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Keeper Notes, 6 July 10
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Sixty matches down, just four to go
Dynamo Open Cup match tonight!
The Dynamo host Chivas USA in the US Open Cup quarterfinals tonight at Robertson Stadium; kickoff is 7:30 pm. Tickets are just $12. All seats are general admission and only west sideline seating sections will be open.
Fans should park on the west side of the stadium (parking is free, use Scott St. entrances) and enter through gate 4 on the west side (the only public gate), which opens at 6:30 pm. Walk-up sales are cash only. Ticket sales & will call will be at gate 4.
This game will not be televised, but fans who can't make it to the stadium can listen to the action live on 790 AM. This is an elimination game, so if it's tied after 90 minutes, there will be overtime and maybe PKs. If the Dynamo advance, they face the winner of Wednesday's Seattle/LA match on August 31.
World Cupdate
We're down to the semifinals:
Today, 1:30 pm kickoff, ESPN
Uruguay v Netherlands
Wednesday, 1:30 pm kickoff, ESPN
Spain v Germany
The Dynamo World Cup viewing parties will be at Hooters NASA today and Hooters Kirby tomorrow. Lucky's will host the Dynamo viewing party for Sunday's final.
First to find the Keeper at Brian O'Neill's during today's semifinal gets tickets to Saturday's Dynamo game. (Wish her a happy birthday and get an extra Dynamo treat!)
And then ...
Saturday: third place match, 1:30 pm, ABC
Sunday: World Cup final, 1:30 pm, ABC
Where to watch
KeeperNotes.com/WCpubs.htm
Forgot to set your DVR?
Go to espn3.com for full replays.
A daily slice of the World Cup
1560 The Game is offering a one-hour World Cup show every night at 7 pm through July 11. Listen at 1560 AM or 1560thegame.com
. Call-in number is 713-439-1560. The Keeper is on the show this Wednesday!
The race for the Golden Boot
+numbers indicate assists
5+1 Villa, Spain
4 Higuain, Argentina
4 Vittek, Slovakia
4+1 Mueller, Germany
4+2 Sneijder, Netherlands
4+2 Klose, Germany
3 Donovan, USA
3+1 Forlan, Uruguay
3+1 Gyan, Ghana
3 Luis Fabiano, Brazil
3 Suarez, Uruguay
Bill Simmons plays 20 questions with the World Cup
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SW Indoor Soccer
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The next adult session kicks off Monday (after the World Cup). Registration is available online or just drop by the facility any day after 5 pm -- individuals can be placed on a house team for $75 per player, which includes ref fees.
SWIS host adult leagues year-round for women's competitive & recreational, men's competitive & recreational, men's over 30, coed competitive and recreational, coed over 30 and Sat/Sun men's open. Each session offers eight games. For more info, see www.letsplaysoccer.com/main/Locations/southwest or call 281-564-7947 any day after 5 pm.
Join Brad's Brigade
Saturday's Dynamo match against the Columbus Crew is Military Appreciation Night. For just $25, fans can purchase a package that includes one ticket for themselves plus one ticket for a soldier, a Brad’s Brigade T-shirt, a camo wristband, access to the special pre-game tailgate plus an opportunity to meet Brad Davis after the game. See www.HoustonDynamo.com/BradsBrigade.
There is also a special online offer
for Saturday's game -- for just $29.99 you can get a ticket to the game and a Forever Orange tailgating chair.
Kickoff is 7:30 pm. Game airs live on TV Informa 43 and KHOU 11.2, and will also be broadcast on 790 AM (English) and 850 AM (Spanish).
Houston's Summer of Soccer continues ...
www.houstondynamo.com/summerofsoccer
SuperLiga 2010 kicks off next week, and the Dynamo will face Pachuca and Puebla from the Mexican Primera Division as well as MLS Western Conference rival Chivas USA. Note that Pachuca's roster includes Herculez Gomez and Jose "Gringo" Torres from the US World Cup team.
The other SuperLiga groups features Chicago & New England from MLS, plus Pumas and Morelia from Mexico. Top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals August 3-5, and the semifinal winners meet in the SuperLiga championship August 24-26
Thursday, July 15: Pachuca at Dynamo, 7 pm
Sunday, July 18: Chivas USA at Dynamo, 7 pm plus Pachuca v Puebla, 9:30 pm
This doubleheader is NOT part of season ticketholder package
Wednesday, July 21: Puebla at Dynamo, 7 pm
The Reds are coming, the Reds are coming
It's barely three weeks away ... do you have your tickets? The 2010 MLS All-Stars will take on Manchester United at Reliant Stadium on Wednesday, July 28. For group packages (10 or more tickets), call the Dynamo at 713-276-7500 and avoid Ticketmaster fees. Private suites are available for $195/seat and hold either 16 or 22 guests. Contact Brian Varnadoe at 832-667-2160.
