Recently in Gold Cup Category

Mexico has a better "C" team than the U.S.

Good thing no-one cares about the Gold Cup anyway.

But no matter the competition or team the U.S. should never - never - lose 5-0 to Mexico. And certainly shouldn't collapse on that scale, conceding five goals in just over 30 minutes.

How different would it have been if the likes of Rolling Hills Estates' Robbie Rogers had converted first half chances?

It was the first time a team scored five goals against the U.S. since Czechoslovakia won by a 5-1 margin in the 1990 World Cup.

If this doesn't motivate U.S. Soccer to lobby CONCACAF to move this tournament to an every four year rotation nothing will.

Bowling for Becks in KC (AP Photo)

The Galaxy failed to win a fifth consecutive game Saturday, drawing with the Wizards 1-1 in Kansas City. Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman (Peninsula High) kept his former team at bay with a superb performance. But a stunning goal of the season contending strike by the Wizards Claudio Lopez that left Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts injured was the high point of the game.

Quotable:

"I thought (Hartman) was outstanding," said Wizards Coach Curt Onalfo. "He did what he's done most of the year, which is make saves when he's called upon. We had some missed clearances in the first half that led to chances for them and he made some real good saves."

Game story.

The Kansas City perspective.

MLS standings.

Highlights:

Also:
*Despite taking the lead on a goal from San Pedro's Peter Hazdovac, the Hollywood United Hitmen fell to the Ventura County Fusion in the PDL playoffs.

*The Pali Blues came from behind to win in the W-League playoffs.

* And don't forget this game that kicks off at noon today on Fox Soccer Channel.

The game begins at noon Sunday on Fox Soccer Channel.

By BARRY WILNER
AP Sports Writer

This was the perfect Gold Cup for an outsider to steal. Honduras, perhaps. Or Canada.

Instead, Sunday's final at the Meadowlands will have that familiar if not comfortable look
when the United States and Mexico, by far the most dominant nations in CONCACAF, meet for the title.

Neither country sent its best team to the biennial event, with the United States fielding
something of a JV squad with players unproven on the international scene. Those players, particularly Rolling Hills Estates' Robbie Rogers, as well as Stuart Holden, Kyle Beckerman and Riverside's Chad Marshall, have performed well on the regional stage after the big boys lost in the Confederations Cup final to Brazil earlier this summer.

Mexico is missing some key players, too, and it has been struggling in World Cup qualifying, sitting fourth behind leader Costa Rica, the Americans and Hondurans. Yet Mexico survived a difficult round-robin in the Gold Cup, beat Costa Rica on penalty kicks in the semifinal, and has every reason to believe it can walk off with the trophy for the fifth time in its sixth trip to the finals.

"The United States is always a very difficult opponent and it will be a challenge for us,"
said Guillermo Ochoa, whose penalty-kick save was the difference against Costa Rica. "But we played well (in the semifinals) and it gives us a lot of confidence for the final."

Ochoa was a backup when the Americans beat the Mexicans for the 2007 Gold Cup.

With Mexico in dire straits in World Cup qualifying, and facing an Aug. 12 home match against the U.S. team --with all of its top players -- Ochoa could do some positive for his career and his nation's chances to make the South Africa 2010 field by beating the hosts.

But winning in the United States has been impossible for El Tri this decade: the Americans are 9-0-2, with some of the games getting downright nasty. Of course, U.S.-Mexico is as heated a soccer rivalry as you'll find in CONCACAF.

"We need to be looking at this final, not the other match," Mexico coach Javier Aguirre
said.

Still, a win Sunday, even with a vastly different lineup than each side will field at Azteca
next month, would be huge for El Tri.

"I don't think it sets a tone," U.S. forward Brian Ching said.

Ching is a rare veteran of international play on this U.S. squad, and wore the captain's band in the semifinal. "But on a personal level, we've done well against them in the U.S. and you don't want to be the team that lets them win at home."

There are almost two dozen soccer games listed in today's Daily Breeze print edition (y'know the thing made of dead trees that only costs a quarter, but is far easier to carry around than a laptop) you can watch on TV today through Sunday (and far more than that on niche channels).

Arguably the highlight: U.S.-Mexico at high noon Sunday on Fox Soccer Channel with the Gold Cup title at stake.

