With their two starting strikers injured, Chivas USA will need all the magic they can muster to claw back from a 1-0 deficit against the Wizards tonight.
Beat writer Ivan Orozco has the game preview, while Billy Witz profiles the heart and soul of a young Chivas USA team, midfielder (and infrequent blogger) Jesse Marsch.
Allegedly the Wizards plan to attack tonight.
The winner meets the Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference finals. The Dynamo defeated FC Dallas 4-2 on aggregate Friday night, scoring two goals in extra time to go through.
Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan sat down for a Q&A session ahead of the game with ussoccerplayers.com.
Carson firefighters dispatched to the recent wildfires in San Diego and Orange counties will conduct the honorary coin toss before the game.
Led by Battalion Chief Jack Ricci and Captain David Martinez, members of Fire Station 116, which is located across Victoria Street from Home Depot Center will do the duties.
A portion of the proceeds from the game will go to the American Red Cross for wildfire relief efforts.
I’ll blog from the game as usual.
Posh Place?
Meanwhile, they’re getting pumped in Vancouver for Wednesday’s game against David Beckham, um, the Galaxy.
College Update
Good news for the Cal State Dominguez Hills men, not so good for the women Friday in Carson.
In women’s soccer, the undefeated and top-ranked UCLA women got first-half goals from Lauren Cheney and Danesha Adams to win 3-1 Friday evening over visiting Arizona State.
Lauren Barnes added an insurance goal in the 52nd minute for the Bruins (13-1-2, 6-0-0 Pac-10). Kyleyn Felts scored the lone goal for the Sun Devils (9-8-1, 3-3-1) in the 73rd minute. Valerie Henderson had three saves for UCLA.
UCLA plays its final home match of the regular season at 1 p.m. Sunday, hosting Arizona.
No. 4 USC (12-2-2, 4-1-1 Pac-10) achieved a come from behind win to beat Arizona 3-1, Alyssa Davila scoring in the 66th minute to propel the host Trojans to victory and preserve their home unbeaten streak.
Analisa Marquez scored in the 59th minute to put the Wildcats (6-11-1, 1-5-1 Pac-10) ahead before Ashley Nick tied it up just two minutes later. Amy Rodriguez added an insurance goal in the 75th minute for USC.
Next: Arizona State at 1 p.m. Sunday at McAlister Field in the last home game of the season for USC.
Long Beach State beat Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 3-1 with Manhattan Beach freshman Lindsay Bullock (Mira Costa High) one of three different 49ers to score. Game details are here.
Cal State Northridge defeated UC Santa Barbara 1-0, with Kristy Krohn scoring in the 15th minute and freshman goalkeeper Ivette Esqueda recording eight saves to post her first career shutout victory as the host Matadors (5-10-2, 2-4-1 Big West) defeated the Gauchos (6-9-4, 3-3-1) for the first time in six years.
In men’s soccer, Maxwell Griffin’s team-leading eighth goal of the season in the 66th minute wasn’t enough as UCLA (5-4-5, 2-2-2 Pac-10) lost 2-1 at Stanford. UCLA remains in first place in the Pac-10 with a one-point lead over both California and San Diego State.
Still, the Bruins’ first loss to Stanford in seven years sets up a must-win game for UCLA on Sunday at California. A Bruin victory would give UCLA a four point lead over the Golden Bears, while a loss would drop the Bruins behind Cal in the standings.
U.S. Loses at Beach Soccer World Cup
Lawndale’s Raphael Xexeo scored a goal then got sent off with the U.S. tied 4-4 against Spain Friday at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Brazil. The U.S. went on to lose, 8-4.
