This is Part 13 in a series of articles on the players that make up the 2010 Los Angeles Galaxy.


Scenario time: You are at a pub with a bunch of fans who eat, drink, and breathe the game of soccer.

You ask them: "Name the player who scored the 700th goal in Los Angeles Galaxy history during MLS Regular Season play."

You hear the predictable choices. Landon Donovan. Edson Buddle. One goes out on a limb by saying that it's none other than the great David Beckham.

Wrong. Every single one of them. You trigger looks of disbelief (and drinks on the house at their expense) by saying that Alex Cazumba scored goal #700 against the Houston Dynamo on June 5, 2010.

Scenario time ends.

Alex Cazumba is one of the young faces from Brazil making an impact as a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy, along with Juninho and Leonardo. On loan from Sao Paulo FC, the 21-year old striker shows that his potential knows no boundaries, all Alex asks is a chance to make it happen.

Alex dos Santos Cazumba was born on June 30, 1988 in Amélia Rodrigues, Brazil. Founded on October 20, 1961, Amélia Rodrigues is a small municipality of 24,491 in the state of Bahia. It's part of the Salvador metropolitan area, the wealthiest part of Brazil's northeast region.

Over 80% of the population of metropolitan region of Salvador has Black African ancestry. The African influence in many cultural aspects of the city makes it the center of Afro-Brazilian culture.

This results in a interesting, yet unfortunate juxtaposition: African-associated cultural practices are celebrated, but Black Bahians, due to their low income, are disenfranchised from the privileges of the city.

For Alex Cazumba, there was one way to break through the disenfranchisement, and that was through the game of football.

At the age of 17, Alex Cazumba moved to Sao Paulo from Mirassol FC, where he began his footballing career with Sao Paulo FC. He spent two years playing with the youth side before joining the first team.

During his time with the first team, he helped lead Sao Paulo to the 2007 Dallas Cup Championship while giving the Tricolor Paulista a second place finish in Brazil's Under-20 league.

Managing just five appearances, Cazumba was sent on loan to a number of clubs. In 2007, he was loaned out to Rio Claro and Juventude, and started eight matches for the Parrots. In 2008, he appeared five times on loan for Figueirense. And in 2009, he was loaned to Toledo and Vila Nova.

Yet Cazumba was unable to produce and was unsatisfied with his work. So, it was time for a new challenge: Major League Soccer.

After all, pawning the soon to be #88 from Amélia Rodrigues to clubs lingering in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie B was not going help develop his skills. Why not bring him to the States, and to the Los Angeles Galaxy?

It was a wise decision by Sao Paulo. Cazumba made his debut for the Galaxy on March 27, 2010 against the New England Revolution. As Cazumba got more playing time, his confidence grew and skill level increased. The question that Los Angeles soccer fans had on their minds was not whether Alex Cazumba would score...but when.

That moment came in June 2010.

In a match against the Houston Dynamo, and with the game's outcome no longer in doubt, a Michael Stephens delivery from the right found a streaking a Cazumba on the left. And after that, Cazumba had enough time and angle to deliver a precision past a clearly disgusted Pat Onstad and two other Houston defenders to make it 4-1 Los Angeles.

The goal was the 700th in the history of the Los Angeles Galaxy in MLS regular season competition. It makes you wonder who will get goal number 800.

After all, Cazumba wears the number 88 on his jersey. It can be seen as a reference to the year he was born. Can it also be interpreted as another reference to something bigger?

Feel free to make up your own conclusions...and the possibilities...and the potential that Alex Cazumba can bring to the Los Angeles Galaxy.

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Well, Major League Soccer, it's time to face the facts. This Los Angeles Galaxy team is a group of individuals on a mission: to return to the MLS Cup and earn a heaping dose of redemption.

They have ice water in their veins and an Anschutz-esque mentality in their eyes. Every single one of them.

And they get their chance to get the muscles flowing one more time before the World Cup breaking by putting the clamps down on the holders of the MLS Cup, Jason Kreis's Real Salt Lake, on Wednesday, June 9, at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy.

Currently, Bruce Arena's Galaxy sit first in both the MLS Western Conference and the league in general with a 10-0-2 record. With a +19 goal differential, LA has one of the stingiest defenses in the league.

They face a reeling Real Salt Lake team that is looking for answers after managing just a scoreless draw with RSL.

Forward Tristan Bowen had a no-nonsense explanation regarding the Galaxy's unbeaten streak.

“It's definitely the competition in practice. Bruce [Arena] has done a great job in getting a group of incredibly competitive guys together,” said Bowen after their 4-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo on Saturday.

“We know that we have to fight for our spots and when you get your number called, everyone wants to go out there and compete and show why you belong on the field.”

Of all the players on the roster, only two have yet to play a match for the Galaxy: defender Yohance Marshall (currently on loan) and midfielder David Beckham due to an injury while on loan to AC Milan.

Arena was cautious when asked about whether this was the deepest team he had ever manager.

“I had a team at D.C. United that had seven international players and some of them didn’t start,” said Arena after the Houston match. “What helps here is that we have a veteran roster that do a fabulous job understanding their roles and really know how to push the young players along.

"It is certainly a much improved roster from the one that I inherited.”

The youth on the roster is led by Bowen, who has filled nicely in the absence of Edson Buddle, with two goals on the campaign. Alex Cazumba, Juninho, and Michael Stephens have also played a crucial part in LA's success.

Real Salt Lake is currently second in the MLS Western Conference table with a 6-3-2 record (20 points). Costa Rican international Alvaro Saborio is who the Galaxy must neutralize when he has the ball.

Sabario currently has five goals and four assists to his credit so far this season. Other players to watch out for include Fabian Espindola, Javier Morales, Andy Williams, and Kyle Beckerman.

Robbie Findley will be unavailable due to national team duty for Real Salt Lake.

Nick Rimando has made 25 saves in 11 appearances for a 1.00 goals against average. His counterpart, Donovan Ricketts has made 31 saves in his 11 appearances in the net for a 0.27 GAA.

Prediction:

Rio Tinto Stadium will be rocking on Wednesday. The home fans will love nothing more than to take the wheels off the Galaxy heading into the World Cup break.

But for the Galaxy, they need to come together and bring added momentum before the world's biggest sporting event begins.

They have been a cohesive unit with Edson and Landon. They have been a cohesive unit without Edson and Landon. And expect more of the same—without Edson and Landon—in Sandy. Let's try this result.

