Wednesday Kicks
It's hot, a long, lazy Labor Day weekend approaches and I'm feeling about as motivated as Carlos Ruiz in his second Galaxy stint.
The Galaxy and Chivas USA both have the weekend off, but an important World Cup qualifying weekend looms nonetheless and the Home Depot Center won't be completely devoid of activity..
Here's what else is happening:
*FIFA has released its new monthly rankings today with Mexico rising fast after the win over the U.S., although the Americans remain tops in CONCACAF.
*Here's the current CONCACAF WCQ standings and schedule ahead of this week's games.
*The Galaxy's Landon Donovan and Chivas USA's Jonathan Bornstein are in Utah where the U.S. plays El Savador Saturday (5 p.m. ESPN Classic) and then flies to Trinidad & Tobago for a second World Cup qualifier Wednesday (4 p.m. ESPN Classic). New Galaxy midfielder Chris Birchall is in the squad for T&T squad, which also plays Honduras Saturday. Update from the Galaxy blog (which also has good news about Edson Buddle and Sean Franklin: "Chris Birchall was removed from the Trinidad and Tobago squad for their upcoming qualifiers in Honduras and at home to the U.S. because of nagging hamstring injury that was exacerbated over the weekend. He has elected to remain in Los Angeles to get treatment from the Galaxy training staff in an attempt to be ready to play against FC Dallas on the 12th."
*David Beckham is on national team duty for England, which plays a friendly against Slovenia Saturday (9:30 a.m. Fox Soccer Channel) and a WCQ against Croatia Wednesday. An England win would clinch a spot in South Africa.
*Closer to home, the Cal State Dominguez Hills men and women both won Tuesday, while the Cal State Northridge men lost 2-0 to San Diego in their season opener.
*Finally, former Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid and his Seattle Sounders clash with D.C. United today in the final of the oft-overlooked U.S. Open Cup (4:30 p.m. FSC) where both teams have exchanged opposing views on who should host the game, never mind win it. Hey, this is a tournament that needs all the heightened awareness/trash-talking/controversy it can get.
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About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
I'm not a Rochester Rhinos fan, but I still remember with great fondness how they won the US Open Cup final back in 1999. Hopefully both MLS teams tonight take it seriously, and don't trot out a bunch of scrubs. (Also, how about some love for us on the left side of the country? 4:30? We have to work!)