In an incredible interview with Russian news agency TASS, suspended outgoing FIFA president and foot in mouth specialist Sepp Blatter made a revelatory admission: that the host nations for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups had been agreed upon before the votes were conducted.
Category: USA
Juan Agudelo scores tremendous overhead kick in MLS playoffs
The MLS Cup playoffs have begun and Juan Agudelo has taken the opportunity to remind you that he still exists (and he’s still just 22 years old). Agudelo opened the scoring in New England’s match against DC United with a picturesque overhead kick in the 15th minute.
It feels like forever ago that he was touted as the next big thing for the U.S. national team, but, again, he’s still just 22.
Sebastian Giovinco weaves through entire Red Bulls team to score another ridiculous goal
What a time to be alive!! pic.twitter.com/JrJEyTUXY3
— Toronto FC (@torontofc) October 15, 2015
Nothing can stop Sebastian Giovinco’s reign of terror in MLS, not even the fact that he began his Wednesday in Rome and spent the afternoon on a flight to Toronto. He didn’t start Toronto FC’s match against the New York Red Bulls (because he played the last 30 minutes in Italy’s 2-1 win over Norway a day earlier), but he did come off the bench in the 71st minute and seven minutes later, he weaved through the visiting team like a grandmother teaching a basket making class on speed.
Giovinco’s goal sealed Toronto’s first ever MLS playoff berth and it made him the league leader in both goals (22) and assists (12). And now we know for sure that he is impervious to both jet lag and MLS defending.
U.S. lose three straight home matches and that makes sense
The United States lost 1-0 to Costa Rica in a friendly, giving them three consecutive home losses in the run up to the start of 2018 World Cup qualifying next month. This is obviously concerning for anyone who cares about the team, but the main issue is a simple one: they’re just not very good right now.
Mexico’s Paul Aguilar scores impressive late volley to win CONCACAF Cup
Mexico followed up their 2015 Gold Cup title by beating the 2013 Gold Cup winning USA in a playoff to decide which nation would represent CONCACAF in the 2017 Confederations Cup. And the goal that sealed the 3-2 extra-time win was probably more impressive than the rewards for it.
Didier Drogba brings Mourinho mind games to MLS
Didier Drogba has gotten off to a tremendous start in MLS, scoring eight goals in his first eight matches, but scoring prowess isn’t all he’s brought to the league. During Wednesday’s match against the New York Red Bulls, Drogba demonstrated what he’s learned from former manager Jose Mourinho on the art of getting under an opponent’s skin.
Frank Lampard scores first MLS goal more than a year after first pretending to join NYCFC
Welcome Frank Lampard. #NYCvTOR https://t.co/X9RdM8I2BC
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 17, 2015
Wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of the injured David Villa, Frank Lampard finally scored his first MLS goal to put NYCFC up 1-0 against Toronto FC.
It’s been a long road to this point for Lampard, who was first unveiled in New York back in July 2014. He immediately joined sister club Manchester City on a short-term deal for the 2014/15 Premier League campaign that was extended into the start of NYCFC’s inaugural MLS season.
He scored eight times for Man City and finally made his NYCFC debut in August. He missed a few more games due to injury and now, in his fifth appearance for the club, he’s scored a goal. Let the joyous anti-climax wash over you.
The very best pictures from LA Galaxy v New York City FC
LA Galaxy v New York City FC was billed as the marquee match of the MLS season with both clubs loaded up with expensive, big-name talent. Though Robbie Keane, Giovani Dos Santos, David Villa, and Andrea Pirlo would all be on the pitch, the “British invasion” was the focus of the pre-match build-up as Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard would face each other for the first time in MLS (and roughly the nine millionth time overall in their careers).
LA Galaxy parody NYCFC’s greasy Villa, Pirlo, and Lampard photoshoot
The LA Galaxy will host New York City FC this Sunday, so to prepare for the match, they decided to make fun of their fellow aging European talent collectors.
NYCFC gave the Galaxy plenty to work with by allowing their big three — David Villa, Andrea Pirlo, and Poku Frank Lampard — to be photographed wearing white tank tops and looking greasy by New York Magazine for some reason. So the Galaxy recreated this shoot with Dan Gargan, Alan Gordon, and Nacho Maganto.
A goalkeeper’s shame in three parts
Goal LA Galaxy – No.9 Alan GORDON – LA Galaxy 2-0 Comunicaciones #SCCL #TheChampions @LAGalaxy @CremasOficial http://t.co/mEnbJT0fgJ
— THE CHAMPIONS (@TheChampions) August 19, 2015
Facing the LA Galaxy in the CONCACAF Champions League, Juan Jose Paredes experienced a regrettable moment that just kept getting worse.
The goalkeeper for Guatemalan club Comunicaciones condemned himself to this hellacious domino effect by getting his foot stuck in the turf just before making contact with the ball, causing it to roll towards Galaxy forward Alan Gordon. Paredes attempted to chase down his mistake, but this only gave Gordon the opportunity to nutmeg him and jump over the desperate keeper on the way to finally ending this horror by scoring on the empty net.
That gave LA their second goal in the first 10 minutes of the match. Gordon then scored again in the 54th minute to make it a 3-0 lead, but Paredes had mentally disassociated from his body at that point.