Los Angeles Galaxy 3, Real Salt Lake 1

Kickoff at Rio Tinto is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., will be live on MLS MatchDay Live, and will also be on tape delay by Fox Sports West at 11:00 p.m.

INS & OUTS:

The Magic Number Is Down To 37...But There's Still A Ways Yet To Go

If we were to use this magic formula, in which we subtract the number of points available from the number of points of the top two teams, we get a magic number.

So, this is what we have:

90 = Total possible points in MLS 2010 season

32 = Points by Galaxy

21 = Points by New York Red Bulls (current second-place team)

90 - 32 - 21 = 37

And if we divide this by three, you are looking at the Galaxy potentially-POTENTIALLY-wrapping up the Supporters' Shield by September, if not mid-August.

That's how furious the pace has been at this point for the Galaxy. It has been torrid.

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This is Part 12 in a series of articles on the players that make up the 2010 Los Angeles Galaxy.


Pirates wear beards. Pirates travel. Pirates wear beards and travel.

The same can be said of Jovan Kirovski, a well-traveled footballer with years of experience playing in Europe, in Major League Soccer, and for his country. The only difference: Jovan doesn't wear a hook when he takes to the pitch. Nor does he engage in high seas robbery.

All right, those were two big differences.

But you can't dispute this: Standing at an imposing 6-foot-1, Kirovski has proven to be another instrumental part to the success of the Los Angeles Galaxy. With a tall presence in the midfield to go with a superb finish, Kirovski will look to add another trophy to his collection.

Escondido, California is where Jovan Kirovski was brought into the world, on March 18, 1976. With a population of 147,514, Escondido is a major city in the San Diego North County region, and one of the oldest in the county altogether.

Near Escondido is the San Diego Wild Animal Park, showing beasts of burden and endangered wildlife in open habitat. Valley Center, located north of the city, is home to a number of farms and wineries, and the Valley View Casino, operated by the San Pasqual Band of Diegueno Mission Indians. Some of the best avocados in the world can be found in Valley Center.

Stone Brewing Company, known for their Arrogant Bastard Ale, operates in the Quail Hills area of town. For those who want a little peace of mind, the Deer Park Monastery is home to 27 Buddhist monks and nuns and holds a variety of events and retreats.

Famous people from Escondido include "The Big Unit" a.k.a. baseball pitcher Randy Johnson, ESPN broadcaster Sean Salisbury, musician J.J. Cale and MySpace founder Tom Anderson.

Jovan Kirovski began his playing career as a member of Manchester United in 1992, and is the first American to have signed with the Red Devils. In 1996, he led the reserve team in scoring, and could have been a fixture on the first team with a man by the name of David Beckham, but work permit regulations prevented such an opportunity to happen.

Bureaucracy can be as cruel as sport itself. Undeterred, Kirovski signed with Borussia Dortmund, and appeared in 20 matches for the first side. Although he was used sparingly during his time with the Borussians, Kirovski helped energize the atmosphere at Signal Iduna Park (then named the Westfalenstadion) en route to a 3-1 UEFA Champions League Final victory over Juventus in 1997 at Munich's Olympiastadion and a 2-0 Intercontinental Cup victory over Cruzeiro later that year.

He made some more history as the first American player to score in the Champions League, a goal in a 3-0 shutout win over Steaua Bucureşti on October 16, 1996.

(NOTE: the Los Angeles Galaxy web site incorrectly mentioned on Kirovski's profile that his goal came in a 3-0 win over Sparta Prague on 12/10/96. This has been corrected to reflect the results from RSSSF.)

Kirovski also spent time playing for Fortuna Köln, making 23 appearances for the side. After playing in Germany, he had a brief spell at Sporting Lisbon (five appearances) before signing with Crystal Palace. During his time with the Eagles at Selhurst Park, Kirovski scored five goals in 36 appearances.

In 2002, Kirovski wrapped up his time in England with a two-year contract at Birmingham City. However, he was only able to manage 23 appearances for the Blues. In 2004, he began his career as a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Finally, the time spent on the pitch would increase. And with it, his time with the U.S. National Team. While he played three matches for the U-23 national team at the 1996 Summer Olympics, it was his time with the senior national team that Jovan Kirovski is known for. As of April 12, 2010, Kirovski has scored nine goal in 62 appearances for the Stars and Stripes.

In 2004, he scored eight times with the Galaxy to finish second in goals that season for the club. He started 23 of his 24 appearances, playing 1,984 match minutes. (The number is also the author's birth year, but the author digresses.)

Named to the MLS All-Star Team, Kirovski earned his first-ever MLS goal against the New England Revolution on April 3 and added the first assist of his MLS career against the Colorado Rapids on April 17, 2004.

In 2005, he played 24 matches for the Galaxy, scoring four goals and assists apiece. However, Kirovski was denied an opportunity to take part in the MLS Cup celebrations in Frisco as he was traded to the Rapids on September 13.

From 2005 through 2008, Kirovski scored 12 goals in 61 appearances. He was then traded in 2008 to the San Jose Earthquakes, where he made nine appearances. But his season was cut short due to injury. Kirovski could only manage an MLS career-low 154 minutes and one start for the Quakes, who proceeded to trade him back to the Galaxy in November.

In a December friendly against the Oceania All-Stars, Kirovski scored the match's opening goal. It was a nice return to the G's line-up, and it set the stage for an impressive return to fitness.

Last season, Kirovski appeared in 22 matches for Los Angeles, and paced the Galaxy to their 2-0 win over Oiti Trinita of the Japanese J.League in February's Pan-Pacific Championship. He also played all 120 minutes of the 2009 MLS Cup against Real Salt Lake, but saw his penalty kick saved by Nick Rimando.

It was a moment of disappointment whose bad taste was still felt. It's a motivation that drives him to redeem himself this season with the Galaxy.

In a match with the Houston Dynamo on June 5, 2010, Kirovski's brace was evidence that his motivation to win the MLS Cup has never been higher than it is right now.

Avast, ye mateys. Steer clear of Jovan Kirovski, or this pirate will make sure ye walk the plank while yer postseason hopes are still hanging in the balance!

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The Houston Dynamo thought they would have an easier go-around with Edson Buddle and Landon Donovan doing national team work. After all, it was only a 2-0 defeat at Robertson Stadium.

Guess they didn't take into account that there were other players not named Edson or Landon that were just as dangerous. Case in point: Jovan Kirovski. How do you do?!

