July 2009 Archives
"It's Called Football" is a Canadian podcast out of Toronto.
I've been on the show three times and despite the feeling I get more incomprehensible every time they keep asking me back.
This is their MLS mid-season show and I'm on babbling about Alecko Eskandarian, the Galaxy and David Beckham. And in that order, too.
Before I forget here's the Barcelona roster for their three-game U.S. tour including Saturday's game against the Galaxy at the Rose Bowl (BTW, I don't think any of their practices are open to the public and the media are being asked not to reveal the locations anyway):
GOALKEEPERS - Albert Jorquera, Jose Manuel Pinto, Victor Valdés
DEFENDERS - Eric Abidal (FRA), Maxwell Andrade (BRA), Henrique Adriano (BRA), Daniel Alves (BRA), Rafael Márquez (MEX), Gerard Piqué, Carles Puyol, Víctor Sanchez, Marc Muniesa, Andreu Fontás
MIDFIELDERS - Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernández, Andres Iniesta, Pedro Rodriguez, Victor Sanchez, Seydou Keita (MLI), Toure Yaya (CIV), Jonathan Dos Santos (MEX)
FORWARDS - Eidur Gudjohnsen (ICE), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (SWE), Thierry Henry (FRA), Bojan Krkic, Lionel Messi (ARG), Jeffrén Suárez.
(Nationalities of players are Spanish unless otherwise).
Taking a break for a few days.
But since I'm sitting in an Old Town Pasadena Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf right now, it's appropriate to point out that the Galaxy has an MLS All-Star game viewing party scheduled nearby from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday at Redwhite + Bluezz, 70 S. Raymond Ave.
I'll return before the Barcelona game at the Rose Bowl.
Then I know someone who wants to hear from you.
And on a day after the Galaxy announced they had sold more than 70,000 tickets for Saturday's game against Barcelona there (remaining tickets start at $35) it's an apt post:
I'm Miguel Melendez and I'm a sportswriter at the Pasadena Star-News. I'm working on a story about the Galaxy's return to the Rose Bowl Saturday for the first time since leaving in 2002 for Home Depot Center. The story is scheduled to run later this week in such newspapers as the Daily Breeze, L.A. Daily News and the Star-News. I want to talk to fans who were at the first Galaxy game in 1996 at the Rose Bowl. Tell me about your experience, your thoughts on the atmosphere and the game itself. E-mail miguel.melendez@sgvn.com and be sure to put "First Galaxy game" in the subject line. Thank you all very much!
I'll go first: I was there as a fan.
MLS had opened its inaugural season the previous weekend, Eric Wynalda's 88th minute goal for the San Jose Clash against D.C. United saving the league (and its fans) from the humiliation of its first-ever game ending scoreless.
It seemed somewhat unbelievable to think that top class professional soccer was returning to where I lived for the first time in a dozen years.
All week long the L.A. Times revised (upwards) the estimated attendance for the Galaxy's first game Saturday against the New York-New Jersey MetroStars: 25,000, then 35,000, 45,000 and then somewhere north of 50,000.
I drove down from Ventura with my wife in our 1983 Oldsmobile Omega, which had a habit of overheating and certainly didn't disappoint on April 13, 1996, grinding to a vapor-spewing, volcanic halt in bumper to bumper traffic en route. We finally got to the vast stadium, negotiated the grassy oceans of parking lot/golf course and got in a huge line for tickets (the first and last time I bought tickets the day of the game).
It was around half time before we got in. It was impossible to find your seat. People sat and stood anywhere. I didn't care. Football was back. In the end almost 70,000 attended.
I don't remember a whole lot about the game (and certainly didn't have the best view anyway). Cobi Jones scored the Galaxy's first-ever goal in the 37th minute and I missed it. The Galaxy won 2-1. And I'm sure New York was as crap then as they are now.
(The Galaxy XI: Campos, Semoli, Calichman, Fraser, Noamouz, Jones, Cienfuegos, Armas, Motajo, Karapetyan, Hurtado; Andrew Shue came on as a second half sub).
There were things to like about the Rose Bowl: the pubs in Old Town Pasadena, tailgating before the game, barbecuing on the lush golf course, the numerous bacon-wrapped hot dog vendors after the final whistle.
But it was a long trip (made longer at the end with the seemingly never-ending winding drive through residential neighborhoods with no signs pointing to the stadium and populated by people that quite clearly didn't want you there) to sit in those tiny uncomfortable seats (and I'm not a big guy) in often oppressive heat. (BTW, I still remember sitting sweating in full sun and then seeing Dennis Hopper walking past me clad in a huge heavy coat as he negotiated the steps of the Rose Bowl on June 16 when more than 92,000 of us - the largest crowd ever to a (professional/club) soccer game in the U.S. at the time - crammed in to watch the Galaxy play the now deceased Tampa Bay and the U.S. face Mexico in a doubleheader).
These days I appreciate the cozy confines of the HDC and my 15 minute drive. But I'll be reliving memories of the early years of MLS at the Barcelona game. I'm heading out to a few days of vacation. Posting will be light and there's no column Tuesday. See you at the Rose Bowl.
Including you, Josh. Hope Becks buys you a Becks one of these days.
I'm guessing NBC Universal caved into the public outcry and saw that a free preview of its little known channel represented a golden promotional opportunity at the same time.
Here are the details on today's announcement.
And how do I define "widely available"? Well, I get DirecTV. Mun2 is on Channel 410.
Incidentally, I'm no fan of Wednesday's MLS All-Star game, as regular readers know, but it's good to see Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton get added to the squad in the absence of the Houston Dynamo's Pat Onstad.
From the Chivas USA press release:
Thornton, 35, has played every minute of the MLS season for the Red-and-White, notching seven shutouts and a 0.88 goals against average in 17 games. His eight wins and seven shutouts are second only to Onstad, who has played two more games. Thornton and Seattle Sounders FC's Kasey Keller are the two goalkeepers on the All-Star Team roster for the match against Everton.
They're already getting psyched about the game in Salt Lake City.
Mexico has a better "C" team than the U.S.
Good thing no-one cares about the Gold Cup anyway.
But no matter the competition or team the U.S. should never - never - lose 5-0 to Mexico. And certainly shouldn't collapse on that scale, conceding five goals in just over 30 minutes.
How different would it have been if the likes of Rolling Hills Estates' Robbie Rogers had converted first half chances?
It was the first time a team scored five goals against the U.S. since Czechoslovakia won by a 5-1 margin in the 1990 World Cup.
If this doesn't motivate U.S. Soccer to lobby CONCACAF to move this tournament to an every four year rotation nothing will.
Bowling for Becks in KC (AP Photo)
The Galaxy failed to win a fifth consecutive game Saturday, drawing with the Wizards 1-1 in Kansas City. Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman (Peninsula High) kept his former team at bay with a superb performance. But a stunning goal of the season contending strike by the Wizards Claudio Lopez that left Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts injured was the high point of the game.
Quotable:
"I thought (Hartman) was outstanding," said Wizards Coach Curt Onalfo. "He did what he's done most of the year, which is make saves when he's called upon. We had some missed clearances in the first half that led to chances for them and he made some real good saves."
Highlights:
Also:
*Despite taking the lead on a goal from San Pedro's Peter Hazdovac, the Hollywood United Hitmen fell to the Ventura County Fusion in the PDL playoffs.
*The Pali Blues came from behind to win in the W-League playoffs.
* And don't forget this game that kicks off at noon today on Fox Soccer Channel.
First off, if you only click one link in this blog post make it this one, a 16-picture gallery by readers of English newspaper The Guardian illustrating the Landon Donovan-David Beckham soap opera. Some hilarious stuff in there.
Donovan was still addressing the issue Friday in Kansas City before today's nationally televised game (live at 6 p.m. on ESPN2).
Three points separate the Galaxy and the chasing Kansas City Wizards in the Western Conference standings.
Here's more on the game from a local perspective and here's even more from Donovan including the apparently increasing likelihood he will head to Europe to play. (BTW, shouldn't he be updating that pic on his Web site?)
Those who like their soccer live should know that Premier Development League teams the Hollywood United Hitmen and Ventura County Fusion clash at 3 p.m. today at Pacific Palisades High School's Stadium by the Sea in the Southwest Divisional Final.
Time constraints prevented much blogging this year about the PDL. but the Hitmen are in their first season in the league, having replaced the San Fernando Valley Quakes just weeks before the season started.
Their roster includes San Pedro's Peter Hazdovac (last seen playing professional football in the lower divisions in Croatia) and the San Fernando Valley's Willie Simms. The Fusion have former Chivas USA forward Anthony Hamilton on their squad.
The game begins at noon Sunday on Fox Soccer Channel.
By BARRY WILNER
AP Sports Writer
This was the perfect Gold Cup for an outsider to steal. Honduras, perhaps. Or Canada.
Instead, Sunday's final at the Meadowlands will have that familiar if not comfortable look
when the United States and Mexico, by far the most dominant nations in CONCACAF, meet for the title.
Neither country sent its best team to the biennial event, with the United States fielding
something of a JV squad with players unproven on the international scene. Those players, particularly Rolling Hills Estates' Robbie Rogers, as well as Stuart Holden, Kyle Beckerman and Riverside's Chad Marshall, have performed well on the regional stage after the big boys lost in the Confederations Cup final to Brazil earlier this summer.
Mexico is missing some key players, too, and it has been struggling in World Cup qualifying, sitting fourth behind leader Costa Rica, the Americans and Hondurans. Yet Mexico survived a difficult round-robin in the Gold Cup, beat Costa Rica on penalty kicks in the semifinal, and has every reason to believe it can walk off with the trophy for the fifth time in its sixth trip to the finals.
"The United States is always a very difficult opponent and it will be a challenge for us,"
said Guillermo Ochoa, whose penalty-kick save was the difference against Costa Rica. "But we played well (in the semifinals) and it gives us a lot of confidence for the final."
Ochoa was a backup when the Americans beat the Mexicans for the 2007 Gold Cup.
With Mexico in dire straits in World Cup qualifying, and facing an Aug. 12 home match against the U.S. team --with all of its top players -- Ochoa could do some positive for his career and his nation's chances to make the South Africa 2010 field by beating the hosts.
But winning in the United States has been impossible for El Tri this decade: the Americans are 9-0-2, with some of the games getting downright nasty. Of course, U.S.-Mexico is as heated a soccer rivalry as you'll find in CONCACAF.
"We need to be looking at this final, not the other match," Mexico coach Javier Aguirre
said.
Still, a win Sunday, even with a vastly different lineup than each side will field at Azteca
next month, would be huge for El Tri.
"I don't think it sets a tone," U.S. forward Brian Ching said.
Ching is a rare veteran of international play on this U.S. squad, and wore the captain's band in the semifinal. "But on a personal level, we've done well against them in the U.S. and you don't want to be the team that lets them win at home."
It's only $1,000, but I suppose it's the principle of the thing rather than amount. Hope he doesn't take it out of Brooklyn's weekly allowance:
NEW YORK (AP) -- David Beckham was fined $1,000 by Major League Soccer, which said his gestures toward taunting fans suggested that they leave their seats and come on the field.
The fine by MLS commissioner Don Garber on Friday came five days after the English star confronted Los Angeles Galaxy fans in a group called the L.A. Riot Squad. The Galaxy and AC Milan played to a 2-2 tie in an exhibition game. Beckham played with AC Milan this year and was booed through much of the game.
"We support our players interacting with fans, whether it is at clinics, charity events or by
high-fiving their supporters in the stands while celebrating a goal," Garber said. "However, our players should never engage in conduct that can be interpreted as encouraging fans to come out of the stands and onto the field, regardless of the reason."
At halftime, Beckham walked toward the group while shouting and pointing. He challenged fans to meet him on the field and tried to lift himself over advertising boards before security intervened. Police arrested a fan who left the stands.
Then after a second-half corner kick in front of the Riot Squad's section, Beckham immediately turned to those fans, put his index finger to his lips, shrugged his shoulders and blew them a kiss. The kick resulted in a goal.
Beckham has been unapologetic about his actions.
"At the end of the day, I play my game," Beckham said Thursday. "If it's not good enough for some people, as long as it's good enough for myself and the team, nothing else matters."
The Riot Squad blamed Beckham for agitating the situation in a statement on the group's Web site Thursday.
"Had David responded differently on Sunday, the booing and the chanting probably would have ended at halftime," the statement said. "We don't believe questioning Beckham's commitment to our team is over the line, but it's clear that David feels otherwise."
