By now, you've probably heard that Jose Francisco Torres has decided to play with the US national team. Torres was among the 23 players called into camp by Bob Bradley ahead of the next pair of World Cup qualifiers. Actually, he'll be with the US for the match against Cuba on Oct. 11 and, my guess, he'll be part of the team that goes to Trinidad should the US take care of business at RFK. Click to continue reading...

En el blog hermano, ZonaRayada se encuentra la noticia de que el portero del Monterrey Jonathan Orozco toma el lugar de José de Jesús Corona de Tecos en el TRI que enfrentará a Chile el próximo miércoles. Parece que Corona, tiene varicela y éste padecimiento lo tendrá alejado de las canchas por lo menos un par [. Click to continue reading...

En el blog hermano, ZonaRayada se encuentra la noticia de que el portero del Monterrey Jonathan Orozco toma el lugar de José de Jesús Corona de Tecos en el TRI que enfrentará a Chile el próximo miércoles. Parece que Corona, tiene varicela y éste padecimiento lo tendrá alejado de las canchas por lo menos un par [. Click to continue reading...

En un breve comunicado de prensa, la Federación Mexicana de Fútbol, anunció que el arquero rayado Jonathan Orozco tomará el lugar de José de Jesús Corona en la Selección, esto de cara al partido contra Chile del próximo miércoles, este es el comunicado: "El Cuerpo Técnico y Médico de la Selección Nacional, informa que el jugador [. Click to continue reading...

El Gringo scores! The most newsworthy item among our Mexican-American boys in Mexico was Jesus Padilla's goal. Now, I'm not sure if Gerardo Mascerano scored in his one and only season with Chivas but this may be the first time an American scored for Chivas during league play in its history.

It probably won't be the last as the native son of San Jose, Calif. Click to continue reading...

Things got a bit interesting for one of our own in the First Division this weekend. Jesus Padilla got some actual playing time for Chivas as he came on at halftime. He didn't make it to the end of the match, though, as he got a red card three minutes from time. So he's gone for next week as well, a suspension that I believe keeps him out of Tapatio's match as well. Click to continue reading...

Photo by ISIphotos.com

The task is simple, but far from easy. Avoid defeat against Nigeria and the U.S. men's Olympic team advances to the quarterfinals of the tournament. Secure a victory against Nigeria and the Americans advance AND avoid facing Argentina in the quarters.

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Well, here's the recap for the Mexican-Americans in Mexico. Outside obligations kept me from posting a preview of this week's action so I'll catch you up as much as possible here and now.

We had one player move up from the Primera A to the top flight as Jesus Padilla's goal against Barcelona apparently earned him some bench time for Guadalajara - well, that and Omar Arellano's injury. Click to continue reading...

Photo by ISIphotos.com

With just two days between Thursday's 1-0 victory against Japan, and Sunday's showdown vs. the Netherlands, U.S. Olympic men's soccer coach Peter Nowak has some tough decisions to make.

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Week 2 (or 3 for some of the Primera A guys) is in the books and there wasn't a whole lot of action. Only two of the top-flight guys played, and one was a sub.

However, Jesus Padilla scored a goal. And it wasn't against a scrubby second-division side either.

Edgar Castillo - Played 90 minutes in Santos' 1-1 draw with Pumas. Click to continue reading...

At the start of the Clausura 2008 season, few American soccer fans had heard of Michael Orozco. Now, though, he's become a part of the U.S. national team system and will represent the U.S. in the upcoming Summer Olympics.

And while he'll be away for perhaps one-fourth of the upcoming Apertura 2008 season, he will at some point go back ad try and reclaim a spot on the club. Click to continue reading...

There are classic feel-good stories that are designed to give people an inspirational uplift that might even last more than a day. There are tales that warm the heart.
Sacha Kljestan's Karate Kid celebration, done in honor of his father, Slavko, definitely takes on greater meaning when viewed in the context of their close relationship and Slavko's soccer past. Click to continue reading...

Now this is a scoreline even a hardass cynic like me can be satisfied with: USA 8-0 Barbados. Before the game kicked off, I loudly pronounced at the Sweetwater that our boys must win by at least 8-0 or I would be upset with them. Mission accomplished. Now they go to the island for leg 2 knowing only a 9-0 loss (or some equivalent there of) will knock them out. Click to continue reading...

Some match reports from several different outlets on Sunday's 8-0 US win over Barbados:

- Grahame Jones of the LA Times talked to Barbados goalkeeper Alvin Rouse after the match. I think he was the only one who stopped Rouse, who had one great save off an Oguchi Onyewu header but otherwise was helpless to stop the U. Click to continue reading...

Okay, Michael Orozco and I spoke a while back. I had the interview sitting around and he gave a really good interview and had a pretty good tale. I decided to use a lot of the interview as a Q and A for SI.com. I kept some of it for another piece which will probably come down later this summer at some point. Click to continue reading...

Until recently, Americans abroad updates found regularly across the Web have mostly -if not fully - focused on Americans plying their trade in Europe. Now, Michael Orozco has left his mark on the U.S. national team, albeit the Under-23 side, and suddenly eyes are focused on the Southern California native and his potential future with the U. Click to continue reading...

Two victories off penalty kicks send the Americans to the semi-finals of Concacaf Olympic qualifying, with a likely matchup against Canada as of the time of this writing. I think the US is probably the favorite to win at this point, despite some pretty unconvincing victories.


1. Stuart Holden - Looked like maybe the Man of the Match for the second game in a row. Click to continue reading...

One of the more intriguing players currently with the United States Under-23 national team is Michael Orozco. The American-born Orozco plies his trade with San Luis of the Mexican First Division.

Orozco is part of a small but potentially growing number of American-born players who made their way down to Mexico to develop and play professionally. Click to continue reading...