U.S. Soccer Wire: July 20, 2009

See what this week has in store for your favorite U.S. National Team, including the U.S. Men taking on Honduras in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals and the U.S. Women facing Canada in the second of a two-game series.

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July 20, 2009

U.S. MNT HEADS TO SOLDIER FIELD TO FACE HONDURAS IN GOLD CUP SEMIFINALS;
U.S. WNT TRAVELS TO CHARLESTON FOR SECOND MATCH AGAINST CANADA AFTER ABBY WAMBACH NETS 100TH GOAL IN 1-0 WIN AGAINST CANADA IN ROCHESTER, N.Y.

U.S. RETURNS TO FACE HONDURAS AT SOLDIER FIELD IN SEMIFINALS: The U.S. Men’s National Team got a stunning strike from Kyle Beckerman and a penalty kick in overtime from Kenny Cooper to defeat Panama 2-1 this evening at Lincoln Financial Field and advance to the semifinals of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The U.S. will face Honduras in the semifinals on Thursday, July 23 at 7 p.m. CT at Soldier Field in Chicago. The match will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel, TeleFutura and the Futbol de Primera Radio Network. Fans can also follow the match live on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and Twitter. The U.S. fell behind when Panama capitalized on a corner kick during injury time of the first half, but Beckerman struck back early in the second half for the equalizer. Cooper, who came on for Davy Arnaud in the 77th minute, was fouled inside the penalty area late in the first overtime. Cooper took the spot kick himself, placing it just past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Jaime Penedo, off the post and in for the game-winner.

U.S. Men’s National Team 2009 Schedule

Date Opponent Time / Result TV / U.S. Goal Scorer(s) Venue; City
Jan. 24 Sweden 3-2 W Kljestan (3) The Home Depot Center; Carson, Calif.
Feb. 11 Mexico* 2-0 W Bradley (2) Columbus Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio 
March 28 El Salvador* 2-2 T Altidore, Hejduk Estadio Cuscatlán; San Salvador, El Salvador 
April 1 Trinidad & Tobago* 3-0 W Altidore (3)  LP Field; Nashville, Tenn.
June 3 Costa Rica* 1-3 L Donovan Estadio Ricardo Saprissa; San Jose, Costa Rica
June 6 Honduras* 2-1 W Donovan, Bocanegra Soldier Field; Chicago, Ill.
June 15 Italy # 1-3 L Donovan Loftus Versfeld; Tshwane/Pretoria
June 18 Brazil # 0-3 L -- Loftus Versfeld; Tshwane/Pretoria
June 21 Egypt # 3-0 W Davies, Bradley, Dempsey Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace; Rustenburg
June 24 Spain # 2-0 W Altidore, Dempsey Free State Stadium; Mangaung/Bloemfontein
June 28 Brazil # 2-3 L Dempsey, Donovan Ellis Park; Johannesburg
July 4 Grenada ^ 4-0 W Adu, Holden, Rogers, Davies Qwest Field; Seattle, Wash.
July 8 Honduras ^ 2-0 W Quaranta, Ching RFK Stadium; Washingon, D.C.
July 11 Haiti ^ 2-2 T Arnaud, Holden Gillette Stadium; Foxborough, Mass.
July 18 Panama ^ 2-1 W (OT) Beckerman, Cooper Lincoln Financial Field; Philadelphia, Pa.
July 23 Honduras ^ 7 p.m. CT FSC/TeleFutura Soldier Field; Chicago, Ill.
Aug. 12 Mexico* 3 p.m. CT mun2/Telemundo Estadio Azteca; Mexico City, Mexico
Sept. 5 El Salvador* 5:30 p.m. MT ESPN Classic/Galavision Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Sept. 9 Trinidad & Tobago* 7 p.m. ET ESPN Classic/Galavision Hasely Crawford Stadium; Port of Spain, Trinidad
Oct. 10 Honduras* TBD TBD Away (Venue TBD)
Oct. 14 Costa Rica* TBD ESPN2/Galavision RFK Stadium; Washington, D.C.
* FIFA World Cup Qualifier
# FIFA Confederations Cup
^ CONCACAF Gold Cup

