Recently in Mexican Futbol Category

A thief targeted three sports teams visiting Los Angeles recently - including CD Guadalajara when they were in town taking on their American spinoff at the Rose Bowl:

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A man with slicked-back hair who stole $26,000 in cash and jewelry from an Israeli basketball team at the Staples Center also scammed his way into two downtown hotels to steal thousands of dollars from Chivas players and a salsa music troupe, police said Wednesday.

Detectives linked the man to the three thefts after comparing surveillance footage from the Staples Center on Oct. 20 to video and descriptions from two hotels that had reported similar thefts in August and September, said Lt. Paul Vernon, head of detectives for downtown Los Angeles.

"It was a good catch. It was the slicked-back hair style that really stood out," Vernon
said.

In the first theft, a man convinced a hotel clerk that he was part of a 30-member salsa group booked to play at the Greek Theater and needed pass cards to rooms. He gave the clerk a CD in return for the help, police said. The musicians later discovered more than $9,000 was missing from several rooms.

In the second theft, a man wearing a Chivas jersey greeted and hugged members of the Chivas soccer team as they left their hotel on a bus. He then walked up to the desk and convinced a clerk to give him room keys.

Players later reported more than $10,000 missing from their rooms.

Anyone with information is asked to call LAPD Commercial Crimes Division at (213) 485-2524. Tipsters may also call the 24-hour, toll free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247), or text "crimes" by cell phone. Begin all messages with "LAPD." Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Tickets for the seventh annual tournament that serves as the qualifying tournament for the Copa Libertadores for Mexican clubs go on sale next month.

Home Depot Center hosts games Jan. 9, 10 and 12.

More info from today's press release:

InterLiga 2010 will determine two Mexican club berths (Mexico 2 and Mexico 3) for Copa Libertadores. Copa Libertadores begins at the end of January 2010. The eight best teams in the general standings at the end of the current Apertura 2009 season of the Mexican domestic league move on to InterLiga 2010, except for the club that finishes first in the regular season standings, which will qualify directly to Copa Libertadores as "Mexico 1," per FMF regulations. Due to their participation in the 2009-2010 CONCACAF Champions League, clubs Toluca, Pachuca, Cruz Azul, and UNAM Pumas will not participate in InterLiga 2010 regardless of their place in the Apertura standings. Due to the events that occurred during Copa Libertadores 2009, Chivas and San Luis will qualify directly into the 2010 edition during the Round of 16.

More info is here.

Read the column here.

There were a couple of Aguirre quotes left over that didn't get into the column for space reasons.

The first concerns the infamous incident against Panama in the Gold Cup where Aguirre actually enters the field of play in an effort to influence the game.

The incident is here if you haven't seen it:

And here's Aguirre's rationale for his actions:

"When I lifted up my foot it was just an impulse. I felt like the other team was taking control of the game and I didn't have any control over it. ... It was just an act of frustration. It was a stupid reaction - something I'm not very proud of."

Here's Aguirre on the doubts he had about his recall of Blanco to the national team, although the player's passion or talent was not the issue:

"His knee was the only thing that had me worried. When he told me he was ready to play, his knee was fine, there were no more doubts."

Finally, here's Aguirre on his relationship with the media:

"It's very difficult for me to always be in the limelight. I don't like giving interviews. It's very difficult for me to be in the public eye."

AP Photo

The win over El Salvador completes a remarkable turnaround in the fortune of the Mexicans.

Blanco, too, looks rejuvenated. Oh, and former Chivas USA striker Paco Palencia came on as a sub for him - and scored.

A roundup of the World Cup qualifying results today is here.

In a related note, it was good to see the Off-Campus Pub in Carson packed to overflowing tonight for a closed circuit television showing of the Honduras-U.S. game.

We got there much later than planned and the place was jammed 45 minutes before kickoff with a line of 25-30 people still outside. They announced they would let 16 more people in to watch on two TV's on the patio. We didn't make it.

