MLS playoffs on TeleFutura: Seattle - Houston at 3pm. ESPN2 has Chivas USA - Los Angeles at 7:30pm. EPL on Setanta: Hull - Stoke at 8:30am and Wigan - Fulham on Setana Xtra at 10am. On Fox Soccer Channel: Chelsea - Manchester United at 11am and West Ham United - Everton at 5pm. FA Cup on Fox Soccer: Northwich Victoria - Charlton at 7pm. Click to continue reading...

With just over 24 hours to go until the Galaxy-Chivas USA Western Conference semifinal second leg (4:30 p.m. Sunday ESPN2) and the teams deadlocked at 2-2 halfway through what is essentially a 180 minute game (although, of course, it could go longer) here's press box colleague Luis Bueno on the pressure on Chivas USA.

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The matches to watch after you realize that, if for just this weekend, the suspension of Chelsea's transfer ban is far less important than the match on Sunday. And that I told you so.

Saturday

Tottenham v Sunderland at White Hart Lane Jermain Defoe returns from suspension and Aaron Lennon might appear, although this will really be Darren Bent's show as he visits his former team.

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That second trivia question was a little tougher, apparently.

Far fewer readers could name one of two goalkeepers who had dressed for both the Galaxy and Chivas USA this season than correctly answered the first question.

The answers: Miguel Benitez of Cal State Dominguez Hills and Kevin Guppy of Cal State Northridge.

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QUESTION ON MY MIND
So who is joining me in Chicago on Saturday for the Fire game against New England? How many times have I seen these two duke it out? Like old timey boxing? Can't wait! See you there!
STARTERS
Real Salt Lake followed New York's lead from last year and knocked the defending MLS Cup winners out of the playoffs in the first round. Click to continue reading...

The most highly-anticipated match of the English Premier League season is upon us, and so are some truly can't-miss MLS playoff series deciders.

Chelsea plays host to Manchester United on Sunday with a chance to open up a five-point lead atop the EPL standings, while six MLS teams head into action knowing that defending MLS champions Columbus has been eliminated from the post-season.

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The most highly-anticipated match of the English Premier League season is upon us, and so are some truly can't-miss MLS playoff series deciders.

Chelsea plays host to Manchester United on Sunday with a chance to open up a five-point lead atop the EPL standings, while six MLS teams head into action knowing that defending MLS champions Columbus has been eliminated from the post-season.

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Dear JP Dellacamera,
It is impossible to wear a red shirt with a black suit and not look like a vampire.
All the best
SF Click to continue reading...

I'm happy for Salt Lake fans and all, but let's face it, Columbus losing is going to have some horrifying consequences.
(1) Some may suggest that Frankie Hejduk should not be on the World Cup roster next year. What, just because, contrary to what I predicted, he played perhaps the single biggest role in the Crew losing? Click to continue reading...

Two days until the Galaxy-Chivas USA Western Conference semifinal from Carson's Home Depot Center (4:30 p.m. ESPN2) and the Galaxy blog reports tickets are going fast and the club is considering opening up the grass berm.

Don't have yours yet? Click here.

Suggested reading/listening/viewing:
*Reporter Phil Collin has more on the game here.

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Friday is here and we are faced with the somewhat surprising reality that the first team eliminated from this year's MLS playoffs is the defending MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew. You can complain all you want about the playoff format, and the fact that Real Salt Lake barely edged its way into the playoffs, but RSL played great soccer when it mattered most, while the Crew bumbled and stumbled to the finish line and ultimately paid for its inconsistency.

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Friday is here and we are faced with the somewhat surprising reality that the first team eliminated from this year's MLS playoffs is the defending MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew. You can complain all you want about the playoff format, and the fact that Real Salt Lake barely edged its way into the playoffs, but RSL played great soccer when it mattered most, while the Crew bumbled and stumbled to the finish line and ultimately paid for its inconsistency.

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Landon Donovan leads the Galaxy against rivals Chivas. (Getty Images)

One more weekend of action and we will be in the conference finals here. One club is already in and three others will move on this weekend. After last weekend's play the pressure is on a couple home teams to rebound while one just has to keep on doing what they do best in front of their fans.

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image via Chivas USA

This week's guest on the Jared Montz Soccer Podcast is Jesse Marsch. Jesse is the captain for Chivas USA in MLS, one of four MLS original members still playing, and he has played in over 300 games at the club level. Since joining Chivas in 2006 Jesse has been a consistent starter and leader for the Goats.

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Jason Kreis and RSL are the most frustrating duo in MLS. Former listeners to the American Soccer Show on CSRN will know that I have a soft spot for the club, not because of any geographic tie, but because of the presence of former Miami Fusion players up and down the organization, starting with GM Garth Lagerway.

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Feel the passion!

Thanks to the dozens of you who entered the first ticket contest with prizes courtesy of the Galaxy.

The winners: Mike Crandall of Glendora and Kristinne Uy of Rosemead, who win a pair of tickets each to Sunday's big game.

They correctly answered the question: who is the only player to score for both the Galaxy and Chivas USA this season?

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The second round of the MLS Cup Playoffs has the two higher seeds in each conference hosting their opponents from last week's match-ups. In the four matches from last week, the home teams either tied or won leaving the seeded favorites with work to do if they hope to advance to the conference finals.

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SuperClasico Playoff Passion (AP Photo)

The game is tied at 2-2.