ussoccer.com’s MNT Coverage – July 13-20

U.S. MNT AUG. 12 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIER AGAINST MEXICO TO BE BROADCAST ON TELEMUNDO, mun2: The U.S. Men's National Team's 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Mexico will be televised live at 3 p.m. CT en English on mun2 and Spanish on Telemundo. Coverage of the match on Telemundo will begin at 2 p.m. CT and 12 p.m. PT. Coverage of the game on mun2 will be called “Showdown at the Azteca” and will begin at 2:55 p.m. CT. mun2 is the lifestyle cable network for bicultural Latinos 18-34, recently surpassed 31 million U.S. households in national distribution. The network will offer exclusive game announcers, graphics and English-language feed for this novel television event. Fans should contact their local cable or satellite provider to inquire about the availability of mun2 in their area.

WAMBACH SCORES 100TH GOAL, U.S. HEADS TO CHARLESTON, S.C.: Abby Wambach scored her 100th career goal in her hometown to lead the U.S. Women’s National Team to a 1-0 victory against Canada in front of 8,443 wildly appreciative fans at Marina Auto Stadium. Wambach, who was a high school All-American at Our Lady of Mercy in Rochester, becomes the ninth woman in soccer history to score 100 career international goals, and the fifth American, joining Mia Hamm (158), Kristine Lilly (129), Michelle Akers (105) and Tiffeny Milbrett (100). Wambach’s 100th goal comes in just her 129th career match, giving her the best goals-to-games ratio in U.S. history. The U.S. team now travels to Charleston, S.C., to face Canada again, this one at Blackbaud Stadium on Wednesday, July 22 at 8 p.m. ET. The match will be televised live on Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports en Espanol. Fans can also follow the match online via ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker. Tickets for the match in Charleston are available through ussoccer.com, by phone at 1-800-745-3000 and at all Ticketmaster ticket centers throughout the Charleston area. Groups of 20 or more can obtain an order form at ussoccer.com or call 312-528-1290. Visa® is the preferred card of U.S. Soccer.

U.S. WNT Results/Upcoming Schedule
Date Opponent Time/Result TV/U.S. Goal Scorer(s) Venue
July 19 Canada 1-0 W Wambach Marina Auto Stadium; Rochester, N.Y.
July 22 Canada 8 p.m. ET FSC/Fox Sports en Español Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.

ussoccer.com’s WNT Coverage and Remembering '99 Article Series – July 13-20 

UNIVISION CEO JOE UVA JOINS TEAM TO BRING FIFA WORLD CUP TO U.S. IN 2018 OR 2022: Joe Uva, the Chief Executive Officer of Univision Communications, Inc., accepted an invitation to join the Board of Directors for the USA Bid Committee in its efforts to bring the FIFA World Cup to the United States in 2018 or 2022. Univision is the leading Spanish-language media company in the U.S. Uva became Univision CEO on April 1, 2007, assuming overall responsibility for the company's suite of market-leading assets that include the Univision Network, which is one of the top five television networks in America regardless of language — and is also the No. 1 Spanish-language broadcast television network; TeleFutura, the second leading Spanish-language network in key day parts; KMEX, the No. 1 television station in the country regardless of language; Galavisión, the No. 1 Spanish-language cable network; Univision Radio, the No. 1 Spanish-language radio group and Univision Interactive Media, which includes the No. 1 U.S. Spanish-language Internet portal.

ussoccer.com’s 2018/2022 Bid Coverage – July 13-20

– DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY UPDATE –

CARMEL UNITED WIN 2009 U-17/18 DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY CROWN: Earning their second straight title, Carmel United SC defeated D.C. United 1-0 to win the 2009 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Finals Week U-17/18 Championship at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The match was broadcast live on ESPN Classic. Midfielder Nikita Kotlov netted the game-winner in the 29th minute on a strong solo effort, while goalkeeper Jon Dawson notched three saves – including one huge stop late in the match – in the winning effort. Carmel United won the inaugural Under-15/16 Championship in 2008, and returned to Finals Week this year with 10 of the players from their title-winning squad. Led by head coach Dave Costa during both championship campaigns, Carmel has never lost a single game at the Academy Finals Week, compiling a 6-0-2 record. Also on Thursday, IMG Soccer Academy, PDA and CASL Chelsea FC Academy all won their placement matches.

