Soccer: Extra Time

Soccer: Extra Time

David Beckham to miss World Cup

March 14, 2010 , ι BRIAN LEWIS

England star David Beckham will miss this summer's World Cup with a ruptured Achilles tendon. The Galaxy midfielder suffered the injury tonight while playing on loan for Serie A power AC Milan in a... Read on

England star David Beckham
	 will miss this summer's World Cupwith a ruptured Achilles tendon.
	 

	 
The Galaxy midfielder suffered the injury tonight while playing on loan for Serie A power AC Milan in a 1-0 win over Chievo. He was getting ready to kick the ball completely unchallenged when the injury occured. An Italian TV reporter claims Goldenballs told the staff "It's broken, it's broken" as he was stretchered off in tears.
	 

	 
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Beckham will have an operation in Finland tomorrow, and then have to go through three or four months of grueling rehab. What that means for sure is that he'll miss the World Cup in South Africa, and England's group match vs. the U.S. But at 34-years-old, it raises the question of whether he'll ever play again?
	 
This isn’t a hamstring or an arm; this is a serious injury that will take long, arduous months of rehab. And Beckham won't have a carrot at the end of a stick to keep him going. Will the prospect of playing in MLS be enough to get him to even bother?
	 

	 
How will it impact the England-U.S. tilt? How much coin will it cost MLS, which still got an attendance boost from Goldenballs? Sad you won’t see Galaxy star Landon Donovan facing off with his L.A. teammate in South Africa? Share yoir thoughts…

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Six days & counting until Red Bull Arena

March 14, 2010 , ι BRIAN LEWIS

Since their inception as a charter member of MLS, the Red Bulls have been one of the league’s worst teams. But after 15 years of getting it wrong on the field, when it came to building their own field, they got it right. In less than a week they will unveil the most futuristic soccer stadium in the Americas.
	 

	 
After a decade of fits and starts under previous ownership, Red Bull Arena finally opens Saturday, with an expected sellout of 25,000 expected for a game against Brazilian power Santos. On March 27, the nation will get its first look at the stadium on ESPN when the Red Bulls meet Chicago in the MLS opener. The attention will help not only the underachieving club, but the tiny industrial town of Harrison and the sport of soccer in the U.S.
	 

	 
The soft opening scheduled for last night, with the Red Bull Under-18 academy squad playing the U.S. U-17 national team, was postponed because of weather.
	 

	 
“They’ve built a stadium that will be among the best small stadiums in the world. It’s absolutely spectacular,” MLS commissioner Don Garber said. “When you walk in there, you’ll have a lump in your throat.”
	 

	 
Check the actual
	 web story here for a nice staff photo, and below is a video tour we did last weekend, including an interview with managing director Erik Stover and an impromptu stand-up our videographer got me to do. If I would've known, I would've dressed!
	 
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After going an MLS-worst 5-19-6 last year, Red Bull built a $200 million palace for futbol, not football. And with the club hoping to convert the Portuguese and Brazilian soccer aficionados in Newark’s Ironbound section, it had to be.
	 

	 
“It’s a phenomenal stadium. It’s beautiful. There’s nothing like it in this country,” captain Juan Pablo Angel said. “This is going to be a memorable moment for soccer in this region.
	 

	 
“It’s going to be the first time this franchise is going to have a home field where we can start building our fan base. I’m excited to be part of it. . . . It’s one of the reasons I came, because they promised a nice stadium, a big project.”
	 

	 

	 

	 
Big is an understatement, with a translucent roof and 300 flat-screen TVs, 1,116 premium seats and 30 skyboxes. But beyond the opulence, it was made with the fans in mind.
	 

	 
“You can compare it to the best in the [English] Championship or Premiership,” coach Hans Backe said. “It’s absolutely top-class, and it’s a true soccer stadium.”
	 

	 
Why? After buying out previous club owner and onetime stadium partner AEG, Red Bull scrapped a planned stage, replaced some skyboxes with affordable seats and modeled it after Werthersee Stadium in Austria, featured in Euro 2008. And with the closest seat just 21 feet from the pitch, it adds to the experience.
	 

	 
“We had 14 years of history of soccer moms and group sales. We’re flipping that. We need to focus on the sport more and the people that love it, are passionate about it,” managing director Erik Stover said.
	 
