Recently in SuperLiga Category

Turkey, already a long shot to beat Germany in today's first Euro 2008 semifinal, (live 11:30 a.m. on ESPN) has several starters missing through injury or suspension and the Germans are in a confident mood. Derek Rae and Andy Gray will call the game, while the second semifinal between Spain and an entertaining Russian side follows at the same time Thursday.

The winners play Sunday on ABC in a game preceded by the Galaxy-D.C. United game at 9 a.m.

In another televised game today at 8 p.m. on Telefutura, CD Guadalajara plays the New York Red Bulls in a Phoenix friendly. The Red Bulls are heading west to take on Chivas USA Saturday night at Home Depot Center.

Meanwhile, Chivas USA learned Tuesday they will play the USL's Seattle Sounders in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup July 1 in the Pacific Northwest. The Sounders Tuesday thumped the amateurs of Hollywood United 6-0.

By the way, tickets to the 5 p.m. July 20 Chivas USA-New England Revolution game in Fullerton that is the third SuperLiga group game for both teams are now on sale. Call 1-877-CHIVAS-1.

A look at the challenges faced by Chivas USA Under-18 player Omar Becerra is here.

In a PDL game tonight, Orange County Blue Star visits the Southern California Seahorses at 7 p.m. at La Mirada High.

Finally, if you're Jewish and can play soccer, the U.S. Jewish National Soccer Team wants to hear from you.

Chivas USA learned Tuesday they will play their third group game in SuperLiga against the New England Revolution at 5 p.m. Sunday July 20 at Cal State Fullerton's Titan Stadium.

If I recall correctly, Cal State Dominguez Hills, upon whose land Home Depot Center sits, restricts the number of games on "week nights" on campus and Chivas USA came up against a number game.

Of course, the Chivas USA SuperLiga game against an American opponent will draw fewer fans than those against Mexican teams.

Chivas USA probably could play the game at the HDC's Track & Field Stadium and comfortably accommodate all fans. But then the lights would bug the neighbors and that's a no-no, too.

From the (edited) Chivas USA press release:

Chivas USA opens its participation in the 2008 SuperLiga on Sunday, July 13, facing Santos Laguna, the current champions of the Mexican First Division, at Home Depot Center. The Red-and-White will then face 2008 CONCACAF Champions Cup winner Pachuca, also at Home Depot Center, on July 16.

Chivas USA hosts Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Chicago live at 7:30 p.m. Thursday on ESPN2.

Meanwhile, the Deseret News caught up with former Real Salt Lake defender Cary Talley (presumably before he was nailed for the lone and winning goal his old team scored against Chivas USA last weekend) here.

After demolishing Barbados 8-0 Sunday in Carson, U.S. Soccer apparently decided not to continue to piss off some MLS teams and released 10 players from the squad ahead of Sunday's return World Cup qualifying leg against Barbados.

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

The 10 departed players are Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Steve Cherundulo (Hannover 96), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids) and Matt Reis (New England Revolution).

Six out of the 10 players started in Sunday's first leg match against Barbados and three players notched five of the eight U.S. goals. Dempsey's goal put his name in the record books, scoring the fastest goal for the U.S. in FIFA World Cup qualifying history, just 53 seconds into the match.

Answer to Monday's trivia question from the (edited) U.S. Soccer press release:

Former president of the U.S. Soccer Federation Werner Fricker was honored during a ceremony on Sunday before the U.S. Men's National Team's World Cup qualifying match against Barbados.

A memorial located at the northeast corner of Mooch Myernick Field at Home Depot Center was unveiled during the ceremony. U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati unveiled the bronze bust and presented a commemorative plaque to Werner Fricker's children: Werner Fricker Jr., Marlene Fricker and Janet Malofiy (nee Fricker).

Werner Fricker, who passed away in 2001, served as President of the U.S. Soccer Federation from 1984 to 1990, during which time he led the successful bid to obtain the 1994 World Cup for the United States.

Fricker was born in Yugoslavia and raised in Austria, but emigrated to the United States with his family in 1952. He lived his adult life in Pennsylvania, where he was a star midfielder and captain for the United German Hungarians of Philadelphia soccer club from 1954 to 1969, leading the team to the National Amateur Cup in 1965.

He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, N.Y., in 1992.

Soccer fans will be inviting ESPN's soccer analyst Tommy Smyth into their homes beginning Saturday when Euro 2008 begins so it seemed appropriate to chat with him for today's column in the Daily News, Daily Breeze and Long Beach Press-Telegram..