The No. 9 was doing just fine as the Los Angeles Galaxy kept their Supporters' Shield chances on line and the Dynamo's chances to chase the MLS's best team off line in a 4-1 rout before 20,826 at the Home Depot Center in prime time.

Kirovski's first goal of the season against the Seattle Sounders earlier this year was a sign of things to come after all. Just 46 seconds into the match, the Galaxy forward finished off a crisp set of touches from Michael Stephens and Sean Franklin. His second goal of the campaign set the tone for the rest of the match.

Kirovski, Franklin and Stephens connected twenty minutes later to make the score 2-1. By that point, even casual armchair fans knew that this Houston Dynamo team were a spent bunch.

Having to eat humble pie at the hands of the Philadelphia Union to go with a road defeat to the New York Red Bulls must have done quite a job on the ability of Dominic Kinnear's players to stay focused.

As for Bruce Arena's Galaxy (10-0-2, 32 points), their superior fitness and speed were apparent yet again. Tristan Bowen—who had an opportunity to capitalize on a number of chances in the open space of Houston's half—scored his second of the season in the 49th minute.

The Brazilian from Sao Paulo, "Ay Ziggy Zoomba" Alex Cazumba (that's my nickname for him, for more information on the words, contact your local Bowling Green State University representative) opened his own scoring account in the 56th minute of play. By the way, Tristan is Alex's official interpreter, as seen in this vid.

The match was nothing short of total domination. Brian Ching proved to the congregation why he was undeserving of a shot to represent his country at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He only had one shot that threatened Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, and that was in the 30th minute.

Otherwise, Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad was put on the spot without notice. He didn't fail to show his frustrations when LA went ahead 3-1.

It was clean, technical football that won this match. Take advantage of the discrepancies in match fitness, use short and intermediate passes to open the lanes, make use of the first touch, and accelerate through the gaps opened by the Dynamo defense inside their own third to finish the play. Clean, technical football.

Thus, the Los Angeles Galaxy bounced the Dynamo to further their hold on the MLS Western Conference and overall standings. And speaking of bounces...

INS & OUTS

On The Continuing Adventures of Edson and Landon

Who ever thought that Edson Buddle would have his best game donning the USA national team's strip? It's only his fourth cap, and Buddle has already made quite a bouncing splash with a brace in the Yanks' 3-1 rout of Australia.

This is payback for the USA's 1-0 defeat to Australia in a 1992 friendly, as well as the scoreless draw in 1998.

Two explanations behind the 20,000 plus

1. It was fan appreciation day at the Home Depot Center. Tickets were as low as $10, similar to that of a non-league match. Talk about value!

2. Mario was in town. That's right everyone, Mario was in town. (Along with voice actor Charles Martinet) Everyone got to see the plumber take a break from setting things straight via the Starship Mario and the Mushroom Kingdom and stop by the Starship Galaxy (a.k.a. Home Depot Center).

At least we all know who Mario's favorite team is...and it ain't the New York Red Bulls. (The Red Bulls aren't even based out of Brooklyn to begin with)

Chicken Theif Number Three: Cam Weaver

In one of the most unusual goals the G's have given up, Cam Weaver's seventh minute slider off a collision makes him Chicken Theif Number Three this season. Congratulations.

It wasn't as much a green way robbery as it was a gift by Ricketts for coming off his line and gambling on a charging save opportunity. Instead, he crashed into Weaver, and the ball slid into the goal for Houston's only score of the game.

It's a wager that the Big Cat from Montego Bay would be wise to not try again.

Youth Academy Update

It was a hit-and-miss outing for the LA Galaxy Youth Academy against Arsenal FC at the John Blanche Memorial Soccer Complex. The U-16's fell to Arsenal 1-0, but the U-18's fared much better with a 3-1 victory.

The Youth Academy will wrap up their 2009-2010 regular season campaign with a Sunday match with the Irvine Strikers at Field 7 of the Home Depot Center. The U-16's face Irvine at 1:00 p.m. while the U-18's clash with Irvine at 3:15 p.m. Bring your friends, the neighbors, yourself, or anyone with a penchant for the young stars of the LA Galaxy Youth Academy. It will be a twofer worth taking.

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T-180 minutes to kickoff: I wanted to start this P-B-P with a little synopsis of the game "Super Mario Galaxy 2" for the Nintendo Wii. Spoilers abound for the plot, but not for the gameplay.

Princess Peach invites Mario to the Star Festival, a time when Star Bits rain down from the skies over the Mushroom Kingdom. On his way, Mario finds a Luma, who immediately befriends him and grants him the ability to spin.

Shortly thereafter, Mario's archnemesis Bowser, who has grown to an immense size, invades and attacks the Mushroom Kingdom. Kidnapping the princess, Bowser escapes into outer space to create his empire at the center of the universe again.

T-170: After launching into outer space, Mario is given control of Starship Mario, a mobile planetoid in the shape of his head, made by a crafty Luma mechanic called Lubba, powered by Power Stars, and piloted by other Lumas.

His mission is to fly across the universe in pursuit of Bowser and the Princess and to help Lubba find the lost Lumas that were part of Bowser's plot. Along the way Mario meets new Lumas and joins up with his companion Yoshi.

T-160: Upon collecting enough Power Stars, Starship Mario reaches Bowser's main fortification, draining energy from what appears to be a comet.

Mario infiltrates the castle and defeats Bowser, but is forced to retreat when Bowser reappears; Mario then ultimately defeats him and lands on a small flower-covered planetoid before Princess Peach, riding the Grand Star, comes down and thanks him.

Together, they return to Starship Mario, where everyone is looking at the comet that Bowser was siphoning energy from.

T-150: Suddenly, it transforms into the Comet Observatory from the first Super Mario Galaxy, and Rosalina is heard thanking Mario for watching over the Luma that he had found.

The Luma returns to the Comet Observatory, taking Mario's cap with him, before the Comet Observatory transforms into a comet and leaves.

Eventually, Mario and his companions return to the Mushroom Kingdom, where a large cake stands in front of Peach's Castle and Starship Mario sits in the sky above. THE END.

T-140: However, it didn't take into account that after Mario and company went back to the castle, Lubba and the other Luma denizens on Starship Mario (as well as the people in the Mushroom Kingdom) decided to go watch a game of football here aboard the Starship Victoria, a.k.a. the Home Depot Center.

