EPL Race remains tight. Chelsea climbed back to the top of the Premier League as Salomon Kalou’s hat-trick lead a 7-0 win over Stoke on Sunday which sent the Blues one point clear of Manchester United. The big test comes this Sunday at Liverpool. A win against 7th place Liverpool will only leave a home game next week against 16th place Wigan. Manchester United, one point behind league leader Chelsea, plays at Sunderland and finishes at home the following week against Stoke.

Dynamo fall on road to Fire. Lose Geoff Cameron for the season. Baggio Husidic scored in first half stoppage time, and Peter Lowry added one in the second half as the Chicago Fire defeated the Houston Dynamo 2-0 at Toyota Park on Saturday night. Already beset by injuries, the Houston Dynamo got an extra dose of bad news on Monday when midfielder Geoff Cameron was diagnosed with a ruptured right PCL suffered in Saturday’s game against Chicago. Cameron will undergo surgery later this week and will miss the remainder of the season. The Dynamo will host Kanas City Wizards at home this Saturday.

FC Dallas earns 2-2 draw with the Seattle Sounders on questionable penalty. FC Dallas forward Jeff Cunningham scores two penalty kicks, one the 27th minute and one in stoppage-time, The second spotkick came in the 94th minute, after rookie sub Jason Yeisley tried splitting two Seattle’s center backs in the box. The two defenders collapsed on the young striker and he tumbled over causing referee Terry Vaughn to point to the spot. The Sounders got goals Steve Zakuani and Fredy Montero, who blasted in a stunning 41-yard freekick. FC Dallas plays DC United in the US Open Cup on Wednesday and travels to New England to take on the Revolution on Saturday.

Rhinos Derail Aztex. A furious first half of action left the Austin Aztex and Rochester Rhinos knotted at one goal a piece on Sunday at House Park, but a goal in the 65th minute by the Rhinos Anthony Hamilton gave Rochester a 2-1 win.

Austin stays home for one more exhibition match on Wednesday before heading on a two-game road trip to NSC Minnesota and Tampa Bay. Wednesday’s match is against the Haitian National Team and is free to all fans. All proceeds from the match will go to benefit the earthquake relief effort.

Tickets for the Crystal Palace Baltimore match on May 16, as well as season tickets are available now. All season tickets are flex tickets and can be used in any combination for any regular season game. To purchase your tickets, please visit www.austinaztex.com, call 512-335-8881.

Soccer on TV. Courtesy of Soccer America. Http://www.socceramerica.com
WEDNESDAY, April 28

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
UEFA Champions League BARCELONA-INTER MILAN (live) 1:30 pm.
Concacaf Champions League PACHUCA-CRUZ AZUL (live) 7 pm.

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
UEFA Champions League BARCELONA-INTER MILAN (live) 1:30 pm.
Copa Libertadores UNIVERSITARIO-SAO PAULO (live) 5:30 pm.
Copa Libertadores FLAMENGO-CORINTHIANS (live) 7:30 pm.

FOX SOCCER PLUS
UEFA Champions League BARCELONA-INTER MILAN (delay) 4 pm.

TELEFUTURA
Concacaf Champions League PACHUCA-CRUZ AZUL (live) 7 pm.

THURSDAY, April 29

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
Copa Libertadores BANFIELD-INTERNACIONAL (delay) 1:30 am.
Copa Libertadores CRUZEIRO-NACIONAL (live) 5 pm.
Copa Libertadores ALIANZA LIMA-U DE CHILE (live) 7 pm.
Copa Libertadores ONCE CALDAS-LIBERTAD (live) 9:30 pm.

GOL TV
Europa League LIVERPOOL-ATL. MADRID (live) 2 pm.
Europa League FULHAM-HAMBURG (delay) 7 pm.

FRIDAY, April 30
tba

SATURDAY, May 1

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
England MANCHESTER CITY-ASTON VILLA (live) 9 am.
England PORTSMOUTH-WOLVERHAMPTON (delay) 11 am.
Italy AC MILAN-FIORENTINA (live) 1:30 pm.
WPS SKY BLUE-GOLD PRIDE (live) 5 pm.
MLS HOUSTON-KANSAS CITY (live) 7:30 pm.

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
England MANCHESTER CITY-ASTON VILLA (live) 9 am.
England PORTSMOUTH-WOLVERHAMPTON (delay) 11 am.
Italy AC MILAN-FIORENTINA (delay) 6 pm.
MLS HOUSTON-KANSAS CITY (live) 7:30 pm.

FOX SOCCER PLUS
England TOTTENHAM-BOLTON (live) 9 am.
Italy PARMA-ROMA (live) 11 am.
England STOKE CITY-EVERTON (delay) 3 pm.

