded on an Ortega dive in the box) the final 3-2 result was a spectacular coup for the Super Eagles and they have not been able to repeat it since.
Today’s match features a youthful and hopeful Nigerian side; however, they do not have the long list of A grade players like they did in Georgia so many years ago. In spite of that, they have played fantastic attacking football this tournament and have delivered great goals. They will be looking to earn Nigeria’s second major tournament victory.
Argentina on the other hand are still able to spring forth magical players such as Lionel Messi, Juan Riquelme, and Sergio Aguero and, after sending Brazil to the bronze medal match, will be quite confident in their ability to bring home gold for the Albicelestes.
Maurice Edu granted work permit
As expected Maurice Edu's work permit application went through without a hitch and his move to Rangers of Scotland is just about confirmed. The 22 year old US international watched his new club beat Hearts 2-0 on Saturday before jetting off to join his international team mates for the World Cup qualifier with Guatemala on Wednesday night.
Rangers have signed 8 players in the transfer window including midfielders Steven Davis, Pedro Mendes and talented Spaniard Aaron Niguez.
Rangers have signed 8 players in the transfer window including midfielders Steven Davis, Pedro Mendes and talented Spaniard Aaron Niguez.
21 August 2008
Gustavo Cabrera must go
If ever there was an underhanded pitch for FIFA to hit out of the park, the vicious Gustavo Cabrera elbow to the head of Eddie Lewis has got to be it.
In last night's World Cup qualifier, the Guatemalan right back took a bead on Eddie Lewis and actually changed his run to time the collision as opposed to run on to the ball.
At the very last milli-second, Cabrera lifted off the ground with a raised elbow aimed at Eddie Lewis' head. He did not miss and Lewis went down with blood gushing from his forehead.
To add to the drama, Cabrera had the audacity to feign injury himself, grabbing a fictitious spot on his own head while Lewis bled beside him on the turf.
Fortunately for all, Lewis only required stitches over the eye but it certainly could've been much much worse. FIFA now have a fantastic opportunity to send a message to international football that malicious and cyncial displays such as this will go severely punished.
I think at least one year of suspension from international play is not too harsh, and frankly, Cabrera should be lucky to get off so light.
In last night's World Cup qualifier, the Guatemalan right back took a bead on Eddie Lewis and actually changed his run to time the collision as opposed to run on to the ball.
At the very last milli-second, Cabrera lifted off the ground with a raised elbow aimed at Eddie Lewis' head. He did not miss and Lewis went down with blood gushing from his forehead.
To add to the drama, Cabrera had the audacity to feign injury himself, grabbing a fictitious spot on his own head while Lewis bled beside him on the turf.
Fortunately for all, Lewis only required stitches over the eye but it certainly could've been much much worse. FIFA now have a fantastic opportunity to send a message to international football that malicious and cyncial displays such as this will go severely punished.
I think at least one year of suspension from international play is not too harsh, and frankly, Cabrera should be lucky to get off so light.
Thursday Night Football: Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire
We are minutes away from MLS' Thursday night line up but quite a few familiar faces will be missing due to World Cup qualifying commitments.
Missing:
LA Galaxy will be without: Landon Donovan, Eddie Lewis (USA; WCQ v Guatemala); David Beckham (England; v Czech Rep)
Chicago is missing: Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Mexico; WCQ v Honduras); Marco Pappa (Guatemala; WCQ v USA); Gonzalo Segares (Costa Rica; WCQ)
Missing:
LA Galaxy will be without: Landon Donovan, Eddie Lewis (USA; WCQ v Guatemala); David Beckham (England; v Czech Rep)
Chicago is missing: Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Mexico; WCQ v Honduras); Marco Pappa (Guatemala; WCQ v USA); Gonzalo Segares (Costa Rica; WCQ)
USA v. Brazil in Women's Gold Medal Match
Brazil and USA face off again for the girl's gold medal match.
For those of you who watched the Women's World Cup, you know that Brazil's Marta shredded the US defense like barbecue pork; however if the US stays calm and collected on defense, they should be able to hand the multi pronged Brazilian attack.
For the US, exploiting space and playing smart controlled football, using the speed out of the back from Chalupny and Mitts along with A Rod will go a long way in helping them collect the gold.
This match is also an opportunity for Hope Solo to rise to the occasion and put last year's controversy behind her once and for all!
For those of you who watched the Women's World Cup, you know that Brazil's Marta shredded the US defense like barbecue pork; however if the US stays calm and collected on defense, they should be able to hand the multi pronged Brazilian attack.
For the US, exploiting space and playing smart controlled football, using the speed out of the back from Chalupny and Mitts along with A Rod will go a long way in helping them collect the gold.
This match is also an opportunity for Hope Solo to rise to the occasion and put last year's controversy behind her once and for all!
USA men survive nasty battle in Guatemala
Last night’s World Cup qualifier in Guatemala was what you might call a “TV Screamer” in that, I was practically hoarse from screaming at my television at matches end.
For starters, ESPN had a baseball game on instead of the match as advertised which sent me over the top. The insufferable baseball game finally ended at about 10 minutes in to the first half.
ESPN switched over to the match in progress and fortunately, it was still tied 0-0 at that point. More than enough time to watch a Guatemalan side try to foul and game their way through to victory.
But in spite of the cheap play, Guatemala would not find victory in front of their 50,000 plus fans, as Carlos Bocanegra nodded home the game winner for the US and gave the Yanks their first ever away victory in the Central American powerhouse.
For starters, ESPN had a baseball game on instead of the match as advertised which sent me over the top. The insufferable baseball game finally ended at about 10 minutes in to the first half.
ESPN switched over to the match in progress and fortunately, it was still tied 0-0 at that point. More than enough time to watch a Guatemalan side try to foul and game their way through to victory.
But in spite of the cheap play, Guatemala would not find victory in front of their 50,000 plus fans, as Carlos Bocanegra nodded home the game winner for the US and gave the Yanks their first ever away victory in the Central American powerhouse.
20 August 2008
EPSN, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, PUT THE MATCH ON!!!
Right now I'm watching some stupid baseball game that doesn't matter to anyone while the United States is trying to qualify for the World Cup!!!! ESPN, why do you hate me so much? For the love of all that is holy, please turn off this boring mid season baseball crap and put the match on!!! please!
Giggs to Man U mates: Get hungry or go home
Ryan Giggs, the stand out of last Sunday's Manchester United match against a very plucky Newcastle in spite of his advancing years (in football terms of course), has set off the alarm for the rest of his Red Devil mates.
According to a report in the Guardian, Giggs told his team mates that they must match Chelsea's hunger if they are to successfully defend their Premier League title.
The article quotes Giggsy saying, "Chelsea did not win the Premier League last year...I have been in that position. You are hungry and determined, and you want to win it, simple as that. We have got to match their determination, their hunger and their desire. But we have players at the club who have tasted success over the last couple of years and want more."
Read the full article at the Guardian.
Silverbacks travel north to take on Montreal Impact tonight at Saputo Stadium
Atlanta Silverbacks are off to the Great White North to take on Montreal Impact tonight in a match that should help the Backs push closer to securing a playoff spot.
Impact will be looking to play spoiler though on their home field and could use a win to help them climb out of 9th position in the table.
According to the Silverbacks Press Release pre match analysis, "Montreal boasts one of the most balanced attacks in the league; the team has had a remarkable 12 players score goals this year, second only to the Puerto Rico Islanders. Yet, the Impact have scored the fewest goals in the league (19) and are still looking to find a consistent scorer. Montreal traded for forward Charles Gbeke earlier in the year, but he has only been able to put away one goal in 12 games played.
Atlanta’s offense ranks second in the league with 33 goals scored, but the team will be without top striker Macoumba Kandji. Atlanta has also been able to only net two goals in their last three matches, being on the receiving end of a shutout twice. Newly acquired forward Aaron Paye made his debut with the Silverbacks last Saturday against the Charleston Battery and played the final 70 minutes of the match after replacing an injured Kandji, and he will look to put the offense back on track."
Let's hope Atlanta can create offense without Kandji. Kick off is at 7:30PM Eastern, and if any Backs fans are there, please send us your match report. Thanks!!
19 August 2008
U.S. Men Begin Semifinal Round of 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Tomorrow at Guatemala
The Yanks have a chance to start building on a decent international Olympic performance as the full side resumes in World Cup qualifying tomorrow in Guatemala.
The match will be broadcast live on ESPN2 at 10:00PM Eastern.
According to US Soccer, "the team traveled from Miami to Guatemala City on Monday afternoon where they were met by team captain Carlos Bocanegra and Maurice Edu. The U.S. will train in the stadium Tuesday evening, just over 24 hours from kickoff."
Brazil v. Argentina, Ronaldinho v. Messi: This is your Olympic Semi Final "Clash of the Titans Lite" Post
Sorry for the long title there - but this one should be a firecracker. Of course this is the U23 version of this South American derby, so it doesn't quite carry the significance of a World Cup qualifier, but both sides are wearing National Team colors and I suspect will be pushing at all costs for the opportunity to face Nigeria for Gold.
