USSoccerPlayers

Seattle Announces Third Designated Player

Though it remains an open question as to how long, the Seattle Sounders now have three designated players.  As rumors continue to swirl around the future of Freddie Ljungberg, Uruguayan National Team midfielder Alvaro Fernandez has joined the club.  The 24-year-old veteran of the 2010 World Cup was most recently on loan from Nacional with Universidad of Chile.  In 2008, he made 13 appearances for Puebla in Mexico’s Primera Division.  Fernandez joins Ljungberg and recently signed Swiss international Blaise N'kufo as the Sounders’ designated players. 

What We're Watching: Friday

Mexican League on Fox Sports en Espanol: Necaxa - Tigres at 9pm. ESPN Deportes has the Chivas - Manchester United friendly to open Chivas's new stadium in Guadalajara.  From the pictures, it looks like something special.  All Times Eastern

10 Questions With... Roberto Mancini

By Clemente Lisi - NEW YORK, NY (Jul 29, 2010) US Soccer Players -- There are signs of summer at every turn.  Rising temperatures and crowded beaches are two signs of this very hot summer.  For soccer fans, the clearest sign is the sight of barnstorming European clubs in the midst of preseason preparations playing friendlies on US soil.  These big-spending European teams are not only looking for American dollars through exorbitant ticket and jersey prices, but also hoping to expand their brands and market themselves to new audiences.  In fact, between July 14 and August 10, a total of 41 friendlies will be played in this country involving 23 clubs.

One series of exhibition matches that took place last week at Red Bull Arena - dubbed the “Barclays New York Challenge” - featured the New York Red Bulls, Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon and English sides Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.  While it offered a gravy train of opportunities for the three European clubs involved, it also boosted the Red Bulls with the debut of French striker Thierry Henry before excited home crowds last Thursday and Sunday. 

Another high-profile clash will take place at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday when Manchester City coach Roberto Mancini faces his former club Inter Milan in his side’s final friendly in the US before the start of a new EPL season next month.  Mancini, 45, enjoyed a 20-year playing career – most notably with Italian clubs Sampdoria and Lazio – before taking over as Inter Milan coach in 2004.  He guided the team to three straight Serie A titles before joining Manchester City last season. Mancini took time out to discuss the English game, his team’s preseason preparations in the US and shared his thoughts on the American game.

All-Stars And Champions

With J Hutcherson -- For me, the big takeaway moment from last night's All-Star Game was whether it was Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez getting his debut with Manchester United or Landon Donovan entering the game in the 63rd minute that got the biggest response from the Reliant Stadium crowd. Pick one, because the bigger point still holds. The next cycle of the USA - Mexico rivalry should be something.

Hernandez is the new hope for Mexico. The player who stepped up at World Cup level to justify the faith United had already put in him. Hernandez should be the star for Mexico over the next four years, the player other teams struggle to stop.

CCL: Seattle 1 - Isidro Metapan 0

Seattle will take a one goal lead into the away leg against Metapan in their CONCACAF Champions League playoff series.  Fredy Montero scored the game's only goal in the 60th minute on Wednesday night at Qwest Field.  Montero's goal came just after being subbed in for Nate Jaqua, beating Misael Alfaro from distance.  Kasey Keller had an easy night of it, seeing relatively little in front of his goal for the shutout. 

MLS All-Stars 2 – Manchester United 5

70,728 at Houston's Reliant Stadium saw the MLS All-Stars lose to Manchester United on Wednesday night. A record attendance for a soccer game at a venue normally associated with USA - Mexico games, United got the big stage for their new signing Mexican international Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez. Even with the level of opposition, one of the biggest noises of the night was for Landon Donovan, who came on in the 74th minute.

Federico Macheda had United up within a minute, and he made it 2-0 in the 12th. That lead carried through halftime, but Brian Ching subbed on for Juan Pablo Angel and cut United's lead in half in the 63rd. Darron Gibson put United up another goal three minutes later and Tom Cleverley made it 4-1 in the 72nd.  Hernandez got the goal a lot of the crowd was hoping for, lobbing the ball from distance over MLS goalkeeper Nick Rimando in the 84th minute.  Dwayne De Rosario got the All-Stars second goal in the 90th minute after slipping his mark at the top of the box.  The All-Stars’ Brad Davis hit the post from distance a minute later. 