There will be a winner Sunday whether it's after 90 minutes, 120 minutes or penalty kicks.

And the Galaxy are giving away two pairs of tickets to the game to the person who correctly answers the trivia question: Which player has scored for BOTH Chivas USA and the Galaxy this season?

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Sad news from the U-17 World Cup. Those damn Italians knocked out our brave young American team 2-1 in the second round.
Missing a penalty kick? Unacceptable. That kid is banned from the national team.
* * *
Like I predicted a couple days ago, and like he deserves, Chivas USA's Zach Thornton was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Click to continue reading...

The U.S. men's national team's European friendlies are fast approaching and we will soon learn which new faces head coach Bob Bradley will be taking a look at.

Why should we expect to see some new faces? The long term losses of Charlie Davies and Oguchi Onyewu, coupled with the absence of Jay DeMerit, has left serious voids in the squad.

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The U.S. men's national team's European friendlies are fast approaching and we will soon learn which new faces head coach Bob Bradley will be taking a look at.

Why should we expect to see some new faces? The long term losses of Charlie Davies and Oguchi Onyewu, coupled with the absence of Jay DeMerit, has left serious voids in the squad.

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The list of former Wizards currently playing is getting smaller and smaller as more of the American team's seasons come to an end. The first round of the MLS playoffs are half over, so next week will be the end for even more former Wizards.
MLS
Taylor Graham - Seattle Sounders FC - Did not dress in Seattle's 0-0 draw with Houston. Click to continue reading...

I think headaches should be outlawed on Wednesdays. I mean, you are as far removed from the most recent weekend as you are from getting to the next one. That's enough misery. A headache on Wednesday is overkill. I vote "no" on Wednesday headaches. What say you?#1 - Chivas USA netminding monster Zach Thornton was tabbed as the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year for a second time today. Click to continue reading...

The big Zach attack. (AP Photo)

Readers of this blog didn't agree, but Chivas USA's Zach Thornton was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year today, 11 years after first taking the honor with the Chicago Fire.

That time span between awards was undoubtedly one of the reasons the 34-year-old took the honor, beating out the Galaxy's Donovan Ricketts and Seattle Sounders veteran Kasey Keller (both in their first MLS seasons).

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image via Chivas USA

This week's guest on the Jared Montz Soccer Podcast is Jesse Marsch. Jesse is the captain for Chivas USA in MLS, one of four MLS original members still playing, and he has played in over 300 games at the club level. Since joining Chivas in 2006 Jesse has been a consistent starter and leader for the Goats.

Click to continue reading...

Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton was named 2009 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year on Wednesday, marking the second time he's won the award.

Thornton enjoyed a career renaissance with Chivas USA this season, posting career highs in shutouts and goals against average while helping guide Chivas USA to the playoffs.

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Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton was named 2009 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year on Wednesday, marking the second time he's won the award.

Thornton enjoyed a career renaissance with Chivas USA this season, posting career highs in shutouts and goals against average while helping guide Chivas USA to the playoffs.

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It seems like the clock had been turned back to 1998 this year as a revival for Chivas USA keeper Zach Thornton took place. It was just 11 seasons ago that Thornton won his first keeper of the year, now he has two as the league announced today that he was named the 2009 Goalkeeper of the Year.

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Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton won the 2009 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award, Major League Soccer announced on Wednesday. Thornton won the award in 1998, becoming the third MLS keeper to be honored twice. New England midfielder Steve Ralston won the Fair Play award, with the Chicago Fire winning the team Fair Play award. Click to continue reading...

Major League Soccer announced today that Zach Thornton of Chivas USA has won the 2009 Goalkeeper of the Year Award. Thornton beat out Seattle's Kasey Keller and LA Galaxy's Donovan...

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D.C. United coach Tom Soehn will not be back next season.
He's resigning. Or opting not to sign a new contact. Or something like that.
The Post has the goods on the story.

"My family and I have spent a lot of time in reaching this very difficult decision," Soehn said in a written statement.

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NE Revs, Taylor Twellman vs Chicago Fire

On Thursday, MLS Playoffs continue with defending champs, Columbus Crew, looking to rebound from a 1-0 loss to Real Salt Lake. The second legs of the other three conference semifinals are on Saturday (Chicago-New England) and Sunday (Los Angeles-Chivas USA, Houston-Seattle). Click to continue reading...

NE Revs, Taylor Twellman vs Chicago Fire

On Thursday, MLS Playoffs continue with defending champs, Columbus Crew, looking to rebound from a 1-0 loss to Real Salt Lake. The second legs of the other three conference semifinals are on Saturday (Chicago-New England) and Sunday (Los Angeles-Chivas USA, Houston-Seattle). Click to continue reading...

Year end award nominees are coming out, and while no Wizards players are up the big awards, 3 Wizards are nominated for 2 awards.
Davy Arnaud and Claudio Lopez are both up twice for goal of the year. Arnaud's first blast against Toronto on the opening week of the season is one of his two nominated goals. Click to continue reading...

The United States
The 2009 MLS Playoffs got underway last Thursday when Seattle Sounders FC hosted Houston Dynamo before a crowd of approximately 36,000 soccer fans. Although the end result was 0-0, it was a thrilling match with both teams battling hard to find the goal. The teams meet for the second leg of their first round tie at Robertson Stadium in Houston, Texas at 2:00 pm local time this Sunday, and fans should expect a nail biter of a match. Click to continue reading...