While both sides did bring a few stars to the table - Riquelme, Messi, Ronaldinho...they are truly skeletons of their full teams.
Feel free to discuss.
While both sides did bring a few stars to the table - Riquelme, Messi, Ronaldinho...they are truly skeletons of their full teams.
Feel free to discuss.
18 August 2008
Football Weekend In Review - 16/17 August 2008
This weekend was certainly packed with really exciting games and I am here to offer my thoughts on the ones that I watched.
The Blackburn/Everton game was certainly the most exciting of the weekend in my opinion. Blackburn looked very strong in the first half and Everton was lucky not to have given up more than one goal. With the amazing goal by Everton to tie the game and end the first half it seemed like this game would go until the end and that it did. Blackburn seemed to come out of the second half disheartened after giving up their lead and fell behind. However, by a miraculous resurgence they rallied to field two goals with the final coming minutes before the game ended. A strong finish from a club that will be one to watch in the coming season.
The Boro/Tottenham game was next up and what an interesting game that turned out to be. Tottenham came out strong in the beginning of the game, but without their strikers could not net a goal to save their lives. First half ended 0-0. Boro quickly controlled the second half and got the lead before Berbatov was subbed in. Boro then went up 2-0 and would have ended the game there if Spurs hadn't got a lucky own goal for the game to end 2-1. Spurs definitely need a finisher up front to get the club into a good finish which is why they are so reluctant to send Berbatov over to Manchester.
I caught the replay of the West Ham/Wigan game enough to see the fabulous goals by Dean Ashton. For a club I was unsure of after seeing them play against the MLS All Stars I have high hopes if they can keep all of their players until the trade deadline passes. Ashton looks to be one of the top strikers in the league this year and I hope he can help the Hammers improve on a disappointing end to last season.
The Liverpool/Sunderland game was pretty boring so I only caught bits and pieces of it. Sunderland's new pick ups seem to give them a fierce tenacity I was not expecting. Keane didn't seem to be all that strong in his first match with his new team and looks like some chemistry is still to develop. Torres threw in his hat to the Player of the Year race early with a spectacular strike that Sunderland's goalie had no chance with. Absolutely spectacular.
Saturday night is MLS night and that means DC United time. I was pretty worried seeing as Chicago and DC have a very heated rivalry and after the trouncing United received last week from NY I didn't have very high expectations. That all changed when Louis "Two Hands" Crayton took the net over former starter Zach Wells. (The nick name was created in the pub with all the supporters drinking so take it with a grain of salt.) The team gelled perfectly and scored on an amazing corner that was put away by Fred, a player that hadn't had a ball go even close to the goal posts in a very long time. Two things that was saddened to see though was all the diving by Chicago, especially by Mapp, and the terrible finishing by United in the last 20 minutes of the second half. It always seems to plague United that they get content with a lead and won't pressure the last 20% of the field. Something to work on before Wednesday against New England.
Speaking of New England after the DC United Match was the New England/San Jose match. Not much to say about this other than it was already 1-0 when I started watching it and left with 5 minutes left and still managed to miss a goal by San Jose. I don't think New England has lost by 4 goals all season and to be beaten like that by the last place team in the MLS must sting. Playing without Joseph, but with Twellman and Nyassi the Revs seemed to be in full strength for the most part, but could not seem to do anything right. I didn't have any audio where I was so I don't know why Matt Reis was taken out of goal, but New England's back-up goalie is absolutely abysmal. The Revs must not ask him to tend net very often and who can blame them when they have the best keeper in the MLS. That isn't to say that the Quakes weren't playing a stellar game, because they really were. Ive always held a certain affinity for them as I'm not a fan of anyone else in the west and I hope they prove everyone wrong, including myself, and make the playoffs.
By Sunday I was getting a bit saturated by soccer, but I had to see how the other United would play with a very depleted roster against a sure to be resurging Newcastle squad. What I was not expecting was how well the Magpies' goalie and defense would play against the returning EPL champions. They seemed to be playing for the tie after the 70th minute ticked by and who could blame them. Try as they might the Red Devils couldn't penetrate the net, or Martins' face, a second time and the game ended 1-1.
Later that day I watched about 30 minutes of the NY Redbulls/Toronto FC match before turning it off at halftime. It was enough to be throughly disgusted with the field they were playing on (faded soccer lines, bright white NFL lines) and how poorly each team played. The Redbulls went ahead 1-0 by an amazing pass and run with a superb finish and apparently ended the game up 2-0.
Now to get ready for this week's upcoming soccer matches which include 2 DC United games, an exhibition Viriginia Tech match (that I will be attending live) and countless EPL matches with the possibility of a Championship match.
The Blackburn/Everton game was certainly the most exciting of the weekend in my opinion. Blackburn looked very strong in the first half and Everton was lucky not to have given up more than one goal. With the amazing goal by Everton to tie the game and end the first half it seemed like this game would go until the end and that it did. Blackburn seemed to come out of the second half disheartened after giving up their lead and fell behind. However, by a miraculous resurgence they rallied to field two goals with the final coming minutes before the game ended. A strong finish from a club that will be one to watch in the coming season.
The Boro/Tottenham game was next up and what an interesting game that turned out to be. Tottenham came out strong in the beginning of the game, but without their strikers could not net a goal to save their lives. First half ended 0-0. Boro quickly controlled the second half and got the lead before Berbatov was subbed in. Boro then went up 2-0 and would have ended the game there if Spurs hadn't got a lucky own goal for the game to end 2-1. Spurs definitely need a finisher up front to get the club into a good finish which is why they are so reluctant to send Berbatov over to Manchester.
I caught the replay of the West Ham/Wigan game enough to see the fabulous goals by Dean Ashton. For a club I was unsure of after seeing them play against the MLS All Stars I have high hopes if they can keep all of their players until the trade deadline passes. Ashton looks to be one of the top strikers in the league this year and I hope he can help the Hammers improve on a disappointing end to last season.
The Liverpool/Sunderland game was pretty boring so I only caught bits and pieces of it. Sunderland's new pick ups seem to give them a fierce tenacity I was not expecting. Keane didn't seem to be all that strong in his first match with his new team and looks like some chemistry is still to develop. Torres threw in his hat to the Player of the Year race early with a spectacular strike that Sunderland's goalie had no chance with. Absolutely spectacular.
Saturday night is MLS night and that means DC United time. I was pretty worried seeing as Chicago and DC have a very heated rivalry and after the trouncing United received last week from NY I didn't have very high expectations. That all changed when Louis "Two Hands" Crayton took the net over former starter Zach Wells. (The nick name was created in the pub with all the supporters drinking so take it with a grain of salt.) The team gelled perfectly and scored on an amazing corner that was put away by Fred, a player that hadn't had a ball go even close to the goal posts in a very long time. Two things that was saddened to see though was all the diving by Chicago, especially by Mapp, and the terrible finishing by United in the last 20 minutes of the second half. It always seems to plague United that they get content with a lead and won't pressure the last 20% of the field. Something to work on before Wednesday against New England.
Speaking of New England after the DC United Match was the New England/San Jose match. Not much to say about this other than it was already 1-0 when I started watching it and left with 5 minutes left and still managed to miss a goal by San Jose. I don't think New England has lost by 4 goals all season and to be beaten like that by the last place team in the MLS must sting. Playing without Joseph, but with Twellman and Nyassi the Revs seemed to be in full strength for the most part, but could not seem to do anything right. I didn't have any audio where I was so I don't know why Matt Reis was taken out of goal, but New England's back-up goalie is absolutely abysmal. The Revs must not ask him to tend net very often and who can blame them when they have the best keeper in the MLS. That isn't to say that the Quakes weren't playing a stellar game, because they really were. Ive always held a certain affinity for them as I'm not a fan of anyone else in the west and I hope they prove everyone wrong, including myself, and make the playoffs.
By Sunday I was getting a bit saturated by soccer, but I had to see how the other United would play with a very depleted roster against a sure to be resurging Newcastle squad. What I was not expecting was how well the Magpies' goalie and defense would play against the returning EPL champions. They seemed to be playing for the tie after the 70th minute ticked by and who could blame them. Try as they might the Red Devils couldn't penetrate the net, or Martins' face, a second time and the game ended 1-1.
Later that day I watched about 30 minutes of the NY Redbulls/Toronto FC match before turning it off at halftime. It was enough to be throughly disgusted with the field they were playing on (faded soccer lines, bright white NFL lines) and how poorly each team played. The Redbulls went ahead 1-0 by an amazing pass and run with a superb finish and apparently ended the game up 2-0.
Now to get ready for this week's upcoming soccer matches which include 2 DC United games, an exhibition Viriginia Tech match (that I will be attending live) and countless EPL matches with the possibility of a Championship match.
