Recently in Youth Soccer Category

First, the flameout:

From the press releases pile-up department:
*Simi Valley-based Los Angeles Futbol Club has become the third youth team in the U.S. to partner with EPL team Chelsea.

What does that mean?

From the (edited) press release:

LAFC will now be LAFC Chelsea and host Chelsea tournaments, training sessions and a player and coach exchange program. As a result of the partnership, LAFC Chelsea will offer more scholarships for young athletes with financial hardship. LAFC provides kids across Southern California and throughout the country the opportunity to play competitive soccer regardless of ability to pay club membership costs.

Chelsea FC Chief Executive Peter Kenyon said: "Our youth super club network is designed to support soccer development in the US. LAFC shares the same goal and has demonstrated rapid growth of their club and talent.

"Since its inception, LAFC has provided young athletes the opportunity to play competitive soccer through financial support. With our new partnership, we hope that the association with Chelsea can attract and leverage additional funding scholarships, helping to further develop the academy and club.

"Providing elite training for young talent is critical to the long-term development of the sport in America."

The club will make its debut under the new LAFC Chelsea nameplate Saturday when its Under-16 and Under-18 teams take on the U.S. Youth National Teams.

LAFC President Don Sheppard said: "LAFC was created to provide an affordable option for skilled players to play top-tier club soccer. We've been able to reach out to economically disadvantaged communities to recruit some of the best talent in the US.

"For a world-renowned club like Chelsea to recognize our mission and be a part of it shows the caliber and quality of their organization and their commitment to develop US soccer.

"We are a young program and a partnership like this allows us to reach the next level on skill development, player participation and overall club exposure. We have a top-tier coaching staff and now with Chelsea our players will receive an international view of the game - something they may not have received otherwise."

LAFC includes over 50 boys and girls teams with 800 players from ages eight to eighteen. Throughout the last year, the academy has placed seven players on US national team rosters.

LAFC is just three years old. Excellent article on the club by Sports Illustrated here.

The details on Saturday's event here.

*Staying in Simi Valley for the moment, Chivas USA will host tryouts there Dec. 12 for its pro and youth teams.

*The Ventura County Fusion also has tryouts Dec. 13-14.

*And for those already pining for summer, registration for the Southern California Beach Soccer Championships in May in Oceanside is open.

By the way, if you're home for the holidays and need a soccer jolt, check out the Women's Under-20 World Cup: at 1 p.m. it's Norway-Brazil on ESPNU and Mexico-North Korea at 2 p.m. on Galavision.

The U.S.lost Wednesday 2-0 to China, BTW, although the team had already qualified for the quarterfinals. Next is England on Sunday.

Finally, here's your gratuitous David Beckham mention of the day.

And here's a gratuitous new David Beckham commercial (he doesn't speak, much less rap and that's really something to be thankful for.) Happy Thanksgiving.

The most amazing thing about this snapshot is it's only two years off in foreshadowing the champion in the picture.

This is the South Bay Gunners 11 years ago in a Nike ad (?!).

When I asked the person who supplied the photo which 10-year-old kid was Robbie Rogers, who grew up in Rolling Hills Estates, he said "Far right, blonde with pot belly."

Is this like your mother showing your naked baby pictures at age 2 to your fiancee? Close.

Champion.

The season is over for the Galaxy and Chivas USA, but scores of kids will play this weekend in the finals of the inaugural Serie de Campeones at Home Depot Center.

The Galaxy program is aimed at the Latino community, providing independent teams - not top club teams - the opportunity to play for a trophy at a lower cost than usual.

Still, there's talent out there. A Galaxy scout found Alejandro Covarrubias, a senior a Bell High School, at one of the tournaments who has become a regular on the club's Under-18 Academy Team and was recently added to the U.S. Under-18 National Team Pool.

Serie de Campeones is a five-tournament program in which the winners of the first four tournaments participate in the fifth one.

There are seven divisions for various age groups, including a competition for girls.

