Soccer By Ives

Atlanta Silverbacks to shut down in 2009

The country's economic crisis has claimed a victim in the American soccer scene. The USL-1 Atlanta Silverbacks will not field a team in 2009, citing the economy as well as the potential arrival of an MLS expansion team in Atlanta in the coming years.

"This was an extremely difficult decision that was prompted by the dynamic events in our economy and the soccer community," Silverbacks general manager Michael Oki said. "We would like to thank all of our fans and partners who have supported the team over the years and hope they continue to come out to the women’s games."

There is no word yet on what this means for the contracts of the team's current players, including forward Mac Kandji, who is currently on loan to the New York Red Bulls, who will play in the MLS Cup Final on Sunday. The Red Bulls acquired Kandji on a loan deal that included an option to buy Kandji's contract outright.

What do you think of this development? Share your thoughts below.

Morning Ticker: Ralston suffers broken leg, Vancouver wins USL title and Jamaica upsets Mexico

                                                                             Photo by ISIphotos.com

New England's quest for an elusive MLS Cup title took a major hit on Saturday after Revs midfielder Steve Ralston suffered a broken right leg.

The broken right fibula suffered by Ralston came after a clumsy challenge from Herculez Gomez during New England's 1-0 loss to Kansas City on Saturday.

New England has already qualified for the playoffs, but losing Ralston will make advancing past a likely first-round match-up against Chicago very difficult. There is an outside chance that Ralston returns in time for the MLS Cup final if the team reaches it again, but his prospects for a 2008 return look bleak.

Here are some other stories from the weekend to get your day going:

Morning Ticker: USL Final set, Gladbach coach fired and Poland reaches FIFA deal

Somebody finally stopped the Montreal Impact and it figures that it would be another Canadian team to do it.

The Vancouver White Caps ended Montreal's dream USL season with a 2-0 victory that helped give Vancouver a 2-1 series aggregate victory in the USL playoff semifinals on Sunday.

First-half goals from Jeff Clark and Eduardo Sebrango provided the margin of victory for Vancouver, which received a shutout from goalkeeper Tyler Baldock, who made his first start of the season in place of suspended goalkeeper Jay Nolly.

The White Caps will now face the Puerto Rico Islanders in the USL Final after Puerto Rico overcame a 2-0 first-leg deficit to beat the Rochester Rhinos, 3-2. Cristian Arrieta headed home a Petter Villegas corner kick in the 119th minute to give the Islanders the victory.

The USL Final is set for Oct. 12 in Vancouver.

Here are some other news stories to get your day started:

Morning Ticker: Montreal wins (again), D.C. loses (again) and Poland could forfeit World Cup qualifiers

Can anybody stop the United Soccer League?

The USL improved its record in the CONCACAF Champions League to 6-0-4 after the Montreal Impact defeated Honduran side CD Olimpia, 2-1, on Wednesday night.

Panamanian striker Roberto Brown delivered both goals for the Impact, which improved to 2-0-1 in the Champions League, good for first place in its group, four points clear of second-place Atlante, which has a game in hand.

So did MLS finally break out of its own winless rut in the Champions League? Not so much.

Kandji, Gaudette headline USL All-League team

The United Soccer League named it's All-League Teams on Tuesday. I know I don't report nearly as much about the USL as I should, especially given the league's recent success in the U.S. Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League, but here is a chance to get a look at the best the USL has to offer.

You will surely recognize some of the names, but some may be new to you. Led by recent Red Bulls signing Macoumba Kandji and former Columbus Crew goalkeeper Bill Gaudette, here are the USL All-League first and second teams (player capsules provided by the United Soccer Leagues):

Morning Ticker: USL keeps rolling, MLS keeps stumbling in CONCACAF Champions League

It was another good night for USL teams and another disappointing showing for MLS teams in the CONCACAF Champions League.

The Montreal Impact faced Mexican power Atlante on Wednesday and posted a 0-0 tie to stay in a tie for first place in its group with Atlante.

D.C. United's night wasn't quite as fun. Playing without several key starters, the MLS squad fell, 2-0, to Honduran side CD Marathon in San Pedro Sula. The loss dropped D.C. into last place in its group.

For those of you who have lost track, Wednesday's results now put MLS teams at a horrendous record of 0-5-2 in the Champions League tournament. As for the USL? The lower division now boasts an unbeaten mark of 5-0-3.

Yes, you read those numbers correctly.

USL makes strong statement in CONCACAF Champions League

Admit it, you're an MLS snob who has never really given the USL much of a though. It's okay to confess the transgression because fans in MLS markets throughout the country are oblivious to the USL, or worse, some just think the league is terrible and no match for Major League Soccer.

