Chivas USA Wednesday Gameday

League-leading Chivas USA takes on Toronto in chilly Canada at 4:30 p.m. today, a game you can watch here for about $5.

Spanish speakers may tune live to Radio 690 AM (XEWW).

Toronto are without star player Dwayne De Rosario, while Coach John Carver is without $150 $750 after criticizing referee Tim Weyland in the wake of last weekend’s loss to Dallas.

Meanwhile, press box colleague Luis Bueno profiles persevering Fontana native Chukwudi Chijindu, who scored his first ever goal as a pro last weekend.

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Monday Night Football Eye Candy & More

Briefly:

*MLS “eye candy” Robbie Rogers of Rolling Hills Estates (and others) here. Also featured: Chivas USA ‘s ‘sexy” Sacha Kljestan and rookie Galaxy defender A.J. ‘the hunk” DeLaGarza.

*The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team plays Cuba at 4 p.m. Tuesday in its opening game of the regional championships in Tijuana. No TV.

*The U.S. Women’s National Team will play Canada July 19 iin Rochester, N.Y., and July 22 Charleston, S.C., it was announced today. From U.S. Soccer:

“The matches will be the last for the U.S. Women’s National Team at home in 2009, but the team is scheduled to gather for training camps and a European tour following the completion of the inaugural WPS campaign.”

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Sign of the Times

i-9fa354b022756e919210dcd96a9c7558-shirts0002.jpg

How the mighty have fallen.

This is the Marshall’s store at Torrance’s Del Amo Fashion Center over the weekend (pic snapped via the wife’s cell phone).

There were one or two Chivas USA and Chicago Fire shirts to be found and a whole rack of David Beckham Galaxy blue road replica jerseys, which once sold for around $85, now on sale for $24.99.

Don’t cry for Becks though: he’s doing just fine in Italy.

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Sol-FC Gold Pride Post-Game Quotes

It was hot in Carson today and that was reflected in the play on the lush, leg-sapping turf in the 1-0 Sol victory before 6,119 at Home Depot Center.

Here’s Sol playmaker Aly Wagner on the way the game went:

“It was hot and we were lethargic in the first half. We had bad movement, bad everything. In the second half we changed our formation and got a little wind under our sails. We came out sharper and crisper. I think that helped open the game up.”

On the long balls she kept pumping into the opposing half:

“That was my wise, wise decision. That was just reading the game and seeing what they were giving us. There was plenty of opportunities in the second half to do that.”

Here’s Sol Coach Abner Rogers on Wagner’s play:

“Aly’s great providing us possession, keeping the ball, she’s very comfortable, composed. Her passes are really what makes Aly. We were happy to have her back. … She has great vision. She sees things earlier than most players. She has the technical ability to hit that type of ball.”

Rogers on the game:

“They definitely could have scored a number of goals. It could have been 3-3, 4-3. It was far too open, too many mistakes. I don’t know why we lost our shape. We need to review why we lost our shape so early.”

Here’s Tiffeny Milbrett on comparing the WUSA with WPS:

“The level is at least two to three levels higher. Instantly, we have five internationals (per team). The first league only had three internationals. … The level of play is much better.”

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Final Result: FC Gold Pride at Sol

Sol 1 FC Gold Pride 0

The Sol remains undefeated on the season after beating FC Gold Pride 1-0 at Home Depot Center to retain the lead in the WPS standings.

Despite Aly Wagner threatening to take over the game in the second half with enough long balls to make David Beckham jealous, the Sol were unable to add to Marta’s goal just after the break.

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Half Time: FC Gold Pride at Sol

Sol 0 FC Gold Pride 0

Whether it’s the heat, lack of atmosphere compared to the opening game or something else, but today’s game is being played a couple of gears down from what we’ve seen from the Sol so far.

The Sol had the ball in the net twice, but both were called back for offside; that’s actually more than they’ve had shots on target (one).

The best Sol chance came in first half stoppage time when a bad mistake by Gold Pride defender Rachel Buehler allowed Aya Miyama to latch onto the ball, but she poked it wide of the far post.

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FC Gold Pride-Sol at Home Depot Center

It’s a sweltering afternoon in Carson and to call this crowd “sparse” – or even a crowd, frankly – would be charitable.

The Sol XI (4-4-2): goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc; defenders Brittney Bock, Stephanie Cox, Allison Faulk, Manya Makoski; midfielders Ali Wagner, Shannon Boxx, Aya Miyama, Camille Abily; forwards Christie Welsh, Marta.

FC Gold pride has Nicole Barnhart in goal, U.S. internationals Rachel Buehler and Tina DiMartino among its defensive corps, Leslie Osborne and Brazilian star Formiga in midfield and a strike force of Christine Sinclair and Erika Arakawa.

Tiffeny Milbrett is on the bench.

And did I mention it’s hot? (I feel for the person in the fuzzy Sol shark mascot outfit).

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Sol Sunday Gameday

The L.A. Sol (2-0) of WPS kick off their third ever game at 1 p.m. at Home Depot Center against FC Gold Pride (1-0-1) and need a win or a tie to retain sole possession of first place.

Game preview.

Notable:
*The Sol have scored four and have yet to concede a goal.

*Brandi Chastain did not travel with the Gold Pride for this afternoon’s game.

*The Sol are without striker Han Duan who is busy back home with something called the Chinese Provincial Games.

*The Sol beat FC Gold Pride twice in preseason, notching two goal victories on each outing.

There’s no radio or TV coverage, but I’ll blog and Tweet from the game as usual.

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