Chivas USA Friday gameday & Galaxy update

Here’s a Chivas USA game that should interest Galaxy fans just as much for once.

The Galaxy’s closest geographic rivals play the team LA could face in the first round of the playoffs – the Sounders – at 8 o’clock tonight in Seattle live on ESPN2. Or, maybe not.

MLS playoff standings. OK, so maybe that doesn’t clear things up either.

*In any event, reporter Phil Collin has the game basics.

*Here’s more from the Seattle perspective.

*And here’s my column from earlier in the week that compared Seattle and Chivas USA.

*Finally, Phil Collin gives us an update on defender Gregg Berhalter (will he become another of the team’s elderly players to retire at season’s end? Sounds like it to me) and more in his Galaxy notebook. BTW, doesn’t Berhalter’s admission he was sitting around “doing nothing” for a month sound suspiciously like a concussion to you? Yeah, me, too.

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U.S. to focus on 2022 World Cup bid, pulls out of 2018 race

Well, you knew that politically savvy move was coming with World Cup bid decision day fewer than 50 days away.

With England the prohibitive favorite for the 2018 cup this move likely ensures that nation’s support for the U.S. bid four years later and likely much of Europe’s, too.

From the U.S. Soccer press release: The decision comes after several months of careful deliberation with FIFA, UEFA and members of the USA Bid Board of Directors. Four European candidates now remain in the race for 2018 (Belgium/Netherlands, England, Russia and Spain/Portugal). Since the FIFA Statutes indicate that the competition cannot be held on the same continent on two successive occasions, the 2022 campaign will now be between Australia, Japan, Korea Republic, Qatar and the USA.

“We have had an open and constructive dialogue with the USA Bid for some time now, after it became apparent that there was a growing movement to stage the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Europe. The announcement of today by the USA Bid to focus solely on the 2022 FIFA World Cup is therefore a welcome gesture which is much appreciated by FIFA”, said FIFA Secretary General Jrme Valcke.

The FIFA Executive Committee will gather in Zurich on 28 and 29 October to discuss among other items the final voting process for the selection of the host nations for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups.

“We wanted to make the announcement now – still 48 days before the final decision – in order to make our intentions clear during the last part of our campaign. This also enables FIFA to finalize the selection procedures during its upcoming scheduled Executive Committee meeting,” said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati.

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EA Sports FIFA Soccer 11 Takeover Tour comes to LA this weekend

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At the risk of appearing a total shill for EA (I don’t even play FIFA 11 and I’m sure Landon Donovan, supposedly an accomplished player, would metaphorically spit me out like a Chivas USA center back if we faced off video gamely speaking) after this post earlier today the EA Sports FIFA Soccer 11 Takeover Tour comes to LA Friday through Sunday.

That means “a van outfitted with 15 TVs along with 15 PlayStation 3 systems” (now that’s a good thing, what if they were one short?) will give fans the opportunity to play FIFA Soccer 11, receive T-shirts and other prizes, etc.

Which important stop have they neglected this weekend?

Check out the list:

* 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at 6801 Hollywood Blvd. (West of Vine St.)
* 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday at ESPN Zone LA Live, 1011 S. Figueroa St.

* 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the USC-Cal game at an unspecified Coliseum parking lot.
* 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at various bars on Grand Avenue between Sixth Street and Wilshire Boulevard.
* 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at The Cat and Fiddle pub, 6530 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood.

*11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the Best Buy, 11301 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles.
* 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at the ESPN Zone, Downtown Disney, Anaheim.

*Sometime during the day Monday before 3 p.m. (yeah, EA didn’t provide a time) at City Hall Plaza (south side between First and Main streets).
* 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at the Salesian B&G Club, 3218 Wabash Ave., Los Angeles.

Guess they’re boycotting Saturday’s Galaxy-Rapids game at the HDC then, apparently figuring there’s so many more soccer fans at a pointyball college game.

Hmmm.

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Galaxy put grass berm seats on sale for Saturday’s game

That’s always a sign tickets are close to selling out.

The 7:30 p.m. game Saturday against the Colorado Rapids in Carson at Home Depot Center on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills is particularly crucial, of course.

From the Galaxy press release:

Currently four points ahead of second place Real Salt Lake with two games remaining, the Galaxy can clinch their first Supporters’ Shield title since 2002 with a win over the Rapids on Saturday. LA are 17-6-5 through 28 games this season and could become the third team in MLS history to record 60 points in a season by taking four of the final six possible points. They have lost just once in their last six games and are 8-3-2 at home this season.