“We want people in the Ironbound to know you may be a fan of River Plate or Porto, but you live here and you’re not being dishonest by [coming here]. We want people across the river — who are the most critical analyzers of what a game-day experience is — to walk away saying, ‘That’s a soccer stadium.’ ”
	 

	 
After years of rejection by those soccer moms, the team finally has targeted not only the ethnic hardcores — expect Portuguese food from Ironbound eatery Seabras — but the commuter community. The stadium is just three blocks from the Harrison PATH station and one stop — or a 15-minute walk — from Newark’s Penn Station. There will be free shuttles from the Ironbound and around Harrison.
	 

	 

	 
Will convenience equal attendance? After selling just 4,500 season tickets last year and averaging a club-record low of 12,491 fans per game, the Red Bulls set goals of 6,000 and 18,000. They already have hit 7,000 season tickets and expect a thousand more, buoyed by groups such as the Empire Supporters Club and Garden State Supporters.
	 

	 
The ESC and GSS will gather at local pubs, walk to the Jackson Street Bridge and march to Red Bull Arena, singing and chanting the way soccer fans do around the world.
	 

	 
“I’m hoping [the enthusiasm] spreads to other sections of town, hoping [soccer fans] shop in Harrison and eat at the restaurants,” Harrison mayor Ray McDonough told the Jersey Journal. “I’m excited . . . because it’s going to bring jobs. People are excited about it.”
	 

	 
That goes from the locals to MLS brass to stars around the world, with Barcelona’s Thierry Henry telling The Post last June he thought he would join the Red Bulls next year.
	 

	 
“Now we’re a credible franchise,” Stover said. “There’s no question people in the industry are aware of what’s going on.”
	 

	 
Here is a look at some of the features and amenities of the new Red Bull Arena:
	 

	 
HOW TO GET IN: Season ticket-holders are using a paperless system by London’s Fortress GB, which sold the same thing to Arsenal and Manchester City. They will get smart cards that activate the turnstiles and can be loaded with cash to buy things at the stadium.
	 

	 
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:Three stadium clubs, one team shop, two 22x39 high-definition video boards. There are 65 concession stands combined between the two levels, and 20 portable hand carts on each level.
	 

	 
WHAT TO KNOW:A translucent polycarbonate and aluminum roof covers the fans but not the field. But the field has a high-tech warmer underneath to heat the grass.
	 

	 
NEARBY EATS:In Harrison, try Central Lounge, Tops Diner, Lisbon Chateau Bar-Restaurant or Spanish Pavilion; in Newark check out Seabra Rodizio (whose food is served at the stadium), Casa Vasca, Don Pepe Restaurant, Fornos of Spain, and either the Iberia Peninsula or Tavern.

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Red Bulls notch preseason win over Miami

March 12, 2010 , ι BRIAN LEWIS

The Red Bulls beat NASL side Miami FC 3-1 today in Ft. Lauderdale. Rookie forward Conor Chinn had two goals and newly-signed midfielder Joel Lindpere had two assists as the Red Bulls ran their preseason record to an unbeaten 6-0-3.
	 
Lindpere _ an Estonian National Team member that seems to have a place locked down in the center of the midfield _ found trialist Salou Ibrahim with a cross for a score in the 3rd minute. Chinn broke open a 1-1 tie with two goals in a six-minute span in the second half.
	 
Much like the start of the match, New York was dangerous right from the second half whistle, getting back on top just three minutes in when Chinn nodded home a Lindpere cross. Chinn found the back of the net again six minutes later, this time with an individual effort down the right side, taking on a defender and slotting it home.
	 
BTW, here is a clip of Ibrahim in action. The video is of the best goals of the Jupiler League, and his is the chest-and-turn shot at the 1:22 mark. It checked in at No. 4...
	 
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Q & A with Bill Clinton

March 12, 2010 , ι BRIAN LEWIS

This is clearly not a soccer story, but I've been pulling 14-hour days at the Big East tourney since Tuesday and thought this piece might be one some of you woud get a kick out of.Former president... Read on

This is clearly not a soccer story, but I've been pulling 14-hour days at the Big East tourney since Tuesday and thought this piece might be one some of you woud get a kick out of.
	 
