November 2009 Archives

Chivas USA will host one from 9 a.m. to noon Friday at La Huasteca Restaurant, 3150 E. Imperial Hwy. Suite 100 at Plaza Mexico in Lynwood. The first 50 fans to RSVP at 310-630-4586 or guestrelations@cdchivasusa.com get entered for a chance to win an Xbox and other prizes.

The Galaxy's party begins at 9 a.m. at ESPN Zone at LA Live. Fans should RSVP to the Galaxy Sales Staff at tsintern@lagalaxy.com. The first 100 people to send in their RSVPs will receive a complementary breakfast and a guaranteed seat for the event.

And, as previously mentioned: Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan marks the World Cup draw at noon Friday by "unwrapping a giant holiday present for the city and handing out special World Cup holiday gifts to fans at the adidas store on Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica." The event includes South African Kwaito music and dancers, adidas giveaways, autograph signings and the chance to win a $500 holiday shopping spree.

Los Angeles Times writer Mike Penner was an occasional press box colleague.

I didn't know him well and won't pretend to.

But he was another voice for soccer in Southern California at a time it seems those voices are diminishing, not proliferating.

And his was an eloquent one.

He came relatively late to the sport. And it showed in his writing. Mike's genuine affection for a game he was still learning about shone through in his prose. Through his writing I came to rediscover aspects of the sport I had taken for granted.

He gave the sport time, space and respect. He understood the sport's celebration of cultural diversity; he understood the sport's inclusiveness. It appeared that it was to him, as it was to so many others, a liberating game.

I think, for a short time, it was a place he belonged.

One of the last times I saw Mike, at the Beckham return to MLS dog and pony show at Home Depot Center in 2008, he had become Christine Daniels. It was one of the first and biggest events Mike had covered as Christine. We hugged. She seemed to have begun to come to terms with who she was.

A few months later she was Mike Penner again.

A Times co-worker told me in recent months that Mike seemed to be withdrawing, spending much of his time anonymously compiling sports briefs rather than penning insightful columns. And on Saturday he died of an apparent suicide, the ultimate withdrawal from the world.

Mike contributed to the growth of soccer in Southern California and will be missed.

Read press box colleague Scott French's tribute to Mike, here.

Goalkeeper Brian Perk also made two big second half saves in the 2-1 come from behind win Sunday at Drake Stadium.

Notable: The game was a rematch of the 2006 NCAA Championship - won by UC Santa Barbara.

Quotable:

"We have a pretty big core of seniors on our team, and it was in the back of our heads tonight," said playmaker Kyle Nakazawa. "It is a bit of redemption ... with a way better ending."

Next: No. 6 seed UCLA (12-3-4) faces No. 3 seed Wake Forest (16-3-3) Saturday in Winston-Salem.

Game story.

More here.

With the family tucked up in bed I should mention:

*U.S. Soccer has announced the finalists for its annual awards and Southern Californians are well represented including Torrance's Shannon Boxx, UCLA goalkeeper Brian Perk and UCLA's Sydney LeRoux. Even Michael Bradley lists Manhattan Beach as his hometown these days, since his dad lives here. Oh, yeah, that Landon Donovan bloke was mentioned, too. Info here.

*Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan marks the World Cup draw at noon next Friday, Dec. 4 by "unwrapping a giant holiday present for the city and handing out special World Cup holiday gifts to fans at the adidas store on Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica." The event includes South African Kwaito music and dancers, adidas giveaways, autograph signings and the chance to win a $500 holiday shopping spree.

From the adidas press release:

For every World Cup match ball that's bought at the Santa Monica store Dec. 4-6, adidas and Sacha will donate a ball to Toys for Tots.

*The UCLA women (20-2-1) and Portland (21-1) once again square off for a spot in next week's NCAA College Cup at 5 p.m. Saturday at Drake Stadium. Tickets are $10 adults, $8 youth/students.

From the UCLA press release:

This Saturday will mark the third time in the last four seasons that UCLA and Portland have met in the NCAA Quarterfinals in Los Angeles. It will also mark the sixth time that the two teams have squared off during the postseason (UCLA leads 4-1). The Bruins own a 7-1 all-time record against the Pilots.

UCLA posted its 20th victory of the season in its 3-0 win over Virginia last week, making it the fifth straight season that the team has reached the 20-win mark. The school record for wins in a season is 22, set in both 2005 and 2008.

*The UCLA men face UC Santa Barbara at 5 p.m. Sunday at Drake Stadium in the second round of the NCAA Tournament after disposing of Sacramento State last weekend.

This is not what I mean:

I'm talking about our annual holiday ball drive, which kicks off today.

Happy Thanksgiving.

But not Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant thankfully.

Here's the complete list of players the expansion Philadelphia Union selected from among the almost 200 available:

Jordan Harvey (D) Colorado Rapids
Andrew Jacobsen (M) D.C. United
Brad Knighton (G) New England Revolution
Sebastien Le Toux (F) Seattle Sounders FC
Stefani Miglioranzi (M) LA Galaxy
Alejandro Moreno (F) Columbus Crew
Dave Myrie (D) Chicago Fire
Shea Salinas (M) San Jose Earthquakes
Shavar Thomas (D) Chivas USA
Nick Zimmerman (M) New York Red Bulls

Thomas, a seven-year MLS veteran started 17 games for Chivas USA last season mainly at center back. Chivas USA conceded just 31 goals in 30 games last season. All told, he played 59 games in two years for the club.

Miglioranzi was playing some of the best soccer of his MLS career last year under Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena before suffering an injury.

Updated: Also, the Galaxy today waived midfielder Kyle Patterson (2009 fourth round draft pick) and defender Julian Valentin (who spent much of the year on loan in the USL).

Was Tuesday.

The team held a final meeting with Coach Bruce Arena. Players cleaned out their lockers. And they spoke with the media one last time to wrap up the season.

Reporter Phil Collin was there and filed this report.

Phil e-mailed me a few quotes that didn't fit in his piece for space reasons.

Here's Landon Donovan on the disappointment of losing MLS Cup:

"I would say I was as disappointed as I've ever been to lose a game and thinking back on it the reason is for the first time in my career I put everything I had into something and when it doesn't come off the way you want it's every disappointing to completely dedicate yourself to something like that and not turn out the way you want, it's hard."

Here's defender Todd Dunivant on being left exposed in today's MLS Expansion Draft:

"Any time you're left unprotected it's going to make you take notice. That stuff's out of your control and it comes out of a numbers game sometimes and different things. There's reasons for it and we'll see what happens."

Here's David Beckham on the possibility of Landon Donovan not returning next year:

"There's a chance of that every season with Landon because teams are going to be interested in him in Europe and in different places around the world. (After) the last game of the season last year people was expecting it and he obviously (went) to Germany and came back.

Landon can play in many leagues in the world and many teams in the world. There's always a chance of a good player moving on and if he does obviously good luck to him because he's done exceptional this season."

Here's Beckham on his physical condition at the end of the season:

"You always feel worn out at the end of the season and that's a part of it. Any athlete would say the same - you don't get to the end of the season and feel fresh because if you do, there's something wrong with the effort that you give through the season.

"I'll go straight into European season, which for me starts in December. I should be fine with it. I've played 65 games a year for the last 20 years so nothing changes for me. Obviously I'm a bit older but physically I've looked after myself wherever I am the way I
eat the way I drink the way I prepare.

"I've got a slight case of asthma which I've had for years. It just never came out. I've never talked about it, no reason to talk about it. That's just me."

Here's Coach Bruce Arena on next year's roster ahead of the draft:

"We think we kept a nucleus of players that we want to have around next year. Having said that all that the others we haven't protected we expect to have them back because at the most you can only lose one player. We're hopefully we come out of the expansion draft in good shape."

While we're at it, here's a couple of Galaxy-related stories that shed some light on the team and franchise including:
*The roots of midfielder Dema Kovalenko's close relationship with Arena.

*England's Observer was the latest newspaper to profile Southern California's Wizard of Oz - AEG owner Phil Anschutz.

I'll be back later today with a draft update. Let's hope the Union don't swipe Dunivant - but they'll be dumb if they don't.

(AP Photo)

Could have some validity this time around, especially given the time of year and Donovan's interest in playing at a higher level than MLS. Will we see him wearing Club America's colors at Home Depot Center at InterLiga in January?

Here's the report at Univision.

And who owns Club America and Univision? Yep, same company.

Here's the (rough) Spanish language translation as provided by colleague Gene Maddaus:

According to information from Televisa Deportes, American striker Landon Donovan could be hired by the Aguilas del America for the Clausura 2010, as it is one of the objectives of President Michel Bauer.

He could come for the Interliga.

This was mentioned on the news of Televisa Deportes, but there were no comments from the president of the Aguilas on this subject.

The Aguilas hope to have Landon Donovan for the next Torneo Interliga, which awards two seats for the following Copa Libertadores de America, and also the "azulcremas" hope that he will be their main reinforcement for the Clausura 2010.

It should be remembered that this is not the first time that the name of the striker has made the rounds in connection with Coapa, as last august the brother of the former U.S. national team member Alexi Lalas signaled in a column that Donovan could find himself playing one day with the Aguilas, because the Galaxy striker has all of the requirements to be an "Americanista."

Landon Donovan is now on vacation, having finished his participation with the Galaxy, the squad that lost the MLS final to Real Salt Lake on penalties.

And here's another report out of Mexico.

Again, the rough translation provided by Senor Maddaus:

You only have to say the name Landon Donovan in Mexico to bring us bad memories.

Maybe because a few years ago he urinated on the sacred grass of the Estadio Jalisco; maybe because he is one of the best footballers on the continent; but that because he is an American we don't want to recognize it.

What is clear is that for six months his name has been rumored in Villa Coapa, the home of America.

Today, in the program "Estadio Total" on the "Televisa Deportes Network," Michel Bauer spoke well of the U.S. national team member.

"He is a good player, the sort of character that any team would want to have in its ranks," said the president of the "azulcremas"...

Donovan, who now plays for the Galaxy alongside David Beckham, has finished
his participation in the MLS, and as with the former Real Madrid star, has six months "free", in which he usually searches for an arrangement with a European league.

Certainly Donovan's character, his style of play and his certain "arrogance" would fit in well at America, a team that is the most obliged to win and to crush its rivals.

Who knows, but maybe the winter market can bring Donovan to America, with those who possibly, very possibly, would debut in the Torneo Interliga, which holds two tickets to the Copa Libertadores de America 2010.

No response from the Galaxy, BTW.

However, Arena reportedly said earlier today he expects Donovan back next season.

And Landon?

"We'll know soon," he told MLSnet.com. "From Bruce's standpoint, that's the plan of me being back. We'll know soon. I haven't had a ton of time to think about it, but we'll figure it out shortly."

Really.

Read it here.

The Galaxy has 14 players the Philadelphia Union can choose from Wednesday. Remember, each team may only lose one player.

Available players: Todd Dunivant, Alecko Eskandarian, Alan Gordon, Leonard Griffin, Bryan Jordan, Jovan Kirovski, Chris Klein, Eddie Lewis, Yohance Marshall, Stefani Miglioranzi, Kyle Patterson, Tony Sanneh, Josh Saunders, Julian Valentin.

Here are the 11 players the Galaxy chose to protect then: David Beckham, Gregg Berhalter, Chris Birchall, Edson Buddle, A.J. DeLaGarza, Landon Donovan, Sean Franklin, Omar Gonzalez, Dema Kovalenko, Mike Magee, Donovan Ricketts.

As a Generation adidas player, forward Tristan Bowen of Van Nuys is automatically protected.

Here's who Chivas USA protected: Jonny Bornstein, Justin Braun, Yamith Cuesta, Jorge Flores, Maykel Galindo, Sacha Kljestan, Michael Lahoud, Paulo Nagamura, Jesus Padilla, Maicon Santos, Zach Thornton.