Some folks are going to have to start re-thinking that belief after the most recent results in the CONCACAF Champions League. Not only did the Puerto Rico Islanders and Montreal Impact post wins in their first Champions League group matches. They did so by beating two teams that are fresh from eliminating a pair of MLS teams.

CONCACAF Champions League: Your Running Commentary

D.C. United is taking on Costa Rican power Deportivo Saprissa tonight in CONCACAF Champions League action at RFK Stadium, while USL-1 force Puerto Rico Islanders are taking on Tauro FC (the same club that eliminated Chivas USA). If you are watching either of these matches, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the matches.

Red Bulls complete deal for Mbuta

                                                                      Photo by ISIphotos.com

The New York Red Bulls have completed the acquisition of Crystal Palace Baltimore midfielder/forward Matthew Mbuta, sources with knowledge of the deal confirmed late on Monday.

MLS gave final approval of the acquisition Friday evening, a deal that include a small fee paid to Crystal Palace, which held Mbuta's rights. Mbuta has been training with the Red Bulls for two weeks and is expected to be available for the team's Thursday night game at Columbus.

Mbuta became the third of three players acquired by the Red Bulls on Monday. The Red Bulls also added Atlanta Silverbacks striker Macoumba Kandji and Charlotte Eagles goalkeeper Terry Boss. The Red Bulls released Chris Megaloudis to make room for Mbuta on the roster.

Red Bulls acquire Kandji on loan

The lengthy quest by the New York Red Bulls to land Atlanta Silverbacks striker Macoumba Kandji has finally ended, with the club acquiring Kandji on loan, with an option to buy the Senegalese striker after the 2008 season.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed but sources have put the option to buy Kandji at between $150,000 and $200,000, which would be a record for a USL player moving to MLS.

Kandji passed a physical on Monday afternoon after agreeing to terms in the morning on the contract he will play under if the Red Bulls buy his rights. Kandji is expected to join the Red Bulls at training on Tuesday and will be available for selection for Thursday night's game at Columbus.

“We’re pleased to sign Mac,” Red Bulls sporting director Jeff Agoos said. “We think that his athleticism and his ability to score goals will make him an immediate contributor to our team as we make a push into the playoffs.”

Kandji scored his final goal for the Silverbacks on Saturday, in a 1-1 tie vs. the Seattle Sounders in Seattle.

Red Bulls closing in on Kandji deal

With less than nine hours to go before the MLS roster freeze deadline, the New York Red Bulls are closing in on the target striker they have been chasing for weeks.

The Red Bulls and Atlanta Silverbacks have reached an agreement in principle on a loan deal for striker Macoumba Kandji, with the last remaining hurdle to a deal being Kandji agreeing to terms on the contract he will play for if the Red Bulls choose to buy him, sources with knowledge of the negotiations told SBI over the weekend.

Red Bulls set to sign GK Terry Boss

The New York Red Bulls are on the verge of signing goalkeeper Terry Boss from the USL-2 club Charlotte Eagles, sources with knowledge of the deal told SBI late Friday. Terms of the deal, which was close to being completed late Friday, were not known at the time.

Boss was starting goalkeeper for a Charlotte team that finished in first place in USL-2 before losing in the league's title game to the Cleveland City Stars. Boss led USL-2 in wins (11) and shutouts (9).

Fans who follow soccer AND football in the New York area will be interested to know that Boss is the brother of New York Giants tight end Kevin Boss (insert your 'this is blackmail for letting the Red Bulls use Giants Stadium' joke here).

U.S. Open Cup Final: D.C. United vs. Charleston Battery (Your Running Commentary)

The USL's Charleston Battery are in RFK Stadium tonight to take on D.C. United in the U.S. Open Cup final (7:30pm, FSC).

D.C. United is looking to win its first U.S. Open Cup title since 1996 while the Battery looks to become the first USL team since the Rochester Raging Rhinos in 1999 to win the cup.

If you will be watching the match, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below. If you can't watch on Fox Soccer Channel, you can also keep track of the match on the U.S. Soccer website.

Enjoy the action.

MLS denies blocking any Red Bulls transfer

In the wake of my report on the Red Bull's quest to sign Mac Kandji and the league's role in preventing the signing from happening, both MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis and Red Bulls sporting director Jeff Agoos have come out and denied that the league has prevented the Red Bulls from making any acquisitions.

"MLS works closely with the Red Bulls on player negotiations and, contrary to reports, has not blocked any move for any player involving the Red Bulls," Gazidis told SBI in an e-mail response.

Shortly after Gazidis' denial came a denial from Agoos, who reached out to SBI to offer up his own denial.

"The league has worked closely with us and hasn't blocked us from any transfer," Agoos said in a phone interview.

Neither Gazidis or Agoos would discuss Kandji specificially, citing Kandji's status as a player under contract with the Atlanta Silverbacks of the USL.

My response? I stand by the original story and my sources.

