Total Futbol

Claudio Reyna's son dies

The US Soccer family woke up Friday with heavy hearts upon learning of the passing of Claudio Reyna's 13-year-old son, Jack. Here are the details...

http://www.nj.com/soccer-news/index.ssf/2012/07/claudio_reynas_13-year-old_son.html

Euro hangover? Olympics on horizon!

Back from vacation...

So, you suffering from Euro 2012 hangover? Getting the urge every day around 2:45 p.m. to flip on the TV? Me, too...

Good news, though...there is still plenty of soccer to enjoy this summer. There's MLS. There's the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. There's the Chelsea vs. AC Milan friendly here at Sun Life Stadium on July 28...and, there's the Olympic soccer tournament! Watch Brazil's Neymar and many of the world's other best Under-23 players (plus 3 overage players per team) battle for the gold medal at several of the English Premier League's best-known stadia.

The Groups are:

A: Great Britain, Uruguay, Senegal, UAE

B: Mexico, Switzerland, South Korea, Gabon

C: Brazil, Egypt, Belarus, New Zealand

D: Spain, Honduras, Japan, Morocco

Sadly, the US didn't qualify. Who do you think will take the gold?

 

Sounders roll, Red Bulls ousted...

Oh, well...Eric Wynalda's Storybook Team was fun while it lasted...Cal FC, an amateur team thrown together and coached by former US star and TV analyst Wynalda, was the feel-good story of the US Open Cup after reaching the fourth round with a shocking win over the Portland Timbers. But the Seattle Sounders brought them down to earth...Read the AP account...

TUKWILA, Wash. --  As Osvaldo Alonso and Fredy Montero saw things, it was just a matter of time.

Alonso and Montero each scored a pair of goals in the second half, and the Seattle Sounders tallied five times in a span of 20 minutes on Tuesday night to end Cal FC's run through the U.S. Open Cup with a 5-0 fourth-round victory.

Andy Rose also scored for Seattle, which was kept off the board for nearly 50 minutes by the amateur side from Thousand Oaks, Calif., before Alonso converted a penalty kick.

"The first half was a hard half because they were very strong in their defense," Alonso said. "But the second half, we entered the field feeling happy and positive about the fact that if we scored the first goal, then the next goal and the next goal and the next goal were going to come."

That's precisely what happened. Montero ran onto a long through ball from Cordell Cato and ripped it into the back left corner late in the 58th minute. Rose got the last head on an airborne ball in the box and sent it into the right side midway through the 66th minute.

Montero curled in a 25-yard direct free kick from beyond the top left corner of the box midway through the 68th -- a goal that initially was called offside, but then allowed. Alonso finished it with a straight-on 35-yard blast late in the 70th minute.

"It was like just waiting for us to score a goal," Montero said. "Lucky for us, it was a penalty. We knew the diffrerence was going to be the first goal."

The Sounders, going for an unprecedented fourth straight U.S. Open Cup, will be on the road for the quarterfinals on June 26, visiting Major League Soccer rival San Jose. Seattle is 15-0-1 in Open Cup play since joining MLS as an expansion team in 2009, but has played just three road games during that time: two in 2009 and one in 2010.

Cal FC, coached by former U.S. national team star and television analyst Eric Wynalda, went further than any other U.S. Adult Soccer Association (fifth-tier) team in the modern era in the Open Cup (1995-present). Despite being together for barely a month, it was the first USASA team to knock off an MLS side when it beat the Portland Timbers in overtime last Wednesday in Oregon, 1-0.

"All in all, if you look at the goals we set for ourselves, we did exceed a lot of people's expectations," Wynalda said. "They recognize what happened tonight. That first goal really was a punch in the gut. When we had to make the switch to try to get more forwards on the field, it opened up and (the Sounders) showed their quality.

"We just wanted to get to about the 60th minute and throw some forwards on the field," Wynalda added. "But we never got there."

Meanwhile...on the other coast, the USL Harrisburg City Islanders contintued their unlikely run with a 3-1 overtime win over the MLS Red Bulls...

Islanders 3, Red Bulls 1

HARRISBURG, Pa. --  Sainey Touray had two goals, and Lucky Mkosana added another as the Harrisburg City Islanders defeated the MLS New York Red Bulls, 3-1, in overtime on Tuesday night in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Via the upset, Harrisburg City, of the USL Pro Division, advanced to the quarterfinals, where it will face another MLS club, the Philadelphia Union on June 26 in Chester, Pa.

Connor Lade scored for the Red Bulls. It was unassisted, and his second goal of the tournament. New York will return to MLS play on June 17, against Chicago.

Harrisburg has knocked off five MLS teams since 2007.

Other US Open Cup results...

Kansas City 2, Rapids 0

KANSAS CITY, Kan. --  Teal Bunbury scored in the 79th minute, and Sporting Kansas City beat the Colorado Rapids 2-0 on Tuesday night to advance to the quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Sporting will host the Dayton Dutch Lions of the third-tier USL Pro on June 26.

