I would typically sum up a US Men’s National Team game with a glass half-full vs. half-empty review.  Often, I’ll offer thoughts on New England Revolution games as well, focusing on what went right or wrong.  However, this time I’ll be taking a different direction.

Today, it’s all about perspective, both soccer-wise and otherwise.

For the US game, fans could talk about how José Torres was a revelation.  Or how Clint Dempsey can at times appear to coast along, but still come up with a clutch goal out of nowhere.  Or how the rust of inactivity was so thick on some of our players that they appeared not to see each other in midfield for the first 45 minutes.  Or how Robbie Findley, however imperfect, might just belong on this team.

But that isn’t what I am focused on.

The United States vs. Turkey game was a tale of two halves.  To keep it simple, from the US perspective the first half was a complete mess.  The second half was pretty good.  

At the end of the first half, fans are left wondering how badly the USA will be abused by England on July 12th in our first World Cup game.

At the end of the second half, fans are left with hope and excitement that with some more time to gel, a few lineup modifications, and some luck, we might have a good tournament.

Quite a change in perspectives 45 minutes can make.

Fans watched the USA’s “best eleven” look very ordinary.  But then, with the addition of some substitutions that fans either didn’t think belonged (Robbie Findley), didn’t think their coach would ever play (José Torres), or thought were riddled by injury/fitness problems (Oguchi Onyewu), we suddenly look like a team to be taken seriously.

Quite a change in perspectives created by a few substitutions.

US fans still wonder how such an up-and-down team will compete against our World Cup group, and especially England—the “world beaters” that they are.  Then we learn that during this very same weekend it took two own-goals for England to beat Japan, a good—but not stellar—team.

All of a sudden, the US chances are put back in perspective, and fans remember that on any given day the USA can beat (or lose to) any given team.

The New England Revolution’s win over the New York Red Bulls also offered lessons in perspective that were bigger, broader, and more poignant than those from the US game—even if the soccer-specific ones are a lot less important.

Fans could focus on the unmistakable fact that when Shalrie Joseph is on his game he is one of the best midfielders in MLS.  Fans could worry that despite the presence of a local “rival” and decent weather, only about 12,000 fans could be bothered to show up at Gillette Stadium.  Much surprise could be found in the idea that a makeshift backline of Pat Phelan and Joseph Niouky actually held things together. Revs fans could rejoice that a much needed victory was finally found and that perhaps the team would start to find its rhythm.   

But toward the end of the first half, a horrific injury to Revolution goalkeeper Preston Burpo made all of those topics seem very much secondary.  There were 22 men on the field who make their living by putting on this athletic show for us that we get to enjoy, talk about, complain about—and yes, blog about.

When you watch one of their careers get jeopardized in an instant, obvious, and violent (even if accidental) way it changes the way to feel about the connection to “your” team.  When you watch the reaction of some of the injured player's on-field family react by falling into a sobbing heap, you realize that there’s more than tactics, questionable calls, and a few points at stake.

Suddenly, you realize that a weekend full of soccer needs to be put back into perspective. 

Get well soon Preston.

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Sometimes a pre-match discussion scenario forecasts what will happen on the field and this was one of those occasions as Colorado Rapids scored a 1-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders.

Prior to Saturday night’s MLS matchup between the host Rapids and the visiting Sounders, an observation was made about forward Conor Casey that highlighted how the game was ultimately decided.

To paraphrase a famous saying, “Hell hath no fury like a prospective World Cup player scorned.”

Casey, a former Portland University flash named “Freshman of the Year”, had 2000 Olympic Games experience and was hopeful of landing on this year’s U.S. World Cup team.  Forecasters said that the sturdy, broad-shouldered Casey would have increasing motivation to show his worth as a star player in the upcoming MLS match against the Sounders.

In addition to the motivation factor, the warning was conveyed that here was a player due to reach the scoreboard.  Casey has scored three goals this season, but all were on penalty kicks.  It was the unfortunate destiny of the Emerald City squad to be in the path of a seemingly inevitable result, that of a key scorer finally producing a goal.

In a tug of war before a sellout crowd of 18,116 at Dick Sporting Goods Park, Casey achieved that elusive first regular action goal with one forward assault down the right side, as Sounders defender and recent signee Jeff Parke doggedly pursued.

Eventually, Parke fell to the ground amid the step by step race.

Casey had his chance.  In the manner of superb players, he capitalized, driving a shot from the top of the box into the far corner of the net for his fourth goal of the season, and his first from open play.

