October 2008 Archives
Photo by Juan Miranda/Chivas USA
On the year's scariest night it's perhaps apropos to chat with veteran Chivas USA striker Ante Razov, known as one of the moodiest players in MLS and one you always want to make sure is in a reasonably good one before approaching his locker after a game. So perhaps it's for the best this interview was conducted via e-mail.
Still, Razov comes into the post-season fifth all-time in goals (11 in 33 games) and third behind active players (although neither D.C. United's Jaime Moreno or Toronto's Carlos Ruiz can add to their totals since their respective teams failed to make the playoffs). This is his time of the year.
A goal Saturday against Real Salt Lake ties Razov with Moreno in playoff goals; two ties him with Roy Lassiter. A hat-trick and he ties Landon Donovan. There's motivation.
But Razov has struggled with injury this season and managed just five goals and six assists in 22 games. Having just recovered from his latest, the MLS original (one goal in three games for the Galaxy in 1996) is happy just to be still playing (I think).
In fact, I asked Razov how much longer he plans to play. He didn't answer. I didn't push it.
Q: How are you feeling physically? Are you fully recovered from your latest injury? Will you look to go an hour or so in the game Saturday or are you capable of going the full 90?
A: Yeah, I'm ready to go. I've played the last few games and this is it. There's nothing to save myself for at this point, so I'll put it all on the line. I expect to be out there [the whole time].
Q: Chivas USA has made the playoffs for the third straight year. The Galaxy have missed the post-season for the third straight year. Is that significant for the team or not something you worry about? Is the fact MLS Cup will be played on their field an extra source of motivation for the team?
A: It has nothing to with us. It's not our problem. I would say yes, [that possibly playing MLS Cup here in Carson is extra motivation]. It would be a special treat for us, if we could do that, and then have a nice game here for our fans.
Q: If what I hear about midfielder-striker Atiba Harris is correct he picked up an injury in training Thursday and won't play Saturday, just the latest in a mind-boggling series of injuries to players this year. How difficult is it not to have a consistent lineup of strikers and attacking midfielders from a forward's point of view? Has it been more difficult to get into any sort of rhythm this season with all the changes to the lineup through injury?
A: Absolutely. In any team sport, if you change your lineup every game then it's nearly impossible to get any rhythm and I think it shows in the way we've played at times. Defensively, you can always be tight and that stuff, but in terms of getting on the same line with players going forward and attacking, it's just been very, very difficult.
Q: Compared to the Galaxy and other MLS teams, Chivas USA has a small, but increasingly devoted fan base (the Union Ultras are taking 50 members on a bus to Salt Lake City). Does that reinforce the team's underdog status and motivate players to prove to fans Chivas USA is worth watching? Any special desire to put one over on Real Salt Lake given that both teams were expansion teams in 2005?
A: We're happy that we have a fan base that cares enough to travel, and stuff like that, it clearly helps us in the games. They give us a boost while we're out there trying to win, win for everyone; for the club, for the fans. And no, it's the playoffs, it doesn't matter who we play. It's a playoff game and nothing else matters.
Q: What do you expect from the game?
A: It's going to be a hard game. I've played in a lot of playoff games and a lot of the time it's not pretty soccer. It's guys rolling their sleeves up and going to battle, and the team that can pull off a play or two goes through, and I'm sure that's the way it'll go.
I'll be back Saturday with a full preview of the 3 p.m. Chivas USA-RSL playoff opener.
Boo!
Now that the zombie-like MLS regular season is over, it's time for the um, meaty part of the season.
New England and the Fire kicked things off Thursday with a tight 0-0 contest, setting up a winner takes it all showdown this coming Thursday in Chicago. Rolling Hills Estates' John Thorrington (who had a nice shout out to the South Bay as the lineups were announced before the game) made two key, well-timed tackles for the Fire inside their own penalty box; Revs goalkeeper Matt Reis earned his eighth career shutout, after a Brian McBride goal was called back for offside. BTW, Is it just me or did the bundled up former Bruin look like the character on Dilbert who wanders around with the coffee cup all day? (I have to be careful here; Matt's mother-in-law lives just around the corner from the Daily Breeze office in Torrance).
More on Saturday's Chivas USA-Real Salt Lake playoff opener is here.
A complete playoff schedule is here.
Other TV options this weekend include:
*8 a.m. Saturday Chelsea-Sunderland on Fox Soccer Channel.
*10:30 a.m. Saturday Tottenham Hotspur-Liverpool on Fox Soccer Channel
*3 p.m. Sunday Tecos-Club America on KAZA
Local college games this weekend include:
*No. 10 USC (12-3-1, 2-2-1 Pac-10) take on California (10-5-1, 3-2-1) in a 3 p.m. match today at McCalister Field. The game will be shown on tape-delay at 1 p.m. Saturday on FSC. The Trojans' final Pac-10 home match is set for 1 p.m. Sunday against undefeated No. 2 Stanford (16-0-1, 6-0-0) at the Coliseum.
*Two doubleheaders this weekend for the Bruins. The No. 3 women play second-ranked Stanford at 5 p.m. today at Marshall Field and are followed by the surging UCLA men who host No. 8 California. At noon Sunday it's the women against Cal followed by the men against Stanford.
*The LMU men host St. Mary's at 3 p.m. today in Westchester.
Photo by Juan Miranda/Chivas USA
Chivas USA defender-midfielder Carey Talley is a journeyman closing in on 300 MLS appearances for five teams over 11 seasons. A Carey Talley fun factoid: he is the answer to the trivia question - who was waiting to make his first appearance for the national team as a (very) late sub when the game was called and has never won a U.S. cap? Talley joined Chivas USA from Real Salt Lake in May and has established himself as a regular, starting 18 of the 20 games he has played for the club. He chatted via e-mail ahead of the Chivas USA-Real Salt Lake playoff opener set for 3 p.m. Saturday.
Q: First off, Real Salt Lake got in the playoffs in perhaps the most dramatic fashion possible - a 90th minute equalizer against the Rapids. Were you surprised?
A: It was a little surprising to me because I thought they got outplayed in the game, and they kept going, and going, and in the 90th minute, a guy who I don't think has gotten a lot of credit from around the league, Andy Williams, comes through. He was very close to getting the goal, but he makes the play happen. Andy, in the right spot, battled a guy off, got his toe on it and they're in it. I was as surprised as anybody, being in the 90th minute, but all credit to them, they kept going, and I was happy to see that Andy was such a big part of that goal because he's been a good friend of mine for a while, and I think he deserved it.
Q:Is there any special resonance about playing your old team in the playoffs - especially at Rio Tinto Stadium, which you've never played in, but awaited for so long as a Real Salt Lake player?
A: I'm really trying not to look at this as any different an opponent from any other one we could've met up with. The series that we played with them was a pretty tough series, each team getting an away result.
I had gone through the whole process (of the stadium). I was excited to see them get it, and I was hoping that Chivas would get to play in Rio Tinto this year, and now we're getting to go back there and play in it. What I've heard from everybody is that it's a great stadium, it's a great atmosphere, and I assume that since it's the first playoff game in the history of that club, it's going to be going pretty crazy there.
