Major League Soccer: October 2008 Archives
Boo!
Now that the zombie-like MLS regular season is over, it's time for the um, meaty part of the season.
New England and the Fire kicked things off Thursday with a tight 0-0 contest, setting up a winner takes it all showdown this coming Thursday in Chicago. Rolling Hills Estates' John Thorrington (who had a nice shout out to the South Bay as the lineups were announced before the game) made two key, well-timed tackles for the Fire inside their own penalty box; Revs goalkeeper Matt Reis earned his eighth career shutout, after a Brian McBride goal was called back for offside. BTW, Is it just me or did the bundled up former Bruin look like the character on Dilbert who wanders around with the coffee cup all day? (I have to be careful here; Matt's mother-in-law lives just around the corner from the Daily Breeze office in Torrance).
More on Saturday's Chivas USA-Real Salt Lake playoff opener is here.
A complete playoff schedule is here.
Other TV options this weekend include:
*8 a.m. Saturday Chelsea-Sunderland on Fox Soccer Channel.
*10:30 a.m. Saturday Tottenham Hotspur-Liverpool on Fox Soccer Channel
*3 p.m. Sunday Tecos-Club America on KAZA
Local college games this weekend include:
*No. 10 USC (12-3-1, 2-2-1 Pac-10) take on California (10-5-1, 3-2-1) in a 3 p.m. match today at McCalister Field. The game will be shown on tape-delay at 1 p.m. Saturday on FSC. The Trojans' final Pac-10 home match is set for 1 p.m. Sunday against undefeated No. 2 Stanford (16-0-1, 6-0-0) at the Coliseum.
*Two doubleheaders this weekend for the Bruins. The No. 3 women play second-ranked Stanford at 5 p.m. today at Marshall Field and are followed by the surging UCLA men who host No. 8 California. At noon Sunday it's the women against Cal followed by the men against Stanford.
*The LMU men host St. Mary's at 3 p.m. today in Westchester.
Photo by Juan Miranda/Chivas USA
Chivas USA defender-midfielder Carey Talley is a journeyman closing in on 300 MLS appearances for five teams over 11 seasons. A Carey Talley fun factoid: he is the answer to the trivia question - who was waiting to make his first appearance for the national team as a (very) late sub when the game was called and has never won a U.S. cap? Talley joined Chivas USA from Real Salt Lake in May and has established himself as a regular, starting 18 of the 20 games he has played for the club. He chatted via e-mail ahead of the Chivas USA-Real Salt Lake playoff opener set for 3 p.m. Saturday.
Q: First off, Real Salt Lake got in the playoffs in perhaps the most dramatic fashion possible - a 90th minute equalizer against the Rapids. Were you surprised?
A: It was a little surprising to me because I thought they got outplayed in the game, and they kept going, and going, and in the 90th minute, a guy who I don't think has gotten a lot of credit from around the league, Andy Williams, comes through. He was very close to getting the goal, but he makes the play happen. Andy, in the right spot, battled a guy off, got his toe on it and they're in it. I was as surprised as anybody, being in the 90th minute, but all credit to them, they kept going, and I was happy to see that Andy was such a big part of that goal because he's been a good friend of mine for a while, and I think he deserved it.
Q:Is there any special resonance about playing your old team in the playoffs - especially at Rio Tinto Stadium, which you've never played in, but awaited for so long as a Real Salt Lake player?
A: I'm really trying not to look at this as any different an opponent from any other one we could've met up with. The series that we played with them was a pretty tough series, each team getting an away result.
I had gone through the whole process (of the stadium). I was excited to see them get it, and I was hoping that Chivas would get to play in Rio Tinto this year, and now we're getting to go back there and play in it. What I've heard from everybody is that it's a great stadium, it's a great atmosphere, and I assume that since it's the first playoff game in the history of that club, it's going to be going pretty crazy there.
Q: This year's Real Salt Lake media guide profile of you began - "Death, taxes and Carey Talley could become the new phrase for reliability as the veteran midfielder returns for his 11th season in MLS and third as a member of Real Salt Lake." Then in May they traded you. Any lingering resentment over that? Do you have something to prove? Or did you understand and accept what Jason Kreis was trying to do for the team with the trade?
A: I knew that I had to leave. That was between me, Jason, and their GM. There are reasons behind it, but I'm in a good place now with Chivas USA and I'm very happy. This is the place for me, and I'm happy to be here.
Q: How are you feeling physically after the long season and especially after suffering a concussion? Was that hard to come back from?
A: I've had a couple of those before, and this was the first time that I've had some real lingering effects on it. That went on for about two weeks. I'd never experienced anything over a couple of days, so I was a little worried about that, but now it's back to normal. I'm ready to go. I couldn't be more ready for this playoff run. It's not because we're going against Salt Lake, it's just the first time I've been in the playoffs in the last two years, so I'm ready to get this off and running.
Q: How does Chivas USA match up with Real Salt Lake? What weaknesses do they have the club can exploit?
A: I think that's something that we're reviewing as a team and trying to go over. They're a good team, and they've proven to be a good team. That's what's done it in this league - it hasn't always been the prettiest soccer team out there that's won, it's been the best team - the best group of guys that can keep it together for five or six games in a row, and they're definitely a side where there's quality.
Q: You're 32 years old now and in a league where inexpensive youth is apparently often more valued than an experienced, but more expensive veteran, is there a sense of urgency to return to MLS Cup at your age, especially since the final is at Home Depot Center this year? How long do you plan on playing?
A: I'd like to go until 34 or 35, but that all depends on how well the teams that I'm on are doing, of course. I'd love to be in MLS Cup again. I've only been in two, and I'd like to be at the third one, especially with the fans that we have here who have shown support when it got a little rough in the summer. They kept coming out to the games, and the fan support in my opinion has been tremendous. To come out and make it a Chivas stadium that day would be very good for us. Like I said, it's great here in LA, and the atmosphere that's provided by the fans, and Chivas - it's great to be here.
Chivas USA Coach Preki and players look ahead to Saturday's conference semi-final match against Real Salt Lake in this video preview:
Here's a profile of Chivas USA's apparently ageless defender Claudio Suarez who now sounds like he will not retire at season's end after all.
Not a single Chivas USA player was named as one of the three finalists in the various categories for the MLS 2008 season awards announced today.
Galaxy defender Sean Franklin is up for Rookie of the Year (no surprise there) and Landon Donovan for MVP (or there).
Full disclosure: I didn't vote. I'm not a huge fan of awards or some of these categories (MLS Referee of the year!? Are you kidding me?) And let's dump Rookie of the Year completely (as MLS gets better, rookies just don't make that much of an impact any more). Whatever.
Here's the complete list:
Goalkeeper of the Year
Jon Busch - Chicago Fire
William Hesmer - Columbus Crew
Matt Reis - New England Revolution
Fair Play Finalists
Juan Pablo Angel - New York Red Bulls
Michael Parkhurst - New England Revolution
Chris Rolfe - Chicago Fire
MLS Comeback Player of the Year
Jon Busch - Chicago Fire
Kenny Cooper - FC Dallas
Santino Quaranta - D.C. United
Defender of the Year
Jimmy Conrad - Kansas City Wizards
Chad Marshall - Columbus Crew
Bakary Soumare - Chicago Fire
Referee of the Year
Michael Kennedy
Jair Marrufo
Terry Vaughn
Rookie of the Year
Geoff Cameron - Houston Dynamo
Kheli Dube - New England Revolution
Sean Franklin - Los Angeles Galaxy
MLS Coach of the Year
Dominic Kinnear - Houston Dynamo
Sigi Schmid - Columbus Crew
Frank Yallop - San Jose Earthquakes
MLS Most Valuable Player
Cuauhtémoc Blanco - Chicago Fire
Landon Donovan - Los Angeles Galaxy
Guillermo Barros Schelotto - Columbus Crew
Newcomer of the Year
Darren Huckerby - San Jose Earthquakes
Claudio Lopez - Kansas City Wizards
Andre Rocha - FC Dallas
MLS will gradually release the winners in the days leading up to MLS Cup, beginning with the goalkeeper of the year honor on Tuesday.