MLS blocks Red Bulls bid for Kandji

The Red Bulls' quest to sign Macoumba Kandji this season has ended, with Major League Soccer pulling the plug on the potential $200,000 transfer bid for the 23-year-old Senegalese striker.

According to sources with knowledge of the transfer discussions, the New York Red Bulls have ceased their quest to sign the Atlanta Silverbacks striker after Major League Soccer officials balked at allowing an MLS team pay a $200,000 transfer fee for a USL player.

Atlanta's insistence on a $200,000 transfer fee, an extremely high figure for a USL player but one Atlanta felt was fair value for such a young and talented forward, was the sticking point that MLS couldn't get beyond. This despite the fact that the Red Bulls were willing to pay Atlanta's asking price.

U.S. Open Cup semifinals: Your Running Commentary

The U.S. Open Cup semifinals are set to kick off tonight with one MLS match-up and one all-USL clash.

D.C. United will play host to the New England Revolution (7:30pm), which has an eye toward repeating as U.S. Open Cup champions while also adding to the SuperLiga trophy it just won last week. D.C. will look to shake off a shock 4-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls to claim a place in the final.

The other semifinal pits soon-to-be MLS squad Seattle Sounders against the Charleston Battery (7:30pm), which will host tonight's match.

Here is ESPN.com colleague Steve Davis' preview of the semifinals.

If you want to follow the scores, and listen to some radio, you can find both at the U.S. Open Cup website.

Now, if you will be attending tonight's matches, or listening to them, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play, in the comments section below (You spent all that money on your I-Phone, now put it to use).

Enjoy the matches.

Red Bulls eyeing Atlanta striker Kandji

The New York Red Bulls' search for a forward has led them to Atlanta, where they have their eye on a forward who just might be able to help the club's slumping offense.

The Red Bulls are considering acquiring Atlanta Silverbacks striker Macoumba Kandji and Red Bulls head coach Juan Carlos Osorio has traveled to Atlanta to see the striker in person. Atlanta plays Miami FC tonight.

The Red Bulls have been eyeing Kandji for months and placed a discovery claim on Kandji several months ago, sources told SBI on Friday. One source told SBI that the Red Bulls have the first discovery option on Kandji.

West Coast Update: FC Dallas adds Sikora, Cooper earns MLS honor and San Jose's playoff hopes still not dead

Good afternoon to the folks on the West side of the country (and the MLS standings). Here are some news items and notes for you to peruse as your day winds to a close:

FC Dallas signs Sikora

FC Dallas said goodbye to Colombian midfielder Juan Toja over the weekend, but have already replaced him. The Hoops agreed to terms with forward/midfielder Victor Sikora on Monday, and should have the former Dutch national team player on the roster soon.

Sikora last played for Dutch club NAC Breda (whose general manager is none other than former U.S. national team star Earnie Stewart), and also had stints at Ajax and Vitesse Arnhem. Sikora is expected to play on the wings for FC Dallas.

Sikora joins recently acquired midfielder Bruno Guarda, who made his FC Dallas debut in the team's 2-0 win against Toronto FC on Sunday.

Morning Ticker: FIFA to clarify Olympic regs, Trezeguet retires from France and the Lampard-Chelsea battle continues

Since the 1992 Olympic games, European clubs have heeded FIFA's call for allowing Olympic eligible players (age 23 and under) to compete in the Olympics without objections.

The times, they are a changing.

German clubs Werder Bremen and Schalke 04 have refused to release Brazilians Diego and Rafinha for the tournament, prompting FIFA to prepare to clarify its own rules on Olympic call-ups.

What is going to happen? Well, if FIFA doesn't want the Olympics to become a joke with mass rejections of player call-ups then it will do what FIFA does well, impose its rules with an iron fist. The Olympics are either an important tournament or not and failure to enforce a rule making teams release Olympic age playes would send a terrible message to European clubs and to players considering representing their countries.

Two MLS and two USL teams reach U.S. Open Cup semis

                                                                                Photo by ISIphotos.com

The U.S. Open Cup final will feature an MLS team against a USL team. This became guaranteed after the results of last night's quarterfinals, when two MLS and two USL teams won to set up semifinal meetings.

Two of four quarterfinals meetings were decided by penalty kicks on Tuesday, with New England edging Crystal Palace Baltimore and Seattle beating Kansas City.

The Charleston Battery scored three unanswered goals to knock out FC Dallas while D.C. United eliminated the Chicago Fire with an overtime goal from Bryan Namoff.

The results set up a dream MLS semifinal between New England and D.C. United, as well as a battle of top USL teams with Charleston and Seattle set to face off. Both semifinals are set for Aug. 12, with the U.S. Open Cup final scheduled for Aug. 26.

What did you think of last night's results? Who do you see reaching the final? Share your thoughts below.