There are almost two dozen soccer games listed in today's Daily Breeze print edition (y'know the thing made of dead trees that only costs a quarter, but is far easier to carry around than a laptop) you can watch on TV today through Sunday (and far more than that on niche channels).
Arguably the highlight: U.S.-Mexico at high noon Sunday on Fox Soccer Channel with the Gold Cup title at stake.
(BTW it looks like the two teams are getting acquainted already - here's what U.S. Soccer just tweeted: "On our plane - we are about to depart for NYC. We are flying with Mexico and a bunch of CONCACAF officials. Ochoa's hair is huge").
Click to the right for a full listing, but here's what I'll also be watching:
*Noon Saturday on ESPN - Chicago Fire at Seattle (I just love watching games with that rocking atmosphere at Qwest Field).
*6 p.m. Saturday on ESPN2 - Galaxy at Kansas City Wizards (A hopefully still pissed off David Beckham and the Galaxy look for a fifth straight MLS win). Click here for viewing parties.
*2 p.m. Sunday on ESPN2 - AC Milan-Inter Milan (a Milan derby in Boston).
Chivas USA has the weekend off.
In a 0-0 game.
Each team had 10 shots tonight at Buckshaw Stadium in San Jose. The Sol could only manage one shot on target; FC Gold Pride had three.
Sol XI: Karina LeBlanc; Manya Makoski, Sharlota Nonen; Brittany Bock, Keri Sanchez, Aly Wagner (77: McCall Zerboni), Camille Abily, Lisa Sari (46: Shannon Boxx), Aya Miyama, Han Duan, Marta.
There are still three weeks left in the regular season to determine who the Sol will face in the title game.
Tickets for the WPS Championshp game Aug. 22 at Home Depot Center go on sale Wednesday; the price for the first couple of days is $20.
Italy's Livorno, back in Serie A this season, are reportedly eying Ricardo Clark and the Galaxy's Landon Donovan.
With those rumors picking up colleague Phil Collin spoke to Donovan after training today:
"My agent has been in discussions with a lot of different teams, but at this point I'm not worried about that. I'm not going anywhere in the immediate future. I'm enjoying being the captain of this team and doing well with this team."
And, naturally, Phil asked Landon whether he had spoken to David Beckham about the half time incident with the Riot Squad during Sunday's AC Milan game:
"You guys just won't let it go, will you? (almost a half-smile). I didn't say a word to David. I didn't know what had happened. He, I think, spoke to Bruce and it's over. We're moving on."
Douglas Morino is a reporter at the Daily Breeze in Torrance who attended last weekend's Galaxy-AC Milan game in Carson as part of the capacity crowd.
I asked him to write about his experience as a fan; he does not paint a pretty picture.
What my friend and I, along with hundreds of other soccer fans, experienced Sunday night at Home Depot Center was nothing short of outrageous.
I expected the bad traffic.
What I didn't expect was it to take us two hours to drive from the Avalon Boulevard off-ramp to the Home Depot Center parking lot. It was clear from the beginning the powers that be were unprepared for the influx of soccer fans descending upon the HDC.
I can deal with long lines for overpriced beer.
But outside the ticket gates closest to the tennis stadium, there were hundreds of people - literally, hundreds - lined up waiting to enter. The line was a dozen people thick and
stretched to the parking lot. The scene was unsettling. At that point, the match was already underway.
Frustrated, we went to the opposite end of the stadium, where the line to get in was shorter. We walked into the stadium 10 minutes after kickoff.
We had tickets in the general admission area - first come, first served - and by the time we reached the section it was clear there were no open seats. We stood for a while, along with dozens of other fans who were venting their frustrations at security guards and ushers. Who could blame them? It was hot, crowded and there was no where to sit.
I looked to the press box with envy as I envisioned a colleague sitting comfortably, maybe enjoying a cold drink and air conditioning, as he observed the match from the 50-yard line and typed away on his laptop.
Around the 25th minute we sat in fold-out chairs behind the general admission section along with about a dozen other people. We were immediately told to leave, and the argument with stadium officials would last until the final whistle blew.
After halftime, people continued to scramble to find a place to sit, or even stand. Some seats lining the section remained empty the entire match, and security guards and ushers would not allow them to be filled. The growing crowd continued to protest.
Security, not surprisingly, was having no part of it. They told us to leave the section, they told us to take it up with customer service, then they threatened to kick us out. By this time, the crowd behind the section had grown substantially - and so had their anger. Security called at least one sheriff's deputy to the scene. It was obvious they had oversold that section and the entire stadium. I wondered were the Fire Marshall was to enforce any fire code.
Finally, in the 70th minute, a sympathetic security guard intervened, and using verbal force, cleared some space and found us a few seats in the general admission section. Unfortunately, many who paid to get into the section were left standing, far removed from the action on the field and in the stands.
Trying to get in the stadium was one thing. Trying to get out was something completely different.
After the final whistle blew, an elderly man took a break from the massive herd trying to leave the section and sat down in an empty seat. A young female security guard promptly told him to stand up. People passing by spoke up in defense of the old man.
"I don't have to take any of your (expletive)," she shouted.
We finally made it outside and literally ran to our car to avoid the impending onslaught of traffic. I've been to packed Dodger playoff games, BCS bowl games, and sporting events in the Developing World, and nothing compared to the disorganization and blatant disrespect being forced upon paying customers Sunday in Carson.
My friend and I drove out of the stadium parking lot that night, vowing never to return.
It seems Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns and operates the stadium, as well as the Galaxy, keep finding ways to drive new fans like Morino away. Incidentally, a press box colleague (who arrived late to the game) had a very similar experience with the traffic control (or total lack thereof outside the stadium) calling it "complete chaos." And power hungry security at the stadium is another recurring theme, too. I'd be interested in hearing from other fans and AEG officials are welcome to respond as well in the comment section.
He just tweeted his latest injury.
Buddle has started just eight MLS games this season because of a succession of injuries.
He apparently suffered the injury in the first 15 minutes of last Sunday's AC Milan friendly and was subbed out.
Updated:
Despite what Edson tweeted, the official diagnosis is sprained right foot. And there's no time line on his return, so it's unclear if he will actually be out a month.
BTW: Alecko Eskandarian does have a broken nose; Dema Kovalenko trained all week - yet to be determined is whether he's fit enough to play against Kansas City this weekend.
The Sol (11-2-4) can clinch the inaugural WPS regular season title with just a point on the road tonight at FC Gold Pride (3-9-3), a team that hasn't won in eight games and are 0-3 against LA this season.
Gold Pride will play on just three days rest after taking the field Sunday, while the Sol have had a considerably longer opportunity to relax, sustaining a rare 1-0 home loss July 8 to St. Louis Athletica. The Pride expects Nicole Barnhart, Rachel Buehler and Leslie Osborne back from national team duty after two unnecessary games against Canada in four days; similarly the likes of midfielder Shannon Boxx (who went the full 90 last night) and goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc (an unused sub Wednesday night) return for the Sol.
Sol defender Allison Falk is listed as questionable with a right ankle injury.
Former Brazilian international Sissi, now 42-years-old, could find herself lining up against the Sol's Marta in a clash of different generations.
Meanwhile, Northern California native and oft-injured Sol star Aly Wagner sadly sounds more and more as if she's edging toward a premature retirement.
There's no TV or radio.
(BTW, the U.S. beat Canada 1-0 Wednesday night in South Carolina, the 89th minute goal coming from 18-year-old Christine Nairn just eight minutes after she entered the game as a sub. She was playing in her second national team game).
TV options tonight include a Gold Cup semifinals doubleheader with the U.S. facing Honduras at 4 p.m. on Fox Soccer Channel and the Mexico-Costa Rica game following at 7 p.m. on Univision.
The Hondurans will no doubt be distracted by events at home.
Finally, as the college soccer season approaches, check out this story about UCLA's prized top recruit.
The fan group e-mailed it out this evening.
Here it is in its entirety:
What/why were we booing?
We want to support our teams and our players, and we do that week after week. We were really torn between our desire to support the team and the need to register our disappointment with the entire Beckham circus. We don't fault David for his desire to play for his country and for playing abroad during the off season, but we do find fault with his stated desire to play in Europe rather than the Galaxy. After going out on loan last winter to Milan, Beckham shortly made it clear that he no longer wanted to play for the Galaxy. He returned this month only because he and Milan were unwilling to meet AEG/MLS' price for a transfer, yet his public comments don't reflect this reality. Rather, he has rather unbelievably said he is "fully committed" to the Galaxy, as if repetition can make it so. He has been unable or unwilling to show any understanding of why the fans are disappointed with his actions and choices. We chose a friendly match, one arranged as part of the payment by Beckham and Milan to extend his loan, to let him know that if he was unhappy to be here, we were unhappy too.
Did LARS ban anyone?
No. We do, however, have an actual meeting scheduled later this week with Galaxy officials to discuss the matter.
Will we appeal the ban?
We have a meeting scheduled later this week with the Galaxy to discuss the events.
Did we cross the line?
No. We questioned David's loyalty to the club and we sang, made signs and chanted things that were bluntly dismissive. As far as we can determine, no one from LARS crossed over to referencing his family, as Beckham has claimed. In our discussions on our internet forums prior to the match, we agreed that David's family (is) expressly off limits. We know that Beckham has received very rough and deplorable treatment during his career, and that's why we were genuinely shocked by his response to us on Sunday. We don't believe questioning Beckham's commitment to our team is over the line, but it's clear that David feels otherwise.
Explain the confrontation at halftime.
We have a meeting scheduled later this week with the Galaxy to discuss the events.
Will we support Beckham in the future?
We want to support David - we want to support anyone that wears our team's shirt. Had David responded differently on Sunday, the booing and chanting probably would have ended by halftime. We will almost certainly end the booing and chanting when Beckham plays in his first MLS match at our stadium, but it is ultimately up to David. If (he) shows the evident disinterest he did at the end of last season, or if he provokes us further, we might have something more to say to him, but our ultimate desire is to support him.
Requests for further info should be directed to: info@lariotsquad.org
Earlier:
Riot Squad Member in Half Time Altercation With Beckham Banned for Life?
As one would expect in a game between a newly-promoted EPL team and the Ventura County Fusion, which play in the fourth tier of American soccer.
Quite a different atmosphere than the one 90 minutes or so away in Pasadena, but no doubt considerably cooler at Buena High in Ventura.
Thanks to loyal 100 Percent Soccer reader Evan Z from Camarillo for sharing some of the pics he shot during the game.
AP Photos
The celebs (Ashton Kutcher, Charlize Theron, Will Ferrell, et al) were out.
So was a loud and appreciative crowd of more than 80,000 that braved rush hour traffic and suffocating heat in Pasadena.
All to see a meaningless friendly between Jose Mourinho's old club - Chelsea - and his current team, Inter Milan, at the Rose Bowl.
Read the game story here.
I was impressed: clearly there are soccer fans in L.A. with more fortitude than myself.
After working all day, I couldn't face a 90 minute commute in the withering heat from the South Bay to Pasadena (especially with a Dodger game scheduled) so chose to stay home and snuggle up with a cold one in front of my hi def TV. (And yeah, I know I'm a spoiled wimp of a journalist considering I get to sit in an air-conditioned press box).
Still, it was a fun spectacle from my vantage point - or at least the first half was - despite the less than illuminating color commentary of John "not so brilliant" Harkes and his lingering fake English accent. (How the hell that guy - also responsible for perhaps the most poorly written soccer-related biography of all time keeps his job is beyond me. My biggest pet peeve? When he insists on saying "offsides" when he means offside - singular. Aggh!).
Which is why I was a little surprised to see the tone of this column from co-worker Scott Wolf.
Scott is a huge fan of the European game, owns more replica jerseys than any human being I know and often heads to Europe to take in a few games.
Scott has a lacerating sense of understatement he usually uses to good effect to skewer the deserving, but this one missed the mark (check out the comments at the end of the story).
Do pointy-ball football teams sell out preseason games? Thought not.
When that many people show up to an exhibition game early in pre-season (that one would think could be of questionable quality) on a weekday in these weather conditions at a time when this country is saturated with visiting top-class teams, well, the U.S. soccer community should be saluted, not condemned, for it's showing.
I know I do. From the comfort of my couch.
Here's the perspective from England.
And here's the answer to the question, do these games help soccer grow at the grassroots level? In this case, yes.
Highlights:
Playing a little catch-up with some non-David Beckham related news:
*Three Chivas USA players and two from UCLA were selected for a 10-day camp in Argentina that begins today that is the final tune-up for the United States Men's Under-20 National Team that plays in the FIFA World Cup for that age category in late September in Egypt.
