Kidding themselves it was somehow bright to continue with a full domestic league program when most others around the world are suspended this weekend, MLS officials are trying to ignore what the rest of the planet is focusing on: the dozens of World Cup qualifiers scheduled this weekend (and next week).

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What more can you say about Columbus's Guillermo Barros Schelotto right now? Two weeks in a row with goals and assists to lead the Crew to a victory. There was really no question in my mind who had the best week in week 22 here. GBS's goal and two assists were clearly better than anyone's lone [...] Click to continue reading...

Check out the effort by the Palos Verdes Peninsula's John Thorrington (Chadwick School) and the other contenders over the weekend:

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Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

What's that noise? Ah, the final whistle thankfully is here. This was one of those nights to stay home and watch synchronized diving or dressage rather than endure a game of over hit crosses, flubbed back passes and inaccurate shots.

John Thorrington of the Palos Verdes Peninsula saved the game from complete non-event status with a swerving shot from 19 yards served to him on a platter by Brian McBride to give the Fire a 1-0 win.

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Turns out Bruce Arena's first Galaxy team looks a lot like Ruud Gullit's last team - not that he's got many options of course.

David Beckham is on his way to China for the Olympics closing ceremonies, Landon Donovan is recovering from last night's Guatemalan hackfest, um, game, Carlos Ruiz is now a Toronto player, eh, and new signing Eddie Lewis has the evening off too, recovering from the nasty blow to the head he took, no doubt.

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Goalkeeper Zach Thornton made his Chivas USA debut a day after being traded by New York, striker Ante Razov was out injured and the Fire's John Thorrington (Chadwick School) was man of the match as Chicago Saturday downed an unconvincing Chivas USA, 1-0.

How much did Chivas USA miss the midfield creativity and spark of Sacha Kljestan?

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John Thorrington has become Mr. Clutch for the Chicago Fire.

We all remember his goal in last year's regular season finale against the Los Angeles Galaxy. Well, he delivered again, scoring a stoppage time game-winner to give the Fire a crucial 2-1 home victory against East Rival (and Brian McBride allocation foe) Toronto FC.

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Even with a fun title like that I must make this a bit quick. Week 16 wasn't the biggest week for any league games, though I'm sure fans in Salt Lake would disagree. But even with the lack of games going on there were a couple guys that stood out and shined above the others. Easily [...] Click to continue reading...

Today:
Palos Verdes' John Thorrington was named MLS Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters after his stoppage time winner against Toronto FC for the Chicago Fire.

Tuesday
As the MLS transfer window opens the Galaxy could announce who gets cut today to make room for new signing Eduardo Dominguez, the Argentine defender.

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Heartbreak for TFC as John Thorrington slips in behind and tucks the winner between Greg Sutton's legs. Click to continue reading...

Chivas USA moves into a new era this evening without star goalkeeper Brad Guzan in their SuperLiga opener at 7 against Pachuca (live on TeleFutura).

Said Coach Preki of the culmination (hopefully) of the drawn out trade:

"I won't say it's a relief because now we've got to see what we have with the other young goalkeepers we have.

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Well, well, well. Tuesday's little goatrope might have a few more intriguing developments ahead.

I won't waste time repeating what Messrs. Tenorio and Stouffer have explained about what is happening now. And it's a shame that Comcast SportsNet's highlight segment has been taken off youtube by MLS. Click to continue reading...

Goals aplenty are expected Sunday when the Galaxy plays D.C. United on the road in a rare nationally televised MLS game on ABC that precedes the Euro 2008 final.

The official Galaxy blog has a video preview.

Speaking of Euro 2008, sports media columnist Tom Hoffarth had more today on the broadcast snafu that frankly ruined the first semifinal Wednesday between Germany and Turkey.

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In the last week speculation has increased that FC Dallas Attacking Midfielder Brek Shea, a standout of recent US Youth National teams and the 2008 MLS Combine has drawn the interest from Alex Ferguson of Manchester United. While this sounds glamorous, Shea would be just the latest youngster plucked from American shores by United in the last several years.

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Bob Bradley named his squad today for the irrelevant return World Cup qualifying leg in Barbados Sunday (caps and goals are in parentheses): goalkeepers Dominic Cervi (out of contract: 0/0), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA: 1/1 SO), Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake: 0/0); defenders Carlos Bocanegra (out of contract: 12/1), Dan Califf (FC Midtjylland: 1/0), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC: 0/0), Drew Moor (FC Dallas: 0/0) Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege: 8/0), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock: 1/0); mikdfielders DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers: 15/4), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen: 1/1), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA: 0/0), Eddie Lewis (Derby County: 18/2), Danny Szetela (Brescia: 0/0), John Thorrington (Chicago Fire: 0/0; forwards Freddy Adu (SL Benfica: 1/0), Chad Barrett (Chicago Fire: 0/0), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire: 0/0).

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USA vs. Barbados
Sunday - 2:55p ET/11:55a PT
TV: ESPN Classic & Galavision (Spanish)

Bob Bradley has released his 18-man roster for the second leg of the US-Barbados World Cup Qualifier. With the US up 8-0, the starting lineup is likely to include a number of younger players. Click to continue reading...

Nothing like a healthy hatred for Cuauhtemoc Blanco to bring out the Chivas USA fans.

A crowd in the low 20,000 range is expected tonight, which would be the biggest crowd for Chivas USA so far this year.

Brad Guzan has returned in goal for Chivas USA (4-6-2) from international duty, relegating backup Dan Kennedy to the bench.

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This one's wide open early.

Chad Barrett just missed badly. Erratic is what Shep Messing called it. I think Blanco called it something like mierda, I'm not sure...

Are these teams jacked up on Red Bull or Sparks? Slow down, guys! Click to continue reading...

A couple days slimming his roster down to 12, it looks like US coach Bob Bradley is about to fatten things up with the addition of a bunch of MLSers.

Various reports have Bradley calling Drew Moor (FC Dallas), Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake), John Thorrington (Chicago Fire), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire) and Chad Barrett (Chicago Fire). Click to continue reading...

So my wife is taking the day off work to watch the Portugal-Germany Euro 2008 quarterfinal (11:30 a.m. ESPN).

I'm goiing to work in part because of tonight's Chivas USA-Chicago Fire game at Home Depot Center (7:30 ESPN2).

What's wrong with this picture?

A preview of the MLS game tonight is here.

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"You're going home in a Cook County Ambulance!". David Beckham received a warm welcome today from the Fire's hardcore fans, Section 8, as the Englishman entered late in the game. As he came on, L.A. needed a goal and a win to advance to the playoffs and knock out Chicago, who needed just a point [...] Click to continue reading...

No, not THAT former Manchester United player, I mean John Thorrington. Thorrington, a former reservist for the Red Devils scored the game winning goal in second half stoppage time to give the Chicago Fire the 1-0 win and a date with DC United in the playoffs.

With that result, the Wizards will now be hosting Chivas USA some time next week between Thursday and Sunday in the first leg of their playoff series. Click to continue reading...