Q: This year's Real Salt Lake media guide profile of you began - "Death, taxes and Carey Talley could become the new phrase for reliability as the veteran midfielder returns for his 11th season in MLS and third as a member of Real Salt Lake." Then in May they traded you. Any lingering resentment over that? Do you have something to prove? Or did you understand and accept what Jason Kreis was trying to do for the team with the trade?
A: I knew that I had to leave. That was between me, Jason, and their GM. There are reasons behind it, but I'm in a good place now with Chivas USA and I'm very happy. This is the place for me, and I'm happy to be here.
Q: How are you feeling physically after the long season and especially after suffering a concussion? Was that hard to come back from?
A: I've had a couple of those before, and this was the first time that I've had some real lingering effects on it. That went on for about two weeks. I'd never experienced anything over a couple of days, so I was a little worried about that, but now it's back to normal. I'm ready to go. I couldn't be more ready for this playoff run. It's not because we're going against Salt Lake, it's just the first time I've been in the playoffs in the last two years, so I'm ready to get this off and running.
Q: How does Chivas USA match up with Real Salt Lake? What weaknesses do they have the club can exploit?
A: I think that's something that we're reviewing as a team and trying to go over. They're a good team, and they've proven to be a good team. That's what's done it in this league - it hasn't always been the prettiest soccer team out there that's won, it's been the best team - the best group of guys that can keep it together for five or six games in a row, and they're definitely a side where there's quality.
Q: You're 32 years old now and in a league where inexpensive youth is apparently often more valued than an experienced, but more expensive veteran, is there a sense of urgency to return to MLS Cup at your age, especially since the final is at Home Depot Center this year? How long do you plan on playing?
A: I'd like to go until 34 or 35, but that all depends on how well the teams that I'm on are doing, of course. I'd love to be in MLS Cup again. I've only been in two, and I'd like to be at the third one, especially with the fans that we have here who have shown support when it got a little rough in the summer. They kept coming out to the games, and the fan support in my opinion has been tremendous. To come out and make it a Chivas stadium that day would be very good for us. Like I said, it's great here in LA, and the atmosphere that's provided by the fans, and Chivas - it's great to be here.
Chivas USA Coach Preki and players look ahead to Saturday's conference semi-final match against Real Salt Lake in this video preview:
Here's a profile of Chivas USA's apparently ageless defender Claudio Suarez who now sounds like he will not retire at season's end after all.
Not a single Chivas USA player was named as one of the three finalists in the various categories for the MLS 2008 season awards announced today.
Galaxy defender Sean Franklin is up for Rookie of the Year (no surprise there) and Landon Donovan for MVP (or there).
Full disclosure: I didn't vote. I'm not a huge fan of awards or some of these categories (MLS Referee of the year!? Are you kidding me?) And let's dump Rookie of the Year completely (as MLS gets better, rookies just don't make that much of an impact any more). Whatever.
Here's the complete list:
Goalkeeper of the Year
Jon Busch - Chicago Fire
William Hesmer - Columbus Crew
Matt Reis - New England Revolution
Fair Play Finalists
Juan Pablo Angel - New York Red Bulls
Michael Parkhurst - New England Revolution
Chris Rolfe - Chicago Fire
MLS Comeback Player of the Year
Jon Busch - Chicago Fire
Kenny Cooper - FC Dallas
Santino Quaranta - D.C. United
Defender of the Year
Jimmy Conrad - Kansas City Wizards
Chad Marshall - Columbus Crew
Bakary Soumare - Chicago Fire
Referee of the Year
Michael Kennedy
Jair Marrufo
Terry Vaughn
Rookie of the Year
Geoff Cameron - Houston Dynamo
Kheli Dube - New England Revolution
Sean Franklin - Los Angeles Galaxy
MLS Coach of the Year
Dominic Kinnear - Houston Dynamo
Sigi Schmid - Columbus Crew
Frank Yallop - San Jose Earthquakes
MLS Most Valuable Player
Cuauhtémoc Blanco - Chicago Fire
Landon Donovan - Los Angeles Galaxy
Guillermo Barros Schelotto - Columbus Crew
Newcomer of the Year
Darren Huckerby - San Jose Earthquakes
Claudio Lopez - Kansas City Wizards
Andre Rocha - FC Dallas
MLS will gradually release the winners in the days leading up to MLS Cup, beginning with the goalkeeper of the year honor on Tuesday.
Fans are being asked to choose the 10 best goals of the year from 35 semifinalists. Vote here.
Finally, the Cal State Northridge women (7-9-2, 2-4-1 Big West) lost 1-0 today to UC Riverside (7-10-2, 2-5-1 Big West) at Matador Soccer Field.
The loss severely dented the Matadors' playoff hopes.
Here's what has to happen, according to CSUN:
"To make the playoffs, the Matadors must defeat Cal State Fullerton on Sunday and hope UC Irvine either loses both their matches or draws in one and loses the other combined with Pacific dropping their match against UC Davis on Sunday."
Got that?
David Beckham heads to Milan in January the Galaxy and AC Milan announced today.
Also, from the Galaxy press release:
AC Milan and the LA Galaxy have additionally agreed to a technical partnership that will provide great benefit to both clubs.Terms of the agreement will remain confidential.
Does this mean Kaka comes on loan?
The Galaxy have scheduled a 2 p.m. conference call with reporters.
Meanwhile, former Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid sounds like he's contending for understatement of the year with this comment about the problems at his old club to The New York Times: "Probably too many to name."
Read the whole thing here.
Finally, the Cal State Northridge men (6-6-4, 2-2-3 Big West) lost 3-1 to UC Santa Barbara Wednesday.
Updated:
Perhaps predictably, not many more details of Becks' loan move emerged from GM and Coach Bruce Arena who frankly, as one reporter observed on the call, seemed more than a bit out of the loop.
Arena, for instance, sounded unsure of when Becks would actually head to Italy (why was the Dec. 11 game in Oz canceled if he doesn't leave until January, one reporter inquired?).
Excerpts:
*On when he will return to the Galaxy:
"He's going to be back in March - and we believe it's around March 1 - and he will be available for our opening game." (MLS is likely to begin in the second or third week of March next year).
*On the benefits of the "technical partnership" with AC Milan that's part of the loan deal:
"I'm not going to tell precisely how we're going to benefit from this. ... It's just working with a club of this stature." (So it could mean AC Milan players coming here on loan. Or not).
*Finally, I asked whether Bruce was going to tell Becks not to go for risky 50-50 balls or stay away from attempting one of those rash challenges he's prone to try in an effort to ensure he doesn't get a silly injury:
"When players don't go 100 percent they get hurt," he said. "I'm not going to advise David to pull out of tackles. ... I'm certainly not going to encourage him not to give 100 percent or play 100 percent."
Chivas USA announced that last year's top scorer Maykel Galindo went under the knife for the third time this season today in yet another bid to tackle his nagging sports hernia issue.
The Cuban will be out up to three months, effectively ending a season that had never really begun anyway.
Galindo scored 12 goals and added five assists last year, but this season his hernia issues restricted him to just one goal and two assists in 10 games and only five starts.
