Live: New England Revolution (2-2-3) at Chivas USA (1-2-3) from Home Depot Center

Final: Chivas USA 3 New England Revolution 0

I cannot wait to hear what Steve Nichol says about his team after this game.

A truly awful showing by New England and one that Chivas USA gratefully capitalized on to move to 2-2-3 and sixth place in the Western Conference.

Still, Chivas USA are steadily improving.

Moreno appeared to be struggling by the end of this game so we’ll see what is ailing Chivas USA’s leading scorer – he has three goals on the season.

More later.

Updated

How did Chivas USA not make it four in the 71st minute? Alejandro Moreno just missed converting a cross by Zarek Valentin with a lovely behind the back back heel attempt at the near post, that a befuddled Kevin Alston knew nothing about, but that goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth saved. The ball rebounded to Jorge Flores who should have – but didn’t – finish the chance, allowing Shuttleworth to make a grateful second save.

Updated

We just saw a candidate for the worst defensive play of the year in the 57th minute when Shalrie Joseph received the ball about 12 yards out in the penalty box and proceeded to pass it back (!) to Didier Domi, who was practically standing on the goal line and whose incredibly poor first touch allowed the ball to skip into Moreno’s path who slipped it home. I guess Domi’s years of European experience came in useful there (ahem).

Revs Coach and former Liverpool defender Steve Nichol could not believe his eyes on the sideline. What was Domi thinking? What was Joseph doing? Bizarre. A complete gift to Chivas USA who the Revs are making look damn good.

Updated

Slightly surreal moment. The referee awarded Chivas USA a penalty in the 54th minute apparently after initially believing a Revs defender had handled the ball. He hadn’t. It was clearly Aly Moreno who had touched the ball and after the ref consulted with the assistant referee the decision was reversed.

Updated

Chivas USA have gone up two up just before half time with a well-worked move up the left wing that ended with Jorge Flores sending a long ball wide to Alejandro Moreno, who shrugged off the attentions of a defender to cross the ball to a waiting and unmarked Marcos Mondaini, who stabbed the ball home from close range.

That’s the way it ends at the conclusion of the first 45 minutes.

Key stat: The Revs have one shot on goal, Chivas USA four.

Updated

The New England defense is looking shaky. Marco Mondaini spotted Ben Zemanski making a well-timed run in the 35th minute sending a defense-splitting chip that put him through alone on goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth. However, Zemanski’s glancing header was parried wide for a corner.

Updated

Nick LaBrocca scored the first goal of his Chivas USA career in the 22nd minute, heading home a Ben Zemanski cross from the near post. The Revs defense appeared to stop for a minute believing the ball Zemanski received via Alejandro Moreno from a Zarek Valentin on the right wing had gone over the endline. It hadn’t.

***************************

Trivia question: When was the last time Chivas USA played the same lineup for two successive games?

Answer: Even the Chivas USA PR staff didn’t know off the top of their heads.

I guess that’s what happens when you win – and Chivas USA beat the Earthquakes in San Jose last weekend: Dan Kennedy-Zarek Valentin, Andrew Boyens, Heath Pearce, Ante Jazic- Ben Semanski, Simon Elliott, Nick LaBrocca, Jorge Flores-Marcos Monaini, Alejandro Moreno.

Justin Braun is among the options Coach Robin Fraser has on the bench, as is Panchito Mendoza.

Here’s the Revolution line-up, which does features some changes from the team that beat Sporting Kansas City 3-2 last weekend: Bobby Shuttleworth-Kevin Alston, Franco Coria, A.J. Soares, Didier Domi-Zak Boggs, Benny Feilhaber, Shalrie Joseph, Kenny Mansally, Rajko Lekic, Zach Schilawski

Kheli Dube is on the bench.

The game is on Fox Sports West.

Refresh this post for updates throughout the game.

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Soccer Saturday: Chivas USA, Galaxy – and Vikings

*Reporter Phil Collin has a preview of the Galaxy and Chivas USA games this weekend.

