Galaxy Hold Off Dallas

The Los Angeles Galaxy advanced to the semifinals of SuperLiga 2007 on Tuesday evening after fending off a furious comeback from FC Dallas. Jumping out to a quick 4-0 lead just 18 minutes into the game, the porous Galaxy defense nearly did them in, allowing four goals after the half, including two in extra time. But second half goals from Landon Donovan and Carlos Pavon helped the Galaxy avoid further embarassment and advance to the semifinals.

It was the wildest game of the year and tied an MLS record for total goals in a game (11). Donovan also had three assists and earned a yellow card for making a throat-slashing gesture to the Dallas crowd while shouting "GAME OVER" after scoring the Galaxy's 5th goal of the night.

Read the recap here.

MLS News Briefs - Week 18

Originally written for American Soccer Daily.


MLS News Briefs: From Net to Net – Week 18
by TJ Boyce – July 31, 2007

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Colorado Rapids midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy has been suspended for two games and fined $1,000 for throwing an elbow at Kansas City Wizards midfielder Sasha Victorine during the clubs’ July 22nd meeting. Ballouchy, recently shipped to Colorado in exchange for Kyle Beckerman, received a yellow card for the challenge during the game, but the MLS Disciplinary Committee decided to review the incident further as Victorine was unable to continue in the game. Their ruling is that Ballouchy’s actions were deliberate and dangerous, meaning he will miss Saturday’s game against FC Dallas and the August 11th game against the Houston Dynamo.
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The Houston Dynamo know how to play defense, especially as the game goes on. Having allowed only 13 goals through 19 games this season, Houston has only conceded 4 of those goals in the second half of games and ZERO in minutes 76-90. That means they outscore their opponents 20-4 after halftime, helping to contribute to their league-best goal differential of +15.
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Following the revelation that Toronto FC starting goalkeeper Greg Sutton might miss the rest of the 2007 season because he is suffering from post-concussion symptoms, the Canadian international netminder and his head coach Mo Johnston decided to let off some steam at the Canadian Soccer Association and their lack of a team doctor. Sutton suffered his concussion during time with Canada’s national team at the Gold Cup, but was cleared to practice just four days after sustaining the injury. However, he has not returned to Toronto’s lineup because he is suffering from severe headaches, leading both men to call for changes at the CSA.

“I had a local physician who didn’t know me or anyone on the team give me a checkup that obviously wasn’t thorough enough,” said Sutton. “We all understand it’s not easy because of limited funds, but that’s an excuse that’s starting to wear out.

Johnston, irate at the CSA over the incident, questioned whether he would allow players from his roster to participate in future national team camps. “If we release our players to the national team, we want them looked after 100 percent. Maybe this was not the case.”
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The ongoing will-he-or-won’t-he-play saga surrounding David Beckham is on to Toronto after successfully irking fans in Dallas. Beckham, still nursing his bum left ankle, stayed behind on Tuesday while the Los Angeles Galaxy traveled to Texas for a SuperLiga match against FC Dallas, much to the surprise of some in the sell-out crowd at Pizza Hut Park that was anticipating his presence. Such a stink was made by local media and some “fans” over the Beckham no-show that FCD officials have felt obliged to offer a discount to those fans who bought tickets for Tuesday’s match for the next time that the Galaxy comes to town.

Despite missing three straight SuperLiga games, Beckham is targeting Sunday’s league game against Toronto FC for his comeback, but many are questioning whether Galaxy officials will want to risk his health on the turf that is BMO Field.
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According to the Toronto Sun, Toronto FC is actively pursuing Josh Wagenaar to be their new starting ‘keeper. Wagenaar, 22, has played the past two seasons for ADO den Haag in the Dutch league. Because he is a Canadian citizen, Wagenaar would not have to be counted as an international player, something that Mo Johnston will be pleased over.
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Ante Razov has been named the MLS Player of the Week. The third-highest scorer in the history of the league, Razov notched his 104th career goal and an assist in Thursday night’s primetime victory over the New York Red Bulls and also added an assist in Sunday’s loss to Kansas City. It is the eighth time that Razov has earned the honor in his career.
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The Colorado Rapids have agreed to form a partnership with CF Pachuca of the Primera Division in Mexico. Under the agreement, the two clubs will meet annually in a series of games and will share training grounds. Kroenke Sports Enterprises, owner of the Rapids, will also set up the Pachuca Academy, to be led by former Mexican national team player Enrique Borja, at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

The Rapids formed a similar partnership with England’s Arsenal FC in February.
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Toronto FC forward Danny Dichio has suffered a severely pulled hip flexor muscle which will require him to sit out the next 4-6 weeks. Dichio, who has tallied five goals and one assist so far in 2007, sustained the injury in TFC’s 3-0 home loss to the Chicago Fire on Sunday afternoon.