So, Chivas USA's available players are: Jon Conway, Jim Curtin, Kevin Harmse, Ante Jazic, Dan Kennedy, Eduardo Lillingston, Jesse Marsch, Ante Razov, Marcelo Saragosa, Bojan Stepanovic, Claudio Suarez, CareyTalley, Shavar Thomas, Mariano Trujillo, Sasha Victorine, Chucky Chukwudi Gerson Mayen, and Lance Parker.

The complete list of available and protected players from around the league.

I'll have more in Tuesday's column.

Tickets to the annual competition that determines two of three Mexican participants in Copa Libertadores went on sale (to Visa card holders only) today. Tickets to the general public go on sale in a week.

Home Depot Center will host doubleheaders Jan. 9 between Santos and Atlante, while Club America plays against Tecos and Jan. 10 with Puebla and Tigres facing off before Monterrey and Jaguares do battle.

Carson also hosts the two finals Jan. 13.

Full details here.

CD Guadalajara won last year's tournament.

Also:

* Sunday's college scores.

*Former Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid remained hospitalized Sunday. Updated 9 p.m. from a Sounders press release: Schmid was released from Bellevue 's Overlake Hospital on Monday after being hospitalized for four nights after being diagnosed with pneumonia.

"I'd like to thank all of the friends and fans for their good wishes," said Schmid. "I'm feeling much better and I plan to spend the holiday with family and be back in the office next week."

Real Salt Lake 5 Galaxy 4 (SO)

AP Photos

Game story.

The RSL perspective.

The Galaxy's season in review.

Galaxy lineup: Donovan Ricketts (Josh Saunders 66'), Todd Dunivant, Gregg Berhalter, Omar Gonzalez (A.J. DeLaGarza 89'), Sean Franklin, Chris Birchall (Chris Klein 79'), Jovan Kirovski, Landon Donovan©, David Beckham, Mike Magee, Edson Buddle.

Subs Not Used: Yohance Marshall, Dema Kovalenko, Eddie Lewis, Alan Gordon.

David Beckham and the Galaxy ran out of gas Sunday.

Three lessons:

*Never discount RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando in a SO. Never.

*Many of the Galaxy players, including Beckham, looked old, tired and slow. Veterans got the Galaxy to MLS Cup; it will take more than experience to win it.

*The quality of soccer on artificial turf - no matter how good the fake surface - will never match that seen on grass.

Update from ESPN PR: ESPN Classic will be airing the 2009 MLS Cup between Real Salt Lake and the Galaxy as an Instant Classic at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Wish you were in Seattle? I'll link back to a series of tweets and Twitpics from the lucky ones at MLS Cup.

From USA Today's Beau Dure:

Another:

One more:

The Washington Post's Steve Goff just tweeted:

crazy, crazy rumor: jesse marsch retires to become chicago coach if hamlett is let go. no truth to it, i'm told, but fun item nonetheless

Really getting a feel for the atmosphere from Mr. Dure:

Here's this tweet from the LA Riot Squad:

How do get lars love? Lieweke just bought everyone at the bar a round!!!

Updated 4:11 p.m. from Big Soccer:

Updated 4:14 p.m. by MLS Commish Don Garber: thesoccerdon marching to the match. skies have cleared at #ml

Updated at 4:17 p.m. Sunset in Seattle:

Qwest Field Awaits(AP Photo).

First off, there's still time to enter the contest to predict the score of the game and win an MLS Cup DVD. Info here.

While we await the start of the 5:30 p.m. game live on ESPN and Galavision, get caught up with:

* A game preview by Phil Collin.

* Odds and sods.

* Seattle: Soccer city.

* What Drew Carey thinks of the jilted Galaxy now.

* Hear Galaxy midfielder Sean Franklin on the Galaxy's season and reaching MLS Cup.

Want more? Then check out posts from earlier in the week.

* Alan Gordon's fish toss (and more).

* The Galaxy dog and more.

*Meet Landon Donovan: MLS MVP.

*Meet Preki: Toronto coach.

*Galaxy tops Space Needle.

*See the MLS Goal of the Year.

*Finally, read this week's column.

Sigi Schmid is seen here getting pneumonia when bringing the MLS Cup to Seattle via a freezing Bainbridge Island ferry Thursday with Sounders Technical Director Chris Henderson in a publicity stunt. (AP Photo).

Among the best reasons to attend an MLS Cup if you're a journalist are the rumors, gossip, agents telling lies in hopes of getting clients work and rank and file folks jockeying for jobs.

After all, contracts are expiring and trades brewing (the expansion draft is next week).

So if we believe this former Galaxy Coach Steve Sampson will soon be joining Chivas USA.

Little attribution to the item beyond vague "sources" (perhaps Sampson himself), but it certainly has a kernel of truth as any potentially credible gossip/propaganda always does.

Pros include the fact Sampson lives locally (Calabasas), is probably relatively inexpensive (a Chivas USA hallmark) and speaks Spanish.

Cons include that ghastly 1998 World Cup, a destructive stint with the Galaxy punctuated by a fluky MLS Cup win and a penchant for backroom politics.

By coincidence, I e-mailed Sounders Coach Sigi Schmid this week (before he was hospitalized with pneumonia Thursday night and where he remained through Saturday) about the Chivas USA job.

A press box colleague had wondered recently whether Schmid, who grew up in the South Bay and still has a house (and wife) in Manhattan Beach, would be interested in the Chivas USA job since it's known he would like to work again in Southern California.

It's probably a case of the right job at the wrong time for Schmid who not only has unfinished business in Seattle, but owners and management he will demonstrate loyalty to after they rescued him from the Crew.

He jokingly e-mailed me: "The owners here are great. If Chivas paid me what they paid (former Coach Hans) Westerhof I would consider it."

Of course, Westerhof was on a CD Guadalajara-size salary, not an MLS one.

And what about Chivas USA?

Here's President Shawn Hunter's comment in an e-mail reply to a query about Schmid: "I have always been a Sigi fan."

Massive?

AP Photo

Here's what I've been scanning as I watch EPL games this morning:

* Phil Collin's profile of Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts.

* Steven Goff's profile of former Maryland duo A.J. DeLaGarza and Omar Gonzalez.

* The Salt Lake City perspective.

Alan Gordon: Poetry in Motion

Also:

College Roundup.

The DVD is the A&E-produced History of the MLS Cup, which was released just before last year's championship game.

I was sent two review copies (that I haven't looked at) so will give one sealed, never-viewed 91-minute history of the cup (great for re-gifting this holiday season!) to the person who correctly predicts the score of Sunday's game in the comments section of this blog post. Feel free to explain your reasoning, too. If more than one reader chooses the correct score, I'll draw a name at random.

Winners of previous contests on this blog are ineligible this time around, BTW. The deadline is 5 p.m. Sunday. I'll notify the winner via e-mail Monday.

Need help figuring out the score?

Former Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid told me this week via e-mail that "I think this is the Salt Lake Cinderella story. Too much speed up top. (Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan) Ricketts is due to make an error - do not ask me why - just a hunch."

And for what it's worth, the Galaxy will win its third MLS Cup with a 2-1 victory over Real Salt Lake at Qwest Field in Seattle, WA, if you believe an official EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer 10 videogame simulation of the MLS Cup final using the Xbox 360.

The Galaxy's Landon Donovan shreds the RSL defense in this screen shot.

Here's how the simulation went:

The Galaxy led 2-0 early in the second half and then survived a frantic comeback attempt by Real Salt Lake to capture its third MLS title.

Edson Buddle (40th minute) and Landon Donovan (59th minute) gave the Galaxy a 2-0 lead. Late in the first half, Buddle received a smooth pass from Eddie Lewis just left of the penalty mark and fired a rocket with his left foot past RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando. Donovan then made it 2-0 after he pounced on a rebound off a Mike Magee shot, controlled the ball and gently slide it into an empty net while Rimando was still on the ground.

Javier Morales gave Real Salt Lake hope when he fired a shot from 18 yards out past Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts. Salt Lake pressed forward for the equalizer over the final 14 minutes but Ricketts turned back the only dangerous shot, a Clint Mathis blast from the right side, four minutes from the end of regulation.

Galaxy outshot Real Salt Lake 16-5. Donovan was named Man of the Match after firing six shots on goal and scoring the game-winner.

First things first: the Galaxy's Alecko Eskandarian is on Drew Carey's "The Price is Right at 10 a.m. on CBS (sorry for the late notice).

In other momentous MLS Cup related news:

*Seattle introduces - the Galaxy dog.

*Former Galaxy midfielder Ned Grabavoy is a hero in Salt Lake City after scoring the PK that put them through to the final - but may not play Sunday against his former team.

*David Beckham hasn't trained fully with the team all week and may take pain killers to get through Sunday's game. (And be sure and check out Beckham's hairstyles through the years at the pic just to the right of the story on that Web page).

*Former Galaxy GM Alexi Lalas (and current ESPN soccer analyst) talks to Daily News sports media columnist Tom Hoffarth here.

*The Seattle Times is going all out with its on-line MLS Cup coverage.

And because we can't have enough pictures of the Galaxy logo atop Seattle's Space Needle: (MLS Photo)

In other soccer news:

*Some residents of a West Torrance neighborhood equate AYSO with prostitution (seriously).

*The CSUDH women's team plays its biggest game of the year tonight without its biggest offensive threat.

Jones is described as an owner, advisor and promoter in the company by Socal Soccer City Holdings President Kevin Gilmore, a partner in the proposed indoor Futsal facility on Maple Avenue that will occupy a former shipping facility.

Jones, now an assistant coach with the Galaxy after a glittering 12-season career with the MLS club, grew up in Westlake Village.

"Cobi brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and passion, not only to the game itself, but also how it relates to the Southern California youth players as they develop into future generations of professional players," said Paul Higgins, president of South Coast Soccer City, the first in what's envisioned as a chain of similar state of the art indoor soccer facilities in the region. "His passion for the game is unparalleled and his excitement for our concept was evident the first time we walked him through the building and described our plans. Cobi made it clear from the start that he had no interest in being a passive investor - he wanted to be actively involved in not only this first location, but also the growth of Soccer City in California and beyond.

Jones will host camps and clinics at the facility and help develop the programming and curriculum for youth programs.

"Futsal allows young players to learn soccer skills that include finesse, creativity, ball control and so much more - all elements of the game that would greatly impact their success in the outdoor game," Jones said. "I strongly believe that developing a network of facilities that promote small five-a-side soccer will revolutionize the way young soccer players develop in the U.S."

Soccer City expects to open in December.

To learn more, check out previous posts about South Coast Soccer City by clicking here.

The 2-1 overtime loss this afternoon means victor Sacramento State, making their first tournament appearance, plays UCLA at 5 p.m. Sunday at Drake Stadium (in a game masterfully scheduled against the Galaxy's MLS Cup appearance).

In a good omen for next season, however, LMU will return 14 of the 19 players who suited up in the NCAA Tournament game.

Game details here.

From the Sac State press release:

Sacramento State heads into the match with the Bruins, who are 10-3-4 and ranked No. 8 in the latest NSCAA/Adidas coaches poll, riding a 10 match unbeaten streak. Sacramento State is 8-0-2 since a 2-1 loss at San Jose State on October 8. In the last NSCAA Far West region poll, published Nov. 10, UCLA was ranked third, while the Hornets were ranked eighth.

Winners of the Pac-10 title for the second straight year, UCLA is making its 27th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, having won the national title four times (1985, 1990, 1997, and 2002). They have advanced to the College Cup 12 times, with their most recent trip coming in 2006. The Bruins were members of the MPSF along with the Hornets from 1992-1999, and posted a perfect 4-0-0 record against Sacramento State. The last meeting between the two clubs came in 1998 at Hornet Soccer Field, a 3-0 victory for UCLA.

Not much of a surprise there. It was just announced on ESPNews.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is this is the first time that Landon Donovan, a five-time Honda Player of the Year and two-time U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year, has won the MLS award.

