Champions League resumes with Crew-Toluca
March 9, 2010
The CONCACAF Champions League returns after a four-month hiatus on Tuesday, with the first of four quarterfinals as the Columbus Crew host Toluca in the opening leg Tuesday night at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
The second leg will be played at Estadio Nemesio Diez on March 17.
Since becoming the only Major League Soccer squad to advance to the group stage, Columbus re-signed Argentine legend Guillermo Barros Schelotto and also brought in Colombian forward Sergio Herrera from Deportivo Cali.
Schelotto, the Crew’s top player, will miss Tuesday’s home leg, serving a one-game ban because of accumulated yellow cards. He was booked in the 89th minute of the Crew’s final group stage match.
Also serving a one-game suspension is American international fullback Frankie Hejduk, while Columbus central defender Chad Marshall will miss both legs and possibly the Major League Soccer opener against Toronto FC after suffering a hamstring injury in preseason. Also out is defender Jed Zayner with a knee injury.
“It’s a strain, but you could see an area that was torn,” Marshall told the Columbus Dispatch. “Hopefully I’ll be back by the [MLS] opener, but we have [a bye week] after that, so maybe no later than the second game.”
The Crew wrapped up the 2009 Major League Soccer season losing to eventual MLS Cup champion Real Salt Lake on aggregate in the quarterfinals. In Phoenix, Arizona, on Thursday, Columbus tied the Kansas City Wizards 1-1 in its final preseason tune-up before its CONCACAF Champions League tilt.
While the Crew is winding down its preseason, Toluca is in the middle of its Clausura campaign, having won two of its last three games and is unbeaten in four straight. On Saturday, Toluca battled Atlas to a 1-1 draw at Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara. Hector Mancilla put Toluca in front in the 31st minute, but Herbert Alferez equalized with six minutes remaining.
Last Sunday, Mancilla dedicated a goal in a 3-0 victory against Indios to his native Chile and those affected by an 8.8-magnitude earthquake. He lifted up his jersey to display a shirt that read “Animo, Chile.”
“Family members closest to me were fine, thank God,” Mancilla said. “There is no water, food or power, but friends and family a bit more distant lost their houses and that makes me sad. So that’s why I dedicate the goal to them.”
The Diablos Rojos are fourth in Clausura’s Group 1, two points behind third-place Atlas.
Since winning Group B in the CONCACAF Champions League, Toluca, which will be without Edgar Duenas, who will serve a one-game suspension, has added Chilean defender Osvaldo Gonzalez. The 25-year-old previously played for Universidad de Chile after coming up through Universidad de Concepcion’s youth system.
A positive result in the opener at Crew Stadium is critical for Columbus because Major League Soccer clubs have struggled mightily in Mexico over the years. In fact, D.C. United’s group stage draw against Toluca at Estadio Nemesio Diez in October was only the second time an MLS team has earned a point on Mexican soil.
Concacaf
Tags: Argentine, Arizona, Cali, central defender, Chad, Chile, COLUMBUS, columbus dispatch, concacaf champions league, Concepcion, crew stadium, D.C., final group, frankie hejduk, game ban, game suspension, group stage, Guadalajara, guillermo barros schelotto, hector mancilla, home leg, jed zayner, Kansas City, kansas city wizards, Major League Soccer, Marshall, Mexico, mls cup champion, native chile, Ohio, Phoenix, real salt lake, soccer season, soccer squad, toronto fcRelated posts
Crew claims place in quarterfinals with 1-1 draw
October 21, 2009
The Columbus Crew became the first team from U.S. Major League Soccer to reach the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League, getting a 74th-minute goal by second-half substitute Emilio Renteria to earn a 1-1 draw with the Puerto Rico Islanders on Tuesday.
The draw gave Columbus eight points in Group C, three better than Costa Rica’s Saprissa, which played Cruz Azul later Tuesday. But the Crew beat Saprissa in Costa Rica and drew with it at home to advance on head-to-head results.
Renteria, who entered the game two minutes earlier for Emmanuel Ekpo, capitalized on the work of Steven Lenhart, who replaced Frankie Hejduk in the 61st minute. Lenhart won a ball outside the area and closed on Puerto Rico goalkeeper Justin Myers, who raced off his line to give the Columbus forward a smaller target.
Myers blocked Lenhart’s initial shot, but the rebound bounced back to Renteria, who shot over the out-of-position keeper.
