Wednesday, April 04, 2012

Some Soccer News for Wed Apr 4, 2012

STARTERS

My beloved Minnesota Stars FC begin defense of their NASL championship this Saturday! If you live anywhere within driving distance of the Twin Cities then I fully expect to see you at the game. There are no excuses.
-And the Dark Clouds have a new motto for 2012.






dN

Giorgio Chignalia - RIP.
-While I personally was never a fan of him and his team the Cosmos, he sure lit up many a night in the original NASL, (unless they were losing to my Minnesota Kicks 9-2!) and had enough personality for 3 people. He will definitely be missed in some way. But off the field the stories we hear over and over are that he was a first rate scum bag. Great scorer yes. Horrible human begin yes. End of story.
-I also hear that he charmed everyone he ever met.
-Watch the great movie Once In A Lifetime to get an interesting picture of Giorgio.

dN

In case you missed it, both Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore scored again for their clubs last weekend, giving them 13 and 11 league goals respectively for the season.

dN

Colorado Rapids captain Pablo Mastroeni is going to be sidelined for around 6 weeks due to a concussion.
-Very sad. I really hope he recovers properly.

dN

American midfielder Bryan Gerzicich and his club team Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona have won the Israeli Ligat Ha'Al championship! Huge congrats to them. Hooray beer.

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 131 teams in our league!

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

TASTIEST MLS GAME OF THE WEEKEND

The first Eastern Canada derby in MLS, and it should be a doozy!

-Sat Apr 7
Montreal Impact v Toronto FC - 11:00AM CT on TSN & RDS (in Canada)
Venue: Olympic Stadium

DU NORD AT THE CONTROLS

du Nord at the Controls - Tue Apr 3, 2012 - new music mix at Spotify.

STORY OF THE DAY

"A lot of people have asked when I'm going to be back playing and I don't have a definitive answer."

Bolton Wanderers with a big article on Stuart Holden who has returned to the club to begin his soccer rehab after months and months of hard work recovering from a second knee surgery.

NASL NEWS

The news team at IMSoccer News has put together a comprehensive North American Soccer League season preview for all 8 teams. Enjoy.

dN

Here is the opening weekend schedule with all 8 teams playing on Saturday night.

Matches & Scores:
-Sat Apr 7
Atlanta Silverbacks v San Antonio Scorpions
Fort Lauderdale Strikers v FC Edmonton
Puerto Rico Islanders v Tampa Bay Rowdies
Minnesota Stars FC v Carolina RailHawks

dN

You can watch every game this season right here via the internet.

TEAM USA - EL EQUIPO DE TODOS

The USA will train in Orlando in late May before the friendlies that will precede the start of World Cup qualifying.

dN

Steve Davis of NBC Sports with a quick round up of topics from Jurgen Klinsmann's press conference today.
-Topics include Caleb Porter and Herculez Gomez.

2012 CONCACAF OLYMPIC QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT

I went to Kansas City this past weekend to take in the Semifinals and Final of the tourney, and let me say that the
poor quality of the 4 teams I watched only made the USA early elimination feel that much worse. Mexico was average and at times a little better then that, but the other 3 - Honduras, El Salvador and Canada - were borderline terrible. Still shocking 10 days later that the USA got booted.
(NOTE: I added one word and an extra sentence to clarify my point. Sorry for the initial vaguery.

dN

FINAL
Matches & Scores:
-Mon Apr 2
Honduras 1-2 Mexico - Hon goal by Romell Quioto. Mex goals by Marco Fabian & Miguel Ponce.
Venue: Livestrong Sporting Park - Kansas City KS

dN

The du Nord Player of the Tournament goes to Mexican midfielder Hector Herrera of Pachuca who has been dubbed Lurchito!

dN

And finally...

Bobby McMahon of Forbes has a message for US Soccer fans - patience, patience and more patience. Oh, and no knee jerking either.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Quarterfinals

4 huge teams left now.

Barcelona and Chelsea will face off in one Semifinal after decisive wins.