Said Donovan:

"Well, from a statistical standpoint it wasn't my best year, but what is important to me, and I think the reason we're being recognized, is that our team was very good this year. You see with Bruce winning Coach of the Year and Omar winning Rookie of the Year, and I think Donovan should have won Goalkeeper of the Year, we're being recognized for what we've done this year. I think this is especially nice because it's not only the media or the fans, it's also your peers, and when your peers vote for you that means a little bit extra."

He beat out Dallas' Jeff Cunningham and the Revs' Shalrie Joseph, BTW.

He's the second Galaxy player to win the award; Carlos Ruiz was the first in 2002.

Updated - here's more:

SEATTLE (AP) -- Long considered the best player in the U.S., Landon Donovan is now the best player in Major League Soccer.

The Los Angeles Galaxy forward and six-time national player of the year was named the MLS most valuable player on Thursday for the first time in his career.

Despite all his accolades as the leader of the U.S. national team, Donovan had yet to be
recognized by his own league until this season when he helped the Galaxy race to the MLS Cup final and overcome some of his own off-the-field distractions.

Los Angeles will face Real Salt Lake for the MLS title on Sunday night in Seattle. Donovan beat out FC Dallas' Jeff Cunningham, the league's goal scoring leader with a career-best 17 goals, and New England midfielder Shalrie Joseph for the award.

It's already been the longest and most trying year of Donovan's career.

Donovan, 27, was instrumental in the Americans' successful qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup and its trek to the Confederations Cup championship match, large factors in him winning an unprecedented sixth Honda Player of the Year Award last month.

He scored 12 goals in the regular season and added six assists for the Galaxy, despite missing a month of the season in helping lead the U.S. to the Confederations Cup final. That total followed up on last season when Donovan scored a league-high 20 goals, but missed out on the MVP award as Los Angeles finished last in the Western Conference.

This year, Donovan was the leader. Los Angeles was the best team in the West, overcoming a remarkable 11 ties in its first 13 games to take the top spot and qualify for the playoffs for the first time since its run to the title in 2005 as the No. 8 seed.

"He's grown on the field as a player. He's a more mature consistent player, but his role off the field with this team has been perhaps even better, remarkable," Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said recently. "The things he did to help build this team to have the right kind of team chemistry, to be a leader ... Landon was consistently here every day and taking the responsibility of a captain. He's been doing a fantastic job."

And it wasn't just the regular season where Donovan excelled.

Donovan scored in the opener of the Galaxy's first-round series against rival Chivas USA, then added a penalty kick goal versus Chivas to help clinch the playoff victory in the second-leg.

In the conference final last Friday against Houston, Donovan's overtime penalty kick goal cemented the 2-0 victory and a spot in the league championship game. He now has 17 career playoff goals, most in league history.

Donovan's 2009 season grabbed plenty of attention for what happened away from his time on the field with the Galaxy.

He spent three months on loan to German powerhouse Bayern Munich and was not offered a full contract. His marriage, to actress Bianca Kajlich, dissolved. And he was a major figure in Grant Wahl's "The Beckham Experiment," a book chronicling and critical of David Beckham's first two seasons with the Galaxy. Donovan criticized Beckham's leadership and effort in the book, and he apologized to the English star for airing his thoughts in public.

Since Beckham returned to the Galaxy from a loan deal to Italy's AC Milan, he and Donovan developed a strong partnership that has helped fuel their run to the league championship game.

Briefly:

*In praise of Galaxy GM and Coach Bruce Arena.

*For Real Salt Lake MLS Cup equals redemption.

* Former Chivas USA Coach Preki was officially unveiled as Toronto's new coach today. Wonder how much longer Amado Guevara will be around?

*Want to party like it's 1989? Former UCLA and Galaxy defender Paul Caligiuri will be honored tonight at Original Mike's in Orange County on the 20th anniversary of the "shot heard 'round the world." The event begins at 7 p.m.

*MLS has set the expansion draft for the new Philadelphia Union for Wednesday afternoon. From the MLS press release:

Philadelphia will select the core of their inaugural squad in a 10-round draft next Wednesday. Teams can participate in a half-day trade window on Monday until Noon ET. All 15 MLS teams are required to submit their lists of protected players to the League by 3 p.m. ET on Monday, Nov. 23. ... Philadelphia Union may not claim more than one player from any given team in MLS - five teams will not have a player taken in the expansion draft.

* The U.S. fell 3-1 to Denmark Wednesday.

*France is in the World Cup helped by a disputed missed hand ball; the Irish want a replay.

From the Galaxy press release:

"As part of the tour, the Galaxy were scheduled to face FC Kaiserslautern on Thursday, November 26, and a second opponent on Tuesday, December 1 in Germany .

"We are very disappointed to announce the cancellation of our 2009 Postseason Tour due to a lack of communication and performance by the tour's organizer and promoter IMC Group, Inc," said President of Business Operations Tom Payne. "Unfortunately, IMC Group Inc has not performed their obligations of the agreement thus far, nor do we have faith that they will be able to do so in the future.

"With MLS Cup 2009 this weekend in Seattle, we feel that it is important to make this decision now and remove the potential distractions to our team, rather than continue to hold out hope that the tour will indeed take place."

Or at least the club's logo does 550 feet above the city of Seattle to mark Sunday's MLS Cup, along with those of the league and opponent Real Salt Lake.Photo courtesy Omega Graphics.

Donovan's goal came in the Aug. 8 game against New England and was one of 12 he scored during the regular season.

His stunning left-footed volley beat out an Alecko Eskandarian effort and eight other finalists. It's the first time a Donovan goal has received the award.

Compare the 10 best strikes (as voted by fans) here:

With a soggy forecast in Seattle for MLS Cup Sunday the Galaxy's thoughts have turned to the one drawback to Qwest Field - the artificial turf.

Meanwhile, former Galaxy striker Robbie Findley is looking forward to a championship clash against his former club.

Notable: This is David Beckham's first game in Seattle since joining MLS (although he played there in 2006 with Real Madrid).

BTW, fans attending the game should note the traditional (can I use that word in a team's first season?) "March to the Match" from the Pioneer Square area that's performed before every Sounders game will also be done Sunday at 4 p.m. Beginning at Occidental Park, a few blocks north of the stadium, MLS Commissioner Don Garber and members of the Sounders FC ownership, management and playing roster will join the supporters from all teams in the short trek to the stadium.

Finally, here's a game preview from the Associated Press:

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The only obstacle between David Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy and a Major League Soccer championship is an MLS Cup opponent that barely made the playoffs after finishing the regular season with a losing record.

Sure, it might sound like a simple Sunday in Seattle for Beckham, Landon Donovan and the star-studded Galaxy. Yet Los Angeles coach Bruce Arena is certain it'll be anything but easy to finish off Real Salt Lake in the league final.

"I don't think any of us focus on who are the underdogs or anything like that," Arena said
Tuesday. "Very little separates one team from the other. ... Let me tell you, Salt Lake was
not a team with a record of six more losses than wins this year or something. They were a team that was right up there. They've been a competitive team throughout the season."

The Galaxy and Real will travel to the Pacific Northwest later in the week for the one-game
culmination of the MLS season, with Los Angeles looking to win its third league title in its
record sixth appearance in the championship. Salt Lake squeaked into the playoffs' eighth seed at 11-12-7 before winning three straight postseason games to make its first final.

"Wow, it sounds like we better not even go," said Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "We don't even have a chance, do we?"

Nobody in either locker room expects a coronation for the Galaxy, even after they finally
meshed their star talent with outstanding results. Los Angeles finished with the Western
Conference's best record despite a rocky start to the season during which Beckham was booed by the home crowd during a friendly against AC Milan for his elongated dalliance with that Italian team.

"We've been growing as a team all year, and this is definitely the culmination of that
effort," said defender Gregg Berhalter, who scored the extra-time winner -- his first goal all
season -- in last Friday's Western Conference final against Houston. "We haven't given up on ourselves, and we've been plugging away when a lot of people were saying we weren't that good of a team."

With Beckham playing the best soccer of his U.S. career while Donovan rose to the top of the MLS playoff scoring charts, both stars happily missed national team assignments this fall to pursue the league title. Since that rocky homecoming in July, Beckham has reclaimed most of the fan support he lost during his elongated stint in Italy -- even though he's headed back to AC Milan in January.

"I think the reason (fans staying angry with Beckham) didn't happen was because of the way David played and demonstrated he cares about the LA Galaxy," said Arena, who will go for his third league title after winning two with DC United in the 1990s.

"His performance has quieted his detractors," Arena said. "I think that day against AC Milan in the exhibition, obviously there were some frustrated fans, and things weren't perfect, but I never felt David wouldn't be able to handle it. He's played with the biggest clubs in the world. I thought he was able to handle anything, and he's done that."

Real Salt Lake also opened the season under a spotlight.

They were a popular preseason pick to contend for the league title after reaching the conference championship game last season, but an early seven-match winless skid suggested Real was overrated -- even to Kreis, who blamed himself for his club's early struggles with poor motivational ploys and faulty lineups.

"It was dire, and I think I contributed to that because I was very overconfident," Kreis said.
"I think I added to what was a little bit of an underlying thing on the team that we were a
bit overconfident going into this season. We had been reading a bit too much about how we would compete for a championship this year, and we forgot the little things that got us here. We don't have stars on our team, and we had got away from that a little bit."

Salt Lake was the last side to make the eight-team MLS playoff field, winning the tiebreaker with DC United and Colorado after all three finished with 40 points apiece. Real's 11-12-7 record wasn't spectacular, but it was good enough to get in -- and since then, they've won three straight matches to advance to their first league final.

While European observers might scoff at the idea of crowning a champion that couldn't even win more than it lost during league play, the system works for Arena and MLS.

"No one cares what the rest of the world thinks," Arena said. "We have a system here that's really an American sports tradition here: playoffs. It's not that unique."

From the ESPN press release:

ESPN2's live coverage of the 2009 MLS Western Conference Finals Friday, Nov. 13, a 2 - 0 extra time victory by the Los Angeles Galaxy over the Houston Dynamo, was seen in an average of 538,000 television homes (700,000 people 2+), based on a 0.5 rating, making it the most-watched MLS telecast ever on the network.

The previous record was on Thurs., Aug. 23, 2007, in a regular-season match between Chivas USA and Los Angeles, seen in an average of 532,000 television homes (658,000 P2+), a 0.6 rating.

Additionally on ESPN Deportes, the match was seen in an average of 73,000 Hispanic television homes (121,000 Hispanic P2+), a 1.6 Hispanic coverage rating.

Hmm. How much higher would the ratings have been if the game hadn't ended at 2:30 a.m. or so back on the East Coast?

Chilly Galaxy fans who shivered their way through what was, in essence, a three-hour game Friday will be glad to hear the utility is trying to get to the bottom of what happened.

Read the short article that ran in today's Daily Breeze.

* Read it here.

*For a similar view from a Salt Lake City perspective click here.

*MLS has started a blog focused (for now) on MLS Cup here.

Bracket.

Loyola Marymount's fate from the West Coast Conference press release:

Loyola Marymount, which was ranked No. 15 in the most recently published NCAA Ratings Percentage Index, will be returning to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in school history. The Lions finished third in the WCC with a 10-8-2 overall record, marking Head Coach Paul Krumpe's fifth 10-plus victory season. The Lions will host Sacramento State (11-5-3) on Thursday, the official start date of first round play. The match start time is still to be determined. The winner of that match will move on to face No. 6 seed UCLA (10-3-4) at Drake Stadium on Sunday, November 22 at 5 PM.

Sacramento State is making its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

Said UCLA Coach Jorge Salcedo:

"We're excited to be a Top 8 seed in this year's tournament. Regardless of your seed or where you end the season, it's the beginning of a new season, and whichever team we play will be a very tough, challenging match. Both LMU and Sac State had good conference seasons. LMU has proven to be able to go on the road and win big games, and Sac State winning the MPSF conference has proven their quality as well."

