October 2008 Archives

Photo by Juan Miranda/Chivas USA

On the year's scariest night it's perhaps apropos to chat with veteran Chivas USA striker Ante Razov, known as one of the moodiest players in MLS and one you always want to make sure is in a reasonably good one before approaching his locker after a game. So perhaps it's for the best this interview was conducted via e-mail.

Still, Razov comes into the post-season fifth all-time in goals (11 in 33 games) and third behind active players (although neither D.C. United's Jaime Moreno or Toronto's Carlos Ruiz can add to their totals since their respective teams failed to make the playoffs). This is his time of the year.

A goal Saturday against Real Salt Lake ties Razov with Moreno in playoff goals; two ties him with Roy Lassiter. A hat-trick and he ties Landon Donovan. There's motivation.

But Razov has struggled with injury this season and managed just five goals and six assists in 22 games. Having just recovered from his latest, the MLS original (one goal in three games for the Galaxy in 1996) is happy just to be still playing (I think).

In fact, I asked Razov how much longer he plans to play. He didn't answer. I didn't push it.

Q: How are you feeling physically? Are you fully recovered from your latest injury? Will you look to go an hour or so in the game Saturday or are you capable of going the full 90?
A: Yeah, I'm ready to go. I've played the last few games and this is it. There's nothing to save myself for at this point, so I'll put it all on the line. I expect to be out there [the whole time].

Q: Chivas USA has made the playoffs for the third straight year. The Galaxy have missed the post-season for the third straight year. Is that significant for the team or not something you worry about? Is the fact MLS Cup will be played on their field an extra source of motivation for the team?
A: It has nothing to with us. It's not our problem. I would say yes, [that possibly playing MLS Cup here in Carson is extra motivation]. It would be a special treat for us, if we could do that, and then have a nice game here for our fans.

Q: If what I hear about midfielder-striker Atiba Harris is correct he picked up an injury in training Thursday and won't play Saturday, just the latest in a mind-boggling series of injuries to players this year. How difficult is it not to have a consistent lineup of strikers and attacking midfielders from a forward's point of view? Has it been more difficult to get into any sort of rhythm this season with all the changes to the lineup through injury?
A: Absolutely. In any team sport, if you change your lineup every game then it's nearly impossible to get any rhythm and I think it shows in the way we've played at times. Defensively, you can always be tight and that stuff, but in terms of getting on the same line with players going forward and attacking, it's just been very, very difficult.

Q: Compared to the Galaxy and other MLS teams, Chivas USA has a small, but increasingly devoted fan base (the Union Ultras are taking 50 members on a bus to Salt Lake City). Does that reinforce the team's underdog status and motivate players to prove to fans Chivas USA is worth watching? Any special desire to put one over on Real Salt Lake given that both teams were expansion teams in 2005?
A: We're happy that we have a fan base that cares enough to travel, and stuff like that, it clearly helps us in the games. They give us a boost while we're out there trying to win, win for everyone; for the club, for the fans. And no, it's the playoffs, it doesn't matter who we play. It's a playoff game and nothing else matters.

Q: What do you expect from the game?
A: It's going to be a hard game. I've played in a lot of playoff games and a lot of the time it's not pretty soccer. It's guys rolling their sleeves up and going to battle, and the team that can pull off a play or two goes through, and I'm sure that's the way it'll go.

I'll be back Saturday with a full preview of the 3 p.m. Chivas USA-RSL playoff opener.

Boo!

Now that the zombie-like MLS regular season is over, it's time for the um, meaty part of the season.

New England and the Fire kicked things off Thursday with a tight 0-0 contest, setting up a winner takes it all showdown this coming Thursday in Chicago. Rolling Hills Estates' John Thorrington (who had a nice shout out to the South Bay as the lineups were announced before the game) made two key, well-timed tackles for the Fire inside their own penalty box; Revs goalkeeper Matt Reis earned his eighth career shutout, after a Brian McBride goal was called back for offside. BTW, Is it just me or did the bundled up former Bruin look like the character on Dilbert who wanders around with the coffee cup all day? (I have to be careful here; Matt's mother-in-law lives just around the corner from the Daily Breeze office in Torrance).

More on Saturday's Chivas USA-Real Salt Lake playoff opener is here.

A complete playoff schedule is here.

Other TV options this weekend include:
*8 a.m. Saturday Chelsea-Sunderland on Fox Soccer Channel.
*10:30 a.m. Saturday Tottenham Hotspur-Liverpool on Fox Soccer Channel
*3 p.m. Sunday Tecos-Club America on KAZA

Local college games this weekend include:
*No. 10 USC (12-3-1, 2-2-1 Pac-10) take on California (10-5-1, 3-2-1) in a 3 p.m. match today at McCalister Field. The game will be shown on tape-delay at 1 p.m. Saturday on FSC. The Trojans' final Pac-10 home match is set for 1 p.m. Sunday against undefeated No. 2 Stanford (16-0-1, 6-0-0) at the Coliseum.

*Two doubleheaders this weekend for the Bruins. The No. 3 women play second-ranked Stanford at 5 p.m. today at Marshall Field and are followed by the surging UCLA men who host No. 8 California. At noon Sunday it's the women against Cal followed by the men against Stanford.

*The LMU men host St. Mary's at 3 p.m. today in Westchester.

Photo by Juan Miranda/Chivas USA
Chivas USA defender-midfielder Carey Talley is a journeyman closing in on 300 MLS appearances for five teams over 11 seasons. A Carey Talley fun factoid: he is the answer to the trivia question - who was waiting to make his first appearance for the national team as a (very) late sub when the game was called and has never won a U.S. cap? Talley joined Chivas USA from Real Salt Lake in May and has established himself as a regular, starting 18 of the 20 games he has played for the club. He chatted via e-mail ahead of the Chivas USA-Real Salt Lake playoff opener set for 3 p.m. Saturday.

Q: First off, Real Salt Lake got in the playoffs in perhaps the most dramatic fashion possible - a 90th minute equalizer against the Rapids. Were you surprised?
A: It was a little surprising to me because I thought they got outplayed in the game, and they kept going, and going, and in the 90th minute, a guy who I don't think has gotten a lot of credit from around the league, Andy Williams, comes through. He was very close to getting the goal, but he makes the play happen. Andy, in the right spot, battled a guy off, got his toe on it and they're in it. I was as surprised as anybody, being in the 90th minute, but all credit to them, they kept going, and I was happy to see that Andy was such a big part of that goal because he's been a good friend of mine for a while, and I think he deserved it.

Q:Is there any special resonance about playing your old team in the playoffs - especially at Rio Tinto Stadium, which you've never played in, but awaited for so long as a Real Salt Lake player?
A: I'm really trying not to look at this as any different an opponent from any other one we could've met up with. The series that we played with them was a pretty tough series, each team getting an away result.
I had gone through the whole process (of the stadium). I was excited to see them get it, and I was hoping that Chivas would get to play in Rio Tinto this year, and now we're getting to go back there and play in it. What I've heard from everybody is that it's a great stadium, it's a great atmosphere, and I assume that since it's the first playoff game in the history of that club, it's going to be going pretty crazy there.

Q: This year's Real Salt Lake media guide profile of you began - "Death, taxes and Carey Talley could become the new phrase for reliability as the veteran midfielder returns for his 11th season in MLS and third as a member of Real Salt Lake." Then in May they traded you. Any lingering resentment over that? Do you have something to prove? Or did you understand and accept what Jason Kreis was trying to do for the team with the trade?
A: I knew that I had to leave. That was between me, Jason, and their GM. There are reasons behind it, but I'm in a good place now with Chivas USA and I'm very happy. This is the place for me, and I'm happy to be here.

Q: How are you feeling physically after the long season and especially after suffering a concussion? Was that hard to come back from?
A: I've had a couple of those before, and this was the first time that I've had some real lingering effects on it. That went on for about two weeks. I'd never experienced anything over a couple of days, so I was a little worried about that, but now it's back to normal. I'm ready to go. I couldn't be more ready for this playoff run. It's not because we're going against Salt Lake, it's just the first time I've been in the playoffs in the last two years, so I'm ready to get this off and running.

Q: How does Chivas USA match up with Real Salt Lake? What weaknesses do they have the club can exploit?
A: I think that's something that we're reviewing as a team and trying to go over. They're a good team, and they've proven to be a good team. That's what's done it in this league - it hasn't always been the prettiest soccer team out there that's won, it's been the best team - the best group of guys that can keep it together for five or six games in a row, and they're definitely a side where there's quality.

Q: You're 32 years old now and in a league where inexpensive youth is apparently often more valued than an experienced, but more expensive veteran, is there a sense of urgency to return to MLS Cup at your age, especially since the final is at Home Depot Center this year? How long do you plan on playing?
A: I'd like to go until 34 or 35, but that all depends on how well the teams that I'm on are doing, of course. I'd love to be in MLS Cup again. I've only been in two, and I'd like to be at the third one, especially with the fans that we have here who have shown support when it got a little rough in the summer. They kept coming out to the games, and the fan support in my opinion has been tremendous. To come out and make it a Chivas stadium that day would be very good for us. Like I said, it's great here in LA, and the atmosphere that's provided by the fans, and Chivas - it's great to be here.

Chivas USA Coach Preki and players look ahead to Saturday's conference semi-final match against Real Salt Lake in this video preview:

Here's a profile of Chivas USA's apparently ageless defender Claudio Suarez who now sounds like he will not retire at season's end after all.

Not a single Chivas USA player was named as one of the three finalists in the various categories for the MLS 2008 season awards announced today.

Galaxy defender Sean Franklin is up for Rookie of the Year (no surprise there) and Landon Donovan for MVP (or there).

Full disclosure: I didn't vote. I'm not a huge fan of awards or some of these categories (MLS Referee of the year!? Are you kidding me?) And let's dump Rookie of the Year completely (as MLS gets better, rookies just don't make that much of an impact any more). Whatever.

Here's the complete list:

Goalkeeper of the Year
Jon Busch - Chicago Fire
William Hesmer - Columbus Crew
Matt Reis - New England Revolution

Fair Play Finalists
Juan Pablo Angel - New York Red Bulls
Michael Parkhurst - New England Revolution
Chris Rolfe - Chicago Fire

MLS Comeback Player of the Year
Jon Busch - Chicago Fire
Kenny Cooper - FC Dallas
Santino Quaranta - D.C. United

Defender of the Year
Jimmy Conrad - Kansas City Wizards
Chad Marshall - Columbus Crew
Bakary Soumare - Chicago Fire

Referee of the Year
Michael Kennedy
Jair Marrufo
Terry Vaughn

Rookie of the Year
Geoff Cameron - Houston Dynamo
Kheli Dube - New England Revolution
Sean Franklin - Los Angeles Galaxy

MLS Coach of the Year
Dominic Kinnear - Houston Dynamo
Sigi Schmid - Columbus Crew
Frank Yallop - San Jose Earthquakes

MLS Most Valuable Player
Cuauhtémoc Blanco - Chicago Fire
Landon Donovan - Los Angeles Galaxy
Guillermo Barros Schelotto - Columbus Crew

Newcomer of the Year
Darren Huckerby - San Jose Earthquakes
Claudio Lopez - Kansas City Wizards
Andre Rocha - FC Dallas

MLS will gradually release the winners in the days leading up to MLS Cup, beginning with the goalkeeper of the year honor on Tuesday.

Fans are being asked to choose the 10 best goals of the year from 35 semifinalists. Vote here.

Finally, the Cal State Northridge women (7-9-2, 2-4-1 Big West) lost 1-0 today to UC Riverside (7-10-2, 2-5-1 Big West) at Matador Soccer Field.

The loss severely dented the Matadors' playoff hopes.

Here's what has to happen, according to CSUN:

"To make the playoffs, the Matadors must defeat Cal State Fullerton on Sunday and hope UC Irvine either loses both their matches or draws in one and loses the other combined with Pacific dropping their match against UC Davis on Sunday."

Got that?

David Beckham heads to Milan in January the Galaxy and AC Milan announced today.

Also, from the Galaxy press release:

AC Milan and the LA Galaxy have additionally agreed to a technical partnership that will provide great benefit to both clubs.

Terms of the agreement will remain confidential.

Does this mean Kaka comes on loan?

The Galaxy have scheduled a 2 p.m. conference call with reporters.

Meanwhile, former Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid sounds like he's contending for understatement of the year with this comment about the problems at his old club to The New York Times: "Probably too many to name."

Read the whole thing here.

Finally, the Cal State Northridge men (6-6-4, 2-2-3 Big West) lost 3-1 to UC Santa Barbara Wednesday.

Updated:
Perhaps predictably, not many more details of Becks' loan move emerged from GM and Coach Bruce Arena who frankly, as one reporter observed on the call, seemed more than a bit out of the loop.

Arena, for instance, sounded unsure of when Becks would actually head to Italy (why was the Dec. 11 game in Oz canceled if he doesn't leave until January, one reporter inquired?).

Excerpts:
*On when he will return to the Galaxy:

"He's going to be back in March - and we believe it's around March 1 - and he will be available for our opening game." (MLS is likely to begin in the second or third week of March next year).

*On the benefits of the "technical partnership" with AC Milan that's part of the loan deal:

"I'm not going to tell precisely how we're going to benefit from this. ... It's just working with a club of this stature." (So it could mean AC Milan players coming here on loan. Or not).

*Finally, I asked whether Bruce was going to tell Becks not to go for risky 50-50 balls or stay away from attempting one of those rash challenges he's prone to try in an effort to ensure he doesn't get a silly injury:

"When players don't go 100 percent they get hurt," he said. "I'm not going to advise David to pull out of tackles. ... I'm certainly not going to encourage him not to give 100 percent or play 100 percent."

Chivas USA announced that last year's top scorer Maykel Galindo went under the knife for the third time this season today in yet another bid to tackle his nagging sports hernia issue.

The Cuban will be out up to three months, effectively ending a season that had never really begun anyway.

Galindo scored 12 goals and added five assists last year, but this season his hernia issues restricted him to just one goal and two assists in 10 games and only five starts.

The successful (although that's what was believed after the other two surgeries in January and June as well) "bilateral sports hernia" surgery was performed in Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, the Union Ultras fan group will hold a viewing party for the Chivas USA playoff opener Saturday in Sylmar. Kickoff is at 3 p.m. The party is at the Red Vest Pub & Pizza, 12639 Glenoaks Blvd.

Incidentally, the fan group has chartered a 50-seat bus to travel to the game, one of its members (and a loyal blog reader) e-mailed me today. All the seats were sold. Thinking optimistically, the Union Ultras have also purchased 50 tickets for MLS Cup.

Wonder what they're thinking in Salt Lake City about the series? Read this.

