SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 7-25-2010

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 7-25-2010

ROSTER UPDATES

CLICK HERE FOR… MANCHESTER UNITED & CELTIC ROSTERS

CLICK HERE FOR… TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR & MANCHESTER CITY ROSTERS

CLICK HERE FOR… REAL MADRID PRELIMINARY ROSTER

TV UPDATES

Fox Soccer Channel has picked up the August 5th FC Dallas v Inter Milan match from Pizza Hut Park, which kicks off at 9pm ET.

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL FRIENDLY MATCHESALL TIMES EASTERN

July 21 – Celtic v Sporting CP, Fenway Park, Boston MA, 8pm

July 22 – NEW YORK FOOTBALL CHALLENGE – New York Red Bulls v Tottenham Hotspur, Red Bull Arena, Harrison NJ 8pm

July 23 – NEW YORK FOOTBALL CHALLENGE – Manchester City v Sporting Lisbon, Red Bull Arena, Harrison NJ 8pm

July 25 – NEW YORK FOOTBALL CHALLENGE – Tottenham Hotspur v Sporting Lisbon, Red Bull Arena, Harrison NJ 1pm

July 25 – NEW YORK FOOTBALL CHALLENGE – New York Red Bull v Manchester City, Red Bull Arena, Harrison NJ 3:30pm

July 25 – Manchester United v Kansas City Wizards, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City MO 6pm

August 5 – FC Dallas v Inter Milan, Pizza Hut Park, Frisco TX 9pm

August 7 – LA Galaxy v Real Madrid – Rose Bowl, Pasadena CA 10:30pm

ESPN2 FRIENDLY MATCHES

July 28 – MLS All-Star’s v Manchester United, Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX 8:30pm

COMPLETE SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR

SUMMER FRIENDLY UPDATE – MANCHESTER UNITED ROSTER, REAL MADRID IN CALI, TV SCHEDULES

SUMMER FRIENDLY UPDATE – MANCHESTER UNITED ROSTER RELEASED

Manchester United have released their travel squad for their tour of North America, which begins this week.  More notable then those on the roster may be those left off as injuries and World Cup duty have limited the star power on Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

Players given a reprieve from the tour due to World Cup duty are United stalwarts Wayne Rooney, Park Ji-Sung, Anderson, Michael Carrick, Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic.

Newly signed Mexican Super-teen Javier Hernandez will join the Red Devils on July 27th, just before United battle the MLS  All-Star’s in Houston.

The star-studded injured ranks include Michael Owen, Owen Hargreaves, Gary Neville, Antonio Valencia and, of course, England captain Rio Ferdinand who was so sensationally injured just days before England’s World Cup opener against the United States.

MANCHESTER UNITED 2010 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS (3) : Ben Amos (ENG), Tomasz Kuszczak (POL), Edwin Van der Sar (NED)

DEFENDERS (8): Wes Brown (ENG), Fabio Da Silva (BRA), Rafael Da Silva (BRA), Ritchie De Laet (BEL), Corry Evans (NIR), Jonny Evans (NIR), John O’Shea (IRL), Chris Smalling (ENG)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Tom Cleverley (ENG), Darren Fletcher (SCO), Darron Gibson (IRL), Ryan Giggs (WAL), Nani (POR), Gabriel Obertan (FRA), Paul Scholes (ENG)

FORWARDS (5): Dimitar Berbatov (BUL), Mame Biram Diouf (SEN), Javier Hernandez (MEX), Federico Macheda (ITA), Danny Welbeck (ENG)

CLICK HERE FOR CELTIC 2010 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR ROSTER

MANCHESTER UNITED 2010 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR SCHEDULE

July 16   7:00pm  Manchester United vs. Celtic FC  Rogers Centre, Toronto ON (ESPN2)

July 21     7:30pm  Manchester United vs. Philadelphia Union,  Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia PA

July 25    6:00pm  Manchester United vs. Kansas City Wizards  Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO (Fox Soccer Channel)

July 28    8:30pm  2010 AT&T MLS All-Star Game vs. Manchester United  Reliant Stadium, Houston TX (ESPN2)

July 30   9:00pm  Guadalajara vs. Manchester United  Estadio Chivas, Guadalajara Mexico

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 7-5-2010

CLICK HERE FOR THE UP TO THE MINUTE SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR

PDL SIDE VENTURA COUNTY FUSION TO TAKE ON CRUZ AZUL & PORTSMOUTH

Premier Development League side Ventura County Fusion have scheduled two high-profile International Friendlies for July. The amateur side, based between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara California has locked in Mexican giants Cruz Azul and English League Championship club Portsmouth.

