The Phildaelphia Union managed to avoid losing to the Colorado Rapids with an equalizer. Mwanga received the ball from Le Toux and then proceeded with a right foot kick into the left side of the goal net in 73 minutes.

The equalizer was done at a close range surprising Le Toux, Mwanga, and the goalie for Colorado Pickens. It also gave a much needed boost to a team whose first MLS Season left it at the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference.

It was a classic response to the first goal of the game by Larentowicz for the Rapids in 59 minutes after kicking the ball from a far distance to the left side of the net surprising Seitz who was the goalie for the Union.

The Union and Rapids gave the crowd at PP, Stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania a very exciting game competing for possession. It was a game that was fought with every moves although some mistakes cost the Rapids some yellow cards.

Both teams also made mistakes in their attempts to score by losing the ball or kicking above the goal post. Regardless, it was a great game with Le Toux being the most valued player.

Philadelphia Union 1-1 Colorado Rapids

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Seattle Sounders FC announced Friday that midfielder Brad Evans has been placed on the Disabled List due to a left patellar tendon injury.

As a result, Evans is required to miss the next six MLS games. He is eligible to return to league play for the October 2 match versus Toronto FC on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field.

Evans, 25, is entering his fourth season in MLS. He started 11 of 12 appearances this season.  He scored one goal and achieved three assists. His last appearance was June 10.

Evans started 25 of 27 appearances in 2009, recording three goals and two assists.

Sounders FC midfielder/forward Mike Fucito has been removed from the club's Disabled List.  The move, also taken on Friday, makes Fucito immediately eligible to participate in MLS games.

Fucito, 24, was placed on the Disabled List May 7. He has appeared in two Major League Soccer games, both as a reserve, with Seattle this season.

Fucito, playing in his second MLS season, scored the game winner in extra time of a 1-0 win over Kansas City in Seattle on April 17, which also turned out to be his last game.  

Saturday night at 8 p.m PT the Sounders play at Chivas USA.  The match will take place at Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

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This is Part 26 in a series of articles on the players that make up the 2010 Los Angeles Galaxy.


The name David Beckham evokes images of success and of failure in the knock-down, drag-out world of association football. 

It evokes images of the highest highs with Manchester United, and the lowest lows with injuries at AC Milan.

It evokes images of celebrity stardom and celebrity scrutiny.

It evokes images of a career that has not only seen him compete for the Red Devils and the Rossoneri, but also for Real Madrid before his final destination with his current club. 

It evokes images of an experiment whose only redeeming factor came in the form of reconciliation. It evokes images of a new precedent that has changed the landscape of Major League Soccer forever.

It evokes all of that, and more. Not even a neophyte to the world can mention in the most casual of conversations the game of soccer without mentioning one of the most accomplished players in our lifetime.

The son of David Edward Alan "Ted" Beckham (b. Edmonton, London, July–September 1948), a kitchen fitter, and wife (m. London Borough of Hackney, 1969) Sandra Georgina West (b. 1949), a hairdresser, David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE was born on May 2, 1975 at Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone, located within the London borough of Waltham Forest. 

Beckham spent his childhood growing up in nearby Chingford, situated 10 miles (16.1 km) northeast of Charing Cross.

In his youth, Beckham attended the Chingford School while playing for Ridgeway Rovers F.C.

"At school whenever the teachers asked, 'What do you want to do when you're older?' I'd say, 'I want to be a footballer,'" Beckham said in a 2007 interview. "And they'd say, 'No, what do you really want to do, for a job?' But that was the only thing I ever wanted to do."

Not even Ridgeway coaches Stuart Underwood and Steve Kirby knew that they would have a star in the making. 

But that was typical David Beckham. A player fueled by a passion for football. His parents were loyal Manchester United supporters, the supporters of the club that many fans will associate the Galaxy's No. 23 with.

It wasn't an easy path for Beckham en route to his contract at Old Trafford. He attended Bobby Charlton's football schools in Manchester, trained with FC Barcelona, and had trials with his local club Leyton Orient, Norwich City while attending Tottenham Hotspur's School of Excellence.

From 1987-1991, Beckham played with the Spurs youth sides after a stint with the Brimsdown Rovers. He could have been a scholar after attending Bradenton Preparatory Academy, but Beckham loved the game too much to let it go.

So, on May 2, 1991, Beckham signed with Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United and he would also sign a Youth Training Scheme contract on July 8 that same year. His childhood dream would become a reality.

In May 1992, Beckham helped lead Manchester United to the FA Youth Cup, scoring in the second of the final against Crystal Palace. That same year, he started for United's first team in a Football League Cup match against Brighton & Hove Albion. and would sign his first professional contract.

Beckham would lead the Red Devils to the FA Youth Cup Final in 1993 and the Premier Reserve League title in 1994. He made his UEFA Champions League debut on Dec. 7, 1994, scoring in a 4-0 win over Galatasaray.

After a loan to Preston North End during the 1994-95 campaign, Beckham made his Premier League debut on April 2, 1995.

Beckham was part of a group of young talent Ferguson entrusted to hoist hardware. Known as Fergie's Fledglings, the group included Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and brothers Gary and Phil Neville.