The successful (although that's what was believed after the other two surgeries in January and June as well) "bilateral sports hernia" surgery was performed in Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, the Union Ultras fan group will hold a viewing party for the Chivas USA playoff opener Saturday in Sylmar. Kickoff is at 3 p.m. The party is at the Red Vest Pub & Pizza, 12639 Glenoaks Blvd.
Incidentally, the fan group has chartered a 50-seat bus to travel to the game, one of its members (and a loyal blog reader) e-mailed me today. All the seats were sold. Thinking optimistically, the Union Ultras have also purchased 50 tickets for MLS Cup.
Wonder what they're thinking in Salt Lake City about the series? Read this.
The return leg is Nov. 8 in Carson. Tickets are still available.
Finally, here's a couple of fast facts about the series:
*Chivas USA Coach Preki is looking for his first career playoff win. Last year Chivas USA went 0-1-1 in the playoffs.
*The 2005 expansion teams have faced each other 14 times. Chivas USA holds the edge with a 8-3-3 record.
L.A. Sol holding midfielder Shannon Boxx, a former South (Torrance) High star, was today named one of the 10 finalists for the annual FIFA honor. The U.S. Women's National Team player finished third in balloting for the award in 2005.
Also named to the list: her (hopefully) soon to be Sol teammate Marta.
The full list: Nadine Angerer (Germany), Shannon Boxx (USA), Cristiane (Brazil), Daniela (Brazil), Marta (Brazil), Birgit Prinz (Germany), Christine Sinclair (Canada), Kelly Smith (England), Hope Solo (USA) and Ingvild Stensland (Norway).
Boxxy stopped by the Home Depot Center Sunday to chat about the new Sol franchise, before the nominees were announced.
Here's some excerpts of what she had to say:
*On the new Women's Professional Soccer league and having a team in L.A.:
"It's very exciting to finally say that to be close to home we have a league, obviously I'm a product of the last league, so to be close to home - I've always wanted an L.A. team - to stay close to home and play in front of my friends and family, I'm very excited."
On how the team is coming together:
"I think we have a great team. ... (Coach) Abner (Rogers) is going to be playing possession style, I love that, so it's fitting for me as well ... We want to play style that's fun to watch."
BTW, here are the 23 nominees for the male award: Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo), Sergio Agüero (Argentina), Andrei Arshavin (Russia), Michael Ballack (Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Iker Casillas (Spain), Deco (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Côte d'Ivoire), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Steven Gerrard (England), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Kaká (Brazil), Frank Lampard (England), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Franck Ribéry (France), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), John Terry (England), Fernando Torres (Spain), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Netherlands), David Villa (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).
Winners are scheduled to be announced in January.
A few items this morning:
*The impending David Beckham loan deal to AC Milan has prompted the Galaxy to postpone its scheduled Dec. 11 game against the Queensland Roar due to the uncertainty of his availability, according to the BBC. Hmmm, it's the Beckham tail clearly wagging the Galaxy dog. Until now, he had supposedly not been leaving for Italy until the New Year.
*MLS officials announced today they have named a new MLS Cup trophy after Galaxy owner Phil Anschutz:
"Phil Anschutz has transformed the face of soccer in America," said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. "Through his commitment and support, Major League Soccer has become an important part of the American sports landscape and an emerging player in the global soccer scene. Phil's vision and deep love of the game have helped establish a vibrant 'Soccer Nation' in America. We are honored to name the MLS championship trophy the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy."
*The new sterling silver trophy was created by Tiffany & Co., and unveiled at a morning ceremony at the jeweler's New York flagship store on Fifth Avenue. From the MLS press release:
The Philip F. Anschutz championship trophy is 24" tall with an additional seamless base of 4 5/8". The trophy features fluid and dynamic handles that include 11 facets on the front and back, symbolizing the 22 players that participate in a soccer match. The gold star represents the championship club, which often incorporates a star into its team crest for each MLS Cup title it wins. The new trophy inherits select design elements from the previous two trophies, thereby honoring the League's history while moving forward. The bottom of the Philip F. Anschutz trophy features a map of North America, with a star identifying the location of each MLS market.
*The Galaxy's Tristan Bowen and Chivas USA's Jorge Flores were named to a U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team squad that will train in Spain later this month. The most interesting thing about the roster is the number of young Americans with foreign teams. Here's the full squad:
goalkeepers Earl Edwards (San Diego, Calif.), Josh Lambo (FC Dallas); defenders Gale Agbossoumonde (Syracuse, N.Y.), Anthony Arena (Kenmore, Wash.), Kyle Davies (Southampton FC), Zarek Valentin (Lancaster, Pa.), Anthony Wallace (FC Dallas); midfielders Bryan Arguez (Hertha Berlin), Jorge Flores (Chivas USA), Gregory Garza (Sporting Lisbon), Josh Hernandez (Dallas, Texas), Jared Jeffrey (Club Brugge), Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin), Giuseppe Nazzani (Reggio Emilia, Italy); forwards Vincenzo Bernardo (SSC Napoli), Tristan Bowen (Los Angeles Galaxy), Abdusalam Ibrahim (Toronto FC), Jose Torres (Loros de Colima).
*Meanwhile, the Galaxy have knocked someone out of the MLS playoffs - Revolution striker Taylor Twellman. The club announced Tuesday he is out indefinitely after continuing to suffer from concussion-related issues in the wake of Galaxy goalkeeper Steve Cronin punching him on the head Aug. 30. Cronin suffered a broken finger on the play. Twellman missed 14 games through injury this year and his latest set-back couldn't come at a worse time.
*UCLA senior defender Brad Rusin has been named the Pac-10 Player of the Week. He scored his third goal of the year over the weekend in UCLA's 1-0 win over Oregon State.
*Finally, want to win four L.A. Sol season tickets? Click here.
Something for everyone here.
Galaxy fans can console themselves with some great strikes (Brandon McDonald's screamer is not the No. 1 goal in this video); Chivas USA fans can savor these and look forward to the playoffs; U.S. fans can relive Landon Donovan's finest season; and the Columbus Crew's Robbie Rogers today had his effort against New York last month named the team's goal of the season.
Enjoy.
Next for Becks: the bright lights of Milan
Photo by Scott Varley
The dimming of the star power at the Galaxy is the subject of today's column. It's a good thing.
David Beckham and Landon Donovan have already left the building judging by their recent comments:
"I'm ready to take that step (of going to Europe) and I want to," Donovan said Sunday. "Competitively I have that itch and I want to do it and I'll make that very clear to people."
And you don't think Becks needs to play in the off-season? Rest is not what he needs. Minutes on the field are. Or his immobility on the field the Galaxy have seen on several occasions this season will be exacerbated. Beckham was hampered by a quad injury Sunday and one reporter observed he looked like he was running on a treadmill:
"It's just my age, maybe," he said only half joking.
By the way, in the wake of Beckham's first full MLS season, I asked him Sunday about some of his impressions of players and teams so far:
*Toughest opponent: - None (he didn't want to single anyone out, perhaps knowing anyone he didn't name might want to make more of an, er, impression on him next time out).
*Best team to play against - "Every time we play against Chivas, for me it's a tough game. I always enjoy that game. It's obviously a huge rivalry, but that's the game I personally enjoy playing in."