The Bruins, winners of back-to-back Pac-10 titles, extended their streak of NCAA Tournament appearances to 27 years.

Tickets to the Nov. 22 game are $9 adults and $7 students/youth.

Garber gave an earlier and less formal state of the league address than he has in years past in a teleconference with reporters today.

Garber announced the MLS Best XI during the call, which includes one player apiece from the Galaxy and Chivas USA:

goalkeeper - Zach Thornton
defenders - Chad Marshall, Wilman Conde, Geoff Cameron
midfielders - Dwayne DeRosario, Landon Donovan, Stuart Holden, Shalrie Joseph, Freddie Ljungberg
forwards - Conor Casey, Jeff Cunningham

Other major talking points included:
*A reiteration MLS is looking to become a 20-team league. There will be 18 teams when Philadelphia (which is nearing the 8,500 season ticket mark) joins next season and Portland and Vancouver the year after that. MLS has had "productive discussions" about team No. 19 going to Montreal, but no real movement on the 20th franchise.

*That MLS is evaluating its playoff format and is considering following the lead of WPS and allowing the regular season winner to host the final:

"There's support here in the league to strongly consider moving MLS Cup away from a designated site and into a market where the team that earns the right (to host the game) does so," Garber said. "We think it's a good idea, but we're still working through the details to see if we can pull it off."'

Briefly:

*The initial 36,000 tickets for MLS Cup Sunday in Seattle sold out, so another 6,000 tickets have been put on sale. Details here.

*As unlikely as the Galaxy's run to MLS Cup was, Real Salt Lake's performance was even less expected. Reaction here.

*U.S. Coach Bob Bradley called in the Houston Dynamo midfield duo of Ricardo Clark and Stuart Holden and Tigres defender Edgar Castillo for Wednesday's game against Demark. Steve Cherundolo, Clint Dempsey and Chad Marshall were released. José Francisco Torres, who was initially called into camp for the game, has been excused for personal reasons.

* College roundup. In addition, the Loyola Marymount men (10-8-2, 5-5-2 WCC) beat Saint Mary's 2-0 Sunday. An at-large spot in the NCAA tournament is possible for the Lions who finished third in the conference. The draw is set for 5:30 p.m. today on ESPNews.

Updated noon:

Former Chivas USA Coach Preki is in talks with Toronto.

Former Galaxy player and goal hero Ned Grabavoy, left, and Real Salt Lake, which beat the Chicago Fire on penalty kicks to become Eastern Conference champions (let's get rid of these silly conferences based on irrelevant geography, MLS) will face the Galaxy Sunday in Seattle.

Grabavoy scored the winning goal just before the picture was taken above, although former Galaxy striker Robbie Findley almost scored in the dying moments of regulation time only to be denied by Palos Verdes Peninsula product John Thorrington.

Game story.

Wonder how relevant the two games these clubs have played this season already will be next Sunday?

A Landon Donovan-less Galaxy were abysmal in a 2-0 home loss to Real Salt Lake in June, while a 2-2 draw to RSL the previous month in Sandy, Utah wasn't much better.

Convinced next Sunday's game will have a better outcome?

Then you might want to click here.

In other Saturday soccer news:

* The UCLA men tied San Diego State 1-1 in their regular season finale with Palos Verdes Estates' Kyle Nakazawa getting the equalizer.

*And we have three newcomers to the party in South Africa next year.

Dont forget: We'll find out who the Galaxy play next Sunday at MLS Cup in Seattle - Real Salt Lake or Chicago Fire - at 5 p.m. on Fox Soccer Channel.

(AP Photo)

A below-strength U.S. team lost 1-0 to Slovakia today in Bratislava, Chivas USA's Jonathan Bornstein being called for what was a very harsh penalty decision in the 26th minute (I think this is the moment, above, he 'brought down" Vladimir Weiss). That was Slovakia's only first half shot.

Not a thriller by any means. And no U.S. player really caught the eye, including Eddie Johnson who came out of the international wilderness on as a sub.

Rolling Hills Estates' Robbie Rogers went the full 90 U.S.; Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan came on in the 82nd minute to make his first appearance since the Confederations Cup.

U.S. lineup: 18-Brad Guzan; 6-Steve Cherundolo, 2-Jonathan Spector, 3-Carlos Bocanegra (capt.) (25-Clarence Goodson, 72), 12-Jonathan Bornstein; 19-Robbie Rogers (16-Sacha Kljestan, 82), 5-Benny Feilhaber, 4-Michael Bradley, 8-Clint Dempsey (28-Dax McCarty, 72); 17-Jozy Altidore (32-Jeff Cunningham, 82), 9-Conor Casey (36-Eddie Johnson, 46)
Subs not used: 15-Jimmy Conrad, 35-Marcus Hahnemann

Next: in Denmark Wednesday.

Lineup changes/roster additions are expected.

TV note: The game will kickoff on ESPN Classic live at 11:30 p.m. and then switch over to ESPN2 immediately following the conclusion of the UEFA qualifying playoff match between Ukraine and Greece.

Finally, Friday's college roundup is here.

*The Loyola Marymount men (9-8-2, 4-5-2 WCC) drew 2-2 with Santa Clara Friday, allowing the equalizer with a mere seven seconds on the clock. The Lions remain eleigible for a post-season at-large bid going into Sunday's season finale at Saint Mary's.

(AP Photo)

Galaxy 2 Houston 0

Game story.

The Houston Chronicle perspective.

It was a weird game in a weird season that started with a franchise coming off a worst-ever year, a new coach, 16 or so new players, seemingly interminable and in some cases lucky draws and a very public spat between the team's two superstars.

On Friday, there were two lengthy and disorienting 18-minute power outages (attributed to overly-sensitive floodlights that cut out if there's a power fluctuation) to add to the unusually late kickoff to accommodate TV as well as overtime that led to the game finishing just before 11:30 p.m.

There were unlikely heroes in Gregg Berhalter and Alan Gordon, who drew the penalty that allowed Donovan to nail the goal and sole posession of the MLS record for post-season goals.

This, players proclaimed in word and action, was a team.

Quotable:

"We don't want to end it here," said Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena. "A bunch of you know what we looked like at the start of the year. ... At no time did I think we'd (have a chance to) win the MLS Cup."

"We needed to make a play to kill the game and we made it and they didn't," said Landon Donovan. "We worked on set plays a lot over the past couple of weeks. It should be a bigger part of our game and it isn't. We've got a few guys good in the air and we've got maybe the best server of the ball on the planet, so we want to be better at it and we scored a great goal today.

"You've got to put them away," said defender Gregg Berhalter of his first Galaxy goal that came at a crucial time and was quite the ruthless display of opportunistic finishing the likes of Michael Owen would have been proud of. "It's been a long time coming, seriously," "We're not happy with the fact we haven't scored a lot of goals from set pieces and we scored one today.

Highlights:

Oh, and in other weirdness former Galaxy player Simon Elliott is World Cup bound; New Zealand beat Bahrain 1-0 Saturday to secure a spot in South Africa.

Galaxy 2 Houston Dynamo 0

Who would have thunk it at the outset of this season?

Two extra time goals by Gregg Berhalter (!) and Landon Donovan - his 17th postseason goal, the most in MLS (he was tied with Carlos Ruiz previously) - has given the Galaxy the win before an energized 25,373 even though it's past 11:30 p.m.

And Omar Gonzalez almost scored an own goal with a header off the bar in the final minute of stoppage time, too!

Updated: David Beckham got into a little argy bargy after the final whistle when a Dynamo player refused to shake hands with him and he grabbed his hand anyway. The players were quickly separated. No big deal.

Said Beckham:

"There's nothing wrong with a bit of controversy in a team, in a club, it brings players together and it's done that."

More later.

Landon Donovan just scored from the penalty spot in the 110th minute after Bobby Boswell brought down Alan Gordon in the penalty area.

The goal came from a David Beckham free kick. Omar Gonzalez got a head to it at the far post, it rebounded off Eddie Robinson and came to Gregg Berhalter for his first Galaxy goal - ever - in the 103rd minute.

Update: The half is over with the Galaxy up by one. Fifteen minutes until MLS Cup beckons.

Galaxy 0 Dynamo 0

Two 15 minute halves.

Few clear cut chances in the second half with both teams knowing one mistake could settle this one.

Dynamo sub Luis Angel Landin had the ball in the net in the 80th minute (actually it was Andrew Hainault), but the goal was disallowed for Landin's foul on A.J. DeLaGarza right in front of the net.

A minute earlier a stinging Brian Ching header from 10 yards out was saved by Donovan Ricketts who managed to parry the ball onto the crossbar.

Landon Donovan is carrying a yellow card he picked up in the 90th minute for a foul on Geoff Cameron.

We're about to get under way (again). The lights were off another 18 minutes.

It's the 51st minute of play.

In the 52nd minute and with Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts sprawled on the turf in pain. (He's up, now, but the lights are still off).

Again, I'm told it's another power "dip" and the sensitive stadium lights take 10 minutes or so to come back on.

Galaxy 0 Dynamo 0

This is a helluva game - or at least it has been since the lights came back on, with the Galaxy having the better of the attacking chances and restricting Houston to some long-range efforts.

First, in the 25th minute Stuart Holden cleared a Landon Donovan header off the line.

Two minutes later, Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad made a great save to prevent a 30-yard David Beckham free kick from going into the far corner.

A nice move on the half hour mark between Donovan, Beckham and Edson Buddle ended when Onstad saved a long-range Buddle shot.

Houston have countered with a couple of long-range efforts by Brad Davis. One, in the 31st minute, required Donovan Ricketts to put the ball over the bar.

It's been great stuff, although Beckham and Gregg Berhalter collided in the 36th minute. Beckham has looked uncomfortable since, holding his back - he came out of the Chivas USA game with back spasms you'll recall.

Key stat: the Galaxy lead the Dynamo 8 to 5 in shots.

The floodlights have just failed here at the HDC. (No kidding). It's the 18th minute of the game.

Updated: Since we have a few minutes here it's worth pointing out the Dynamo are keying on the soft spot just inside the left back position of the inexperienced A.J. DeLaGarza and to the left of sluggish central defender Gregg Berhalter. That's exactly where a colleague up in the press box predicted the Dynamo would focus their attacking intentions. It's happened at least twice now.

BTW, it's 8:49 p.m. now - they're saying 10 minutes or so (at least) before the power comes back on.

Galaxy officials say this is a "power grid shift" that caused a power dip, if you followed that.

TV just showed a shadowy MLS Commish Don Garber, who is at the game and apparently in the dark as usual (sorry, couldn't resist).

Updated: We're resuming play - that was about a 19 minute break.

Whatever happens tonight it's the last game of the season at Home Depot Center with a trip to MLS Cup 2009 in Seattle against either the Chicago Fire or Real Salt Lake in the offing for the winner.

Looks like another good playoff crowd gradually filling in with the temperature about 60 degrees and excellent for football.

Just one change for the Galaxy tonight - defender Todd Dunivant is out with an illness, so the coaching staff don't want him to risk for a game that could go 120 minutes. A.J. DeLagarza replaces him at left back.

Chris Birchall is back on the bench after missing the last game against Chivas USA through illness, with Chris Klein retaining his place in midfield.

Galaxy starting XI: Ricketts, Franklin, Berhalter, Gonzalez, DeLaGarza, Klein, Beckham, Kovalenko, Donovan, Buddle, Magee.

The Dynamo also make one switch with defender Mike Chabala out due to yellow card accumulation and Wade Barrett replacing him.

Dynamo starting XI: Onstad, Hainault, Boswell, Cameron, Barrett, Mullan, Clark, Holden, Davis, Ching, Oduro.

Kickoff is at 8:25 p.m. and the game is live on ESPN2.

Plenty of other soccer on TV in addition to tonight's Galaxy-Dynamo game, while local colleges enter post-season play this weekend.