At first, the idea was looked upon as a risky gamble on Ferguson's part. But as the Red Devils manager stayed the course, Beckham eased into his position on the right side of the midfield, and he flourished.

During the 1995-96 campaign, Beckham helped United earn the Premier League and FA Cup double.

During the 1996-97 season, Beckham again led Manchester United to the Premier League crown en route to PFA Young Player of the Year honors.

In that campaign, he scored on a scintillating volley from the halfway line against Wimbledon (now Milton Keynes Dons). It ranked 18th on a list of the 100 Greatest Sporting Moments in a 2002 Channel 4 poll.

While the 1997-98 season saw Manchester United finish second to Arsenal in the Premier League table, the 1998-99 could be seen as Beckham's breakthrough season with the Red Devils winning the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League.

In the final match of the Premier League season against Tottenham, a crucial equaliser by Beckham helped United win the match and the first part of the Treble.

Against Bayern Munich in the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final at the Camp Nou in Barcelona, David Beckham rallied the troops in second-half injury time with two corners which led to a 2-1 victory.

As a result of his accomplishments, Beckham would finish second to Rivaldo for European Footballer of the Year and FIFA World Player of the Year.

Also that year, Beckham married Victoria Adams, a former lead singer of the Spice Girls. The couple now have three sons and currently reside in Beverly Hills, Calif.

However, the importance of raising family became a difficult responsibility for David Beckham. It was a challenge that drew the ire of Ferguson in the 2000 season, who fined him £50,000 and dropped him for a match against Leeds United.

"[David Beckham] was never a problem until he got married," Ferguson said in a 2007 interview. "He used to go into work with the academy coaches at night time, he was a fantastic young lad.

"Getting married into that entertainment scene was a difficult thing; from that moment, his life was never going to be the same. He is such a big celebrity, football is only a small part."

Nonetheless, Beckham helped United run away with the 1999-2000 Premier League title by 18 points and during the 2000-01 campaign he helped the Red Devils defend their crown yet again.

In the 2001-02 Premier League season, Beckham scored 16 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions, by far the best tally of his career.

It could have been more, had it not been for a deliberate injury by Deportivo La Coruña's Aldo Duscher in UEFA Champions League play prior to the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

However, the 2002-03 season would be Beckham's last year at Manchester United after Ferguson threw a boot at Beckham over the eye, causing a cut that would require stitches. The fallout was irreparable, and Beckham would sign a four-year contract with Real Madrid.

Before he took off to sign with Los Blancos, Beckham led the Red Devils to the Premier League crown and earned an Order of the British Empire distinction for services to football on June 13, 2003. 

All in all, Beckham made 265 Premier League and 81 UEFA Champions League appearances for Manchester United, scoring 76 goals.

In his 12 years, he hoisted six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, one European Cup, one Intercontinental Cup, and one FA Youth Cup.

By this point, Beckham's star status had risen to its nadir as he joined a Real Madrid side that featured Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos, Raúl González, and current mainstay Iker Casillas.

In the 2003-04 season, Real Madrid won the Spanish Super Cup over RCD Mallorca while finishing fourth place in La Liga. In the 2004-05 season, Real were in a state of flux, with three managers in one season and a second-place finish to FC Barcelona.

The following year, Real Madrid finished second again to Barça while Beckham led La Liga in assists. At this point, he began to establish football academies in Los Angeles and east London.‌

With the establishment of the David Beckham Football Academy at the Home Depot Center, the possibility of Beckham's time at the Santiago Bernabeu looked to be counting down.

Finally, on Jan. 11, 2007, David Beckham announced that he has signed a five-year deal to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Real Madrid went on to win the 2006-07 La Liga in his final year with Los Blancos. Beckham scored 13 times in 116 appearances for Real Madrid.

"I'm coming there not to be a superstar," Beckham said in a 2007 interview with ESPN. "I'm coming there to be part of the team, to work hard and to hopefully win things. With me, it's about football. I'm coming there to make a difference. I'm coming there to play football.

"I'm not saying me coming over to the States is going to make soccer the biggest sport in America. That would be difficult to achieve. Baseball, basketball, American football, they've been around. But I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think I could make a difference."

The windfall from a five-year contract worth $32.5 million proved to be strong. 

The Anschutz Entertainment Group, the owners of the Galaxy, signed a five-year shirt sponsorship deal with Herbalife worth $20 million. 11,000 new season ticket holders and sold-out luxury suites became all the rage. 

A new logo for the team was erected. TV specials upon TV specials were broadcast on the airwaves.

Endorsements for Victoria's brand of fragrances and deals from Pepsi, video game bigwigs, clothing designers, health and fitness specialists, fashion magazines, perfume and cosmetics manufacturers, hair stylists, exercise promoters, and spa and recreation companies ran rampant.

And celebrities like Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Eva Longoria Parker, Mary-Kate Olsen, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jennifer Love-Hewitt, Alicia Silverstone and Drew Carey welcomed Beckham to the Home Depot Center in the 2007 World Series of Soccer on July 21 against Chelsea.

