SOCCER WORLD

YAKIMA — Get psyched and get intense. But manage that zeal, contain it.

That wasn’t Armando Garcia’s advice to his revved-up Davis boys soccer team on Thursday, it was his command. That’s because he knew how much was on the line in a loser-out district opener.

And the fact they were sharing the field with Eisenhower, which had defeated the Pirates on their home field a month ago.

“We couldn’t come out too high because then you risk hitting a big low,” said Davis senior Tommy McLaughlin. “But we really wanted this. I mean, really wanted it.”

By measuring that high emotion and channeling it into a stout defensive effort, Davis got its revenge, besting the visiting Cadets 2-0 to earn a trip to Wenatchee on Saturday for a Columbia Basin 4A district semifinal.

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Manchester United is the most valuable team in world soccer for a second straight season and likely to hold that position next year, according to Forbes magazine.

The Premier League club is worth 1.8 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 347 million dollars or 24 percent on last year’s valuation, according to the American business magazine.

Taking into account revenue growth, profitability and debt levels, Forbes ranked Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid second at 1.285 billion dollars, with Arsenal third at 1.2 billion dollars — the same top three as last year.

United was one of four English clubs in the top 10, with Liverpool the big mover in the list, going up from 11th last year to fourth despite the wrangles between American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr.

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When the U.S. roster for Wednesday’s friendly international against Poland in Krakow finally was revealed, U.S. national soccer team Coach Bob Bradley’s choices came as little surprise.

Bradley included only three Major League Soccer players in his 18-man squad: Galaxy forward Landon Donovan, as well as striker BrianChing and midfielder Ricardo Clark, both of the Houston Dynamo.

The 15 other players are all from European clubs, with the only noteworthy inclusions being the return of defenders Jay DeMerit of Watford and Cory Gibbs of Charlton Athletic.

Injury sidelined Gibbs just before the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and he dropped so far out of the picture that he was not even included in U.S. Soccer’s 2008 media guide.

DeMerit last played for the U.S.

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WASHBURN – The Washburn Castle Guards followed their game plan with textbook precision Thursday afternoon.Hosting Three Lakes in Northern Lights Conference girls soccer play, the Castle Guards wanted to establish themselves early. They did just that with three goals in the first 10 minutes of the game as they rolled on to a 4-0 victory. .

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The Portsmouth City Soccer Club will be holding registration for the fall 2008 season on May 6 and May 7 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Greenleaf Recreation Center in Portsmouth.

Boys and girls residing in Portsmouth, Greenland, Newington and New Castle born between Aug. 1, 1994 and July 31, 2000 are eligible to play.

All potential players must register, including those who played in 2007. New players must bring a copy of their birth certificate to registration. Registration fees are $100 for the first player in a family, $75 for the second player in a family and $50 for the third player in a family. Fees are payable upon registration.

Tryouts will be held in May. The date and location of the tryouts will be available at registration. Information on coaching and other volunteer opportunities will also be available during registration.

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The Lehi boys soccer team kept destiny in its own hands and moved a step closer to the Region 4 championship with a 2-2 tie against Lone Peak on Thursday.

The Pioneers came from a two-goal first-half deficit to equalize and, although they didn’t pick up the win, they are still two points clear of the Knights in the region standings and need only to avoid a slip-up in their final three games.

“I’m satisfied with a tie after being down 2-0,” said Lehi coach Steve McMurdie. “We knew that Lone Peak would come out playing for pride on their home field. It was tough for us to work out a tie so I feel good about it.”

Lone Peak became just the second team to put two goals in against Lehi this year and appeared to be on its way to the win after 30 minutes. A redirected free kick followed by a 28th-minute penalty kick left the Pioneers in a deep hole.

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JOLIET — Ko Thanadabouth and John Nikchevich have been named head coaches of the University of St. Francis men’s and women’s soccer programs, respectively. The announcement was made Friday by Dave Laketa, USF’s director of athletics.

Thanadabouth and Nikchevich replace Mario Dukovac, who stepped down from the role in both sports last November.

Thanadabouth will begin his second coaching assignment at USF, first with the men’s team. He served as the first head coach of the Saints’ women’s program from 1995-99 and compiled a 29-49-3 record. His five-year run was capped off by an 11-7 campaign in 1999, the program’s first winning season and one of just two winning years in the program’s 13-year history.

The 1991 UIC graduate played collegiately for the Flames and then professionally for the Chicago Power of the National Professional Soccer League.

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Cristiano Ronaldo has been named player of the year by England’s Football Writers’ Association, becoming just the second player to retain the award.

The Manchester United winger, who last week was also named player of the year by his fellow Premier League professionals for the second consecutive season, scored 38 goals this season to put his team in contention for the league and Champions League titles.

“Ronaldo’s award is no surprise after his brilliant form this season,” Football Writers’ Association chairman Paul Hetherington said.

“To score 38 goals in a season — so far — is an astonishing feat for a player who is essentially a winger. Given his age, he has the potential and ability to dominate this award for years in an unprecedented way.”

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson warned rivals the Portuguese will only improve.

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Russian authorities will take unprecedented measures to simplify visa procedures for English soccer fans going to the Champions League final in Moscow, match coordinator Alexei Sorokin said Friday.

With at least 50,000 fans planning to travel to Moscow, the May 21 game between English clubs Chelsea and Manchester United presents substantial security and logistical challenges.

With less than three weeks to go, concerns have been high that there wouldn’t be enough time for fans to make their way through Russia’s notoriously laborious visa application procedures.

Talks on preparations, which include Manchester United chief executive David Gill and Chelsea’s chief operating officer Ron Gourlay, continued Friday.

Sorokin did not provide specific details, but he renewed pledges that ticket holders would be allowed into Russia without the official invitations normally required.

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The Canadian men’s soccer team will face Brazil in two international friendlies this spring, as a tuneup for their World Cup 2010 qualifier against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Canadian Soccer Association announced Wednesday.

The friendlies are May 31 in Seattle and June 6 in Panama City.

Canada has faced Brazil three times, most recently at the 2001 Confederations’ Cup in Japan, where they tied 0-0.

Canada sits 63rd in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings, while Brazil is second, behind Argentina.

Canada’s last match was a 2-0 loss to Estonia, on March 26.

The road to World Cup 2010 for the men’s team kicks off in Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, on June 15, with a return leg scheduled in Montreal the following week.

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