TV best bets
11 o'clock tonight Fox Soccer Channel New Zealand-Bahrain (World Cup qualifier with former Galaxy man Simon Elliot on the NZ squad).
7 a.m. Saturday FSC Slovakia-U.S.
9 a.m. Saturday FSC Brazil-England
12:55 p.m. Saturday ESPND Argentina-Spain
5 p.m. Saturday FSC Eastern Conference final Chicago Fire-Real Salt Lake

College games
UCLA-Boise State 5:30 p.m. today Drake Stadium. (The final UCLA men's game of the regular season against San Diego State follows at 7 p.m.).

USC-Oklahoma State in Santa Clara

CSUDH women-Dixie State (Utah) at noon today at Cal State L.A.

CSUDH men-Sonoma State at 4 p.m. today at Cal State L.A.

8 p.m. Western Conference Final Galaxy-Houston Dynamo Home Depot Center or ESPN2.

Tickets are still available and the Galaxy are selling the upper deck and "hoping for another sellout", according to a club official who e-mailed me this morning. Call 1-877-3GALAXY for tickets.

Actual kickoff is 8:25 p.m., BTW, so fans have a little extra time to get to the game and those who use 190th Street in Torrance should be aware of a possible road closure (although hopefully things will be fixed by tonight)..

Required reading:

* Game preview.

* How the Galaxy got here.

* How the teams match up.

* The dynamic Dominic Kinnear.

* The Galaxy counter with the MLS Coach of the Year.

* The Galaxy also boast the MLS Rookie of the Year.

* The Galaxy strike back.

Required viewing:

Let's hope the Galaxy have a superior performance tonight than the last time these teams met last month.

I plan to blog from the HDC as usual tonight, so join me then.

Reporter Phil Collin follows up Thursday's initial news with a more detailed story in today's newspaper you can read here.

Preki, as usual playing his cards close to his chest, doesn't reveal a whole lot:

"I've been here four years and I think we have done a pretty decent job advancing Chivas to a certain level. We're leaving the club in good hands and in a good way and with a healthy locker room. Hopefully somebody else will take them to the next level."

A healthy locker room?

Essentially then, whether it signifies a lack of commitment from the club or an inability by Preki to "take them to the next level" both sides believed more progress could be made under the direction of a different coach.

Veteran Jesse Marsch, absent from the team late in the season with a concussion, had more to say on Preki than Phil could fit in his story in the print edition, as you can imagine:

"His personality is such that he is never satisfied and that's where many people interpret some of his frustration or surliness at times. He's just the type of guy even when things going really well, say the beginning of this season, who is still never satisfied. He always thought we could do better and that's the nature of any good coach.

"He was an extremely organized in terms of providing expectations and a structure for what the team should look like, especially defensively. The thing I learned the most was defensive responsibility and tactical awareness. That was his bread and butter."

Marsch confirmed he is contemplating retirement after the frustrating end of season injury that seems to plague key Chivas USA players and left him watching the team bow out of the playoffs in the first round to the Galaxy:

"For me personally, I've been very lucky to be very healthy throughout my career and now in potentially what could be my last season to have to sit and watch the guys go on without me and play in a huge series like that and not be able to contribute was very disappointing and frustrating. I still tried to help out every way could - during the week, before the game, halftime.

"I couldn't help but sit and watch the team at a moment and wish that you were out there to provide a little bit of leadership and guidance at the end.

"I'm a little unsure (what's next for me) right now. I'm still dealing with the concussion, trying to recover from that. I hope to get past it and be able to make a clear decision whether I want to play or coach. Once I get to that point, I'll have a better idea."

"If it is to coach, I hope to set myself up the right way, have options and have people feel good about what I can bring."

Here's Marsch on the concussion:

"I've had a few in the past and never really had any lingering effects. This was a bit of a new experience. At first I thought I could push myself to get going, then I realized I was experiencing too many bad symptoms.

"I can be an impatient guy with injuries sometimes. But this is not like a calf injury or a pulled hamstring, where I can push it and still respond. It's something you just have to wait it out, get your head straight and healed before you go again. The worse thing that
can happen is to get a second impact."

Chivas USA could do worse than hiring Marsch as an assistant coach.

The decision on the next coach is crucial for a club still in search of an identity.

Do they go with a "safe," almost institutional choice, perhaps in the shape of former Bob Bradley assistant Martin Vasquez or shake things up with a bigger name?

Fans are reacting here.

Oscar Garcia, Los Angeles; Barry Lightner, Pasadena; Kyle Taylor, Irvine; and Jason Dieguez, Wilmington.

Each wins a pair of tickets to Friday's Western Conference showdown between the Galaxy and Houston Dynamo at Home Depot Center in Carson courtesy of the Galaxy. You can pick up your tickets at Media Check In, at the northwest box office, starting at 6 p.m.

All correctly answered the question: Who scored the only goal this year in the two regular season games between the two teams.

The answer, as everyone of the dozens who submitted answers knew, is Todd Dunivant.

Thanks to all who entered.

Still need tickets for the game? Call 1-877-3GALAXY.

Psst: if you're a Cal State Dominguez Hills student or staff member, the school tweeted this message this afternoon:

GALAXY TIX OFFER FOR CSUDH FAC/STUDENTS... GA FOR $5 FOR FRIDAYS GAME BETWEEN GALAXY N HOUSTON. JUST SHOW SCHOOL ID.

Sweet deal.

The announcement today came after several days of rumors and speculation that Preki could be fired and just days after he had failed to guide the club past the first round of the MLS playoffs for the third consecutive year.

Despite assurances earlier this season that the club didn't want to disrupt the team's slow "building" process under Preki, many fans believed the club was stagnating and change was needed. The contract of the 2007 MLS Coach of the Year was up at year's end.

Indeed, Preki's team seemed to have peaked and even the late-season infusion of several players couldn't save Chivas USA's season - or his job.

"Preki has brought a great deal of success to this team, and is an important part of our history," said Chivas USA Vice President of Soccer Operations Stephen Hamilton. "His dedication and expertise have led us to the playoffs in each of his seasons here, and we owe him our thanks for all he has given the club. We wish him the very best as he moves into the next phase of his coaching career."

Assistant Coach Carlos Llamos takes over until the club names a new head coach.

From the Chivas USA press release:

In his three years as Head Coach of Chivas USA, Preki posted a career record of 40-29-21 (W-L-T) and a winning percentage of .561, the top mark in club history. The team captured the top spot in the Western Conference in the 2007 regular season, with a 15-7-8 record, missing out on the Supporters Shield by just two points.

Preki's parting words:

"It has been an honor to be a part of the Chivas USA family for the last four years," said Preki. "In my time here I have grown as a coach, and I am proud of our accomplishments. While I am excited to take the next step in my career, I will always have good memories of my time with Chivas USA."

Former Galaxy, Chivas USA and Bayern Munich assistant coach Martin Vazquez has been mentioned as a possible successor.

Galaxy central defender Omar Gonzalez, the club's top draft pick out of Maryland didn't miss a game for the Galaxy this year and was literally head and shoulders above other candidates.

From the Galaxy press release:

The 21-year old defender from Dallas, Texas, becomes the second consecutive Galaxy defender to win the award. Teammate Sean Franklin received the honor in 2008. Gonzalez received the most votes in polling of media, MLS players and MLS coaches and general managers. All first-year players in MLS without previous professional experience were considered for the Rookie of the Year award.

The 6-foot, 5-inch, 210-pound, defender was an imposing force on the backline for the Galaxy this season. His size and range were key factors in the most dramatic defensive turnaround in League history, as the Galaxy allowed only 31 goals in 2009 compared to 62 goals allowed the previous season. Gonzalez also scored one goal and added one assist in his rookie season.

Turning to Friday's main event in the form of the Galaxy-Dynamo Western Conference final at Home Depot Center:

*The latest claim is that Grant Wahl's The Beckham Experiment actually bought the team together. Do you buy that?

* The Dynamo expect Friday's game against the Galaxy to be, um, feisty. Hmmm. Let's hope it's more than that.

*Does MLS consistency give the Dynamo the edge Friday? This article claims it does. But, the Galaxy has nine players on its roster who have won an MLS Cup, while coaches Bruce Arena and Dave Sarachan have three MLS Cup apperances between them. And we're not even counting the experienced likes of Eddie Lewis, Gregg Berhalter and David Beckham, who has played 115 games or so for England and been in that World Cup thingie once or twice. He's not been in the MLS playoffs before though. So?

*And speaking of Beckham, England backs his withdrawal from its squad for a friendly this weekend because of the MLS playoffs. That's nice of them.

* Tickets, of course, to the game Friday are still on sale.

Finally, in college action Tuesday UCSB may have ended the season of the Cal State Northridge men (10-8-2) with a 1-0 win in the Big West Tournament..

The Matadors will learn whether their season is extended at 2:30 p.m. Monday on ESPNNews to see if they earn an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament. UCSB advances to face UC Irvine at home in the tournament finals.

The two contests between the Dynamo and the Galaxy this season were tense, tight affairs.

Back on June 28, the Dynamo visited Home Depot Center riding a club-record 11-game unbeaten streak, while the Galaxy were tied with the fewest wins in MLS with New York (seems an eon ago doesn't it?). The Galaxy took three shots on goal and scored on one of them to take the win.

(BTW, the second game between the two teams on Oct. 18 in Houston produced a scoreless tie).

So the obvious question: who scored the only goal the two teams managed in their two MLS contests this season?

E-mail the answer to nick.green at dailybreeze.com by NOON Thursday to win one of four pairs of tickets to the game, courtesy of the Galaxy (do not put the answer in the comment section unless you want plenty of competition for the tickets). Please include the city you live in with your answer. Also, if you won tickets last week you are ineligible to win this week (and you might want to check out the link at the end of the post).

I'll announce the winners here Thursday afternoon.

Friday's game should be just as close, one would think.

Tickets for the game, BTW, start at $24 and are available here.

Galaxy Head Coach and General Manager Bruce Arena, ably assisted by Assistant Head Coach Dave Sarachan, revitalized the fortunes of the once-moribund Galaxy this season and has the team in the Western Conference Final against the Houston Dynamo at 8 p.m. Friday at Home Depot Center.

And deservedly so after leading the Galaxy from worst to first in MLS and adding a second MLS Coach of the Year honor a dozen years after first claiming the award with D.C. United.

From the Galaxy press release:

In his first full season with the Galaxy, Arena helped lead the Galaxy to a 12-6-12 record and a first place finish in the Western Conference, giving the club their first postseason berth since the 2005 season. Arena claimed the award after garnering the most votes in polling of MLS players, general managers, coaches and members of the media.

Arena, 58, was named the Galaxy's head coach on August 18, 2008, replacing the recently departed Ruud Gullit. He helped guide the club to a 2-5-3 record in his 10 games in charge at the end of the 2008 season. Following his initial season in Los Angeles, Arena overhauled the Galaxy roster, with 16 of the 26 players on the club's current roster having joined the club since the end of the 2008 season.

With his new look roster in place, Arena guided the Galaxy to a club record 12 shutouts in the regular season and just 31 goals allowed, exactly half of the league-worst 62 goals that they conceded in 2008. Arena's improvements paid dividends in the attack as well, with the club receiving nine goals and 15 assists from players that he brought in following the 2008 season.

Seattle Sounders FC Coach Sigi Schmid and Columbus Crew Coach Robert Warzycha were the other finalists this year.

BTW, Arena paid tribute to the role the players have played this season after last weekend's game:

"These are special games and on Friday it will be a special game. I'm real pleased to be part of this group. This has been one of my more enjoyable jobs in the last 30-35 years. You come in every day (and) these guys are a pleasure to work with. I think their vested interest in this team has made a difference. They buy into everything."

Also, here's Arena's not-so-secret strategy for Friday night: "Show up."

A more detailed preview is here.

Arena's introduction.

