Neymar chooses FC Barcelona, announcement set for Monday

Neymar couldn’t wait until Monday to announce his next club, choosing instead to reveal via Instagram on Saturday night that he will be signing with FC Barcelona on Monday.

Nasri brace leads City over Chelsea in friendly finale

Nasri’s brace leads Manchester City over Chelsea in eight-goal thriller in front of 39,462 fans at Yankee Stadium

MLS Week 13: Your Running Commentary

MLS Week 13 kicks off Saturday night with league-leading FC Dallas squaring off against Western Conference foe San Jose. Follow all of tonight’s action here on SBI.

Holden set to sign one-year extension at Bolton

Stuart Holden of Bolton Wanderers and Barry Ferguson of Birmingham City

By DAN KARELL

It’s looking likely that Stuart Holden will get another shot to prove his worth to Bolton Wanderers FC over a full season.

According to a report in England, Holden is set to sign a one-year contract with the club, keeping him at the Reebok Stadium through the end of the 2013-2014 season. The report states that he has written to the club to say he is in agreement with the contract, but won’t sign it until he has returned to England after the May/June U.S. Men’s National Team matches.

After spending over a year and a half on the sidelines, Holden made his Bolton return on January 15 in the FA Cup, featuring four times for the club and four for Sheffield Wednesday while on loan in March and April.

The 27-year-old midfielder was called up by U.S. manager Jurgen Klinsmann to the May/June camp, and currently Holden is awaiting the start of that camp by training with the Houston Dynamo to stay fit. The Scotland-born player has amassed 17 caps since 2009, but due to the injuries, hasn’t played for the national team once under Klinsmann.

What do you make of this news? Glad that Holden is staying at Bolton? Do you think he should have tried his luck somewhere else?

Share your thoughts below.

Posted in European Soccer, Featured, U.S. Men's National Team | 26 Comments

Union Notes: Parke return means tough decisions about Soumare; Reaction to NYC FC; and more

John Hackworth

By DAN KARELL

After reeling off two wins in three matches last week, both against the Chicago Fire, the Philadelphia Union were given an additional boost this week with the news that Jeff Parke is fully fit.

Parke went down with a hamstring strain in the Union’s 2-2 draw with the Seattle Sounders on May 4, forcing him out of the team’s last three matches. Parke’s return also raises questions about the future of Bakary Soumare, who filled in admirably for Parke during the absence.

“It leaves us with a tough decision,” Union assistant coach and technical director Rob Vartughian said during the club’s weekly press conference. “(Soumare) has been really good. He’s had these last three games, and he’s played really well, and it’s something we’ve been talking about heading into this week.”

Soumare performed well in his first playing time of the season, a stint of starts that came after he had asked to be traded. Vartughian didn’t specifically say whether Soumare was still on the trading block or not, but pointed towards keeping him on the squad for now based on his recent form.

Here are some more notes from the Union presser:

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Posted in Featured, Major League Soccer, MLS- Philadelphia Union | 18 Comments

Petke ready to welcome NYCFC to MLS with a ‘smashing’

MikePetkeHaltNYC (ISIPhotos.com)

By IVES GALARCEP

UPPER MONTCLAIR, N.J.- When the announcement of New York City FC as Major League Soccer’s 20th expansion team hit, the official reaction from the New York Red Bulls was a tame one. A non-descript statement with a bland response from the team’s front office gave little evidence of the budding rivalry MLS is hoping will form.

Red Bulls head coach Mike Petke’s response to New York’s newest soccer team was far more passionate, and if his reaction to his team’s newest competition is any indication, the RBNY-NYCFC rivalry could be a fiery one.

The New York native didn’t mince words about the arrival of an MLS expansion team in the neighborhood currently occupied by his Red Bulls, and Petke is counting the days until he gets a chance to face them.

“It’s good to have a true derby, a true rivalry,” Petke said. “I think it’s good for the league to grow and all that.

“In the flip-side of that, we have a history here,” Petke added. “They’re the new guys coming in and I’m looking forward to smashing them in 2015 to be honest with you.”

MLS commissioner Don Garber stated once again on Wednesday that he firmly believes NYCFC and the Red Bulls will function as natural rivals, and Petke laid down the gantlet for the new club in the New York area.

“I don’t have any love for (them just) because it’s a new team in the league,” Petke said. “I love this league, and I think expansion is (a good) thing, but now they’ve come in where we are. We’ll welcome them, hopefully, with a smashing the first time we see them.”

