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.Monday Quick Kicks
MLS Playoff Update
Four teams – the Chicago Fire, Kansas City Wizards, Colorado Rapids and Los Angeles Galaxy – are vying for the two remaining playoff spots as the regular season enters its final week, while Chivas USA still has a shot at the top seed in the Western Conference.
Over the weekend D.C. United clinched the Supporters’ Shield, given to the team with the best regular season record, becoming the first team to earn the honor two years in a row.
For Chivas USA and the Galaxy the permutations come down to this:
Chivas USA will clinch first place in the Western Conference if Houston loses to Real Salt Lake today or the Goats tie or defeat the Dynamo Saturday.
A Houston draw against Real Salt Lake tonight will set up a showdown with Chivas USA Saturday night for the top seed in the Western Conference.
Wins over New York Thursday and Chicago Sunday will see the Galaxy qualify for the playoffs. The Galaxy are eliminated if they tie New York and fail to win in Chicago.
For the rest: A Kansas City win against host FC Dallas Saturday sends the Wizards to the postseason regardless of other results.
Colorado must win against Real Salt Lake Saturday and get help from other results.
Chicago are in with a win over the Galaxy. A tie against the Galaxy means Chicago will also be looking at the scoreboard seeking help from other teams.
The playoff standings are here.
Sigi Safe
Despite beating the New England Revolution 3-2 Saturday, the Columbus Crew exited the playoff race.
But the job of coach and longtime South Bay resident Sigi Schmid is apparently safe, with the 8-11-10 Crew opting to pick up his one-year option.
Schmid told the Columbus Dispatch:
"If they decide to come back and say they want to go another direction, that's fine. I think the club right now is in a much better position than it was when I came."
College Update
Maxwell Griffin's fifth goal of the year in the 88th minute was enough for the UCLA men (5-5-2) to see off 16th-ranked California Sunday.Palos Verdes Estates' Kyle Nakazawa got the assist.
Sophomore Lauren Cheney got two goals and junior Caitlyn Mac Kechnie added another as the top-ranked UCLA women beat Oregon 3-0 Sunday at Drake Stadium. The Bruins, who have won six in a row, improved to 9-1-2 overall.
The Loyola Marymount men (2-7-1) took the lead twice Sunday, but Portland scored four times in a 16-minute second half span to win 5-2 in Oregon.
Next: San Francisco at Sullivan Field 4 p.m. Friday.
The LMU women (9-3-1) won their West Coast Conference opener 1-0 over Pepperdine (3-5-5) Sunday afternoon. The Lions extended their school-record winning streak to nine games, while halting the Waves' seven-match unbeaten run.
The Cal State Northridge women (2-9-1) lost to 3-1 Long Beach State Sunday afternoon at Matador Soccer Field, despite taking a second minute lead. The Matadors have lost five straight games, while Long Beach remained in first place in the Big West Conference with three straight road wins.
Senior Julio Madrigal scored the game-winner with 11 minutes left to propel 18th-ranked Cal State Dominguez Hills (12-3) to a 2-1 win at Cal State L.A. Sunday giving the Toros their third-straight win and the Golden Eagles their third straight loss.
Cal State Dominguez Hills lead Cal State L.A. by three points in the South Division.
Next: CSUDH plays 4:30 p.m. against Cal State Stanislaus at Toro Stadium.
The CSUDH women (11-2-3) lost 1-0 to Cal State L.A. in only their second conference defeat.
With the victory Cal State L.A. pulled to within four points of Cal State Dominguez Hills for the fourth and final spot in the CCAA Championship Tournament.