Colorado goalkeeper Matt Picken was charged with an own goal in the 28th minute, giving Kansas City a 1-0 lead. Pickens deflected Aurelien Collin's header off a free kick, but the ball deflected off Pickens, hit the post and rolled into the net.

Colorado, which came back from a 2-0 deficit to force a 2-2 home draw last month in MLS play, had several chances to equalize after the miscue. Tony Cascio shot just wide in the 36th minute, and Jaime Castrillon hit the crossbar in the 52nd.

Union 2, United 1

BOYDS, Md. --  Antoine Hoppenot scored in extra time Tuesday night to give the Philadelphia Union a 2-1 win over D.C. United in a battle of MLS teams in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup.

Brian Carroll scored in first-half injury time for the Union. Josh Wolff netted for United, also in first-half injury time.

Hoppenot's goal came with an assist from Freddy Adu early in the first extra period.

Dayton 2, Michigan 1

ROCHESTER, Mich. --  Joel DeLass' extra-time penalty kick helped the Dayton Dutch Lions beat the amateur Michigan Bucks 2-1 and advance to the quarterfinal of the U.S. Open Cup.

With the score tied at 1 after 90 minutes, the Dutch Lions were given the penalty kick when Bucks defender Seby Harris brought down Gerrit-Jan Bartels inside the box six minutes into extra time.

Charlotte 2, San Antonio 1

SAN ANTONIO --  Mauricio Salles scored on a penalty in extra time to send the third-tier Charlotte Eagles to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup with a 2-1 victory over the San Antonio Scorpions on Tuesday night.

Ryan Cochrane was called for a hand ball while in the box. San Antonio goalkeeper Daryl Sattler dove left on the penalty kick, Salles blasted the shot into the right corner of the goal in the 116th minute.

Charlotte, which plays in the USL Professional Division will face Chivas USA of MLS -- two levels above USL Pro in the U.S. soccer pyramid -- in the quarterfinals.

Chivas USA 2, Carolina 1

CARY, N.C. --  Juan Pablo Angel scored on a penalty kick in stoppage time and Chivas USA beat the Carolina RailHawks 2-1 Tuesday night in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Angel was awarded the penalty kick when Gale Agbosoumonde was called for hand ball in the box, and converted into the lower left corner for the winner.

Juan Agudelo put Chivas up 1-0 in the 31st minute, but Carolina's Mike Palacio tied it in the 79th minute.

Chivas of MLS advanced to the quarterfinals for the second time and first since reaching the 2010 semifinals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make that EIGHT MLS teams toppled...

Make that eight MLS teams knocked out of the US Open Cup by lower division clubs. The lastest is perhaps the most shocking...An amateur team coached by Eric Wynalda beat the Portland Timbers 1-0 on Wednesday night! Here are the details...

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Artur Aghasyan scored in the first overtime and Cal FC, an amateur team coached by former U.S. national team standout Eric Wynalda, upset the Portland Timbers 1-0 in a third-round match of the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night.

Aghasyan, who played for a time last season with Real Salt Lake, charged Portland goalkeeper Troy Perkins in the 95th minute and rifled the ball into the goal as Perkins slid on the turf.

Cal FC, based in Thousand Oaks, Calif., is part of the U.S. Adult Soccer Association and features several former pro players on its roster. The team beat the Kitsap Pumas of the USL Premier Development League and the USL Pro's Wilmington Hammerheads to advance to Wednesday night's match.

"I don't know what to tell you guys,'' Wynalda said after the match. "I'm a little taken aback by all of this.''

Cal FC advances to a fourth-round match against the Seattle Sounders, who have won the last three U.S. Open Cup titles.

Cal FC celebrated on the field long after the victory, pausing to get their pictures taken and applauding the Timbers Army supporters' group, which chanted "Beat Seattle!''

"This team trained once this week,'' Wynalda said. "All credit to them to figure out how to come out of here victorious. It's pretty amazing.''

Seven MLS teams were eliminated on Tuesday from the 99-year-old tournament. The Timbers did not take the match lightly, using many of their regular starters, including Scottish striker Kris Boyd.

Portland was clearly the stronger team but couldn't finish numerous chances, while Cal FC showed tenacity throughout the match.

"There's no excuses for tonight. No excuses whatsoever,'' Portland coach John Spencer said. "We should come here, we should win the game. I don't think we should win the game easy, but I don't think we should lose the game. Not at all. Totally unacceptable. And there's no excuses.''

Mamma Mia! Survival Sunday!

Mamma Mia! What a Mother's Day lineup we have for Survival Sunday!

For the first time ever, all 10 English Premier League final-day matches will be shown live, simultaneously, on American T.V. We've got Man City and Man U down to the wire for the league title (Man City needs a win over Queens Park Rangers to clinch). QPR (37 pts) has lots to play for, too, as it is one of three teams trying to avoid relegation, along with Aston Villa (38) and Bolton (35). Newcastle is fighting for a Champions League spot.

