Some News for Thu Aug 27
STARTERS
An little-known company called NuRock Soccer Holdings has purchased the USL from Nike. Here is the official announcement from the league. For those who don't know, USL is the predominant "minor league" soccer structure in America, consisting of among other things the 2nd, 3rd & 4th divisions of mens soccer. Nike and their subsidiary Umbro will continue as league sponsors.
dN
Last night in USL First Division action Carolina crushed Miami 9-0. Now that is embarrassing.
dN
Speaking of bad situations - the referee let the Arabe v Houston Champions League game get so out of hand last night that 5 Red Cards were handed out, then the fans in Panama pelted the field with debris, and the power at the stadium went out twice. What a joke. But then again Jack Warner is the head of CONCACAF so what do you expect but third rate.
CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Official Web Site, and video highlights from all the games.
dN
Group Stage - Matchday 2
Matches & Scores:
-Wed Aug 26
DC United 1-3 Toluca - DCU goal by Chris Pontius. Tol goals by Vladimir Marin & Hector Mancilla(2).
Match report from CONCACAF.
Cruz Azul 5-0 Columbus Crew - CA goals by Jaime Lozano(2), Ramon Nunez and Chad Marshall(2 OGs).
Match report from CONCACAF.
Arabe Unido 1-1 Houston Dynamo - AU goal by Orlando Rodriguez. HD goal by Kei Kamara.
Match report from CONCACAF.
Marathon 3-1 San Juan Jabloteh - Mar goals by Mario Berrios, Mauricio Sabillon & Walter Martinez. SJJ goal by Noel Williams(PK).
Match report from CONCACAF.
-Thu Aug 27
W Connection v Communicaciones
Real Espana v UNAM Pumas
dN
Here's a real fiasco for ya: Houston had a lead on the road going into stoppage time, but gave up a goal, then mysteriously the power went out at the stadium and the home side Arabe Unido salvaged a point from the match. Houston also saw Red Cards handed out to Corey Ashe (straight Red - from watching the highlights he appears to have been sent off for landing on a player who slid under him as he crossed the ball!), Andrew Hainault (2 Yellows) & Stuart Holden (2 Yellows both within 1 minute for abusive language) down in Panama, while 2 Arabe players were also ejected.
dN
The fiasco in the other two games with MLS teams was simply the performance of those teams. DC again melted down on defense and lost by a 3-1 score, this time at home(!), while Columbus traveled to Mexico City and got blitzed 5-0 with their regular starters in the game an Chad Marshall netting not 1 but 2 own goals!! Ramon Nunez, formerly of FC Dallas, led the charge for the Cementmen.
MLS
Official Web Site
dN
Matches & Scores:
-Wed Aug 26
Real Salt Lake 4-0 Chivas USA - RSL goals by Pablo Campos, Fabian Espindola & Robbie Findley(2).
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium - Sandy UT
Attendance: 14,747
Match report by Michael C Lewis of the Salt Lake Tribune.
Match report by James Edward of Deseret News.
dN
With their big win last night Salt Lake turned things around a bit and get into a playoff spot for the first time in a very long time.
dN
Michael C Lewis of the Salt Lake Tribune with an article on RSL fullback Anthony Beltran. (published before yesterday's game)
dN
Lewis on the SLT blog with thoughts on new RSL striker Pablo Campos.
dN
Lewis also had this funny note on last nights game:
Strange look
For the first time, RSL wore the unusual combination of white tops with blue shorts.
The reason?
Team officials said the referees thought the dark blue Chivas road jerseys too easily could be mistaken for the blue on the sleeves of the RSL home uniforms. But Chivas had not brought any other uniforms, so RSL had to change.
