Matchday LIVE! USA

How Bob Bradley cost the United States the Confederations Cup (with an assist from Jorge Larrionda)

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:57:00 +0000

First off, let me say full credit to the Brazilians for putting on a footballing clinic against a gassed American side in the 2nd half. There's a reason this squad is the 5-time World Cup Champions, because they are stacked full of talent on the pitch and on the bench.

However, this is not a post about Brazil's great play snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, but rather Bob Bradley's mind snatching defeat from the jaws of victory or at the very least extra time. Consider that even the WALL STREET JOURNAL was live blogging this match on their website: American soccer had hit the big time... this was a PRIME OPPORTUNITY to quite the naysayers and send off the US with the confidence of a nation united behind them into the remaining Qualifiers and (hopefully) World Cup. This is when you want to bring your A-game, and if this was Bob Bradley's mental A-game, then he is not the manager the United States needs.

The Second Half

After the Americans got off to a rousing start with a 2-0 halftime lead, the warning signs popped up immediately, with an immediate reply from the Nation of Samba to make it a 2-1 game. The US, again led by courageous players full of desire and determination, fought to regain a footing in the match and did so for a little while, but consistent Brazilian pressure came forward, led by stellar play from the fullbacks, who started dominating the match. With rapidly tiring players and more and more pressure from the Selecao, the time for action was HERE! Right around the 60' mark. Did Bob Bradley rise to the challenge? Absolutely not... instead, he waits until AFTER THE EQUALIZER.... after WATCHING HIS TEAM spend 15 agonizing minutes diving after balls to clear, facing constant pressure, and getting numerous Tim Howard bailouts... WATCHING HIS TEAM CRY OUT FOR TACTICAL ASSISTANCE, only to get?
...
...
Nothing. No adjustment until it's too late.
Amazing.

The Larrionda Assist

I am going to now make a bold claim, one which may be valid, but we'll never know unless someone gains the ability to read Bob Bradley's mind (which as I am typing that statement, sounds like a pretty boring ability given that I don't know how much is really going on in there):

Had Michael Bradley been available for this match, the US would have held on to win.

You were probably wondering at the beginning of this, "Who is Jorge Larrionda, and how did he impact the Final?" It's simple really - Larrionda sent off Bradley for a challenge in the 86th minute of the Spain match, inexplicably and inexcuseably. Review the replay for yourself, don't take my word for it; there WAS NO foul on the play. NOT EVEN A YELLOW CARD... NOTHING. But yet, for the second time, a US player earns a direct red for a yellow-at-best offense under Larrionda's watch. Remember the US-Italy World Cup match back in 2006? How soccer fans around the country were up in arms over a direct red issued to Pablo Mastroeni? Yeah, same guy ... stunning coincidence when you think about it. So Larrionda's part is now explained.

Why Does it Matter?

"The US still has to play" I agree with you 100%, and if you look at the title of this article you'll see it says "How BOB BRADLEY lost the US the Confed. Cup (with an assist to Larrionda)" instead of the other way around. Here is where reading Bradley's mind comes into play. I have to believe (simply due to player quality) that Bradley would have been much quicker to bring on Benny Feilhaber as a substutite (removing a Forward to drop into a 4-2-3-1 variant of a 4-5-1 with Bradley and Feilhaber working as Defensive Midfielders. I have to believe it, because it makes sense; because Feilhaber had shown to be a positive player in the tournament thus far; because Feilhaber is a FAR BETTER PLAYER than Sacha Kljestan will EVER BE. The logic is obvious: Of course Bradley is hesistant to bring on Kljestan, he's terrible, has been terrible all tournament, and will do nothing to help the team by coming on, even if Jozy has had an ineffective game.

Yet, despite this forcefulness in my tone, I do not believe it. I do not believe it because Bob Bradley has consistently shown that he is incapable of reading the match and reacting appropriately. Bob Bradley's mind said "step to the touchline and clap a few times to support your players" rather than the obvious "give the midfield support." With the U.S. going into a defensive shell out of necessity from the Brazilian surge, how could it ever make sense to REMAIN IN A 4-4-2 trying to stem the tide?! Surely as a paid football manager you must know this. Bob Bradley, clearly, did not, and stuck with his guns until it was too late. The deflated US side accepted but shrugged at the entrances of Kljestan and Bornstein following the tying goal, and was too gassed to stop the inevitable third and match-winning goal from Brazil.

What To Do?

One can only hope that the US Soccer brass is not blinded by the dream final appearance to attribute it to the work of Bob Bradley. Let's hope their eyes are watching the upcoming World Cup qualifiers at Azteca and down the line. If such mistakes continue, there is no choice but for a change to be made. If such mental collapses continue, Bob Bradley cannot manage the United States at the World Cup.

Clearly, this was the effort of 11 players on the pitch giving it their all, showing the grit and determination of the true American player, that brought them to the lofty heights of an international cup Final such as the Confederations Cup. An outfit of determined players that needed just a little pick me up, 30 minutes from time and a win against Brazil in a 2-1 game, who were let down by their manager far more than the collective supporters of the side could ever be in witnessing this sad defeat.

The Truimphant Return!

