Major League Soccer: November 2007 Archives

In the wake of the World Series of Football and SuperLiga comes the latest meaningless tournament with a grandiose name: the Pan-Pacific Championship.

Essentially a MLS pre-season tournament scheduled for February, the four-team event in Hawaii unveiled today will involve trophy-winning teams from Japan and Australia, MLS champs the Houston Dynamo, as well as the Galaxy, which will participate because they have David Beckham and MLS Cup runner-up the New England Revolution doesn't.

"This tournament will unite four terrific clubs from across the region to crown a true Pan-Pacific champion," said Doug Quinn, president of Soccer United Marketing (apparently with a straight face), which is organizing of the event.

Well, no, it won't Dougie. If it did we'd have teams from Korea, Mexico, (insert other countries here) all playing as well.

Just call it what it is: a way to make more money off Becks and expose another American market to the MLS product. Or another excuse for a Hawaiian vacation. Nothing wrong with doing that is there?

MLS' credibility (or lack thereof) is called into question (yet again) when self-important and inaccurate press releases are issued containing such pronouncements as the tournament "will crown the top club from the Asian and North American soccer confederations.

Let's hope Becks doesn't twist his ankle again.

Full details are here.

The official Web site is here.

The season has ended for the UCLA men's team after a 3-1 loss to Santa Clara in the NCAA Tournament.

The Galaxy and David Beckham receive a New Zealand welcome.

And MLS holds its waiver draft later today. Carlos Pavon anyone? Didn't think so.

Plenty of familiar names on the roster named today for the U.S. Men's Under-23 National Team (which doubles as the Olympic team) training camp that opens this weekend at Home Depot Center.

The list includes MLS Rookie of the Year Maurice Edu of Fontana and Toronto FC; Robbie Rogers of Rolling Hills Estates and the Columbus Crew; Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan; Mike Randolph of the Galaxy; and former Galaxy players Nate Sturgis and Robbie Findley (both Real Salt Lake).

Here's today's (edited) press release from U.S. Soccer:

U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team head coach Peter Nowak has called 22 players into training camp at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., in preparation for a two-match tour in China where the U.S. will face the Chinese U-23 national team.

This will be the first gathering of the U-23 MNT since Nowak took the reins in August, and is the first major camp in preparation for the final round action of the 2008 CONCACAF Men’s Under-23 Championship to be held from March 11-23, 2008, in Los Angeles, Tampa and Nashville. The eight-team tournament will send the two finalists to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

The team will gather on Saturday in Carson and train for a week before departing on Dec. 8 for China. The U-23’s will play two matches against the Chinese U-23s, first on Dec. 13 at the Changsha He Long Sports Centre in Changsha, then three days later at the Yue Xiu Shan Stadium in Guangzhou.

"This is an excellent opportunity to begin preparing to qualify for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing,” said Nowak. "We will have the chance to get in a good week of training before playing two matches against a very good opponent. As we have seen in the past, the possibility of getting to travel and play in the host country before a tournament is especially valuable, so we are going to take full advantage of it.”

Of the 22-man roster assembling in Carson, 20 are playing professionally in the United States and abroad. Charlie Davies (Hammarby) and Sal Zizzo (Hannover 96), are the representatives from Europe, each having earned their first caps with the full team earlier this year. All told, seven players on the squad made their debut at the senior international level in 2007, including Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan who made four appearances, including three as a starter.

The heavily-MLS laden roster features the 2007 Rookie of the Year Maurice Edu as well as two winners from the MLS Cup-winning Houston Dynamo, midfielder Stuart Holden and defender Patrick Ianni. New England Revolution striker Adam Cristman represents the runners up having posted four goals and four assists in his rookie season for the Revs.

Nine players are graduates of the U-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla., and 14 of 22 players have represented the United States in a world youth championship event.

Seven players were part of the USA’s quarterfinal run in the 2007 U-20 World Cup in Canada this past summer. Four players – Jozy Altidore, Robbie Rogers, Nathan Sturgis and Zizzo – started all five matches for the United States, while goalkeeper Chris Seitz turned in one of the stellar performances for the U-20’s in Canada. Additionally, both Sturgis and Tim Ward were part of the squad at the 2005 FIFA Youth World Championship in Holland, where the U.S. opened with a stunning 1-0 victory over eventual champions Argentina and then shutout Germany (0-0) and Egypt (1-0) to win Group D before eventually falling to Italy, 3-1, in the Round of 16 to finish in 11th place.

The U.S. is gearing up for CONCACAF Olympic qualifying in March, with seven out of the eight participating teams having been finalized. Reaching the final round to join Canada, the USA and Mexico were qualifiers Guatemala and Honduras from the Central American Zone, and Cuba and Haiti from the Caribbean Zone. Panama and Costa Rica will play a two-game home-and-away playoff series later this month, with the winner becoming the eighth team in the final round tournament.

The Home Depot Center and Raymond James Stadium will each host three doubleheaders in group play, while LP Field in Nashville will host the semifinals on Thursday, March 20, and the championship match and third-place game on Sunday, March 23.

U.S. Under 23 Men’s National Team Roster By Position: GOALKEEPERS: Zac MacMath (St. Petersburg, Fla.), Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake).

DEFENDERS: Hunter Freeman (New York Red Bulls), Patrick Ianni (Houston Dynamo), Jon Leathers (Furman University), Mike Randolph (Los Angeles Galaxy), Nathan Sturgis (Real Salt Lake), Tim Ward (Columbus Crew), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC).

MIDFIELDERS: Arturo Alvarez (FC Dallas), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Michael Harrington (Kansas City Wizards), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (CD Chivas USA), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas).

FORWARDS: Josmer Altidore (New York Red Bulls), Adam Cristman (New England Revolution), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), Sal Zizzo (Hannover 96)

Despite a trademark David Beckham goal from a free kick, the Galaxy lost 5-3 to Sydney F.C. before more than 80,000 in Australia where Tuesday night has come and gone.