The return leg is Nov. 8 in Carson. Tickets are still available.

Finally, here's a couple of fast facts about the series:
*Chivas USA Coach Preki is looking for his first career playoff win. Last year Chivas USA went 0-1-1 in the playoffs.
*The 2005 expansion teams have faced each other 14 times. Chivas USA holds the edge with a 8-3-3 record.

L.A. Sol holding midfielder Shannon Boxx, a former South (Torrance) High star, was today named one of the 10 finalists for the annual FIFA honor. The U.S. Women's National Team player finished third in balloting for the award in 2005.

Also named to the list: her (hopefully) soon to be Sol teammate Marta.

The full list: Nadine Angerer (Germany), Shannon Boxx (USA), Cristiane (Brazil), Daniela (Brazil), Marta (Brazil), Birgit Prinz (Germany), Christine Sinclair (Canada), Kelly Smith (England), Hope Solo (USA) and Ingvild Stensland (Norway).

Boxxy stopped by the Home Depot Center Sunday to chat about the new Sol franchise, before the nominees were announced.

Here's some excerpts of what she had to say:

*On the new Women's Professional Soccer league and having a team in L.A.:

"It's very exciting to finally say that to be close to home we have a league, obviously I'm a product of the last league, so to be close to home - I've always wanted an L.A. team - to stay close to home and play in front of my friends and family, I'm very excited."

On how the team is coming together:

"I think we have a great team. ... (Coach) Abner (Rogers) is going to be playing possession style, I love that, so it's fitting for me as well ... We want to play style that's fun to watch."

BTW, here are the 23 nominees for the male award: Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo), Sergio Agüero (Argentina), Andrei Arshavin (Russia), Michael Ballack (Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Iker Casillas (Spain), Deco (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Côte d'Ivoire), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Steven Gerrard (England), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Kaká (Brazil), Frank Lampard (England), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Franck Ribéry (France), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), John Terry (England), Fernando Torres (Spain), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Netherlands), David Villa (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).

Winners are scheduled to be announced in January.

A few items this morning:
*The impending David Beckham loan deal to AC Milan has prompted the Galaxy to postpone its scheduled Dec. 11 game against the Queensland Roar due to the uncertainty of his availability, according to the BBC. Hmmm, it's the Beckham tail clearly wagging the Galaxy dog. Until now, he had supposedly not been leaving for Italy until the New Year.

*MLS officials announced today they have named a new MLS Cup trophy after Galaxy owner Phil Anschutz:

"Phil Anschutz has transformed the face of soccer in America," said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. "Through his commitment and support, Major League Soccer has become an important part of the American sports landscape and an emerging player in the global soccer scene. Phil's vision and deep love of the game have helped establish a vibrant 'Soccer Nation' in America. We are honored to name the MLS championship trophy the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy."

*The new sterling silver trophy was created by Tiffany & Co., and unveiled at a morning ceremony at the jeweler's New York flagship store on Fifth Avenue. From the MLS press release:

The Philip F. Anschutz championship trophy is 24" tall with an additional seamless base of 4 5/8". The trophy features fluid and dynamic handles that include 11 facets on the front and back, symbolizing the 22 players that participate in a soccer match. The gold star represents the championship club, which often incorporates a star into its team crest for each MLS Cup title it wins. The new trophy inherits select design elements from the previous two trophies, thereby honoring the League's history while moving forward. The bottom of the Philip F. Anschutz trophy features a map of North America, with a star identifying the location of each MLS market.

*The Galaxy's Tristan Bowen and Chivas USA's Jorge Flores were named to a U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team squad that will train in Spain later this month. The most interesting thing about the roster is the number of young Americans with foreign teams. Here's the full squad:

goalkeepers Earl Edwards (San Diego, Calif.), Josh Lambo (FC Dallas); defenders Gale Agbossoumonde (Syracuse, N.Y.), Anthony Arena (Kenmore, Wash.), Kyle Davies (Southampton FC), Zarek Valentin (Lancaster, Pa.), Anthony Wallace (FC Dallas); midfielders Bryan Arguez (Hertha Berlin), Jorge Flores (Chivas USA), Gregory Garza (Sporting Lisbon), Josh Hernandez (Dallas, Texas), Jared Jeffrey (Club Brugge), Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin), Giuseppe Nazzani (Reggio Emilia, Italy); forwards Vincenzo Bernardo (SSC Napoli), Tristan Bowen (Los Angeles Galaxy), Abdusalam Ibrahim (Toronto FC), Jose Torres (Loros de Colima).

*Meanwhile, the Galaxy have knocked someone out of the MLS playoffs - Revolution striker Taylor Twellman. The club announced Tuesday he is out indefinitely after continuing to suffer from concussion-related issues in the wake of Galaxy goalkeeper Steve Cronin punching him on the head Aug. 30. Cronin suffered a broken finger on the play. Twellman missed 14 games through injury this year and his latest set-back couldn't come at a worse time.

*UCLA senior defender Brad Rusin has been named the Pac-10 Player of the Week. He scored his third goal of the year over the weekend in UCLA's 1-0 win over Oregon State.

*Finally, want to win four L.A. Sol season tickets? Click here.

Something for everyone here.

Galaxy fans can console themselves with some great strikes (Brandon McDonald's screamer is not the No. 1 goal in this video); Chivas USA fans can savor these and look forward to the playoffs; U.S. fans can relive Landon Donovan's finest season; and the Columbus Crew's Robbie Rogers today had his effort against New York last month named the team's goal of the season.

Enjoy.

Next for Becks: the bright lights of MilanPhoto by Scott Varley

The dimming of the star power at the Galaxy is the subject of today's column. It's a good thing.

David Beckham and Landon Donovan have already left the building judging by their recent comments:

"I'm ready to take that step (of going to Europe) and I want to," Donovan said Sunday. "Competitively I have that itch and I want to do it and I'll make that very clear to people."

And you don't think Becks needs to play in the off-season? Rest is not what he needs. Minutes on the field are. Or his immobility on the field the Galaxy have seen on several occasions this season will be exacerbated. Beckham was hampered by a quad injury Sunday and one reporter observed he looked like he was running on a treadmill:

"It's just my age, maybe," he said only half joking.

By the way, in the wake of Beckham's first full MLS season, I asked him Sunday about some of his impressions of players and teams so far:

*Toughest opponent: - None (he didn't want to single anyone out, perhaps knowing anyone he didn't name might want to make more of an, er, impression on him next time out).

*Best team to play against - "Every time we play against Chivas, for me it's a tough game. I always enjoy that game. It's obviously a huge rivalry, but that's the game I personally enjoy playing in."

*Best opposing player in MLS - "One of the best players in this league is (New York's Juan Pablo) Angel. He's obviously played in top flight football and you can see the quality of the player and how hard he works. He's older now, but still a threat to many teams."

And finally:

*The Houston Dynamo reserves (9-1-2) captured the MLS Reserve Division title Sunday with a 3-0 win over the Chivas USA reserves (4-5-3) at Home Depot Center, claiming a $20,000 first prize. Roberto Nurse was the Chivas USA leading goalscorer with four goals and one assist in six games.

*The Galaxy reserves (1-8-3) finished their season with a 2-0 loss Sunday to their FC Dallas counterparts at the HDC.

*The Chivas USA Under-18 team (5-1) won 5-2 over the San Diego Surf on Saturday keeping them in first place in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy's SoCal Division. Polo Morales had his second hat-trick of the season, and Victor Sanchez, playing his first full game of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy season, added two more.

*The Galaxy Under-18 team (2-4) lost 3-2 to Nomads FC at the HDC.

*The Chivas USA Under-16 team fell 2-1 to the Surf on Saturday. The loss dropped the U-16's to third in their division with a 2-3-1 record (W-L-T).

*The Galaxy Under-16 team (5-1) beat Nomads 1-0 at the HDC and lead the SoCal Division.

First, the nuns.

San Pedro's Peter Hazdovac, who I first blogged about
here, scored two goals Saturday as Croatian Regional Third Division team NK Gosk beat bottom of the table Gosk KG, 3-1.

The Cal Poly product has five goals in eight games. And his team leads the league.

Greg Vanney takes the captain's armband from David Beckham for the final minute of his final game and moves on.

Photo by Scott Varley

Conventional wisdom holds MLS has improved since its 1996 debut, but now retired Galaxy defender Greg Vanney has a different perspective.

With almost his last words at a post-game press conference Sunday, the self-described "soccer junkie" who will now forge a coaching career in Arizona gave a thoughtful, cogent analysis of the state of MLS.

His words will have greater resonance for Galaxy fans who have suffered through a season of disparity in the ability and experience of veterans compared to inexpensive youngsters whose greatest attribute it sometimes seems is their willingness to take small paychecks and fit under the salary cap.

Here's the (virtually unedited) view of a player who believes he "survived in the sport more because of my brain than my athletic ability" and credits discussions "on a different level" with veteran players for being a huge part of his development as a player:

"The league early on was more of a veteran league and there were more guys who had experience and were role players and understood what their role was within the team. And there were certain guys who had special qualities, but they still all fit within the team.

"I think in the (time) when I was here, when I left and when I came back a lot of those sort of role players, those guys who had six, seven, five years experience were replaced with young guys who had potential.

"To me, potential is a frightening word.

"So, we had a lot of guys out there who are talented in their own right, but maybe the thinking side of the game, the decision-making and all that side isn't quite there yet.

"So, for me, the game is hectic now, it's wide open, it's all over the place. I don't remember that as a young player, when the game made sense, and players did their job and there were roles. The game was much more fluid and now it's just up and down and all over.

"And to be fair part of the reason I'm sitting here today is because in today's game, the way its become in this league, I don't survive very well in this game. Had the game continued where it was going and we wouldn't have replaced the seven, eight year veterans who understood their day to day jobs with a scheme that's very fast, almost out of control at times, who knows what would be around.

"That to me is the difference: we've replaced the good solid professional with potential.

"Maybe this league will be great in the future, but right now I think it has some growing pains it has to go through in order for it to get there and expansion is not going to change that at all because we're talking about what, three to four teams in the next few years. And that's just going to bring more younger players into the league.

"I don't think it's a bad thing, I think it's a growing pain thing. It's a process we have to get through and it's a teaching and education process. Now college players go from college to what would be the premier league in this country and there's no step in between for them to learn what it takes to be a professional.

"They're thrown out on the field and expected to have an impact. That's tough, we're asking a lot of those young guys."

The MLS playoff schedule:

Conference Semifinals, Game 1:

4:30 p.m. Thursday - Chicago Fire at New England Revolution on ESPN2/Deportes.

1 p.m. Saturday - Houston Dynamo at New York Red Bulls on Direct Kick.

3 p.m. Saturday - Chivas USA at Real Salt Lake on Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Sports en Espanol.

5 p.m. Saturday - Columbus Crew at Kansas City Wizards on HDNet/Direct Kick.

Conference Semifinals, Game 2

5:30 p.m. Nov. 6 - New England Revolution at Chicago Fire on ESPN2/Deportes.

4:30 p.m. Nov. 8 - Kansas City Wizards at Columbus Crew on HDNet/Direct Kick.

7:30 p.m. - Real Salt Lake at Chivas USA on Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Sports en Espanol.

Noon Nov. 9 - New York Red Bulls at Houston Dynamo on TeleFutura.

The format:

The team that scores the most goals in the home-and-home series advances to the single elimination Conference Championship. If the teams are tied after 180 minutes in the Conference Semifinal series, a 30-minute extra time period (divided into two 15-minute periods) will be played followed by kicks from the penalty mark, if necessary. The team with the higher seed between the two Conference finalists will host the Conference Championship game.

U.S. Under-20 World Cup Squad Named
Bruin striker Sydney Leroux was the lone player from a Southern California school named to the squad today by Coach Tony DiCicco. She played in the 2004 version at age 14 - for Canada.

The complete roster:

goalkeepers Chantel Jones (Virginia), Alyssa Naeher (Penn State), Cat Parkhill (Minnesota); defenders Kiersten Dallsteam (Washington State), Kaley Fountain (Wake Forest), Lauren Fowlkes (Notre Dame), Liz Harkin (Arizona State), Meghan Klingenberg (North Carolina), Nikki Marshall (Colorado); midfielders Gina DiMartino (Boston College), Becky Edwards (Florida State), Christine Nairn (Bowie, Md.), Elli Reed (Portland), Ingrid Wells (Georgetown), Keelin Winters (Portland); forwards Michelle Enyeart (Portland), Sydney Leroux (UCLA), Alyssa Mautz (Texas A&M), Alex Morgan (California), Nikki Washington (North Carolina).

The U.S. opens against France Nov. 19, faces Argentina Nov. 22 and concludes group play Nov. 26 against China. The tournament is in Chile.

Sunday College Soccer Scoreboard
UCLA men 1 (7-4-5 overall, Pac-10 5-1-1) Oregon State 0 (5-8-3, 2-4-1)
The Pac-10 leading Bruins, unbeaten in 10 of their last 11 games, posted their fourth consecutive shutout and won on a 14th minute goal by defender Brad Rusin over 10-man OSU, who had a player ejected in the 28th minute.

Pepperdine 2 (7-9-2, WCC 2-3) Santa Clara 1
Alexis Farler scored her first goal of the season and Amanda Rupp (La Costa Canyon High) her ninth to seal the win.

Loyola Marymount women 0 (8-6-3, WCC 3-2) San Diego 1 (13-3-0, WCC 5-0-0)
WCC-leading San Diego won its sixth-straight game to snap LMU's 17-match home unbeaten streak on a goal 10 minutes from the end of regulation.

Loyola Marymount men (4-6-5, WCC 2-4-1) 0 San Diego 3 (6-6-3, WCC 6-1)
Conference-leading San Diego handed LMU its third straight loss. Seeing his first action since Sept. 7, redshirt freshman goalkeeper Jack McCormack (Manhattan Beach)
made one save.

Long Beach State 5 (11-4-3, Big West 5-0-1) Cal State Northridge 0 (7-8-2, Big West 2-3-1)

Galaxy 2 FC Dallas 2
Edson Buddle scores the Galaxy's first goal
Photo by Scott Varley

Game story.

There was a lot to talk about in the post-game press conference.

Retiring Dallas midfielder Bobby Rhine (captain for the day) and retiring Galaxy defender Greg Vanney (captain at game's end) both spoke and summed up their respective careers

The two opposing coaches, the Galaxy's Bruce Arena and Dallas' Schellas Hyndman, spoke about their massive respective off-season rebuilding jobs.

And Landon Donovan and David Beckham addressed the next phases of their careers.

Below is just a sampling of what they had to say. I'll update with more later.

Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena on the strides the team has made since he took over:

"As the season ends, am I pleased competitively where we are right now? No, not at all. The work starts immediately now to improve this roster, improve this team. To improve the philosophy, to improve the leadership, to improve the commitment and make everything better.

On how the team has improved and how it can get better:

"We have, oddly enough, improved defensively. However we're not good enough positionally in a lot of spots on the field. ...I know this roster very well now. And I know what needs to be done. ... It's pretty obvious the kind of changes we need to make to get better. And I think we can accomplish most of that, although it's going top take a little bit of good bookkeeping. We have to deal with issues with salary cap.

On Beckham's performance:

Those of you who might doubt the commitment of David Beckham - he played hurt today. We weren't sure he'd be able to play. I applaud David for his effort on the field today because he was not 100 percent."

Greg Vanney on receiving the captain's armband from Beckham when he came on (very) late:

"David's decision to give me the armband was just spur of the moment - he did it. I don't think there was any premeditation or anything on that level so I think (it was) just a very respectful move by him. We've gotten to be fairly close this year. I think it was a great move, I was touched by it. That was one of the highlights of my day, actually.

On when he decided to retire:

"I've been considering it for, who knows, throughout the year. I've had a difficult run the past few years. I've moved probably four or five times the last two years alone, the last 18 months probably. That type of thing, along with non-guaranteed contracts as well as the difficulty every off-season with MLS and the uncertainty - this club probably rebuilding anew a little bit. I tried to make the decision that was best for me. I kind of came to that conclusion in the last few weeks.'

David Beckham on his quad injury and his immobility the last few games:

"It's just my age maybe. I've had it three days; I haven't been able to train the last two days. My quads were burning, but I got through the game."

On the quality of MLS officiating:

"As a professional, it's frustrating because we try and do our jobs and we expect other people to do their's as well and do it in the right way. And the majority of the time it's so inconsistent. It's simple plays that are affecting the game - and ruining the game. ... I'm fed up with sitting up here and talking about that. ... It can only get better. It can't get any worse."

The game ended 2-2, Eddie Lewis drawing a clumsy challenge from Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala to win a penalty kick in the 79th minute.

Landon Donovan converted for his 20th goal of the year and finish the season as MLS' top scorer.

Edson Buddle could of and probably should of scored with a 83rd minute header that flashed wide.

Dallas played with 10 men from the 50th minute when Aaron Pitchkolan was sent off.

Greg Vanney made his final MLS appearance, but Coach Bruce Arena didn't bring him on until stoppage time (there's respect for you).

Becks gave Vanney - a Galaxy original in 1996 and former Bruin - the captain's arm band when he came on in a classy gesture.

Oh, and the Galaxy are still tied for last (on points) in MLS.

More later

Ill-disciplined, ill-timed and generally inept, the first half essentially summed up the Galaxy's season: Dallas scored two consecutive goals in five minutes, Brazilian Alvaro Pires received a straight red for a studs up challenge just before half time and David Beckham earned a yellow card for mouthing off/having one of his increasingly tiresome petulant little meltdowns.

Things had started brightly for the Galaxy.

Eddie Lewis slung a long ball the width of the field over to Beckham and he crossed to Edson Buddle, standing unmarked right in front of the goal, who headed in his 15th of the season.

It was Becks' first assist since the 5-2 win over Dallas on Sept. 20.

Drew Moor and Victor Sikora scored for Dallas.

The first goal was a gift from Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Wicks, who failed to catch a ball from a corner kick.

The second was presented by the Galaxy defense who froze when confronted by a long ball out of the back from Dallas left back Duilio Davino and allowed Sikora to wander through alone for his first MLS goal.

His legs and a once blistering shot clearly gone as Galaxy fans have seen this season, defender Greg Vanney called time on a 13-year professional career today, announcing his retirement before the game.

Vanney spent 10 years in MLS, including seven in two stints for the Galaxy, and played another three seasons in France.

"While it is a bittersweet feeling to be ending my career today, I'm happy that I am able to do so with the Galaxy where I started my career," he said.

He also played 37 times with the U.S. National Team.

But the post-Vanney era clearly can't come soon enough for Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena - Vanney doesn't get the start in the last game of his career; Julian Valentin, making his MLS debut, is preferred in central defense.

Josh Wicks in back in goal, with Steve Cronin on the bench, behind a defense that also sees Mike Randolph make his first second start under Arena, with defender Sean Franklin (Galaxy defender of the year, it was announced before the game) the third of three defenders listed on the team sheet.

The midfield: Chris Klein, Alvaro Pires, David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Eddie Lewis.

Up front: Edson Buddle and Alan Gordon.

Vanney is, at least, on the bench.

The Galaxy award winners announced this morning includes Donovan, who needs one goal and one assist to become the first MLS player ever with 20 goals and 10 assists, not surprisingly named MVP.

The L.A. Riot Squad named Chris Klein as their player of the year award and will present him with it at game's end.

Dallas has Jeff Cunningham and Kenny Cooper up front, who is one behind Donovan in the MLS scoring race.

This is it.

The final Galaxy game. Team awards will be handed out. And players will shuffle off into the sunset.

So we'll keep this simple.

Game preview.

Notable: There should be a bigger discount at the Team LA Store. All Galaxy merchandise is off 40 percent today - but they've been off far more than that this season.

Quotable:

"It's certainly a team that needs to be reconstructed, if you want to use that word," said Coach Bruce Arena. "We have an odd balance on our team on the field. We have an odd balance age-wise. And we certainly have some issues that need to be resolved with the salary cap."

Here's Arena on what a great job Anschutz Entertainment Group has done as owners (ahem):

"They're passionate. They put their money where their mouths are. Phil Anschutz has carred this league on his back .Tim Lieweke has done a passionate job in the process. Hey, they've done a fabulous job. Where we've screwed up is we in management and the front office in getting this team better and the players. That's where the problem lies - we've got to get it better. That's my job and the players job - that's why I'm here. It hasn't been good enough. If you're grading just on ownership we won the league a long time ago. ... We're not getting it done on the field. Let's be fair about that. I wish I could blame our performances on ownership."

Let's leave it on that surreal note.

The game begins at noon on FSN.

The story of the night: Dynamo striker Nate Jaqua and Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy battle
Photo by Sean Hiller

Last year Chivas USA exited the playoffs early because they were unable to replace Maykel Galindo and Ante Razov up front; this year they will be without goalkeeping revelation Dan Kennedy after he received a unforgiving red card in the 1-1 draw Saturday with Houston.

Game story.

Highlights:

Dynamo Coach Dominic Kinnear on why he remonstrated with the fourth official after the penalty call:

I didn't want to see the guy get sent off that was it. I thought the Kennedy guy was trying to play the ball. ... I know what the rule is - you don't want to see a guy miss his first playoff game.

But he thought it was a PK:

"I saw a guy breaking through and then kind of knocked it by him and he kind of blocked his path and ran into him. They both stumbled. I think it was a collision. I just don't think he took him down. ... I thought it was a penalty for sure."

Former Galaxy striker Nate Jaqua sounded less sure:

"He got me very, very minor. ... It was a harsh PK."

Jim Curtin on his goal:

"Cary put a hard ball in behind the defense I know any time that happens it's tough to handle and it can bounce off anybody. I think it hit Dynamo goalkeeper Pat) Onstad and then somebody else it deflected off of and then there was just kind of a race to it between me and (Wade) Barrett - he may actually have got their first, but I kind of slid it in. it was kind of an ugly goal, but it gets the job done, I guess."

On making a statement:

"Both of us wanted to come out and show each other, because there''s a good chance we're going to meet in the playoffs."

Brian Mullan and Shavar Thomas battle for the ballPhoto by Sean Hiller

Preki on the referee making the PK call: "I thought he spoilt the game. ... It's disappointing that in a game that doesn't basically mean anything, but three points and a little bit of prestige that we get these kinds of things. He told the guys (Kennedy) was the last man. Watching the replay if that was a contact, it was a very minor contact. ... even if the referee decides to call a penalty that's not a red card. i disagree with the call."

Phil Collin had more from Jesse Marsch on the PK/red card:

"He couldn't say anything. He tried backpedaling the whole time and then saying he had to give the red and his linesman was even trying to flag him over and say you know I don't know what he wanted to say to him. I suspect it was to probably that shouldn't have been a red but he already gave a red. He already made a horrible, horrible mistake. That is a ridiculous mistake that no professional referee should ever make. I mean, it's so disappointing that for the second year in a row we've got to deal with this.

"Again, I'm embarrassed, it's ridiculous and now we've got to go into the playoffs without one of our key guys.

"Listen. It was a breakaway and Nate Jaqua dribbled around him and literally - I played with Nate and Nate starts stumbling like he does often times. And if a referee understands anything about players in the league, he understands that Nate Jaqua is clumsy. (laughs) That's the bottom line. He's clumsy. And he started falling, falling and then he just fell down and he could have stayed up and the referee just bailed him out, bailed their team out, sends our goalie off the field off for the playoffs. It's a joke, it's embarrassing. He should be done for the year, done for the year with a play like that."

Phil also caught up with a crestfallen Dan Kennedy:

"He came in one on one and in those situations you try not to over commit and you try to make it hard on them. He decided to dribble me. Really, I thought I did a good job closing him down. He touched it wide to try to touch it around me. I mean his touch was really far out wide. And I did my best to get out of the way and turn and run with him. There is such minimal contact for even a penalty to be called in my mind.

"I was in disbelief that I even heard a whistle.

"For me I'm just so disappointed and I'm disheartened. We've done a really good job as a team to get into the playoffs and I've really been looking forward to that and I feel it's been stripped away from me.

"In moments like this you try to accept that some things just happen for a reason and got to move on. I'm gutted."

Chivas USA salvaged a 1-1 tie with a Jim Curtin goal being bundled over the line in the 90th minute, but events early in the second half that will result in the absence of goalkeeper Dan Kennedy for their playoff opener overshadowed the result.

Kennedy was sent off in the 52nd minute after referee Terry Vaughn appeared to believe Nate Jaqua was deliberately pulled down by the last man back. But Jaqua was jumping over Kennedy and the two collided in midair, making the call an extremely harsh one, if not completely and utterly wrong.

Dwayne De Rosario scored from the resulting spot kick, sending sub Zach Thornton the wrong way.

We've requested an explanation about exactly what the infraction was from the ref - I'll let you know what he says.

More after an undoubtedly angry Preki lets it rip.

This result just in: Pasadena City College product Yura Movsisyan equalized for Real Salt Lake in the 90th minute against Colorado to put the Utah team through and dumping the Rapids from the playoffs.

RSL needed only a draw to clinch a playoff spot. Conor Casey scored the Rapids' goal in the 11th minute, aptly enough his 11th of the now-ended campaign.

Chivas USA will travel to Rio Tinto Stadium for the opening game set for 3 p.m. Nov. 1 live on Fox Soccer Channel; the return leg is 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8 in Carson.

As for the game at Home Depot Center, perhaps predictably, with nothing at stake there's nothing on the scoreboard either.

But Chivas USA have goalkeeper Dan Kennedy, quickly becoming a cult figure to the lively crowd, to thank for the 0-0 scoreline.

With Brian Ching running in alone on the goal four minutes before half time, Kennedy came out to the penalty spot to narrow the angle and saved Ching's shot from 18 yards with his right foot, to the delight of the crowd.

A minute later he made a reaction save to deny Ricardo Clark a headed goal from a corner kick.

While there weren't many scoring chances, this is an attractive fast-paced game with lots of short passes between two teams unwilling to back down given that they could face each other in the Western Conference championship.

Changes galore for Chivas USA Coach Preki in the meaningless final regular home game of the season, as experience is preferred over youth.

Dan Kennedy continues to keep Zach Thornton on the bench and starts in goal, but there are three changes to the four man back line in front of him.

Shavar Thomas is the lone holdover from the defense that conceded two goals in a losing effort against the Rapids last weekend. In come Carey Talley, Claudio Suarez and Francisco Mendoza (both rested last week); Jonathan Bornstein and Alex Zotinca are both on the bench while there's no sign of Loyola Marymount product Bobby Burling at all.

In midfield Sacha Klejstan comes in for the injured Sasha Victorine, Paulo Nagamura returns from concussion and Justin Braun is relegated to the bench.

Up front for the second consecutive game: Ante Razov and Alecko Eskandarian.

Brazilian Dejair and Mexican Roberto Nurse are options off the bench.

Houston isn't resting anyone by the looks of it, although Leuzinger High (Lawndale) product Kei Kamara is suspended.

Dynamo lineup: Pat Onstad, Richard Mulrooney, Bobby Boswell, Eddie Robinson, Wade Barrett, Brian Mullan, Ricardo Clark, Dwayne De Rosario, Brad Davis, Brian Ching, Nate Jaqua.

In the most relevant game for Chivas USA this evening, Colorado is leading Real Salt Lake 1-0 just before half time. Chivas USA plays the winner in the first round of the playoffs.

With reporters from Italy, England, Holland and the usual local contingent present, David Beckham spoke for the first time today on the proposed two-month loan deal to AC Milan aimed at maintaining his fitness for England.

Beckham said he is "95 percent sure" it will be completed in the next two weeks, but repeatedly reiterated there was no chance of a permanent deal when he was asked point blank if Sunday could be his last game for the Galaxy:

"No, it won't be. I made that clear. I've said my commitment is still to be with the Galaxy and that's not changed.

"I'm not leaving the Galaxy," he added later. "I'll be back. I'm a Galaxy player."

Beckham, who acknowledged he had initiated the possible deal, suggested the loan was beneficial not only for him, but the Galaxy as well:

"If you know footballers, they don't have four months off in any league in the world except for here," he said. "This is my second season in the league and I'm not prepared to have four or five months off without training.

"I don't agree with the amount of time that we have off here," he added. "I need to play. My body is programmed not to have so much time off. I'm not prepared to do that again."

Beckham said AC Milan was the Italian team he most wanted to play for:

"I'm honored that I've been given a chance to actually join up with a team like Milan, specially with the players they've got. They've got some of the best players in the world on their team - Ronaldhino, Seedorf, Gatuso, Kaka and, of course, Maldini."

And Shevchenko. Bit different than playing alongside the likes of Franklin, Roberts, Gordon and Jordan anyway.

Can he keep up with the improved caliber of player in Italy? I asked if he was in Serie A form. His response: "You always ask negative questions."

He later copped to his underwhelming play this season:

"Its been on and off. I've had good games, I've had bad games ... Its been OK in spells and maybe in other games it's not been."

When it was suggested to Becks he might need to go on loan again in the winter of 2009-2010 ahead of the World Cup, if you follow his logic of needing to play this January, he smiled and declined to look that far ahead.