Participating teams include the Gunners, Kids USA, Liverpool, St. Patricks SC, Tigres de Oxnard, Manchester and a Galaxy team.

Games run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday on fields 5 and 7 (the David Beckham Academy field). Admission and parking are free.

,

Beckham Update?
David Beckham wasn't talking today, but Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena did on the possibility of him going on loan to AC Milan:

"I haven't spent a second of my day even thinking about it to be honest. For me personally and with this team, I don't think we would loan any player out for six months. That's how long you have to loan him out for until the next transfer window, which would be June. On the surface, it sounds like an odd proposition. I don't see where that benefits MLS or the Galaxy. "

Who said anything about six months?

Here's Chris Klein on Beckham's pending loan move:

"He wants to win. He made it known when he came over here he wasn't coming here to sell T-shirts. I'm sure he's disappointed in the production of the team in the last year and a half. Does that fall on his shoulders? No. We all take responsibility for the results of this team of late. I'm sure there's that disappointment inside of him, though."

In other Galaxy news:
*Former President and General Manager Doug Hamilton, as well as former midfielders Mauricio Cienfuegos and Cobi Jones are the first honorees of a Wall of Legends intended to "honor individuals or groups who have significantly contributed to the growth and success of the club." Inauguration of the first members is 9:30 a.m. Sunday in the Southwest Concourse of Home Depot Center.

In Chivas USA news:
*Fox Soccer Channel will air both Chivas USA games of its Western Conference semifinal series against either Real Salt Lake or the Colorado Rapids. Game 1 is set for Nov. 1, while game 2 of the series is scheduled for Nov. 8 at Home Depot Center.
* Brad Guzan update.

In college soccer:
*Cal State Northridge men (6-5-3), down one player for the majority of the match, lost 3-2 Wednesday to Cal State Irvine.
*No. 9 USC (12-2-1) meets No. 3 UCLA (13-0-2) 7 p.m. Friday in a rematch of the 2007 NCAA semifinal at the Coliseum. Organizers are trying to set an NCAA attendance record, which stands at 14,410. USC, unbeaten in a program record 19 home games, wants a crowd of 15,000.
Check out the promo.

Lastly, in youth soccer news:
*Lancaster and Cal South will host the 2009 U.S. Youth Soccer Region IV Championships June 15-21 drawing nearly 4,500 players and an estimated 10,000 spectators at the Lancaster National Soccer Complex The 35-field facility will see 248 boys and girls teams, ages Under-12 through Under-19, from the 14 western U.S. Youth Soccer State Associations that make up US Youth Soccer Region IV (Alaska, Arizona, California North, California South, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming). Regional winners of the Under-14 through Under-19 brackets earn a berth to the 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championships.

A light morning for news (unless you're one of the few people excited the U.S. has climbed seven places in the latest superfluous FIFA rankings released today).

But there are a couple of Chivas USA related items to pass along.

In its continuing efforts to cultivate a larger fan base the club has announced the creation of a "Coaches Connection" aimed at youth soccer coaches that offers "coaching tips and information on Chivas USA's innovative Youth Development System. Coaches can register online for a free monthly newsletter, which will provide training tools, soccer drills and player development insights used by Chivas USA to nurture and grow more complete players."

Also, Chivas USA Youth Team coaches will conduct a coaching seminar on Oct. 18-19 at Home Depot Center. For $75, which includes lunch, a ticket to Chivas USA's Oct. 19 game vs. the Colorado Rapids, as well as coaching materials and a certificate of completion, coaches receive insights on "game preparation, systems of play, tactical talks, as well as game analysis."

For more information contact Julio Cano at 310-630-4564 or jcano@cdchivasusa.com.

Meanwhile, Chivas USA fan group the Union Ultras is offering a bus trip to the Bay Area for Saturday's game at the Earthquakes. Cost is $70, which includes a match ticket. The bus leaves from the valley at 8 a.m. Saturday and returns to Southern California immediately after the game. Families are welcome.

More information at the Union Ultras Web site.

