Some Soccer News for Tue, Sep 4, 2012

STARTERS

The USA has NEVER lost to Jamaica in 18 total games.
-But the USA has also never won on Jamaican soil - only tie games.
NOTE: A reader let us know that the USA has won in Jamaica, just NOT in a qualifier. Excellent info. Thanks reader.

dN

Will you look at that - Brad Guzan started a Premier League game without the teams #1 goalkeeper being out injured. He just might play in that league yet.

dN

Two more goals for American Terrence Boyd as this first season as a pro on a senior team is still smokin' hot at Rapid in Vienna. See video of the goals below in the Americans in Europe section.

MINNESOTA STARS FC

Another tie for the Stars leaves them without a win in 8 straight games.
-The team leads the league in tie games with 9 - 3 at home and 6 on the road.

On the good side they still have an 8 point lead in the playoff race with only 4 games left to play.

On Monday, the Stars signed midfielder Jaime Watson on loan from Orlando City.

Matches + Scores:
-Sat Sep 1
Minnesota Stars 1-1 San Antonio Scorpions MS goal by Amani Walker. SAS goal by Hans Dennisen.
Venue: NSC Stadium - Blaine MN
-Sat Sep 8
Minnesota Stars v Edmonton
Venue: NSC Stadium

BIG EUROPEAN CLUB MATCHES COMING UP THIS WEEK

Matches + Scores:
-Sun Sep 2
Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal
Udinese 1-4 Juventus
Barcelona 1-0 Valencia
Inter 1-3 Roma

DU NORD AT THE CONTROLS

du Nord at the Controls - Tue Sep 4, 2012 - new music mix at Spotify.

TEAM USA - EL EQUIPO DE TODOS

The USA roster for the 2 upcoming World Cup Qualifiers against Jamaica was announced on Sunday.
-Here are head coach Jurgen Klinsmann's comments on the roster.
-Sean Johnson will be the 3rd keeper for the first game.
-Nick Rimando will be the 3rd keeper for the second game.
-Josh Gatt is out of the roster due to a hamstring injury. He has had a lot of injuries in his career. No replacement will be named.

Rob Stone of Fox Soccer sits down for a long video interview with head coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

Michael Lewis at Tropigol with an early preview of USA-Jamaica.

Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press gets words from Clint Dempsey on his new team, and the 2 game ahead against Jamaica.

Simon Evans of Reuters writes that Clint Dempsey will be a big hit at Tottenham.

US Soccer has some quotes from Dempsey for us.

Zac Lee Rig of Goal.com with words from Klinsmann on what is expected of Jose Torres.

MLS has three articles today:
-Robert Andrew Powell - US acclimating in Miami ahead of "difficult" Jamaica match
-Daniel Robertson - Shea eyes first taste of qualifying as Jamaica match looms
-Charles Boehm - Just how bold will Klinsmann be in Kingston?

Should we be worried? With Danny Williams in the defensive midfielder spot and Fabian Johnson at left full back Hoffenheim are off to a simply horrendous start to the new season - 3 games played (2 in the league and 1 in the cup), all losses, and 10 goals conceded. That is NOT the way to start a season.

dN

Words from Jamaica:
FIFA.com with an article on Jamaica's Ryan Johnson who plays in MLS for Toronto.

The Gleaner - 'Not A Game We Can Take Lightly' ... But Cummings Looks Forward To Breaking US Jinx
The Gleaner - Now Is The Time
dN

WORLD CUP QUALIFYING
Matches + Scores:
-Fri Sep 7
Jamaica v USA - 7pm CT on beIN Sport
Venue: National Stadium - Kingston
-Tue Sep 11
USA v Jamaica - 7pm CT on ESPN2
Venue: Crew Stadium - Columbus OH

Jonathen Tannenwald of Philly.com reports that Comcast will NOT have their feed ready to show the USA game in Jamaica this Friday night.

