AJC.com > Sports > Soccer blog > Archives > 2007 > July
July 2007
A near-upset in the Big D
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
An eventful week for the Silverbacks continued with a bitterly disappointing defeat Monday to FC Dallas on penalty kicks in the U.S. Open Cup.
After Dallas’ Carlos Ruiz (El Pescadito) struck for the MLS team in the 74th minute, Altanta got the equalizer four minutes later from Daniel Antoniuk, with service from Rodrigo Rios. The ‘Backs held on after Antoniuk was booted in the 82nd minute for kicking a Dallas player in the face, but fell 4-3 on penalties, which needed an extra sixth round to determine the result.
The more encouraging development is the improving form of the Silverbacks. They took a fairly decent MLS team 120 grueling minutes, plus PKs, on the road, just two days after blanking USL First Division leaders Vancouver on Saturday.
On Thursday, they return home to face Monterrey of the Mexican Premier League, then tackle second-place Rochester on Saturday, also at RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium.
What a week!
The ‘Backs have jumped up to sixth place in the USL First Division.
July’s a hopping month, and will be culminated locally with the July 28 friendly against Mexican giant Cruz Azul. Around the continent, and the world, so much is going on. So much for down time on the global soccer calendar.
The Copa America quarterfinals didn’t have much suspense, with Mexico clobbering Paraguay 6-0 and Argentina thumping Peru. Those two will meet in the semis, along with Brazil vs. Uruguay.
Still think the U.S. threw away a good opportunity to do better there, and I don’t blame the organizing folks at CONMEBOL for critical remarks about the Yanks’ weak team.
Maybe the timing was lousy, given the Gold Cup that has yielded a spot in the 2009 Confederations Cup, but the U.S. might not get a Copa invite for a long time to come. And that’s a competition we could benefit from at a later time.
And also a very poor diplomatic move, very poor indeed. In your own hemisphere, that’s very bad form. But the USSF and MLS don’t seem to be all that concerned. That’s because …
Friday the 13th is David Beckham arrival day in Los Angeles! All the ballyhoo. All the hype. All the paparazzi. Too bad it’s a soccer player, eh?
Chelsea’s over here too, doing some pre-season training and eventually will play a few games, including the Galaxy. Great time to be a soccer fan in America, but a little perspective, please. This is the post-All-Star game (baseball) vacuum where most American sports fans are giving a big yawn, if paying attention at all, until tackle football practices and training camps open later this month.
It’s a great time for soccer solons in the U.S. to grab a little bit of the spotlight. Too bad a better showing in the Copa couldn’t have been touted as part of that. (Sorry, I just can’t let this go! What an embarrassment!)
Maybe it isn’t Bob Bradley’s fault that his hands were tied about MLS callups. Since the league has fought Copa participation all along, this isn’t a surprise. Sounds like MLS didn’t budge a bit on the whole idea, and nobody from USSF was going to push too hard.
Grant Wahl has a much more even-handed take than I can manage. Nice guy.
At least we have the U.S. Under 20 team. Was flipping around the dial last Friday night when suddenly, on ESPN, was an absolutely thrilling win over Brazil.
Saw most of the second half, and it was some of the most exciting, well-played, joyous soccer I’ve seen in some time. Finally, Freddy Adu’s living up to his international billing, and young Red Bull Josmer Altidore is fabulous! No wonder the otherwise grouchy sage Paul Gardner gets excited about the major youth tournaments. They’re still playing with joy, before the dour professional coaches really get to them. More untamed, less programmed, more spontaneous, less rote. Isn’t this what soccer is supposed to be about?
Wednesday’s the quarterfinal with Uruguay, relegated to ESPNU, which like most of you I can’t get. ESPN, how about a reprise!