Finally, occasional Chivas USA fan Morrissey, seen in the past at the HDC in a club jersey, has apparently found a new allegiance.

Here's a shot from a Hollywood Palladium gig in 2007

Photo by Juan Miranda/ Chivas USA

A trivial item with only a peripheral relationship to Chivas USA, I understand, but one that gives me an excuse to embed a Morrissey video of a great song on a slow news day:

The naughty boy is one Carlos Martinez, a reportedly supremely talented former San Pedro resident, punted from the U.S. Under-17 Academy in Bradenton, Fla., for repeatedly breaking the rules. His family is moving back to the Harbor Area - and Chivas USA and the Galaxy are among those interested in the wayward teen.

The good lad is Galaxy prospect Tristan Bowen, who may become the first youth developed by an MLS team to make the jump and sign a pro contract.

And look who's standing next to him in the picture. Bowen may also be among the first Alexi Lalas signings to pan out.

Charlie Naimo, who last year coached first-year W-League team Pali Blues to the league title, has been named general manager of the as yet unnamed L.A. WPS franchise.

"Combining my coaching experience, work ethic and desire to impact women's soccer with all the great players and resources we have assembled in Los Angeles will give us the ability to create a winning franchise from day one," he said.

The WPS team is owned 50:50 by Galaxy owner AEG and Pali Blues owner Ruidi Bianchi and will play at Home Depot Center when the seven-team league opens play in April.

Naimo also won a W-League title in 2005 with the New Jersey Wildcats.

He was first named coach in 1998 with W-League team the New Jersey Splash and promptly won Coach of the Year honors.

Abner Rogers, director of coaching at Laguna Hills club Eclipse, was previously named coach of the L.A. WPS team.

The WPS, which has already held two drafts for U.S. Women's National Team and top international players, holds another draft Monday.

The second season of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy has begun and comes to Home Depot Center this weekend.

The program for players in the Under-15/16 and Under-17/18 age groups has 74 clubs (up from 62 last year) competing in four conferences with nine divisions.

More than 2,000 games over 10 months will culminate with a 32-team playoff in June.

As part of a related exhibition game series, Chivas USA will take on the U.S. Under-17 National Team Saturday at 4 p.m. for the U-15/16s and 6 p.m. for the U-17/18s under the lights at Home Depot Center's Mooch Myernick Field.

Meanwhile, Chivas USA has named its U-18 and U-16 rosters for the season.

The U-18 team:
Defender Cesar Arenas, Fontana.
Forward Alex Barahona, Los Angeles.
Forward Orr Baroush, Reseda.
Defender Omar Becerra, San Diego.
Defender Jose Diaz, Fontana.
Midfielder Clayton Eaton, Norco.
Forward Andy Lopez, Los Angeles.
goalkeeper Jordan Maman, Manhattan Beach.
Midfielder Hector Molina, Van Nuys.
Midfielder Jose Monteroza, Los Angeles.
Forward Leopoldo Morales, Bellflower.
Midfielder Jesse Paredes, Los Angeles.
Midfielder Anders Perez, La Habra.
Goalkeeper Juan Quiroz, Inglewood.
Forward Roberto Romo, Paramount.
Forward Victor Sanchez, Huntington Park.
Defender Carlos Torres, Jr., Compton.
Defender Steve Torres, Pomona.
Defender Edwin Velásquez, Bell Gardens.
Midfielder Cesar Zamora, Sylmar.

The U-16 team:
Midfielder Jaime Cano, Inglewood.
Goalkeeper Cesar Castillo, Bell Gardens.
Midfielder Daniel Castro, Los Angeles, CA
Midfielder Manuel Cazares, Panorama City.
Midfielder Carlo Chueca, Palm Springs.
Forward Bryan De La Fuente, Bell Gardens.
Defender Jaime Frias, Moreno Valley.
Forward Roberto Garcia, Sylmar.
Goalkeeper Jose Godoy, Los Angeles.
Defender Jordan Gutierrez, West Covina.
Forward Jonathan Hernandez, North Hollywood.
Defender Jose Maldonado, La Verne.
Forward Yohel Martinez, Corona.
Defender Edder Navarro, Los Angeles.
Midfielder Angel Rodriguez, Moreno Valley.
Defender Carlos Torres Jr., Compton.
Midfielder Allan Valencia, South Gate.
Forward Jose Velasquez, Mission Hills.
Forward Jorge Virgen, Ontario.