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 09:48:00 +0000

Football fans, your day has come! I've returned to school full time and that means I can use my now-stable internet to bring you more great Matchday LIVE! Coverage! We're going to be getting back into live audio broadcasts by the end of the month, just in time to pick up the EPL and other European league seasons in full swing!

Be sure to stay tuned to Matchday LIVE! as we return to bringing you all of the big news and notes and live audio coverage from around the world in football! We thank you for your previous visits and patronage and hope to continue to hear from you all!

Regards and all the best,

The Matchday LIVE! Staff

Return of Matchday LIVE!

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Sat, 17 May 2008 07:23:00 +0000

Fans, we'd like to thank all of you who have bookmarked, favorited, dugg, etc., Matchday LIVE! We've been away for awhile due a number of factors including school and family/personal requirements, but we want to let you know that by no means is the site and it's mission of providing quality football content dead.

Be sure to check back in the coming weeks for new material, hopefully including live audio for some of the biggest MLS matches, as the American soccer season heats up. Of course, you can still expect the same great updates, news, notes, reports, and thoughts you've come to expect from Matchday LIVE!

We hope our opening few months have earned us your interest and respect, and we hope that you'll come back and check us out again as we work even harder over the summer -- and what a busy summer of football it shall be. Euro 2008, the MLS season, Transfer Windows open...we won't miss a beat so you don't miss a beat. Thanks for your patronage, and we hope to see you again soon!

-- Matchday LIVE USA! Staff

MLS Week 4 Preview

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:10:00 +0000

MLS Action heats up this week, with everyone in action around the league. Things got kicked off last night, Thursday, when Columbus picked up a big road win at perennial contenders DC United by the final score of 2-1. An own goal by Gonzalo Peralta in the 43rd minute decided that match in favor of the Crew. Elsewhere, there are 6 matches remaining on the weekend. Four will take place Saturday, and the remaining two will be contested on Sunday, each with a special matinee game.

Saturday's matches feature the "Battle of I-95," as the depleted but confident New England Revolution head to the Meadowland to meet rivals Red Bull New York. Expect this one to be the matchup of the weekend, as tensions always rise when these two fierce adversaries meet on the pitch. First kickoff of the weekend, however, belongs to TFC, as Toronto FC gets it's home campaign underway at BMO Field against Real Salt Lake. This one is a guaranteed sellout, as the rowdy Toronto fans will be out in droves for the home opener. Check the TV listings if you want any hope of catching that match. Look to the west for the final two matches of the day. You won't have to go far to catch Colorado vs. San Jose though, that's the MLS Saturday Game of the Week on Fox Soccer Channel, and it kicks off at 9:30 Eastern time. Finally, defending MLS Champs Houston Dynamo visit David Beckham and the LA Galaxy in California for the final matchup of the night. LA is still trying to right the ship under new manager Ruud Gullit, while Houston is having problems of their own, slumping to an 0-1-2 (2 pts) start to the year.

Sunday's matinee is a 3 PM clash with two of the best in the MLS right now, as Kansas City travels to Bridgeview and Toyota Park to take on the Chicago Fire. These two teams both sit 2nd in the Eastern Conference, behind Columbus, and one would think something's got to give. The final match of the weekend forces the Home Depot Center crew to turn the colors around, as Chivas USA hosts FC Dallas Sunday night, less than 24 hours after LA's Home match. As always, be sure to check out the matches or check out Matchday LIVE! for post-weekend recaps and analysis!

Chelsea Collapses to Heskey at the Bridge

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:06:00 +0000

A stunning cross to the head of Emile Heskey in the 92nd minute resulted in a goal for Wigan Athletic that shook up the Premier League title race. Latics fought valiantly at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea but it was Michael Essien 10 minutes into the 2nd half that seemingly eased tensions all around the London ground with a solid blast from 20 yards out. It was not to be for the Blues, however, as Heskey latched on to a cross deep into stoppage time sniping a crucial point for Wigan's survival hopes.

Avram Grant fielded a rare side full of the typical reserves in anticipation of the trip to Everton on Thursday, with Makelele, Drogba, Carvalho, and Wright-Phillips all on the sidelines. Frank Lampard was expected to play, but was a late scratch due to a family situation that came up in pre-game warmups. Chelsea looked on edge as a result, not gelling like the normal Blues first team and Nicolas Anelka could only generate 2 modest chances that were well kept out by Chris Kirkland and the Wigan defense.

Joe Cole's introduction in the second half sparked life into the side, and a bout of sustained pressure finally saw the home side finish off with Essien's rocket into the bottom left corner of the net past the diving Kirkland. There was never really a chance to put it away though, and the players and crowd mostly seemed comfortable in accepting a 1-0 win.

Chelsea paid for their lack of intensity late on as Wigan continued to introduce creative players, with Jason Koumas, Antoine Sibierski, and Marlon King all introduced in the 2nd half. Finally, in the 92nd minute, the lone stroke of needed creativity was found, as a long cross from the left found Emile Heskey slashing through the box, and he did the rest, slicing a diving header past Petr Cech to gain Wigan the crucial point and returning Manchester United to a 5 point title cushion.

