Update: U.S.-Honduras

The U.S. are down a goal and down to 10 men after 19 minutes.

Captain Jimmy Conrad received a second yellow for holding a player in the box as Carlos Pavon took a shot that went over the bar. Conrad had picked up his first yellow for a midfield clip in the sixth minute that frankly looked accidental.

Pavon scored on his second effort from the spot, a low strike just inside the far post after the first was called back for some reason (encroachment, perhaps?).

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Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena named to National Soccer Hall of Fame

U.S. Soccer announced the honor just before kickoff here in Carson.

Arena topped a Builder ballot that also included former Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid, MLS Commissioner Don Garber and D.C. United GM Kevin Payne. Arena was named on 78 percent of the ballots.

Those on the Builder ballot must have had a major impact on American soccer for at least a decade and one is elected annually.

Arena qualifies by virtue of 18 seasons at the University of Virginia that included five national championships, eight years as U.S. coach with a record of 71-30-29 and stints in MLS with three clubs, notably D.C. United, where he won two MLS Cups.

He is also a two-time MLS Coach of the Year.

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U.S.-Honduras Starting Lineups

Welcome to Honduras North aka Home Depot Center, Carson.

A predominantly blue and white clad crowd here tonight at the Home Depot Center.

The U.S. was roundly booed when they ran out to warm-up at about 5:25 p.m.

I’m told about 150 members of the LA Riot Squad are here tonight, which may be the largest single group of Americans in attendance.

Here’s the U.S. starting XI (4-4-2): Troy Perkins, Marvell Wynne, Jonathan Bornstein, Chad Marshall, Jimmy Conrad (capt.) Benny Feilhaber, Kyle Beckerman, Sacha Kljestan, Robbie Rogers, Robbie Findley, Jeff Cunningham.

Bench options: Nick Rimando, Heath Pearce, Clarence Goodson, Brad Davis, Conor Casey, Dax McCarty, Alejandro Bedoya

No room for Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez, unfortunately.

The U.S. will wear all white tonight.

Former Galaxy striker Carlos Pavon is up front for Honduras, who will play a 3-4-3; former Chivas USA midfielder Amada Guevara is in midfield.

The game is on Fox Soccer Channel.

And there’s a special announcement coming up in 20 minutes or so, stay tuned.

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Brummies Dump Donovan’s Everton Out of FA Cup

i-92812e202a591954f8ebd2bbfa32dc7d-LDbirminhamfacup.jpgThe Galaxy’s Landon Donovan may have the ball in this picture of him in action against Birmingham City today, but he apparently did little of consequence with it in a 1-2 Everton loss. (AP photo).

The on-loan Galaxy star lasted 76 minutes before being subbed and I couldn’t find a match report that even mentioned his name.

It was Birmingham’s first win on Merseyside in more than 50 years.

Updated.

Said LD on Facebook:

Tough night. My first FA Cup experience wasn’t the best but fortunately we play again on Wednesday. Need to forget about this and move forward to Sunderland. Thanks to all the Everton fans for all your support…you guys have been great to me. See you Wednesday night.

Everton play Sunderland at home Wednesday, BTW.

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U.S.-Honduras Saturday Gameday

i-f663192c4b372037aa4a0ff8e0d39593-bornsteinj.jpg

As of Friday about 13,000 tickets – about 75 percent of them purchased by Hondurans – had been sold for tonight’s 6 o’clock friendly (live on Fox Soccer Channel) at Home Depot Center in Carson between the U.S. and the Central American nation.

A large walk-up crowd is expected so officials are urging fans to get there early. Especially more Americans.

Still, that means U.S. defender Jonathan Bornstein, right, should have plenty of fans on hand, as colleague Phil Collin points out.

I plan to blog from the game, so if you can’t be at the game check back this evening for updates.

For earlier posts related to the game:

*Here’s how you can buy Bornstein’s boots.

*Check out Coach Bob Bradley’s thoughts on tonight’s opponent.

*More from goalkeeper Troy Perkins, midfielder Benny Feilhaber and others is here.

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Buy Bornstein’s Boots for Haiti Earthquake Relief

Chivas USA and U.S. international defender Jonny Bornstein is auctioning off the pair of boots he wore when he scored a goal for the U.S. on the final day of World Cup qualifying that sealed Honduras’ trip to South Africa and made him a national hero in the Central American nation.

