NY Coed Soccer

NY Coed Friday Night Round-Up

Week 6 of the Friday Summer League...

In the Friday Premiership:

• Santiago Riera scores twice for Team JS to defeat Logan’s Bone, and cement his position as the Premiership’s leading goalscorer
• Citi-Habitats prove too strong for Poindexter United as Victor Gimenez nets a hat-trick
• Green Machine record their first win of the season as Brooks Reynolds and David Kim contribute a brace each
• And in an exciting 4-3 game, the Hellraisers emerge as winners over Sloppy Joes with Jimmy Mason scoring on his debut

For full information on the scores, scorers and standings, click here.

In the Friday Championship Group A:

• Jesse Good scores as Mayhem United defeat the New Agents 2-1
• Chuck Norris nab their first win of the season with victory over Castle Greyskull, Mike Zlotnik scoring twice
• TANG emerge victorious over The Substitutes, with Tony Stiker among the goals
• And Tricia Scarlino is unable to repeat her match-winning goal of last week for Bayern Lederhosen as they draw 0-0 with Shaolin United

For full information on the scores, scorers and standings, click here.

In the Friday Championship Group B:

• Midtown Mutts do enough to claim the three points against the Red Scare with Jimi Economou scoring to keep him at the head of the Championship goalscoring charts
• John Foy proves to be the hat-trick hero as Brass Monkeys win 3-2 against Clamanomaly
• Dramane Brown celebrates a double and a win as > First-Timers defeat FC United
• Santos Montano’s opener doesn’t prove enough as the Free Agents draw 1-1 with The Asthmatic Pole-Dancing Strippers

For full information on the scores, scorers and standings, click here.

Israel Will Ensure Safety Of Visiting Teams

Israel is committed to ensuring the safety of national teams, clubs and UEFA representatives due to visit the country, Sports Minister Ophir Pines-Paz said in a letter sent yesterday to European soccer's governing body, UEFA.

"The security arrangements at every game will be of the highest standard," Pines-Paz wrote to Giorgio Marchetti, UEFA's director of professional soccer.

UEFA is expected to decide by Wednesday whether to permit international games in Israel. On Friday, Maccabi Haifa was drawn to play English Premiership club Liverpool in the third qualifying round for the Champions League. Liverpool has announced that it is unwilling to play in Israel.

Liverpool secretary Bryce Morrison confirmed yesterday that the club had made an official request to have the second leg of the clash with Maccabi Haifa, scheduled for August 22 or 23, moved to a neutral venue.

"We have concerns over this situation; obviously it's not the safest place in the world to travel to," said Liverpool secretary Bryce Morrison yesterday. "From the information given, we'll be making more investigations, but it's very early days yet."

Asked if he thought playing in nearby Cyprus was an option, Morrison added: "I don't think Cyprus is an option at the moment due to the number of people from Lebanon who are there. We'd prefer it to be played at a neutral ground."

US Soccer Round-Up

The MLS is about to cash in on the sport’s growing popularity with a series of television deals that will bring in upwards of $15 million annually:  Soccer Deal

A round-up of the weekend's MLS action, during which the NY Red Bulls tied once again :  MLS Round-Up

And the US Women's Team defeat Canada in a rough and tumble friendly :  US Women

Scottish Season Kicks Off

Champions Celtic start with a 4-1 win over Kilmarnock:  Celtic

While Paul Le Guen's revolution at Rangers begins with an away win at Motherwell, which The Times called "truly breathtaking":  Rangers

Others Scores:

Dundee Utd 1-2 Falkirk
Dunfermline 1-2 Heart
Hibs 1-1 Aberdeen
Inverness CT 1-2 St. Mirren

Unfortunately, Scotland's Under-19 side lost out 2-1 to Spain in the European Championship Final on Saturday.

The Shaming Of A Nation

Within a week of Italy winning the World Cup, the clubs that had provided 13 players of the triumphant squad were punished in devastating fashion. One man used his influence through media, politics and football. This is how Luciano Moggi brought down one of Europe's greatest clubs - and shamed a nation:  Italy

A New Week At Man Utd With Carrick, Ronaldo & Rooney

Michael Carrick will become the fifth most expensive player in Manchester United history later today when he completes a £18.6m move to Old Trafford. Only Rio Ferdinand, Juan Sebastian Veron, Wayne Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy have cost more.

And Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Manchester for his first encounter with Wayne Rooney since a fateful World Cup date in Gelsenkirchen. The Portuguese winger also faces an interesting reunion with the United manager Sir Alex Ferguson on their first meeting since Ronaldo said he wanted to leave Old Trafford and join Real Madrid.

Horacio Elizondo, the referee who sent off Wayne Rooney in the World Cup quarter-final against Portugal, has criticised the Manchester United forward for being a World Cup whinger.

The Argentine official said: "He was complaining all the time, always coming close to you and saying 'referee' this, 'referee' that. Protests and more protests. He reminded me of my kids."

Elizondo also claimed that the then England manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson, was not amused with his star player over the incident when he apparently stamped on defender Ricardo Carvalho.

He said he was in his dressing room after England were knocked out when Eriksson came and spoke to him.

"He wanted to congratulate us. I really appreciated that. We chatted for a few seconds and he mentioned the red card. 'Rooney stamped on him, didn't he?' he asked.

"I nodded. 'I can't understand how a professional player can react like that,' he told me. Then he left."

Elizondo told FourFourTwo magazine that he was not influenced by the protests of Rooney's United team-mate, Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo, in the sending off.

He said: "He stamped on Carvalho's groin. That is a straight red card in any country."