BOX SCORE

Chelsea       1 - 1  Wigan Athletic
   Essien 55            Heskey 90+2

Confirmed: Amado Guevara signs with TFC

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 01:13:00 +0000

Toronto FC got a huge boost today when they signed Honduran midfielder Amado Guevara. The former Red Bulls/Metrostars and Chivas USA player, as well as an ex-MLS MVP (2004), may even be available for the match tomorrow when Toronto travels to the Home Depot Center to meet David Beckham and the LA Galaxy. Toronto is looking for not only it's first point of the season (0-2-0 so far), but also it's first relevant goal of the year (their only tally on the season came in the 89th minute of a 4-0 game at DC United).

Guevara brings proven experience as a midfield general against MLS-level competition with his years with the MetroStars/Red Bull New York and Chivas USA and should prove an excellent added bit of creativity (36 career assists) in the midfield behind TFC strikers Danny Dichio and Jeff Cunningham. He is no slouch in the scoring department himself, either, having netted 32 goals in his 107 MLS appearances.

Sources: Toronto FC Roster & ESPNSoccerNet.com

Twice Near Death, Bayern Manages Miracle(s)

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 22:55:00 +0000

A Bayern Munich side far from their best play of the season made not 1, but 2 stunning comebacks in Spain against UEFA Cup Quarterfinal opponents Getafe to advance to the Semifinals of the 2nd highest competition in European Cup football. An early red card to Getafe should have provided all the enthusiasm the Bavarians needed, but instead they came out flat, giving up a goal just before the stroke of halftime to go down 1-2 on aggregate.

Still, they needed only one goal to save them thanks to away goals, but they never looked much like scoring. Truth be told, it was Getafe who should have put the tie away with a golden, wide-open opportunity missed midway through the 2nd half. However, just when the Germans looked to suffer a shocking upset to the Spanish side, a flick of the ball from Luca Toni back to Ribéry salvaged the contest and levelled the match - in the 89th minute no less.

Down a man and having conceded a shock leveler at the death, Getafe seemed down and out. They quickly changed their luck and outlook on progression through the competition with a 3 minute flurry of activity that saw the Spaniards net 2 goals in the first 3 minutes of extra time to take a 3-1 lead on the night (4-2 overall). The raucous fans at the Alberto Perez Coliseum sensed victory within their grasp, and the German outfit continued to look ineffective.

The remainder of the 1st extra period went by without issue for Getafe, as did the first 10 minutes of the 2nd period. Five minutes from victory, however, Keeper Pato dropped a seemingly routine catch allowing Italian striker Luca Toni to tap in, bringing the match to 3-2. A chainsaw would have been needed to cut through the tension in the stadium, and the Germans proved it in the dying seconds as Luca Toni picked up a brace with a header off a Sosa cross leveling the match at 3-3 and giving Munich the away goals lead. A dagger was pierced through the hearts of the Spanish fans in attendance only a few seconds later as the final whistle was blown, and the German giants escaped to face Zenit St. Petersburg in the semifinals.

FINAL BOX

Getafe            3 - 3     Bayern Munich
  Contra 44                   Ribéry 89
  Casquero 1 Ex.              Toni 25 Ex.
  Braulio  3 Ex.              Toni 30 Ex.

Halftime Report: Liverpool 1 - 0 Arsenal

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 12:36:00 +0000

A disgusted Arsene Wenger has just left the Emirates Stadium pitch seeing his team face a 1-0 deficit on Peter Crouch's 42nd minute goal. He has every reason to be livid thanks to poor efforts on both ends of the field, with Arsenal missing a host of opportunities to strike (Nicolas Bendtner in particular hammering a free ball straight at the goalkeeper from 12 yards out), and a defensive lapse leading to the Crouch finish.

Wenger has pulled everything out of his bag of tricks trying to get this team back in form, but it's evident that he acknowledges that the Champions League has to become the priority, being that it is the only competition in which the Gunners are performing well at the moment. A disappointing 1-4-1 run in league play has seen the London side drop to 3rd in the EPL table, and they face a tough test in Liverpool again Tuesday night at Anfield in the return leg of a semifinal which Wenger's men trail on away goals (1-1 result at the Emirates in the middle of last week). Players such as Justin Hoyte are making rare appearances in the Arsenal starting 11 today as Wenger rests the big guns for the 3rd (and more vital given Arsenal's terrible league form) meeting with the Reds in 8 days.

UPDATE: Arsenal have struck back on 54 minutes, and clearly Arsene Wenger feels there's something to be said about the Gunners' challenge for the league title as Emmanuel Adebayor is set to come on and provide a spark to the Arsenal attack!

UPDATE 2: FINAL SCORE... LIVERPOOL 1-1 ARSENAL. Arsenal strikes back on 54 minutes, but introductions of big name players (Arsenal: Adebayor, Hleb; Liverpool: Voronin, Torres) could not entice a winner out of either side. Arsenal slumps to 1-5-1 in it's last 7 league matches with a second 1-1 decision with Liverpool in the week. The two sides will meet again in 3 days at Anfield to decide who advances to the semifinals of the Champions League (Liverpool ahead on away goals 1-1).