The Islanders, who advanced to the semifinals of last season’s inaugural competition, finished this year’s tournament without a win in the Group Stage and only two points. Tuesday’s match was their first since October 4 against Montreal, a 2-1 loss that eliminated it from the United Soccer League First Division playoff semifinals.
Neither side looked particularly dangerous in the first half, but and Puerto Rico took the lead on a seemingly innocuous play.
Noah Delgado headed a wayward ball back toward goal and teammate Cristian Arrieta attempted a twisting side volley at the edge of the six-yard box. But Arrieta missed, and the ball bounced in front of goalkeeper Will Hesmer, who appeared to be bracing for Arrieta’s shot but instead let the ball go underneath and between his legs.
Knowing a draw would clinch a place in the quarterfinals, Columbus manager Robert Warzycha inserted Adam Moffat for Kevin Burns to start the second half. Moffat had two chances in the first two minutes, a shot from distance high and a soft header into Myers hands, and Brian Carroll also went just wide from distance in the third minute.
Columbus, the defending MLS champion which has the best record in this year’s U.S. league play, joined Mexican sides Pumas, Pachuca, Cruz Azul and Toluca in the knockout round and will learn its quarterfinal opponent in the November 17 draw at CONCACAF’s New York headquarters.
BAYAMON, Puerto Rico
Tags: Adam Moffat, Brian Carroll, COLUMBUS, columbus crew, concacaf champions league, Costa Rica, cristian, Cristian Arrieta, cruz azul, Emilio Renteria, Emmanuel, Emmanuel Ekpo, frankie hejduk, Goalkeeper, group stage, inaugural competition, Justin Myers, kevin burns, lenhart, Major League Soccer, moffat, Montreal, New York, Puerto Rico, puerto rico islanders, quarterfinals, robert warzycha, saprissa, Steven Lenhart, target, U.S, united soccer league, volleyRelated posts
US adds Hejduk to training camp lineup
October 7, 2009
Veteran defender Frankie Hejduk was added to the United States training camp roster on Wednesday for two last qualifying matches for the 2010 South Africa World Cup.
One day after the Americans announced veteran midfielder Clint Dempsey would not play Saturday against Honduras and was questionable for next week’s home match against Costa Rica. Hejduk will start US team workouts on Wednesday.
Hejduk, 35, has seven goals in 84 caps, the second-most appearances of any US player on the Honduras match roster.
Columbus Crew captain Hejduk has played 17 times for US teams in World Cup qualifying, including scoring the equalizer in a 2-2 March draw at El Salvador.
A shoulder sprain will sideline Dempsey, who ranks second in US 2010 World Cup qualifying with five goals.
The Americans face Honduras on Saturday at San Pedro Sula, where the hosts are 8-0 in World Cup qualifying, and face Costa Rica on October 14 at Washington. A victory in either match would ensure a US trip to South Africa.
MIAMI (AFP)
Tags: africa world, caps, captain Hejduk, Clint Dempsey, columbus crew, Costa Rica, El Salvador, equalizer, frankie hejduk, home match, Honduras, hosts, Miami, san pedro sula, shoulder sprain, sideline, South Africa, training camp, U.S., United States, victory, Washington, workouts, World CupRelated posts
US names roster for Confederations Cup
June 8, 2009
CHICAGO (AFP) – All-time US scoring leader Landon Donovan and Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard were among the 23-man roster named Sunday by coach Bob Bradley to the United States roster for the Confederations Cup.
The American squad, featuring 17 European-based players, will depart Monday for South Africa to begin training in Pretoria ahead of matches June 15 against Italy, June 18 against Brazil and June 21 against Egypt.
“The FIFA Confederations Cup is a great opportunity to play against top level competition and gain further experience competing in tough games,” Bradley said.
“Equally important is the chance for our team to experience the environment in South Africa, everything from travel to food to weather. We believe the experience will be invaluable if we qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.”
The US squad enhanced the chances of that with a 2-1 World Cup qualifying victory over Honduras here on Saturday.
Steve Cherundolo and Frankie Hejduk, both wing backs, are injured and not part of the lineup for the Americans, who will play next month in the Gold Cup on home soil before resuming World Cup qualifying in August at Mexico.
