China turned the tables on the United States and won a game from the spot in the Pacific Cup in Canberra, Australia. USA '99 MVP Sun Wen converted an 86th-minute penalty kick to give China a 1-0 victory over the world champions in the first game of the tournament for each team. Unlike the World Cup final, in which Wen converted past Briana Scurry in a penalty shootout, this time the Chinese captain scored past Siri Mullinix, who started since Scurry did not make the trip. Australian referee Tammy Ogston had ruled that Danielle Slaton pulled Wen down in the …

The following are quotes from MLS executive vice president Ivan Gazidis, MetroStars coach Octavio Zambrano and Los Angeles Galaxy defender Robin Fraser from a May 30 press conference. Ivan Gazidis Opening Comments "There are a few things happening that are worthy of being announced. We've had a couple of important player signings. We've re-signed some key players to long-term agreements. The first is the signing of Kansas City Wizards goalkeeper Tony Meola to a multi-year contract. ôWe are extraordinarily pleased that Tony has signed a new contract with us. He's having a terrific season this year, he is …

On the eve of U.S. Cup 2000, Coach Bruce Arena, Claudio Reyna and Cobi Jones addressed the tournament that serves as the USA's final test before qualifying play for the 2002 World Cup. The USA faces South Africa (June 3), Ireland (June 6) and Mexico (June 11). BRUCE ARENA On what to expect from South Africa: "I saw South Africa play in the Africans Nations Cup earlier this year and there has been little turnover on that roster. We are familiar with Shaun Bartlett, a strong and powerful forward who played in MLS. "What caught my eye though was their …

Arena seeks answers in final test before qualifying The new face of the U.S. men's national team is here. The question: Who is it? The 22 players selected for U.S. Cup (and two notable injured absentees) are the men who will forge the new identity. They might embark on a fresh new chapter by qualifying for the 2002 World Cup finals and dilute the unsavory memory of France '98. Or they might drag American soccer on a catastrophic step backward by becoming the first U.S. team in 12 years to miss the finals. The individuals were identified …

Soccer America MagazineÆs MLS Team of the Week from games played May 24-27. GOALKEEPER Mike Ammann (1) MetroStars DEFENDERS Mark Semioli (1) MetroStars Carlos Llamosa (1) D.C. United Joseph Addo (2) Tampa Bay MIDFIELDERS Ted Chronopoulos (1) New England Carlos Valderrama (5) Tampa Bay Brian McBride (1) Columbus FORWARDS Ante Razov (4) Chicago Dante Washington (1) Columbus Miklos Molnar (2) Kansas City Jason Kreis (1) Dallas ò In parentheses is the number of times a player has been named to the Team of the Week.

The New England Revolution and San Jose Earthquakes, two clubs operated by the Kraft family and run by former MLS deputy commissioner Sunil Gulati, traded international defenders with Costa Rican Mauricio Wright going to San Jose for former U.S. national team defenders Mike Burns and Dan Calichman and a first-round draft selection in the 2001 draft (acquired from Tampa Bay in the trade for Mauricio Ramos). "We feel Mauricio is extremely well suited to anchor our defense," Revolution head coach Fernando Clavijo said. "He has exceptional defensive awareness, superb vision, great technical skill and tremendous speed and athleticism. He is …

World champions could play more than 40 international games this year, shattering old record The year 2000 is turning out to be busier for the United States women than the World Cup year of 1999 was. The world champions will probably play 37 games this year, the most ever for the 15-year-old womenÆs national team program. ThatÆs not counting a possible victory tour in the fall if the U.S. repeats as Olympic champion. Last yearÆs 29 games is the current high mark. The women have already played 13 games (including two closed-door matches) in 2000. They will …

The New England Revolution and San Jose Earthquakes, two clubs operated by the Kraft family and run byt former MLS depty commissioner Sunil Gulati, traded international defenders with Costa Rican Mauricio Wright going to San Jose for former U.S. national team defenders Mike Burns and Dan Calichman and a first-round draft selection in the 2001 draft (acquired from Tampa Bay in the trade for Mauricio Ramos). "We feel Mauricio is extremely well suited to anchor our defense," Revolution head coach Fernando Clavijo said. "He has exceptional defensive awareness, superb vision, great technical skill and tremendous speed and athleticism. He is …

Justin Breckan Tower Lakes, Ill. I am currently working on a paper for my class regarding youth soccer in the United States. Is there a place that I could go to to find out how many soccer players there are currenly playing under the age of 30? Mike Woitalla: Justin, your best source for that kind of information is Soccer Industry Council of America (SICA), a committee of the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA). Go to www.sportlink.com and click on ôSoccer Participation Abstract -- 2000 edition.ö

D.C. United continued its busy day when it picked up former Tampa Bay forward Pete Marino and waived forward Michael Burke to create the roster spot. Earlier in the day, United traded midfielder John Maessner and three draft picks to Tampa Bay for former United forward Raul Diaz Arce. Marino reported to United Park on Monday for training before formally signing a contract this afternoon. He spent time training in Germany, with Fortuna Cologne, and Italy after being released by Tampa Bay on March 1. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. Marino, nicknamed "Sneaky" Pete for his creative ability …

It should have been the greatest day in the history of Bajan soccer. Barbados upset Cuba to advance to the semifinals of World Cup 2002 qualifying, where it will face the United States (see Page 6 of the June 5, 2000 issue of Soccer America Magazine), but Bajans are now wondering if theyÆll get a chance to enjoy the action. The Barbados-Cuba game was the latest in a series of early qualifiers to be marred by violence. Bajan fans and Cubans clashed after a Cuban had scored an own goal, tying the game in Bridgetown. Cuban coach William Bennett went …

18-year-old American phenom learns about much more than soccer in Germany Landon Donovan expected to get an education in Germany. He just thought it was going to be about soccer. And, to be sure, the 18-year-old Californian has refined his game during 15 months on Bayer Leverkusen's books. He is, he informs, a much more potent finisher, stronger on the ball, a far better defender with a growing tactical awareness. Those kind of lessons come easy, but soccer has always come easy for Donovan, the most highly regarded American teen since Claudio Reyna. His prodigious gifts have …

It was a perfect match. D.C. United desperately needed an out-and-out striker -- and they got a local favorite at that. Tampa Bay needed draft picks for the future -- and no longer needed the expendable Salvadoran. Despite reports that he'd never play for D.C. United again, Raul Diaz Arce is back at D.C. United, sent there from Tampa Bay for midfielder John Maessner and United's two first-round picks in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft, as well as a second round selection in the 2002. Diaz Arce is expected start in Saturday's game as United hosts the Dallas Burn at RFK …

U.S. women's national team head coach April Heinrichs has named former U.S. goalkeeper David Vanole to her staff as goalkeeper coach while Jan Smisek and Janet Rayfield have been appointed to the women's national staff coaches positions for Region IV and Region II, respectively. Smisek and Rayfield join Jeff Pill (Region I) and Dave Simeone (Region III) as part of Project Gold, a 10-year plan designed to keep the U.S. women on top of the world. The women's national staff coach is one of the key components of Project Gold. The role of these individuals is three-fold: 1) to help …

SOCCER AMERICA: How has the season been overall? CLAUDIO REYNA: It's been a great season. Obviously, the team's done so well in Scotland. We're approaching the records for most goals and most wins in a season and a lot of people here have said this is the best Rangers team ever. So to be a part of that is something special. SA: What was it like playing right back? CR: I start off at right back, but Coach [Dick] Advocaat basically wants me to push forward so I end up playing more as a right midfielder than …