New Galaxy Coach Ruud Gullit saw midfielder Kevin Harmse sent off in the supposed friendly and shaky goalkeeper Joe Cannon was pulled at half time.

Full details here.

Back here in LA I devoted Tuesday's column to the USC women's soccer program, enjoying its best season in history, and defender Amy Massey from Manhattan Beach.

More information on the nonprofit mentioned in the story is here.

Steven Goff over at The Washington Post said two sources have told him Chivas USA Coach Preki is interested in the New York Red Bulls about its coaching vacancy

But that didn't stop Chivas USA from trading reserve goalkeeper Preston Burpo to expansion team San Jose Earthquakes for a fourth round draft pick. The (edited) Chivas USA press release:

“This was a key trade for us ahead of next year’s SuperDraft,” Preki said. “We also hope it represents a good opportunity for Preston to compete for a starting spot in a new environment in San Jose.”

Burpo, 35, was a member of Chivas USA for two seasons, in which he accumulated a 1.18 goals-against average (GAA) in 22 regular-season games played (all starts). However, Burpo played just three of those games in 2007, when he served primarily as a backup to Panasonic MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Brad Guzan.

Burpo was originally acquired by Chivas USA in March 2006 as a discovery pick from United Soccer Leagues Division I side Seattle Sounders.

The trade raises the possibility Chivas USA will have an entirely new goalkeeping corps in 2008 if Guzan heads to Arsenal of the English Premier League when the European transfer window opens in the New Year.

And Lawndale's Kei Kamara is heading back to California after being traded to San Jose from the Columbus Crew. The (edited) Crew release:

The Columbus Crew announced today that it has acquired midfielder Brian Carroll from the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for forward Kei Kamara. Carroll, a member of D.C. United’s 2004 MLS Cup-winning squad who has earned six caps with the U.S. National Team, appeared in 121 games over five seasons with D.C. before being selected by San Jose in Wednesday’s MLS Expansion Draft.

“We are excited to acquire someone of Brian Carroll’s ability and experience,” said Head Coach Sigi Schmid. “He is someone who has been a part of an MLS championship and he will help bring that mentality to our team. At the same time, we thank Kei for his efforts on behalf of the Crew and wish him the best of luck in San Jose.”

Carroll, a 26-year-old native of Springfield, Va., was originally selected by D.C. United in the second round (No. 11 overall) of the 2003 MLS SuperDraft out of Wake Forest University. In 2007, the defensive midfielder saw action in 28 games (19 starts) and collected a career-high four assists. He has two goals and 11 assists in his career. Carroll also represented the United States at the Under-20 and U-23 levels, prior to his six appearances at the senior level.

Kamara, a native of Sierra Leone who played collegiately at Cal State Dominguez Hills, spent two seasons with the Crew after being selected by Columbus in the first round (No. 9 Overall) of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. He scored five goals in 36 games (13 starts) in Black & Gold.

Finally, the U.S. Under-15 Girls National Team wrapped up a three game series in Florida over the weekend with two losses and a win.

Southern Californians on the roster were Michelle Cruz of Thousand Oaks, Natalia Ledezma of La Mirada and Haley Rosen of Palos Verdes.

The U-15s end the year with a 5-2-4 overall record, the most-ever international matches played by the U.S. U-15s in a calendar year.

David Beckham will stay with the Galaxy all summer next year after England today ineptly backed their way out of Euro 2008, despite Becks getting an assist in a 3-2 loss to Croatia.

That was about the only silver lining for the Galaxy's English fans, although the 200 crazy Croats I watched the game with in San Pedro were pretty happy. I'll have more on that in a story in Thursday's Daily Breeze.

Meanwhile, the San Jose Earthquakes went shopping in the pre-Thanksgiving sale known as the MLS Expansion draft and picked up Galaxy supersub Gavin Glinton and sometimes Chivas USA starting defender Jason Hernandez among others.

From the Galaxy press release:

Glinton finished the 2007 season tied for third on the Galaxy with a career-high four goals in 19 games. Used primarily off the bench, Glinton started just three of his 19 games but still managed to score a number of crucial goals for the club, including three during the Galaxy’s late season, seven-game unbeaten streak. Two of those goals were game-winners while the other gave LA the lead late on in the eventual 2-2 draw at Real Salt Lake on Sept. 19.

Glinton appeared in 51 career games for the Galaxy during two stints with the club. Originally drafted by the Galaxy in 2002, he won the MLS Cup as a rookie after scoring once in 22 games. Midway through the 2003 season, Glinton was dealt to Dallas. After spending some time as a college soccer coach and in the USL First Division, Glinton return to the Galaxy late last season, playing in one game.

I talked to Paul Bravo, the Galaxy's director of soccer, in what I believe was the first in-depth interview he has given since his appointment in late August for my weekly column.

A couple of things left out of the column for space reasons:
*Bravo said the team is looking for a consistent goal scorer (goodbye Carlos Pavon?), a holding midfielder to protect the back line (goodbye Pete Vagenas, Kevin Harmse?) and some pace wide in left midfield.

Meanwhile, the English player Croatia said they fear most in Wednesday's European qualifier is David Beckham, which probably tells you how mediocre this England team is than anything else.

The UCLA men Monday were awarded a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

More details here.

Finally, U.S. Men's Paralympic Team midfielder Marthell Vazquez, originally from Long Beach, was named the Most Valuable Player of the recently-concluded 2007 Cerebral Palsy International Sports & Recreation Association World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Vazquez was the leading scorer for the U.S. with four goals. The U.S. team finished in 10th place.

Presumably captivated by the possibility Clint Mathis (sorry, I meant David Beckham) could lead the Galaxy to next year's MLS Cup (insert chuckling here), the league announced today its championship game will return to Carson next year.

From the press release:

MLS Cup 2008 will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET (live on ABC and TeleFutura) on November 23, 2008 at the home of the Los Angeles Galaxy.