TELEFUTURA
MLS D.C. UNITED-NEW YORK (live) 3 pm.

MLS DIRECT KICK
MLS NEW ENGLAND-DALLAS(live) 6:30 pm.
MLS CHICAGO-CHIVAS USA (live) 7:30 pm.
MLS REAL SALT LAKE-TORONTO (live) 8 pm.
MLS SAN JOSE-COLORADO (live) 9 pm.
MLS LOS ANGELES-PHILADELPHIA (live) 9:30 pm.
MLS SEATTLE-COLUMBUS (live) 9:30 pm.

SUNDAY, May 2

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
Italy CATANIA-JUVENTUS (live) 8 am.
England SUNDERLAND-MANCHESTER UNITED (live) 10 am.
Italy LAZIO-INTER MILAN (live) 1:30 pm.
FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
MLS HOUSTON-KANSAS CITY (delay) 11:30 am.
Italy CATANIA-JUVENTUS (live) 8 am.
England SUNDERLAND-MANCHESTER UNITED (live) 10 am.
Italy LAZIO-INTER MILAN (live) 1:30 pm.
Argentina INDEPENDIENTE-BOCA JUNIORS (live) 4 pm.

FOX SOCCER PLUS
England LIVERPOOL-CHELSEA (live) 7:30 am.
England FULHAM-WEST HAM UNITED (delay) 9:30 am.
Italy LAZIO-INTER MILAN (delay) 4 pm.

Spain is still the favorite to win World Cup 2010: With the World Cup just 57 days away, odds-maker Ladbrokes has tagged Spain as the favorite to win the 2010 World Cup. At 4/1 odds they lead the pack followed by England and Brazil at 5/1. Argentina comes in at 8/1 with Germany at 9/1. Good ole USA comes in at 66/1 and our neighbor to the south Mexico falls in at 80/1. Long shots North Korea and Honduras round out the 32 teams at a whopping 1000/1 odds.

Portsmouth beats Tottenham to reach the FA Cup Final: In what many would call the upset of the year, recently relegated Portsmouth scores two goals in extra time to defeat Tottenham 2-0 last Saturday to reach the FA Cup final. It is a chance for redemption to a miserable season for debt-ridden Portsmouth, which became the first Premier League team to seek bankruptcy protection last month and has a court-appointed administrator trying to find a buyer for the club. They will face Chelsea on May 15. The final will be shown on FSC at 10:00 am.

Philadelphia Union’s home opener draws over 34,000 and leads team to first victory. Union fans were treated to the first victory in club history in a dramatic affair at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday. Sebastien Le Toux scored a hat trick, the first three goals in team history, including the game-winning strike on a free kick in the 80th minute to defeat winless DC United. Philly jumped to a 2-0 lead only to see it go away late in the game by goals by Santino Quaranta and Jaime Moreno. The game seemed headed to a tie until Alejandro Moreno was taken down twenty two yards out. Le Toux stepped up and hammered a shot passed GK Perkins to seal the victory. A crowd of 34,840 witnessed the historic event.

FC Dallas substitute Eric Avila scores goal in stoppage time to steal a point. A stoppage-time goal from substitute Eric Avila helped FC Dallas steal a point from the visiting Columbus Crew in a 2-2 tie at Pizza Hut Park on Saturday. In the 93rd minute David Ferreira shot was blocked by Crew goalkeeper Will Hesmer, the ball popped back into the midfield. Avila then hit a low shot toward the far post that went in just inside the net for the equalizer. You can watch the highlight at http://www.mlssoccer.com/content/avila-ties-it-stoppage-time

Houston Dynamo drops game to league leader LA Galaxy. The Houston Dynamo suffered their first loss of the 2010 season Saturday, falling 2-0 to the LA Galaxy at Robertson Stadium. Galaxy forward scored two goals giving him five goals in three games.

Dynamo Stadium wins approval. Harris County officials on Tuesday approved the go ahead for a new Dynamo stadium. The stadium would be located on the east side of downtown, across U.S. Highway 59 from Minute Maid Park and the George R. Brown Convention Center. Construction is scheduled to start sometime this fall with the hopes of opening the stadium in time for the 2012 season.