"It was a league error, so I'm expecting a check from them," coach Jason Kreis joked, referring to his numerous fines. "We make errors, we're always sending checks their way. I'm expecting a check in return."
dN
James Edward of the Deseret News with an article on the teams new forward Pablo Campos.
dN
Nick Firchau of Chicago's Southtown Star and Orrin Schwarz of Chicago's Daily Herald on the falling out and departure of Fire centerback Soumary Bakary. After a big blowout wit coach Denis Hamlett he has been sold to French club Boulogne.
dN
Paul Gardner of Soccer America with an editorial on Ivan Gazidis, the former #2 at MLS who is now the main man at Arsenal in England. Gazidis even gets to say a couple of words. But only a couple.
dN
John Molinaro of the CBC with an article on Toronto centerhack Nick Garcia who is pushing toward the playoffs. He isn't the answer to their defensive woes.
dN
Molinaro always wonders, where has Danny Dichio's playing time gone?
-Molinaro also posted this Twitter on Aug 25: "just got back from TFC practice where I was chewed out in private for 5 min by Cummins over Dichio. Is there more to this saga? I think so."
dN
Kristian Dyer of ESPN Soccernet with an article on the comeback season for goalkeeper Zach Thornton at Chivas USA. I even had to stop calling him Snacks Thornton.
dN
TV comedy writer & producer Peter Mehlman does a video interview with Landon Donovan. Honestly though, it's not that great of an interview. It's more about Mehlman trying to be odd/clever, and he comes off as close to neither.
USL FIRST DIVISION
Official Web Site
dN
Matches & Scores:
-Wed Aug 26
Carolina RailHawks 9-0 Miami FC Blues
-Thu Aug 27
Minnesota Thunder v Cleveland City Stars
-Fri Aug 28
Charleston Battery v Portland Timbers
USA U20 TEAM
FIFA.com with an article on USA coach Thomas Rongen as he prepares his team for the World Cup.
dN
-The tournament begins in 1 month from Egypt.
MEXICO
The 2 starting forwards for Puebla last weekend were Carlos Ruiz and Jared Borgetti!
SPAIN
ESPN Soccernet does a Q & A with new Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.
GERMANY
Reuters reports that Bayern Munich is going to give away free beer to fans this weekend to help soothe the pain from the team worst start to a season in 43 years. But what if they lose again. Won't this just makes the fans more insane?
-I will say again that I believe the coach and players are not the main problem at Bayern. It's the Honchos who are in charge. There are too many of them, all with huge egos, all sending their own seperate messages. Clusterfuck is the word I would use to describe the mess.
ITALY
Inter has bought Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder from Real Madrid.
EUROPE
UEFA handed out their awards for best players of the past season today. Here are the winners
-Player of the Year: Lionel Messi - Barcelona
-Goalkeeper of the Year: Edwin Van Der Sar - Manchester United
-Defender of the Year: John Terry - Chelsea
-Midfielder of the Year: Xavi Hernandez - Barcelona
-Forward of the Year: Lionel Messi - Barcelona
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Official Web Site
dN
The Group Stage draw took place today. Here are the results:
Group A
Bayern Munchen
Juventus
Bordeaux
Maccabi Haifa
Group B
Manchester United
CSKA Moskva
Besiktas
Wolfsburg
Group C
AC Milan
Real Madrid
Olympique Marseille
Zurich
Group D
Chelsea
Porto
Atletico Madrid
APOEL
Group E
Liverpool
Olympique Lyonnais
Fiorentina
Debrecen
Group F
Barcelona
Internazionale Milan
Dynamo Kyiv
Rubin Kazan
Group G
Sevilla
Rangers
Stuttgart
Unirea Urziceni
Group H
Arsenal
AZ Alkmaar
Olympiacos
Standard Liege
dN
So which one is the group of death? Isn't that always the appropriate question?
UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE
Official Web Site
dN
Reuters with an article on UEFA's plan to test out having 5 field referees (the 2 extras will be stationed near the goals) during group stage matches. UEFA Pres Michel Platini has said he thinks it will be a revolutionary move.
