Arsenal eclipses defending champ Chelsea

By The Associated Press
December 28, 2010


LONDON, England — Arsenal scored three goals in 10 minutes to overwhelm defending Premier League champion Chelsea 3-1 on Monday and keep the pressure on unbeaten leader Manchester United in the title race.

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Real Madrid routs Levante in Copa del Rey

By The Associated Press
December 23, 2010


Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid — Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema scored hat tricks Wednesday to lead Real Madrid to an 8-0 rout of Levante on Wednesday in the round of 16 in the Copa del Rey.

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Stage 2 of MLS Re-entry Draft sees frenzied activity among teams

By Avi Creditor
December 16, 2010


After a rather inactive first stage of the Major League Soccer (MLS) Re-entry Draft, front-office executives rolled up their sleeves and resumed wheeling-and-dealing season in lightning-quick fashion.

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Arsenal and Braga take it to the wire

By Mitch Phillips
December 6, 2010


LONDON, England — Braga could complete a memorable Champions League turnaround by reaching the 12-point mark this week but it is likely to be a bitter-sweet success as they could still fail to progress to the knockout phase despite four wins.

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Tottenham setting new, exciting soccer trend

By Martin Rogers
November 29, 2010


In these money-mad times where results are king, there is something “bigger picture” about Tottenham’s continued emergence, forged on the back of a simple approach that is a throwback to days when soccer was a lot more fun.

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Ferguson ups the ante for Manchester derby

By Graham Chase
November 10, 2010


MANCHESTER, England — Sir Alex Ferguson reckons the stakes have rarely been higher for a Manchester derby ahead of Wednesday's match at Eastlands.

Manchester City trail Ferguson's second-placed Manchester United by three points as both sets of supporters continue to get used to the Blues' heightened expectations of success.

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U.S. Women's soccer may not qualify for World Cup

By Associated Press
November 7, 2010


CANCUN, Mexico — The United States is in danger of missing the Women’s World Cup for the first time after one of the biggest upsets in the sport’s history, a 2-1 defeat by Mexico in Cancún on Friday night in the semifinals of qualifying in the North and Central American and Caribbean region.

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Concussions take toll in soccer too

By Grant Wahl
October 27, 2010


When Taylor Twellman won Major League Soccer's MVP award in 2005, he threw his head at balls in the penalty box with the force of a bird smacking into a window. That's how the U.S. and New England Revolution forward scored 101 goals in eight MLS seasons -- and how his playing career took an irretrievable turn on Aug. 30, 2008.

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Winning game plan lures Rooney back to Manchester United

By Martin Rogers
October 22, 2010


OLD TRAFFORD, England — Wayne Rooney’s dramatic Manchester United U-turn was sparked by remarkable, multimillion dollar spending promises by the club’s American owners.

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New stadium planners keep soccer in mind

By Rob Hughes
October 13, 2010


The new Olympic Stadium rising in East London is the object of desire for two soccer clubs that want to uproot and move in when the 2012 Games are over.

Developers proposing a new N.F.L. stadium in Los Angeles are suggesting that their design could be made to accommodate anything FIFA might require and that their building could be a fulcrum to the United States’ bid for the 2022 World Cup.

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Liverpool faces up to bleak times

By Sonia Oxley
October 4, 2010


LIVERPOOL, England — Bill Shankly’s statue outside Anfield served to remind Liverpool fans on Monday that dark days do not last forever but the 18-times English champions were struggling to cope with life in the relegation zone.

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Dempsey scores again, Agbossoumonde team-less no more

By Avi Creditor
September 21, 2010


Gale Agbossoumonde is widely regarded as one of the U.S.' top center back prospects, and within a few weeks' time he will no longer be team-less.

Agbossoumonde, 18, was expected to be a part of Portugal power Sporting Braga this season, but around the time that his loan from U.S. Soccer Federation Division 2 side Miami FC expired, Braga's front office and coaching staff underwent major changes, said U.S. Soccer National Hall of Fame member and former MLS coach Fernando Clavijo, who is currently Miami FC's director of soccer.

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Gyan an early hit for Sunderland

By Jonathan Wilson
September 14, 2010


Sunderland, GB — There was skepticism about the $20.4 million Sunderland paid to buy Asamoah Gyan from the French club Rennes. That he is a talented player seems self-evident -- although that wasn't the case not so long ago -- but in today's depressed market, it seemed a lot of money for a player who hasn't even played in the Europa League, never mind the Champions League.