Austin Aztex win home opener against defending champs. Austin opened the season with two goals and a shutout on strikes from Lawrence Olum and Jamie Watson for a 2-0 win over Montreal at Austin’s House Park on Sunday. The next home game for the Aztex is April 25th at House Park in downtown Austin against the Rochester Rhinos. Tickets, as well as season tickets are available now. All season tickets are flex tickets and can be used in any combination for any regular season game. To purchase your tickets, please visit www.austinaztex.com, call 512-335-8881

Former area High School soccer stars make UIL All Century Team The University Interscholastic League, as part of its Centennial Celebration, has announced the UIL All-Century Boys and Girls Soccer Teams as selected by the fans. Congratulations to Jimbo Parks, Matias Allende and Mike Lavergne of Churchill, Michael Strong and Andrew Bailey of Alamo Heights and John Nabors of Reagan for making the first team. Nathan Hughes of Churchill made the second team. Other notables on the list were Clint Dempsey of Nacodoches, Lee Nguyen of Plano East, and Jeff Agoos of Richardson Pearce. On the ladies side Blakely Low of Alamo Heights made the first team and Sandra Miller of San Antonio Madison made the third team.

Soccer on TV this week. Courtesy of Soccer America. http://www.socceramerica.com
WEDNESDAY, April 14

ESPN2
England TOTTENHAM-ARSENAL (live) 2 pm.

ESPN DEPORTES
Spain XEREZ-ATLETICO MADRID (live) 1 pm.
Spain DEPORTIVO-BARCELONA (live) 3 pm.
Mexico PACHUCA-CRUZ AZUL (live) 8 pm.

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
England WIGAN-PORTSMOUTH (live) 1:30 pm.

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
England WIGAN-PORTSMOUTH (live) 1:30 pm.
Copa Libertadores EMELEC-INTERNACIONAL (live) 5:30 pm.
Copa Libtertadores RACING-CORINTHIANS (live) 7:30 pm.

FOX SOCCER PLUS
England ASTON VILLA-EVERTON (live) 1:40 pm.

GOL TV
Spain REAL ZARAGOZA-MALLORCA (live) 1 pm.

THURSDAY, April 15

ESPN2
MLS PHILADELPHIA-TORONTO (live) 6 pm.

ESPN DEPORTES
MLS PHILADELPHIA-TORONTO (live) 6 pm.

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
Copa Libertadores CATOLICA-FLAMENGO (delay) 3 pm.
Copa Libertadores LANUS-CLUB UNIVERSITARIO (live) 5:30 pm.
Copa Libertadores DEP. COLO COLO-CRUZEIRO (live) 7:30 pm.

GOL TV
Spain ALMERIA-REAL MADRID (live) 1 pm.
Spain VALENCIA-ATH. BILBAO (live) 3 pm.

FRIDAY, April 16

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
Italy INTER MILAN-JUVENTUS (live) 1:30 pm.

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
Italy INTER MILAN-JUVENTUS (live) 1:30 pm.
Copa Libtertadores VELEZ SARSFIELD-DEP. ITALIA (delay) 4 pm.

SATURDAY, April 17

ESPN2
England MANCHESTER CITY-MANCHESTER UNITED (live) 6:45 am.

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
England BLACKBURN-EVERTON (live) 9 am.
England TOTTENHAM-CHELSEA (live) 11:30 pm.
England SUNDERLAND-BURNLEY (delay) 1:30 pm.
MLS LA GALAXY-REAL SALT LAKE (live) 9:30 pm.

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
England BLACKBURN-EVERTON (live) 9 am.
England TOTTENHAM-CHELSEA (live) 11:30 pm.
Mexico JAGUARES-CLUB INDIOS (delay) 6 pm.
MLS LA GALAXY-REAL SALT LAKE (live) 9:30 pm.

FOX SOCCER PLUS
England BIRMINGHAM CITY-HULL CITY (live) 9 am.
England WEST BROM-MIDDLESBROUGH (live) 11 am.
Italy CHIEVO-LIVORNO (delay) 1:30 pm.
England FULHAM-WOLVERHAMPTON (delay) 3:30 pm.

TELEFUTURA
MLS HOUSTON-CHIVAS USA (live) 3 pm.

MLS DIRECT KICK
MLS SEATTLE-KANSAS CITY (live) 2 pm.
MLS DC UNITED-CHICAGO (live) 6:30 pm.
MLS NEW YORK-DALLAS (live) 6:30 pm.
MLS SAN JOSE-NEW ENGLAND (live) 9 pm.

SUNDAY, April 18

FOX SOCCER CHANNEL
Italy SAMPDORIA-AC MILAN (live) 8 am.
England PORTSMOUTH-ASTON VILLA (live) 10 am.
Italy LAZIO-ROMA (live) 1:30 pm.
WPS BOSTON-PHILADLEPHIA (live) 5 pm.

FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL
Italy SAMPDORIA-AC MILAN (live) 8 am.
England PORTSMOUTH-ASTON VILLA (live) 10 am.
Italy LAZIO-ROMA (live) 1:30 pm.

