Entries Tagged 'Soccer' ↓

Jimmy Conrad’s headed goal off of a 52nd minute corner-kick silenced the overwhelmingly pro-Mexico crowd at the Pink Taco in Phoenix last night. (It’s actually called the University of Phoenix Stadium, but west coast taco chain “Pink Taco” were the first sponsors to be awarded the naming rights before being deemed “too suggestive”.)

Landon Donovan sealed the game in stoppage time with a textbook counter-attack breakaway - rounding the keeper and slotting home to give the US a 2-0 win over Mexico.

It was eighth time this decade that the US blanked the Mexicans.

While it was a great result, I was really underwhelmed with the performance of the US team. Sloppy passing through midfield seemed to be rampant, especially in the first half. I’ll give credit where it’s due, and admit that the US did indeed pick up their play in the second half, but, in my opinion, neither team is very good right now, and the US really need to name a new head coach ASAP. The longer they wait, the harder it will be to prepare for 2010.

In an astonishing deal announced today, David Beckham has accepted an offer to play here in the US for MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy for nearly $900,000.00 a week.

Unbelievable.

The numbers being thrown around are astonishing, but they do cloud the real issues brought up by the infusion of Beckham into the MLS.

1.) Will Beckham’s decision influence other European stars to include the MLS in their career plans?

2.) Will Beckham on his own be enough to raise soccer’s profile in the United States?

3.) Has MLS signed it’s own death-warrant; dooming themselves to a NASL-like fate?

To answer the first question, the answer seems to be yes. Word has it that several EPL players, including Edgar Davids and Teddy Sherringham have been in talks about possible transfers to MLS sides. Also rumored to be arriving on these shores are Luis Figo and Ronaldo. All of these players are in the twilight of their careers. What remains to be seen is whether players who would otherwise still be in demand in Europe instead choose a big payday in America. Ex-Arsenal players such as Sol Campbell and Robert Pires both come to mind when thinking of this category. What’s also interesting to think about is whether Freddie Ljungberg would make a move Stateside. He’s 29, has a modeling career, and has recently signed with a Hollywood-based agent. Would the Swedish captain move here with an eye toward life after football?

The truth is, Beckham has already raised soccer/football’s profile in the United States. The announcement of his deal with the Galaxy was reported on ESPN, CNN, FOX News and many other avenues. Problem is, he won’t be playing until August. Eight months. The US is a country afflicted with a national case of attention deficit disorder. Beckham will be lucky to be a line item on the ticker on SportsCenter between now and then. MLS has it’s work cut out for it.

The demise of NASL is well documented. Stars like Pele helped make the league an glamorized retirement home for aging European & South American footballers. Sometimes the play was magical, most of the time it was sub-par. I sincerely hope that MLS has learned from the mistakes of the past, and parlays the latest spike in interest in the sport in this country to ensure for the health of the league, and by extension the US National team, for decades to come.

I was actually at this game, thus the post. I have to say this was the first really exciting MLS match I’ve attended. The scenario certainly helped things. Both teams were fighting for their playoff lives. Anything less than a win, and the Red Bulls would be going home. A loss for Kansas City meant that their season would be done.

Kansas City took the lead mid-way through the first half, and momentum seemed to be in their favor, until New York earned a penalty kick just eight minutes later.

Amado Guevara stepped up and slotted the spot kick cooly to send the sides level at the interval.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, the Red Bulls were awarded their second penalty kick of the night. Guevara again answered the bell, and once again he converted his chance, giving New York their first lead of the night, 2-1.

Guevara ended the man of the match voting in the 75th minute when he completed his hat trick. His daisy cutter shot didn’t seem to have enough power on it to beat the KC keeper, but somehow it did just that.

The Wizards pulled one back seven minutes from time to make things a bit interesting, but after a four minutes of stoppage time, the final whistle was blown, and the Red Bulls were in the playoffs.

The Red Bulls playoff run may end up being short-lived however, as they’re going to face the runaway best team in the league this season, DC United. The home and home series kicks off at 2PM ET on Saturday at Giants Stadium.

It’s been quite the four days for Bruce Arena. On Friday, US Soccer announced that they would not be retaining Arena’s services as head coach of the men’s national team. Today, the worst team in the history of MLS, RedBull NY (formerly Metrostars), have named him Sporting Director and Head Coach.

There’s no arguing with Arena’s track record (bar the most recent World Cup). He does have a history of success. One needs to remember how bad the situation was when he started as head coach of the US team. The squad had finished dead last at France ‘98, and by the next World Cup, they were in the quarters.

It was obvious that he chose the absolute wrong tactics in Germany, but here in MLS he gets a new slate. He certainly has nowhere to go but up.

I’d love to hear Scott H’s thoughts on this.

How many red cards can you rack up?

In a match that will be remembered more for one moment of madness rather than the performances by the teams involved, Italy prevailed, beating France 5-3 on penalties. [More later...]