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Posted in Featured, MLS- New York Red Bulls, MLS-New York City FC, Uncategorized | 59 Comments

SBI MLS Rookie of the Week: Andrew Farrell

Andrew Farrell, Devon Sandoval

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By DAN KARELL

New England Revolution right back Andrew Farrell has had a solid start to his professional career, and he continued it with a 90 minute effort against the Houston Dynamo last Saturday, in a 2-0 victory at BBVA Compass Stadium.

The performance earned the former first overall pick of the 2013 MLS SuperDraft SBI MLS Rookie of the Week honors for the first time this season.

Farrell beat out San Jose Earthquakes forward Adam Jahn, Seattle Sounders defender DeAndre Yedlin, and Colorado Rapids forward Deshorn Brown.

What did you make of Farrell’s performance against Houston? Which rookie impressed you the most in MLS Week 12?

Share your thoughts below.

Posted in Major League Soccer, MLS- New England Revolution, SBI MLS Rookie of the Week | 16 Comments

With busy summer ahead, Gonzalez more comfortable and confident, but still improving

OmarGonzalezLA (ISIPhotos.com)

Photo by ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

UPPER MONTCLAIR, N.J. – From being named MLS Cup MVP as his LA Galaxy successfully defended their 2011 championship in December to starting in all-important World Cup qualifiers, Omar Gonzalez has accomplished quite a bit during the past six months.

The scary part? Gonzalez is only beginning to scratch the surface of the player he can become.

A busy summer awaits Gonzalez at both club and international levels, but the multitude of games the 24-year-old centerback is set to partake in for the LA Galaxy and U.S. Men’s National Team will provide him with more than one of the busiest stretches of his career. They will also give Gonzalez more room to grow.

“He’s still, even though he’s in this for about five years, a player that has a little bit of peaks and valleys and we’re trying to see if we can get him a little bit more consistent,” said Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena. “That’s what I’d like to see. Omar playing at a consistent level is much better for us and for Omar than rather having the great games and the games that sometimes are subpar.

“We want him to be consistent. If he’s consistent, he’s a very good player.”

U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann is surely hoping for the same type of consistency from the aerial authority. Gonzalez struggled mightily in his first World Cup qualifier in Honduras back in February, but responded brilliantly about a month later by helping the Americans record a pair of cleansheets.

First, Gonzalez fought off blizzard-like conditions in a 1-0 home win over Costa Rica and he followed that up with another strong defensive showing against Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez and the rest of archrivals Mexico in a scoreless draw at Estadio Azteca.

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Posted in Featured, MLS- Los Angeles Galaxy, SBI MLS Spotlight, U.S. Men's National Team | 25 Comments

Sermanni names USWNT roster for Canada match

Abby Wambach

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By MIKE McCALL

Yesterday’s U.S. women’s national team roster announcement wasn’t much for the dramatic, but there were a few noteworthy developments.

Head coach Tom Sermanni named 21 players who will take part in a training camp before a June 2 showdown with Canada at Toronto’s BMO Field, and there will be three important — if expected — absences.

Goalkeeper Hope Solo and midfielders Megan Rapinoe and Shannon Boxx won’t be around, as Solo (wrist) and Boxx (knee) are recovering from injuries and Rapinoe and Olympique Lyon have not quite finished destroying the rest of Europe in the UEFA Women’s Champions League (they play in the final on Thursday against Wolfsburg).

Of course, that opens the door for others to shine, notably keepers Nicole Barnhart, Ashlyn Harris and Jill Loyden — herself fresh off a broken hand. U.S. Soccer said Solo will be in camp for “some training and evaluation” but won’t play, instead aiming for a return in mid-June, perhaps when the USWNT takes on South Korea on June 15 and 20.

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Posted in Featured, NWSL, U.S. Women's National Team, Women's Soccer | 8 Comments

Reyna named New York City FC Director of Football Operations

ClaudioReynaNYCFC (ManchesterCity)

Claudio Reyna’s relationship with Manchester City just came full circle.

The English Premier League club announced on Wednesday at a press conference in Manhattan that the former City and U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder is the new Director of Football Operations for Major League Soccer’s newest team, New York City FC.

“Having had the privilege of playing both for my country here in the US and for Manchester City FC in England, I could not have hoped for a more tailored-made opportunity in soccer,” Reyna said in a statement. “I am incredibly excited to again wear City’s ‘Sky Blue’ as part of the expansion of the MLS and the growth of soccer in the United States, and am honored to have been offered this opportunity.

