Friday Football: Waiting for the Weekend

I know I’m ready for some half-decent soccer after watching two bad games in two days involving Mexico and the Galaxy (although in truth Blanco was fun to watch as usual and it’s great to see a DP actually make a difference on the field rather than just selling shirts off it).

Guess I should be glad I didn’t make it three games by watching the No. 2 Bruins (7-0-2) get held 0-0 by Santa Clara on national TV last night (although to be fair a combined 30 shots from the two women’s programs likely made the game more entertaining than the final score suggested).

Also on Thursday, the UCLA men (2-3-2) were held to a 1-1 tie by UC San Diego. Next: Cal State Northridge at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Drake Stadium.

Let’s hope Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. Chivas USA-Kansas City Wizards game at Home Depot Center provides an antidote (it’s Manhattan Beach Night).

That means, according to Chivas USA:

Families can take advantage of Chivas USA’s Family Pack, which gets you four tickets, four hats and four hot dogs starting at just $58. Chivas USA will also be celebrating Manhattan Beach Night, where city leaders will be greeted by Manhattan Beach resident Jesse Marsch and a special ‘Parade of Champions’ will give soccer-loving kids from Manhattan Beach the opportunity to walk around the field prior to the game. For tickets call 1-877-CHIVAS-1.

Unlike the Galaxy, Chivas USA (sitting second in the Western Conference) actually have a legitimate chance at making the playoffs.

Other games in Southern California include:
No. 5 USC-LMU 3 p.m. today at McAlister Field.
LMU men-Oregon State Sunday at Sullivan Field in Westchester.
Cal State Northridge women-San Francisco Sunday at Matador Field in Northridge.

TV best bets:
7 a.m. Saturday Stoke City-Chelsea on Fox Soccer Channel
9:30 a.m. Saturday Arsenal-Hull City on FSC
7 p.m. Saturday Atlas-Chivas Guadalajara on KFTR
8 a.m. Sunday Wigan Athletic-Manchester City on FSC
11:30 a.m. Sunday AC Milan-Inter Milan on FSC
2 p.m. Sunday Club America-Cruz Azul on KFTR

Almost forgot: Here’s a preview of the Cal State Dominguez Hills women’s program.

Yvonne Vasquez, who led the CCAA in goals last year, returns as the Toros’ top scoring threat.
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Photo by Scott Varley

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About Nick Green

South Bay-based Los Angeles News Group soccer columnist and blogger Nick Green writes at the 100 Percent Soccer blog at www.insidesocal.com/soccer and craft beer at the Beer Goggles blog at www.insidesocal.com/beer. Cheers!