Soccer News: Seattle Beat Argentina Boca Juniors

Roger Levesque cleaned up the ricochet of Fredy Montero's free kick late in the first half, Pat Noonan and Michael Seamon both scored midway through the second half and Seattle beat Argentina's Boca Juniors 3-0 in an soccer exhibition match Wednesday.

Having scored just two home goals since a 2-0 season opening win over expansion Philadelphia, the Sounders were hoping the exhibition with the one-time South American soccer powers might be an opportunity to solve some of their offensive woes before returning to MLS play on Saturday at Colorado.

Seattle wore their "Electricity" rave green soccer uniforms for the first time against Boca Juniors. “Electricity” had Fox Soccer Channel spectators all across the country adjusting their television’s contrast settings Wednesday night. In a friendly against Boca Juniors, Sounders FC donned their new Electricity yellow jersey—an audacious color choice that makes Seattle’s Rave Green uniforms look downright drab.

Fortunately for the fans who came out on Wednesday night, the game itself was played at a high-energy tempo that complemented the jerseys. They also saw the best of the mercurial Fredy Montero, who looked sensational against the storied South American club, winning 3-0.

Roger Levesque, Pat Noonan and Michael Seamon notched the goals for the home side, but it was Fredy Montero who set the tone early.

Showing the most energy he has displayed thus far into the 2010 season, the tireless Colombian pestered the Argentine club’s defense in his 45 minutes of action. He also triggered the first goal of the game, coming inches away from a sublime free kick goal before Roger Levesque ushered in the rebound off his midsection.

After a long scoring drought in Qwest Field, Roger Levesque’s goal set off disproportionately delirious celebrations amongst the strong crowd of 40,122. The 1-0 halftime lead was a commendable result against a Boca Juniors team that fielded several starters among its starting 11, including capped players Leandro Aguirre and Fabián Monzón in the starting back line.

Fredy Montero left at halftime, and for a moment it looked like he took the Sounders attack with him. With Freddie Ljungberg not dressing for the match, the departure of the Colombian led to some comically bad finishing.

Brad Evans will be hearing about his egregious miss on an empty net for the foreseeable future. Not to be outdone, Levesque skied a shot over the Boca goal seconds later with a better-positioned Miguel Montano getting ready to take the strike.

However, the Keystone Kops routine ended thanks to Noonan’s left-footed goal in the 64th minute. Taking a pass from David Estrada, Noonan calmly put the ball away after cutting back on his marker.

Minutes later, Seamon put a strong right-footed blast inside the right post. Having recently rejoined the team after finishing his degree at Villanova, the graduation present to himself was greeted with cheers from the Seattle bench.

Boca Juniors now head to Portland to take on the Timbers in the final match of their three-game US tour on Saturday at PGE Park.

Monday, May 31, 2010 | posted in boca juniors, seattle, Soccer | 2comments [ More ]

David Beckham Left AC Milan For Surgery

Soccer fans and online sports betting enthusiasts are having now a problem with their favorite team AC Milan when David Beckham's left Achilles' tendon was totally torn, and the doctor who performed the surgery said the England midfielder is expected to be out of action for about six months.

The soccer superstar David Beckham twisted his left ankle during the final minutes of AC Milan's 1-0 Serie A win against Chievo last Sunday and limped off the field before being stretchered away in pain and in tears. Although David Beckham is doing well after an operation at a Finnish hospital to fix his ruptured Achilles tendon and will leave with his wife Victoria Beckham. David Beckham's leg is expected to be in a cast for three to four weeks and in a support for around the same length of time, but the on-loan LA Galaxy midfielder already began practicing to walk with crutches.

The injury shattered David Beckham's hopes of becoming the first English player to appear in four World Cups and put his future on the national team in doubt. He will miss most of the MLS season. According to a Milan physician Jean Pierre Meersseman told Italy's Sky TV that David Beckham flew to Finland for surgery, where he will be treated by specialist surgeon Dr. Sakari Orava.

Dr. Sakari Orava said it would be four months before David Beckham could even try to run and six months before he could play again — in other words, mid-September, when the Galaxy will have only a half-dozen games remaining in what would be Beckham's fourth season in Major League Soccer.