“We are proud and excited to bring Major League Soccer’s championship event back to the City of Los Angeles and The Home Depot Center, one of the finest sports venues in the United States,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “The pageantry and top-notch presentation of two previous MLS Cups and the inaugural SuperLiga final prove that The Home Depot Center is a superb stage for national and international showcase events like MLS Cup 2008.”

The two previous MLS Cup matches held at The Home Depot Center were resounding successes. In 2003, a sold out crowd of 27,000 witnessed a remarkable match with the San Jose Earthquakes taking home the title with 4-2 victory over the Chicago Fire in a wide-open contest. In 2004, D.C. United lifted the MLS Cup trophy after an intense 3-2 win over the Kansas City Wizards.

“The LA Galaxy are honored to once again be hosting Major League Soccer’s premier match, MLS Cup, at The Home Depot Center,” LA Galaxy President and General Manager Alexi Lalas said. “We feel that we have the best fans in MLS and I can think of no better way to reward them for their support than winning our third MLS Cup in front of them at home next season.”

Since opening its doors in 2003, The Home Depot Center has served as the home of two-time MLS Cup Champion and five-time MLS Cup finalist the Los Angeles Galaxy. Designated as an “Official U.S. Olympic Training Site,” this facility is also home to Chivas USA and the National Training Center for the United States Soccer Federation’s (USSF) Men’s and Women’s National Teams. In addition to two MLS Cups, the stadium has hosted numerous memorable soccer matches, including the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup Championship game, the 2003 MLS All-Star Game, CONCACAF Men’s and Women’s Gold Cup matches, InterLiga, this year’s inaugural SuperLiga series and several other elite soccer competitions.

“Hosting the most important game in American professional soccer at The Home Depot Center for the third time shows our continuing commitment to bring exciting and entertaining events to this stadium and city,” said Rod O’Connor, general manager, The Home Depot Center. “We are proud to partner with MLS and the Galaxy for what promises to be a great day for soccer fans in the city of Los Angeles, and across the country.”

"I can think of no better place to host soccer's biggest match than right here in Los Angeles," said City of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. "Los Angeles is the international hub of the world and is a place where everyone comes with a vision and a drive to achieve beyond themselves. We proudly welcome the 2008 MLS Cup match and the league's teams to chase their championship dreams right here in Los Angeles at our Home Depot Center."

The Home Depot Center has apparently moved to LA?

His options dwindling, Red Bulls striker-attacking midfielder Clint Mathis was traded by New York to the Galaxy in the brief three-hour MLS trading window this morning in exchange for a third round draft pick.

Mathis, whose big-money contract with MLS expires at year's end and under-performed (as usual) in New York, is expected to sign an incentive-laden contract with the Galaxy so the mercurial midfielder can prove he still has what it takes to play in the league.

"We're hoping Clint is motivated and ready to continue," said Paul Bravo, the Galaxy's director of soccer. "I think he thrives in this kind of environment - if we can make him see the light.

It's always going to be a challenge with Clint," Bravo added. "But we're looking to bring in guys who can handle a pressure cooker environment - I think he gets bored. For a third round draft pick, he's definitely worth the risk."

By the way, the Galaxy had the inside track on Mathis because his in-laws live in OC.

Also, Bravo said the Galaxy see Mathis as a potential back-up playmaker for David Beckham, should he end up playing for England next summer at Euro 2008.

From the Galaxy press release:

Mathis, who was originally drafted by the Galaxy in the 1998 SuperDraft, is the 16th leading scorer in MLS history with 59 goals in his nine-year MLS career. He will join his new Galaxy teammates in Los Angeles this week before heading to Australia with the club on Friday.

Mathis, who will turn 31 on Sunday, was drafted by the Galaxy in the first round (sixth overall) of the 1998 MLS College Draft and went on to appear in 65 games for the club, scoring 15 goals and adding 17 assists. Midway through the 2000 season, Mathis was traded to the MetroStars (now New York Red Bulls) as part of the Galaxy’s acquisition of Luis Hernandez. He played the next three and a half years in New York, where he is now the club’s all-time leading scorer in all competitions, and with whom he was a finalist for the 2000 MLS Honda MVP Award and was named to the 2000 MLS Best XI.

After a year in the German Bundesliga with Hannover 96, Mathis returned to MLS, joining expansion club Real Salt Lake in 2005 before being traded to Colorado for the 2006 season and then on to the Red Bulls in 2007, with whom he scored six goals and added two assists in 26 games. In the Red Bulls 5-4 win over LA in August, Mathis tallied a goal and an assist, with the goal giving him a team-record 45 in all competitions during his career with the club.

A member of the U.S. National Team, Mathis has collected 46 caps and scored 12 goals since debuting with the National Team in 1998. He was a member of the U.S. squad that reached the quarterfinals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup scoring the American’s only goal in the 1-1 draw with the host nation Korea Republic.

Red Bull New York Technical Director Jeff Agoos was also pleased with the move:

“By acquiring this pick, we will now be able to have a selection in every round of the 2008 SuperDraft. This allows us more flexibility moving forward.”

Is Mathis still capable of scoring five goals like this?

What do you think?

I'll have more on my conversation with Bravo and word of a Chivas USA player who won't be leaving the team as rumored after all in Tuesday's 100 Percent Soccer column in the Daily Breeze and Daily News.

A quick update before I head off to the Galaxy practice this morning:
England players are gathering ahead of Wednesday's crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia.

And while England wants no repeat of the last-gasp David Beckham free kick it needed six years ago to qualify for the 2002 World Cup there are calls to bench Becks against Croatia.

Meanwhile, the UCLA and USC women both made it through Sunday to the next round of the NCAA tournament.

Playing for 76 minutes a man down, the Loyola Marymount men (3-16-1) suffered their eighth one-goal loss of the campaign and lost 2-1 to Saint Mary’s Sunday in their last game of the season.

