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.Red Bull New York at Galaxy
Coach Frank Yallop has named an unchanged line-up for the second consecutive game as the Galaxy tonight seek their sixth consecutive win.
Joe Cannon is in goal as usual, Chris Klein and Mike Randolph are the full backs, with Chris Klein and Ante Jazic the central defenders.
Cobi Jones, playing the final regular season home game of his long career, starts in midfield with Josh Tudela, Pete Vagenas and Kyle Martino.
Up front is captain Landon Donovan and Carlos Pavon.
And yes, David Beckham is on the bench.
Bruce Arena makes two changes to the Red Bull team that beat Kansas City Saturday, their first win since Sept. 1.
Joe Vide comes in for the suspended Dema Kovalenko in midfield, while striker Francis Doe has a hip injury and did not travel with the team; former Galaxy forward John Wolyniec gets the start alongside Juan Pablo Angel, while Clint Mathis is on the bench.
Claudio Reyna is out with a sprained toe.
Cobi Jones will be honored before the game with what's likely to be a lengthy presentation.
Updated: After a video presentation that included Cobi Jones highlights and comments by the likes of Sigi Schmid, Kevin Hartman and Steve Sampson (who was roundly booed), MLS Commissioner Don Garber was hauled out and he called Cobi "a great corporate citizen."
Is that the biggest compliment the league's head honcho could give one of the greatest American soccer players ever?
Oh, and Cobi got a skiing vacation anywhere in the world as a gift. Apparently, he's not allowed to ski under the terms of his contract, but has always wanted to try it. Should do wonders for his chronically injured hip.