“With a large fan base through the New York area, prime television rights and distribution, sponsorship commitments, and the Yankees as a US partner, the New York City Football Club has everything in place to succeed.”

The New Jersey native, who made 87 appearances at Manchester City between 2002-2007, was most recently the U.S. Youth Soccer Technical Director, overseeing the numerous youth national teams representing the United States at international tournaments.

What do you make of this news? Excited about the Reyna hiring? Do you see any other New York area soccer legends joining the front office?

Share your thoughts below.

Posted in Featured, Major League Soccer, MLS- Expansion, U.S. Soccer | 82 Comments

PDL clubs provide surprises in second round of U.S. Open Cup

USOpenCupLogo (TheCup.US)

By DAN KARELL

Against the odds, four Premier Development League (PDL) sides came through victorious in the second round of the U.S. Open Cup, defeating professional opposition on Tuesday evening.

FC Tucson outlasted the NASL’s San Antonio Scorpions on the road on penalty kicks, winning 4-3 after the score was level at 2-2 following regulation and extra time. The Des Moines Menace took down Minnesota United of the NASL on the road, 1-0, thanks to a goal from Brandon Fricke in the 86th minute, while the Ocean City Nor’easters defeated the USL-Pro Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 1-0, at home.

Finally, Reading United defeated nearby rivals Harrisburg City Islanders of USL-Pro by a score of 1-0.

Dreams for amateur sides Icon FC (4-1 defeat to USL-Pro Richmond Kickers), Dearborn Stars (4-1 defeat after extra time to USL-Pro Dayton Dutch Lions), and the Georgia Revolution (3-2 defeat to NASL Atlanta Silverbacks) were put to an end with losses on Tuesday.

The four PDL sides who advanced will face Major League Soccer opposition in the third round of the competition next week. FC Tucson will visit the Houston Dynamo, the Des Moines Menace will face Sporting Kansas City, the Ocean City Nor’easters will take on the Philadelphia Union, and Reading United will play the New York Red Bulls.

Here’s a closer look at all the action from the second round of the U.S. Open Cup:

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Posted in Featured, Major League Soccer, NASL, U.S. Open Cup, USL Pro | 26 Comments

Bijev called up by Bulgaria for upcoming Euro U-21 qualifiers

Villyan Bijev (ussoccer.com)

Villyan Bijev’s international future is officially up in the air.

Bijev, a 20-year-old forward who currently is in Liverpool’s system, has been called up by Bulgaria’s Under-21 team for a pair of Euro U-21 qualifiers vs. Andorra in early June. Should Bijev play in either of those matches, he would be provisionally cap-tied to Bulgaria and would need to file a one-time switch in order to play again for a U.S. Men’s National Team at any level.

Bijev has previously represented both the U.S. U-20 and U-18 teams, but has not been called in for recent camps by U-20 head coach Tab Ramos. Bijev reportedly turned down a call-up from Bulgaria’s U-21 side last year, but it appears he has now had a change of heart as to which nation to represent internationally.

What do you think of Bijev being called in for Bulgaria’s upcoming U-21 qualifiers? Still confident that he will eventually represent the United States? Indifferent about it all?

Share your thoughts below.

Posted in Americans Abroad, U.S. Youth National Teams | 34 Comments

Wednesday Kickoff: Neymar inches closer to Barcelona; Lewandowski only wants Bayern move; and more

Neymar1-MogiMirimPaulista (GazetaPress)

By DAN KARELL

Neymar looks to be accelerating his move abroad.

After years of promising that he wouldn’t leave until after the 2014 World Cup on home soil, the Brazilian starlet is moving closer to a move to Barcelona this July, according to reports out of Brazil.

According to the reports, Neymar signed a deal with Barcelona last week, and could make his final appearance for Santos on Sunday in the side’s first domestic match of the season against Flamengo. The 21-year-old is set to join up with the Brazil squad for friendly matches and then the Confederations Cup starting on June 2.

The report also states that Neymar’s release clause on his current contract at Santos is more than $84 million, but that Barcelona has met it, and the Santos board could approve the deal as early as Wednesday. Barcelona star Lionel Messi is reported to have said this week that he would welcome a move for the Brazilian forward.

Since coming into the first team in 2009, Neymar has gone on to win the Paulista State Championship three times, the Brazilian Cup in 2010, and the Copa Libertadores in 2011. In this season’s Paulista tournament campaign, Neymar scored 12 goals in 18 appearances.

Here are some more stories to get your day started:

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Posted in European Soccer, Featured, South American Soccer | 44 Comments