USA & Argentina Fans Fight in Stands at the Meadowlands

There was nothing friendly about this incident that occurred in the stands at the Meadowlands after the USA - Argentina friendly on March 26, 2011. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Noisy Fans Ruin Moment of Silence for Japan Prior to US-Argentina Match

Those of us who watched European club soccer last weekend saw numerous moments of silence to honor the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. I for one was amazed and moved by how silent those stadiums, filled with thousands of people, were during said moments of silence. Therefore, I was appalled by how noisy the moment of silence in the Meadowlands before the US-Argentina match was tonight. You can see the players were also disappointed by the noisy crowd. Disgraceful. Even more disgraceful is what one moron can clearly be heard yelling during that silence.


Links to help make a difference:

How to help Japan: Earthquake Relief Options

Japanese American Citizens League

Here is the moment of silence from before the Manchester United v. Bolton match the previous weekend.



Yes, it is not perfect, but so much quieter and more respectful than the moment of silence at the Meadowlands was on Saturday.

[Trailer] Rise & Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story

This morning I found a tweet in my twitter timeline for Rise & Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story. Initially, I thought the tweet might be spam, but after looking into it, I was wrong. This is an actual movie, though still looking for some funding, as you can see from this trailer:

Spain's Gus Johnson?

Episode 25 of The Zygo Soccer Report - Dynamo 0-1 Union

The Houston Dynamo hosted Philadelphia Union in their season opener at Robertson Stadium on Saturday March 19, 2011. Dynamo ended up losing the match, 1-0. This podcast contains post match audio from Bobby Boswell, Tally Hall, and Coach Dominic Kinnear.

Johnny Evans injures Stuart Holden in Manchester United's 1-0 Victory Over Bolton

Stuart Holden was having a good match for Bolton against Manchester United at Old Trafford until the 76th minute when he was the victim of a harsh tackle by Johnny Evans. As you can see in the video, Holden was stretchered off the pitch. Despite going done a man due to Evans receiving a red card for the tackle, Dimitar Berbatov picked up a goal in the 88th minute, giving Manchester United the win.

It was barely a year ago that Stuart Holden suffered a broken leg as a result of a Nigel De Jong tackle during a US friendly with Holland.

As of publishing this post, Holden's status is unknown. Holden, who previously played for the Houston Dynamo in MLS, was recently named to the United States roster for its upcoming friendlies against Argentina and Paraguay.

UPDATE for March 21, 2011:

Stuart Holden will be undergoing knee surgery and he is expected to be out for up to 6 months. The exact nature of Holden's injury has not been disclosed, but it does not appear to be a broken bone.



Same video, just a different source:

Soccer in a Cricket World: The Beautiful Game in India

With today being the start of the 2011 MLS season for most MLS teams, I thought it would be interesting to highlight the game in another former English colony, India. Note that India and Pakistan will meet in a AFC Challenge Cup Qualifier on March 23rd.

In India, Soccer v. Cricket - Newsweek

From Slums To Fields: Using Football To Make A Change... - Goal

Soccer for cattle in Brazil barter - The Telegraph, Calcutta

How India can become a soccer nation - RT

The AIFF

Mario Balotelli vs. The Bib

It seems that Mario Balotelli just can't catch a break. He was recently caught on camera while struggling to get a bib on.

Maybe this is Why Milan Drew with Bari

Next time, maybe Milan should focus on getting ready for the match, not promoting a newspaper.

A Sampling of the Latest US Soccer Videos

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the biggest fan of Soccer House or it's attitude towards journalists, but I'm also willing to give credit where credit's due. One thing that US Soccer operates well is its YouTube page, and here's some of the recent videos from there worth watching:

Daniele de Rossi has a Vicious Elbow

American soccer fans are familiar with Angry Daniele de Rossi from 2006 when he bloodied Brian McBride's face during the group stage match between Italy and the USA, and now Shakhtar Donetsk fans got a taste of Angry DDR when he gave Darijo Srna a taste of his elbow in Tuesday's Champion's League match.

Did Michele Virgilio Score One of the Fastest Goals in Football History?

On Sunday February 27, 2011, what may be one of the fastest goals in football history was scored by Michele Virgili for Narnese in its match against Casa del Diavolo in the Eccellenza Umbria regional division in Italy's Eccellenza football division, a step below Serie D. Here's the video:



Narnese won the match 3-1.

Episode 24 of The Zygo Soccer Report

A look at the Houston Dynamo preseason, with some audio from after the Dynamo's 5-0 victory over SMU.

