Some Soccer News for Fri Apr 13, 2012

STARTERS

Maradona fires back at Pele: “Maybe Neymar is the best player of the world, but only if we clarify that Messi is from another planet.”

dN

Brian Straus of Sporting News writes about one of my favorite new MLS implementations - retroactively cracking down on assaulters and fakers.

I also LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE that MLS referees use the foam spray to mark for spot and wall distance on free kicks. Its brilliant, simple and effective. I have no idea how many times since they started using the foam that I have been watching another league and seen the referee deal with the wall moving and I have said out loud - just use the spray buddy and you troubles will be over!

dN

Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated gives us his Top 15 season-long performances of all time by an American at a European club.
-A great list that provides some really good history lessons to todays soccer newcomers.

MINNESOTA STARS FC

2011 Championship Rematch!

Join fellow Stars fans at the Sweetwater in St Paul for the viewing party.

Match & Score:
-Sat Apr 14
Fort Lauderdale Strikers FC v Minnesota Stars FC - 6:30CT
Venue: Lockhart Stadium

NOTICE

Sign up today for MLS Fantasy Soccer Manager, and then become a member of the du Nord Futbol league using this code: 3815-897

There are 133 teams in our league!

Central and Front FC managed by Antonio Fresco is in 1st Place!

TASTIEST MLS GAME OF THE WEEKEND

Sporting Kansas City v Real Salt Lake
-Sat Apr 14 at 7:30pm CT - only on local TV, MLS Direct Kick, or MLS Live

Michael C Lewis of the Salt Lake Tribune talks to RSL head coach Jason Kreis who says his team WILL have goal scoring chances against KC.
-More on Sporting.

Lewis writes about SKC fullback Seth Sinovic.

Mike Sorenson of the Deseret News previews RSL.

Tod Palmer of the Kansas City Star sees this game as a potential MLS Cup Final preview.

Lynn DeBruin of the Associated Press previews the game. Via the KC Star.

MLSSoccer.com previews the game.

DU NORD AT THE CONTROLS

du Nord at the Controls - Tue Apr 10, 2012 - new music mix at Spotify.

TEAM USA - EL EQUIPO DE TODOS

Brian Lewis of the NY Post writes that both Thierry Henry and coach Hans Backe see a place in the USA team for New York Red Bulls forward Kenny Cooper.

BIG EUROPEAN CLUB MATCHES

Matches & Scores:
-Sat Apr 14
Schalke v Borussia Dortmund - a possible stumbling block for the league leaders

dN

Race for the title in the five biggest European leagues:
La Liga - 6 games left
82 Real Madrid - NEXT: Sat Apr 14 v Sporting Gijon
78 Barcelona - NEXT: Sat Apr 14 at Levante
Premier League - 5 games left
79 Manchester United - NEXT: Sun Apr 15 v Aston Villa
74 Manchester City - NEXT: Sat Apr 14 at Norwich
Bundesliga - 4 games left
69 Borussia Dortmund - NEXT: Sat Apr 14 at Schalke
63 Bayern Munich - NEXT: Sat Apr 14 v Mainz
Serie A - 6 games left
68 Juventus - NEXT: Sun Apr 15 at Cesena
67 Milan - NEXT: Sat Apr 14 v Genoa
Ligue 1 - 7 games left
66 Montpellier - NEXT: Sun Apr 15 at Lorient
63 PSG - NEXT: Sun Apr 15 at Auxerre

BUMMER OF THE DAY

Giuseppe Rossi has just returned to training with Villarreal this week after 6 months out due to a knee injury that required surgical repair.

But today at practice he blew out that same knee all over again, and will once again need surgery. I bet he won't be going back to the same doctor.

DO YOU REALIZE

Sunday is the 23rd anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster in which 96 people died and over 700 more were injured in a crush of Liverpool soccer fans at a stadium in Sheffield.
-You can read about the events of the day on Wikipedia.

David Conn of the Guardian uncovers connections to Hillsborough with a violent incident involving the same police force and striking coal miners 5 years prior.

Very sad stuff all around. Please take a minute to think about your fellow football fans who suffered so badly that day.