dN

USA Roster
G:
Brad Guzan - Aston Villa
Tim Howard - Everton
Sean Johnson - Chicago Fire
Nick Rimando - Real Salt Lake
D:
Carlos Bocanegra - Racing Santander
Geoff Cameron - Stoke City
Steve Cherundolo - Hannover
Maurice Edu - Stoke City
Clarence Goodson - Brondby
Fabian Johnson - Hoffenheim
Michael Orozco - San Luis
Michael Parkhurst - Nordsjaelland
Jonathan Spector - Birmingham
M:
Kyle Beckerman - Real Salt Lake
Joe Corona - Tijuana
Jermaine Jones - Schalke
Brek Shea - Dallas
Jose Torres - Pachuca
Danny Williams - Hoffenheim
Graham Zusi - Sporting Kansas City
F:
Jozy Altidore - AZ
Terrence Boyd - Rapid Vienna
Clint Dempsey - Tottenham
Herculez Gomez - Santos Laguna
Coach:
Jurgen Klinsmann

dN

Jamaica roster
G:
Jacomeno Barrett - Montego Bay United
Duwayne Kerr - Strommen
Dwayne Miller - Syrianska
v D:
Andrae Campbelll - Nottodden
Adrian Mariappa - Reading
Nyron Nosworthy - Watford
Lovel Palmer - Portland Timbers
Jermaine Taylor - Houston Dynamo
Shavar Thomas - Montreal Impact
Dicoy Williams - Toronto
O’Brian Woodbine - Vaasan Palloseura
M:
Rodolph Austin - Leeds
Ewan Grandison - Portmore United
Jason Morrison - Aaelsund
Dane Richards - Vancouver Whitecaps
Joel Senior - Harbour View
Errol Stevens - Arnett Gardens
JeVaughn Watson - Houston Dynamo
F:
Kavin Bryan - Vicem Hai Phong
Omar Cummings - Colorado Rapids
Ryan Johnson - Toronto
Darren Mattocks - Vancouver Whitecaps
Luton Shelton - Karabukspor
Tramaine Stewart - Aaelsund
Coach:
Theodore Whitmore

BUMMER OF THE DAY

David Conn of the Guardian sees Portsmouth fans in desperation mode to save their team from extinction.

Y'ALL READY FOR THIS?

Jonathan Wilson of the Guardian sees the current qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nation as a sprint - with the tournament happening in January.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Where has Robbie Findley gone?

DID YOU KNOW?

Marca reports that Cristiano Ronaldo is unhappy at Real Madrid and does not feel wanted by the club.
-One could bet that what he really wants is a massive pay raise and the club is balking.
-Or is it that he wants Real Madrid to parade him around in velvet robes and run PR campaigns to praise him as the greatest of his generation?

HMMMMM, VERY INTERESTING

Joshua Mayers of the Seattle Times reports that Eidur Gudjohnsen will join the Seattle Sounders for a try out this week.

FACT OF THE DAY

Soccer America reports that $19 Million was spent buying 6 American players in the summer transfer window, another half dozen changed clubs.

VIDEO OF THE DAY

Seattle's Steve Zakuani had his leg badly broken approximately 500 days ago, and this past weekend he finally returned to the starting line up.

And man oh man did he ever deliver.

With a classic burst up the left hand side he torched the Dallas defense then slid a perfect pass across the goal for Mauro Rosales to tap in for a great goal. See it here.

Welcome back Stevesy!