Fans are being asked to choose the 10 best goals of the year from 35 semifinalists. Vote here.
Finally, the Cal State Northridge women (7-9-2, 2-4-1 Big West) lost 1-0 today to UC Riverside (7-10-2, 2-5-1 Big West) at Matador Soccer Field.
The loss severely dented the Matadors' playoff hopes.
Here's what has to happen, according to CSUN:
"To make the playoffs, the Matadors must defeat Cal State Fullerton on Sunday and hope UC Irvine either loses both their matches or draws in one and loses the other combined with Pacific dropping their match against UC Davis on Sunday."
Got that?
David Beckham heads to Milan in January the Galaxy and AC Milan announced today.
Also, from the Galaxy press release:
AC Milan and the LA Galaxy have additionally agreed to a technical partnership that will provide great benefit to both clubs.Terms of the agreement will remain confidential.
Does this mean Kaka comes on loan?
The Galaxy have scheduled a 2 p.m. conference call with reporters.
Meanwhile, former Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid sounds like he's contending for understatement of the year with this comment about the problems at his old club to The New York Times: "Probably too many to name."
Read the whole thing here.
Finally, the Cal State Northridge men (6-6-4, 2-2-3 Big West) lost 3-1 to UC Santa Barbara Wednesday.
Updated:
Perhaps predictably, not many more details of Becks' loan move emerged from GM and Coach Bruce Arena who frankly, as one reporter observed on the call, seemed more than a bit out of the loop.
Arena, for instance, sounded unsure of when Becks would actually head to Italy (why was the Dec. 11 game in Oz canceled if he doesn't leave until January, one reporter inquired?).
Excerpts:
*On when he will return to the Galaxy:
"He's going to be back in March - and we believe it's around March 1 - and he will be available for our opening game." (MLS is likely to begin in the second or third week of March next year).
*On the benefits of the "technical partnership" with AC Milan that's part of the loan deal:
"I'm not going to tell precisely how we're going to benefit from this. ... It's just working with a club of this stature." (So it could mean AC Milan players coming here on loan. Or not).
*Finally, I asked whether Bruce was going to tell Becks not to go for risky 50-50 balls or stay away from attempting one of those rash challenges he's prone to try in an effort to ensure he doesn't get a silly injury:
"When players don't go 100 percent they get hurt," he said. "I'm not going to advise David to pull out of tackles. ... I'm certainly not going to encourage him not to give 100 percent or play 100 percent."
Chivas USA announced that last year's top scorer Maykel Galindo went under the knife for the third time this season today in yet another bid to tackle his nagging sports hernia issue.
The Cuban will be out up to three months, effectively ending a season that had never really begun anyway.
Galindo scored 12 goals and added five assists last year, but this season his hernia issues restricted him to just one goal and two assists in 10 games and only five starts.
The successful (although that's what was believed after the other two surgeries in January and June as well) "bilateral sports hernia" surgery was performed in Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, the Union Ultras fan group will hold a viewing party for the Chivas USA playoff opener Saturday in Sylmar. Kickoff is at 3 p.m. The party is at the Red Vest Pub & Pizza, 12639 Glenoaks Blvd.
Incidentally, the fan group has chartered a 50-seat bus to travel to the game, one of its members (and a loyal blog reader) e-mailed me today. All the seats were sold. Thinking optimistically, the Union Ultras have also purchased 50 tickets for MLS Cup.
Wonder what they're thinking in Salt Lake City about the series? Read this.
The return leg is Nov. 8 in Carson. Tickets are still available.
Finally, here's a couple of fast facts about the series:
*Chivas USA Coach Preki is looking for his first career playoff win. Last year Chivas USA went 0-1-1 in the playoffs.
*The 2005 expansion teams have faced each other 14 times. Chivas USA holds the edge with a 8-3-3 record.
A few items this morning:
*The impending David Beckham loan deal to AC Milan has prompted the Galaxy to postpone its scheduled Dec. 11 game against the Queensland Roar due to the uncertainty of his availability, according to the BBC. Hmmm, it's the Beckham tail clearly wagging the Galaxy dog. Until now, he had supposedly not been leaving for Italy until the New Year.
*MLS officials announced today they have named a new MLS Cup trophy after Galaxy owner Phil Anschutz:
"Phil Anschutz has transformed the face of soccer in America," said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. "Through his commitment and support, Major League Soccer has become an important part of the American sports landscape and an emerging player in the global soccer scene. Phil's vision and deep love of the game have helped establish a vibrant 'Soccer Nation' in America. We are honored to name the MLS championship trophy the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy."
*The new sterling silver trophy was created by Tiffany & Co., and unveiled at a morning ceremony at the jeweler's New York flagship store on Fifth Avenue. From the MLS press release:
The Philip F. Anschutz championship trophy is 24" tall with an additional seamless base of 4 5/8". The trophy features fluid and dynamic handles that include 11 facets on the front and back, symbolizing the 22 players that participate in a soccer match. The gold star represents the championship club, which often incorporates a star into its team crest for each MLS Cup title it wins. The new trophy inherits select design elements from the previous two trophies, thereby honoring the League's history while moving forward. The bottom of the Philip F. Anschutz trophy features a map of North America, with a star identifying the location of each MLS market.
*The Galaxy's Tristan Bowen and Chivas USA's Jorge Flores were named to a U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team squad that will train in Spain later this month. The most interesting thing about the roster is the number of young Americans with foreign teams. Here's the full squad:
goalkeepers Earl Edwards (San Diego, Calif.), Josh Lambo (FC Dallas); defenders Gale Agbossoumonde (Syracuse, N.Y.), Anthony Arena (Kenmore, Wash.), Kyle Davies (Southampton FC), Zarek Valentin (Lancaster, Pa.), Anthony Wallace (FC Dallas); midfielders Bryan Arguez (Hertha Berlin), Jorge Flores (Chivas USA), Gregory Garza (Sporting Lisbon), Josh Hernandez (Dallas, Texas), Jared Jeffrey (Club Brugge), Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin), Giuseppe Nazzani (Reggio Emilia, Italy); forwards Vincenzo Bernardo (SSC Napoli), Tristan Bowen (Los Angeles Galaxy), Abdusalam Ibrahim (Toronto FC), Jose Torres (Loros de Colima).
*Meanwhile, the Galaxy have knocked someone out of the MLS playoffs - Revolution striker Taylor Twellman. The club announced Tuesday he is out indefinitely after continuing to suffer from concussion-related issues in the wake of Galaxy goalkeeper Steve Cronin punching him on the head Aug. 30. Cronin suffered a broken finger on the play. Twellman missed 14 games through injury this year and his latest set-back couldn't come at a worse time.
