Monthly Archives: September 2008

Saturday Galaxy Gameday & College Scores

Posted on by
1

The remnants of Hurricane Ike are expected to miss Kansas City today meaning reporters there can focus on another overblown phenomena – David Beckham – during today’s 2 p.m. game (live on Prime) between the Wizards and Galaxy.

A big crowd is expected despite the iffy weather to see Becks; Galaxy fans just hope it’s a case of 12th time lucky.

Friday’s men’s college results:
No. 24 UCLA 0 (1-3-1) No. 19 Indiana 3 (The three goals came within eight minutes).
Wisconsin 2 Cal State Northridge 0 (3-2-0).
No. 7 Cal State Dominguez Hills 1 (6-0) Cal State Monterey Bay 0

Women’s scores:
Loyola Marymount 3 (3-2-1) Cal State Bakersfield 0
No. 3 USC 3 (5-1-0) Georgia 2 (Trojans came back from two-goal deficit to win in double overtime).
Pepperdine 2 No. 23 Tennessee 0
No. 20 Cal 1 Cal State Northridge 0 (4-1-0)
Cal State Dominguez Hills 3 (3-3) Cal State Monterey Bay 0

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

U.S. Soccer Development Academy Kick-off in Carson; Chivas USA Names Rosters

Posted on by
Reply

The second season of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy has begun and comes to Home Depot Center this weekend.

The program for players in the Under-15/16 and Under-17/18 age groups has 74 clubs (up from 62 last year) competing in four conferences with nine divisions.

More than 2,000 games over 10 months will culminate with a 32-team playoff in June.

As part of a related exhibition game series, Chivas USA will take on the U.S. Under-17 National Team Saturday at 4 p.m. for the U-15/16s and 6 p.m. for the U-17/18s under the lights at Home Depot Center’s Mooch Myernick Field.

Meanwhile, Chivas USA has named its U-18 and U-16 rosters for the season.

The U-18 team:
Defender Cesar Arenas, Fontana.
Forward Alex Barahona, Los Angeles.
Forward Orr Baroush, Reseda.
Defender Omar Becerra, San Diego.
Defender Jose Diaz, Fontana.
Midfielder Clayton Eaton, Norco.
Forward Andy Lopez, Los Angeles.
goalkeeper Jordan Maman, Manhattan Beach.
Midfielder Hector Molina, Van Nuys.
Midfielder Jose Monteroza, Los Angeles.
Forward Leopoldo Morales, Bellflower.
Midfielder Jesse Paredes, Los Angeles.
Midfielder Anders Perez, La Habra.
Goalkeeper Juan Quiroz, Inglewood.
Forward Roberto Romo, Paramount.
Forward Victor Sanchez, Huntington Park.
Defender Carlos Torres, Jr., Compton.
Defender Steve Torres, Pomona.
Defender Edwin Velsquez, Bell Gardens.
Midfielder Cesar Zamora, Sylmar.

The U-16 team:
Midfielder Jaime Cano, Inglewood.
Goalkeeper Cesar Castillo, Bell Gardens.
Midfielder Daniel Castro, Los Angeles, CA
Midfielder Manuel Cazares, Panorama City.
Midfielder Carlo Chueca, Palm Springs.
Forward Bryan De La Fuente, Bell Gardens.
Defender Jaime Frias, Moreno Valley.
Forward Roberto Garcia, Sylmar.
Goalkeeper Jose Godoy, Los Angeles.
Defender Jordan Gutierrez, West Covina.
Forward Jonathan Hernandez, North Hollywood.
Defender Jose Maldonado, La Verne.
Forward Yohel Martinez, Corona.
Defender Edder Navarro, Los Angeles.
Midfielder Angel Rodriguez, Moreno Valley.
Defender Carlos Torres Jr., Compton.
Midfielder Allan Valencia, South Gate.
Forward Jose Velasquez, Mission Hills.
Forward Jorge Virgen, Ontario.

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Galaxy Sign Goalkeeper Josh Saunders (Again)

Posted on by
Reply

Josh Saunders, a goalkeeper the Galaxy signed to a developmental contract in 2005, but never played a game for the club, has signed on loan with the team for the remainder of the season from Miami FC of the USL.

The Grants Pass, Ore., native hooked up with the team today in Kansas City ahead of the Galaxy’s game Saturday against the Wizards.

The Galaxy needed to sign a back-up for goalkeeper Josh Wicks after regular starter Steve Cronin broke a hand.

Saunders, 27, who played at Cal State Fullerton before transferring to Cal, was originally drafted by the San Jose Earthquakes in 2003, but never played a game for the club.

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Friday Football: Waiting for the Weekend

Posted on by
Reply

Chivas USA went down to a heavy defeat Thursday night in a Boston stadium decorated with few fans and ghastly pointy-ball football lines, while the Galaxy is in Kansas City (can someone explain to me how both pro teams can be out of town on the same weekend?) on Saturday.

Most local college teams, it seems, are also on the road so here’s a quick run-down on some of the best local soccer options this weekend:
*3 p.m. today George Allen Field (Long Beach) UC Riverside Vs. Oregon.
*7 tonight Drake Stadium No. 24 UCLA men (1-2-1) Vs. No. 19 Indiana (1-1-2).
*Noon Sunday George Allen Field Long Beach State (3-1-1) Vs. Oregon (3-2-0).
*1 p.m. Sunday Sullivan Field LMU women (2-2-1) Vs. Utah (1-5).

On Thursday night, Long Beach State beat Brigham Young University, 3-0.