MLS MATCHES AND SCORES

WEEK 26

Matches + Scores:
-Wed Sep 29
DC United 2-2 New York Red Bulls - DCU goals by Nick DeLeon + Dwayne DeRosario. NYRB goals by Joel Lindpere + Wilman Conde.
Venue: RFK Stadium
Atten: 10,303
New England Revolution 3-3 CD Chivas USA - NER goals by Saer Sene(2) + Rauwshan McKenzie(OG). CU goals by Shalrie Joseph(2) + Miller Bolanos.
Venue: Gillette Stadium
Atten: 10,945
Philadelphia Union 1-2 Columbus Crew - PU goal by Carlos Valdes. CC goals by Josh Williams + Eddie Gaven.
Venue: PPL Park
Atten: 16,568
-Fri Aug 31
Portland Timbers 1-0 Colorado Rapids - PT goal by Bright Dike.
Venue: Jeld Wen Field
Atten: 20,438
-Sat Sep 1
New England Revolution 0-0 Philadelphia Union
Venue: Gillette Stadium
Atten: 11,841
Columbus Crew 2-1 Montreal Impact - CC goals by Chad Marshall + Emilio Renteria. MI goal by Marco Di Viao.
Venue: Crew Stadium
Atten: 12,522
Sporting Kansas City 2-1 Toronto FC - SKC goals by Paulo Nagamura + Oriol Rosell. TFC goal by Ryan Johnson.
Venue: Livestrong Sporting Park
Atten: 18,481
Real Salt Lake 1-0 DC United - RSL goal by .
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium
Atten: 20,334
LA Galaxy 2-0 Vancouver Whitecaps FC - LAG goals by Juninho + David Beckham.
Venue: The Home Depot Center
Atten: 20,168
-Sun Aug 2
Chicago Fire SC 3-1 Houston Dynamo - CF goals by Patrick Nyarko, Daniel Paladini + Alex. HD goal by Brian Ching.
Venue: Toyota Park
Atten: 17,007
FC Dallas 1-1 Seattle Sounders FC - FCD goal by Jackson. SS goal by Mauro Rosales.
Venue: FC Dallas Stadium
Atten: 12,811
San Jose Earthquakes 4-0 CD Chivas USA - SJE goals by Victor Bernardez, Simon Dawkins + Ramiro Corrales(2).
Venue: Buck Shaw Stadium
Atten: 10,525

-All 19 teams are in action this week.

MLS MATCH NOTES

Sal Zizzo is finally playing the way many thought he could as a young player. Too many injuries, teams and coaches over the previous 4 years had really slowed him down. But he is not tearing it up down the right wing for the Portland Timbers.

dN

KC becomes the second team this season to cross the 50 point mark.

dN

Not a single ejection this weekend.
-Although I have no idea how Oswaldo Minda of Chivas USA stayed on the field.

MLS STANDINGS

In the East:
-Columbus bursts into the playoff picture in 5th place becoming the first new team to enter the 10 team pool since LA did it in back in early July.
-Chicago moves up from 5th to 3rd.
-Houston drops to 4th.
-DC is the team that falls out of the playoffs into 6th place.
-Montreal loses ground in to 7th place.

In the West:
-Salt Lake back up to 2nd.
-Seattle loses 1 spot to 3rd.
-Portland steps off the bottom, over Colorado.

EAST
50 Sporting Kansas City (34GF/27GP)
46 New York Red Bulls (46GF/27GP)
44 Chicago Fire SC (35GF/26GP)
42 Houston Dynamo (39GF/27GP)
42 Columbus Crew (33GF/26GP)
-----
41 DC United (43GF/27GP)
39 Montreal Impact (43GF/29GP)
26 Philadelphia Union (25GF/25GP)
25 New England Revolution (33GF/27P)
21 Toronto FC (30GF/27GP)
WEST
53 San Jose Earthquakes (56GF/27GP)
46 Real Salt Lake (38GF/28GP)
44 Seattle Sounders FC (41GF/26GP)
43 LA Galaxy (48GF/28GP)
37 Vancouver Whitecaps FC (29GF/28GP)
-----
33 FC Dallas (34GF/29GP)
28 CD Chivas USA (20GF/25GP)
27 Portland Timbers (27GF/26GP)
26 Colorado Rapids (33GF/27GP)
-(Goals For/Games Played)

The first tie breaker is goals scored.