Previous Coach of the year winners:
2008: Sigi Schmid - Columbus Crew
2007: Preki - Chivas USA
2006: Bob Bradley - Chivas USA
2005: Dominic Kinnear - San Jose Earthquakes
2004: Greg Andrulis - Columbus Crew
2003: Dave Sarachan - Chicago Fire
2002: Steve Nicol - New England Revolution
2001: Frank Yallop - San Jose Earthquakes
2000: Bob Gansler - Kansas City Wizards
1999: Sigi Schmid - Los Angeles Galaxy
1998: Bob Bradley - Chicago Fire
1997: Bruce Arena - D.C. United
1996: Thomas Rongen - Tampa Bay Mutiny

It's one of the more pointless awards MLS hands out, but for what it's worth the reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year beat out the Chicago Fire's Brian McBride (who may have stopped playing in MLS, but never stopped playing excellent attacking soccer - is he available next year in South Africa?) and D.C. United's Ben Olsen (who last I heard hadn't really come back and was contemplating retirement because of injury).

But Thornton, 36, is as worthy a winner as they come considering he won his first MLS Goalkeeper of the Year title in 1998 with the Fire, a season in which he also helped the team to both the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup. Thornton won his last significant team honor with the Fire in 2003 when they won the Supporters Shield.

But in 2007 after eight seasons with Chicago, Thornton left and played for three clubs (Colorado, New York and Chivas) in two years and almost found himself out of the game.

Zach is back indeed.

From the Chivas USA press release: Thornton earned the Comeback Player of the Year award due to his strong play throughout 2009 after enduring two difficult seasons in 2007 and 2008. He led Chivas USA to a 13-11-6 record and posted a career best 12 shutouts and 0.87 goals against average, which ranks second all-time in MLS history behind Pat Onstad's 0.82 mark in 2007. His 12 shutouts were one shy of the Chivas USA record, set in 2007 by Brad Guzan, who also earned Goalkeeper of the Year honors in that season. In being named Goalkeeper of the Year last week, Thornton became one of just three players to win the award twice, joining Joe Cannon and Pat Onstad.

BTW, here are the other MLS Comeback Player of the Year Winners over the years:

2008: Kenny Cooper - FC Dallas

2007: Eddie Johnson - Kansas City Wizards

2006: Richard Mulrooney - FC Dallas

2005: Chris Klein - Kansas City Wizards

2004: Brian Ching - San Jose Earthquakes

2003: Chris Armas - Chicago Fire

2002: Chris Klein - Kansas City Wizards

2001: Troy Dayak - San Jose Earthquakes

2000: Tony Meola - Kansas City Wizards

Read it here.

College soccer tournament games announced Monday:
* USC and UCLA women's details here.

*CSUDH women's and men's details here

* Cal State Northridge men

Chivas USA's Jonathan Bornstein and Sacha Kljestan, as well as former Goat Brad Guzan, were named to the 22-player U.S. squad today for games Saturday against Slovakia (10 a.m. Fox Soccer Channel and Galavision) and Denmark four days later (no TV by the sound of it).

From U.S. Soccer::

The U.S. team began training this morning in Bratislava with 11 players, and the second half of the roster will be arriving during the next two days. Bradley will consider making changes to the squad following Saturday's match, when the team will make their first ever visit to Denmark for the USA's 24th and final match of the year. The 24 matches represent the third most games ever in a calendar for the U.S. The team set a record for the most games in official competitions in a year with 21 total, including the 10 final round matches the U.S. played to earn first place in CONCACAF qualifying for the FIFA World Cup and the five games that culminated in the final of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa.

"These matches present a terrific opportunity to continue building on the nucleus of our team, and at the same time evaluate more of the player pool against very good opponents," said Bradley.

And that includes veteran and MLS top scorer Jeff Cunningham, as well as Eddie "last chance?" Johnson.

Squad:

Goalkeepers - Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton), Troy Perkins (Valerenga)

defenders - Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham)

midfielders - Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)

forwards - Jozy Altidore (Hull City), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas), Eddie Johnson (Fulham)

College scoreboard
*The Cal State Dominguez Hills men are still in the hunt for a second consecutive national title; the women's season is not over (see Tuesday's post for updated tournament details). More here

*Palos Verdes Estates' Kyle Nakazawa led the UCLA men Sunday to a second straight Pac-10 title. More here

*The UCLA women beat Washington State 2-0 Sunday in its regular season finale. The Bruins won 16 of their last 17 games to move to 17-2-1, 8-1 Pac-10). The 64-team bracket for the NCAA Tournament will be announced at 5 p.m. today on ESPNews.

*The Loyola Marymount men (9-8-1, 4-5-1 WCC) beat Portland 1-0 Sunday in its home finale.

*The Loyola Marymount women (11-6-2, 3-3-1 WCC) beat Saint Mary's 4-1 Saturday.

*The Cal State Northridge men (10-7-2, 5-4-1 BWC) beat UC Irvine 3-0 Saturday to clinch the fourth seed in the Big West tournament and have a daunting trip to Santa Barbara Wednesday againt top-ranked UC Santa Barabara.

*Pepperdine (11-7-1 3-3-1 WCC).beat San Francisco 2-1 Saturday.

*In Seattle Sunday, it was USC 2 University of Washington 2. The Trojans move to 12-6-2, 4-3-2 Pac-10.

Galaxy 1 Chivas USA 0

Game story

The Houston Dynamo are up next at 8 p.m. Friday in the Western Conference Championship. (live ESPN2).

Notable: This will be the first ever postseason meeting between the Galaxy and Dynamo (the former Earthquakes, of course), which advanced to the Conference Championship today with a 1-0 aggregate goal series win over the Seattle Sounders. The Galaxy beat the Dynamo 1-0 June 28 at the HDC and played to a scoreless draw against them Oct. 18 in Houston.

Quotable:

"I don't screw them, y'know (smiles wryly)," said Dema Kovalenko after being asked what his post-whistle gesture that sparked the melee meant. "It's good to win, y'know. I love winning. I'm very competitive. I don't care. Sometimes I don't think straight when I'm on the field, y'know. But it feels good because we're still playing and there's only four teams left and everybody else home. Nothing to take away from Chivas because they're a good team, have good players, but we're better. That's why we are here, y'know?"

Yeah, Dema, we know.

AP Photo

Here's David Beckham on the effort:

"We defended great tonight, y'know, because after the last game we had to work on a few things. And I thought our back four tonight was exceptional. And when we defend like that there's always a chance we're going to win."

Here's Beckham on his knocks that prompted his substitution:

"It's sore. I got a knee in the back. And I went into (back) spams. Also I twisted my ankle. It will be fine. I'm sure it will be fine, we'll see how it is tomorrow. I've had an injection and a cold bath and I'll have a sleep tonight and maybe a glass of wine to numb the pain."

Here's Beckham on his pass that provoked the PK:

"I've played longer ones before. It's what I do. If I see a pass, maybe I can play it. Maybe that's what caused my back to go into spasms I'm not so sure, but it was worth it anyway."

Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan just tweeted: "bummed we lost...some things are just ridiculous."

Landon Donovan scores from the penalty kick. AP Photo

For columnist Jill Painter's view on Donovan's performance, click here.

Galaxy 1 Chivas USA 0

Chivas ch-ch-chokes (again)

Galaxy advance to play Houston at 8 p.m. Friday in Carson.

Dema Kovalenko made a crude gesture as the final whistle blew toward the Chivas USA bench as if to say, "we screwed you again."

Chivas USA Coach Preki blew his top and tried to get to Kovalenko. That's a league fine for unsportsmanlike conduct, methinks (for Dema, not Preki).

Beckham received a huge ovation as he left the field, BTW. The difference a few months (and wins) make, huh?

More later.

Galaxy 1 Chivas USA 0

David Beckham played a huge role in earning this goal for the Galaxy sending a long, gorgeous crossfield pass from the Galaxy's own half to Landon Donovan who crossed it to Mike Magee.

Magee was brought down - speared really by Yamith Cuesta - as he attempted to control the ball and was rewarded with a penalty kick.

Landon Donovan took it as usual and scored his 16th Galaxy playoff goal in 20 games to leave him tied with Carlos Ruiz for the lead in post-season goals for L.A. MLS and the Galaxy ahead of Chivas USA in this playoff game with 17 minutes left.

It was the Galaxy's first PK since May 6.

Galaxy 0 Chivas USA 0

The Galaxy have had the better of this game so far and by all rights should be leading.

A 25-yard Chris Klein volley from a Landon Donovan cross in the 35th minute was perhaps the best Galaxy chance, requiring as it did an agile punch by Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton to send it over the bar.

David Beckham should have at least got the ball on the frame a minute earlier, but sent his 19-yard shot wastefully over the bar when he was wide open and had plenty of time to set the shot up.

Chivas USA's best scoring opportunity came in the 38th minute when a blistering Sacha Kljestan shot from long range grazed the top of the bar.

How close is the game? Each side has two shots apiece on target, but the Galaxy lead eight to six in shots.

Excellent loud, passionate crowd here tonight with some folks on the berm sitting around a big new sign that reads "Our city our home."

Hmm, think the Galaxy feel a little threatened by Chivas USA?.

Well, my laptop just died so I'm depending on the kindness of coworkers here to blog (sporadically).

Here's the scenario: if the Galaxy win they'll face the Houston Dynamo at home 8 o'clock Friday; if Chivas USA wins they'll travel to Houston for a Sunday game.

There's just one change for the Galaxy today: Chris Birchall has fallen ill (nothing serious I'm told), so Chris Klein replaces him in midfield.

Chivas USA have made two changes from the team that faced the Galaxy last weekend: Shavar Thomas replaces Ante Jazic in defense, while Jesus Padilla replaces Marcelo Saragosa.

Galaxy XI: Ricketts, Franklin, Berhalter, Gonzalez, Dunivant, Klein, Beckham, Kovalenko, Donovan, Buddle, Magee.

Chivas USA XI: Thornton, Talley, Cuesta, Thomas, Bornstein, Lahoud, Nagamura, Padilla, Kljestan, Santos, Braun.

What: Galaxy-Chivas USA Western Conference Semifinal second leg
When: 4:30 p.m. today
Where: Home Depot Center on the campus Of California State University, Dominguez Hills or live on ESPN2.

Looks to be tickets still available at a variety of prices (I just did some cursory checking on Ticketmaster) including $20 spots on the grass berm.

For more on the game read:
* The game preview by Phil Collin.

* More from Saturday.

* About big bucks Becks.

* No one wants PK's to decide this game.

* About the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year.

* A plea for pretty soccer.

* This column to put the game in context.

As usual, I'll be blogging from the HDC.

Sent by a soccer mom:

Subject: Change to End of Game Ceremony

To the players, parents, and volunteers of AYSO Region 17,

One of the most basic and vital components to the AYSO sportsmanship program is the end of game hand-shake/high five line for the opposing teams and the referees. The Board of Directors of Region 17 also considers the health and safety of all our players and volunteers. We find ourselves now trying to balance these two facets.

The cold and flu season is now upon us. To reduce physical contact, Region 17 will now through the end of the Fall Season change the end of game ceremony to lining up at midfield at the end of the match and clapping for the opposing team and saying "thank you" to the referees.

What if players touch during the game? Quarantine?

And if that's what you came here for, scroll down.

With just over 24 hours to go until the Galaxy-Chivas USA Western Conference semifinal second leg (4:30 p.m. Sunday ESPN2) and the teams deadlocked at 2-2 halfway through what is essentially a 180 minute game (although, of course, it could go longer) here's press box colleague Luis Bueno on the pressure on Chivas USA.

Ives Galarcep reaches a similar conclusion here.

Oh, and happy birthday to Chivas USA defender Jonathan Bornstein (who turns 25 today).

Friday's women's college games
Washington 1 UCLA 2

Friday's men's college games
UCLA 1 Oregon 1

Loyola Marymount 2 Gonzaga 1

Cal State Dominguez Hills 2 Cal State San Bernardino 1

Washington State 0 USC 0

And finally, they throw you out of the soccer bloggers club if you don't post this video. If you're one of the three people in the country who have yet to see this check it out:

For perspective, here's the view of Los Angeles feminist soccer blogger Jennifer Doyle.