Once more, the forces of Coach Sigi Schmid were on the wrong side of a 1-0 score.  Also, as reminiscent of the past, there were scoring opportunities but no goals by the end of play.

At the 39 minute mark, Patrick Ianni had a scoring opportunity on a Fredy Montero cross.  The rebound fell to his feet.  Ianni delivered a blast from 18 yards out that sailed just wide of the far post.

In the 58th minute, just five minutes before Casey notched the evening’s only score, Steve Zakuani came close from the left side of the box.  His right-footed effort was deflected out by Marvell Wynne.

Two other kicks from Freddie Ljungerg and Fredy Montero sailed over the net when the target was in reach as the Sounders continued applying pressure throughout the match, coming close but failing to connect, a familiar Sounders story this season in close matches.

The teams ended up virtually tied in the shots department with Colorado at 10 and Seattle with 9.  Colorado impressed, however, with five shots on goal to one for Seattle.

In this category, veteran team captain Kasey Keller kept the Sounders in the match with adept goal play, scoring 4 saves.  His first at the 9 minute mark was the defensive play of the match on a Julien Baudet header.

The victory moved Colorado into loftier Western Conference ground.  The Rapids’ 5-3-1 mark with 16 points moved them into a three way third place tie.

The Sounders dropped to 3-5-3 and 12 points.  They are in a sixth place tie and have yet to taste victory against a Western rival.

The quest for a first victory against a Western Conference rival will have to wait until the World Cup break.

If the Sounders can win their next two tests against Eastern Conference rivals, however, they can move up to the five hundred mark at 5-5-3 before action is suspended.

Two home contests remain before the break.  The first is June 5 against the Philadelphia Revolution at 7:30 PM Pacific time.  On June 10 at 7 PM PT, D.C. United will furnish the opposition.

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This is Part 11 in a series of articles on the players that make up the 2010 Los Angeles Galaxy.


A.J. De La Garza is a player who is used to success. It flows through his veins, every time he juggles a ball during training, pumps his fists in celebration, or frustrates his foes when they go in for the attack.

Don't let his 1.75 meter frame fool you. As a right back, this Los Angeles Galaxy defender has been critical in marking his opposition with speed, toughness, and dispossessing ability.

Football flows through De La Garza's veins. It's been that way ever since he was brought to the world.

Adolph Joseph De La Garza was born on November 4, 1987 in Bryans Road, Maryland. It's a small town of just less than 5,000, located near a unassuming city the locals call Washington D.C. Just in proximity to Bryans Road is the Indian Head Naval Surface Warfare Center.

Working side-by-side with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, the Naval Surface Warfare Center is where the likes of explosive warheads and propellants and propulsion systems for guns, missiles, rockets, and ejector seats in military aircraft.

De La Garza had his own dream: to be a player who could bring out the same firepower that the government was readying just next door. Well, not in that sense, but you get the point.

De La Garza got his first big break playing for D.C. United's Under-12 side at the Coupe Danone in France, under coach Dave Sarachan. Sarachan was unaware at the time that their paths would meet a decade later, this time as an assistant coach.

A versatile player who could play as a forward and defender, De La Garza scored nine goals and 12 assists in his senior year with the Chargers of Indian Head's Henry E. Lackey High School. De La Garza also played with youth side Casa Mia's Bays, who captured a couple of USYSA national titles.

De La Garza joined Sasho Cirovski's Maryland Terrapins in 2005. In his freshman year, the Terrapins won the College Cup over New Mexico. He started 13 of his 20 games played with Maryland, limiting the Akron Zips to five shots in the second half of the NCAA Quarterfinals

De La Garza's role increased as a member of the 2006 Terrapins, starting all 21 games he played in. He reprised his role as one of the iron men on the Maryland backline with fellow Galaxy starter Omar Gonzalez in 2007 and was eventually rewarded for his efforts as Co-Most Valuable Defensive Player with Gonzalez in the 2008 College Cup.

For his efforts, De La Garza was reunited with Gonzalez as the 19th overall pick of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by the Los Angeles Galaxy. Just like Gonzalez, he was thrown into the fires, making his debut during the 2009 season opener against D.C. United on March 22.

At the time, De La Garza was an understudy to Sean Franklin, who had already impressed by being the first Galaxy player to win the MLS Rookie of the Year. But a midseason hamstring injury to Franklin forced De La Garza to play at the right side of the defensive unit.

It was a role that he would relish. With 1,754 game minutes played at the right back position of Bruce Arena's 4-4-2 formation, De La Garza used his intangibles and acceleration to lead the Galaxy to the MLS Western Conference regular season and playoff crowns and an MLS Cup appearance in his rookie year.