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England beats Switzerland 3-1 in Euro 2012 qualifier

By Graham Dunbar
September 7, 2010


BASEL, Switzerland — Wayne Rooney put aside the embarrassing headlines back home to score the opening goal for England in a 3-1 win Tuesday over 10-man Switzerland in a Euro 2012 qualifier.

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U.S. Soccer coach Bradley signs extension

By Martin Rogers
August 30, 2010


Bob Bradley will remain in charge of the United States national team through the 2014 World Cup after signing a four-year contract extension.

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Friday MLS Forecast: Week 21

By Kyle McCarthy
August 20, 2010


Bridgeview, IL – The fanfare surrounding Nery Castillo's arrival in Chicago may have glossed over one important point placed in stark relief after Castillo made his first start for the Fire in Wednesday night's 2-1 win over New England.

For this team and under these narrowly tailored short-term circumstances, Castillo remains a gifted player without a place to play.

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Chinese investor seeks to buy Liverpool soccer club

By David Barboza
August 11, 2010


Shanghai — When reports began circulating last week that a Chinese investor was bidding to take over the Liverpool soccer club in the English Premier League, British tabloids quickly called him King Kenny.

That little-known investor is Kenny Huang, 46, a globe-trotting sports enthusiast who has made marketing deals in China with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Yankees, and has entered into a business partnership with Leslie Alexander, the owner of the Houston Rockets.

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D.C. United picks up pieces after 1-0 loss to New England

By Kyle McCarthy
August 9, 2010


Foxborough, MA — One image in the aftermath of D.C. United's 1-0 loss at New England revealed how radically things have changed for United over the past week.

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Barcelona veteran Marquez joins New York Red Bulls

By Grant Wahl
August 4, 2010


Harrison, NJ — Why now? Why would 31-year-old Rafael Márquez --captain of Mexico, Barcelona veteran, a player who can still compete at the highest level -- turn down interest from clubs all over Europe to join MLS's New York Red Bulls? That was the question I put to Márquez on Tuesday during a quiet moment after his presentation as the newest member of MLS's most upwardly mobile team.

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Manchester United routs MLS All-Stars

By Chris Duncan
July 29, 2010


Houston, TX — Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson thinks Major League Soccer has made dramatic progress in recent years.

His team showed the best players in the MLS just how far the league still has to go.

Federico Macheda had two early goals, Mexican star Javier Hernandez scored in his Manchester United debut, and the Red Devils routed the MLS All-Stars 5-2 on Wednesday night in the final U.S. stop on their North American tour.

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New blood boosts Arsenal's hope

By Ben Lyttleton
July 25, 2010


London, U.K. — By the time defender Thomas Vermaelen had played just four games for Arsenal after last year's $13 million move from the Dutch club Ajax, coach Arsene Wenger already knew he had a bargain on his hands.

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Five things to know about Major League Soccer

By Steve Davis
July 19, 2010


1. The heavy weight of expectations: Expectations are a funny thing. Benign by nature, they can nonetheless destabilize an otherwise stable environment, filling the air with dangerous, flammable vapors. They make people and organizations react in strange ways, paving the way for unpredictable results.

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Spain downs Netherlands 1-0 in extra time, win their 1st World Cup

By Jeffrey Marcus
July 11, 2010


Johannesburg, SA — With a goal from Andres Iniesta in the 26th minute of extra time, Spain became the seventh country to win the World Cup, beating the Netherlands by 1-0 before 85,000 fans at Soccer City in Johannesburg and millions of television viewers around the world.

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Germany beats Uruguay 3-2 for World Cup 3rd place

By Nesha Starcevic
July 10, 2010


Port Elizabeth, SA — In pouring rain on a ragged field, Germany and Uruguay staged a match entertaining enough to be for the World Cup title.

Too bad it was only for third place.

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Spain in first ever World Cup Final

By Chuck Culpepper
July 7, 2010


Durban, SA — With the hardened, entrenched word “underachiever” at last pried from its reputation and flung into its past, Spain systematically topped Germany on Wednesday in Durban and went streaming into the glamorous soccer nation’s first-ever World Cup final.

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Netherlands makes World Cup final with 3-2 win over Uruguay

By Barry Wilner
July 6, 2010


Cape Town, SA — Dutch stars Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben scored three minutes apart in the second half as the Netherlands beat Uruguay 3-2 Tuesday to advance to their first championship match since losing in 1978 to Argentina.

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Spain's drought is over, they're off to World Cup semifinals

By Kevin Baxter
July 3, 2010


Johannesburg, SA — The European champions, who have mostly known frustration in international soccer over the last half-century, beat Paraguay 1-0 Saturday to advance to the World Cup semifinals for the first time since 1950.