ussoccer.com's Development Academy Coverage – July 13-20

DERBY COUNTY WOLVES WIN 2009 U-15/16 DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY CHAMPIONSHIP: A sixth-minute strike by Dzenan Catic provided the Derby County Wolves all they needed to defeat Cal Odyssey 1-0 and earn the 2009 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Finals Week Under-15/16 Championship at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The Wolves came into the championship with high expectations as the overall No. 1 seed from the Playoffs and took control with the early goal, but in the second half Cal Odyssey was the better squad and created a handful for the team from Michigan. In the other placement matches, New York Red Bulls, Chicago Magic AS Monaco and Washington Premier FC all won to finish off Finals Week.

DILLON POWERS, RUBEN LUNA NAMED ACADEMY PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: U.S. Soccer announced FC Dallas Juniors forward Ruben Luna and Andromeda midfielder Dillon Powers as Development Academy Players of the Year. The awards were voted upon by Development Academy clubs and U.S. Soccer National Staff Coaches and technical advisors. Both players were instrumental in their team’s successful seasons, but each plays a different role. From his forward position, Luna scored 48 percent of his team’s goals on the year to lead FC Dallas to Finals Week, while Powers is Andromeda’s engine in the midfield, working hard on both sides of the ball to lead his team to a top finish in the Texas division. Luna has continued his scoring at Finals Week, netting a goal in FC Dallas’ 3-0 win against the New York Red Bulls that kept the team in the hunt for the final. The Garland, Texas, native credits the Academy for his development as a player over the past two years. Powers has spent time with the U.S. U-18 Men’s National Team and was part of the squad that won the Australia Youth Olympic Festival in January. He also recently returned from a trip to Egypt with the U-20 Men’s National Team, where he helped the team earn a win and a draw against the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup hosts. Powers also earned 2008-09 Gatorade Boys Soccer Player of the Year honors before his whirlwind year came full circle with the Development Academy honor.

LARS RICHTERS, OSCAR PAREJA NAMED ACADEMY COACHES OF THE YEAR: U.S. Soccer announced that Lars Richters and Oscar Pareja have been named U-15/16 and U-17/18 Development Academy Coaches of the Year. On Wednesday, the Development Academy will announce the Player of the Year for each age group, as voted upon by Development Academy clubs and U.S. Soccer National Staff Coaches and technical advisors. Richters, head coach of the U-15/16 Derby County Wolves, led his team to a 24-4-4 regular season record. With his team having already clinched a place in the U-15/16 championship match on Friday, July 17, he has already achieved many of the developmental goals set forth at the beginning of the year. Pareja, who coaches both FC Dallas Juniors teams that compete in the Development Academy, led the U-17/18 team to a 15-5-8 regular season record and a second-place finish in the Central Conference standings. He also led the U-15/16 team to an impressive 18-3-7 record during the regular season and an appearance at Finals Week.

 

– U.S. YOUTH NATIONAL TEAMS UPDATE –

U.S. U-20 MNT SET FOR FINAL TRAINING CAMP BEFORE FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP: The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team is set to travel to Argentina on Tuesday, July 21, for a 10-day foreign training camp that will include two international games as part of the Copa Cuidad de Rosario. The U.S. will face Uruguay on July 27 and Australia on July 29 before departing Rosario on July 30. The 17-player roster includes 11 players who were part of the team that took second at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship in March. Thomas Rongen has also invited newcomer Cesar Zamora, a defender for Chivas USA who was signed to a professional contract in March from the Chivas USA U-17/18 Development Academy team. Also joining the team for the second straight international trip is U-17/18 Development Academy Player of the Year, Dillon Powers of Andromeda. The U.S. has been drawn into a difficult Group C of the FIFA U-20 World Cup and will match up against Germany on Sept. 26, Cameroon on Sept. 29 and Korea Republic on Oct. 2 in the first round. All three of the USA’s group matches will be played at the brand-new Mubarak Stadium in Suez.