*UCLA senior defender Brad Rusin has been named the Pac-10 Player of the Week. He scored his third goal of the year over the weekend in UCLA's 1-0 win over Oregon State.
*Finally, want to win four L.A. Sol season tickets? Click here.
Something for everyone here.
Galaxy fans can console themselves with some great strikes (Brandon McDonald's screamer is not the No. 1 goal in this video); Chivas USA fans can savor these and look forward to the playoffs; U.S. fans can relive Landon Donovan's finest season; and the Columbus Crew's Robbie Rogers today had his effort against New York last month named the team's goal of the season.
Enjoy.
Greg Vanney takes the captain's armband from David Beckham for the final minute of his final game and moves on.
Photo by Scott Varley
Conventional wisdom holds MLS has improved since its 1996 debut, but now retired Galaxy defender Greg Vanney has a different perspective.
With almost his last words at a post-game press conference Sunday, the self-described "soccer junkie" who will now forge a coaching career in Arizona gave a thoughtful, cogent analysis of the state of MLS.
His words will have greater resonance for Galaxy fans who have suffered through a season of disparity in the ability and experience of veterans compared to inexpensive youngsters whose greatest attribute it sometimes seems is their willingness to take small paychecks and fit under the salary cap.
Here's the (virtually unedited) view of a player who believes he "survived in the sport more because of my brain than my athletic ability" and credits discussions "on a different level" with veteran players for being a huge part of his development as a player:
"The league early on was more of a veteran league and there were more guys who had experience and were role players and understood what their role was within the team. And there were certain guys who had special qualities, but they still all fit within the team."I think in the (time) when I was here, when I left and when I came back a lot of those sort of role players, those guys who had six, seven, five years experience were replaced with young guys who had potential.
"To me, potential is a frightening word.
"So, we had a lot of guys out there who are talented in their own right, but maybe the thinking side of the game, the decision-making and all that side isn't quite there yet.
"So, for me, the game is hectic now, it's wide open, it's all over the place. I don't remember that as a young player, when the game made sense, and players did their job and there were roles. The game was much more fluid and now it's just up and down and all over.
"And to be fair part of the reason I'm sitting here today is because in today's game, the way its become in this league, I don't survive very well in this game. Had the game continued where it was going and we wouldn't have replaced the seven, eight year veterans who understood their day to day jobs with a scheme that's very fast, almost out of control at times, who knows what would be around.
"That to me is the difference: we've replaced the good solid professional with potential.
"Maybe this league will be great in the future, but right now I think it has some growing pains it has to go through in order for it to get there and expansion is not going to change that at all because we're talking about what, three to four teams in the next few years. And that's just going to bring more younger players into the league.
"I don't think it's a bad thing, I think it's a growing pain thing. It's a process we have to get through and it's a teaching and education process. Now college players go from college to what would be the premier league in this country and there's no step in between for them to learn what it takes to be a professional.
"They're thrown out on the field and expected to have an impact. That's tough, we're asking a lot of those young guys."
The MLS playoff schedule:
Conference Semifinals, Game 1:
4:30 p.m. Thursday - Chicago Fire at New England Revolution on ESPN2/Deportes.
1 p.m. Saturday - Houston Dynamo at New York Red Bulls on Direct Kick.
3 p.m. Saturday - Chivas USA at Real Salt Lake on Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Sports en Espanol.
5 p.m. Saturday - Columbus Crew at Kansas City Wizards on HDNet/Direct Kick.
Conference Semifinals, Game 2
5:30 p.m. Nov. 6 - New England Revolution at Chicago Fire on ESPN2/Deportes.
4:30 p.m. Nov. 8 - Kansas City Wizards at Columbus Crew on HDNet/Direct Kick.
7:30 p.m. - Real Salt Lake at Chivas USA on Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Sports en Espanol.
Noon Nov. 9 - New York Red Bulls at Houston Dynamo on TeleFutura.
The format:
The team that scores the most goals in the home-and-home series advances to the single elimination Conference Championship. If the teams are tied after 180 minutes in the Conference Semifinal series, a 30-minute extra time period (divided into two 15-minute periods) will be played followed by kicks from the penalty mark, if necessary. The team with the higher seed between the two Conference finalists will host the Conference Championship game.
U.S. Under-20 World Cup Squad Named
Bruin striker Sydney Leroux was the lone player from a Southern California school named to the squad today by Coach Tony DiCicco. She played in the 2004 version at age 14 - for Canada.
The complete roster:
goalkeepers Chantel Jones (Virginia), Alyssa Naeher (Penn State), Cat Parkhill (Minnesota); defenders Kiersten Dallsteam (Washington State), Kaley Fountain (Wake Forest), Lauren Fowlkes (Notre Dame), Liz Harkin (Arizona State), Meghan Klingenberg (North Carolina), Nikki Marshall (Colorado); midfielders Gina DiMartino (Boston College), Becky Edwards (Florida State), Christine Nairn (Bowie, Md.), Elli Reed (Portland), Ingrid Wells (Georgetown), Keelin Winters (Portland); forwards Michelle Enyeart (Portland), Sydney Leroux (UCLA), Alyssa Mautz (Texas A&M), Alex Morgan (California), Nikki Washington (North Carolina).
The U.S. opens against France Nov. 19, faces Argentina Nov. 22 and concludes group play Nov. 26 against China. The tournament is in Chile.
Sunday College Soccer Scoreboard
UCLA men 1 (7-4-5 overall, Pac-10 5-1-1) Oregon State 0 (5-8-3, 2-4-1)
The Pac-10 leading Bruins, unbeaten in 10 of their last 11 games, posted their fourth consecutive shutout and won on a 14th minute goal by defender Brad Rusin over 10-man OSU, who had a player ejected in the 28th minute.
Pepperdine 2 (7-9-2, WCC 2-3) Santa Clara 1
Alexis Farler scored her first goal of the season and Amanda Rupp (La Costa Canyon High) her ninth to seal the win.
Loyola Marymount women 0 (8-6-3, WCC 3-2) San Diego 1 (13-3-0, WCC 5-0-0)
WCC-leading San Diego won its sixth-straight game to snap LMU's 17-match home unbeaten streak on a goal 10 minutes from the end of regulation.
Loyola Marymount men (4-6-5, WCC 2-4-1) 0 San Diego 3 (6-6-3, WCC 6-1)
Conference-leading San Diego handed LMU its third straight loss. Seeing his first action since Sept. 7, redshirt freshman goalkeeper Jack McCormack (Manhattan Beach)
made one save.
Long Beach State 5 (11-4-3, Big West 5-0-1) Cal State Northridge 0 (7-8-2, Big West 2-3-1)
Galaxy 2 FC Dallas 2
Edson Buddle scores the Galaxy's first goal
Photo by Scott Varley
There was a lot to talk about in the post-game press conference.
Retiring Dallas midfielder Bobby Rhine (captain for the day) and retiring Galaxy defender Greg Vanney (captain at game's end) both spoke and summed up their respective careers
The two opposing coaches, the Galaxy's Bruce Arena and Dallas' Schellas Hyndman, spoke about their massive respective off-season rebuilding jobs.
And Landon Donovan and David Beckham addressed the next phases of their careers.
Below is just a sampling of what they had to say. I'll update with more later.
Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena on the strides the team has made since he took over:
"As the season ends, am I pleased competitively where we are right now? No, not at all. The work starts immediately now to improve this roster, improve this team. To improve the philosophy, to improve the leadership, to improve the commitment and make everything better.