T-130: The game in question is today's contest featuring the Los Angeles Galaxy and Houston Dynamo, which is sponsored by the game Super Mario Galaxy 2, and which was a dirty, cheeky way to segue to this P-B-P.

T-120: The Dynamo will be hoping to turn their fortunes around. They are lingering at 5-5-1, and a humbling 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Union has Dominic Kinnear's club looking for answers.

T-115: Just to make matters worse, the Dynamo lost to the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday 2-1.

T-110: As for the Galaxy, they are 9-0-2 and will look for win No. 10 on the season to kick off the month of June.

T-100: Houston's next three matches will include a June 26 home match with the Colorado Rapids, a July 1 meeting with Toronto FC at BMO Field and a July 10 home date with the Columbus Crew, who the Galaxy defeated 2-0 last week.

T-90: As for the Galaxy, their next three matches include a June 9 road contest with Real Salt Lake, a June 26 trip to BMO to take on Toronto and an Independence Day match with Seattle Sounders FC. Heads-up there; due to convention work, expect a preview of that match a few hours after I post my take on the proceedings at TFC.

T-70: Line-ups:

T-60: An hour to go. Plug time: later this weekend, be sure check out the next edition of the "View from the Pali," the new section in the View from Victoria Street. This Saturday, the Pali Blues Soccer Club face the Santa Clarita Blue Heat at the World Famous Stadium by the Sea.

T-50: Our match referee is Paul Ward. Linesmen are Sean Hurd and Eric Boria. Alejandro Mariscal is our fourth official.

T-45: Also earlier this week, the San Jose Earthquakes tied the Columbus Crew 2-2. Other MLS contests this weekend include Toronto FC vs. Kansas City Wizards, New York Red Bulls vs. Chivas USA, D.C. United vs. Real Salt Lake, Chicago Fire vs. Philadelphia Union, FC Dallas vs. the Quakes, Colorado Rapids vs. the Crew and the Seattle Sounders vs. New England Revolution.

T-40: Speaking of Los Revs, I do express my best wishes to Preston Burpo as he makes his slow recovery from that horrific broken leg against the New York Red Bulls.

T-30: The short passes and the counterattack will be LA's bread and butter today, but for best results, keeping Brian Ching in check will guarantee that the Galaxy puts a chokehold on the competition. (I admit, my alliteration is abhorrent.)

T-25: No plushies today. Up until today, I generally bring a plushie from my collection of curios for good luck. However, I want to test and see if it will not make much difference regarding the outcome (i.e. the Galaxy win or draw). Stay tuned.

T-20: Edson Buddle and Omar Gonzalez are one caution away from suspended for the next game. Suspended this week include Chivas USA's Zach Thornton, KC's Davy Arnaud, and Toronto FC's Leo Percovich and Martin Saric.

T-15: Congrats to Edson for his brace against Australia and to former Galaxy ace Herculez Gomez for his insurance strike against the Socceroos.

T-10: Parade of Champions. To youth, once again.

T-3: Charles Martinet, a.k.a. the Voice of Mario, extends his greetings.

T-0: First, we hold a moment of silence for John Wooden. Rest in peace. Our national anthem is performed by Claudia Ruano.

1' - And we are off. The Galaxy will look to set the tempo early.

1' - GOAL! Los Angeles Galaxy 9 Jovan Kirovski Assists 28 Sean Franklin and 26 Michael Stephens

Excellent delivery on the cross for Kirovski. And suddenly, the G's are setting the pace early, as I anticipated. Houston will be on their heels. What a start.

3' - Set piece time. Pat Onstad saves that shot by Juninho.

4' - Here's Craig Waibel. Bowen lost control on that counter.

5' - Who amongst the Dynamo will be the self-anointed Chicken Thief Number Three? Stay tuned as Brad Davis sets the pace for Houston.

7' GOAL! Houston Dynamo 15 Cam Weaver

Ouch. Poor Cam Weaver. He may be the one that steals the chicken today, but not without a price. But that was terrible defending by Ricketts. It's a freak goal of the worst proportions, and this is going make it a game.

9' - So much for the shutout. Set piece. That's cleared.

10' - At least Weaver didn't break his leg like Preston Burpo. This is going to give Houston some momentum.

12' - Tristan Bowen didn't have enough space and angle on that chance. He'll need to work on that.

13' - Oh no, Mario is at it again. Where the heck is Bowser when you need him!?

14' - Good turnout today.

15' - Short passing will work. Here comes Houston on the counterattack 46 seconds...third fastest goal in club history, the Kirovski strike.

17' - Corner for LA after Bowen is marked.

18' - This is Juninho. deflected. And another Dynamo player is down. It's Bobby Bosworth suffering a shot to the gut by Juninho.

19' - Great speed by Eddie Robinson.

20' - Lovel Palmer has impressed the Dynamo camp this year. A former trialist, Palmer is making a splash. Goal kick Ricketts.

Robinson intercepts the pass by Alex Cazumba, but here come the G's again!

21' GOAL! Los Angeles Galaxy 9 Jovan Kirovski Assists 28 Sean Franklin and 26 Michael Stephens

And LA retakes the lead. Maybe the FO will be fine not trading Kirovski after all, as some denizens on BigSoccer were alluding to.

22' - Now that was an interesting clearance.

23' - Alex Cazumba, pursuant to the issue.

24' - That's a good tactic right there. And this is who I will highlight in the next installment of "This Is the Los Angeles Galaxy."

25' - Not a good shot by Palmer. Goal kick.

26' - This is a free-flowing game, Good tackle by Waibel.

27' - Ambitious one-time by Bowen. Just missed wide right.

28' - Wave after wave of attacking looks are the G's calling card this half.

29' - Todd Dunivant, highlight on the most recent edition of "This Week Inside The Galaxy" on YouTube (do check it out), with the throw-in.

30' - Here's Weaver again. Great save by Ricketts on the shot by Brian Ching. Little bit of redemption.

31' - This is Gregg Berhalter. His pass to Kirovski is kept in check by Robinson.

32' - Onstad learning a lesson from the Burpo incident by staying on his line.

33' - Houston will look to equalize and make this a match again. Galaxy reset possession.

34' - Waibel is holding Alex Cazumba's touches late this half. Excellent.

35' - Danny Cruz could have made it 2-2 if that pass to Ching was right on the money.

36' - Houston go back on the attack. Sportsmanlike act by Bowen on Waibel. Respect for your fellow player. Class act.

