Soccer Insider

Why you should care about U.S. Open Cup

Steven Goff — Wed, 22 May 2013 05:24:16 GMT

You should care about the U.S. Open Cup because, although it remains far from perfect….. *On a day when Manchester City and the New York Yankees committed to spend hundreds of millions on MLS, fourth-tier, low-budget, largely amateur and mostly … Continue reading →

D.C. United news and notes

Steven Goff — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:06:18 GMT

Another Cruyff in Washington? Some 30 years since Dutch legend Johan Cruyff played for the NASL’s Diplomats, his grandson Jesjua has begun a tryout with D.C. United. Jesjua, 20, arrived from Wigan Athletic’s under-21 squad in England after spending his … Continue reading →

U.S. national team ticket sales update

Steven Goff — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:51:32 GMT

With 38,500 tickets sold, the U.S. men’s national team friendly against Germany on June 2 at Washington’s RFK Stadium is the biggest seller among the four approaching home matches. Seattle is second with 32,000 for the World Cup qualifier against … Continue reading →

D.C. United news and notes

Steven Goff — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:24:26 GMT

*Goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra and forward Michael Seaton will play for Richmond in the U.S. Open Cup, while the other three D.C. United players on loan with the third-division Kickers will sit out in order to remain tournament-eligible for the MLS … Continue reading →

Americans abroad weekend roundup

Steven Goff — Mon, 20 May 2013 03:33:50 GMT

Weekend goal scorers: In Russia, forward Eugene Starikov, on loan to Rostov from Zenit St. Petersburg, scored for the first time in two years. Forward Bobby Wood scored his third league goal for 1860 Munich and German-American defender John Anthony … Continue reading →

D.C. United 1, Sporting Kansas City 1

Steven Goff — Mon, 20 May 2013 02:01:13 GMT

My match report from D.C. United’s 1-1 draw with Sporting Kansas City at RFK Stadium is available here. A look at where everyone was positioned on Sporting’s disallowed goal: (that’s goal scorer Ike Opara at the edge of the six-yard … Continue reading →

D.C. United vs. Sporting Kansas City

Steven Goff — Sun, 19 May 2013 20:02:19 GMT

D.C. United carries a club-record seven-game losing streak into Sunday’s MLS match against Sporting Kansas City at RFK Stadium. United has not won in 70 days after going 0-for-April. Will the fortunes change today? Chris Pontius should return in some … Continue reading →

Sunday kickaround

Steven Goff — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:39:26 GMT

*Today’s D.C. United preview focuses on goalkeeper Bill Hamid, who has shown greater maturity amid the club’s terrible season and is headed to U.S. national team training camp later this month. *Today is defender Robbie Russell‘s farewell to pro soccer … Continue reading →

D.C. United news and notes

Steven Goff — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:21:47 GMT

*D.C. United will not offer contracts to American defender Frankie Simek and English forward Akpo Sodje, Coach Ben Olsen said Friday. Both had been on trial this week. With the European seasons ending, several trialists will pass through Washington in … Continue reading →

Spirit defeats Reign for first victory, 4-2

Steven Goff — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:08:54 GMT

Tiffany McCarty scored the tiebreaking goal in the 56th minute Thursday night as the visiting Washington Spirit defeated the Seattle Reign, 4-2, for to its first victory of the inaugural National Women’s Soccer League season. Tori Huster added a goal … Continue reading →

Weekend TV and online listings: 68 matches

Steven Goff — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:50:23 GMT

What are you going to watch? All times are Eastern Of note: Most MLS matches are also available on TV in team’s local market. FRIDAY UEFA under-17 final noon GolTV Spanish Copa del Rey final, Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid … Continue reading →

Donovan left off U.S. national team roster

Steven Goff — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:52:28 GMT

Landon Donovan has returned to competitive soccer but apparently is not ready to return to the U.S. national team. Coach Juergen Klinsmann left the program’s career scoring leader off the roster for two friendlies, including a June 2 match against … Continue reading →

