Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Metro Up, Metro Down, Metros from ALL Around

First, the good news: Eddie Gaven was called into another US Soccer training camp as the team prepares for upcoming World Cup Qualifiers.

The Metros also added World Cup '98 and Euro 2000 winner Youri Djorkaeff to the squad for at least the 2005 season. While Djorkaeff is 37, he is showing a positive attitude and willingness to fit in and lead the team. He should be huge positive influence on the young Metros. Combined with the addition of longtime US defender Jeff Agoos, the Metros will lead MLS in 37-yr olds this upcoming season.

Then, the bad: apparently the State of NJ has asked the Metros to guarantee the team and league will not fold before funding half of the MetroCentre stadium development in Harrison. New Jersey has asked that the Metros put all profits into an escrow account until the state has re-couped its investment. It's insane. Hey cronies, no risk = no reward!

Thursday, February 10, 2005

BU Gets By BC, Faces Huskies for Beanpot

As if we were worried. On Monday night, BU's Terriers, on the strength of two goals from Junior John LaLiberte, beat #1 BC 2-1 in the opening round of the Beanpot. BU now faces a dogfight from Northeastern in the finals on Valentine's Day. NU needed double overtime to beat Harvard, 2-1, in Monday's other match. BU will be playing for its 26th Beanpot in the tournament's 53rd year. Northeastern's four Beanpots all came in the eighties, the last in 1988.

A "Massive" Win

The US started their 2006 World Cup Qualifying finals campaign with a pair of steady Eddies providing the goals in a 2-1 win at Trinidad & Tobago yesterday. FC Dallas' 20-yr old Eddie Johnson headed in the 1st US goal in the 30th minute, for his incredible 6th US goal in only his 4th appearance with the national team. Former SJ Earthquake and current Preston North End (ENG) midfielder Eddie Lewis added an insurance goal in the 55th minute. Goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who called the road win "massive," let one in with a minute to play.

Sean Wheelock has a great piece today on the changing of expectations of the US team since that day in Trinidad in 1989.

In other Hexagonal action yesterday, Mexico got goals in the 7th and 8th minute to win at Costa Rica for the 1st time in 40 years, 2-1, and Panama and Guatemala played to a scoreless draw. The top three teams after the home-and-home round robin will qualify directly to next year's World Cup in Germany. The fourth-placed team will play off again the 5th place team in Asia for another berth. The US next plays at Mexico's Azteca Stadium, where it has never won, on Sunday, March 26th.

Monday, February 07, 2005

Beanpawwwwt!

Tonight at 8pm at the FleetCentah, #13 BU takes on the hated, dreaded #1 BC Eagles in the opening round of the 53rd annual Beanpot hockey tournament. Hahvahd & Enn You play the early game. The winners meet next week for all the beans. Today's Boston Globe has a preview.

Thursday, February 03, 2005

Ramping up for US-Trinidad

Lots of bits & bytes on next Wednesday's US WC '06 Hexagonal Opener in Trinidad (espn2, 2:30pm). First, Fox Sports World's Sean Wheelock sits down with former US and current KC Wizards coach Bob Gansler to discuss the 11/19/89 match vs. Trinidad that put the US into the World Cup for the first time in 40 years.

Next is a look at the match from the Trini's point of view from the official WC '06 site.

A release from US Soccer updates Bruce's west coast training camp, and finally, here's an eye-opening interview with five 1st time US camp invitees, including the Metros' striker Mike Magee.

Enjoy.