Tides Turning on Revolution

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:41:00 +0000

Any joy that Steve Nicol and his New England Revolution team experienced in dismantling the defending MLS Cup Champions Houston Dynamo 3-0 in First Kick weekend has surely been eradicated in what has become a tough week for the defending Eastern Conference champions.

Despite the dominating performance, New England's front lines took a big hit. Starting XI mainstays Taylor Twellman (knee surgery) and Steve Rolston (dislocated shoulder) have been lost to extended injuries (Twellman for 6-8 weeks, Rolston for 4-6). In addition the team now faces a game without Jeff Larentowicz after he was shown a direct red card just a few moments ago (7 minutes into their match with Chicago) with the team already down 0-1 on an early Chad Barrett goal (4'). Another story to watch will most certainly be Khano Smith's morale with the club, as he was taken off after 12 minutes by manager Nicol in favor of a more defensive formation.

Since then, things have gone from bad to worse for the Revs. Horrible defending allowing a T. Frankowski goal (22'), a questionable PK award to Justin Mapp by the official (converted by C. Blanco - 37'), and more poor play at the back line resulting in another Frankowski strike (39') sees the Revolution on the wrong side of a 0-4 scoreline and looking more and more like a team in disarray.

MLS Team Previews: Toronto, DC United

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 22:31:00 +0000

Matchday LIVE! continues our 7-part series of MLS Team Previews to get you in the know for the American soccer season which kicked off this past weekend. Today we look at two more Eastern Conference clubs, Toronto FC and DC United. Enjoy! (Click on the pictures for full view)

Toronto FC

DC United

MLS Team Previews: Revolution, Red Bulls

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 03:11:00 +0000

Welcome to part 1 in a 7 part series where we analyse all 14 teams taking part in the 2008 MLS Season, the 13th season of the league. Today we're looking at Eastern Conference rivals New England Revolution and Red Bull New York. We'll break down the rest of the teams this week to keep you up to speed on who to watch as we get deeper into the year!

New England

New York

MLS First Kick - Results

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 15:26:00 +0000

That's right American soccer fans, the MLS season is finally upon us. Five matches have been played so far, and another is coming up tonight as Chivas USA opens their season. Through the week, we'll put out individual team preview posts to get you up to speed on the players and teams to watch all around Major League Soccer this season. First off, results from yesterday's "First Kick" matches (Home team displayed last):

  
Saturday, March 29th
LA Galaxy        0 - 4    Colorado Rapids
                              Cooke 10
                              Gomez (penalty) 60
                              Cummings 67
                              Clark 80

DC United        0 - 2    Kansas City Wizards
                              Trujillo 47
                              Lopez 61

Houston Dynamo   0 - 3    New England Revolution
                              Ralston 16
                              Cristman 32
                              Nyassi 90+3

Toronto FC       0 - 2    Columbus Crew
                              Moffat 26
                              Moreno 76

Chicago Fire     1 - 1    Real Salt Lake
    Blanco 90+2               Soumare (OG) 71

Sunday, March 30
Chivas USA       1 - 1    FC Dallas
    Galindo 84                Toja 21

Remember to stay tuned for previews from each team throughout the week and make sure to bookmark Matchday LIVE! for all the latest news and notes from around the MLS and the globe as the football action heats up!

EPL Week 32: Relegation meets Europe; Merseyside Derby

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:25:00 +0000

Another disappointing week for Arsenal sees the Gunners start the weekend's play shockingly in 3rd place, a single point behind Chelsea and 6 behind leaders Manchester United. Arsene Wenger's men will try to shake off a disappointing final half hour at Stamford Bridge in a 1-2 loss to Chelsea, as well as the last month overall, in which they have posted an 0-4-1 record. They visit the Reebok Stadium and relegation candidate Bolton Wanderers, who will be fancying playing the Gunners at arguably their lowest point of the season.

The relegation and European battles collide again, as the week is filled with matches pitting teams from one fight against teams from the other. Birmingham welcomes Manchester City to St. Andrews Ground, West Ham visits the Stadium of Light to take on Sunderland, and Reading hosts Blackburn at the Madjeski. Wigan, having lost right back Erik Edman for the remainder of the season to injury (knee ligament ruptures), will likely start Ireland international Kevin Kilbane in his place when they visit Fratton Park to take on Portsmouth this afternoon. The Latics will also be without midfield playmaker Wilson Palacios (2 yellow cards last week vs. Blackburn).

The pick of the day for Saturday comes from Manchester, as Manchester United looks to maintain their vicegrip on the league title when they host Aston Villa. Fulham visits Pride Park needing a result against relegated Derby County to keep themselves within reach of 17th place in the final match of the day.

Sunday's highlight is the second and final Merseyside Derby of the season as Liverpool hosts Everton at Anfield. Everton will try to halt a series of missed opportunities to catch their Liverpudlian neighbors which has seen them lose to Fulham and draw with West Ham United. The other two matches on the day come from London, where Chelsea host Middlesborough at Stamford Bridge and Newcastle United (fresh off Kevin Keegan's first victory in his second stint with the club) visits Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

National Team Friendlies Roundup

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:47:00 +0000

Yesterday was an action packed day of football, as the clubs stepped aside and gave the national teams a chance to shine. Many did in some top-notch matchups from both the UEFA/European region and CONCACAF (North/Central America). Without further adu, we'll list the results of yesterday's matches here, with breaks in the results for brief segments about some of the top matches of the day. Look down the results for your country's team!


