*Red Bull New York has sold more than 40,000 tickets for its July 19th game against the Galaxy. Last year you'll recall New York prevailed 5-4 on a Juan Pablo Angel goal two minutes from the end of regulation despite a dominating performance by David Beckham that included two assists before a crowd of more than 66,000.
*The new Women's Professional Soccer (you wondered what WPS was in the headline, right?) league meets the week of Sept. 15 to allocate players from the national team pool to its seven teams. A draft of top international players follows a week later.
U.S. players have given their preference of city to play in, while teams will submit wish lists of players.
Another draft for domestic and international players is scheduled for October, combines on each coast are set for December, with another draft to follow that and then local tryouts.
Clubs will play in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles (presumably at Home Depot Center or perhaps the Track & Field stadium), New Jersey/New York, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C.
The season begins in the first week of April.
*Lastly, a recent survey shows that of the three out of four Americans who have a favorite sport they listen to on the radio, soccer is tops for 11 percent. That's behind football (50 percent), baseball (25 percent) and just behind basketball (15 percent), but ahead of motor racing or hockey.
Not surprisingly, soccer was the top choice for 66 percent of Latinos as well as 20 percent of listeners of all races under age 35.
The survey was based on a sample of 1,000 people and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.
]]>Dominguez spent one season with Huracán of the Argentine Primera Division. He joins the Galaxy roster upon the receipt of his P1 visa and International Transfer Clearance (ITC).
Updated: The 29-year-old also played 85 games for Velez Sarsfield from 1996-2002, Olimpo, Racing Club, Independiente and Columbia's Medellin.
The Galaxy press release also ominiously notes the team must "clear a senior roster spot in order to officially add Dominguez to the roster."
Farewell Abel Xavier? Or Greg Vanney? Or - who would you dump?
-Nick Green
]]>Updated: Flores' injury means he also misses the U.S. Under-20 National Team game in Texas Friday against Mexico. The Anaheim native and reality TV show winner has three goals in six games for Chivas USA this season. - Nick Green
]]>Did we really need yet another tournament clogging up the schedule?
Well, the quality of the soccer won me over last year, especially after it became clear the Mexican teams involved were motivated and not just here on vacation.
So mark your calendars and check out the tournament preview.
A complete schedule is here (although curiously much of the rest of the Web site hasn't been updated).
Video highlights of last year's tournament (including Chris Klein's great bicycle kick) and a look at this year's participants are in this promo clip.
And a tip of the hat to those readers who e-mailed to point out it's SANTOS Laguna, not the name I used in the column.
I knew that. I just didn't write it!
]]>Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan talks about the derby at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN.com.
On Friday the two teams' reserve squads face off at 10 a.m. on University Field #1. The Galaxy reserves are currently winless so far this season.
On Saturday at Home Depot Center, 16 elite teams aged 15-18 will begin competing in the 2008 Development Academy Finals. The final eight round-robin games will be aired on ESPNU and ESPN2 July 18-19.
LAFC is the local representative in the Under 15/16 and Under-17/18 divisions.
On Saturday and Sunday, the Under-20 Galaxy Rios host Lancaster and Riverside respectively, the bottom two teams in the league, at Home Depot Center (both games kick-off at 5 p.m. on Field #5). With two wins the Rios (which currently sit third in the standings) could win the league, depending on the results of other games.
The Rios beat the Bakersfield Brigade over the weekend to move to 4-2-1.
And catching up on the rest of the weekend:
*The Galaxy made the New England Revolution's Adam Cristman look good: he was named MLS Player of the Week Monday by the North American Soccer Reporters after his two-goal effort led his team to a 2-1 victory over the Galaxy.
*In the W-League Sunday, the Seattle Sounders beat the Los Angeles Legends 4-2, although the first-year Pali Blues wrapped up the Western Conference title earlier in the weekend.
*In the PDL Sunday, it was the Southern California Seahorses 2 Los Angeles Legends 2 and Lancaster Rattlers 1 San Jose Frogs 4.
*Scores in the WPSL Saturday:
Ajax America Women 4 Sonoma County FC Sol 0
Los Angeles Rampage 0 California Storm 0
West Coast FC 5 FC Sacramento Pride 0
Claremont Stars 3 Walnut Creek Power 3
*And Sunday:
Ajax America Women 3 California Storm 2
Los Angeles Rampage 10 FC Sacramento Pride 0
West Coast FC 8 Walnut Creek Power 0
Claremont Stars 1 Sonoma County FC Sol 2
If you want to get caught up on the Chivas USA win Saturday read the previous post; for game reaction and video highlights of the Galaxy's 2-1 loss to New England Friday go here.
In the PDL Saturday it was: Ventura County Fusion 2 Southern California Seahorses 0.
In the W-League Saturday, the expansion Pali Blues clinched the league title with a 1-0 win over the Seattle Sounders.
]]>Still, there weren't many talking points anyway.
Chivas USA were fortunate to get a 1-0 win from an 88th minute Ante Razov free kick against the San Jose Earthquakes, the league's worst team. But so tight is the Western Conference, with the top six teams separated by just three points, that Chivas USA has zoomed from sixth to first.
