Some News for Fri Apr 15, 2011

HOLD THE PRESSES: No sooner did we post the news today when word came down that USA international midfielder Benny Feilhaber has signed a contract to play in MLS immediately. No word on which team yet, but Chivas USA is said to be first in line! Stay tuned for more.

STORY OF THE DAY – PORTLAND TIMBERS

Brucitorial

It’s all about Portland now. Last night was huge. Another new high water mark in MLS fandom. In American soccer. In you and me.

DC fans started it.

Chicago came next.

LA had its fair share.

New England and New York had a dedicated bunch.

Houston had the cool multi-cultural vibe.

RSL got some of that going too.

Columbus even sorted it out for some of their fans.

Smaller groups in KC, San Jose, Dallas and Chivas did their part.

The few and proud in Denver did their damnedest.

Then the new breed arrived.

Toronto changed the whole game. Those fans were unhinged from the start. The throwing of the seat cushions when the first goal was scored at BMO was surreal! (Truly one of the great moments in MLS history.)

Seattle came next, and it was even bigger. While some feel they have a Disney-fied quality, I feel the power every time I turn on the TV. And they have the biggest crowds too, so they get bragging rights.

Philadelphia was lead from day one by the true believers.

And this year Vancouver got us going the first weekend of the season with a fantastic crowd who already love their team.

But now it’s Portland that has set the new standard.

It will be up to their two huge rivals to the north to up their ante.

It will be up to the people in Chicago to take that energy from last night home and raise Section 8 from 950 strong to 3500 strong.

DC stepped up last weekend and reminded us that they’ve still got it in a big way.

Montreal comes next, and there is no doubt that they will do it right.

But will they do it Portland right?

The challenge is on.

dN

The Oregonian had big coverage of "Day 1" for the Portland Timbers.

A great photo essay from the big day.

Rachel Bachman on the power of the Army.

John Canzano on the "sound of real victory."

Kimberly Wilson on the logistication of the event.

Video feature on the Army during the game.
-The guy who does the voice over the middle of this thing sounds like he is bored beyond belief. Its really funny!

Video of opening night.
-Guy doing this voice over calls Jorge Pelaza "John."

Video of Geoffrey Arnold post game.

And a photo of Rodney Wallace & Kalif Alhassan in a moment of sheer joy. (click to enlarge)


















THE QUADRACLASICO - MADRID V BARCA 2011

Real Madrid & Barcelona will face off 4 times in 3 competitions in 18 days beginning on Saturday.

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Raphael Minder of the New York Times on the big series ahead.

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Matches & Scores:
-Sat Apr 16
Real Madrid & Barcelona - Primera Division - 3:00pm CT on GolTV
Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu - Madrid
-Wed Apr 20
Barcelona v Real Madrid - Copa Del Rey Final - 2:30pm CT on GolTV
Venue: Estadio Mestalla - Valencia
-Wed Apr 27
Real Madrid & Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Semifinal Leg 1 - 1:45pm CT on FSC
Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu - Madrid
-Tue May 3
Barcelona v Real Madrid - UEFA Champions League Semifinal Leg 2 - 1:45pm CT on FSC
Venue: Camp Nou - Barcelona

BIG EUROPEAN CLUB MATCHES

-Sat Apr 16
Real Madrid & Barcelona - what can you say, its for all the marbles.
Manchester City v Manchester United - the FA Cup Semifinal & the Manchester derby all rolled into one, at Wembley Stadium.
-Sun Apr 17
Arsenal v Liverpool - its always fun when the big teams play in England.
Bayern Munchen v Bayer Leverkusen - Bayern is trying to save face, while Leverkusen dreams of somehow catching Dortmund and stealing the crown.
Porto v Sporting - nothing on the line but pride, honor and gloating rights.

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Final

Next week will be huge for RSL, MLS and the USA.

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Boxscore does a Q & A with CONCACAF official Enrique Borja of Mexico about the final series.