Scottish Premier League Review - 16/17 August 2008
After the first week of games, we saw a defeat for last years 3rd place team Motherwell and a win for new boys Hamilton and the old firm both winning their opening games as expected. This weeks games threw up a surprise or two and after Celtic's dubious penalty last week they were once again apart of some suspect refereeing in their game at Dundee United.
Hibs 3 - 2 Falkirk
A brace for Colin Nish helped give Mixu Paatelainen's men their first win of the season after last weeks disapointing defeat to Kilmarnock. Nish's early goal got them on their way and followed up with a second after 25 minutes with a low header after more suspect defending from the Bairns' defence. Michael Higdon's header got Falkirk back in the game 5 minutes with a powerful header. Nish had a hand in Hibs' third with a neat touch to Hanlon who made the game safe for Hibs just after the break. Higdon struck again after 53 minutes but Falkirk couldn't get an equaliser as their attacks fizzled out time after time.
Inverness CT 0 - 1 Hamilton
A Richard Offiong goal just before half time gave new boys Hamilton their second win of the season in a game which promised little and delivered even less. Both sides set our defensive stalls, Hamilton unchanged from last weeks win over Dundee United. Caley didn't get going in the first half and had were lucky not to go down a goal to an free header by Offiong. It was a mistake by the Caley defence that let in Offiong who cooly slotted past the Caly keeper. The second half had impressive performances by Adam Rooney of Caley and Simon Mensing of Hamilton who both should play a part in keeping their teams up in the SPL this season. 2 out of 2 for the Lanarkshire team.
Motherwell 0 - 1 Aberdeen
Aberdeen bounced back from their opening day defeat to get a rare away win at Fir Park. Motherwell looked the most dangerous throughout the game but their lack of firepower up front was there for all to see. Stephen Hughes looks sharp all game and his passing in the final third was ruined by a lack of movement in the motherwell box time after time. The game looked to be heading for a nil-nil draw when Aberdeen got a free kick 25 yards out, which the impressive looking Charlie Mulgrew dispatched into the bottom corner of the Well goal.
Rangers 2 - 0 Hearts
Pedro Mendes made his debut for The Gers and left quite an impression on the Ibrox faithful. After the drama of midweek this victory should steady the ship for Rangers who were rarely troubled by Hearts. They took the lead on 36 minutes with Northern Ireland striker Kyle Lafferty getting his first goal for the club with a good finish from just inside the box. Alan McGregor made a terrific double save to keep Rangers in the lead but wasn't troubled after that. DeMarcus Beasley and Kenny Miller came on for rangers in the second half as both looked good, with Beasley rounding the hearts defence and hitting a good low cross across the six yard box but Rangers strikers were slow to respond. substitute Marius Mikoilunas lasted less than 10 minutes before a booking for a dive was followed up with a second yellow card and a dismissal for a late challenge on Kenny Miller. Rangers sealed the game with a Kris Boyd penalty after Kenny miller jinked through the Hearts defence and was brought down with the mistimed tackle by Wallace. 2 wins and 2 clean sheets for Rangers.
St mirren 0 - 0 Kilmarnock
2 of the teams tipped for relegation again this season squared off with a boring nil-nil draw a fair result. Neither team settled in this scrappy match, with both defences looked solid through out. Apart from a jim Hamilton header against the bar in the second half, a goal never looked likely from either team so it the result wasn't a surprise.
Dundee United 1- 1 Celtic
After last weeks unconvicing win over St Mirren, Celtic looked to get a win over Dundee United to really launch their defence of the SPL trophy. In an entertaining first half the United defence coped well with Celtic's attacks and could have scored through Robertson who had good chance saved by Celtic keeper Artur Boruc. The Tangerines felt they should have had a penalty when Jan Venegoor of Hesselink grabbed on to Lee Wilkie in the Celtic box but nothing was given. The second half started out well again with Celtic getting the opening goal after 50 minutes, good work from Nakamura putting Paul Hartley through with a deflected shot off Kenneth. A stonewall penatly claim was then turned down in the Celtic box again when O'Donovan was tripped by Gary Caldwell, the home fans as expected were furious. As the game approached the last ten minutes Celtic looked good for the 3 points, United had 2 decent shouts for a penalty turned down, and thier frustration was leading to scrappy play. On 80 minutes however a conway cross was met by United's new spanish siging Sandaza who equalized for the home side. A draw was a fair result in terms of the overall play but Dundee United will feel really hard done with the poor performance of the officials.
Hibs 3 - 2 Falkirk
A brace for Colin Nish helped give Mixu Paatelainen's men their first win of the season after last weeks disapointing defeat to Kilmarnock. Nish's early goal got them on their way and followed up with a second after 25 minutes with a low header after more suspect defending from the Bairns' defence. Michael Higdon's header got Falkirk back in the game 5 minutes with a powerful header. Nish had a hand in Hibs' third with a neat touch to Hanlon who made the game safe for Hibs just after the break. Higdon struck again after 53 minutes but Falkirk couldn't get an equaliser as their attacks fizzled out time after time.
Inverness CT 0 - 1 Hamilton
A Richard Offiong goal just before half time gave new boys Hamilton their second win of the season in a game which promised little and delivered even less. Both sides set our defensive stalls, Hamilton unchanged from last weeks win over Dundee United. Caley didn't get going in the first half and had were lucky not to go down a goal to an free header by Offiong. It was a mistake by the Caley defence that let in Offiong who cooly slotted past the Caly keeper. The second half had impressive performances by Adam Rooney of Caley and Simon Mensing of Hamilton who both should play a part in keeping their teams up in the SPL this season. 2 out of 2 for the Lanarkshire team.
Motherwell 0 - 1 Aberdeen
Aberdeen bounced back from their opening day defeat to get a rare away win at Fir Park. Motherwell looked the most dangerous throughout the game but their lack of firepower up front was there for all to see. Stephen Hughes looks sharp all game and his passing in the final third was ruined by a lack of movement in the motherwell box time after time. The game looked to be heading for a nil-nil draw when Aberdeen got a free kick 25 yards out, which the impressive looking Charlie Mulgrew dispatched into the bottom corner of the Well goal.
Rangers 2 - 0 Hearts
Pedro Mendes made his debut for The Gers and left quite an impression on the Ibrox faithful. After the drama of midweek this victory should steady the ship for Rangers who were rarely troubled by Hearts. They took the lead on 36 minutes with Northern Ireland striker Kyle Lafferty getting his first goal for the club with a good finish from just inside the box. Alan McGregor made a terrific double save to keep Rangers in the lead but wasn't troubled after that. DeMarcus Beasley and Kenny Miller came on for rangers in the second half as both looked good, with Beasley rounding the hearts defence and hitting a good low cross across the six yard box but Rangers strikers were slow to respond. substitute Marius Mikoilunas lasted less than 10 minutes before a booking for a dive was followed up with a second yellow card and a dismissal for a late challenge on Kenny Miller. Rangers sealed the game with a Kris Boyd penalty after Kenny miller jinked through the Hearts defence and was brought down with the mistimed tackle by Wallace. 2 wins and 2 clean sheets for Rangers.
St mirren 0 - 0 Kilmarnock
2 of the teams tipped for relegation again this season squared off with a boring nil-nil draw a fair result. Neither team settled in this scrappy match, with both defences looked solid through out. Apart from a jim Hamilton header against the bar in the second half, a goal never looked likely from either team so it the result wasn't a surprise.
Dundee United 1- 1 Celtic
After last weeks unconvicing win over St Mirren, Celtic looked to get a win over Dundee United to really launch their defence of the SPL trophy. In an entertaining first half the United defence coped well with Celtic's attacks and could have scored through Robertson who had good chance saved by Celtic keeper Artur Boruc. The Tangerines felt they should have had a penalty when Jan Venegoor of Hesselink grabbed on to Lee Wilkie in the Celtic box but nothing was given. The second half started out well again with Celtic getting the opening goal after 50 minutes, good work from Nakamura putting Paul Hartley through with a deflected shot off Kenneth. A stonewall penatly claim was then turned down in the Celtic box again when O'Donovan was tripped by Gary Caldwell, the home fans as expected were furious. As the game approached the last ten minutes Celtic looked good for the 3 points, United had 2 decent shouts for a penalty turned down, and thier frustration was leading to scrappy play. On 80 minutes however a conway cross was met by United's new spanish siging Sandaza who equalized for the home side. A draw was a fair result in terms of the overall play but Dundee United will feel really hard done with the poor performance of the officials.
US Women defeat Japan, will face Brazil for Gold
The US Women looked impressive after a slow start against Japan this morning.
Japan took an early 1-0 lead before the US shook the cobwebs out and got down to business. Heather Mitts looked great (ahem) pushing in to the attack from her right fullback position and Lori Chalupny made life miserable for Japan as well.
Once the girls got Fukumoto's number...i.e., she's a short goalkeeper and is susceptible to getting chipped, the US started to put the game away.
To Japan's credit, they played the full 90 minutes as if they were down a goal and dug out a bit of pride in the 93rd to add a goal, but that was far from enough as the the final tally stood at USA 4 Japan 2.
