By Mike Woitalla Richie Williams might just be the USA’s most successful player who never played in a World Cup. The New Jersey product was a defensivemidfielder on what were perhaps the best MLS and college teams in U.S. history, both coached by Bruce Arena. He won three MLS Cups, a U.S. Open Cup, a […]
u-17 world cup
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
USA avoids debacle in U-17 World Cup qualifying
By Mike Woitalla Ultimately, the USA’s quest to qualify for the 2015 Under-17 World Cup hinged on shots from the penalty spot in its sixth game of the Concacaf U-17 Championshipafter a scoreless tie with Jamaica. Two Jamaicans missed high and wide. The Americans hit the net on each of their shots after their first […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA qualifies for U-17 World Cup
The USA went scoreless in its last two games at the U-17 Concacaf Championship but on Sunday qualified for the U-17 World Cup by beating Jamaica in penalty kick shootout. The shootout started withJamaica keeper Jahmali Waite saving U.S. playmaker Christian Pulisic‘s attempt. But the Americans were perfect from then on — Joe Gallardo, Danny […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying: Richie Williams
“Of course we wanted the first spot. That was our plan all along. And that was our approach, to win the group. Unfortunately that was not the case. We have the opportunity due to the format of thetournament to have one more game and we’ll approach it in a way to go out and win […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA will face Jamaica (again) in U-17 playoff
The USA will face Jamaica in a rematch for a berth in the Under-17 World Cup when they meet Sunday at 7 pm ET at the Estadio Morazán, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. In an oddity, Jamaica finishedahead of the USA by virtue of the first Concacaf tiebreaker in group play, head-to-head, but the USA […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Americans down to one last chance at U-17 World Cup qualifying
By Mike Woitalla One of the U.S. national team program’s consistencies for nearly three decades was that the USA always qualified for the U-17 World Cup. But the streak –14 straight World Cup appearances since the tournament’s 1985 inception — came to an end in 2013 under Coach Richie Williams, who had taken the helm […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. U-17s blow another chance to qualify
The USA squandered its second chance to qualify for the 2015 U-17 World Cup by falling, 1-0, to Jamaica on Wednesday. Coach Richie Williams’ team will have to win a playoff on Sundayfor the USA to avoid missing the U-17 World Cup for a second straight time after failing in 2013. A U.S. win — […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
USA clashes with U.S. products in U-17 World Cup qualifying quest
By Mike Woitalla (@MikeWoitalla) One of the players aiming to prevent the USA from clinching a spot atthe 2015 U-17 World Cup when it faces Jamaica on Wednesday is Texan Nathaniel Adamolekun. Adamolekun, who was born in Texas to a Jamaican mother and Nigerian father, isJamaica’s leading scorer at the U-17 Concacaf Championship in Honduras […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
U.S. U-17s fare well in their first big test
By Mike Woitalla The bad news: The USA blew a chance to clinch a spot at the 2015 U-17 World Cup on Sunday. The Americans led Honduras 2-1 when in the 88th minuteDavid Sanchez scored with his shoulder to earn the host of the U-17 Concacaf Championship a 2-2 tie. The good news: The USA […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U-17 World Cup qualifying: Concacaf schedule and results
Four teams will emerge from the Honduras-hosted U-17 Concacaf Championship with spots at the 2015 U-17 World Cup in Chile (Oct. 17-Nov.8). Honduras and Mexico have already clinched by winning their groups. The winners of USA-Jamaica and Costa-Rica on Sunday will be the third and fourth qualifiers. PLACEMENT GAMES: Sunday, March 15 4:00 pm Playoff: […]