On how the team has improved and how it can get better:
"We have, oddly enough, improved defensively. However we're not good enough positionally in a lot of spots on the field. ...I know this roster very well now. And I know what needs to be done. ... It's pretty obvious the kind of changes we need to make to get better. And I think we can accomplish most of that, although it's going top take a little bit of good bookkeeping. We have to deal with issues with salary cap.
On Beckham's performance:
Those of you who might doubt the commitment of David Beckham - he played hurt today. We weren't sure he'd be able to play. I applaud David for his effort on the field today because he was not 100 percent."
Greg Vanney on receiving the captain's armband from Beckham when he came on (very) late:
"David's decision to give me the armband was just spur of the moment - he did it. I don't think there was any premeditation or anything on that level so I think (it was) just a very respectful move by him. We've gotten to be fairly close this year. I think it was a great move, I was touched by it. That was one of the highlights of my day, actually.
On when he decided to retire:
"I've been considering it for, who knows, throughout the year. I've had a difficult run the past few years. I've moved probably four or five times the last two years alone, the last 18 months probably. That type of thing, along with non-guaranteed contracts as well as the difficulty every off-season with MLS and the uncertainty - this club probably rebuilding anew a little bit. I tried to make the decision that was best for me. I kind of came to that conclusion in the last few weeks.'
David Beckham on his quad injury and his immobility the last few games:
"It's just my age maybe. I've had it three days; I haven't been able to train the last two days. My quads were burning, but I got through the game."
On the quality of MLS officiating:
"As a professional, it's frustrating because we try and do our jobs and we expect other people to do their's as well and do it in the right way. And the majority of the time it's so inconsistent. It's simple plays that are affecting the game - and ruining the game. ... I'm fed up with sitting up here and talking about that. ... It can only get better. It can't get any worse."
The game ended 2-2, Eddie Lewis drawing a clumsy challenge from Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala to win a penalty kick in the 79th minute.
Landon Donovan converted for his 20th goal of the year and finish the season as MLS' top scorer.
Edson Buddle could of and probably should of scored with a 83rd minute header that flashed wide.
Dallas played with 10 men from the 50th minute when Aaron Pitchkolan was sent off.
Greg Vanney made his final MLS appearance, but Coach Bruce Arena didn't bring him on until stoppage time (there's respect for you).
Becks gave Vanney - a Galaxy original in 1996 and former Bruin - the captain's arm band when he came on in a classy gesture.
Oh, and the Galaxy are still tied for last (on points) in MLS.
More later
His legs and a once blistering shot clearly gone as Galaxy fans have seen this season, defender Greg Vanney called time on a 13-year professional career today, announcing his retirement before the game.
Vanney spent 10 years in MLS, including seven in two stints for the Galaxy, and played another three seasons in France.
"While it is a bittersweet feeling to be ending my career today, I'm happy that I am able to do so with the Galaxy where I started my career," he said.
He also played 37 times with the U.S. National Team.
But the post-Vanney era clearly can't come soon enough for Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena - Vanney doesn't get the start in the last game of his career; Julian Valentin, making his MLS debut, is preferred in central defense.
Josh Wicks in back in goal, with Steve Cronin on the bench, behind a defense that also sees Mike Randolph make his first second start under Arena, with defender Sean Franklin (Galaxy defender of the year, it was announced before the game) the third of three defenders listed on the team sheet.
The midfield: Chris Klein, Alvaro Pires, David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Eddie Lewis.
Up front: Edson Buddle and Alan Gordon.
Vanney is, at least, on the bench.
The Galaxy award winners announced this morning includes Donovan, who needs one goal and one assist to become the first MLS player ever with 20 goals and 10 assists, not surprisingly named MVP.
The L.A. Riot Squad named Chris Klein as their player of the year award and will present him with it at game's end.
Dallas has Jeff Cunningham and Kenny Cooper up front, who is one behind Donovan in the MLS scoring race.
This is it.
The final Galaxy game. Team awards will be handed out. And players will shuffle off into the sunset.
So we'll keep this simple.
Notable: There should be a bigger discount at the Team LA Store. All Galaxy merchandise is off 40 percent today - but they've been off far more than that this season.
Quotable:
"It's certainly a team that needs to be reconstructed, if you want to use that word," said Coach Bruce Arena. "We have an odd balance on our team on the field. We have an odd balance age-wise. And we certainly have some issues that need to be resolved with the salary cap."
Here's Arena on what a great job Anschutz Entertainment Group has done as owners (ahem):
"They're passionate. They put their money where their mouths are. Phil Anschutz has carred this league on his back .Tim Lieweke has done a passionate job in the process. Hey, they've done a fabulous job. Where we've screwed up is we in management and the front office in getting this team better and the players. That's where the problem lies - we've got to get it better. That's my job and the players job - that's why I'm here. It hasn't been good enough. If you're grading just on ownership we won the league a long time ago. ... We're not getting it done on the field. Let's be fair about that. I wish I could blame our performances on ownership."
Let's leave it on that surreal note.
The game begins at noon on FSN.
The story of the night: Dynamo striker Nate Jaqua and Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy battle
Photo by Sean Hiller
Last year Chivas USA exited the playoffs early because they were unable to replace Maykel Galindo and Ante Razov up front; this year they will be without goalkeeping revelation Dan Kennedy after he received a unforgiving red card in the 1-1 draw Saturday with Houston.
Highlights:
Dynamo Coach Dominic Kinnear on why he remonstrated with the fourth official after the penalty call:
I didn't want to see the guy get sent off that was it. I thought the Kennedy guy was trying to play the ball. ... I know what the rule is - you don't want to see a guy miss his first playoff game.
But he thought it was a PK:
"I saw a guy breaking through and then kind of knocked it by him and he kind of blocked his path and ran into him. They both stumbled. I think it was a collision. I just don't think he took him down. ... I thought it was a penalty for sure."
Former Galaxy striker Nate Jaqua sounded less sure:
"He got me very, very minor. ... It was a harsh PK."
Jim Curtin on his goal:
"Cary put a hard ball in behind the defense I know any time that happens it's tough to handle and it can bounce off anybody. I think it hit Dynamo goalkeeper Pat) Onstad and then somebody else it deflected off of and then there was just kind of a race to it between me and (Wade) Barrett - he may actually have got their first, but I kind of slid it in. it was kind of an ugly goal, but it gets the job done, I guess."
On making a statement:
"Both of us wanted to come out and show each other, because there''s a good chance we're going to meet in the playoffs."
Brian Mullan and Shavar Thomas battle for the ball
Photo by Sean Hiller
Preki on the referee making the PK call: "I thought he spoilt the game. ... It's disappointing that in a game that doesn't basically mean anything, but three points and a little bit of prestige that we get these kinds of things. He told the guys (Kennedy) was the last man. Watching the replay if that was a contact, it was a very minor contact. ... even if the referee decides to call a penalty that's not a red card. i disagree with the call."
Phil Collin had more from Jesse Marsch on the PK/red card:
"He couldn't say anything. He tried backpedaling the whole time and then saying he had to give the red and his linesman was even trying to flag him over and say you know I don't know what he wanted to say to him. I suspect it was to probably that shouldn't have been a red but he already gave a red. He already made a horrible, horrible mistake. That is a ridiculous mistake that no professional referee should ever make. I mean, it's so disappointing that for the second year in a row we've got to deal with this."Again, I'm embarrassed, it's ridiculous and now we've got to go into the playoffs without one of our key guys.
