Saturday, October 31, 2009

USA U17 World Cup Coverage


This commentary on the U17 USA team comes from Soccer By Ives.

The U.S. Under-17 national team won a World Cup game on Thursday, but for many American observers, the 1-0 victory against Malawi didn't quite feel like a triumph. The disappointing performance led to some criticism (from SBI among others), and while it might seem misguided to be critical of a team of teenagers, the fact remains that this U-17 squad isn't just some youth team. It is a team being used as a barometer to measure just how bright (or dim) the future of U.S. Soccer is.

Sounds a bit heavy, doesn't it? The fate of a national team program resting on the still developing shoulders of kids who haven't attended their proms yet? It isn't quite that serious, but this Under-17 team does carry the responsibility of showing American fans that progress is being made, that the resources being funneled into U.S. soccer's youth development program aren't being wasted.

The U.S. Under-17 residency program has helped produce some of U.S. Soccer's brightest stars, but two years after an Under-17 World Cup failure, this new installment doesn't look anything like the standout squad we were hearing for so long it would be.

Yes, we've come to that point in American soccer when a youth national team can carry the burden of expectations.

That is what happens with exposure and with more attention being paid to the sport and national team programs. Consider that there are probably more American soccer fans who have heard about Charlie Renken, Earl Edwards and Jack McInerney than have heard about a good number of MLS players. Why is this the case? It is the case because American soccer fans are always looking for the next star, the next player or players to believe in, the generation of standouts who will help the United States rise to the level of the elite. How else can you explain some U.S. national team fans already projecting Under-17 left back Tyler Polak as a future senior national team player based on a few good youth World Cup performances?

The success of American youth national teams isn't so much about results as it is about showing us that the United States' best young players are getting better and the pipeline is stocked as current stars like Landon Donovan and Tim Howard move toward the inevitable twilights of their careers. It is about a team wearing the USA shield playing some attractive soccer and giving us hope. We saw it in 2007 with the Under-20 national team (featuring the likes of Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley), and we saw it in 2003 with the Under-17 national team (featuring Freddy Adu, Eddie Gaven and Danny Szetela).

No, those youth team flashes of brilliance don't always translate into national team glory, but this country is hungry for evidence of progress. The current Under-17 World Cup team has the unlucky task of following up the Under-20 World Cup team's putrid performance, as well as the disappointment of the 2007 Under-17 team (which finished 1-3). The current team actually showed some good skill in its opening 2-1 loss to Spain, but missed chances and a blown lead vs. Spain, coupled with subsequent flat effort against Malawi (which the U.S. team won courtesy of an awful goalkeeping blunder by Malawi), suddenly have the U-17s heading into Sunday's group finale vs. the UAE needing its strongest performance of the tournament.

Perhaps this team is doomed to fall short of expectations. When standouts Charlie Renken, Joseph Gyau and Sebastian Lletget either pass on or were passed up for this team, any thoughts of real tournament glory should have disappeared. This team doesn't need a medal to be successful though. It needs to play some quality soccer, create chances, show more skill and less fear.

If this Under-17 team can show that it is better than it has shown in its first two matches, and win on Sunday, it could still wind up making this Under-17 World Cup a memorable one for USA fans, and make thoughts of the long-term future of American soccer just a bit more promising. If the U.S. team falls flat, then fans looking for signs of progress will be forced to wait even longer to see them.

Sounders FC- Dynamo play to scoreless draw to open MLS playoffs














The league's two stingiest defenses scratched out a scoreless draw in the first leg of the Western Conference Semifinal Series between the Houston Dynamo and Seattle Sounders FC. Both teams had excellent chances to score, with Seattle mounting a considerable final push, but in the end both back lines held firm in front of a sellout crowd at Qwest Field.

The scoreless draw ensured that series will be decided in Houston in 9 days' time when the teams meet at Robertson Stadium in the second leg on Nov. 8.

In a physical confrontation in the chilly Seattle air, six yellow cards were handed out in a back-and-forth battle that held more excitement than the final score would indicate.

