US goalkeeper Solo kicked off team
The Women's World Cup is taking on some edge for the United States, just as the Americans are getting ready to say goodbye.
US coach Greg Ryan tossed goalkeeper Hope Solo off the team for today's third-place game against Norway. His decision, which has the support of the remaining 20 players, came after he benched Solo for Thursday's semifinal in which Brazil routed the US, 4-0, in Hangzhou, China.
Solo lashed out in an interview, saying Ryan made the "wrong decision" in dropping her in favor of veteran Briana Scurry against the quick and creative Brazilians.
The 36-year-old Scurry will face Norway in Shanghai in a game that precedes the championship between defending champion Germany and Brazil.
"We have moved forward with 20 players who have stood by each other, who have battled for each other," Ryan said. "And when the hard times came - and the Brazil game was a hard time - they stood strong."
Captain Kristine Lilly and star striker Abby Wambach said Solo apologized at a team meeting. On her MySpace page, Solo wrote that she didn't intend to criticize Scurry. She maintained, however, that Ryan's decision was wrong.
MLS
Red Bulls 2, Real Salt Lake 2 - Juan Pablo Angel scored on a penalty kick with 10 minutes remaining and New York secured a tie in East Rutherford, N.J.
The tie pushed the Red Bulls (11-10-6) closer to clinching a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.
D.C. United 4, Toronto FC 1 - Luciano Emilio became the league's first 20-goal scorer in five years and host D.C. United extended its unbeaten streak to 11 matches.
Jaime Moreno, the league's all-time leading goal scorer, tallied the 112th of his career to give D.C. United a 3-1 lead in the 66th minute. Clyde Simms and Ben Olsen assisted on the play as Moreno beat Kenny Stamatopoulos to his right from point-blank range.
Fire 1, Chivas USA 1 - Cuauhtemoc Blanco scored in the 25th minute and Claudio Suarez added the tying goal for Chivas USA in the 82d minute with a penalty shot into the right corner as the teams battled to a tie in Carson, Calif.