"Listen. It was a breakaway and Nate Jaqua dribbled around him and literally - I played with Nate and Nate starts stumbling like he does often times. And if a referee understands anything about players in the league, he understands that Nate Jaqua is clumsy. (laughs) That's the bottom line. He's clumsy. And he started falling, falling and then he just fell down and he could have stayed up and the referee just bailed him out, bailed their team out, sends our goalie off the field off for the playoffs. It's a joke, it's embarrassing. He should be done for the year, done for the year with a play like that."
Phil also caught up with a crestfallen Dan Kennedy:
"He came in one on one and in those situations you try not to over commit and you try to make it hard on them. He decided to dribble me. Really, I thought I did a good job closing him down. He touched it wide to try to touch it around me. I mean his touch was really far out wide. And I did my best to get out of the way and turn and run with him. There is such minimal contact for even a penalty to be called in my mind."I was in disbelief that I even heard a whistle.
"For me I'm just so disappointed and I'm disheartened. We've done a really good job as a team to get into the playoffs and I've really been looking forward to that and I feel it's been stripped away from me.
"In moments like this you try to accept that some things just happen for a reason and got to move on. I'm gutted."
Chivas USA salvaged a 1-1 tie with a Jim Curtin goal being bundled over the line in the 90th minute, but events early in the second half that will result in the absence of goalkeeper Dan Kennedy for their playoff opener overshadowed the result.
Kennedy was sent off in the 52nd minute after referee Terry Vaughn appeared to believe Nate Jaqua was deliberately pulled down by the last man back. But Jaqua was jumping over Kennedy and the two collided in midair, making the call an extremely harsh one, if not completely and utterly wrong.
Dwayne De Rosario scored from the resulting spot kick, sending sub Zach Thornton the wrong way.
We've requested an explanation about exactly what the infraction was from the ref - I'll let you know what he says.
More after an undoubtedly angry Preki lets it rip.
This result just in: Pasadena City College product Yura Movsisyan equalized for Real Salt Lake in the 90th minute against Colorado to put the Utah team through and dumping the Rapids from the playoffs.
RSL needed only a draw to clinch a playoff spot. Conor Casey scored the Rapids' goal in the 11th minute, aptly enough his 11th of the now-ended campaign.
Chivas USA will travel to Rio Tinto Stadium for the opening game set for 3 p.m. Nov. 1 live on Fox Soccer Channel; the return leg is 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8 in Carson.
As for the game at Home Depot Center, perhaps predictably, with nothing at stake there's nothing on the scoreboard either.
But Chivas USA have goalkeeper Dan Kennedy, quickly becoming a cult figure to the lively crowd, to thank for the 0-0 scoreline.
With Brian Ching running in alone on the goal four minutes before half time, Kennedy came out to the penalty spot to narrow the angle and saved Ching's shot from 18 yards with his right foot, to the delight of the crowd.
A minute later he made a reaction save to deny Ricardo Clark a headed goal from a corner kick.
While there weren't many scoring chances, this is an attractive fast-paced game with lots of short passes between two teams unwilling to back down given that they could face each other in the Western Conference championship.
Changes galore for Chivas USA Coach Preki in the meaningless final regular home game of the season, as experience is preferred over youth.
Dan Kennedy continues to keep Zach Thornton on the bench and starts in goal, but there are three changes to the four man back line in front of him.
Shavar Thomas is the lone holdover from the defense that conceded two goals in a losing effort against the Rapids last weekend. In come Carey Talley, Claudio Suarez and Francisco Mendoza (both rested last week); Jonathan Bornstein and Alex Zotinca are both on the bench while there's no sign of Loyola Marymount product Bobby Burling at all.
In midfield Sacha Klejstan comes in for the injured Sasha Victorine, Paulo Nagamura returns from concussion and Justin Braun is relegated to the bench.
Up front for the second consecutive game: Ante Razov and Alecko Eskandarian.
Brazilian Dejair and Mexican Roberto Nurse are options off the bench.
Houston isn't resting anyone by the looks of it, although Leuzinger High (Lawndale) product Kei Kamara is suspended.
Dynamo lineup: Pat Onstad, Richard Mulrooney, Bobby Boswell, Eddie Robinson, Wade Barrett, Brian Mullan, Ricardo Clark, Dwayne De Rosario, Brad Davis, Brian Ching, Nate Jaqua.
In the most relevant game for Chivas USA this evening, Colorado is leading Real Salt Lake 1-0 just before half time. Chivas USA plays the winner in the first round of the playoffs.
Much more important to Chivas USA fans than today's 7:30 p.m. regular season-ending game at Home Depot Center (live on Fox Soccer Channel) in what could be a preview of the Western Conference championship game against the Houston Dynamo is the match between Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids.
That game, which kicks off an hour earlier than the one in Carson, will decide Chivas USA's first round playoff opponent.
So what's the lure of today's game?
Let us count the ways:
*Good quality soccer - Chivas USA has won four of their last five games, the Dynamo are unbeaten in eight.
*Cheap seats plus swag - four tickets, four hats and four hot dogs start at $58, plus the first 7,500 fans get a free soccer ball. Oh, and the first 10,000 also get a T-shirt.
*Soccer tennis anyone? You want to get there early anyway to check out the free soccertennis tournament starting at 5 p.m. in the adjacent tennis stadium. Participants include Playa del Rey's John O'Brien, Eric Wynalda, Alexi Lalas and Joy Fawcett. Video and more info here.
*Altruism? Cell Phones for Soldiers, a non-profit organization that recycles cell phones to buy prepaid calling cards for U. S. troops stationed overseas, will be at the match. Fans are encouraged to bring old cell phones to donate them to the group, which will have a booth outside the Southwest Entrance to the stadium. The organization will also hand out envelopes so fans who did not bring cell phones can send them in later.
Game previews are here and here.
Finally, MLS announced details Friday of the 10-round Nov. 26 expansion draft for the Seattle Sounders.
MLS teams must submit their lists of protected players by Nov. 24. No team can lose more than one player to Seattle.
The two charts above show the Galaxy's record in the Sigi Schmid (bottom) and post Sigi Schmid era in comparison with other MLS teams that played all those seasons (I excluded expansion teams and used the old Earthquakes' final season combined with the Dynamo's record since it was essentially the same team with a new name slapped on in the upper chart).
Graphic evidence of the Galaxy's decline since Schmid left.
And thanks to KLF for technical assistance with the spreadsheet.
Clarification: The Galaxy "elevated Doug Hamilton to president and general manager" Jan. 1, 2004; he was, of course, appointed vice president and general manager Jan. 14, 2002. So he had been eight months on the job as president when he fired Sigi.
Yorba Linda's Dan Kennedy made what I believe was his sixth consecutive start in goal for Chivas USA Sunday and it was an eventful one - he faced two penalty kicks, saving the first, but not the second, which proved the game winner.
Soccer beat writer Phil Collin caught up with Kennedy after the game at Carson's Home Depot Center for a brief chat:
Q: You played for UC Santa Barbara at the 2004 College Cup final in this stadium and you were subbed out for penalty kicks. Did you flash back to that today?
A: When they took me out? No, it's funny, that sticks in your mind. That's more of an after-the-game type of deal. During the game you're not thinking of that kind of stuff. I think I'm capable of making PK saves just as good as any other keeper. I like my chances. So it was good to get my first one saved. I wish I would have saved the second one and we would have had a point out of the game.