Chivas USA players summoned for the camp were converted defender Jorge Flores of Anaheim, midfielder Gerson Mayen of Los Angeles and recent signing Cesar Zamora of Sylmar; representing UCLA are goalkeeper Brian Perk of Rancho Santa Margarita and midfielder Michael Stephens of Illinois. It's Zamora's first call-up to the national team.
*Galaxy forward Bryan Jordan of Temple City was the subject of a profile in his hometown newspaper recently that talked about him "living a childhood dream" - and that was before he scored a goal Sunday against AC Milan.
*Finally, this is timely given that the Tour de France is on-going - and it's for a good cause if you're a Bruin.
In Pasadena at 8 p.m. it's Chelsea against Inter Milan. The game is live on ESPN2.
John Terry's Chelsea future is still up in the air (AP Photo).
Meanwhile, Chelsea's Michael Ballack has returned to England with a broken toe, while trade rumors continue to swirl around John Terry.
Earlier:
Inter go to Hollywood.
The people and nation who will really benefit from tonight's game.
This author signs copies of his book at the game today.
Meanwhile, up in Ventura at a high school stadium the PDL Ventura County Fusion will play EPL newcomers Burnley. (You can listen to game commentary at the Web site).
Admittedly, a rather light subject, but since Twitter is all the rage right now it seemed silly to ignore it. Hence, today's column.
Here's a list of selected soccer tweeters. (And yes, I tweet). It's not mean to be definitive, but by all means add folks who you follow (or yourself) in the comments section below:
Galaxy & MLS:
*Striker Edson Buddle: EdsonBuddle
*Forward Bryan Jordan: BJ6
*Radio play by play voice Joe Tutino: joetutino
*Fan group Angel City Brigade: ACBrigade
*Don Garber: thesoccerdon
*Jimmy Conrad: JimmyConrad
Chivas USA (past and present)
*Sacha Kljestan: SachaKljestan
*Brad Guzan: bguzan
Sol & WPS
*Midfielder Aly Wagner: alywagner
*GM Charlie Naimo: LASolGM
*WPS Commish Tonya Antonucci: wpscommissioner
*Sol: LosAngelesSol
*Sol Midfielder Manya Makoski: Makoski22
U.S. Men's National Team
*Charlie Davis: CharlieDavies10
*Freddy Adu: FreddyAdu11
*Jozy Altidore:
JozyAltidore17
*Rolling Hills Estates' Robbie Rogers: robbierogers
*Stuart Holden: stuholden22
*USMNT: ussoccer
Others:
*PDL team Hollywood United: HollywoodUnited
*Sports Illustrated writer Grant Wahl: GrantWahl
That's according to an official Galaxy press release quoting GM and Coach Bruce Arena that was issued this afternoon:
"We regret the incident that happened at the end of the first half of last night's friendly at The Home Depot Center. While it is important that our fans remain free to voice their opinions, they must do so in an appropriate manner. We appreciate our players and fans passion for the team and the game, but we all must aim to hold ourselves to higher standards.We have a very good relationship with the LA Riot Squad and have already reached out to them to set up a meeting to discuss moving forward together in a positive direction. In addition, the LA Riot Squad has informed us that they have issued a lifetime ban to the fan that went onto the field of play.
We want to move in a positive direction as an organization, and ask our fans to support our players and our club as we look to return to the playoffs for the first time in three years. We need the support of our fans to continue providing an amazing home environment at The Home Depot Center as we look to reach our shared goal of qualifying for the playoffs."
No word on what "higher standard" the Galaxy plans to hold Beckham to for his part in the confrontation.
And the LARS message boards this afternoon are full of members wondering just who has the authority to issue a so-called "lifetime ban."
Here's the Beckham video of him appearing to go after the Riot Squad and being restrained:
Updated:
More details on the Riot Squad incident here.
Stephen Rea, a native of Northern Ireland who moved to New Orleans just before Hurricane Katrina leveled the city, will make two appearances in Pasadena today and Tuesday promoting his book "Finn McCool's Football Club: The Birth, Death and Resurrection of a Pub Soccer Team in the City of the Dead."
(It's the story of a Sunday pub team and the eccentric collection of largely British ex-pats that play on it set against the backdrop of the worst natural disaster ever to hit a major American city).
Rea and two ex-Chelsea players will take part in a Q&A session tonight beginning at 8 o'clock at Lucky Baldwin's, 17 S. Raymond Ave., ahead of Tuesday's Chelsea-Inter Milan game (Rea is a Chelsea fan). The pub has an excellent beer selection BTW, which if you've read Rea's book was probably a prerequisite for his presence.
On Tuesday Rea will autograph copies of the book beginning at noon at the Fan fest in Rose Bowl Area H before the game (thankfully, given the heat it includes a wine and beer garden).
I'm still making my way through the book between watching Beckham melt down (those boos don't bother him, huh?) and the match marathon we've seen on TV these last few days (I'm on page 243 of 336), so out of fairness I'll refrain from a full scale review.
But here are a few random thoughts so far:
*This is not a bad summer read, but readers who find racial and ethnic stereotypes, expletive-laden sentences and a general preoccupation with drinking heavily offensive or boorish might want to give this one a miss. Here, for instance is the opening line to Chapter 11: "You cheating f****** c***." You get the idea.
*This is one of those books that cries out for a separate section to help the reader keep track of the numerous players (many named Stephen) who flit in and out of the team and the story with regularity. I was forever pawing through pages to remind myself who so and so was.
*The book is more than a tad repetitive as we are regaled by tales of the pub team's (all too similar) games or the author's (often futile) searches for American bars carrying Northern Ireland games. The book would have been half as long if Rea had just signed up for DirecTV. And there's about 175 pages of this stuff before the storm actually hits.
*Forgive me this thought given the devastation wrought on the city and its inhabitants, but it was hard to whip up much sympathy for some of these characters given how generally oblivious they are to the scale of the impending natural disaster. For instance, the team's coach goes on a hours-long bender before the storm hits, is baffled to find the city empty when there's eventually no where else to drink because everything is shut down and then improbably goes home to bed to ride the storm out by pulling the covers over his head in bed. By the time he's literally swirling down the street in flood waters, I'm thinking that this guy is the epitome of the law of natural selection. As for Rea himself, you've got to wonder about anyone who moves to New Orleans and then writes "New Orleans had hurricanes? It was news to me."
*All that aside, the book has a certain colorful charm that you would expect set in a place like New Orleans. Here's an excerpt wherein a Liverpudlian named Adrian explains how he ended up in the city erecting scaffolding:
After a day they said, 'You've never done this before, have you?' but they were cool and we were the only two white boys on the crew. We were living in the Quarter and they showed us the city and we got second-degree burns working on a hospital roof and I went to a transvestite's funeral after meeting a guy dressed as a nun and we had a fantastic time.
The hardcover came out earlier this year with the paperback to follow this fall.
Getty Images
David Beckham's first home game back with the Galaxy was (almost) everything you could ask for from a preseason (for Milan) friendly that was more about the show than the result and the money AEG was making from its prize soccer asset.
Was it a coincidence David Beckham was playing against his former and likely future club and looked more interested performing for the Galaxy Sunday night than he did for half of last season?
I think not.
Beckham created both L.A. goals and indeed during the first half he seemed responsible for virtually every Galaxy attack of note in front of as packed a stadium as I've ever seen at Home Depot Center (but it nevertheless worked out to exactly an announced 27,000 as usual). It was a pleasure to watch, but somehow it felt more than a little calculated.
Beckham played this game and this crowd like the savvy public relations expert he is. The prestigious event against classy European opposition. Buddy Tom Cruise watching from the stands. And a little slice of anti-hero just to add spice.
David Beckham controls the ball against AC Milan defenders Massimo Ambrosini (23) and Mathieu Flamini. (AP Photo).
Beckham even had the obligatory confrontation with the unforgiving Riot Squad just before half time that was suitably provocative and inconsequential enough to bolster, not harm his pseudo-macho image (this is the second game in a row the usually reticent Becks has worn a - gasp- short sleeve soccer jersey that does nothing to hide his tats).
In contrast to what Beckham insisted he yelled at the crowd, one press box colleague related that he was told Becks said a word that starts with "m" and ends with "r" and taunted a fan to come on down and get a piece of him. So the fan did, never made it to the field and got thrown out (but not arrested), according to the Riot Squad message boards.
Notable: Milan Coach Leonardo expressing surprise at the Galaxy tactics given that Beckham was in midfield:
"The first half was very tough for both teams," he said. "The long balls of the Galaxy was a big surprise to us."
Really?
Galaxy 2 AC Milan 2
This game petered out after the two second half goals as one might expect, with AC Milan satisfied to share the spoils and the Galaxy with both Landon Donovan and David Beckham subbed out by game's end never likely to muster enough creativity to score a winner.
The Beckham boos diminished as the night went on and he actually received an ovation from some sections of the stands when subbed in the 71st minute.
I think most fans will say they got their value for money here tonight though - and you can't say that about every Galaxy game this season.
More later.
Galaxy 2 AC Milan 2
(Blogging software issues - apologies).
AC Milan showed how fast it could strike in the 61st minute, half time substitute Filippo Inzaghi finishing off a a deadly move of stunning swiftness and simplicity with a shot from 12 yards out that beat sub Josh Saunders in the net. Ronaldhinho had begun the move, getting the ball out wide to Mathieu Flamini.
The Galaxy equalized four minutes later from a David Beckham corner kick taken from the corner in front of the Riot Squad who appeared to be giving him a bad time again.
Becks' cross found its way through a gaggle of bodies in the box to Bryan Jordan who managed to turn it into the net. Becks gestured to the Riot Squad after the goal, making his point.
Galaxy 1 AC Milan 1
As the first half ended, it appeared a fan in the area near the player's tunnel where the Riot Squad sit were waving a David Beckham jersey at Becks, baiting him, and someone came out of the stands and went after Beckham. Security subdued the fan and took him away.
That silliness aside it was an entertaining first half, proving an MLS team can compete with a top European one - as long as it's the said European powers' first game of the season and they are not playing all their starters.
Galaxy defender Gregg Berhalter may have had the best two looks at the Galaxy goal. An errant 12th minute header from 12 yards out required a good save by Donovan Ricketts to tip it over the bar and a long 40-yard back pass Ricketts mistakenly allowed to bounce in the area went narrowly wide of the goal.
The Galaxy probably should be in front: Eddie Lewis was the target for a pinpoint 60-yard Beckham pass, but managed to pull it wide with a shot from about 18 yards despite plenty of time.
Beckham was booed every time he touched the ball at the outset of the half, but his fans started to cheer at the same time in an effort to compensate.
Still, given what happened just before the break, Beckham still has a ways to go to convince some fans about his commitment to the Galaxy.
BTW, each team managed just one shot apiece on target.
AC Milan were tiring noticeably as the half wore on; expect wholesale changes to start the second.
Galaxy 1 AC Milan 1
The Galaxy have equalized on the half hour with a well-worked move largely created by David Beckham who up until that point was still getting booed every time he touched the ball.
Beckham collected an Omar Gonzalez header from the Galaxy penalty area and sent a long ball from just inside his own half to a lurking Landon Donovan on the far side of the field. Donovan one-timed it across to substitute Alan Gordon who hit it first time into the net from about 12 yards. Beckham's ball completely split the defense leaving defenders Alessandro Nesta and Marek Jankulovski in no man's land.
Buddle left in the 14th minute with what looked like a foot problem.
Galaxy 0 AC Milan 1
AC Milan take the leak through a freakish free kick from 35 yards out when Davide Di Gennaro's ball bounced through the Galaxy penalty area and then appeared to just brush an on-rushing Thiago Silva's head and bounce past a stunned Donovan Rickets into the goal.
Bit of a weird one that.
I'd say the boo to cheer ratio was 60:40 when David Beckham jogged out to warm-up.
The Riot Squad have unveiled some apt signs for the occasion including "Hey Becks! Here before you, here after you, here despite you," "23 Repent" and "Go home fraud 23"
(Updated: It's about 13 minutes before kickoff; the signs are gone, no doubt removed by AEG. Update 2: They're back).
It's thankfully cooling off here in Carson, but it will still be an endurance test for the capacity crowd where full sun remains.
Galaxy XI (4-4-2): Donovan Ricketts, A.J. DeLaGarza, Omar Gonazalez, Gregg Berhalter, Todd Dunivant, Eddie Lewis, David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Stefani Miglioranzi, Edson Buddle, Alecko Eskandarian.
Alan Gordon, Jovan Kirovski and Chris Birchall are among the bench options.