With the Galaxy down to one healthy goalkeeper in Josh Weeks after Charles Alamo and now Steve Cronin suffered what Coach Bruce Arena effectively regards as season-ending injuries, he is calling in reinforcements in the shape of former Colorado Rapids draft pick Mike Graczyk, a former University of New Mexico standout now in the MLS pool of goalkeepers retained for just this purpose (so no Kasey Keller on loan then, I guess).

Arena knew nothing about Graczyk, who was on the Dallas roster earlier this season and has also played for the PDL Des Moines Menace.

But at training today Arena said he believes Wicks is ready to start his first-ever MLS game Saturday at home against Real Salt Lake:

"He's trained hard and my understanding is he's done well in preseason and throughout the year. I think he's prepared to play. I thought he did a good job on Saturday for his first taste, so it's good he had 45 minutes against New England.

I chatted with Wicks at training today and will be blog later today with a Q&A of that conversation.

The Galaxy have also recalled three players on loan from the USL Portland Timbers - defender Scott Bolkan, defender Varden Adzemian and Bryan Jordan, who has played in one Galaxy and nine Timbers games this season.

A reminder to the dozen or so of you out there still paying attention to the sadly ignored U.S. Open Cup (this is our F.A. Cup, after all) - the 95th annual final between D.C. United and the USL's Charleston Battery is live at 4:30 P.M. on Fox Soccer Channel.

The Battery are seeking to become the first USL team to lift the trophy since the Rochester Rhinos in 1999. Also at stake: a place in the 2009 CONCACAF Champions League.

Battery basics:
Head Coach: Michael Anhaeuser
2008 U.S. Open Cup Record: (3-0-2, 2-0 in PK shootouts)
2008 Open Cup Leading Scorer: Darren Spicer (4 goals, 1 assist)
All-Time Open Cup Final Record: First Appearance
2008 USL-1 Record: 10-9-7 (37 pts., Third Place, single table)
2008 League Leading Scorer: Randi Patterson (8 goals)
Last Outing: 0-0 draw on 8/29 vs. first-place Puerto Rico Islanders

Finally, several Southern Californians were among the 40 selected today to attend the fall U.S. Under-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla. There are 17 new players and 23 who are returning.

Southern Californians to attend include: midfielder Luis Gil of Garden Grove; defender Emilio Orozco of Oxnard, who plays for Rampage FC; and defender Alberto Rosas of North Hollywood, who plays for Real So Cal.

With the Hawthorne-based American Youth Soccer Organization cranking up its season, the nonprofit group has released a video expousing its positive, "everybody plays" philosophy aimed at parents whose kids have just started playing.

With AYSO increasingly becoming as much a part of America's fall culture as college pointy-ball football, this should be mandatory viewing for parents.

Check it out here.

Staying with the rec soccer theme, there was a well-researched story in The L.A. Times Sunday about local soccer league dons profiteering off public fields. Read it here.

Over the next five days more than 25 of the nation's best girls youth teams will play over 40 games in the 2008 Women's Nike Friendlies at Home Depot Center.

Teams will participate in the Under-15, Under-16 and Under-17 age categories, although the Under-14 Girls' National Team will participate in the Under-16 age group, and the U.S. Under-15 Girls' National Team will participate at the Under-17 level. Got that?

"This is the kind of event that the best young soccer players in the country should be playing in," said U.S. National Staff Coach Mike Dickey, who oversees the Under-14 Girls' Development Program. "The Women's Nike Friendlies provide players an opportunity to play the sport in the right environment and for the right reasons, which ultimately helps players develop and reach their full potential."