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Matches & Scores:
1st Leg
-Wed Apr 20
Monterrey v Real Salt Lake - 9pm CT on FSC
2nd Leg
-Wed Apr 27
Real Salt Lake v Monterrey - 9pm CT on FSC

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Timbers fans --- you may have dreamed the inaugural home game would have theatre, and electricity, and that you'd be giddy and delighted. Maybe you thought the soccer would bring strangers together like glue.

But this was even better than you thought, yeah?

Not like opening a present on "Christmas morning," as you kept saying. Nah. Maybe better. More surprises. More smiles from unexpected places. More enlightening to the casual masses --- myself included --- who figured we'd wave all of this off as a passing fancy.

Nope.

I'm a believer today.

-John Canzano, The Oregonian. See full article above in Story of the Day section.

HMMMMM, VERY INTERESTING

Jasen Lee of the Deseret News says the CONCACAF Champions League series between Salt Lake and Monterrey has prompted government and business leaders in both cities to begin working together on new opportunities.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

The Original Winger takes to the field in KC at Livestrong Sporting Park. Yes there is real grass.


















This place looks AWESOME! (click photo to enlarge)

PODCASTS

On the Fan 590 in Toronto Nigel Reed and Bob Iarusci host the weekly Soccer Show, and this week their guests were TFC head coach Aron Winter and technical director Paul Mariner. Download or listen here.

MLS MATCHES, SCORES & STANDINGS

Week 5

Matches & Scores:
-Wed Apr 13
Toronto FC 0-0 LA Galaxy
Venue: BMO Field - Toronto ON
Attendance: 22,453
Real Salt Lake 1-0 Colorado Rapids - RSL goal by Fabian Espindola.
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium - Sandy UT
Attendance: 15,513
-Thu Apr 14
Portland Timbers 4-2 Chicago Fire SC - PT goals by Jorge Perlaza(2), Rodney Wallace & Dasan Robinson(OG). CF goals by Eric Brunner(OG) & Marco Pappa.
Venue: Civic Stadium - Portland OR
Attendance: 18,627
-Sat Apr 16
Philadelphia Union v Seattle Sounders FC - 3:00pm CT on Direct Kick
Venue: PPL Park - Chester PA
Vancouver Whitecaps FC v CD Chivas USA - 6:00pm CT on Direct Kick
Venue: Empire Field - Vancouver BC
Toronto FC v DC United - 6:00pm CT on FSC
Venue: BMO Field- Toronto ON
Columbus Crew v Sporting Kansas City - 6:30pm CT on Direct Kick
Venue: Crew Stadium - Columbus OH
New York Red Bulls v San Jose Earthquakes - 6:30pm CT on Direct Kick
Venue: Red Bull Arena - Harrison NJ
-Sun Apr 17
Chicago Fire SC v LA Galaxy - 3:00pm CT on Telefutura
Venue: Toyota Park - Bridgeview IL
Portland Timbers v FC Dallas - 5:00pm CT on Direct Kick
Venue: JELD-WEN Field - Portland OR
Houston Dynamo v New England Revolution - 6:00pm CT on Direct Kick
Venue: Robertson Stadium- Houston TX

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EJECTIONS:
Juninho - LA Galaxy - 2 yellow cards

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Standings (4 Games Played):
EASTERN CONFERENCE
9 Philadelphia Union (+2 GD)
6 New England Revolution (+1 GD) (5 GP)
6 Toronto FC (0 GD) (5 GP)
5 Houston Dynamo (+1 GD)
5 Columbus Crew (0 GD)
5 New York Red Bulls (-2 GD)
4 Sporting Kansas City (0 GD) (3 GP)
4 Chicago Fire SC (-2 GD)
4 DC United (-2 GD)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
12 Real Salt Lake (+7 GD) (4 GP)
9 Colorado Rapids (+2 GD) (5 GP)
9 LA Galaxy (-1 GD) (6 GP)
5 San Jose Earthquakes (+1 GD)
5 Seattle Sounders FC (-1 GD) (5 GP)
5 Vancouver Whitecaps FC (-1 GD) (5 GP)
4 FC Dallas (-1 GD)
4 Portland Timbers (-2 GD)
2 CD Chivas USA (-2 GD)

MY THOUGHTS

The power that roared out of the stands from the Timbers fans made me beyond jealous. I hate them for it. They are amazing. And it will only spur on fans from other teams to try and top that.