Ventura County currently sit in third place with 16 points in the PDL’s Southwest Division and were recently eliminated from their first ever US Open Cup.

Cruz Azul, who will also be in the Los Angeles area to take on Mexico City rival Club America at the Rose Bowl ten days later, will be entertained by the Fusion on July 1st at Ventura College. Tickets are $8.

Recently relegated from the Premier League, Portsmouth FC will battle the Fusion at Oxnard College on July 17. Tickets are $15.

Portsmouth also has pre-season matches scheduled against Club America in San Diego and Canadian side FC Edmonton before moving to the East Coast to take on DC United.

CLUB AMERICA TO PLAY JUVENTUS & CRUZ AZUL IN ADDITION TO MAN CITY AND PORTSMOUTH

Mexican super club Club America continues to schedule pre-season fixtures in North America, recently adding Juventus and Cruz Azul to their busy calendar.

Juventus will play America in the 90,000 seat Dallas Cowboys Stadium on July 18. The legendary Serie A side was in North America last month to wind down their 2009-10 campaign and will return to this side of the Atlantic to prepare for their 2010-11 season,

The ‘Clasico Joven’ is coming to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena California this summer as the Mexico City derby between Club America and Cruz Azul, will take place there on July 10, the day before the 2010 World Cup Final.

The ‘Young Classic’ will be transplanted to the Los Angeles area to be contested in front on 90,000+ ex-patriot Mexicans and air on Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports en Espanol.

America has already scheduled a July 14 match against English side Portsmouth in San Diego and a July 28 match against Manchester City in Atlanta.

UPDATES ARE IN BOLD

ALL TIMES EASTERN

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 6-7-2010

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 6-7-2010

CELTIC MATCH AT FENWAY PARK CONFIRMED

The long rumored Celtic match at Fenway Park is now official.

The Fenway Football Challenge will see Scottish powerhouse Glasgow Celtic take on Sporting CP of Portugal on July 21 at 8pm ET. The match, which will be the 19th soccer match to be played at the ballpark, will be televised locally by sports network NESN.

Tickets will range from $20-$120 and go on sale at noon on June 22.

CLUB AMERICA TO PLAY CRUZ AZUL IN ADDITION TO MAN CITY AND PORTSMOUTH

The ‘Clasico Joven’ is coming to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena California this summer as two Mexico City super clubs will renew their rivalry on July 10, the day before the 2010 World Cup Final.

The ‘Young Classic’ is the Mexico City derby between Club America and Cruz Azul, but that derby will be transplanted to the Los Angeles area to be contested in front on 90,000+ ex-patriot Mexicans.

America has already scheduled a July 14 match against English side Portsmouth in San Diego and a July 28 match against Manchester City in Atlanta.

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 6-5-2010

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 6-5-2010

CLUB AMERICA TO PLAY CRUZ AZUL IN ADDITION TO MAN CITY AND PORTSMOUTH

The ‘Clasico Joven’ is coming to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena California this summer as two Mexico City super clubs will renew their rivalry on July 10, the day before the 2010 World Cup Final.

The ‘Young Classic’ is the Mexico City derby between Club America and Cruz Azul, but that derby will be transplanted to the Los Angeles area to be contested in front on 90,000+ ex-patriot Mexicans.

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 6-2-2010

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 6-2-2010

FC EDMONTON SCHEDULES TWO MORE INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES

Having already secured English League side Portsmouth for a match at Commonwealth Stadium on July 21, Canada’s newest professional team has added 2010 Chilean League Champion Colo Colo on June 20 at Commonwealth Stadium and Vitoria, Brazil’s oldest sporting club, on June 27 at Foote Field. Click here for more information.

PORTLAND v ATLAS

The Portland Timbers have added Mexican side Club Atlas to a summer friendly lineup that already included Manchester City and Boca Juniors.

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 5-30-2010

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 5-30-2010

PORTLAND v ATLAS

The Portland Timbers have added Mexican side Club Atlas to a summer friendly lineup that already includes Manchester City and Boca Juniors.

The Mexico City based Atlas, who finished 10th in the 2010 Bicentario, will at take on the Timbers at PGE Park on Sunday, July 11, at 6 p.m local time.

PORTSMOUTH FC

Recently relegated Portsmouth, who will be coming to the Americas for the first time since going to South America in 1951, will be playing against Mexican perennial power Club America on July 14 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, then head north of the border to plat the an Edmonton FC Select XI on July 21 before shifting to the East Coast to meet DC United at RFK Stadium on July 24.