*Best opposing player in MLS - "One of the best players in this league is (New York's Juan Pablo) Angel. He's obviously played in top flight football and you can see the quality of the player and how hard he works. He's older now, but still a threat to many teams."
And finally:
*The Houston Dynamo reserves (9-1-2) captured the MLS Reserve Division title Sunday with a 3-0 win over the Chivas USA reserves (4-5-3) at Home Depot Center, claiming a $20,000 first prize. Roberto Nurse was the Chivas USA leading goalscorer with four goals and one assist in six games.
*The Galaxy reserves (1-8-3) finished their season with a 2-0 loss Sunday to their FC Dallas counterparts at the HDC.
*The Chivas USA Under-18 team (5-1) won 5-2 over the San Diego Surf on Saturday keeping them in first place in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy's SoCal Division. Polo Morales had his second hat-trick of the season, and Victor Sanchez, playing his first full game of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy season, added two more.
*The Galaxy Under-18 team (2-4) lost 3-2 to Nomads FC at the HDC.
*The Chivas USA Under-16 team fell 2-1 to the Surf on Saturday. The loss dropped the U-16's to third in their division with a 2-3-1 record (W-L-T).
*The Galaxy Under-16 team (5-1) beat Nomads 1-0 at the HDC and lead the SoCal Division.
San Pedro's Peter Hazdovac, who I first blogged about
here, scored two goals Saturday as Croatian Regional Third Division team NK Gosk beat bottom of the table Gosk KG, 3-1.
The Cal Poly product has five goals in eight games. And his team leads the league.
Greg Vanney takes the captain's armband from David Beckham for the final minute of his final game and moves on.
Photo by Scott Varley
Conventional wisdom holds MLS has improved since its 1996 debut, but now retired Galaxy defender Greg Vanney has a different perspective.
With almost his last words at a post-game press conference Sunday, the self-described "soccer junkie" who will now forge a coaching career in Arizona gave a thoughtful, cogent analysis of the state of MLS.
His words will have greater resonance for Galaxy fans who have suffered through a season of disparity in the ability and experience of veterans compared to inexpensive youngsters whose greatest attribute it sometimes seems is their willingness to take small paychecks and fit under the salary cap.
Here's the (virtually unedited) view of a player who believes he "survived in the sport more because of my brain than my athletic ability" and credits discussions "on a different level" with veteran players for being a huge part of his development as a player:
"The league early on was more of a veteran league and there were more guys who had experience and were role players and understood what their role was within the team. And there were certain guys who had special qualities, but they still all fit within the team."I think in the (time) when I was here, when I left and when I came back a lot of those sort of role players, those guys who had six, seven, five years experience were replaced with young guys who had potential.
"To me, potential is a frightening word.
"So, we had a lot of guys out there who are talented in their own right, but maybe the thinking side of the game, the decision-making and all that side isn't quite there yet.
"So, for me, the game is hectic now, it's wide open, it's all over the place. I don't remember that as a young player, when the game made sense, and players did their job and there were roles. The game was much more fluid and now it's just up and down and all over.
"And to be fair part of the reason I'm sitting here today is because in today's game, the way its become in this league, I don't survive very well in this game. Had the game continued where it was going and we wouldn't have replaced the seven, eight year veterans who understood their day to day jobs with a scheme that's very fast, almost out of control at times, who knows what would be around.
"That to me is the difference: we've replaced the good solid professional with potential.
"Maybe this league will be great in the future, but right now I think it has some growing pains it has to go through in order for it to get there and expansion is not going to change that at all because we're talking about what, three to four teams in the next few years. And that's just going to bring more younger players into the league.
"I don't think it's a bad thing, I think it's a growing pain thing. It's a process we have to get through and it's a teaching and education process. Now college players go from college to what would be the premier league in this country and there's no step in between for them to learn what it takes to be a professional.
"They're thrown out on the field and expected to have an impact. That's tough, we're asking a lot of those young guys."
The MLS playoff schedule:
Conference Semifinals, Game 1:
4:30 p.m. Thursday - Chicago Fire at New England Revolution on ESPN2/Deportes.
1 p.m. Saturday - Houston Dynamo at New York Red Bulls on Direct Kick.
3 p.m. Saturday - Chivas USA at Real Salt Lake on Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Sports en Espanol.
5 p.m. Saturday - Columbus Crew at Kansas City Wizards on HDNet/Direct Kick.
Conference Semifinals, Game 2
5:30 p.m. Nov. 6 - New England Revolution at Chicago Fire on ESPN2/Deportes.
4:30 p.m. Nov. 8 - Kansas City Wizards at Columbus Crew on HDNet/Direct Kick.
7:30 p.m. - Real Salt Lake at Chivas USA on Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Sports en Espanol.
Noon Nov. 9 - New York Red Bulls at Houston Dynamo on TeleFutura.
The format:
The team that scores the most goals in the home-and-home series advances to the single elimination Conference Championship. If the teams are tied after 180 minutes in the Conference Semifinal series, a 30-minute extra time period (divided into two 15-minute periods) will be played followed by kicks from the penalty mark, if necessary. The team with the higher seed between the two Conference finalists will host the Conference Championship game.
U.S. Under-20 World Cup Squad Named
Bruin striker Sydney Leroux was the lone player from a Southern California school named to the squad today by Coach Tony DiCicco. She played in the 2004 version at age 14 - for Canada.
The complete roster:
goalkeepers Chantel Jones (Virginia), Alyssa Naeher (Penn State), Cat Parkhill (Minnesota); defenders Kiersten Dallsteam (Washington State), Kaley Fountain (Wake Forest), Lauren Fowlkes (Notre Dame), Liz Harkin (Arizona State), Meghan Klingenberg (North Carolina), Nikki Marshall (Colorado); midfielders Gina DiMartino (Boston College), Becky Edwards (Florida State), Christine Nairn (Bowie, Md.), Elli Reed (Portland), Ingrid Wells (Georgetown), Keelin Winters (Portland); forwards Michelle Enyeart (Portland), Sydney Leroux (UCLA), Alyssa Mautz (Texas A&M), Alex Morgan (California), Nikki Washington (North Carolina).
The U.S. opens against France Nov. 19, faces Argentina Nov. 22 and concludes group play Nov. 26 against China. The tournament is in Chile.
Sunday College Soccer Scoreboard
UCLA men 1 (7-4-5 overall, Pac-10 5-1-1) Oregon State 0 (5-8-3, 2-4-1)
The Pac-10 leading Bruins, unbeaten in 10 of their last 11 games, posted their fourth consecutive shutout and won on a 14th minute goal by defender Brad Rusin over 10-man OSU, who had a player ejected in the 28th minute.
Pepperdine 2 (7-9-2, WCC 2-3) Santa Clara 1
Alexis Farler scored her first goal of the season and Amanda Rupp (La Costa Canyon High) her ninth to seal the win.
Loyola Marymount women 0 (8-6-3, WCC 3-2) San Diego 1 (13-3-0, WCC 5-0-0)
WCC-leading San Diego won its sixth-straight game to snap LMU's 17-match home unbeaten streak on a goal 10 minutes from the end of regulation.