While Bayern Munich and Real Madrid will face off in the other.

dN

Jonathan Wilson of the Guardian asks a very simple question - What makes Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola so good?

dN

Matches & Scores:
2nd Leg
-Tue Apr 3
Barcelona 3-1 AC Milan - Bar advances 3-1 on aggregate - Bar goals by Lionel Messi(2) & Andres Iniesta. ACM goal by Antonio Nocerino.
Bayern Munich 2-0 Marseille - BM advances 4-0 on aggregate - BM goals both by Ivica Olic.
-Wed Apr 4
Chelsea 2-1 Benfica - Che advances 3-1 on aggregate - Che goals by Frank Lampard(PK) & Raul Meireles. Ben goal by Javier Garcia.
Real Madrid 5-2 APOEL - RM advances 8-3 on aggregate - RM goals by Cristiano Ronaldo(2), Ricky Kaka, Jose Callejon & Angel di Maria. APO goals by Gustavo Manduca & Esteban Solari(PK).

dN

Semifinals

Matches & Scores:
1st Leg
-Tue Apr 17
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
-Wed Apr 18
Chelsea v Barcelona
2nd Leg
-Tue Apr 24
Barcelona v Chelsea
-Wed Apr 25
Real Madrid v Bayern Munich

2011-12 CONCACACHAMPIONS

Semifinals

Matches & Scores:
2nd Leg (1st Leg scores included)
-Wed Apr 4
Santos Laguna v Toronto (1-1) - 7pm CT on Fox Soccer - live
UNAM Pumas v Monterrey (0-3) - 9pm CT on Fox Soccer - live

WHAT A JOKE

UEFA has fined Portuguese team FC Porto a measly $27,000 after finding their fans guilty of racists chants directed at Mario Balotelli of Manchester City.
-Its very apparent that these governing bodies are not serious about this and only apply token fines to appease the press. Its bullshit. But its also what we expect from these phonies in charge of football.

BEST IDEA I'VE HEARD ALL DAY

Jared Montz Online Soccer Academy has announced their 2nd annual World Juggle-a-thon to benefit Nothing But Nets!









Last year they raised $7000! Amazing.

Get all the details right here, right now! And be a part of something very cool.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Which team in MLS has the worse defense - LA Galaxy or Toronto FC?

I guess since TFC beat LA then the correct answer is the Galaxy.

DO YOU REALIZE

Paul Kennedy of Soccer American introduces us to the gem of the Chivas USA academy - 17 year old striker Ben Spencer, a 6'5" goal scoring machine from Albuquerque.

HMMMMM, VERY INTERESTING

The Greek Super League has given Olympiakos a win and 3 points from a game that was abandon a few weeks back due to fan violence, and they now have a 10 point lead with just 3 games left to play, meaning Oly is once again the Greek champion. Huge congrats to them.

WELL WELL WELL

After doctors discovered a small hole in his heart last November there were questions about Italian forward Antonio Cassano every playing again, but after surgery fixed the hole he has resumed training with Milan again today. Fantastic news!

STAT OF THE DAY

13,415. That was the attendance at Red Bull Arena in Harrison NJ last weekend. That is downright terrible!

THIS IS WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT

Christopher McCollum of Yanks Abroad has an interview with Herculez Gomez who is having the best season of his career right now.

OOF

I have made up my mind - Julian de Guzman is the biggest bomb-per-buck in the history of MLS!

VIDEO OF THE DAY

Great fun!

Maggie Hendricks of Yahoo writes about UFC president Dana White ripping soccer savagely during an interview, then our hero Jimmy Conrad standing up and offering White a challenge, to which White has accepted.
-If anyone can turn White around its JC!

Soccer fans are also driving White batshit crazy on his Twitter account. Silly Dana thought UFC fans were nut jobs, hahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Not in comparison!