(BTW it looks like the two teams are getting acquainted already - here's what U.S. Soccer just tweeted: "On our plane - we are about to depart for NYC. We are flying with Mexico and a bunch of CONCACAF officials. Ochoa's hair is huge").

Click to the right for a full listing, but here's what I'll also be watching:

*Noon Saturday on ESPN - Chicago Fire at Seattle (I just love watching games with that rocking atmosphere at Qwest Field).

*6 p.m. Saturday on ESPN2 - Galaxy at Kansas City Wizards (A hopefully still pissed off David Beckham and the Galaxy look for a fifth straight MLS win). Click here for viewing parties.

*2 p.m. Sunday on ESPN2 - AC Milan-Inter Milan (a Milan derby in Boston).

Chivas USA has the weekend off.

The Sol (11-2-4) can clinch the inaugural WPS regular season title with just a point on the road tonight at FC Gold Pride (3-9-3), a team that hasn't won in eight games and are 0-3 against LA this season.

Gold Pride will play on just three days rest after taking the field Sunday, while the Sol have had a considerably longer opportunity to relax, sustaining a rare 1-0 home loss July 8 to St. Louis Athletica. The Pride expects Nicole Barnhart, Rachel Buehler and Leslie Osborne back from national team duty after two unnecessary games against Canada in four days; similarly the likes of midfielder Shannon Boxx (who went the full 90 last night) and goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc (an unused sub Wednesday night) return for the Sol.

Sol defender Allison Falk is listed as questionable with a right ankle injury.

Former Brazilian international Sissi, now 42-years-old, could find herself lining up against the Sol's Marta in a clash of different generations.

Meanwhile, Northern California native and oft-injured Sol star Aly Wagner sadly sounds more and more as if she's edging toward a premature retirement.

There's no TV or radio.

(BTW, the U.S. beat Canada 1-0 Wednesday night in South Carolina, the 89th minute goal coming from 18-year-old Christine Nairn just eight minutes after she entered the game as a sub. She was playing in her second national team game).

TV options tonight include a Gold Cup semifinals doubleheader with the U.S. facing Honduras at 4 p.m. on Fox Soccer Channel and the Mexico-Costa Rica game following at 7 p.m. on Univision.

The Hondurans will no doubt be distracted by events at home.

Finally, as the college soccer season approaches, check out this story about UCLA's prized top recruit.

Landon Donovan metaphorically rolls up his sleeves Saturday after practice at the HDC ahead of tonight's sold out Inter Milan AC Milan game. (AP Photo).

Arrive early this evening for the Galaxy-AC Milan friendly at Home Depot Center that was a condition of the Galaxy extending David Beckham's loan to the Italian club.

The Galaxy, which routinely inflates attendance figures in the 24,500-seat stadium, might actually have to do the opposite tonight to stay within fire code given that they've sold out the grass berm, standing room only seats - everything.

Bet the local residents are thrilled; they had to put up with a near-capacity crowd for a Coldplay concert last night that as usual will likely leave the field in a horrible condition and confirm to the European visitors soccer's lowly status in this country.

Milan arrived at LAX at 5 p.m. Saturday after an 11-hour flight from Italy and immediately headed out to UCLA's Spaulding Field to stretch their legs, according to the club's Web site.

Beckham showed up to welcome his former teammates to Southern California, while Milan Coach Leonardo gave a short interview in which he indicated the club wouldn't be averse to having Becks back.

Of course, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are also rumored to be interested in the England midfielder.

(Manchester City don't want Beckham though - but the club still hasn't given up on Chelsea's John Terry.)

Game preview.

Defender Yohance Marshall has returned from his loan spell to USL Austin and will get some playing time tonight.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m.; coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. on FSN. I'll blog from the game as usual.

Also:

* At 3 p.m. on FSN it's Chivas USA-New England Revolution. Both teams need a boost: Chivas USA hasn't won in seven games, the Revs in three MLS contests.

* The U.S. "C team" (as one press box colleague observed recently) narrowly defeated Panama Saturday in a Gold Cup quarterfinal.

* Chelsea beat the Sounders 2-0 Saturday in Seattle. The English team faces Inter Milan Tuesday at the Rose Bowl.

*Finally, U.S. Women's National Team player Abby Wambach is looking for international goal No. 100 at noon on ESPN against Canada.

When I told my wife about today's soccer schedule, she gave me on of those "so you want to remain married" looks?