MLS TEAM AND PLAYER NEWS

General News

Columbus forward Federico Higuain was named MLS Player of the Week.
-He has won it 2 weeks in a row.

dN

Montreal Impact midfielder Patrice Bernier has been named MLS August Player of the Month.

dN

Kyle McCarthy of Goal.com with the Monday Morning Breakdown - John Hackworth is the future in Philadelphia, Columbus moves into playoff position, RSL gets a much needed home win, Steve Zakuani's full return, the San Jose powerhouse, and the Chivas USA doghouse.

dN

Graham Parker and Joe Prince Wright of the Guardian with 5 things we learned from Week 26.

Player Transactions

Our Friend in Football Henrik from Denmark wrote to say that the Swedish press reported that Christian Wilhelmsson who played for the national team at the European Championship this summer has signed with the LA Galaxy.
-He is 32, plays out on the wing, and has a long resume.
-Are they currently clearing cap space to make this move? Stand tuned.

SPORTING KANSAS CITY SC

Charles Gooch of the Star with a detailed look at KC's latest win. Lots of stats.

LA GALAXY

Kevin Baxter of the Times writes that David Beckham is NOT considering retiring after this season.

NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION

Forward Saer Sene has torn his ACL and will be out for rest of the season. He was definitely the teams brightest spotlight.

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES

Friendly
Match + Score:
-Thu Sep 6
San Jose Earthquakes v San Luis(Mexico)
Venue: Buck Shaw Stadium

NASL SCOREBOARD

Tampa + Puerto Rico become the 2nd + 3rd teams to claim a playoff spot.

Matches + Scores:
-Sat Sep 1
Fort Lauderdale Strikers 0-3 Tampa Bay Rowdies
Puerto Rico Islanders 1-3 Carolina RailHawks
Minnesota Stars 1-1 San Antonio Scorpions
-Sun Sep 2
FC Edmonton 0-2 Atlanta Silverlverbacks

Watch online

Standings
*43 San Antonio (+21)
*39 Tampa Bay (+4)
*36 Puerto Rico (+4)
34 Carolina (-2)
34 Fort Lauderdale (-5)
30 Minnesota (-1)
-----
22 Edmonton (-7)
22 Atlanta (-14)
*Clinched Playoff Berth

USL PRO NEWS

Playoffs - Semifinals

Two big upsets as both of the road teams won in the Semis.

Matches + Scores:
-Fri Aug 31
Orlando City 3-4 Wilmington Hammerheads
Rochester Rhinos 1-1 Charleston Battery - CB wins 4-3 in Penalty Kick Shootout.

FINAL
Match + Score:
-Sat Sep 8
Charleston Battery v Wilmington Hammerheads
Venue: Blackbaud Stadium - Charleston, South Carolina

dN

2012 USL PRO All-League First Team

G:
Kristian Nicht - Rochester Rhinos
D:
Josh Rife - Charlotte Eagles
Troy Roberts - Rochester Rhinos
Rob Valentino - Orlando City
William Yomby - Richmond Kickers
M:
JC Banks - Rochester Rhinos
Kevin Molino - Orlando City
Nicki Paterson - Charleston Battery
F:
Dennis Chin - Orlando City
Jose Cuevas - Charleston Battery
Corey Hertzog - Wilmington Hammerheads

WOMEN'S U20 WORLD CUP

The USA beat Nigeria 2-0 in the Semifinals and will take on Germany in a group stage rematch in the Championship game.
-After struggling in the group stage its a testament to this team that they make the finals.

Knockout Stage:

Semifinals
Matches + Scores:
-Tue Sep 4
Nigeria 0-2 USA
Japan 0-3 Germany

Final
Match + Score:
-Sat Sep 8
USA v Germany

AMERICANS IN EUROPE

Yanks Abroad with video of Terrence Boyd's two goal performance on Sunday.

dN

Jermaine Jones scord a skull crusher of a goal for Schalke.
-Do not underestimate Schalke this season.

dN

Game Action:

AUSTRIA -
Terrence Boyd - Rapids Vienna - started and went 73 min scoring 2 goals and they won 3-0 v Mattersburg.