U.S. U-20 MNT Copa Cuidad de Rosario Schedule

Date Opponent Venue
July 27 Uruguay Rosario, Argentina
July 29 Australia Rosario, Argentina

U.S. U-20 MNT Training Camp Roster
GOALKEEPERS (2): Josh Lambo (FC Dallas; Middleton, Wis.), Brian Perk (UCLA; Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (6): Gale Agbossoumonde (unattached; Syracuse, N.Y.), Jorge Flores (Chivas USA; Anaheim, Calif.), Ike Opara (Wake Forest; Durham, N.C.), Anthony Wallace (FC Dallas; St. Petersburg, Fla.), Sheanon Williams (unattached; Boston, Mass.), Cesar Zamora (Chivas USA; Sylmar, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Danny Cruz (Houston Dynamo; Glendale, Ariz.), Dilly Duka (Rutgers; Montville, N.J.), Gerson Mayen (Chivas USA; Los Angeles, Calif.), Brian Ownby (Virginia; Glen Allen, Va.), Dillon Powers (Andromeda; Plano, Texas), Michael Stephens (UCLA; Naperville, Ill.)
FORWARDS (3): Sam Garza (University of Denver; Highland Village, Texas), Fuad Ibrahim (Toronto FC; Richfield, Minn.), Tony Taylor (Jacksonville University; Jacksonville, Fla.)

U.S. U-20 WOMEN DOWN CANADA TWICE IN BOULDER: The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team won both games against the Canadian U-20s during a training camp held at the University of Colorado in Boulder, routing their northern neighbors 8-0 on July 14 and adding a 2-1 win on July 16. In the first match, the USA scored six first half goals, including three in the first 10 minutes. Forwards Sydney Leroux and Toni Pressley each scored twice while Zakiya Bywaters, Charney Burke, Maya Hayes and Samantha Mewis added single scores. Taylor Vancil picked up the shutout in goal for the USA. Two days later, the USA got goals from Elizabeth Eddy and Leroux to sweep the two-game series. Eddy tallied in the 25th minute before Canada’s Rachel Lamarre equalized just four minutes later. Leroux bagged the winner in the 63rd minute on a nice individual effort after running down a long ball from Vicki DiMartino. The Golden Ball winner at the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup nailed her shot from just inside the penalty area into the left side netting. Bianca Henninger picked up the win in goal for the USA. The U.S. team finished the camp with a 3-0 loss to a select team of top players from the area. With almost all the U.S. players heading to their colleges soon for pre-season, the squad likely will not get back together until December to prepare for the CONCACAF qualifying tournament in January in Guatemala, at which the USA will attempt to earn a berth to the 2010 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany.

U.S. U-20 WNT Results

Date Opponent Result U.S. Goal Scorer(s) Venue
July 14 Canada U-20 WNT 8-0 W Pressley (2), Bywaters, Leroux (2), Burke, Hayes, S. Mewis Boulder, Colo.
July 16 Canada U-20 WNT 2-1 W Eddy, Leroux Boulder, Colo.
July 18 Colorado Select 0-3 L -- Boulder, Colo.

U.S. U-18 MNT OFF TO NORTHERN IRELAND MILK CUP FROM JULY 22-AUG. 1: U.S. U-18 Men’s National Team head coach Mike Matkovich has named 18 players who will travel to Northern Ireland to participate in the prestigious Milk Cup, an annual event that includes club and international-level competition, from July 22-Aug. 1. The U.S. will play in the Elite Division of the competition against Denmark on July 27, and Germany on July 29, before a placement game on Friday, July 31. Germany was added as a late replacement for Sudan. Also participating in the Elite Division are Bulgaria, Israel and hosts Northern Ireland. Included in the roster is a mix of college and youth players, with one player, Gregory Garza, who is already a professional playing at Sporting CP in Portugal.

