Soccer Insider - A soccer blog by The Washington Post's Steve Goff - June 7, 2009

Matchnight #14: United-Fire

For the second time in four days, MLS features a match between the first- and second-place teams from the same conference. On Wednesday, Houston won at home against West front-runner Chivas USA and tonight, in the second game of an RFK doubleheader that began with a Washington Freedom-Chicago Red Stars...

By Steve Goff | June 13, 2009; 5:10 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (42)
Categories: D.C. United
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Saturday Kickaround

*My United-Freedom preview. *The RFK weather outlook from the Capital Weather Gang. *Local USL2 clubs in action tonight: Real Maryland (4-4-0) vs. Richmond Kickers (3-1-4) at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville at 6 p.m. and Crystal Palace Baltimore (3-5-3) vs. Wilmington Hammerheads (4-2-2) at UMBC Stadium in Catonsville at...

By Steve Goff | June 13, 2009; 11:51 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: D.C. United , Freedom , MLS , USL , Women
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Weekend TV Listings

What are you going to watch? TODAY USL1, Puerto Rico-Austin 8 p.m. Fox Soccer Channel SATURDAY Uruguay, Nacional-Central 2 p.m. GolTV Brazil, Botofogo-Santos 5:30 p.m. GolTV Colombia, Once Caldas-Tolima 7:30 p.m. GolTV MLS, D.C. United-Chicago 7:30 p.m. Comcast SportsNet (D.C.) MLS, Dallas-Houston 8:30 p.m. FSC Colombia, Chicgo-La Equidad 9:30 p.m....

By Steve Goff | June 12, 2009; 2:53 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (21)
Categories: TV
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United, Freedom Updates

Greetings from RFK, site of tomorrow's Washington-Chicago, WPS-MLS doubleheader: Freedom-Red Stars at 4:30 and United-Fire at 7:30. Nice crowd expected (mid-to-upper teens?). Freedom Coach Jim Gabarra tells the Insider that newly acquired Ali Krieger is scheduled to start (right back seems likely) and that midfielder Lori Lindsey, who missed last...

By Steve Goff | June 12, 2009; 12:32 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (42)
Categories: D.C. United , MLS
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Friday Kickaround

*Read Bloomberg's fascinating story about the potential economic darkside of Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka signings. "These transfers are a serious challenge to the idea of fair play and the concept of financial balance in our competitions," UEFA President Michel Platini said. *Schalke midfielder Jermaine Jones, whose father was...

By Steve Goff | June 12, 2009; 8:48 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (75)
Categories: D.C. United , Germany , History , MLS , Q&A , Spain , U.S. men's national team
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Gros to Philly

We told you early in the week that this was in the works, and now it's official: Former D.C. United midfielder Josh Gros has been hired by 2010 expansion club Philadelphia Union as its team coordinator. Gros, 26, was forced to retire because of head injuries and worked at a...

By Steve Goff | June 11, 2009; 5:36 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (26)
Categories: D.C. United , MLS
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Terps Announce Schedule

Reigning NCAA champion Maryland, which sent five starters to MLS this year, will open the 2009 season at home against UCLA on Sept. 4 and face California two days later at Ludwig Field in College Park. As part of their 18-game schedule, the Terps will also play nonconference matches against...

By Steve Goff | June 11, 2009; 4:52 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: College Soccer
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D.C. United Will Play.....

The local ballclub has been patiently awaiting two announcements today: the results of the CONCACAF Champions League draw and the U.S. Open Cup round-of-16 pairings and sites. On the domestic front, as expected, United will host the winner of next week's second-round game between Real Maryland (third-tier USL2) and the...

By Steve Goff | June 11, 2009; 3:31 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (27)
Categories: CONCACAF , D.C. United , Q&A , Spain , U.S. Open Cup , U.S. men's national team
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Video: Dynamo's Rapid Goal

From Houston's 1-0 victory over Chivas USA last night, a lesson in how to travel the length of the field in seven seconds and score:...