BELGIUM - Pro League
Sacha Kljestan - Anderlecht - started but came off at half time as they tied 2-2 v Genk.

BELGIUM - Second Division
Devann Yao - Boussu Dour Borinage - came on as a sub in the 73rd min as they won 1-3 at Brussels.

DENMARK - Superliga
Charlie Davies - Randers - came on as a sub in the 70th min but lost 0-1 v Horsens.
Clarence Goodson - Brondy - went the full 90 in a scoreless game at Nordsjaelland.
Conor O'Brien - SonderjyskE - played the full match but lost 0-4 v Aalborg.
Michael Parkhurst - Nordsjaelland - went the distance in a 0-0 game v Brondby.

ENGLAND - Premier League
Geoff Cameron - Stoke City - went the full 90 as they tied 2-2 at Wigan.
Maurice Edu - Stoke City - on the bench as they tied 2-2 at Wigan.
Brad Friedel - Tottenham - went the distance as they tied 1-1 v Norwich.
Brad Guzan - Aston Villa - played the whole game getting a yellow card as they tied 1-1 at Newcastle.
Tim Howard - Everton - went the full 90 but lost 2-0 at West Brom.
Eric Lichaj - Aston Villa - played the full match getting a yellow card as they tied 1-1 at Newcastle.

ENGLAND - Championship League
Conor Doyle - Derby County - came on as a sub in the 88th min of a 5-1 win v Watford.
Seb Hines - Middlesbrough - played the full match but lost 3-1 at Millwall.
Will Packwood - Birmingham - on the bench as they won 1-0 v Peterborough.
Tim Ream - Bolton - played the whole game but lost 3-1 at Hull.
Jonathan Spector - Birmingham - went the distance as they won 1-0 v Peterborough.

ENGLAND - League One
Mike Grella - Scunthorpe - played the whole game but lost 2-0 at Hartlepool.
Robbie Rogers - Stevenage - started and went 60 min as they tied 1-1 v Shrewsbury.
Frank Simek - Carlisle - on the bench as they lost 2-0 at Milton Keynes.

FINLAND - Veikkausliiga
Daniel Antunez - Inter Turku - came on as a sub in the 85th min as they won 2-0 v VPS.
Mike Banner - Jaro - played the whole game getting a yellow card and losing 0-3 v MYPA.
Etchu Tabe - KuPS - went the full 90 but lost 2-0 at Mariehamn.

FINLAND - Ykkonen
Justin Moose - SJK - on the bench as they won 0-2 v Hameenlinna.
Pat Phelan - SJK - went the full 90 and they won 0-2 v Hameenlinna.

GERMANY - Bundesliga
Timmy Chandler - Nurnberg - went the distance as they tied 1-1 v Dortmund.
Steve Cherundolo - Hannover - played the whole game as they won 0-4 at Wolfsburg.
Fabian Johnson - Hoffenheim - went the full 90 but lost 0-4 v Eintracht Frankfurt.
Jermaine Jones - Schalke - started and went 89 min scoring a goal as they won 3-1 v Augsburg.
Daniel Williams - Hoffenheim - came on as a sub at half time but lost 0-4 v Eintracht Frankfurt.

GERMANY - 2 Bundesliga
John Anthony Brooks - Hertha Berlin - came on as a sub in the 89th min as they won 1-2 at Union Berlin.
Andrew Wooten - Sandhausen - came on as a sub in the 75th min but they lost 2-1 at St Pauli.

NETHERLANDS - Eredivisie
Jozy Altidore - AZ - went the full 90 but lost 5-1 at PSV.

NETHERLANDS - Eerste Divisie
Charles Kazlauskas - Helmond Sport - played the whole game as they won 2-0 v Den Bosch.

