Monday Video Wrap: Chivas USA Became the Highest-scoring Team Sunday in Major League Soccer

Yep, last year’s lowest-scoring MLS team with just two dozen goals all year is now the most prolific team in the league (albeit through just four games).

And while the Chicago Fire capitulated pitifully Sunday, Chivas USA still had to take their chances in the 4-1 win before fewer than 10,000 — and did so admirably (Juan Agudelo’s international class goal that showcased his timing, strength and finesse is especially worth checking out below).

Chivas USA coach Chelis appreciated the gift: “We had a lot of luck. We won because we scored goals, it is as simple as that. I never thought I would have told you this but we won because we scored two goals. They played with a lot of bad luck, a lot of bad luck. They did a lot to try and score the first half and nothing. We had five opportunities, and scored on four.”

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Ireland Keane World Cup Qualifying Injury Now LA Galaxy Concern

It’s a club’s nightmare when your captain is injured while on international duty.

That’s what happened to LA Galaxy striker Robbie Keane today, forced to withdraw from the Ireland squad for this week’s World Cup qualifier because of injury.

And now the MLS team must assess the severity of the injury a day after they started an all-teenage strike force Saturday night against the Colorado Rapids.

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Snowy Saturday Soccer: USMNT, LA Galaxy, Chivas USA & More

There’s no escaping the weather this weekend, unless you’re the Colorado Rapids, in town tonight to meet the Galaxy at Home Depot Center in Carson. 

More here.

Back home, below are the farcical scenes that greeted Costa Rica in Denver, where it was the Americans that scored the lucky and deciding goal Friday of the World Cup qualifier, as our sister newspaper, The Denver Post, reports. Watch:

Next up for the U.S. Tuesday: Mexico.

Chivas USA, meanwhile, is in similarly snowy Chicago for a game Sunday against the Fire.

Good luck with that.

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Major League Soccer Schedule Changes for LA Galaxy, Chivas USA

  • As expected MLS has moved the Galaxy’s scheduled April 6 home game against the Montral Impact to Oct. 16, ensuring the club have the weekend off between their two-leg CONCACAF Champions League semifinal April 3 and 10 against Monterrey. The Galaxy also plan to move their reserve league opener against the LA Blues to an as yet unspecified date.
  • For the same reason, Chivas USA’s April 7 match at Seattle was moved to 7 p.m. Sept. 4  because of the Sounders’ participation in the competition (Chivas USA plays in Vancouver Sept. 1, by the way, raising the possibility for Goats fans of a two-game road trip the week of Labor Day).
  • Finally, Chivas USA’s May 12 road game against the Portland Timbers has been moved up an hour to 2 p.m.
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Wednesday Kicks: AYSO Reaches Rose Parade Float Fundraising Goal & more

  • Harbor Gateway-based AYSO will sponsor the city of Torrance’s Rose Float entry after raising $100,000.
  • Want to ask Galaxy officials why after 10 years Home Depot Center still sports a “jumbo” screen smaller than those most of us have at home? Or why after a decade concession lines and parking jams are still common and often caused by HDC employees and/or practices? Me too. You have your chance at 1 p.m. Thursday when Galaxy President Chris Klein and  coach Bruce Arena take questions on line and via Twitter. Details here.
  • Some Canadian guy named Steve Nash who purports to play basketball with the Lakers (ahem) announced his annual “break a leg” charitable soccer event is coming to LA. this July. Details here.
  • Former Galaxy and Chivas USA midfielder Alejandro Moreno has joined ESPN as a soccer analyst. His duties include Mexican national team and Liga MX games on ESPN’s English-language television channels.
  • The slew of forthcoming international fixtures gets off to a good start Thursday when BeIn Sport hosts Brazil verses Italy. Kickoff is at 12:25 p.m.
  • (Updated) Chivas USA and the mothership played to a 3-3 tie in a friendly Wednesday. Highlights.
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Tuesday Kicks: U.S. World Cup Qualifying Morass & More

A quick roundup of essential soccer links for the day:

  • A must-read on the USMNT WCQ on-going meltdown.
  • Recall that more than soft Chivas USA red card issued during Sunday’s SuperClasico? It never happened.
  • Also, Chivas USA has re-signed back-up goalkeeper Tim Melia, 26, to an unspecified contract extension, the club announced today.
  • The Galaxy has named their Dallas Cup roster.
  • Former Cal State Northridge soccer standout Devin Del Do, 26, of Valencia has signed a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League.
  • Mia Hamm’s LA Fest Celebrity Soccer Challenge is set for Sunday at Home Depot Center.
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Weekly Soccer Column: LA Galaxy’s Tim Leiweke Shaped Southern California Soccer

Anschutz Entertainment Group President and CEO Tim Leiweke was fired by the Galaxy’s parent company shortly after making this recent appearance in Carson (Photo by Staff Photographer Steve McCrank).

Much locally has been written about the sudden departure of AEG’s Tim Leiweke, but nothing substantive in the media from a soccer perspective until today’s column.

Love or revile Leiweke — and there’s little middle ground — there’s no doubt the hard-charging former Galaxy executive has made an indeliable mark on the local soccer landscape.

Galaxy players and management are clearly in the former camp as shown by this and this and this and this.

While we’re at it, here’s a fan perspective.

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