By Steve Goff | June 11, 2009; 1:25 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (15)
Categories: MLS
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World Cup Qualifying Update

Following Mexico's 2-1 victory over T&T ("only" 92,000 at Azteca) and Honduras's 1-0 home win against El Salvador, here are how things stand in CONCACAF at the midway point of the World Cup qualifying calendar: 1. Costa Rica 4-1-0, 12 points 2. United States 3-1-1 10 points 3. Honduras 2-2-1,...

By Steve Goff | June 11, 2009; 10:53 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (19)
Categories: 2010 World Cup , Argentina , CONCACAF
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Thursday Kickaround

*As we told you yesterday, superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is on his way to Real Madrid from Manchester United for about $130 million. It's almost official. We told you exclusively yesterday that he has been in Los Angeles for medical tests -- I'm told by sources close to the situation this...

By Steve Goff | June 11, 2009; 9:32 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (72)
Categories: D.C. United , England , MLS , Mexico , Spain , U.S. men's national team
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Open Cup Upset

Look at that photo! How can you not embrace the U.S. Open Cup and all of its quirky charms? That's Carey Stadium, home of the Ocean City (N.J.) Barons, a PDL (fourth-division/amateur) club that advanced to the second round of the U.S. Open Cup by upsetting USL2 (third-division) Crystal...

By Steve Goff | June 10, 2009; 9:01 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (35)
Categories: U.S. Open Cup , USL
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Video: Channel 4 Profiles Quaranta

A nice Santino Quaranta segment from the Sports Dept. at WRC-TV in Washington:...

By Steve Goff | June 10, 2009; 7:29 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: D.C. United
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World Cup Qualifying

From a USA standpoint, the two big matches today will take place this evening as Trinidad and Tobago, on the verge of falling out of CONCACAF contention, visits Azteca to face a Mexican side under immense pressure to finish the first half of the calendar with a victory (9:30 p.m....

By Steve Goff | June 10, 2009; 7:20 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (32)
Categories: 2010 World Cup
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Ronaldo in America?

I'm hearing that superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is in the States to be examined by a Real Madrid doctor in Los Angeles today, the next step in his apparent move to the Spanish giants from Manchester United. One issue is a possible sports hernia injury, though it's not expected to prevent...

By Steve Goff | June 10, 2009; 12:56 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (68)
Categories: England , Spain
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Twellman, Setanta, MLS, T&T

*More on New England star Taylor Twellman. The Revs say: "Taylor's doctors did not place a timetable on his injury. He continues to play/train on a day-to-day status, dictated by how he feels." *Setanta, which provides an abundance of English Premier League and international futbol coverage to American viewers, is...

By Steve Goff | June 10, 2009; 11:01 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (36)
Categories: 2010 World Cup , CONCACAF , D.C. United , MLS , TV
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Wednesday Kickaround

*The Insider received word late yesterday that, despite his two-goal effort against New York on Sunday, MLS player of the week Taylor Twellman might be forced back to the sidelines for an extended period. The nausea and dizzyness that have plagued the New England striker all spring and limited him...

By Steve Goff | June 10, 2009; 8:28 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (34)
Categories: 2010 World Cup , Beckham , D.C. United , England , MLS , TV , U.S. Open Cup
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Freedom Acquires Krieger

The Washington Freedom has completed the acquisition of defender-midfielder Ali Krieger, a member of the U.S. national team player pool who was unable to join the WPS club at the start of the season because of her contract with German team FFC Frankfurt. The Freedom and Frankfurt agreed to a...

By Steve Goff | June 9, 2009; 4:58 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Freedom , Germany
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A Few Minutes With Ben Olsen

D.C. United midfielder Ben Olsen has been sidelined since mid-May with a strained hamstring and hopes to return to the game-day roster next week, when the club visits Seattle and Colorado. You've been officially upgraded from "out" to "questionable", Ben..... "That's good to hear. No one told me! I've been...

By Steve Goff | June 9, 2009; 3:47 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: D.C. United
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MLS Trades, Moves

San Jose sends veteran defender Nick Garcia, who has played every minute this season, and the discovery rights to Canadian national team forward Ali Gerba to Toronto FC for a 2010 third-round draft choice. TFC also waives goalie Greg Sutton, who lost the starting job to rookie Stefan Frei. Gerba,...