Estonia       2 - 0  Canada      
Bulgaria      2 - 1  Finland
Hungary       0 - 0  Slovenia
South Africa  3 - 0  Paraguay
Lithuania     1 - 0  Azerbaijan
Ukraine       2 - 0  Serbia
Israel        1 - 0  Chile
Belarus       2 - 2  Turkey**

"Fatih Terim told his Turkey side in no uncertain terms this week that anything less than a professional showing against Belarus could see replacements drafted in in time for Euro 2008." However, with only a 2-2 draw out of a match in which they trailed twice, Manager Terim will have some things to think about heading into the tournament. His side has managed only an 0-2-0 record against Sweden and Belarus on the year, though this draw did play out without #1 Keeper Volkan Demirel and a pair of injuries to Zan and Basturk. -- (Source: Goal.com)


Armenia       1 - 0  Kazakhstan
Montenegro    3 - 1  Norway
Romania       3 - 0  Russia
Egypt         0 - 2  Argentina
Slovakia      1 - 2  Iceland
Luxembourg    0 - 2  Wales
Denmark       1 - 1  Czech Republic**

A Czech Republic side missing nearly half of it's usual starting staff (Cech, Rosicky, Grygera, Kovac, Jankulovski) looked quite the part in surviving a 1-1 draw in Denmark. The Czechs needed Jan Koller's 52nd goal in 86 international caps to level in the 42nd after Nicklas Bendtner's earlier strike for the Danes. Another Euroe 2008 Qualifier, the Czechs (like fellow participant Turkey) were held by a non-qualified club and have yet to win in 2008 (0-1-1, loss to Poland), also like Turkey. -- (Source: International Herald Tribune/AP)


Poland        0 - 3  USA**  (2-0-0 vs. Europe this year)
N. Ireland    4 - 1  Georgia
Switzerland   0 - 4  Germany (Mario Lopez 6g in 9 caps)
Belgium       1 - 4  Morocco
Brazil        1 - 0  Sweden
Scotland      1 - 1  Croatia
France        1 - 0  England** (Beckham's 100th Cap)

Neither side inspired in a match only won by a Ribery penalty conversion in the 32' after England keeper David James took down Nicolas Anelka. Both sides played to the "Friendly" billing, with much of each starting XI looking past the match and keeping fit for looming Champions League clashes with their respective clubs. Beckham picked up his 100th cap, becoming only the 5th Brit to do so, but both he and Wes Brown looked poor on the wing, often switching off with each other and leaving Becks in a right back position, and Wes doing nothing to support.


Ghana         2 - 1  Mexico
Spain         1 - 0  Italy  (Another uninspired match
                            won by a David Villa stunner)
Colombia      2 - 2  Honduras
Ecuador       3 - 1  Haiti
Venezuela     0 - 1  Bolivia
Peru          3 - 1  Costa Rica

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the only technically meaningful matches played internationally, Australia and South Korea were held to surprise draws by China and North Korea respectively in Asian 2010 World Cup Qualifying, with Japan slumping to a 0-1 defeat on the road at the hands of Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia getting hammered 0-3 at Uzbekistan.

MLS and EPL Previews, National Teams, & World Cup Qualifying. Oh My!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:04:00 +0000

It's an exciting week of football around the world this week, and the staff here at Matchday LIVE! is excited to keep you updated on everything going on around the globe!

EPL Week 32, MLS First Kick!
Matchday LIVE! makes a thunderous comeback to your computer screen this week as the EPL enters the homestretch and the American Major League Soccer season gets underway. Stay tuned to Matchday! for all the news and notes from EPL's Week 32 and a sneak peek at the teams around the MLS, including returning club San Jose Earthquakes!

National Team Action
England boss Fabio Capello will be in the spotlight as manager and not just a specator around the big EPL grounds as England take on France in just one of the many fabulous matchups scheduled for tomorrow as the national teams take center stage. Even the CONCACAF clubs are in action as the US and Mexico both have tough road matches in Europe and Africa!

World Cup Qualifying
That's right, Asia is already looking ahead to 2010, as the AFC World Cup Qualifying tournament continues, with all the major teams in action: Australia, China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and more!

Be sure to make Matchday LIVE! a hot link on your desktop as the football action heats up around the globe! That's all THIS WEEK on Matchday LIVE!

FULL TIME: Birmingham City 1-1 Newcastle United

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:14:00 +0000

Matchday LIVE! thanks you for tuning in to this presentation of live football! We apologize for the technical difficulties with both the web broadcast program and internet connections that interrupted the broadcast throughout the match tonight.
We will continue to work on the issues and hope to have them ironed out by our next broadcast. The match selected will be posted on the site shortly. We hope you'll be with us next Matchday LIVE!

Thanks,
The Matchday Staff
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is the StickAm web player for today's coverage. Just load up the site at 3:45 US Eastern Daylight time, grab some snacks and a drink and catch the full 90!

UPDATE: 4:47 PM - We're back up and streaming! We're going to patch in the official commentary team today because of the connection issues and resume our usual in-house commentary on the next Matchday. Enjoy the coverage! Entering stoppage time: 1-0 Birmingham.

