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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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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Este gol del salvadoreño Arturo Álvarez, jugador del San Jose Earthquakes, puede valerle un premio. Se lo hizo el 3 de julio al Real Saltk Lake y está nominado como uno de los mejores del año. En total son 32 goles, uno por cada semana. El de Arturo corresponde a la semana 11.Otros nominados son Claudio "Piojo" López (Kansas City), Freddy Montero (Seattle), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy) y Jeff Click to continue reading...

He ain't pretty, but he gets the job done as much as Gerrard does
Liverpool's season is on the line today as they travel to France to take on Lyon. Without their influential captain Steven Gerrard, and having already lost two straight in the Champions League, things don't look good for Rafa Benitez's club in crisis. Click to continue reading...

Here are a few links to get your day started...
The 'Players Only' section of the Chicago Tribune did a fun little piece with Fire midfielders John Thorrington and Logan Pause the other day. Thorrington interviewed Pause for the entry, asking Logan all sorts of things in rapid-fire format. Click to continue reading...

Eskandarian, Landon, and Eddie Lewis are each nominated for Goal of the Year.

Ricketts and Josh Saunders are each nominated for Save of the Year.

Take a look and rock the vote on this election day.

You can vote for Goal of the Year here.

You can vote for Save of the Year here.

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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...

Kudos are clearly warranted for Clint Dempsey as he hits his second goal in as many weeks for Fulham FC.� � � � � While his first professional coach and likely mentor, ex-Liverpool great Steve Nicol, might not immediately love that Clint helped Fulham take down Liverpool, it was clearly a significant achievement following a goal the prior week against wanna-be powerhouse Manchester City.

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Goalkeeper of the year -- Nov. 4
Nominees: Kasey Keller (Seattle), Donovan Ricketts (L.A.), Zach Thornton (Chivas USA)
Who will win: Thornton. Veteran might have put up his best year in the league.
Who should win: Thornton. This team overachieved and its MVP is the reason why.
Fair Play Finalists -- Nov. Click to continue reading...

FCD striker on the heals of his remarkable second half of 2099 that landed him the MLS Golden Boot has been named a finalist for MLS MVP. Landon Donovan of LA Galaxy and Shalrie Joseph of the New England Revolution are the other two finalists. Cunningham scored 13 goals in his final 12 games of 2009 and led MLS with 17 goals. Click to continue reading...

Here's the full list as released today by MLS:

Goalkeeper of the Year
Kasey Keller - Seattle Sounders FC
Donovan Ricketts - Los Angeles Galaxy
Zach Thornton - Chivas USA

Fair Play Finalists - Individual
Kasey Keller - Seattle Sounders FC
Pat Onstad - Houston Dynamo
Steve Ralston - New England Revolution

Comeback Player of the Year
Brian McBride - Chicago Fire
Ben Olsen - D.

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STARTERS
The USA U17's advanced to the Round of 16 in the World Cup and play on Wednesday against Italy.
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Word is out that UANL Tigres left fullback Edgar Castillo has been invited to join Team USA for the 2 games in Europe later this month. This will be his first time with the team. Click to continue reading...

Seattle's Kasey Keller is a finalist for numerous Major League Soccer awards, including goalkeeper of the year. (photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Major League Soccer released the finalists for the league's 2009 awards today. The winners will be announced starting Wednesday and ending Nov.

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Landon Donovan, Shalrie Joseph and Jeff Cunningham are the finalists for MLS MVP honors and just three of the MLS players identified as finalists for season-ending awards by Major League Soccer.

Donovan is one of several members of the Los Angeles Galaxy to be selected as finalists for honors.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

Landon Donovan, Shalrie Joseph and Jeff Cunningham are the finalists for MLS MVP honors and just three of the MLS players identified as finalists for season-ending awards by Major League Soccer.

Donovan is one of several members of the Los Angeles Galaxy to be selected as finalists for honors.

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Hot off the presses from the league front office. Major League Soccer has announced the finalists to their season ending awards today. Only a few shockers jump out at me here with these but I'll get to that in a moment.

Keeper of the Year (to be announced Nov. 4)
Kasey Keller, Seattle
Donovan Ricketts, Los Angeles
Zach Thornton, Chivas USA

Defender of the Year (Nov.

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Major League Soccer will be announcing the 2009 award winners over three weeks in November. The League announced the schedule and the three finalists in each category on Monday. Jeff Cunningham, Landon Donovan, and Shalrie Joseph are in the running for the Most Valuable Player award, with the announcement set for Thursday, November 20th. Click to continue reading...

It's November, which means it is time for SBI to crank out last month's Q&A installments.

While a few weeks have passed since questions were submitted, most questions are still just as relevent today as they were two to three weeks ago.

U.S. national team questions rule the day as usual, with more World Cup questions starting to filter in now that the Americans have qualified and the clock is ticking quickly toward South Africa.

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It's November, which means it is time for SBI to crank out last month's Q&A installments.

While a few weeks have passed since questions were submitted, most questions are still just as relevent today as they were two to three weeks ago.

U.S. national team questions rule the day as usual, with more World Cup questions starting to filter in now that the Americans have qualified and the clock is ticking quickly toward South Africa.

Click to continue reading...