D.C. United news and notes

Steven Goff — Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:18 GMT

*Multiple sources tell me D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid has been selected for U.S. national team duty ahead of friendlies against Belgium on May 29 in Cleveland and Germany on June 2 in Washington. The roster, with as many as … Continue reading →

Russell to retire, pursue medical career

Steven Goff — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:20:04 GMT

Robbie Russell was born in Ghana and lived in Sri Lanka. He has played professional soccer in Scandinavia and Salt Lake City. He can write Norwegian and read Icelandic. His father speaks on behalf of political cartoonists. He can trace his … Continue reading →

Soccer Outsider: United-FC Dallas match diary, player ratings

Matt Bonesteel — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:58:34 GMT

United wasn’t as good as its season-ending run last year suggested; everyone seemed to know that except for United GM Dave Kasper. But in fairness, United isn’t as bad as its start to the season suggests. But in fairness to … Continue reading →

U.S. national team news and notes

Steven Goff — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:46:54 GMT

*Juergen Klinsmann will unveil his U.S. national team roster for the May-June matches this Thursday afternoon with as many as 27 players. He will trim the list to 23 after the friendlies against Belgium and Germany and before the three … Continue reading →

D.C. United news and notes

Steven Goff — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:29:06 GMT

Frankie Simek, a former U.S. national team defender who has spent his entire pro career in England, began a tryout with D.C. United on Tuesday. Simek, 28, is a right back who rose through Arsenal’s youth academy and played most … Continue reading →

Maryland Terps announces 2013 schedule

Steven Goff — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:51:44 GMT

The Maryland men’s program, which lost to Georgetown in the College Cup semifinals last season and will be among the top-rated teams in the country again this year, will begin the 2013 campaign on the West Coast against Stanford and … Continue reading →

10 reasons why D.C. United stinks in 2013

Steven Goff — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:41:29 GMT

After advancing within a step of MLS Cup last fall, D.C. United is off to the worst start in the club’s 18-season history. At 1-8-1 and four points, United has lost a team-record seven consecutive matches and scored just five … Continue reading →

Americans abroad weekend roundup

Steven Goff — Sun, 12 May 2013 17:58:49 GMT

Nine days until Americans begin gathering at Home Depot Center for Juergen Klinsmann‘s training camp ahead of two friendlies and three World Cup qualifiers….. Weekend goal scorers: Clint Dempsey posted his seventh Premier League goal (10th overall). … Clarence Goodson … Continue reading →

D.C. United at FC Dallas

Steven Goff — Sat, 11 May 2013 23:31:47 GMT

You are not in Frisco, and neither am I. Two reasons I skipped this Texas trip: Conserve the travel budget ahead of the U.S. national team’s heavy summer calendar. Given D.C. United’s record, it’s getting harder to justify covering this … Continue reading →

Video: Wigan’s late goal in FA Cup final

Steven Goff — Sat, 11 May 2013 19:52:55 GMT

D.C. United news and notes

Steven Goff — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:39:20 GMT

*Midfielder Chris Pontius says he is ready to face FC Dallas on Saturday night after missing two matches with a groin injury, the most recent absence as precaution against aggravating the ailment. “It’s just one those things where it’s a … Continue reading →

Soccer Outsider: United-Dynamo match diary, player ratings

Matt Bonesteel — Thu, 09 May 2013 21:03:21 GMT

Let’s remember the MLS playoffs are like Arizona State: You have to screw up really badly to not get in. So, in spite of D.C. United’s start to the season, there’s still something to play for. If the summer transfer … Continue reading →

Weekend TV and online listings: 68 matches

Steven Goff — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:40:49 GMT

What are you going to watch? All times are Eastern Of note: Most MLS matches are also available on TV in team’s local market. MLS Live is free this weekend (details here) FRIDAY CONCACAF beach tournament, Guatemala vs. Puerto Rico … Continue reading →