Monday, October 26, 2009

US Confirms Three Friendlies Against European World Cup Qualifiers


The United States Soccer Federation is doing a wonderful job of scheduling to prepare the US Mens National Team for South Africa, with three friendlies in Europe.  The first, on November 14th, will pit the US against Slovakia, ranked 33rd by FIFA, a team which finished first in a difficult UEFA qualifying group.  The game will be played in Bratislava at Tehelne Pole Stadium.  On November 18th the US will play Denmark, another team who finished first in their qualifying group, at NRGi Park in Aarhus.  Denmark is currently ranked 27th by FIFA.  Finally on March 3, the US will take on perennial powerhouse the Netherlands at a location to be determined in the Netherlands. With as many as 9 more friendlies in 2010 to go along with the Netherlands match-up and the way we're scheduling right now, this team will be ready to face anyone in South Africa.

Yanks Abroad Ticker



Yanks across the pond enjoyed a marquee weekend...sort-of.  Finally we saw a Clint Dempsey goal, one which equalized in Fulham's match against Manchester City.  Jonathan Spector certainly pushed for more starts at West Ham as he gave a strong outing against Arsenal in their 2-2 draw.  Here is the full round-up of yanks abroad:

England

PREMIERSHIP
  • Tim Howardstarted, played 90 minutes and made two saves in Everton's 3-2 loss vs. Bolton Wanderers on Sunday.
  • Jozy Altidore did not dress in Hull City 's 0-0 draw vs. Portsmouth on Saturday.
  • Clint Dempsey started, played 90 minutes and scored a GOAL in Fulham's 2-2 draw vs. Manchester City on Sunday.
  • Eddie Johnson dressed but did not play in Fulham's 2-2 draw vs. Manchester City on Sunday.
  • Jonathan Spector started and played 90 minutes in West Ham's 2-2 draw vs. Arsenal on Sunday.
  • Brad Friedel started, played 90 minutes and made one save in Aston Villa's 1-1 draw vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
  • Brad Guzan dressed but did not play in Aston Villa's 1-1 draw vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
  • Marcus Hahnemann dressed but did not play in Wolverhampton Wanderers' 1-1 draw vs. Aston Villa on Saturday.
COCA COLA CHAMPIONSHIP
  • Jay DeMerit did not dress in Watford's 4-1 win vs. Sheffield Wednesday on Friday. He is recovering from an eye injury.
  • Frank Simek did not dress in Sheffield Wednesday's 4-1 loss vs. Watford on Friday.
LEAGUE ONE
  • Ian Joyce dressed but did not play in Southend United's 2-1 loss vs. Carlisle United on Saturday.
  • Zak Whitbreaddid not dress in Millwall's 2-1 win vs. Leeds United on Saturday. He is recovering from a hip injury.
  • Mike Grella did not dress in Leeds United's 2-1 loss vs. Millwall on Saturday.
  • Jemal Johnson started and played 45 minutes in Milton Keynes Dons' 3-1 loss vs. Southampton on Saturday.
  • Jon-Paul Pittman did not dress in Wycombe Wanderers' 1-1 draw vs. Exeter City on Saturday.

Scotland

  • Maurice Edu did not dress in Rangers' 1-1 draw vs. Hibernian on Saturday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
  • DaMarcus Beasley dressed but did not play in Rangers' 1-1 draw vs. Hibernian on Saturday.

Italy

  • Oguchi Onyewu did not dress in AC Milan's 2-1 win vs. Chievo Verona on Sunday. He is recovering from a knee injury.

Germany

BUNDESLIGA
  • Michael Bradley started and played 90 minutes in Borussia Moenchengladbach's 0-0 draw vs. FC Cologne on Saturday.
  • Steve Cherundolo started and played 90 minutes in Hannover 96's 1-0 win vs. VfB Stuttgart on Saturday.
  • Sal Zizzo did not dress in Hannover 96's 1-0 win vs. VfB Stuttgart on Saturday. He is recovering from a knee injury.
  • Jermaine Jones did not dress in Schalke 04's 3-3 draw vs. Hamburg SV on Sunday. He is recovering from a leg injury.
BUNDESLIGA 2
  • Kenny Cooper came off the bench and played 24 minutes in TSV 1860 Munich's 3-2 loss vs. FSV Frankfurt on Satuday.
  • Luis Robles dressed but did not play in Kaiserslautern's 2-0 loss vs. Fortuna Dusseldorf on Friday.
  • Matt Taylor did not dress in FSV Frankfurt's 3-2 win vs. TSV 1860 Munich on Saturday.
  • David Yeldellstarted, played 90 minutes and made four saves in TUS Koblenz's 2-1 win vs. SpVgg Greuther Furth on Friday.