That second trivia question was a little tougher, apparently.

Far fewer readers could name one of two goalkeepers who had dressed for both the Galaxy and Chivas USA this season than correctly answered the first question.

The answers: Miguel Benitez of Cal State Dominguez Hills and Kevin Guppy of Cal State Northridge. Both were among the pool of emergency goalkeepers MLS keeps on hand to help clubs caught short in that position and both were called up by the two clubs at some point this season.

The winners: Adam Serrano of Arcadia and Far Farshad of Pacific Palisades.

Congrats to both - I've sent you e-mails telling you when and where to pick up your pair of tickets to Sunday's Galaxy-Chivas USA Western conference semifinal decider at Home Depot Center in Carson.

Thanks to everyone who entered the two contests and the Galaxy for providing the four pairs of tickets.

If you didn't win and still want to go the game, click here.

No wonder this man is smiling

LONDON (AP) -- David Beckham earned nearly $16.5 million from personal sponsorship deals during his first full season with the Galaxy.

The England midfielder's latest accounts show that his marketability was unaffected by his move from Real Madrid to the United States, where soccer is less popular.

Newly released figures from the official British company registry show that Beckham's income from his Footwork Productions company in the year ending Dec. 31, 2008, soared by 91 percent from the previous year.

The company's gross profit of $20 million, which rose about 15 percent, includes income from endorsements. That figure is believed to account for two-thirds of the 34-year-old Beckham's sponsorship income.

A separate company, Brand Beckham, receives his $5.5 million basic salary from the Galaxy, the share of the merchandising he generates for the MLS team and joint endorsements with his wife, Victoria, including their range of fragrances.

Beckham joined the Galaxy on a five-year contract in July 2007. Despite the non-renewal of sponsorship contracts with Gillette and Pepsi, his advisers at 19 Entertainment are confident of expanding his off-the-field portfolio.

As well as developing his own apparel range with Adidas, Beckham's management team is looking to secure up to six sponsors in various areas.

Beckham's global appeal is likely to be helped by a second five-month stay at AC Milan
beginning in January, which will boost his chances of going to a fourth consecutive World Cup with England.

Two days until the Galaxy-Chivas USA Western Conference semifinal from Carson's Home Depot Center (4:30 p.m. ESPN2) and the Galaxy blog reports tickets are going fast and the club is considering opening up the grass berm.

Don't have yours yet? Click here.

Suggested reading/listening/viewing:
*Reporter Phil Collin has more on the game here.

*The Galaxy's Chris Birchall, a mid-season signing, is fast becoming a regular on the starting XI. Did he expect that?

*Former Chicago Fire player Jared Montz talks to Chivas USA's Jesse Marsch in a podcast on his blog.

*Can the Galaxy get a goal or two past the reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year?

I'll have more on the game Saturday.

Plenty of other soccer to watch this weekend on TV (click to the right for a full listing).

Saturday's games
6:54 a.m. ESPN2 Tottenham Hotspur-Sunderland
7 a.m. Fox Soccer Channel Aston Villa-Bolton Wanderers
9:30 a.m. FSC Wolverhampton Wanderers-Arsenal
12:45 p.m. ESPND Athletico Madrid-Real Madrid
5:30 p.m. FSC Chicago Fire-New England Revolution
7 p.m. KVEA Atlas-CD Guadalajara

Sunday's games
6 a.m. FSC Lazio-AC Milan
8 a.m. FSC Chelsea-Manchester United
11:30 a.m. FSC Inter Milan-Roma
Noon TeleFutura Houston Dynamo-Seattle Sounders
2 p.m. KMEX Club America-Monterrey

In local college action:
*Cal State Dominguez Hills (stars and all) is in action today.

*But the season is over for the Cal State Northridge women's team after dropping a 2-1 decision to UC Santa Barbara Thursday. Still, the Matadors finish the year with a 10-10 overall mark and a 6-2 league record that's tied for the best conference result in school history.

*The Matador men end the regular season at 7 p.m. Saturday at UC Irvine. Cal State Northridge (9-7-2, 4-4-1, BWC) won 1-0 Wednesday at home against Cal State Fullerton in OT, keeping their playoff aspirations alive going into Saturday's game. From the Matadors press release:

A Northridge victory will give the team enough points to clinch the fourth spot while an Anteater victory will bump Cal Poly from their current position as the second seed and drop them to third place in the standings, giving Irvine an opportunity to host a first-round game.

*The UCLA men UCLA (9-3-2, 4-1-2 Pac-10) return home for a three-game homestand to close the regular season. First up is a 7 o'clock game tonight against Oregon State at Drake Stadium. At 1 p.m. Sunday the Bruins face Washington at Drake Stadium in a game that is free for all veterans and active military personnel (who receive four free admissions with proper ID). In addition, Sunday is AYSO/Youth Soccer Day. Youth soccer team members and their coaches will be admitted free if they're wearing their team jerseys. Moreover, UCLA Alumni Association card holders will receive four free admissions with alumni association card. Team posters will be given away Friday, team photo cards Sunday.

*The Loyola Marymount men (7-8-1, 2-5-1 WCC) close out their season this weekend with games at 2:30 p.m. today against Gonzaga and 2 p.m. Sunday against Portland at Sullivan Field.

Enjoy the weekend.

Feel the passion!

Thanks to the dozens of you who entered the first ticket contest with prizes courtesy of the Galaxy.

The winners: Mike Crandall of Glendora and Kristinne Uy of Rosemead, who win a pair of tickets each to Sunday's big game.

They correctly answered the question: who is the only player to score for both the Galaxy and Chivas USA this season?

The answer, as most of you knew, was Alecko Eskandarian. (Although I did like the person who answered Don Garder, which sounds like MLS Commish Don Garber's Bizarro planet alter-ego).

So for a chance to win one of two more pairs of tickets for Sunday's crucial game (and help the Galaxy fill up the upper deck), let's separate the hardcore soccer fans from the herd since so many of you observed the question was too easy.

You know Eskandarian suited up for both the Galaxy and Chivas USA this season, but did you know two other players accomplished the same feat? Now, neither actually appeared in an MLS game. Both, BTW, are goalkeepers (hint, hint).

Name one of them.

Good luck.

E-mail the answer to nick.green at dailybreeze.com. The deadline is noon Friday. Again, I'll choose two correct answers at random (if there are that many, heh, heh). BTW, credit for this obscure question should go to press box colleague Scott French.

If you don't know the answer, click here.

(Incidentally, this is a helluva RSL-Crew game I'm watching on DVR. Make sure and check out the highlights. Think someone had a point to prove?)

Briefly:

*Don't forget, the second MLS playoff game between the Columbus Crew and Real Salt Lake is scheduled for 5 o'clock today on ESPN2.

*The Cal State Northridge men closed in on a post-season berth Wednesday with a 1-0 victory over Cal State Fullerton with the goal coming in the sixth minute of OT and now hold the tiebreaker over the Titans going into the final game of the regular season Saturday against UC Irvine.

*Riverside's Chad Marshall was named MLS Defender of the Year today (for the second straight year), while referee Alex Prus took the award for MLS officials. The Crew defender is a worthy choice, but I can't help wondering if MLS would benefit from officials like this one:

Well, OK, maybe not.

SuperClasico Playoff Passion (AP Photo)

The game is tied at 2-2.

There will be a winner Sunday whether it's after 90 minutes, 120 minutes or penalty kicks.

And the Galaxy are giving away two pairs of tickets to the game to the person who correctly answers the trivia question: Which player has scored for BOTH Chivas USA and the Galaxy this season?

E-mail answers to me at nick.green at dailybreeze.com. I'll accept entries through 3 p.m. and will then pick two correct answers at random.

I'll announce the winners here, so be sure to check back.

Two more pairs of tickets will be available (and a new trivia question) Friday morning for those of you who don't win today.

Alternatively, you can buy tickets to the biggest game in the short rivalry between the two clubs here.

Sorry for the short notice.

Here's the brief press release I got from the Galaxy just minutes ago:

Galaxy head coach and general manager Bruce Arena and midfielder David Beckham will go "Inside the Locker Room" with the Petros and Money Show on Fox Sports Radio on Wednesday evening. Beckham will be live with Petros and Money from 5-5:30 p.m., with Arena joining the hosts from 5:30-6 p.m. for a full hour of Galaxy coverage on the network.

Fox Sports Radio is available locally on AM 570 KLAC.

The big Zach attack. (AP Photo)

Readers of this blog didn't agree, but Chivas USA's Zach Thornton was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year today, 11 years after first taking the honor with the Chicago Fire.

That time span between awards was undoubtedly one of the reasons the 36-year-old took the honor, beating out the Galaxy's Donovan Ricketts and Seattle Sounders veteran Kasey Keller (both in their first MLS seasons). Thornton equals the feats of Joe Cannon and Pat Onstad in becoming one of only three MLS goalkeepers to win the award twice.

"Whenever you're mentioned in that class of goalkeeper, with [Joe and Pat], you have to feel good about yourself," said Thornton. "To wait this long and to have gone through what I've been through and to be able to win the award again is outstanding."

At one time Thornton was seen as a fading, aging, washed up goalkeeper with youngster Dan Kennedy eagerly waiting in the wings to seize his opportunity.

But Kennedy got injured, Thornton dropped 15-20 pounds at the urging of Chivas USA Coach Preki and all of a sudden Zach was back helped by a very good back four in front of him.

From the Chivas USA press release:

In 2009, Thornton led Chivas USA to a 13-11-6 record and posted a career-best 12 shutouts and 0.87 goals against average, both of which were the top marks in MLS.

Thornton's goals against average this season ranks second all-time in league history behind Pat Onstad's 0.82 in 2007, and his 12 shutouts were one shy of the club record, set by Brad Guzan in 2007.

Thornton became the second Chivas USA goalkeeper to win the award, following Guzan's record-setting campaign in 2007.

Thornton ranks second all-time in MLS in shutouts (70) and wins (125), behind only former Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.

So this seems as good as any segue to mention that Thornton's efforts between the posts are among the 32 nominees (he has two of them) for MLS Save of the Year. The top 10 saves will be announced a week from today, with the winner announced Nov. 18.

Watch the video:

Vote here.

Ooh la la!

Leave it to those Italians.

Juventus' Paolo De Ceglie, left, and Giorgio Chiellini, right, not only gave their shirts to fans in the wake of the Italian club's 1-0 victory over Maccabi Haifa in Israel Tuesday, but their shorts, too. (AP Photo).

I offer this picture not so much so we can ogle Italian bums (although my wife, ahem, begs to differ), but as a vivid reminder that the UEFA Champions League is on again today.

The Arsenal-AZ Alkmaar is behind Sentanta's pay wall, but everything else can be seen on free TV (if you have El Segundo-based DirecTV).

The full schedule is here. Barcelona gets things off to an early start with a game at 9:30 a.m. today on Fox Soccer Channel.

One other note: the U.S. is out of the Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria having lost 2-1 today to the Italians.

And I'm guessing those Italian lads kept their shorts on at game's end.

The backers of Torrance's planned state of the art Futsal facility in a former warehouse on Maple Avenue have signed a lease for the 73,000-square-foot building and are projecting a December opening.

Dubbed South Coast Soccer City, the refurbished building will accommodate five Futsal fields with modular flooring and two artificial turf fields, a 4,000-square-foot training center, four party rooms, a homework room, cafe/lounge and store selling Futsal equipment.

Paul Higgins, president of South Coast Soccer City, said it will be the largest facility in the U.S. dedicated to the fast-growing sport.

"Soccer City will not only help address the lack of fields and playing opportunities for players of all ages in the region, but will help redefine the way young players develop their soccer skills by introducing them to a version of the game that emphasizes creativity, skills and ball control," he said.

Full eight-week leagues should begin Jan. 3, 2010.