Former president Bill Clinton _ noted hoops nut and proud Georgetown alum _ was in the Garden last night taking in the quarterfinals. Once I _ veeeery cautiously and politely _ squeezed through the secret service phalanx around him, Clinton was kind enough to give me (and another reporter) a lengthy interview between games of the evening session. Here it is below:

Q: What do you think about these games?
	 
Clinton: Every one of these games has been good.
	 

	 
Q: And they've all been upsets.
	 
Clinton: But they're not really. They're upsets in number only, because all these teams are going to the tournament. The Big East Tournament is not like any other tournament. All the teams are going to the tournament, and the officials are letting them play Big East basketball. They let them play defense. They let them play the game. And as a result, the lower seeds actually have a chance. 
	 

	 
For example, Syracuse lost today — to my alma mater, but I love both those teams — but they went from being up nine to down nine. They had a lot of turnovers, Syracuse did, and Georgetown just didn't miss. Syracuse couldn't make a layup. ESPN said that they still felt that Syracuse should be a No. 1 seed, but Georgetown's seed will be much better and will allow them to accelerate their chances of going further in the tournament. 
	 

	 
Even though Marquette had already played Villanova to two points, once up there and then down in Philly, and everyone was treating them like underdogs. Now Marquette will get a remarkably better seed. But I don't think it'll affect Villanova's seed very much. And Notre Dame? They're just on fire. But Pittsburgh's still a really good team. These teams are all really, really good. 
	 

	 
That (Notre Dame win over Pitt) was a particularly good defensive game.
	 

	 
Q: I grew up in D.C. watching Georgetown, so I like defensive games. You enjoy good defensive games?
	 
Clinton: I love John Thompson. I saw that he was bursting with pride today and every time the cameras on him he was trying to be passive, but you could tell he was bursting with pride. 
	 

	 
Q: The quarterfinals are usually good.
	 
Clinton: The quarterfinals always have the best games. The six-overtime game (Syracuse won last year) was in the quarters. I stayed up for that whole game, all night. I had been working and got back up to Chappaqua and I stayed up to the last second of that game. I watched it all. Up until 1:30 (a.m.)'' 
	 

	 
Q: You still have a rooting interest for the rest of the tourney?
	 
Clinton: I always cheer for Georgetown. But there are other places where I know people. Like the student body president at West Virginia was one of Hillary's friends. The chancellor at Pittsburgh — I just learned this — came to the University of Arkansas for a job interview in 1975 and the commissioner (John Marinatto) just told me that Hillary and I took him to dinner. We were on the faculty together. It's crazy who you run into. 
	 

	 
I'm just happy to be here. I'm a huge basketball fan. And Arkansas wasn't very good this year so when I'm not rooting for them, I love Syracuse. I like (Jim) Boeheim. 
	 

	 
Q: But when Syracuse plays Georgetown?
	 
Clinton: And I like Louisville. (Rick) Pitino and I have become friends. But that Syracuse-Georgetown game was a good game today. And it wasn't like Syracuse folded. I mean, Georgetown just played out of their minds. So there's nothing to worry about Syracuse and seeding in the tournament. If they play a good team in the tournament and they go 5-for-19 or something from the free-throw line and have a lot of turnovers, they're going to have a tough time in the tournament. 
	 

	 
If you think about it though, that's like a 20-point blowout. But it actually wasn't. I mean they got a couple baskets at the end, but they still played pretty well. I don't think you can discount them. 
	 

	 
Q: When Georgetown played Syracuse this afternoon, who were you rooting for in that one?
	 
Clinton: I had to root for my alma mater. It's hard for me to root against them, even if it is Syracuse. I think that win will help Georgetown more than it will hurt Syracuse for the tournament. Remember, North Carolina lost the same game (last year). They lost in the semifinals of the ACC (Tournament). But they went on to win the national championship. So it's not all bad. 
	 

	 

	 

	 

	 
I learned three things in this session, or at least had some re-affirmed to me. 1) Clinton is a pretty chill cat for an ex-President, pretty down to Earth. He was humble, and insisting I interview his buddy a section over, Cincinnati president Dr. Greg Williams, who left the same job at CCNY. 2) Clinton knows his hoops. 3) Those secret service cats are no joke. Couldn't distract them with a 20-megaton bomb, and couldn't make 'em chuckle with laughing gas.
	 