Read All About It - Daily Digest

José Antonio Reyes insisted yesterday he was "very happy at Arsenal" after being quoted as saying he would welcome a move to Real Madrid but the matter may take a further twist. Madrid's president Ramón Calderón is keen to buy a Spaniard this summer and the club is considering an offer for the 22-year-old.

Reyes was quoted as saying it would be "marvellous" if Madrid wanted to sign him because he has failed to settle in England and would like to return to his homeland. Later, though, he told Arsenal's website: "I don't know where these words have come from. But what I would like to say is that I am very happy at Arsenal. I am excited about not only playing at Emirates Stadium but also helping Arsenal to challenge for honours."

Steve McClaren will not be formally annointed as the new England manager until tomorrow but his embryonic regime has already suffered a serious setback. A phone call from Alan Shearer yesterday informed McClaren that the former Newcastle United and England centre-forward would not, after all, be taking up his invitation to become a member of his coaching staff.

While this blow was softened when friends of Terry Venables let slip that the one-time England coach was poised to be named as McClaren's assistant, it is understood that Shearer's rebuff was much more about the remuneration offered by the Football Association than the offer itself.

Shearer said, "I was flattered when Steve telephoned me just before the World Cup and explained the role he visualised for me working alongside himself and Terry Venables. I talked to him upon my return from Germany and was impressed with his plan and his vision for the future. However, I had already told the BBC that I would be extending my contract with them and did not want to go back on my word. I'm sure Steve will do a great job for England. His choice of Terry as a No2 is a clever appointment and I'm sure they'll prove an excellent management team."

Bolivian President Evo Morales broke his nose Sunday when he was fouled by goalkeeper during an indoor soccer match and will sidelined for 48 hours, his office said.

Morales, a passionate soccer player and fan, was injured during a game in the central city of Cochabamba between his presidential team and a local squad, the Independence Warriors, the president's office said in a statement.

"In the game's 32nd minute, with the score tied 2-2, the local team's goalkeeper committed a foul against the President of the Republic that produced the injury to his nose," the statement said.

Iraq's national soccer coach resigned after receiving death threats against him and his family.
Akram Ahmed Salman submitted his resignation Friday to the secretary general of the Iraqi Football Federation, Ahmed Abbas , and left the capital.

"He resigned due to a threat he received to quit training the Iraqi soccer team," Abbas said.

NY Coed Soccer Thursday Night Round-Up

The Summer 2006 season is proving the tightest yet. After last night's game five teams, vying for the four play-off slots, are separated by only two points. Indeed, three teams are level on points, with the same goal difference...

• In the top of the table clash, Levent Kurt becomes the two-goal hero as Blue Devils defeat Blue Balls to regain top spot
• Olympique Manhattan with the help of Jon Setzen grab a 2-0 win over the Free Agents
• Left-Wingers United take three points from Zoolanders to squeeze into third place
• And once again, Sinead O'Callaghan proves to be The Westies saviour as they win 1-0 against Formerly G-Unit

For full information on the scores, scorers and standings, click here.

Scotland Qualify For U-19s Euro Final

The Scotland Under-19 squad take on Spain in the final of the European Championships tomorrow evening having defeated the Czech Republic 1-0 in the semi-finals. Coach Archie Gemmill hailed his side's progress in Poland as an "incredible" achievement.

The Scots last reached the final in 1982 when they defeated Czechoslovakia to win the title in Finland. Here's hoping for a repeat this time round.

Liverpool Journey To Israel

The draw for the Uefa Champions League third qualifying round (the round prior to the group stages) was made earlier this morning and Liverpool have been drawn against Maccabi Haifa of Israel.

Uefa insists they will not put Liverpool players, fans and officials of Liverpool at risk as they face the prospect of travelling to the troubled Middle East.

Official Rob Faulkner said: "We've asked the Israel FA and relevant authorities to give us assurances concerning safety."

Faulkner explained that the Israeli FA had been asked to look at alternative venues, should the game be played outside the country.

He said: "We all see the news and have serious concerns - and the situation is changing daily. But this is the right way to do it and we're asking the right people. We'll be in discussions with both clubs but the key is the safety of players, fans and officials - and we wouldn't go ahead if we didn't have those assurances. We have played with problems and conflict there before and also played games away from Israel. That is Plan B - a back-up plan."

Maccabi president Jacob Shachar added: ""Tel Aviv is quiet - let's hope things will stay quiet and we will be able to host Liverpool. It's an unpleasant situation although we understand Liverpool's concerns."

The first legs to be played on 8/9 August; second legs 22/23 August. And the complete draw is...

Sheriff Tiraspol/Spartak Moscow v Liberec
Shakhtar Donetsk v FH Hafnarfjordur/Legia Warsaw
FC Zurich/SV Red Bull Salzburg v Valencia
Levski Sofia/Sioni Bolnisi v Chievo
Hearts/Siroki Brijeg v AEK Athens
CSKA Moscow v Djurgardens IF/SCP Ruzomberok
AC Milan v Cork/Crvena Zvezda
Galatasaray v Mlada Boleslav/Valerenga
Standard Liege v HIT Gorica/Steaua Bucuresti
Austria Magna v Benfica
FK Ekranas/Dinamo Zagreb v Arsenal
FC Copenhagen/MyPa v Ajax
Hamburg v Osasuna
FK Metalurgs/Dynamo Kiev v Fenerbahce/B36 Torshavn
Liverpool v Maccabi Haifa
Lille v Debrecen/Rabotnicki Kometal

The draw for the second qualifying round of Uefa Cup was also made and Newcastle will face Latvian side Ventspils. Scottish side Gretna face Irish club Derry, Welsh outfit Llanelli will play Denmark's Odense and Drogheda United of Ireland are up against Norwegians Start.

For full details on the draw:  Uefa Cup Draw