After the debut, there was a welcoming party at the Museum of Contemporary Art for the Beckhams that was attended by many A-listers and was fodder for Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood.

Nagging ankle and knee injuries prevented Beckham from being a major force on the football pitch during the Galaxy's 2007 campaign. 

August 5 of the 2007 MLS season saw the G's experience life with Beckham on board. The team was treated to a charter flight and a stay at a five-star hotel prior to their match with Toronto FC.

Beckham earned a series of firsts from his August 15 match against DC United in the 2007 SuperLiga. The Galaxy's No. 23 earned his first start, first yellow card, first team captain armband, first goal and first assist en route to a 2-0 victory. 
2008 was a disappointing year for the Galaxy, who failed to qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs under Ruud Gullit. 

However, Beckham scored his first-ever MLS goal on April 3 against the San Jose Earthquakes and on May 24 scored an empty-netter from 70 yards away.

Beckham would go on to spend some more time in Europe. During the 2009 and 2010 MLS offseasons, Beckham was loaned out to AC Milan, where he has made 29 appearances for the Rossoneri and scored twice. A torn Achilles tendon suffered against Chievo Verona in the 2009-10 Serie A sidelined him for six to eight months. Currently, he is close to recovering from this injury.

After Beckham's first stint with Milan, the Galaxy supporters expressed their reservations against his "timeshare" deal with the Rossoneri. 

In 2009, a book by Grant Wahl called "The Beckham Experiment: How the World's Most Famous Athlete Tried to Conquer America" discussed how his designated player status caused major repercussions in terms of chemistry between Beckham and the rest of the team, specifically Landon Donovan.

However, both Donovan and Beckham reconciled their differences, and as a result, the Los Angeles Galaxy went on to win the MLS Western Conference regular season crown and finished runner-up to Real Salt Lake in the 2009 MLS Cup. In that contest, Beckham converted his penalty in the shootout that the G's went on to lose.

So far, Beckham has scored seven goals in 41 appearances for the Los Angeles Galaxy, and will hope to sneak in at least one near the end of the season.

As a member of the England national team, Beckham scored 17 goals in 115 appearances for the Three Lions and even assisted the 2010 FIFA World Cup side in South Africa. But it's not just his work for club and country that makes David Beckham the man that he is.

From the 2002 Commonwealth Games, to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, to work with UNICEF as a Goodwill Ambassador, David Beckham has become a global ambassador to the game of soccer. 

He is a spokesman for Malaria No More, a New York City-based non-profit launched in 2006 that was created to reduce malaria deaths in Africa.

Beckham is active in MLS W.O.R.K.S and conducted a youth clinic in August 2007 that taught football skills to disadvantages youth in Harlem.

The honors are staggering.

It's distinctions upon distinctions that are a long cry from his childhood days in Waltham Forest.

But one can never know how far his or her love for football can lead. Perhaps not even Beckham realized that his skills as a midfielder has seen him accomplish many things in and out of the beautiful game, the world game as we know it.

A long storied career with Manchester United. An integral part of a star power consortium that fuels Real Madrid. A trailblazer for Major League Soccer, a celebrity among celebrities, and one of sport's most storied plenipotentiaries.

These attributes are what separates David Beckham from the rest. It is part of the ever-burgeoning mystique of the Los Angeles Galaxy's No. 23.

A certain chant to the tune of "Guantanamera" may not be ringing today within the hallowed walls of Victoria Street, but when it does, you can be sure of this:

There's Only One David Beckham.

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The political landscape surrounding US/Mexico borders and legal and illegal immigration is surrounded by strong emotions, loud arguments, and both educated and ridiculous opinions.

Luckily, this is a soccer blog, not a political blog. My opinions on the US/Mexico immigration issue are not the focus on this post.

I won’t be talking about whether Arizona’s attempts at a stricter new state law should mean they never see an MLS team or that we patriotically move them up to next in line for expansion and award them the Arizona Cosmos tomorrow.

I won’t discuss whether lettuce will cost us $24 a head if we cut off the cheap labor influx or if finally jobs will open up for hard-working Americans.

Well, actually, there are some cross-border jobs worth discussing here.

That of Mexican soccer players coming to MLS, and (more importantly) the American players heading to Mexico to play professionally—potentially as the Mexican Football Federation’s version of cheap imported labor?

Mexican players have always played a part in MLS as those of us around that first season remember Jorge Campos and his acrobatic and unpredictable goalkeeping.  But starting with Cuauhtemoc Blanco, and now followed by Nery Castillo and Rafa Marquez, and Omar Bravo in 2011, it feels as if MLS has gained a new relevance for Mexican players.

On the flip side, more American players are finding options in Mexico as attractive.  This too, is nothing new.  In fact, Tab Ramos, Mike Sorber, and Marcelo Balboa all had stints in the Mexican first division before MLS was even up and running.

But with American World Cup players José Francisco Torres and Herculez Gomez playing in the Mexican first division, USA’s Jonathan Bornstein having decided to play in Mexico after this season, and the USA going as far as to persuade former Mexican player Edgar Castillo to switch allegiances and play for the USA, things are getting more and more interesting with this cross-border soccer trade.