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Uraguay over Ghana 4-2 in penalty kicks shootout

By Jeff Z. Klein
July 2, 2010


Johannesburg, SA — An unbelievable finish at Soccer City in Johannesburg put Uruguay through to the semifinals and Ghana out of the tournament in absolutely heartbreaking fashion.

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Villa goal earns Spain 1-0 win over Portugal

By Shrikesh Laxmidas
June 29, 2010


Cape Town, SA — A goal by striker David Villa earned Spain a 1-0 win over neighbours Portugal and a World Cup quarter-final place after an entertaining match on Tuesday in which the Portuguese also created several chances.

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Brazil beats Chile 3-0 to reach World Cup quarterfinals

By Tales Azzoni
June 28, 2010


Johannesburg, SA — Brazil moved closer to a sixth World Cup title on Monday, beating South American rival Chile 3-0 to reach the quarterfinals.

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Germany thrashed England, 4-1

By Rob Hughes
June 27, 2010


Bloemfontein, SA — The Germans power on, but the English become the third of Europe’s big five soccer nations to depart the World Cup woefully short of living up to their billing.

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Ghana defeats the U.S. 2-1 in OT

By Kevin Baxter
June 26, 2010


Rustenburg, SA — The U.S. team's manic run through the World Cup came to an abrupt end Saturday with a 2-1 overtime loss to Ghana that was decided on a miraculous goal by Asamoah Gyan.

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Spain beats Chile 2-1, both advance to Round of 16

By Paul Logothetis
June 25, 2010


Pretoria, SA — David Villa and Andres Iniesta scored a goal each Friday to help Spain beat 10-man Chile 2-1 and send both teams into the round of 16 from Group H.

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Slovakia 3, Italy 2: Defending World Cup champions sent home

By The Associated Press
June 24, 2010


Johannesburg, SA — Defending champion Italy was eliminated from the World Cup on Thursday after a humbling 3-2 loss that sent Slovakia through to the round of 16.

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U.S. advances with dramatic late goal

By Jere Longman
June 23, 2010


Pretoria, SA — Chance after frantic chance the United States had Wednesday in its 1-0 victory over Algeria at the World Cup, each one more tempting and frustrating than the other. Finally, desperation seemed to tighten like a noose, strangling the Americans’ patience and accuracy.

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South Korea 2, Nigeria 2: South Korea in, Nigeria out

By The Associated Press
June 22, 2010


Durbam, SA — South Korea reached the second round of the World Cup by holding Nigeria to a 2-2 draw Tuesday in their final group game.

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Portugal trounced North Korea, 7-0

By Braley S. Klapper
June 21, 2010


Cape Town SA — Portugal revived its World Cup campaign with a dominating 7-0 win over North Korea in Group G on Monday, eliminating the Asian team from the competition.

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New Zealand stuns Italy with a 1-1 draw

By The Associated Press
June 20, 2010


Nelspruit , SA — The meaning of a World Cup draw couldn't be more opposite than in Italy's 1-1 tie with New Zealand on Sunday.

For the Azzurri, the one point was depressing. For the Kiwis, it was monumental.

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Wesley Sneijder's goal puts Dutch close to final 16

By The Associated Press
June 19, 2010


Durban, SA — First it was England's Robert Green. Then it was Algeria's Faouzi Chaouchi. On Saturday, it was the turn of Japan's Eiji Kawashima to make the goalkeeping blunder that cost his team precious World Cup points.

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Donovan: U.S. victory ‘stolen’ by referee

By Martin Rogers
June 18, 2010


Johannesburg, SA — Landon Donovan insisted the Americans had a historic victory “stolen” from them after their dramatic World Cup comeback to tie Slovenia 2-2 at Ellis Park on Friday.

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Mexico stuns France with a 2-0 win

Associated Press
June 17, 2010


The knockout phase of the tournament may as well start now for Mexico. For live analysis of the France-Mexico match, continue reading.

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Switzerland's 52nd minute goal topples Spain, 1-0

By Sam Sheringham
June 16, 2010


Durban, SA — The European champions from Spain enjoyed almost total control of the game in Durban but were wasteful in front of goal and went behind after 52 minutes when a long ball found its way through to Gelson Fernandes, who bundled it into the net.