(Updated: Boos mixed with cheers when Beckham was introduced, too).
AC Milan lineup (4-4-2): Zeljko Kalac, Massimo Oddo, Alessandro Nesta, Thiago Silva, Marek Jankulovski, Mathieu Flamini, Massimo Ambrosini, Clarence Seedorf, Davide Di Gennaro, Marco Borriello, Ronaldinho.
Filippo Inzagi is on the bench; Alessandro Nesta, new signing Oguchi Onyewu and Pato are among those missing altogether for Milan.
The game is on FSN.
Revs 2 Chivas USA 0
The Revs' Kheli Dube puts the first New England goal past a helpless Zach Thornton Sunday afternoon. (AP Photo).
Chivas USA (8-6-3) lost their fourth straight Sunday afternoon, going down in New England to two second half goals by Kheli Dube and the evergreen Steve Ralston. Chivas USA have never beaten the Revs in New England.
Next: at Colorado Aug. 8.
One year and three days after breaking her leg in the final U.S. tuneup game before the Olympics, Abby Wambach scored her 100th international goal in the 1-0 U.S. win over Canada Sunday in Rochester, N.Y.
It was Wambach's first U.S. goal since the injury. Forward Lauren Cheney, 21, who replaced Wambach on the Olympic roster, came into the game in the 63rd minute and set up the historic goal 15 minutes later.
From the U.S. Soccer press release:
"Wambach becomes the ninth woman in soccer history to score 100 career international goals, and the fifth American, joining Mia Hamm (158), Kristine Lilly (129), Michelle Akers (105) and Tiffeny Milbrett (100). Wambach's 100th goal comes in just her 129th career match, giving her the best goals-to-games ratio in U.S. history.
Check out the goal and Wambach's reaction here.
Quotable:
"She's been playing better and better," said Coach Pia Sundhage. "You have to remember, she's coming off an injury. She's picking up her game from one game to another and she's improved her game tremendously. She will be important to our team in 2011, I'm telling you that."
Notable: U.S. Captain Christie Rampone missed the game after having emergency abdominal surgery Saturday.
Lineups:
U.S. 18-Nicole Barnhart; 4-Cat Whitehill (2-Heather Mitts, 46), 6-Amy LePeilbet, 21-Rachel Buehler, 17-Lori Chalupny (capt.); 9-Heather O'Reilly (13-Tobin Heath, 75), 16-Angela Hucles, 7-Shannon Boxx, 15-Megan Rapinoe; 8-Amy Rodriguez (19-Lauren Cheney, 63), 20-Abby Wambach
Canada: 1-Karina LeBlanc; 9-Candace Chapman, 2-Emily Zurrer, 7-Rhian Wilkinson (5-Robyn Gayle, 89), 17-Brittany Timko (13-Marie-Eve Nault, 58); 8-Diana Matheson, 4-Kelly Parker (14-Carmelina Moscato, 85), 10-Jodi-Ann Robinson (21-Chelsea Stewart, 46), 15-Kara Lang (3-Gina Pacheco, 80); 16-Jonelle Filigno (6-Kaylyn Kyle, 75), 12-Christine Sinclair (capt.)
The U.S. faces Canada again Wednesday in South Carolina live at 5 p.m. on Fox Soccer Channel.
Landon Donovan metaphorically rolls up his sleeves Saturday after practice at the HDC ahead of tonight's sold out Inter Milan AC Milan game. (AP Photo).
Arrive early this evening for the Galaxy-AC Milan friendly at Home Depot Center that was a condition of the Galaxy extending David Beckham's loan to the Italian club.
The Galaxy, which routinely inflates attendance figures in the 24,500-seat stadium, might actually have to do the opposite tonight to stay within fire code given that they've sold out the grass berm, standing room only seats - everything.
Bet the local residents are thrilled; they had to put up with a near-capacity crowd for a Coldplay concert last night that as usual will likely leave the field in a horrible condition and confirm to the European visitors soccer's lowly status in this country.
Milan arrived at LAX at 5 p.m. Saturday after an 11-hour flight from Italy and immediately headed out to UCLA's Spaulding Field to stretch their legs, according to the club's Web site.
Beckham showed up to welcome his former teammates to Southern California, while Milan Coach Leonardo gave a short interview in which he indicated the club wouldn't be averse to having Becks back.
Of course, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are also rumored to be interested in the England midfielder.
(Manchester City don't want Beckham though - but the club still hasn't given up on Chelsea's John Terry.)
Defender Yohance Marshall has returned from his loan spell to USL Austin and will get some playing time tonight.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.; coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. on FSN. I'll blog from the game as usual.
Also:
* At 3 p.m. on FSN it's Chivas USA-New England Revolution. Both teams need a boost: Chivas USA hasn't won in seven games, the Revs in three MLS contests.
* Chelsea beat the Sounders 2-0 Saturday in Seattle. The English team faces Inter Milan Tuesday at the Rose Bowl.
*Finally, U.S. Women's National Team player Abby Wambach is looking for international goal No. 100 at noon on ESPN against Canada.
When I told my wife about today's soccer schedule, she gave me on of those "so you want to remain married" looks?
No wonder. And this isn't a complete list of televised games, just my picks:
10 a.m. ESPN2 - Houston Dynamo at Toronto FC (the Western Conference leaders visit the Eastern Conference co-leaders;final was 1-1).
Noon ESPN2 - Chelsea at Seattle Sounders (in a game that will see the London EPL team go up against former Arsenal striker Freddie Ljungberg; Chelsea, of course, play in Pasadena Tuesday against Inter Milan).
2 p.m. KMEX - Canada-Honduras Gold Cup quarterfinal (can Canada make a run at the Gold Cup final for the first time since they won the trophy in the rain at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum in 2000?)
5 p.m. Fox Soccer Channel - U.S.-Panama Gold Cup quarterfinal
Good things ease up Sunday:
Noon ESPN - U.S. Women's National Team-Canada
3 p.m. KMEX - Mexico-Haiti Gold Cup quarterfinal
3 p.m. FSN - Chivas USA-New England Revolution
4 p.m. ESPN2 - World Football Challenge, Club America-Inter Milan
7 p.m. FSN - Galaxy-AC Milan (the game at Home Depot center is sold out).
Or not.
Enjoy the weekend.
Oh, and will ya look at Manchester United's mighty Michael Owen.
Crowds have apparently been steadily growing this week at UCLA as word of Inter Milan's presence on campus gets around.
Nice story here from the Daily Bruin about a Thursday scrimmage against a travel team that included the likes of U.S. Under-20 international and Bruins goalkeeper Brian Perk (as well as Kyle Nakazawa of Palos Verdes Estates). And I'm guessing that was Ian Sarachan, son of Galaxy Coach Dave Sarachan, who has been training with the Galaxy in recent months, on the field against the Italians, too.
Here's the Inter Milan version from their official Web site
Inter Milan will practice at 10 a.m. Saturday on campus before heading to the Bay Area to play Club America in a game shown live on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. It's open to the public.
Inter Milan plays Chelsea Tuesday at the Rose Bowl in the World Football Challenge. Chelsea plays at noon Saturday in a friendly against the Seattle Sounders shown on ESPN2.
Earlier: Inter Milan Go Hollywood.
Also: Rivals AC Milan will practice at UCLA at 7 p.m. Saturday at Spaulding Field ahead of Sunday's sold-out game against the Galaxy. I do not know whether it is open to the public. But the following are not on the U.S. tour, according to the club's Web site: Christian Abbiati, Mathias Cardacio, Tabarè Viudez and Matteo Darmian.
Apparently trying to beef up a wimpy midfield, Chivas USA today sent Atiba Harris to Dallas in exchange for midfielder Marcelo Saragosa, who played for the Galaxy from 2004-2006.
Here's a sprawling Saragosa playing against once and former teammate Paulo Nagamura last year in this Daily Breeze file photo.
"Marcelo is a talented and versatile player who gives us several options in midfield," said Chivas USA Coach Preki. "He has a lot of experience in both Brazil and MLS."
Harris, 24, who was slow and possessed a frequently inaccurate shot, was an oft-maligned player in the press box. He lasted 1 1/2 seasons with Chivas USA after coming over from Real Salt Lake making 42 appearances while nabbing five goals and seven assists in the process.
Saragosa, a six-year MLS veteran with the Galaxy and Dallas, has played 94 MLS games and notched two goals and six assists and counts as a domestic player. He's a former teammate of Chivas USA midfielder Paulo Nagamura at Sao Paulo (remember that alleged partnership between the Galaxy and the famed Brazilian club) and the Galaxy. The Brazilian native also has a green card and counts as a domestic player.
Inter Milan unveiled their 2009-2010 season kit that celebrates the centenary of the club's first league title at an invitation-only flashy production Thursday night at Nike Sportswear at The Montalbán in Hollywood.
Photos by Susan Goldman courtesy of Nike
Dejean Stankovic, left, waves to the crowd while Alessandro Mancini, Thiago Motta, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Francesco Toldo look on.
The event apparently included a "blue carpet" arrival by team and a "history of Inter kit runway show."
The new kit will be worn first at the World Football Challenge tournament that includes a game between Inter and Chelsea Tuesday at the Rose Bowl.
From the press release:
The new kit is subtly infused with stories from their glorious past starting with their first win in the 1909-1910 season. Additional inspiration for the uniform was taken from several triumphant periods including the 1965-1966 season when Inter won their tenth Championship thus earning the star that now sits proudly above their club crest.
As the press release reminds us, they are from Italy:
The cut and fit of this new kit reflects the best of Italian tailoring by taking Milan's innate sense of style from the catwalk and boutiques on to the football pitch.
From the this isn't just a soccer kit, it's a "sweat management fabric" department:
The uniform is made with Nike's Dri-FIT fabric, a cross-category and successful versatile, sweat management fabric resulting from years of research and testing. Nike Dri-FIT apparel is designed to keeps players drier, cooler and lighter by drawing sweat from the body to the fabric's surface; the three-dimensional structure creates air space around the skin, reducing clinging and maintaining athletes more comfortable on the field.
New York Red Bulls 1 Galaxy 3
Highlights:
Red Bulls Coach Juan Carlos Osorio should be fired for that wretched performance.
Does he feel embarrassed?
"Yes I do. Yes. I feel sorry. I apologize to the fans. Certainly the scoreline says that. Three-nil. We could at least have scored a goal (in the first half). At that particular time, my responsibilities are more than that. It's just not feeling embarrassed. It's trying to get back in the game and compete. And see if we can score and we did. And, we could have scored a second and it would have looked better that it was."
On the other hand, the Galaxy (6-3-9) did exactly what they should do: quash the worst team (2-14-4) in MLS with their most emphatic victory of the season at a time when criticism of David Beckham hasn't been this intense since he was sent off against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup. The first goal came in just the third minute; all came before the break. This was only half a game, but then, that was all the Galaxy needed.
The Galaxy have now pulled even with Chivas USA in the Western Conference..
Galaxy lineup - Donovan Ricketts, A.J. DeLaGarza, Gregg Berhalter, Omar Gonzalez, Todd Dunivant, Eddie Lewis (Chris Klein 85), David Beckham (Christopher Birchall 70), Stefani Miglioranzi, Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle, Alecko Eskandarian (Mike Magee 74).
AP Photos
Random observations:
*Three MLS Goal of the Week candidates from Alecko Eskandarian, (that's two goals in three Galaxy games now and it was done in front of family and friends; the big grin on the bench after he was subbed said it all) Landon Donovan and Eddie Lewis. You kids at home should note the strength of each shot came not from how hard it was hit, but the way it was hit. Sweet touches all.
*David Beckham had a quietly effective game. Good to see him getting booed. For one thing, it will motivate him; for another he deserves it. And was that Beckham clapping in the Red Bulls fans' direction as he was subbed while they chanted a farewell with a naughty word and collectively extending their middle fingers? Good for him.
*Donovan Ricketts turned in yet another sparkling performance, notably on the stoppage time penalty kick. He is not just perceptive in his positioning, but intelligent and judicious in the balls he attempts to play (covering, yet not making an unnecessarily spectacular save on a shot that would have conceded a corner in the first half, was an example of his excellent decision-making).
*The Galaxy have depth! New signing Chris Burchall, Chris Klein and Mike Magee all came on as subs.
"This is a good squad of players," a shirtless David Beckham told Fox Soccer Channel as a (similarly jerseyless) Landon Donovan looked on after the game. "Not just the starting XI, but there's players that can come on and make an impact. When you've got players like that and when you've got players like Landon and Edson up front and other players we've got that can break through it makes a difference."