Unfortunately, but the injury is so severe that David Beckham already knows he will not be going to South Africa World Cup which strats hat June 11, 2010 with his country this summer for a competition that would have given him the chance to close in on goalkeeper Peter Shilton's international appearance record of 125 caps.

David Beckham was scheduled to rejoin the team after the World Cup, but now it looks as though he might miss all of the 2010 MLS season. Ruptured Achilles tendons are no joke, and one has to wonder now how much incentive Beckham will have to go through a long rehabilitation just so he can finish his Galaxy contract in 2011.

Meanwhile, Fabio Capello, England's coach, told reporters that the injury was "a big blow" for David Beckham, significantly not stating that it was a big blow for England, considered one of the World Cup favorites. Reaction in the English media to David Beckham's absence from the South Africa's World Cup was consistent.

Most outlets expressed sympathy for him, but most also agreed with the BBC that David Beckham would have been little more than "a fringe player" in South Africa, "someone who — barring exceptional circumstances — would not have started any game at the World Cup."

As replacements go, some would argue that Aaron Lennon's fitness is more of a worry than David Beckham's unavailability. Aaron Lennon was the reason David Beckham was relegated to the bench in recent England games. He offers searing pace and more often than not an end product. He would be sorely missed should he not travel to South Africa.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010 | posted in David Beckham, Soccer | 0comments [ More ]

FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010

South Africa regularly hosts major international sporting events, and since 1994 has successfully managed some of the biggest - including the 1995 Rugby World Cup, the 2003 Cricket World Cup, the Women's World Cup of Golf in 2005 and 2006 and, in January 2006, the only street race in the inaugural A1 GP World Cup of Motorsport. But the Soccer Football World Cup, the world's biggest sporting event after the Olympic games - in terms of television audience, bigger than the Olympics - is in a class of its own.

For four weeks in 2010, South Africa will be the centre of the world. The 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan was the most extensively covered and viewed event in television history. Germany 2006, and South Africa 2010, promise to draw even bigger audiences. In choosing South Africa to bring the World Cup to Africa for the first time, Fifa was not only looking at what the country already offers - world-class transport, telecommunications, tourism and sporting infrastructure, and a people renowned for their hospitality and passion for the beautiful game.

However, FIFA World Cup won't be complete without the soccer hearthrob David Beckham. Therefore, David Beckham has no fear Wayne Rooney will burn himself out ahead of England's bid for 2010 FIFA World Cup glory. While David Beckham will be trying his hardest to ensure there are no European celebrations this year and AC Milan turn round their 3-2 UEFA Champions League deficit to Manchester United in the decider at Old Trafford in three weeks, as a Red Devils fan and an England player, the 34-year-old has vested interest in Rooney maintaining his present high standards. And, while plenty have expressed concern over Rooney's ability to maintain top form until mid-July, David Beckham is not among them.

David Beckham feels Wayne Rooney could be challenging for the coveted Ballon D'Or if England make an impact at South Africa 2010 soccer tournament. Neither he, nor Sir Alex Ferguson, have held back from their belief that Rooney has now joined Lionel Messi, Kaka and former United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo in the elite group of players currently regarded as the world's best.

There are ten venues being used for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa across 9 cities with several new stadiums being built ready for the tournament. In total there are five new stadiums being built with the others being the subject of major face lifts to fall in line with FIFA standards and ensure the best World Cup for fans possible.

* Johannesburg – Soccer City Stadium

* Johannesburg – Ellis Park

* Nelspruit – Mbombela Stadium

* Rustenburg – Royal Bafokeng

* Bloemfontein – Free State Stadium

* Cape Town – Green Point Stadium

* Durban – Moses Mabhida Stadium

* Polokwane– Moses Mokaba Stadium

* Port Elizabeth – Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium

* Pretoria – Loftus Versfeld

Soccer is a sport that is popular in sports betting sites and online casino all around the world and more people bet on soccer every year then any other sport.

Monday, March 1, 2010 | posted in David Beckham, FIFA, Soccer | 0comments [ More ]