And for the fashionistas among you, Becks was dressed ultra-casually on a scorching day in white flip flops, burgandy fashionably-worn cargo shorts and an acid-washed t-shirt.

Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena was considerably more vague about what he knew about the deal and when he knew it, the suspicion among the assembled press corps being that like his predecessors he knew little in advance about the proposal:

"I have information. In my view since the league is the one that handles the contractual matters I think it's crucial they are involved in the process.

"This has been something that's come on recently. I'm not of the belief this thing has been in the works for months."

On the risk of Beckham getting injured in Italy as he did at Real Madrid right before he got here:

"Injury is a part of the game. You could get injured going in the weight room."

Much more important to Chivas USA fans than today's 7:30 p.m. regular season-ending game at Home Depot Center (live on Fox Soccer Channel) in what could be a preview of the Western Conference championship game against the Houston Dynamo is the match between Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids.

That game, which kicks off an hour earlier than the one in Carson, will decide Chivas USA's first round playoff opponent.

So what's the lure of today's game?

Let us count the ways:
*Good quality soccer - Chivas USA has won four of their last five games, the Dynamo are unbeaten in eight.

*Cheap seats plus swag - four tickets, four hats and four hot dogs start at $58, plus the first 7,500 fans get a free soccer ball. Oh, and the first 10,000 also get a T-shirt.

*Soccer tennis anyone? You want to get there early anyway to check out the free soccertennis tournament starting at 5 p.m. in the adjacent tennis stadium. Participants include Playa del Rey's John O'Brien, Eric Wynalda, Alexi Lalas and Joy Fawcett. Video and more info here.

*Altruism? Cell Phones for Soldiers, a non-profit organization that recycles cell phones to buy prepaid calling cards for U. S. troops stationed overseas, will be at the match. Fans are encouraged to bring old cell phones to donate them to the group, which will have a booth outside the Southwest Entrance to the stadium. The organization will also hand out envelopes so fans who did not bring cell phones can send them in later.

Game previews are here and here.

Finally, MLS announced details Friday of the 10-round Nov. 26 expansion draft for the Seattle Sounders.

MLS teams must submit their lists of protected players by Nov. 24. No team can lose more than one player to Seattle.

UCLA 2 (14-0-2, Pac-10 5-0-0) USC 1 (12-3-1, Pac-10 2-2-1). No NCAA attendance records broken, but the 7,804 there was still the largest ever to see a Trojans-Bruins game and beat the the previous USC record for attendance at a soccer game. A total of 1,469 fans attended USC's NCAA Third Round match last season in the Coliseum.

Also:
*Pepperdine 0 (6-9-2, 1-3 WCC) San Diego 1 (12-4-2, 4-0 WCC)
Waves lost on first half goal from free kick.

*Loyola Marymount women 2 (8-5-3, 3-1 WCC) Santa Clara 1 (4-10-3, 1-2-1 WCC)
Lions win was third ever over Santa Clara, snapping seven-game winless streak against the Broncos.

The L.A. Women's Professional Soccer team will be called the Sol (the lasses of LAS!).

Check out the logo and team colors (guess we should have figured a team owned in part by the owner of the W-League Pali Blues would stick with a primarily blue - dark and light - color scheme with accents of yellow and black).

The Sol name is meant to reflect the sunny weather and heritage - "sol" is sun in Spanish and other languages - of Southern California.

Season tickets for the inaugural season that begins in April will cost $125 to $750.

Full disclosure: The official unveiling of the name, logo and colors is set for Sunday; because another reporter was leaked and published the information this afternoon, I decided to break the embargo and publish it, too.

I'll forgo the usual weekend preview today (I'll have more later today) to hype up a game that's increasing in magnitude with every passing year when the No. 3 USC (12-2-1) women host No. 9 UCLA (13-0-2) tonight at 7 at the Coliseum.

A big game - it's a rematch of last year's NCAA semifinal that saw USC defeat the Bruins and go on to win the national title - so a big crowd is expected.

Here's our preview.

Here's the Daily Bruin version.

And here's what the Daily Trojan had to say.

Tickets are just $7 adults, $5 children 12 and under or organize a group of 10 or more of your closest friends and pay just $3 a ticket. Take a minibus though; in best L.A. tradition parking is more expensive than a seat - it's $8 in Coliseum lots 4, 5 and 6.

Notable:
*UCLA has conceded just two goals all season, but the Bruins' defense faces a USC offense ranked No. 10 in the nation with an average of 2.8 goals per game.
*USC is unbeaten in a program record 19 home games.

In other UCLA soccer news, former Bruins Paul Caligiuri and Brad Friedel have been selected to the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer 50th Anniversary team.

A list of more than 100 former players athletes and 10 head coaches was narrowed down to 32 and six, respectively, through a voting subcommittee. The finalists were then put on an online ballot and voted on by the public through NCAA.com.

The winners and their college affiliations: Jeff Agoos, Virginia; Armando Betancourt, Indiana; Paul Caligiuri, UCLA; Richard Chinapoo, Long Island; Angelo DiBernardo, Indiana; Brad Friedel, UCLA; John Harkes, Virginia; Glenn Myernick, Hartwick; Farrukh Quraishi, SUNY Oneonta; Claudio Reyna, Virginia; and Al Trost, Saint Louis. The coach is Indiana's Jerry Yeagley.

Former Galaxy defender Caligiuri, now coaching at Cal Poly Pomona, led UCLA to its first-ever national title in 1985 before playing 114 times with the U.S. National Team.

Friedel, currently mentoring former Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan at Aston Villa, led UCLA to the 1990 NCAA title as a freshman and still holds the program's record for career goals against average (0.60). He played 82 games for the U.S.

Team members will be honored at the College Cup in December.

Finally, in a college game Thursday the Loyola Marymount men lost at home for the first time this season in conference play, falling 2-0 to San Diego despite hitting the woodwork three times. The Lions are now (4-5-5, 2-3-1 WCC), while the Toreros (5-6-3, 5-1-0 WCC) finish the first half of WCC play atop the league standings.

Quotable:

"We outplayed them, we hit the post three times," said LMU Coach Paul Krumpe. "For whatever reason we've been very unlucky putting things away this year."

I mentioned this in a column earlier this month, but officials with the Carson-based Women's Professional Soccer franchise confirmed today the team's name, logo and colors will be unveiled at Sunday's final Galaxy home game of the season.

U.S. Women's National Team star Shannon Boxx (South High), who will play for the team, will be on hand to help with the unveiling.

I'll have more Sunday.

Chivas USA announced its 20088 season award winners today.

Midfielder Sacha Kljestan, 23, was named team MVP after his break-out season for club (and country). He's tied for the team lead in goals and leads the team in assists.

Other award winners named by the club in a press release were:

Claudio Suárez, Chivas USA's Defender of the Year in 2006 and 2007, this year wins the Chivas Regal Award, for the player "who best represents the spirit of Chivas USA." Suárez is succeeded as Defender of the Year by the 2008 winner, defensive midfielder Paulo Nagamura. Los Alamitos native Jonathan Bornstein, in his third year with the club, was named U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year.

The trio will be recognized Saturday at the final home game of the regular season.

Your daily Beckham.

Cal State Dominguez Hills teams swept Cal State San Marcos Wednesday, the No. 6-ranked men men (15-2-1) winning 5-3, the 11-7 women winning 5-1 over their sixth-ranked opponent in the Toros' final home game of the regular season. The CSUDH programs close out their respective conference campaigns on the road this weekend.

Finally, a tip of the hat to two press box colleagues, Andrea Canales and Luis Bueno, who are shutting down their blog Sideline Views. It was one of my daily must reads. Andrea, one of the few female soccer writers in the country, brought a unique perspective to the game, while Luis was one of the most knowledgeable English-language writers on Mexican futbol in the region. Both will continue to write for other outlets; me, I'll miss seeing them daily in the same place.

Beckham Update?
David Beckham wasn't talking today, but Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena did on the possibility of him going on loan to AC Milan:

"I haven't spent a second of my day even thinking about it to be honest. For me personally and with this team, I don't think we would loan any player out for six months. That's how long you have to loan him out for until the next transfer window, which would be June. On the surface, it sounds like an odd proposition. I don't see where that benefits MLS or the Galaxy. "

Who said anything about six months?

Here's Chris Klein on Beckham's pending loan move:

"He wants to win. He made it known when he came over here he wasn't coming here to sell T-shirts. I'm sure he's disappointed in the production of the team in the last year and a half. Does that fall on his shoulders? No. We all take responsibility for the results of this team of late. I'm sure there's that disappointment inside of him, though."

In other Galaxy news:
*Former President and General Manager Doug Hamilton, as well as former midfielders Mauricio Cienfuegos and Cobi Jones are the first honorees of a Wall of Legends intended to "honor individuals or groups who have significantly contributed to the growth and success of the club." Inauguration of the first members is 9:30 a.m. Sunday in the Southwest Concourse of Home Depot Center.

In Chivas USA news:
*Fox Soccer Channel will air both Chivas USA games of its Western Conference semifinal series against either Real Salt Lake or the Colorado Rapids. Game 1 is set for Nov. 1, while game 2 of the series is scheduled for Nov. 8 at Home Depot Center.
* Brad Guzan update.

In college soccer:
*Cal State Northridge men (6-5-3), down one player for the majority of the match, lost 3-2 Wednesday to Cal State Irvine.
*No. 9 USC (12-2-1) meets No. 3 UCLA (13-0-2) 7 p.m. Friday in a rematch of the 2007 NCAA semifinal at the Coliseum. Organizers are trying to set an NCAA attendance record, which stands at 14,410. USC, unbeaten in a program record 19 home games, wants a crowd of 15,000.
Check out the promo.

Lastly, in youth soccer news:
*Lancaster and Cal South will host the 2009 U.S. Youth Soccer Region IV Championships June 15-21 drawing nearly 4,500 players and an estimated 10,000 spectators at the Lancaster National Soccer Complex The 35-field facility will see 248 boys and girls teams, ages Under-12 through Under-19, from the 14 western U.S. Youth Soccer State Associations that make up US Youth Soccer Region IV (Alaska, Arizona, California North, California South, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming). Regional winners of the Under-14 through Under-19 brackets earn a berth to the 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championships.

Although a small media horde has gathered in Carson this morning, I understand from David Beckham's publicist on this side of the Atlantic that Becks will not speak after the Galaxy's practice.

But Glenn Lehrman confirmed that talks are on-going for a two-month loan deal and released this statement:

"At this moment discussions are going on with AC Milan - nothing has been confirmed at the moment. He's considering a proposal from them to go on loan for the start of the year to maintain his level of fitness and make himself available for England selection. He remains an L.A. Galaxy player and would report as normal to the start of the 2009 MLS season."

England coach Fabio Capello had reportedly told English media that Beckham would be axed from England's next World Cup qualifying squad in February if he were not playing regularly.

Updated: Beckham did not, as previously reported, talk to reporters today after practice, although Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena and other players did.

There will be a complete story in Thursday's Daily News, Daily Breeze, Long Beach Press-Telegram and other MediaNews newspapers.

I was told by reporter Phil Collin, who was out at practice today, that Arena made a reference to a six-month loan deal, although he did not cite a source or rule for that length of time, which contradicts what we've heard so far.

Beckham will apparently wait until Saturday before addressing the media, his publicist said. Presumably by then the A.C. Milan deal will be confirmed.

CNN confirmed with David Beckham's agent today that the Galaxy midfielder will head to Italy's AC Milan on a two-month loan in the wake of the club's tour Down Under after the MLS season concludes so he can retain his fitness for England.

It does not sound like he's going to miss much, if any, of the MLS preseason, according to this quote in England's Daily Mail from Beckham agent Simon Oliveira:

"Nothing is confirmed yet, but the intention is to go to AC Milan on loan for January and February. He would be going there with the view to keeping fit and being available for selection for England.

"The idea is he then goes back to the Galaxy to join up with their pre-season in March. He will not be joining AC Milan permanently. He had a five-year contract with the Galaxy
and has three years left and every intention of fulfilling that."

AC Milan are currently sitting fifth in the league.

Updated 10:28 a.m. Got off the phone a few minutes ago with the Galaxy PR folks who tell me his Beckhamness will not be addressing the media on the issue after training today (he usually only deigns to speak to reporters once a week). We'll see. But that would be par for the course: a global news story, Beckham in our back yard and he's not talking.

In other Beckham-related news, he's agreed to do his bit for England's 2018 World Cup bid.

Speaking of the World Cup, there's much gnashing of teeth south of the border over Mexico's World Cup qualifying status - or lack thereof.

Finally, this just in from the "I live in a glass house" department - North Korean nutjob Kim Jong Il is not at all pleased with the nation's hairy soccer players.

Because, of course, that rich, famine-free and non-authoritarian nation doesn't have more pressing issues than a "follicular clampdown".

Sasha Victorine was smiling after scoring a goal against the Wizards earlier this month - he's not smiling now.

If Chivas USA Coach Preki was wondering who on his injury-ravaged squad was going down next he got the answer Tuesday: newly acquired midfielder Sasha Victorine is out two to four weeks - which means possibly the rest of the season depending on how the playoffs go - after spraining his left knee in Sunday's loss to the Colorado Rapids.

An MRI Monday evening revealed the extent of injury, which forced Victorine out of Sunday's game in the 25th minute.

Spare a thought for former Galaxy midfielder Victorine who had just one goal in 16 games with the Kansas City Wizards this season before being acquired by Chivas USA Sept. 15 in a deadline-day trade. Eying a fresh start after his declining role in Kansas City, Victorine scored two goals and one assist in five games with Chivas USA and was involved in both goals (scoring one) against the Wizards in his first start.

In other Chivas USA injury related news, (there's always more) defender Lawson Vaughn underwent successful surgery on his left ankle today in Baltimore. He's out for up to six months. It's Vaughn's fourth (!) serious injury this season.

Guess Chivas USA is going to have to recalculate that stat from last week that observed they had endured missing an average of 5.67 players per game solely due to injury.

And all this comes after a rare bit of good injury-related news for the club: forward Ante Razov, who had been out two games with a right calf strain, started and played the first 61 minutes of Sunday's match. Defender Carey Talley also returned from a concussion, playing the final 25 minutes. Paulo Nagamura, who was out with a sprained knee, played 45 minutes Sunday for Chivas USA reserves.

The Galaxy's obituary.

The two charts above show the Galaxy's record in the Sigi Schmid (bottom) and post Sigi Schmid era in comparison with other MLS teams that played all those seasons (I excluded expansion teams and used the old Earthquakes' final season combined with the Dynamo's record since it was essentially the same team with a new name slapped on in the upper chart).

Graphic evidence of the Galaxy's decline since Schmid left.

And thanks to KLF for technical assistance with the spreadsheet.

