2008: A rich year on the soccer pitch

12/30/08
jozy altidore
By Max J. Dickstein

2008: A rich year on the soccer pitch

Photo credit: Game Face

Hope Solo in beijing (Getty Images)

By Andrew Keh

Like an evergreen, soccer has a way of staying fresh in all seasons. For fans of the American game, though, the end of the calendar year is a time to reflect on memorable happenings of the past 12 months:

JOZY’S JUMP

There’s a measure of cognitive dissonance that plagues serious fans of soccer in America. Jozy Altidore’s transfer from the Red Bulls to Spanish club Villareal in June exemplified this phenomenon well. New Yorkers were devastated to see their brightest young star bolt to Europe. Still, there was something awesome about seeing an American player command a $10 million transfer fee from a top European club.

When Altidore notched his first goal in La Liga on Nov. 1, jilted Red Bull fans quietly rejoiced like proud parents.

IMPENETRABLE TIM

Lionel Messi and Argentina’s national team helped draw 78,682 fans to Giants Stadium for a friendly against the United States, transforming the stuffy venue into a rain-soaked cauldron of sound and color.

Argentina dominated possession but couldn’t find a way past American goalkeeper Tim Howard, who had seven saves en route to a 0-0 draw — no small feat against the world’s No. 1 team — and solidified his status as a world-class shot-stopper.

GOLDEN REDEMPTION

The U.S. women’s national team was in disarray in 2007 after a 4-0 loss to Brazil in the World Cup semifinal; keeper Hope Solo was in the U.S. doghouse for disparaging coach Greg Ryan.

In August at the Beijing Olympics, under new coach Pia Sundhage, Solo and the team earned their redemption, beating Brazil 1-0 in extra time to earn the gold medal.

CINDERELLA BULLS

The Red Bulls’ long-suffering fans received a rare thrill this fall when the club snatched the final spot in the MLS playoffs after bumbling through the regular season. But the excitement didn’t end there. With a reshuffled lineup and restored verve, the Red Bulls knocked off the defending champion Houston Dynamo in the first round, then earned a gritty win over Real Salt Lake in Utah.

With two wins, RBNY reached the MLS Cup final for the first time in franchise history. Their loss to deserving champion Columbus did little to dampen the good vibes that fans hope will carry over into the new year.
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2008: A rich year on the soccer pitch

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