By Steve Goff | June 9, 2009; 3:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (30)
Categories: MLS
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Emilio, Soehn Talk About Incident

Last Thursday, after being replaced in the second half against New York, D.C. United's Luciano Emilio kicked a set of water bottles onto the field and received a red card, sidelining him for this Saturday's showdown against first-place Chicago at RFK. I will have a full story on the Post's...

By Steve Goff | June 9, 2009; 1:31 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (25)
Categories: D.C. United
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United News & Notes

Greetings from RFK..... *Midfielder Ben Olsen, sidelined for several weeks with a hamstring injury, is officially listed as questionable for Saturday's showdown with Chicago at RFK Stadium. *DCU reserve defender Avery John played 90 minutes in Trinidad and Tobago's 3-2 loss to Costa Rica on Saturday and seems likely to...

By Steve Goff | June 9, 2009; 12:04 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (28)
Categories: D.C. United , MLS
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Tuesday Kickaround

*Clearly preparing for D.C. United this August at FedEx Field, Real Madrid continues to rebuild its roster. Kaka is in. Ronaldo? Ibrahimovic? Villa? *Despite a 6-0-4 record, John Barnes is out as Jamaican national team manager and headed to Tranmere in England. Theordore Whitmore will oversee the Reggae Boyz in...

By Steve Goff | June 9, 2009; 8:53 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (55)
Categories: CONCACAF , D.C. United , MLS , Spain , Sweden , TV
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Italy, Mexico, Algeria

*Italy, which will face the USA next Monday in Pretoria, reveals its Confederations Cup roster: Buffon, Cannavaro, Gattuso, Toni, Pirlo, American-born Rossi..... *Javier Aguirre, new coach of the Mexican national team, on El Tri's 1-3-0 record and fifth-place predicament in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying: "I'm convinced that we're going to...

By Steve Goff | June 8, 2009; 2:28 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (42)
Categories: 2010 World Cup , Italy , Mexico , Poll
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Real Madrid, Real Maryland, El Pibe

As we told you last night, Brazilian superstar Kaka has passed a physical and is set to join Real Madrid, which means, barring injury, he will be in uniform for the Spanish giants at FedEx Field on Aug. 9 against D.C. United. Is Cristiano Ronaldo next? Sure seems that way....

By Steve Goff | June 8, 2009; 12:31 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (24)
Categories: D.C. United , Spain , U.S. Open Cup , USL
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MLS Observations

*The Insider is hearing that Philadelphia Union, which joins MLS next year, has approached former D.C. United midfielder Josh Gros about a front office job. Gros, 26, was a starter from 2004 through 2007 but forced to retire because of head injuries. He subsequently pursued a civil engineering career in...

By Steve Goff | June 8, 2009; 8:44 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (35)
Categories: D.C. United , MLS
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Video: Brazil Wins, 4-0

Highlights from Brazil's 4-0 World Cup qualifying victory at Uruguay. Don't let the scoreline fool you: The Uruguayans had a number of scoring opportunities, as you will see from the film. The final goal was scored by Kaka, who has passed a physical and is expected to be formally introduced...

By Steve Goff | June 7, 2009; 9:36 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: 2010 World Cup , Brazil
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Sunday Open House

What's on your mind? The USA's Confederations Cup roster (23 players) will be announced shortly. Don't expect many surprises. [UPDATE: It's now available. Most everyone from the qualifiers, except Hejduk, Mastroeni and Ching. Robles is the third keeper.] We've got two MLS matches on the docket today -- the bottom...

By Steve Goff | June 7, 2009; 2:57 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (44)
Categories: 2010 World Cup , CONCACAF , Freedom , MLS , Women
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CONCACAF Rewind

Another early goal allowed, but this time the USA bounces back to win, 2-1 over Honduras before 55,000-plus at Soldier Field. I estimated that Honduran fans outnumbered USA supporters by 60 to 40 percent. To those Insider loyalists who attended, would you agree or disagree? Read my match report with...

By Steve Goff | June 7, 2009; 2:13 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (57)
Categories: CONCACAF , Mexico , U.S. men's national team
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Network News

Soccer Insider: June 7, 2009 - June 13, 2009