*At tonight’s game at Home Depot Center against the New England Revolution, Chivas USA fans will have the opportunity to run the rule over the player the club took a pass on: Southern Californian Benny Feilhaber.

*The Galaxy’s Landon Donovan and Todd Dunivant and Mike Magee planted the seeds of literacy at a Carson school Friday.

*Operating from a home field at Carson’s Cal State Dominguez Hills, the Viking Soccer Club has formed the Los Al Vikings and entered the team in the Women’s Premier Soccer League, which begins play later this month.

It’s the second South Bay-based WPSL team; Ajax America have long played at Nansen Field in Rolling Hills Estates.

Los Al’s roster includes forwards Nadia Link and Marysol Rosas (Cal State Long Beach) and Evelyn Vasquez (Cal State Northridge); midfielder Karina Jahn (Cal State Dominguez Hills); and defender Jenny Soza (Cal State Long Beach) and former South Torrance High goalkeeper Alyssa Congdon (Cal State Dominguez Hills)

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Friday football: Galaxy wedding royalty & more

i-a71abc7e206e8e815421150f49b50b68-preggersbecks.jpg Not amused: A pregnant Mrs. Beckham does her best Queen Victoria impression as Galaxy midfielder and hubby David Beckham pats her tummy today before the wedding of Britain’s Prince William and Kate Middleton at London’s Westminster Abbey (AP Photo).

*Before you ask, yes, David Beckham will be in uniform when the Western Conference-leading Galaxy (4-1-3) plays at seventh-place Dallas (2-3-1) Sunday (live 4 p.m. FSN).

*Injury-plagued Chivas USA, (1-2-3) meanwhile, faces a rapidly-evolving New England Revolution (2-2-3) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Carson.

Goats fans will have a chance to see the player the club decided to take a pass on: Benny Feilhaber.

*The new USL Pro LA Blues (3-0-1) return from a season-opening four-game road trip to the Caribbean to face Antigua Barracuda FC at 5 p.m. Sunday at Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Stadium. The first 300 fans in attendance at their first-ever game will receive a free 2011 Los Angeles Blues schedule poster.

The game can also be seen live here.

*Finally, my don’t miss game of the weekend – Arsenal-Manchester United, 6 a.m. Fox Soccer Channel.

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

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Blatter: I will reform FIFA

i-a59bd4a0e1e97e4b1f9d6beb9e7ac0c4-blatterhands.jpgThe always reform-minded Sepp Blatter (AP Photo).

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Guess ole’ Sepp has been paying attention to the turmoil in the Middle East. Still, he wants to appoint a watchdog committee? Isn’t that the foxes guarding the proverbial henhouse:

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — FIFA President Sepp Blatter promises wide-ranging reforms if re-elected, including the way World Cup hosts are chosen.

Blatter told the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine he also will set up a watchdog committee to supervise how FIFA works and “restore the credibility” of soccer’s governing body.

The 75-year-old Swiss is seeking a fourth term of office on June 1. His lone opponent is Asian Football Confederation President Mohamed bin Hammam.

Blatter said the selection process for World Cup sites should be similar to that of the
International Olympic Committee for Olympic venues.

FIFA was criticized for the way its last two World Cup hosts were picked — Russia (2018) and Qatar (2022). Both decisions came at the same time, with two executive committee members barred from voting by FIFA’s ethics panel because of corruption allegations. Four other senior officials were also suspended from duty.

“It’s a project I’ve had at the back of my mind,” Blatter told the paper. “I would like to
(follow) the example of the IOC, to prevent what happened.”

Blatter wants the executive committee to review 10 or 12 bids, narrow the field to the best candidates and let FIFA’s congress choose the winner.

The full congress includes 208 FIFA members — each representing a national association — who would all have one vote. Until now, World Cup hosts have been chosen by the 24-member executive committee.