Now the US will face World Cup nemesis Brazil in a what should be a battle royale for the gold.
My "man" of the match, Heather Mitts.
USA's Maurice Edu heading to Rangers
US Soccer scores yet another export to Europe. Midfielder Maurice Edu has agreed to a five-year deal with Scottish Premier League side Glasgow Rangers.
According to the AP report, the USD5 million transfer from Toronto FC is subject to a work permit being granted.
The other interesting item here is that Edu will play alongside fellow National Teamer DaMarcus Beasley in the Rangers midfield.
US Women take on Japan in Olympic Semis
We are less than an hour and half away from the US Women semi final kick-off against Japan, a team they defeated 1-0 in the run up competition while the other bracket’s match, Brazil vs. Germany is already underway.
Some say the US girls are “lucky” that the brackets worked out in a way that put them against Japan rather than the other side’s titans, but let’s face it, international football has always been peppered with a bit of luck.
Some might also argue that by entering this tournament after losing Abby Wambach to a broken leg, perhaps this bit of good fortune is just karma coming back around. Nonetheless, the US girls scraped out the victories they needed when they needed them and at the end of the day, they’ve put themselves in a great spot to challenge for the gold medal.
Kick off is at 9:00AM Eastern.
17 August 2008
Chelsea come out with guns blazin'
Four goals. Four different goal scorers.
Chelsea have come out of the starting gates this new EPL season with a vengeance as poor Portsmouth was on the receiving end of a veritable whooping.
First half strikes from Joe Cole, Nicolas Anelka, and Frank Lampard (ok, so it was a penalty kick but still) set the tone early for a Chelsea side that looked to have an extremely solid defensive line and an equally creative (courtesy of Deco) midfield.
I know Sir Alex was talking up the relative age of the Blues this summer but the men showed no sign of age and looked like a side without weakness. Deco's spark could ignite a fire that may be hard to extinguish. By the way, it was his laser strike from 1000 yards out that notched the fourth goal and practically de-handed England National team keeper David James.
Chelsea have a chance to continue the tune up next weekend against last year's relegation skirters, Wigan...so a true test remains to be taken.
Dear Manchester United, the idea is to finish the ball
Manchester United and Newcastle captured the first draw of the 2008-2009 Premiership season and from the 60th minute on, it was clear that Manchester Untied were never going to break through the Newcastle defense.
Shay Given was extremely confident in goal for the Magpies and the fact that most of Man U's second half chances were either off target or lacking in creativity, certainly helped his cause.
The Red Devil's set a furious pace, but it seemed like a lot of panicked running and not a lot of clever build up, while Newcastle just soaked it up.
A warning sign for Man U in my mind was that the most impressive man on the pitch was 98 year old Ryan Giggs! Either this performance was a case of first match nerves (like last season...I know) or they are in desperate need for Ronaldo to move from the stands back to the midfield.
16 August 2008
Your Day One EPL Results
Arsenal 1-0 West Brom - didn't catch this one but sounds like West Brom gave a good account of themselves
Bolton 3-1 Stoke - didnt' watch
Everton 2-3 Blackburn - caught this one, Blackburn slept through the second half and it almost cost them. Everton kept pounding but couldn't equalise
Hull 2-1 Fulham - didn't catch this one either but congratulations to Hull City for winning their first top flight match. Could be a long season for both of these sides however
Middlesbrough 2-1 Tottenham - didn't watch
Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool - wonder strike from Fernando Torres from about 1000 yards out was the difference. Good game all around
West Ham 2-1 Wigan - didn't watch
Bolton 3-1 Stoke - didnt' watch
Everton 2-3 Blackburn - caught this one, Blackburn slept through the second half and it almost cost them. Everton kept pounding but couldn't equalise
Hull 2-1 Fulham - didn't catch this one either but congratulations to Hull City for winning their first top flight match. Could be a long season for both of these sides however
Middlesbrough 2-1 Tottenham - didn't watch
Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool - wonder strike from Fernando Torres from about 1000 yards out was the difference. Good game all around
West Ham 2-1 Wigan - didn't watch
15 August 2008
The English Premiership 2008-09 Season Kicks Off Tomorrow
The best league in the world kicks off tomorrow morning after a 97 day breather.
Get your coffee ready folks as the 2008-2009 EPL season will start as Arsenal face newly promoted West Bromwich Albion with a US East Coast kick off of 7:45AM.
The remaining Saturday fixtures on US East Coast time include:
Bolton v Stoke - 10AM
Everton v Blackburn - 10AM
Hull v Fulham - 10AM
Middlesbrough v Tottenham - 10AM
West Ham v Wigan - 10AM
Sunderland v Liverpool - 12:30PM
US Women Send Canadians Home
The US Women had to dig deep for their win over Canada this morning.
I tuned in at around 6:30AM expecting to see the Stars and Stripes battling it out against the Big Red but instead was treated to about an hour of Brazil vs. Norway. Brazil ended up getting the best of Norway by 2-0 to advance.
Apparently lightening put a stop to the US Canada match with the US up 1-0. The match resumed at 8:00AM and Canada tied it up to send the match in to extra time. The Flying Hawaiian, Natasha Kai, delivered a great game winning header (from the video I watched it looked like it could've been offside) but none of the Canadians made much of it so Kai's header proved to be the match winner and US moved ahead to face Japan next.
13 August 2008
DC United Advances to the US Open Cup Finals
After attending the DC United match last night against the New England Revolution I left with a sense of happiness that has not been with me after a game in a long time. United played with a quality I haven't seen since before the start of SuperLiga. Having Quaranta and Peralta back at full strength didn't hurt at all either.
It started out like most games with it being touch and go for most of the first half. The Revs had a pretty diminished team choosing to start rookies and reserve players with Joseph leading them forward. After the first half ending 1-1 I knew DC had the edge, but hoped that they could improve to be the team I knew they could. I got my wish in the second half when United completely dominated the game and only gave up one or two shots on goal the entire half. When Quaranta got a quick goal to start the half and Emilio put it away with his second goal of the game I knew that the team of old had started to show signs of returning.
In the finals United will play USL1's Charleston Battery at RFK Stadium in September. If United can secure the victory it will be the first time since 1996 that they have won the US Open Cup.
In other DC United news next weekend they will play at Chicago and it will be a tough battle with the possibility of McBride returning after the US Men's early exit from the Olympics. It will be a tough battle, but the last two games that the two teams have faced each other DC has come from behind to win so I have hope. I also hope that Patrick Nyarko will play as he is the only Virginia Tech player in the MLS that I know of. Having an alumni of my current school succeed at the pro level would excellent and if his goal against Chivas is any indication he should have a long and storied career.
It started out like most games with it being touch and go for most of the first half. The Revs had a pretty diminished team choosing to start rookies and reserve players with Joseph leading them forward. After the first half ending 1-1 I knew DC had the edge, but hoped that they could improve to be the team I knew they could. I got my wish in the second half when United completely dominated the game and only gave up one or two shots on goal the entire half. When Quaranta got a quick goal to start the half and Emilio put it away with his second goal of the game I knew that the team of old had started to show signs of returning.
In the finals United will play USL1's Charleston Battery at RFK Stadium in September. If United can secure the victory it will be the first time since 1996 that they have won the US Open Cup.
In other DC United news next weekend they will play at Chicago and it will be a tough battle with the possibility of McBride returning after the US Men's early exit from the Olympics. It will be a tough battle, but the last two games that the two teams have faced each other DC has come from behind to win so I have hope. I also hope that Patrick Nyarko will play as he is the only Virginia Tech player in the MLS that I know of. Having an alumni of my current school succeed at the pro level would excellent and if his goal against Chivas is any indication he should have a long and storied career.
US Men’s Olympic Flame Extinguished By Nigeria
AAAGGGHHHH!
Sorry but I had to get that out of the way. Basically that is my reaction after watching the US Men’s team fall to Nigeria by a razor thin 2-1 margin; but as you know in football, the margin doesn’t matter – only the result.
With this morning’s result – the US Men become spectators in the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, but all is not lost with this performance.
The Yanks are walking away from the group with a respectable 1-1-1 record, but it is in the details where they will find most of the hope and anguish.
Details like a direct free kick in the 92nd minute that skims under the wall to give the Netherlands the equalizer in a match that otherwise would have guaranteed the US advancement.
Details like a thoughtless elbow in the 3rd minute against Nigeria which forced the US Men to play a man down for 90 grueling minutes.
Details like a mistimed strike in front of the Nigerian goal or a flashing header which met the crossbar rather than the net, either of which would have given the US the push they needed.
What separates the good teams from the great teams however, is the ability to neutralize those details, to bend luck in your favor, and to get out of group play to face another day of competition.
Sorry but I had to get that out of the way. Basically that is my reaction after watching the US Men’s team fall to Nigeria by a razor thin 2-1 margin; but as you know in football, the margin doesn’t matter – only the result.