The two sides met once earlier this season, with former Galaxy forward Alan Gordon heading home a Landon Donovan freekick to give the Galaxy a 1-0 victory at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on May 5.

General admission berm tickets are $24. Call 1-877-3GALAXY.

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Manhattan Beach stars in FIFA 11 ad (& more)

And so does basketball star Steve Nash and the Galaxy’s Landon Donovan in the second installment of the ad series for the recently released EA Sports FIFA 11.

We haven’t seen this much of the South Bay on film since the original “Gone in 60 Seconds” (a must-see for local residents, incidentally).

The ad gag: Nash attempts to gain entry into the EA Sports Pro Player Challenge, a tournament the company has created featuring only soccer players from MLS teams and teams throughout Europe.

The chronologically-minded can see the first installment here.

Part two is here:

*Also, the unprecedented and undefeated start to their conference schedule for the Loyola Marymount men (5-0 WCC) continued Wednesday with a 2-1 overtime victory over visiting San Diego at Sullivan Field. Sophomore David Ponce scored both goals and now has four on the season.

More here.

*The Cal State Northridge men (2-8-2, 1-2-1 BWC) lost 3-1 to Cal State Fullerton Wednesday night at Matador Field.

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Win a copy of Grant Wahl’s “The Beckham Experiment”

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The book is the definitive account of “How the world’s most famous athlete tried to conquer America” as the subtitle reads and is highly recommended.

This is a review copy of the paperback edition that was published just before the World Cup began back in June and has sat on my coffee table untouched ever since (I read the hardcover last year). More about the book is here.

Here’s how to win: simply predict the result of Saturday’s crucial game against the Colorado Rapids at Home Depot Center – the Galaxy could win the Supporters’ Shield with a win – in the comment section of this post.

Here’s the tie-breaker: unless you think the game ends in a scoreless draw or the Galaxy won’t score period, tell me the name of the Galaxy goalscorer(s). That will save me having to pick a name at random if I get a bunch of 1-0 predictions, for instance.

Got it? Include your e-mail address so I can contact you later for your snail mail address if you win. The deadline is 7:30 p.m. Saturday, just as the game is kicking off. One entry per person, please.

Tickets start at $20 for the game, but if you don’t have yours yet click on the link here for a special discount deal courtesy of an excited Galaxy ticket rep who is getting married this weekend and is spreading the love.

Finally, for some extra insight into the game, listen to Galaxy midfielder Chris Birchall at noon today on Joe Tutino’s weekly “Cup of Joe” webchat by clicking here.

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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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Torrance AYSO pioneer honoured

i-2ec6a15d057285af4d0153a694434978-hansplaque0022.jpgPhoto courtesy Del Amo Rotary Club

Two years ago American Youth Soccer Organization founder Hans Stierle was honored by the Galaxy and other groups for his role in introducing hundreds of thousands of children and their parents to the sport.

This year Torrance’s Del Amo Rotary Club, Hawthorne-based AYSO, city of Torrance and the local school district installed a $5,000 plaque on the field where it all began at Jefferson Middle School.

The Rotary Club provided the initial impetus for the project and half the money, said president-elect Carl Kaemerle. AYSO contributed the other half and with the help of Mayor Frank Scotto, a soccer fan and long-time AYSO volunteer, and Torrance Unified School District Supt. George Mannon, the plaque was placed at the main entrance gate to the soccer fields just before the AYSO season began.

Hans’ biography, as provided by the Rotary Club, is reprinted here. In addition, it should be noted that Hans served as the general manager of the then NASL Seattle Sounders in 1983 and in 1996 was inducted into the AYSO Hall of Fame:

Hans Stierle (pronounced Stir-lee) was born in 1932 in Chicago Illinois.

Several years later his parents moved the family to Germany where Hans saw soccer played for the very first time.

After World War II his parents moved back to Chicago and before he regained his knowledge of the English language Hans had convinced neighborhood kids to play soccer. Shortly after Hans started a neighborhood soccer team for 15-18 year olds called the “Viking Juniors” and in 1950 Hans was picked as starting left winger for the Chicago Junior All-Stars.

After his family moved to Southern California Hans was drafted into the Army, and in 1953 he was the starting inside left for 62nd AAA Battalion where his team was the 7th Army Champions in Europe, beating teams in France and Germany. In 1954 Hans was now player/coach/and manager of the 62nd AAA Battalion soccer team, and the 7th Army’s leading scorer. And because of the success of the team, they were invited to tryouts for the U.S Olympic Team.