I like having the best American players playing in MLS—among other reasons, this is because most (not all) international experiences don’t seem to bring as much development as they promise. 

But I certainly do not get upset by players trying their luck elsewhere, and find it interesting that so few end up in Mexico, especially give the nearby location, easier travel to US National Team’s home and CONCACAF games and historically good pay ranges.

The question then becomes: When does it make sense for a US player to look to play in Mexico, as opposed to MLS or whatever European options are open to them?

Obviously, there is no black and white answer here.  I think there are a number of interesting reasons that American players might choose the Mexican league.  Including the fact that they:

- Can often make more money than other options, like MLS.
- Simply want to try something different.
- Have gotten overlooked by MLS.
- Think their skill sets are more suited for the Mexican league game.
- Are looking to better develop (or round-out) their skills.

For this discussion, I think the last reason is most interesting.

Comparing league skill and style is certainly no simple task, but to move forward we can at least make an assumption or two that seems reasonable.   Here are two that seem to be generally accepted:

- The soccer played in the Mexican first division is more tactical, patient and (often) skillful than MLS.
- The soccer played in MLS is typically faster, more physical and more direct than in Mexico.
- Mexican first division rosters tend to be “deeper” with talent than their MLS counterparts.

If there were more of an MLS/Mexican league melting pot, one might think the ingredients exist for better player development by combining the strengths of each individual league.  This development would help prepare players for the rigors of National team duty or for grooming future stars that want to head to Europe and conquer bigger challenges.

For instance, what if some of our current crop of young players, whose pace outweighs their tactical awareness or ball skills, had spent or would spend a couple years in Mexico?

If there were a program (either between clubs or leagues) that would allow players like Robbie Rogers, Kevin Alston, Corey Ashe, Robbie Findley (and we could go on) to spend time on loan, or otherwise, playing in the Mexican League, I would think they would all end up better players for the experience.

Even better could be a program that swapped young Mexican talent with young American talent for a year.  The Americans would hopefully get the tactical skill development they need, and the Mexican players would get a taste of a more rough and tumble game that would prepare them for different experiences they might see in Europe or elsewhere.

Of course, the challenge is that none of these players would be guaranteed playing time, or to break into a starting lineup in Mexico.  But if the program were a rotational program and the player knew he wasn’t “stuck” in a bad situation, they would likely be less disheartened by such struggles.

A much more out-of-the-box idea for overcoming the playing time challenge—and one undoubtedly fraught with countless issues, but nonetheless interesting—would be to find a way for a “traveling only” (no home stadium) club of young up-and-coming stars to play in the opposite country’s league for a year.  They would dually represent their country (USA) and their MLS club.

Sure, there are countless reasons why this might not work, but even if you inserted an “MLS Junior All-Star Team” into the Mexican league only once every four years (pick any number, since we are out to lunch anyway) and did the opposite insertion of a “Mexican Junior All-Star Team” into MLS, it would be rather interesting for player development.

There would probably also be increased interest in MLS from the Mexican population in the US, and increased rivalry between the leagues.

I know this will never work.

I know we want to grow our own development capabilities (and need to).

I know I’m alone on Mars here.

I just hope other people are thinking outside the box on how to leverage these two differing skill sets, interest levels and marketing potential in new ways that do make sense.

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This is Part 25 in a series of articles on the players that make up the 2010 Los Angeles Galaxy.


Wheelings and dealings are an inevitable part of this nuance of football we like to call the transfer window.

In association football, the transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff.

Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA. "Transfer window" is the unofficial term commonly used for the concept of "registration period" as described in the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Player.

An example of a player going through the motions is Los Angeles Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Perk

Perk is a recent acquisition to Bruce Arena's Galaxy, having been acquired from the Philadelphia Union. A local product, Perk will look to add depth and stability between the woodwork for the G's this season.

Brian Perk was born on July 21, 1989 in Yorba Linda, California but spent most of his life in Rancho Santa Margarita.

Rancho Santa Margarita is one of the state's youngest cities and is a master-planned community. The city was named for Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores of San Diego County but is neighbored by the cities of Mission Viejo, Las Flores and Ladera Ranch.

The band Velvet Revolver, Olympic gold medalist Joy Fawcett, film/TV/radio personality R.J. Adams, author Martin Dugard and former Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jim Everett call Rancho Santa Margarita home.

The television series "The Real Housewives of Orange County," although based in Coto De Caza, is mainly filmed in Rancho Santa Margarita where many of the housewives do business, shopping, commuting, and dining.

Situated in nearby Las Flores is Tesoro High School. The Titans are known for their sports programs, with a shining example being the boys soccer team.

At Tesoro, Perk earned 2006 Parade All-American and Top Goalkeeper honors to go with an NSCAA/adidas All-American distinction in 2005.

As a youth player, Perk played club soccer with the Pateadores from 1998-2006. He was also a member of the Cal-South (2002-04) and Region IV (2005-06) ODP teams, as well as the PDP (2005).

UCLA's Jorge Salcedo gave Perk the big break he was looking for, and it paid dividends.