Today is the last day to vote for the MLS All-Star First XI. The top votegetters will be announced next Tuesday, July 13.
Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear has been named assistant All-Star coach. He will collaborate with All-Star head coach Bruce Arean to select the five additional players who will join Commissioner Don Garber's two picks to complete the All-Star roster. Full roster will be announced July 19.
For more details about Man U's North American tour:
www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={DF2DCE48-708C-4834-8884-028AFC12654A}
And just so you know, MLS and the Houston Dynamo have banned vuvuzelas from the MLS All-Star Game!
Shout out to ...
- ASC New Stars. For the second year in a row, the ASC New Stars are the HFA Memorial Cup champions. ASC New Stars defeated CD Houston 1-0 at Robertson Stadium on June 26.
- HFA's 2009-2010 division champions
Premier: ASC New Stars
Championship: Fury
Division 1A: Titans
Division 1B: Moya FC
Division 2A: United Grenadiers
Division 2B: Goal Diggers FC
Division 3A: Inter Geoken FC
Division 3B: Houston Brew
Division 4: QFC Quasars
- Boys u14 Lonestar 96B Red and Girls u198 Lonestars 91G Red, who both won their Region III championship matches and earned the right to compete for the youth national championship title later this month in Kansas.
Stars & Stripes update
Just as one World Cup ends, another begins ... The u20 Women's World Cup kicks off next Tuesday in Germany. The first opponent for the u20 US women is none other than Ghana! They play the Black Queens on Wednesday, July 14 at 11 am CT. No TV available, but you can follow the action via MatchTracker on ussoccer.com.
The US women host Sweden twice next week in friendlies to prepare for World Cup qualifying this fall. The Stars & Stripes meet the Swedes on Tuesday, July 13 in Omaha (8 pm, ESPN2) and again on Saturday, July 17 in E. Hartford, CT (6:30 pm, Fox Soccer Channel). US roster includes 2008 Olympians Hope Solo, Abby Wambach, Kristine Lilly, Heather O'Reilly and Heather Mitts.
The US men will reconvene next month to face perennial soccer power Brazil at the new Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey. Game will be Wednesday, August 10. More than 30,000 tickets have already been sold.
Landon's up for a few Espy Awards. Vote at www.facebook.com/ESPN?v=app_134625369884956&ref=ts.
NPSL notes
The July 4 Regals FC/Pirate SC "derby" match had to be rescheduled due to inclement weather. Keep an eye on the schedule pages for both semi-pro teams for updates:
www.piratesc.com/2010/04/schedule.html
www.regalsfc.com/2009/10/schedule.html
On Sunday, August 1, Pirate SC will host Force FC (a new club in Bay Area) at Courville Stadium in Galveston. Tickets are on sale now -- contact Brendan at coach@brendankeyes.com
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27th Annual Labor Day Cup
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The 27th Annual Labor Day Cup, Houston’s largest soccer tournament, is a three-day event presented by the two-time MLS champion, the Houston Dynamo. This eventful weekend takes place at Bear Creek and Katy Park and offers competitive play plus a myriad of soccer activities and fun for the entire family. Over 400 teams from the Greater Southwest, Northwest Texas, Louisiana and Mexico will participate.
Boys and Girls ages 9-19 from Division 1, Super 2, and Division 2 teams can register online at houstonlabordaycup.org. Registration deadline is August 25, 2010. For more information, email director@houstonlabordaycup.org or visit houstonlabordaycup.org.
Keeping up with the Keeper
Twitter: www.twitter.com/keepernotes
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Keeper-Notes/331599998700?ref=ts
Keeper Notes calendar featuring Dynamo matches, international games and more, via any browser:
www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=keeper%40keepernotes.com&ctz=America/Chicago
Are you forever orange?
How about true blue? The Dynamo is looking for outgoing, passionate soccer folks to join the Blue Crew, the group of dedicated volunteers who support the team & fans at home games and Dynamo community events.
Minimum age 18, minimum commitment 10 home games/events per season. Volunteers must be able to endure the Houston heat & humidity and smile at the same time! Email bcrew@houstondynamo.com for more info.