US Confederations Cup roster
Goaltenders: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Luis Robles (Kaiserslautern)
Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Danny Califf (Midtjylland), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)
Midfielders: Freddy Adu (AS Monaco), DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca)
Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Xerez), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Charlie Davies (Hammarby), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Tags: Aarhus, Benny Feilhaber, bob bradley, brad guzan, brazil, carlos bocanegra, Casey, Charlie Davies, charlie davies hammarby, Chicago, chivas usa, Clint Dempsey, clint dempsey fulham, Colorado, damarcus beasley rangers, Danny Califf, Egypt, fifa confederations cup, fifa world cup, Francisco Torres, frankie hejduk, freddy adu, fulham, hansa rostock, heath pearce, Honduras, Houston, houston dynamo, Italy, jay demerit, jonathan bornstein, jonathan spector, landon donovan, Liege, Los Angeles, los angeles galaxy, Luis Robles, Mexico, Michael Bradley, MLS, Monaco, oguchi onyewu, pretoria, Rennes, Ricardo Clark, sacha kljestan, South Africa, standard de liege, steve cherundolo, tim howard, U.S., United States, USA, west ham, World Cup, WynneRelated posts
Off-field issues settled, El Salvador now gathers for World Cup tilt against USA
March 26, 2009
El Salvador recorded an important victory last week and it wasn’t on the soccer field.
Earlier in the week 23 players left training camp for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier, protesting the non-payment of bonuses for reaching the CONCACAF final round.
The players returned to practice on Sunday after an agreement was reached with the El Salvadoran Football Federation.
Federation president Rodrigo Calvo told the media that "the parties reached an agreement which is satisfactory for both."
"Everything’s settled," El Salvador captain Sanchez added.
It is too early to tell whether the strike would bring the players together or tear them apart.
But if the strike has lasted any longer, the El Salvadorans seriously would have jeopardized their chances against the United States in San Salvador on Saturday night.
The Cuscatlecos already dropped two poings, needing to rally for a 2-2 draw at home with Trinidad & Tobago on February 11. Despite being rescued by two goals in the final 11 minutes by 22-year-old midfielder Osael Romero, El Salvador is 0-2-2 in its last four matches, which includes a poor run in the Central American Nations Cup.
Its task is especially daunting considering that four days after playing the United States, it must travel to Mexico for another qualifier April 1.
The Salvadorans are winless in their last 12 games (0-2-10) against the United States, and haven’t scored in six games against their rival, since a 4-2 loss on Nov. 16, 1997. Its only win in 18 games against the U.S. was 2-0 in a friendly in San Salvador on February 19, 1992. In six World Cup qualifying matches, its has lost four and at best drawn the other two.
"If we feed on positive ideas . . . we can have the confidence to make a good game," coach Carlos de los Cobos said. "We cannot play with fear.”
The U.S., on the other hand, has the momentum of its 2-0 win over archrival Mexico on February 11. Coach Bob Bradley has called in 10 starters from that match, including the scoring hero of the game, his son, midfielder Michael Bradley (two goals), and midfielder-forward Landon Donovan.
Donovan has scored the most goals in U.S. team history (37) and is one short of tying former international Brian McBride for the most in World Cup qualifying (10).
Donovan is one of four players on the U.S. roster who participated in the Americans’ most recent qualifying match in El Salvador, a 2-0 semifinal-round victory on October 9, 2004. The others are defender Frankie Hejduk, midfielder DaMarcus Beasley and forward Eddie Johnson.
A win in El Salvador would give the U.S. two victories with a match at home — against Trinidad & Tobago in Nashville, Tennessee — next on April 1.
“The games against El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago represent a big opportunity to solidify our place in the group," coach Bradley said. "We had a fantastic team effort against Mexico, and if we put in the same type of performance we are confident of being able to get results.”
U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard is suspended for the game after accruing his second qualifying yellow card against. Mexico. Brad Guzan is likely to start with Marcus Hahnemann as his backup.
The roster will be bolstered by midfielder Pablo Mastroeni, who is back after serving a one-match suspension for yellow card accumulation.
By Michael Lewis
Tags: april 1, bob bradley, brad guzan, brian mcbride, captain Sanchez, carlos de los cobos, Central American, coach bob, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, cup qualifier, Donovan, Eddie, El Salvador, federation president, football federation, frankie hejduk, good game, Johnson, Marcus Hahnemann, Mexico, Michael Bradley, Michael Lewis Off-field, midfielder, Nashville, nations cup, Pablo Mastroeni, quot quot, rodrigo, Rodrigo Calvo, romero, salvadorans, San Salvador, six games, soccer field, starters, Tennessee, tim howard, Tobago, training camp, Trinidad, U.S., United States, USA, World CupRelated posts
FIFA issues suspensions, fines for incidents from last round of World Cup qualifying matches
March 19, 2009
NEW YORK – Mexico will be without Rafael Marquez for the next two World Cup qualifying matches, Trinidad & Tobago will have to do without Dwight Yorke for four and El Salvador will be paying a fine for its fans’ behavior.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee has handed down the sanctions for incidents that occurred during the opening matches of the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying on February 11.