Jorge Perlaza was not a guy I saw being able to lift Portland up, but he sure did last night. Beyond the 2 huge goals he was constantly pushing the Chicago defenders back onto their heals and causing general chaos. Great game from him.
-See the historic first goal here.

Sean Johnson had his second poor game in a row for Chicago last night. On the first Portland goal he came racing out of the goal only to run into his own defender knocking them both down and allowing Jorge Perlaza an open goal to score in. Then on the third goal he made the save but gave up a rebound right in front of the net allowing Perlaza to tap in his second.

Marco Pappa's goal for the Fire was a thing of beauty. But then aren't almost all of his goals works of wonder?
-See it here.

The TV announcers went on and on and on about the a Portland goal early in the game that was disallowed for what they thought was a foul on the goalkeeper. They insisted their was no foul. Later they were told the goal was called off because the ball had gone out of play during the cross. But for some reason they still kept bitching about the foul on the goalkeeper. Hmmmm.

For me the most thrilling moment of the game came when the referee sent Timbers general manager Gavin Wilkinson to the stands after he messed with the ball during a Chicago throw in. I could go on and on but I will just let it sit there as is.

On the other hand I was delighted to see our FIF from the Minnesota Thunder days Amos Magee on the Portland bench getting to celebrate those dramatic and historic goals. Could not happen to a nicer guy.

Lets be honest though, that was a fairly ugly game from both teams. Waaaaay to frantic and choppy. The rain made the field fast as a hockey rink.

Did anyone else think those white rain ponchos gave the fan a ...... oh forget it.

MLS TEAM & PLAYER NEWS

COLUMBUS CREW

Shawn Mitchell of the Dispatch on the dramatic return of Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Gino Padula to Columbus. Well, not in the way you might think. They will launch their own soccer academy in C-town.

-And Mitchell has a few Crew related notes.

Dan Lee of ONN tries to makes sense of the Crew's lack of offense.
-Two things leap to mind - they lost the great coach that took them to the top, and as talented attacking players have left the team they have been replaced by inferior players.

DC UNITED

Steve Goff of the Washington Post on the continuing rebirth of Charlie Davies.

HOUSTON DYNAMO

Houston made it official today by announcing the signing of 2 international players:
-27 year old Spanish forward Sergio Koke from Aris of Thessaloniki in Greece.
-27 year old Jamaican central midfielder JeVaughn Watson from Sporting Central of Clarendon in Jamaica.
-Both players were their team's captain.

SPORTING KANSAS CITY SC

Steve Davis of Sports Illustrated on the dramatic upgrades to the SKC organization over the past few years.

The Sportsters ended a rumor today by announcing the signing of 25 year old French centerback Aurelien Collin from Vitoria of Setubal in Portugal.

Charles Gooch of the Star took in KC training on Thursday.

LA GALAXY

After his mouthy outburst that earned him a post game red card last weekend Jovan Kirovski finds himself in more trouble as the league tagged an second game suspenion on him for the extremity of his provocation. He also got fined $1000, which in pro-sports isn't much, but in MLS dollars that is fairly hefty.

LA is now saying the Landon Donovan has an inflamed knee. No word yet on whether or not he will be in Chicago for their game on Sunday.

NEW YORK RED BULLS

Red Bulls Centerback Tim Ream writing for the New York Times for the first time and raises his hand to take the blame for the rotten goal they gave up last weekend in Philly.

Brian Lewis of the NY Post reports that Bouna Coundoul likes the team's new keeper coach.

Michael Lewis of Big Apple Soccer says the Bulls are looking for some pay back on San Jose this weekend.

REAL SALT LAKE

James Edward of the Deseret News with an article on Fabian Espindola who almost seemed to will RSL to victory of Colorado on Wed night.

Michael C Lewis of the SL Tribune gives us an injury updates on the Lakers as they prepare for Monterrey next Wednesday.

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES

Robert Jonas of Center Line Soccer takes in Quakes training this week.