Bornstein, of Los Alamitos, has autographed the boots and put them up for sale on eBay today with 100 percent of the proceeds to go to the American Red Cross to aid in their relief efforts in Haiti.

“The devastation and suffering in Haiti is a tragedy for everyone,” said Bornstein. “One of our teammates, Jozy Altidore, is the son of Haitian immigrants and still has many family members there. It’s heartbreaking to see what is happening, and we hope to be able to help in any way we can.”

The auction runs through Wednesday and bidding has reached $750 as I write this post.

To bid, click here..

And if you’re unfamiliar with Bornstein’s dramatic contribution to Honduran football history, read this from the U.S. Soccer press release:

On Oct. 14, 2009, the final day of qualifying and the end of a journey lasting nearly 18 months, the U.S. had already earned a spot in the World Cup by defeating Honduras four days earlier and was committed to winning first place in the group. In order for Honduras to qualify that day, they needed to win against El Salvador and for the U.S. to at least tie against Costa Rica.

Having secured their victory against El Salvador and watching helplessly as the U.S. trailed Costa Rica with only seconds remaining, their despair turned to incredible joy when Bornstein headed home a corner kick from Robbie Rogers to even the match at 2-2, setting off a jubilant celebration of U.S. fans at RFK Stadium and in the streets of Honduras thousands of miles away. On an emotional night for the U.S. team, the tie ensured first place in the group for the second straight cycle, and lifted Honduras into their first World Cup in 28 years.

Bornstein became an instant celebrity in Honduras, even receiving an invitation to visit through the press from the president of the country. To this day, he gets daily messages of thanks from Honduran fans. There is even a Facebook page dedicated to him called “Gracias Jonathan Bornstein.

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Friday Football

A grab bag of Southern California-related soccer news this morning:

*The MLS off-season is over (sort of). The league permits teams to open training camp today.

Galaxy players will report to Home Depot Center Monday for physicals and fitness work in the gym, but won’t hit the practice field until Feb. 1. The trio of young Brazilians GM and coach Bruce Arena signed won’t be there Monday though; they’re awaiting visas. Chivas USA opens camp Tuesday.

MLS clubs must be roster (and salary cap) compliant, with 20 senior players and four developmental, by March 1.

Look for the complete MLS schedule to be released in the first week of February. And as of Wednesday, players under contract in other countries may be signed by MLS clubs through April 15.

*U.S. Coach Bob Bradley was asked whether Landon Donovan playing in the EPL against English players the Americans will see in their opening World Cup game is a good thing. Um, yeah.

*Hotshot UCLA striker Sydney Leroux scored a brace and was named player of the game as the U.S. crushed Jamaica 6-0 Thursday in its opening CONCACAF qualifier for the U-20 World Cup. Game details here.

*PDL team the Ventura County Fusion will play against the Mexican Under-21 team at 7:30 tonight at Buena High School in Ventura, 5670 Telegraph Rd. Tickets are $20 adults, $10 kids under age 12. Kids under the age of six get in free.

*As always, click the link at top right for an exhaustive run-down of the weekend’s games, but I’ll be paying special attention to:

Chelsea-Preston North End 4:30 a.m. Saturday (FA Cup fourth round) Fox Soccer Channel

Fulham-Accrington Stanley 7 a.m. Saturday FSC (giant killing possibility?)

Leeds United-Tottenham Hotspur 9 a.m. Saturday FSC (the leaders of League 1 play an EPL outfit)

Tigres-CD Guadalajara 5 p.m. Saturday KVEA

U.S.-Honduras 6 p.m. Saturday FSC

And there’s two big derbies Sunday: Inter Milan-AC Milan 11:30 a.m. on FSC and River Plate-Boca Juniors at 5 p.m. for those of you who get Fox Sports Espanol.

I’ll blog from the U.S.-Honduras game Saturday so check back in then (or better yet if you’re local, come on down; I suspect the U.S. could use the support).

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Chivas USA to Midfielder Kevin Harmse: “We Hardly Knew Ye”

Canadian midfielder Kevin Harmse, the former Galaxy player Chivas USA acquired from Toronto FC last season, but who arrived with a right knee injury and never played a game for the club, is gone.