Plenty of TV options though including on Saturday:
*7 a.m. Fox Soccer Channel Hull City-Newcastle United.
*9:30 a.m. FSC Chelsea-Manchester City.
*2 p.m. Prime Galaxy-Wizards.
*3 p.m. KFTR Club America-San Luis.
*5 p.m. KAZA CD Guadalajara-Pachuca.

The Major League Soccer Disciplinary Committee suspended Toronto FC defender Marco Velez one game and fined him $250 for smacking Chivas USA forward Alecko Eskandarian in the face during last Saturday’s game. Both received red cards after the encounter.

The fine and suspension for “endangering another player” are in addition to the automatic one game suspension and $250 fine players get for a red card.

Enjoy your weekend.

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Chivas USA Slumps to Loss in Boston

Posted on by
Reply

Conceding three goals inside the last nine minutes of the game condemned Chivas USA to a 4-0 defeat against the New England Revolution Thursday and put their place in the third and final playoff spot in the Western Conference in jeopardy.

The result tied Chivas USA for their second highest margin of defeat of the season.

Chivas USA were without nine starters through international call-ups, injury and suspensions; the Revs were playing their 11th game in 38 days.

Box score.

Game story from Boston.

Highlights:

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Thursday Chivas USA Gameday & More

Posted on by
Reply

Two tired and/or banged up teams desperately needing points to stay in the playoff hunt stagger into Gillette Stadium at 4 p.m. today live on ESPN2 as Chivas USA visits the New England Revolution.

Chivas USA forward Alecko Eskandarian is suspended for the game.

Brief game preview here.

Preview from a Revolution perspective here.

Belatedly noted: The seventh-ranked Cal State Dominguez Hills men (5-0) won 2-1 win over NAIA second-ranked Concordia University Tuesday.

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

World Cup Qualifying: U.S., Mexico Win & Blanco Retires From International Futbol

Posted on by
1

The U.S. beat a clearly out of their depth Trinidad & Tobago Wednesday night, taking advantage of their opponents’ obvious inexperience (and lack of leadership as ESPN commentator and former T&T goalkeeper Shaka Hislop pointed out numerous times) to comfortably win 3-0 in Chicago.

Some observations:
*Neither Brian Ching nor Eddie Johnson were particularly convincing (again) at forward. How long can the U.S. afford this luxury as they progress to the next round against better sides? How about pairing the ever more impressive Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey up top?
*Landon Donovan remains the linchpin of the U.S. attack and too often the sole and dominant creative midfield force.
*Organization rather than flair remains the strong U.S. suit, a fine way to dispatch teams you’re supposed to beat, not so those who themselves possess that quality in abundance.
*Oguchi Onyewu is evolving into the dominant central defender equally comfortable in defense and on set pieces going forward we always thought Eddie Pope could become, but never quite did.

That said, although the U.S. was expected to easily reach the second round of qualifying, you do sense the U.S. is quietly building under the ultra-calm Bradley, gathering strength and accumulating experience for the campaign ahead.

Further south, on a night Cuauhtemoc Blanco announced his retirement from international football Mexico largely killed off Canada’s World Cup hopes.

Here’s the complete run-down of all the CONCACAF qualifying games and results from around the world.

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Beckham Sits And Watches Replacement Hit Hat Trick as England Crushes Croatia

Posted on by
1

Did David Beckham just see his England career come to an end?

Arsenal’s highly-regarded 19-year-old Theo Wolcott got the nod over the Galaxy midfielder today and scored three goals in an impressive 4-1 England win over Croatia in World Cup qualifying.

The win avenges England’s loss to Croatia in Euro 2008 qualifying that saw them fail to make the finals in Austria and Switzerland.

But Beckham was restricted to just six minutes of action and came on as a substitute for the second consecutive England game.

Game report here.

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Wednesday World Cup Qualifying Gameday

Posted on by
Reply

A full slate of World Cup qualifying games around the world is scheduled today.

Right now, for instance, Carl Robinson of Toronto FC is leading Wales against Russia and the sensation of Euro 2008, Andrei Arshavin, on Fox Soccer Channel.

Televised games later today include the Netherlands against Macedonia at 11:30 a.m. on FSC, U.S.-Trinidad & Tobago live from Chicago at 5 p.m. on ESPN2 and Canada facing an uphill battle to remain alive in qualifying on the road against Mexico at 8 p.m. live on Telemundo.

For others, check your local listings or click the Live Soccer TV link to the right.

More info than you could ever want to know about the U.S.-T&T game is here, but the crucial piece of info is that the U.S. hasn’t lost to the Caribbean nation in 10 World Cup qualifying games.

T&T are no push-over, of course – they played in the 2006 World Cup – but the country will be without probably their best player tonight, former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke.

Meanwhile, the large population of Croats in San Pedro will undoubtedly be keeping their eye on England’s game against Croatia, the nation that knocked the Brits out of Euro 2008 qualifying. Galaxy midfielder David Beckham, who played a minor role in England’s 2-0 win over mighty Andorra last weekend, is set to play a larger part in today’s game.

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Forbes: The Galaxy Are MLS’ Most Valuable Team

Posted on by
2

I’m not sure about these lists of virtually everything these days that passes for journalism, but for what it’s worth Forbes has now issued its inaugural list of the most valuable teams in MLS with the Galaxy sitting atop the rankings.

The financial magazine estimates the Galaxy are worth a cool $100 million (have they seen them play lately?) with revenues of $36 million that are double that of any other MLS team.

By comparison, Chivas USA are No. 10 among MLS teams, valued at a mere $24 million with revenue of $10 million.

The complete story and rankings are here.

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email