SEATTLE SOUNDERS

Servando Carrasco did play much last weekend against Chicago, but its going to cost him. He received a yellow card for a reckless tackle but after review the leauge has turned it into red and a one game suspension.

TORONTO FC

TFC has signed a loan deal for 22 year old English fullback Richard Eckersley from Burnley.

John Molinaro of the CBC on the rough start to the season for promising centerback Nana Attakora.

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC

Paul Attfield of the Globe & Mail says the Caps are showing TFC "how its done."
-I don't know about you but I would be willing to bet a little cash that after the success of TFC's first four games in MLS someone at the G & M wrote a similar article saying the TFC was showing the American teams "how its done." Slow down there lil buckaroo.

MLS RESERVE LEAGUE

Matches & Scores:
-Sun Apr 17
Toronto FC v DC United
Vancouver Whitecaps v Chivas USA

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MLS Reserve League Standings Etc.

NASL SCOREBOARD

Matches & Scores:
-Fri Apr 15
Fort Lauderdale Strikers v NSC Minnesota Stars
-Sat Apr 16
Carolina RailHawks v Montreal Impact
Atlanta Silverbacks v FC Edmonton
-Sun Apr 17
FC Tampa Bay v Puerto Rico Islanders

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Standings

SOCCER IN AMERICA

David Segal of the New York Times with a feature article on the re-start of the Cosmos 30 years later.

AMERICANS IN EUROPE

Georgina Turner of Sports Illustrated talks to Jonathan Spector about his up and down season.

ENGLAND

FA CUP

Semifinals
Matches & Scores
-Sat Apr 16
Manchester City v Manchester United
-Sun Apr 17
Bolton v Stoke

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Top of the Premier League Table: (32 of 38 GP)
69 Man United - Off this weekend - Tue Apr 19 at Newcastle
62 Arsenal - Sun Apr 17 v Liverpool - AND - Wed Apr 20 at Tottenham (31 GP)
58 Chelsea - Sat Apr 16 at West Brom - AND - Wed Apr 20 v Birmingham (31 GP)
56 Man City - Off this weekend
53 Tottenham - Wed Apr 20 v Arsenal (31 GP)

SPAIN

Top of the Primera Division Table: (31 of 38 GP)
84 Barcelona - Sat Apr 16 at Real Madrid
76 Real Madrid - Sat Apr 16 v Barcelona
60 Valencia - Sat Apr 16 at Almeria
54 Villarreal - Mon Apr 18 v Zaragoza
46 Sevilla - Sat Apr 16 at Getafe

FRANCE

Top of the Ligue 1 Table: (30 GP of 38)
58 Lille - Sat Apr 16 v Bordeaux
55 Marsielle - Sun Apr 17 at Montpellier
53 Lyon - Sun Apr 17 at PSG
52 Rennes - Sat Apr 16 v Lorient
49 PSG - Sun Apr 17 v Lyon

GERMANY

Top of the Bundesliga Table: (29 of 34 GP)
66 Borussia Dortmund - Sun Apr 17 v Freiburg
61 Bayer Leverkusen - Sun Apr 17 at Bayern
53 Hannover - Sat Apr 16 at Hamburg
52 Bayern Munich - Sun Apr 17 v Leverkusen
45 Mainz - Fri Apr 15 v Monchengladbach

ITALY

Top of the Serie A Table: (32 of 38 GP)
68 Milan - Sat Apr 16 v Sampdoria
65 Napoli - Sun Apr 17 v Udinese
63 Inter - Sat Apr 16 at Parma
57 Lazio - Sun Apr 17 at Catania
56 Udinese - Sun Apr 17 at Napoli

SCOTLAND

Scottish Cup

Semifinals
Matches & Scores:
-Sat Apr 16
Motherwell v St. Johnstone
-Sun Apr 17
Aberdeen v Celtic

COPA LIBERTADORES

Universitario Catolica and Velez Sarsfield of Group 4 both leaped over Caracas on their last matchday to advance.

