US Women's Soccer Team Reached World Cup Final

US Women Reach World Cup Final

VOA - Parke Brewer July 13, 2011

The United States women's soccer team has reached the World Cup final for the first time since it last won the title on home soil in 1999.

The FIFA women's World Cup has been played five previous times, and the United States is the only nation to make the semifinals in every tournament.

But the Americans' only titles came in the inaugural event in 1991 in China and in the memorable victory over China on penalty kicks 12 years ago California.  They finished third in 2003 and 2007.

Now after Wednesday's stirring 3-1 victory over France in Moenchengladbach, Germany, the United States is back in the final for the first time since 1999.

Star U.S. striker Abby Wambach broke a 1-1 deadlock with a header off Lauren Cheney's corner kick in the 79th minute.  It was Wambach's third goal of the tournament and 12th of her career, tying her with fellow American Michelle Akers for third on the all-time World Cup scoring list.

It was Cheney's goal in the 9th minute that gave the United States the early lead.  But she told ESPN she credits Wambach for her efforts.

"Not only is she at the right place at the right time, but she has more heart than anybody that I've ever played with," said Cheney. "And I know that in the last minute, she's going to get it done."

Twenty-two year-old Alex Morgan, the youngest player on the U.S. team, added an insurance goal in the 82nd minute, racing past four defenders on a breakaway and deftly lifting the ball over the French goalkeeper.

U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo told ESPN that after the dramatic quarterfinal penalty kicks win over Brazil, she was confident they would win.

"That's this team's mentality," said Solo. "We do it for our country; we do it for our nation.  It's our mentality, we're going to win.  And there wasn't one point - even though it was a sloppy goal against us, I was very upset - but I knew our team would dig us out."

The United States will play in Sunday's final in Frankfurt against Japan, a 3-1 upset winner over Sweden in Wednesday's other semifinal.

Japan had also upset two-time defending champion and host Germany in the quarterfinals.  

US Women Reach World Cup Final
US Women's Soccer Team Reached Football World Cup Final - Article from VOA

Women Thriving in Traditionally All-Male Football

Women Thriving in Traditionally All-Male American Football
VOA - Tala Hadavi | Baltimore, Maryland June 08, 2011

Photo: VOA Photo T. Hadavi
The Baltimore Nighthawks line up against the Philadelphia Firebirds

American Football has supplanted baseball in recent years as America's favorite sport. But though men and women both enjoy it, it has traditionally been played almost entirely by men. The past few years, however, have seen the debut of a number of women's leagues - playing by the same rules and with the same level of contact as the men's sport.

When you think about American football, you envision it being played by heavily-padded big men making violent contact with each other. But Tarsha Fain, team captain of the Baltimore Nighthawks says, think again.

"I feel women can do anything a man can do," said Fain. "The same way they get out there and hit, we get out there and hit too."

NFL Football - Are NFL footballs made in China?

Football Makers Show Off Their Stuff

Tala Hadavi | Dallas, Texas February 28, 2011 - VOA

It may never win a 'Most Valuable Player' award but Wilson’s football is the star of every professional and collegiate game played in the United States.

In these days of automation, it's rare to see a company manufacturing its products completely by hand. Still, there are places where this happens. The National Football League wrapped up the 2010 season with the biggest football game of the year: Super Bowl XLV - played in a huge stadium in Arlington, Texas.

But without the small, Midwestern town of Ada, Ohio -- population 5,400 - the game would not have been the same.  Ada is where the Wilson Sporting Goods company makes footballs.  Wilson has been the official football maker of the National Football League since 1941, and many of the 130 employees at its factory in Ada have spent most of their lives there - many working for 25 to 45 years.

Every year, during Super Bowl week, Wilson showcases a small piece of its factory for the fans.

At this year’s display, fans could see five of the 13 steps it takes to make a football. One of the workers, Tina explains that after applying 120 pounds of air pressure the seams will be smooth and the laces flattened.

