Tue.
Change my location 
List All Categories
-
- D.C. United (30)
- U.S. soccer (6)
- U.S. Open Cup (5)
- Major League Soccer (4)
- Columbus Crew (3)
- Crystal Palace USA (3)
- Real Maryland (3)
- U.S. women's national team (3)
- Euro 2008 (2)
- Houston Dynamo (2)
Development Academy finals on ESPN
| I'm working on a roundup of the inaugural U.S. Soccer Development Academy season. But for now, this is an interesting tidbit. Will we see the closest local team, the Baltimore Bays, in the under-18 championship? |
Subscribe
Categories:
0
Comments:
Link
Wells nets for World Cup-bound U.S. U-20 WNT
| Georgetown sophomore Ingrid Wells scored her first goal and Bowie's Christine Nairn saw 30 minutes as a sub as the U.S. under-20 women clinched a spot in the women's under-20 World Cup in Chile this November. The U.S. faces Canada tomorrow in the finals of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament in Mexico. |
Gallardo and Beckham
|
As members of Argentina and England, respectively, Marcelo Gallardo and David Beckham faced one another in both the 1998 World Cup and the 2002 World Cup. Funny enough, they were never on the field at the same time: in the second round in 1998, David Beckham got sent off in the 47th minute while Gallardo came on in the 68th and then converted in Argentina's penalty shootout win. In 2002, Beckham scored the game's only goal, from the penalty spot, as Gallardo watched from the bench. Even more funny, how badly Gallardo did not want to talk about either of those games. "No me interesan esas cosas en absoluta," is what I'm pretty sure he said. Loosely translated: "No friggin' way." In any case, they will meet again on Sunday. Here are Gallardo's thoughts. First, on Beckham: "He’s obviously a great player. He’s shown that in every team he’s been in, and he can really read the game well." Second, on the hype: "I think it’s weird, actually, that a game is getting so much attention because back where I’m from, every game is like this. But obviously, it’s good that a game like this is getting all this attention, that’s it’s on national television. It’s good for the sport of soccer." Third, on the weather: "I don’t understand why you would have a game at noon when it supposed to be such a big show, and there’s so many people coming to the game, that it’s such an important game. I don’t think that’s the ideal time for a game for athletes to play. It’s going to be so hot and humid. I just think that it’s sort of a contradiction because you’re trying to bring in so many people. But then it’s not going to be the best show because it’s a time of the day when it’s difficult to play." Also, here's what others had to say about Becks and Gallardo: Santino Quaranta: "Just to have them on the field again together, for me as a young player, it’s a dream. I’m very excited to watch those two. They’re brilliant. Even with a guy like Jaime [Moreno], that’s three soccer brains that are brilliant. For the people watching, it really is something. It’s rare to see three players on the field like that." Gonzalo Peralta, on the 1998 match: "I don’t remember the match really well. I remember the whole country was excited, but always when you play against England... In my country, soccer is the most important, everyone takes it very personally so everyone was excited... Against England, because the problem they have with us, it’s a game you always want to win. You can’t forget those games." Moreno, on Gallardo: "He’s used to playing with a sold out stadium so for him to come to a new kind of football, a new city and all that, it’s going to be exciting. I’m sure he’s excited like everyone else." |
What are you doing?
