USSoccerPlayers

Live: Grenada - USA

Friday MLS: San Jose 1 - Real Salt Lake 1

The San Jose Earthquakes scored both goals at Rio Tinto Stadium on Friday night.  Arturo Alvarez put the Earthquakes up in the 63rd and Quakes defender Chris Leitch was responsible for the unlikely equalizer in the 91st.  RSL lost the most effective part of their offense in the 77th minute when Fabian Espindola was red carded.  “We need to close out games better," Alvarez said. "We let a lead get away against Dallas a couple of weeks ago and then again tonight. Tonight was still a good result for us, but we could have had three points. We need to go back home and get three points next week."  San Jose has now gone 17 games without a road win.  This is the fourth time in 2009 RSL has lost a player to a red card.

Saturday's TV

Gold Cup on Galavision: Honduras Haiti at 7pm. On Fox Soccer Channel: Grenada - USA at 9pm.  Major League Soccer on Fox Soccer: LA - New England at 11pm. Brasileirao on GolTV: Flamengo - Vitoria at 5:30pm. 

Gold Cup: Impact On MLS

By Andrew Dixon - MIAMI, FL (Jul 3, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- I was slightly amused a few weeks ago to see FIFA General Secretary Sepp Blatter aka Grand Poobah renew his call for the MLS to play its season from fall to spring as the rest of the world does.  

While I stand by the reasons why he was ultimately wrong on this issue, I can name 15 people who wouldn't mind so much if the league switched schedules: MLS coaches.  More specifically, MLS coaches who lose players to international tournaments.  Given the thin roster depth of most MLS squads, the summer months are arguably where MLS coaches earn their paychecks.  They choose their game day rosters for matches in MLS, the US Open Cup, Superliga and CONCACAF Champions League Qualifying around international call-ups and friendlies.

USA Training

Scouting Report: Grenada

By Clemente Lisi - NEW YORK, NY (Jul 3, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- Depending on who you ask, some will know Grenada as a small island that was once a British colony. Others will recall that it’s famous for a variety of tasty spices such as ginger and nutmeg. The Trivia Pursuit buffs will remind you that the US invaded the island in October, 1983.

What they would like to be known for after the 2009 Gold Cup is their soccer.  Though Grenada will be heavy underdogs on Saturday in Seattle and throughout their Group B schedule, there's still a lot to play for.

Friday's Daily: The Merits Of Mediocrity

With J Hutcherson -- Another chance for Major League Soccer to work on the idea that Friday just might be the night for work week soccer. Real Salt Lake hosting San Jose tonight (10pm - DirectKick) in a battle to tease out what bad really means in the Western Conference.

Yes, RSL has gotten a few results and currently is a point up on Los Angeles for fifth. They also should be looking at an easy night's work courtesy of a San Jose team that has an entire point from their road schedule this season. Ten games for one point, and no good excuses for RSL doing anything other than making that eleven.

It's an intriguing problem for MLS Season XIV, trying to distinguish between good, mediocre, and bad. Salt Lake would probably prefer we go ahead and edge them towards the good category. What about average? Right now that's just not happening.

Gulati Addresses Jones Eligibility

On a conference call earlier today, US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati described the timetable for Jermaine Jones joining the US National Team. 

Jozy Altidore On Press Pass

American Abroad: Zizzo On Loan

Hannover 96 midfielder Sal Zizzo will be on loan with Bundesliga.2 club Fortuna Dusseldorf for the 2009-10 season.  The deal was completed earlier today.  Zizzo has seven appearances for Hamburg since joining them in 2007.  He has one National Team cap, against Sweden in 2007.

Schelotto Wins Player Of The Month

Guillermo Barros Schelotto is Major League Soccer's Player of the Month for June.  Schelotto had four goals and an assist for the month. 

2009 MLS Player of the Month Awards
March: Fredy Montero – Seattle Sounders FC
April: Brian McBride – Chicago Fire
May: Conor Casey – Colorado Rapids
June: Guillermo Barros Schelotto – Columbus Crew

US Open Cup Quarterfinals

All games scheduled for Tuesday, July 7th.

Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2) at D.C. United (MLS)   
7:30 p.m. ET
Maryland Soccerplex - Boyds, MD

Wilmington Hammerheads (USL-2) at Rochester Rhinos (USL-1)
7pm
Rochester Rhinos Stadium - Rochester, NY

Houston Dynamo (MLS) at Charleston Battery (USL-1)
7:30pm
Blackbaud Stadium - Charleston, SC

Kansas City Wizards (MLS) at Seattle Sounders (MLS)
10pm
Starfire Sports Complex - Tukwila, WA

All Times Eastern