UPDATE: 4:38 PM - We're going to continue working to get the feed back, we just lost it a moment ago. Our audio broadcaster is not loading preventing us from sending you the audio. We can tell you, however, that James McFadden has scored for Birmingham in the 33rd minute to give the Blues a 1-0 lead over Newcastle. Stay tuned and keep refreshing as we're currently working to get the feed back on.

Martin Taylor remains suspended for this match for Birmingham, serving the final of his 3 game suspension for the crunching challenge on Eduardo on the final weekend in February. With the exception of Kapo, everyone on Alex McLeish's side is available.

Newcastle gets a boost in the return of Mark Viduka from a nasty 1-2 of calf and hamstring injuries. He'll make his first start since the Christmas week (Jan 2nd). Also returning for the toon army is Joey Barton. They'll both help to turn around a depressing run of form that has seen the Magpies take 0 points from their last 6 matches. Manager Kevin Keegan will be without the services, however, of Shay Given, Emre, James Milner, Ramage, and Steven Carr as he still seeks his first win in this 2nd stint with the club.

Matchday LIVE! Presents: Birmingham City vs. Newcastle United

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:24:00 +0000

Matchday LIVE! is proud to bring you another round of free LIVE! audio commentary from the English Premier League! This week's selected match is one that will have a profound impact on the relegation battle. Birmingham City and Newcastle United are both teams struggling in recent weeks, especially the Toon Army, who has been one of the worst teams in the league in terms of recent form. Can they break out on the road against a Birmingham City side in equal danger of relegation? Both teams sit just a few points (2-3) above the 18th spot, so this has all the makings of a classic matchup! Be sure to tune in at 4:00 PM US Eastern Time for all the exciting action!

EPL Week 30: Relegation, Anyone?

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:58:00 +0000

Week 30 in the English Premier League will have major implications on the relegation fight as 4 teams involve battle one another over the weekend. Wigan meets Bolton at the JJB in a local derby of epic proportions, as Bolton (usually a top-half club), sees themselves in 18th place heading into the weekend, while Wigan sits 13th, but only 3 points clear of the relegation places. Two teams in similar places, Newcastle and Birmingham City (both are just above relegation positions at the moment) need to get their seasons on track if they hope to stay in the Premier League. They clash at St. Andrews in the late match on Monday night.

Elsewhere around the league, Arsenal looks to get back on track against Middlesborough, while Liverpool faces a tough home test in a resurgent Reading side. The other two members of the big 4 should have easy days out on the pitch, with Chelsea visiting Sunderland and Manchester United heading to Pride Park to take on Derby. Roy Keane's men need the points, however, at the Stadium of Light, so expect Sunderland to put up as much of a battle as possible against the Blues. Derby on the other hand, could give double the effort from their 6-1 thrashing by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and would still likely lose, lacking the quality to match with the Red Devils.

Interesting ties amongst the clubs battling for European places include Aston Villa travelling to Fratton Park to take on Portsmouth and West Ham hosting Blackburn at Upton Park. Around the rest of the league it's Fulham (slipping ever so slowly towards certain relegation) facing Everton, while Manchester City welcomes Tottenham Hotspur to the City of Manchester Stadium. Be sure to check in throughout the weekend for the latest news and notes from league action!

FULL TIME - Chelsea 6 - 1 Derby County

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:42:00 +0000

Thanks for watching today's coverage!
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Matchday LIVE! USA is proud to present it's next free, LIVE audio broadcast of the EPL matchup between Chelsea FC and Derby Co. on Wednesday at 4 PM EST/1 PM PST. (Check your time zone for accuracy) Don't miss a second of the action as lead commentator Mike DiAmore brings you all the play-by-play! As an added bonus, enter a screenname into the WebPlayer to enter live chat. Banter with fans and even the broadcast team as you follow the match!

EPL Week 29 Recap: Gunners falter again

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:58:00 +0000

Arsenal slumped to its 3rd consecutive league draw on Sunday with a 0-0 result at the JJB Stadium against Wigan Athletic. A disgusted Arsene Wenger bemoaned the rough, patchy pitch resultant of the Wigan Warriors rugby match played earlier in the weekend (for which the lines were still visible), but made no excuses in post-match commentary.

We prepared ourselves mentally to face that pitch. We did what we could, we tried absolutely everything, but we had our chances to win. -- Arsene Wenger

The draw made many question Arsenal's overall mental toughness given that a combination of highs and lows have shaken the team to the foundations this month: the low of the Eduardo injury just 2 short weeks ago at St. Andrews and the high of a top-class performance at the San Siro in beating AC Milan 2-0. What remains however, is a piece from Wenger himself, who pointed out that any side considering themselves to be title-winning material should go into Wigan and win. Arsenal failed to do that despite a couple of chances, most of which were made to look simplistic by a quality performance from Latics keeper Chris Kirkland, and instead gives the title onus back to Manchester United, who did not play a league match on the weekend (instead losing 0-1 to Portsmoutha at Old Trafford in FA Cup Quarterfinal action) and sits just 2 points adrift of the top spot with 1 match in hand.