Braga 3 - Celtic 0

Dominic Cervi was on the bench as Celtic's future in the 2010-11 Champions League looks bleak.  They lost the away leg of their qualifying series with Braga 3-0 at the Estadio Municipal de Braga.  Alan converted a 26th minute penalty to open the scoring, Uwa Echiejile made it 2-0 in the 76th, and 66th minute substitute Matheus finished off the scoring in the 89th.  Mario Felgudiraf picked up the shutout needing no saves after Celtic finished with zero shots on goal. 

In other American Abroad news, Maurice Edu was in the lineup for Rangers in Australia on Tuesday night.  In rainy conditions, they drew 0-0 with Sydney FC at Sydney Football Stadium.  Edu went the full 90 and had Rangers' best chance of getting a goal.  They play AEK Athens to conclude the Sydney Festival of Football.

USA Makes Milk Cup Final

The United States will play hosts Northern Ireland in the final of the 2010 Milk Cup after beating Denmark 3-2.  Adrian Rueglas opened the scoring with Faud Ibrahim following.  It would be Rueglas again minutes from time to give the US the late winner. 

Thursday's TV

No games today in the What We're Watching category.

At Stake In Seattle

By Michael Lewis - NEW YORK, NY (Jul 28, 2010) US Soccer Players -- In 2001, the Los Angeles Galaxy, coach Sigi Schmid and a young midfielder named Peter Vagenas thought they had reached the summit of international club soccer by becoming the first US pro team to reach the FIFA Club World Championship in Brazil. Then they had the carpet ripped out from under them when the tournament was canceled because FIFA's partner, ISL, went bankrupt. The Galaxy never got back to the top of the club world.

Not surprisingly, it left many on the Galaxy disappointed and devastated. After all, how many opportunities like this come around in a lifetime?

"It was like expecting to receive a new bike when you're a little kid at Christmas team and in the package there's nothing," Schmid said. "It left you with an empty feeling."

"It was kind of a shame for everybody," Vagenas said.

The 24 Hour Turnaround

With J Hutcherson -- What to make of the Galaxy's 4-1 loss to Puerto Rico in the CONCACAF Champions League qualifiers? If you're another Major League Soccer club, you would need a replay of the roster decisions that put that version of the Galaxy on the field. Only Puerto Rico is likely to see that again with the Galaxy working through a crowded schedule the week of their second leg in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

Tuesday night's edition of the Galaxy didn't exactly melt down. The Islanders didn't hammer them in a way that suggested they got the Galaxy's number. It was more about what the Galaxy weren't doing. Their defensive communication and connections were off. There wasn't the sync between the midfield and the defense to pick up assignments and relieve pressure.

CCL: Galaxy Sets Up Tough Away Date, Toronto Wins

To say that the first-leg of the Los Angeles Galaxy - Puerto Rico Islanders CONCACAF Champions League playoff series did not run to form on Tuesday night at the Home Depot Center is a bit of an understatement.  The Galaxy lost 4-1, with the Islanders scoring all five goals. 

Puerto Rico was up in the 26th minute through David Foley and had a 2-0 lead going into the half when Nicolas Addlery scored.  Josh Hansen got Puerto Rico's third goal in the 55th and Addlery scored again in the 81st.  Bill Gaudette's shutout attempt was ruined two minutes later when Richard Martinez put the ball in the back of his own net.

Mexico's Coaching Situation

With Justino Compean elected to a second four year term as the president of the Mexican Football Federation, who will be Mexico's next National Team coach remains an open question.  The FMF board has announced that Cruz Azul's Enrique Meza will be coaching the team against Spain on August 11th at Azteca Stadium.  That will be a one night only situation, with Chivas vice president Efrain Flores taking over for Mexico's next three games.  Flores has previously coached Atlas, Leon, and Chivas.  No further time frame has been given for a permanent decision on Mexico's next coach.

Credit: CONCACAF Communications

Kljestan Scores In Champions League Debut

Following his Super Cup goal for new club Anderlecht, Sacha Kljestan has now scored in his first opportunity in Champions League play.  It took 7 minutes.  Kljestan had the opening goal in Anderlecht's 3-1 Third Round Qualifying win over The New Saints on Tuesday.  Jonathan Legear made it 2-0 in the 18th before the Welsh club pulled a goal back at the 2,000-capacity Park Hall.  Matias Suarez finished off the scoring in the 73rd. 

What We're Watching: Wednesday

The MLS All-Star Game is on ESPN2 at 8:30pm.  Seattle plays Metapan in the CONCACAF Champions League at 10pm on Fox Soccer Channel.  All Times Eastern