Loyola Marymount men (4-6-5, WCC 2-4-1) 0 San Diego 3 (6-6-3, WCC 6-1)
Conference-leading San Diego handed LMU its third straight loss. Seeing his first action since Sept. 7, redshirt freshman goalkeeper Jack McCormack (Manhattan Beach)
made one save.
Long Beach State 5 (11-4-3, Big West 5-0-1) Cal State Northridge 0 (7-8-2, Big West 2-3-1)
Galaxy 2 FC Dallas 2
Edson Buddle scores the Galaxy's first goal
Photo by Scott Varley
There was a lot to talk about in the post-game press conference.
Retiring Dallas midfielder Bobby Rhine (captain for the day) and retiring Galaxy defender Greg Vanney (captain at game's end) both spoke and summed up their respective careers
The two opposing coaches, the Galaxy's Bruce Arena and Dallas' Schellas Hyndman, spoke about their massive respective off-season rebuilding jobs.
And Landon Donovan and David Beckham addressed the next phases of their careers.
Below is just a sampling of what they had to say. I'll update with more later.
Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena on the strides the team has made since he took over:
"As the season ends, am I pleased competitively where we are right now? No, not at all. The work starts immediately now to improve this roster, improve this team. To improve the philosophy, to improve the leadership, to improve the commitment and make everything better.
On how the team has improved and how it can get better:
"We have, oddly enough, improved defensively. However we're not good enough positionally in a lot of spots on the field. ...I know this roster very well now. And I know what needs to be done. ... It's pretty obvious the kind of changes we need to make to get better. And I think we can accomplish most of that, although it's going top take a little bit of good bookkeeping. We have to deal with issues with salary cap.
On Beckham's performance:
Those of you who might doubt the commitment of David Beckham - he played hurt today. We weren't sure he'd be able to play. I applaud David for his effort on the field today because he was not 100 percent."
Greg Vanney on receiving the captain's armband from Beckham when he came on (very) late:
"David's decision to give me the armband was just spur of the moment - he did it. I don't think there was any premeditation or anything on that level so I think (it was) just a very respectful move by him. We've gotten to be fairly close this year. I think it was a great move, I was touched by it. That was one of the highlights of my day, actually.
On when he decided to retire:
"I've been considering it for, who knows, throughout the year. I've had a difficult run the past few years. I've moved probably four or five times the last two years alone, the last 18 months probably. That type of thing, along with non-guaranteed contracts as well as the difficulty every off-season with MLS and the uncertainty - this club probably rebuilding anew a little bit. I tried to make the decision that was best for me. I kind of came to that conclusion in the last few weeks.'
David Beckham on his quad injury and his immobility the last few games:
"It's just my age maybe. I've had it three days; I haven't been able to train the last two days. My quads were burning, but I got through the game."
On the quality of MLS officiating:
"As a professional, it's frustrating because we try and do our jobs and we expect other people to do their's as well and do it in the right way. And the majority of the time it's so inconsistent. It's simple plays that are affecting the game - and ruining the game. ... I'm fed up with sitting up here and talking about that. ... It can only get better. It can't get any worse."
The game ended 2-2, Eddie Lewis drawing a clumsy challenge from Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala to win a penalty kick in the 79th minute.
Landon Donovan converted for his 20th goal of the year and finish the season as MLS' top scorer.
Edson Buddle could of and probably should of scored with a 83rd minute header that flashed wide.
Dallas played with 10 men from the 50th minute when Aaron Pitchkolan was sent off.
Greg Vanney made his final MLS appearance, but Coach Bruce Arena didn't bring him on until stoppage time (there's respect for you).
Becks gave Vanney - a Galaxy original in 1996 and former Bruin - the captain's arm band when he came on in a classy gesture.
Oh, and the Galaxy are still tied for last (on points) in MLS.
More later
Ill-disciplined, ill-timed and generally inept, the first half essentially summed up the Galaxy's season: Dallas scored two consecutive goals in five minutes, Brazilian Alvaro Pires received a straight red for a studs up challenge just before half time and David Beckham earned a yellow card for mouthing off/having one of his increasingly tiresome petulant little meltdowns.
Things had started brightly for the Galaxy.
Eddie Lewis slung a long ball the width of the field over to Beckham and he crossed to Edson Buddle, standing unmarked right in front of the goal, who headed in his 15th of the season.
It was Becks' first assist since the 5-2 win over Dallas on Sept. 20.
Drew Moor and Victor Sikora scored for Dallas.
The first goal was a gift from Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Wicks, who failed to catch a ball from a corner kick.
The second was presented by the Galaxy defense who froze when confronted by a long ball out of the back from Dallas left back Duilio Davino and allowed Sikora to wander through alone for his first MLS goal.
His legs and a once blistering shot clearly gone as Galaxy fans have seen this season, defender Greg Vanney called time on a 13-year professional career today, announcing his retirement before the game.
Vanney spent 10 years in MLS, including seven in two stints for the Galaxy, and played another three seasons in France.
"While it is a bittersweet feeling to be ending my career today, I'm happy that I am able to do so with the Galaxy where I started my career," he said.
He also played 37 times with the U.S. National Team.
But the post-Vanney era clearly can't come soon enough for Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena - Vanney doesn't get the start in the last game of his career; Julian Valentin, making his MLS debut, is preferred in central defense.
Josh Wicks in back in goal, with Steve Cronin on the bench, behind a defense that also sees Mike Randolph make his first second start under Arena, with defender Sean Franklin (Galaxy defender of the year, it was announced before the game) the third of three defenders listed on the team sheet.
The midfield: Chris Klein, Alvaro Pires, David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Eddie Lewis.
Up front: Edson Buddle and Alan Gordon.
Vanney is, at least, on the bench.
The Galaxy award winners announced this morning includes Donovan, who needs one goal and one assist to become the first MLS player ever with 20 goals and 10 assists, not surprisingly named MVP.
The L.A. Riot Squad named Chris Klein as their player of the year award and will present him with it at game's end.
Dallas has Jeff Cunningham and Kenny Cooper up front, who is one behind Donovan in the MLS scoring race.
This is it.
The final Galaxy game. Team awards will be handed out. And players will shuffle off into the sunset.
So we'll keep this simple.
Notable: There should be a bigger discount at the Team LA Store. All Galaxy merchandise is off 40 percent today - but they've been off far more than that this season.
Quotable:
"It's certainly a team that needs to be reconstructed, if you want to use that word," said Coach Bruce Arena. "We have an odd balance on our team on the field. We have an odd balance age-wise. And we certainly have some issues that need to be resolved with the salary cap."
Here's Arena on what a great job Anschutz Entertainment Group has done as owners (ahem):
"They're passionate. They put their money where their mouths are. Phil Anschutz has carred this league on his back .Tim Lieweke has done a passionate job in the process. Hey, they've done a fabulous job. Where we've screwed up is we in management and the front office in getting this team better and the players. That's where the problem lies - we've got to get it better. That's my job and the players job - that's why I'm here. It hasn't been good enough. If you're grading just on ownership we won the league a long time ago. ... We're not getting it done on the field. Let's be fair about that. I wish I could blame our performances on ownership."
Let's leave it on that surreal note.
The game begins at noon on FSN.