After we were done with Clinton, who happened to be sitting across an aisle from Denzel Washington, I introduced myself to 'Zel, who'd been speaking with ex-Knick Charles Smith while I was interviewing Clinton. Washington shook my hand, was very polite, but when I asked for two questions, he waved me off and said "not on the clock today.'' True story.

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MLS statement on CBA talks

March 11, 2010 , ι BRIAN LEWIS

With the MLS Players Union talking about striking if a new collective bargaining agreement isn't reached by March 25, now the league has shot back with a statement of it's own. No, they're not threatening a lockout or anything else heavy-handed; they're just in essence saying they're having productive talks and trying to keep loose lips from undermining them.
	 
Here is the statement from league president Mark Abbott below:
	 
“Major League Soccer’s negotiating team, including Commissioner Garber, met for three days this week with the leadership of the Players Union together with George Cohen, the director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service,” said MLS President Mark Abbott. 
	 

	 
“We have an understanding with the Union and the mediator that we will not publicly discuss what takes places during these bargaining sessions. 
	 

	 
“As such, we were disappointed to see comments from a number of players characterizing the status of the negotiations and the possibility of a strike. 
	 

	 
“The meetings this week were productive and we have scheduled a number of additional meetings. And while we can’t discuss what occurs across the bargaining table, we do believe that the players’ comments do not accurately reflect the proposals that we have made to address the players’ concerns or the productive nature of the discussions between MLS and the Players Union.” 
	 

	 
Please note that the three days of meetings consisted of one day with the mediator and then two days with the Union and mediator (plus MLS, of course).

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Red Bulls sign GK Greg Sutton

March 11, 2010 , ι By BRIAN LEWIS

The Red Bulls signed Canadian international jeeper Greg Sutton today.“We have been impressed with Greg’s performances during his time with us in preseason,” said GM and Sporting Director Erik Soler.... Read on

The Red Bulls signed Canadian international jeeper Greg Sutton today.
	 
“We have been impressed with Greg’s performances during his time with us in preseason,” said GM and Sporting Director Erik Soler. “He is a very experienced goalkeeper and will compete for a starting role.”
	 
Sutton would presumably back up nominal starter Bouna Coundoul, who has the second-best goals-against average in MLS history.
	 
The veteran comes to the Red Bulls after three seasons with Toronto FC, where he made 34 appearances, including 33 starts, compiling seven shutouts and 155 saves. Prior to his time with Toronto FC, Sutton was a fixture in goal for the Montreal Impact of the USL First Division, making 132 appearances and helping the team to the a title in 2004, earning USL MVP, Goalkeeper of the Year. He was also named Impact Defensive Player of the Year.
	 
A four-time USL-1 Goalkeeper of the Year honoree, Sutton was on the New York roster in 2000, but did not make an appearance in an MLS match. Sutton has made 16 appearances for the Canadian National Team.

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Empire State Building to light up red-and-white in honor of Red Bull Arena

March 11, 2010 , ι BRIAN LEWIS

The Empire State Building will light up red-and-white next Friday March 19 in honor of the Grand Opening of Red Bull Arena. The $200 million, 25,000-seat stadium will open Saturday March 20 against... Read on

The Empire State Building will light up red-and-white next Friday March 19 in honor of the Grand Opening of Red Bull Arena. The $200 million, 25,000-seat stadium will open Saturday March 20 against Santos at 6 p.m.

Red Bulls defender Mike Petke, goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul, and assistant coach Richie Williams will all take part in the lighting ceremony, which will illuminate the skyscraper in the colors of the Red Bulls’ kit. All three have ties to the New York metro area. Petke grew up in Long Island, Coundoul attended Martin Luther King Jr. high school in New York City, and Williams is a Middletown, NJ native. The lighting ceremony will take place on March 19 at 1:30 p.m..
	 
The Empire State Building is at 350 Fifth Ave. between 33rd and 34th. The lighting of the building in red and white will take place from dusk on March 19 until about 2 a.m. on March 22.