An little-known company called NuRock Soccer Holdings has purchased the USL from Nike. Here is the official announcement from the league. For those who don't know, USL is the predominant "minor league" soccer structure in America, consisting of among other things the 2nd, 3rd & 4th divisions of mens soccer. Nike and their subsidiary Umbro will continue as league sponsors.
dN
Last night in USL First Division action Carolina crushed Miami 9-0. Now that is embarrassing.
dN
Speaking of bad situations - the referee let the Arabe v Houston Champions League game get so out of hand last night that 5 Red Cards were handed out, then the fans in Panama pelted the field with debris, and the power at the stadium went out twice. What a joke. But then again Jack Warner is the head of CONCACAF so what do you expect but third rate.
CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Official Web Site, and video highlights from all the games.
dN
Group Stage - Matchday 2
Matches & Scores:
-Wed Aug 26
DC United 1-3 Toluca - DCU goal by Chris Pontius. Tol goals by Vladimir Marin & Hector Mancilla(2).
Match report from CONCACAF.
Cruz Azul 5-0 Columbus Crew - CA goals by Jaime Lozano(2), Ramon Nunez and Chad Marshall(2 OGs).
Match report from CONCACAF.
Arabe Unido 1-1 Houston Dynamo - AU goal by Orlando Rodriguez. HD goal by Kei Kamara.
Match report from CONCACAF.
Marathon 3-1 San Juan Jabloteh - Mar goals by Mario Berrios, Mauricio Sabillon & Walter Martinez. SJJ goal by Noel Williams(PK).
Match report from CONCACAF.
-Thu Aug 27
W Connection v Communicaciones
Real Espana v UNAM Pumas
dN
Here's a real fiasco for ya: Houston had a lead on the road going into stoppage time, but gave up a goal, then mysteriously the power went out at the stadium and the home side Arabe Unido salvaged a point from the match. Houston also saw Red Cards handed out to Corey Ashe (straight Red - from watching the highlights he appears to have been sent off for landing on a player who slid under him as he crossed the ball!), Andrew Hainault (2 Yellows) & Stuart Holden (2 Yellows both within 1 minute for abusive language) down in Panama, while 2 Arabe players were also ejected.
dN
The fiasco in the other two games with MLS teams was simply the performance of those teams. DC again melted down on defense and lost by a 3-1 score, this time at home(!), while Columbus traveled to Mexico City and got blitzed 5-0 with their regular starters in the game an Chad Marshall netting not 1 but 2 own goals!! Ramon Nunez, formerly of FC Dallas, led the charge for the Cementmen.
MLS
Official Web Site
dN
Matches & Scores:
-Wed Aug 26
Real Salt Lake 4-0 Chivas USA - RSL goals by Pablo Campos, Fabian Espindola & Robbie Findley(2).
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium - Sandy UT
Attendance: 14,747
Match report by Michael C Lewis of the Salt Lake Tribune.
Match report by James Edward of Deseret News.
dN
With their big win last night Salt Lake turned things around a bit and get into a playoff spot for the first time in a very long time.
dN
Michael C Lewis of the Salt Lake Tribune with an article on RSL fullback Anthony Beltran. (published before yesterday's game)
dN
Lewis on the SLT blog with thoughts on new RSL striker Pablo Campos.
dN
Lewis also had this funny note on last nights game:
Strange look
For the first time, RSL wore the unusual combination of white tops with blue shorts.
The reason?
Team officials said the referees thought the dark blue Chivas road jerseys too easily could be mistaken for the blue on the sleeves of the RSL home uniforms. But Chivas had not brought any other uniforms, so RSL had to change.
"It was a league error, so I'm expecting a check from them," coach Jason Kreis joked, referring to his numerous fines. "We make errors, we're always sending checks their way. I'm expecting a check in return."
dN
James Edward of the Deseret News with an article on the teams new forward Pablo Campos.
dN
Nick Firchau of Chicago's Southtown Star and Orrin Schwarz of Chicago's Daily Herald on the falling out and departure of Fire centerback Soumary Bakary. After a big blowout wit coach Denis Hamlett he has been sold to French club Boulogne.
dN
Paul Gardner of Soccer America with an editorial on Ivan Gazidis, the former #2 at MLS who is now the main man at Arsenal in England. Gazidis even gets to say a couple of words. But only a couple.
dN
John Molinaro of the CBC with an article on Toronto centerhack Nick Garcia who is pushing toward the playoffs. He isn't the answer to their defensive woes.
dN
Molinaro always wonders, where has Danny Dichio's playing time gone?