De La Garza earned his first goal in a match against FC Dallas on September 12, 2009. That came two months after recording his first assist in the Galaxy's 1-0 victory over Chivas USA on July 11.

A.J. De La Garza continues to make his presence felt on the defensive back line for the G's. On occasions, he has the skills to do so in less than a minute.

Against the Philadelphia Union on May 1, it took just 50 seconds for Edson Buddle to feed the ball inside for De La Garza, whose clinical finish dictated the rest of the 90 minutes for LA.

Whether it's sacrificing his body for a stop, or dispossessing an opposing midfielder or forward on the wing, A.J. De La Garza will stop at nothing to carry his team home to the finish line.

In the game of soccer, size isn't the strongest intangible. Playing the game with a winning mentality is, and the best footballers have this in their blood.

And one of those...dons the No. 20 for the Los Angeles Galaxy.

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This is Part 10 in a series of articles on the players who make up the 2010 Los Angeles Galaxy.

In our modern day and age, the dictionary will define the idiom known as "the diamond in the rough" as "One having exceptionally good qualities or the potential for greatness but lacking polish and refinement."

Los Angeles Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez is an example of a diamond in the rough. A recipient of the 2009 MLS Rookie of the Year Award, Gonzalez stands at an imposing 1.96 meters and has proven to be a stalwart in the G's back line with Todd Dunivant, Gregg Berhalter and A.J. De La Garza.

However, Gonzalez has yet to harness the skills needed conduct-wise to up his game to new heights. At the age of 21, he has plenty of time to improve his game in ways never imagined.

Omar Gonzalez was born on Oct. 11, 1988 in Dallas, Texas. The son of Adrian and Maria Gonzalez, Omar holds a Mexican passport to go with dual citizenship, thus averting the troubles of crossing the border into states like Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas.

Like a number of places in the Lone Star State, Texas is a hotbed for football talent. Whether it's the familiar American code or the association code that Gonzalez was raised on or even the rugby union code, Texas has a big love for football.

No need to ask the people in Dallas why they love the game of soccer. After all, the nearby suburb of Frisco has their own place of worshipping the beautiful game in Pizza Hut Park, where the hardy souls of FC Dallas take on all visitors inside and outside Major League Soccer.

The Gonzalez family embraces the power of sport. Omar is one of four siblings in his family, and his sister Luisanna played volleyball for the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters.

But Karch Kiraly is not Omar Gonzalez's favorite athlete. On the contrary; it's a certain Brazilian by the name of Ronaldinho.

With a dream to emulate his idol firmly in place, Gonzalez played for youth side Dallas Texans, earning USYSA All-American honors in 2005.

In fact, Gonzalez was so good during his two years at Dallas Skyline High School that US Soccer placed him in their Residency Program.

As a member of the U-17 side, Gonzalez scored three goals in eight appearances, including a game-winner against Costa Rica to secure the young Yanks a spot in the FIFA U-17 World Championship.

The power of a college degree was also too good to pass up. Gonzalez was recruited by the University of Maryland, and a chance to improve his skill set as part of Sasho Cirovski's Terrapins was a swell deal.

In 2006, Gonzalez was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Freshman Team, starting all 22 games for a Maryland side that featured A.J. De La Garza and former Toronto FC forward and current Rangers FC fixture Maurice Edu. Gonzalez was also named to the Soccer America All-Freshman second team.

In 2007, Gonzalez was named ACC Defensive Player of Year to go with NSCAA/adidas All-America Third Team and All-South Atlantic honors, as well as a place on the All-ACC Second Team.

2008 would be Gonzalez's final year with the Terrapins, who won the College Cup, and with it, the National Championship. Gonzalez himself was named a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, earning NSCAA/adidas All-American First Team and First Team All-ACC.

Named defensive MVP in the cup final, Gonzalez's defensive ability paced the Terps to 15 clean sheets in 26 games, with seven of those taking place in the ACC and NCAA Tournaments.

This drew the attention of Galaxy manager Bruce Arena, whose club proceeded to pick Gonzalez in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft.

He was thrown to the fires immediately, debuting at the 2009 opener of March 22 against D.C. United. Gonzalez's first goal came less than a fortnight later, in LA's 3-2 defeat to the Colorado Rapids on April 4.

But the hard work that Gonzalez put in with the US U-17's, with the US U-20's at the Pan American Games in 2007 and his efforts under Sasho Cirovski were bearing fruit under Arena.