The
Mother's Day 10 a.m. Lineup:

Sunderland vs. Manchester United —
FX /FOX Deportes

Chelsea vs. Blackburn Rovers — Speed

Swansea vs. Liverpool — Fuel TV

West Bromwich Albion vs. Arsenal — FSN

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Fulham — Fox Soccer

Stoke City vs. Bolton Wanderers — Fox Soccer Plus (premium channel)

Everton vs. Newcastle United — Foxsoccer.com (digital)

Norwich City vs. Aston Villa — Fox Soccer 2Go (digital)

Wigan Athletic vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers — Fox Soccer 2Go

Manchester City vs. Queens Park Rangers — ESPN2

In other news, U.S. forward Clint Dempsey, who leads Fulham with 23 goals, will not play in the season finale vs. Tottenham because of a groin injury. His 17 league goals rank fourth behind
Robin Van Persie (30), Wayne Rooney (26), and Sergio Aguero (22).

Dempsey is being wooed by Arsenal and Liverpool, which would be MASSIVE for American soccer.

Said Fox commentator Rob Stone: "Rarely have we seen an American field player on a high-profile team. To see `Dempsey' on the back of an Arsenal jersey or a Liverpool jersey is big news. Goals are sexy, goals are what sell, and he's scoring goals.''

Sad day for women's soccer..

Women’s Professional Soccer suspends 2012 season amid legal dispute with ousted owner

By Associated Press, Updated: Monday, January 30, 12:39 PM

SAN FRANCISCO — Women’s Professional Soccer won’t play the 2012 season amid a legal dispute with an ousted owner.

The league’s Board of Governors voted Monday to suspend the season with hopes of resuming in 2013, the WPS announced.

In October, it terminated its South Florida franchise after clashing with owner Dan Borislow all season. A Florida judge ruled earlier this month that the league failed to follow its own dispute procedures when it terminated the franchise, and another court hearing is set for Wednesday.

WPS CEO Jennifer O’Sullivan said owners chose to cancel the season over possibly working with Borislow in the league again.

“We have diverted so many resources into litigation,” she said. “This is something that needs to be resolved before we can move forward with play.”

Borislow purchased the former Washington Freedom before last season and moved the club to South Florida, renaming it for a telephone call device he invented. The magicJack franchise was repeatedly disciplined during the season for not meeting league standards. In August, after Borislow filed suit against the WPS, the league released a statement accusing him of violations ranging from “unprofessional and disparaging treatment of his players to failure to pay his bills.”

The league has played three seasons. It needed a waiver from the U.S. Soccer Federation to be sanctioned as a first-division league in 2012 with only five teams, below the required eight. In the deal with the governing body in December, WPS agreed to increase the number of teams to a minimum of six for 2013 and at least eight for 2014.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

Dempsey or Donovan? You make the call

Dempsey hat-trick!!!

Clint Dempsey scored the first hat-trick of his career in a 4-0 Fulham win over Charlton in the FA Cup. It was the third hat-trick ever by an American in English soccer.

Here are the details, from AP:

LONDON -- Clint Dempsey scored the first hat trick of his career, Brad Guzan saved a penalty and Landon Donovan had an assist on a successful day for Americans in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Dempsey made it 12 goals for the season by scoring in the eighth and 61st minutes, then converting a penalty kick in the 81st of Fulham's 4-0 win over Charlton, which is top of the third tier in English soccer.

"This game is a roller coaster. Stay strapped in for them ups and downs," Dempsey wrote on Twitter. "But I did put that biscuit in the basket a few times today."

It is believed to be just the third hat trick by an American in a competitive league or FA Cup match for an English club, following John Kerr Jr. for Millwall against Derby in a second-tier league match in August 1994 and Chris Cleary for Worksop against Droylsden in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup in October 2004. There have been additional ones in lesser competitions such as Conference play, the FA Trophy and the League Trophy.

Brad Guzan, still Aston Villa's fill-in at goalkeeper in the absence of the injured Shay Given, saved a stoppage-time penalty from Scott McGleish to help the Premier League team beat Bristol Rovers 3-1 away.

Donovan assisted Johnny Heitinga's fifth-minute goal with a corner and hit the post in the 85th for Everton in its 2-0 win over Tamworth, one of three nonleague teams to be eliminated on Saturday. Donovan was playing his second game in his loan spell at the Liverpool club.

Elsewhere, Blackburn and Wigan -- the Premier League's bottom two clubs -- were the big casualties as world soccer's oldest knockout competition threw up a typically mixed bag of results in the third round.

Must see! Tim Howard scored a goal!

Here's something you don't see every day....US goalkeeper Tim Howard scored a 100-yard goal for Everton, just the fourth goal by a keeper in EPL history (and one of the others was also by an American, Brad Friedel). Check it out!

Who will win MLS Cup?