Landon Donovan was making nice, too:
"I said last week not many teams get back a world-class player like that in the middle of the season. We knew David was going to help us. We got away from what we weren't good at doing, which was talking and what we are good at doing, which is playing - so it was nice to be playing."
*Omar Gonzalez continues to grow as a defender; did you notice his play during the game? Me neither. That's the mark of an effective defender.
Tweeted Jozy Altidore at around 8:45 p.m.
"Finally back in florida about to home and sleep...what's wrong with my red bulls??? Thanks for the love and support people! Night."
Last word to Beckham:
"I've had a lot more boos before in games, a few tonight, but it's to be expected. It's sometimes nice to get the boos. It gives you some inspiration, especially when we play like we did and win like we did. Then the boos start to go away after a while."
Here are some of Grant Wahl's post-game thoughts on his blog.
What are yours?
That means the expensive seats at the side of the field, the grass berm as well as the standing room only tickets the club put on sale last weekend (the first time I can recall them doing that).
The club made the announcement this afternoon and also announced that the game will be televised on Fox Sports West with coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Guess the furor over David Beckham is good for ticket sales, huh?
This was distributed by the Associated Press. Quite the ripping.
By Ian O'Connor
The Record (Hackensack N.J.)
HOBOKEN, N.J. -- Instead of walking into a news conference wearing his Allen Iverson tattoos and outdated Miami Vice stubble, David Beckham would have looked better in polka-dot pajamas, floppy shoes and a big red nose.
The guy is a clown of the first order.
He arrived two years ago pledging to change the culture of American soccer, and he's had the same impact on the sport that Brian Bosworth had on the American film industry.
Beckham has run nothing more than a shell game, appointing himself an ambassador for U.S. soccer in one breath, and booking his reservations across the pond in the next.
He'll play for the Los Angeles Galaxy in Giants Stadium on Thursday night, provided he doesn't loan himself out to a European superpower between now and then.
And if you're a Red Bulls ticket holder in the habit of jeering the villains of the day, the
A-Rods and Mannys and the like, then you would be well within your rights to let ol' Becks have it.
The Englishman swears he wants to be here.
He wants to be here as much as Ed Whitson wanted to be in the Bronx.
"I am here to play for this team," Beckham said. "I am contracted to play for this team, and at the moment, that's the most important thing to me."
At the moment. It's Beckham's favorite expression, his default position when the subject turns to his commitment, or lack thereof.
"I'm an honest person," he said. "If I didn't want to be here, I wouldn't."
His nose keeps growing longer than the list of perks in his contract.
Beckham signed a deal with the Galaxy reportedly worth up to a quarter-billion dollars, much of it invested in his "It" factor and smile. He was introduced as this generation's Pele, the priceless import who was going to make Americans love their corner kicks as much as they love their monstrous home runs and alley-oop dunks.
Only Pele's generosity of spirit, his pure eagerness to spread the sport's gospel, left him a beloved figure in the States. His Cosmos practically made a home locker room out of Studio 54, but they never lost sight of the mission.
They needed to win games. They needed to fill Giants Stadium. They needed to convince a baseball-football-basketball public that soccer was worthy of its
affection and time.
Beckham? It's clear he always was more interested in growing his brand rather than growing the game. He wanted to go Hollywood, hang with his buddy, Tom Cruise, and get his handsome face on the "Today" show and "Entertainment Tonight."
"If he didn't have this look," Andranik Eskandarian, the former Cosmo, once told me, "maybe nobody would care."
Becks is Anna Kournikova in a jockstrap.
Of more consequence, after two MLS seasons defined by injuries and defeats, Beckham up and quit on his team. He jumped to AC Milan, swore he'd return in March, then tried to wash the Galaxy out of his life for good.
He only returned this month because he had no choice.
"The club offered me a chance to stay on," Beckham said of Milan. "If you asked any player in any league in the world, if given the chance to finish the season and spend a little bit more time with one of the biggest clubs in the world, they wouldn't turn that down."
But what about his ambassadorship to the U.S.?
What about his promises to the Galaxy?
What about his integrity as a man?
What about his plan to loan himself back to Milan next year to prepare for England's World Cup bid, leaving the Galaxy high and dry one more time?
"I'm not going to sit here and say it's ideal or it's perfect," Beckham said, "because at the end of the day it's great for myself. But for the Galaxy and the guys, it's tough when you lose any player."
Especially when that player is your captain.
Beckham wrestled the captaincy away from Landon Donovan, a back-room move that guaranteed the tense standoff to come. In the new book, "The Beckham Experiment," authored by Grant Wahl, Beckham is painted by Donovan as a distant and distracted teammate, an impotent leader, a cheapskate and a slacker.
The English and American stars recently sat down and buried the hatchet in each other's backs.
Donovan isn't sorry about what he said, and deep down he probably isn't sorry he said it for public consumption, either.
He was the only Galaxy player who had the credibility to take the fight to Becks, and surely earned major locker-room points for landing the heavy punches.
As it is, the disconnect between the tycoon and the faceless teammates making less than $13,000 a year won't be helped by Beckham's next disappearing act.
Asked at the W Hotel news conference whether he would go through this again in 2010, Galaxy coach Bruce Arena stumbled and bumbled his way through a non-answer.
The coach can't possibly win this game. When Beckham kept referring to Arena as "the manager," it hardly sounded as endearing as Derek Jeter's references to "Mr. Torre."
Perhaps that's for good reason. Donovan said in Wahl's book that Beckham believes the MLS is "a joke."
No sweat. Right-minded American sports fans think Beckham's a joke, too.
He's got Posh Spice as a wife and Angelina Jolie as a modeling partner, and he's sold a ton of jerseys for the home team. But his arrival in the States hasn't quite matched the Beatles' touchdown at Shea.
Beckham never was the world's best player and, at 34, isn't even close now. He's known as a visionary playmaker with average speed. He's deadly on crossing passes, but he's not much with his left foot, or with his head.
It would be nice if he won a few MLS games for his trouble.
Until then, Beckham can continue to pledge his allegiance to American soccer while he plots his next great escape.
"At the moment, all I'm focusing on is the Galaxy," he said.
At the moment.
Beckham's tired act deserves a title.
To live and lie in L.A.
Briefly:
*New York Red Bulls-Galaxy is at 5 p.m. on Fox Soccer Channel. Game preview.
*Those who prefer youth soccer can check these games out on ESPN Classic live from Home Depot Center.
*Continuing with the theme of televised soccer, FSC has announced it will show live three Liverpool preseason games.
*While we're at it, here's more on these lucrative overseas tours by EPL teams.
*Finally, Sol goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc has been called up by Canada for the two upcoming friendlies against the U.S.. UCLA and Pali Blues midfielder Kara Lang was called up.
Decided to take a break from blogging today, but was - well, perhaps inspired is not the right word - motivated to write something when I saw this headline.
Oh, brother. (Regular readers of my Tuesday column will understand the reference in the headline). This is a case of 'if we say it enough times people will start believing it." The word for this: propaganda.
BTW, did you see the Matt Lauer interview on "The Today Show"with Beckham this morning? My mother called to alert me it was on. Insipid.
Also:
*Several people have e-mailed to ask whether the Inter Milan practices at UCLA ahead of next week's Chelsea game at the Rose Bowl are open to the public.
There are some times when you can't help reverting from journalist to fan.
Meeting and talking to Pele at the opening of Home Depot Center in 2003 courtesy of AEG was one of them; interviewing Zinidene Zidane Saturday in El Segundo via a French language interpreter thanks to adidas was another.
Here's our (brief) interview.
Question: Is it conceivable you could come out of retirement and play for Major League Soccer?
Answer: As of today I would say no. It's true I've had offers since I retired from my career three years ago. And I can assure you I've been tempted by the offers. I took the decision not to return. And maybe in 10 years I might regret it.
Q: What did you think of the U.S. upset of Spain at the Confederations Cup?
A: The U.S. played very well. Spain was maybe a little off. It proves the soccer in the United States is coming to another level.
Q: Do you think there is prejudice against American players in Europe?
A: Yes, I do. I would say here in the United States the game isn't exactly up to par - that it's still a little behind. But things can change in the future. I think there are talented players in the United States. (And here I think the translation completely broke down, but to paraphrase I believe he said "that will change when U.S. National Team players also play for the best European clubs and that was the case when France won the World Cup in 1998). We had all the best players; they were all belonging to the best European teams.
Q: What American player has most impressed you?
A: He's the one who represents soccer in the U.S. - (Landon) Donovan. In fact, he played abroad in Germany, no? I knew him a little bit when he was playing over there.
By NANCY ARMOUR
AP National Writer
Charlize Theron has big plans for the World Cup.
The Academy Award winner's Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project is teaming up with LAFC Chelsea Soccer Club in Los Angeles to build community soccer programs for underprivileged children in South Africa. In addition to soccer fields, uniforms and equipment, kids involved in the program will receive health education and services.
The project will serve schools in South Africa's Umkhanyakude District, an area plagued by ahigh rate of HIV infection. She hopes to have the first fields built by the time the World Cup begins June 11.
"The World Cup is a huge, huge thing for South Africans and for Africa. The pride Africans have of hosting this is tremendous," Theron told The Associated Press. "The question is, how do we generate that into other areas and have more of an impact?"
Theron and LAFC are kicking off their collaboration with Tuesday's exhibition game between England's Chelsea and Italy's Inter Milan at the Rose Bowl. Net proceeds from the match will benefit the program.
Business mogul Don Sheppard started the Los Angeles Futbol Club four years ago after growing concerned that the cost of playing organized soccer was shutting talented kids out of the game. Kids at LAFC Chelsea play regardless of their financial means. The club provides coaching and help with schoolwork.
As LAFC grew, Sheppard began looking for ways he expand the effort overseas. An orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya, now has a soccer field. He sent soccer balls to kids in Rwanda.
"The issue isn't the game, but what comes with it. It's called discipline, hard work,
commitment, values, access to education, access to the right messages, access to role models," Sheppard said.
Theron's Africa Outreach Project, meanwhile, has helped bring mobile health units to rural Umkhanyakude, about 200 miles northeast of Durban.
Children in the district have an almost 50 percent chance of being infected with HIV in their lifetime and health services are limited, at best. With the mobile clinics, high schoolers have monthly access to nurses and counselors, education classes designed to prevent HIV and programs that teach basic computer skills. There are now three mobile clinics in the district, serving 10,000 students.
"When you give just a few of these normal things we have at our beck and call every day to a community, they want to take that knowledge and make it their own," said Theron, a native of South Africa who won an Oscar for her role in "Monster".
Sheppard and Lorrie Fair, a member of the U.S. women's team that won the 1999 World Cup, will travel to Africa next month to meet with local leaders and scout out possible locations for the field.
"The World Cup is literally just a start," Sheppard said. In five years, "what I'm hoping is
there will be a sustainable program run by locals that will just keep building on itself."
AP Photos
I'm a mite late with this I know (blame Beckham), but I did want to acknowledge the visit to the White House Monday by the MLS champion Columbus Crew.
Among those attending were Sigi Schmid, last year's MLS Coach of the Year when he was with the Crew, and a long-time Torrance resident (he still owns a place in Manhattan Beach while coaching the Sounders), as well as midfielder Robbie Rogers, who grew up in Rolling Hills Estates. (And so as not to miss any locals Riverside's Chad Marshall, last year's Defender of the Year, was also there).
BTW, that's Schmid and Rogers standing just behind the President.
Good to see MLS getting a little recognition from the Obama administration.
Wonder how awkward that was for Schmid considering his somewhat acrimonious departure from the Crew?
Here's the complete text of the President's remarks at the event.
Photo by Brad Graverson
This blog began two years ago, almost to the day David Beckham came to Southern California and the Galaxy.
So it was appropriate I should mark the anniversary Saturday standing on a sweltering El Segundo field dripping sweat awaiting the arrival of his Beckhamness (and, more significantly, the incomparable Zinedine Zidane).
The torrid media circus continued Monday, too, with Beckham's first official Galaxy practice this season.
What's left of the year must be very different than what we've seen so far from Beckham.
I spell it out in today's column.
Updated:
Given the title of this post I should acknowledge the book of the same name that's officially released today written by Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl, arguably the best soccer writer in the nation (I know the San Diego Union-Tribune's similarly excellent Mark Ziegler might argue that point, for instance).
I sat down Sunday night to read the book and finished Monday just as I was preparing to write today's column.
