The 1-0 victory over North Korea that pushed the USA women into the quarterfinals as Group G winner made up in importance what it lacked in style. Here are a few observations of the team's historic visit to Old Trafford decided by an Abby Wambach goal.

Hope Solo is the best women's goalkeeper in the world right now and if she's not the best to ever play for a women's national team, she's certainly right up there.

Squeezed between the All-Star Game, numerous friendlies, and the start of Concacaf play for several teams, a weekend of away victories jumbled the power rankings.

I may be speaking too soon, but the decision by Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko to retire is probably the right one for him in many regards, one of which he won't be a temptation - even a remote if not ludicrous one -- for MLS.

The USA women posted their second straight victory Saturday in the Olympic Games soccer tournament by beating Colombia, 3-0, with goals by Megan Rapinoe, Abby Wambach and Carli Lloyd. Here are a few observations about the win ...

It won't be described as such, but Tim Cahill is essentially a replacement for Luke Rodgers, which for the sake of the game in this country is probably a good thing.

Whether the U.S. women win their third straight Olympic gold medal or not, how they began their campaign is already cause for celebration.

In the wake of Geoff Cameron's transfer from Houston Dynamo to Stoke City -- and here we should pause for a moment to celebrate yet another player moving from MLS to the big time -- there's been concern expressed that Stoke's rather pedestrian system might stymie his progress.

In the aftermath of a 4-2 victory after the Americans trailed, 2-0, here are a few observations of how they came back against France ...

I've been asked how much soccer I'll be watching in the next few weeks, with the Olympic Games kicking off Wednesday, a steady diet of MLS action, and the international club friendlies - those of the Herbalife Football Challenge and others - tossed into the mix.

The contestants in last year's MLS Cup, Los Angeles and Houston, are among those teams in sharp form as the league heads into its All-Star Game Wednesday against Chelsea.

Seven league matches and Chelsea's first match of its summer U.S. tour provided plenty of material but not many conclusions for those handicapping the second half of the season.

Britain and Olympic soccer have never gone together, and that won't change, it seems, with the London Olympics.

The showdown of the top two teams in the Western Conference turned into a blowout when overall No. 1 San Jose inflicted a 5-0 defeat on Real Salt Lake, which lost captain Kyle Beckerman to a red card early in the second half.

What was supposed to be a Western Conference showdown turned into a beatdown Saturday night at Buck Shaw Stadium when San Jose routed Real Salt Lake, 5-0.