Clubs Release Lists of Players Available in Wednesday’s MLS Expansion Draft

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.

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InterLiga Teams, Schedule Announced & More

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.”

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Sunk in Seattle

Real Salt Lake 5 Galaxy 4 (SO)

i-29546e8f125aba17f06b004482567830-mlschampions.jpgAP 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.

i-f8fdbc526a39127c030c6344f81fdf6a-oldbecks.jpgDavid 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.

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Twittering in Seattle

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: Guy in the sunglasses at right has been rallying Galaxy fans on Twitpic

Another:RSL fans in the majority at March to the Match. 2nd: Sounders... on Twitpic

One more: First guy in line at #MLS Cup on Twitpic

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: Still proud on Twitpic

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: Share photos on twitter with Twitpic

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Sunday Soccer in Seattle: MLS Cup 2009

Qwest Field Awaitsi-9259c2848f38a1f9f2661dc34342d1e1-seattlesoccer.jpg(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:i-dee715966b6b92f05857872fd0522dcb-mlslogo20002.jpg

* 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.

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Sampson, Schmid, Chivas USA & Baseless Rumors

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). i-96d9c032a139ca2edc6fdfae5a1048c8-r Chris Henderson.jpg

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?

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Predict the Score of MLS Cup, Win a Soccer DVD

i-7d2b16a087465f7c3d24cfd735d9eab1-MLSCUpDVD.jpgThe 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.i-498ac1352c8a60052519d85b037d340c-donovandribbles.jpg

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.

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Friday Football MLS Cup Edition, Soccer Hookers & More

i-dee715966b6b92f05857872fd0522dcb-mlslogo20002.jpg

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: i-1c0c7a8be27ef8cf051b4660f1ae22b1-spaceneed0002.jpg(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.

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