A Birthday Gift Fit for A King: Liverpool 3 - 1 Manchester United

Kenny Dalglish, Coach of Liverpool, turned 60 on Friday March 4, 2011, but he couldn't unwrap the gift he most wanted until Sunday when his team beat Manchester United, 3-1, at Anfield. It was a hat trick from Dirk Kuyt that gave Liverpool the win, with United's only goal coming in stoppage time from Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez.

When the new American owners of Liverpool replaced Roy Hodgson with Kenneth Dalglish this past January, the move was well received by the Liverpool fans who had been clamoring for the return of King Kenny, but many observers wondered if Dalglish's long absence from the coaching ranks of top flight English football would be a hurdle preventing any real progress by Liverpool either on the pitch or on the table. Dalglish made his return to the Liverpool sideline on January 9th, when the team lost 1-0 to Manchester United in the FA Cup. Dalglish's first Premiere League match was against Blackpool, which Liverpool lost 3-1. The new Dalglish Era at Liverpool was off to a rocky start, but things turned around, and coming into today's match with Manchester United, Liverpool, under Dalglish's coaching, has picked up 14 points in the Premier League, only losing one more match, which was to Wigan last week.

Now that the squad and the Dalglish transfers, Andy Carroll and Luis Suárez, had several matches under their collective belt, Sunday's match with Manchester United would be a good a moment to measure how far the new Liverpool had come since their FA loss to Sir Alex Ferguson's side back in January.

The match started a bit slow, but Liverpool, led by Suárez, Raul Meireles, and Dirk Kuyt, went on to dominate the match, showing that Dalglish still has what it takes to coach in the EPL.

Liverpool's first goal came in the 34th minute after a beautiful dribble by Suárez set up Kuyt's first goal:

Vinnie Jones Delivers a Half Time Speech to Hollywood AllStars FC

Most Americans are only familiar with Vinnie Jones via his roles in movies like Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, Gone in 60 Seconds, EuroTrip, etc. But before he made his film debut, Jones played professional football at clubs like Leeds United, Chelsea, Sheffield United, and Wimbledon where he earned the reputation of being one of the hard men of football.

Here's Jones giving a curse laced half time speech to his Hollywood AllStars FC:

He's Alive: A Freddy Adu Sighting & Goal

Freddy Adu scores the winner for Rizespor:

[VIDEO] Football Focus: Interview with Eric Cantona

The BBC show Football Focus recently interviewed Eric Cantona, in which they discussed the new New York Cosmos and Eric Cantona.



Bonus video:

Weekly Houston Dynamo Roundup for March 4th

With only two weeks left till opening day for the Houston Dynamo, who host Philadelphia Union on Saturday March 19th, time to start up a weekly roundup focusing on my local club.

The Dynamo have been out of town for the past couple weeks, playing preseason matches in Phoenix and Orlando, but are currently back in Houston and will be playing the SMU team on Saturday at 11:00 am over at the Carl Lewis Field. This match is open to season ticket holders only.

So without further adieu, here's a look at the Dynamo headlines from the past couple of weeks:

Dynamo bring back Dominic Oduro - Houston Chronicle

Construction begins on Houston Dynamo Stadium - Houston Dynamo website

Dynamo renew English & Spanish radio partnerships for 2011 season - Dynamo Theory

Paul Dalglish to coach Dynamo Juniors program in Austin, central Texas - Houston Dynamo Website

Bobby Boswell is a leader in the Dynamo Defense - Houston Chronicle

A promising rookie gives Houston Dynamo and MLS the royal treatment - New York Times

Guidebook: The 2011 Houston Dynamo - Goal

Kansas City to play Houston Dynamo in US Open - The Kansas City Star

Get To Know Dynamo Academy & U-17 USMNT Goalkeeper Fernando Pina - SB Nation/Houston

Dynamo falls to FC Dallas in shoot-out at Disney World - KHOU

Green Bank joins select group financing Dynamo Stadium - Press Release

Certain single game tickets & special ticket packages for Houston Dynamo 2011 season now available - Houston Dynamo website

Houston Dynamo acquire defender Jermaine Taylor - USA Today

High School Soccer Match in SEC Country Gets Ugly - Gulfport v. Northwest Rankin

Last month, the Mississippi 6-A Soccer Championship between Gulfport High School and Northwest Rankin High School took an ugly turn:



Gulfport High School went on to win the match.

Fans turn Morumbi Stadium into Pool during Recent Rain Delay

The recent rains and flooding in Brazil had an interesting impact on the national sport, football, when a 70 minute delay to the start of a São Paulo - Palmeiras match led to bored fans turning Morumbi Stadium into a swimming pool. The match ultimately ended in a 1-1 draw.