No wonder. And this isn't a complete list of televised games, just my picks:

10 a.m. ESPN2 - Houston Dynamo at Toronto FC (the Western Conference leaders visit the Eastern Conference co-leaders;final was 1-1).

Noon ESPN2 - Chelsea at Seattle Sounders (in a game that will see the London EPL team go up against former Arsenal striker Freddie Ljungberg; Chelsea, of course, play in Pasadena Tuesday against Inter Milan).

2 p.m. KMEX - Canada-Honduras Gold Cup quarterfinal (can Canada make a run at the Gold Cup final for the first time since they won the trophy in the rain at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum in 2000?)

5 p.m. Fox Soccer Channel - U.S.-Panama Gold Cup quarterfinal

Good things ease up Sunday:
Noon ESPN - U.S. Women's National Team-Canada

3 p.m. KMEX - Mexico-Haiti Gold Cup quarterfinal

3 p.m. FSN - Chivas USA-New England Revolution

4 p.m. ESPN2 - World Football Challenge, Club America-Inter Milan

7 p.m. FSN - Galaxy-AC Milan (the game at Home Depot center is sold out).

Or not.

Enjoy the weekend.

Oh, and will ya look at Manchester United's mighty Michael Owen.

Without kicking a ball Thursday night thanks to the chaotic Mexico-Panama game.

Check out the "action" here including the stupidity of Mexican Coach Javier Aguirre at the end of the highlights:

Canada also went through as did Guadeloupe, which beat Nicaragua 2-0 in the first game of the night.

The U.S. plays Haiti at 4 p.m. Saturday on Fox Soccer Channel.

A few items to pass along:

*The club announced today it will open the Home Depot Center's upper deck, which it customarily doesn't need to accommodate the smallish crowds that average 15,312 this season, for Saturday's SuperClasico against the Galaxy. Those seats have an excellent view, BTW, if you've never sat up there (think the luxury suite views on the opposite side of the stadium without the expensive prices).

The club said it has a "limited" number of seats up there for parties of four or more fans starting at $15. Call 877-CHIVAS-1.

From the club:

"Due to expected heavy traffic on gameday, fans and media members are encouraged to arrive early to Saturday's match, which kicks off at 8:00 p.m."

That just means don't show up at 7:45 p.m. and expect to drive right in as is often the case.

Chivas USA (8-4-3) are winless in their last six games in all competitions as their punishing schedule begins to catch up with them; currently lying second in the Western Conference, they are just six points ahead of the 4-3-9 Galaxy, who come into the game with two consecutive MLS wins under their belts for the first time this season.

*Defender Shavar Thomas will apparently miss the game (although Chivas USA didn't say so in their press release) after getting called up by Jamaica today. He'll join the squad after his homeland's game Wednesday against Costa Rica; Jamaica play Friday in Miami against El Salvador.

*The latest Chivas USA injury list ahead of the derby:

OUT: DF Bobby Burling (sports hernia surgery); GK Dan Kennedy (R knee surgery); FW Ante Razov (R ankle surgery); DF Claudio Suárez (R calf strain); DF Lawson Vaughn (L ankle surgery); MF Cesar Zamora (L hamstring strain)

QUESTIONABLE: FW Justin Braun (concussion)

PROBABLE: DF Ante Jazic (L hamstring strain); MF Mariano Trujillo (L hamstring strain)

*Here's where the Galaxy stands on the same front:
OUT: DF Sean Franklin (R hamstring surgery); DF Julian Valentin (R foot fracture)

QUESTIONABLE: FW Alan Gordon (L calf strain); MF Yohance Marshall (back spasm); MF Dema Kovalenko (L calf contusion)

*Chivas USA has changed its Web page URL (and look of the site). Click here for the new version.

Monday leftovers:

*The Galaxy's Chris Klein doesn't want David Beckham to, y'know, take things out of context. I say go out to a bar and have Becks pick up the tab (don't overlook the comments on the story).

Lawndale's Kei Kamara and his MJ tribute. (I'm sure it's on YouTube, but that site is down for maintenance right now).

And Mexico found a nation they could beat on a soccer field.

AP Photo

Rolling Hills Estates' Robbie Rogers' Saturday included a second U.S. appearance, two assists, a goal and the Man of the Match award in a 4-0 rout of Grenada in its Gold Cup opener in Seattle.