MLS MATCHES & SCORES

WEEK 5

Matches & Scores:
-Wed Apr 4
Real Salt Lake v Montreal Impact - 8:00PM CT
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium
-Thu Apr 5
FC Dallas v New England Revolution - 7:30PM CT
Venue: FC Dallas Stadium
-Sat Apr 7
Montreal Impact v Toronto FC - 11:00AM CT on TSN & RDS
Venue: Olympic Stadium
Columbus Crew v New York Red Bulls - 2:00PM CT on Galavision
Venue: Crew Stadium
Sporting Kansas City v LA Galaxy - 3:00PM CT on ESPN & ESPN Deportes
Venue: Livestrong Sporting Park
San Jose v Vancouver Whitecaps FC - 6:00PM CT
Venue: Buck Shaw Stadium
DC United v Seattle Sounders FC - 6:30PM CT
Venue: RFK Stadium
Real Salt Lake v Colorado Rapids - 8:00PM CT
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium
Portland Timber v CD Chivas USA - 9:30PM CT
Venue: JELD-WEN Field

Bye: Houston Dynamo, Chicago Fire & Philadelphia Union

MLS MATCH NOTES

Greatest goals of last weekend:

This jewel from Darlington Nagbe is already a Best of the Year candidate!

A very light footed Jonny Steele dances through the Portland defensive for a fancy goal.

Here is one that is about as cool to watch as it gets! Solli to Henry to Ballouchy - Goal. All very stylish for New York.

MLS STANDINGS

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

MLS TEAM & PLAYER NEWS

General News

Thierry Henry has been named MLS Player of the Week.
-This is the second consecutive week he has won the honor.

dN

Jeff Carlisle of ESPN looks at several key topics of the week: LA struggling, Peter Vermes coaching style, the rise of Sam Cronin, Darlington Nagbe's best position, and the recovery of Steve Zakuani & David Ferreira.

dN

The league has handed down post-game discipline to 4 players:
-Jair Benitez - FC Dallas - suspended 1 game and fined - throwing an elbow
-Danny Cruz - DC United - fined - simulated being struck in the face
-Atiba Harris - Vancouver Whitecaps FC - suspended 1 game and fined -
throwing an elbow
-Brandon McDonald - DC United - suspended 1 game and fined - tackle from behind

Ridge Mahoney of Soccer America feels that imposing these retroactive punishments will lead to more consistent refereeing and play on the field, and in the long run a better MLS.

dN

Player Transactions

Chivas has signed 16 year old midfielder Marky Delgado from their academy.

dN

Dallas has released forward Luis Perrera.
-At the time of his signing it felt like a whim, and apparently it was a poor one.

dN

Houston has loaned midfielder Josue Soto to San Antonio of the NASL.

dN

CD CHIVAS USA

Chivas has hired long time MLS and New Zealand veteran Simon Elliot as their new technical director and head of scouting.

COLORADO RAPIDS

Huge debut for Kamani Hill. Signed to the team during the week, comes on as a sub in the 82nd min and scores in stoppage time!

COLUMBUS CREW

Adam Jardy of the Dispatch looks at injury issues.

Jardy also wonders how the Crew will deal with New York's team speed.

FC DALLAS

So it turns out it wasn't in David Ferreira's head after all, and the pain was not lingering from his previous badly broken ankle - turns out he has a fracture in his foot and has had surgery to repair it. He will be out another 2 months. Damn!

Todd Date of 3rd Degree has a Q & A with head coach Schellas Hyndman.

MONTREAL IMPACT

Montreal had their first league in their MLS history last Saturday, but in the end lost bad. Hey its a positive.
-They gave up that lead just a few minutes later, but then they turned it around and took their second lead in league history!
-Then they got run over by a truck with New Jersey plates.

NEW YORK RED BULLS

Leander Schaerlaeckens writing for the Guardian calls Luke Rodgers an unlikely cult hero in New York.

Brian Lewis of the Post writes that the Bulls know what they need to do to win, they just have to continuously execute that.

SEATTLE SOUNDERS

Head coach Sigi Schmid is posting regular notes on his own blog at 710AM ESPN Radio in Seattle.
-Did you know that Sigmund Schmid's middle name is Ernst?


Don Ruiz of the New Trib says the Sounders have options up top again now that Eddie Johnson appears to be ready to go.

TORONTO FC

Surgery to repair an ankle injury will see goalkeeper Stefan Frei out of action 4-6 months. Oof.

