Soccer Insider - A soccer blog by The Washington Post's Steve Goff - November 8, 2009

Matchday Saturday

World Cup qualifying: Kenya-Nigeria, 8 a.m. ET World Cup qualifying: Mozambique-Tunisia, 8 a.m. Friendly: Slovakia-USA, 10 a.m. (Fox Soccer Channel) World Cup qualifying: Morocco-Cameroon, 10:30 a.m. World Cup qualifying: Togo-Gabon, 10:30 a.m. World Cup qualifying playoff: Russia-Slovenia, 11 a.m. (Setanta) Friendly: Brazil-England, noon (FSC) World Cup qualifying: Egypt-Algeria, 12:30 p.m....

By Steve Goff | November 14, 2009; 8:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (86)
Categories: 2010 World Cup , TV , U.S. men's national team
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Matchnight: Galaxy-Dynamo

Coverage of the MLS Western Conference final is scheduled to begin on ESPN2 at 11 p.m. ET, but kickoff won't occur until about 11:25. The pregame show provides a cushion in case the college football game between West Virginia and Cincinnati runs late (as college football games commonly do). If...

By Steve Goff | November 13, 2009; 8:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (57)
Categories: MLS
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Video: Penalty Kick Distractions

From the America East tournament semifinals, Hartford goalkeeper Nenad Cudic used cartwheels on the goal line in an attempt to distract the shooters. Stony Brook's Anthony Rogic repeatedly tapped the crossbar. Both were mocked after yielding a goal. The Seawolves (5-9-4) advanced to Sunday's final at home against UMBC (14-5-0)....

By Steve Goff | November 13, 2009; 2:44 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (32)
Categories: College Soccer
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Friday Kickaround

*Ahead of tonight's MLS Western Conference final (11 p.m., ESPN2), the Los Angeles Times looks at David Beckham's impact since returning from AC Milan and the Houston Chronicle offers a position-by-position breakdown. *Speaking of the Galaxy, I am beginning to get the sense that Landon Donovan has won the MLS...

By Steve Goff | November 13, 2009; 9:48 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (27)
Categories: 2010 World Cup , Beckham , College Soccer , France , Youth soccer
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Preki Out, MLS Ticket Update

*We've been anticipating this announcement for weeks, and today it was made: Preki is done as Chivas USA coach after three seasons, a 40-29-21 regular season record, 0-3-3 playoff mark and 2007 coach of the year honor. Chivas was pleased with his soccer knowledge and passion, not so thrilled about...

By Steve Goff | November 12, 2009; 6:08 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (32)
Categories: MLS
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Weekend TV Listings

What are you going to watch? (Ireland-France and Costa Rica-Uruguay are available at soccer-friendly bars for a cover charge. Call ahead.) FRIDAY NCAA men, Princeton-Yale 8 p.m. ET, Fox Soccer Channel MLS Western Conference final, Los Angeles-Houston 11 p.m. ESPN2 SATURDAY World Cup playoff, New Zealand-Bahrain 2 a.m. FSC Friendly,...

By Steve Goff | November 12, 2009; 3:20 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (29)
Categories: TV
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Gonzalez: MLS Rookie of Year

Omar Gonzalez, a first-round pick from the University of Maryland who helped the Los Angeles Galaxy cut the number of goals allowed in half, was named MLS's rookie of the year. In voting among players, coaches, general managers and media, the 6-foot-5 central back finished ahead of D.C. United forward-midfielder...

By Steve Goff | November 12, 2009; 2:27 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (19)
Categories: MLS
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D.C. United's Coaching Search

D.C. United has interviewed Curt Onalfo and Richie Williams for its head coaching position, the Insider has learned. The club has spoken to other candidates as well and apparently will seek meetings with additional individuals. In the search to replace Tom Soehn, who withdrew from consideration to have his contract...

By Steve Goff | November 12, 2009; 9:54 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (95)
Categories: D.C. United , MLS
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Thursday Kickaround

*The MLS award announcements continue today with rookie of the year: Los Angeles defender Omar Gonzalez is the favorite ahead of D.C. United forward-midfielder Chris Pontius and Toronto goalkeeper Stefan Frei. Who's your choice? *The BBC catches up with Freddy Adu ... via Twitter. He maintains optimistic about making the...

By Steve Goff | November 12, 2009; 8:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (27)
Categories: Americans Abroad , College Soccer , MLS , Youth soccer
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Arena: MLS Coach of Year

Bruce Arena, who turned the Los Angeles Galaxy's fortunes and brought harmony to the club's high-profile roster, was named MLS coach of the year. Seattle's Sigi Schmid, who guided the expansion Sounders to the playoffs, and Columbus's Robert Warzycha, who oversaw the Crew's second straight Supporters' Shield, were the other...

By Steve Goff | November 11, 2009; 1:41 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (39)
Categories: College Soccer , D.C. United , MLS
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Ready, Set, Score

From the Saudi league, a goal from midfield three seconds into the match: Additional details from The Times of London....

By Steve Goff | November 11, 2009; 12:45 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: History , Misc.
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Poll: MLS Cup

poll by twiigs.com...

By Steve Goff | November 11, 2009; 10:31 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: MLS , Poll
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Wednesday Kickaround

*Robert Enke, the German goalkeeper who died Tuesday, left a suicide note. German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed condolences and the friendly against Chile on Saturday has been cancelled. *Cristiano Ronaldo will miss Portugal's World Cup qualifying playoff matches against Bosnia. *Wizards technical director Peter Vermes introduces Wizards interim coach Peter...