U.S. U-18 MNT Milk Cup Schedule

Date Opponent Venue
July 27 Denmark Coleraine Showgrounds; Coleraine, Northern Ireland
July 29 Germany Ballymena Showgrounds; Ballymena, Northern Ireland
July 31 Placement Match TBD

U.S. U-18 Milk Cup Roster
GOALKEEPERS (2): Justin Luthy (Boston College; Dublin, Ohio), Zachary MacMath (Maryland; St. Petersburg, Fla.)
DEFENDERS (6): Chad Barson (Akron; Lewis Center, Ohio), Paolo Del Piccolo (Louisville; Lakewood, Colo.), Scott Prozeller (Harvard; Sudbury, Mass.), Jossimar Sanchez (Connecticut; Patterson, N.J.), Kofi Sarkodie (Akron; Huber Heights, Ohio), Zarek Valentin (Akron; Lancaster, Pa.);
MIDFIELDERS (7): Dion Acoff (Arsenal FC; Upland, Calif.), Jose Altamirano (San Diego State; San Diego, Calif.), Miles Byass (Arsenal FC; Highland, Calif.), Gregory Garza (Sporting CP; Grapevine, Texas), Nicholas Millington (Wake Forest; Raleigh, N.C.), Amobi Okugo (UCLA; Sacramento, Calif.), Harrison Petts (Carmel United SC; Zionsville, Ind.)
FORWARDS (3): Will Bates (Virginia; Chester, Va.), Ryan Finley (Duke; Lumberton, N.J.), Hasani Sinclair (South Florida; Coral Springs, Fla.)

U.S. U-18 WNT WINS BOTH GAMES AT TRAINING CAMP IN COLORADO: The U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team defeated the Canadian U-20 Women’s National Team 5-1 during a training camp at the University of Colorado in Boulder that was held almost concurrently with a U.S. U-20 camp. The U.S. U-18s also picked up a 2-1 win over the Real Colorado Cougars. Against Canada, forward Chioma Ubogagu scored just four minutes into the match after she ran onto a cross from Sam Johnson and finished from the top of the penalty area. Johnson scored herself in the 41st minute. The USA made it 3-0 just two minutes into the second half as Mandy Laddish struck a perfect free-kick from 25 yards out, blasting it over the head of the Canadian goalkeeper. In the 54th minute midfielder Kaelia Ohai went on a winding dribbling run from the right side of the field, turned the corner and slotted her shot into the far post. Canada pulled a goal back just seconds later from Jonelle Filigno, who also plays for the full Canadian Women’s National Team, but the USA finished the scoring in the 65th minute after Ahsha Smith ran down a pass from Michelle Cruz and tucked her shot into the near post. Against Real Colorado, all the goals were scored in a four-minute span on either side of halftime, with the U.S. midfielder Kealia Ohai scoring in the 45th minute, Real equalizing in the 46th and Mollie Pathman netting the winner in the 48th minute.

U.S. U-18 WNT Results

Date Opponent Result U.S. Goal Scorer(s) Venue
July 12 Canada U-20 WNT 5-1 W Ubogagu, Johnson, Laddish, Ohai, Smith Boulder, Colo.
July 15 Real Colorado 2-1 W Ohai, Pathman Boulder, Colo.

U.S. U-17 MNT WINS OPENER IN BRAZIL’S COPA MACAE: The U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team is in Rio de Janeiro and Macae, Brazil, to participate in the Copa Macae from July 14-27. Head coach Wilmer Cabrera’s team earned a 2-1 win in its opening game against Flamengo behind goals from Jack McInerney and Luis Gil. McInerney also scored the team’s lone goal in its second game, a 1-0 win against Artsul. Of the 24 players in Macae, only the Los Angeles Galaxy Academy's Riley Wolfe has not been part of U.S Soccer's Residency Program. The team is continuing summer training in preparation for the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which is slated for Nigeria from Oct. 24-Nov. 16. Quarterfinals for the tournament will take place on July 23 with semifinals on July 25 and Finals on Sunday, July 26.

