Wednesday, April 30, 2008
TAMPA, FL – The 2008 Olympics were the primary emphasis on the international calendar for current and former USL players. The CONCACAF Women’s qualifying tournament was held in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico April 2-12. The Olympic draw was also held for the men and women by FIFA. The US Women also played a friendly against Australia. Plus – a report on USL affiliate teams in English soccer.
CONCACAF WOMEN’S OLYMPIC QUALIFYING
The United States, Canada, Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago were among the six teams competing for the two Olympic berths from CONCACAF in the Final Round of qualifying held in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico April 2-12. The four teams saw a combined 47 current and former W-League players in action.
The United States featured 11 W-League players and, as usual, the Canadian squad was primarily W-Leaguers with only one of the 20 not hailing from USL. Eight represented Mexico and nine W-League alumni were on T&T’s roster.
Not surprisingly, the regional powers Canada and the US advanced to the final with dominating play in the three-team round robin groups and semifinal victories. Mexico and Costa Rico were the other semifinalists.
Group A opened with Mexico blasting Jamaica 8-1 with former Juana Evelyn Lopez (Arizona) scoring four goals. The team captain registered three in the first half. FC Indiana’s Monica Ocampo added Mexico’s final strike. The US then blanked Jamaica 6-0 with goals from Abby Wambach (Rochester), Heather O’Reilly (New Jersey) and Tobin Heath (Jersey, New Jersey) scoring in the win. Wambach scored twice. In the battle for first, the US topped Mexico 3-1 with Wambach scoring the game-winner.
In Group B, Canada opened with a 6-0 thrashing of T&T. Melissa Tancredi (Jersey, Atlanta, Detroit), Kara Lang (Vancouver), Randee Hermus (Vancouver), Jodi Ann Robinson (Vancouver) and Christine Sinclair (Vancouver) tallied in the win. Trinidad & Tobago rebounded for a 2-2 draw against Costa Rica in the second match with eight W-League alumni in the lineup. Canada closed off group play with a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica on a Tancredi strike 15 minutes in.
In the Semifinals, the US advanced past Costa Rica 3-0 with O’Reilly adding her second of the tournament. Tancredi again scored the lone goal for Canada in a narrow 1-0 win over Mexico on her 25th minute tally. The victories put the US and Canada in the Olympic tournament in August.
Mexico would finish third with a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica. China-bound Canada and the US played to a 1-1 draw with the US taking the regional title 6-5 in penalties. Scoreless through regulation of the Final, Carli Lloyd (New Jersey, South Jersey, New Brunswick, Central Jersey) struck in the 108th minute to break the deadlock, but Tancredi again proved clutch with the equalizer eight minutes later.
The W-League Players
Canada: Karina LeBlanc, Kristina Kiss, Melanie Booth, Clare Rustad, Robyn Gayle, Sophie Schmidt, Rhian Wilkinson, Diana Matheson, Candace Chapman, Martina Franko, Randee Hermus, Christine Sinclair, Amy Walsh, Melissa Tancredi, Kara Lang, Erin McLeod, Alexandra Marton, Jodi-Ann Robinson; Mexico: Pamela Tajonar, Sophia Perez, Monica Vergaro, Juana Lopez, Monica Ocampo, Patricia Perez, Luz del Rosario Saucedo, Iris Mora; Trinidad & Tobago: Ayana Russell, Katrina Meyer, Tricia Cooper, Dernelle Mascal, Tasha St Louis, Ahkeela (Darcel) Mollon, Annastasia Prescott, Maria Mohammed, Marissa Mohammed; United States: Christie Rampone, Cat Whitehill, Lindsay Tarpley, Shannon Boxx, Heather O’Reilly, Kacey White, Carli Lloyd, Leslie Osborne, Tobin Heath, Angela Hucles, Abby Wambach
FIFA OLYMPIC TOURNAMENT DRAWS
The draws for the 16-team U-23 Men’s Olympic tournament and the 12-team Women’s Olympic tournament were conducted by FIFA April 20 for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China August 6-23.
