Who will Chivas protect this year? (Getty Images)

Yesterday we started our look at the expansion draft and who teams will and won't protect for this month's upcoming draft. The Philadelphia Union get ten players to pick from and this year will be as tough as any to predict who will stay and who will be left exposed.

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Chivas USA was a surprise early on in 2009, but they faded quickly in the summer months. (Getty Images)

It seems like every season or so we get one club that comes out hot to start the season then to only fade in the summer. In 2009 it was Chivas USA who was just that club as they went 7-2-3 to start the first couple months of the season.

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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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Chivas USA 2 Galaxy 2

This is becoming a game when different players are making their worst errors of the season at the worst possible time.

The culprit this time was usually dependable Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez whose poor attempt at a back pass was gratefully intercepted and deposited in the back of the net by substitute Maykel Galindo who has knotted the game a two apiece.

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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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Chicago Fire 1 Chivas USA 0

Game story

Another drab, missed opportunity for Chivas USA.

They are masters of the bleeding obvious over at Chivas USA public relations, BTW:

Chivas USA now owns a record of 13-10-6 (W-L-T), and remains tied atop the Western Conference with the Houston Dynamo and the LA Galaxy with 45 points.

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Sacha Kljestan and Chivas head to Chicago to face the Fire. (Getty Images)

It is simple for each club, keep winning and good things happen. All the Chicago Fire needs to do tonight is win (or even draw) and they are in the playoffs. As for Chivas a win tonight and a win over the weekend could turn into a Supporter's Shield trophy.

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One of the final weeks of the regular season has come and gone but the goals were definitely spot on for week 31 in Major League Soccer. Below are some of the best.

Order: George John, Maykel Galindo, Brandon McDonald, Justin Braun, Josh Wolff, Nate Jaqua, Luciano Emilio, Jim Brennen, and Fabian Espindola.

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Chivas USA 1 San Jose Earthquakes

Chivas USA really should be firmly ahead by this stage of the game after a typical Maykel Galindo breakaway goal gave them an early advantage they failed to build upon. Giving up a relatively soft equalizer was not what Preki envisioned.

Chivas USA saw a Justin Braun header cleared off the line in the 36th minute and a lashing Michael Lahoud shot from the top of the penalty box arc well saved by a leaping Andrew Weber a minute earlier.

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Chivas USA 1 Earthquakes 0

Maykel Galindo has put Chivas USA one-up after just seven minutes, after chasing down a long Sacha Kljestan ball that completely split the defense. Galindo outraced two defenders and put the ball past goalkeeper Andrew Weber from about 12 yards.

It's Galindo's fourth goal of the season and Kljestan's third assist.

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Sole possession of first place in the Western Conference is on the line for Chivas USA this evening (they're tied with Houston and the Galaxy, who face each other at noon Sunday, with 44 points at the top of the table).

Chivas has returned to their early season form of late, with shutouts in four of their last five games just as they had six clean sheets in their first nine outings.

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It seems to be an every week occurance, but once again, Kevin Hartman is up for Save of the Week this week for his finger tip save on Maykel Galindo Chivas USA in the Wizards 2-0 loss. Check out the save here, and go vote. Click to continue reading...

It'll take a full on miracle, but some how the Wizards are still alive in the race to get into the playoffs, but after last night's performance in LA, those hopes are basically gone. Needing a win, KC laid an egg and lost 2-0 to Chivas USA. On a night when Columbus even gave KC a helping hand by defeating New England (that win is what is keeping the Wizards faint playoff hopes alive). Click to continue reading...

Game story.

Playoff tickets are on sale starting at $15. Call 1-877-CHIVAS-1.

