Midweek Kicks

There are some advantages when the Internet, telephones and computer system go down simultaneously at work (keep in mind I work at a newspaper): I could remain blissfully ignorant Tuesday of the stunning Liverpool-Chelsea UEFA Champions League game until I could go home and watch it (ah, I miss the pre-blogging days some times) held on the eve of English football’s most tragic day and with memories of the even more amazing Liverpool comeback in the 2005 UEFA Champions League final still fresh.

Things aren’t due to be fixed at work until about 1 p.m. today so with any luck things will follow the same pattern with regard to the Manchester United-Porto game (which is a roundabout way of saying don’t expect much blogging).

So let’s play a little catch-up:

*Seattle’s Fredy Montero will be able to fully concentrate on the Sounders game with Chivas USA after the resolution of the legal issues hanging over him.

*We won’t be seeing Kasey Keller in goal for Seattle this weekend after his red card against Kansas City for handling the ball outside the box and he’s still angry about it.

BTW, here’s what Seattle Coach Sigi Schmid told me about Keller’s ejection when I spoke to him Monday:

“His hands were in tight. I think if it’s a defender that slides into an attacker in the same manner I think the referee gives him a yellow card and we move on. But because it’s a goalkeeper the instinct is to say he probably tried to bat it down with his hands. It’s a tough one to argue, but it it was a tough call. It’s not like he had his arms extended, it’s not like he threw his arms at the ball or anything like that. He basically slid into it like a defender would slide into a tackle.”

*Chivas USA will hold its second “Practice in the Community” at 10 a.m. Sunday at Montebello High School, 2100 West Cleveland Ave. Fans can take photos, get autographs and meet players after the practice. It’s free.

*North (Torrance) High’s Andre Turoldo and Matt Chavez were named Daily Breeze Player of the Year and Coach of the Year respectively.

*Lastly, the Sol is having a not to be missed ticket sale today in recognition of tax day for Sunday’s game at Home Depot Center.

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email
This entry was posted in Sol by Nick Green. Bookmark the permalink.

About Nick Green

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