Sky Taster News

Sadly the USA Women were badly beaten in the semifinals of the World Cup, 4-0 by Brazil. You would have to imagine that many many people will now severely question the coaches decision to change goalkeepers before this game, and some will probably ask for his head.

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Many people on soccer message boards are bitching that Seattle’s small attendance numbers (just over 3000 per game) should keep them out of MLS. But remember this, the USL First Division Toronto Lynx averaged about 6 fans per game. That didn't even come into the equation for Toronto FC. They did it right, and it has worked so far. Seattle can do it to. They can also blow it. But the First Division attendance numbers are irrelevant.

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The other question people have about MLS in Seattle is whether or not people from Portland will drice 3 hours north to support them. Well we all know that Timbers fans won't. Are you kidding me? But what about everyone else. The ones that think First Division soccer is beneath them. Will they go to Seattle for games? Let me ask you this..... Do Portlanders support the Seattle Seahawks NFL team or the Seattle Mariners MLB team? I don't know, but therein lies your answer.

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From Grahame Jones of the LA Times: (Kansas City forward Eddie) Johnson and the Wizards were in L.A. over the weekend to play Chivas USA, and a team spokesman said Johnson, 23, had splashed out $85,000 on a new watch, necklace and a jewel-encrusted mouthpiece, "like a retainer," to add a few diamonds to the Johnson smile.

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Young American midfielder Michael Bradley has scored in his 4th consecutive game for his club Heerenveen! And never thought he had a very good shot!

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Huge news for Dallas fans or any soccer fan that has ever tried driving from downtown Dallas up to Pizza Hut Park: Fans coming from downtown will be able to take the newly completed extension of the Dallas North Tollway all the way to Pizza Hut Park beginning with Sunday's match. (from Gabriel Cabarrouy of the Dallas Morning News)