37' - Back come the Dynamo. Here's a chance for Andrew Hainault. No one in the vicinity. Goal kick.

38' - More than 100 viewing parties in the Southland for the World Cup. Good times, good times.

39' - The WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks will be playing later tonight on a outdoor court outside of the stadium. Oh, that was nearly 3-1, but Tristan Bowen got held up.

40' - Rough challenge by Ching. "US Reject!" chant the Angel City Brigade. To their defense...they do have a point. Set piece saved by Onstad. Goal kick.

41' - Dubious pass inside the box by Cazumba. Nonetheless, here he goes again. And Tristan Bowen, boy did he want that one. Trial and error here.

42' - That's Hainault with the dispossession. Birchall will want that pass back.

43' - Close to the end of the first half, and that shot by Bowen had 3-1 written all over it. He'll want that one back. A lesson well learned.

44' - "So here aboard the Starship Galaxy we have our own laboratory: a football pitch." - Lubba

45' - Three minutes of stoppage time. Corner for the Dynamo. Goal kick for Ricketts. That was a horrible corner.

45' + 1' - Good work by Boswell and Hainault teaming up to stop the feed by Juninho in the G's attacking third.

45' + 2' - Goal kick Ricketts.

45' + 3' - One more set piece from Houston before the half.

Halftime whistle blows. Good one we have. It's 2-1 heading into the break.

In other action, New York leads Chivas USA 1-0, D.C. United and Real Salt Lake are scoreless, Chicago leads Philadelphia 1-0, FC Dallas and San Jose are scoreless and so are Colorado and Columbus.

Earlier today, Toronto and Kansas City played to a scoreless draw.

Shots
Los Angeles Galaxy 7
Houston Dynamo 6

Shots on Goal
Los Angeles Galaxy 4
Houston Dynamo 2

Saves
Los Angeles Galaxy 1
Houston Dynamo 2

Fouls
Los Angeles Galaxy 9
Houston Dynamo 6

Corner Kicks
Los Angeles Galaxy 2
Houston Dynamo 0

Offsides
Los Angeles Galaxy 0
Houston Dynamo 0

46' - The second half is underway. Consolidation or Equalization? That is the question.

47' - Goal kick for Ricketts. The Big Cat from Montego Bay draws everyone forward.

48' - Back come the Dynamo. And that was a horrid pass by Corey Ashe.

49' - GOAL! Los Angeles Galaxy 17 Tristan Bowen.

Pat Onstad is having an long, ugly day, as Mr. Jimmy Watson from Fox Sports West put it. Things have gotten from bad to worse for Houston. Finally the goal comes for Bowen. It's his second of the season.

50' - This Galaxy team got the three goals I was calling for. Maybe the margin will come next?

51' - Foul on Brad Davis. Dubious pass in the Dynamo half. The Men in Orange will need to organize better. The Riot Squad get some face time.

53' - For the record, I beat the game, Super Mario Galaxy 2. Fantastic stuff.

54' - Here is Hainault. The pass to Ashe went south. Goal kick.

55' - Uh, guys, you're on camera...

56' - Here come the Dynamo again. Whoops.

GOAL! Los Angeles Galaxy 88 Alex Cazumba

Ay Ziggy Zoomba, Alex Cazumba! Houston, we have a problem.
Cazumba opens his scoring account. Excellent goal streaking from the left side, and what a way to add to the lead.

58' - Cazumba had space to make that shot, and that's the Brazilliance we've been expecting from him. Goal kick Ricketts.

59' - Substitution Houston Dynamo

IN
23 Dominic Oduro
9 Brian Mullan

OUT
5 Danny Cruz
16 Craig Waibel

60' - Pure sympathy, Paul Ward. Smooth move, Ex Lax.

Yellow card 16 Gregg Berhalter
Los Angeles Galaxy

61' - Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 7 Chris Klein
OUT 19 Juninho

62' - Here they come...no penalty called. Is Wardsy being sympathetic here? One would think that was a spot kick opportunity.

63' - Bowen was looking for a foul over the top. No dice.

64' - A little square dancing by Dominic Oduro on Tristan Bowen. Wait a sec, this is no time for a hoedown! But it sure looks like it's time for a beatdown. Already in progress.

65' - Sean Franklin with the throw-in.

66' - Great defense by LA. The backline double-marked Ching, and it paid off.

67' - Awww, was that going to be Burpo revisited? Whew! Glad that was offsides.

68' - Substitution Houston Galaxy
IN 8 Brian Mullan
OUT 11 Brad Davis

69' - Ricketts REALLY went off her line there. He's all right, though. The Brigade jumps as one unit.

70' - Too long for Chris Klein.

Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 84 Clint Mathis
OUT 9 Jovan Kirovski

71' - Here's Bowen. He is marked, and the Galaxy rotates the possession. Questionable pass for Cazumba.

72' - Wildfires outside? I can see some haze from where I am sitting.

73' - Corner for Houston. Wide left. Goal kick for Ricketts.

74' - As I suspected, Paul Ward is as sympathetic as they come to the Dynamo in terms of officiating. No penalty.

75' - Solid save by Ricketts. Angel City Brigade chants "Buffalo Soldier," a Bob Marley standard.

76' - Back comes Houston. Here comes a corner. Final scores: New York 1, Chivas USA 0 and DC United settle for a scoreless draw with Real Salt Lake. Side netting for Robinson. Goal kick Ricketts.

77' - Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 20 A.J. De La Garza
OUT 16 Gregg Berhalter

78' - Houston will look to throw everything and the kitchen sink. The pace will accelerate as we wrap this baby up. Looks like I didn't need the plushies today. This shows you how impressive the Galaxy have played.

79' - Attendance for the match is 20,826. Nice turnout. Perhaps it was because Mario was there? Textbook marking by Brian Mullan on Bowen.

80' - Bowen will need to sharpen his passing just a little bit more. But so far, he's doing his job.

81' - Another good save by Ricketts to haul that in.

82' - Bowen had a lot of chances today. There's another that just went by him.

83' - We are 83 minutes into this affair, and braces by Kirovski combined with goals by Bowen and Cazumba have made this a 4-1 contest.

84' - Houston look a tired bunch.

85' - Dunivant calls on his men to take some time off this clock and wrap this up.

86' - Throw-in for Omar Gonzalez.

87' - That was not the best cross from Chris Klein.