Blatter said he wanted to introduce a body designed to help bolster FIFA’s standing. He said he already knew whom he wanted to lead the body.

“I can’t tell you the name yet. He will choose the other members,” Blatter said. “They should be familiar with football but their priority will be to restore credibility.”

The members would not come from within soccer, he added.

Looking toward the election, Blatter said he questions the motives of his opponent.

“I don’t know why Bin Hammam became so aggressive suddenly. He repeatedly told the executive he would not run against me and now he is doing it,” Blatter said. “I imagine that I have about the half votes from Asia and Africa and surely a majority in the rest of the world.”

Blatter said he was also willing to publish the salaries of FIFA officials, “if the congress
so decides.”

“Compared with international companies listed on the stock exchange, we are school kids as far as salaries are concerned,” he said.

The interview is set for publication Saturday. The newspaper published excerpts online
Friday.

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The bad, the ugly and the good

With apologies to Sergio Leone.

*The bad: Former Galaxy man Brian Mullan received a ban today tied for the longest in MLS history when he received a 10-game suspension (including the automatic one-game ban for drawing a red card) and a $5,000 fine, the league announced.

Mullan broke the leg of Seattle’s Steve Zakuani in two places in the third minute of the game between the Sounders and Colorado last Friday with a challenge that was more assault than tackle.

The MLS Disciplinary Committee said Mullan’s challenge was “reckless, egregious, and showed utter disregard for the safety of his opponent.”

*The ugly: Wasted chances (including two sitters that should have found the back of the net), no Kyle Beckerman and a superbly taken, swift goal of the type MLS defenses just don’t see very often scuppered Real Salt Lake’s chances last night of defeating Mexico’s Monterrey for the CONCACAF Champions League title.

RSL players were visibly upset after the final whistle as if they had lost the opportunity of a lifetime. But good teams pick themselves up, regroup and try again. RSL are so obviously the class of MLS I don’t think we’ve seen the last of them in this competition.

And if it’s any consolation to Galaxy fans, that club remains the last U.S. team to lift the equivalent trophy 10 years ago.

*Finally, the good. If you haven’t seen Lionel Messi’s second goal for Barcelona against Real Madrid in the opening leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal Wednesday, you’re in for a real treat as he either beats or evades half a dozen of the opposing players (and his first wasn’t bad either):

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Thursday Kicks: A greener Chivas USA & more

i-401eb03870f588cc7bb8057e2341a317-greengolssmall.jpgGreener goals: Jorge Flores and Heath Pearce model the environmentally aware jerseys Chivas USA will wear at Home Depot Center Saturday.

*Chivas USA will wear a special uniform for Saturday’s match against the New England Revolution as part of the club’s month-long “Greener Goals” campaign for environmental awareness that feature green numbers and lettering.

Other environmentally-themed activities surrounding the 7:30 p.m. game include the presence of the Aquarium of the Pacific’s “Aquarium on Wheels,” a mobile tide pool exhibit and the distribution of 5,000 special edition stainless steel water bottles to fans as they leave the stadium.

*Galaxy forward Juan Pablo Angel is featured at 10 o’clock tonight and Sunday on Fox 11’s “Wednesday’s Child” segment.

The weekly adoption awareness feature pairs Angel with 16-year-old Osvaldo, an avid soccer player and fan who spent time with Angel after a recent Galaxy training session.

*Long-time Pasadena City College soccer coach Warren Altounian has died.

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The most important game in MLS history is tonight

57373-ccllogo.jpgFirst off, for those wondering where the third installment of the Barcelona-Real Madrid opus will be shown at 11:30 a.m. – it’s on FX (Channel 248 for those with DirecTV) in something of a first.

But no matter how good the likes of Lionel Messi is – and he’s damn good – and despite the prospect of a mouthwatering UEFA Champions League final ahead, the eyes of American soccer fans should be firmly fixed tonight on Salt Lake City.

“I don’t think it gets much more bigger than this,” Nat Borchers said Tuesday on a conference call. “We’re up for it, we’re ready and we know what’s on the line.”