HMMMMM, VERY INTERESTING

Lincoln Anderson of The Villager with a lot more info than we have ever read before on a potential MLS stadium being built in Manhattan at Pier 40 (or any NYC site for that matter.) Including extracts from a letter written by commissioner Don Garber to the people who control the land the Hudson River Park Trust.
-Hat tip to Dave Martinez of Empire of Soccer for the link on Twitter.

THE LUNATICS HAVE TAKEN OVER THE ASYLUM

Koln is in a battle against relegation for the second straight season, and today they fired head coach Stale Solbakken with just 4 games left to play.

He has been replaced by Frank Schaefer.

Check this out - last year when the team was in this exact same spot they fired none other than Frank Schaefer.

STAT OF THE DAY

Former Chivas USA player Marcus Mondaini lead Emelec to the knock out rounds of the Copa Libertadores ousting powerhouse Flamengo, led by Ronadlinho & Vagner Love, in the Group Stage.

THIS IS WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT

New MLS stadiums give me goosebumps every time.

Local Houston NBC affiliate KPRC channel 2 has a video report on the Dynamo's new BBVA Compass Stadium.

My favorite part is the construction worker getting his 2 cents in!

VIDEO OF THE DAY

Arsenal players v Ballerinas for Citroen!

Nice. Dig the piano player!

And in case you were wondering, I think ballerinas are hot!

MLS MATCHES & SCORES

Week 6

-Sat Apr 14
Philadelphia Union v Columbus Crew - 2:30PM CT on NBCSN
Venue: PPL Park
New England Revolution v DC United - 3:00PM CT
Venue: Gillette Stadium
Seattle Sounders FC v Colorado Rapids - 3:00PM CT
Venue: CenturyLink Field
Toronto FC v CD Chivas USA - 3:30PM CT
Venue: BMO Field
New York Red Bulls v San Jose Earthquakes - 6:00PM CT
Venue: Red Bull Arena
FC Dallas v Montreal Impact - 7:30PM CT
Venue: FC Dallas Stadium
Sporting Kansas City v Real Salt Lake - 7:30PM CT
Venue: Livestrong Sporting Park
LA Galaxy v Portland Timbers - 9:30PM CT
Venue: The Home Depot Center
-Sun Apr 15
Chicago Fire SC v Houston Dynamo - 6:00PM CT on Galavision
Venue: Toyota Park

Bye: Vancouver Whitecaps FC

MLS STANDINGS

EAST
15 Sporting Kansas City (+7)
9 New York Red Bulls (+6)
6 Houston Dynamo (0)
6 Columbus Crew (-2)
6 New England Revolution (-2)
5 DC United (0)
4 Chicago Fire SC (-1)
4 Montreal Impact (-7)
1 Philadelphia Union (-4)
0 Toronto FC (-7)
WEST
15 Real Salt Lake (+7)
12 San Jose Earthquakes (+6)
9 Colorado Rapids (0)
8 Vancouver Whitecaps FC (+1)
7 Seattle Sounders FC (+3)
7 FC Dallas (-2)
6 CD Chivas USA (-1)
4 Portland Timbers (-1)
3 LA Galaxy (-3)

MLS TEAM & PLAYER NEWS

General News

The 2012 MLS All Star uniform will be unveiled Saturday at halftime of Philadelphia v Columbus game.

Player Transactions

Houston has official signed 22 year old Mexican defender Oscar Recio on a loan deal from Monterrey. He has already appeared in the team's three reserve league games.

CHICAGO FIRE

Orrin Scwarz of the Daily Herald looks at how the Fire will fill the spot in the center of the defense now that Cory Gibbs is out for 6 months after knee surgery.

CD CHIVAS USA

The Canadian Press with a feature on fullback Ante Jazic. Via the CBC.

COLUMBUS CREW

Columbus will be without starting keeper Will Hesmer and bruising forward Tom Heinemann for the long term, possibly the entire season, as both will have to have micro-fracture surgery. Hesmer on his right hip, and Heinemann on his left knee. This is one of the worst injuries an athlete can suffer.

DC UNITED

Craig Stoufer of the Examiner looks at the new found depth of DCU.

NEW YORK RED BULLS

Kristan Heneage of the Times says Luke Rodgers still very much wants to get a work visa so he can resume playing for the Red Bulls.