Finally, the Galaxy host their annual Thanksgiving meal in the Stadium Club this afternoon for more than 200 local children and their families:

Several Galaxy players and front office members, as well as staff from The Home Depot Center and Albertsons, will be on hand to help serve meals, which will include all of the traditional Thanksgiving fare. Galaxy players including Landon Donovan, Quavas Kirk, Mike Randolph, Troy Roberts, Peter Vagenas and more, as well as other special guests, including actress Bianca Kajlich, the star of the CBS comedy “Rules of Engagement” and the wife of Landon Donovan, will also be signing autographs and taking photos with the children.

Sporting an all ex-Galaxy front line of Joseph Ngwenya and Nate Jaqua, the Houston Dynamo beat the New England Revolution 2-1 today in a come from behind win.

This is a team initially molded by former Galaxy Coach Frank Yallop, of course, and four MLS titles in six years is a testament to what can be achieved if stability exists.

Are you listening Galaxy?

The Galaxy at least won something this weekend: retired Galaxy great Cobi Jones on Saturday won the Commissioner's Award

That was a nod to the past.

If we're talking about the present, two Chivas USA players, goalkeeper Brad Guzan and defender Jonathan Bornstein of Los Alamitos were named to the MLS Best XI:

GOALKEEPER (1): Brad Guzan* (Chivas USA)

DEFENDERS (3): Michael Parkhurst* (New England Revolution), Eddie Robinson*(Houston Dynamo), Jonathan Bornstein* (Chivas USA)

MIDFIELDERS (5): Christian Gomez (D.C. United), Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution), Dwayne De Rosario (Houston Dynamo), Ben Olsen* (D.C. United) Guillermo Barros Schelotto* (Columbus Crew)

FORWARDS (2): Luciano Emilio* (D.C. United), Juan Pablo Angel *(New York Red Bulls)

* First time Best XI recipient

No Galaxy players on the list, you'll notice.

Sigi Schmid agreed to guest blog as MLS wraps up 2007:

MLS Cup is the culmination of a long season.

Some rambling thoughts come to mind:

1. The winner of MLS Cup is very rarely the best team in the league.

It is a Cup; not a league championship.

An old coaching friend of mine said to me long ago that during a season the cream rises to the top; in a cup competition it is like Fantasy Island - everyone's dream can come true.

Although this year two of the more consistent teams made the finals, that is not always the case.

2. Are new rules coming?

Perhaps two designated players per team.

We have the Beckham rule; now we might have the Landon Donovan rule.

I see arguments on both sides; we will see what happens.

Trading for a second DP spot is possible, but it has a value that needs to be respected.

3. On the expansion Seattle franchise - New teams and marching bands. I love it.

Fans as members. I agree - let's get involved.

Now we need a team name.

Are we going to get another FC team or team FC?

I hope not.

Maybe it will be an SC for soccer Club.

How about an SSC, Soccer and Social Club? I like that.

4. High profile coaches - I think it is great for our league.

Big salaries - great. I wish some of that would pass down to the current coaches.

MLS is different.

When you are used to going player shopping and not looking at price tags, it is hard to start hunting for bargains.

A bargain for a European team is $2 million or less.

In MLS that is called a DP.

Happy hunting, time to go to those big outlet stores for those quality specials.

5. Finally, MLS gets better every year.

The fans are better every year.

There is a better atmosphere every year in the stadiums.

Media coverage is getting better.

The teams are better.

Players are better.

Now if only the refereeing would do the same.

U.S. Escapes South Africa With 1-0 Win

Good morning, especially to those who rose early to watch a young American team beat the 2010 World Cup hosts 1-0 at altitude today in Johannesburg.

Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan came on at the half to preserve the shutout, while his club teammates Sascha Kljestan and (briefly) Jonathan Bornstein also saw action in the last U.S. game of the year.

Freddy Adu started in attack for the U.S., while Fontana's Maurice Edu, the MLS Rookie of the Year, acquitted himself well and earned an assist on Steve Cherundolo's goal.

Next for the U.S.: a game against Sweden Jan. 19 at Home Depot Center in Carson.

Next for armchair soccer fans, especially those of English descent, the 9:55 a.m. game on Fox Soccer Channel between Israel and Russia. England need help from Israel if they are to qualify for Euro 2008, remember.

Program notes

I'll be a guest this afternoon on Ultimate Soccer, a radio show on 1260 The Team Sports Radio out of Edmonton, Alta., talking about Becks' time with the Galaxy, etc.

How did I hook up with a soccer show from the Great White North?

Turns out the show's host is married to a daughter of my Canadian-born wife's father's cousin. Hey, I'll take the distant nepotism.

I'll chat with host Soccer Steve, a former player with England's not so mighty Port Vale (it's apparently some sort of rule that old pros from England must host soccer radio shows judging by how many there are) just after noon.

Those so inclined can listen here.

Also, longtime South Bay resident and Columbus Crew Coach Sigi Schmid will guest-blog for 100 Percent Soccer later today, sharing his views on the MLS season.

Chivas USA Update

Chivas USA plays its mother club, CD Guadalajara, in Mexico tonight in a benefit game for victims of the recent floods south of the border.

Billy Witz and Ivan Orozco took a look at what the offseason holds for Chivas USA today.

College Update

The UCLA women Friday won their NCAA Tournament home opener.

In other games, San Francisco scored twice in each half Friday to defeat the Loyola Marymount men, 4-0.
LMU fell to 3-15-1 and closes out their season Sunday.

Finally, the Cal State Northridge men clawed back to a .500 record in their last game of the season with a 2-1 win over UC Irvine Friday. Northridge ended its season at 7-7-6.

Breakfast in Africa

The U.S. kicks off at 6 a.m. in South Africa on Fox Soccer Channel.

It's a young (but worldly) U.S. team.