88' - Fans are leaving the stadium, having seen enough. Goal kick for Ricketts. This Dynamo side just gave up.

89' - "Undefeated!" chant the ACB. Just short passes now from the Galaxy, maybe to consolidate the score in vain, who knows. FC Dallas now leads San Jose 2-0.

90' - How many minutes, Alejandro Mariscal? Three.

90' + 3' - That is a wrap.

Stay tuned for my take on this match on Bleacher Report and The View From Victoria Street.

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It should come as no surprise that in the nine games Sinisa Ubiparipovic has started this season, the Red Bulls have six wins.

Ubiparipovic, a three year veteran in MLS, has come into this season on a roll, showing some dazzling dribbling skills and excellent passing, which has helped the Red Bulls greatly on the counter attack.

The University of Akron product had shown flashes of talent over his previous three years with the Red Bulls after they drafted him in the third round of the 2007 draft, but he never displayed the ability to open up passing lanes and dribble through traffic on a consistent basis.

But in this season alone he has made defenders fear him with his hypnotizing runs more than in any of his past seasons.

While his play might not always show up in the stat sheet, he has set up many offensive opportunities for the Red Bulls this season, and he has scored two goals, one in the US Open Cup qualifying match against New England and in the Red Bulls' last MLS game against Houston, which helped break a four game losing streak.

One example of Sinisa being a playmaker on offense was against the Colorado Rapids in the US Open Cup.

Ubiparipovic received a pass in the center of the field, dribbled forward, got around one defender, and as he ran forward again, drew the attention from two defenders, which opened up space for a pass.

The pass went to Irving Garcia, who sent a low cross to John Wolyniec, whose extended leg poked the ball into the net.

Of course in soccer there are no assists for the pass before the pass as in hockey, but certainly that chance was set up and created by Ubiparipovic.

Another example of his excellent play was against the Houston Dynamo in MLS play.

Ubiparipovic began the game in the middle of the field, but after an injury to right midfielder Dane Richards, he moved over, and on many an occasion he streaked down the right wing with or without the ball, taking on defenders or opening up space for his teammates.

The development—and now it seems finished product—that is Sinisa Ubiparipovic is no doubt one of the big reasons that the Red Bulls are currently in second place in the MLS Eastern Conference, with 18 points from six wins and five losses. 

Their six wins have now surpassed last year's win total.

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Finally, the losing streak is over! After losing the last four games, Juan Pablo Angel's free-kick in the waning seconds of the second half lifted the New York Red Bulls to a 2-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo. With their sixth win of the season, they have surpassed last year's win total.

On a night when fans and reporters alike were ready to facebook, twitter, blog, recap Juan Pablo's missed opportunities and question his abilities, he reminded all why he's the captain of the Red Bulls. His blast stunned Houston's GK, Pat Onstad, and sent both the Empire Supporters Club and Red Bull fans into a state of frenzy.

All night long, the Empire Supporters Club led the fans in cheers and chants. Even in the two back-to-back home losses to the Seattle Sounders and the Columbus Crew, the ESC have done their part in keeping the rest of the home fans involved. Tonight, they took their enthusiasm into another level as they transformed Red Bull Arena into a playoff atmosphere environment.

Prior to tonight's hard-fought match with Houston, the Red Bulls had failed to capitalize on their opportunities for the past three games in which they were in position to win/tie each contest. As a result, their past three opponents cashed in on late goals, three Red Bulls shots on goals hitting the post, and two player ejections.

The Red Bulls struck first when Sinisa Ubiparipovic scored his first goal of the season in the 15th minute of the game. Throughout the first half, the Red Bulls dictated the tempo of the game but like the past three games, they weren't able to produce more goals. Nothing was more evident of this when team captain Juan Pablo Angel failed to capitalize on two separate occasions.

In the second half, the Red Bulls continued to play aggressively and put pressure on Houston's goalkeeper, Pat Onstad. Along with the team's cohesive ball movement, defenders Tim Ream, Mike Petke, and Chris Albright disrupted Houston's flow. Despite the trio's efforts, Houston eventually achieved a breakthrough in the 65th minute in the form of a Brian Ching equalizing goal.

To make matters difficult, the officials issued eight yellow cards and called a total of 25 fouls on both teams. Despite the officiating, both teams continued to play aggressively and challenge each other's goalkeepers.

Red Bulls GK Bouna Coundoul played exceptionally well as he made key saves in the second half and allowed one goal. His counterpart, Houston's GK Pat Onstad, played just as well, if not better. As the match was reaching it's conclusion, it appeared Onstad had Juan Pablo's number until the Red Bulls were awarded a free kick.

With the players in set formation, Juan Pablo delivered his strike and Onstad read the direction of the ball well. As Onstad heroically lunged to block Juan Pablo's strike, he made the mistake of mistiming the kick. As the ball sailed past him, all Onstad could do was watch in disbelief as Juan Pablo was mobbed by his teammates.

With tonight's win, the Red Bulls (6-5) are now in second place of the Eastern Conference and face struggling Chivas USA (3-7-1) on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at Red Bull Arena at 7:30pm, ET.

The Houston Dynamo (5-6-1) now fly out to California where they will face the undefeated Los Angeles Galaxy (9-0-2) on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at the Home Depot Center at 10pm, ET.

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

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One Great Season (http://onegreatseason.com/ ) is proud to announce it will be covering World Cup 2010 from start to finish. Group previews begin Thursday and, once the games begin, they plan to update at least twice daily with match coverage, analysis, and other news and notes. Please take a moment to get to know the nine contributors who will make One Great Season the only online destination you'll need for outstanding World Cup coverage.

Jeremy Brown is a New York-based freelance writer. He's worked as a staff writer covering English and international soccer at Goal.com UK and has contributed to several publications over the years, including the New York Post , Scientific American , Seed , Entertainment Weekly , Draft and Star . On Sundays, he can be found groggily galumphing around not-always-trash-strewn pitches in the city's Cosmopolitan League, thankful that he never tried to go pro (because, man, that looks an awful lot like running). Jeremy will be covering Group B, which is made up of Argentina, Greece, Nigeria, and South Korea.