Elsewhere around the league, the majority of teams vying for European places hurt their chances with tough results against bottom-half clubs: West Ham continued its struggles with a 4-0 loss away to Tottenham, Blackburn dropped vital points in a 1-1 home draw with relegation candidate Fulham, and Reading continued its recent surge off the bottom 3 with a 2-0 win against Manchester City, dampening their European chances. At the top of the list however, Liverpool and Everton both took care of business, defeating Newcastle and Sunderland respectively.

The major surprises for the week, interestingly enough, came from the FA Cup Quarterfinals, where only 1 favorite was able to advance to a Wembley Semifinal matchup. West Bromwich Albion took care of business in a 5-1 result against Bristol City. Outside of that match, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Middlesboro all saw their FA Cup dreams dashed. United lost a controversial 0-1 decision to Portsmouth at Old Trafford, while Chelsea was upset at Barnsley 0-1. Middlesborough must have fancied their chances going into Sunday morning after seeing those two results, but couldn't deliver, falling 0-2 at home to Championship outfit Cardiff City, who will attempt to bring the FA Cup to Wales. The short schedule thanks to FA Cup action creates a big week 30, with no fewer than 12 matches being played between Wednesday and Sunday.

RESULTS

        Liverpool 4 - 0 West Ham United     Anfield (Wed.)
        Liverpool 3 - 0 Newcastle United    Anfield (Sat.)
 Blackburn Rovers 1 - 1 Fulham              Ewood Park
          Reading 2 - 0 Manchester City     Madjeski Stad.
       Sunderland 0 - 1 Everton             Stadium of Light
Tottenham Hotspur 4 - 0 West Ham United     White Hart Lane
   Wigan Athletic 0 - 0 Arsenal             JJB Stadium

FA CUP

Manchester United 0 - 1 Portsmouth          Old Trafford
         Barnsley 1 - 0 Chelsea             Oakwell
   Middlesborough 0 - 2 Cardiff City        Riverside Stad.
     Bristol City 1 - 5 West Brom. Albion   Memorial Stad.

Barnsley Breaks Chelsea Hearts

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 19:25:00 +0000

Chelsea fans will be singing the blues as their side was eliminated from the FA Cup in the Quarterfinals by Barnsley 0-1 at Oakwell. A poor decision by goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini resulted in an Odejayi goal for the home side, who knock out the holders despite allowing 22 shots, 13 on target. Chelsea placed constant pressure on the backline, but the Barnsley back 4 and keeper Steele were well up to the challenge, and add to their scalps in this tournament, just a round after knocking out Liverpool on the road at Anfield.

The loss, which was played without Didier Drogba (who wasn't even named to the bench), Petr Cech, and Frank Lampard, ensures that the FA Cup will change hands (Chelsea were the holders), and also eliminates the final competitor for the prestigious League-FA Cup-Champs League Treble -- shocking news coming on the heels of Manchester United's loss to Pompey earlier in the day, which also eliminated them from the Treble chances.

For victors Barnsley, they'll take on the winners of Bristol Rovers/West Brom in the FA Cup Semifinals, where a new champion will be crowned this year with Chelsea's departure.

Man United Treble Dream Shattered

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 14:50:00 +0000

Manchester United's dreams of winning the League-FACup-UCL Treble ended just a few minutes ago with a 0-1 home loss to Portsmouth in FA Cup Quarterfinal action. United had opportunity after opportunity to beat Pompey keeper David James but couldn't find the net, hitting the post on one occasion. Ronaldo had very legitimate, but unanswered, appeals for a penalty early in the match, but it was Portsmouth who converted from the spot. After a 10 minute flurry of activity from the Red Devils, Portsmouth broke back in a 2 on 2 counterattack, the ball being neatly slotted through for a clean break, when the referee adjudged Tomas Kuszczak to have taken down the Pompey forward, issuing a straight red card for the foul in the 81st minute. Rio Ferdinand guessed correctly, but could not keep out the Muntari bullet into the side netting. Reduced to 10 men, United was never able to mount a serious charge on goal. A furious Alex Ferguson will surely have some colorful comments in the post-match recap.

Chances for the Treble now solely rest in the hands of Chelsea, who faces Barnsley later today in FA Cup Quarterfinal action of their own.

EPL Week 29: Slow Days, Big Prizes

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 02:21:00 +0000

Surprising results across many of last week's matches have created the drama for this slow week of league action. With some of the top teams still playing out their FA Cup hopes only 3 matches will take place both Saturday and Sunday, but mid- and bottom-table clubs will still be vying for their big prizes: European places and avoiding relegation. Action at the top of the Premiership is limited to Arsenal visiting Wigan in the final match on Sunday, fresh off their 2-0 road win over AC Milan in Champions League play.

The battles for Europe and Relegation come clattering together Saturday as Liverpool meets struggling Newcastle United (still looking for it's first points take under returning manager Kevin Keegan), a back-to-life Reading side hosts a Manchester City side that will be happy to take their show on the road after a disappointing 0-4-2 spell in recent home ties, and a confident Blackburn side will face 2nd-bottom Fulham at home. Sunday sees European hopeful and current 4th place side Everton travel to the Stadium of Light to take on Roy Keane's Sunderland, another team in crucial need of points. Wigan will seek to make it's own help in the relegation fight when the Latics welcome Arsenal to the JJB, but the Gunners' 2-0 victory in Milan at the San Siro may have undone the emotional damages of the previous two weekends' league draws with Birmingham and Aston Villa.