U.S. U-17 MNT Copa Macae Schedule

Date Opponent Result U.S. Goal Scorer(s) Venue
July 18 Flamengo 2-1 W McInerney, Gil Macae, Brazil
July 19 Arsul 1-0 W McInerney Macae, Brazil
July 21 Cidade do Sol -- -- Macae, Brazil

U.S. U-17 MNT Roster
GOALKEEPERS (2): Edwards (Nomads; San Diego, Calif.), Spencer Richey (Crossfire Premier FC; Seattle, Wash.)
DEFENDERS (9): Michael Ambrose (Texas Fire; El Paso, Texas), Zachary Herold (West Pines United FC, Port St. Lucie, Fla.), Perry Kitchen (Chicago Magic AS Monaco; Indianapolis, Ind.), Jordan McCrary (Concorde Fire; Marietta, Ga.), Boyd Okwuonu (Celtic Green; Edmond, Okla.), Emilio Orozco (Rampage FC; Oxnard, Calif.), Tyler Polak (Capital Soccer Academy; Lincoln, Neb.), Jared Watts (North Meck SC; Statesville, N.C.), Eriq Zavaleta (FC Pride; Westfield, Ind.)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Sean Davis (Match Fit Chelsea FC; Holmdel, N.J.), Marlon Duran (Latino Americana; Ducanville, Texas), Luis Gil (Pateadores; Garden Grove, Calif.), Carlos Martinez (Wilmington Jr.; San Pedro, Calif), Nick Palodichuk (Washington Premier FC; Battleground, Wash.), Alex Shinsky (Super Nova FC; York, Pa.), Riley Wolfe (Los Angeles Galaxy Academy; Manhattan Beach, Calif.)
FORWARDS (6): Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls Academy; Barnegat, N.J.), Victor Chavez (Real So Cal; Fontana, Calif), Andrew Craven (First Coast Kicks; St. Simons Island, Ga.), Stefan Jerome (West Pines United FC; Davie, Fla.), Jack McInerney (Cobb SC; Alpharetta, Ga.), Dominick Sarle (BW Gottschee; Huntington, N.Y.)

U.S. U-17 WNT TO HOLD TRAINING CAMP IN NEW YORK: U.S. Under-17 Women's National Team head coach Kazbek Tambi has called in 22 players to a training camp from July 28-Aug. 4 in Pearl River, N.Y. Kazbek called in 18 players born in 1993 and four born in 1994 as he searches for players for the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Trinidad & Tobago.

U.S. U-17 WNT Roster
GOALKEEPERS (2): Molly Poletto (Storm Copa; Englewood, Fla.), Abby Smith (Dallas Texans; Dallas, Texas)
DEFENDERS (7): Kathlene Bobbitt (Ponte Vedra; Orange Park, Fla.), Olivia Brannon (Michigan Jags; Troy, Mich.), Abigail Dahlkemper (MVLA Avalanche; Menlo Park, Calif.), Whitney Church (Loudoun ’91 Real; Ashburn, Va.), Gabby Cuevas (Arsenal World; Wayne, N.Y.), Casey Morrison (York United; York, Pa.), Cari Roccaro (Albertson Fury; East Islip, N.Y.),
MIDFIELDERS (9): Morgan Brian (Ponte Verda Storm; St. Simons Island, Ga.), Kaysie Clark (KC Select Scream; Liberty, Mo.), Caprice Dydasco (HSC Bulls; Honolulu, Hawaii), Isabel Farrell (Crossfire; Bellevue, Wash.), Jessica Lee (Arsenal Fury; Tenafly, N.J.), Heather Magee (Solar Red 94; Colleyville, Texas), Karin Simonian (Albertson Fury; Westbury, N.Y.), Kaili Torres (PVSA; Orange Park, Fla.), Clarissa Wedemeyer (Dallas Texans; Colleyville, Texas)
FORWARDS (4): Mariana Galvan (Santa Clara Sporting; San Jose, Calif.), Jennifer Gonzalez (Arsenal FC; Alta Loma, Calif.), Stephanie McCaffrey (FC Stars of Mass.; Winchester, Mass.), Kylie McCarthy (San Diego Surf; Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.)

– AROUND THE SOCCER NATION –

2009 LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP SEMIFINALS TAKE PLACE TUESDAY, JULY 21, POSSIBLE FINAL SITES RELEASED: With the U.S. Open Cup semifinals set for Tuesday, July 21, RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., Robertson Stadium in Houston, Texas, and Qwest Field in Seattle, Wash., have been named as the possible venues of the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship match. Pending the results of the semifinal matches, the championship will take place Tuesday, Sept. 1, or Wednesday, Sept. 2. If defending champion D.C. United wins their semifinal matchup with the Rochester Rhinos, then D.C. will host the final for the second consecutive year. Should the Rhinos advance to the final, they will travel to face the winner of the Houston Dynamo against Seattle Sounders semifinal.