The story of the night: Dynamo striker Nate Jaqua and Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy battle
Photo by Sean Hiller
Last year Chivas USA exited the playoffs early because they were unable to replace Maykel Galindo and Ante Razov up front; this year they will be without goalkeeping revelation Dan Kennedy after he received a unforgiving red card in the 1-1 draw Saturday with Houston.
Highlights:
Dynamo Coach Dominic Kinnear on why he remonstrated with the fourth official after the penalty call:
I didn't want to see the guy get sent off that was it. I thought the Kennedy guy was trying to play the ball. ... I know what the rule is - you don't want to see a guy miss his first playoff game.
But he thought it was a PK:
"I saw a guy breaking through and then kind of knocked it by him and he kind of blocked his path and ran into him. They both stumbled. I think it was a collision. I just don't think he took him down. ... I thought it was a penalty for sure."
Former Galaxy striker Nate Jaqua sounded less sure:
"He got me very, very minor. ... It was a harsh PK."
Jim Curtin on his goal:
"Cary put a hard ball in behind the defense I know any time that happens it's tough to handle and it can bounce off anybody. I think it hit Dynamo goalkeeper Pat) Onstad and then somebody else it deflected off of and then there was just kind of a race to it between me and (Wade) Barrett - he may actually have got their first, but I kind of slid it in. it was kind of an ugly goal, but it gets the job done, I guess."
On making a statement:
"Both of us wanted to come out and show each other, because there''s a good chance we're going to meet in the playoffs."
Brian Mullan and Shavar Thomas battle for the ball
Photo by Sean Hiller
Preki on the referee making the PK call: "I thought he spoilt the game. ... It's disappointing that in a game that doesn't basically mean anything, but three points and a little bit of prestige that we get these kinds of things. He told the guys (Kennedy) was the last man. Watching the replay if that was a contact, it was a very minor contact. ... even if the referee decides to call a penalty that's not a red card. i disagree with the call."
Phil Collin had more from Jesse Marsch on the PK/red card:
"He couldn't say anything. He tried backpedaling the whole time and then saying he had to give the red and his linesman was even trying to flag him over and say you know I don't know what he wanted to say to him. I suspect it was to probably that shouldn't have been a red but he already gave a red. He already made a horrible, horrible mistake. That is a ridiculous mistake that no professional referee should ever make. I mean, it's so disappointing that for the second year in a row we've got to deal with this."Again, I'm embarrassed, it's ridiculous and now we've got to go into the playoffs without one of our key guys.
"Listen. It was a breakaway and Nate Jaqua dribbled around him and literally - I played with Nate and Nate starts stumbling like he does often times. And if a referee understands anything about players in the league, he understands that Nate Jaqua is clumsy. (laughs) That's the bottom line. He's clumsy. And he started falling, falling and then he just fell down and he could have stayed up and the referee just bailed him out, bailed their team out, sends our goalie off the field off for the playoffs. It's a joke, it's embarrassing. He should be done for the year, done for the year with a play like that."
Phil also caught up with a crestfallen Dan Kennedy:
"He came in one on one and in those situations you try not to over commit and you try to make it hard on them. He decided to dribble me. Really, I thought I did a good job closing him down. He touched it wide to try to touch it around me. I mean his touch was really far out wide. And I did my best to get out of the way and turn and run with him. There is such minimal contact for even a penalty to be called in my mind."I was in disbelief that I even heard a whistle.
"For me I'm just so disappointed and I'm disheartened. We've done a really good job as a team to get into the playoffs and I've really been looking forward to that and I feel it's been stripped away from me.
"In moments like this you try to accept that some things just happen for a reason and got to move on. I'm gutted."
Chivas USA salvaged a 1-1 tie with a Jim Curtin goal being bundled over the line in the 90th minute, but events early in the second half that will result in the absence of goalkeeper Dan Kennedy for their playoff opener overshadowed the result.
Kennedy was sent off in the 52nd minute after referee Terry Vaughn appeared to believe Nate Jaqua was deliberately pulled down by the last man back. But Jaqua was jumping over Kennedy and the two collided in midair, making the call an extremely harsh one, if not completely and utterly wrong.
Dwayne De Rosario scored from the resulting spot kick, sending sub Zach Thornton the wrong way.
We've requested an explanation about exactly what the infraction was from the ref - I'll let you know what he says.
More after an undoubtedly angry Preki lets it rip.
This result just in: Pasadena City College product Yura Movsisyan equalized for Real Salt Lake in the 90th minute against Colorado to put the Utah team through and dumping the Rapids from the playoffs.
RSL needed only a draw to clinch a playoff spot. Conor Casey scored the Rapids' goal in the 11th minute, aptly enough his 11th of the now-ended campaign.
Chivas USA will travel to Rio Tinto Stadium for the opening game set for 3 p.m. Nov. 1 live on Fox Soccer Channel; the return leg is 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8 in Carson.
As for the game at Home Depot Center, perhaps predictably, with nothing at stake there's nothing on the scoreboard either.
But Chivas USA have goalkeeper Dan Kennedy, quickly becoming a cult figure to the lively crowd, to thank for the 0-0 scoreline.
With Brian Ching running in alone on the goal four minutes before half time, Kennedy came out to the penalty spot to narrow the angle and saved Ching's shot from 18 yards with his right foot, to the delight of the crowd.
A minute later he made a reaction save to deny Ricardo Clark a headed goal from a corner kick.
While there weren't many scoring chances, this is an attractive fast-paced game with lots of short passes between two teams unwilling to back down given that they could face each other in the Western Conference championship.
Changes galore for Chivas USA Coach Preki in the meaningless final regular home game of the season, as experience is preferred over youth.
Dan Kennedy continues to keep Zach Thornton on the bench and starts in goal, but there are three changes to the four man back line in front of him.
Shavar Thomas is the lone holdover from the defense that conceded two goals in a losing effort against the Rapids last weekend. In come Carey Talley, Claudio Suarez and Francisco Mendoza (both rested last week); Jonathan Bornstein and Alex Zotinca are both on the bench while there's no sign of Loyola Marymount product Bobby Burling at all.
In midfield Sacha Klejstan comes in for the injured Sasha Victorine, Paulo Nagamura returns from concussion and Justin Braun is relegated to the bench.
Up front for the second consecutive game: Ante Razov and Alecko Eskandarian.
Brazilian Dejair and Mexican Roberto Nurse are options off the bench.
Houston isn't resting anyone by the looks of it, although Leuzinger High (Lawndale) product Kei Kamara is suspended.
Dynamo lineup: Pat Onstad, Richard Mulrooney, Bobby Boswell, Eddie Robinson, Wade Barrett, Brian Mullan, Ricardo Clark, Dwayne De Rosario, Brad Davis, Brian Ching, Nate Jaqua.
In the most relevant game for Chivas USA this evening, Colorado is leading Real Salt Lake 1-0 just before half time. Chivas USA plays the winner in the first round of the playoffs.
With reporters from Italy, England, Holland and the usual local contingent present, David Beckham spoke for the first time today on the proposed two-month loan deal to AC Milan aimed at maintaining his fitness for England.