The United States was drawn into Group B of the men’s tournament along with Japan, Nigeria and the Netherlands. Their CONCACAF counterpart Honduras will be competing against Italy, Cameroon and Korea Republic in Group D. Group A consists of the Ivory Coast, Argentina, Australia and Serbia while Group C includes New Zealand, Brazil, Belgium and host China.
In the women’s draw, Canada found themselves in Group E with Sweden, Argentina and host China. The United States will face Japan, New Zealand and Norway in Group G. Group F consists of Korea DPR, Nigeria and defending World Cup finalists Germany and Brazil.
The top two teams in each men’s group qualify for the Quarterfinals. For the women, the top two teams in each group advance to the quarterfinals. They are joined by the two best third-placed teams.
Schedules
United States U-23 Men: Japan 8/7, Netherlands 8/10, Nigeria 8/13
Canada Women: Argentina 8/6, China 8/9, Sweden 8/12
United States Women: Norway 8/6, Japan 8/9, New Zealand 8/12
Opening Ceremonies 8/8, Men’s Quarterfinals 8/16, Men’s Semifinals 8/19, Men’s Bronze 8/22, Men’s Final 8/23, Women’s Quarterfinals 8/15, Women’s Semifinals 8/18, Women’s Bronze & Final 8/21
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES
It was a quiet month for international friendlies in April. The lone game on the schedule locally involving USL players was a women’s friendly April 27 featuring the United States and Australia in Cary, NC. The Carolina RailHawks played host to the match which featured 11 W-League players on the US squad as well as four W-Leaguers playing for the Matildas. Carli Lloyd had an assist on the opening goal and scored the game-winner in stoppage time for the US. Abby Wambach gave the US a 2-0 lead, which Australia erased with strikes in the 86th and 88th minutes. Cheryl Salisbury (Memphis) scored the equalizer. Full report [+]. The US women play two more friendlies next month May 3 against Australia again and May 10 against Canada.
INTERNATIONAL AFFILIATES & DEVELOPMENT
The English seasons are near a close and several clubs with ties to USL are in key races.
Stoke City (Austin Aztex): The Potters are tied for first place in the Championship with West Brom heading into the final game of the season and can finish no worse than third for a spot in the promotion playoffs. A victory or draw against Leicester would clinch a top two finish and a spot in the English Premier League next season. Hull sits three points back in third and faces eighth-place Ipswich.
Crystal Palace (Crystal Palace Baltimore): Palace currently sit in the last promotion playoff position at sixth in the table. They can finish as high as a tie for fourth or as lost as a tie for eighth. With a match against Burnley (11th), Palace sits three points back of Bristol City (4th) and one from Watford. Stalking are Wolverhampton one point back and the duo of Ipswich and Sheffield United, who are two back.
Sheffield Wednesday (Kalamazoo Outrage): The Owls sit 20th, one point clear of relegation. They face 16th-place Norwich in their finale, needing to finish ahead of Leicester or Southampton who are just one point back. Ironically, a Stoke win against Leicester would guarantee safety from relegation. Meanwhile, Southampton faces Sheffield United.
Reading (Ocean City Barons): Relegation is the current concern for the English Premier League side. Sitting 17th currently, Reading could finish anywhere from 13th to 19th. They face tough competition in 11th-place Tottenham in their next match, but finish with last-place Derby County, who have just one win on the season and have already clinched last in the EPL. Birmingham sits one point back with games against Fulham (19th) and Blackburn (8th). Fulham is three points back with Portsmouth (7th) for their final match.
West Ham (USL): The season is nearly wrapped up for West Ham. They currently sit 10th with no mathematical ability to move up the table, but can finish no worse than 12th over the next two weeks as they face league-leading Manchester United and Aston Villa (6th).
USL ODP at West Ham: The affiliation agreement between United Soccer Leagues and West Ham was recently at the forefront with 12 Super Y-League players visiting the EPL club at the beginning of the month to train and experience the unique facets of the historic club. View recaps of the trip here: http://www.uslsoccer.com/features/USLandWestHam/index_E.html
