US Soccer Players

Baudet Joins Rapids

30-year-old defender Julien Baudet will be joining Colorado when the transfer window opens on July 15th.  The Crewe Alexandria captain leaves the club after three seasons and has been in English soccer since the 2001-02 season. 

CONCACAF Opts Out Of Sudamericana

CONCACAF will no longer allow club teams to participate in CONMEBOL's Copa Sudamericana, the second-tier tournament to CONMEBOL's Copa Libertadores.  The original agreement ran out after the 2008 Sudamericana ended. 

“We regret that Mexico's Copa Sudamericana designees Monterrey and Puebla will not participate in the tournament due to CONCACAF’s decision," CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer said. "However, we hope that both teams will have opportunity to participate in future CONCACAF competitions.  By contrast CONCACAF is committed to the 2010 Copa Libertadores and will utilize Interliga to qualify teams. In November the Executive Committee will review CONCACAF’s future participation in the Libertadores.”

Tuesday's Daily: Round Three

With J Hutcherson -- Nothing should warm the hearts of US Open Cup fans more than hearing a Major League Soccer coach talking about testing the depth of his squad and getting people minutes as MLS enters the tournament in force in the Third Round. That's especially true if you like your soccer upsetting - at least in theory.

There's an advantage with going to the bench and the reserve list along with enough regulars to keep shape. It makes that version of the team hard to scout. Minus the reserve division, there are going to be even more MLS players that get one other game to go along with appearances in friendlies. That would be tonight and tomorrow in the Open Cup Third Round.

Jaqua Wins POTW

Seattle Sounders forward Nate Jaqua is Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 15.  Jaqua scored twice in Seattle's 3-0 win over Colorado.  His second goal is also nominated for MLS Goal of the Week.

Coundoul Signs With RBNY

Bouna Coundoul is now a member of Red Bull NY.  The Senegal international has been without a club since the start of 2009, but his Major League Soccer rights remained with the Colorado Rapids, where he spent the 2005-08 seasons.  Coundoul refused a contract offer with Colorado for 2009.  New York traded Colorado allocation money for Coundoul's MLS rights.

To make room for Coundoul, New York waived Jon Conway, their keeper in nine MLS games this season.

Castillo: "I Would Play For The United States"

By Brooke Tunstall - CHARLOTTE, NC (Jun 29, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- The United States National Team just might get back one that got away.

New Mexico native Edgar Castillo, who seemed unlikely to ever play for the country of his birth after representing Mexico’s Under-23 team in Olympic qualifying, said recently he’d be willing to take advantage of a new FIFA rule allowing players cap-tied at the youth National Team level to switch National Teams.

“I would play for the United States,” Castillo said during a recent phone interview from Mexico, where he is preparing for the upcoming Mexican League season with Tigres. “I’d want to talk to them first, but I want to play for the US. I think it would be a very good opportunity for me, for my career. If they call me I would play for them. “

Monday's Daily: Things Change

With J Hutcherson -- The revival effort in Los Angeles got a lot more legit last night when they knocked off the team with the best record in Major League Soccer. Houston falls, and LA does it without Landon Donovan or the boost they should get when David Beckham shows up.

Bruce Arena has taken a substantial amount of criticism and provided a substantial amount of fightback relative to his club's run of draws earlier in the season. Fortunately, the rest of the Western Conference has obliged his thinking.

Currently sixth, LA still trails Houston by ten points even on games played. One would expect that making up that gap will require more than draws. At the same time, LA has lost the same number of games as Houston. Turning draws into wins, and LA's record could even out over the next few weeks.

MLS Week 15: Wide Margins

With the interest pointing at the United States and their Confederations Cup final against Brazil, Major League Soccer played on with four games on the schedule.  Seattle made the big statement for Week 15, scoring three goals in front of over 30 thousand fans.  The LA Galaxy was right there with them, beating Houston in Sunday's late game.

SuperLiga Update: MLS Puts Two Through

Tigres, Chicago, New England, and Santos advanced to the SuperLiga semifinals over the weekend.  All teams were technically in contention on the final matchdays.

Chicago 1 - Tigres 2

WPS Update: Sol Build Differential

The Los Angeles Sol added three points and four goals to the top of the Women's Professional Soccer table, with Marta scoring two in the second half.  Meanwhile, Saint Louis opened the scoring in the second minute en route to their win over Sky Blue FC.

From Johannesburg To Johannesburg

By Clemente Lisi - NEW YORK, NY (Jun 28, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- Heartbreaking, upsetting, maybe even sad.  There’s no shortage of adjectives to describe the United States’ 3-2 loss to Brazil on Sunday in the Confederations Cup final.  The US, on the verge of making history in Johannesburg, playing a flawless first half – but broke down in the second – to lose its first-ever shot at winning a FIFA men’s tournament.  

“Obviously, a good first half, but we give up the first goal so early in the second half that we put ourselves in a tough spot,” coach Bob Bradley told reporters afterwards.

Dempsey And Howard Win Awards

US National Team keeper Tim Howard was named the keeper of the tournament for the 2009 Confederations Cup and Clint Dempsey won the Bronze Ball for the third best player in the tournament.  Fabiano won the Silver Ball and Kaka was the Golden Ball winner.

CC Final: USA 2 - Brazil 3

The United States took a two-goal lead in the 2009 Confederations Cup final, but were unable to hold on in the second with Brazil scoring three goals.  Clint Dempsey put the US up a goal in the 10th minute and it was 2-0 USA when Landon Donovan scored in the 28th.  Brazil came back through Fabiano, who scored in the 46th and 74th.  Lucio got the winner in the 85th, heading in a corner.

"It's a tough one," US coach Bob Bradley said. "Obviously, a good first half and then we give up the first goal so early in the second... and really put ourselves in a tough spot.  That really hurt....  We continue to try to move ourselves forward.  Playing in these kinds of games only helps.  But it still feels pretty lousy to let this one get away." 

"We're disappointed," Donovan said.  "To give up the goal so early into the second half hurts.  Give them credit.  They kept coming wave after wave....  they probably deserved it in the end....  We're at the point where we don't want respect, we want to win."

Live: Brazil - USA

Goalkeeper Skills: Keep Rolling Along

There are three ways for a goalkeeper to distribute the ball: punting, throwing or rolling.  Today, let’s concentrate on the one used for short distances and accuracy: rolling.

This will not be the hardest skill to master, but the key is deciding when to use it and when to create distance between yourself and the ball. As a goalkeeper, you have an important decision as to how your team starts its attack.

Dempsey And Donovan Up For Golden Ball

US National Team players Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan are among ten players nominated for FIFA's Golden Ball, the Most Valuable Player Award for the 2009 Confederations Cup.  The winner is determined by a media vote.

Brazil: Kaka, Luis Fabiano, Robinho
South Africa: Bernie Parker, Steven Pienaar
Spain: Fernando Torres, David Villa, Xavi
USA: Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan

Altidore on PTI

Video: USA - Brazil Press Conference

Jones Injured

Schalke 04 and would-be United States National Team midfielder Jermaine Jones has a hairline fracture to his left shin that is expected to keep him out of action with Shalke for several weeks.  The injury was confirmed by an MRI earlier today.  The normal recovery time for this sort of injury varies, but is normally two months.  That would mean Jones would likely miss the start of the Bundesliga season. 

Twellman Put On Disabled List

New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman's issues with post-concussion symptoms continue, with the club putting him on the disabled list.  Twellman last played against DC United on May 30th, where he scored the 100th goal of his career.  He will miss at least the Revolution's next six League games.