Beckham said he is "95 percent sure" it will be completed in the next two weeks, but repeatedly reiterated there was no chance of a permanent deal when he was asked point blank if Sunday could be his last game for the Galaxy:
"No, it won't be. I made that clear. I've said my commitment is still to be with the Galaxy and that's not changed."I'm not leaving the Galaxy," he added later. "I'll be back. I'm a Galaxy player."
Beckham, who acknowledged he had initiated the possible deal, suggested the loan was beneficial not only for him, but the Galaxy as well:
"If you know footballers, they don't have four months off in any league in the world except for here," he said. "This is my second season in the league and I'm not prepared to have four or five months off without training."I don't agree with the amount of time that we have off here," he added. "I need to play. My body is programmed not to have so much time off. I'm not prepared to do that again."
Beckham said AC Milan was the Italian team he most wanted to play for:
"I'm honored that I've been given a chance to actually join up with a team like Milan, specially with the players they've got. They've got some of the best players in the world on their team - Ronaldhino, Seedorf, Gatuso, Kaka and, of course, Maldini."
And Shevchenko. Bit different than playing alongside the likes of Franklin, Roberts, Gordon and Jordan anyway.
Can he keep up with the improved caliber of player in Italy? I asked if he was in Serie A form. His response: "You always ask negative questions."
He later copped to his underwhelming play this season:
"Its been on and off. I've had good games, I've had bad games ... Its been OK in spells and maybe in other games it's not been."
When it was suggested to Becks he might need to go on loan again in the winter of 2009-2010 ahead of the World Cup, if you follow his logic of needing to play this January, he smiled and declined to look that far ahead.
And for the fashionistas among you, Becks was dressed ultra-casually on a scorching day in white flip flops, burgandy fashionably-worn cargo shorts and an acid-washed t-shirt.
Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena was considerably more vague about what he knew about the deal and when he knew it, the suspicion among the assembled press corps being that like his predecessors he knew little in advance about the proposal:
"I have information. In my view since the league is the one that handles the contractual matters I think it's crucial they are involved in the process."This has been something that's come on recently. I'm not of the belief this thing has been in the works for months."
On the risk of Beckham getting injured in Italy as he did at Real Madrid right before he got here:
"Injury is a part of the game. You could get injured going in the weight room."
Much more important to Chivas USA fans than today's 7:30 p.m. regular season-ending game at Home Depot Center (live on Fox Soccer Channel) in what could be a preview of the Western Conference championship game against the Houston Dynamo is the match between Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids.
That game, which kicks off an hour earlier than the one in Carson, will decide Chivas USA's first round playoff opponent.
So what's the lure of today's game?
Let us count the ways:
*Good quality soccer - Chivas USA has won four of their last five games, the Dynamo are unbeaten in eight.
*Cheap seats plus swag - four tickets, four hats and four hot dogs start at $58, plus the first 7,500 fans get a free soccer ball. Oh, and the first 10,000 also get a T-shirt.
*Soccer tennis anyone? You want to get there early anyway to check out the free soccertennis tournament starting at 5 p.m. in the adjacent tennis stadium. Participants include Playa del Rey's John O'Brien, Eric Wynalda, Alexi Lalas and Joy Fawcett. Video and more info here.
*Altruism? Cell Phones for Soldiers, a non-profit organization that recycles cell phones to buy prepaid calling cards for U. S. troops stationed overseas, will be at the match. Fans are encouraged to bring old cell phones to donate them to the group, which will have a booth outside the Southwest Entrance to the stadium. The organization will also hand out envelopes so fans who did not bring cell phones can send them in later.
Game previews are here and here.
Finally, MLS announced details Friday of the 10-round Nov. 26 expansion draft for the Seattle Sounders.
MLS teams must submit their lists of protected players by Nov. 24. No team can lose more than one player to Seattle.
UCLA 2 (14-0-2, Pac-10 5-0-0) USC 1 (12-3-1, Pac-10 2-2-1). No NCAA attendance records broken, but the 7,804 there was still the largest ever to see a Trojans-Bruins game and beat the the previous USC record for attendance at a soccer game. A total of 1,469 fans attended USC's NCAA Third Round match last season in the Coliseum.
Also:
*Pepperdine 0 (6-9-2, 1-3 WCC) San Diego 1 (12-4-2, 4-0 WCC)
Waves lost on first half goal from free kick.
*Loyola Marymount women 2 (8-5-3, 3-1 WCC) Santa Clara 1 (4-10-3, 1-2-1 WCC)
Lions win was third ever over Santa Clara, snapping seven-game winless streak against the Broncos.
The L.A. Women's Professional Soccer team will be called the Sol (the lasses of LAS!).
Check out the logo and team colors (guess we should have figured a team owned in part by the owner of the W-League Pali Blues would stick with a primarily blue - dark and light - color scheme with accents of yellow and black).
The Sol name is meant to reflect the sunny weather and heritage - "sol" is sun in Spanish and other languages - of Southern California.
Season tickets for the inaugural season that begins in April will cost $125 to $750.
Full disclosure: The official unveiling of the name, logo and colors is set for Sunday; because another reporter was leaked and published the information this afternoon, I decided to break the embargo and publish it, too.
I'll forgo the usual weekend preview today (I'll have more later today) to hype up a game that's increasing in magnitude with every passing year when the No. 3 USC (12-2-1) women host No. 9 UCLA (13-0-2) tonight at 7 at the Coliseum.
A big game - it's a rematch of last year's NCAA semifinal that saw USC defeat the Bruins and go on to win the national title - so a big crowd is expected.
Here's the Daily Bruin version.
And here's what the Daily Trojan had to say.
Tickets are just $7 adults, $5 children 12 and under or organize a group of 10 or more of your closest friends and pay just $3 a ticket. Take a minibus though; in best L.A. tradition parking is more expensive than a seat - it's $8 in Coliseum lots 4, 5 and 6.
Notable:
*UCLA has conceded just two goals all season, but the Bruins' defense faces a USC offense ranked No. 10 in the nation with an average of 2.8 goals per game.
*USC is unbeaten in a program record 19 home games.
In other UCLA soccer news, former Bruins Paul Caligiuri and Brad Friedel have been selected to the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer 50th Anniversary team.
A list of more than 100 former players athletes and 10 head coaches was narrowed down to 32 and six, respectively, through a voting subcommittee. The finalists were then put on an online ballot and voted on by the public through NCAA.com.
The winners and their college affiliations: Jeff Agoos, Virginia; Armando Betancourt, Indiana; Paul Caligiuri, UCLA; Richard Chinapoo, Long Island; Angelo DiBernardo, Indiana; Brad Friedel, UCLA; John Harkes, Virginia; Glenn Myernick, Hartwick; Farrukh Quraishi, SUNY Oneonta; Claudio Reyna, Virginia; and Al Trost, Saint Louis. The coach is Indiana's Jerry Yeagley.
Former Galaxy defender Caligiuri, now coaching at Cal Poly Pomona, led UCLA to its first-ever national title in 1985 before playing 114 times with the U.S. National Team.
Friedel, currently mentoring former Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan at Aston Villa, led UCLA to the 1990 NCAA title as a freshman and still holds the program's record for career goals against average (0.60). He played 82 games for the U.S.
Team members will be honored at the College Cup in December.
