Hello, hello, the first SuperClasico of the young season is Sunday.
But you knew that, right?
Read Tuesday’s column here.
So, will Chivas USA actually win one of the things?
Hello, hello, the first SuperClasico of the young season is Sunday.
But you knew that, right?
Read Tuesday’s column here.
So, will Chivas USA actually win one of the things?
An allegedly nationally televised game few English language soccer fans could see on Spanish-language cable channel Unimas was summed up this way by Red Bulls coach Mike Petke —
“Let’s put things in perspective: We tied Chivas in the (95th) minute at home.”
Ouch.
Well, even if 1-1-2 Chivas USA still isn’t getting any respect from around MLS, noodle on this: the team boasts the league’s joint top scorer, they almost beat a New York team on the road that many pundits forecast could go all the way to MLS Cup and now, almost unnoticed, may have their best chance in some years of seeing off the winless Galaxy (0-1-1) this Sunday in the first of the final three SuperClasicos between the two clubs ever.
I’ll have more on the game in Tuesday’s column.
It figured.
Lightly regarded MLS reject Justin Braun may not have had a convincing top level career, but USL Pro appears just right after the former Chivas USA striker scored the Sacramento Republic’s inaugural goal in a 1-1 draw against the Galaxy II Saturday night at the StubHub Center track and field stadium.
A crowd of 1,085, including visiting Republic fans, watched former Chivas USA coach Preki almost steal a point against an old foe before sub Chandler Hoffman equalized late in the game.
“I thought on a better day we walk away with the three points,” Preki told the Republic website. “There is still a lot of room for improvement and I know that as the season goes we will get better and better.”
LA Lads: How many of the Galaxy II starting XI can you name? (Photo courtesy LA Galaxy).
LA Galaxy II lineup: Brian Rowe; Oscar Sorto, Daniel Steres (Kofi Opare 72’), Tommy Meyer, Logan Emory (Eder Arreola 88’); Aleksandar Đoković (Alejandro Covarrubias 61’), Rafael Garcia© (Bradford Jamieson IV 79’), Kenney Walker, Raul Mendiola; Charlie Rugg (Chandler Hoffman 55’), Jack McBean
The Republic returns to the South Bay April 7 to play a game at the same venue against Chivas USA reserves.
Predictions for the weekend games are here.
D.C. United are playing the Chicago Fire on NBCSN as I write this Saturday in a game that started at 1 p.m., while Chivas USA meet the Red Bulls in New York on Unimas at noon Sunday.
Crumbling Arsenal and Manchester City clash in the game of the weekend at 10:30 a.m. Saturday on NBCSN.
Sunday sees Liverpool and Tottenham meet at 8 a.m. on NBCSN.
Your comprehensive, stats-laden preview of all the weekend games is here.
*The Galaxy have a bye in MLS play this weekend ahead of the April 6 SuperClasico with Chivas USA, although the Galaxy II play their second ever game Saturday in Carson against the Sacramento Republic coached by former Chivas USA coach Preki and with a forward line led by former Chivas USA striker Justin Braun.
Republic will play its inaugural USL pro game against the Galaxy.
Goalkeeper Brian Rowe, forward Chandler Hoffman and defender Tommy Meyer were loaned to the reserve side for the game, the Galaxy announced this morning.
*Coach Bruce Arena will undoubtedly welcome the extra time to prepare his first team after learning this week that veteran defender James Riley, an off-season pick-up from the Seattle Sounders, is out six months — basically the season — after undergoing surgery on his left knee joint.
Riley suffered the injury in the 32nd minute of the Galaxy’s 1-1 draw Saturday with Real Salt Lake.
The injury essentially will erase Riley’s 10th MLS season and at age 31 seemingly puts his career in jeopardy. He had played just twice for the Galaxy, but was seen as the successor to the departed Sean Franklin at right back.
*Omar Gonzalez and Landon Donovan are heading to Phoenix to link up with the national team ahead of Wednesday’s game against Mexico. The 22-player roster is here.
*Finally, in what amounts to a strengthening of its commercial relationship with primary sponsor Herbalife, the Galaxy announced the formation of a sports science department headed by trainer Armando Rivas, who becomes director of sports medicine. Alex Savva becomes the club’s manager of sports science.
From the club’s press release:
In his new role, Savva will ensure players are able to perform optimally by implementing nutrition and supplementation programs in line with their training and weight goals. This will include nutritional consultations; dietary planning; measuring body fat and weight periodically; hydration testing; blood testing to assess nutritional deficiencies; analyzing GPS data; and providing feedback to coaches and medical staff.
Todd Dunivant could return for the Galaxy today to bolster the back line against Real Salt Lake in rematch of the season opener (live at 1 p.m. on NBCSN).
Here’s a look at the match-up by the numbers.
Chivas USA are in Dallas for a a 5:30 p.m. game that will be streamed live here. Stats, injuries and more here in the pre-game break down.
The Galaxy (0-1-0) play Real Salt Lake (1-0-1) in Sandy, Utah Saturday (live at 1 p.m. on NBCSN), while Chivas USA (1-0-1) play in Texas against 1-0-1 FC Dallas (streamed live here at 5:30 p.m. Saturday), but local fans can still watch the team’s play live and in person this weekend.
The Galaxy II play their inaugural USL Pro game against the newly-rebranded Orange County Blues at the track & field stadium on the Cal State Dominguez Hills campus.
Parking is free. USL Pro games will also be streamed live this season on YouTube.
From the USL pro press release:
The Galaxy II, led by Coach Curt Onalfo, will have a variety of talent at their disposal with Homegrown Players Jack McBean and Oscar Sorto set to compete alongside USL PRO veterans such as 2013 All-League selection Daniel Steres.
The Blues, meanwhile, enter with a good returning group that is led by forward Chris Cortez. The former Chivas USA forward, who had nine goals a season ago, is set to be joined in attack by new addition Gibson Bardsley, who arrives after an All-League season with the Dayton Dutch Lions in 2013. The Blues will also have a new face in goal after former Chivas USA goalkeeper Patrick McLain joined the side.
Later Friday the Galaxy announced players loaned to the Galaxy II are Rafael Garcia, Bradford Jamieson IV, Jack McBean, Raul Mendiola, Charlie Rugg and Oscar Sorto as well as a trio of other Galaxy players also available for selection Saturday Kyle Venter, Kofi Opare and Kenney Walker.
Meanwhile, Chivas USA’s Youth Development Academy hosts a SuperClasico tripleheader Saturday against the Galaxy at the Bell Gardens Sports Complex, 8000 Park Lane.
The U13/U14 teams face off at 9:30 a.m., followed by the U17/U18 teams at noon and the U15/16 teams at 2:30 p.m.