PHILADELPHIA UNION

Yesterday the Union said that midfielder Roger Torres had a sprained knee, but today they said he would be having surgery. You don't have surgery for a sprain. He will be out for as much as 2 months.

SEATTLE SOUNDERS

Joshua Mayers of the Times with an article on David Estrada who has had a big impact on the team so far this season.

TORONTO FC

Centerback Adrian Cann could start for TFC tomorrow. That could be huge.

MLS RESERVE LEAGUE

Matches & Scores:
-Sat Apr 14
New England Revolution v DC United
-Sun Apr 15
Philadelphia Union v Columbus Crew
-Mon Apr 16
Chicago Fire SC v Houston Dynamo
-Tue Apr 17
Real Salt Lake v FC Dallas

Standings

NASL SCOREBOARD

Matches & Scores:
-Sat Apr 14
Carolina RailHawks FC v Atlanta Silverbacks
Tampa Bay Rowdies v FC Edmonton
Fort Lauderdale Strikers FC v Minnesota Stars FC
-Sun Apr 15
San Antonio Scorpions FC v Puerto Rico Islanders FC

Watch online

USL PRO NEWS

Matches & Scores:
-Fri Apr 13
Charlotte Eagles v Dayton Dutch Lions
-Sat Apr 14
Charleston Battery v Richmond Kickers
Los Angeles Blues v Rochester Rhinos
-Sun Apr 15
Orlando City v Wilmington Hammerheads

Standings

USA U20 TEAM

The team is training in Portland OR from Apr 9 to 16.

Friendlies
Matches & Scores:
-Thu Apr 12
USA v Univ Portland
-Sun Apr 15
USA v Opponent TBA

Roster
G:
Tomas Gomez - Georgetown Univ
Jake McGuire - Chivas USA Academy
D:
Christian Dean - Univ California
Bryan Gallego - Univ Akron
Jordan McCrary - Univ North Carolina
Eric Miller - Univ Creighton
Juan Pablo Ocegueda - UANL Tigres
Boyd Okwuonu - Univ North Carolina
William Packwood - Birmingham City
Jeffrey Payeras - LA Galaxy Academy
Javan Torre - LA Galaxy Academy
Derek Vogel - Pateadores
M:
Seth Casiple - Univ California
Benji Joya - Santos Laguna
Mikey Lopez - Univ North Carolina
Collin Martin - DC United Academy
Victor Pineda - Chicago Fire
Wil Trapp - Univ Akron
F:
Daniel Cuevas - Santos Laguna
Ethan Decker - New York Red Bulls Academy
Daniel Garcia - FC Dallas Academy
Jack McBean - LA Galaxy
James Rogers - Univ New Mexico
Jonathan Top - FC Dallas

AMERICANS IN EUROPE

Joe Gyau has signed his first senior pro contract at Hoffenheim. Huge congrats to him.

Josh Gatt has signed a new 3 year contract at Molde in Norway.

MEXICO

Clausura

Top 8 Standings after 14 of 17 Rounds:
30 Santos Laguna - NEXT: Sat Apr 14 at America
28 Monterrey - NEXT: Sat Apr 14 at Atlas
28 Tigres - NEXT: Sat Apr 14 v Guadalajara
27 Morelia - NEXT: Sat Apr 14 at Pachuca
25 America - NEXT: Sat Apr 14 v Santos Laguna
24 Pachuca - NEXT: Sat Apr 14 v Morelia
23 Tijuana - NEXT: Fri Apr 13 at Jaguares
20 Jaguares - NEXT: Fri Apr 13 v Tijuana
-----
18 Cruz Azul
18 Toluca
-The top 8 make the playoffs.