European hopefully will be especially wary of Liverpool this week, who will be making up their game in hand tomorrow evening in a mid-week clash with West Ham prior to the Saturday meeting with the Toon Army. By the end of the week they could see themselves in 4th place and only 2 points behind Chelsea (albeit with 2 games in hand for the Blues), but it would be a big boost to a Liverpool side in much better form recently.

One race that won't be any closer to decided after week 29 is the Premiership title, as contenders Manchester United and Chelsea (who already has 1 game in hand), will play FA Cup Quarterfinal ties on the weekend. However, even while the big guns play elsewhere, there still everything to play for in this week's Premier League ties.

FULL TIME - Man. City FC 0 - 0 Wigan Athletic FC

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 10:36:00 +0000

Manchester City was held to a goalless draw by a spirited Wigan Athletic side who had it's share of chances but just couldn't convert a meaningful match winning goal. Numerous plays into the box for Emile Heskey and Alan King proved fruitless, and the best chance was a powerful Wilson Palacios shot hard and low that City keeper Joe Hart somehow managed to dive at and stop in a crucial save for Sven-Goran Erikkson's club.

In the midst of the race for European places however, the usually calm and collected Sven will have had his feathers ruffled against by his side dropping more points at home, now 0-4-2 in their last 6 matches for 4 points from 24 after starting the season a perfect 9-0-0 (27 pts). For Steve Bruce's men, they will likely feel as though a gifted opportunity has passed them by, but they'll be happy return from their travels with a crucial point that returns them to 14th in the Premier League table ahead of Sunderland on goal difference and on Birmingham City by a single point. Things don't get any easier for Latics, however, who face Arsenal at the JJB next weekend. Wigan will be hoping that the demoralization from the Eduardo incident, coupled with some tired legs after the midweek clash with AC Milan (not to mention Arsenal's doing themselves no favors by escaping with 1-1 home draw against Aston Villa) gives them an even better chance to pick up only their second points take against a top 4 club after a 1-1 draw at Anfield earlier in the season. They'll look to pick up those unlikely points for an extra little boost in the relegation fight.

Elsewhere around the league it was:

    Derby County 0 - 0 Sunderland          Pride Park
  Middlesborough 0 - 1 Reading             Riverside Stadium
 Birmingham City 4 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur   St. Andrews
Newcastle United 0 - 1 Blackburn Rovers    St. James' Park
          Fulham 0 - 3 Manchester United   Craven Cottage
         Arsenal 1 - 1 Aston Villa         Emirates Stadium
 West Ham United 0 - 4 Chelsea             Boleyn Ground
                                           (Upton Park)

Sunday morning's matches include Bolton vs. Liverpool at the Reebok and the pick of the week for many in Everton vs. Portsmouth from Goodison Park.
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Here's the web player for today's coverage of the match between Manchester City and Wigan Athletic, brought to you LIVE! with free audio commentary here on Matchday LIVE! Be sure to tune in for all 90 minutes of exciting action from this important English Premier League tie.

Matchday LIVE!: Man City vs. Wigan

noreply@blogger.com (Mike D.) — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:25:00 +0000

UPDATE: Due to my classes being cancelled for this morning, I will be broadcasting from home. I've had some problems with Internet Access in the past, but rest assured we will be working our hardest to bring you game coverage. Keep refreshing the player and the blog page if you experience any problems during the broadcast, and also check the first post for more information on StickAm's Web Player controls.

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Matchday LIVE! is proud to announce the new Opening Day celebration game, the 12:15 EST Kickoff between Manchester City and Wigan Athletic at the City of Manchester Stadium this coming Saturday. Lead commentator Mike DiAmore will bring you all the action live and streaming with quality audio. If you can't get to the match and you can't get it on your cable, check out Matchday LIVE!'s free audio coverage this Saturday!

PREVIEW: Wigan will be fancying their chances after a weekend of all the right results for the club, as every other bottom 7 club (except Birmingham) fell to defeat. A well-deserved 2-0 victory home to Derby Co. sees Steve Bruce's men currently 4 points clear of the drop zone, with some pivotal matches against Birmingham and Reading still to come.

Meanwhile, Manchester City has seen their home points take in an absolute freefall in recent weeks. Having started the season a perfect 9-0-0 (27 pts) at the City of Manchester of Stadium, they are now winless in the last 5 matches at home (0-2-3), including what really amounted to a lack of effort and a poor performance against David Moyes' well organized and now-4th place Everton side. The additional humbling of Petrov's last gasp straight red card will leave City without one of the Premiership's top setup men, and will leave the Latics salivating at the chance to pick up much needed points away from home, similar to the hard-earned 1 point from the 1-1 draw at the JJB in Bruce's debut as Wigan manager. This one has all the makings of a top-class match, so be sure to tune in!

Saturday, 3/1/2008 - Wigan Athletic vs. Manchester City 12:15 EST