|
How much can you fit in? Get going. Go see Kicking It, produced by Washington's own Ted Leonsis and directed by D.C. filmmaker Susan Koch. U.S trials for the Homeless World Cup begin today at 1 at the Old Convention Center site at H and 11th Street, also known as the home of new Washington Kastles tennis team. Games continue through tomorrow and Sunday. Also check out www.streetsoccerusa.org. If that isn't enough, how about the U.S. Indoor Soccer Association Conference & Tradeshow at the Westin in Alexandria... And then, of course, there are the games: Saturday PDL Reading at Northern Virginia Royals at Washington-Lee High, 7 W-League Fredericksburg Gunners at Northern Virginia Majestics at Washington-Lee High, 5 Long Island at Washington Freedom at Maryland SoccerPlex, 7 Sunday MLS L.A. Galaxy at D.C. United at RFK, noon USL-2 Crystal Palace USA at Real Maryland at Marlyand SoccerPlex, 4 PDL Northern Virginia Royals at New Jersey, 3 |
Niell voted off
| Shocker, D.C. United released Argentine forward Franco Niell, freeing up an international roster spot and $150K from its salary cap total five days before Major League Soccer’s contract guarantee deadline on July 1. The 24-year-old, on a one-year loan from Argentinos Juniors, struggled in first team games, collecting one assist in seven appearances (three starts). The diminutive striker (listed at 5-foot-4) had four goals and an assist in five reserve matches. |
A couple stops to make before Charlottesville
|
American youth soccer superstar Chris Agorsor is headed for the European trial circuit one more time -- with at least one Bundesliga team on the itinerary -- before he joins the Virginia men's soccer team later this summer. One has to wonder if the Gatorade player of the year will actually ever get there. Domestically, Agorsor's club team, the Baltimore Bays, have already locked up the Mid-Atlantic Division title, ahead of D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls, in the under-18 age group of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, thus earning a spot in the national championship tournament next month at the Home Depot Center. |
Mediate out for Galaxy game
|
D.C. United midfielder Domenic Mediate, who watched the final whistle of Sunday's win over San Jose in a daze behind the end line, said his mild concussion will keep him out for the rest of the week, and he won't start running again until next Monday. Mediate picked up the knock initially in United's reserve match last Wednesday, and then started to experience symptoms again just before the end of the match against the Earthquakes. "I felt like I was on a moving floor," said Mediate. "We are going to be very cautious when it comes to head injuries, and we'll just keep him out for a week," said United head coach Tom Soehn. |
As promised, and other DCU ideas
|
Okay, maybe it's not a profile piece -- practice was closed today -- but here are a couple quotes on D.C. United defender Gonzalo Martinez from last weekend's match: Clyde Simms: "For a defender, he has so much composure. I think he throws guys off because he has some moves, and he’s so fast, and he’s good with the ball." Devon McTavish: "He’s great going forward for us, and he provides a different mentality, in terms of an outside back. We’re getting used to covering him when he goes on his runs, and he’s tough to stop when he goes forward. He’s got great feet, he’s fast, he’s quick, he provides a lot for us." Martinez himself spoke through and interpreter after the win over New York the weekend prior, comparing the ups and downs he's witnessed so far with D.C. United with what he's seen before in his career: "I think it’s normal, any club in the world, when things don’t go well to begin with, you get a lot of criticism. You have to perform. I’ve played at bigger clubs in my career, and it’s no different at D.C. United. I think that now, collectively, as a group, we’re starting to gel, and the results are going our way." Two other items I've been pondering. First, the goalkeeper situation (shocker). I asked DCU general manager Dave Kasper whether backups Jose Carvallo or James Thorpe were ready to start next week's U.S. Open Cup match. He passed, and recommended I ask head coach Tom Soehn. Fair enough. Kasper also said not to expect any new faces [trialists, signings] in training this week. Second, I wondered what the deal is with the Designated Player rule in terms of limitations associated with traded DP slots. In particular, D.C. United is preparing to offer a long-term deal to Luciano Emilio even though there is a finite time period