His injury comes at a particularly trying time for Toronto, as a solid portion of their starting eleven has already been sidelined recently with injuries. The list of wounded includes Jeff Cunningham, Ronnie O’Brien, Greg Sutton and Marvell Wynne, with Jim Brennan and Andrew Boyens also picking up injuries in the past week.
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Discipline Summary

The Major League Soccer Disciplinary Committee has issued several fines and one suspension stemming from the Kansas City - Colorado game held on July 22nd.

Mehdi Ballouchy - Colorado Rapids - fined $1,000 & suspended two games for violent conduct after elbowing Wizards player Sasha Victorine near the end of the first half of their July 22nd game, with Victorine unable to continue play. Though Ballouchy only received a yellow card for the incident, the disciplinary committee decided it needed further review.

Nick Garcia - Kansas City Wizards - fined $250 for making comments of a critical nature towards US Soccer officials following the Rapids - Wizards game on July 22nd.

Curt Onalfo - Kansas City Wizards - fined $1,000 for making comments of a critical nature towards US Soccer officials following the Rapids - Wizards game on July 22nd.

Power Rankings - Week 18

Here are The MLS Zone power rankings for Week 18. Last week's position is in parenthesis.

1. (1) Houston Dynamo

2. (2) Kansas City Wizards

3. (3) New England Revolution

4. (4) D.C. United

5. (6) Chivas USA

6. (8) FC Dallas

7. (7) Columbus Crew

8. (5) New York Red Bulls

9. (9) Los Angeles Galaxy

10. (11) Chicago Fire

11. (10) Toronto FC

12. (12) Colorado Rapids

13. (13) Real Salt Lake

SuperLiga Results

The second round of games has concluded in the group stage of SuperLiga. The Los Angeles Galaxy became the first time to go down to defeat at the hands of a Mexican club. Seven of the eight teams are still in the running to move on to the semifinals, with only Group B's Club America out of the running.

Saturday:
FC Dallas 1 - Pachuca 1
Chivas de Guadalajara 2 - Los Angeles Galaxy 1

Sunday:
D.C. United 1 - Club America 0
Houston Dynamo 1 - Monarcas Morelia 1

SuperLiga 2007

As of July 30^th

Group A		W	L	T		Points
Chivas de Guadalajara		1	0	1		4
L.A. Galaxy		1	1	0		3
FC Dallas		0	0	2		2
Pachuca		0	1	1		1
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Group B		W	L	T		Points
D.C. United		1	0	1		4
Houston Dynamo		1	0	1		4
Monarcas Morelia		0	0	2		2
Club America		0	2	0		0

Update: Beckham Out Again

Update: David Beckham will not be joining the Galaxy when they travel to Dallas. His ankle is apparently still giving him fits and the team would rather see him stay in Los Angeles to receive treatment than flying him to Texas where he can only sit on the bench for 90 minutes.

"He's very frustrated," said head coach Frank Yallop of his new superstar. "I feel for him, really, because he wants to get going. If it's up to him and it wouldn't hinder his injury, he would come with us (to Dallas). But because of flying, all of us said that he just can't do that. We want him to be getting ready to travel with us (to Toronto) on Friday. That's the thing he's aiming for."

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Whether David Beckham will travel with the Los Angeles Galaxy to Dallas for the upcoming SuperLiga match remains in question, with team officials saying they would wait until after today's practice session to evaluate their superstar.

The Galaxy are scheduled to fly into the Dallas area later tonight, ahead of tomorrow's game against FC Dallas, with neither team assured of a spot in the tournament's semifinals. Los Angeles fell to Chivas on Saturday night, becoming the first MLS team suffer a loss, and stand second in Group A with three points. FC Dallas has fought to two ties thus far and are in third-place with two points.

Beyond SuperLiga ramifications, FC Dallas has already sold out most of Pizza Hut Park for the game, with Beckham being the main attraction. When MLS schedulers devised their great plan for the Beckham road-trip to nearly every MLS market in the second half, they decided to give Dallas only one chance to see Becks in 2007 - this SuperLiga game.

With just standing-room-only tickets remaining for the clash, I expect Beckham will travel with the team and make a late appearance on the field, similar to the Chelsea exhibition.

Standings Updated

07/29/2007		Wins	Losses	Ties		Points
Houston		10	5	4		34
FC Dallas		9	6	3		30
Kansas City		8	5	5		29
Chivas USA		8	6	3		27
New England		7	3	6		27
New York		8	7	3		27
Columbus		6	5	7		25
D.C. United		7	6	3		24
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Chicago		5	8	4		19
Toronto FC		5	9	4		19
Colorado		4	8	6		18
Los Angeles		3	5	4		13
Real Salt Lake		1	9	6		9