Finally, in a college game Thursday the Loyola Marymount men lost at home for the first time this season in conference play, falling 2-0 to San Diego despite hitting the woodwork three times. The Lions are now (4-5-5, 2-3-1 WCC), while the Toreros (5-6-3, 5-1-0 WCC) finish the first half of WCC play atop the league standings.
Quotable:
"We outplayed them, we hit the post three times," said LMU Coach Paul Krumpe. "For whatever reason we've been very unlucky putting things away this year."
I mentioned this in a column earlier this month, but officials with the Carson-based Women's Professional Soccer franchise confirmed today the team's name, logo and colors will be unveiled at Sunday's final Galaxy home game of the season.
U.S. Women's National Team star Shannon Boxx (South High), who will play for the team, will be on hand to help with the unveiling.
I'll have more Sunday.
Chivas USA announced its 20088 season award winners today.
Midfielder Sacha Kljestan, 23, was named team MVP after his break-out season for club (and country). He's tied for the team lead in goals and leads the team in assists.
Other award winners named by the club in a press release were:
Claudio Suárez, Chivas USA's Defender of the Year in 2006 and 2007, this year wins the Chivas Regal Award, for the player "who best represents the spirit of Chivas USA." Suárez is succeeded as Defender of the Year by the 2008 winner, defensive midfielder Paulo Nagamura. Los Alamitos native Jonathan Bornstein, in his third year with the club, was named U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year.
The trio will be recognized Saturday at the final home game of the regular season.
Cal State Dominguez Hills teams swept Cal State San Marcos Wednesday, the No. 6-ranked men men (15-2-1) winning 5-3, the 11-7 women winning 5-1 over their sixth-ranked opponent in the Toros' final home game of the regular season. The CSUDH programs close out their respective conference campaigns on the road this weekend.
Finally, a tip of the hat to two press box colleagues, Andrea Canales and Luis Bueno, who are shutting down their blog Sideline Views. It was one of my daily must reads. Andrea, one of the few female soccer writers in the country, brought a unique perspective to the game, while Luis was one of the most knowledgeable English-language writers on Mexican futbol in the region. Both will continue to write for other outlets; me, I'll miss seeing them daily in the same place.
Beckham Update?
David Beckham wasn't talking today, but Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena did on the possibility of him going on loan to AC Milan:
"I haven't spent a second of my day even thinking about it to be honest. For me personally and with this team, I don't think we would loan any player out for six months. That's how long you have to loan him out for until the next transfer window, which would be June. On the surface, it sounds like an odd proposition. I don't see where that benefits MLS or the Galaxy. "
Who said anything about six months?
Here's Chris Klein on Beckham's pending loan move:
"He wants to win. He made it known when he came over here he wasn't coming here to sell T-shirts. I'm sure he's disappointed in the production of the team in the last year and a half. Does that fall on his shoulders? No. We all take responsibility for the results of this team of late. I'm sure there's that disappointment inside of him, though."
In other Galaxy news:
*Former President and General Manager Doug Hamilton, as well as former midfielders Mauricio Cienfuegos and Cobi Jones are the first honorees of a Wall of Legends intended to "honor individuals or groups who have significantly contributed to the growth and success of the club." Inauguration of the first members is 9:30 a.m. Sunday in the Southwest Concourse of Home Depot Center.
In Chivas USA news:
*Fox Soccer Channel will air both Chivas USA games of its Western Conference semifinal series against either Real Salt Lake or the Colorado Rapids. Game 1 is set for Nov. 1, while game 2 of the series is scheduled for Nov. 8 at Home Depot Center.
* Brad Guzan update.
In college soccer:
*Cal State Northridge men (6-5-3), down one player for the majority of the match, lost 3-2 Wednesday to Cal State Irvine.
*No. 9 USC (12-2-1) meets No. 3 UCLA (13-0-2) 7 p.m. Friday in a rematch of the 2007 NCAA semifinal at the Coliseum. Organizers are trying to set an NCAA attendance record, which stands at 14,410. USC, unbeaten in a program record 19 home games, wants a crowd of 15,000.
Check out the promo.
Lastly, in youth soccer news:
*Lancaster and Cal South will host the 2009 U.S. Youth Soccer Region IV Championships June 15-21 drawing nearly 4,500 players and an estimated 10,000 spectators at the Lancaster National Soccer Complex The 35-field facility will see 248 boys and girls teams, ages Under-12 through Under-19, from the 14 western U.S. Youth Soccer State Associations that make up US Youth Soccer Region IV (Alaska, Arizona, California North, California South, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming). Regional winners of the Under-14 through Under-19 brackets earn a berth to the 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championships.
Although a small media horde has gathered in Carson this morning, I understand from David Beckham's publicist on this side of the Atlantic that Becks will not speak after the Galaxy's practice.
But Glenn Lehrman confirmed that talks are on-going for a two-month loan deal and released this statement:
"At this moment discussions are going on with AC Milan - nothing has been confirmed at the moment. He's considering a proposal from them to go on loan for the start of the year to maintain his level of fitness and make himself available for England selection. He remains an L.A. Galaxy player and would report as normal to the start of the 2009 MLS season."
England coach Fabio Capello had reportedly told English media that Beckham would be axed from England's next World Cup qualifying squad in February if he were not playing regularly.
Updated: Beckham did not, as previously reported, talk to reporters today after practice, although Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena and other players did.
There will be a complete story in Thursday's Daily News, Daily Breeze, Long Beach Press-Telegram and other MediaNews newspapers.
I was told by reporter Phil Collin, who was out at practice today, that Arena made a reference to a six-month loan deal, although he did not cite a source or rule for that length of time, which contradicts what we've heard so far.
Beckham will apparently wait until Saturday before addressing the media, his publicist said. Presumably by then the A.C. Milan deal will be confirmed.
CNN confirmed with David Beckham's agent today that the Galaxy midfielder will head to Italy's AC Milan on a two-month loan in the wake of the club's tour Down Under after the MLS season concludes so he can retain his fitness for England.
It does not sound like he's going to miss much, if any, of the MLS preseason, according to this quote in England's Daily Mail from Beckham agent Simon Oliveira:
"Nothing is confirmed yet, but the intention is to go to AC Milan on loan for January and February. He would be going there with the view to keeping fit and being available for selection for England."The idea is he then goes back to the Galaxy to join up with their pre-season in March. He will not be joining AC Milan permanently. He had a five-year contract with the Galaxy
and has three years left and every intention of fulfilling that."
AC Milan are currently sitting fifth in the league.
Updated 10:28 a.m. Got off the phone a few minutes ago with the Galaxy PR folks who tell me his Beckhamness will not be addressing the media on the issue after training today (he usually only deigns to speak to reporters once a week). We'll see. But that would be par for the course: a global news story, Beckham in our back yard and he's not talking.
In other Beckham-related news, he's agreed to do his bit for England's 2018 World Cup bid.
Speaking of the World Cup, there's much gnashing of teeth south of the border over Mexico's World Cup qualifying status - or lack thereof.
Finally, this just in from the "I live in a glass house" department - North Korean nutjob Kim Jong Il is not at all pleased with the nation's hairy soccer players.
Because, of course, that rich, famine-free and non-authoritarian nation doesn't have more pressing issues than a "follicular clampdown".