It's a good read, as we say in the business, and clicks right along. In fact, it gets better as it progresses, since Wahl early on has to explain about American soccer and Beckham for the non-soccer fan and things do get a little bogged down for those of us who are first and foremost fans of the sport. In fact, that's the most annoying aspect of the book (at one point Wahl explains the beauty and significance of a bicycle kick, for example), but it's also understandable given soccer's relatively small audience).
Its central theme - that there was no on the field leadership and no one knew just who was in charge of what off it either - isn't particularly surprising to anyone who has followed the Galaxy and Beckham soap opera the last couple of years.
It's the details that are most interesting, for example, the role Beckham's personal manager Terry Byrne (and best friend, although how many people have their "best friend" on their payroll, too?) played in the whole circus. (And who knew Joe Cannon's dad was a Vegas lounge singer?).
Most striking to me though, especially in the wake of recent revelations about Michael Jackson, was the bubble Beckham also lives in and has created for himself.
That enables him to say things like "I never wanted to leave MLS and the Galaxy for good" and actually believe it. Beckham may never have uttered those words publicly, but it's clear that's what he and his advisers wanted.
Similarly, I'm sure he believes he's "committed" to MLS, even though his actions more than suggest otherwise.
Nuggets in the book include AEG President Leiweike understanding how "make or break" this season is, despite Beckham's disclosure Monday that he doesn't see this year the same way (there's that bubble thing again).
Full disclosure: I'm not in the book, although several questions I asked at press conferences were, including Beckham's now infamous response to one (at least among the very small group of reporters that regularly follow the Galaxy): "You always ask negative questions."
My favorite part is actually really trivial: the way Wahl describes Galaxy striker Alan Gordon:
"Gordo, as his teammates called him, may have been making only $30,870 a year compared to Beckham's $6.5 million, but he wasn't starstruck by anyone in Los Angeles, and his own good looks - flowing dark hair, chiseled jaw, deep SoCal tan - combined with a subversive sense of humor helped him to pull in men and women alike."
Men and women alike? Hmmm.
Does that tell me more about Gordo than I wanted to know or more about Wahl?
Anyway, check out the book. I recommend it.
Update II
Almost forgot.
I wasn't the only person to enjoy the book; so did the Commish, who finished reading it on the plane on his Kindle just before chatting with reporters Saturday. He quoted the old adage about there being no such thing as bad publicity for MLS and observed there's not been too many books written about the league (actually, I think it may be the first).
"I thought it was a fair articulation of what's been going on the past couple of years," Don Garber said. "I'm not embarrassed about it at all. ... It talks about what happened without making judgments, without sensationalizing."
AP Photo
Or so they said after David Beckham's first official Galaxy training session Monday morning since his return from Europe.
"It's over," said David Beckham, who said he had sat down with Donovan and Coach Bruce Arena to hash things out. Donovan, the only Galaxy (or Chivas USA) player named to the MLS All-Star team today for the July 29 game against Everton, had questioned Beckham's commitment and leadership in the forthcoming book "The Beckham Experiment."
That was about it in the way of news today, although in truth there is no way to know if that's true. Shall we assume the body language in this shot is just a coincidence?
"It's an awkward situation," said Cobi Jones, Galaxy assistant coach. "It has been handled by the players very well. The overall mood in the locker room is very good.
"We're looking forward to see what else comes of this," he added. "Hopefully, nothing negative."
Hopefully.
I'll have more in Tuesday's column.
After watching the Chivas USA-Galaxy game, I have just one question: I wonder what Zinedine Zidane thought of MLS?
It was not, as Galaxy Coach Dave Sarachan conceded, "beautiful soccer."
Photos by Sean Hiller
Bonus quotes:
Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena on the team's third consecutive one goal win:
"Our guys had the right mentality. ... Winning 1-0 in this sport is important and we're learning to do that. ... The pieces are coming together a little bit better."
Chivas USA's Preki succinct assessment:
"We didn't have enough movement up top and we didn't create enough chances. ... I don't really think they were better than us. It was an even game and one play decided the game.""
Preki on the disappointing Sacha Kljestan:
"We expected a little bit more of him."
On the need for reinforcements up front:
"We're looking."
Landon Donovan, Maykel Galindo and Gregg Berhalter: still life. 
BTW, former Red Bulls goalkeeper Jon Conway has begun training with Chivas USA.
Chivas USA 0 Galaxy 1
These two teams' seasons are heading in opposite directions.
The Galaxy have now reeled off three straight 1-0 wins; Chivas USA have lost three straight.
That's going to happen when your best chance on goal was a sliced deflection by the Galaxy's Mike Magee of a Chivas USA shot that required a fine save by Josh Saunders in the 60th minute.
This is minimalist soccer by the Galaxy, too, who are doing just enough to win, but frankly I'm sure Coach Bruce Arena won't care.
Chivas USA were impotent more than the Galaxy were, um, studly shall we say.
But the Galaxy are steadily closing the gap on Chivas USA and now trail them by just three points.
BTW, the 23,409 on hand was Chivas USA's biggest crowd of the season.
More later.
Chivas 0 Galaxy 1
The stat of note at the half: not a single shot for Chivas USA and nine for the Galaxy.
Which pretty much tells you all you need to know about the game at this point.
Eduardo Lillingston is in for Bojan Stepanopvic, who has a slight quad strain, to start the second half.
Chivas USA 0 Galaxy 1
Edson Buddle out jumped two Chivas USA defenders to get a head on an A.J. DeLagarza cross from about 12 yards out to put the Galaxy one up in the 31st minute. That's Buddle's third goal in seven starts this season.
Loud crowd tonight, BTW, even if the game is not sold out.
David Beckham returned to Southern California Friday, but after making an appearance in El Segundo today with former Real Madrid teammate Zinedine Zidane will watch from the AEG suite.
That means the Galaxy make just one change to the unit that beat New England 1-0 last time out with Landon Donovan returning from national team duty to take his usual spot in midfield at the exprense of Eddie Lewis.
Galaxy XI: Josh Saunders, A.J. DeLagarza, Gregg Berhalter, Omar Gonzalez, Todd Dunivant, Jovan Kirovski, Mike Magee, Stefani Miglioranzi, Donovan, Edson Buddle, Alecko Eskandarian.
Chivas USA switch things around a little more as Preki attempts to get their season back on track after just one win in their last six MLS games.
Former Galaxy man Sasha Victorine replaces Mariano Trujillo (who is coming back from injury and may not be good to go a full 90 minutes) at right back, while Sacha Kljestan returns in midfield. His presence dislodges Atiba Harris from midfield, who moves into attack in place of Eduardo Lillingston, who is on the bench.
Chivas USA lineup: Zach Thornton, Victorine, Jonathan Bornstein, Ante Jazic, Carey Talley, Kljestan, Jesse Marsch, Paulo Nagamura, Bojan Stepanovic, Maykel Galindo, Atiba Harris.
The game is on Fox Soccer Channel.
It was a promotional event for adidas, community outreach initiative MLS W.O.R.K.S. and FieldTurf to announce "Footprint Fields," a program to develop new fields in urban areas.
While the one in El Segundo was not part of the program, five fields similar to that one either are or soon will be built, including one in Inglewood.
I got a short exclusive interview with Zidane that I'll post in the next day or so.
I'm heading to the Galaxy-Chivas USA game so I don't have time to transcribe what the unusually candid and chatty Beckham told the crew of reporters on hand either, but here's the shorthand version:
*Landon Donovan was "unprofessional" for criticizing him in the forthcoming book "The Beckham Experiment and he intends to have a chat with him about that.
*He doesn't plan to read the book.
*He did not insist upon being made captain upon coming to the Galaxy, as the book contended.
*He did not have any say in the hiring of Ruud Gullitt, as Galaxy coach, although apparently "suggestions" were made to AEG about potential candidates. (Hmmm).
*He does not regret coming to MLS and iintends to see out his full five-year contract with the league, although he hopes to temporarily head back to AC Milan after this season to improve his chances of making the England 2010 World Cup team.
(Updated: Here's more from today's event.)
I'll have more from the interview later, too.
This is a derby that has a way to go.
Still, let the trash talking start now.
BTW, you didn't hear it here, but there's a sorta secret event at 2 p.m. in El Segundo today.
Chivas USA made some player personnel moves Friday ahead of Saturday's derby against the Galaxy in Carson.
To wit:
*Defender Bobby Burling was removed from the disabled list. Burling, 24, went on the DL after undergoing sports hernia surgery March 5, less than two weeks before Chivas USA's season opener.
*Defender Claudio Suárez was added to the DL. Suárez, 40, suffered a right calf strain June 27 in Chivas USA's 1-1 draw with Mexican club San Luis; he'll now miss a minimum of six MLS games.
*Newly-acquired Canadian defender Kevin Harmse has received the necessary visas and could make his Chivas USA debut against his former team.
*In addition, former Mexican international Suárez and St. Kitts native Atiba Harris have received their green cards and are now considered "domestic" players by MLS.
Tickets start at $15 for the 8 p.m. game.
Without kicking a ball Thursday night thanks to the chaotic Mexico-Panama game.
Check out the "action" here including the stupidity of Mexican Coach Javier Aguirre at the end of the highlights:
Canada also went through as did Guadeloupe, which beat Nicaragua 2-0 in the first game of the night.
The U.S. plays Haiti at 4 p.m. Saturday on Fox Soccer Channel.
Full disclosure: I was not at the Home Depot Center event.
But, hey, I was busy.
Usually, these press conferences are pretty dull affairs anyway, but today Los Alamitos' Jonny Bornstein got in some good digs at U.S. national teammate Landon Donovan and former Chivas USA teammate Alecko Eskandarian.
Watch:
Chivas USA (8-4-3, 27 pts.) and the Galaxy (4-3-9, 21 pts.) face off at 8 p.m. Saturday at the HDC. Tickets start at $15. Call 1-877-CHIVAS-1.
Briefly:
*U.S international Jozy Altidore will sign autographs and take pictures with fans from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the adidas Sports Performance store on the Third Street Promenade. The address is 1231 Third Street Promenade. There's adidas product giveaways, too.
*Pasadena City College product Yura Movsisyan spoke publicly for the first time Wednesday about his pending move from Real Salt Lake to a club in Denmark.
*Finally, will Chelsea's John Terry join Manchester City before his current club plays at the Rose Bowl later this month? Find out goalkeeper Petr Cech's opinion here.
Photos by Steve McCrank
Second in WPS beat first today as the Sol succumbed to St. Louis Athletica 1-0 at Home Depot Center in a rare noon midweek start.
Still, the Sol remain in first in WPS place with an 11-2-4 record good for 37 points; the Athletica are second with 23 points and a 7-5-2 record.
Sol Coach Abner Rogers:
"We sneaked a win in St. Louis, when I felt they were better and it was reversed today. I felt that we were, definitely in the second half, the better team than them, created a lot of opportunities and several looks at goals and it just came down to (a lack of) finishing, something we've actually been good at."
Torrance's Shannon Boxx on her attacks late in the game:
"He was like 'stay up front.' I was like 'OK I have no idea what I'm doing, but OK.'"
BTW, I bumped into the parents of recent Sol signing Lyndsey Patterson, who was making her professional debut. Her mom filmed the occasion and was justifiably proud. Said Patterson:
"I had no clue what the game would hold for me today. I bet my dad had tears in his eyes. I was nervous, but excited. ... It's been my dream since I was nine. ... I can't believe it. I just ran as hard as I could."
I wrote a feature story for the Daily Breeze about the unusual kickoff time and its unique audience. Read it here.
Aya Miyama:
Updated Noon Thursday:
Canadian international defender Sharolta Nonen is apparently the replacement for Christie Shaner, whose leg was broken on her Sol debut last week.
W-League team FC Indiana saluted Nonen Thursday when she played her final game for the club in a 4-0 win over Kalamazoo berore heading to Southern California, club officials said. No confirmation from the Sol yet.
After Landon Donovan's well-publicized ripping of David Beckham in the forthcoming book The Beckham Experiment and Chris Klein's subsequent
plea for clear the air talks, Donovan today also suggested that a little chat between himself and Beckham was in order, too.
Beckham is supposedly back with the Galaxy next week.
Sol 0 Athletica 1
No league title for the Sol today. It was only the Sol's second loss this season; their record falls to 11-1-4 although they remain streets ahead of the rest of the league in terms of points.
The Sol dominated the second half, but could not get the ball past Athletica goalkeeper Hope Solo who produced several fine saves.
Marta pounded the ground in frustration after setting up Aya Miyama at one point, Miyama herself flubbed a breakaway when she had only the goalkeeper to beat and Torrance's Shannon Boxx sent a shot over the bar in the 87th minute to complete the Sol's day of futility.
Announced attendance: 4,841
More later.