Q: Do you know how Preki intends to handle the goalkeeping position during the playoffs? Will you be in the net or is he waiting for regular starter Zach Thornton to get healthy?
A: No idea. I'm just trying to do as well as I can for the good of the team.
Q: What has the last month or so meant to you in your development?
A: As any keeper in any situation, it's very important to be comfortable with your team and with your defenders. That's how you can better yourself and manipulate your results by understanding their play and talking to them and putting them in the right positions and building trust and confidence. And you can see that over time we're beginning to play together, so it's helping.
That's a file photo of Kennedy, BTW, not one from this weekend's game.
In other Chivas USA news:
*The reserves (4-3-3) beat their Colorado Rapids (4-5-2) counterparts 2-1 Sunday in their third consecutive win. Midfielder Keith Savage and forward Anthony Hamilton scored the second half goals.
The reserves play 4 p.m. Tuesday against the San Jose Earthquakes reserves on Field 6 at the HDC. Admission is free.
*The Chivas USA Under-18 team (4-1) picked up a fourth straight win with a 5-2 victory over Nomads SC. Orr Baroush scored twice, Andy Lopez had a bicycle kick go in, while Jesse Paredes and Polo Morales added goals. The Kids' win moved them into first place in the SoCal Division of the U.S. Development Academy's Western Conference.
(The Galaxy Under-18 team beat the San Diego Surf 4-2 Saturday at the HDC, BTW to move to 2-3 on the season; they're third in the nine-team division.)
*The Chivas Under-16's (2-2-1) lost 4-2 to the Nomads Saturday; they're in second place in their division with a 2-2-1 record (W-L-T), behind the 4-1 Galaxy. The Galaxy lost 4-0 to the San Diego Surf at the HDC. Standings.
Sunday College Scores
UCLA men 3 (5-4-5) Oregon State 0 (4-7-3) (The Bruins received first-half goals from Michael Stephens and Prince Lapnet, and Palos Verdes Estates' Kyle Nakazawa added a goal in the second half from a 22-yard free kick).
Conference standings.
Arizona State 1 (7-4-3) USC 0 (12-2-1) (USC suffered its first loss of the season on a 17th minute goal).
Arizona 0 UCLA 2 (13-0-2) (Junior forward Lauren Cheney scored both Bruin goals giving her a team leading nine goals and five assists. It was the Bruins' 13th shutout in 15 matches; they outshot Arizona 13-4).
Conference standings.
San Francisco men 1 (4-7-1) Loyola Marymount 0 (4-4-5) (Leon Williams scored the game's only goal in the 50th minute).
Conference standings.
Gonzaga women 1 (5-9-2) Loyola Marymount 2 (7-5-3) (Junior Kristen Garcia scored her first career goal 2:12 into the second overtime period for the LMU winner).
Portland 2 (13-1) Pepperdine 1 (6-8-2) (The game-winner came in the 88th minute from a penalty kick).
Conference standings.
Cal State Northridge 2 (7-7-1) Pacific 1 (8-6-1) (Freshman midfielder Nancy Avesyan scored in the 88th minute to give the Matadors the win and was named Big West
Co-Player of the Week. She leads the team with four goals and three assists).
Conference standings.
The game boils down to this: Rapids playing for everything, Goats playing for nothing.
The first 7,500 fans through the gate will receive a limited-edition Chivas USA hat, and kids under 16 years get in free with the purchase of an adult ticket. Prices start at $14.
And you don't want to miss the Soccer Collies, (and, in truth, they may be the main reason to go).
Quotable:
"At least since I've been here, it seems like in every game within 15 minutes, the other team has two or three or four chances," Eddie Lewis told MLSnet.com. "Whether the other team scores or not is different every game, but the amount of chances that we allow early on in games, is almost suicidal."
"There were segments in the first half where we were just physically manhandled," Galaxy coach Bruce Arena told MLSnet.com. "It wasn't as much about the soccer as it was about running harder, competing better. ... They were more alert, more physical, more aggressive."
BTW, if you were unlucky enough to watch the game, was that not one of the most uncomfortable in-game interviews (with Pete Vagenas) you've ever seen? And the quality of some of the questions didn't help.
Sample (paraphrased) question: "Do you you think there will be a lot of changes for the Galaxy next year?"
Paraphrased answer: Um, yeah."
Ya think?
Lowlights:
That's the sound of the Galaxy's season imploding.
Needing to win to stay alive this season, the Galaxy naturally went down by three goals within the first 25 minutes Saturday to the Houston Dynamo.
Ah well, at least Houston look like they will clinch the Western Conference over Chivas USA. Way to stick it to the Goats, Gals.
Have you ever seen a more disgusted look on Bruce Arena's face?
Greg Vanney just missed making it four!
Good thing Houston are tired after facing the Earthquakes in midweek or it could be worse.
Now we know the answer to the question how do you make Nate Jaqua look world class? Have him play against the Galaxy rather than with them.
I hope the defense calls home after the season is over. I'm worried. I haven't seen them in so long.
How bad are the Galaxy? They're looking at Alan Gordan, who came in just before half time, to be the Galaxy's savior. And he just hit the bar.
It's half time.
The Dynamo had a 5-1 shot advantage in the first 45 minutes.
The Galaxy have 45 minutes left in their season.
Think I'll go do something productive like wash my hair.
The game of the weekend - for Chivas USA and Galaxy fans alike - is the L.A.-Houston Dynamo game at 5:30 p.m. Saturday live on Prime.
With a win, the Dynamo can clinch the Western Conference and eliminate any lingering Chivas USA hopes of the regional title.
The Galaxy are four points out of the last of the two MLS wild card playoff spots - currently occupied by Kansas City - but no longer have control over their own destiny even with a win.
Complicating matters is that incredibly the home team has won just once - the Dynamo did so in 2006 - in the all-time series between the two clubs. The Galaxy have two wins and a tie in their last three trips to Houston. A loss, then, is on the cards as any fatalistic soccer fan would agree.
The Wizards, BTW, play San Jose, statistically the worst team in MLS.
Chivas USA play at noon Sunday (live on Telefutura) at Home Depot Center against the desperate Colorado Rapids, losers in Carson last weekend to the Galaxy. Chivas USA are finishing strongly, riding a club-record four-game winning streak.
Swag alert: The first 7, 500 fans through the stadium gates get a Chivas USA hat. The team also has a $10 Internet ticket special. Check it out here.
The pick of the weekend's games include:
*7 a.m. Saturday Fox Soccer Channel Arsenal-Everton
*9:30 a.m. Saturday FSC Manchester United-West Bromwich Albion
*5 p.m. Satuday KAZA Indios-Club America
*5 p.m. Saturday KVEA CD Guadalajara-Atlante
*8 a.m. Sunday FSC Stoke City-Tottenham Hotspur
*1:30 p.m. Sunday FSC (delayed) River Plate-Boca Juniors
Among the local college games in Southern California this weekend:
*7 tonight UCLA men-Washington at Drake Stadium
*2:30 p.m. today Cal State Northridge women-UC Davis at Matador Field
*1 p.m. Sunday UCLA men-Oregon State at Drake Stadium
*2:30 p.m. Sunday Cal State Northridge women-Pacific at Matador Field
A young U.S. team lost 2-1 to Trinidad & Tobago in World Cup qualifying on a penalty scored by an experienced Dwight Yorke, Mexico tied Canada 2-2 meaning qualifying for the next round for El Tri goes down to the final game and Croatia and England won.