MLS RESERVE LEAGUE

Matches & Scores:
-Sat Mar 31
Toronto FC 0-1 Columbus Crew - CC goal by Ethan Finley.
-Sun Apr 1
New York Red Bulls 3-1 Montreal Impact - NYRB goals by Tyler Ruthven, Jhonny Arteaga & Victor Palsson. MI goal by Miguel Montano.
-Mon Apr 2
Colorado Rapids 2-1 Chicago Fire SC - CR goals both by Andre Akpan. Cf goal by Federico Puppo.
LA Galaxy 2-4 CD Chivas USA - LAG goals both by Chad Barrett. CUSA goals by Miller Bolanos & Cesar Romero(3).

Standings

USL PRO NEWS

Opening Weekend is here.

Matches & Scores:
-Fri Apr 6
Antigua Barracuda FC v Pittsburgh Riverhounds
-Sat Apr 7
Richmond Kickers v Charleston Battery
Charlotte Eagles v Orlando City
-Sun Apr 8
Antigua Barracuda FC v Pittsburgh Riverhounds

USA U20 TEAM

Coach Tab Ramos will have a team in Portland OR from Apr 9 to 16 as they begin prep for the next U20 World Cup. The will play two friendlies during this camp

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
Derek Vogel - Pateadores
M:
Seth Casiple - Univ California
Luis Gil - Real Salt Lake
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

USA U17 TEAM

Head coach Richie Williams takes a team to France for the Mondial Minimes tournament.

The USA beat the UAE with authority in the first of two group stage games.

Standings:
Group A
3 France (+2)
-Cameroon (-)
0 Mexico (-2)
Group B
3 USA (+4)
- Portugal (-)
0 UAE (-4)
Group C
1 England (0)
1 Japan (0)
- Morocco (-)
Group D
3 Russia (+2)
- Ivory Coast (-)
0 China (-2)

Matches & Scores:
-Wed Apr 3
USA 4-0 UAE - USA goals by Ahinga Selemani, Tyler Turner, Wesley Wade & Bradford Jamieson.
-Thu Apr 5
USA v Portugal
-Knock out rounds on Apr 7 & 9

All matches & standings.

Roster
G:
Paul Christensen - Seattle Sounders Academy
Evan Louro - New York Red Bulls Academy
D:
Adonis Amaya - Chivas USA Academy
Elijah Martin - Cal Odyssey
Shaquell Moore - Cobb FC
Kevin Politz - New York Red Bulls Academy
Tommy Redding - FC America Premier
John Requejo Jr - Real So Cal
Tyler Turner - South Central Premier
M:
Corey Baird - San Diego Surf
Junior Flores - McLean Youth Soccer
Angel Heredia - San Jose Earthquakes Academy
Cameron Lindley - Indiana United
Rubio Rubin - Westside Metros
F:
Bradford Jamieson - Chivas USA Academy
DeAndre Robinson - Concorde Fire
Ahinga Selemani - CSA Wolves
Wesley Wade - New York Red Bulls Academy

AMERICANS IN EUROPE

Greg Seltzer of MLSsoccer.com with an article on Jozy Atlidore and his first season playing in Netherlands.

Brian Sciaretta of Yanks Abroad with an article on Kenneth Di Vita Jensen of Honefoss in Norway who has made a few first time appearances over the past season or so and is hoping to have an impact this season.

dN

Coming Up:

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE - Quarterfinals - 2nd Leg Apr 5
Jozy Altidore - AZ - at Valencia leading 2-1.
Steve Cherundolo - Hannover - v Atletico Madrid trailing 2-1.
Jermaine Jones - Schalke - at Athletic Bilbao trailing 4-2.
Oguchi Onyewu - OUT INJURED - Sporting - at Metalist leading 2-1.

AMERICANS IN SOUTH AMERICA

Game Action:

COPA LIBERTADORES - Group Stage
Diego Restrepo - Tachira - on the bench as they drew 1-1 v Cruz Azul.

GERMANY

Raphael Honigstein of Sports Illustrated on the disastrous season Hamburg is suffering! Relegation Bound!