France

  • Carlos Bocanegra started and played 90 minutes in Stade Rennes' 3-0 win vs. Montpellier on Saturday.

Portugal

  • Freddy Adu did not dress in Belenenses' 0-0 draw vs. Olhanense on Friday.
  • Kamani Hill and Vitoria de Guimaraes play Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday.

Denmark

  • Benny Feilhaber and AGF Aarhus play FC Nordsjaelland on Monday.
  • Jeremiah White and AGF Aarhus play FC Nordsjaelland on Monday.
  • Danny Califf did not dress in FC Midtjylland's 2-1 win vs. Koge on Sunday.
  • Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play AGF Aarhus on Monrday.
  • Marcus Tracy came off the bench and played 9 minutes in Aalborg's 2-1 loss vs. Brondby on Sunday.

Norway

  • Troy Perkins started and played 90 minutes in Valerenga's 2-1 loss vs. Sandefjord on Sunday.
  • Mikkel Diskerud started and played 89 minutes in Stabaek's 2-0 win vs. Bodo/Glimt on Sunday.
  • Clarence Goodson started and played 90 minutes in IK Start's 3-1 loss vs. Tromso on Sunday.
  • Hunter Freeman started, played 90 minutes and received a yellow card in IK Start's 3-1 loss vs. Tromso on Sunday.

Sweden

  • Alejandro Bedoya started and played 85 minutes in Orebro SK's 2-1 win vs. Halmstad on Friday.

Mexico

  • Jose Francisco Torres started and played 76 minutes in Pachuca's 1-0 win vs. Indios de Ciudad Juarez on Saturday.
  • Michael Orozcodressed but did not play in San Luis' 1-0 loss vs. Tigres UANL on Saturday.
  • Edgar Castillo started and played 90 minutes in Tigres UANL's 1-0 win vs. San Luis on Saturday.
  • Marco Vidal started and played 90 minutes in Indios de Ciudad Juarez's 1-0 loss vs. Pachuca on Saturday.

MLS Final Weekend Results and Playoff Table Set


Plenty of action, as to be expected in the final matches, from this weekend.  DC United, Toronto FC, FC Dallas and Colorado all had better chances to get into the playoffs than the team that did, Real Salt Lake, but none of them could pull a result out of the hat.  Here are the results:

Thursday:
Chivas USA 0, Chicago Fire 1

Saturday:
Toronto FC 0, New York Red Bulls 5
DC United 2, Kansas City Wizards 2
Colorado Rapids 0, Real Salt Lake 3
FC Dallas 1, Seattle Sounders FC 2
San Jose Earthquakes 0, LA Galaxy 2

Sunday:
Houston Dynamo 3, Chivas USA 2
New England Revolution 1, Columbus Crew 0

With those results here is the playoff table:



2009 MLS Cup Playoffs Schedule All times Eastern; schedule subject to change

Conference Semifinals - Game #1
Eastern Conference
(1) Columbus Crew at (4) Real Salt Lake, Saturday, Oct. 31 - 6 p.m. ET (Regional TV, Direct Kick, MLSnet.com)
(2) Chicago Fire at (3) New England Revolution, Saturday, Oct. 31 - 4 p.m. ET (FSC, FSE)

Western Conference
(1) Los Angeles Galaxy at (4) Chivas USA, Sunday, Nov. 1 - 5 p.m. ET (ESPN2, Deportes)
(2) Houston Dynamo at (3) Seattle Sounders FC, Thursday, Oct. 29 - 10 p.m. ET (ESPN2, Deportes)

Conference Semifinals - Game #2
Eastern Conference
(4) Real Salt Lake at (1) Columbus Crew, Thursday, Nov. 5 - 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2, Deportes)
(3) New England Revolution at (2) Chicago Fire, Saturday, Nov. 7 - 8:30 p.m. ET (FSC, FSE)

Western Conference
(3) Seattle Sounders FC at (2) Houston Dynamo, Sunday, Nov. 8 - 3 p.m. (TeleFutura, Regional TV)
(4) Chivas USA at (1) Los Angeles Galaxy, Sunday, Nov. 8 - 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2, Deportes)

Conference Championships (times TBD based on match-ups)
Thursday, Nov. 12 (ESPN2, Deportes)
Saturday, Nov. 14 (FSC, FSE)

MLS Cup 2009
Sunday, Nov. 22 - 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN and Galavision)