Here's Chivas USA Coach Preki on goalscorer Ante Razov's performance:
"I thought tonight was his best performance (of the season). He looked calmer on the ball."
"It hits (Chivas USA defender Paulo) Nagamura in the shoulder, it changes direction and it hits the post. We were a little bit lucky."
On the possibility of bolstering the strike force given the injuries to Maykel Galindo and Alecko Eskandarian and the limited options in reserve:
"There's always talks. Right now they're just talks. ... Hopefully in a couple of weeks time we'll have (Galindo, etc) back so we'll see what happens in the meantime."
He certainly didn't rule out a trade did he? Carlos Ruiz perhaps? We'll see.
Game story here.
Check out the game action.
By the way, Pachuca played a friendly Saturday against Toronto. Read about it here.
]]>What a relief.
And considering the Earthquakes' attacking options off the bench included former Chivas USA reserve striker John Cunliffe and Chivas' forwards included former Sunday rec league player Justin Braun, this was a game that appeared headed for a scoreless draw.
Oh, Ante Razov grazed the bar with a header. Sacha Kljesten should have done better with only the goalkeeper to beat when Razov put him through with a penetrating ball. And even Cunliffe sent a 18-yard shot whizzing just wide.
But until Razov scored, solid chances were few and far between.
Now Chivas USA go into Thursday's SuperClassico against the Galaxy tied with them for the Western Conference lead.
Ladies and gentlemen, a meaningful game awaits on national TV.
Back with a (little) more later.
]]>Then, while the half ended 0-0, the scoring chances started coming fast and furious beginning in the 37th minute.
First, San Jose's Ramiro Corrales ripped off a 35-yard shot that beat goalkeeper Brad Guzan, but not the post.
Two minutes later, Chivas USA appealed for a penalty after Jason Hernandez appeared to pull down Atiba Harris in the box.
Two minutes after that a Bobby Burling header hit the bar from a corner kick.
Another two minutes after that Razov almost caught Cannon napping (or unsighted?), almost squeezing a quick shot inside the post.
]]>Coach Preki makes three changes to the team that drew 1-1 last week with the Red Bulls. Carey Talley, who played midfield in that game, returns in defense at the expense of veteran Jim Curtin, while Justin Braun joins him on the bench, since Atiba Harris is favored. Paulo Nagamura, suspended for the game against the Red Bulls, returns as holding midfielder.
Jonathan Bornstein, inexplicably listed as a forward yet again, will start at left back.
Complete line-up: Brad Guzan, Bobby Burling, Talley, Claudio Suarez, Jesse Marsch, Sacha Kljestan, Nagamura, Francisco Mendoza, Harris, Ante Razov, Bornstein.
The Earthquakes team: Joe Cannon, James Riley, Nick Garcia, Jason Hernandez, Eric Denton, Ronnie O'Brien, Ramiro Corrales, kelly Gray, Ivan Guerrero, Ryan Johnson, Kei Kamara.
Ned Grabavoy is on the bench nursing a groin problem.
]]>
The U.S. Women's National Team game in Sweden kicked off at 9 a.m. Details and MatchTracker here.
More more later, if you catch my drift.
Back to regular programming.
Chivas USA (5-6-3) and (3-8-3) San Jose face off at 7:30 tonight at Home Depot Center in the second soccer game (and second fireworks display) of the weekend.
With a win, Chivas USA can pull level on points with the Galaxy for the Western Conference lead, giving extra spice to Thursday's derby between the two teams.
And Chivas USA is offering a family pack of four tickets, four hats and four hot dogs for $58, which is a pretty good deal. Call 1-877-CHIVAS-1.
More on the game and young striker Jorge Flores is here.
Former Galaxy goalkeeper Joe Cannon discloses for the first time a foot injury that has hampered his play since April for the Earthquakes.
But of course the Earthquakes' biggest problem is at the other end of the field - they've scored a league-low 10 goals. Lawndale's Kei Kamara needs to step it up.
Meanwhile, press box colleague Luis Bueno runs the rule over the Mexican players (repeatedly) linked with Chivas USA - Borgetti and Bautista.
Also:
*In PDL games Friday, it was the San Fernando Valley Quakes 1 Lancaster Rattlers 1.
Tonight it's the Ventura County Fusion at Southern California Seahorses at 7 p.m. at La Mirada High.
*In the W-League tonight, it's the Seattle Sounders at Pali Blues at 8 p.m. at Palisades High.
*In the WPSL today, the Los Angeles Rampage take on the California Storm at 7 p.m. in Granada Hills, while at 2 p.m. Ajax America Women host the California Storm at Rolling Hills Estates' Nansen Field.
I'll be back later today, blogging from the Chivas USA game at Home Depot Center.
]]>Coaches always say stuff like that of course, but who do you believe?
