Friday Football: Waiting for the Weekend
I know I'm ready for some half-decent soccer after watching two bad games in two days involving Mexico and the Galaxy (although in truth Blanco was fun to watch as usual and it's great to see a DP actually make a difference on the field rather than just selling shirts off it).
Guess I should be glad I didn't make it three games by watching the No. 2 Bruins (7-0-2) get held 0-0 by Santa Clara on national TV last night (although to be fair a combined 30 shots from the two women's programs likely made the game more entertaining than the final score suggested).
Also on Thursday, the UCLA men (2-3-2) were held to a 1-1 tie by UC San Diego. Next: Cal State Northridge at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Drake Stadium.
Let's hope Saturday's 7:30 p.m. Chivas USA-Kansas City Wizards game at Home Depot Center provides an antidote (it's Manhattan Beach Night).
That means, according to Chivas USA:
Families can take advantage of Chivas USA's Family Pack, which gets you four tickets, four hats and four hot dogs starting at just $58. Chivas USA will also be celebrating Manhattan Beach Night, where city leaders will be greeted by Manhattan Beach resident Jesse Marsch and a special 'Parade of Champions' will give soccer-loving kids from Manhattan Beach the opportunity to walk around the field prior to the game. For tickets call 1-877-CHIVAS-1.
Unlike the Galaxy, Chivas USA (sitting second in the Western Conference) actually have a legitimate chance at making the playoffs.
Other games in Southern California include:
No. 5 USC-LMU 3 p.m. today at McAlister Field.
LMU men-Oregon State Sunday at Sullivan Field in Westchester.
Cal State Northridge women-San Francisco Sunday at Matador Field in Northridge.
TV best bets:
7 a.m. Saturday Stoke City-Chelsea on Fox Soccer Channel
9:30 a.m. Saturday Arsenal-Hull City on FSC
7 p.m. Saturday Atlas-Chivas Guadalajara on KFTR
8 a.m. Sunday Wigan Athletic-Manchester City on FSC
11:30 a.m. Sunday AC Milan-Inter Milan on FSC
2 p.m. Sunday Club America-Cruz Azul on KFTR
Almost forgot: Here's a preview of the Cal State Dominguez Hills women's program.
Yvonne Vasquez, who led the CCAA in goals last year, returns as the Toros' top scoring threat.
Photo by Scott Varley
About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
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