Montero, Thornton win MLS honors
November 11, 2009
American goalkeeper Zach Thornton and Colombian forward Fredy Montero claimed Major League Soccer season awards on Tuesday, just days after their teams were ousted from the title chase.
Seattle Sounders striker Montero took MLS Newcomer of the Year honors while 36-year-old Thornton of Chivas USA captured the league’s Comeback Player of the Year award to join his MLS Goalkeeper of the Year trophy.
Montero, 22, led the first-year club in scoring with 12 goals, four of them game winners. He joined the Sounders after four seasons with Deportivo Cali in his homeland, including a season on loan to Atletico Huila.
Thornton, in his first full season as a starter since 2006, led Chivas to a mark of 13-11 with six drawn, posting a career-best 12 shutouts with a 0.87 goals-against average, the second best in MLS history.
After eight seasons as a starter for Chicago, Thornton was demoted to a reserve role in 2007 at Colorado and a bench-warmer last year at New York before a late-season trade to Chivas after Brad Guzan left for Aston Villa.
This year, Thornton led Chivas into the MLS playoffs for a fourth season in a row but the club was ousted by its city rival, the Los Angeles Galaxy, in the opening round.
The Galaxy will play host to Houston, which ousted Seattle in another first-round meeting, on Friday with the winner to face either Chicago or Real Salt Lake in the MLS Cup final.
Players, coaches, general managers and media all voted upon the awards.
NEW YORK (AFP)
Tags: american goalkeeper, aston villa, brad guzan, Cali, Chicago, chivas usa, Colorado, comeback player, eight seasons, fredy, game winners, general managers, goals against average, Houston, Los Angeles, los angeles galaxy, Major League Soccer, mls cup, mls playoffs, montero, New York, Real, real salt lake, season awards, title chase, zach thorntonRelated posts
Ticos end slide, beat Trinidad 4-0
October 11, 2009
Alvaro Soborio scored a pair of goals and helped on another as Costa Rica ended a three-game losing streak to revive its World Cup hopes, beating Trinidad & Tobago 4-0 Saturday night in Rene Simoes’ first game as manager.
Costa Rica, which hadn’t scored its three losses, climbed into third place in the standings for the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying with 15 points, four behind the leading United States but two ahead of Honduras in the fight for the last guaranteed trip to South Africa.
Three sides are assured of berths in the 32-team World Cup field while the fourth-placed team will have to play a two-leg playoff with the fifth-placed team from South America for the last place in South Africa.
Costa Rica will play its final game against the already qualified United States in Washington on Wednesday while Honduras will have to travel to play already eliminated El Salvador.
Costa Rica dominated the first half but took the lead on an own-goal by Radanfah Abubark.
The 28th minute score came from after a seemingly innocent cross by Costa Rica midfielder Michael Barrante had deflected off the foot Trinidad defender Julius James before striking Abubakr in the shoulder and past goalkeeper Marvin Phillip.
Costa Rica appeared to have taken the lead just seconds earlier when a strong long distance blast from Barrante had Phillip beaten but smashed off the Trinidad and Tobago post.
Phillip made two saves in the first 25th minutes, thwarting a blast from defender Christian Montero and another try in the 25th minute by defender Esteban Sirias.
Phillip kept the game close late in the half, turning away close shots by Costa Rica midfielder Brian Ruiz in the 36th and 41st minutes.
Phillip could not deny Walter Centeno, who notched his 23rd career goal for the Ticos in the 50th when he got behind a Saborio cross to make the score 2-0.
Sabario got things started when he raced down the left wing, turned Abubakr at the goal line and sent a pass across the face of goal to an onrushing and unmarked Centeno.
Sabario then scored his first in the 61st minute when he raced on to a through ball after a clever back-heel from midfielder Rolando Fonseca before outpacing Abubakr and calmly slotting the ball past Phillip.
Sabario added his second of the game and 16th of his career for the Ticos two minutes later, outjumping Phillip and striker Kenwyne Jones to head a corner kick past Phillip.
Trinidad finished the game with 10 men after James was ejected in the 65th after colliding with Centeno and appearing to make contact with his elbow.
Costa Rica could have made the score 5-0 in the 82nd minute but Montero couldn’t convert his penalty kick after Phillip made a sensational save and then made a second stop when Dennis Lawrence nearly knocked the spot kick rebound into his own goal.
Saturday’s match kicked off in a driving rain which made the aging playing surface at Saprissa Stadium slippery leading to several strange bounces off the artificial surface and several players on both teams struggling to keep their footing.