Marquez was banned for crashing into and kicking U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard in the Americans’ 2-0 victory which earned him a red card. Assistant coach Francisco Ramirez also was issued a two-match suspension from the same match for a confrontation with Frankie Hejduk in the tunnel under Crew Stadium, in which video showed him slapping the U.S. defender.
The suspensions will force the pair to miss Mexico’s home game against Costa Rica on March 28 and its away contest at Honduras on April 1.
Yorke received his suspension, and a fine of 5,000 Swiss francs (US$4,200), for confronting Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez and his crew after Trinidad’s 2-2 draw with El Salvador. Rodriguez indicated Yorke cursed at him twice – drawing a post-match expulsion, but in an official statement by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation, Yorke has denied the accusation and has appealed the ban.
If upheld, Yorke would be unavailable for Trinidad’s next home game against Honduras on March 28, its away game against the United States April 1, another home game June 6 against Costa Rica and an away match at Mexico on June 10.
El Salvador will have to pay a fine of 30,000 Swiss francs (US$25,300) for an inability to control its fans during the match against Trinidad at San Salvador’s Estadio Cuscatlan. Throughout the match, debris rained on the field and despite three announcements over the public address system exhorting the crowd to stop, the shower of cups and other missiles continued.
Go to Source
Tags: assistant coach, away game, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, Costa Rica, crew stadium, Cuscatlan, disciplinary committee, dwight yorke, El Salvador, estadio cuscatlan, FIFA, francisco ramirez, frankie hejduk, Goalkeeper, home game, Marco Rodriguez, Mexico, miss mexico, New York, public address system, rafael marquez, salvador rodriguez, San Salvador, swiss francs, tim howard, Tobago, trinidad and tobago, trinidad and tobago football, trinidad and tobago football federation, U.S., United StatesRelated posts
Donovan among stars called home for US clash with Mexico
February 9, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AFP) – US coach Bob Bradley is pulling out all the stops as America hosts arch-rivals Mexico on Wednesday to open the final phase of regional qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Bradley named a 20-man squad on Sunday packed with European-based talent, including forward Landon Donovan, midfielder DaMarcus Beasley, defender Oguchi Onyewu and goalkeeper Tim Howard.
Donovan, who has 105 caps, is the United States’ all-time scoring leader and is one goal shy of tying Brian McBride for the most career goals in World Cup qualifying (10).
He is currently on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy to Bayern Munich in Germany.
Also included are US captain Carlos Bocanegra, a defender with Rennes in France, the midfielder Jose Francisco Torres (Pachuca of Mexico) and striker Josy Altidore (Jerez, Spain).
Sacha Kljestan, who plays for Major League Soccer’s Chivas USA, is in the squad after scoring three goals in the US victory over Sweden in a friendly in Los Angeles in January.
The match is the first of the final-round which also includes Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago.
Three countries will advance directly to the World Cup finals, and a fourth team will play off for a berth against a team from South America.
It will be the third straight time that the Columbus Crew stadium has hosted a home match against Mexico in the final round of World Cup qualifying in the North and Central America and Caribbean region.
Tickets for the clash sold out within 90 minutes of going on sale.
USA Squad
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa/ENG), Tim Howard (Everton/ENG)
Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes/FRA), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland/DEN), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege/BEL), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock/GER), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)
Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers/SCO), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach/GER), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), Jose Francisco Torres (Pachuca/MEX)
Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Jerez C.D/ESP), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF/SWE) Clint Dempsey (Fulham/ENG), Landon Donovan (Bayern Munich/GER).
Written by: AFP
Tags: arch rivals, bayern munich, borussia moenchengladbach, brad guzan, chivas usa, columbus crew stadium, fc midtjylland, frankie hejduk, glasgow rangers, hansa rostock, heath pearce, home match, houston dynamo, jonathan bornstein, landon donovan, los angeles galaxy, Major League Soccer, MLS, sacha kljestan, standard liege, world cup finalsRelated posts
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