Clarification: The Galaxy "elevated Doug Hamilton to president and general manager" Jan. 1, 2004; he was, of course, appointed vice president and general manager Jan. 14, 2002. So he had been eight months on the job as president when he fired Sigi.

Yorba Linda's Dan Kennedy made what I believe was his sixth consecutive start in goal for Chivas USA Sunday and it was an eventful one - he faced two penalty kicks, saving the first, but not the second, which proved the game winner.

Soccer beat writer Phil Collin caught up with Kennedy after the game at Carson's Home Depot Center for a brief chat:

Q: You played for UC Santa Barbara at the 2004 College Cup final in this stadium and you were subbed out for penalty kicks. Did you flash back to that today?
A: When they took me out? No, it's funny, that sticks in your mind. That's more of an after-the-game type of deal. During the game you're not thinking of that kind of stuff. I think I'm capable of making PK saves just as good as any other keeper. I like my chances. So it was good to get my first one saved. I wish I would have saved the second one and we would have had a point out of the game.

Q: Do you know how Preki intends to handle the goalkeeping position during the playoffs? Will you be in the net or is he waiting for regular starter Zach Thornton to get healthy?
A: No idea. I'm just trying to do as well as I can for the good of the team.

Q: What has the last month or so meant to you in your development?
A: As any keeper in any situation, it's very important to be comfortable with your team and with your defenders. That's how you can better yourself and manipulate your results by understanding their play and talking to them and putting them in the right positions and building trust and confidence. And you can see that over time we're beginning to play together, so it's helping.

That's a file photo of Kennedy, BTW, not one from this weekend's game.

In other Chivas USA news:
*The reserves (4-3-3) beat their Colorado Rapids (4-5-2) counterparts 2-1 Sunday in their third consecutive win. Midfielder Keith Savage and forward Anthony Hamilton scored the second half goals.

The reserves play 4 p.m. Tuesday against the San Jose Earthquakes reserves on Field 6 at the HDC. Admission is free.

*The Chivas USA Under-18 team (4-1) picked up a fourth straight win with a 5-2 victory over Nomads SC. Orr Baroush scored twice, Andy Lopez had a bicycle kick go in, while Jesse Paredes and Polo Morales added goals. The Kids' win moved them into first place in the SoCal Division of the U.S. Development Academy's Western Conference.

(The Galaxy Under-18 team beat the San Diego Surf 4-2 Saturday at the HDC, BTW to move to 2-3 on the season; they're third in the nine-team division.)

*The Chivas Under-16's (2-2-1) lost 4-2 to the Nomads Saturday; they're in second place in their division with a 2-2-1 record (W-L-T), behind the 4-1 Galaxy. The Galaxy lost 4-0 to the San Diego Surf at the HDC. Standings.

Sunday College Scores
UCLA men 3 (5-4-5) Oregon State 0 (4-7-3) (The Bruins received first-half goals from Michael Stephens and Prince Lapnet, and Palos Verdes Estates' Kyle Nakazawa added a goal in the second half from a 22-yard free kick).
Conference standings.

Arizona State 1 (7-4-3) USC 0 (12-2-1) (USC suffered its first loss of the season on a 17th minute goal).

Arizona 0 UCLA 2 (13-0-2) (Junior forward Lauren Cheney scored both Bruin goals giving her a team leading nine goals and five assists. It was the Bruins' 13th shutout in 15 matches; they outshot Arizona 13-4).
Conference standings.

San Francisco men 1 (4-7-1) Loyola Marymount 0 (4-4-5) (Leon Williams scored the game's only goal in the 50th minute).
Conference standings.

Gonzaga women 1 (5-9-2) Loyola Marymount 2 (7-5-3) (Junior Kristen Garcia scored her first career goal 2:12 into the second overtime period for the LMU winner).

Portland 2 (13-1) Pepperdine 1 (6-8-2) (The game-winner came in the 88th minute from a penalty kick).
Conference standings.

Cal State Northridge 2 (7-7-1) Pacific 1 (8-6-1) (Freshman midfielder Nancy Avesyan scored in the 88th minute to give the Matadors the win and was named Big West
Co-Player of the Week. She leads the team with four goals and three assists).
Conference standings.

You never know where Yanks abroad are going to show up.

Photo by Branimir Kvartuc

San Pedro native Peter Hazdovac, 22, a graduate of San Pedro High who played club soccer with Fram on the Palos Verdes Peninsula and 66 games in four years at Cal Poly (10 goals and eight assists) is playing professional soccer in the Croatian regional third division.

On Saturday, Hazdovac scored both goals in a 2-0 NK Gosk win, sending the club to the top of the table. Here's what he had to say:

Q: How did you end up in Croatia playing soccer?
A: It was always a dream of mine to play professional soccer and with both my parents being born in Croatia I am able to get citizenship. With some help I was able to get my foot in the door and from there it took off.

Q: How have things gone in Croatia?
A: I came to Croatia in the beginning of July and was sent to Zagreb to the Kranjcar Soccer Academy where I was evaluated by a professional coaching staff. After being in Zagreb for about ten days, the coaches at the academy got me connected with the first division side NK ZADAR. I was able to train with the first division side for two months but since I came to camp late they decided to send me on loan to get some experience. They placed me in Dubrovnik where my family is from, to play for NK GOSK. I have played in seven games scoring three goals. If things continue to go well, my goal is to be back in Zadar or another first division side by mid season break in December.

Q: What is Croatian football like?
A: Like most of Europe and the world, soccer is number one in Croatia. Fans support their clubs with passion and the professional divisions are very well organized. In my first away game in the city of Makarska we were welcomed to the stadium by a group of home supporters. We finished the game winning 2-1 and had to deal with fans ready to jump fences, people spitting, and objects being thrown. This was my first experience as a professional footballer and I really could do nothing but smile and enjoy the situation I was in. Our training is very demanding and has put me in the best shape of my life.

Q: Are there any other Americans playing in Croatia? How have Croatians accepted you? Do you speak the language?
A: As far as I know there are no other Americans playing soccer in Croatia. Being from San Pedro I have always had close ties to Croatia and have visited the country numerous times throughout my life so I am able to speak the language. All my immediate family live in America, but we have plenty of friends and cousins that I am in close contact with here.

Q: How do you like living in Croatia?
A: It is a different lifestyle! People enjoy socializing and are able to find time for themselves everyday. Dubrovnik is a historic city and the tourist capital of Croatia. Even though it's a relatively small city, thousands of people come here for its location on the Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean climate, and history. It truly is a beautiful place to call home and I constantly find myself amazed about the city.

Q: What do you miss about the U.S.?
A: Croatia has always been a second home to me but my friends and family are something that makes being away tough. My family is the most important thing to me and being away from all them is a challenge at times. San Pedro was a great place to grow up because of the people and is the reason why I am looking forward to coming home when our season goes on (winter) break.

Q: What are you long-term goals in soccer?
A: I have come to the point in my career where I understand what it is to be a professional. Like in any other job, I work hard to contribute and make a difference on my team, but I also look a head to advance my career. I am working with an agent in the United States who is helping me find the next appropriate stop in my career advancement. I will play anywhere as long is it benefits my development. Ultimately, I would love to finish in the MLS, ideally playing at the Home Depot Center for the Galaxy or Chivas USA in front of all my friends and family. Soccer is something that has kept me focused in life and allowed me to experience so much. I have worked extremely hard to get where I am at and I understand that now after completing college that this is the time for me to go for my dreams. The people I have met and places I have been is something I cherish more than anything.

Chivas USA 1 Colorado Rapids 2

Photo by Scott Varley

Brilliant save by the hirsute Colorado goalkeeper. Oh wait.

Full disclosure: I skipped the game.

Doesn't sound like I missed much, according to beat writer Phil Collin:

The Soccer Collies were a flop. One of them refused to shoot, the other rolled the ball in slowly past a "goalie." They were still more entertaining than the game. Now, if they played the game with the background music the Collies had, the game would be better. Oh, the music you ask? The theme from the Benny Hill Show!

In all, Chivas USA was without eight players today due to injury.

Latest Chivas USA injury: Sasha Victorine suffered an apparent left knee sprain early in the first half and was replaced by Sacha Kljestan in the 25th minute. Victorine, who was acquired by Chivas USA Sept. 15, is scheduled to undergo an MRI Monday to determine the extent of the injury.

Rapids' Colin Clark celebrates his 2nd half goal by doing a flying kick into the corner flag.
Photo by Scott Varley

Quotable:

"I kind of had a feeling that it's going to be tough for us just because already we're in the playoffs," said Coach Preki. "We've secured the second spot, so it's tough to get the group of guys motivated. From the first moment I didn't think we were sharp, we were losing the ball too easily. Colorado was a little harder than us, they wanted it a little more than us."

Game story.

Highlights:

Brief game preview.

The game boils down to this: Rapids playing for everything, Goats playing for nothing.

The first 7,500 fans through the gate will receive a limited-edition Chivas USA hat, and kids under 16 years get in free with the purchase of an adult ticket. Prices start at $14.

And you don't want to miss the Soccer Collies, (and, in truth, they may be the main reason to go).

Story.

Quotable:

"At least since I've been here, it seems like in every game within 15 minutes, the other team has two or three or four chances," Eddie Lewis told MLSnet.com. "Whether the other team scores or not is different every game, but the amount of chances that we allow early on in games, is almost suicidal."

"There were segments in the first half where we were just physically manhandled," Galaxy coach Bruce Arena told MLSnet.com. "It wasn't as much about the soccer as it was about running harder, competing better. ... They were more alert, more physical, more aggressive."

BTW, if you were unlucky enough to watch the game, was that not one of the most uncomfortable in-game interviews (with Pete Vagenas) you've ever seen? And the quality of some of the questions didn't help.

Sample (paraphrased) question: "Do you you think there will be a lot of changes for the Galaxy next year?"

Paraphrased answer: Um, yeah."

Ya think?

Lowlights:

That's the sound of the Galaxy's season imploding.

Needing to win to stay alive this season, the Galaxy naturally went down by three goals within the first 25 minutes Saturday to the Houston Dynamo.

Ah well, at least Houston look like they will clinch the Western Conference over Chivas USA. Way to stick it to the Goats, Gals.

Have you ever seen a more disgusted look on Bruce Arena's face?

Greg Vanney just missed making it four!

Good thing Houston are tired after facing the Earthquakes in midweek or it could be worse.

Now we know the answer to the question how do you make Nate Jaqua look world class? Have him play against the Galaxy rather than with them.

I hope the defense calls home after the season is over. I'm worried. I haven't seen them in so long.

How bad are the Galaxy? They're looking at Alan Gordan, who came in just before half time, to be the Galaxy's savior. And he just hit the bar.

It's half time.

The Dynamo had a 5-1 shot advantage in the first 45 minutes.

The Galaxy have 45 minutes left in their season.

Think I'll go do something productive like wash my hair.

Staff writer Phil Collin succinctly summarizes the Galaxy's plight here.

New York plays the Columbus Crew, Kansas City faces San Jose and Real Salt Lake takes on Dallas, BTW.

Here's the Houston perspective.

Question: If you're a Chivas USA fan, are you rooting for the Galaxy? (A Dynamo win means Chivas USA has no chance of winning the Western Conference, remember).

How much is the new Carson-based Women's Professional Soccer franchise offering to Marta?

Blogger Jen Striker has the scoop over at Women's Soccer USA.

UCLA men 2 (4-4-5) Washington 0 (7-4-1)
From the Bruins press release:

UCLA shut out Pac-10 leader and 23rd-ranked Washington 2-0 on Friday evening to put the Bruins in a tie with the Huskies for first place in the conference with a 2-1-1 Pac-10 record. A pair of first-half goals by Jason Leopoldo and Prince Lapnet provided all the scoring UCLA would need as goalkeeper Brian Perk recorded his third shutout of the season.

UCLA snapped a six-game Husky unbeaten streak and allowed just six shots.

UCLA women 3 (12-0-2) ASU 0 (6-4-3)
From the Bruins press release:

No. 3 UCLA outshot ASU, 20-5. ... UCLA now has 12 shutouts in 14 matches this season, outscoring the competition 35-2.

USC 2 (12-1-1) Arizona 0 (8-5)
From the USC press release:

The offense got the game-winner from freshman Ashley Freyer and a second-half strike from senior Ashley Nick.

Cal State Northridge 2 (6-7-1) UC Davis 0 (6-5-3)
From the Cal State Northridge press release:

A pair of rookies, Nancy Avesyan and Brielle Slepicoff, scored the goals for the Matadors and sophomore Leah Elliott recorded her second shutout of the season in net.

It was the Matadors' 100th win in program history.

Pepperdine 2 (6-7-2) Gonzaga 0 (5-8-2)
From the Pepperdine press release:

Emily Wynne scored three points and Kayla Stolte pitched her fourth shutout of 2008.

(BTW, since when did we "pitch" shutouts in soccer?).

Cal State Dominguez Hills men 1 (14-2-1) Cal State L.A. 0
From the Cal State Dominguz Hills press release:

Junior Hiram Rangel (Oxnard) headed home the game-winner inside 4th-ranked Cal State L.A.'s box seven minutes into overtime to give CSUDH its third-straight win.

Cal State Dominguez Hills women 1 (10-7) Cal State L.A. 2 (5-7-2)
From the CSUDH press release:

Freshman sensation Jessica Murphy (Torrance/West High) scored her team-best ninth goal of the season.

Santa Clara 2 Loyola Marymount men 2 (4-3-5)
From the LMU press release:

The tie does snap the Lions' eight-game WCC road losing streak, although it extends the program's streak of consecutive road games without a victory to 15.

LMU set a record with its fifth tie of the season.

Portland women 3 (12-1) Loyola Marymount 0 (6-5-3)

Finally, from an (edited) Loyola Marymount University press release:

LMU women¹s soccer player Stefanie Baduria has been selected as one of 10 finalist nationwide for the 2008 Lowe¹s Senior CLASS Award. Baduria is the only representative from the West Coast Conference and is the first Lion women¹s soccer player to be nominated for the award.

Baduria (Long Beach) is in her fifth year at LMU having battled back from two season-ending knee surgeries. A team captain in 2008, she suffered a third season-ending knee injury on Sept. 5 and has not played since.

It isn't, at least not yet, as this Associated Press story points out.

As soccer's popularity grows in the U.S. we'll see a similar situation here - the would-be owners of MLS clubs willing to plunk down a $40 million expansion fee are counting on it. And of course, this story doesn't mention it, but ESPN has long been rumored to be interested in securing the rights to EPL games in the U.S.

GENEVA (AP) If one sport can survive the global financial crisis, it's the world's favorite game: soccer.