UPDATES ARE IN BOLD

ALL TIMES EASTERN

NASL UPDATE: AC STL SURVIVES, FC EDMONTON TAKES SHAPE, MONTREAL & VANCOUVER RETURN TO ACTION

NASL UPDATE: AC STL SURVIVES, FC EDMONTON TAKES SHAPE, MONTREAL & VANCOUVER RETURN TO ACTION

St. Louis Financial Situation

AC St. Louis has survived financial crisis, for now anyway, possibly at the expense of it’s Women’s Professional Soccer counter part St. Louis Athletica.

Bonds were issued to secure the payroll of the NASL team, but the 2009 WPS runners-up Athletica have folded roughly two weeks after the main London investors of both St. Louis teams stopped the funding, that left the team almost $1 million in debt and unable to cover it’s payroll and operations, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

“We looked at a few options as a league together with our Board and U.S. Soccer, but the operational hurdles and finances just didn’t work out,” WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci said in a statement. “In the face of a severe funding gap in St. Louis, the local ownership group is

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 5-28-2010

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 5-27-2010

PORTSMOUTH FC TO PLAY CLUB AMERICA, FC EDMONTON AND DC UNITED

Portsmouth, who will be coming to the Americas for the first time since going to South America in 1951, will be playing against Mexican perennial power Club America on July 14 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, then head north of the border to plat the an Edmonton FC Select XI on July 21 before shifting to the East Coast to meet DC United at RFK Stadium on July 24.

After a season that must go on record as one of the worst in the history 112 year history of Portsmouth FC, the newly relegated club is set to tour North America in preparation for the 2010-11 season in the Football League  Championship.

Portsmouth has gone almost $200 million into debt, they’ve gone into administration, had 12 points deducted from their 2009-10 season, were relegated, had to sell off their players, and lost their manager… all in one season. Oh, and against all the odds Pompey made it to the FA Cup Final.

UPDATES ARE IN BOLD

ALL TIMES EASTERN

MAY

May 29 – Portland Timbers v Boca Juniors, PGE Park, Portland OR 10pm (FOX SPORTS NORTHWEST)

May 30 – Chicago Fire v AC Milan, Toyota Park, Chicago IL 8:30PM (FOX SOCCER CHANNEL – Note: Pregame begins at 8ET)

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 5-27-2010

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 5-27-2010

TV UPDATE – Portland v Boca Juniors on Saturday May 29, will be aired on local Fox Sports Northwest as the opening half of a double header with the Colorado v Seattle Major League Soccer battle being shown on delay directly after the friendly.

UPDATES ARE IN BOLD

ALL TIMES EASTERN

MAY

May 29 – Portland Timbers v Boca Juniors, PGE Park, Portland OR 10pm (FOX SPORTS NORTHWEST)
May 30 – Chicago Fire v AC Milan, Toyota Park, Chicago IL 8:30PM (FOX SOCCER CHANNEL – Note: Pregame begins at 8ET)

SHORT CORNERS: INTERNATIONAL SOCCER NEWS AND NOTES

SHORT CORNERS: INTERNATIONAL SOCCER NEWS AND NOTES

US 23-man roster, Pellegrini Sacked, TFC Win Voyageurs Cup, AC-DC Battle at RFK, Red Bulls Run in USOC, Holden in Bolton Extension, Fabregas leaves it up to Wenger and more…

UNITED STATES NAMES 23-MAN ROSTER FOR 2010 WORLD CUP

Bob Bradley named his 23-man roster for the US National Team Wednesday, and there were surprises for many fans.

TORONTO FC WIN CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR

TORONTO FC WIN CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR

Toronto FC were not even in action tonight, but the Reds secured their second straight Nutrilite Canadian Championship.

Vancouver Whitecaps needed to secure a win at Montreal against the Impact tonight in order to stay alive in the NCC.

The two sides played a listless first half in front of 11,000 fans at Saputo Stadium, but the ‘Caps came out blazing in the second half getting a goal from Ansu Toure in the 50th minute. Vancouver seemed a new team.

LIVE VIDEO – NUTRILITE CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP Montreal Impact v Vancouver Whitecaps

LIVE VIDEO  NUTRILITE CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Montreal v Vancouver

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE VIDEO

FOR A PREVIEW OF THE MATCH

CLICK HERE

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 5-25-2010

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 5-25-2010

INTER MILAN TO PLAY FC DALLAS AND LA GALAXY

Newly crowned Champions of Europe, Inter Milan will play FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco Texas on August 5th and the Los Angeles Galaxy on August 7 at the Home Depot Center in Carson California.

