August Soccer Notes:

Revs’ Match 24 at Columbus Crew (8/13/11):

Revs (4-10-9-21, 7th place MLS East) traveled to Columbus on Saturday night for a date with the powerhouse Crew (9-7-7-34, 1st place MLS East). Benny Feilhaber put the Revs ahead in the 45th and the team played well in the first half. But the bottom fell out in the second half as the Crew scored three goals (including an own goal by Kevin Alston) and Revs couldn’t counter. With the loss, Revs fell into 8th place in MLS East.

Revs’ Match 25 v. Houston Dynamo (8/17/11):

Revs scored in the 4th as Ryan Cochrane’s rebound of Milton Coraglio’s shot went past Tally Hall in the Houston goal. Revs continued to play smart football and held the lead through regulation only to see Bobby Boswell equalize in the 90th off of a corner. Matt Reis was red carded in stoppage time (94th) and will be suspended from Saturday night’s match against NYRB. A scrum broke out seconds before the whistle for full time and Reis was booked for abusive language. With the point, Revs moved to 4-11-10-22 and remained in the basement of MLS East.

Prior to Saturday night’s match, Revs announced that they had signed Moroccan midfielder Monsef Zerka, who most recently had been playing in Greece. Zerka is a long-time veteran of Ligue 1 play in France and ought to bring some speed to the edge.

Revs’ Match 26 v. Red Bull New York (8/20/11):

Bobby Shuttleworth started in goal for Revs as Matt Reis served a red card suspension. The last time Shuttleworth appeared in goal was in the Man-U exhibition when he allowed three goals in the second half. Theirry Henry also did not start for RBNY as he was nursing a strained Achilles.

Revs came out in attack mode from the opening whistle and dominated the first 15 minutes. Coraglio put Revs ahead in the 15th on a rebound of his own shot. Coraglio was then booked for a rough tackle. Lekic then nearly fired one in but his shot went just wide right. Juan Agudelo and Dane Richards combined to turn the tide in RBNY’s favor at the half-hour mark. In the 33rd, Mansally was booked for a rough tackle on McCarty. In the 35th, Robert Marquez’ header went just over the bar. Caraglio made it 2-0 in the 37th on a header coming off of Mansally’s free kick, what a bullet. In the 44th, Shuttleworth tackled McCarty and the referee ruled no penalty and McCarty was booked for dissent. It was a lucky break for the Revs. It was a fortuitous half for the home side.

NY’s Teemu Tainio was booked in the 48th for dumping Caraglio while he broke down the left flank. Richards made it 2-1 in the 53rd as he broke behind the Revs’ defense and took a perfectly placed ball and buried it past Shuttleworth. Mansally received his second yellow in the 55th for going up after a ball and striking his opponent. Now Revs had to play out down a man. Stephen McCarthy came on for Lekic in the 58th. McCarty nearly scored in the 61st but his shot went across the goal mouth. Feilhaber then ripped a long-distance blast that Bouna Coundoul scrambled to cover. Tainio was red carded in the 69th for tripping Shalrie Joseph from behind. A minute later, Feilhaber fired a laser on goal that went just wide left. Agudelo nearly scored as he tried to pick McCarty’s header in the 77th but Barnes cleared him out of the box. In the 87th, Red Bull equalized as Joel Lindpere fired a shot on goal and Richards was allowed to enter the box unchallenged and buried the ball. What a kick in the teeth. Revs gave their best, but it simply wasn’t good enough.

…the Revs match scheduled for Sunday the 28th in Philadelphia was postponed due to the hurricane that came up the Eastern seaboard.

USMNT v. Mexico at Philadelphia (8/10/11):

The Juergen Klinsmann Era began in earnest on the 10th as USMNT had a date against their hated rivals, El Tri, in Philly. Klinsmann had only been appointed to the gaffer’s post 10 days ago. Chicharito was training with Man U and unavailable for this match but the other 10 starters who defeated USA in the Gold Cup were all available and ready to go for El Tri. USA had an early chance but Jermaine Jones’ header fell just short. Tim Howard made a nice stop in the 15th as Mexico rushed the goal. Mexico’s Oribe Peralta scored in the 19th on a kick off Guardado’s corner as he beat Bradley to the ball and banged the ball past Howard. Over the first 20 minutes Mexico had a definite edge in play as USA brought no imagination to their attack. In the 28th, Cherundolo committed a foul on the perimeter of the box that brought about some pushing and shoving and the free kick went well wide. In the 42nd, Beckerman took a hard knock and Suarez was carded for his rough tackle. Guardado took a hard knock in stoppage time but was able to continue. Over the course of the last 20 minutes, USA had better success with their ball control style but were only able to put one shot on frame.