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World Cup in brief: Italy has more to give; Dutch vs. Danes a letdown

By Georgina Turner
June 14, 2010


Story of the day

Nobody could agree on Italy's prospects in South Africa this summer, and nothing's that much more certain one game in. Coming into the tournament, all the talk about Italy focused on how elderly the squad was, featuring 11 survivors from 2006, including 36-year-old captain Fabio Cannavaro. Coach Marcello Lippi, 62, should've quit while he was ahead, went the refrain.

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England draws with United States, 1-1

By Timothy Collings
June 12, 2010


Rustenburg, SA — A howler by goalkeeper Robert Green gifted the United States an equalizer as England struggled to a disappointing 1-1 draw in their opening World Cup game at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium Saturday.

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South Africa draws 1-1 with Mexico in World Cup opener

By Robert Millward
June 11, 2010


Johannesburg, SA — South Africa gave up the lead on a goal by Mexico's Rafael Marquez in the 79th minute and settled for a 1-1 draw Friday before 84,000 horn-blaring fans, whose euphoria over the start of the first World Cup on the continent was only slightly dimmed by the tie.

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Setting the stage for the 2010 World Cup

By Grant Wahl
June 8, 2010


Johannesburg, SA — We're only four days away from the World Cup opener between South Africa and Mexico, so it's a good time to unveil my overview for the tournament. Let's break it down:

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World Cup referees outrun, outlast players

By Madison Park
June 5, 2010


CNN — For two years leading up to the World Cup, Brian Hall exercised four hours almost every day.

He lifted weights, jogged, did interval training and monitored his heart rate while holding a day job. And years before that, he squeezed in workouts while working 8-to-7 office job as a vice president for procurement at Visa and a software director.

Hall had one goal: to make it to the World Cup as a referee.

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For Italy, plenty of work to do before World Cup

Associated Press
June 3, 2010


Brussels, BE — It might seem a little late in the game for Italy to be experimenting, what with its World Cup opener less than two weeks away. But then Marcello Lippi didn't get to be one of the most successful coaches in history by taking the easy way out.

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United States leaves for World Cup with win, but also with worry

By Jere Longmen
May 31, 2010


Philadelphia, PA — The United States defeated Turkey, 2-1, in an exhibition Saturday, but two second-half goals by the Americans will bring only a degree of comfort to a continuing series of defensive lapses that trouble this team as it departs for the World Cup.

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World Cup training provides rare US visit for some

By Ronald Blum
May 21, 2010


Princeton, NJ — Brad Guzan appreciates the little things about World Cup training camp. For instance, the food.

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Africa seeks to reassure fans about security

By Donna Bryson
May 17, 2010


Johannesburg, SA — Security forces paraded their World Cup arsenal through the streets of South Africa’s financial capital, hoping to reassure fans the country will be safe during football’s premier event.

The show of force Monday came the same day an Iraqi official told reporters in Baghdad that security forces had detained an al-Qaida militant suspected of planning an attack targeting the June 11-July 11 World Cup.

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Mexico soccer coach says his team is on the right path

By Kevin Baxter
May 13, 2010


Houston, TX — No one needs to remind Mexican Coach Javier Aguirre that his team's World Cup opener is less than a month away. But if that makes him nervous, he's doing a good job hiding it.

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Bornstein not backing down from critics

By Martin Rogers
May 5, 2010


Carson, CA – It's not easy to wipe the smile off Jonathan Bornstein's face, even when you turn the conversation to the one topic he would have every right to bristle at.

The Chivas USA and United States defender gets a rougher ride from fans of the national team than any other player. His place in Bob Bradley's squad is often called into question by the armchair critics.

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Madrid revels in Barcelona's exit

By Sid Lowe
May 1, 2010


When the final whistle went, the bar erupted. Through the raised fists, the smoke and the bodies hugging each other, you could just about make out the television screen as Inter manager Jose Mourinho sprinted across the Camp Nou, celebrating what he would later describe as "the most beautiful defeat of my life."

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FIFA: 500,000 World Cup tickets still left to sell

By Brooks Peck
April 18, 2010


So it turns out people aren't snapping up tickets for this summer's World Cup in beautiful yet violent and price-gougey South Africa the way FIFA brazenly expected them to. How many tickets do they still have to sell with just two months to go until the tournament? Well, a lot.

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Anelka stears Chelsea closer to title

By Mike Collett
April 13, 2010


London — Chelsea closed on the Premier League title when a first-half header from Nicolas Anelka secured a gritty 1-0 win over a fiercely resilient Bolton Wanderers side on Tuesday.

The victory took Carlo Ancelotti’s men on to 77 points with four matches remaining, four clear of Manchester United whose hopes of an unprecedented fourth successive title are fading fast.

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