Yes, individual clubs will certainly suffer - some losing sponsors or investors and perhaps players who become too pricey. But cash flowing into the top end of the market, from television deals and multinational backers, is unlikely to dry up.

If anything, soccer at its highest level is poised to become an even stronger TV draw in
hard times when people want cheap entertainment.

Look at the numbers.

The 2010 World Cup is already sold, and FIFA expects to bank $3.2 billion before
kickoff.

UEFA earned a net profit approaching $400 million from this year's European
Championship, and the Champions League will pull in $1.115 billion this season.

Also, television deals for the 2009-12 Champions League seasons are already done in
the main markets, where prices are reportedly up 10 percent, and rights to show the
English Premier League - where huge revenues help explain overseas interest in clubs
- will soon be sold for the 2010-13 seasons.

Industry experts believe the domestic deal for Britain will beat the current 3-year cost of
$2.94 billion paid by subscription broadcasters Sky and Setanta. Global television and
new media rights will earn English league clubs another $1.73 billion in that time.

Philipp Grothe has traded football media rights for two decades. Last week, his
Swiss-based Kentaro agency struck a six-year deal with the U.S. Soccer Federation to
distribute national team matches.

He believes that when money is tight, football is a reliable commodity.

"Only the big live events in sport, i.e. football, generate the mass audience," Grothe said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "They are the ones delivering to
sponsors and broadcasters the big audience numbers."

The World Cup is one of the globe's most-watched sporting events, and FIFA claims the
2006 tournament in Germany had an accumulated television audience of 26.3 billion
viewers on 376 different channels.

FIFA, which relies on the World Cup for 90 percent of its revenue, has budgeted to get
$3.2 billion from television and marketing rights to the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

"FIFA believes that this is a realistic forecast," FIFA spokesman Pekka Odriozola said in
an e-mail. "Certain contracts are secured with bank guarantees. All TV partners have
fulfilled their contractual obligations."

The Zurich-based body has six commercial partners for the World Cup.

One, Coca-Cola, is signed until 2022. The Emirates airline paid $195 million to sign through the 2014 tournament in Brazil.

UEFA, which declined to discuss marketing strategy, had revenue of roughly $2 billion for its three-week tournament in Austria and Switzerland, but has not started selling Euro 2012, scheduled for Poland and Ukraine.

UEFA's club football commitments seem solidly grounded. It has signed four commercial partners - Ford, Heineken, MasterCard and Sony - out of six intended for the 2009-12 Champions League seasons.

The competition's playing format has been copied around the world, though not its riches.

European champion Manchester United earned $67 million in prize money and television shares last season.

Critics say the Champions League has created a self-perpetuating elite, leaving other
clubs unable to bridge the gap. UEFA president Michel Platini, however, wants the power to ban indebted clubs from the competition.

His words were widely interpreted as an attack on the English teams that now dominate
the Champions League.

Chelsea, last season's runner-up, owes more than $1 billion, though its interest-free loans from Russian owner Roman Abramovich are not yet vulnerable.

Manchester United, valued at $1.8 billion by Forbes Magazine, has big debts, but it also
has a global brand.

When shirt sponsor AIG received a bailout from the U.S. government last month, there
was speculation the insurance firm might pull out of its 4-year, nearly $100 million deal.

That might seem like a financial nightmare, but Grothe said it would be a win-win scenario for the club.

"Man United would get a hefty signoff fee to release (AIG) and the day after they could
close a deal which is even bigger," he said.

An important test of soccer's prospects will come next month, when domestic television
rights are offered in Germany to broadcast the Bundesliga.

Public broadcaster ARD and subscription service Premiere are favored to win the deal,
with the price is expected to be more than $544 million a season.

Actually, two.

David Beckham is interested in joining an EPL club in the MLS off-season.

Or he is heading to Italy's AC Milan - and a permanent deal is possible.

And the MLS season isn't even over yet (well, OK, the Galaxy's probably is).

For what it's worth, neither of these two sources are infamous tabloids, but then respected papers need to sell copies, too.

The game of the weekend - for Chivas USA and Galaxy fans alike - is the L.A.-Houston Dynamo game at 5:30 p.m. Saturday live on Prime.

With a win, the Dynamo can clinch the Western Conference and eliminate any lingering Chivas USA hopes of the regional title.

The Galaxy are four points out of the last of the two MLS wild card playoff spots - currently occupied by Kansas City - but no longer have control over their own destiny even with a win.

Complicating matters is that incredibly the home team has won just once - the Dynamo did so in 2006 - in the all-time series between the two clubs. The Galaxy have two wins and a tie in their last three trips to Houston. A loss, then, is on the cards as any fatalistic soccer fan would agree.

The Wizards, BTW, play San Jose, statistically the worst team in MLS.

Chivas USA play at noon Sunday (live on Telefutura) at Home Depot Center against the desperate Colorado Rapids, losers in Carson last weekend to the Galaxy. Chivas USA are finishing strongly, riding a club-record four-game winning streak.

Swag alert: The first 7, 500 fans through the stadium gates get a Chivas USA hat. The team also has a $10 Internet ticket special. Check it out here.

The pick of the weekend's games include:
*7 a.m. Saturday Fox Soccer Channel Arsenal-Everton
*9:30 a.m. Saturday FSC Manchester United-West Bromwich Albion
*5 p.m. Satuday KAZA Indios-Club America
*5 p.m. Saturday KVEA CD Guadalajara-Atlante
*8 a.m. Sunday FSC Stoke City-Tottenham Hotspur
*1:30 p.m. Sunday FSC (delayed) River Plate-Boca Juniors

Among the local college games in Southern California this weekend:
*7 tonight UCLA men-Washington at Drake Stadium
*2:30 p.m. today Cal State Northridge women-UC Davis at Matador Field
*1 p.m. Sunday UCLA men-Oregon State at Drake Stadium
*2:30 p.m. Sunday Cal State Northridge women-Pacific at Matador Field

Circle Saturday, Nov. 8 on your calendar.

Chivas USA announced today that's the date for the second leg of its opening playoff series against an opponent to be determined and put tickets to the game on sale starting at $14. For tickets, call 1-877-CHIVAS-1.

Swag available to the first 10,000 fans: a free Chivas USA playoff T-shirt.

Former AEG executive (and now Chivas USA co-owner, President and CEO) Shawn Hunter even managed to get in two subtle digs in one quote in the press release at their stadium co-tenants just down the hall:

"We would like to congratulate Preki and the entire team for leading Chivas USA to the playoffs for the third year in a row. In the face of injury and international call-ups, our coaching staff and players have shown tremendous resilience and determination during the course of this season," said Chivas USA President and CEO Shawn Hunter. "Our ultimate goal is now to make history by playing for an MLS Cup in front of our fans on November 23 at the Home Depot Center."

The Galaxy, of course, are on the verge of missing the playoffs for a third consecutive year, let alone reaching the final in their own stadium.

A Chivas USA playoff two pack is also available - starting at just $24 or $12 a game - that gets fans into the Nov. 8 game and the regular season finale Oct. 25 against the Houston Dynamo. Potentially, that's a huge game - with six points at stake Chivas USA is just five behind the Dynamo going into the penultimate regular season contest at noon Sunday against the Colorado Rapids in Carson.

A young U.S. team lost 2-1 to Trinidad & Tobago in World Cup qualifying on a penalty scored by an experienced Dwight Yorke, Mexico tied Canada 2-2 meaning qualifying for the next round for El Tri goes down to the final game and Croatia and England won.

Meanwhile, Frank Yallop's chances of returning to MLS Cup at Home Depot Center are all but gone after the San Jose Earthquakes tied 1-1 lost 2-1 Wednesday to a 10-man Houston Dynamo (Lawndale's Kei Kamara was sent off early in the affair).

The Galaxy have officially announced as expected that they will return Down Under in the post-season and play two games, including one Dec. 11 against the Queensland Roar. They also play an all-star team in New Zealand Dec. 6.

And in case you're wondering why the Anschutz Entertainment Group-owned Galaxy decided to play this particular team - why, because they just happen to play in an AEG-owned stadium that needs a bit of a boost. Shocker, huh?

Luckily the Roar aren't much better than the Galaxy. They currently sit fifth in the eight-team A-League with a record of 2-2-3.

Finally, the Cal State Northridge men drew 0-0 with UC Irvine Wednesday and the Cal State Dominguez Hills men beat UC San Diego 2-0, while their female counterparts lost 2-1 to the same school.

pretty much the cities I listed this morning with the exception of Vegas (damn): Atlanta, Miami, Montreal, Ottawa, Portland, St. Louis, Vancouver.

Your preferences?

I'll take the beautiful city of Vancouver, B.C. (a natural rival of the expansion Seattle team) and the Barcelona-backed Miami bid (Thierry Henry come on down).

What say you?

Details from the (edited) MLS press release:

MLS intends to add two more clubs in the next few years, bringing the League to 18 teams. Seattle Sounders FC begin play next year as the 15th team in MLS, and Philadelphia will join in 2010 as the league's 16th team.

(snip)

An announcement regarding which markets will receive the next two expansion clubs will take place during the fourth quarter of 2008 or the first quarter of 2009.

Yup, Becks is on the cover of this month's FourFourTwo wearing a Galaxy jersey and a smug grin.

It's not exactly a penetrating interview though - in fact, vapid is the word that springs to mind.

Nothing much in the interview about the Galaxy's woes this season, so who knows how long ago this was written.

Excerpts:

"There are teams in (MLS) that could give some Premiership teams a good game. I'm not saying that they are up there with the top teams, but they could definitely compete with some of the Premiership's teams and give them a hard time."

"I don't regret moving here, I don't think it was too early because I wanted to come to America and the MLS while I was still fit enough to get around the field and play at the top level: at my level."

"I can't see myself playing football anywhere else now, apart from here. I've got a contract for another four years, I'm 33-years-old, so I can't see myself playing in Europe again."

And that's the best stuff.

Moving on to the news of the day:
*It's deadline day in MLS for potential expansion cities to submit bids. Among the suspects: Las Vegas, Atlanta, Portland, Miami, St. Louis, Vancouver B.C., Montreal, and Ottawa. We'll see how it shakes out by day's end.

*It's also World Cup qualifying fixture day around the world, of course, although Becks and England are not on the box (or at least free TV). The pick of the many televised games include U.S.-Trinidad & Tobago at 5 p.m. on ESPN2, Canada-Mexico at 7 p.m. on Telemundo and Germany-Wales at 11:45 a.m. on GOLTV.

*There's also an MLS make-up game postponed because of Hurricane Ike between Frank Yallop's Earthquakes and the Dynamo in Houston at 6 p.m. on Direct Kick. While it's looking increasingly unlikely San Jose will make the playoffs, am I the only one dreaming of a Yallop-Sigi Schmid (sorry, Earthquakes-Crew) MLS Cup in the home of the Galaxy next month? Now that would sum up all that's been wrong with the Galaxy for the last few seasons.

Things I should have noted earlier, but didn't:
* It's so hard to find good help these days - even if you're David Beckham.

*Landon Donovan has 19 goals and nine assists on the season with two games to go; no MLS player has ever recorded 20 goals and 10 assists in a single season.

*Further explanation on why Rolling Hills Estates' Robbie Rogers is not with the U.S. team Wednesday because of injury - he leads MLS in fouls suffered with 72. Ouch.

*The answer to the Galaxy trivia question, which team is worse than their senior squad? How about their reserve team? The Galaxy reserves lost to their Colorado counterparts Sunday 1-0 to go to 1-6-2 on the season. Steve Cronin was in goal. Chivas USA reserves, meanwhile, beat San Jose Earthquakes reserves Sunday, 3-1. Roberto Nurse scored two goals. Go figure.

*Player of the Week honors went to former (Torrance) West High star Jessica Murphy who was named Brine California Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Soccer Player of the Week after the freshman scored three goals in two games this past weekend - 60 percent of the team's output, mind you - in two CSUDH wins. Also: UCLA junior midfielder Michael Stephens was named the Pac-10 Men's Soccer Player of the Week after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime as UCLA upset sixth-ranked California, 3-2, on the road.

*Southern Californians named to the U.S. Women's Under-17 national team that will participate in the 2008 FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup Oct. 28-Nov. 16 in New Zealand are: forward Samantha Johnson (Palmdale) and midfielder Elizabeth Eddy (Costa Mesa).

*Finally, no late night soccer report would be complete without the Soccer Collies (I think). They will perform Sunday at half time of the noon Chivas USA-Colorado Rapids game. From the Chivas USA press release:

The two collies, Ms. Z and BEK, each have unique soccer skills; Ms. Z can catch the ball between her paws, and BEK charges up the field while dribbling the ball with his nose. The dogs will also be available before the game in ChivaTown for photos and to play with fans.

Well, OK. To me they look like two mutts you see in any park playing with a ball. My wife thinks otherwise. Invest a minute of your life and you decide:

The Mexican-American equation.

A knee injury and a sore back respectively forced Colorado Rapids midfielder Pablo Mastroeni and Columbus Crew forward Robbie Rogers of Rolling Hills Estates off the U.S. roster for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier.

The revised roster.

I'll have more on the emergence of young Mexican-Americans Jose Francisco Torres of Pachuca and Michael Orozco of San Luis and the implications for the U.S. in Tuesday's column.

Catching up on Sunday's local college games:
Stanford men 2 (3-6-2) UCLA 1 (3-4-5)
The loss snapped UCLA's six-game unbeaten streak.

No. 3 UCLA 4 (11-0-2) Washington 0 (9-4-0)
Kristina Larsen scored a hat-trick.

No. 5 USC 0 (11-1-1) No. 25 Washington State 0 (6-3-4)
The Trojans' unbeaten streak hits 19 consecutive games.

LMU men 2 (4-3-4) Gonzaga 1 (5-6-1)
Junior defender Wilkie Johnson's OT winner gives LMU back-to-back victories for the first time in two seasons. The former Peninsula High star was named WCC Player of the Week today.

Cal Poly women 1 (8-6) Cal State Northridge 0 (5-7-1)
Cal Poly scored with five seconds left in the game.

Borrowed time, baby, borrowed time.

The Galaxy's season remains on life support, but their 3-2 win over the Colorado Rapids Sunday ensures the season ain't over (just) yet, although there was a sense of fatalism in the relatively buoyant locker room after the game.

"We're still breathing for a week," said Chris Klein on the relevance of the win. "That's what we wanted to do. Our playoffs have already started. So for us it was win or think (about) next year. And we won tonight. We get to prepare this week with the objective of going down and trying to beat Houston."

BTW, on the Galaxy chalkboard in the locker room after the game were detailed, updated MLS standings. And Arena had just said in the press conference: "We have to win games. I've said all along I've not concerned myself with standings. For us, we have to win games. For us, even if we win out we may fall short. But at least we know what we have to do. We're not going into any game looking for a point. We have to try to win."