Copa Sudamericana
Quarterfinal First Leg Score:
DC United 2-1 Chivas Guadalajara - DC goals by Ben Olsen & Clyde Simms. Chiv goal by Sergio Santana.
-The second leg will be played next Tuesday in Guadalajara.
-DC had left back Marc Burch sent off in the 44th minute for his second bookable offense. It was a little soft, but the referee was consistent with his calls.
Match report by John Haydon of the Washington Times.
Match report by Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post.
Match report from Goal.com.
Post-game notes by Steinberg at the Soccer Insider.
More post-game DC coach & player quotes from Steinberg at the Soccer Insider.
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MLS
Matches & scores:
-Thu Sep 27
Kansas City v Los Angeles - 7pm central on ESPN2
Match preview by Jeff Carlisle of Soccernet.
Match preview by Bob Luder of the KC Star.
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Jeff Bradley at MLSnet with his First XI: The Hot List Returns - only the most vital topics of the vitalest topics.
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Billy Witz of the Daily Breeze with an article on a virtually unknown LA Galaxy youngster, Josh Tudella, who has been tossed on to the pitch the past few matches and didn't look too bad in the win over Dallas. I was pleasantly surprised.
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In sad news, David B******'s father has suffered a heart attack.
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The Daily Utah Chronicle deservedly heaps the praises on Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando.
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Chris DeVille from Columbus Alive with an article on the Crew's Eddie Gaven. And I must say that Eddie has been playing decent lately. Maybe his hideous play at Copa America woke him up.
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Glenn Davis of the Houston Chronicle tells which teams are the best and doesn't bother with the worst in MLS at this moment in time.
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Gabriel Cabarrouy of the Dallas Morning News with the latest updates from FC Dallas.
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Pete Grathoff of the KC Star says many Kansas City players love to do some home cookin'.
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Larry Millson of the Toronto Globe & Mail with some TFC player eco-friendly tips.
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Copa Sudamericana
First Leg:
-Sep 19
Lanus 2-0 Vasco da Gama
Boca Juniors 2-1 Sao Paulo
Botafogo 1-0 River Plate
Goias 2-3 Arsenal
-Sep 20
Defensor Sporting 3-0 El Nacional
-Sep 25
Millonarios 1-1 Colo Colo
Pachuca 1-4 America
-Sep 26
DC United 2-1 Guadalajara Chivas
Second Leg (with first leg scores included):
-Sep 26
Vasco da Gama 3-2 Lanus - Vasco advance 3-2 on aggregate.
Sao Paulo 1-0 Boca Juniors tied 2-2 on agg, with Sao Paulo winning on away goals.
Arsenal 1-1 Goias Arsenal adv 4-3 on agg.
-Sep 27
River Plate v Botafogo (0-1)
-Oct 2
Guadalajara Chivas v DC United (1-2)
-Oct 3
America v Pachuca (4-1)
-Oct 4
El Nacional v Defensor Sporting (0-3)
Colo Colo v Millonarios (1-1)
-So the first teams have now advanced to the semifinals: Vasco de Gama, Sao Paulo & Arsenal (who await the winner of DC v Chivas)
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English League Cup
Third Round matches:
-Tue Sep 25
Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle
Blackpool 2-1 Southend
Burnley 0-1 Portsmouth
Luton 3-1 Charlton
Manchester City 1-0 Norwich
Reading 2-4 Liverpool
Sheffield United 5-0 Morecambe
West Brom 2-4 Cardiff
-Wed Sep 26
Blackburn 3-0 Birmingham
Manchester United 0-2 Coventry
Tottenham 2-0 Middlesbrough
Hull 0-4 Chelsea
West Ham 1-0 Plymouth
Sheffield Wednesday 0-3 Everton
Fulham 1-2 Bolton
Aston Villa 0-1 Leicester
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How did our Americans fare in the English League Cup Third Round matches on Wed night:
-Carlos Bocanegra - Fulham - played all 90 in a 1-2 extra time home loss to Bolton.
-Clint Dempsey - Fulham - played all 90 in a 1-2 extra time home loss to Bolton.
-Brad Friedel - Blackburn - went the distance in a 3-0 win over Birmingham.
-Tim Howard - Everton - did not dress as his team won 0-3 at Sheffield Wednesday.
-Kasey Keller - Fulham - played all 90 in a 1-2 extra time home loss to Bolton.
-Frank Simek - Sheffield Wednesday - played all 90 minutes of a 0-3 home loss to Everton.
-Jonathan Spector - West Ham - did not leave the bench but his team won 1-0 over Plymouth.
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Other Americans in Europe in action this mid-week:
-Freddy Adu - Benfica - came off the bench in the second half and slammed home a Penalty Kick in the dying moments of regulation to tie the League Cup match v Amadora at 1-1. The match went to PK's and Freddy was then one of the takers for Benfica to convert for a win and advance. (thanks to BDS for the details)
-Michael Bradley - Heerenveen - started, played 90 and SCORED AGAIN! They won 0-3 at Argon in their League Cup.
-Steve Cherundolo - Hannover - started as always and played the full match in a 0-2 win at Arminia Bielefeld.
-Heath Pearce – Hansa Rostock – did not dress for his teams 1-3 win at Hertha.
-Ian Joy - St Pauli – played the whole miserable 0-3 loss to Monchengladbach.
-Gregg Berhalter – Munich 1860 – played the full 90 but got smoked 3-0 at Mainz.
-Josh Wolff – Munich 1860 – did not dress for his teams 3-0 loss at Mainz.
-Neven Subotic - Mainz – started and went the distance in the big 3-0 home victory over 1860.
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Word from Reading is that Bobby Convey has "tweaked something right at the top of his leg" and will miss their match this weekend at Portsmouth.
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BBC talks to USA & Rangers midfielder DaMarcus Beasley about the fast approaching Old Firm derby.
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American Soccer Daily with an update on the injury status of USA & Charlton defender Cory Gibbs, who has not played in 18 months due to a knee injury.
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Man U got beat 0-2 at home by Coventry in the League Cup - I bet the Man U haters are having a good laugh at that one.
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Napoli fans threw many things on the field yesterday in their Serie A match v Livorno, including a bottle that hit the assistant referee, so they will have to play their home game this Saturday v Genoa in an empty stadium.
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For the 15th time this season, already, Fulham coach Lawrie Sanchez blamed the referees for his team’s loss or tie. He might even be right, but it gets old quick. My feeling has always been: Just bury the other team and the refs won't matter.
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Supposedly Dutchman Guus Hiddink has claimed that Chelsea have contacted him about being their new manager.
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PSV have been kicked out of this years Dutch Cup competition after winning their first match 3-0 over Young Heerenveen (the reserves). Turns out they played a guy that was ineligible due to Yellow Card accumulation last year, and the team didn't catch it until someone brought it up after the game. Forfeit win goes to Young Heerenveen.
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Seal Dribble Update: In Brazil Atletico Mineiro defender Coelho has received a 4 month ban after using a very hard tackle to stop Kerlon's Seal Dribble. Coelho got a Red Card for the foul. But 4 months, isn't that a bit much?
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Brazil's top sports tribunal decided late Wednesday to suspend
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I watched two absolutely brilliant offensive performances yesterday - Ibrahimovic for Inter, and Messi for Barca. Wow! Those two are playing unbelievable right now. It seems like no defender can stop either one. Again, wow.