Cool, patient approach work by Rogers' to create Freddy Adu's opener and appropriately selfish on his goal, too.

Quotable:

"We had a great team effort tonight," said Rogers. "The chemistry was really good, and we were able to create a lot of chances. For us, it is a fantastic way to start the Gold Cup, and at the same time we know it is only the beginning."

Game story.

Highlights:

Look, the Gold Cup is just another crap tournament (see SuperLiga) clogging up the soccer calendar designed to extract cash from fans' pockets.

It's played too often (let's see it only every four years, please). Some teams, like the U.S., are fielding their B teams. And some players, such as Canadian international Dwayne DeRosario of Toronto FC, have opted to stay with their club teams instead.

If the participants aren't taking it seriously, why should I? It will be marginally interesting to see if any players emerge as potential World Cup squad members when it comes to the U.S., but that's about it.

The U.S. is allowed to add seven players to its roster because of the rigors of the Confederations Cup (not sure I get this since there are only four U.S. players named to the squads for both tournaments) and potentially those could be announced today ahead of a scheduled Bob Bradley teleconference with the media.

(Updated 9:15 a.m. And the players are (from the U.S. Soccer press release): Forwards Jozy Altidore and Conor Casey, midfielders Ricardo Clark, Benny Feilhaber and Sacha Kljestan, defender Jonathan Bornstein and goalkeeper Brad Guzan will be eligible for selection during the tournament; however, the U.S. will not have all seven players present for each Gold Cup match. The exact schedule for these players will be announced as it becomes available. Only 18 players will be eligible to dress for any given game.).

Locally, we get all of two Gold Cup games on Friday when Canada plays Jamaica at 5 p.m. followed by El Salvador-Costa Rica at Home Depot Center. Tickets range from $20-$75 in advance and go up another $5 the day of the game.

Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, who has 72 caps, was belatedly called in Wednesday by Jamaica. It's possible he could play Friday for his country and Saturday for the Galaxy in their Independence Day game against the New England Revolution.

For more, read about:
* The doping scandal to hit Costa Rica.

The Canadian hopes.

El Salvador's chances.

And Grenada, the U.S. opponents Saturday in Seattle.

Only six players on the 23-man roster have caps in the double digits - Freddy Adu, Brian Ching, Jimmy Conrad, Steve Cherundolo, Heath Pearce and Santino Quaranta.

Chivas USA and Galaxy fans will not doubt be more interested in the players not picked; there is no Landon Donovan, Jonathan Bornstein or Sacha Kljestan on the U.S. roster.

There are only four carryovers from the Confederations Cup squad: Adu, Pearce, Charlie Davis and goalkeeper Luis Robles.

Full roster and details here.

Also: Mexico routed Venezuela last night in Atlanta.

The 2-2-9 Galaxy face the similarly struggling 2-8-3 Earthquakes at 1:30 p.m. today on ESPN2, the start of a seven-game stretch that sees LA play five matches on the road. The Galaxy, seeking to rebound from last week's 2-0 home loss to Real Salt Lake, are without the suspended Eddie Lewis, while Landon Donovan is on national team duty.

More from an Earthquakes perspective is here.

BTW, the Galaxy and Earthquakes have both scored just 15 goals this season (only the Red Bulls have scored fewer), but the Earthquakes have conceded 10 more than LA. Can Edson Buddle and the Galaxy take advantage of that on the road?

Chivas USA, meanwhile, embark on their SuperLiga campaign at Home Depot Center against Tigres. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. live on KFTR.

Game notes here.

CONCACAF has released the 30-player rosters for the Gold Cup.

Here's the U.S. roster.

The Galaxy's Landon Donovan is absent, but Chivas USA Jonathan Bornstein is named as are Southern California products John Thorrington and Robbie Rogers. The most unfamiliar name: Aston Villa's Eric Lichaj.

Chivas USA was named to Canada's squad, BTW, and while we're at it here's Mexico's roster.

I'll blog from the Chivas USA game tonight, so please join me then.

Hollywood Hitmen. Coldplay. Ballack. SuperLiga. Fireworks. Canada. Messi. NBA.

A FourFourTwo magazine spineline stumper? No, today's column.

BTW, more info on the July 4 game at the Coliseum is here.

And here's the official SuperLiga Web site.