Onto the Finals
The group phase of the Algarve Cup and Cyprus Cup concluded Monday. Facing their former coach for the first time, the US played to a 1-1 draw against Sweden, led by Pia Sundhage, courtesy of a corner kick header buried by Alex Morgan to tie it up in the second half. The US advance to face Germany in the final Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Canada used a rather strong lineup despite having already clinched their group. Erin McLeod stopped a penalty early on against the Dutch, allowing Christine Sinclair to net the winner for the 1-0 decision. The Canucks face England, who downed New Zealand 3-1, in the Cyprus Cup final Wednesday.
Leg Two
The second legs of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals kick off Tuesday evening and conclude Wednesday. With that, MLSsoccer.com analysts ponder the question of what a Sounders win would mean if they prevail Tuesday evening in the first of three series featuring MLS clubs.
All About Cricket
If you think Major League Soccer has a difficult task trying to break into the major sports landscape crowded by the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and top collegiate athletics, here is a story about the challenges of developing the sport in India. Soccer has virtually no infrastructure, including one soccer specific stadium, and is struggling to even get an adequate schedule put together for the national team in a nation where cricket is really the only competing major sport.
Soccer at the Vatican
Here is a story about what is arguably the most unique rec soccer league on the planet… the Vatican soccer league comprised of priests, seminarians etc from around the world. The league, called the Clericus Cup, has been around for seven years and is unofficially referred to as the Vatican World Cup. A couple other interesting facts are that they play on a field named after a former American Cardinal and the reigning champions are the 'North American Martyrs.' The story is a nice mix of being an informative piece on the tournament and a summation of some of the chatter amongst the participants about the ongoing process for the election of the new pope.
'Soccer with Breakfast' is a quick recap of interesting, underreported, or top soccer news items - sometimes accompanied by some commentary - to give readers in the Inland Northwest area (or beyond) a brief look around the North American news scene.
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