In 2006, Perk was named to the Top Draw Soccer All-Freshman second team, making seven starts for a 3-1-3 record, 29 saves and a 1.27 goals against average.

Perk showed his clutch ability in the net, making nine saves in a match against UC Santa Barbara and seven in a double-overtime thriller against the Washington Huskies.

In his sophomore year, Perk started 20 matches and made 84 saves to go with five shutouts and a 1.06 GAA. However, a shoulder injury in the

closing minutes of the first round of the 2007 NCAA tournament would end his season. A preseason All-American by Soccer America, Perk earned an All-Pac-10 honorable mention.

In his Junior year, Perk earned second-team All-Pac-10 honors with 75 saves, seven shutouts and a 0.97 GAA in 19 appearances in goal for the Bruins. During UCLA's eight-game unbeat streak late in the 2008 campaign, Perk only allowed a penalty kick in 711 minutes of action.

In Perk's senior season, he became a second-team NSCAA All-American and first-team All-Pac-10 honoree while earning a Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Season first team selection. Perk started 15 matches and had a 0.87 GAA to go with 53 saves, 13 goals allowed and four shutouts.

Perk graduated from UCLA with a 1.01 GAA, 16 shutouts and a 29-18-12 record in 61 appearances. His 241 career saves rank him fourth on UCLA's all-time list.

Perk could have added more to his career numbers in 2009, but he had to start in goal for the US Under-20 men's national team at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

As a member of the Stars and Stripes, Perk recorded shutouts in four straight games with the U-20s in 2009, including three in as many games at the CONCACAF Championships.

In the summer of 2008, Perk recorded shutouts against the U-20 teams from Mexico and Belgium, as well as the Bolton Reserves. He also played with the Under-18 men's national team at the Lisbon International Tournament in June 2007 and at the SBS Cup in August 2007.

Perk was also a member of the U.S. U-17 residency program from 2004-06 and was part the U-17 Team that placed fifth at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championships.

In the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, Brian Perk was selected as the 49th pick overall by the Philadelphia Union. However, he did not get any playing time and sat on the bench as a backup to starter Chris Seitz and backup Brad Knighton.

On August 4, Perk was waived by the Union and picked up by the Los Angeles Galaxy. It was, in all essence, a homecoming.

Now the Galaxy's new No. 24 will aim to push for playing time and help lead Los Angeles to the 2010 MLS Cup.

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Harrison, NJ - With tonight's hard fought 1-0 win over Toronto FC, the New York Red Bulls ended a five-game winless drought to remain in second place in the Eastern Conference. For the Red Bulls, this was their third straight game in which they dominated a game with their defense and were able to dictate the flow of the game.

Despite their recent positive play, the Red Bulls were only able to record four draws and one loss. With the win, the Red Bulls (9-6-4) now trail first place Columbus Crew (11-4-4) by six points and are in good position to finish the season strong and win the Eastern Conference.

Playing without Dane Richards (Jamaica), Bouna Coundoul (Senegal), Roy Miller (Costa Rica), and newly signed Rafa Marquez (Mexico), because they were called up for international duty, the Red Bulls bench rose to the occasion.

Making the most of this opportunity, goalkeeper Greg Sutton recorded a shutout while Danleigh Borman and Tony Tchani played solid defense. Their performance tonight demonstrates that the Red Bulls bench is one of the deepest and is potentially dangerous for opposing teams.

Making his MLS Home Debut game in an enthusiastic crowd of 19,035, Thierry Henry played a pivotal role in the Red Bulls much needed win against Toronto FC. In three MLS games, Thierry has recorded three assists and tonight's assist was simply spectacular.

In the 23rd minute, Thierry beautifully broke down Toronto's double-team to pass to Seth Stammler, who passed off to Joel Lindpere for the Red Bulls only goal. For Lindpere, it was his second goal of the season and his first since scoring in the season opener against the Chicago Fire.

Up next for the Red Bulls will be Major League Soccer's best team, the Los Angeles Galaxy. Standing on top of the league with a 12-3-4 record, the Galaxy hasn't been playing well. With a record of 2-2-1 over their past five games, the Galaxy will be coming to a sold out Red Bull Arena.

Along with the team's recent acquisitions of Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez, the Red Bulls are in position to make a powerful statement on Saturday. A loss or tie following this game will be unacceptable and a disappointment to their fans.

Cesar Diaz writes for Latino Sports. Please send him your questions and comments to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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When Sounders’ fortunes were plummeting earlier in the season top brass knew that the alarming spiral was due to more than injury misfortunes, though they were indeed a factor.

The Sounders needed to jump start their season after falling to 4-8-4 in MLS Western Conference Standings. They now stand at .500 with an 8-8-4 mark with 28 points and a chance to move into winning territory Saturday night with a win against Chivas U.S.A. at Home Depot Center. The match is slated to begin at 8 p.m. PT.

It was at the Home Depot Center in a July 4th 3-1 loss to the L.A. Galaxy, that the team hit rock bottom.

“We need to do some tightening in the midfield area,” Coach Sigi Schmid exclaimed.  “We need to toughen up and close up holes that are allowing people to roam free and score.”

