Chicago Sun-Times

Soccer ref in critical condition after being punched by teenager

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:04:01 -0500

TAYLORSVILLE, Utah — A Salt Lake City man who was serving as a referee in a recreational football game in Taylorsville is in critical condition after being punched by a teenager. Unified Police Lt. Justin Hoyal says the attack happened over the weekend during a game held at Eisenhower Junior High School. Hoyal says the 46-year-old referee apparently made a call against the suspect, who lashed out with a single punch to the man’s face. Hoyal says the victim was taken to the hospital with what appeared to be minor injuries, but doctors found the injury was much more severe. …

Chicago women’s pro soccer team to play in Lisle

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:38:00 -0500

The Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League will play at the Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex. The team is moving into professional soccer this season after two years of semi-professional seasons. The Red Stars will play at the suburban Chicago location for its first professional season. The team includes Olympic medalists and players from the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The facility will accommodate 3,600 spectators. The first game is Saturday against the Seattle Reign. …

Scoreless Fire still figuring things out

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 06:15:47 -0500

Despite its obvious struggles to score, the Fire doesn’t appear to be panicking. But that doesn’t mean the team isn’t considering immediate change. Coach Frank Klopas likes to play a compact style, which dictates that the team score most of its goals using counterattacks and combination plays. But without a goal through two games, some have considered making a tactical change in advance of the game Saturday at Sporting Kansas City. “Honestly, we need to figure out what kind of style we want to play as a team,” forward Chris Rolfe said. “We just need to get everybody on the …

CONCACAF Gold Cup final at Soldier Field

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:01:38 -0500

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football announced Wednesday in Chicago that the 2013 Gold Cup final will be held at Soldier Field on July 28.

Brazilian goalkeeper Bruno gets 22 years for killing ex-girlfriend

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 10:26:01 -0500

SAO PAULO — Former Flamengo goalkeeper Bruno was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend and sentenced to more than 22 years in prison on Friday. In a trial that made front-page headlines across Brazil, the jury of five women and two men in Minas Gerais found Bruno guilty of ordering the killing of model Eliza Samudio, whose body has never been found amid allegations that she was dismembered and her remains were fed to dogs. Bruno also was convicted of holding hostage their young son. Defense lawyers told local media they already expected a conviction but would appeal. The goalkeeper had …

Source: Fire to acquire Dilly Duka and Robbie Rogers

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 15:29:38 -0500

The Fire and Columbus Crew agreed to terms on a trade Saturday morning that sent striker Dominic Oduro to Columbus in exchange for midfielder Dilly Duka and the MLS rights to Robbie Rogers, an MLS source told the Sun-Times. The Fire is expected to announce the deal by Monday. Duka, 23, is a highly-regarded American outside midfielder expected to eventually make an impact with the national team. He played in 20 games for the Crew in a 2012 season that was derailed by hamstring and ankle injuries. Rogers, 25, amassed 13 goals and 16 assists in five seasons while in …

U.S. women’s soccer team tires but ties Germans

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 06:54:21 -0500

The U.S. women’s national team admittedly wasn’t very sharp in its 1-1 exhibition draw Saturday against Germany, the world’s second-ranked team, at Toyota Park. After a game in which the Americans failed to capitalize on a host of chances, they were bitter about the result against a German team in its peak training phase in advance of the European Championship in 2013. But the tie did little to affect the team’s confidence, especially that of outspoken U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo. “We’re still the best team in the world, deservedly so,” Solo said. “But, yeah, we’ve been on a bit of …

U.S. women’s soccer team to face Germany at Toyota Park

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 06:13:55 -0500

The U.S. women’s soccer team and the German national team are in different phases of training. The American women are coming off their gold-medal triumph at the London Olympics and just resumed training again, while the Germans have been preparing for the European Championship in 2013. Still, the U.S. women aren’t looking for any excuses heading into their exhibition Saturday at Toyota Park against Germany, which is ranked second in the world behind the Americans. “Our standard is and always will be winning; anything less than that will be a failure,” forward Abby Wambach said. “That being said, we have …

Mexico beats Brazil to win 1st Olympic soccer gold

Sat, 11 Aug 2012 15:03:47 -0500

WEMBLEY, England — Mexico is celebrating its first Olympic gold medal in men’s soccer, and Brazil is wondering if it will ever be able to add the title to its long list of triumphs. Oribe Peralta scored only 29 seconds into the Olympic final at Wembley Stadium and added another goal in the second half to help Mexico upset Brazil 2-1 Saturday. Peralta took advantage of a mistake by the Brazilian defense in one of the game’s first plays and sent a low right-footed shot inside the near post. It was fastest Olympic goal since FIFA began keeping records of …

‘Wonderful young man’ collapses, dies at Robert Morris soccer practice

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 06:15:15 -0500

A Robert Morris University soccer player from the northwest suburbs who collapsed during practice and died was remembered Thursday as “a wonderful kid” who was living his dream and hoping one day to be able to help his mom.

AS Roma wins international soccer friendly at Wrigley Field

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 06:14:54 -0500

Known for its potent offensive attack, Italy’s AS Roma lived up to its reputation by scoring four goals in the first half on its way to a 4-0 victory against Poland’s Zaglebie Lubin in an international friendly Sunday at Wrigley Field. Roma’s first goal came in the first minute, when Pablo Daniel Osvaldo found the net after a cross from Bojan Krkic. Panagiotis Tachtsidis scored in the 19th minute, Erik Lamela in the 30th and Krkic in the 43rd. The soccer game was the first played at Wrigley since Sept. 3, 1984, when the Chicago Sting hosted the Vancouver Whitecaps. …

Michael Bradley set to make friendly return at Wrigley Field

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 10:59:49 -0500

U.S. national-team midfielder Michael Bradley said that in his more than four years of living in the Chicago area, he never made it to Wrigley Field. So when he takes the field as a member of Italy’s AS Roma on Sunday in an international friendly against Poland’s Zaglebie Lubin at the Friendly Confines, it will add to the 24-year-old’s career highlights. “This is special for me, even if you took the Chicago and the Wrigley part out of it,” Bradley said after Roma’s training session Saturday. “Just to be able to step out on the field with Roma is something …

Michael Bradley will be in the spotlight in friendly at Wrigley

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 06:39:23 -0500

AS Roma fans and U.S. soccer fans will have something in common Sunday, when the Italian club plays Poland’s Zaglebie Lubin at Wrigley Field at 2:30 p.m. All eyes will be on midfielder Michael Bradley, 24, who was officially added to Roma’s roster last Sunday in a $4.6 million transfer. Bradley plays for the U.S. national team and is the son of former national-team coach Bob Bradley, the first coach in Fire history (1998-2002). Bradley spent his teenage years in Palatine. Bradley’s acquisition by Roma was one of the most high-profile moves for a U.S. outfield player and has been …

Young Balotelli comes up big in Italy’s 2-1 win over Germany

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 06:39:09 -0500

WARSAW, Poland — Mario Balotelli flexed his muscles in more ways than one. The 21-year-old striker quieted his of critics by leading Italy to an unexpected spot in the European Championship final, scoring twice in the first half in a 2-1 victory over Germany on Thursday night. After his second goal, Balotelli stripped off his jersey and flexed his muscles in a defiant pose — even if that meant an automatic yellow card. “This is the greatest night of my life, but I hope Sunday is going to be even better,” Balotelli said, looking ahead to the final against defending …

Mario Balotelli leads Italy past Germany to Euro 2012 final

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:06:00 -0500

Mario Balotelli scored twice to give Italy a 2-1 win over Germany on Thursday and an unexpected spot in the European Championship final.