*Galaxy defender A.J. DeLaGarza and the U.S. plays Panama at 5:30 p.m. today live on Galavision.
*Mexico faces Chivas USA's Alejandro Moreno and Venezuela in Houston (live 6 p.m. KMEX). More here.
*FOX Soccer announced today it will air live the FA Cup showdown between Americans Landon Donovan,
Tim Howard
Why have the Philadelphia Union added a scrimmage against Florida Gulf Coast University, of all
places, to their preseason warm-up tour? With approximately 12,000 students including post-grads
and a "noteable alumni" list that consists of a professional monster trucker and Don Carman
(retired Philadelphia Phillies pitcher from the 80's), what put the FGCU Eagles on the radar?
Jon Levy The national team hasn't even suited up in 2012, but it's already been an encouraging year
for American soccer. Dempsey and Donovan (for two months, at least) are both leading the line of
attack for their respective English Premier League teams, the Women's National Teamers avoided a
would-be tragedy in their Vancouver hotel [.
Venezuela head coach Cesar Farias named his 24-man roster for the upcoming match against the
U.S. Men's National Team at 9 p.m. ET Jan. 21 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale,
Ariz. Venezuela's attacking group includes Alejandro Moreno of Chivas USA and Emilio Renteria of
the Columbus Crew:
VENEZUELA ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (2): Alan Liebeskind (Lara), Leonardo Morales (Anzoategui)
DEFENDERS (8): Joel Caceres (Lara), Gabriel Cichero (Lens), Javier Gonzalez
(Petare), Rubert Quijada (Monagas), Carlos Rivero (Anzoategui), Andres Rouga (Tachira), Carlos
Salazar (Anzoategui), Jose Manuel Velazquez (Mineros)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Angel Chourio (Real Esppor), Diomar Diaz (Petare), Agnel Flores
(Mineros), Francisco Flores (Anzoategui), Edgar Perez Greco (Lara), Alejandro Guerra (Mineros),
Diego Guerrero (Tachira), Miguel Mea Vitali (Lara)
FORWARDS (6): Richard Blanco (Petare), Darwin Machis (Mineros), Alejandro Moreno
(Chivas USA), Hermes Palomino (Cherno More), Emilio Renteria (Columbus Crew), Jose Reyes
(Anzoategui)
Photo: Courtesy of FIFA
Philadelphia Union
A new article from Kerith Gabriel on Friday morning about a Gabriel Gomez to the Philadelphia
Union deal is headlined "Panama's Gomez signs with Union" but the copy says "According to sources,
the contract has been approved by Major League Soccer and awaits Gomez' signature before the Union
can schedule an announcement, which can come as early as next week.
Cover photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz
I know a guy who, when we were growing up, wouldn't greet you with a "What's up?" or "How's it
going?" or whatever.
His first question would be, "You working on your game?" The line had started with our
basketball coach, who basically told us that your off-season was the most important time for the
development of your game, because everything that happened next season would be determined by how
much you improved before it started.
The Philadelphia Union felt the pain of the Expansion Draft for a second year in a row, losing
veteran left midfielder Justin Mapp to the Montreal Impact in today's draft proceedings. Mapp
became the third Union player ever selected in an Expansion Draft, along with striker Alejandro
Moreno (Portland Timbers, traded to Chivas USA) and right winger Shea Salinas (Vancouver
Whitecaps).
Ever read those posts on SI.com, Fox Soccer, or ESPN.com with the "five thoughts about ..." and
then, well, lo and behold, they offer you five random thoughts about a topic?
Yeah, I always thought they were mailing it in too, too rushed or whatever to come up with a
lede, coherent structure for the column, etc.
LA Lads: Former local Fox Sports commentator Max Bretos, former Galaxy GM Alexi Lalas and
Chivas USA's Alejandro Moreno are the in-studio team for the 7 p.m. Seattle Sounders-Real Salt Lake
match as the MLS Playoffs resume on ESPN tonight.
It appears fans are responding to the MLS playoffs this year, games that have traditionally
struggled to draw decent crowds on relatively short notice.
It's a very Pacific Northwest kind of day here in Carson with fog billowing therough the stadium
and several hundred Sounders fans in the stands outcheering the home crowd.
Seattle has started pretty much a full strength lineup: Kasey Keller-James Riley, Jeff Parke
(who has returned from concussion) Jhon kennedy Hurtado, Leo Gonzalez-Alvaro Fernandez, Brad Evans,
Osvaldo Alonso, Mauro Rosales-Mike Fucito, Fredy Montero.
Chivas USA hasn't had too much to celebrate, now comes the dreaded expansion draft. (Getty
Images)
Chivas USA had an up and down 2011. Their season looked promising at times but injuries piled up
and issues with scoring took this team over. First year manager Robin Fraser did a decent job this
year but will have the fun task of going through the roster to figure out who stays and who will be
left available for next month's expansion draft.