The Wilson employees make from 3,000 to 4,000 balls a day.  One employee, Tina can lace up a ball in two minutes. After that, it’s time for the final step.

The people at Wilson love their jobs.  And the workers in Ada, Ohio, would not have it any other way.

It may never win a “Most Valuable Player” award or get to sign autographs, but Wilson’s football is the star of every professional and collegiate game played in the United States.

Football Makers Show Off Their Stuff

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NASL - Division 2 North American Soccer League - 2011 Season

Second-Division Soccer Makes a Return in US

Kelyn Soong February 15, 2011 - VOA

Second-division soccer in the United States is set to make a return.  The on-again, off-again Division 2 North American Soccer League (NASL) has been provisionally sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) for the 2011 season.  The league will be expected to meet certain requirements before receiving permanent Division 2 status.

In a nation where American football reigns supreme, soccer is viewed more as a niche sport.  And while Major League Soccer, the top tier professional soccer league in the United States, has grown slowly and steadily, the leagues underneath it have struggled to stabilize.

U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati this week emphasized the influence the second-tier North American Soccer League would have on the growth of the sport in America. "If we want to see American soccer grow, having additional outlets for fans, whether in some cases it's in very different cities than where MLS may be, in other cases in suburbs of MLS markets or at a different level, I think it's very important," he said.

The re-development of NASL, which originally operated from 1968-1984, has been promising but not without struggles.

The league had been provisionally sanctioned in November 2010 before being revoked last month over financial concerns of some of its teams.  But last Friday, the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors voted to re-instate the provisional sanction.

NASL Chief Executive Officer Aaron Davidson understands that the NASL is a work in progress. "No one is under the assumption all of our teams are going to break even overnight, even now we are provisionally sanctioned and we are a second division league," he said.

With league play scheduled to begin on April 9, NASL is working hard to promote its eight teams (Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina Railhawks, FC Edmonton, FC Tampa Bay, Miami FC, Impact De Montreal, NSC Minnesota Stars and Puerto Rico Islanders) that are located in major markets across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati believes that with a solid foundation, NASL will be difficult to ignore. "The opportunity and the stability of the league are, obviously, very much related.  If the league is stable, and that's what we're counting on, and the business plan makes sense and you have sensible attendance and so on, then there will be increased interest for people to make an investment in a team," he said.

NASL's Aaron Davidson views the 2011 season as a litmus test to see where the league stands and what needs to be done to create stability in the future.  "This year is really about focusing on [foundation] and making sure we run a league where the teams are happy with the direction it's headed, where the [U.S. Soccer] Federation is happy with the direction it's headed, where the media and fans so we can build a methodical growth plan going forward," he said.

One of the teams, Montreal, will only be on board for one year before joining MLS and the five U.S.-based NASL teams will not be involved in this year's U.S. Open Cup soccer tournament due to delays in sanctioning. For NASL, the promising but difficult journey has just begun.

 

 

Second-Division Soccer Makes a Return in US

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Ronaldo Announces Retirement - Brazilian Football Star

Brazilian Football Star Ronaldo Announces Retirement
Monday, February 14th, 2011 - VOA

Three-time FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldo has announced he is retiring from international football because of injury and fitness problems.

In an interview ahead of Monday's official announcement, the 34-year-old Ronaldo said he wanted to continue playing but that his body would not allow him to do the things he wanted.

During his 18-year career, the Brazilian star played 97 matches with his national team and scored 62 goals. He has the most goals in World Cup history with 15, and was part of the Brazilian teams that won the World Cup in 1994 and 2002.

Ronaldo also won the Golden Ball award, given to the European Footballer of the Year, in 1997 and 2002. France Football named him as one of the all-time best starting 11, and he starred with top European teams including Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan.

Ronaldo, who joined Brazilian side Corinthians last year, had previously spoken of retiring at the end of the season. But with his injuries and Corinthians' elimination from South America's most prestigious club tournament, the Copa Libertadores, Ronaldo decided to move up his retirement date.


Brazilian Football Star Ronaldo Announces Retirement
Article from VOA