The change occurred, the middle was tightened, but there was great improvement on offense as well. Some of that progress, understandably, was occasioned by the tougher defense and greater opportunity to possess the ball and mount offensive attacks.

Two critical and well-timed moves by General Manager Adrian Hanauer in the front office assisted the current Seattle victory surge. Two World Cup players, Congo born and Switzerland bred Blaise Nkufo of Switzerland and Alvaro Fernandez of Uruguay, were acquired.  

Nkufo has brought a physical and smoothly functioning dominance at midfield, generating solid possession soccer and feeding the ball to players to help create scoring opportunities.  

Fernandez has generated a scoring punch with key goals against Metapan in El Salvador and Houston in Seattle. He is an adroit ball handler and, like Nkufo, is a solid asset in helping generate possession soccer.

Much of the team’s scoring punch has been achieved by Colombian Comet Fredy Montero and Congo born and London bred Steve Zakuani. There have also been solid contributions by defender Leo Gonzalez of Costa Rica and Cuban born midfielder Ozzie Alonso.

The return of Alonso after being lost temporarily due to injury has helped fill some of the void over the loss of 2009 MLS All-Star defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado of Colombia, who has been lost for the season.

This week on the Starfire practice pitch in Tukwila, Coach Sigi Schmid has expressed buoyancy over the Sounders having a full week to prepare for an opponent after a schedule crowded with foreign and other engagements left the team necessarily scrambling to deliver their utmost to all commitments.

“Sometimes you do lose your edge a little bit because you are so used to going from game to game to game,” Schmid conceded following Wednesday’s training session. 

“We wanted to make sure today’s training was good work and I thought it was good work and it should’ve tired the guys out. It was good to be able to work on some things because we were able to hit some things that we wanted to work on. Hopefully we won’t lose that edge at all.”

On Tuesday the Sounders were able to play some 11 versus 11, attempting to maintain a high fitness level. On Wednesday Schmid engaged in group work, which he said “we really haven’t done in a while.”

The Wednesday activity included weight work. “So those are things that allow us to get into a bit of a rhythm,” Schmid noted.  

Schmid evaluated Chivas USA accordingly:

“Chivas is a completely different team than they were even three weeks ago. With all the changes, bringing in [Giancarlo] Maldonado, bringing in [Rodolfo] Espinoza on their team, [ while Jesus] Padilla is somebody who has been playing a lot for them and he is coming off the bench now.

“They have loaned a couple players out. They’re still looking, I think, at maybe making another move or two. Justin Braun is in good form. So they are a team that needs to get points now, just like we do, and being at home they want to try and get their three points. It’s going to have a playoff-type of intensity to it because for them they are getting to that point of the season, with the games remaining, that pretty soon it’s not going to be feasible for them to get there. It’s going to be a playoff-type intensity, for sure.”

Schmid faces the important final stretch of the season preceding the playoffs optimistically:

“We need to just continue to work on what we are doing well, maintaining what we are doing, continuing to build the relationship between Blaise Nkufo and Fredy Montero, continuing to get Alvaro [Fernandez] into the team, to build his fitness, to build Blaise’s fitness as well.

“The understanding in midfield between [Osvaldo] Alonso and [Nathan] Sturgis has been pretty good over the last few games, to continue to do that. But I think we have so many games that other guys are going to get in there to play and they are going to get minutes.

“Maybe [Michael] Seamon is going to reemerge here, play a more dominant role. Maybe [Miguel] Montaño comes back in to play a more dominant role. We are going to need more than just eleven starters. We are going to need a lot of guys to contribute on this team. I think what we have shown as well over the last series of games is that we have depth and we can bring people off the bench and maintain our level of play.”

Chivas USA is running out of chances and needs points badly, holding a 5-10-3 Western Conference mark with 18 points. The teams will also face each other on September 1st in an Open Cup semifinal at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila.  

The Sounders and Chivas USA will close the regular season with an October 15th contest at the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field.   

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CARSON, Calif.—Ever seen the diverse town worship an unpopular sport here in the origin of an enigmatic, paranoid town, unlike in other countries where fans revere the fascinating sport and blow on annoying vuvuzelas, an obnoxious buzzing sound that bothers our nerves badly?

What is increasingly discovered in Hollywood is that the masses are obsessed with superstars and celebrities, more than the sport or cinematic script itself, and hastily, the famous human being becomes a publicity magnet in a town where stars are truly admired.

It’s always fun to gaze at a sporting icon locally and during the summer months, if someone is paying close attention the ultimate star is Landon Donovan, a famous soccer star who is idolized and known for lifting the ratings of a dull event.

Without him, the Los Angeles Galaxy constitutes no buzz, no hearsay, not even an acknowledgement in the front page of the Los Angeles Times sports section. But the presence of Donovan bolsters an uneventful game in a nation that only glances at soccer during the World Cup, optimistic of a spectacular finish to cure a lowly event.

It’s almost realistic to believe that he markets the game of soccer in the states and in the Los Angeles basin as well, luring a large capacity at the Home Depot Center in Southern California and avid spectators by captivating the audience with a breathtaking goal.