While Trinidad already had been eliminated from advancing to the 2010 tournament before Saturday’s game they close out their campaign against Mexico on Wednesday in Port-of-Spain.
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica
Tags: abubakr, berths, Brian Ruiz, career goal, Christian Montero, close shots, Costa Rica, Dennis Lawrence, El Salvador, Esteban Sirias, final game, first game, game losing streak, goal line, James, Jones, Julius James, left wing, marvin, Marvin Phillip, Michael Barrante, midfielder, minute score, montero, port of spain, Rene Simoes, rolando fonseca, San Jose, saturday night, sirias, South Africa, Trinidad, trinidad and tobago, United States, Walter Centeno, Washington, world cup fieldRelated posts
Seattle claims first berth in 2010-2011 CCL
September 4, 2009
NEW YORK –The Seattle Sounders have become the first team to qualify for the 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champions League, cementing their place by beating D.C. United to win the U.S. Open Cup.
The Sounders’ 2-1 victory in Washington Wednesday night made it the first team to clinch a place in the 24-team field and claim the first of four berths from the United States.
“With their average attendance this year, the Sounders will be a great addition to the Champions League,” CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer said. “We can’t wait to have them.”
Seattle, competing in its first season in Major League Soccer, has led MLS with an average crowd of 30,587 playing at Qwest Field, more than 10,000 better than the next best team: Toronto FC (20,308).
Freddy Montero and Roger Levesque scored second-half goals to give the Sounders, led by goalkeeper and former U.S. national team veteran Kasey Keller, a 2-0 lead before Clyde Simms tallied in the 89th minute to set off a furious push in injury time by D.C. United.
D.C., which is involved in the Group Stage of this year’s CONCACAF Champions League, was seeking a third straight berth in the confederation club championship and still can claim either the other Preliminary Round berth or one of the two Group Stage places in 2010-2011 through the campaign of the MLS regular season and MLS Cup playoffs.
Tags: berth, berths, blazer, Chuck Blazer, clyde simms, concacaf champions league, confederation, cup playoffs, d c united, D.C., fc 20, freddy, Freddy Montero, general secretary, group stage, injury time, Major League Soccer, mls cup, montero, New York, qwest, roger levesque, Seattle, seattle sounders, toronto fc, U.S., U.S. Open, WashingtonRelated posts
Cruz Azul held 0-0, advances easily to Group Stage
August 6, 2009
MEXICO CITY – Cruz Azul easily returned to the Group Stage of the CONCACAF Champions League, settling for a 0-0 draw with Herediano on Wednesday night and advancing thanks to its dominating first-leg win a week ago.
Last year’s runner-up to Atlante, Cruz Azul had numerous chances as it did in its 6-2 victory in Costa Rica, but were thwarted by shots high, wide and some desperate defending.
Herediano also created chances, but its commitment forward to overturn a four-goal deficit left it vulnerable to counterattacks, which came down both sides.
Cruz Azul will join Group C with the Columbus Crew, Saprissa of Costa Rica and the Puerto Rico Islanders. It will open at home against Saprissa on August 19.
The Azulinos used several of the players from last week’s victory, including Javier Orozco, who had three goals.
While Herediano had several chances in the first half, the second half was almost all Cruz Azul, with Pablo Zeballos missed just wide of the right post on a header in the 51st , three minutes later when he turned and shot just off target again, and once more in the 70th when an unmarked header from the edge of the six-yard box skipped wide of the right post.
Alejandro Vela broke in alone on Herediano keeper Adrian de Lemos in the 41st minute, but Christhian Montero raced back and swept away the ball with a sliding tackle on the left side of the penalty area.
Herediano’s best chance came in the 26th, when Marvin Borbon’s free kick from 25 meters forced Cruz Azul keeper Yosgart Gutierrez to push it over the bar. Second-half substitute Jose Guity was unable to get his extended right leg to a cross through the six-yard box from Andy Herron in the 69th minute.
De Lemos scrambled most of the night to diffuse dangerous situations, while Guitierez had to make a handful of dramatic leaping saves.
Cruz Azul’s advancement secures a fourth berth in the Group Stage for Mexico for the second straight year.
Tags: adrian de lemos, Alejandro Vela, Andy Herron, berth, borbon, columbus crew, concacaf, concacaf champions league, Costa Rica, cruz azul, dangerous situations, free kick, group stage, guity, herediano, Herron, Javier Orozco, Jose, Marvin Borbon, Mexico, mexico city, montero, orozco, Pablo Zeballos, Puerto Rico, puerto rico islanders, three minutes, zeballosRelated posts
Cruz Azul held 0-0, advances easily to Group Stage
August 6, 2009
MEXICO CITY – Cruz Azul easily returned to the Group Stage of the CONCACAF Champions League, settling for a 0-0 draw with Herediano on Wednesday night and advancing thanks to its dominating first-leg win a week ago.