The colorful Smyth will work with usual booth partner Derek Rae (ESPN have also signed former Scottish pro Andy Gray up as an analyst for the month-long competition, by the way).

I'll have more on Euro 2008 throughout the week including the views of some locals like longtime South Bay resident and now Columbus Crew coach Sigi Schmid.

*In other news, the Galaxy's Landon Donovan pulled out of the U.S. friendly against Spain (as did West Ham's Jonathan Spector, by the way) and is listed as questionable for this weekend's game against the Rapids.

*Chivas USA learned its third and final SuperLiga opponent Sunday when Santos Laguna captured Mexico's Clausura championship with a 3-2 aggregate win over Cruz Azul. Chivas USA also plays Pachuca and the New England Revolution.

*UCLA goalkeeper Val Henderson and midfielder Tina DiMartino have been called into the U.S. Under-23 camp that opens Thursday at Home Depot Center. The team will play scrimmages against the W-League's Ventura County Fusion on June 9 and the Pali Blues on June 11.

The second annual version of SuperLiga, the eight-team competition featuring MLS and Mexican teams, has just unveiled its schedule at a Home Depot Center press conference.

Last year, the Galaxy lost in a thrilling final and this version will feature Western Conference champions Chivas USA.

The relevant dates for games in Carson (except where noted):

Sunday July 13 - Chivas USA vs. defending champions Pachuca CF.
Wednesday July 16 - Chivas USA vs. Santos.
Sunday July 20 Chivas USA vs. New England Revolution. (Venue TBD).

Full competition details here.

MLS released its full 2008 fixture list this morning.

The Galaxy will have no excuses for a slow start: four of their first five games are at home.

Highlights:
• A total of 113 games (out of 210) will be shown nationally on ESPN2 and ABC, Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Sports en Español, HDNet and TeleFutura.
• The 14 clubs will play 30 regular season games over 31 weeks, playing each other twice (home and away), for 26 games. The remaining four games will be played against different intra-conference teams (two home and two away), with consideration given to rivalries.
• ESPN2 airs 27 MLS Primetime Thursday regular season contests, beginning with a doubleheader on April 3 and the All-Star game.
• ABC is scheduled to broadcast a unique soccer doubleheader June 29: the Galaxy at D.C. United at 9 a.m. followed by the Euro 2008 final.
• The four teams with the best regular season records in 2007 will represent MLS in the second edition of SuperLiga: D.C. United, Chivas USA, Houston Dynamo and New England Revolution.

Here's the complete Galaxy schedule:
Saturday March 29 at Colorado 6:30 p.m. FSC/HDNet

Thursday April 3 vs. San Jose 7:30 p.m. ESPN2
Sunday April 13 vs. Toronto FC 12:00 p.m. TeleFutura
Saturday April 19 vs. Houston 7:30 p.m.
Saturday April 26 vs. Chivas USA 7:30 p.m. FSC

Saturday May 3 at Real Salt Lake 6:00 p.m.
Saturday May 10 vs. New York 7:30 p.m. HDNet
Sunday May 18 at FC Dallas 12:00 p.m. TeleFutura
Saturday May 24 vs. Kansas City 7:30 p.m. HDNet
Saturday May 31 at Toronto FC 12:30 p.m.

Saturday June 7 vs. Colorado 7:30 p.m.
Saturday June 14 at San Jose 7:00 p.m. FSC
Saturday June 21 vs. Columbus 7:30 p.m.
Sunday June 29 at D.C. United 9:00 a.m. ABC

Friday July 4 vs. New England 7:30 p.m.
Thursday July 10 vs. Chivas USA 8:00 p.m. ESPN2
Saturday July 19 at New York 3:30 p.m. FSC
Sunday July 27 at FC Dallas 4:00 p.m.

Sunday August 3 at San Jose 12:00 p.m. TeleFutura
Thursday August 14 at Chivas USA 7:30 p.m. ESPN2
Thursday August 21 vs. Chicago 7:30 p.m. ESPN2
Saturday August 30 at New England 4:30 p.m. HDNet

Saturday September 6 vs. Real Salt Lake 7:30 p.m.
Saturday September 13 at Kansas City 5:00 p.m. HDNet
Saturday September 20 vs. D.C. United 8:00 p.m. FSC
Thursday September 25 at Chicago 6:00 p.m. ESPN2

Saturday October 4 at Columbus 4:30 p.m. HDNet
Sunday October 12 vs. Colorado 5:00 p.m.
Sunday October 19 at Houston 4:00 p.m.
Sunday October 26 vs. FC Dallas 12:00 p.m. TeleFutura

Here's the Chivas USA schedule:
Sunday March 30 @ FC Dallas Noon

Saturday April 5 Real Salt Lake 6:00 p.m.
Saturday April 12 @ Columbus Crew 4:30 p.m.
Sunday April 20 FC Dallas 5:00 p.m.
Saturday April 26 @ Los Angeles Galaxy 7:30 p.m.