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinal Schedule

Date Match Time Venue
July 21 Rochester Rhinos (USL-1) at D.C. United (MLS) 7:30 p.m. ET Maryland Soccerplex; Boyds, Md.
July 21 Houston Dynamo (MLS) at Seattle Sounders (MLS) 7 p.m. PT Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, Wash.

COACHING SYMPOSIUM TO BE HELD AUGUST 17-18: U.S. Soccer’s Coaching Department will conduct a coaching symposium Aug. 17-18 in conjunction with the U.S. U-15 Girls’ National Team training camp at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The symposium will be led by U.S. U-15 Girls’ National Team head coach and U.S. Soccer National Staff Coach, Mike Dickey. Dickey, who will lead the girls in their third training camp of year, has been a Women’s National Staff Coach since 2005 and has served as an assistant coach for many of the Women’s Youth National Teams. Cost for the symposium is $25. Registration includes a 2009 Women’s National Team yearbook, a U.S. Soccer CoachesNet notebook and a parking pass. “A” licensed coaches will earn two Continuing Education Units for attending the two-day symposium. Registration is open to all coaches.

JOIN U.S. SOCCER SUPPORTERS CLUB: U.S. Soccer invites fans to join the U.S. Soccer Supporters Club, the official fan membership program of the U.S. national teams. Fans can sign up at ussoccer.com to join the U.S. Soccer Supporters Club, which provides exclusive benefits to members while creating a unique platform for the most passionate fans to demonstrate their support. U.S. Soccer SC members receive numerous benefits, highlighted by priority status to secure tickets to the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany. U.S. Soccer will distribute its ticket allotment from FIFA to those dedicated members of USSSC before holding a general lottery, providing members the best chance to see the U.S. play in the biggest sporting event in the world. For more information, visit ussoccer.com.

*** CENTER CIRCLE SPOTLIGHT ***

PEAK PERFORMER: It was history in the making at Marina Auto Stadium in Rochester, N.Y., Sunday, July 19, as Abby Wambach scored her 100th career goal in front of 8,443 fans in her hometown. With her goal in the 1-0 win against Canada, Wambach becomes the fifth American to reach the century mark, following Mia Hamm (158), Kristine Lilly (129), Michelle Akers (105) and Tiffeny Milbrett (100). Wambach’s 100th goal comes in just her 129th career match, giving her the best goals-to-games ratio in U.S. history.

MARQUEE MATCHUP: In what may seem like déjà vu for fans, the U.S. Men’s National Team takes on Honduras at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday, July 23, at Soldier Field. The U.S. MNT defeated Honduras 2-1 at the same venue on June 6 in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying, and earlier this month, the teams met up in Group B of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup, with the U.S. coming away with a 2-0 win on July 8 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. Now in the Gold Cup semifinals, the U.S. and Honduras will square off live on Fox Soccer Channel, TeleFutura and the Futbol de Primera Radio Network. Fans can also follow along on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and via Twitter at twitter.com/ussoccer.

SOCCER SHOCKER: What are the chances that Abby Wambach would score her 100th goal in her hometown, and that it happens to be the same town all-time U.S. leading goal scorer Mia Hamm scored her 100th goal? Wambach’s game winner against Canada came 11 years after Hamm scored her 100th against Russia at Frontier Field in Rochester, N.Y.

QUOTABLE: “Congrats to the U.S. men's national soccer team, finishing second in the recent Confederations Cup in South Africa. In the coming weeks, they will play Mexico in a 2010 World Cup qualifying match in Mexico City. In 23 games, the U.S. has never defeated the Mexicans on their home soil (0-22-1), but this is the year it could happen. I believe they have their best chance to beat Mexico and I think we should all be pulling for the upset and support this team.”
-- New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton in SI's Monday Morning Quarterback column.

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