-Molinaro also posted this Twitter on Aug 25: "just got back from TFC practice where I was chewed out in private for 5 min by Cummins over Dichio. Is there more to this saga? I think so."
dN
Kristian Dyer of ESPN Soccernet with an article on the comeback season for goalkeeper Zach Thornton at Chivas USA. I even had to stop calling him Snacks Thornton.
dN
TV comedy writer & producer Peter Mehlman does a video interview with Landon Donovan. Honestly though, it's not that great of an interview. It's more about Mehlman trying to be odd/clever, and he comes off as close to neither.
USL FIRST DIVISION
Official Web Site
dN
Matches & Scores:
-Wed Aug 26
Carolina RailHawks 9-0 Miami FC Blues
-Thu Aug 27
Minnesota Thunder v Cleveland City Stars
-Fri Aug 28
Charleston Battery v Portland Timbers
USA U20 TEAM
FIFA.com with an article on USA coach Thomas Rongen as he prepares his team for the World Cup.
dN
-The tournament begins in 1 month from Egypt.
MEXICO
The 2 starting forwards for Puebla last weekend were Carlos Ruiz and Jared Borgetti!
SPAIN
ESPN Soccernet does a Q & A with new Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.
GERMANY
Reuters reports that Bayern Munich is going to give away free beer to fans this weekend to help soothe the pain from the team worst start to a season in 43 years. But what if they lose again. Won't this just makes the fans more insane?
-I will say again that I believe the coach and players are not the main problem at Bayern. It's the Honchos who are in charge. There are too many of them, all with huge egos, all sending their own seperate messages. Clusterfuck is the word I would use to describe the mess.
ITALY
Inter has bought Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder from Real Madrid.
EUROPE
UEFA handed out their awards for best players of the past season today. Here are the winners
-Player of the Year: Lionel Messi - Barcelona
-Goalkeeper of the Year: Edwin Van Der Sar - Manchester United
-Defender of the Year: John Terry - Chelsea
-Midfielder of the Year: Xavi Hernandez - Barcelona
-Forward of the Year: Lionel Messi - Barcelona
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Official Web Site
dN
The Group Stage draw took place today. Here are the results:
Group A
Bayern Munchen
Juventus
Bordeaux
Maccabi Haifa
Group B
Manchester United
CSKA Moskva
Besiktas
Wolfsburg
Group C
AC Milan
Real Madrid
Olympique Marseille
Zurich
Group D
Chelsea
Porto
Atletico Madrid
APOEL
Group E
Liverpool
Olympique Lyonnais
Fiorentina
Debrecen
Group F
Barcelona
Internazionale Milan
Dynamo Kyiv
Rubin Kazan
Group G
Sevilla
Rangers
Stuttgart
Unirea Urziceni
Group H
Arsenal
AZ Alkmaar
Olympiacos
Standard Liege
dN
So which one is the group of death? Isn't that always the appropriate question?
UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE
Official Web Site
dN
Reuters with an article on UEFA's plan to test out having 5 field referees (the 2 extras will be stationed near the goals) during group stage matches. UEFA Pres Michel Platini has said he thinks it will be a revolutionary move.
posted by brucio at 16:34
3 Comments:
Snacks Thornton aggravated his right quadriceps and left at half.
I suppose he's questionable for the 3rd Honda Superclassico this weekend and the HDC.
Soumare may be an all star, but in the few Fire games I have seen this year he looked awful.
Sure sucks to see MLS teams tanking so badly in CONCACAF competition. The league needs to get its act together or drop out of the Champions League. It is infuriating to see DC and C-bus play so poorly.
The only revolution Uefa needs is the one that keeps Platini out of the headlines for, like, ever.
And that LD interview was god awful.
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