The second edition of the North American SuperLiga, which pits four top MLS clubs against four top Mexican clubs, kicks off on Saturday, and we are reminded once again that this made-for-TV event is made for Spanish-language TV only. Telefutura is once again the only American TV network carrying SuperLiga matches nationally. This is in spite of the fact that three MLS clubs made it through to the knockout stage last season, even though Pachuca won the million-dollar prize.
You would think Fox Soccer Channel might want to jump in on SuperLiga to get people psyched up for the CONCACAF Champions League, which the fledgling network will air starting in August, but it seems they would rather show more Barca TV this summer. We might get English announcers on MLSLive.tv, but possibly not until the knockout stages, as was the case last year.
It was a night of knockout soccer that saw three games go to extra time, two games go to penalty kicks, and one famous Mexican lose his temper and get sent off. By the time the smoke cleared, the glass slipper still fit for two USL First Division clubs, who had advanced to the U.S. Open Cup semifinals.
Why isn't this competition on TV again?
The Charleston Battery obliterated FC Dallas, 3-1, at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, TX, scoring before an after an hour-long lightning delay in the first half and shutting down all but one meaningless strike in the 93rd minute. Meanwhile, the Seattle Sounders fought the Kansas City Wizards to a 0-0 draw and advanced 6-5 on penalties, thanks in part to a 12-save performance by Sounders goalkeeper Chris Eylander, who also saved two PKs to help Seattle advance.
Meanwhile, USL Second Division club Crystal Palace Baltimore pushed the defending Open Cup champion New England Revolution to penalties, but lost the shootout, 5-3. In Boyds, MD, Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Mark Burch were shown red cards in extra time, while Bryan Namoff scored the winner in the 99th minute to push D.C. United past the Chicago Fire, 2-1.
D.C. United and the Chicago Fire meet tonight in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals, one month after their testy match in Toyota Park in which three red cards were given and Luciano Emilio got a surprise goal in stoppage time to lift 9-man D.C. to a 2-1 win.
If you want to watch this rematch, though, you'll have to go to the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds and buy a ticket. By all accounts, this match will not air on TV or online. Neither will tonight's New England Revolution v. Crystal Palace Baltimore match, providing further proof that the U.S. Open Cup -- a competition in which the winner receives a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League, no less -- is truly the most disrespected competition in American soccer.
The other two quarterfinal matches at least have online video feeds. FC Dallas v. Charleston Battery will be shown on MLSLive at 8:30 PM ET, while Seattle fans log on to USLLive get a free glimpse of their future MLS club's home when the USL-1 Seattle Sounders face the Kansas City Wizards at Qwest Field at 10:00 PM ET. Let's hope the groundskeepers actually try to cover up the gridiron lines this year.
Crystal Palace supporters still suffering from the loss of that Premier League promotion playoff last May might be taking a little solace in their American counterparts today.
Indeed, the club was founded in 2006, 101 years after Crystal Palace FC was founded in London, and it serves as a player development wing for the Coca-Cola Championship club. Clearly, player development is going pretty well there, though as Ives Galarcep notes, too many Red Bulls just didn't come to play last night.
Two other USL clubs pulled off upsets, as USL-1 leaders the Charleston Battery defeated MLS Cup holders the Houston Dynamo on penalty kicks, while the Seattle Sounders topped Chivas USA, 2-0. Other USL clubs didn't get away so easily. The Kansas City Wizards came back from a 2-0 deficit to topple the Carolina Railhawks, 4-2, in extra time, and FC Dallas scored a 2-1 comeback win against Miami FC. D.C. United, the Chicago Fire and the New England Revolution also cruised to victory over USL clubs.
The 3rd round of the U.S. Open Cup kicks off tomorrow, and if you're looking for the MLS clubs that are taking this tournament seriously this year, just look for which clubs are playing at home.
Unlike England's FA Cup, where the home team is determined by random draw, MLS and USL clubs place bids with the U.S. Soccer Federation to host games, and the highest bidder plays at home. If you look at the schedule for tomorrow's games, you'll notice that the New England Revolution, the Chicago Fire, D.C. United and FC Dallas are all playing at home.
By contrast, the Houston Dynamo travel to South Carolina to face USL-1 leaders the Charleston Battery, and the New York Red Bulls head to Maryland to face USL-2 side Crystal Palace Baltimore. Perhaps Houston and New York aren't quite as interested in the CONCACAF Champions League bid that comes with winning the Open Cup.
D.C. United, however, suddenly seems much more interested in the Open Cup than they were last year.
Not getting ahead of ourselves too much, but we're going to use this match as the first evidence of The Curse of Juan Toja's mullet. The previously glorious locks were cut during the week, and FC Dallas' unbeaten streak fell at home to the Revolution for all of ESPN to see. Khano Smith scored the lone goal of the game, making Dallas keeper Dario Sala look absolutely flat footed in the 72nd minute. Smith goal just slipped under the defense and into the far post, leaving Sala only able to attempt the feeblest of saves. Ricardhinho had a chance to tie things up in the dying minutes, but New England's Matt Reis snuffed out the chance with his fourth save of the night for his fourth shutout of the season.
Next week, New England (3-2-1) hosts Chicago while Dallas (2-2-1) heads west to San Jose.
The popular injury in the opening minutes of this 2008 MLS season appears to be franchise players getting shut down for meniscus tears. Both New England's Taylor Twellman and LA's Carlos Ruiz are out for 4 to 6 weeks according to Soccer by Ives' resident footy doctor, himself.