The Sol are still trailing 1-0 in the 59th minute.
But the Sol, which played in a conventional 4-4-2 to start the game, came out after half time in what looked like a 3-6-1, with Marta up top. A colleague noted it was the first time he'd seen that formation since Steve Sampson used it against Austria just before the 1998 World Cup.
Defender Katie Larkin and the ineffective Han Duan were pulled at the half for Aly Wagner and Liz Bogus, BTW.
Athletica just scored in the 11th minute when Eniola Aluko got behind the Sol defense and pulled the ball back to an unmarked Amanda Cinalli.
Remember, the Sol can capture the regular season title with a win today.
I got a late start blogging because I'm running around for a light feature for Thursday's Daily Breeze talking to moms, their daughters - and nuns if you can believe it. Yes, nuns.
I'll keep updating as best I can between interviews.
The Sol starting XI: Karina LeBlanc, Manya Makoski, Stephanie Cox, Brittany Bock, Katie Larkin, Shannon Boxx, Camille Abily, Aya Miyama, McCall Zerboni, Han Duan, Marta.
We're in the 17th minute, BTW.
His name has been up on a locker in the Galaxy dressing room for weeks.
He's given a farewell interview to his local newspaper in England.
And today the Galaxy announced the 25-year-old Trinidad and Tobago midfielder would join the club effective July 15, the day the transfer window reopens. He will be eligible to play the next day against New York, which is also the first game back for David Beckham with the Galaxy.
"Chris is a player that I've tracked for a number of years," Galaxy General Manager and Coach Bruce Arena said. "He is an experienced midfielder with good qualities on both sides of the ball who I feel he will be able to contribute immediately as we push for a playoff position."
No word on who will be released to make room on the roster for Birchall.
From the (edited) Galaxy press release:
Prior to joining the Galaxy, Birchall had spent his entire club career in the England with the exception of a short loan stint in Scotland during the 2007/08 campaign. Born in Stafford , England , Birchall began his club career with Port Vale, playing nearly 80 league games. He made his debut for the club during the 2001/02 season and spent five seasons at Vale Park before being sold to Coventry City in August 2006.Birchall went on to score twice in nearly 30 games during his time with Coventry City, while also enjoying loan spells with St. Mirren in Scotland and Carlisle United. In January 2009, Birchall signed a contact through the end of the season with Brighton & Hove Albion of England's League One. He helped the club avoid relegation, playing in nine games in the midfield as Brighton finished three points clear of relegation to League Two.
An established international, Birchall has appeared 32 times for Trinidad and Tobago , scoring four times. Eligible to play for the country as his mother was born there, Birchall helped T&T reach the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, the country's first-ever appearance in the tournament. He scored in a 1-1 draw with Bahrain in the first leg of the two nation's World Cup Qualifying playoff in November 2005. The Soca Warriors won the second leg 1-0 to book their spot at the World Cup.
Birchall played in all three of his country's games at the tournament, starting and playing the full 90 minutes in each. This year, he has played in four of Trinidad & Tobago's five CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, starting three of the matches.
If approved, financed and built it will be called South Coast Soccer City.
I'm told it will look very similar to the picture that accompanies the story.
The usual crew of anonymous bigots has hijacked the comment section at the bottom of the story, so allow me to clarify one thing: no taxpayer money is involved.
This is an ambitious venture and some folks I've talked to worry those involved may be reaching a little too far. Nevertheless, given the demand for fields in the greater L.A. region, there should be plenty of interest from varying demographic groups (and yes, to answer another question I received via e-mail, there will be adult leagues for men).
Frankly, I've barely played soccer since moving to Torrance from Ventura, so I'm looking forward to this, too, assuming it gets off the ground (the backers declined to tell me how much they're spending on this and I have the impression they still may be looking for investors).
The backers understand the risks involved, BTW. Kevin Gilmore observed that because this is the first purpose-built facility of its type they know of "therein lies the challenge and the opportunity."
BTW, I was told it will cost about $550 per team for an eight-week season, which isn't bad split up between 8-10 people. And no, you can't sign up yet.
The proposal calls for seven fields: three 49 feet by 90 feet fields, one 60 feet by 120 feet, one 60 feet by 120 feet field (the size required for international play) and two 40 feet by 90 feet field turf arenas.
A few futsal facts (culled from the project's overview):
*Futsal is not played with walls like traditional indoor soccer in the U.S. and therefore is considered the best way outdoor soccer players can train indoors "to refine and maintain their control, skill and touch."
*Futsal is considered one of the fastest growing indoor sports in the world and is played by 12 million people worldwide, including 70,000 in the U.S.
*"In futsal you need to think quick and play quick so it's easier for you when you move to normal football," said Pele.
Updated: It was approved by the Planning Commission.
It's soccer moms and daughters day in Carson with the unusual kick off at noon at Home Depot Center.
If the 11-1-4 Sol win today against the the 6-5-2 St. Louis Athletica they will host the WPS final Aug. 22.
With five weeks left in the WPS regular season, the Los Angeles Sol have opened up a 17-point lead in the WPS standings. Only the second-place Saint Louis Athletica and third-place Boston Breakers having any mathematical chance at overtaking the Sol in the table.
This sums it up:
Today's match marks the 10th and final home game of the regular season for the Sol. They have won their last three home games and have a 7-0-2 record at The Home Depot Center. The Sol is the only team in the league to be undefeated at home.
Updated 12:50 a.m.: Sol GM Chalie Naimo just twteted - "looks like we found the player we will add.. stay tuned, she will be a versatile impact player. HUGE opportunity for Sol Weds noon v STL.'
A few items to pass along:
*The club announced today it will open the Home Depot Center's upper deck, which it customarily doesn't need to accommodate the smallish crowds that average 15,312 this season, for Saturday's SuperClasico against the Galaxy. Those seats have an excellent view, BTW, if you've never sat up there (think the luxury suite views on the opposite side of the stadium without the expensive prices).
The club said it has a "limited" number of seats up there for parties of four or more fans starting at $15. Call 877-CHIVAS-1.
From the club:
"Due to expected heavy traffic on gameday, fans and media members are encouraged to arrive early to Saturday's match, which kicks off at 8:00 p.m."
That just means don't show up at 7:45 p.m. and expect to drive right in as is often the case.
Chivas USA (8-4-3) are winless in their last six games in all competitions as their punishing schedule begins to catch up with them; currently lying second in the Western Conference, they are just six points ahead of the 4-3-9 Galaxy, who come into the game with two consecutive MLS wins under their belts for the first time this season.
*Defender Shavar Thomas will apparently miss the game (although Chivas USA didn't say so in their press release) after getting called up by Jamaica today. He'll join the squad after his homeland's game Wednesday against Costa Rica; Jamaica play Friday in Miami against El Salvador.
*The latest Chivas USA injury list ahead of the derby:
OUT: DF Bobby Burling (sports hernia surgery); GK Dan Kennedy (R knee surgery); FW Ante Razov (R ankle surgery); DF Claudio Suárez (R calf strain); DF Lawson Vaughn (L ankle surgery); MF Cesar Zamora (L hamstring strain)
QUESTIONABLE: FW Justin Braun (concussion)
PROBABLE: DF Ante Jazic (L hamstring strain); MF Mariano Trujillo (L hamstring strain)
*Here's where the Galaxy stands on the same front:
OUT: DF Sean Franklin (R hamstring surgery); DF Julian Valentin (R foot fracture)
QUESTIONABLE: FW Alan Gordon (L calf strain); MF Yohance Marshall (back spasm); MF Dema Kovalenko (L calf contusion)
*Chivas USA has changed its Web page URL (and look of the site). Click here for the new version.
A look at Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, Chivas USA's Zach Thornton and the Sol's Karina LeBlanc.
BTW, the Sol can wrap up the WPS regular season title with a win Wednesday over St. Louis in their final regular season home game at noon at Home Depot Center.
Monday leftovers:
*The Galaxy's Chris Klein doesn't want David Beckham to, y'know, take things out of context. I say go out to a bar and have Becks pick up the tab (don't overlook the comments on the story).
Lawndale's Kei Kamara and his MJ tribute. (I'm sure it's on YouTube, but that site is down for maintenance right now).
And Mexico found a nation they could beat on a soccer field.
The current and former teams of midfielder Anton Peterlin - the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Mustangs, the Ventura County Fusion of the Premier Development League - and now England's Everton.
"I'm not sure how often such miracles happen, but I will not squander this opportunity," he told the Liverpool Echo.
He's 22-years-old.
It helps to have Danish-Slovenian parents and hold an EU passport, but still.
What they're saying in Liverpool.
The scorecard for the Washington Freedom's Abby Wambach this season: 13 games, three goals - and two challenges that led to season-ending injuries to both opponents.
Wambach, who earlier this season received a one-game suspension in the wake of the May 3 game against St. Louis Athletica after an 80th minute tackle that left Brazilian star Daniela with two unspecified knee ligaments and a cracked tibia, was also involved in a tackle Sunday that left Sol defender Christie Shaner with a broken leg.
From the (edited) Sol press release:
Shaner is undergoing surgery today in the Washington D.C. area to repair a mid-shaft tibia/fibula fracture that she suffered in a collision with the Washington Freedom's Abby Wambach in the Sol's 1-0 victory on Sunday afternoon.Shaner and Wambach collided as both made an effort to control a loose ball in the penalty area nearly five minutes into the second half. The match was Shaner's first in a Sol uniform after being acquired early last week in a trade with Sky Blue FC (NJ/NY).
The 24-year-old native of Ambler, Pennsylvania is scheduled for surgery at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville, Maryland. Dr. Steven Tuck of Shady Grove Orthopaedic Associates will perform the procedure. The timetable for recovery is unknown at this time.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Christie," said Los Angeles Sol General Manager Charlie Naimo. "She is a great person and was set to make a big contribution to the Sol this season."
After the surgery, Shaner will be driven home to Ambler before recovering enough to rejoin her Sol teammates in Los Angeles.
The Sol wraps up its home schedule at noon Wednesday against Athletica at Home Depot Center. A Sol win clinches the regular season title and ensures the club hosts the WPS Championship Aug. 22 in Carson.
Meanwhile Wambach, Sol defender Stephanie Cox and Sol midfielder Shannon Boxx are among the 21 players called in today by U.S. Women's National Team Coach Pia Sundhage for two matches against Canada July 19 and 22. Sol goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc, who leads WPS with 11 shutouts, has also been called in to the Canadian squad for the games.
BTW, Wambach who herself returned to action this season after suffering a broken leg, will seek international goal No. 100 in the games. She currently has 99 international goals in 128 games.
Why is U.S. Soccer scheduling meaningless international friendlies while the WPS struggles to attract crowds to regular season games absent some of its biggest stars? Besides which the two nations have already met once this year with the U.S. winning 4-0.
Here's the full U.S. squad:
Goalkeepers - Nicole Barnhart (FC Gold Pride), Hope Solo (St. Louis Athletica)
Defenders - Rachel Buehler (FC Gold Pride), Stephanie Cox (Los Angeles Sol), Lori Chalupny (St. Louis Athletica), Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), Heather Mitts (Boston Breakers), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Cat Whitehill (Washington Freedom)
Midfielders - Shannon Boxx (Los Angeles Sol), Tobin Heath (North Carolina), Angela Hucles (Boston Breakers), Carli Lloyd (Chicago Red Stars), Christine Nairn (Penn State), Heather O'Reilly (Sky Blue FC), Leslie Osborne (FC Gold Pride), Megan Rapinoe (Chicago Red Stars), Lindsay Tarpley (Chicago Red Stars)
Forwards - Lauren Cheney (UCLA), Amy Rodriguez (Boston Breakers), Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom)
Washington Freedom 0 Sol 1
Sol XI: Karina LeBlanc; Stephanie Cox, Brittany Bock, Christie Shaner (Manya Makoski, 52'), Shannon Boxx ©, Camille Abily, Aya Miyama, Katie Larkin, McCall Zerboni, Han Duan, Marta.
Highlights:
Sol (10-1-4) at Washington Freedom (4-4-4) live at 3 p.m. on Sox Soccer Channel.
Meanwhile, Daily Breeze reporter Gene Maddaus followed up on his report of the crackdown on bacon-wrapped hot dog vendors at Home Depot Center with this update today.
A young Revolution without six regulars, victims of their marathon schedule, and fielding a team with no outfield player older than 26, fell 1-0 to the Galaxy Saturday on a goal by debutant Alecko Eskandarian. It was the Galaxy's second consecutive home one goal win.