Meanwhile, Frank Yallop's chances of returning to MLS Cup at Home Depot Center are all but gone after the San Jose Earthquakes tied 1-1 lost 2-1 Wednesday to a 10-man Houston Dynamo (Lawndale's Kei Kamara was sent off early in the affair).
The Galaxy have officially announced as expected that they will return Down Under in the post-season and play two games, including one Dec. 11 against the Queensland Roar. They also play an all-star team in New Zealand Dec. 6.
And in case you're wondering why the Anschutz Entertainment Group-owned Galaxy decided to play this particular team - why, because they just happen to play in an AEG-owned stadium that needs a bit of a boost. Shocker, huh?
Luckily the Roar aren't much better than the Galaxy. They currently sit fifth in the eight-team A-League with a record of 2-2-3.
Finally, the Cal State Northridge men drew 0-0 with UC Irvine Wednesday and the Cal State Dominguez Hills men beat UC San Diego 2-0, while their female counterparts lost 2-1 to the same school.
pretty much the cities I listed this morning with the exception of Vegas (damn): Atlanta, Miami, Montreal, Ottawa, Portland, St. Louis, Vancouver.
Your preferences?
I'll take the beautiful city of Vancouver, B.C. (a natural rival of the expansion Seattle team) and the Barcelona-backed Miami bid (Thierry Henry come on down).
What say you?
Details from the (edited) MLS press release:
MLS intends to add two more clubs in the next few years, bringing the League to 18 teams. Seattle Sounders FC begin play next year as the 15th team in MLS, and Philadelphia will join in 2010 as the league's 16th team.(snip)
An announcement regarding which markets will receive the next two expansion clubs will take place during the fourth quarter of 2008 or the first quarter of 2009.
Yup, Becks is on the cover of this month's FourFourTwo wearing a Galaxy jersey and a smug grin.
It's not exactly a penetrating interview though - in fact, vapid is the word that springs to mind.
Nothing much in the interview about the Galaxy's woes this season, so who knows how long ago this was written.
Excerpts:
"There are teams in (MLS) that could give some Premiership teams a good game. I'm not saying that they are up there with the top teams, but they could definitely compete with some of the Premiership's teams and give them a hard time."
"I don't regret moving here, I don't think it was too early because I wanted to come to America and the MLS while I was still fit enough to get around the field and play at the top level: at my level.""I can't see myself playing football anywhere else now, apart from here. I've got a contract for another four years, I'm 33-years-old, so I can't see myself playing in Europe again."
And that's the best stuff.
Moving on to the news of the day:
*It's deadline day in MLS for potential expansion cities to submit bids. Among the suspects: Las Vegas, Atlanta, Portland, Miami, St. Louis, Vancouver B.C., Montreal, and Ottawa. We'll see how it shakes out by day's end.
*It's also World Cup qualifying fixture day around the world, of course, although Becks and England are not on the box (or at least free TV). The pick of the many televised games include U.S.-Trinidad & Tobago at 5 p.m. on ESPN2, Canada-Mexico at 7 p.m. on Telemundo and Germany-Wales at 11:45 a.m. on GOLTV.
*There's also an MLS make-up game postponed because of Hurricane Ike between Frank Yallop's Earthquakes and the Dynamo in Houston at 6 p.m. on Direct Kick. While it's looking increasingly unlikely San Jose will make the playoffs, am I the only one dreaming of a Yallop-Sigi Schmid (sorry, Earthquakes-Crew) MLS Cup in the home of the Galaxy next month? Now that would sum up all that's been wrong with the Galaxy for the last few seasons.
Things I should have noted earlier, but didn't:
* It's so hard to find good help these days - even if you're David Beckham.
*Landon Donovan has 19 goals and nine assists on the season with two games to go; no MLS player has ever recorded 20 goals and 10 assists in a single season.
*Further explanation on why Rolling Hills Estates' Robbie Rogers is not with the U.S. team Wednesday because of injury - he leads MLS in fouls suffered with 72. Ouch.
*The answer to the Galaxy trivia question, which team is worse than their senior squad? How about their reserve team? The Galaxy reserves lost to their Colorado counterparts Sunday 1-0 to go to 1-6-2 on the season. Steve Cronin was in goal. Chivas USA reserves, meanwhile, beat San Jose Earthquakes reserves Sunday, 3-1. Roberto Nurse scored two goals. Go figure.
*Player of the Week honors went to former (Torrance) West High star Jessica Murphy who was named Brine California Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Soccer Player of the Week after the freshman scored three goals in two games this past weekend - 60 percent of the team's output, mind you - in two CSUDH wins. Also: UCLA junior midfielder Michael Stephens was named the Pac-10 Men's Soccer Player of the Week after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime as UCLA upset sixth-ranked California, 3-2, on the road.
*Southern Californians named to the U.S. Women's Under-17 national team that will participate in the 2008 FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup Oct. 28-Nov. 16 in New Zealand are: forward Samantha Johnson (Palmdale) and midfielder Elizabeth Eddy (Costa Mesa).
*Finally, no late night soccer report would be complete without the Soccer Collies (I think). They will perform Sunday at half time of the noon Chivas USA-Colorado Rapids game. From the Chivas USA press release:
The two collies, Ms. Z and BEK, each have unique soccer skills; Ms. Z can catch the ball between her paws, and BEK charges up the field while dribbling the ball with his nose. The dogs will also be available before the game in ChivaTown for photos and to play with fans.
Well, OK. To me they look like two mutts you see in any park playing with a ball. My wife thinks otherwise. Invest a minute of your life and you decide:
The Galaxy and Rapids exchanged goals in the opening 45 minutes, with the Galaxy's Edson Buddle scoring and Colorado's Cory Gibbs equalizing with his first-ever MLS goal.
The first half took a familiar path with the Galaxy applying much of the pressure - albeit creating few clear-cut chances along the way - and the Rapids soaking it up.
The Rapids' Tom McManus almost opened the scoring inside the first minute, Sean Franklin clearing off the line.
Former Galaxy defender Ugo Ihemelu, making his first start since Aug. 9, performed almost exactly the same duty at the other end for Colorado 22 minutes later, preventing an Alan Gordon header from counting after goalkeeper Preston Burpo had failed to hold the ball under pressure from Alan Gordon.
Franklin got his first-ever MLS assist in the 36th minute, carving a path through the Rapids defense and slipping the ball to Buddle who scored from about 15 yards for his 14th of the season.
Colorado's tying goal was a beauty, former Manchester United midfielder Terry Cooke sending a pinpoint corner to an unmarked Cory Gibbs, whose glancing, angled header gave Josh Saunders no chance. It was Cooke's 11th assist of the season, the third most in the league.
Brandon McDonald replaced captain Pete Vagenas in the 38th minute, when the Galaxy captain suffered a recurrence of his right quad injury that left him sidelined for weeks earlier in the season.
With a loss the Galaxy are out of playoff contention, while a third consecutive Rapids road win will vault Colorado back into the third and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Coach Bruce Arena makes just two enforced changes from the team that lost 1-0 last Saturday to the Crew.
Bryan Jordan replaces David Beckham, who is on international duty with England, while Alan Gordon deputizes for Landon Donovan, who has returned from Washington and is on the bench.
Galaxy lineup: Josh Saunders, Chris Klein, Sean Franklin, Troy Roberts, Greg Vanney, Jordan, Joe Franchino, Pete Vagenas, Eddie Lewis. Edson Buddle, Gordon.
