Total Futbol

University School rolls Heritage

The defending 3A state champs took it on the chin on their home field, losing to the Suns 4-0.

Junior Jeremy Katz score a goal and set up two others to lead University School to a district crown.

"It's a new era," Katz said.

For complete details, check out Saturday's Miami Herald.

Greetings from American Heritage (again)

Deja vu, all over again. I'm back at Heritage, this time for the 14-3A Boys' District Championship between University School and the host school.

Some notes:

The front has rolled through, and it actually feels like soccer weather. Knit caps and gloves are everywhere.

At least two college coaches from California are on hand to do some personal scouting, according to University coach Salomon Kidane. San Diego and San Diego State are in the house.

American Heritage will be short-handed, as leading scorer Pablo Noriega is out with an ankle injury, and fellow forward Eduardo Quinteros is serving a red card suspension.

Records: University enters play at 22-1-1; Heritage is 18-5-2.

Mogul: MLS deal for Miami not done yet

Responding to a report in El Mundo Deportivo that a deal was done to bring the MLS deal that would bring the league back to Miami was done, Marcelo Claure,  said the deal was not yet done, The Miami Herald reports.

''No news yet,'' said Claure, reached in Davos, Switzerland.

MLS sources said an announcement is expected in mid-February.

United States to bid for 2018 and 2022 World Cups

From The Associated Press:

The United States plans to submit simultaneous bids to soccer’s governing body for the right to host the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022.

The U.S. Soccer Federation said Thursday that USSF president Sunil Gulati will hold a telephone conference call on Monday to announce the group’s intentions to bid for the tournament in both years. The U.S. staged the World Cup in 1994, the highest-attended World Cup ever.

Monday is the deadline for submissions to FIFA, and four bids are expected from Europe: England, Spain/Portugal, Netherlands/Belgium/Luxembourg and Russia.

Around Major League Soccer

Friday's headlines:

Bradley sticks with MLS-heavy U.S. side

Gallardo Negotiating Exit From D.C. United

Zakuani has overcome snub by Arsenal, motorcycle accident

Crew's Moffat healthy again, wants to join in the fun

Friday's High School Schedule

BOYS' SOCCER

District 11-6A final at Coral Springs: Deerfield Beach at Douglas, 7

District 12-6A final: Western at Cypress Bay, 6

District 14-5A final at Stuart Martin County: Monarch at West Boca, 7

District 16-5A final: Hollywood Hills at Northeast, 5

District 15-4A final: Archbishop McCarthy at Cardinal Gibbons, 6

District 13-3A final at Coral Glades: North Broward Prep at Pine Crest, 7

District 14-3A final: University at American Heritage, 7

District 14-2A final at Westminster Academy: 7:30

Friday's Need To Know

Will he stay or will he go? That's the endless speculation surrounding David Beckham. Bruce Arena, his L.A. Galaxy coach, believes he'll be back. We shall see.

The headlines:

MLS champs Columbus Crew open camp

Man United's Ferguson rejects 2012 Olympics job

Premier League plea to close transfer window

Arena says Beckham will return to Galaxy

From Friday's Miami Herald

The regional girls' soccer tournament began with a bang Thursday night, with teams from Broward and Dade taking the first step toward a state crown. The biggest surprise remains Coral Reef, which followed up its shocking victory over Palmetto with a win over South Dade.

The headlines:

Douglas avenges heartbreaking loss to Cooper City

Heritage edges Pine Crest

Coral Reef topples Ferguson in 4-6A regional quarterfinals

Lourdes defeats Palmetto in girls' soccer regional quarterfinals

Late goal lifts American Heritage girls

In a back-and-forth contest that was scoreless most of the way, freshman forward Jannel Johnson kept American Heritage's hopes for a state title alive with a late goal to lift the Patriots past Pine Crest 1-0 Thursday night.

For complete details, read Friday's Miami Herald.

Regional quarterfinals: Pine Crest at American Heritage

I'm there.

It's a payback game for American Heritage (22-3), which lost to the Panthers in 3A the Regional semis a year ago. Pine Crest enters play at 16-9-2.