Matchtracker it is.

CD Guadalajara 2 Chivas USA 0

I "watched" this one on TV and this description of the alleged action by reporter Phil Collin is apt: "The first half was like a family reunion with everyone sitting in the living room trying to dream up something to talk about."

Still, that didn't prevent a Chivas USA player from suffering a potentially serious injury (bet Preki is thrilled with that).

Find out who and read the game story here.

Lineups:

Chivas USA - Jon Conway, Carey Talley (Mariano Trujillo 46), Shavar Thomas, Claudio Suárez, Bojan Stepanovic (Michael Lahoud 44), Jesús Padilla (Yamith Cuesta 53), Marcelo Saragosa, Paulo Nagamura (Cesar Zamora 46), Sacha Kljestan (Justin Braun 46), Maicon Santos (Chukwudi Chijindu 46), Maykel Galindo

Chivas de Guadalajara - Luis Michel (Hugo Hernandez 85), Edgar Mejia (Edgar Solis 65), Aaron Galindo (Jonny Magallon 46), Hector Reynoso, Omar Esparza, Amaury Ponce (Ramon Morales 46), Patricio Araujo, Gonzalo Pineda (Mario DeLuna 46), Xavier Baez (Omar Arellano 46), Marco Fabian (Julio Nava 72), Omar Bravo (Sergio Avila 62)

For those of you not heading to tonight's Chivas-Chivas USA game at 8 o'clock in Pasadena, know that Galavision will carry the friendly live.

Read what players think of the game here.

Incidentally, this game is being billed as the first between the teams in American soil because the two met in a charity game in Guadalajara two years ago. However, that game featured guest players on both squads so technically today's game is the first proper game between the two clubs - period.

I'm guessing Chivas USA's Marcelo Saragosa will get quite a few minutes after MLS suspended him Monday for an additional game and fined him an extra $500 for his unnecessarily spiteful little flick of his foot on Fredy Montero's throat/neck in the 72nd minute of Saturday's game in Seattle. Total damage for the moment of stupidity: $1,000 fine and missing crucial games against the New York Red Bulls this weekend and D.C. United Oct. 3.

BTW, MLS Cup is off the ABC schedule and on the ESPN one - in prime time up against Sunday Night Football. Read the rationale behind the move here.

I previewed Wednesday's Chivas USA-CD Guadalajara game Wednesday at the Rose Bowl. Read the column here.

BTW, two Chivas USA players - Gerson Mayen and Jorge Flores - won't play because they, along with UCLA goalkeeper Brian Perk and midfielder Michael Stevens, are in Egypt preparing for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup that starts Thursday.

ESPN will show all 52 games from the tournament, most on ESPN 360.com.

All three of the U.S. group games will be on TV, however:

*6:55 a.m. Saturday ESPN Classic U.S.-Germany
*9:40 a.m. Tuesday ESPN2 U.S.-Cameroon
*9:40 a.m. Oct. 2 ESPN2 U.S.-Korea

ESPN will also show the final Oct. 16.

A tournament preview is here.

The first-ever game between the two sister clubs in the U.S. was announced this morning and tickets to the 8 p.m. game went on sale at 10 a.m., starting at $20 for general admission. Call 1-877-CHIVAS-1.

"Chivas USA and Chivas de Guadalajara have done great work together for the last five years, and it will be exciting to see these two great clubs face off on the field," said Chivas USA President and CEO Shawn Hunter.

*Former LA Times writer and hyphenated American Daniel Hernandez explains: Why It's OK for Hyphenated Americans to Root for Mexican Soccer. (Tip of the hat to laobserved.com for the link).

*Here's Greg Lalas (undoubtedly a hyphenated American too) on why Landon Donovan should become hyphenated in Mexico (or something).

His name is Jesus Padilla, he's 22-years-old and he was born in San Jose.

Part of CD Guadalajara's youth system since age 14, Padilla has scored one goal in two starts (he has 24 Mexican league appearances total).

"Jesús is a talented, explosive attacking player who will help our team as we work toward a spot in the playoffs," said Chivas USA Coach Preki.

Updated: Chivas USA will introduce him at a midday Tuesday press conference at the HDC.

Relief for Mexican coach Javier Aguirre after Israel Castro's tying goal against the U.S. (AP Photo).

A valiant U.S. effort fell about eight minutes short today against Mexico. In large measure, the U.S. ran out of gas in a territorial game they mainly ceded to Mexico in a bid to survive the conditions.

BTW, does anybody know if they've launched a search and rescue effort for missing U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley?

Here are the CONCACAF standings and the other result today in the region.

Here are all the World Cup qualifying results.

Meanwhile, a "pedestrian" David Beckham was replaced at the half of England's draw with the Netherlands.

Apparently dodgeball-playing Cuauhtemoc Blanco and the Mexicans are loose ahead of their critical game with the U.S. Wednesday. (AP Photos).

I'll update this post as events warrant and kickoff nears.

The essentials: The 1 p.m. game is in Spanish on Telemundo and in English on little known cable channel mun2, which has a free preview on DirecTV channel 203 and Dish channel 838, while Time Warner will also preview the channel. Plan your (long) lunch accordingly.

Updated: I'm told the only live online broadcast of the game is here for those stuck at work and/or without television access.

Mexican Coach Javier Aguirre (right) is a little tense though.

The extras: Even ESPN is taking the game seriously: a 30-minute SportsCenter 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Special from outside Estadio Azteca begins at 12:30 p.m. But don't be lulled into thinking the game airs on that channel: for the first time in its 30-year history ESPN airs a live pre-match show for a soccer match it won't televise.

Viewing parties: The Galaxy are promoting two from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ye Olde Kings Head pub, 116 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica and The Olde Ship, 1120 W. 17th St., Santa Ana.

Know: Here are the lineups the last time these nations faced each other in February in the 2-0 U.S. win in Columbus, Ohio to open the final round of World Cup qualifying:
Mexico-Oswaldo Sanchez; Aaron Galindo, Carlos Salcido, Rafael Marquez, Ricardo Osorio; Leandro Augusto, Alberto Medina (Antonio Naelson, 60th), Pavel Pardo; Carlos Ochoa, Nery Castillo (Israel Martinez, 34th), Giovani dos Santos (Omar Bravo, 72nd)

United States-Tim Howard; Frankie Hejduk, Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu, Heath Pearce; Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Sacha Kljestan (Ricardo Clark, 86th), DaMarcus Beasley; Landon Donovan, Brian Ching (Jozy Altidore, 83rd).

Of course, Pearce, Kljestan and Beasley were dropped for this game, while Frankie Hejduk is also absent.

I'm not going to pick the team anymore than I'm going to make predictions (2-2 with a late U.S. goal crushing Mexico's collective soul. Oh, sorry did I say that out loud?) but you can guess the basic structure based on the above XI.

Add in Spector and Bocanegra as the starting full backs, while DeMerit and Onyewu will likely occupy central defense. In midfield, how about Bradley, Feilhaber, Clark, and Dempsey with Donovan and Davies (not Ching) partnering up front? And yeah, Altidore sits to start. But I don't pick the team. Just sayin'.

Read more idle speculation and uninformed opinion in my Tuesday column.

Predictions and discussion welcome.

Updated 8 a.m.

*Just in time for today's game U.S. Soccer has unveiled its Web site aimed at securing the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022. Sign the petition, add the widget to your whatever page, buy a bumper sticker.

* Details on a Nike-hosted viewing party in Hollywood is here.

*Los Angeles-based soccer blogger Jennifer Doyle has her take on the game and a link to her conversation on KPFK Tuesday with Gustavo Arellano of "Go Ask A Mexican" fame. Check out the From a Left Wing blog here.

*Here's a preview from The Washington Post's always excellent Steven Goff.