Kick off is at 7 p.m. on Fox Soccer Channel. There’s no excuse not to watch – there’s no game 7 for the Kings and neither the Dodgers nor Lakers are playing tonight. So do what I’m going to do -walk into your favorite bar and request they tune into the game if they haven’t already and spread the soccer gospel. I’ll be at the Red Car Brewery in Old Torrance if anyone cares to join me.

Our colleagues at sister paper The Salt Lake Tribune produced a special eight-page section in recognition of the occasion today so there’s plenty to read.

RSL is confident, despite the loss of the influential Kyle Becklerman, who is suspended for the game.

Notable: RSL’s 37-game home unbeaten streak includes 10 games that Beckerman did not play in, club officials observe.

Here’s a video primer for tonight’s game:

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Monday kicks, licks & tix

*The unbeaten in five Galaxy list Miguel Lopez (left knee contusion) as questionable for Sunday’s clash with a David Ferreira-less FC Dallas Saturday in Texas.

*To get your cheap LA Riot Squad tix click here. Easy.

*With a chronic problem looming (why am I depressingly reminded of Playa del Rey’s John O’Brien?) Chivas USA’s Blair Gavin went to Europe to consult with an expert on hamstring issues.

*Chivas USA celebrates the traditional Mexican holiday of “Dia Del Nino” against the New England Revolution Saturday when kids get in free with the purchase of two adult tickets for $30.

*Factoid: fans have scooped up more than 40,000 tickets for the U.S. Men’s National Team’s game against World Cup winners Spain June 4, making this one of the fastest-selling games in U.S. soccer history.

*The Home Depot Center training fields will be busy the next few days with three week-long U.S. women’s camps – U-17, U-20 and U-23 – opening Saturday; 72 of the top young players in the country are attending in all.

Locals involved include U-17 forwards Kayla Mills (Slammers FC; West Covina) and Amber Munerlyn (So Cal Blues; Corona) and U-20 defender Megan Erskine (San Diego State; Ventura).

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Weekend rewind: Who’s the rabbit & more

If you need to get caught up on soccer news after the Easter weekend, you’re in the right place:

*The Galaxy’s Landon Donovan was named MLS Player of the Week today after his brace in Saturday’s win over the Portland Timbers.

*The Galaxy reserves lost on Sunday, however, to the Timbers. (That’s academy products and subs Justin Dhillon replacing Frankie Hejduk and English-born defender Matt Tilley replacing Bryan Jordan in case you were wondering).

Via the Galaxy:

Rancho Santa Margarita resident Dhillon plays for the Galaxy’s U-16’s, where he’s scored seven times in 12 games, while Tilley, who recently joined the Academy program and now lives in Irvine, has scored once in his five games with the U-18’s.

*Chivas USA, meanwhile, saw the senior squad beat the San Jose Earthquakes, but the reserves fall, 3-1.

*Could former Real Madrid star Guti be coming to the Galaxy or Chivas USA? He tweeted this weekend (translated by Google):

“Los angeles, new york to istanbul are my target for the year qque coming but still I have nothing decided in a month will decide all”

*Former Galaxy star Herculez Gomez, the streaky LA native, scored yet again this weekend and now has four goals in four games for Pachuca, which tied Queretaro, 1-1.

*Lawndale’s kei Kamara had two goals in a losing cause as 10-man Sporting Kansas City blew a one-goal lead to lose 3-2 Saturday to the New England Revolution. Chivas USA nearly man Benny Feilhaber had an assist in his first game for the Revs after returning from Europe.

*Torrance’s Shannon Boxx has played on three WPS teams that folded. Now she’s playing for the weirdest team in the league.

*It turns out 19-year-old Loyola Marymount University soccer player David Kucera died in January from a “genetic disease that is the single most common cause of death for young athletes.”

This picture is from Victoria Beckham’s Twitter feed: Wonder who it is?

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