U.S. defender Cat Whitehill and USC Women's Soccer Head Coach Ali Khosroshahin will address the teams at a 6 a.m. Thursday breakfast at the HDC Stadium Club to watch the U.S. Women's National Team battle Brazil for gold at the Olympics.

Not surprisingly, there's a healthy California presence among the participating teams.

Here's the schedule (and the public is welcome and invited to the free event):
Wednesday
Under-16
Team Field Time
U-14 GNT Stripes (2) vs. Real So Cal 1 7 p.m.

Thursday
Under-17
Team Field Time
Birmingham United vs. Real So Cal 3 10 a.m.
Surf vs. Colorado Rush 4 10:45 a.m.
FC Delco vs. U-15 GNT 1 12 p.m.
Seacoast vs. Real Colorado 4 12:45 p.m.

Under-16
U-14 GNT Stars (1) vs. Surf 1 10 a.m.
Irvine Strikers vs. PDA 2 10:45 a.m.
Slammers vs. Sereno 3 12 p.m.
Real Colorado vs. Mustangs 2 12:45 p.m.

Under-15
PDA vs. Slammers 5 10 a.m.
Sereno vs. Mustangs 6 10:45 a.m.
Real So Cal vs. Surf 5 12 p.m.
Crossfire vs. Irvine Strikers 6 12:45 p.m.

Friday
Under-17
Team Field Time
U-15 GNT vs. Irvine Strikers 1 10:45 a.m.
Colorado Rush vs. Seacoast 3 12 p.m.
Real Colorado vs. FC Delco 5 12 p.m.

Under-16
No games scheduled

Under-15
Sereno vs. PDA 2 10 a.m.
Mustangs vs. Crossfire 5 10 a.m.
Slammers vs. Real So Cal 4 10:45 a.m.

Saturday
Under-17
Team Field Time
Irvine Strikers vs. Real So Cal 4 10:45 a.m.
Surf vs. Birmingham United 4 12:45 p.m.

Under-16
Real So Cal vs. Irvine Strikers 3 8 a.m.
PDA vs. U-14 GNT Stars (1) 1 10 a.m.
Mustangs vs. Slammers 5 10 a.m.
Sereno vs. U-14 GNT Stripes (2) 1 12 p.m.
Real Colorado vs. Surf 5 12 p.m.

Under-15
Surf vs. Irvine Strikers 2 12:45 p.m.

Sunday
Under-17
Team Field Time
Birmingham Utd. vs. Colorado Rush 5 8 a.m.
U-15 GNT vs. Real Colorado 4 8 a.m.
Seacoast vs. Real So Cal 5 10 a.m.
FC Delco vs. Surf 6 10 a.m.

Under-16
U-14 GNT Stripes (2) vs. PDA 1 8 a.m.
Slammers vs. Real So Cal 2 8 a.m.
Surf vs. Mustangs 6 8 a.m.
Real Colorado vs. U-14 GNT Stars (1) 2 10 a.m.
Irvine Strikers vs. Sereno 4 12 p.m.

Under-15
Irvine Strikers vs. Mustangs 3 8 a.m.
Crossfire vs. Surf 1 10 a.m.
Slammers vs. Seren 3 10 a.m.
PDA vs. Real So Cal 4 10 a.m.

Well, let's hope there's no repeat of Tuesday's temblor, but it seemed an apt headline in more ways than one as you'll find out if you keep reading.

*The U.S. Men's Olympic Team drew 0-0 with the Ivory Coast in Hong Kong in what was the wee hours of the morning our time. Cameroon is up Saturday in the final tune-up before the games begin.

*The Galaxy have finally confirmed their interest in Nolberto Solano (noteworthy in that Galaxy officials usually never confirm that sort of thing).

*Meanwhile, ultimate Soccer Insider Steven Goff reports on "rumblings" (told ya) that Galaxy owner Uncle Phil Anschutz is "none too pleased" with the performance of his team.