*Brian Ching tweeted around 8 a.m. and sounds like he's going to get psyched with some kick ass tunes before kickoff: "Just listening to some mellow music now but, building a pregame playlist. Got some Breaking Benjamins, Offspring, Disturbed, Godsmack."

*And, as always, the Mexicans need to watch out for the proverbial elephant zebra in the room..

*Mexican Coach Javier Aguirre says he does expect any surprises from the U.S., but look at that body language - what does he expect?

*The U.S. Soccer Players Web site has everything you need to know about playing soccer at altitude.

And who thought that would ever be the case?

Read the column here.

BTW: Just heard on Twitter - Landon Donovan is on Sportsnation on ESPN2 at 1:15 p.m. today.

Another busy weekend of soccer begins this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. when Real Madrid plays Toronto (live on ESPN) and at the same time the Pali Blues take on the Washington Freedom (live on Fox Soccer Channel).

Both the Galaxy and Chivas USA are out of town this weekend, but does that mean no live soccer locally?

Not at all.

The Ventura County Fusion and Chicago Fire Premier play for the PDL title at 7 p.m. Saturday at Ventura High.

If you haven't been to Ventura in a while, I recommend you make a day of it. There's tons to do in the area, downtown Ventura is a great place to shop or grab a bite and as an added bonus the Ventura County Fair is going on very near Ventura High.

I'm taking my own advice and I'll be sitting in the stands with friends and family for the Fusion game, so give a shout-out if you see me.

Clarification: The game is at Buena High School (5670 Telegraph Rd., Ventura) not the high school on Main in midtown.

Click on the link to the right for a full slate of games, but here's the ones I recommend in addition to those already mentioned:

*3 p.m. Saturday FSC Galaxy at New England
*6:30 p.m. Saturday Fox Sports Net Chivas USA at Colorado Rapids
*8 p.m. Saturday FSC CD Guadalajara-Barcelona

*7 a.m. Sunday FSC Chelsea-Manchester United in the Community Shield
*Noon Sunday FSC Real Madrid at DC United
*3 p.m. Sunday FSC Sol at Boston Breakers

Have a great weekend.

Midweek seems an apt time to touch on a few things I've overlooked:

*The Sounders play Barcelona at 7:30 tonight in Seattle on ESPN2. It will be interesting to see who that usually delirious crowd will predominantly be rooting for - the home team or the European champions. More here.

Here's Barcelona's Lionel Messi doing a little ball juggling atop the 605-foot-high Space Needle ahead of the game.Photo courtesy FC Barcelona/Sounders FC/SUM

*Earlier this evening the Chicago Fire meets Tigres in the SuperLiga final that begins at 5 p.m. on Fox Soccer Channel.

*Speaking of the Fire, their PDL team will contest the title at 7 p.m. Saturday against the Ventura County Fusion at Ventura High on Main Street. With the Galaxy and Chivas USA out of town this weekend I plan to attend the game (as a fan). More details and a special ticket deal here.

*Meanwhile, a night earlier the Pali Blues plays in the W-League championship against the Freedom in Washington. That game can be seen live at 4:30 p.m. on Fox Soccer Channel.

*Belated condolences BTW to Coach Brian Boswell and his Rolling Hills Estates-based Ajax America who fell 1-0 to the Long Island Fury last weekend in New York in the Women's Premier Soccer League final after posting an excellent 15-2-1 record on the season.

*In other women's soccer news, Long Beach State, winners of the last three Big West title have been picked to finish second this year in a preseason coache's poll. Cal State Northridge were picked to finish fifth.

*Former UCLA and Galaxy player Zak Ibsen (who played 50 games for the Galaxy over two seasons ending in 2000) detailed his descent into crystal meth addiction for the New York Times' Goal blog.

*Finally, fellow blogger Steve Davis explains why he doesn't hate Crew midfielder Robbie Rogers of Rolling Hills Estates.