With this morning’s result – the US Men become spectators in the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, but all is not lost with this performance.
The Yanks are walking away from the group with a respectable 1-1-1 record, but it is in the details where they will find most of the hope and anguish.
Details like a direct free kick in the 92nd minute that skims under the wall to give the Netherlands the equalizer in a match that otherwise would have guaranteed the US advancement.
Details like a thoughtless elbow in the 3rd minute against Nigeria which forced the US Men to play a man down for 90 grueling minutes.
Details like a mistimed strike in front of the Nigerian goal or a flashing header which met the crossbar rather than the net, either of which would have given the US the push they needed.
What separates the good teams from the great teams however, is the ability to neutralize those details, to bend luck in your favor, and to get out of group play to face another day of competition.
12 August 2008
Set your clocks America; the US Men battle for their Olympic life tomorrow morning
Just a quick reminder to all the U23 die hard fans that the match against Nigeria kicks off tomorrow morning at 5:00AM Eastern time.
You can catch the match live on the USA Network and online via the video widget. Get your coffee ready and pray for the result!
USA! USA! USA!
You can catch the match live on the USA Network and online via the video widget. Get your coffee ready and pray for the result!
USA! USA! USA!
Olympic Soccer Coverage: Video Widget
Guys, I'm going to leave this up for the next couple of weeks so that you can check out all the action at your leisure! You have to download a Microsoft viewer product called Silverlight, but the the download was quick and painless and the picture quality seems pretty darn good. I'm about halfway through the US v. Japan match from this morning on replay. Enjoy:
Young Americans deliver hope against the Netherlands
Ahh, the magic that is the internet. Although the U23 US Men played Sunday morning, the Olympic video widget has been a godsend for those of us caught up in match conflicts.
By now, you know the US men gave up a heartbreaking equalizer in the 92nd minute to the Dutch Under 21 European Champions but I think that may be beside the point.
The fact that the Netherlands were on their heels for the majority of the second half against a surging and confident US team is the real story here.
This was a US men’s team that gave me some hope.
They were creative and flowing – not simply relying on the old, physical style of forcing the ball through the middle, but actually stringing quick, omni-directional passes together, penetrating the offensive third from both sides, and testing for and finding weaknesses in Netherlands’ defense.
Let us hope this performance was not a fluke, but will serve as a harbinger for what we can expect out of our National performances in the future!
By now, you know the US men gave up a heartbreaking equalizer in the 92nd minute to the Dutch Under 21 European Champions but I think that may be beside the point.
The fact that the Netherlands were on their heels for the majority of the second half against a surging and confident US team is the real story here.
This was a US men’s team that gave me some hope.
They were creative and flowing – not simply relying on the old, physical style of forcing the ball through the middle, but actually stringing quick, omni-directional passes together, penetrating the offensive third from both sides, and testing for and finding weaknesses in Netherlands’ defense.
Let us hope this performance was not a fluke, but will serve as a harbinger for what we can expect out of our National performances in the future!
US Women Overpower New Zealand
The US Women dominated New Zealand, putting in 4 unanswered goals in their final Group G match. The US girls looked sharp for the most part; playing a fast paced and physical match while New Zealand, in spite of their heart, were simply out classed.
In the other Group Match, Japan put on a second half scoring clinic to trounce Norway 5-1. With that result, both Norway and USA round out group play with a 2 and 1 record while Japan ends their campaign at 1-1-1 and New Zealand sits at the bottom of the group at 0-2
In the other Group Match, Japan put on a second half scoring clinic to trounce Norway 5-1. With that result, both Norway and USA round out group play with a 2 and 1 record while Japan ends their campaign at 1-1-1 and New Zealand sits at the bottom of the group at 0-2
11 August 2008
Soccer: The end of summer means playing vs. watching
Wow! What a weekend of great football and – oh by the way - what a difference a few days off from blogging will do to your numbers!
The great football I’m talking about was a long way from the Camp Nou or Old Trafford – in fact, the pitch where I spent hours watching some fantastic football was about 15 miles from my house. I spent both Saturday and Sunday at an Academy tournament, as a player parent and a field marshal, and the quality of play as well as the atmosphere was fantastic. The down side? Well, all this time at the park left me practically zero time to watch any professional football and even less time to write about it.
So while I was watching the kids battle it out, I missed Manchester United vs. Portsmouth in the Community Shield and I missed all of the US Olympic matches.
But here’s the thing – unless it’s a major and I mean major tournament (i.e., only the World Cup), the order of precedence for me in terms of the sport I love is:
1. Playing
2. Watching the kids play (although 1 and 2 are about tied now as I get older and slower)
3. Watching televised soccer
The great football I’m talking about was a long way from the Camp Nou or Old Trafford – in fact, the pitch where I spent hours watching some fantastic football was about 15 miles from my house. I spent both Saturday and Sunday at an Academy tournament, as a player parent and a field marshal, and the quality of play as well as the atmosphere was fantastic. The down side? Well, all this time at the park left me practically zero time to watch any professional football and even less time to write about it.
So while I was watching the kids battle it out, I missed Manchester United vs. Portsmouth in the Community Shield and I missed all of the US Olympic matches.
But here’s the thing – unless it’s a major and I mean major tournament (i.e., only the World Cup), the order of precedence for me in terms of the sport I love is:
1. Playing
2. Watching the kids play (although 1 and 2 are about tied now as I get older and slower)
3. Watching televised soccer
07 August 2008
US Men Win Olympic Debut
The US Men's Olympic team got off to a great start off the boot of a Stuart Holden strike against Japan.
In front of 37,177 fans at the Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium, Holden struck low and hard to beat the Japanese keeper,Shusaku Nishikawa, in what would be the deciding goal.
The U.S. next faces 2007 European Under-21 Champions Netherlands on Aug. 10 in Tianjin. Kickoff is set for 7:45 a.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on the USA Network.
06 August 2008
USA drops to 31 in latest FIFA world soccer rankings
So the US dropped to number 31 in FIFA world rankings; behind such perennial powerhouse sides as Israel and Scotland. But can you really argue with the science? Have a look and decide for yourself. From FIFA's world ranking primer:
Calculation of points for the FIFA World Ranking
The number of points that can actually be won in a match depends on the following factors:
• Was the match won, or did it end in a draw? (M)
• How important was the match (friendly match to FIFA World Cup™)? (I)
• How strong was the opponent in terms of its ranking position and the confederation to which it belongs?(T and C)
These factors are brought together in the following formula to ascertain the total number of points (P).
Here is the points equation:
P = M x I x T x C x 100
The following codes and conditions apply to the calculation of points:
M: Points for a victory (3 points), a draw (1 point) or a defeat (0 points)
In a penalty shoot-out the winning team gains 2 points, the losing team 1 point.
I: Importance of a match with the following weighting:
Friendly match (including small tournaments): I = 1.0
World Cup qualifier and continental qualifier: I = 2.5
Continental final competition and FIFA Confederations Cup: I = 3.0
World Cup final competition: I = 4.0
T: Strength of opposition calculated according to the following formula:
[200 – ranking position of opposition] ÷ 100
Only the team at the top of the ranking is assigned the value 2.00 (teams ranked 150th and below are assigned the minimum weighting of 0.50).
The ranking position is taken from the opposition’s ranking in the most recently published FIFA World Ranking.
C: The strength of a confederation. When calculating intercontinental matches, the mean value of the confederations to which the two competing teams belong is used. The strength of a confederation is calculated on the basis of the number of victories by confederation at the last three FIFA World Cup™ competitions. Their values are as follows:
Confederation After 2006 FIFA World Cup™ up to and including 2006 FIFA World Cup™:
UEFA 1.00 1.00
CONMEBOL 0.98 0.99
CONCACAF 0.85 0.88
AFC 0.85 0.85
CAF 0.85 0.85
OFC 0.85 0.85
So see how easy it is?
Calculation of points for the FIFA World Ranking
The number of points that can actually be won in a match depends on the following factors:
• Was the match won, or did it end in a draw? (M)
• How important was the match (friendly match to FIFA World Cup™)? (I)
• How strong was the opponent in terms of its ranking position and the confederation to which it belongs?(T and C)
These factors are brought together in the following formula to ascertain the total number of points (P).
Here is the points equation:
P = M x I x T x C x 100
The following codes and conditions apply to the calculation of points:
M: Points for a victory (3 points), a draw (1 point) or a defeat (0 points)
In a penalty shoot-out the winning team gains 2 points, the losing team 1 point.
I: Importance of a match with the following weighting:
Friendly match (including small tournaments): I = 1.0
World Cup qualifier and continental qualifier: I = 2.5
Continental final competition and FIFA Confederations Cup: I = 3.0
World Cup final competition: I = 4.0
T: Strength of opposition calculated according to the following formula:
[200 – ranking position of opposition] ÷ 100
Only the team at the top of the ranking is assigned the value 2.00 (teams ranked 150th and below are assigned the minimum weighting of 0.50).