One would think General Manager Alexi Lalas might be on the hot seat, so why has Coach Ruud Gullit put his home up for sale? Especially considering the crummy housing market right now and the fact he presumably hasn't owned it long. Take a peek.

*The winner of tonight's second SuperLiga semifinal between the New England Revolution and Atlante (live 5 p.m. on Telefutura) will face Houston in next week's final after the Dynamo Tuesday dispatched cup holders Pachuca, 2-0.

*Lastly, AYSO has come home.

Another soccer-filled weekend is on tap, so let's get to it.

*The Galaxy are out of town in New York where Claudio Reyna retired this week and the Red Bulls signed two South American midfielders who could make their debuts Saturday.

The game airs live at 3:30 p.m. on Fox Soccer Channel and a crowd of more than 45,000 is expected to turn out largely to see David Beckham who continues to prove why he's nicknamed Golden Balls.

Need a reminder why so many people want to see the game? Check out the highlights from last year.

*Meanwhile, they're expecting a similarly large boost in attendance in Kansas City on Sept. 13 when Becks and the Galaxy visit so the Wizards announced Thursday they are moving the game from the 10,000-capacity CommunityAmerica Ballpark to vast Arrowhead Stadium.

*Chivas USA are at home at 5 p.m. Sunday playing at Cal State Fullerton's Titan Stadium in the third and final SuperLiga game (live on Telefutura) where three teams in Group B could finish tied with six points by the end of the weekend.

How complicated is the picture for qualification for the next round? Here it is broken down from a New England perspective courtesy of the Revolution, but it also tells you what Chivas USA need to do:

A win or a draw on Sunday would assure the Revolution first place in the group, while a Pachuca loss to Santos Laguna in the group's other game would also secure New England's passage to the next round. Even if the Revs lose to Chivas USA and Pachuca defeats Santos, the possibility still exists that the Revolution could advance to the competition's final four, because in that case, New England, Chivas USA and Pachuca would all be tied atop the group with six points. If that happens, the group would be decided on goal difference, and the Revs (+2) currently have a better goal difference than both Chivas USA (0) and Pachuca (0).

*Meanwhile, Chivas USA defender/midfielder/forward Jonathan Bornstein of Los Alamitos was named as a replacement for Olympics-bound players in the MLS All-Star Game even though he's missed plenty of games this season and has not quite found the form he did last year (yet).

Plenty of other players are more deserving of course, such as D.C. United's Luciano Emilio (third in the league in scoring) or the Crew's Guillermo Barros Schelotto (the MLS assist-leader who had another two plus a goal Thursday in Columbus' 3-3 draw with Kansas City). Yet another reason to question the game's credibility.

*Also, Chivas USA has had Amber Hernandez, a 15-year-old member of the South Valley Chivas Academy in Porterville called up to the Mexican Under-17 National Team for the CONCACAF U-17 Women's Championship that began Thursday in Trinidad & Tobago.

*In other youth soccer news, the Los Angeles FC Under-18 boys team (led by U-17/18 Coach of the Year Rafa Moran) plays for the U.S. Development Academy championship at Home Depot Center live at 8 on ESPN2 tonight. Full details here.

*Over in the PDL, the San Fernando Valley Earthquakes are still in with a chance of making the playoffs after defeating the Ventura County Fusion Thursday.

The Quakes need a win Sunday against the Fresno Fuego in a 7:05 p.m. game at Calabasas High to make the playoffs.

Here's why from the Quakes Web site:

The Fuego overwhelmed the Southern California Seahorses 5-2 Thursday to move into first place on 29 points; the San Francisco Seals, in second place, take on Bakersfield Brigade today, and will move to the top of the league on 30 points if they win. The Quakes now lie third, on 27 points, with Fusion in fourth, their playoff hopes virtually over.

*In the W-League tonight it's Pali Blues at Los Angeles Legends in a 6 p.m. game at Esperanza High.

*U.S. striker Abby Wambach had surgery Thursday on
her broken leg.