Mike Dick 's fascination with soccer began with Pele's arrival in the now-defunct North American Soccer League (NASL). Living in a virtual soccer vaccuum in Terre Haute, Ind., Mike's love of the game grew via broadcasts of Soccer Made in Germany , BBC World Service football coverage on shortwave radio, and the occasional live match. He witnessed the magnificent play of Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Best, and others in person during the NASL days. Frequently attending Indianapolis Daredevils matches as part of the Amercan Soccer League, he also had the privilege to see an aged Eusebio ending his career à la Willie Mays. A former college goalkeeper, Mike enjoyed the 2006 World Cup in Munich, Berlin and Frankfurt. He supports Nottingham Forest and considers himself to be "the special one" when it comes to prowess on the barstool. Mike, a television producer in Louisville, Ky., will cover Group E (Cameroon, Denmark, Japan, and the Netherlands).

Ben Jackey is an Emmy Award-winning former television news journalist from Louisville, Ky. He is a soccer addict, despite not following the game until World Cup 2002. Since then, he has traveled to watch and cover the United States Men's National Team and was producing a soccer documentary before he left the TV business this year. He is an avid supporter of Aston Villa FC of the English Premiership and may be the only person on the planet with cornhole boards adorned with the Villa crest. Up the Villa! Outside of the soccer world, Ben says he is fun at parties and a great dancer. Now a communications specialist in Louisville, he will cover Group G (Brazil, Ivory Coast, North Korea, and Portugal).

Having played soccer in some form, fashion or level, continually for 28 years and in six countries—with teammates and competitors hailing from more than 50 nations—no other game could have given Mike Marshall an enlightening perspective, both on the human condition and how it might be changed for the better. With interests in history, international relations, anthropology, and design, Mike finds time for kick-ups whenever possible. Professionally, he is the principal behind Marshall Arts, a graphic design and other creative works company. Mike will be covering Group F (Italy, New Zealand, Paraguay, and Slovakia).

Mike Mudd , an assistant sports editor at the Louisville Courier-Journal , is a lifelong competitive soccer player, coach, and fan. His claim to fame was making the second-team Indiana All-State level in high school in Jeffersonville, Ind. Mudd covered college soccer while a student at Ball State University in the early 1990s. He is frequently asked about the time he scored four goals in a varsity match twenty years ago. Mudd has watched every World Cup since 1986 and roots more for South American soccer than European, though he has a soft spot in his heart for England. Mike can be followed on Twitter @mudd4goals . He will cover Group C (Algeria, England, Slovenia, and the United States).

Wade Murray learned to play soccer at an early age while growing up in Iowa. He was a Division III All-American player at Luther College and then played semi-professionally in Minnesota and New York. His favorite national team is the U.S., of course, but on the club level he roots for Everton . Wade is currently a digital marketing professional in New York City, and his favorite player is Cristiano Ronaldo. Wade thinks Ronaldo is "simply the smoothest son of a (expletive)" he's ever seen, although "he dives waaaay too much." Wade will cover Group A (France, Mexico, South Africa, and Uruguay).

Bruce Sholl started playing pickup soccer as a kid on the dirty streets of Toledo, Ohio. He then went on to captain the Upper Arlington Golden Bears in Columbus, and he started for the men's club team of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He currently plays for The Barnstonworth Rovers third team, a New York City club group. Along with being a fan of his hometown Columbus Crew , he has traveled abroad to play and watch, most notably the Man U vs. Man City Derby in 2008 and the Espanyol vs. Villarreal match this year. His aggressive style of play has translated well to the pub when excitedly watching matches and head-butting fellow fans. Bruce, a retail marketing specialist, is on the general assignment beat.

Steve Susi is founder and chief creative officer of Brand Spanking New York, a NYC branding and creative consultancy. Steve has attended numerous Premiership matches over the past two decades—most of which involving his beloved (yet hapless) West Ham Hammers . He attended the 2006 World Cup in Germany (watch the video) and is a devout Ohio State and all-teams-Cleveland fanatic. Steve will spend the second week of World Cup 2010 watching the national teams of Germany, Holland, Denmark and England at pubs located in those countries' respective capital cities, and he will be reporting/photographing the proceedings for One Great Season. Check out brandspankingnewyork.com for more about Steve and follow him on Twitter at @brandspankingny . He'll be covering Group D (Australia, Germany, Ghana, and Serbia).

Jake Yadrich has worked in the video production industry since 2004, spending more than five years as a videotape editor for FOX 4 News in Kansas City. While at FOX 4 , he and the station's film critic earned acclaim at the 2009 and 2010 Los Angeles Press Club National Entertainment Journalism Awards for their weekly interview segments with Hollywood's biggest stars. In January 2010, Jake obtained what he considers a dream job in becoming the head of video operations for the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer . Jake avidly roots for his favorite team, Barcelona , and he brings an industry insider perspective to One Great Season's coverage of the 2010 World Cup. Jake will be covering Group H (Chile, Honduras, Spain, and Switzerland).

Check out all this in-depth World Cup 2010 coverage at http://onegreatseason.com/ .

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After a promising opening season in 2009 where the chips basically fell into place, Seattle Sounders fans became rocked by the team’s current inability to score goals and win games against Western Conference rivals.

The Sounder faithful need to step back and consider what was being said before last Saturday’s contest at Colorado.  It was mentioned that last year’s edition of the Rapids fell barely short of qualifying for the MLS playoffs.

The team that edged out the Coloradans did so on the strength of goals scored.  It is interesting to note which team that was and how it acquitted itself thereafter.

It was Real Salt Lake that barely scratched its way into the playoffs just ahead of Colorado by earning the fifth spot.

What happened to the Utah squad?

It fought its way into the MLS Cup championship match against the L.A. Galaxy and emerged with the title following its win on the Xbox pitch of Qwest Field.

Real Salt Lake proved a point.  The MLS season is far from a sprint.  It is instead a marathon.

At the end of that marathon the important second season begins, the playoffs.  The Utah team jelled at just the right time and a championship resulted.

The Sounders have two more games left before the World Cup break.  The bad news is that the team is 3-5-3 with 12 points, with only four having been secured in its last six starts.

The potentially good news is that, whereas the Sounders have not tasted victory thus far against a Western Conference rival, the last two contests before the World Cup break involve Eastern Conference rivals.

Consider also that Seattle has a chance to benefit from a little home cooking, with the final two games being scheduled at Qwest Field against the New England Revolution and D.C. United respectively.  By winning both times, the Sounders at break time would be at the .500 mark with a 5-5-3 ledger and 18 points.

The last time the Sounders played on the Xbox pitch was the friendly last Wednesday against highly regarded Boca Juniors of Buenos Aires.  That game came on the heels of the most disappointing loss of the season—along with an earlier 4-0 home loss against first place Los Angeles—a 1-0 shutout at the hands of the San Jose Earthquakes.