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Advanced:(9 of 16) Cruzeiro, Estudiantes, Gremio, Junior, LDU Quit, Libertad, Penarol, Univ Catolica, Velez Sarsfield

Out:(10 of 16) Caracas, Depor Tachira, Godoy Cruz, Guarani, Independiente, Jorge Wilstermann, Leon de Huanuco, Oriente Petrolero, Depor Tolima, Union Espanola

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Group Stage
Matches & Scores:
-Tue Apr 12
Penarol 0-1 Independiente - Ind goal by Facundo Parra.
LDU Quito 2-0 Godoy Cruz - LDU goals by Luis Bolanos & Hernan Barcos.
Colo Colo 2-1 Deportivo Tachira - CC goals both by Diego Rubio. DT goal by Edgar Perez Greco.
-Wed Apr 13
Estudiantes 0-3 Cruzeiro - Cru goals by Thiago Ribeiro, Wallyson & Gilberto.
Guarani 0-2 Deportes Tolima - DT goqals Danny Santoya & Luis Closa.
-Thu Apr 14
Cerro Porteno 1-2 Santos - CP goal by Pedro Benitez. San goals by Danilo da Silva & Maikon Leite.
Univ Catolica 2-1 Union Espanola - UC goals by Pablo Calandria & Giovanny Espinoza(OG). UE goal by Kevin Harbottle.
Caracas 0-3 Velez Sarsfield - VS goals by Maxi Moralez & Santiago Silva(2).
Oriente Petrolero 3-0 Gremio - OP goals by Nicolas Fernandez, Fernando Saucedo & Juan Arce.
Junior 1-1 Leon de Huanuco - Jun goal by Jossymar Gomez. LH goal by Orlando Rodriguez.

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Standings:
Group 1
ADV-11 Libertad (Paraguay) (+6 gd) (5 gp)
6 Univ San Martin (Peru) (-2 gd) (5 gp)
5 San Luis (Mexico) (-1 gd) (5 gp)
4 Once Caldas (Colombia) (-3 gd) (5 gp)
Group 2
ADV-13 Junior (Colombia) (+2 gd) (6 gp)
ADV-10-Gremio (Brazil) (+3 gd) (6 gp)
OUT-6 Oriente Petrolero (Bolivia) (-1 gd) (6 gp)
OUT-5 Leon de Huanuco (Peru) (-4 gd) (6 gp)
Group 3
9 America (Mexico) (+1 gd) (5 gp)
7 Argentinos Juniors (Argentina) (+1 gd) (5 gp)
7 Nacional (Uruguay) (0 gd) (5 gp)
5 Fluminense (Brazil) (-2 gd) (5 gp)
Group 4
ADV-12 Univ Catolica (Chile) (+2 gd) (6 gp)
ADV-11 Velez Sarsfield (Argentina) (+5 gd) (6 gp)
OUT-9 Caracas (Venezuela) (-3 gd) (6 gp)
OUT-4 Union Espanola (Chile) (-4 gd) (6 gp)
Group 5
9 Colo-Colo (Chile) (0 gd) (5 gp)
8 Cerro Porteno (Paraguay) (+4 gd) (5 gp)
8 Santos (Brazil) (+1 gd) (5 gp)
OUT-2 Depor Tachira (Venezuela) (-5 gd) (5 gp)
Group 6
10 Internacional (Brazil) (+9 gd) (5 gp)
9 Chiapas Jaguares (-1 gd) (5 gp)
8 Emelec (Ecuador) (+1 gd) (5 gp)
OUT-1 Jorge Wilstermann (Bolivia) (-9 gd) (5 gp)
Group 7
ADV-16 Cruzeiro (Brazil) (+19 gd) (6 gp)
ADV-10 Estudiantes (Argentina) (-2 gd) (6 gp)
OUT-8 Depor Tolima (Colombia) (-3 gd) (6 gp)
OUT-0 Guarani (Paraguay) (-14 gd) (6 gp)
Group 8
ADV-10 LDU Quito (Ecuador) (+8 gd) (6 gp)
ADV-9 Penarol (Uruguay) (-5 gd) (6 gp)
OUT-8 Independiente (Argentina) (-1 gd) (6 gp)
OUT-7 Gody Cruz (Argentina) (-2 gd) (6 gp)

ENDERS

5 teams in the English Premier League are owned by Americans.