*Finally, at least one Mexican club apparently does not know what the new national team coach looks like (exactly).

And if you liked that, then return later today for some Friday Football Funnies, true and strange soccer stories from around the world in the last week or so.

Enjoy your weekend.

The second edition of SuperLiga begins today with a 5 p.m. game on TeleFutura between CD Guadalajara and D.C. United.

The Houston Dynamo-Atlante game follows at 7 p.m. on the same channel.

The MLS Players Union is apparently not pleased with that alleged $1 million in SuperLiga prize money figure the league throws around.

Which might explain statements like this from New England's Matt Reis: "We're somewhat looking forward to the upcoming games."

Still, Pachuca midfielder Gabriel Caballero (left) and Chivas USA midfielder Paulo Nagamura look pretty happy with the cash though.

Pachuca and Chivas USA - likely without goalkeeper Brad Guzan - play Sunday at Home Depot Center.

In USL games locally, the W-League Pali Blues, having already clinched the Western Conference, pounded Real Colorado 6-0 Thursday.

The Los Angeles Legends play Real Colorado today at 5 p.m. in Chino Hills. Admission is free.

In the PDL Friday, the San Fernando Valley Quakes beat the Legends' male counterparts
3-1.

In other PDL games Friday it was:
San Jose Frogs 0 Orange County Blue Star 1
Ventura County Fusion 4 Lancaster Rattlers 0

Today's local games:
Bakersfield Brigade at Orange County Blue Star 5 p.m. Concordia University.
San Jose Frogs at Southern California Seahorses 7 p.m. La Mirada High.

Lastly, the U.S. Soccer Development Academy finals began today at Home Depot Center. Details and a game schedule is here.

Tied for first place in the Western Conference, the Galaxy and Chivas USA resume hostilities 8 p.m. Thursday on ESPN2 before the Red & White play Sunday in their opening SuperLiga game against last year's winner Pachuca. (That game is live at 7 p.m. on TeleFutura). I'll have a preview of the tournament in Tuesday's column.

Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan talks about the derby at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN.com.

On Friday the two teams' reserve squads face off at 10 a.m. on University Field #1. The Galaxy reserves are currently winless so far this season.

On Saturday at Home Depot Center, 16 elite teams aged 15-18 will begin competing in the 2008 Development Academy Finals. The final eight round-robin games will be aired on ESPNU and ESPN2 July 18-19.

LAFC is the local representative in the Under 15/16 and Under-17/18 divisions.

On Saturday and Sunday, the Under-20 Galaxy Rios host Lancaster and Riverside respectively, the bottom two teams in the league, at Home Depot Center (both games kick-off at 5 p.m. on Field #5). With two wins the Rios (which currently sit third in the standings) could win the league, depending on the results of other games.

The Rios beat the Bakersfield Brigade over the weekend to move to 4-2-1.

And catching up on the rest of the weekend:
*The Galaxy made the New England Revolution's Adam Cristman look good: he was named MLS Player of the Week Monday by the North American Soccer Reporters after his two-goal effort led his team to a 2-1 victory over the Galaxy.

*In the W-League Sunday, the Seattle Sounders beat the Los Angeles Legends 4-2, although the first-year Pali Blues wrapped up the Western Conference title earlier in the weekend.

*In the PDL Sunday, it was the Southern California Seahorses 2 Los Angeles Legends 2 and Lancaster Rattlers 1 San Jose Frogs 4.

Standings.

*Scores in the WPSL Saturday:
Ajax America Women 4 Sonoma County FC Sol 0
Los Angeles Rampage 0 California Storm 0
West Coast FC 5 FC Sacramento Pride 0
Claremont Stars 3 Walnut Creek Power 3

*And Sunday:
Ajax America Women 3 California Storm 2
Los Angeles Rampage 10 FC Sacramento Pride 0
West Coast FC 8 Walnut Creek Power 0
Claremont Stars 1 Sonoma County FC Sol 2

Standings.