Chivas USA - Zach Thornton, Carey Talley, Yamith Cuesta, Claudio Suarez (Mariano Trujillo 46), Ante Jazic, Jesus Padilla (Jesse Marsch 46), Michael Lahoud (Eduardo Lillingston 55), Paulo Nagamura, Sacha Kljestan, Justin Braun, Maykel Galindo,

Substitutes Not Used: Chukwudi Chijindu, Jon Conway, Jorge Flores, Shavar Thomas

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Tomorrow night in LA the Wizards will be facing a must win as they take on Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center. Should the Wizards lose, their playoff chances go to almost none existent (and will be completely gone if New England beats Columbus. Basically, there are two ways the Wizards can be eliminated from the playoffs this weekend. Click to continue reading...

CD Guadalajara 2 Chivas USA 0

I "watched" this one on TV and this description of the alleged action by reporter Phil Collin is apt: "The first half was like a family reunion with everyone sitting in the living room trying to dream up something to talk about."

Still, that didn't prevent a Chivas USA player from suffering a potentially serious injury (bet Preki is thrilled with that).

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Seattle Sounders 0 Chivas USA 0

Seattle Coach Sigi Schmid threw out the first pitch Friday at the Mariners-Yankees game. (AP Photo)

Ghastly offense (as usual), generally excellent defense (as is customary) gave Chivas USA the road point today.

Marcelo Saragosa excepted, of course, after throwing the most blatant kung fu kick at a soccer game since Eric Cantona.

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Time to revisit my projections of who will be protected and who will be left available. What's changed in the past month? For last month's review, click here.
A few days ago I posted about when players graduate from Generation Adidas status, which is highly relevant to this topic. Check out that post for further info. Click to continue reading...

A cool, overcast Sunday brunchtime at Home Depot Center that's perfect for soccer.

It's Chivas USA's first game in two weeks and they'll be hoping to fare better than their intra-stadium rivals last night who had returned from a similar layoff.

Significant absences for both teams today with Revs midfielder Shalrie Joseph missing because of the red card he received in New England's 4-2 defeat to the Kansas City Wizards last weekend, while Chivas USA striker Maykel Galindo is also missing after getting sent off in the 1-0 loss to the Galaxy Aug.

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Galaxy 1 Chivas USA 0

And that's the way it ended, a 10-man Chivas USA unable to come back against the Galaxy after Maykel Galindo's late straight red before an announced capacity crowd of 27,000.

Donovan should have made it two in stoppage time, but couldn't convert a neat little back pass from David Beckham with only Chivas USA goalkeeper Lance Parker to beat.

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Galaxy 1 Chivas USA 0

A wide-open David Beckham has scored what could be the game-winning goal in the 80th minute, the ball hitting the ground in front of him and Becks pinging it off the left post and into the net from the edge of the penalty box.

The goal came from a long Todd Dunivant throw to Omar Gonzalez who nodded it back to Beckham.

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It's thankfully cooling off here in Carson - the temperature right now is 76 degrees - as Chivas USA and the Galaxy play the season's third and final SuperClasico.

If Chivas USA wins tonight they would win the SuperClasico trophy because the teams would be even with four points apiece after a 0-0 tie and a 1-0 Galaxy home win earlier this season.

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Sasha Kljestan leads Chivas USA tonight into Rio Tinto Stadium to face RSL. (Getty Images)

Old expansion mates square off tonight in what could be said is a must-win situation for the home side. Real Salt Lake enters tonight's game at Rio Tinto Stadium with Chivas USA just three points behind the last playoff spot.

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Part two of the expansion draft preview. The Eastern conference was covered yesterday, and can be found here.
CHIVAS USA
Protected Available Exempt Jonathan Bornstein Chukwudi Chijindu
Justin Braun Yamith Cuesta
Bobby Burling Jim Curtin
Maykel Galindo Jorge Flores
Sacha Kljestan Kevin Harmse
Michael Lahoud Ante Jazic
Jesse Marsch
Dan Kennedy
Paulo Nagamura
Eduardo Lillingston
Shavar Thomas
Gerson Mayen
Zach Thornton
Jesus Padilla
Mariano Trujillo Lance Parker
Ante Razov
Maicon Santos
Marcelo Saragosa
Bojan Stepanovic
Claudio Suarez
Carey Talley
Lawson Vaughn
Sasha Victorine
Cesar Zamora
If this list of players seems larger than normal to you, then you're right. Click to continue reading...