As the Major League Soccer season comes to closure, he has enticed a crowd to wildly cheer and admire his prodigiousness, passion, work ethic, and, well, his game-changing heroics. He’s suddenly a world-class athlete with the ability to shift the dimension of an uncertain sport in the States and has been described as the Kobe Bryant of soccer as the prime star on the Galaxy.

In perspective, he has been the turning point in soccer and changed the way the game is perceived.

But the recent gossip is that midfielder David Beckham, an egotistic soccer star who willingly left his native country as a mercenary and celebrity for more riches and fame, is becoming a rock star and constantly is heckled and beleaguered by paparazzi in snapshots.

If he’s permitted to display his signature cologne in department stores, just to sustain recognition as a promoter and convince consumers to purchase the product, then he’s definitely the face of an ailing game in America.

As it turns out, he’s expected to participate in warmups with the Galaxy on Wednesday, set to return from suffering a torn left Achilles tendon earlier in the year while affiliated with AC Milan. As of today, the Galaxy is worshipped for appealingly mending and popularizing soccer in the U.S. with the occupancy of high-profile stars.

As of today, the Galaxy represents soccer in America.

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The Latin Combo delivers when needed, as the visiting Houston Dynamo learned when the Seattle Sounders capitalized on goals from Colombian Fredy Montero and Uruguayan Alvaro Fernandez in a 2-0 triumph before 36,111 fans Sunday night at the Xbox Pitch of Qwest Field.

The Montero goal in the 64th minute continued the rampaging pace of the Colombian Comet that earned him MLS Player of the Month honors for July. 

Montero’s eighth goal of the campaign came following a long punt by goalkeeper Kasey Keller. With a Dynamo defender draped on his back, Montero chested the ball down, spun to his left, and drove a 15-yard effort past goalkeeper Tally Hall.

In addition to securing a clean sheet for the evening, Keller achieved that goalkeeper rarity: an assist, on the Montero tally.  It marked the first ever in Sounders franchise history for a goalkeeper.

Alvaro Fernandez has, for the second time in a row, come into a match in the second half and tallied an important goal.  Last week, he secured a Seattle aggregate win on points over Metapan on a muddy San Salvador field to earn a 1-1 tie and 2-1 overall triumph as the Sounders moved on to the next round of the CONCACAF competition.

On Sunday, his right-footed boot in the 88th minute past goalkeeper Hall provided insurance and capped off the Sounders triumph in what has to be classified as one of the team’s finest efforts of the season, both offensively and defensively.

Once more, Colombian Comet Montero was a factor, as he accounted for an assist on Fernandez’ goal, marking his ninth of the season.  The assist ties Montero with Freddie Ljungberg’s team record established last year.

Just as new foreign designated player acquisition Fernandez, a recent Uruguayan World Cup player, aided his team’s winning effort, credit must also be bestowed on midfielder Blaise Nkufo.

The Congolese star, who set a scoring record in Dutch football and was a performer on the Switzerland team that handed eventual champion Spain its only loss in the World Cup, contributed mightily to the Seattle cause during his 87 minutes on the Xbox Pitch.

There is a smoothness and fluidity in the way that Nkufo works the midfield area.  There are no wasted movements, nor goal thrusts from excessive distances that provide the opposition with possession.

The Nkufo system involves solid linkage, sure and direct passes that enable the Sounders to play intelligent possession soccer.

There is also a solid physical presence that Nkufo provides, and it came last night against a Houston team noted for its emphasis on physicality.

As Seattle Coach Sigi Schmid noted after the match, relative to Nkufo’s formidable presence, “It certainly helped us.  His ability to occupy a defender and be strong on the ball and bring the other players into the game is important.  It’s something that (Nate) Jaqua gave us last year early in the year.”

Schmid was delighted to see his team get its fourth successive MLS win and fifth league match in succession without a loss, propelling the Sounders to an 8-8-4 mark with 28 points and fourth place occupancy.

"We're happy with the win,” Schmid said.  “Something that we've been talking about is getting to .500. We've also been talking a lot about making our home games our home games again and making sure that we win at home.

“Today was a good result, especially against Houston. Last year and in the past when we've played teams that are more physical or robust are teams that have given us a hard time. We were able to match that and came out ahead at the end of the day, so I was very pleased."

The setback left Houston with a 5-9-5 record and 20 points.  Coach Dominic Kinnear’s team has not tasted victory in its last nine MLS matches.  The Dynamo reside in seventh place in the Western Conference.

When asked after the match if the Sounders are playing their best soccer of the season, Steve Zakuani spoke directly to the point.  “For sure!”  Zakuani enthused.  “I don’t know what it is, but you can feel it in our practices.  You can feel us getting better.”

An important force in the recent Sounder surge has been owner and general manager Adrian Hanauer.  When the Sounders were struggling and finding it difficult to score goals, Hanauer put on his thinking cap and began evaluating talent.  One of his efforts in that direction was to attend the World Cup in South Africa and do some scouting.

