Columnist Nick Green has written 100 Percent Soccer
since 2005. 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.
Married to a long-suffering soccer widow, he has a cat
named Pele.F.C. Dallas at Galaxy
The (4-13-6) Galaxy, losers of nine of their last 10 games, have Joe Cannon in goal as usual.
Quavas Kirk is a late switch for Kelly Gray at right back, who was scheduled to replace Chris Klein, who slots into midfield today. The rest of the back four - Ty Harden, Troy Roberts and Mike Randolph - is unchanged.
Klein lines up in midfield alongside Kevin Harmse, Cobi Jones and second round draft pick Josh Tudela, with Landon Donovan moved up to forward to partner Alan Gordon.
Honduran Carlos Pavon, who Coach Frank Yallop probably never wants to see starting at forward again, is on the bench as any international striker with two goals in 12 MLS games should be. Full back Ante Jazic and Pete Vagenas are also potential subs.
FC Dallas sees Alan Yi come in to replace the suspended Clarance Goodson at the back, while Dax McCarty starts in midfield for the injured Pablo Ricchetti.
Abe Thompson drops to the bench in attack, with Dominic Oduro coming in to partner former Galaxy striker Carlos Ruiz.
Ominously, Ruiz has nine goals in his last 12 games and five in his last seven MLS outings, including a brace in Dallas' 4-2 loss last Saturday to New England.
That doesn't bode well for MLS' worst team, who have seven games left to pull off a major miracle and make the playoffs.
The Crew's win Saturday against Toronto means Dallas (12-9-4) can't clinch a playoff spot today, but since they occupy the fifth playoff spot that's just a matter of time.
Beckham Update: Calm your collective selves - He's about to start a kicking a ball, he said in the pre-game interview on Fox.
Also, Klein is at right back after all, with Kirk in right midfield.