Colorado has top scorer Conor Casey suspended, so Tom McManus will play as the lone forward. Former Galaxy defender Ugo Ihemelu replaces Mike Petke in the starting XI.
Rapids lineup: Preston Burpo, Kosuke Kimura, Cory Gibbs, Ihemelu, Jordan Harvey, Terry Cooke, Mehdi Ballouchy, Colin Clark, Nick LaBrocca, Pablo Mastroeni, McManus.
First off, why did Fox Soccer Channel inflict the overly chatty and not particularly insightful Nick Webster and Warren Barton on viewers from an L.A. studio rather than on-site English commentators during the England-Kazakhstan game this morning? (Which also has the effect of lowering the crowd noise from the almost 90,000 in attendance, further detracting from the game).
David Beckham came on for the last 10 minutes of the 5-1 England win, creating the fourth and final goal from (what else) a free kick. (An incredibly horrible Ashley Cole howler led to the Kazakhstan goal).
Sticking with World Cup qualifying for the moment, it seems the Cubans forgot to ensure they had a hall monitor and players are again making a dash for the exits ahead of the U.S. game today. A reported 18,000 tickets were sold for the game by Friday. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. on ESPN Classic.
Noted: Bob Bradley has started the defensive quartet of Steve Cherundolo, Oguchi Onyewu, Carlos Bocanegra and Heath Pearce six times, with England and Spain the only
teams to score against them. This group has recorded four of the USA's eight shutouts this year.
Classic comment on Goff's blog, BTW:
MLS really should hold an allocation each time the Cuban team plays here. It would streamline the process.
Posted by: Alejandro Ruiz | October 11, 2008 12:28 AM
Here's a breakdown of the playoff implications in MLS this weekend:
*Chivas USA can qualify for the playoffs with a win over the San Jose Earthquakes today if Colorado fails to win against the Galaxy Sunday and FC Dallas doesn't beat Toronto this afternoon. But as Chivas USA press types point out:
"At this stage (of the season), four points (a win and a draw) from (the club's) remaining three games will be enough to guarantee Chivas USA a third straight spot in the playoffs, regardless of other results."
*The Galaxy will be eliminated from the post-season with a loss to the Rapids OR if the Galaxy tie Colorado AND FC Dallas defeats Toronto.
*The Houston Dynamo clinchs the top spot in the Western Conference and home field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win over D.C. United Sunday and a Chivas USA loss.
Chivas USA-Earthquakes preview here. The game is on at 7 p.m. on KAZA and delayed at 10 p.m. on Prime.
Friday College scores:
No. 5 USC 3 (11-1) No. 16 Washington 2 (9-3)
USC came from behind twice to win the game in double overtime with Amy Rodriguez scoring twice including the winner. The Trojans have now won nine straight games.
LMU men 1 (3-3-4) Portland 0 (4-5-2)
Freshman Artur Jozkowicz got the winner to even the Lions' West Coast Conference record at 1-1.
UCLA 3 men (3-3-5) No. 6 California 2 (6-2-3)
Junior midfielder Michael Stephens scored the game-winning goal from a penalty pick in the 93rd minute.
No. 3 UCLA women 2 (10-0-2) No. 25 Washington State 1 (6-3-3)
UCLA wins in double overtime
UC Santa Barbara women 3 (9-5) Cal State Northridge 2 (5-6-1)
CSUN had just one shot on target as they lose their Big West Conference season opener.
I don't know about you, but the weekend can't quick enough for me after the less than cheery news this week about what one newsroom wit described as our 301.K plans.
And there's plenty of soccer on TV and live locally to distract us.
I'll be back with a Chivas USA preview Saturday and a Galaxy one Sunday, but the bottom line is although the 1-1 draw last night between Real Salt Lake and the Red Bulls did little to clarify the playoff picture Chivas USA can still qualify for the playoffs while the Galaxy can put themselves (and us) out of their misery and be eliminated from the post-season.
Oh, and the U.S. can make the next round of WCQ by defeating Cuba Saturday.
For now here's your basic list of games just so you don't forget to set up the TiVo.
World Cup qualifying games on TV Saturday include:
9 a.m. Fox Soccer Channel England-Kazakhstan
11:30 a.m. FSC Spain-Estonia
4 p.m. ESPN Classic Cuba-U.S.
5 p.m. KVEA Mexico-Jamaica
MLS games on TV this weekend include:
5:30 p.m. Saturday FSC Toronto FC-FC Dallas
7 p.m. Saturday KAZA Chivas USA-San Jose Earthquakes (or delayed at 9:30 p.m. on FSN)
Noon Sunday KFTR Columbus Crew-Chicago Fire
9 p.m. Sunday Prime (delayed) Galaxy-Colorado Rapids
Mexican league games on TV include:
3 p.m. Saturday KMEX CD Guadalajara-San Luis
5 p.m. Saturday KAZA Santos Laguna-Pachuca
2 p.m. Sunday KMEX Puebla-Club America
Local college games this weekend include:
3 p.m. today at McAlister Field No. 5 USC-No. 16 Washington
1 p.m. Sunday at McAlister Field No. 5 USC-No. 25 Washington State
7 tonight at Drake Stadium UCLA women-Washington State
1 p.m. Sunday at Drake Stadium UCLA women-Washington
4 p.m. today at Sullivan Field LMU men-Portland
2 p.m. Sunday at Sullivan Field LMU men-Gonzaga
1 p.m. Saturday at Sullivan Field LMU-Pepperdine
This is an excellent SI article that while not specifically about MLS (in fact the article doesn't even mention soccer) has resonance for Galaxy fans.
This season especially has seen many of these, um, symptoms appear in Carson.
Beatlemania like screams every time David Beckham touches the ball. Flash bulbs exploding around Home Depot Center like so many LSD flashbacks. And generally uneducated fans who don't appear to appreciate they are watching a godawful team.
Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane once complained about the lack of atmosphere at Old Trafford caused by a surfeit of the prawn sandwich eating crowd - read ignorant corporate types - sitting on their hands rather than supporting their team.
I don't mind rich guys subsidizing the masses (thanks Uncle Phil). I just don't want them taking over to the extent a sporting event becomes like a night at the opera. (It's depressing when fans tell me the nitwits behind them complain about them standing up - after a Galaxy goal has been scored!).
Of course, the Galaxy has been so abysmal this season there's been precious little to shout about, although the likes of the Riot Squad are doing their utmost (thanks guys).
But in the main it's a stadium full of people so thrilled to watch a global superduper star like Becks they can't see beyond to the quality of football on display. Which has, generally speaking, been crap.
Nevertheless, the Galaxy have increased their ticket prices each year despite missing the playoffs three years in a row (there's a prediction in there).
Season ticket holders reportedly dropped 15 percent this season. And are likely to fall again in the coming one. I'm getting more and more anecdotal reports via e-mail, on this blog and in person of fans who say to me: "I can't bring myself to watch this lot anymore. It's a waste of money."
That's telling me the knowledgeable fans who understand the game know what product they are seeing: a bland corporate one unlikely to get the most ardent soccer fans to return. They'll sit home and watch Stoke City play Hull City (no disrespect to Hull, unexpectedly lighting up the EPL this season so far) rather than support MLS.
The game is being undermined by the suits.That's not what the sport is about. The casual fan - such as families - who understand the democracy of soccer are endangered.
And if that's the case, so is the authenticity of the game itself.