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

One of the worst-kept secrets in MLS became official on Monday as David Beckham's second loan deal to AC Milan was formally announced.

The Los Angeles Galaxy announced on Monday that it has agreed to terms with AC Milan on a loan that will see Beckham join Milan in January, and play with the Serie A giants up until the 2010 World Cup.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

One of the worst-kept secrets in MLS became official on Monday as David Beckham's second loan deal to AC Milan was formally announced.

The Los Angeles Galaxy announced on Monday that it has agreed to terms with AC Milan on a loan that will see Beckham join Milan in January, and play with the Serie A giants up until the 2010 World Cup.

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L.A. and Chivas brought us some major drama in the MLS Playoffs first ever SuperClasico in a battle for Los Angeles bragging rights and some sorely needed points in the Conference Semifinals.� Chivas has to struggle to pull together a draw on the Galaxy, but the fireworks have only just begun.

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Defensive blunders punctuated yesterday's SuperClásico MLS Cup 2009 Playoff game between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA as the teams drew 2-2. Maicon Santos scored early for Chivas before Mike Magee tied the match at 1-1. Landon Donovan gave Los Angeles a 2-1 lead at halftime. However, Maykel Galindo was able to secure the draw [. Click to continue reading...

Catching these four match-ups in the middle, so each will be half analysis/half prediction...
Seattle Sounders FC v. Houston Dynamo (0-0 aggregate)
After tying 0-0 in Seattle for the first leg, the finale will take place Sunday. The story of the first game was 90 minutes of physical brawling, I think the second leg will be the opposite: some entertaining soccer. Click to continue reading...

The most competitive of the opening round first-legs happened at the Home Depot Center on Sunday. Maicon Santos had Chivas USA up four minutes in, but LA drew even when Mike Magee scored in the 14th. Landon Donovan gave the Galaxy the lead in the 41st, and that held through halftime. The only goal of the second-half came early, with Maykel Galindo equalizing for Chivas USA in the 50th-minute. Click to continue reading...

The man of the moment for the Galaxy

For a moment Donovan Ricketts looked like he was going to burst a blood vessel after the Chivas attack had carved up the LA defense again and again. After he saved a sure goal from Maicon Santos he launched into a tirade against his defenders. His fury was absolutely justified at those bunch of clowns.

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Well, I'm at home for reasons that would bore the hell out of you, might as well fake liveblog it.
Preceding program - Who Killed the USFL? Fascinating. Probably not what an MLS fan wants to see.
Wow, a sellout! I mean, David Beckham. Not attendance. I talk a lot about how illegitimate Chivas USA is, how bad they are for MLS, how bad they are for soccer, and what a great day it will be when they finally dry up and blow away. Click to continue reading...

Chivas USA 1 Galaxy 2

We just saw the Chivas USA screw-up of the season - and now the Galaxy have the lead just before halftime.

An inexplicable hoof back into the penalty box by Chivas USA forward Maicon Santos (was he trying to bicycle kick that ball out of danger?

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Chivas USA 1 Galaxy 1

The Galaxy tied it up in the 14th minute when Yamith Cuesta made a terrible hash of what should have been a businesslike clearance of a speculative Landon Donovan header into the box. Instead the Columbian defender completely whiffed on the ball and a lurking Mike Magee had the simple task of putting it past Zach Thornton.

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Chivas USA 1 Galaxy 0

A mixup between Mike Magee and Landon Donovan just inside the Galaxy's own half gave Chivas USA possession in the fourth minute that Sacha Kljestan used to good effect to find Maicon Santos, who's deft outside of the foot shot into the far corner gave Donovan Ricketts no chance.

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The biggest rivalry in Major League Soccer will have its first playoff installment today when the Los Angeles Galaxy faces Chivas USA in the first game of their Western Conference playoff series (5:30pm, ESPN2).

The Galaxy enters as the No. 1 seed in the West, and this series will feature David Beckham's debut in the MLS playoffs, while also signaling Landon Donovan's first appearance in the playoffs since he helped lead LA to the 2005 MLS Cup title.

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The biggest rivalry in Major League Soccer will have its first playoff installment today when the Los Angeles Galaxy faces Chivas USA in the first game of their Western Conference playoff series (5:30pm, ESPN2).

The Galaxy enters as the No. 1 seed in the West, and this series will feature David Beckham's debut in the MLS playoffs, while also signaling Landon Donovan's first appearance in the playoffs since he helped lead LA to the 2005 MLS Cup title.

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Sunny and 80 degrees here at the under populated Home Depot Center.

Kick off has apparently been pushed back to 2:25 p.m. to accommodate TV if you're wondering.

It's the same starting lineup this afternoon that both teams fielded for the respective MLS season finales.

Here's Arena's team: Donovan Rickettts, Sean Franklin, Gregg Berhalter, Omar Gonzalez, Todd Dunivant, Chris Birchall, David Beckham, Dema Kovalenko, Mike Magee, Edson Buddle, Landon Donovan.

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Welcome back to the playoffs!

It has been three long and, to be blunt, disastrous years since the last time the Galaxy played post-season futbol. That year they peaked at the right time after basically backing in to the playoffs and ended up taking the MLS Cup from New England on Pando Ramirez's only goal of the season.

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