From (the edited) U.S. Soccer release:

•Glasgow Rangers midfielder DaMarcus Beasley is the leading cap-winner on the roster (average age 23) with 71 international appearances. The 25-year-old has scored 15 international goals.
•There are five players heading to South Africa with five caps or less, including two 2007 MLS season award winners. Brad Guzan was voted Goalkeeper of the Year in only his second season with Chivas USA, while Maurice Edu – who earned his first cap in the win against Switzerland – has been honored as the Rookie of the Year. Fellow U-20 World Cup teammates Freddy Adu and Josmer Altidore will be reunited for the first time since Canada this summer, with the New York Red Bulls striker seeking his first-ever cap with the full team. Sacha Kljestan has three appearances for the full team, all this year.
•A total of six players on the current roster are age-eligible for the 2008 Olympic Games : Freddy Adu, Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Benny Feilhaber and Jonathan Spector.
•Twelve of the 17 players on the roster ply their trade in seven different countries in Europe (Belgium, Denmark, England, Germany, Holland, Portugal and Scotland).
GOALKEEPERS (2) – Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Tim Howard (Everton FC)
DEFENDERS (7) –Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Dan Califf (Aalborg BK), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)
MIDFIELDERS (6) – Freddy Adu (SL Benfica), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Benny Feilhaber (Derby County), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA)
FORWARDS (2) – Josmer Altidore (New York Red Bulls), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC)

And lest we forget, U.S. Soccer reminds us that:

"eight days after (Saturday's) match, South Africa will host the Preliminary Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The event, held in Durban, will determine the qualifying schedule for 156 countries spanning five confederations. The South American qualifying competition began Oct. 13 with all ten teams in action. The U.S. will learn on Nov. 25 its potential opponents for the second round of CONCACAF Qualifying. To ramp up the hype, the domestic league’s biggest derby between Jo’Burg based Kaizer Chiefs and the Orlando Pirates has been moved to Durban to coincide with the weekend’s festivities.

Beck's is Back

And creates the goal from a corner kick as England beat Austria 1-0 in a game that nevertheless sent the populace panicking.

The Times had a rather savage assessment of Beckham's contribution:

That England’s winner came from a dead ball from David Beckham was also somewhat misleading, considering the tepid nature of his performance. Looking as fit as can be expected of a man who has started three competitive matches since June – and even those in an inferior league – his only serious contributions came when the play was stopped. Even then, successive corners were cleared by a resilient knot of red-shirted Austria defenders, while long-range free kicks were delivered as if guided by faulty radar. He looked about as far off a top-level international footballer as he did on the occasions when Sven-Göran Eriksson insisted on sending him out half-fit.

But, even in his dotage, Beckham will be able to deliver the odd mean one – indeed, if McClaren uses this talent to justify his continued place in the team, Beckham could be pulling on the white shirt at 50 – and in the 44th minute it was his inswinger that set up the goal that relieved the tension building in the England camp.

His partner in crime was, as ever, Crouch, a striker whose frame is built to act as the antenna for Beckham’s passes into the box. So it proved. It was a classically worked Beckham and Crouch goal, the ball whipped in by Beckham’s corner on the left, Crouch rising at the far post, Jermain Defoe on the goalline, pivoting to his side to allow it to pass into the net as Alex Manninger scrambled across his line.
There is something of the flat-track bully about this alliance, though: destroyers of Trinidad & Tobago, Estonia and, now, Austria.

And this was their rating for Beckham:

David Beckham 6 Looked out of shape, which is hardly as a surprise given he has played as much football as your average LA resident recently, with 54 minutes on the pitch since suffering a knee injury in August. Remains as effective as ever from set-pieces, however, whipping in the corner from which Peter Crouch opened the scoring and doing just enough to earn his 99th cap against Croatia.

Israel and Russia kick off at 9:55 a.m. on Fox Soccer Channel, by the way.

More MLS

Finally, good to hear from The Washington Post's Steven Goff that Home Depot Center could host MLS Cup 2008 and that we can mark March 28, 2008 on our calendars.

Chicago forward Cuauhtémoc Blanco won the 2007 Goal of the Year today for his stunning left-footed volley into the upper right corner of the net in the Fire’s 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake in August. It was the first MLS goal for the Mexican superstar.

Check out the unstoppable screamer here:

MLS suits will discuss the David Beckham rule today. Whatever happens, it's the first domino to fall in what will be a busy Galaxy off-season.

Meanwhile, Becks has returned to the England midfield for today's noon game against Austria (it's only available on closed circuit television in pubs and bars locally).

And not everyone is happy about the move.

College beat writer Chris Jackson takes a look at the local women involved in the NCAA Tournament, which starts today.

Here's more on the USC game and the UCLA match.

I'll be back later today with more on the England game, MLS Cup activities and the U.S.-South Africa contest, which will be televised at 6 a.m. Saturday on Fox Soccer Channel.

The announcement was just made on ESPNews.

It was always going to be a toss-up between the league's top scorer Emilio (20 goals in 28 games) and New York's Juan Pablo Angel (19 goals in 24 games) for the MVP award (Cuauhtemoc Blanco didn't play in enough games despite his productivity for Chicago).

Personally, I thought Angel was more of a multi-faceted player for New York, but the two were so close that either could have won.

Two of the three finalists were designated players (Emilio was not), so this is vindication for MLS loosening the purse strings a little and for its policy of unearthing cheaper talent in Latin America (the Brazilian last played in Honduras).

Full details on Emilio and other MLS award winners is here.

Check out the Emilio highlights:

Despite taking the lead off a goal from Palos Verdes Estates' (and 100 Percent Soccer blogger) Kyle Nakazawa, the UCLA men could only tie 1-1 Wednesday with San Diego State in their last game of the regular season, leaving their NCAA tourney hopes hanging by a thread. The Bruins learn their fate Monday.

Ahead of Sunday's MLS Cup, Steven Goff over at The Washington Post profiles former Galaxy forward Nate Jaqua, reminding us he scored just one goal in 10 appearances in L.A., but a more respectable eight goals in 15 games since his trade to the Houston Dynamo.