The ranking position is taken from the opposition’s ranking in the most recently published FIFA World Ranking.
C: The strength of a confederation. When calculating intercontinental matches, the mean value of the confederations to which the two competing teams belong is used. The strength of a confederation is calculated on the basis of the number of victories by confederation at the last three FIFA World Cup™ competitions. Their values are as follows:
Confederation After 2006 FIFA World Cup™ up to and including 2006 FIFA World Cup™:
UEFA 1.00 1.00
CONMEBOL 0.98 0.99
CONCACAF 0.85 0.88
AFC 0.85 0.85
CAF 0.85 0.85
OFC 0.85 0.85
So see how easy it is?
FC Barcelona vs New York Red Bulls Tonight
Barcelona are wrapping up their tour of Chicago and New York tonight against the New York Red Bulls. Kick off is at 7:00PM and for those of us who don't splurge on deep cable coverage, the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2!
It should be a lot of fun, and in spite of Lionel Messi's absence from the team, we'll get to see some of Barcelona's finest, including future Red Bull Thierry Henry (ok ok, I'm just kidding, sort of).
Feel free to discuss here.
It should be a lot of fun, and in spite of Lionel Messi's absence from the team, we'll get to see some of Barcelona's finest, including future Red Bull Thierry Henry (ok ok, I'm just kidding, sort of).
Feel free to discuss here.
US Men's Olympic Schedule
Here is the line up of US Men's Round Robin play so I don't forget:
Japan vs. USA
Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium, Tianjin
8-7-08, 05:00AM Eastern
Television Coverage: MSNBC, NBC Soccer Channel, P2P, Universal HD
USA vs. Netherlands
Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium, Tianjin
8-10-08, 07:45AM Eastern
Television Coverage:
Nigeria vs. USA
Beijing Workers' Stadium, Beijing
8-13-08, 05:00AM Eastern
Television Coverage:
Japan vs. USA
Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium, Tianjin
8-7-08, 05:00AM Eastern
Television Coverage: MSNBC, NBC Soccer Channel, P2P, Universal HD
USA vs. Netherlands
Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium, Tianjin
8-10-08, 07:45AM Eastern
Television Coverage:
Nigeria vs. USA
Beijing Workers' Stadium, Beijing
8-13-08, 05:00AM Eastern
Television Coverage:
When is a Million Dollars, Not a Million Dollars? Here Comes the SuperLiga Math
Before last night's exciting finale of an otherwise hot and cold 2008 SuperLiga tournament, officials had been talking up the "one million dollar purse" quite a bit.
Of course in most American professional sports, one million dollars is a drop in the bucket, but (sadly) to the average MLS team, that's no small chunk of change.
So a one million dollar prize was earmarked for the winners of the 2008 SuperLiga. Here is where things get interesting. Unlike last year's tournamenet, two MLS teams were in the final and used that opportunity to send a message.
The day before the final, players from both Houston and New England agreed to split the prize money evenly no matter who won!
Why and what was the message about?
Here comes the research. According to the MLS Players Union, players made the decision in protest of what they see as the league’s violation of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with respect to the negotiation of bonuses for SuperLiga.
Let's look back at last year's tournament. The Dynamo players and management had worked out a deal for additional bonus' within their team; however, MLS brass prohibited them from implementing their structure. The Dynamo filed a grievance contesting the decision which has yet to be settled.
Apparently, MLS caps the amount of SuperLiga bonus money a team may share with players at 15% of the prize money. So in the SuperLiga winner’s case, $150,000 out of the $1 million winner's purse.
But as a result of the two teams' gentleman's agreement, according to an article in the Houston Chronicle, "...each side will get $25,000 regardless of the result, with each team splitting $125,000 in total bonus money among its players."
The article continues, "the union contends the current CBA allows players to negotiate additional bonus structures for competitions such as SuperLiga. MLS says otherwise. An arbitrator is expected to rule on the matter this year."
Naturally, league officials were not keen on the timing of the players coup, but players believed this move was a show of solidarity that was necessary as they seek fair compensation.
I see it as part of the growth process. As MLS continues to gain fans, these types of aches and pains are inevitable, and the league is in the unenviable position of balancing fiscal viability with the critically important components of longevity and sustainability surrounding player compensation. Maintaining a healthy tension should be the league's goal and will be the league's challenge.
Read the full article at the Houston Chronicle.
Of course in most American professional sports, one million dollars is a drop in the bucket, but (sadly) to the average MLS team, that's no small chunk of change.
So a one million dollar prize was earmarked for the winners of the 2008 SuperLiga. Here is where things get interesting. Unlike last year's tournamenet, two MLS teams were in the final and used that opportunity to send a message.
The day before the final, players from both Houston and New England agreed to split the prize money evenly no matter who won!
Why and what was the message about?
Here comes the research. According to the MLS Players Union, players made the decision in protest of what they see as the league’s violation of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with respect to the negotiation of bonuses for SuperLiga.
Let's look back at last year's tournament. The Dynamo players and management had worked out a deal for additional bonus' within their team; however, MLS brass prohibited them from implementing their structure. The Dynamo filed a grievance contesting the decision which has yet to be settled.
Apparently, MLS caps the amount of SuperLiga bonus money a team may share with players at 15% of the prize money. So in the SuperLiga winner’s case, $150,000 out of the $1 million winner's purse.
But as a result of the two teams' gentleman's agreement, according to an article in the Houston Chronicle, "...each side will get $25,000 regardless of the result, with each team splitting $125,000 in total bonus money among its players."
The article continues, "the union contends the current CBA allows players to negotiate additional bonus structures for competitions such as SuperLiga. MLS says otherwise. An arbitrator is expected to rule on the matter this year."
Naturally, league officials were not keen on the timing of the players coup, but players believed this move was a show of solidarity that was necessary as they seek fair compensation.
I see it as part of the growth process. As MLS continues to gain fans, these types of aches and pains are inevitable, and the league is in the unenviable position of balancing fiscal viability with the critically important components of longevity and sustainability surrounding player compensation. Maintaining a healthy tension should be the league's goal and will be the league's challenge.
Read the full article at the Houston Chronicle.
Silverbacks Top Vancouver - Keep Climbing the Table
The Atlanta Silverbacks continued their climb out of the middle of the table last night with a solid victory over league leading Vancouver Whitecaps. 1,941 brave fans faced the humid, 90+ degree temps to cheer on the Backs as the streaking home town boys did not disappoint.
The Silverbacks started the affair in the hole by giving up the first goal to Vancouver in the 31st minute on a Luca Bellisomo header, but perhaps that was the wake up call they needed as they equalized six minutes later with a Tony McManus strike.
Atlanta made it 2-1 in the 53rd minute when rising star Macoumba Kandji single-handedly dribbled through four Whitecap defenders and slotted the ball home.
By the way, care to make any bets on how long Kandji stays in USL football? Apparently his performances are becoming more and more impressive and if the young Senegalese striker continues to perform, his tenure in Atlanta and indeed the USL, will be deservedly limited.
The Silverbacks went up 3-1 in the 64th minute, but this time Kandji played the role of assister to an onrushing Jerson Monteiro.
The Whitecaps are not sitting at the top of the table for no reason, and continued to press the Backs. Admir Salihovic scored in the 79th minute to make things interesting but the Silverbacks held and the match concluded at 3-2.
Atlanta is now sitting in fourth position behind Vancouver, Charleston, and Puerto Rico.
The Silverbacks started the affair in the hole by giving up the first goal to Vancouver in the 31st minute on a Luca Bellisomo header, but perhaps that was the wake up call they needed as they equalized six minutes later with a Tony McManus strike.
Atlanta made it 2-1 in the 53rd minute when rising star Macoumba Kandji single-handedly dribbled through four Whitecap defenders and slotted the ball home.
By the way, care to make any bets on how long Kandji stays in USL football? Apparently his performances are becoming more and more impressive and if the young Senegalese striker continues to perform, his tenure in Atlanta and indeed the USL, will be deservedly limited.
The Silverbacks went up 3-1 in the 64th minute, but this time Kandji played the role of assister to an onrushing Jerson Monteiro.
The Whitecaps are not sitting at the top of the table for no reason, and continued to press the Backs. Admir Salihovic scored in the 79th minute to make things interesting but the Silverbacks held and the match concluded at 3-2.
Atlanta is now sitting in fourth position behind Vancouver, Charleston, and Puerto Rico.
05 August 2008
New England Revolution Win 2008 SuperLiga
The New England Revolution could have had an extra One Million clams in the bank after downing the Houston Dynamo in a nail biter of a final.
The two MLS teams bested their Mexican league competition as well as MLS compatriots DC United and Chivas USA over the last month for the right to battle for the second SuperLiga trophy and the one million dollar purse.
Interestinly enough, the money was removed from the equation by the players themselves the day before the match. Read more about that here.
Tonight's match was true back and forth action between these two sides as both teams refused to relinquish control, from extra time to penalty shootouts which went to sudden death penalties, it was anyone's game and at the end, fortune shined on the Revs.