Saturday May 3 @ Houston Dynamo 5:30 p.m.
Sunday May 11 New England Revolution Noon
Saturday May 17 D.C. United 7:30 p.m.
Saturday May 24 @ Colorado Rapids 6:30 p.m.
Saturday May 31 Columbus Crew 7:30 p.m.

Thursday June 5 @ New York Red Bulls 4:30 p.m.
Saturday June 14 Real Salt Lake 7:30 p.m.
Thursday June 19 Chicago Fire 7:30 p.m.
Saturday June 28 New York Red Bulls 7:30 p.m.

Saturday July 5 San Jose Earthquakes 7:30 p.m.
Thursday July 10 @ Los Angeles Galaxy 8:00 p.m.

Saturday Aug. 2 @ Chicago Fire 5:30 p.m.
Saturday Aug. 9 @ Kansas City Wizards 5:00 p.m.
Thursday Aug. 14 Los Angeles Galaxy 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday Aug. 20 @ Houston Dynamo 6:00 p.m.
Saturday Aug. 23 San Jose Earthquakes 7:30 p.m.
Saturday Aug. 30 Toronto FC 7:30 p.m.

Saturday Sept. 6 Toronto FC 1:00 p.m.
Thursday Sept. 11 @ New England Revolution 4:30 p.m.
Saturday Sept. 20 @ Real Salt Lake 6:00 p.m.
Saturday Sept. 27 Kansas City Wizards 7:30 p.m.

Saturday Oct. 4 @ D.C. United 4:30 p.m.
Saturday Oct. 11 @ San Jose Earthquakes 7:00 p.m.
Sunday Oct. 19 Colorado Rapids Noon
Saturday Oct. 25 Houston Dynamo 7:30 p.m.

Following the lead of the NFL, it looks like the EPL will hold regular season games overseas.

LA is specifically mentioned in this story.

How about a Manchester United-Liverpool, Galaxy-Chivas USA doubleheader broadcast live worldwide from the Coliseum?

Finally, in the least surprsing news of the day so far, Aston Villa have confirmed they are not giving up the chase for Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

Note the new name for the Goats.

David Beckham said after Wednesday's magnificent loss to Pachuca he expects to miss most of the remainder of the MLS season after spraining a right knee ligament.

He is already, of course, struggling with a long-term left ankle injury he keeps aggravating over and over by trying to play.

"Maybe it's a sign for me to get it right and not come back until it's really right," he said. "If it's 4-6 weeks (I'm out) I wouldn't have thought I will fly to England" for Euro 2008 qualifiers.

Beck's will receive a scan in the morning and we'll know more then.

"At the moment, it doesn't feel great," he said.

Beckham removed his runners-up (losers?) medal immediately after it was placed around his neck.

"I wasn't being disrespectful," he said. "I hate losing."

It was a tough loss reflected by Coach Frank Yallop's evident frustration in the post-game press conference when he dropped a number of F-bombs.

"We're absolutely spent," he said when he stopped swearing

On top of it all, Real Salt Lake beat the Wizards 3-1 Wednesday meaning that the Galaxy are now at the bottom of MLS; they play RSL Saturday in what is now the biggest game of the season. Without Beckham.

"We're not as good when Beckham is not on the field," said Chris Klein. "He's one of the best players in the world.

"The guy's are 100 percent in Frank's corner, we know what goes on behind the scenes," he added, responding to press speculation the Galaxy may turn to former Germany Coach (and OC resident) Jurgen Klinsmann to replace Yallop. "The guy's want to see him stay -- this is Frank's team."

Landon Donovan was trying not to let his anger at himself show for missing the fifth penalty that would have clinched the title for the Galaxy.

"I was proud to be a part of it," he said. "I'm not angry, but I'd like to be happy."

Still, the result aside, the first SuperLiga seemed to capture the imagination of the Latino fans MLS is trying to attract.