The MLS MVP will be announced today at 1 p.m. live on ESPNews.

MLS reminds us that while Jaqua is not up for the award, these players are:

Juan Pablo Angel (New York Red Bulls) – The Colombian striker was a terror to defenses as he scored 19 goals in 24 games this season. The first-year player recorded five multi-goal games and helped lead the Red Bulls to the playoffs. He came to MLS from Aston Villa of the English Premier League as one of the League’s first crop of Designated Players.

Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Chicago Fire) – One of the most loved soccer players in Mexico came to the League as Chicago’s Designated Player and set the League ablaze with his play for the Fire. Blanco helped turn the season around for the Fire, leading them to the playoffs and Eastern Conference Championship game.

Luciano Emilio (D.C. United) – The Brazilian born Emilio was the 2007 Budweiser Golden Boot winner, as the League’s leading goal scorer. He tallied 20 goals in 28 games, tied Angel for the most multi-goal games and helped lead D.C. United to its second consecutive Supporters’ Shield trophy. Emilio is the first MLS player to reach the 20 goal mark in one season since 2002, when current FC Dallas forward Carlos Ruiz scored 24 goals for the Los Angeles Galaxy and Twellman scored 23 for New England.

Meanwhile, the latest American investors to eye an English team is reportedly Burbank-based Shamrock Holdings, founded by Walt Disney's nephew, Roy, which is supposedly chasing Derby County. And, yes, the "Mickey Mouse team" quips have started.

The CONCACAF suits met Monday to fiddle with the format of their largely irrelevant competitions and award Mexico the qualifying competition for women's Olympic soccer.

From CONCACAF:

Among the most important items under consideration was a detailed proposal from the CONCACAF Secretariat to end the existing club championship, the CONCACAF Champions Cup™, and introduce a new Champions League-style annual event. The proposed new competition, which will see 24 teams participating, received the approval of the Executive Committee and will commence in August 2008 with the first CONCACAF Champions League winner to be crowned in May of 2009. Therefore, the current CONCACAF Champions Cup™ will cease to exist after its next edition, taking place from February-May 2008, has concluded.

Finally, while the performance of the U.S. women at the World Cup was roundly criticized, at least they don't have to survive on less than $100 a day.

The Dutchman will be formally introduced at a 10:30 a.m. Friday press conference at Home Depot Center.

Also in attendance: Tim Leiweke, president & CEO, of Anschutz Entertainment Group; Galaxy GM Alexi Lalas; David Beckham's agent Simon Fuller, of 19 Entertainment, which reportedly orchestrated the deal; and Galaxy players, including Beckham.

More here.

Too bad Gullit isn't a few years younger, then he'd be even sexier:

And let's hope he does better than these guys.

B.C. Beckham

Vancouver's two daily newspapers have gone all out on Beckham coverage (this for an exhibition game).

The on-line versions of The Province and Vancouver Sun follow. Advantage The Province for its depth of coverage. The Sun has videos, though.

The game kicks off at 7 p.m. on Channel 22 and GOLTV.

Preki Coach of the Year; Edu Top Rookie

Chivas USA Coach Preki was named Coach of the Year today, as most people expected. And Toronto midfielder Maurice Edu of Fontana was named Rookie of the Year.

For those keeping track, it's the second consecutive year Chivas USA took the coaching award and the second successive year a Southern Californian has won the rookie title.

The full MLS press release:

Major League Soccer today announced that Chivas USA’s first-year coach, Preki, was voted MLS Coach of the Year after leading his club to a first-place finish in the Western Conference. Also announced today, Toronto FC midfielder Maurice Edu earned the 2007 Gatorade Rookie of the Year award after starting all 25 matches he played, logging four goals and one assist while showing poise beyond his years in a defensive midfield role.

In his first season as a head coach, Preki, 44, directed Chivas USA to their best finish in the club’s three-year history. Chivas USA finished at the top of the Western Conference and were just two points behind D.C. United in the race for the Supporters’ Shield. The Western Conference leaders lost only one home game at The Home Depot Center this season.

Preki, who spent the 2006 season with Chivas USA as an assistant coach under Bob Bradley, is the only two-time MLS Most Valuable Player to date. He was an eight-time MLS All-Star and is one of the most celebrated players in MLS history. Preki has been a part of MLS since its inception in 1996, playing ten seasons and earning a spot in the top ten all-time in career goals (79), assists (112), and shots on goal (323).

Preki was born in Belgrade of the former Yugoslavia and became a U.S. citizen prior to the 1998 FIFA World Cup, when he represented the United States. He took over the Chivas USA in January 2007, after Bradley left to become the U.S. Men’s National Team coach. In 2006, Chivas USA finished third in the Western Conference with a 10-9-13 record. Preki led this season’s Coach of the Year voting over Houston’s Dominic Kinnear and D.C. United’s Tom Soehn.

Edu, 21, a native of Fontana, Calif. and former Maryland Terrapin, was a dazzling performer throughout his rookie campaign. As the recipient of the 2007 Gatorade Rookie of the Year, he follows in the footsteps of some of Major League Soccer’s most exciting talents. Edu also holds the distinction as the first No. 1 pick overall in the MLS SuperDraft to win Rookie of the Year honors.

Edu displayed an aggressive style of play this year and generated many shots on goal. He ranked behind only one player, forward Colin Samuel, in shots taken for Toronto FC and ranked second on the team in goals scored behind striker Danny Dichio.

Edu began the season recovering from a fractured pelvis and missed the first two games of the season, but came back strong to start all 25 games he played. He recorded four goals and one assist from his defensive midfield role. The past three Gatorade Rookie of the Year winners – Jonathan Bornstein, Michael Parkhurst and Clint Dempsey - each used MLS to launch a career with the U.S. Men’s National Team. Edu recently received his first call-up to the National Team and first career appearance.

