Wednesday Kicks: Bad Gordo, Women’s U.S. WC qualifying roster announced & more

*Chivas USA striker Alan Gordon will miss two of the club’s last three games after the MLS Disciplinary Committee today decided the former Galaxy striker deserved additional punishment after he was given a 74th minute yellow card during last weekend’s game against Toronto for “endangering the safety” of defender Adrian Cann.

From the MLS press release:

After reviewing the incident, the MLS Disciplinary Committee unanimously decided that the action constituted violent conduct, a red card offense, and that Gordon should be suspended for two games and fined $1000. Gordon will serve his suspension during Chivas USA’s next two regular season games: Friday at Seattle and Oct. 20 at San Jose.

*Torrance’s Shannon Boxx heads a “relatively” inexperienced 20-player roster U.S. Women’s National Team Coach Pia Sundhage named today for the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifying tournament, set for Oct. 28-Nov. 8.

I say “relatively” because just seven players on the roster have previous Women’s World Cup qualifying experience, led by Kristine Lilly, who is the USA’s all-time leader in qualifying appearances with 14 and boasts a world record 349 caps. But half the roster was involved in the Olympic qualifying tournament two years ago in Mexico.

However, there is no room for 20-year-old UCLA scoring sensation Sydney Leroux, who has 30 goals in 36 appearances at the Under-20 level.

The squad:

goalkeepers – Nicole Barnhart (FC Gold Pride), Jill Loyden (Chicago Red Stars)

defenders – Rachel Buehler (FC Gold Pride), Stephanie Cox (Boston Breakers), Ali Krieger (FFC Frankfurt), Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), Heather Mitts (Philadelphia Independence), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (Washington Freedom)

midfielders – Yael Averbuch (Sky Blue FC), Shannon Boxx (FC Gold Pride), Kristine Lilly (Boston Breakers), Lori Lindsey (Philadelphia Independence), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC), Heather O’Reilly (Sky Blue FC), Megan Rapinoe (Chicago Red Stars)

forwards – Lauren Cheney (Boston Breakers), Alex Morgan (California), Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence), Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom)

*Forgot to note previously that the Seattle Sounders, which plays Chivas USA Friday, beat CD Guadalajara 3-1 Tuesday and now has the opportunity for an unusual double over teams clad in Red and White stripes.

*The Galaxy hosts a five-a-side soccer tournament Saturday at the new Goals Soccer Center in South Gate. The $5.5 million facility opened in June. More info is here.

*San Diego’s Boca FC plays a friendly 7 p.m. Tuesday at Balboa Stadium against Cuauhtmoc Blanco’s CD Irapuato of the Mexican Liga de Ascenso. Tickets are $20 in advance and are available by clicking here.

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About Nick Green

South Bay-based Los Angeles News Group soccer columnist and blogger Nick Green writes at the 100 Percent Soccer blog at www.insidesocal.com/soccer and craft beer at the Beer Goggles blog at www.insidesocal.com/beer. Cheers!