By Steve Goff | November 11, 2009; 9:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (21)
Categories: 2010 World Cup , College Soccer , Germany , MLS , USL , USSF
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Germany's Enke Dies

German goalkeeper Robert Enke, who was in the running to start at the World Cup next summer, died today when he was struck by a train. Police believe it was a suicide. The club president described him as "unstable" recently. "We are all shocked, we are speechless," Germany Manager Joachim...

By Steve Goff | November 10, 2009; 4:07 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: 2010 World Cup , Germany
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Charlie Davies Update

The latest on USA forward Charlie Davies, who was seriously injured in an auto accident a few days before the World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica last month: Davies has been released from care in D.C. after undergoing several surgeries at Washington Hospital Center and treatment at National Rehabilitation Hospital....

By Steve Goff | November 10, 2009; 2:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: U.S. men's national team
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Montero, Thornton Honored

Forward Fredy Montero, Seattle's leading scorer in the expansion club's debut season with 12 goals, was named MLS newcomer of the year, beating out teammates Kasey Keller and Freddie Ljungberg. (Newcomers are first-year players in the league with prior pro experience.) Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton, in his first full...

By Steve Goff | November 10, 2009; 1:43 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (17)
Categories: MLS
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Tuesday Kickaround

*No surprise: Peter Vermes, who named himself interim coach of the Kansas City Wizards after dumping Curt Onalfo mid-season, will give himself the full-time gig at a news conference today. The Wizards were 3-6-3 under Vermes. *The Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina Railhawks, Miami FC, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact, St. Louis Soccer...

By Steve Goff | November 10, 2009; 9:48 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (41)
Categories: College Soccer , MLS , USL
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Cup Qualifying Nears End

Just over a week from now, the 32-nation field for the 2010 World Cup will be complete. As it stands, 23 are in and nine slots remain. IN CONCACAF: United States, Mexico, Honduras. SOUTH AMERICA: Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Argentina. ASIA: Japan, South Korea, Australia, North Korea. AFRICA: South Africa (host),...

By Steve Goff | November 10, 2009; 12:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (21)
Categories: 2010 World Cup
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NCAA Women's Pairings

North Carolina, Florida State, UCLA and Stanford are the top seeds in the 64-team NCAA Division I women's tournament. Maryland (15-4-1) earned a No. 4 seed and will host matches Friday at Ludwig Field in College Park. The Terps face Monmouth (15-4-1) and Villanova plays Washington State. The survivors meet...

By Steve Goff | November 9, 2009; 9:35 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: College Soccer
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Hall of Fame Nominees

The U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame has announced the candidates for 2010 induction: Mike Burns Mauricio Cienfuegos Raul Diaz Arce Thomas Dooley John Doyle Marco Etcheverry Robin Fraser Chris Henderson Eduardo Hurtado Dominic Kinnear Roy Lassiter Shannon MacMillan Joe-Max Moore Victor Nogueira Peter Nowak John O'Brien Cindy Parlow Preki...

By Steve Goff | November 9, 2009; 3:26 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (23)
Categories: History , U.S. men's national team
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World Cup Issues, James Surgery, ACC

*I'm looking forward to the World Cup. I'm not particularly looking forward to the logistics of attending the World Cup in South Africa, where problems continue to hamper preparations. The latest setbacks are rail service and hotel costs. A rental car is an option, and given the price of reasonable...

By Steve Goff | November 9, 2009; 12:27 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (20)
Categories: 2010 World Cup , College Soccer , D.C. United , South Africa
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Americans Abroad

Before we get to the weekly list, watch Edgar Castillo's sensational goal for Tigres. (It's the final one in this video.) Don't be surprised if Castillo and Pachuca's Jose Francisco Torres are late call-ups for the USA friendly at Denmark next Wednesday after their league matches this week. Pachuca and...

By Steve Goff | November 9, 2009; 10:10 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: Americans Abroad
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USA Roster for Friendlies

The players chosen by Coach Bob Bradley for the matches at Slovakia on Saturday and Denmark next Wednesday: GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan, Marcus Hahnemann, Troy Perkins. DEFENDERS: Carlos Bocanegra, Jonathan Bornstein, Steve Cherundolo, Jimmy Conrad, Clarence Goodson, Frankie Hejduk, Chad Marshall, Heath Pearce, Jonathan Spector. MIDFIELDERS: Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, Benny...

By Steve Goff | November 9, 2009; 8:44 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (29)
Categories: U.S. men's national team
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Monday Kickaround

*MLS playoff calendar..... Eastern Conference final Saturday Real Salt Lake at Chicago, 8 p.m. ET (Fox Soccer Channel) Previous Meetings: Patrick Nyarko's 76th-minute header lifted the Fire to a 1-0 home win Aug. 1. Six weeks later, the clubs played to a 1-1 draw at RSL on goals by Chris...

By Steve Goff | November 9, 2009; 6:49 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: College Soccer , France , MLS , U.S. men's national team
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Operation Freedom

The Washington Freedom has begun its marketing campaign for the 2010 WPS season with several not-so-subtle digs at the hapless Redskins. In an ad that appears in Monday's Washington Post, the club trumpets its: -- "Freedom Speech and Self Expression, Including the Right to Create Signs and Banners and Bring...

By Steve Goff | November 8, 2009; 9:01 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (43)
Categories: Freedom
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Sunday Kickaround

*With all due respect to the Revolution, which overachieved in the absence of Taylor Twellman and Steve Ralston and offered admirable playoff performances, Chicago's 2-0 victory Saturday night was in MLS's best interests. Presentation remains important to this young league, and an Eastern Conference final next Saturday at a packed,...

By Steve Goff | November 8, 2009; 10:17 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (65)
Categories: College Soccer , MLS
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Network News

Soccer Insider: November 8, 2009 - November 14, 2009