Highlights are here (and do not miss McDonald's strike):

Game story from the DailyNews/Daily Breeze is here.

Game story from The Denver Post is here.

Bonus quotes:
Rapids goalkeeper Preston Burpo on the loss:

"We came down here, we had a game plan, it didn't work."

On Ugo's own goal:

"Ball came in. Made a decision to get it. Didn't get it. ... Yeah, that was a big turning point."

A man of few words after a tough loss is Burpo.

Galaxy midfielder Brandon McDonald on his stunning goal from 35 yards (or so):

"I'll shoot from further. In college my grandmother used to say shoot from half field."

Glad he listens to gramma.

Rapids Coach Gary Smith (who unfortunately has a tendency to speak in sentence fragments) on an opportunity squandered:

"I was certainly disappointed. A very good opportunity I thought for us to come up against a Galaxy team not in the greatest run of form with two very influential players missing."

On the "very damaging" loss (especially as he believed four or five points were needed from the last three games) and the pressure that brings:

"Some players can deal with it, others can't and it affects their performances. Tonight, I thought, there were two or three of our lads, at least, that underperformed. Left us in a difficult spot. And we're not a side that are going to score lots of goals. The New York game (where the Rapids ran out 5-4 winners) was a one-off. We need to keep clean sheets.

There were too many players in our team that suffered with the pressure they're under to get points. ... Maybe some of our more inexperienced players have felt life difficult."

Bruce Arena on Donovan's generally sparkling performance where he came on as a sub for the critical last few minutes:

"To expect more out of him is insane. To get as much out of him as we did today, we're very fortunate."

On McDonald's blistering goal:

"We kind of laughed when he hit that ball. We've seen that before. It's not a once in a lifetime (thing). We've seen him hit a couple of those shots in training."

On the team's work rate:

"Right now we're not the most experienced and gifted team and we need guys working in the middle of the field. And tonight we came closer to getting that accomplished than we have recently."

Klein again on the team under Arena:

"We're building as a team. say what you (will) about where we are. But we're improving as a team. Bruce is starting to instill his philosophies and the guys are responding well to that."

On the Galaxy's 4-0 loss to the Rapids on opening day:

"That feels like two years ago. To think of all the changes we've had since then, it seems forever ago. I didn't even think about that until you said it. Nobody else is on our minds except for us right now. Colorado, Houston next week, it doesn't really matter who we play, we just have to win games."

Galaxy 3 Rapids 2

The Galaxy remain (barely) alive in the playoff hunt with 32 points, while the slumping Rapids remain on 34 with two consecutive defeats.

An own goal by former Galaxy defender Ugo Ihemelu and a 35-yard screamer from Brandon McDonald settled the matter. A late and dubious Tom McManus PK in the 88th minute wasn't enough to give the Rapids hope.

On deadline with a game story tonight. More later

The Galaxy and Rapids exchanged goals in the opening 45 minutes, with the Galaxy's Edson Buddle scoring and Colorado's Cory Gibbs equalizing with his first-ever MLS goal.

The first half took a familiar path with the Galaxy applying much of the pressure - albeit creating few clear-cut chances along the way - and the Rapids soaking it up.

The Rapids' Tom McManus almost opened the scoring inside the first minute, Sean Franklin clearing off the line.

Former Galaxy defender Ugo Ihemelu, making his first start since Aug. 9, performed almost exactly the same duty at the other end for Colorado 22 minutes later, preventing an Alan Gordon header from counting after goalkeeper Preston Burpo had failed to hold the ball under pressure from Alan Gordon.

Franklin got his first-ever MLS assist in the 36th minute, carving a path through the Rapids defense and slipping the ball to Buddle who scored from about 15 yards for his 14th of the season.

Colorado's tying goal was a beauty, former Manchester United midfielder Terry Cooke sending a pinpoint corner to an unmarked Cory Gibbs, whose glancing, angled header gave Josh Saunders no chance. It was Cooke's 11th assist of the season, the third most in the league.

Brandon McDonald replaced captain Pete Vagenas in the 38th minute, when the Galaxy captain suffered a recurrence of his right quad injury that left him sidelined for weeks earlier in the season.

With a loss the Galaxy are out of playoff contention, while a third consecutive Rapids road win will vault Colorado back into the third and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Coach Bruce Arena makes just two enforced changes from the team that lost 1-0 last Saturday to the Crew.

Bryan Jordan replaces David Beckham, who is on international duty with England, while Alan Gordon deputizes for Landon Donovan, who has returned from Washington and is on the bench.

Galaxy lineup: Josh Saunders, Chris Klein, Sean Franklin, Troy Roberts, Greg Vanney, Jordan, Joe Franchino, Pete Vagenas, Eddie Lewis. Edson Buddle, Gordon.

Colorado has top scorer Conor Casey suspended, so Tom McManus will play as the lone forward. Former Galaxy defender Ugo Ihemelu replaces Mike Petke in the starting XI.

Rapids lineup: Preston Burpo, Kosuke Kimura, Cory Gibbs, Ihemelu, Jordan Harvey, Terry Cooke, Mehdi Ballouchy, Colin Clark, Nick LaBrocca, Pablo Mastroeni, McManus.

With the U.S. wrapping up a place in the final round of World Cup qualifying in Saturday's 6-1 win over Cuba, Coach Bob Bradley released nine players from that squad - including the Galaxy's Landon Donovan - ahead of Wednesday's meaningless clash against Trinidad & Tobago.

Among those added to the roster were Chivas USA left back Jonathan Bornstein, who has struggled this year to recapture the form he showed last season, and Rolling Hills Estates' Robbie Rogers of the Columbus Crew, who looks likely to make his U.S. debut.

Rogers, who had an inch-perfect cross to set up one of the Crew's two goals in its 2-2 draw today with Chicago, has made several eye-catching displays this season and calls have increased for Bradley to give him a chance.

Also released by Bradley were: Carlos Bocanegra, Michael Bradley, Steve Cherundolo, Brian Ching, Jay DeMerit, Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard and Oguchi Onyewu.

Here's the full roster -

goalkeepers Brad Guzan (Aston Villa: 2/2 SO), Troy Perkins (Valerenga IF: 0/0).

Defenders Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA: 0/0), Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland: 2/0), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew: 13/1), Michael Orozco (San Luis: 0/0), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock: 6/0), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC: 0/0).

Midfielders Freddy Adu (AS Monaco: 3/0), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers: 20/6), Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers: 3/0), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA: 4/0), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids: 11/0), Danny Szetela (Brescia: 1/0), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca: 1/0).

Forwards Jozy Altidore (Villarreal C.F.: 1/1), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF: 0/0), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew: 0/0).
*numbers indicate all-time World Cup Qualifying caps/goals

Chivas USA qualified for the playoffs Saturday with a 1-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes, while the Galaxy try to stave off elimination (again) today when they face the Colorado Rapids at 5 p.m. at Home Depot Center.

Fans can get and give at today's game: the first 5,000 fans in attendance receive a special collector's series soccer ball, while the Galaxy Foundation is holding a clothing drive for the Union Rescue Mission. All fans who contribute clothes or make a cash donation receive a $5 off voucher for the Galaxy's regular season finale Oct. 26 against FC Dallas and will be entered into a drawing for a soccer ball signed by the team.

Are the Rapids more motivated than the Galaxy? Well, they're the team with the uplifting video:

Saturday college score:
Loyola Marymount 1 (6-4-3) Pepperdine 0 (4-7-2)

The U.S. thrashed Cuba 6-1, Jamaica beat Mexico and Croatia shot blanks.

First off, why did Fox Soccer Channel inflict the overly chatty and not particularly insightful Nick Webster and Warren Barton on viewers from an L.A. studio rather than on-site English commentators during the England-Kazakhstan game this morning? (Which also has the effect of lowering the crowd noise from the almost 90,000 in attendance, further detracting from the game).

David Beckham came on for the last 10 minutes of the 5-1 England win, creating the fourth and final goal from (what else) a free kick. (An incredibly horrible Ashley Cole howler led to the Kazakhstan goal).

Sticking with World Cup qualifying for the moment, it seems the Cubans forgot to ensure they had a hall monitor and players are again making a dash for the exits ahead of the U.S. game today. A reported 18,000 tickets were sold for the game by Friday. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. on ESPN Classic.

Noted: Bob Bradley has started the defensive quartet of Steve Cherundolo, Oguchi Onyewu, Carlos Bocanegra and Heath Pearce six times, with England and Spain the only
teams to score against them. This group has recorded four of the USA's eight shutouts this year.

Classic comment on Goff's blog, BTW:

MLS really should hold an allocation each time the Cuban team plays here. It would streamline the process.
Posted by: Alejandro Ruiz | October 11, 2008 12:28 AM

Here's a breakdown of the playoff implications in MLS this weekend:
*Chivas USA can qualify for the playoffs with a win over the San Jose Earthquakes today if Colorado fails to win against the Galaxy Sunday and FC Dallas doesn't beat Toronto this afternoon. But as Chivas USA press types point out:

"At this stage (of the season), four points (a win and a draw) from (the club's) remaining three games will be enough to guarantee Chivas USA a third straight spot in the playoffs, regardless of other results."

Chivas USA-Earthquakes preview here. The game is on at 7 p.m. on KAZA and delayed at 10 p.m. on Prime.

Friday College scores:
No. 5 USC 3 (11-1) No. 16 Washington 2 (9-3)
USC came from behind twice to win the game in double overtime with Amy Rodriguez scoring twice including the winner. The Trojans have now won nine straight games.

LMU men 1 (3-3-4) Portland 0 (4-5-2)
Freshman Artur Jozkowicz got the winner to even the Lions' West Coast Conference record at 1-1.

UCLA 3 men (3-3-5) No. 6 California 2 (6-2-3)
Junior midfielder Michael Stephens scored the game-winning goal from a penalty pick in the 93rd minute.

No. 3 UCLA women 2 (10-0-2) No. 25 Washington State 1 (6-3-3)
UCLA wins in double overtime

UC Santa Barbara women 3 (9-5) Cal State Northridge 2 (5-6-1)
CSUN had just one shot on target as they lose their Big West Conference season opener.

I don't know about you, but the weekend can't quick enough for me after the less than cheery news this week about what one newsroom wit described as our 301.K plans.

And there's plenty of soccer on TV and live locally to distract us.

I'll be back with a Chivas USA preview Saturday and a Galaxy one Sunday, but the bottom line is although the 1-1 draw last night between Real Salt Lake and the Red Bulls did little to clarify the playoff picture Chivas USA can still qualify for the playoffs while the Galaxy can put themselves (and us) out of their misery and be eliminated from the post-season.

Oh, and the U.S. can make the next round of WCQ by defeating Cuba Saturday.

For now here's your basic list of games just so you don't forget to set up the TiVo.

World Cup qualifying games on TV Saturday include:
9 a.m. Fox Soccer Channel England-Kazakhstan
11:30 a.m. FSC Spain-Estonia
4 p.m. ESPN Classic Cuba-U.S.
5 p.m. KVEA Mexico-Jamaica

MLS games on TV this weekend include:
5:30 p.m. Saturday FSC Toronto FC-FC Dallas
7 p.m. Saturday KAZA Chivas USA-San Jose Earthquakes (or delayed at 9:30 p.m. on FSN)
Noon Sunday KFTR Columbus Crew-Chicago Fire
9 p.m. Sunday Prime (delayed) Galaxy-Colorado Rapids

Mexican league games on TV include:
3 p.m. Saturday KMEX CD Guadalajara-San Luis
5 p.m. Saturday KAZA Santos Laguna-Pachuca
2 p.m. Sunday KMEX Puebla-Club America

Local college games this weekend include:
3 p.m. today at McAlister Field No. 5 USC-No. 16 Washington
1 p.m. Sunday at McAlister Field No. 5 USC-No. 25 Washington State
7 tonight at Drake Stadium UCLA women-Washington State
1 p.m. Sunday at Drake Stadium UCLA women-Washington
4 p.m. today at Sullivan Field LMU men-Portland
2 p.m. Sunday at Sullivan Field LMU men-Gonzaga
1 p.m. Saturday at Sullivan Field LMU-Pepperdine

A quiet morning so just a couple of things to pass along:

*Pepperdine (5-6-2) downed Cal State Bakersfield (4-9-1) 2-1 Wednesday in a come from behind win. Pepperdine opens West Coast Conference play at 1 p.m. Saturday at Loyola Marymount in Westchester.

*The Cal State Northridge men (5-4-2) tied defending Big West champion UC Santa Barbara (6-3-2) 2-2 Wednesday with the Matadors missing six starters against the No. 18-ranked school in the nation.

This is an excellent SI article that while not specifically about MLS (in fact the article doesn't even mention soccer) has resonance for Galaxy fans.

This season especially has seen many of these, um, symptoms appear in Carson.

Beatlemania like screams every time David Beckham touches the ball. Flash bulbs exploding around Home Depot Center like so many LSD flashbacks. And generally uneducated fans who don't appear to appreciate they are watching a godawful team.

Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane once complained about the lack of atmosphere at Old Trafford caused by a surfeit of the prawn sandwich eating crowd - read ignorant corporate types - sitting on their hands rather than supporting their team.

I don't mind rich guys subsidizing the masses (thanks Uncle Phil). I just don't want them taking over to the extent a sporting event becomes like a night at the opera. (It's depressing when fans tell me the nitwits behind them complain about them standing up - after a Galaxy goal has been scored!).

Of course, the Galaxy has been so abysmal this season there's been precious little to shout about, although the likes of the Riot Squad are doing their utmost (thanks guys).

But in the main it's a stadium full of people so thrilled to watch a global superduper star like Becks they can't see beyond to the quality of football on display. Which has, generally speaking, been crap.

Nevertheless, the Galaxy have increased their ticket prices each year despite missing the playoffs three years in a row (there's a prediction in there).

Season ticket holders reportedly dropped 15 percent this season. And are likely to fall again in the coming one. I'm getting more and more anecdotal reports via e-mail, on this blog and in person of fans who say to me: "I can't bring myself to watch this lot anymore. It's a waste of money."

That's telling me the knowledgeable fans who understand the game know what product they are seeing: a bland corporate one unlikely to get the most ardent soccer fans to return. They'll sit home and watch Stoke City play Hull City (no disrespect to Hull, unexpectedly lighting up the EPL this season so far) rather than support MLS.

The game is being undermined by the suits.That's not what the sport is about. The casual fan - such as families - who understand the democracy of soccer are endangered.

And if that's the case, so is the authenticity of the game itself.