Treble winning Inter, who also play Manchester City at M&T Bank stadium in Baltimore on July 31 will add Dallas to their summer tour in preparation for their Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League titles.

UPDATES ARE IN BOLD

ALL TIMES EASTERN

MAY

May 25 – Fiorentina v Juventus, Rogers Centre, Toronto ON

SHORT CORNERS: Soccer News Notes and rumors

Arrivederci...

SHORT CORNERS: Soccer News Notes and Rumors

JOSE MOURINHO TO REAL MADRID?

Jose Mourinho said that Saturdays champions League Final victory would be his last at Inter Milan, but Inter Boss Massimo Moratti tried to persuade the self styled ‘Special One’ to stay for a third season at Inter.

Those persuasions fell on deaf ears apparently.

The Portuguese superstar coach has agreed in principal with Real Madrid to coach the team to the tune of  $12 million per year for four years. This would make him the highest-grossing coach/manager in all of sports.

Special Indeed.

SUMMER FRIENDLY SEASON

Friendly Fever has had its first big weekend in North America, with 9 friendlies featuring or being hosted by club teams across the continent.

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 5-24-2010

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 5-20-2010

INTER MILAN TO PLAY FC DALLAS

Newly crowned Champions of Europe, Inter Milan will play FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco Texas on August 5th at 9pm ET.

Treble winning Inter, who also play Manchester City at M&T Bank stadium in Baltimore on July 31 will add Dallas to their summer tour in preparation for their Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League titles.

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL TO AIR SUMMER FRIENDLIES

Fox Soccer Channel has lined up a tasty menu of Summer Friendlies. This week the network will show both the Seattle
Sounders v Boca Juniors on Wednesday and Chicago Fire v AC Milan on Sunday. The Fire-Milan match will feature a half hour pregame.

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 5-20-2010

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 5-20-2010

Portland add Boca Juniors, Red Bull adds Cruzeiro.  TV for Red Bell v Juventus and Galaxy v Boca.

MATCHES IN BOLD ARE UPDATES

MAY

May 19-22 – CHICAGO SISTER CITIES CUP – Toyota Park, Bridgeview IL

Chicago Fire, Paris-Saint Germain, Legia Warsaw, Red Star Belgrade

May 19 – New England Revolution v Benfica, Gillette Stadium, Foxboro MA

May 23 – Montreal Impact v Fiorentina, Saputo Stadium, Montreal QB

May 23 – New York Red Bull v Juventus, Red Bull Arena, Harrison NJ (FOX SOCCER CHANNEL)

May 23 – Los Angeles Galaxy v Boca Juniors, Home Depot Center, Carson CA (FOX SPORTS WEST / GALAVISION)

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 5-19-2010

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 5-19-2010

MATCHES IN BOLD ARE UPDATES

MAY

May 19-22 – CHICAGO SISTER CITIES CUP – Toyota Park, Bridgeview IL

Chicago Fire, Paris-Saint Germain, Legia Warsaw, Red Star Belgrade

May 19 – New England Revolution v Benfica, Gillette Stadium, Foxboro MA

May 23 – Montreal Impact v Fiorentina, Saputo Stadium, Montreal QB

May 23 – New York Red Bull v Juventus, Red Bull Arena, Harrison NJ (FOX SOCCER CHANNEL)

May 23 – Los Angeles Galaxy v Boca Juniors, Home Depot Center, Carson CA (FOX SPORTS WEST / GALAVISION)

May 23 – Benfica v Panathinaikos, BMO Field, Toronto ON

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 5-18-2010

SUMMER FRIENDLY CALENDAR: UPDATED 5-18-2010

MAY

May 19-22 – CHICAGO SISTER CITIES CUP – Toyota Park, Bridgeview IL

Chicago Fire, Paris-Saint Germain, Legia Warsaw, Red Star Belgrade

May 19 – New England Revolution v Benfica, Gillette Stadium, Foxboro MA

NUTRILITE CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP: D-RO GOAL ELIMINATES IMPACT

NUTRILITE CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP: DE ROSARIO’S GOAL ELIMINATES IMPACT

It was a huge week for Montreal. The Impact were named Major League Soccer’s 19th team and the Canadians ousted the defending champions from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but one mission that was just beyond the city’s reach was an Impact victory over Toronto FC.

Dwayne De Rosario ended that dream with a second half strike. Nick LaBracca bounced a well-slotted through ball into on form Chad Barrett. Impact ‘keeper Matt Jordan made a diving save but the rebound fell just right for De Rosario who buried the nights only goal. A goal, in the 73rd minute, that gave Toronto FC their first road win in any competition this season.