EUROPE

A look at the title races in the top 6 leagues of Europe as of Sun Apr 2:
3 pts -Bundesliga is a 2 team race: Dortmund(63) & Bayern (60)
5 pts -Premier League is a 2 team race: Man U(76) & Man City(71)
2 pts -Serie A is down to a 2 team race: Milan(64) & Juve(62)
0 pts -Ligue 1 is a 2 team race: Montpellier (60) & PSG (60)
6 pts -Primera Division is a 2 team race again: Real Madrid(78) & Barca(72)
1 pt -Eredivisie is still a 6 teams race: Ajax(58), AZ(57), Twente(55), PSV(54), Feyenoord(54) & Heerenveen(54)

TOP EURO CLUB GOAL SCORERS

As of Tue Apr 3

Primera Division
37 Cristiano Ronaldo
36 Lionel Messi
20 Radamael Falcao
20 Gonzalo Higuain

Premier League
26 Robin Van Persie
21 Wayne Rooney
17 Kun Aguero
16 Demba Ba

Bundesliga
23 Mario Gomez
23 Klaas Jan Huntelaar
17 Robert Lewandowski
17 Lukas Podolski

Serie A
22 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
19 Edison Cavani
19 Antonio Di Natale
17 Diego Milito
16 Rodrigo Palacio

Ligue 1
18 Oliver Giroud
14 Eden Hazard
13 Nene
12 Bafetimbi Gomis

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE

Quarterfinals - 2nd Leg
Matches & Scores:
-Thu Apr 5
Valencia v AZ (1-2)
Athletic Bilbao v Schalke (4-2)
Metalist v Sporting CP (1-2)
Hannover v Atletico Madrid (1-2)

COPA LIBERTADORES

Alianza Lima became the second team out of the tournament, and both are from Peru. Tachira is now also out.

Lanus got a HUGE win over their rivals for the top spot in Group 2.

dN

ADVANCED: Fluminense(Brazil)

ELIMINATED: Alianza Lima(Peru), Juan Aurich(Peru), Deportivo Tachira(Venezuela)

dN

Group Stage

Matches & Scores:
-Tue Apr 3
Lanus 6-0 Olimpia - Lan goals by Mariano Pavone(2), Mauro Camoranesi, Mario Regueiro, Diego Valeri & Silvio Romero.
Deportivo Tachira 1-1 Cruz Azul - DT goal by Mauricio Parra. CA goal by Chaco Gimenez.
Alianza Lima 1-2 Vasco da Gama - AL goal by Miguel Curiel. VDG goals both by Felipe Bastos.
-Wed Apr 4
Godoy Cruz v Universidad Chile
Internacional v Santos
Emelec v Flamengo
-Thu Apr 5
Libertad v Nacional
Junior v Universidad Ca
Juan Aurich v The Strongest

dN

Standings

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

ASIA

Asian Champions League - Group Stage - Matchday 3
Matches & Scores:
-Tue Apr 3
Central Coast Mariners 1-1 Seongnam
Gamba Osaka 3-1 Bunyodkor
Pohang Steelers 1-0 Adelaide United
Tianjin Teda 0-3 Nagoya Grampus
Esteghlal 1-2 Al Jazira
Al Rayyan 3-1 Nasaf
Sepahan 2-1 Lekhwiya
Al Nasr 1-2 Al Ahli
-Wed Apr 4
Kashiwa Reysol 0-0 Guangzhou Evergrande
Ulsan 1-1 Brisbane Roar
Buriram United 0-2 Jeonbuk Motors
Beijing Guoan 1-1 Tokyo
Pakhtakor 3-1 Al Arabi
Al Shabab 1-1 Al Hilal
Al Gharafa 0-3 Persepolis
Al Ittihad 1-0 Bani Yas

Standings etc.

2 Comments:

Anonymous Doug said...

Brucio - you said about the CONCACAF semis and final,"... the quality of the 4 teams I watched only made the USA early elimination feel that much worse." By that do you mean there is no way in hell we shouldn't have been there? I still can't believe we didn't qualify.

12:55 AM  
Blogger brucio said...

yer right doug - i need to clarify my statement a lot more. the teams i saw play in the semis and final were bad, really bad. there is no way the usa team should have been knocked out so easily. the usa roster had too much talent and was clearly overconfident about beating their opponents who took it too them.

8:14 AM  

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