The MLS Coach of the Year and the Gatorade Rookie of the Year winners were determined by equal voting from the media, MLS players and MLS coaches and general managers.

Women Bruins Seeking Undefeated Season

UCLA is closing in on a perfect record.

Beck's Backs Out?

After all of one charity game David Beckham has alerted the media he may not be fit enough to play England's final European Championshp qualifier against Croatia. D'ya think?

But Beck's should get the boot from the England team anyway, said influential Daily Telegraph columnist Henry Winter. Somewhere I can hear Galaxy GM Alexi Lalas praying for this to come to pass.

Kamara Flies Out

Lawndale's Kei Kamara is likely on a jet on his way to Liberia as I blog this.

The Cal State Dominguez Hills product just completed his second season with the Columbus Crew and was scheduled to get on a plane Monday night.

From the (edited) Crew press release:

Kamara will participate in Right To Play’s 2007 Athlete Forum as an athlete ambassador for the group, which promotes child development and peace through sport.

“Right To Play is a great organization and I am extremely excited about the trip,” Kamara said. “It is especially significant to me that we are going to Liberia, which neighbors my home country and which has had a similar recent history (civil war). I am looking forward to seeing the great work being done by Right To Play and to having the opportunity to work with some of the children they serve.”

The purpose of Right To Play Athlete Forums is to show Athlete Ambassadors first-hand the organization’s specially-designed sport and play programs geared to improving health, building life skills, and fostering peace for children an communities affected by war, poverty and disease. A native of neighboring Sierra Leone, Kamara will be joined on the trip by a variety of Olympic athletes, including Adam van Koeverden (Canada - Kayak), James McIlroy (UK - Track and Field), Whitney Ping (USA - Table Tennis) and Cheil Warners (Netherlands - Decathlete).

Kamara is one of 20 MLS Right To Play Athlete Ambassadors who help raise awareness and funds to assist children in the world’s most disadvantaged places.

Warner Not Voted Out?

Is CONCACAF serving as President Jack Warner's personal PR agency? Read this (unedited) press release and you decide:

CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) President and FIFA Vice-President, Jack Austin Warner, was elected to the House of Representatives in his native Trinidad & Tobago following a nationwide general election yesterday. Mr. Warner, standing for election to the House for the first time, won his constituency seat of Chagunas West with the largest popular vote of any candidate in any of the seats contested.

Overall the United National Congress-Alliance Party, of which Warner is the co-leader, won 15 of the 41 seats in the Trinidad and Tobago House of Representatives and the UNC-A will now form the official Opposition. Mr. Warner’s term in the House of Representatives will run for five years and during that period, he has declined to accept the post of Leader of the Opposition.

Jack Warner is also President of CONCACAF, a position he has held since he was first elected in 1990. He has also served on FIFA’s Executive Committee since 1983, the longest standing member of that body, and has been a FIFA Vice President since 1997.

Additionally, he is Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the FIFA Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups, Deputy Chairman of the FIFA Finance Committee and a member of a number of other FIFA Committees.

Suarez Bummed Out

And in case you were wondering Chivas USA's veteran defender Claudio Suarez did not win the defender of the Year Award.

The New England Revolution's Michael Parkhurst, as most pundits expected, did.

Kansas City Wizards forward Eddie Johnson was named Comeback Player of the Year, and Brian Hall, Referee of the Year.

Frank Yallop is gone.

Discuss here.

The season is over for Chivas USA.

It was the same old story for Chivas USA, which shot more blanks than an elderly groom on his wedding night.

Chivas USA saw a Shavar Thomas header cleared off the goal line by Kurt Morsink in the 59th minute.

A Maykel Galindo shot from about 12 yards hit the post two minutes later

And a Galindo shot from six yards hit the side netting in the 77th minute.

Despite being urged on by an animated crowd of 19,711, Chivas USA could not break down a stubborn Wizards rearguard.

Chivas USA ended the night with 16 shots, to the Wizards eight.

Despite all the chances there was a sense of inevitability about this defeat, which saw the Chivas USA season end with a first round playoff exit for the second successive year.

That futility was summed up when substitute striker John Cunliffe saw his header from a corner kick crash off the bar deep into stoppage time in perhaps Chivas USA's best, fleeting, all too late chance of the game.

Chivas USA's lack of depth on the forward line proved the difference, as expected.

More after the press conference.

Updated:

Ante Razov had a sign hanging on his locker all week that read: "I will play in the 2007 Playoffs."

After tonight's game, it was gone, just like Chivas USA's season. Ante didn't stick around to chat either.

"We missed Ante," said Galindo, who was playing hurt himself. "We all know at this point what he means."

Wizards Coach Curt Onalfo said Razov was conspicuous by his absence.

"When they lost Razov, they became a different team," Onalfo said. "He's irreplaceable."

Preki said the Wizards were lucky to beat the Western Conference champions, especially since they scraped into the playoffs on the last day of the regular season.

"They were fortunate to be in the playoffs and they were fortunate tonight," he said. "There are no excuses. We played really good, we just couldn't put the ball away. We totally dominated. We're a far better team."

Wizards midfielder Sasha Victorine took exception to the luck part of that characterization.

"Lucky my ass," he said. "They haven't scored a goal on us in 180 minutes."

Jesse Marsch was already planning a trip to England to take in some games in an apparent effort to ease the pain of the loss.

"It's frustrating, man," he said. "This is something that each guy has to deal with in his own way. There is no recipe for agony."

Updated: Video highlights are here.

The game story is here.

Here's how it played in Kansas City.

Billy Witz has more on how and why Chivas USA literally failed to reach their goal.

Wizards Coach Curt Onalfo fields an unchanged team from the one that beat Chivas USA 1-0 in the first leg, while Preki makes three changes to his side in what looks to be a more offensive-minded line-up.

Lawson Vaughn replaces Jason Hernandez on the back line, Alex Zotinca sits to make room for Ramon Nunez up front and Laurent Merlin is dropped to the bench.