Brendan Keyes Soccer Academy
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This summer, former pro player & current head coach of Galveston Pirate SC Brendan Keyes is offering his 20th anniversary soccer camp featuring European coaches and all Galveston Pirate NPSL players. The 5-day camp will be held July 26-31 (with a day off for the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 28), running 5:30 - 8 pm each night at Resoft Park in Alvin.
Cost is $150 per player and is open to boys and girls ages 5 to 18.Contact Coach Keyes at 832-748-1001 or coach@brendankeyes.com.
More info at www.brendankeyes.com.
Get your notes in the Notes
Spread the soccer word about your program, event or club in Keeper Notes. The Keeper Notes list (which is never, ever sold or shared) has more than 5400 subscribers! Contact The Keeper for details.
FREE: soccer-related job openings, youth & adult league registration info, free soccer events, teams looking for players, any nonprofit info, and any "shout out" to local soccer achievers.
NOT FREE: soccer camps, tournaments, and any other commercially-related info.
Missouri City United Soccer Association registration
Are you looking for a solid youth soccer club to register your son or daughter for the upcoming fall soccer season? MCUSA would be honored to have your son or daughter register to play for the Revolution!
Our youth soccer organization provides kids of ages 4 to 19 years of age within the Missouri City, Sugar Land, Stafford, and surrounding areas a challenging and enjoyable learning experience. We offer both competitive and recreational programs. Our registration period ends July 31. For additional info, see www.mcusasoccer.org or email questions to president@mcusasoccer.org.
Keeper Query
Congrats to Henry Ramirez for the correct answer to last week's query. The only non-MLS team to win the US Open Cup in the "MLS era" is the Rochester Rhinos in 1999. Their goalkeeper was none other than Pat Onstad.
Today's query: Nearly every member of the Dynamo roster has seen MLS action this season, but only one player has started all 15 league games. Who is it? First to answer correctly after 9 am CT wins two tickets to TONIGHT'S Dynamo game.
Soccer to watch
Today
World Cup semifinals
Uruguay v Netherlands, 1:30 pm, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, Univision, espn3.com
Wednesday
World Cup semifinals
Spain v Germany, 1:30 pm, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, Univision, espn3.com
Thursday
Major League Soccer
Houston Dynamo v Toronto FC, 6 pm, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes
Saturday
World Cup third place match
1:30 pm, ABC
Major League Soccer
Philadelphia Union v San Jose Earthquakes, 5 pm, Fox Soccer Channel
Houston Dynamo v Columbus Crew, 7:30 pm, KHOU 11.2, TV Informa 43
International friendly
Club America v Cruz Azul, 9 pm, Fox Soccer Channel
Sunday
World Cup final
1:30 pm, ABC
Women's Professional Soccer
FC Gold Pride v Washington Freedom, 5 pm, Fox Soccer Channel
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Keeper Calendar
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July 6: US Open Cup/Chivas USA at Houston Dynamo, Robertson Stadium
July 6: World Cup semifinal/Uruguay v Netherlands
July 7: World Cup semifinal/Spain v Germany
July 10: World Cup third place match
July 10: Columbus Crew at Houston Dynamo, Robertson Stadium
July 11: World Cup final
July 13: US women v Sweden, Omaha, NE
July 14: u20 Women's World Cup/US v Ghana
July 15: SuperLiga/Dynamo v Pachuca, Robertson Stadium
July 17: US women v Sweden, E. Hartford, CT
July 17: u20 Women's World Cup/US v Switzerland
July 18: SuperLiga/Dynamo v Chivas USA & Pachuca v Puebla, Robertson Stadium
July 21: SuperLiga/Dynamo v Puebla, Robertson Stadium
July 17: u20 Women's World Cup/US v South Korea
July 24: Houston Dynamo at Columbus Crew
July 28: MLS All-Stars v Manchester United, Reliant Stadium
July 31: New York Red Bulls at Houston Dynamo, Robertson Stadium
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August 8: Houston Dynamo at Seattle Sounders
August 10: US men v Brazil, E. Rutherford, NJ
August 14: Houston Dynamo at New England Revolution
August 21: Chicago Fire at Houston Dynamo, Robertson Stadium
August 24-26: SuperLiga final, TBA
August 28: Houston Dynamo at Colorado Rapids
August 31: US Open Cup semifinals, TBA
September 5: San Jose Earthquakes at Houston Dynamo, Robertson Stadium
Expanded calendar at keepernotes.com