Hans became founder/coach/referee/and administrator for the Garvey Park Junior Soccer League in South San Gabriel, Ca. in 1961 where he emphasized balanced teams and the “Everyone Plays” philosophy, later to prove integral to AYSO.

On October 13, 1962 he met Christel Feinhals at a soccer dance in Los Angeles and on October 20, 1962 they were married.

In 1964 after Hans and his two sons walked across the street from their home and recruited neighborhood kids to join in soccer practices at Jefferson Elementary School in Torrance and in September 1964 with the help of other soccer enthusiasts the American Youth Soccer Organization was born.

Hans became one of AYSO’s founding fathers. He served as its first chairman and first president from 1964 to 1976.

He also served as executive director and national director of public affairs. He designed the traditional AYSO logo and the “PLAYSOCCER” slogan. In 1991, Soccer America magazine named Hans one of “20 Men of Influence” in American soccer from his 12 years as AYSO president.

Hans and his wife are now retired and living on Vashon Island in the state of Washington, near Seattle.

Incidentally, Hans still attends Sounders games courtesy of old friend Sigi Schmid, now the coach of the Sounders, and one of those boys who played in the first AYSO season more than four decades ago.

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International Roundup: U.S., Mexico, Croatia & more

i-4cabf215786fe978bfad3f968abdc126-movsisyanandorra.jpgPasadena City College product Yura Movsisyan, right, scored in his third consecutive Euro 2012 qualifier as Armenia beat minnow Andorra 4-0 Tuesday. It was the 23-year-old’s third goal in five games for his native Armenia.

The U.S. immigrant, who has a green card and could have played for the U.S., might have been useful in Philadelphia as the U.S. played to a desultory 0-0 draw with Colombia.

The best thing about the game (again): the midfield performance of Jermaine Jones, especially in the first half, who clearly has Bundesliga vision and class.

U.S. lineup: 18-Brad Guzan; 2-Jonathan Spector (13-Eric Lichaj, 46), 5-Oguchi Onyewu (capt.) (16-Michael Parkhurst, 46), 21-Clarence Goodson, 14-Heath Pearce; 19-Maurice Edu (9-Eddie Johnson, 46), 15-Jermaine Jones, 4-Michael Bradley; 11-Stuart Holden (22-Benny Feilhaber, 59), 17-Jozy Altidore, 23-Brek Shea (8-Clint Dempsey, 46)

In other games Tuesday it was:

* Mexico 2 Venezuela 2

* England 0 Montenegro 0

* Croatia 2 Norway 1

*All the results are here.

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Tuesday’s column: Chivas USA teeters on insignificance

i-e339ab3a4a17fb033424f4edde9e4f19-chivasusafans0022.jpgChivas USA: Just add fanaticism (AP Photo).

I remember talking to a colleague at the Home Depot Center press box at one of Chivas USA’s first games watching a section of their fans – the Legion 1908 group – going bananas in a frenetic display of color and smoke and noise.

“The whole stadium will look like that in five to 10 years,” he predicted.

Well, six years in it hasn’t happened yet. And I don’t see many signs it will. Even the numbers of Legion 1908 members, a group that has had issues not only with Galaxy fans, but other Chivas USA supporters, has dwindled.

Their allegiance first is to CD Guadalajara, not the MLS off-shoot.

And that is Chivas USA’s problem as I point out in today’s column.

By the way, striker Justin Braun did indeed sustain a concussion on the weekend and is listed as questionable for Friday’s game in Seattle.

In other soccer news today:

*The soccer soap opera continues south of the border:

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A top Mexican soccer official has quit after a group of players he disciplined sought his resignation.

Nestor De La Torre was the head of national team selections and the third-highest official in the Mexican Football Federation.

A month ago, he handed down fines and suspended 13 players involved in a late-night party following an exhibition game against Colombia.

The players, led by former Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez, who now plays in New York, requested De La Torre’s resignation as a condition to drop their threat to boycott upcoming games.

Mexico plays at home at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday against Venezuela in Ciudad Juarez. The game is live on Univision.

*In other televised games of local interest today:

U.S.-Colombia 5 p.m. ESPN2 & Univision
England-Montenegro, noon Fox Soccer Plus, Euro 2012 qualifier
Seattle Sounders-CD Guadalajara, 7 p.m. Telefutura

For a complete listing of all games, click the Live Soccer TV link at top right.

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