"If I'm a fan how do you not want to come back next year?," Donovan said.

The Galaxy though, won't be based on their MLS record.

Want more?

Here are all the game details.

Here's the story in pictures.

Defender Abel Xavier missed the Galaxy's sixth penalty kick sending it far, far wide into the stands and Pachuca won the inaugural tournament on a PK from substitute midfielder Carlos Rodriguez.

(Pant, pant)

It was a breathless climax to a thrilling game.

Donovan had the chance with the fifth and last of the first round of penalty kicks to win it for the Galaxy, but his shot was saved by Calero.

The Galaxy may look woeful in MLS, but this was an inspired, determined performance that did them credit. They went to to toe with Mexico's champions and lost by the narrowest of margins.

One thought: are the Galaxy now the second best team in Mexico and the U.S.?

No score in 30 minutes of extra time means the inaugural SuperLiga final will go to penalty kicks.

It will be five apiece to start, as usual, and then if the score is still tied we'll go until someone misses.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber is here along with his Mexican counterpart and Chuck Blazer, secretary general of CONCACAF. Bet they're all basking in this great ad for the competition.

Remember: $1 million is on the line.

Galaxy defender Chris Klein scored a spectacular bicycle kick from seven yards out in the third minute of stoppage time to send the final into overtime. The ball had come out to him via a couple of headers after a Mike Randolph header hit the bar.

Donovan had almost scored four minutes from time when Pachuca goalkeeper Miguel Calero failed to hold his shot from close range and it dribbled agonizingly past the post.

It was a dramatic end to a thrilling 90 minutes of regulation and sent the crowd of 12,500 into rapture.

The Galaxy looked like a different team and never stopped pressing.

It's two 15 minute overtime periods, with no golden goal.

Updated: Beck's is on the bench in his gray Burberry suit for OT.

Hold on.

Updated: It's still 1-1 at the end of the first abbreviated half.

David Beckham left the game in the 33rd minute with a right knee strain after going in hard for a 50-50 ball with Pachuca's Fernando Salazar, who suffered exactly the same injury.

Beck's immediately signaled he wanted to come out, probably to ensure he doesn't miss England's Euro 2008 qualifier Sept. 8 against Israel.

Frankly, he looked like he was going to cry as he sat on the bench disconsolately and he slowly limped off at the end of the half, cutting a lonely figure.

Striker Alan Gordon came in for Beck's.

Until then, with Beckham setting up most of the attacks for the Galaxy, the game had a wide-open feel with plenty of opportunities at both ends.

Upon his departure, Pachuca began to take control with Cacho and Alvarez combining well in particular. They have 10 shots to the Galaxy's two, although neither was on target.

In the end the Galaxy were fortunate to be down by just one goal.

Pete Vagenas scored it at the wrong end, almost slamming home a Christian Gimenez cross in the 28th minute with a touch he rarely displays at the right end of the field.

Cannon has made several fine saves to keep the Galaxy in it and Roberts cleared another near goal off the line.

Updated: They've changed Beckham's injury from strain to a sprain. Answers.com says a "sprain refers to damage or tearing of ligaments or a joint capsule. Strain refers to damage or tearing of a muscle."

Which is worse?

The Galaxy have most of their regular starters back, but the question is how fit are they and can they stay with Mexico's best team?

Joe Cannon is in goal as usual, while Chris Klein, Troy Roberts, Abel Xavier and Mike Randolph make up the back four.

Pete Vagenas is restored to what is an increasingly infrequent starting role as defensive midfielder, while David Beckham is in the center of midfierld. Kevin Harmse and Kyle Martiono are the other two midfielders; up front it's Carlos Pavon and Landon Donovan.

Pachuca have made five changes to the starting line-up they fielded against the Galaxy July 24 when the teams met in SuperLiga group play and they had players on international duty.

In come Mexican internationals Fausto Pinto at left back, Paraguyan international Julio Mansur in central defence, Argentine Damien Alvarez and Jaime Correa in midfield and striker Juan Cacho, who started for Mexico during the Gold Cup.

The game just kicked off. It's on Telefutura.

Updated: The Galaxy are wearing black armbands in honor of Sevilla midfielder Antonio Puerta who died Tuesday, three days after collapsing on the field during a La Liga game. He was just 22 years old.

Crunch Time

And this link has been up on CNN.com for a while, but it's worth noting just for the headline as some copy editor strains mightily to get this T. Rex verses Bex story read. Guess it worked.