"We can provide playing and training time for not only young players and adults, but also create innovative toddler programs, Mommy and me programs and other programs that enhance the soccer experience," said Kevin Gilmore, president of parent company Socal Soccer City Holdings, which eventually hopes to open additional locations in the region. "The fact that we found a location in Torrance is an added bonus given the city's strong soccer tradition and high youth participation levels."

Torrance is the birthplace of AYSO.

For updates on Soccer City, check out their Twitter feed.

And if you haven't experienced Futsal before, take a look at this video:

Read it here.

And don't forget to take the Goalkeeper of the Year poll.

Here's the full list as released today by MLS:

Goalkeeper of the Year
Kasey Keller - Seattle Sounders FC
Donovan Ricketts - Los Angeles Galaxy
Zach Thornton - Chivas USA

Fair Play Finalists - Individual
Kasey Keller - Seattle Sounders FC
Pat Onstad - Houston Dynamo
Steve Ralston - New England Revolution

Comeback Player of the Year
Brian McBride - Chicago Fire
Ben Olsen - D.C. United
Zach Thornton - Chivas USA

Visa Defender of the Year
Geoff Cameron - Houston Dynamo
Jhon Kennedy Hurtado - Seattle Sounders FC
Chad Marshall - Columbus Crew

adidas Referee of the Year
Alex Prus
Ricardo Salazar
Kevin Stott

Rookie of the Year
Stefan Frei - Toronto FC
Omar Gonzalez - Los Angeles Galaxy
Chris Pontius - D.C. United

Coach of the Year
Bruce Arena - Los Angeles Galaxy
Sigi Schmid - Seattle Sounders FC
Robert Warzycha - Columbus Crew

Newcomer of the Year
Kasey Keller - Seattle Sounders FC
Freddie Ljungberg - Seattle Sounders FC
Fredy Montero - Seattle Sounders FC

Volkswagen MLS Most Valuable Player
Jeff Cunningham - FC Dallas
Landon Donovan - Los Angeles Galaxy
Shalrie Joseph - New England Revolution

MLS begins handing out awards Wednesday when the Goalkeeper of the Year and Fair Play Award (Individual & Team) are named.

Not much to quibble about there. Any notable omissions? Surprise contenders? But if Dallas had made the playoffs, Cunningham would have had a strong case for MVP. And did Olsen really "come back?"

The first one is a toughie and has an obvious local angle.

(With apologies to Mr. Thornton for misspelling his surname in the poll).

Supposedly he'll be back in mid-July 2010, after the World Cup concludes.

Beckham found time to take in the Lakers game Sunday after playing in one of his final appearances at the HDC before heading to Italy. Son, Brooklyn, looked unimpressed though. (AP Photo)

He'll join Milan Dec. 28 after the Galaxy's post-season tour and remain with the Italian club through the end of their season in May.

"After the wonderful experience of last season we are very happy to see David Beckham again wearing the red and black colors," said Adriano Galliani, Vice President and CEO of AC Milan. "We are confident his loan spell will not only improve Milan, it will help the player to take part in the World Cup in South Africa and continue to enhance his career in North America with the LA Galaxy. We would like to thank the Galaxy and MLS for their co-operation and understanding."

Here's Becks:

"I need to give myself the best chance possible to make the World Cup squad and playing for Milan on loan will help me to do that," Beckham said. "I genuinely enjoyed my time at Milan and I look forward to meeting the players and staff again. I'm thankful to Tim Leiweke and Bruce Arena for allowing me this opportunity. I'm committed to LA Galaxy and MLS in the long term and remain as passionate as ever about growing the game of soccer in America . I'm completely focused on ending this season on a high note with my club by winning the MLS Cup."

So another season of Beckham-era ticket prices then, but the team will be without Beckham for all but 11 games or so (which is what he managed this season).

A playoff win against Chivas USA - and this shot - eluded the Galaxy and goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts Sunday at Home Depot Center. (AP Photo)

So Chivas USA Coach Preki walks into the press conference after the game and virtually the first thing out of his mouth are the words:

"I guess it was a fun game for the spectators, not so much for the coaches."

Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena (who hadn't hear what Preki said) followed suit:

"Good game for the fans, I'm not sure about the coaches."

And here's David Beckham on the errors: "That's soccer sometimes. There's certain games where there's no errors, but both teams make them. There's nothing wrong with that because there are mistakes made in games. It's about learning from those mistakes and working as a team we will do that. It's entertaining for the public. It's not so entertaining for the managers and the players. When mistakes happen you don't play as you'd like, but that's life."

So that's settled then.

ESPN highlights here.

Game story

Preki was encouraged by the second half play of Maykel Galindo, who had probably his best game in months (years?) for Chivas USA:

"That's the real Galindo that we knew from a couple of years ago. ... I know he still has it and now's the time for him to bring it on."

Here's Beckham on what the team can take away from the contest: "

When we went one-nil down we came back, we showed character. We started the first half really bad especially the first 15 minutes and they scored. And then we come back from that and we regain our composure. And then at the start of the second half they do the same and they get back into the game. We'll look at that. We'll work on that this week leading up to the second game and hopefully we'll put it right."

Here's a polite Beckham on the burgeoning rivalry:

"It grows every time we play, every time we come up against them. It's always good to have that rivalry, it's always good to have that heat our there on the field and it was no different today."

Here's Arena on what lies ahead:

"It was a one-goal win for them or us today. I think the second game is going to be a heck of a contest."

Notable: The 25,218 in attendance was the largest playoff crowd at the Home Depot Center outside of a MLS Cup. The Galaxy expect to have a comparable crowd next weekend.

Chivas USA 2 Galaxy 2

An entertaining if error-ridden game with all four goals coming from unmitigated howlers has ended all square.

Alan Gordon missed a trio of chances for the Galaxy after coming on a as a second half sub that could have made the difference, but Chivas USA had their own burden to bear with striker Justin Braun seemingly intent on giving away virtually every ball he touched.

Highlight of the second half was Paulo Nagamura's stabbing turn and shot that required an agile (as always) Donovan Ricketts to turn the ball spectacularly around the post with a superb diving save.

Next: the Galaxy host Chivas USA at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Home Depot Center.

More later.

Updated:

Trust SI's Grant Wahl to put it in succinct perspective with this tweet: GrantWahl

Let's see: 4 goals, 4 examples of crap defending. LA-CHV looking like CYO game. Beckham's head might explode. 2-2.

Chivas USA 2 Galaxy 2

This is becoming a game when different players are making their worst errors of the season at the worst possible time.

The culprit this time was usually dependable Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez whose poor attempt at a back pass was gratefully intercepted and deposited in the back of the net by substitute Maykel Galindo who has knotted the game a two apiece.

Do Chivas USA have a third goal in the them for the first time in a year?

Chivas USA 1 Galaxy 2

Looks like we have the most entertaining game of the playoffs so far on display here this afternoon in Carson.

The upper deck has filled in nicely, too, which means a good walk-up (must be the quality of those previews this morning).

This game has threatened to spiral out of control a couple of times, with the fast pace contributing to errors in the middle of the park.

Key stat: Chivas USA has just one shot on target, the Galaxy four.

The Galaxy have looked good going up the right hand side of the park with David Beckham especially causing Chivas USA problems.

Nice little bit of showboating from Beckham we haven't seen that much of since his arrival with him clipping the ball with the back of his heel and passing it to himself three times in succession. Effective, too.

BTW, Maykel Galindo has come on at the half for Michael Lahoud.

Chivas USA 1 Galaxy 2

We just saw the Chivas USA screw-up of the season - and now the Galaxy have the lead just before halftime.

An inexplicable hoof back into the penalty box by Chivas USA forward Maicon Santos (was he trying to bicycle kick that ball out of danger?) landed right in front of Landon Donovan, bounced a couple of times, but neither Cary Talley nor Zach Thornton could prevent the Galaxy's leading scorer from claiming the go-head goal in the 41st minute.

We're trying to figure out what Santos was thinking up here; I'm sure Preki is, too.

Chivas USA 1 Galaxy 1

The Galaxy tied it up in the 14th minute when Yamith Cuesta made a terrible hash of what should have been a businesslike clearance of a speculative Landon Donovan header into the box. Instead the Columbian defender completely whiffed on the ball and a lurking Mike Magee had the simple task of putting it past Zach Thornton.

Chivas USA 1 Galaxy 0

A mixup between Mike Magee and Landon Donovan just inside the Galaxy's own half gave Chivas USA possession in the fourth minute that Sacha Kljestan used to good effect to find Maicon Santos, who's deft outside of the foot shot into the far corner gave Donovan Ricketts no chance.

Donovan was at fault for that one is the consensus up here in the press box, although Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez surely gave Santos too much respect and space as well and should have closed him down better.

Sunny and 80 degrees here at the under populated Home Depot Center.

Kick off has apparently been pushed back to 2:25 p.m. to accommodate TV if you're wondering.

It's the same starting lineup this afternoon that both teams fielded for the respective MLS season finales.

Here's Arena's team: Donovan Rickettts, Sean Franklin, Gregg Berhalter, Omar Gonzalez, Todd Dunivant, Chris Birchall, David Beckham, Dema Kovalenko, Mike Magee, Edson Buddle, Landon Donovan.

Preki's starting XI: Zach Thornton, Carey Talley, Jonathan Bornstein, Yamith Cuesta, Ante Jazic, Michale Lahoud, Marcelo Saragosa, Sacha Kljestan, Justin Braun, Maicon Santos.

Give the attacking options off the bench advantage to Chivas USA for this one: the Galaxy have Alan Gordon and Jovan Kirovski in reserve, while the Goats counter with Maykel Galindo and Eduardo Lillingston.

BTW, Shalrie Joseph the New England Revolution have just beaten the Chicago Fire 2-1 in their playoff opener. Joseph, naturally, scored the winner.

This is the game Southern California MLS fans have long awaited.

I'd like to say there's a buzz in the air, a sense of anticipation and tension and plenty of concrete expressions of the rivalry that have temporarily divided friends and families.

I'd like to say that, but it wouldn't be true.

Even soccer fans I've talked to this week are more interested in talking Italian soccer than this first-ever MLS playoff series between intra-stadium rivals.

The upper deck at Home Depot Center will remain empty of fans, a stark reminder of the disinterest surrounding the game.

And I know more than a few season ticket holders who aren't shelling out extra to take in the post-season.

Maybe its the ticket prices (although prices for today's Chivas USA-hosted game are considerably cheaper than what the Galaxy will charge next Sunday) in a bad economy.

Maybe it's the general mediocrity of the teams (and MLS).

Maybe people are just too busy on a weekend where Halloween falls on a Saturday.

Maybe I'm reaching here.

But for whatever reason, I'm just not seeing or feeling the excitement a playoff SuperClasico should bring. Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, Madrid, this ain't - yet.

Perhaps the attention (or lack thereof) is an expression of the quality (or lack thereof) of soccer we can expect to see.

Remember the Galaxy have a 12-6-12 record; Chivas USA finished the regular season 13-11-6.

The Galaxy rank 10th in goals scored in MLS, Chivas USA 12th.

"It's almost at the point now where we want to score so badly, score early and try to kill games off I think guys are maybe over anxious when they get their opportunities instead of just taking their time to place the ball in the net," Chivas USA (and former Galaxy) defender Ante Jazic said. "That final third is just killing us right now."

And of course, we have two goalkeepers ranked in the top six in the league, which is all very well, but fans want to see great goals rather than good saves in general.

One possible key to the game: Galaxy central defender Gregg Berhalter. Expect Chivas USA to try to exploit his lack of mobility and speed.

That's logical, right, Ante?
Answer: "I don't know the game plan yet." (big smile)
Translation: Yes

Follow these links for more info and insight:

* Game preview.

* More on the rivalry between players from The New York Times.

* Chivas USA's ghosts of playoffs past.

* My column from earlier in the week.

And since you've read this far, remember the game kicks off at 2 p.m. on ESPN2.

I'll blog from the stadium as usual.