A light morning for news (unless you're one of the few people excited the U.S. has climbed seven places in the latest superfluous FIFA rankings released today).

But there are a couple of Chivas USA related items to pass along.

In its continuing efforts to cultivate a larger fan base the club has announced the creation of a "Coaches Connection" aimed at youth soccer coaches that offers "coaching tips and information on Chivas USA's innovative Youth Development System. Coaches can register online for a free monthly newsletter, which will provide training tools, soccer drills and player development insights used by Chivas USA to nurture and grow more complete players."

Also, Chivas USA Youth Team coaches will conduct a coaching seminar on Oct. 18-19 at Home Depot Center. For $75, which includes lunch, a ticket to Chivas USA's Oct. 19 game vs. the Colorado Rapids, as well as coaching materials and a certificate of completion, coaches receive insights on "game preparation, systems of play, tactical talks, as well as game analysis."

For more information contact Julio Cano at 310-630-4564 or jcano@cdchivasusa.com.

Meanwhile, Chivas USA fan group the Union Ultras is offering a bus trip to the Bay Area for Saturday's game at the Earthquakes. Cost is $70, which includes a match ticket. The bus leaves from the valley at 8 a.m. Saturday and returns to Southern California immediately after the game. Families are welcome.

More information at the Union Ultras Web site.

Finally, occasional Chivas USA fan Morrissey, seen in the past at the HDC in a club jersey, has apparently found a new allegiance.

Here's a shot from a Hollywood Palladium gig in 2007

Photo by Juan Miranda/ Chivas USA

A trivial item with only a peripheral relationship to Chivas USA, I understand, but one that gives me an excuse to embed a Morrissey video of a great song on a slow news day:

Two to talk about.

The three finalists for Honda Player of the Year (given to the best player for the U.S. MNT) are last year's winner Landon Donovan, (who this year became the U.S. all-time leading goalscorer with 36 goals); 2006 winner Clint Dempsey (who has four World Cup qualifying goals so far); and goalkeeper Tim Howard (with five shutouts so far in qualifying).

That's the same three I picked and again my vote went to LD.

Yes, I know Howard has looked a mountain of strength and reliability (with some great saves thrown in for good measure) behind a sometimes shaky defense.

Yes, I know Dempsey has been crucial because gawd knows Eddie Johnson (and others) have fired mainly blanks.

But without Donovan the U.S. just doesn't go. Period. He's the creative force, the attacking fulcrum, who is unafraid to run at defenders unlike so many American players.

It's why Klinsey wants him at Bayern Munich in January (assuming he lasts that long in what is turning out to be a bad season already).

Yeah, he's worth a record fifth award.

The winner will be announced Nov. 11 in downtown L.A.

Donovan haters: feel free to rip away.

The other award is for the top 11 players (and one coach) for the NCAA 50th anniversary team. Voting began Monday and runs until Oct. 15.

Among the finalists: Former Bruins Paul Caligiuri, Brad Friedel and Sigi Schmid and current Galaxy coach Bruce Arena.

Vote here.

The naughty boy is one Carlos Martinez, a reportedly supremely talented former San Pedro resident, punted from the U.S. Under-17 Academy in Bradenton, Fla., for repeatedly breaking the rules. His family is moving back to the Harbor Area - and Chivas USA and the Galaxy are among those interested in the wayward teen.

The good lad is Galaxy prospect Tristan Bowen, who may become the first youth developed by an MLS team to make the jump and sign a pro contract.

And look who's standing next to him in the picture. Bowen may also be among the first Alexi Lalas signings to pan out.

The L.A. entry in the new Women's Professional Soccer is taking shape.

As always, I had more information than could fit in the column, so here's some extra factoids and quotes:

*Amy Rodriguez is widely expected to be the top pick in a WPS college draft scheduled for January. That means she won't be playing in Southern California; the L.A. team picks fifth in the first round of the 10-round draft.

*L.A. WPS GM Charlie Naimo will remain coach of Pacific Palisades-based W-League team Pali Blues, which becomes a feeder or reserve team to the WPS team.

*Don't expect to many top German players in the inaugural WPS season. They are being urged to stay home ahead of the 2011 Women's World Cup.

*Here's Coach Abner Rogers on the need to look overseas for foreign attacking players:

"The one thing that we looked at when we started this whole process was who are the best players in the world - what can they bring to the table. ... We felt attacking options, creativity was something we lacked (in the U.S.), players who can do something on the ball out of the ordinary."

*Naimo on being allocated the rights to Japanese midfielder Aya Miyama:

"We have so many fantastic attacking options. The Japanese player is a different class. I think the fans are going to love her. She's very adaptable, versatile. She's a package."

Naimo on being allocated the rights to former South Torrance High star Shannon Boxx:

"Boxxy was a no-brainer. She wanted to be here, we wanted her and she's a great player."

The new Women's Professional Soccer league conducted its third draft Monday, this one for American players not allocated when U.S. Women's National Team players were divvied up or international players not previously allocated.

Here are the complete draft results.

The as yet unnamed L.A. franchise (its nick name and colors will be announced later this month) chose Canadian National Team goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc, defender Kendall Fletcher, U.S. Women's National Team forward Christie Welsh and former Pac-10 Player of the Year Manya Makoski.

They join such players as Marta, Shannon Boxx, Stephanie Cox, Aly Wagner, Japanese midfielder Aya Miyama and and Chinese striker Han Duan who were allocated previously.

"The goal was to have a team that could keep the ball, play a poss style, but have a little bit of flair to them and I feel we've definitely gone in the right direction," said Coach Abner Rogers.

Also today, the WPS announced a broadcast agreement with Fox Soccer Channel that covers 20 regular-season games and the all-star game, as well as the two semifinals and the final on Fox Sports Net.

I'll have more on the WPS and the L.A. team in Tuesday's column, which I had better get on with writing.

A couple of quick notes:
*David Beckham may be out of form for the Galaxy, but he was still picked for England's next two World Cup qualifiers. Consequently, he'll miss Sunday's Galaxy game against Colorado.

*Chivas USA defender Shavar Thomas was also called up by Jamaica for WCQ.

In Sunday's college games it was:
UCLA men 3 (2-3-5) SDSU 3 (2-5-1)
UCLA women 3 SDSU 0
USC 2 (10-1) Cal State Northridge 1 (5-5-1)
CSUDH men 1 (11-1-1) Sonoma State 0
CSUDH women 6 (8-5) Sonoma State 2
LMU women 0 (5-4-3) San Diego State 0 (4-6-2)
St. Mary's 2 (2-6-1) LMU men 1 (2-3-4)
Cal State Northridge men 1 (5-4-1) UC Riverside 0

Finally, Cal State Dominguez Hills junior defender Kevin Gallaugher was named the Brine California Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Soccer Player of the Week after the Toros posted a pair of shutouts over the weekend, limiting opponents to a combined seven shots on target.

It's not often you get interviewed by National Public Radio. But Chivas USA midfielder Jorge Flores did (and so did I).

Anaheim's Flores is one of the first of a new generation of U.S. Mexican-American soccer stars. He's not yet a regular starter, but NPR noticed.

Listen to the podcast of "It's Only A Game" here.

Was this.

Make sure you read the comments on the story.

I'm told one of the criminals was a retired Daily Breeze copy editor (who I used to play pick-up soccer with). Nail him I say.

Manhattan Beach motto: "We're only slightly less uptight than Palos Verdes Estates."

The Galaxy were blacked out:

Chivas USA weren't:

Chivas USA lineup: Dan Kennedy, Alex Zotinca, Claudio Suarez, Shavar Thomas, Francisco Mendoza (Jonathan Bornstein 54), Jesse Marsch, Sasha Victorine, Atiba Harris, Sacha Kljestan (Justin Braun 82), Alecko Eskandarian, Dejair (Jorge Flores 75),

Two teams, two games, same broadcast time.

MLS' two highest-scoring teams clash when L.A. play in Columbus at 4:30 p.m. live on Prime where the crowd are encouraged to wear black and "black out the Galaxy," (who are quite capable of doing that themselves, thank you) while at the same time on Fox Soccer Channel Chivas USA take on D.C. United before what will be the one of the home team's largest crowds of the season. Of course, the Crew's defense is just a tad better than the Galaxy's. Columbus is unbeaten in their last seven games.

The basics on both games are here.

Excellent update on Rolling Hills Estates' Robbie Rogers - increasingly impressive for the Crew this season - is here, while David Beckham gets the contrary treatment from an English newspaper that eloquently makes a brutal point - Becks is playing like crap.

How much does Crew Coach Sigi Schmid want to deliver the knockout blow to the Galaxy's season? Can you say Supporter's Shield?

You've got to figure Chivas USA has much more of a chance against United who are without Jaime Moreno and Luciano Emilio.

Saturday's college scores:
No. 4 UCLA 1 (8-0-2) Pepperdine 0 (4-6-2).
It was the Bruins' ninth straight shutout; Lauren Cheney got the goal.

Loyola Marymount women 1 Cal State Northridge 0 (5-4-1).
Lily Sorentino scored the winner in the 90trh minute.

Cal State Dominguez Hills women 2 (7-5) Humboldt State 0
CSUDH wins its third consecutive game to move atop the CCAA South standings.

Cal State Dominguez Hills men 2 (10-1-1) Humboldt State 0
No. 14 CSUDH outshot Humboldt 29-6

Finally, LMU junior goalkeeper Patrick Sampson (Lake Oswego, Ore.) became just the second player from the program to win the West Coast Conference's Player of the Month award. His accomplishments included a pair of shutouts against ranked opponents and a conference-low goals-against-average of 0.45 while allowing just two goals and making 24 saves over 400 minutes.

Charlie Naimo, who last year coached first-year W-League team Pali Blues to the league title, has been named general manager of the as yet unnamed L.A. WPS franchise.

"Combining my coaching experience, work ethic and desire to impact women's soccer with all the great players and resources we have assembled in Los Angeles will give us the ability to create a winning franchise from day one," he said.

The WPS team is owned 50:50 by Galaxy owner AEG and Pali Blues owner Ruidi Bianchi and will play at Home Depot Center when the seven-team league opens play in April.

Naimo also won a W-League title in 2005 with the New Jersey Wildcats.

He was first named coach in 1998 with W-League team the New Jersey Splash and promptly won Coach of the Year honors.

Abner Rogers, director of coaching at Laguna Hills club Eclipse, was previously named coach of the L.A. WPS team.

The WPS, which has already held two drafts for U.S. Women's National Team and top international players, holds another draft Monday.

Facing a weak Cuba team on Oct. 11 in World Cup qualifying, U.S. Coach Bob Bradley has finally shown a bit of an adventurous streak by dropping striker Eddie Johnson and adding the likes of Mexican league players Michael Orozco and Jose Francisco Torres to a 23-player squad announced today (World Cup qualifying caps and goals - or shutouts in the case of goalkeepers - are in parentheses):

goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa: 2/2 SO), Tim Howard (Everton FC: 6/5 SO), Troy Perkins (Valerenga IF: 0/0).

defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes: 16/2), Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland: 2/0), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96: 17/0), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC: 1/0), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew: 13/1), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege: 11/0), Michael Orozco (San Luis: 0/0), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock: 5/0).

midfielders: Freddy Adu (AS Monaco: 1/0), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers: 19/4), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach: 5/2), Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers: 3/0), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA: 3/0), Danny Szetela (Brescia Calcio: 0/0), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca: 0/0).

forwards: Jozy Altidore (Villarreal C.F.: 0/0), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo: 9/4), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF: 0/0) Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC: 11/4), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy: 24/8).

Good to see Altidore and Adu back in the team, too. Nine players from the Olympic squad are in this one. No room for the Galaxy's Eddie Lewis, although I'm guessing Bradley is trying to help out Bruce Arena there.

In college games Thursday:
*Amy Rodriguez scored a hat trick as No. 5 USC (9-1-0) demolished Cal State Bakersfield (4-8-1) 7-0 for the Trojans' seventh straight win. How dominating was this victory? USC out shot their opponents 37-2. Ouch. That's not a game - it's target practice. Next for USC: Cal State Northridge at 1 p.m. Sunday at McAlister Field.

*The Loyola Marymount men (2-2-4) beat Cal State Bakersfield (2-10-0) 2-1in overtime with freshman Fernando Barba scoring the winner. LMU visits Saint Mary's Sunday to open West Coast Conference play.

A few soccer nuggets to get your day started:
*There's a crucial game in the tight Western Conference tonight when MLS Player of the Month Darren Huckerby and the San Jose Earthquakes face Kenny Cooper (second in scoring in MLS) and Dallas at 6 tonight on ESPN2 in a game both the Galaxy and Chivas USA will watch closely.

The suddenly hot Earthquakes (one loss in their last 10 games) are tied with the Galaxy for last place with 29 points; Dallas (which has two consecutive wins) has 33 points, three behind Chivas USA.

Both Carson-based teams are on the road Saturday: the Galaxy are in Columbus facing Sigi Schmid and the MLS-leading Crew; Chivas USA are in D.C. playing United, which lost yet again in the CONCACAF Champions League Wednesday 1-0 against Cruz Azul while resting most of their regulars.

Chivas USA defender Shavar Thomas, goalkeeper Dan Kennedy and former DC United forward Alecko Eskandarian preview Saturday's game below:

David Beckham blogs here.

*The third (!) Women's Professional Soccer draft is set for Monday.

L.A. picks fifth, 10th, 12th and 19th in the four-round draft.

*Finally, in college games Wednesday night it was:
UCLA men 2 (2-3-4) UCSB 2 (5-3-1)
No. 5 Creighton 1 (7-1-0) Cal State Northridge men 0 (4-4-1)

Just a couple of quick items of local interest to pass along:
*Chivas USA striker Ante Razov is out two weeks with a mild right calf strain. The club's all-time leading scorer hobbled out of Saturday's game against the Wizards in the first half.

*Chivas USA defender Eric Ebert, already on the season-ending injury list, underwent right knee surgery Tuesday afternoon in Santa Monica.

*Cal State Dominguez Hills' goalkeeper Alyssa Congdon has been named the Brine California Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Soccer Player of the Week. The former South Torrance High star has two shutouts in her last two games.

*Mexico will play Ecuador Nov. 12 in Phoenix in its fifth and final game of the year in the U.S.

*Lawndale's Kei Kamara is carving out a niche for himself in Houston and had a two goal outburst in a CONCACAF Champions League shootout Tuesday night between the Dynamo and Pumas. Check out the goalfest:

*Televised footie today includes-
11:30 a.m. ESPN2 Liverpool-PSV Eindhoven
2:00 p.m. ESPN Classic (delayed) Shakhtar Donetsk-Barcelona
5 p.m. Fox Soccer Channel D.C. United-Cruz Azul