Soccer in the inner city represents a different world, a world that Matt Safar of Uniontown, Ohio knows very well. Safar, the head coach of Akron Garfield’s boys and girls soccer teams, has embraced the diversity of the beautiful game found there. His high school squads resemble the United Nations with players from Laos, Mexico, Palestine, Vietnam, and Japan participating in a program that has gone leaps and bounds under Safar’s expert tutelage. “It has been the most unique experience that
The Sounders FC are quickly becoming one of the top teams in the MLS this season. While it is still early in the season, consider this: seven different players have scored this season, a 5-1-1 start is the best record in Sounders’ history, and they have allowed zero goals in four out of five wins! The Sounders are sizzling right now; let’s hope they can keep up the intensity and keep producing goals. Fredy “Almost” Montero had at least two goal
Who are the favorites to win the Open Cup this year? I think it really comes down to depth and a team’s commitment to winning the tournament. It’s been nice to see fewer and fewer teams just throwing out 3rd string lineups as the years pass, but I think that has a lot to do with the rosters expanding and having the Champions League as a reward for winning the tournament. What is the likelihood of a non-MLS team winning the Cup? That’s
The Portland Timbers announced today strategic partnerships with the Portland Rain of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) and Oregon Youth Soccer Association’s (OYSA) Girls Olympic Development Program (ODP), helping to create a vertically integrated development system from Oregon’s girls youth soccer levels to premier women’s competition. The collaborative partnership between the Timbers and OYSA on the Girls ODP program will provide the state with a recognized, high-level development system for elite female soccer players, one that is designed to coexist
Seattle Sounders FC climbed to a 3-1-1 record for the MLS 2012 season following their 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids. With little opportunities on either side of the pitch, a tie seemed imminent. In a spur of timing and precision, Alex Caskey obtained his first assist on the season as Zach Scott headed in his first goal. An avalanche of offsides and fouls were committed from both teams; fortunately, no injuries occurred. Possession switched sides more often than Mitt Romney.
Saturday’s game was definitely a game of two halves with regards to the Columbus Crew’s performance. It became apparent from the first minute of the game that too much respect was being paid to Thierry Henry and Kenny Cooper with regards to the time and space that they were being given. Within three minutes the Crew found themselves being punished for this when Henry was given time to clip a ball into Cooper who had all the time in
A recent delegation of English footballing experts associated with PASS traveled to the U.S. to judge the state of the American game. It was one of several trips to the States, including stops in MLS cities Dallas and Los Angeles. Former Newcastle and Bristol winger Kevin Gall headed the delegation and attended the New England Revolution v. LA Galaxy match with former Arsenal legend Kevin Campbell. Gall, Campbell, and Marcus McCabe represented ISN at the match, offering a unique
In a disappointing display of teamwork and passing, the Seattle Sounders fell to 2-1-0 on the season following a 1-0 home loss to San Jose. The only goal came after San Jose’s Steven Lenhart was arguably fouled in the box by a Seattle defender. The goal officially goes to Chris Wondolowski on the PK. The Sounders struggled to string together many passes, often kicking wildly or lofting through balls out of play. Much of the match took place in the
Today is the day thousands of aspiring young soccer players have been waiting for, as pre-registration opens for Sueño MLS 2012 – presented by Allstate, the premier nationally televised search for the best undiscovered soccer talent in America. Starting this afternoon, Sunday, March 25, at 2:00 p.m. PT (4:00 p.m. CT), hopefuls will be able to register via www.SuenoMLS.com for an opportunity to participate in one of three open