Recently in SuperLiga Category

Chivas go out despite the 1-0 win over Pachuca.

Nice direct goal though with Ante Jazic providing the service:

Phil Collin has the game story here.

Notable: Attendance was a respectable 14,817.

Chivas USA lineup: Dan Kennedy, Ante Jazic (Jorge Flores 46), Mariano Trujillo, Darío Delgado, Carlos Borja, Osael Romero, Blair Gavin, Ben Zemanski, Rodolfo Espinoza (Gerson Mayén 72), Jesús Padilla, Giancarlo Maldonado (Chukwudi Chijindu 55)

That's because the first SuperLiga game today ended Houston Dynamo 1 Puebla 0.

The result renders the Chivas USA-Pachuca game that kicks off at 7:30 p.m. in Carson meaningless. Puebla had already qualified for the next round before a ball was kicked today.

So I'm skipping the HDC game (at least in person).

Here is the starting XI for Chivas USA: Kennedy, Trujillo (capt.), Delgado, Borja, Jazic; Espinoza, Lahoud, Gavin, Romero, Maldonado, Padilla.

Pachuca starts Herculez Gomez up top, but there's no Jose Torres in midfield.

The game is live on Galavision.

U.S. fans who want a post-World Cup look at American internationals Herculez Gomez, seen above playing against Houston, and Jose Torres, who both play for Pachuca, may have the best reason tonight for heading to Home Depot Center (AP Photo).

That's because winless Chivas USA are a long-shot to progress in SuperLiga in the third and final group game. The home team must hope Puebla beats the Dynamo at 5 p.m. on KFTR and then defeat already eliminated Pachuca by two clear goals in the 7:30 p.m. contest in Carson (also live on Galavision). The problem: Puebla have already qualified for the next round, so may not be particularly motivated and a tie guarantees the Dynamo advance, too.

Chivas USA defender Jonathan Bornstein is doubtful for the game with a right knee strain, striker Justin Braun is questionable with a right knee contusion and goalkeeper Zach Thornton remains out with a left ankle sprain.

A game preview is here.

*Edson Buddle and Landon Donovan were the difference for the Galaxy in a 2-1 win over D.C. United.

Notable: Buddle now has an MLS-best 11 goals.

The Galaxy are now 12-2-3, 12 points ahead of second place Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference.

Galaxy lineup: Donovan Ricketts; A.J. DeLaGarza, Omar Gonzalez, Gregg Berhalter, Todd Dunivant; Sean Franklin, Chris Birchall, Juninho (Michael Stephens 62'), Landon Donovan; Edson Buddle (Eddie Lewis 77'), Alan Gordon (Jovan Kirovski 90').

DeLaGarza, Gonzalez, Donovan and Gordon replaced Tristan Bowen, Leonardo, Alex Cazumba and Michael Stephens in the starting XI.

Next for the Galaxy: San Jose Earthquakes Thursday at Home Depot Center.

Saragosa Love: Chivas USA's Marcelo Saragosa looks for a little bite of the Dynamo's Lovel Palmer in Houston Sunday (AP Photo).

*Chivas USA needs to beat Pachuca Wednesday and Puebla needs to beat Houston for the Goats to advance in SuperLiga after their 1-1 tie Sunday against the Dynamo.

Notable: Newly-signed midfielder Rodolfo Espinoza has two assists in his first two games for Chivas USA.

Highlights:

While it is clear Ronaldinho is not leaving Inter AC Milan immediately it is equally clear Galaxy fans should not rule anything out (as club officials have said all along), although a LA arrival in 2011 seems more plausible than 2010, assuming he does not extend his contract in Europe.

Meanwhile, much the same could be said of Landon Donovan (in terms of ruling nothing out) as the Galaxy prepares to meet beleaguered D.C. United at 4:30 p.m. today (live on Fox Soccer Channel). An official viewing party is here that apparently includes a $7.00 "Buddle" Burger w/fries. It's surprisingly lightweight at just 4 oz, but also includes a "Toasted Bun, Saffron Goat cheese Aioli, Arugala, Pickled onions, and Tomatoes." Why the need to capitalize the burger toppings is unclear to me as is the connection between Buddle and saffron goat cheese, but I guess it could be worse - how about a $6.5 million Beckham burger, which, I suppose, would come with no meat at all).

Bet we see this notable Mexican striker in LA before Ronaldinho (or for that matter Lucio Emilio).

Chivas USA puts in a televised SuperLiga appearance a half hour later against the Dynamo in Houston (5 p.m. KFTR), part of what tournament organizers undoubtedly hope is an attendance-boosting doubleheader that also features the past and present teams of Herculez Gomez - Puebla and Pachuca - at 7:30 p.m. on the same channel.

Will the Galaxy's Landon Donovan, right, seen here after the Independence Day game against the Seattle Sounders, wave farewell to the Galaxy and MLS after his vintage World Cup exploits? (AGP Photo).

I snuck out of town to much cooler San Diego for a couple of days and while I was gone:

*MLS and Landon Donovan continued their "will he stay or will he go (overseas)" pirouette with MLS Commish Don Garber declaring the league's best player is not for sale.

Whatever.

If a big enough offer comes, LD is gone. But will that offer come? If not in the next few months then LD won't be going anywhere, ever, period. Time is running out as he gets older to convince a club with deep pockets to make that kind of investment.

*Chivas USA lost (again, ho hum) their SuperLiga opener Thursday at Home Depot Center against Puebla going down 2-1 after giving up an early goal and ending the game with 10 men. Game story here.

*Meanwhile, former Galaxy striker Joseph Ngwenya helped himself to two goals and the Houston Dynamo beat Pachuca Thursday in Super Liga.

*Forward Thierry Henry formally joined the Red Bulls Thursday after a years-long courtship between the Frenchman and MLS. Key date for Southern Californians: 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24 when the Galaxy host New York at Home Depot Center.

Games this weekend include:

*This poorly-promoted charity game at Home Depot Center Saturday aimed at fans of Mexican futbol.

*A friendly at 3 p.m. Saturday between relegated EPL club Portsmouth and PDL outfit the Ventura County Fusion at Oxnard College, 4000 S. Rose Ave. Tickets start at $20 adults, $12 youth at the gate.

*4:30 p.m. Sunday Galaxy at D.C. United (Fox Soccer Channel).

As expected.

Rodolfo Espinoza, a 29-year-old Mexican midfielder, had most recently been playing for Peru's Universitario. He began training with Chivas USA last Friday.

"Rodolfo is a dynamic player who gives us another look in the midfield," said Chivas USA Coach Martín Vásquez. "He's a proven midfielder and can help us continue to strengthen our attack. We're excited for him to get started."

This is likely the final signing for Chivas USA for now, club officials said earlier this week.

From the Chivas USA press release:

Espinoza, a native of Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico, began his professional career at Necaxa of the Mexican First Division, where he played from 2002-2008, appearing in a total of 78 matches and scoring eight goals. He has spent time with other Mexican First Division clubs, including parts of 2006-2007 on loan at Atlante, and 2008-2009 with Chiapas, where he played 35 matches. Since 2009, Espinoza has played for Universitario in Peru, where he scored five goals in 36 games. Espinoza also played in the Copa Libertadores with Universitario in 2009 and 2010, and has made appearances with the U-20 and U-23 Mexican National Teams.

He, along with re-signed holding midfielder Paulo Nagamura and Venezuelan striker Giancarlo Maldonado, are eligible to make their Chivas USA debuts Thursday against Puebla in the SuperLiga opener at Home Depot Center.

Incidentally, tickets start at just $8 for the game.

Also

*UCLA striker Sydney Leroux got a 70th minute equalizer for the U.S. Under-20 Women's National Team, which drew 1-1 with Ghana today in the Group D opener at the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

So it appears we'll be seeing more of World Cup-bound Herculez Gomez, who just signed for Pachuca from Puebla, in Southern California.

The schedule and groups were announced this morning with the start of group beginning just three days after the conclusion of the World Cup. Struggling Chivas USA, who last year went three and out in SuperLiga and are currently inhabiting the MLS Western Conference basement, will play three SuperLiga games in seven days.

No word yet when tickets will go on sale.

The games for Chivas USA:

*7:30 p.m. Thursday July 15 vs. Puebla at Home Depot Center

*5 p.m. Sunday July 18 vs. Houston Dynamo in Houston

*7:30 p.m. Wednesday July 21 vs. Pachuca at Home Depot Center

Pachuca, crowned 2007 champions when they beat the Galaxy on penalty kicks in Carson, also feature U.S. international Jose Francisco Torres. Modest Puebla are making their first tournament appearance.

In the other four-team group, the Chicago Fire and New England revolution faces Morelia and Pumas.

All games will be shown live on Univision.

In 60 seconds (or so):

Home Depot Center (and presumably Chivas USA) will host SuperLiga games July 15 and July 21. Chicago, New England and Houston are also playing in the tournament; the four Mexican clubs have yet to be determined. ... Trivia: what is the distinguishing feature of all three SuperLiga championship games? ... Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan beat Barcelona today and will meet Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League final later this month ... Pachacua won the CONCACAF version ... You can help the Galaxy's Riot Squad grow here and we've got to see that gone-viral miss again, don't we? Ladies & gentlemen: Lawndale's Kei Kamara:

And that trivia question? All three championship games have been determined by penalty kicks.

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.