FOX SOCCER PLUS
England WIGAN-ARSENAL (live) 7:30 am.
England STOKE CITY-BOLTON (delay) 9:30 am.
Italy LAZIO-ROMA (delay) 4 pm.
Argentina RACING-VELEZ SARAFIELD (live) 5 pm.

Football is the sport I began playing in a little known town called San Antonio, where I made my footballing debut at the tender age of six. Who knew that only five years later I would win State with my club team putting SA on the map?

Ok, maybe my team didn’t put SA on the map . . . . . . nor did winning the Under-12 State Championship. In fact, I’m pretty sure the championships my brother’s teams won laid the foundation for footballers in SA; I was just riding the legacy. That is to say, I have been carried by the legacy of all of those mad footballers who came before me, playing a sport they didn’t truly comprehend but played anyways for what the game represented. As Bob Marley so eloquently put it, “football means freedom.”

Regrettably, their legacy has gone unmentioned, unheralded, uncelebrated for far too long . . . . . . until now. Now is the time their sacrifice will come to fruition with the Crocketteers and their efforts to bring a pro franchise to the SA. I am happy to say that I will be lending my services to this effort with the hopes that in the future I am worthy enough to call myself a Crocketteer.

So when you ask this Scouser at heart, clad in Silver and Black: “what it is you value so highly, that you are willing to fight and possibly die for?”

I will call it football . . . . .

-Andres Roberto

Turning to SS&E’s interest in soccer, Holt said talks with the United Soccer Leagues are stalled because there’s no public money to build a multi-use stadium.

“We think soccer can work in San Antonio, it’s just a question of when. And right now is not when,” Holt said. “The county or the city doesn’t have the money. Maybe something could eventually be worked out with a school district. But right now, with this economic situation, there isn’t going to be any public money for anything anywhere.”

The USL is considered a step below Major League Soccer, which failed in its bid to expand into San Antonio in 2005, partly because then-mayor Ed Garza lacked political support to give MLS a deal that included rent-free use of the Alamodome.

Holt said Garza approached SS&E about playing an ownership role in an MLS franchise, but Holt said SS&E “couldn’t make the numbers work” at the dome.

“But we think the USL, at least with the numbers we’ve run, could work here in a smaller stadium,” Holt said.
Holt upbeat about Spurs’ bottom line

I know the first thing that sticks out is “talks with the United Soccer Leagues are stalled because there is no public money to build a multi-use stadium.” I still find it very hard to believe that the USL would stop talks with SS&E if a stadium deal is not put in place. Find me proof in the USL, that a new multi-use stadium is required to land a franchise.

Could it be that SS&E are painting a false picture to the general public that a multi-use stadium requirement exists? I have a feeling that a multi-use stadium for a future soccer franchise is a requirement of SS&E only. To tell you the truth, it is probably a smart move to have SS&E in complete control of their own facility during the soccer season rather than sharing with a local school district and dealing with gridball lines on the field.

It seems as if our tenant-less friend, the Alamodome, has been ruled out by SS&E. If the numbers didn’t add up for Major League Soccer, they certainly will not add up for the USL. What this tells me is that SS&E has done their homework and realizes that for pro soccer to succeed in our country, soccer specific stadia or multi-use stadia with the primary tenant being a soccer team is key.

This leads to another quote that stick out to me: “Maybe something could eventually be worked out with a school district.” Could this be a temporary solution to have pro soccer in San Antonio sooner rather than later? With former Mayor of San Antonio and proponent of the beautiful game Ed Garza running for the SAISD board, could Alamo Stadium with seating for 20k+, in a prime location just north of downtown serve as the home for SS&E’s team?

Alamo Stadium

Can it be purchased from SAISD and converted to a soccer specific stadium? Can SAISD, any other local school district or a local university join forces with SS&E to build a multi-use stadium or (even better) a soccer specific stadium.

In addition to Alamo Stadium, UTSA is adding a major addition to their campus by building an Athletic Complex, including a soccer stadium.

UTSA Athletic Complex

In the proposed Verano Village across from the future Texas A&M – San Antonio, an interesting sketch of a multi-use soccer stadium has been released.

Verano Village Soccer Stadium

Texas A&M San Antonio Entrance

Overall, I’m encouraged about this interview with Peter Holt. For the first time, Spurs Sports & Entertainment comes out and validates their interest in soccer and moreso, their interest in having a multi-use stadium to serve as home to San Antonio’s future professional soccer franchise.

In closing, I offer a well-known chant to encourage SS&E: “Come on you Spurs!” - listen

What do you think?