2008 SuperLiga Discussion Thread Anyone?
If there is any interest, I'm happy to set up this post as a live match discussion thread...so I'll start with - why is the feed from MLS not working??!! Is anyone else having a problem with the connection.
2008 SuperLiga Final: New England Revolution vs Houston Dynamo
The All American 2008 Super Liga final kicks off tonight at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
The New England Revolution will face the Houston Dynamo for the one million dollar prize as we reach the crescendo of the month long eight team tournament.
According to the pre match press release, "Houston beat New England in the previous two MLS Cup Finals, but the Revs, who have never lost to the Orange during the regular season, are perfect in the SuperLiga tournament and have been the best overall team in North America since the beginning of the MLS regular season.
They have outscored the Dynamo 5-0 in the regular season this year and have methodically dismantled the two-time defending champions at Gillette Stadium and at Robertson Stadium in Houston.
Tuesday, they will play for the SuperLiga title at home and the Dynamo will probably have to play their best soccer of the summer if they want to take a third championship from the Revs."
Kick off is at 8:00PM eastern and you can watch the match live online here or on Telefutura in Spanish if you got it.
Silverbacks Take on Vancouver Tonight
The Atlanta Silverbacks face league-leading Vancouver Whitecaps this Tuesday, August 5th at Atlanta Silverbacks Park.
The Silverbacks are riding high, coming off two straight wins. They defeated the Charleston Battery 2-1 and the Rochester Raging Rhinos 4-3 this past week and should bring that confidence with them tonight.
Vancouver will look to get back on their winning ways after losing to the Battery after a five-game unbeaten streak.
The weather is going to be hot hot hot, so if you're heading out to spaghetti junction - just be ready to roast and enjoy some exciting football.
The Silverbacks are riding high, coming off two straight wins. They defeated the Charleston Battery 2-1 and the Rochester Raging Rhinos 4-3 this past week and should bring that confidence with them tonight.
Vancouver will look to get back on their winning ways after losing to the Battery after a five-game unbeaten streak.
The weather is going to be hot hot hot, so if you're heading out to spaghetti junction - just be ready to roast and enjoy some exciting football.
04 August 2008
Three Footballers Make the List of Highest Paid Athletes
If you're like me, then you not only love sports, but the business of sports. As we head toward the Beijing Olympics, this weeks' Economist has a fascinating section on sports business.
I'll be plucking bits and pieces from this section over the next week or so but to start, I'll share the latest chart to make you all wish you'd taken up golf as a kid - but aside from that, it also lists the other 10 highest earners in sport.
The list includes salary, bonus and endorsement estimates for last season only! For all those youngsters trying to determine which sport to take up (again, besides golf), I'm happy to report that Football is well represented (revenue in US dollars):
1. Tiger Woods | Golf | $127,000,000
2. Phil Mickelson | Golf | $62,400,000
3. David Beckham | Football | $48,200,000
4. Kimi Raikkonen | Motor Sports | $46,000,000
5. LeBron James | Basketball | $40,500,000
6. Floyd Mayweather Jr. | Boxing | $40,300,000
7. Ronaldinho | Football | $37,500,000
8. Lionel Messi | Football | $35,800,000
9. Kobe Bryant | Basketball | $35,500,000
10. Roger Federer | Tennis | $35,100,000
11. Fernando Alonso | Motor Sports | $35,000,000
12. Shaquille O'Neal | Basketball | $35,000,000
Picture: David Beckham in his customized Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe - est. price $602,500.
Chance to Meet FC Barcelona Stars in New York - UPDATED
Hi all: an anonymous poster suggested you guys up in New York have an opportunity to meet Barcelona up close and personal while benefiting a fantastic global cause. Of course Barca is known for their altruism (forgoing millions in kit sponsorships to advertise UNICEF, etc.) and they've picked New York as the kick off of their next global gesture. I've verified the event from the New York Times and published the comment here for you below (you lucky dogs):
| At 5PM on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at Chelsea Waterside Park (23rd Street and 12th Avenue, across from Chelsea Piers), the stars of FC Barcelona will be playing in a 4-on-4 tournament to benefit Malaria No More. The event will be free and open to the public and will last for approximately one hour. This intimate environment will not only allow fans the potential to get autographs and photos with their favorites players; BUT we will be offering a lucky fan in attendance the MEMORY of their LIFETIME, a CHANCE TO PLAY SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH PLAYERS FROM FC BARCELONA. To be eligible for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, fans will have to purchase raffle tickets. Each ticket will cost $10 dollars and all proceeds will benefit Malaria No More. The $10 is significant amount as this is the cost of one bed-net, which can protect an individual from malaria, thus, saving a life. Each raffle ticket purchased (fans can purchase multiple tickets) will enter a fan into a drawing where a winner will be chosen at random. The lucky winners will then be plucked out of the crowd, be given an official FC Barcelona jersey, put on a team with FC Barcelona stars, and get to participate in this tournament and play side-by-side with their heroes. If that wasn't enough, Max Bretos and Christopher Sullivan from Fox Soccer Channel will be calling the games! We will start selling raffle tickets at 3:00 PM at Chelsea Waterside Park. The last ticket will be sold at 4:45 PM (or until supplies last) and we will draw the winning ticket at 5:00 PM. I RECEIVED INFO TODAY FROM MALARIA NO MORE THAT THERE IS NO RAFFLE TAKING PLACE - SORRY FOR ANY CONFUSION We encourage people to get out early so they can: 1) Get prime seats to see the stars of FC Barcelona in action, up-close and personal and hopefully get an autograph or picture with their favorite player 2) Enter early and often to win the experience of a lifetime - playing side-by-side with the stars of FC Barcelona 3) Get some of the exciting prizes we will be giving away from 3:00 PM on (FC Barcelona jerseys, soccer balls, t-shirts, etc.) |
FC Barcelona Spank CD Guadalajara 5-2
Samuel Eto'o scored two, Xavi, Hleb, and Caceres put in one each to give Barcelona the 5-2 victory over CD Guadalajara in front of 40,717 at Soldier Field Sunday.
CD Guadlajara battled valiantly as Jesus scored for Chivas in the 59th minute...Jesus Padilla that is...as well as an 88th minute header from Javier Hernandez, but by then it was much too little much too late as Barca had stamped their authority.
Barcelona play New York Red Bulls this coming Wednesday. Kick off is at 7:00PM Eastern and the match will be live on ESPN2, ESPN360, and ESPND.
CD Guadlajara battled valiantly as Jesus scored for Chivas in the 59th minute...Jesus Padilla that is...as well as an 88th minute header from Javier Hernandez, but by then it was much too little much too late as Barca had stamped their authority.
Barcelona play New York Red Bulls this coming Wednesday. Kick off is at 7:00PM Eastern and the match will be live on ESPN2, ESPN360, and ESPND.
02 August 2008
Soccer Coaching Tips – Running a Training Session During the Summer Heat
Disclaimer: this information is not medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, or treatment. IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CALL 911 OR YOUR PHYSICIAN. If you believe you have any other health problem, or if you have any questions regarding your health or a medical condition, you should promptly consult your physician or other healthcare provider. Never disregard medical or professional advice, or delay seeking it, because of something you read on this site or a linked website. Never rely on information on this website in place of seeking professional medical advice. You should also ask your physician or other healthcare provider to assist you in interpreting any information in this site or any other online resource, or in applying the information to your individual case.
Today is the 2nd of August and in Georgia, it's hot. This time of year means it is equator hot, jungle hot, the kind of hot that takes your breath away.
This time of year also signals the start of fall (autumn) training camps for many youth clubs across the South and I imagine throughout the United States.
So with that, I'd like to share a few, shall we say, survival tips for training in the heat of summer.
1. I recommend before starting any training regime you check in with the family physician or pediatrician. A 13-year old American football player just died a few days ago during a training session as a result of an enlarged heart. Those poor kids have to wear all the padding and gear during this heat which is absolutely stupid, but still, perhaps a visit to the doctor would have prevented this boy's tragic and untimely passing.
2. Only train in the mornings.
3. Start drinking lots of water the day before. You are going to sweat buckets so stay hydrated. But don't wait until training starts or until you feel thirsty to start drinking water, you need to be prepared.
3. Bring at least a one-gallon large insulated water container with ice water. The little water bottles aren't going to cut it for the summer heat. You should be drinking two to four cups of water every hour.
4. This is a "nice to have" but a small cooler full of ice and a wash cloth is great. Placing the icy cold cloth on the back of the neck and the forehead is a great way to cool down.
5. Football is tough to play with hats and sunglasses, but you have to wear sunscreen which is at least SPF 15 or higher (the most effective products say “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection” on their labels).
6. Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
7. Bring a change of socks. Your feet will be soaked with sweat and dew after about an hour, so a change of socks half way through training will save your feet and increase your comfort level.
8. Always watch for signs of heat related illness. Be on the look out for these descriptions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Today is the 2nd of August and in Georgia, it's hot. This time of year means it is equator hot, jungle hot, the kind of hot that takes your breath away.