The two main moves Hanauer implemented on the foreign scene are paying current dividends and have made the Sounders a stronger team.  Nkufo has become the Great Facilitator at midfield, making intelligent passing choices and running the offensive attack, seeing that scoring giants like Montero and Zakuani get goal-producing opportunities.

Meanwhile, the other foreign player Hanauer acquired, the versatile Uruguayan Fernandez, is also a main cog in the Seattle scoring arsenal, possessing the swift moves to drive the ball upfield, to pass and generate scoring opportunities for others, and last but certainly not least, to drill winners home into the net.

The Sounders are back in MLS action when they travel to Home Depot Center in Carson, California to face Chivas USA Saturday night at 8 p.m. PT.

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The Latin Combo delivers when needed, as the visiting Houston Dynamo learned when the Seattle Sounders capitalized on goals from Colombian Fredy Montero and Uruguayan Alvaro Fernandez in a 2-0 triumph before 36,111 fans Sunday night at the Xbox Pitch of Qwest Field.

The Montero goal in the 64th minute continued the rampaging pace of the Colombian Comet that earned him MLS Player of the Month honors for July. 

Montero’s eighth goal of the campaign came following a long punt by goalkeeper Kasey Keller. With a Dynamo defender draped on his back, Montero chested the ball down, spun to his left, and drove a 15-yard effort past goalkeeper Tally Hall.

In addition to securing a clean sheet for the evening, Keller achieved that goalkeeper rarity: an assist, on the Montero tally.  It marked the first ever in Sounders franchise history for a goalkeeper.

Alvaro Fernandez has, for the second time in a row, come into a match in the second half and tallied an important goal.  Last week, he secured a Seattle aggregate win on points over Metapan on a muddy San Salvador field to earn a 1-1 tie and 2-1 overall triumph as the Sounders moved on to the next round of the CONCACAF competition.

On Sunday, his right-footed boot in the 88th minute past goalkeeper Hall provided insurance and capped off the Sounders triumph in what has to be classified as one of the team’s finest efforts of the season, both offensively and defensively.

Once more, Colombian Comet Montero was a factor, as he accounted for an assist on Fernandez’ goal, marking his ninth of the season.  The assist ties Montero with Freddie Ljungberg’s team record established last year.

Just as new foreign designated player acquisition Fernandez, a recent Uruguayan World Cup player, aided his team’s winning effort, credit must also be bestowed on midfielder Blaise Nkufo.

The Congolese star, who set a scoring record in Dutch football and was a performer on the Switzerland team that handed eventual champion Spain its only loss in the World Cup, contributed mightily to the Seattle cause during his 87 minutes on the Xbox Pitch.

There is a smoothness and fluidity in the way that Nkufo works the midfield area.  There are no wasted movements, nor goal thrusts from excessive distances that provide the opposition with possession.

The Nkufo system involves solid linkage, sure and direct passes that enable the Sounders to play intelligent possession soccer.

There is also a solid physical presence that Nkufo provides, and it came last night against a Houston team noted for its emphasis on physicality.

As Seattle Coach Sigi Schmid noted after the match, relative to Nkufo’s formidable presence, “It certainly helped us.  His ability to occupy a defender and be strong on the ball and bring the other players into the game is important.  It’s something that (Nate) Jaqua gave us last year early in the year.”

Schmid was delighted to see his team get its fourth successive MLS win and fifth league match in succession without a loss, propelling the Sounders to an 8-8-4 mark with 28 points and fourth place occupancy.

"We're happy with the win,” Schmid said.  “Something that we've been talking about is getting to .500. We've also been talking a lot about making our home games our home games again and making sure that we win at home.

“Today was a good result, especially against Houston. Last year and in the past when we've played teams that are more physical or robust are teams that have given us a hard time. We were able to match that and came out ahead at the end of the day, so I was very pleased."

The setback left Houston with a 5-9-5 record and 20 points.  Coach Dominic Kinnear’s team has not tasted victory in its last nine MLS matches.  The Dynamo reside in seventh place in the Western Conference.

When asked after the match if the Sounders are playing their best soccer of the season, Steve Zakuani spoke directly to the point.  “For sure!”  Zakuani enthused.  “I don’t know what it is, but you can feel it in our practices.  You can feel us getting better.”

An important force in the recent Sounder surge has been owner and general manager Adrian Hanauer.  When the Sounders were struggling and finding it difficult to score goals, Hanauer put on his thinking cap and began evaluating talent.  One of his efforts in that direction was to attend the World Cup in South Africa and do some scouting.

The two main moves Hanauer implemented on the foreign scene are paying current dividends and have made the Sounders a stronger team.  Nkufo has become the Great Facilitator at midfield, making intelligent passing choices and running the offensive attack, seeing that scoring giants like Montero and Zakuani get goal-producing opportunities.

Meanwhile, the other foreign player Hanauer acquired, the versatile Uruguayan Fernandez, is also a main cog in the Seattle scoring arsenal, possessing the swift moves to drive the ball upfield, to pass and generate scoring opportunities for others, and last but certainly not least, to drill winners home into the net.

The Sounders are back in MLS action when they travel to Home Depot Center in Carson, California to face Chivas USA Saturday night at 8 p.m. PT.

Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

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