NORWAY - Eliteserien
Chad Barrett - Valerenga - started and went 61 min as they won 4-0 v Sandnes Ulf.
Steve Clark - Honefoss - went the full 90 but lost 2-0 at Aalesund.
Mikkael Diskerud - Rosenborg - went the distance and won 0-2 at Stabaek.
Josh Gatt - Molde - started but was subbed off in the 64th min and they lost 4-1 at Brann.

NORWAY - 1 Divisjon
Kyle Helton - Mjondalen - played the full match getting a yellow card and they won 2-1 v Bodo/Glimt.
Sebastian Troupe - Baerum - went the full 90 but lost 4-0 at Start.

PORTUGAL - Primeira Liga
Caleb Patterson-Sewell - Vitoria Setubal - on the bench and tied 0-0 at Gil Vicente.
Tony Taylor - Estoril - started and went 58 min as they tied 2-2 at Vitoria Guimaraes.

PORTUGAL - Liga De Honra
Steven - Leixoes - went the full 90 and tied 2-2 v Freamunde.

SWEDEN - Allsvenskan Liga
Alejandro Bedoya - Helsingborg - started and went 72 min getting a yellow card in a losing effort 2-1 at AIK. Brian Span - Djurgarden - on the bench as they won 2-3 at Orebro.

SWEDEN - Superettan
Brian Edwards - Degerfors - in goal as usual but lost 2-3 at Falkenberg.
Patrick Hopkins - Ljungskile - went the distance and won 2-0 v Landskrona.
Ryan Miller - Halmstad - played the full 90 as they won 4-0 v Brage.

dN

Coming Up:


AMERICANS IN MEXICO

Greg Garza got a rare start at Tijuana!

dN

But Herculez Gomez found himself on the bench again at Santos Laguna. This is happening all too much the past month.

dN

Sonny Guadarama scored his 3rd goal of the season for Merida.

dN

Game Action:

LIGA MX
DaMarcus Beasley - Puebla - went the distance as they tied 1-1 at Guadalajara.
Joe Corona - Tijuana - started and went 83 min and won 2-0 v Jaguares.
Greg Garza - Tijuana - started and went 67 min as they won 2-0 v Jaguares.
Herculez Gomez - Santos Laguna - on the bench as they won 3-1 v Tigres.
Michael Orozco - San Luis - on the bench as they lost 0-2 v Leon.
Jose Torres - Pachuca - started and went 78 min as they tied 1-1 at Cruz Azul.

LIGA ASCENSO
Sonny Guadarrama - Merida - played the whole game getting a goal and yellow card but lost 3-1 at Necaxa.
Marco Vidal - Lobos BUAP - went the full 90 and they won 1-3 at Cruz Azul Hidalgo.

dN

LIGA MX
Toluca is still unbeaten but tied for the second straight round. While Cruz Azul is the only other team without a loss, but they are at 3-4-0.

At the other end, San Luis and Queretaro are both still winless.

dN

Apertura - Round 7 of 17
Matches + Scores:
-Fri Aug 31
Tijuana 2-0 Jaguares
Morelia 0-1 Pumas UNAM
-Sat Sep 1
Cruz Azul 1-1 Pachuca
Queretaro 0-1 Atlante
Santos Laguna 3-1 Tigres UANL
Monterrey 1-1 Atlas
San Luis 0-2 Leon
-Sun Sep 2
Toluca 1-1 America
Guadalajara 1-1 Puebla

ENGLAND

Nike has been announced as the new supplier of England national team uniforms.

dN

Liverpool owner John Henry has posted an open letter to the teams supporters on the club website.

dN

The Guardian with 10 talking points from the weekend in the Premier League.

SPAIN

Sid Lowe of the Guardian sees a Mallorca team freed from ownership meddling, and a review of the rest of the weekend in La Liga.

GERMANY

Raphael Honigstein of the Guardin calls Hoffenheim hapless, and then takes us through the rest of the weekend of game in the Bundesliga.

ITALY

Paolo Bandini of the Guardian writes about the rejuvinated Roma with a quality Totti directing traffic, and a look at the rest of the round in Serie A.