This time of year also signals the start of fall (autumn) training camps for many youth clubs across the South and I imagine throughout the United States.
So with that, I'd like to share a few, shall we say, survival tips for training in the heat of summer.
1. I recommend before starting any training regime you check in with the family physician or pediatrician. A 13-year old American football player just died a few days ago during a training session as a result of an enlarged heart. Those poor kids have to wear all the padding and gear during this heat which is absolutely stupid, but still, perhaps a visit to the doctor would have prevented this boy's tragic and untimely passing.
2. Only train in the mornings.
3. Start drinking lots of water the day before. You are going to sweat buckets so stay hydrated. But don't wait until training starts or until you feel thirsty to start drinking water, you need to be prepared.
3. Bring at least a one-gallon large insulated water container with ice water. The little water bottles aren't going to cut it for the summer heat. You should be drinking two to four cups of water every hour.
4. This is a "nice to have" but a small cooler full of ice and a wash cloth is great. Placing the icy cold cloth on the back of the neck and the forehead is a great way to cool down.
5. Football is tough to play with hats and sunglasses, but you have to wear sunscreen which is at least SPF 15 or higher (the most effective products say “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection” on their labels).
6. Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
7. Bring a change of socks. Your feet will be soaked with sweat and dew after about an hour, so a change of socks half way through training will save your feet and increase your comfort level.
8. Always watch for signs of heat related illness. Be on the look out for these descriptions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Heat Stroke Warning signs of heat stroke vary but may include the following: * An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F, orally) * Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating) * Rapid, strong pulse * Throbbing headache * Dizziness * Nausea * Confusion * Unconsciousness What to Do If you see any of these signs, you may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency. Have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the victim. Do the following: * Get the victim to a shady area. * Cool the victim rapidly using whatever methods you can. For example, immerse the victim in a tub of cool water; place the person in a cool shower; spray the victim with cool water from a garden hose; sponge the person with cool water; or if the humidity is low, wrap the victim in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously. * Monitor body temperature, and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102°F. * If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions. * Do not give the victim fluids to drink. * Get medical assistance as soon as possible. Sometimes a victim's muscles will begin to twitch uncontrollably as a result of heat stroke. If this happens, keep the victim from injuring himself, but do not place any object in the mouth and do not give fluids. If there is vomiting, make sure the airway remains open by turning the victim on his or her side. Heat Exhaustion Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids. It is the body's response to an excessive loss of the water and salt contained in sweat. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, people with high blood pressure, and people working or exercising in a hot environment. Warning signs of heat exhaustion include the following: * Heavy sweating * Paleness * Muscle cramps * Tiredness * Weakness * Dizziness * Headache * Nausea or vomiting * Fainting The skin may be cool and moist. The victim's pulse rate will be fast and weak, and breathing will be fast and shallow. If heat exhaustion is untreated, it may progress to heat stroke. Seek medical attention immediately if any of the following occurs: * Symptoms are severe * The victim has heart problems or high blood pressure Otherwise, help the victim to cool off, and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or last longer than 1 hour. What to Do Cooling measures that may be effective include the following: * Cool, nonalcoholic beverages * Rest * Cool shower, bath, or sponge bath * An air-conditioned environment * Lightweight clothing Heat Cramps Heat cramps usually affect people who sweat a lot during strenuous activity. This sweating depletes the body's salt and moisture. The low salt level in the muscles may be the cause of heat cramps. Heat cramps may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion. Heat cramps are muscle pains or spasms—usually in the abdomen, arms, or legs—that may occur in association with strenuous activity. If you have heart problems or are on a low-sodium diet, get medical attention for heat cramps. What to Do If medical attention is not necessary, take these steps: * Stop all activity, and sit quietly in a cool place. * Drink clear juice or a sports beverage. * Do not return to strenuous activity for a few hours after the cramps subside, because further exertion may lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. * Seek medical attention for heat cramps if they do not subside in 1 hour. Sunburn Sunburn should be avoided because it damages the skin. Although the discomfort is usually minor and healing often occurs in about a week, a more severe sunburn may require medical attention. Symptoms of sunburn are well known: the skin becomes red, painful, and abnormally warm after sun exposure. What to Do Consult a doctor if the sunburn affects an infant younger than 1 year of age or if these symptoms are present: * Fever * Fluid-filled blisters * Severe pain Also, remember these tips when treating sunburn: * Avoid repeated sun exposure. * Apply cold compresses or immerse the sunburned area in cool water. * Apply moisturizing lotion to affected areas. Do not use salve, butter, or ointment. * Do not break blisters. Heat Rash Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather. It can occur at any age but is most common in young children. Heat rash looks like a red cluster of pimples or small blisters. It is more likely to occur on the neck and upper chest, in the groin, under the breasts, and in elbow creases. What to Do The best treatment for heat rash is to provide a cooler, less humid environment. Keep the affected area dry. Dusting powder may be used to increase comfort. Treating heat rash is simple and usually does not require medical assistance. Other heat-related problems can be much more severe. |
Atlanta Silverbacks Defeat Charleston Battery 2-1
There were few southern gentlemen present at this grudge match as the Atlanta Silverbacks dropped the Charleston Battery by 2 goals to 1.
On a classic southern summer evening - where humidity was 800% and the ground was a steady 90 degrees Fahrenheit after a full day of baking under the sun, only a few brave souls, 2,234 to be exact, made it out to REMAX Greater Atlanta stadium to sit in the soup.
According to the Silverbacks press report, "the intense match saw a total of 21 fouls, four yellow cards, a straight red card, and numerous feuds." However in spite of the bad tempers, goals by Macoumba Kandji and Ansu Toure were enough to give Atlanta a much needed victory.
Read the full match report at AtlantaSilverbacks.com.
On a classic southern summer evening - where humidity was 800% and the ground was a steady 90 degrees Fahrenheit after a full day of baking under the sun, only a few brave souls, 2,234 to be exact, made it out to REMAX Greater Atlanta stadium to sit in the soup.
According to the Silverbacks press report, "the intense match saw a total of 21 fouls, four yellow cards, a straight red card, and numerous feuds." However in spite of the bad tempers, goals by Macoumba Kandji and Ansu Toure were enough to give Atlanta a much needed victory.
Read the full match report at AtlantaSilverbacks.com.
Live Soccer Matches of the Day
Some good friendlies on tap again today, as well as Major League Soccer action:
| Friendlies 9:00am Real Madrid v Hamburg | Sky Sports 2 | Friendly 9:30am Borussia Monchengladbach vs Valencia | Try finding on P2P | Friendly 10:00am Manchester United vs Espanyol | Try finding on P2P | Friendly 10:00am Rangers vs Liverpool | Try finding on P2P | Friendly 11:30am Arsenal vs Juventus | Sky Sports 2, Sky Sports HD 2 | Friendly 12:00pm Girondins Bordeaux vs Olympique Lyon | Try finding on P2P | Friendly MLS 7:30pm Kansas City Wizards vs D.C. United | DK, MLSLIVE.tv | Major League Soccer 8:30pm Chivas USA vs Chicago Fire | HDNet | Major League Soccer 8:30pm Houston Dynamo vs Columbus Crew | FSC, FSE | Major League Soccer Mexican Primera Division 6:00pm Jaguares vs Tigres | Azteca America | Mexico Primera Division 8:00pm Pachuca vs San Luis | Azteca America | Mexico Primera Division |
01 August 2008
Live Soccer Matches of the Day
I'm going to try this out for a few days. Basically, I have yet to get in the habit of checking the nets in the morning for all of the live football on tap for the day. I figure a post like this will force me in to it - although the formatting is a bit of a headache. At any rate, here are most of the live matches that are taking place during my waking hours. Enjoy:
| Kick off EST | Match | Where to Watch in the US | Match Type |
| 9:00am | Viet Nam vs Brazil | P2P | Friendly |
| 10:30am | AC Milan vs Sevilla | P2P | Friendly |
| 11:00am | Genoa vs AEK Athens | P2P | Friendly |
| 12:30pm | Celtic vs Tottenham Hotspur | ESPN 360,P2P, Setanta Sports 2 | Friendly |
| 2:00pm | Hertha Berlin vs Newcastle Utd | Setanta Sports 1 | Friendly |
| 2:45pm | Feyenoord vs Borussia Dortmund | ESPN 360, P2P, Setanta Sports 2 | Friendly |
| 7:30pm | Juventude vs Ponte Preta | PFC Internacional | Brazil Serie B |
| 7:55pm | Charleston vs Atlanta | USLLive.com | USL |
| 8:00pm | Carolina vs Vancouver | FSC, FSWC | USL |
| 8:00pm | Seattle vs Puerto Rico | USLLive.com | USL |
| 8:00pm | Def. Belgrano vs Comunicaciones | TyCSports | Argentina Primera B |
| 8:05pm | Portland vs Minnesota | USLLive.com | USL |
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