Another Major League Soccer week, another unsavoury incident featuring David Beckham. After suggesting the former England captain would be good for MLS in the long-term despite the revelations made by Grant Wahl upon Beckham's return, it's disappointing to witness some of his more immature behaviour since heading back to LA from Italy in July. Click to continue reading...

STARTERS
I am back from Mexico City! Wow, what a trip. More later. On with the show. And remember, stay thirsty my friends.
dN
And I must give a big hello to my fellow travel companions: Kevin, Neal, Andy, Paul, Keith, Sasha, Patrick, Charlie, Tom, Joe, Tate, Regan, Ethan, Adam and especially Andrew who picked me up at the airport! Click to continue reading...

It definitely was an interesting week in Major League Soccer. Out of all the results this weekend, all but one were a 2-0 scoreline. Because of that we went ahead and put all the goals into one package for the goals of the week. The best in my opinion is still Eddie Gavin's goal.

Order: Chris Rolfe, Mike Banner, Steve Zakuani, Fredy Montero, Maykel Galindo, Eduardo Lillingston, Chad Marshall, Eddie Gavin, Dwayne de Rosario, and O'Brien White

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Chivas USA is working their roster right before the summer transfer window closes. They have announced the signing of defender Yamith Cuesta, a member of the Colombian under-20 national team, on loan from Colombian club Expreso Rojo.

Adding Cuesta meant placing Jim Curtain and Ante Razov on the disabled list.

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The MLS Goal of the Week race isn't much of a race this week. While Dwayne DeRosario, Steve Zakuani, Chris Rolfe and Maykel Galindo had nice finishes, the Columbus Crew's Eddie Gaven should walk away with the award for his half-field run and finish in the Crew's 2-0 win vs. FC Dallas on Saturday.

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The MLS Goal of the Week race isn't much of a race this week. While Dwayne DeRosario, Steve Zakuani, Chris Rolfe and Maykel Galindo had nice finishes, the Columbus Crew's Eddie Gaven should walk away with the award for his half-field run and finish in the Crew's 2-0 win vs. FC Dallas on Saturday.

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After watching the Chivas USA-Galaxy game, I have just one question: I wonder what Zinedine Zidane thought of MLS?

It was not, as Galaxy Coach Dave Sarachan conceded, "beautiful soccer."

Photos by Sean Hiller

Game story.

Bonus quotes:

Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena on the team's third consecutive one goal win:

"Our guys had the right mentality.

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David Beckham returned to Southern California Friday, but after making an appearance in El Segundo today with former Real Madrid teammate Zinedine Zidane will watch from the AEG suite.

That means the Galaxy make just one change to the unit that beat New England 1-0 last time out with Landon Donovan returning from national team duty to take his usual spot in midfield at the exprense of Eddie Lewis.

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Post-game press conference with Preki (on the win, the midfield, and the play of Flores, Suarez, and Lahoud) as well as player interviews from Kasey Keller, Nate Jaqua, Gerson Mayen, Jorge Flores, Maykel Galindo, Freddie Ljungberg, and Michael Lahoud to come.
-Patrick Beatty Click to continue reading...

STARTERS
UNAM Pumas pulled off a great upset, winning the Mexican Clausura championship, beating Pachuca 3-2 on aggregate. Huge congrats to the Big Cats! Esplendido!
dN
Bordeaux are French Ligue 1 Champions, ending Lyon's 7 year reign. Magnifique!
dN
Carlo Ancelotti has left Milan and will become the new head coach at Chelsea. Click to continue reading...

STARTERS
Jose Mourinho's new contract to coach Inter is reported to be just under 14 Million Euros per season, with incentives it could go up to 15.4Million. In today's US Dollars that is 19.5M to 21.5M. Insanity!
dN
Michael C Lewis of the Salt Lake Tribune tells us that a donor match has been found for the wife of RSL midfielder Andy Williams. Click to continue reading...