Kick Off: Ngwenya fires back, EPL club targets Atlanta
Joseph Ngwenya's first of two goals against Pachuca in SuperLiga action was a stunning volley
He earned it. After scoring two goals against Pachuca, including a beauty, to give the Houston Dynamo a 2-1 victory over their bitter Mexican rivals, forward Joseph Ngwenya handed it to the Mexicans again after the match.
“Talk is cheap,” Ngwenya said in response to an accusation by Pachuca’s coach that Houston wasn't interested in playing soccer on Thursday.
It didn't go as well for fellow MLS side Chivas USA in their SuperLiga opener as they lost 2-1 to Puebla.
If Thierry Henry’s arrival, SuperLiga and international matches weren’t enough, Soccer Summer USA just got hotter with the news that an English Premier League club is looking to set up an MLS expansion team in Atlanta.
One EPL club already in North America is Manchester United, who play Celtic in Toronto on Friday night (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2 & ESPN Deportes).
The Red Devils will face the MLS All-Stars on July 28 in Houston and more All-Star names have leaked.
A match in Toronto involving Celtic is sure to suck in Toronto FC GM and former Scottish international Mo Johnston into the story. Even Indy car racer Dario Franchitti gets into the discussion.
One New York sports columnist says that Henry’s move to New York will make the Red Bulls a must-see team.
In addition to Henry’s unveiling, the other big MLS news from Thursday was Seattle’s last gasp 1-0 victory at RFK Stadium over D.C. United.
Kasey Keller, who played through an ankle injury in the second half, has put an end to rumors that he might hang them up after this season.
D.C. United fans said hello to newcomers Pablo Hernandez and Branko Boskovic, who made their MLS debuts on Thursday. They also bid farewell to another former DP.
Seattle DP Blaise Nkufo did not make his MLS debut against DC. Meanwhile, a former teammate of Nkufo’s in Boston has finally emerged for the Revolution.
Like the New York Red Bulls, Toronto FC also have a DP who is a forward and played in La Liga. He is expected to debut in Philadelphia this weekend.
The DP march to MLS is far from over with Real Salt Lake owner Dave Checketts saying he’s expecting another announcement next week. He also talks Paul McCartney (AUDIO).
We spill the beans on a Chicago Fire target named Danny Spiller.
Further proof that there is something brewing regarding a potential move by Bob Bradley to Fulham: US Soccer confirms that talks are ongoing. Good news for Bradley’s chances is that Ottmar Hitzfeld has decided to stay with Switzerland.
One move that has been talked about but MLS says will not happen: Landon Donovan being transferred to Europe.
Lee Nguyen is a former US youth national team player who did emigrate and has achieved rock star status.
Meanwhile US forward Jozy Altidore is likely moving on from Villarreal.
Thanks to the World Cup, soccer has won over one mainstream US sports columnist, Joe Posnanski, who admits he’s beginning to get it.
Posnanski says he is not up on soccer history. So excuse him if he doesn't know about Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp’s past as a player on the American scene.
Redknapp's Tottenham are in San Jose this weekend for a Saturday matchup against the Earthquakes.
A future MLS club also faces EPL opposition on Saturday as Manchester City face the Portland Timbers.
As three fans found out in Philadelphia, flares are not a good idea at some of these international matches.
Lastly, one international game not seen too often is when a country takes on a club: that will be the case on Aug. 11, when it is reported that D.C. United take on this South American country (SPANISH).