The injury didn't seem to bother the Revolution in their 3-0 rout of the defending champion Dynamo on Saturday, but they also lost midfielder Steve Ralston for some time, another big hit to the roster. Next thing we need is Matt Reis to go down with some kind of skull fracture and New England can dig themselves a pretty impressive hole in the standings.
Over in Los Angeles, the loss of Ruiz in the face of their 4-0 drubbing at Colorado leaves them, for back of a better term, completely [expletive deleted]. A good 20% of the payroll is now on the shelf, and a team that is basically built around its high profile offense just lost a third of its three-headed DP monster. The pressure to pick up the slack falls back on megastar Becks and his sidekick Landon, Boy Wonder. GM Alexi Lalas can't be sleeping well these days as his risky gamble has already taken a turn for the worse.
We couldn't resist the chance to put a little more salt in the wounds of New England. Sure, nothing compares to your team coming minutes away from total, sublime perfection, but watching them do it 4 times has to take its toll. Ladies and mostly gentlemen, your New England Revolution.
Reminder, as always, to please reference Godwin's Law before viewing. Thanks in advance.
Sometimes we think we understand the American sports billionaire Robert Kraft. Seeing him as the savvy owner of the Patriots, we see a shrewd businessman who has built an NFL dynasty in the face of draconic salary cap handicaps. As the owner of the New England Revolution, we see a cheap skinflint with no real eye for European style football. Considering his petty negotiations with every decent NE player from Shalrie Joseph to Clint Dempsey to Taylor Twellman, and his reputation among the fans, its hard to see how that managerial style would translate over to the Premiership.
Never the less, Goal.com is keeping the EPL rumors burning with speculation that Kraft is not only eying the Prem, but a London side as well. Narrowing down the options to the realistic, that leaves the following teams Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur in the top division, with Charlton and Watford just below. West Ham just got new American owners while he'd probably have to wrestle Chelsea from Roman Abramovich's cold, dead hands. Arsenal is already partially owned by Colorado Rapids owner Stan Kroenke, but of course, you can never rule anyone out when wild speculation comes into play.
Feel free to indulge the wild speculation and share your thoughts below.
The New England Revolution isn't exactly winning PR battles these days. While the team's frugal spending have kept them atop the Eastern Conference for much of the recent past, a string of contract issues are telling the rest of the league that the Revs aren't always one big, inexpensive family.
The latest player appearing to be headed out of Foxboro is striker Pat Noonan, 27. In his five years at New England, including an injury-riddled 2006, Noonan has 42 goals in 136 games, second only to Jay Max Moore for the all-time team record. His 2007 contract was a guaranteed $227,500, and the Revolution have yet to offer him a contract for 2008. Noonan discussing the situation on Boston.com, describes another revolution at the Gillette Stadium:
"This is the first time things have started to change [with the Revolution]. Maybe after getting to the final three years in a row they are looking for someone to come in and bring a championship. I thought we could have done it with the guys who are there.
"But, no excuses, we had the opportunity three or four years in a row and maybe they are looking to make that next step. We had a good locker room, good coaches. It's going to be tough leaving a great team, but this is my best chance to go overseas on a free transfer."
New England will be placing a lot of faith in their abilities to replace Noonan. The Revolution staff has an excellent track record at the draft, and they will surely find yet another talented youngster who can make an immediate impact. However, with Andy Dorman already out to Scotland's St. Mirren and Taylor Twellman still eying a move abroad, their needs are mounting. Will the Revs be able to fill their needs at the draft, and will they be able to attract experienced players in light of their fiscal reputation? Are these the first signs of a rebuilding period for Steve Nicol and company? Let's hear your opinions.
It was a night of knockout soccer that saw three games go to extra time, two games go to penalty kicks, and one famous Mexican lose his temper and get sent off. By the time the smoke cleared, the glass slipper still fit for two USL First Division clubs, who had advanced to the 
D.C. United and the Chicago Fire meet tonight in the 
Crystal Palace supporters still suffering from the loss of that Premier League promotion playoff last May might be taking a little solace in their American counterparts today.
The 3rd round of the 
Not getting ahead of ourselves too much, but we're going to use this match as the first evidence of The Curse of Juan Toja's mullet. The previously glorious locks were cut during the week, and FC Dallas' unbeaten streak fell at home to the Revolution for all of ESPN to see. Khano Smith scored the lone goal of the game, making Dallas keeper Dario Sala look absolutely flat footed in the 72nd minute. Smith goal just slipped under the defense and into the far post, leaving Sala only able to attempt the feeblest of saves. Ricardhinho had a chance to tie things up in the dying minutes, but New England's Matt Reis snuffed out the chance with his fourth save of the night for his fourth shutout of the season. 
The popular injury in the opening minutes of this 2008 MLS season appears to be franchise players getting shut down for meniscus tears. Both New England's Taylor Twellman and LA's Carlos Ruiz are out for 4 to 6 weeks according to Soccer by Ives' resident footy doctor, himself. 
Sometimes we think we understand the American sports billionaire Robert Kraft. Seeing him as the savvy owner of the Patriots, we see a shrewd businessman who has built an NFL dynasty in the face of draconic salary cap handicaps. As the owner of the New England Revolution, we see a cheap skinflint with no real eye for European style football. Considering his petty negotiations with every decent NE player from Shalrie Joseph to Clint Dempsey to Taylor Twellman, and his reputation among the fans, its hard to see how that managerial style would translate over to the Premiership. 
The New England Revolution isn't exactly winning PR battles these days. While the team's frugal spending have kept them atop the Eastern Conference for much of the recent past, a string of contract issues are telling the rest of the league that the Revs aren't always one big, inexpensive family. 
