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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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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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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No wonder this man is smiling

LONDON (AP) -- David Beckham earned nearly $16.5 million from personal sponsorship deals during his first full season with the Galaxy.

The England midfielder's latest accounts show that his marketability was unaffected by his move from Real Madrid to the United States, where soccer is less popular.

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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...

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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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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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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Sorry for the short notice.

Here's the brief press release I got from the Galaxy just minutes ago:

Galaxy head coach and general manager Bruce Arena and midfielder David Beckham will go "Inside the Locker Room" with the Petros and Money Show on Fox Sports Radio on Wednesday evening.

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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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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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You've got to give Steve McClaren some credit. The man was a pitiful England manager, but for a brief moment in time he was able to derail one of the most powerful forces in modern football: David Beckham.

When Becks stepped down as England's captain after the 2006 World Cup, McClaren dropped him entirely from the team.

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Rejoice fanatics, rejoice! I thought ESPN might forget about us once the postseason came about but I guessed wrong. Which is a good thing because that means that we get more of the most attractive MLS highlights package around. I still think this would be amazing on ESPN2HD, you know on actual TV, but I guess we'll all just have to be patient little soccer-monks for a while longer before we get that kind of clout. Click to continue reading...

According to TMZ, "David Beckham didn't grab the mechanical bull by the horns -- but dude definitely appreciated the busty, jiggling ladies who did last night at the Saddle Ranch." What, no love for Alan Gordon? The only thing featured more prominently in this clip than his mug is the bull's ass. Click to continue reading...

Beckham returns to AC Milan
AC Milan have confirmed that David Beckham, currently playing for LA Galaxy in the MLS, will go back to the Rossoneri in January. David said this about his return to AC Milan.

"I had to give myself the best chance to play in the World Cup, playing on loan with Milan will help me do that.

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With his contribution key to the Galaxy making the playoffs, Beck's Milan departure raises fewer eyebrows. He will play his first Serie game on January 6th and if all goes as planned, he will join the Galaxy after the World Cup.

I am of the camp that the criticism which he received on his return was fully deserved.

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We all know about 34 year old David Beckham, a cracking set piece taker and he has a phenomenal range of passing but he was never the quickest or the most skilful of players. Due to his ability to whip in a dangerous ball from anywhere on the pitch he has never had to change his game, but during the first leg of LA Galaxy's play off against Chivas, Becks showed us a few new tricks.

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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.
dN
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...

The Beardy Boy Wonder talks to Marvelous Martin Rogers about taking a title with a third team. It's part one of a three part series over at Yahoo! Sports. Part 2 is here and part 3 is here; get 'em while it's hot i.e. before the next match when this all becomes completely dated. Click to continue reading...

I thought this deserved its own post. The full MLS awards list and announcement schedule is in the article, listed below are the glamour prizes, with my balloted winner marked by an asterisk:Goalkeeper of the Year FinalistsKasey Keller – Seattle Sounders FCDonovan Ricketts – Los Angeles Galaxy*Zach Thornton – Chivas USAComeback Player of the Year FinalistsBrian McBride – Chicago FireBen Olsen – 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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And the first leg of the MLS Cup Playoffs tells us...

Not much.

Two one-goal winners. Two one-goal losers. And two games ending in draws. At this point it's still looking wide open.

This weekend's results:
Seattle 0-0 Houston
RSL 1-0 Columbus
NE 2-1 Chicago
Chivas 2-2 Galaxy

Who Will Win the 2009 MLS Cup?

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A bit of pure, uncut, straight playoff dopeness from Chivas USA. I love this clip: a superb mix of behind-the-scenes footage, highlights, press-conference and locker room quotes it's kind of the total package. I have two words for the guys in LALAland who put this together: more please. Click to continue reading...

Supposedly he'll be back in mid-July 2010, after the World Cup concludes.

He'll join Milan Dec. 28 after the Galaxy's post-season tour and remain with the Italian club through the end of their season in May.

"After the wonderful experience of last season we are very happy to see David Beckham again wearing the red and black colors," said Adriano Galliani, Vice President and CEO of AC Milan.

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For those of us that follow a major European team, there is a weekly pattern that develops over the season. After the weekend game, many fans like myself spend a couple of days absorbing commentary about the game. Youtube is scoured for clips and the blogs are mined for insights.

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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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National Soccer Hall of Fame Press Release:
ONEONTA, NY (November 2, 2009) – Two FIFA Women's World Cup champions, two men from the 1990 FIFA World Cup squad, five North American Soccer League alumni, and a 7-time winner of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in the 1920s and 1930s are featured on the Election 2010 Veteran Player Ballot the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum announced today. Click to continue reading...

On Monday, the Los Angles Galaxy announced that midfielder David Beckham would once again be joining Serie A club AC Milan on loan. Beckham will officially join Milan on December 28th and remain with them through the completion of the 2009-10 Serie A season. He will rejoin the Galaxy following the completion of the 2010 World Cup. Click to continue reading...