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Report: MLS players to strike March 25

March 11, 2010 , ι By BRIAN LEWIS

MLS players will strike March 25 if no new collective bargaining agreement with the league can be reached by then, according to American Soccer News. "Yesterday’s announcement that Major League... Read on

MLS players will strike March 25 if no new collective bargaining agreement with the league can be reached by then, according to
	 American Soccer News.

"Yesterday’s announcement that Major League Soccer and the MLS players union are continuing talks apparently masked a larger, more disconcerting development in the ongoing impasse between the two sides. According to comments by union representative Nick Garcia, and reiterated by ASN sources, the players will announce a strike by midnight, March 25 unless a new collective bargaining agreement is in place by then. March 24 of course being the eve of the regular season opener in Seattle.''
	 
Seattle will host the nationally televised league opener at 9:30 p.m. on March 25, with $200 million Red Bull Arena slated to open two days later hosting the Chicago Fire. Now clearly there are two weeks to hammer out a deal, and that should be helped by the fact both sides agreed to a mediator. But at this point one can't logically rule out the very real possibility that this season with be delayed by _ if not threatened altogether _ by a strike.
	 
The AP reports the league’s first labor contract, a five-year deal, originally was set to run out Jan. 31 but was extended twice while negotiations continued. It expired Feb. 25 after the MLS Players Union refused another extension.
	 
The AP says players are unhappy with the single-entity structure that has seen the league negotiate all contracts since play began in 1996 and want greater free-agent rights and a higher percentage of guaranteed deals.
	 
What do you think? Figure they'll work out a deal? Will he have MLS soccer in 2010? And if so, at what point? Holla at us…

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RBNY trialist Levchenko comes & goes

March 11, 2010 , ι BRIAN LEWIS

Evgeniy we hardly knew ye. Evgeniy Levchenko's trial with the Red Bulls is over before the club even had a chance to confirm or deny reports. The former Ukrainian National Team midfielder had indeed... Read on

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Champions League: Man United ousts AC Milan

March 11, 2010 , ι REUTERS

Wayne Rooney scored twice again as Manchester United cruised into the quarter-finals of the Champions League after a 4-0 win over a feeble AC Milan sent them through 7-2 on aggregate on Wednesday.
	 
Rooney, who scored twice in the 3-2 San Siro win, was on target with a 13th-minute header that broke the hearts of the seven-times winners.
	 
He added his second at the start of the second half and in a virtual exhibition match, Park Ji-sung after an hour and a late Darren Fletcher header completed the crushing victory.
	 
"We got the break with the early goal in the second half and after that we played very well. When we play at that tempo we are difficult to play against. With the team I've got it doesn't matter who we play next," said United manager Alex Ferguson.
	 
Milan, without injured centre back Alessandro Nesta, striker Alexandre Pato and midfielder Luca Antonini looked off the pace from the start but few could have predicted their total capitulation.
	 
Rooney shot wide after three minutes and even fullback Gary Neville was allowed to let fly just over the bar with his left foot soon after.
	 
Milan should have scored from their first real attack though as an Andrea Pirlo free kick reached Ronaldinho but the Brazilian's header went just wide after eight minutes.
	 
If Klaas Jan Huntelaar had managed to control Thiago Silva's through ball with the goal gaping things might have turned out differently.
	 
With Daniele Bonera forced to operate at centre back Rooney was wandering free and when Neville found him on the penalty spot there was never any doubt that he would thunder his header beyond Christian Abbiati.
	 
That left Milan needing three goals to progress and it appeared that nobody in their lineup had the confidence to find them.

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About the Authors

BRIAN LEWIS With the Post since 1998, Brian Lewis has covered the World Series, NBA Finals, Final Four, NFL playoffs, NYC Marathon, U.S. Open, World Cup, bowl games, and more than a thousand baseball games, including two perfect games at Yankee Stadium. He’s a Rutgers grad, class of 1990.

Follow Brian on Twitter

CLEMENTE LISI Clemente Lisi is a native New Yorker and Post news reporter who spends most of his spare time playing and watching soccer. He is a regular contributor to the blog, where he writes about Italy's Serie A and the Champions League.

STEVE SOLDWEDEL Reporter/Producer/Developer Steve Soldwedel is a graduate of the Michigan State University School of Journalism. He is a frequent contributor to the Post's hockey and soccer blogs.