Maykel Galindo returns to start despite playing with a painful hernia that will require surgery after the season, alongside Nunez.

The changes likely mean Chivas USA will revert to a more traditional 4-4-2 after playing Merlin alone up front in the first game.

Injured striker Ante Razov jogged alone before the game, but isn't on the bench, as expected.

The game is on FSN

With their two starting strikers injured, Chivas USA will need all the magic they can muster to claw back from a 1-0 deficit against the Wizards tonight.

Beat writer Ivan Orozco has the game preview, while Billy Witz profiles the heart and soul of a young Chivas USA team, midfielder (and infrequent blogger) Jesse Marsch.

Allegedly the Wizards plan to attack tonight.

The winner meets the Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference finals. The Dynamo defeated FC Dallas 4-2 on aggregate Friday night, scoring two goals in extra time to go through.

Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan sat down for a Q&A session ahead of the game with ussoccerplayers.com.

Carson firefighters dispatched to the recent wildfires in San Diego and Orange counties will conduct the honorary coin toss before the game.

Led by Battalion Chief Jack Ricci and Captain David Martinez, members of Fire Station 116, which is located across Victoria Street from Home Depot Center will do the duties.

A portion of the proceeds from the game will go to the American Red Cross for wildfire relief efforts.

I'll blog from the game as usual.

Posh Place?

Meanwhile, they're getting pumped in Vancouver for Wednesday's game against David Beckham, um, the Galaxy.

College Update

Good news for the Cal State Dominguez Hills men, not so good for the women Friday in Carson.

In women's soccer, the undefeated and top-ranked UCLA women got first-half goals from Lauren Cheney and Danesha Adams to win 3-1 Friday evening over visiting Arizona State.

Lauren Barnes added an insurance goal in the 52nd minute for the Bruins (13-1-2, 6-0-0 Pac-10). Kyleyn Felts scored the lone goal for the Sun Devils (9-8-1, 3-3-1) in the 73rd minute. Valerie Henderson had three saves for UCLA.

UCLA plays its final home match of the regular season at 1 p.m. Sunday, hosting Arizona.

No. 4 USC (12-2-2, 4-1-1 Pac-10) achieved a come from behind win to beat Arizona 3-1, Alyssa Davila scoring in the 66th minute to propel the host Trojans to victory and preserve their home unbeaten streak.

Analisa Marquez scored in the 59th minute to put the Wildcats (6-11-1, 1-5-1 Pac-10) ahead before Ashley Nick tied it up just two minutes later. Amy Rodriguez added an insurance goal in the 75th minute for USC.

Next: Arizona State at 1 p.m. Sunday at McAlister Field in the last home game of the season for USC.

Long Beach State beat Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 3-1 with Manhattan Beach freshman Lindsay Bullock (Mira Costa High) one of three different 49ers to score. Game details are here.

Cal State Northridge defeated UC Santa Barbara 1-0, with Kristy Krohn scoring in the 15th minute and freshman goalkeeper Ivette Esqueda recording eight saves to post her first career shutout victory as the host Matadors (5-10-2, 2-4-1 Big West) defeated the Gauchos (6-9-4, 3-3-1) for the first time in six years.

In men's soccer, Maxwell Griffin's team-leading eighth goal of the season in the 66th minute wasn't enough as UCLA (5-4-5, 2-2-2 Pac-10) lost 2-1 at Stanford. UCLA remains in first place in the Pac-10 with a one-point lead over both California and San Diego State.

Still, the Bruins' first loss to Stanford in seven years sets up a must-win game for UCLA on Sunday at California. A Bruin victory would give UCLA a four point lead over the Golden Bears, while a loss would drop the Bruins behind Cal in the standings.

U.S. Loses at Beach Soccer World Cup

Lawndale's Raphael Xexeo scored a goal then got sent off with the U.S. tied 4-4 against Spain Friday at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Brazil. The U.S. went on to lose, 8-4.

D.C. Done

D.C. United, the best team in MLS during the regular season, crashed out of the playoffs Thursday night.

Chivas USA plays at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Home Depot Center trailing 1-0 to the Kansas City Wizards.

With strikers Ante Razov out and Maykel Galindo doubtful, Chivas USA will be lacking the firepower fans saw this season:

Adding fuel to the rumors of goalkeeper Brad Guzan heading to England's Arsenal in the New Year, Jens Lehmann fears he's played his last game for the Gunners.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy have announced their exhibition game in Vancouver will be shown live at 7 p.m. Wednesday on Channel 22.

College Update

Cal State Dominguez Hills begin the collegiate equivalent of the playoffs today in Carson.

Reduced to 10 men in the second half, the Loyola Marymount men (2-12-1) lost 2-0 to Oregon State Thursday in a non-conference game in Corvallis, Ore.

FIFA Beach World Cup

Virtually unnoticed in the U.S., the FIFA Beach World Cup is under way in Brazil.

The U.S. begins tournament play today against Spain in a game to be shown delayed at 8 tonight on Galavision.

The lone Southern Californian on the team is forward Raphael Xexeo of Lawndale, a city not exactly known for its beaches.

Music and half time shows at major sporting events have seldom worked well together.

Oh, there have been notable exceptions that have either been musically adventurous or controversial (thank you Janet Jackson).

But for the most part its been bland stuff designed to appeal to conservative middle America. Think the uninspired rock of Creed at the Super Bowl.

So it was a pleasant surprise when MLS announced today that emo band Jimmy Eat World would provide the half time entertainment at MLS Cup this year.

Jimmy Eat World play upbeat alternative pop, are fun live and have a new album out that's arguably their most artistically interesting yet.

Of course, MLS also announced today that opera star Placido Domingo (of Three Tenors fame) at the will sing the national anthem, but I guess there must be something for everyone.

I'll stick with Jimmy Eat World and catchy hook-driven songs like "The Middle" from a few years back: