Recently in International Soccer Category

I've been under the weather the past couple of days, so unless I hear of something major going on in the next hour or so I'm planning to skip Tuesday's column and crawl back into bed.

But here's a couple of quick updates to get your week under way:

*Chivas USA defender Ante Jazic played 90 minutes Sunday as Canada lost 1-0 to Jamaica.

*Chivas USA will scrimmage against the PDL's Ventura County Fusion at 11 a.m. Tuesday on field 6 at Home Depot Center and scrimmage again at 11 a.m. Thursday in Carson against LMU.

*The Galaxy's new Brazilian trio have joined preseason training.

*And here's your deal o' the day - both the Galaxy and Chivas USA are offering ticket specials that went on sale today in conjunction with the March 3 Mexico-New Zealand game at the Rose Bowl that's part of Mexico's six-game pre-World Cup tour in the U.S. between Feb. 24 and May 13. (Mexico also plays Bolivia Feb. 24 in San Francisco, the road trip inclined should know).

For $30, Chivas USA fans can purchase a general admission seat for both the Mexico match and Chivas USA's Home Opener on March 26 against the Colorado Rapids.

For $75, fans receive a midfield seat to the Mexico-New Zealand game as well as sideline seats for the first two Chivas USA home games of the season.

Galaxy fans have a similar choice.

For $30 fans get GA seats for the Mexico game and the Galaxy's March 27 season opener at the HDC against the New England Revolution OR the April 1 SuperClasico against Chivas USA, while $75 gets you the same choice of games, but with sideline seats.

For the Chivas USA offer call 1-877-CHIVAS-1; for the Galaxy offer call1-877-3GALAXY.

U.S. 1 Honduras 3

How to sum this one up Saturday in Carson?

Here's one way.

In general, there was way too much of this from Honduras and forward Jerry Palacios, seen here celebrating what was a sweetly taken second goal for the Central Americans (Photos by Steve McCrank).

And there was far too little of this
from the likes of second half sub Conor Casey, seen here making one of very few U.S. efforts on goal (the U.S. finished the night with all of two shots on target).

Here's another, from the always understated coach Bob Bradley:

"It wouldn't be a game where we're picking players who stood out."

Um, no.

He called the passing "poor," observed that the U.S. put itself in a "bad" position to start the game (joke your way out of that one, Jimmy Conrad) and that it was a "big task" for this particular group of (10) players to come back from behind.

And let's face it, any game where your most effective offensive threat is central defender Clarence Goodson is not going to be remembered as a vintage attacking performance.

Here's left winger Robbie Rogers, who moved to left back (a position he has practiced in the last few U.S. camps, BTW) when Jonny Bornstein moved into the middle after Conrad was sent off:

"I'm kind of bummed we started the year this way, but we'll keep our heads up, we'll keep moving forward.

"I thought we let them pass the ball, get a little bit too comfortable. It's tough when you play a team who are good technically and tactically. They can move the ball around and you're playing a man down.

Here's Rogers on why he took the 35-40 yard shot that hit the post:

"(I) just felt it. (I'm) kinda mad it went the other way. Wish it would have hit the post and went in."

Game story.

A wider view.

Check out Steve McCrank's photo gallery from the game here.

By the way, was this not the best performance by former Galaxy forward Carlos Pavon at the HDC?

For a lot of these players it will be the last time we see them in a national team camp, if previous January camps are any guide.

But some who attended, like 35-year-old former Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, back in camp for the first time since starting the first two games of 2006, at least had realistic goals while there:

"It was a great opportunity to stay in shape, stay sharp and get back in with the team. I was excited about it and had a great time."

The Wizards open preseason training Monday. Hartman was off to make a phone call to see if he needed to be there right away.

Finally, I'll leave you with this thought.

The new 2010 USMNT media guide was handed out before the game today. Among the player profiles (surprisingly) included: Schalke 04 midfielder Jermaine Jones. But it's too late for him to make the roster given his recent injuries and the lack of USMNT games before Bradley names his World Cup squad. Isn't it?

The U.S. regroups in Carson in early February with a camp before traveling to Florida for the Feb. 24 game against El Salvador.

U.S. 1 Honduras 3

This one is mercifully over (if you're a U.S. fan).

Conor Casey shooting wide in second half stoppage time with only the goalkeeper to beat pretty much summed up this poor effort.

A crowd of 18,626 - the largest to see a U.S. friendly at Home Depot Center - witnessed this one and it's hard to think of an American player who stood out tonight (although Robbie Rogers was pretty active and did hit the post).

In 2002, 13 of the players in the U.S. January camp ended up on that year's World Cup team and four years later 10 of the campers went to Germany.

Less than a handful who played in this one - perhaps Rogers, Bornstein and Feilhaber - will head to South Africa.

We'll see if Bob Bradley says anything of note in the post-game press conference.

U.S. 1 Honduras 3

The U.S. pulled a goal back in the 70th minute, Clarence Goodson heading Brad Davis' corner kick into the net at the far post.

U.S. 0 Honduras 3

Oh, dear.

An intricate three-man move inside the U.S. penalty box was finished off by the Kansas City Wizards' Roger Espinoza in the 53rd minute to give the Hondurans a comfortable three-goal cushion.

Robbie Rogers blasted a 35- to 40-yard shot off the Honduran post out of nowhere a couple of minutes before that, but he's about the only U.S. player with his shooting boots on: Sacha Kljestan and Kyle Beckerman have both shot high over the bar with ghastly efforts.

U.S. 0 Honduras 2

We'll let former U.S. National Team Coach Bruce Arena sum this one up so far:

"I think the best team is ahead," he said. "Honduras is a much more experienced team at the international level and it shows."

Stats don't always tell the complete story in soccer but this one does: The U.S. has zero shots on goal, Honduras three (the official stats say two, but I don't believe that's correct) - and, of course, they scored on two of them.

Arena, BTW, was up in the press box at half time to react to being named to the National Soccer hall of Fame.

"It's a great individual accomplishment," he said, while observing hundreds of people throughout his career helped him achieve the honor.

Updated: Central defender Clarence Goodson has come in at the half for striker Jeff Cunningham to plug the gap left by Jimmy Conrad's sending off.

U.S. 0 Honduras 2

Jerry Palacios just got on the end of a cross Carlos Pavon whipped in, connecting with a diving header from six yards in the 38th minute while central defender Chad Marshall did a fine impersonation of a statue.

Pretty goal, but the U.S. is in real danger of losing its undefeated record in January games here in Carson.

The U.S. are down a goal and down to 10 men after 19 minutes.

Captain Jimmy Conrad received a second yellow for holding a player in the box as Carlos Pavon took a shot that went over the bar. Conrad had picked up his first yellow for a midfield clip in the sixth minute that frankly looked accidental.

Pavon scored on his second effort from the spot, a low strike just inside the far post after the first was called back for some reason (encroachment, perhaps?).

Welcome to Honduras North aka Home Depot Center, Carson.

A predominantly blue and white clad crowd here tonight at the Home Depot Center.

The U.S. was roundly booed when they ran out to warm-up at about 5:25 p.m.

I'm told about 150 members of the LA Riot Squad are here tonight, which may be the largest single group of Americans in attendance.

Here's the U.S. starting XI (4-4-2): Troy Perkins, Marvell Wynne, Jonathan Bornstein, Chad Marshall, Jimmy Conrad (capt.) Benny Feilhaber, Kyle Beckerman, Sacha Kljestan, Robbie Rogers, Robbie Findley, Jeff Cunningham.

Bench options: Nick Rimando, Heath Pearce, Clarence Goodson, Brad Davis, Conor Casey, Dax McCarty, Alejandro Bedoya

No room for Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez, unfortunately.

The U.S. will wear all white tonight.

Former Galaxy striker Carlos Pavon is up front for Honduras, who will play a 3-4-3; former Chivas USA midfielder Amada Guevara is in midfield.

The game is on Fox Soccer Channel.

And there's a special announcement coming up in 20 minutes or so, stay tuned.

As of Friday about 13,000 tickets - about 75 percent of them purchased by Hondurans - had been sold for tonight's 6 o'clock friendly (live on Fox Soccer Channel) at Home Depot Center in Carson between the U.S. and the Central American nation.

A large walk-up crowd is expected so officials are urging fans to get there early. Especially more Americans.

Still, that means U.S. defender Jonathan Bornstein, right, should have plenty of fans on hand, as colleague Phil Collin points out.

I plan to blog from the game, so if you can't be at the game check back this evening for updates.

For earlier posts related to the game:

*Here's how you can buy Bornstein's boots.

*Check out Coach Bob Bradley's thoughts on tonight's opponent.

*More from goalkeeper Troy Perkins, midfielder Benny Feilhaber and others is here.

A grab bag of Southern California-related soccer news this morning:

*The MLS off-season is over (sort of). The league permits teams to open training camp today.

Galaxy players will report to Home Depot Center Monday for physicals and fitness work in the gym, but won't hit the practice field until Feb. 1. The trio of young Brazilians GM and coach Bruce Arena signed won't be there Monday though; they're awaiting visas. Chivas USA opens camp Tuesday.

MLS clubs must be roster (and salary cap) compliant, with 20 senior players and four developmental, by March 1.

Look for the complete MLS schedule to be released in the first week of February. And as of Wednesday, players under contract in other countries may be signed by MLS clubs through April 15.

*U.S. Coach Bob Bradley was asked whether Landon Donovan playing in the EPL against English players the Americans will see in their opening World Cup game is a good thing. Um, yeah.

*Hotshot UCLA striker Sydney Leroux scored a brace and was named player of the game as the U.S. crushed Jamaica 6-0 Thursday in its opening CONCACAF qualifier for the U-20 World Cup. Game details here.

*PDL team the Ventura County Fusion will play against the Mexican Under-21 team at 7:30 tonight at Buena High School in Ventura, 5670 Telegraph Rd. Tickets are $20 adults, $10 kids under age 12. Kids under the age of six get in free.

*As always, click the link at top right for an exhaustive run-down of the weekend's games, but I'll be paying special attention to:

Chelsea-Preston North End 4:30 a.m. Saturday (FA Cup fourth round) Fox Soccer Channel

Fulham-Accrington Stanley 7 a.m. Saturday FSC (giant killing possibility?)

Leeds United-Tottenham Hotspur 9 a.m. Saturday FSC (the leaders of League 1 play an EPL outfit)

Tigres-CD Guadalajara 5 p.m. Saturday KVEA

U.S.-Honduras 6 p.m. Saturday FSC

And there's two big derbies Sunday: Inter Milan-AC Milan 11:30 a.m. on FSC and River Plate-Boca Juniors at 5 p.m. for those of you who get Fox Sports Espanol.

I'll blog from the U.S.-Honduras game Saturday so check back in then (or better yet if you're local, come on down; I suspect the U.S. could use the support).

New Zealand Football announced the game today.

Details here.

I don't see the game mentioned on the Rose Bowl Web site yet, so no ticket information is available.

But it's a FIFA international date, so both teams should be at full strength or close to it.

Former Galaxy midfielder Simon Elliott verses Senor Blanco, perhaps?

AP Photo

It's the fourth straight award for the Brazilian.

Domestically Marta led Women's Professional Soccer in scoring with 10 goals and 3 assists during the year, was named league MVP and led the Los Angeles Sol to the regular season title and a spot in the title game.

FIFA announced the two winners - that's Barcelona's Lionel Messi, above, with the men's award - today at the annual gala in Zurich, Switzerland

Details here.

Prices start at $26 and go on sale starting Thursday to Visa card holders and the general public at 8 a.m. Friday for the game that was reported earlier here (although that report was off by one day).

The 6 p.m. game, confirmed today by U.S. Soccer, will also be televised on Fox Soccer Channel.

"Obviously we know the quality of the Honduran team very well and we think the match is a great way to start the year as we commence preparations for the World Cup," said U.S. head coach Bob Bradley. "With both teams working toward finalizing their rosters for South Africa, we expect it will be a very competitive game."

As is usual for the traditional January friendly in Southern California, expect an MLS-laden U.S. roster. And let's hope U.S. fans find tickets in their stocking or we are going to host another predominantly Central American crowd in Carson for the occasion.

The U.S. went 4-0 last year against their fellow World Cup finalists including a 3-2 win in Honduras that clinched a World Cup spot for the Americans.