On Sunday, the Union played Chivas USA to a drab draw in front of a sparsely populated Home
Depot Center in Carson, California. After a slow-paced first half that yielded few chances, Justin
Mapp opened the scoring in the second half before the sensational Juan Pablo Angel drew the home
side level at the death.
Setting: Sunday, October 2 at The Home Depot Center in Carson,
Calif.; kickoff scheduled for 8:06:30 PM Eastern
Broadcast Information: The Comcast Network (JP Dellacamera,
Taylor Twellman, Bob Rigby), coverage beginning at 7:30 PM with a pre-game show / PRIME TICKET
(Christian Miles, Allen Hopkins), KWHY-TV/W Radio 690 XEWW-AM (Hipólito Gamboa, Rigo
Cervantez) in Los Angeles / MLS Direct Kick, MatchDay Live (PRIME TICKET feed)
Chivas's Record: 8-12-11, seventh in West
Chivas's Last Match: W, 3-0 vs.
Alicia Ratterree of The Goat Parade, SB Nation's Chivas USA blog, and
I exchanged three questions a piece ahead of tomorrow night's Union-CUSA match at PPL Park. Read my
responses to Alicia questions by heading to The Goat Parade.
tBG: What's gotten into Juan Pablo Angel? Did a "cross"-city move
actually rejuvenate his career, or is there another explanation - tactically, perhaps - for his
great form?
Photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com
By JONATHAN VERA
CARSON, Calif. – Juan Pablo Angel may have been in a slump with the Los Angeles Galaxy earlier
this season, but at Chivas USA the 35-year-old stiker has proven once again that he still has
quality minutes left in his tank.
Chivas USA 1 Toronto 0
Juan Pablo Angel scored his sixth goal in five games for Chivas USA in the 12th minute, heading
home an Ante Jazic cross from seven yards after Justin Braun picked up a loose ball in the Toronto
half.
*************************
It took me just 30 minutes to get from my Torrance driveway to my press box seat tonight at Home
Depot Center where a rather subdued atmosphere has greeted two struggling teams.
The interview previews are back! I know I've kinda slacked off when it comes to these in recent
weeks. To be honest, I'm just not sure if they're worth it yet. Not through any lack of effort on
the part of the kind bloggers who take time to answer my questions, but rather because I'm not sure
if I'm ever asking the right questions.
I hate to admit it, but I was at a conference on Saturday and was left to follow the Seattle
Sounders-Chivas USA match via Twitter. I've now watched the highlights (and promise to watch the
full game) and can safely say that the frustration I felt while not watching the game would have
probably been even worse if I had watched.
I'm not sure I entirely believe in the concept of a "trap game," but if one ever fit the bill,
this is it. The Seattle Sounders are coming off a very tough stretch that saw them playing
emotionally and physically draining games once or twice a week for about a month. They face a
similar stretch coming up.
Photo by Brad Smith/ISIphotos.com
For the second week in a row, Dwayne De Rosario reminded MLS fans and opposition that he's still
got what it takes, despite being traded twice in the opening months of the season.
With his team playing a man down, De Rosario netted a hat trick against his former club to carry
D.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Revolution's first homegrown player, 16-year-old Diego
Fagundez, drew a penalty and scored a goal in his MLS debut against Chivas USA Saturday night, but
it wasn't enough to lift his side past the Goats, who got two goals from Alejandro Moreno en route
to a 3-2 win.
*Chivas USA wilted in the Texas heat today and lost to FC Dallas for their first loss in their
last five games. Dallas play the Galaxy next weekend in Carson.
Quotable:
"It was possibly the hottest game I have been a part of in MLS, so it was difficult for
both teams," Chivas USA Coach Robin Fraser said.
Chivas USA (4-7-6), seventh place in the Western Conference with one win in their last five
games, plays the San Jose Earthquakes (5-5-6), who sit three points and one place above them in the
conference and have one loss in their last five games, clash at 7:30 tonight at Home Depot Center
(live Fox Sports West).
Photo: Nicolae Stoian
Game time: Saturday, 8 p.m.
TV: 6abc
Philadelphia Union will aim to end a miserable week with a win against a Chivas USA squad that
limps into Chester with one win in its last six matches.
Chivas (4-6-5), which plays in Los Angeles (for those unaware), dropped a tough 2-1 loss last
week against Dallas, thanks to two killer assists by former Union midfielder Andrew Jacobson,
including one in the 85th minute.
*The Galaxy will meet new USL pro franchise the LA Blues in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup
next week after the team disposed Tuesday of lower level opponent the Ventura County Fusion. The
Fusion weren't helped by the fact their captain Andy Rose is on trial with the Chicago Fire and
missed the game.
SuperClassico weather here in Carson, so let's hope for a game to match.
Fans are filtering into the grass berm; perhaps a larger crowd is in store than the fewer than
20,000 that took in the corresponding fixture last season.
Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts returns from illness for the Galaxy this evening, while Juan Pablo
Angel replaces Miguel Lopez (who is on the bench) up front in the only two changes for Coach Bruce
Arena from the team that destroyed Sporting Kansas City 4-1 last weekend.
This evening the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA meet at the Home Depot Center for the first
2011 installment of the so-called "SuperClasico". For most of its history the clash has been less
than Super with the Galaxy dominating the outcomes. The only time parity has even been a
conversation piece was during the Alexi Lalas as GM years when the team imploded,
especially 2007 and 2008.
We exchange three questions with Scott Kessler of Brotherly Game in order to get some insider
perspective on the Philadelphia Union as the Chicago Fire head to PPL Park Stadium on Saturday
night. Scott's answer to my first question is below and the other five questions in the exchange
are after the break.
Union
Sounding a bit like a new age mystic or feng shui adviser, Peter Nowak says the reason the Union
have only scored six goals in nine games isn't poor finishing or a still incomplete midfield.
Rather, it begins with "ineffective energy:"
"We spend a lot of time defending, and I think we need to change our perspective on doing
certain things.
During training on Saturday, May 14th New York Red Bulls head coach Hans Backe knew that he was
going to face a tough and scrappy Chivas-USA side. What we saw on Sunday night was a coming out
party for Justin Braun as he along with Chivas-USA flew across the country and found a way to gain
three points on the road and the first west coast side to win in the eastern end.
By MIKE NASTRI
New York Red Bulls coach Hans Backe said during the week that Sunday's match vs. Chivas USA
could be a trap game for the Eastern Conference leaders. And that's exactly what it was.
Justin Braun's hat trick was just enough for Chivas USA to slip by New York, 3-2, at Red Bull
Arena on Sunday.
Photo by ISIPhotos.com
The Seattle Sounders lost Steve Zakuani for the season and O'Brian White for an extended period
of time, meaning they needed some players to step up if they were going to continue their recent
unbeaten streak.
Brad Evans answered the call for Seattle, scoring two goals and adding an assist in the
Sounders' 3-0 win against Toronto FC on Saturday.
CARSON, Calif. Coming off a pair of encouraging 3-2 victories, the Revolution were quickly
humbled Saturday night at the Home Depot Center, where they suffered a 3-0 thumping to Chivas
USA.
Nick LaBrocca (22′), Marcos Mondaini (45′) and Alejandro Moreno (57′) scored while Dan
Kennedy kept the Revs off the board to give New England its worst defeat of the season.
By JONATHAN VERA
CARSON, Calif. -- Chivas USA won its second straight match after goals from Nick LaBrocca,
Marcos Mandaini, and Alejandro Moreno helped the 'Rojiblancos' post an emphatic 3-0 victory against
New England at Home Depot Center on Saturday night.
Mais um jogo amistoso, foi realizado no dia 25/03/2011, mais um amistoso entre seleções, agora na
cidade de Montego Bay-JAM, no Montego Bay Sports Complex, onde jogaram as seleções da Jamaica
(48º no ranking da FIFA) e a seleção da Venezuela (63º no ranking da FIFA).
Antes desse jogo, as 2 seleções jogaram:
2004Kingston 28/04/2004 JAM2:1 (2:1)VEN 2003Caracas 02/04/2003 VEN2:0 (2:0)JAM 1997Kingston
12/02/1997 JAM0:0VEN
O árbitro desse jogo, foi: Enrico Winjgaarde-SUR
O primeiro gol foi de Nicolas Fedor, aos 21 minutos do segundo tempo, ele que é jogador do
Getafe-ESP, que marcou seu 7º gol pela seleção nacional.
San Jose 1 – Chivas USA 2 Chivas USA came back on he road for their first win of the season and
extend their unbeaten streak to four games. Chris Wondolowski opened the scoring for San Jose in
the 16th minute in front of 10,525 at Buck Shaw Stadium. Alejandro Moreno equalized just before
halftime, with Mariano Trujillo scoring the winning goal in the 85th minute.
This review was written by Saurabh of Hoffenheim Offside. Thanks to him for his help
and make sure to check out his blog!
It may have been important to start playing immediately after losing Dwayne De Rosario in a
trade to New York. We got to see new boy Tony Tchani in action right away and he showed glimpses of
the vision and creativity that is sometimes lacking in THE MLS.
Five out of the six games on Saturday ended even, with only the Los Angeles Galaxy getting three
points. Elsewhere, Vancouver put on a shock comeback against Kansas City in a six goal game.
Toronto 1 – Chivas USA 1 Chivas USA was up two minutes in at BMO Field when Alejandro Moreno took
advantage of Toronto's defense.
BY ADAM SERRANO
All around Toronto, people are discussing the departure of Dwayne De Rosario, lucky for Toronto
FC, that will no longer be the sole focus.
A shocking miss by Maicon Santos marred the 1-1 draw between Toronto FC and Chivas USA, in what
was a high energy match between the two clubs.