ENGLAND

FA Cup - Semifinals
Matches & Scores:
-Sat Apr 14
Liverpool v Everton
-Sun Apr 15
Tottenham v Chelsea

FRANCE

Coupe de la Ligue - Final

Matches & Scores:
-Sat Apr 14
Marseille v Lyon

EUROPE

Portugal League Cup - Final

-Sat Apr 14
Gil Vicente v Benfica

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE

Semifinals
Matches & Scores:
1st Leg
-Thu Apr 19
Sporting CP v Athletic Bilbao
Atletico Madrid v Valencia
2nd Leg
-Thu Apr 26
Athletic Bilbao v Sporting CP
Valencia v Atletico Madrid

COPA LIBERTADORES

Flamengo and their big name players got the win they needed last night, but Emelec won as well to advance leaving Fla out in the cold!

dN

ADVANCED: (12 of 16) Atletico Nacional(Colombia), Boca Juniors(Argentina), Cruz Azul(Mexico), Corintians(Brazil), Emelec(Ecuador), Fluminense(Brazil), Lanus(Argentina), Libertad(Paraguay), Universidad Chile(Chile), Union Espanola(Chile), Vasco Da Gama(Brazil), Velez Sarsfield(Argentina)

ELIMINATED: (10 of 16) Alianza Lima(Peru), Arsenal(Argentina), Flamengo(Brazil), Godoy Cruz(Argentina), Juan Aurich(Peru), Nacional(Uruguay), Nacional Asuncion(Paraguay), Penarol(Uruguay), Deportivo Tachira(Venezuela), Zamora(Venezuela)

dN

Group Stage

Matches & Scores:
-Tue Apr 10
Deportivo Quito 2-0 Defensor Sporting - DQ goals by Luis Checa & Julio Bevacqua.
Zamora 0-1 Arsenal - Ars goal by Juan Caffa(PK).
Union Espanol 2-1 Bolivar - UE goals by Braulio Leal & Emanuel Herrera. Bol goal by Ever Cantero.
Atletico Nacional 3-0 Penarol - AN goals by Oscar Murillo, Dorlan Pabon & Diego Alvarez.
-Wed Apr 11
Guadalajara 0-2 Velez Sarsfield - VS goals by Augusto Fernandez & Lucas Pratto.
Nacional Asuncion 1-3 Corinthians - NA goal by Carlos Ruiz Peralta. Cor goals by Jorge Henrique, Emerson Shiek & Elton.
Fluminense 0-2 Boca Juniors - BJ goals by Dario Cvitnaich & Juan Sanchez Mino.
-Thu Apr 12
Flamengo 3-0 Lanus - Fla goals by Welinton, Deivid & Luiz Antonio.
Olimpia 2-3 Emelec - Oli goals by Arnaldo Castorino & Pablo Zeballos. Eme goals by Marcos Mondaini, Angel Mena & Jose Quinonez.
Alianza Lima 1-2 Libertad - AL goal by Paolo Hurtado. Lib goals by Nestor Camacho & Jose Nunez.
Nacional 0-1 Vasco da Gama - VdG goal by Diego Souza.

dN

Standings

Group 1
10 Santos (+5)
8 Internacional (+5)
7 The Strongest (-4)
OUT-3 Juan Aurich (-6)
Group 2
ADV-10 Lanus (+5)
ADV-9 Emelec (-1)
OUT-8 Flamengo (+2)
OUT-7 Olimpia (-6)
Group 3
ADV-10 Union Espanola (+4)
7 Bolivar (-1)
6 Universidad Catholica (-2)
4 Junior (-1)
Group 4
ADV-12 Fluminense (+2)
ADV-10 Boca Juniors (+4)
OUT-6 Arsenal (0)
OUT-1 Zamora (-6)
Group 5
ADV-13 Libertad (+4)
ADV-13 Vasco Da Gama (+4)
OUT-6 Nacional (-2)
OUT-3 Alianza Lima (-6)
Group 6
ADV-11 Corintians (+5)
ADV-8 Cruz Azul (+4)
OUT-4 Nacional Asuncion (-4)
OUT-3 Tachira (-5)
Group 7
ADV-12 Velez Sarsfield (+4)
7 Deportivo Quito (+2)
6 Defensor Sporting (-3)
4 Guadalajara (-5)
Group 8
ADV-11 Atletico Nacional (+9)
ADV-10 Universidad Chile (+4)
OUT-5 Godoy Cruz (-4)
OUT-1 Penarol (-9)

EGYPT

Bob Bradley's team will play 2 friendly matches in the next few days:

Matches & Scores:
-Sat Apr 14
Egypt v Angola
-Tue Apr 17
Egypt v Iraq