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.Saturday Soccer: U.S. Wins, 100 Percent Soccer on the Radio & More
U.S. Escapes South Africa With 1-0 Win
Good morning, especially to those who rose early to watch a young American team beat the 2010 World Cup hosts 1-0 at altitude today in Johannesburg.Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan came on at the half to preserve the shutout, while his club teammates Sascha Kljestan and (briefly) Jonathan Bornstein also saw action in the last U.S. game of the year.
Freddy Adu started in attack for the U.S., while Fontana's Maurice Edu, the MLS Rookie of the Year, acquitted himself well and earned an assist on Steve Cherundolo's goal.
Next for the U.S.: a game against Sweden Jan. 19 at Home Depot Center in Carson.
Next for armchair soccer fans, especially those of English descent, the 9:55 a.m. game on Fox Soccer Channel between Israel and Russia. England need help from Israel if they are to qualify for Euro 2008, remember.
Program notes
I'll be a guest this afternoon on Ultimate Soccer, a radio show on 1260 The Team Sports Radio out of Edmonton, Alta., talking about Becks' time with the Galaxy, etc.How did I hook up with a soccer show from the Great White North?
Turns out the show's host is married to a daughter of my Canadian-born wife's father's cousin. Hey, I'll take the distant nepotism.
I'll chat with host Soccer Steve, a former player with England's not so mighty Port Vale (it's apparently some sort of rule that old pros from England must host soccer radio shows judging by how many there are) just after noon.
Those so inclined can listen here.
Also, longtime South Bay resident and Columbus Crew Coach Sigi Schmid will guest-blog for 100 Percent Soccer later today, sharing his views on the MLS season.
Chivas USA Update
Chivas USA plays its mother club, CD Guadalajara, in Mexico tonight in a benefit game for victims of the recent floods south of the border.Billy Witz and Ivan Orozco took a look at what the offseason holds for Chivas USA today.
College Update
The UCLA women Friday won their NCAA Tournament home opener.In other games, San Francisco scored twice in each half Friday to defeat the Loyola Marymount men, 4-0.
LMU fell to 3-15-1 and closes out their season Sunday.
Finally, the Cal State Northridge men clawed back to a .500 record in their last game of the season with a 2-1 win over UC Irvine Friday. Northridge ended its season at 7-7-6.