Last year’s runner-up to Atlante, Cruz Azul had numerous chances as it did in its 6-2 victory in Costa Rica, but were thwarted by shots high, wide and some desperate defending.
Herediano also created chances, but its commitment forward to overturn a four-goal deficit left it vulnerable to counterattacks, which came down both sides.
Cruz Azul will join Group C with the Columbus Crew, Saprissa of Costa Rica and the Puerto Rico Islanders. It will open at home against Saprissa on August 19.
The Azulinos used several of the players from last week’s victory, including Javier Orozco, who had three goals.
While Herediano had several chances in the first half, the second half was almost all Cruz Azul, with Pablo Zeballos missed just wide of the right post on a header in the 51st , three minutes later when he turned and shot just off target again, and once more in the 70th when an unmarked header from the edge of the six-yard box skipped wide of the right post.
Alejandro Vela broke in alone on Herediano keeper Adrian de Lemos in the 41st minute, but Christhian Montero raced back and swept away the ball with a sliding tackle on the left side of the penalty area.
Herediano’s best chance came in the 26th, when Marvin Borbon’s free kick from 25 meters forced Cruz Azul keeper Yosgart Gutierrez to push it over the bar. Second-half substitute Jose Guity was unable to get his extended right leg to a cross through the six-yard box from Andy Herron in the 69th minute.
De Lemos scrambled most of the night to diffuse dangerous situations, while Guitierez had to make a handful of dramatic leaping saves.
Cruz Azul’s advancement secures a fourth berth in the Group Stage for Mexico for the second straight year.
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Tags: adrian de lemos, Alejandro Vela, Andy Herron, berth, columbus crew, concacaf, concacaf champions league, Costa Rica, cruz azul, dangerous situations, free kick, group stage, guity, herediano, Herron, Javier Orozco, Jose, Marvin Borbon, Mexico, mexico city, montero, orozco, Pablo Zeballos, Puerto Rico, puerto rico islanders, target, three minutes, zeballosRelated posts
Orozco scores three more, Cruz Azul rolls over Herediano 6-2
July 31, 2009
HEREDIA, Costa Rica—Javier Orozco scored three goals to lead Cruz Azul of Mexico to a 6-2 victory over 10-man Herediano of Costa Rica on Thursday in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round series.
Alejandro Vela gave Cruz Azul the lead in the second minute, tapping in a cross at the right post after a Cristian Riveros cross sailed over Herediano goalkeeper Adrian de Lemos.
Herediano played nearly the entire second half down a man after Eduardo Gomez was sent off with a red card in the 48th minute.
Orozco , who lead the Champions League last year with seven goals, scored his first goal of the night two minutes later when he settled a pass from Vela and lifted his shot over De Lemos. Seven minutes later Orozco gave Cruz Azul a 3-0 lead when he placed his shot in the lower left corner.
Andy Herron cut the lead to two goals a minute later, volleying a long ball and beating goalkeeper Yosgart Gutierrez with a low shot to the right corner.
The match featured several players from both teams who played in the Gold Cup semifinal last week Mexico won on penalty kicks. What was built up as somewhat of a redemption chance for the Costa Rican side turned out to be another triumph for the Mexicans.
Cruz Azul, which lost last season’s finals to Atlante in May, never let up throughout the match. In the 70th minute, Emmanuel Villa headed in a cross by Jamie Lozano to put the Mexican squad up 4-1.
Orozco added his third goal and Champions League leading 10th overall in the 74th minute, all but assuring a berth in the Group Stage of the competition. The winner on aggregate will advance to join the USA’s Columbus Crew, Saprissa of Costa Rica and either Toronto FC or the Puerto Rico Islanders in Group C.
Cristhian Montero cut the lead to 5-2 when he placed a deflected cross from Christhian Blanco past Cruz Azul keeper Jose Corona.
Pablo Zeballos completed the scoring in the 88th minute, finishing a final counter.
The two teams meet again on Wednesday in Mexico City.
Tags: adrian de lemos, Alejandro Vela, columbus crew, competition, Costa Rica, cristhian, cristian riveros, cruz azul, cup semifinal, eduardo gomez, Emmanuel Villa, Goalkeeper, group stage, heredia costa rica, herediano, Herron, Jamie Lozano, Jose, Mexico, mexico city, montero, orozco, penalty kicks, puerto rico islanders, saprissa, toronto fc, zeballosRelated posts
Herediano seeks to avenge Costa Rica against Cruz Azul
July 30, 2009
Vindication for both club and country has given members of Costa Rica’s Herediano some extra incentive when they host Mexican side Cruz Azul in Thursday’s first leg at Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero.
