Thursday Kicks: El Tri in San Diego & More
Briefly:
*Mexico will play Guatemala June 28 in San Diego, Soccer United Marketing announced today, with tickets also going on sale today to Visa cardholders over at Ticketmaster. Tickets start at $25. Sales to the general public begins May 5.
The San Diego game comes four days after Mexico plays Venezuela in Atlanta just before the Gold Cup begins. From the SUM press release:
Mexico is no stranger to San Diego having played twice in the last two years in the Southern California soccer hotbed in front of sold-out crowds at Qualcomm Stadium. On Feb. 27, 2007 Mexico defeated Venezuela 3-1 in front of 63,328 fans before falling to Argentina last year on June 4 in front of 68,498 fans. México and Guatemala have played each other a total of 27 times with Mexico leading the all-time series 17-4-6. Guatemala is lead by Chicago Fire midfielder Marco Pappa and former MLS star Carlos Ruíz who now plies his trade for Olimpia of Paraguay.The games will mark the U.S. debut of Mexican national team head coach Javier "el Vasco" Aguirre since his return to the bench this past April.
*For the second year in a row, KAZA Azteca 54 will air Chivas USA games this season. The eight scheduled Chivas USA home game broadcasts include this Saturday's match against FC Dallas.
*It appears we can expect more Seattle fans to turn out en masse at Galaxy and Chivas USA games in Carson in the future. Great for the game atmosphere whether you're a Sounders fan or not. Details here.
*Former Galaxy assistant coach (and John O'Brien mentor) Afshin Ghotbi is now coach of the Iranian national team. Is there a better time for a U.S.-Iran game?
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About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
I remember Afshin Ghotbi from his playing days at UCLA and years later as the coach of a PDL team in the Valley whose name escapes me now. Extremely sharp soccer mind, very personable,a football man inside and out and hi-tech to boot. I'm pleasantly surprised he wants to come back to MLS. Portland should take note of him for their 2011 season.
A note to Afshin: edit out Steve Sampson's name from your resume. :-)