Gullit said midfield was the biggest problem for the Galaxy tonight:
"People panic under a little bit of pressure and give the ball away to the opposition," he said. "That is the main problem at the moment for this team. It's not that we don't defend. It's just that at vital moments on the pitch we do something unnecesary."
Defense is not the problem? Is he noticing how Abel Xavier plays?
Well, Gullit wasn't about to single Xavier out for criticism:
"It was his man who scored the goal on the corner kick," was about as far as Gullit would be drawn. "He knows that it's his responsibility."
New England's Adam Cristman summed up Xavier's play (or lack thereof) on the second goal:
"I was trying to keep on the other side of Abel and keep him turned around so he didn't know where I was," he said "I guess he lost me."
I guess. Xavier lost me a long time ago.
Here's David Beckham on the effect Landon Donovan had on the game:
"When he did come on he changed the game. ... It put us on the front foot and gave us more space to create chances."
Edson Buddle agreed:
"In the second half we were able to possess the ball and Landon is a good runner with the ball. With the pace that he had he was able to break them down and free up - everyone."
Donovan's influence was all the more remarkable considering his rather nasty sounding bout with the flu meant he couldn't train for two or three days this week.
Gullit was asked straight out whether Carlos Ruiz, who made a perfunctory appearance in the 84th minute will be traded. Reading between the lines, the answer was, yes, considering the 10 goals in 11 games Buddle has scored:
"Every week (Edson) shows how good he is and how important he is to the team. He holds the ball and creates chances. So for Carlos it will be very hard (to start) for those reasons also."
In other words, as Gullit has complained previously, Ruiz doesn't hold the ball or create many chances.
He won't be going to the Columbus Crew in a trade for Frankie Hejduk, though. Gullit said has no idea who the national team defender is. Really. As one colleague observed, he didn't notice Frankie when the Galaxy played the Crew a couple of weeks back?
By the way, Donovan has no idea whether he will be called up as one of three over-age players into the Olympic team and has not talked with U.S. Coach Peter Nowak.
"If asked I'd love to go and if not I'd love to be here," he said. "That's the simplest way to put it."
Quote of the Day goes to the always genial Mike Randolph, who tried to downplay the fact his two chances from Beckham crosses in the first half (that both went wide) constituted virtually the entirety of the Galaxy's offense at that stage of the game: "I have no attacking skills whatsoever," he said.
That's OK, Mike, neither do some of your teammates.
Game story is here.
Highlights
The Revs hung on, however, and now the Galaxy go into Thursday's derby with Chivas USA without a win in three games.
The goal came in the 66th minute with Donovan sprinting 40 yards with the ball in a counter-attack that culminated with David Beckham scoring from 14 yards for his fifth goal of the season.
Edson Buddle could have tied it in the 77th minute, but crashed a shot from 12 yards off the bar after Becks had set him up perfectly with a well-hit pass.
]]>The Revs have taken a well-deserved 2-0 lead with both goals coming from Adam Cristman, his fifth and sixth of the year - a career high.
The Revs had the bulk of possession, most of the attacking play and looked altogether the more cohesive unit. The Galaxy could consider themselves lucky not to be down by three after Cristman ripped by Abel Xavier in stoppage time like he wasn't even there and crossed to Mauricio Castro who hit the post from close range.
In fact, the Galaxy barely had a glimpse of goal until Mike Randolph headed a David Beckham cross wide just before the half hour mark for their first attempt on goal.
The Galaxy conceded the first goal from a corner, Shalrie Joseph connecting with a strong header goalkeeper Steve Cronin couldn't hold and Cristman following up for the garbage goal.
Xavier was to blame for the second goal, Cristman latching onto another corner from about nine yards and leaping over Xavier in the process.
Fortunately, Assistant Galaxy General Manager Tom Payne confirmed to MLS Magazine Editor Scott French that Argentine defender Eduardo Dominguez will arrive mid-month.
The Galaxy finished the half with zero shots on goal to the Revs' six.
]]>The Galaxy haven't lost an Independence Day game since 2001, however, so it appears something has to give. (And it's probably worth noting, too, that the Galaxy are 1-5-1 against Eastern Conference teams this season).
Coach Ruud Gullit has made two changes to the team that slumped to defeat against D.C. United last time out: Landon Donovan, apparently suffering the lingering effects of the flu, is on the bench so Alan Gordon gets a first start in almost a month, while Joe Franchino (making his first start since May 31) comes in for Ely Allen.
The line-up: goalkeeper Steve Cronin; defenders Chris Klein (making his 100th consecutive MLS start), Sean Franklin, Abel Xavier and Ante Jazic; midfielders David Beckham, Alvaro Pires, Franchino and Mike Randolph; forwards Edson Buddle and Gordon.
Carlos Ruiz is also on the bench.
The Revs start the same XI that beat Toronto last weekend: Matt Reis, Chris Albright, Michael Parkhurst, Mauricio Castro, Jay Heaps, Sainey Nyassi, MLS Player of the Week Steve Ralston, Shalrie Joseph, Jeff Larentowicz, Kheli Dube and Adam Cristman.
Taylor Twellman is on the bench, as expected.
]]>