Toros Tie

CSUDH travels to Phoenix to take on Grand Canyon on Thursday, before returning home for a 7 p.m. Tuesday kickoff against Marine Cano's Biola.

Former U.S. Soccer president Alan Rothenberg, former Cosmos defender Bobby Smith and retired U.S. internationals Julie Foudy and Mia Hamm donned red jackets Sunday for their induction into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Guess which one Tuesday's column pays tribute to.

No Beckham, no SuperLiga title

Updated 3:45 p.m.
Beck's will play Wednesday after all.

Turns out the weekly Galaxy update issued every Monday had old info on players' injuries. Naturally, our reporter assumed a current press release contained current information. Not so, apparently.

Wonder when the last time Beckham played in front of just 12,500 people (the stadium's capacity was cut for the game because school has just resumed on the CSUDH campus)?

Harbor Hopes

The Galaxy's second goal was pure Beckham, too.

He made an inch perfect pass from inside the Galaxy's half of the center circle that eluded Josh Gros and was clinically finished by Donovan.

United didn't play poorly -- they out shot the Galaxy 8-4 in the first half, for instance -- but they didn't have a player of Beckham's undoubted class.

Clearly the outstanding player on the field, Beckham dominated the game, dictating the tempo, directing virtually all the Galaxy's attacks and making the game look simple, a trait of all the greats.

Even Posh clapped after his goal.

Beck's left in the 63rd minute, his job done and the field turf at Giant's Stadium looming Saturday.

There were 17,223 in attendance and you've got to think those ticket stubs will be quite the piece of memorabilia in years to come.

Steve McClaren picks his England team Friday, by the way, but Beckham is already all but guaranteed a spot.

Next up for the Galaxy in SuperLiga: Pachuca on Wednesday Aug. 29 in the final, two days after the Galaxy visit Kansas City.

Updated 10:45 P.M.

Keep a bunch of sports writers on a tight deadline waiting for 90 minutes for an interview after a game (he needed treatment on the ankle) and you're sure to get a hostile reception. Unless you're Beck's who disarms any hostility immediately with that "aw shucks" smile and a (genuine, you feel) comment of "Sorry to keep you waiting."

Anyway, modest Becks talked for 14 minutes, thanked the ref for not giving him a red card for the foul and described both goals as owing something to a "certain amount of luck," (!) but conceded "you create your own luck."

"I felt I was going to score as soon as I had the ball in my hands," he said of the free kick that was the first he'd taken in eight weeks. "If I hit it right I knew it was going in."

Beckham said he was surprised at the strength of his left ankle.

"I was happy to get an hour on the pitch -- I didn't expect to last an hour," he said. "It was a lot better than I actually thought it was going to be."

I did get a knock on my ankle tonight," he added. "It's slightly swollen."

Still, he hopes to play at least part of the game in New York before flying out to join up with the rest of the squad before England's game on Wednesday against Germany.

Beckham was the talk of the post-game press conference even before his belated appearance.

D.C. United Coach Tom Soehn was asked four questions -- and three were about Beckham.

Galaxy Coach Frank Yallop looked like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

"It was good for the locker room to be buoyant and happy because we haven't had a lot of happiness this year," he said. "We've all been waiting for that free kick."

Landon Donovan said he had approached Beckham after training Tuesday to offer him the captaincy.

"I'm not stupid and I'm not naive," he said. "This is someone who's been the captain of England, one of the better teams in the world.

"(Becoming captain) made him immediately a part of the team."

And his performance tonight instantly made him the most important part.

Updated 1 a.m.

For more details on the game, here's what Galaxy beat writer Billy Witz had to say.

Here's how the Beckham goal was described on MLS' Match tracker:

"LA -27th Minute. Goal Scored by 23-David Beckham, 1st of season. In Goal was 1-Troy Perkins. Goal scored from outside penalty area."

What the crowd at a half-empty Home Depot Center really saw was a strike of transcendent beauty, a stunning free kick from 27 yards that left goalkeeper Troy Perkins rooted to the spot and staring at the ball rippling the inside netting. This is why the MLS suits wanted Beckham.

Beckham is wearing the captain's armband and is displaying the sort of leadership the Galaxy direly needs.

Match Tracker does helpfully tell us Beck's has completed 13 out of 17 passes though.

He also found time to pick up a yellow card for a nasty looking foul on Moreno that would have earned some players a straight red.

Let's hope Beckham's ankle holds up and he comes out for the second half.