in which the team owns the DP slot it acquired from Colorado in the Christian Gomez trade. But have no fear, basically the deal is this: the DP rule is under a trial run through the 2010 season -- meaning MLS can do whatever it wants and change the rules in whatever way it sees fit. While teams may need a specific DP slot to acquire players, don't expect that they'll need it to keep those players down the line, i.e. DCU's "special circumstances" mean the team could be extended the same grandfather-style treatment as the Los Angeles Galaxy -- who essentially have three DPs (David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Carlos Ruiz). I'm not sure how the Red Bulls will be affected if/when Claudio Reyna retires, whether or not they'll have to return the DP slot they acquired from Chivas USA. It's important to note that the DP has been regarded pretty much as a resounding success. Don't expect MLS to reign it back in the coming years. If anything, expect the rules to widen. I just wonder whether the salary cap will widen enough, too. |
Get ready for the Gonzalo Martinez profile pieces
|
D.C. United's hero from Sunday's win over San Jose is sure to be a target this week. He's a tough nut to crack for two reasons: 1) you darn well better speak Spanish, and 2) His game face for interviews and on-field stuff is pretty serious. Apparently, though, he's a total crack-up in the locker room. Here's some quick research on the highest scoring games in MLS history ahead of this Sunday's couldn't-be-better-for-ratings clash between No. 1 offense/No. 14 defense Los Angeles and No. 2 offense/No. 13 defense D.C. The over-under has got to start at 10 goals. From p. 290 of the MLS media guide: Goals Teams Date Score 11 COL-LA 5/6/98 at LA 7, COL 4 10 CLB-KC 5/2/96 at KC 6, CLB 4 10 NY-DAL 8/26/00 NY 6, at DAL 4 10 NY-SJ 5/8/04 NY 5, at SJ 5 Other items: Ali Krieger is an alternate -- along with Briana Scurry (the pressure's on you, Hope Solo) -- for the U.S. women's Olympic soccer team. The U.S. under-20 women face Costa Rica on Wednesday with an automatic berth in the under-20 World Cup on the line. Four notable matches in the U.S. Open Cup second round tonight: Crystal Palace USA (USL-2) at Harrisburg (USL-2), 7:05 Pittsburgh (USL-2) at Rochester (USL-1), 7:30 (winner faces D.C. United next week) Richmond (USL-2) at Western Massachusetts (USL-2), 7:30 Real Maryland (USL-2) at Carolina (USL-1), 7:30 |
Summer of D.C. United
|
Who needs to spend $100 per tank of gas driving out of town for your summer vacation when you can simply get on the Metro and head to RFK? Petrol-friendly D.C. United, aside from the U.S. Open Cup (darned SoccerPlex) and maybe the SuperLiga semifinals, won't leave town again until Aug. 10. The fun starts Sunday afternoon versus San Jose. 15,000 tix have already been sold. Why is playing at home so great? Goalkeeper Zach Wells: "We’ve got a couple new babies on the team [Fred, Gonzalo Peralta, and assistant coach Mark Simpson]. Those guys can maybe rest a little more at ease, and you don’t get the fatigue that comes with traveling across the country so much, playing at altitude or flying all over the place. As our record shows, we’re doing pretty good at RFK, and I think we’re comfortable here. That’s another thing at this point of the season we really need our home support, and we need to go on a good run here." Hmmm, I recall sleep being prized above all else for new daddies, and surely it's easier to obtain in a hotel room than down the hall from the crib. Just saying, but I digress. What's different about United's playing style at RFK? Head coach Tom Soehn: "I think we tend to pressure a little bit higher. It’s the nature of the beast at home, which is a good thing if you’re winning balls high. I just want to make sure that through this stretch of having home games, you don’t get broken down, and now set yourself up for the counter. That’s something, you still have to be disciplined and make sure when you doing that, you do it with the proper numbers and keep your shape. That’s something you always worry about." |
The Washington Examiner's Craig Stouffer blogs about soccer.
- Development Academy finals on ESPN
- Wells nets for World Cup-bound U.S. U-20 WNT
- Gallardo and Beckham
- What are you doing?
- Niell voted off
- A couple stops to make before Charlottesville
- Mediate out for Galaxy game
- As promised, and other DCU ideas
- Get ready for the Gonzalo Martinez profile pieces
- Summer of D.C. United
Search for more posts
subscribe to The Pitch's posts
Turner Classic Movies pick for July 6, 2008: Casablanca