The Sounders team that took the field last Wednesday played at a pace that exceeded the preceding game against San Jose.

What accounted for the difference?  There was a strong motivation factor to make up for the earlier disappointment.

Fredy Montero, whose solid kick provided Roger Levesque with an opportunity to chest in the evening’s first goal of a 3-0 triumph, had a ready answer as to why the team started so fast.

“We wanted to win for our fans,” Montero explained, “especially after the disappointing loss on Saturday against San Jose.”

Saturday evening at 7:30 the New England Revolution will supply the opposition.  Seattle has additional incentive beyond that already discussed.

New England, 3-6-3 with 11 points and a win over the New York Red Bulls in the Revolution’s most recent outing, has never yielded a point to the Emerald City contingent.

New England prevailed twice against the Sounders in 2009 action.  Seattle would love some immediate payback.

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In last year's final meeting between the Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles Galaxy, the lights went out for what seemed to be forever—30 minutes, to be exact.

While Gregg Berhalter and Landon Donovan paced the Galaxy late in extra time to a 2-0 win over the Houston Dynamo, one can only hope that the lighting problem will not be an issue on Saturday at the Home Depot Center.

“It’s a huge win for us to get it on the road against an undefeated team,” Galaxy midfielder Michael Stephens told MLSsoccer.com after their 2-0 victory over the Columbus Crew. “They’re not in our conference but it’s still a very important win for us and it keeps us unbeaten... so it’s a good thing to get the win.”

Los Angeles are the only team unbeaten in Major League Soccer, with a 9-0-2 record. The Galaxy are nine points clear of the Crew for the overall lead (in spite of the Crew having two games in hand) and 10 clear of Real Salt Lake for the top spot in the MLS Western Conference standings.

As always, the defense has been critical to LA's torrid run in their 2010 Major League Soccer campaign.

“We didn’t necessarily talk about that,” Stephens said. “We’re a good defensive team and in games where we do get early goals we’ve shown we can hold onto those leads. It was great to get an early goal and top it off with another one late in the game.”

The Houston Dynamo are reeling from a 3-2 defeat to the Philadelphia Independence at Robertson Stadium last Saturday. And swing-man Brian Ching is looking for answers.

“This year, being 5-5, a lot of teams would probably take that, but with the history we’ve had, we are all embarrassed here,” Ching said after their loss to the Union. “I’m just frustrated. I shake my head at it. The energy level is not good enough.”

Whereas for the Galaxy, the energy has been more consistent, and it looks to intensify on Saturday.

“We’re a tough team to play against. The goals will come and we’ll be able to win games,” Stephens said. ”It’s more of a team thing than just losing (Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle to national team duty).

"Obviously they are two of our best players and produce a lot of goals but other guys are stepping up.”

“It’s all about wins here and the trophy at the end of the year,” Ching said on his team's prospects. “At this point in the season, [Houston] are looking like a team that won’t be competing for that trophy. It is up to us to turn things around.”

Brad Davis continues to lead the Dynamo with three goals and six assists. Dominic Oduro has contributed with two goals and three assists, and Brian Mullan is another deadly finisher. Look for the likes of Luis Landin, Eddie Robinson, and Mike Chabala to get involved in the action with some touches on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Pat Onstad has made 25 saves in 10 appearances for a 1.3 goals against average. His counterpart, Donovan Ricketts, has made 30 saves in 10 appearances for a 0.2 GAA.

Of all the Galaxy forwards that have played so far this season, Bryan Jordan is the only one that has yet to open his account. Nearly half of LA's players, save for the goalkeepers, have at least one to their record.

Tristan Bowen and Michael Stephens have proved to be a deadly combination. You could mistake them for a younger Buddlevan Connection. We'll call this the SteBo Special.

However, I like seeing another of the Galaxy players finish here, too. Look for the defense to do the work, and the midfielders to improve on their pass patterns. The electricity will be on tonight in the HDC, and so will the players.

The match will be televised at 5 p.m. (PT) on Galavision in Spanish and can be seen on tape delay at 10 p.m. on Fox Sports West in English.

Mr. Beckham meets the troops

David Beckham was on assignment over the Memorial Day weekend to visit a number of American troops stationed in Afghanistan. The First Marines Logistics Group gave Beckham a rousing welcome as he signed autographs, posed for photos, and met with the Wounded Warriors who were recovering from their scars in combat.

“I am a huge soccer fan," said Sgt. Tim Blodgett of North Carolina, "and meeting Beckham is a once in a lifetime experience for me.”

Chief Warrant Officer Vincent Endresen added, “This visit has been a tremendous morale boost for us and it shows Mr. Beckham genuinely cares about what is going on here and understands what we are trying to achieve.”

Memo, Mr. President: Give Mr. Beckham dual citizenship ASAP.


Youth Academy update

The Los Angeles Galaxy Youth Academy were on hand to showcase their talent in front of the masses at the Sarasota Polo Club over the weekend. They came away with four victories and two draws. Not bad.

On Friday, May 28, the Galaxy tied CASL Chelsea FC Academy 2-2. They followed that up with a 1-0 victory over NJSA 04's U-16 side on Sunday before wrapping their showcase with a 2-0 victory against Scott Gallagher Metro of St. Louis.

As for the U-18s, they also tied CASL Chelsea FC Academy 2-2 and followed the draw up with a 2-0 shutout of NJSA 04 and a 4-0 hammering of Scott Gallagher Metro.

The Galaxy Youth Academy wrap up their 2009-10 campaign with a June 5 contest against Arsenal FC. Kickoff for the U-16 contests is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., while the U-18 contest is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. Both matches will be held at the John Blanche Memorial Soccer Complex in Murrieta.

Directions:

From Los Angeles
I-15 South. Exit Winchester Road. Turn right (West). Turn Right (North) on Diaz Road. John Blanche Memorial Soccer Complex is located at the end of Diaz Road.

From San Diego
I-15 North. Exit Winchester Road. Turn left (West). Turn Right (North) on Diaz Road. John Blanche Memorial Soccer Complex is located at the end of Diaz Road.

The U-18s are currently fourth on the U-17/18 West Conference SoCal Division table with a 8-4-2 record. As for the U-16s, they sit sixth on the U-15/16 West Conference SoCal Division table with a 5-5-4 record.

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