USA did not make any changes to open the second half. Marquez nearly scored in the 52nd but his header went just wide left. Ochoa made a brilliant stop off of Cherundolo’s header in the 55th as that was USA’s first shot on goal. USA’s Agudelo was alone in the box with the ball but the Mexican defenders quickly converged on him to knock the ball away. USA equalized in the 73rd as Brek Shea fed Robbie Rogers across the box and Rogers buried the ball past Ochoa. USA was definitely playing their best football of the match at that point. In the 82nd, Shea fired a low blast on goal that Ochoa scrambled to cover. In the 86th, Rogers was dumped as he broke toward the box by Torrado, who was booked (should’ve been a red). The ensuing free kick was deflected away by the wall. In stoppage time, USA had a couple of chances inside the box that were cleared away. The difference between USA’s first and second half performances was night and day. It turned out to be a thrilling finish and an auspicious debut for Juergen Klinsmann.

Wrexham Opens The Season:

After an off-season that saw the Dragons nearly fall back into administration, the Wrexham Supporters Trust took ownership of the club and the Racecourse Ground (the world’s oldest operating football venue) was sold to nearby Glyndwr University, who will retain the stadium for football/rugby use.

Match 1 v. Cambridge Utd. (8/13/11):

In their first match of the Blue Square Premier season, Wrexham played to a 1-1 draw with Cambridge United. Andy Morrell’s goal in the 17th appeared as if it would carry the day but C-Utd. equalized in stoppage time as Conal Platt banged one past Maxwell in the Wrexham goal.

Match 2 at Bath (8/16/11):

On the 16th, Dragons traveled to Bath and came away with the victory on back-to-back goals by Andrew Morrell in the 78th and 79th.

Match 3 at Lincoln City (8/20/11):

Four days later, Dragons took to the road once more and downed Lincoln City 2-1. Jamey Tolley put Wrexham ahead in the 29th on a spectacular goal but Lincoln’s Sam Smith equalized right before the end of the first half. Wrexham came out strong in the second half and Jay Harris knocked in the game-winner in the 54th.

Match 4 v. Tamworth (8/23/11):

Dragons returned to the Racecourse on Tuesday evening and continued their impressive start as they downed Tamworth 3-0 on goals from Callum Reynolds (og 18'), Jamie Tolley (78') and Adrian Cieslewicz (82'). The own goal by Tamworth’s Reynolds must’ve really stung the visitors but the home side came through with a big second half. Don’t look now, but Wrexham is sitting pretty at the top of the Blue Square Premier table. After all the financial chaos the club went through during the off-season, this flying start must be extremely heart lifting to the rabid fans in North Wales.

Match 5 at Alfreton Town (8/27/11):

After just a few days off, Dragons hit the road again and pounded Alfreton Town 4-1 in a match that featured a hat trick by Jake Speight (13), (32) and (57 pen). Alfreton’s Nathan Jarman equalized in the 21st on a penalty but Speight’s second goal in the 32nd put the visitors ahead at the half. Neil Ashton was fouled in the 57th leading to Speight’s penalty kick. Mathias Pogba’s goal in the 90th sealed the deal for first-place Wrexham. So far, so good for the lads.

Match 6 v. Fleetwood Town (8/29/11):

Just two days later, Dragons returned to the Racecourse pitch and downed Fleetwood Town 2-0 on goals by Jake Speight (2) and Andy Morrell (59). With the victory, Wrexham is now 5-0-1-16 and are atop the Blue Square Premier table.

Piacenza:

Biancorossi have been relegated from Serie B to Lega Pro 1st Division Group B. They begin their season at Sud Tirol in the first weekend of September.