Quotable: "To get these last two wins at home are very important," said Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena. "It helps us move up the ladder a little bit, and position our team to be competitive for hopefully, a playoff run in the second half of the season."
Here's a little more from Eskandarian, who because he's such a nice guy is a popular player among the press:
On his debut for the Galaxy -
"It's always interesting when you go from one rival to another, but I've known so many of these guys from prior teams or national teams so it was very easy for me to come in and integrate with the squad."
On his goal -
"We've got some very good crossers of the ball with this team so as a forward you just want to make runs and get on the end of them. Todd (Dunivant) served up a great ball and I had to finish it because it was such a great ball."I think me and Edson (Buddle) were doing well making runs because I felt we were losing them pretty often."
AP Photo
Rolling Hills Estates' Robbie Rogers' Saturday included a second U.S. appearance, two assists, a goal and the Man of the Match award in a 4-0 rout of Grenada in its Gold Cup opener in Seattle.
Cool, patient approach work by Rogers' to create Freddy Adu's opener and appropriately selfish on his goal, too.
Quotable:
"We had a great team effort tonight," said Rogers. "The chemistry was really good, and we were able to create a lot of chances. For us, it is a fantastic way to start the Gold Cup, and at the same time we know it is only the beginning."
Highlights:
Galaxy 1 Revs 0
The lowest ever Galaxy crowd for a July 4 game in club history - 20,609 - watched the now 4-3-9 Galaxy notch a second consecutive 1-0 home victory with their defeat of the 4-5-4 Revs.
This rather undistinguished game took until the final eight minutes or so of second half regulation time to approach the excitement of Alecko Eskandarian's eighth minute goal in his first game for the club after signing him from Chivas USA Wednesday.
The last minutes of the game saw the Galaxy almost give up a penalty when A.J. DeLaGarza looked to have impeded Nico Colaluca, require the most spectacular Josh Saunders save of the night to ward off an equalizer and nearly had substitute Chris Klein notch a second with a far post header from just five yards in the 82nd minute.
More later.
Galaxy 1 Revolution 0
When you move - you score.
Alecko Eskandarian, making his Galaxy debut because of the pre-game injury to Alan Gordon, scored 7:52 into his career with his new club, side footing a Todd Dunivant long ball into the net from eight yards. Two Revs defenders inexplicably let Esky go and paid the price.
Edson Buddle was the last Galaxy player to score on his debut in June 2007.
Lovely cool evening here at Home Depot Center and throughout the South Bay, which is maybe one reason why Landon Donovan is barbecuing on the beach ill and has stayed at his Manhattan Beach home this evening. Maybe he has Beckhamitis?
That means the same XI for Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena that dispatched MLS leaders the Houston Dynamo last time out aside from goalkeeper Josh Saunders who replaces the Gold Cupping-Donovan Ricketts.
The Galaxy's starting lineup (4-4-2): Josh Saunders, A.J. DeLaGarza, Gregg Berhalter, Omar Gonzalez, Todd Dunivant, Jovan Kirovsk, Mike Magee, Stefani Miglioranzi, Eddie Lewis, Edson Buddle, Alan Gordon.
Alecko Eskandarian is on the bench alongside Chris Klein and Dema Kovalenko.
Late update: Gordon injured himself warming up (left calf strain); Eskandarian will start. Kyle Patterson is has now been added to the bench.
The Revs are without the concussion-prone Taylor Twellman; former Galaxy goalkeeper Matt Reis is in the net.
The game is on Fox Soccer Channel.
Galaxy games on the Fourth of July are one of Southern California's newest Independence Day traditions (if that makes any sort of sense) and I have been to virtually all of them since the first game in 1996, a 1-0 loss to the New England Revolution before almost 63,000 at the Rose Bowl.
Games in Pasadena used to be something of an endurance test for fans. Tens of thousands used to descend on the area just to watch the fireworks from the golf course next to the stadium and BBQ, in addition to the soccer fans heading to what was invariably one of the best-attended games of the season, so early arrival in the sweltering heat was essential. Then you'd have to wait an hour or more to leave after the fireworks display as vehicles clogged Pasadena's winding residential residential streets, turning a long drive home to Ventura (where I lived at the time) even longer.
Games in Carson at the 27,000 capacity Home Depot Center are considerably cooler and less crowded. Indeed, for a couple of years there before the arrival of David Beckham the Galaxy weren't even selling out the game.
That's likely to be true again this year with tickets beginning at $14 apparently still available (call 1-877-3GALAXY). That's a far cry from last year when the Galaxy began selling $32 tickets on the grass berm the Tuesday before the game.
This year the opposition again is the aptly named New England Revolution who have now met the Galaxy six times on Independence Day. The Revs haven't lost to the Galaxy in five years though, including the last three meetings in Carson.
Last year's game had sadly familiar overtones with former goalkeeper Steve Cronin failing to hold a shot to allow the first goal and former defender Abel Xavier failing to mark an opponent to allow the second. Soon to be former Galaxy midfielder David Beckham marked his ninth wedding anniversary by scoring the solitary Galaxy goal in reply.
If that seems like a long time ago now then consider: last year at this time Galaxy fans were eagerly awaiting the arrival of Argentine defender Eduardo Dominguez in mid-month in hopes he would shore up the defense.
Instead, the Revs game marked the third in a row without a win for the Galaxy - a streak that eventually reached a club record 12 and led to the sacking of Ruud Gullit.
This year could be different for the Galaxy. After last weekend's unexpected victory over league leaders Houston, the 3-3-9 Galaxy should sense another opportunity awaits against an injury-ravaged New England team that is 4-4-4 and playing its fifth game in 14 days.
This year could see the Galaxy debut of former Chivas USA forward Alecko Eskandarian, while the Revs counter with their own new signing in Lithuanian forward Edgaras Jankauskas.
Goalkeeper Josh Saunders will apparently start for the Galaxy tonight since regular starter Donovan Ricketts was otherwise engaged with Jamaica last night. But Landon Donovan has returned from national team duty.
Here's a preview from a Boston perspective.
I plan to blog and Twitter from the game
A programming note: those staying at home and watching the game at 8 p.m. on Fox Soccer Channel should note the U.S. opens Gold Cup play against mighty Grenada at 6 p.m. on the same channel.
Whatever Independence Day tradition you observe today, enjoy the holiday.
Carson code enforcement officer Glenn Miller confiscates the food - but not the cart - of a bacon-wrapped hot dog vendor outside last weekend's Chivas USA SuperLiga game. Authorities plan to crack down again tonight.
Daily Breeze photos by Sean Hiller
The tentacles of Los Angeles-based Anshutz Entertainment Group extend throughout not only Southern California pop culture and civic life, but around the globe to include such figures as dead pop icon Michael Jackson and nominal Galaxy midfielder David Beckham.
But AEG, always it seems unnecessarily heavy-handed given their increasingly powerful and visible corporate profile, are now going after bacon-wrapped hot dog vendors at tonight's Gold Cup doubleheader at Home Depot Center.
It's always more about money than astute public relations for AEG who should think about improving the quality of the food and service inside the stadium.
Even better: AEG should try legitimizing some of these carts by providing the required access to running water and restrooms and slapping on an extra 75 cent charge rather than give their (over) paying customers another reason to gripe about bad sports teams, price gouging and plastic public realms like L.A. Live.
Soccer fan Oscar Rodriguez is a bacon-wrapped hot dog devotee.
And so is former Daily Breeze food critic Chris Cognac:
Look, the Gold Cup is just another crap tournament (see SuperLiga) clogging up the soccer calendar designed to extract cash from fans' pockets.
It's played too often (let's see it only every four years, please). Some teams, like the U.S., are fielding their B teams. And some players, such as Canadian international Dwayne DeRosario of Toronto FC, have opted to stay with their club teams instead.
If the participants aren't taking it seriously, why should I? It will be marginally interesting to see if any players emerge as potential World Cup squad members when it comes to the U.S., but that's about it.
The U.S. is allowed to add seven players to its roster because of the rigors of the Confederations Cup (not sure I get this since there are only four U.S. players named to the squads for both tournaments) and potentially those could be announced today ahead of a scheduled Bob Bradley teleconference with the media.
(Updated 9:15 a.m. And the players are (from the U.S. Soccer press release): Forwards Jozy Altidore and Conor Casey, midfielders Ricardo Clark, Benny Feilhaber and Sacha Kljestan, defender Jonathan Bornstein and goalkeeper Brad Guzan will be eligible for selection during the tournament; however, the U.S. will not have all seven players present for each Gold Cup match. The exact schedule for these players will be announced as it becomes available. Only 18 players will be eligible to dress for any given game.).
Locally, we get all of two Gold Cup games on Friday when Canada plays Jamaica at 5 p.m. followed by El Salvador-Costa Rica at Home Depot Center. Tickets range from $20-$75 in advance and go up another $5 the day of the game.
Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, who has 72 caps, was belatedly called in Wednesday by Jamaica. It's possible he could play Friday for his country and Saturday for the Galaxy in their Independence Day game against the New England Revolution.
For more, read about:
* The doping scandal to hit Costa Rica.
The Galaxy are desperate for goals.
Oft-injured Chivas USA forward Alecko Eskandarian, who has scored just six goals in 18 games since joining the club from Real Salt Lake in January 2008, was traded today to intrastadium rivals the Galaxy.
To make room for the 26-year-old forward, the Galaxy waived midfielder Josh Tudela who has played 23 games for the club since being selected in the 2007 SuperDraft. Chivas USA received allocation money and a conditional pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft.
"This move allows us greater flexibility in terms of our roster and salary budget," said Chivas USA Coach Preki.
Eskandarian, the 2004 MLS Cup MVP when with DC United, has 28 goals and 12 assists in 122 games during his seven-year MLS career. He has two starts in seven appearances this year and is eligible to make his Galaxy debut on Saturday against New England.
It could happen, although it will take a combination of results from other games this weekend.
Perhaps more interesting is the Sol gamble about the timing of its final regular season game: essentially the club is betting it will draw more kids looking for something to do now school is out at noon on a summer Wednesday after a holiday weekend than fans at a midweek evening game.
What's being promoted as McDonald's Kids Day boasts a festival that includes soccer games, a banner making station, a tattoo station, the soccer collies, a juggling contest and something called the Sesame Street Toddler Play Area.
Naturally, there's a ticket special: tickets start at $15 and include a Marta bobblehead. Visit Ticketmaster for the deal and enter the password "KIDS."
BTW, the Sol have already become the first WPS to clinch a playoff spot, although that's not particularly surprising given their league-dominating 10-1-4 record. That's good for 34 points, almost double the number achieved by the second-place team, the Boston Breakers.
More importantly, the Sol will win the WPS regular season title Wednesday if, well, we'll let the league explain it:
The magic number for the league title for Los Angeles now sits at nine points over the Boston Breakers, who won Wednesday against Washington, 1-0. Any combination of points earned by Los Angeles and Boston not collecting maximum points in a game would lower that number. A victory by Los Angeles on Sunday against Washington, combined with a loss by Boston at New Jersey would mean that the Sol could wrap up the WPS regular season crown at home on Wednesday against Saint Louis with over a month left in the regular season.Mathematically, Washington, Saint Louis and Boston could still individually overtake Los Angeles but to do so, Washington would have to defeat Los Angeles in Sunday's match-up and Saint Louis would need to win at Home Depot Center next week. Boston plays Los Angeles in the final game of the regular season.
The rest of the playoff picture and positions 2, 3 and 4 are still completely up for grabs.
Got it? Whatever. Keep it simple and circle this date on your calendar: Aug. 22. That's the date of the WPS title game, the Sol are odds-on favorites to be there if/when they win the regular season title and if so it will be in Carson.
In other WPS news:
*I'm guessing this is from the "oops" department - Sol defender Martina Franko is pregnant and unable to finish the season.That forced the Sol Tuesday to acquire defender Christie Shaner from Sky Blue FC as cover. In return, the Sol sent Sky Blue a third round pick in the 2010 WPS draft. Franko, 33, started 10 games for the Sol's miserly defense; in contrast the 24-year-old Shaner, a Notre Dame product, has appeared in just two games over 40 minutes for Sky Blue FC.
*The Sol's Marta was named WPS Player of the Week for a second time this season after scoring three goals to lead the Sol to victories over Saint Louis Athletica and Chicago Red Stars; she shares the league lead in goals with eight.
*Sunday's Sol-Freedom game is live at 3 p.m. Fox Soccer Channel.
*Marta's former club team, Sweden's Umea IK, will play against as team of WPS All-Stars in the inaugural all-star game taking place a week after the title game live Aug. 30 on FSC from St. Louis.
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.
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