It will have been only a week when three members of the Costa Rican club took part in their country’s emotional Gold Cup semifinal loss on penalty kicks to Mexico, which featured four Cruz Azul players.
Now two of Herediano starters who played in the heart breaking defeat have hinted it is time for a little payback.
“It’s no secret that we will be motivated playing against Cruz Azul and the game comes soon after the [Gold Cup] tournament,” Herediano and Costa Rica midfielder Andy Herron said.
It won’t salve all the wounds, but possibly a few.
“I don’t see it as a continuation of the Gold Cup or that game, but definitely maybe a little bit of revenge will still be on the minds some players like Andy and myself,” added wing back Dennis Marshall, who also played in the July 23 match in Chicago.
Both Marshall and Herron picked up yellow cards against Mexico in a physical and spirited match, which included eight cautions handed out by Panamanian referee Roberto Moreno.
Goalkeeper Ricardo Gonzalez also was a member of the Gold Cup squad and started the Ticos’ group matches against Canada and Jamaica.
Herediano also has several others who did not participate in this year’s Gold Cup team but are part of the player pool for upcoming qualifiers, including midfield veteran Mauricio Solis, who has 110 caps, and defender Cristian Montero.
The club enters the Thursday’s clash with the momentum of 1-0 win over Alajuelense on a 31st-minute goal by Jose Caesar Guity in its Apertura opener.
Cruz Azul, last year’s Champions League runners-up to Atlante of Cancun, hope to avoid another disappointing domestic campaign. Last year, it finished 18th and last in the Mexican Clausura.
The worst fnish in club history led to the departure of coach Benjamin Galindo, who was replaced in June by the familiar face of Enrique Meza.
Meza led Pachuca to CONCACAF Champions Cup titles in 2007 and 2008, and also captured a Copa Sudamericana title in 2006.
Meza also has coached the Cementeros on three different occasions in the past.
“I am happy to be back because this is the team that I hold dear to me,” he said. “This is where I was born into football and to arrive as coach for a fourth time to a club of great prestige is an honor.”
Cruz Azul stumble its Mexican league opener on Saturday, losing 2-0 at home to Jaguares of Chiapas.
But Cruz Azul was missing three players who were part of Mexico’s Gold Cup winning squad: goalkeeper Jesus Corona, defender Fausto Pinto and midfielder and captain Gerardo Torrado.
Torrado’s penalty kick in the 56th minute sparked a 5-0 rout over the United States on Sunday at Giants Stadium.
Meza recently moved to bolster his offense with the acquisition of Chilean striker Emilio Hernandez, who could see his first minutes with his new club during Thursday’s game in Herediano.
Other players of note for the Blue Machine include Dallas-born Honduran international Ramon Nunez and Mexican U-17 and U-20 midfielder Cesar Villaluz.
After Thursday’s game, the two teams will prepare for the return leg on August 5 at Estadio Cruz Azul in southwestern Mexico City.
By Peter Mallett
Tags: Andy, Benjamin Galindo, Canada, Cancun, captain Gerardo Torrado, cesar villaluz, Chicago, club history, Corona, Costa Rica, Cristian Montero, cruz azul, cup semifinal, Dallas, Dennis, Emilio Hernandez, giants stadium, goalkeeper ricardo, gold cup, guity, herediano, Herron, Jamaica, Marshall, Mauricio Solis, mexican clausura, Mexico, midfielder, minute goal, montero, penalty kicks, player pool, Ramon Nunez, ricardo gonzalez, roberto moreno, solis, southwestern Mexico City, vindication, yellow cardsRelated posts
Ecuador sixth after win over Peru
June 8, 2009
Ecuador kept World Cup hopes alive with a 1-2 win over Peru in Sunday’s only South American qualifier.
The team that featured at the 2006 World Cup opened the score through Jefferson Montero in the 37th minute although Juan Vargas equalised seven minutes after the break.
The winning goal came six minutes later though, and was scored by Carlos Tenorio.
Ecuador move into sixth place with the same amount of points as fifth-placed Uruguay, although the latter have a much better goal record. Peru are in tenth and last position.
Written by:
Tags: carlos tenorio, Ecuador, Jefferson Montero, Jonathan Roorda, Juan, juan vargas, montero, peru, score, six minutes, uruguay, WC Qualifying South-Africa, World CupRelated posts
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