His rights were traded Thursday to the Houston Dynamo.

Chivas USA got a conditional third of fourth round draft pick out of the deal.

I seem to recall being told Harmse had a girlfriend who aspired to be an actress (or something), which is why he wanted to come back to Southern California. So assuming they are still together, this is likely more of a crushing blow to him (or her) than a club he never kicked a ball for in a competitive game.

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Bradley: Beasley Still has Chance of Making World Cup Squad

i-216deeedfc1aacb19a6b81f7066862d8-Beasleyfile.jpgIs MIA DaMarcus Beasley, seen here at the Confederation’s Cup last summer, worth a U.S. roster spot in South Africa? (AP file photo).

I was unable to make it out to the U.S. Men’s National Team training camp in Carson today, but the Associated Press filed this report:

CARSON — U.S. coach Bob Bradley sounds willing to consider midfielders DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu for his World Cup roster.

The U.S. will be missing many of its regulars for its 2010 opener, an exhibition against Honduras on Saturday night, and for a Feb. 24 match against El Salvador on Feb. 24 in Tampa, Fla.

Far more significant is a March 3 game against the Netherlands in Amsterdam, the last game before Bradley selects his 23-man World Cup roster.

Beasley, a veteran of the past two World Cups, hasn’t played for the national team since a poor performance against Brazil at last June’s Confederations Cup. Last month he scored his first two goals for Glasgow Rangers since April 2008, then
strained a thigh muscle.

“It was nice to see DaMarcus after a period when he wasn’t seeing much playing time at Rangers work his way back into the fold,” Bradley said Thursday. “Obviously, he’s had a little setback with this injury but, hopefully, that’s not going to be a big one.”

Edu, Beasley’s Rangers teammate, returned to first-team action Dec. 27 for the first time since injuring a knee ligament on May 24.

“It’s great that he’s back,” Bradley said. “That’s a good example I think of a guy that we’ve got to look at closely to see exactly where he is in the next few months.”

While the Honduras match is a vehicle for players from Major League Soccer and Scandinavian clubs, the March 3 game will be played on an international fixture date and should draw from virtually the entire player pool.

“It’s the one opportunity we have for the group as a whole to be together before May, and so I think that time, just to set the tone for May is important. I think in certain cases there will be some players that now you’re still a little bit unsure of,” Bradley said. “The more guys that you have that are now healthy, playing, certainly that may mean that it’s a little tougher in some cases for decisions, but those are good problems to have.”

While Beasley and Edu could be called in for the Netherlands match, the U.S. will be without midfielder Clint Dempsey, who injured his right knee Sunday playing for England’s Fulham.

After fearing initially that he might have torn the posterior cruciate ligament and needed surgery, the Cottagers said Tuesday that damage was moderate and that he should return before the end of the Premier League season in May.

Still, Bradley doesn’t know exactly when Dempsey will be able to play.

“I don’t think anybody wants to give a time frame at this point,” he said. “I’m not the doctor. I’m not the trainer.”

Bradley also won’t have Oguchi Onyewu back by the Dutch game. The AC Milan defender is recovering from knee surgery in October.

“I think one of the hopes is that he’d be ready to get back into regular training in March,” the coach said. That means the earliest Onyewu could play in matches would be in April.

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Stupid Beckham Tricks

i-b2746aecaf63485d942813cae71a76ee-Beckhammoreshorts.jpgSorry, couldn’t resist the story below. And if Beckham insists on doing this sort of thing as he did in a game earlier this month against Juventus, who can blame excitable Italian women for, um, indiscriminately grabbing things. (AP Photo).

MILAN (AP) — An Italian television channel has apologized for a prank in which a female presenter attempted to grab David Beckham between the legs.

The AC Milan midfielder was visibly angered when Elena Di Cioccio, who fronts the popular show “Le Iene (The Hyenas)” on Italia Uno, made her move while the soccer player was being interviewed by another person Wednesday.

Security immediately hustled the 34-year-old Beckham into a nearby hotel.

Beckham has started all three league matches for AC Milan in 2010 while on loan from the Galaxy and is expected to play in Sunday’s derby against Inter Milan.

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