The controversy just won't go away.
Crew Forward Emilio Renteria, who was at the center of the disputed play against Santos in midweek, says in a Venezuelan report that the referee was right to disallow the goal and give him a yellow card (SPANISH).
[UPDATE: Crew's Renteria refutes Venezuelan report]
It was good news and bad news for the Columbus Crew on Thursday. Despite the uproar over the Crew’s disallowed goal in their loss in Torreón, Mexico, Robert Warzycha’s men saw the other two teams in Group B split points.
On another competitive front, Columbus were the only team of the four left standing in the US Open Cup that was not granted the opportunity to host a prospective USOC final should they advance past D.C. United in the semis next week. Their top executive is not pleased.
Warzycha will not be able to count on Emmanuel Ekpo in Saturday’s marquee match against FC Dallas after he picked up a groin injury. The Crew’s left back situation is also in doubt.
Things are a lot different for FC Dallas, a team riding an 11-game unbeaten streak, which is good enough to place them fourth in MLSsoccer.com's always-controversial Power Rankings. FC Dallas winger Brek Shea has emerged as a star this year and that star power has earned him a modeling gig, too.
While Columbus has convinced Venezuela to allow Rentería to stick around for the US Open Cup semifinal match on Wednesday before joining the national team, D.C. United are not as lucky when it comes to their DP.
A Spanish-language article out of Honduras quotes the agent of DC starlet Andy Najar as saying that the Honduran winger will likely join a European side after the conclusion of the current MLS season.
Peter Nowak, manager of the Philadelphia Union, is not just blunt and straightforward with the media, but in this article he proves to be equally direct with the fans.
The Philadelphia Union’s CEO says he wants to see his club get back to its entertaining style of play against the New England Revolution this weekend.
The Revs are hoping goals can come a little easier this weekend with the return of forward Kheli Dube.
Ahead of the “Freddie Ljungberg Return Match” in Seattle, the Chicago Fire will not feature their other Designated Player, although John Thorrington is finally back.
Seattle GM Adrian Hanauer puts Ljungberg’s return into perspective and reflects on what he meant to the organization.
Along with the Sounders and Fire, the Colorado Rapids are battling to secure a postseason spot at the bottom end of the playoff table. The Rapids can put a dent into the Houston Dynamo’s hopes with a win on Saturday. Manager Gary Smith says four wins and we’re in.
Another milestone for American soccer: the USA named its first ever Under-20 squad made up entirely of pros (no college players). The rash of academy player signings around the league have contributed to this.
Even the MLS club in Canada is getting in on the academy act. Toronto FC signed its first homegrown player, who is 17, and he could debut this weekend vs. Real Salt Lake.
Aston Villa interim manager says his club’s Europa League elimination could have an influence on whether he is given the permanent job. A decision is expected after Sunday’s EPL match.
Villa’s captain is blaming club management for not moving sooner on naming a new manager.
New York Red Bulls designated player and Mexican National Team captain Rafa Márquez says US manager Bob Bradley should retain his post with the American squad.
One veteran American soccer writer is tired of the time it is taking to make a decision on the future of the US manager position.
Bradley met with US Soccer president Sunil Gulati on Thursday but there was no news to come out of the rendezvous.
The USA does not have any international matches scheduled in the early September FIFA window but Canada does. And with Toronto FC being severely impacted in two MLS matches as it chases its first ever playoff spot, the scheduling debate will rage on.
And the postseason is clearly the club’s primary goal for TFC according to director of soccer Mo Johnston.
The rabid TFC fans are dreaming of the postseason and MLS Cup on their home field. In Montreal the Traditionalists are waiting for the Impact’s first season in MLS in 2012. Here’s a look inside the supporter’s group.
In European soccer, Brazilian Diego (Wolfsburg) and Argentine Javier Mascherano (Barcelona) finally made their moves to new clubs before the Aug. 31 transfer deadline. The world now waits to see whether Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho will also land with new teams.
Speaking of Brazilians, carioca club Botafogo is in Memphis for the Copa Memphis.
Meanwhile, American Jemal Johnson is returning to England after trials with D.C. United and the Kansas City Wizards in the USA.
Back in the States, the on-again, off-again romance between professional soccer and the city of San Antonio takes another twist.
Lastly, a feature on MMA fighter Ulysses Gomez, the brother of US World Cup forward Herculez Gomez. He dons a Colorado Rapids jersey in this article.