At the end of the 2009 season, Gonzalez set new club records for games started and minutes played as a rookie, while tying another for games played. He became just the second Galaxy player (after Sean Franklin) to be named MLS Rookie of the Year.

His scoring ability with the ball inside LA's attacking third was apparent once more during the 2010 season. In the 4-0 rout of the Seattle Sounders on May 8 at Qwest Field, Gonzalez made no mistake off the corner by Landon Donovan in the 52nd minute.

Just for added flair, the ball took one, two, three bounces between the crossbar and end line of the XBOX Pitch's FieldTurf surface before resting into the nylon. Very few defenders can add that much English on the ball after the fact.

But on Saturday against the Columbus Crew, Gonzalez was treated to a piece of humble pie. In the 25th minute, a shove of frustration on the Crew's Steven Lenhert drew an unnecessary yellow card from match referee Michael Kennedy.

It brings up that fair-but-firm realization: while his accomplishments and honors have made him a bookend on the LA Galaxy backline, Omar Gonzalez will need to improve on the little things that will allow him to make the big step in improving his game.

A little polishing, just like a diamond in the rough.

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It can be argued that the Los Angeles Galaxy's young guns earned their stripes into the massive zone that is Columbus Crew Stadium.

Or that match official Michael Kennedy robbed the home side of a chance to snatch the momentum back. Or that the Crew's chances to do so early and often were all denied by some stingy defending that we have seen all year from the G's.

Feel free to make up your own conclusions. But keep this in mind: Bruce Arena's Galaxy got their revenge from last year's demise at Crew Stadium to defeat Robert Warzycha's club, 2-0.

To add insult to injury—that was Bruce Arena's 100th win as an MLS coach.

In all honesty, it should have been 2-1 to the Galaxy, with a great strike fifteen minutes from time inside LA's defen. But when you draw the offsides flag late, in the 75th minute, it really amounts to pure nothingness.

As for Los Angeles, well, the best scoring chances they had came from a rookie in Michael Stephens and a budding youth academy product in Tristan Bowen (pictured).

Stephens, a UCLA grad, opened his scoring account in the 10th minute with a great finish off the delivery by Chris Birchall. But it was Bowen who sealed the deal.

With the Crew, and their swingman Guillermo Barros Schelotto, wondering why they got robbed of an equalizing chance, Bowen coolly and collectedly took a pass from Chris Klein and in the process sapped the energy out of the Nordecke in the northeast corner of the stadium.

It couldn't have drawn it up any better. Michael Stephens and Tristan Bowen are the future of this club, and so long as they continue to make an impact along with their derfending, Los Angeles will continue to rule Major League Soccer this year.

Crew fans can call this a bank robbery, but as far as you should be concerned, it's just another victory for the Los Angeles Galaxy

Ins and Outs

Meanwhile, back in Philly...

Edson Buddle, Landon Donovan and the rest of the 23-man USA national team rallied from a goal down in the second half to beat Turkey, 2-1.

"The type of game we were in today pushed the players really hard, and that's what you want," said USA manager Bob Bradley after the contest. "The response in the second half was a strong one.

"When you consider everything that has gone on in the last few weeks [at training camp and in these friendlies], it pushes us into a good position, and now we are ready to move on to South Africa."

The Yanks will take the next plane to Johannesburg, en route to a final tune-up contest against the Socceroos. Since I follow and support both teams, I fearless predict that this will be a cracker of a contest.

Jose Torres and Robbie Findley proved to be instrumental in the USA's win.

"We knew we had to change the rhythm of the game," said Torres after the match. Using precision passing and solid defending, Torres proved to be instrumental in opening up the Turkish defense.

Many questioned Bradley's decision to keep Findley in the lineup. You can't question if he had the last laugh in that department, because he did.

"[Findley's pace] opened them up," said Clint Dempsey after the match. "They were a little bit more scared, they dropped back and we were able to get into those pockets."

Dempsey scored the game-winner in the 75 minute after Jozy Altidore equalized in the 58th. But Donovan played a key role in both of those goals and was credited with the assists.

"To know that we can be down against a good team and have the ability—in a really intelligent way—to push the game and make it faster and be more aggressive without giving up things in the back, is really good for us," Donovan said after the contest.

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T-180 minutes to kickoff: Before the Home Depot Center was born out of nothingness next to California State University, Dominguez Hills, there was Columbus Crew Stadium.

Erected on May 15, 1999, Crew Stadium boasts a seating capacity of 20,455, with extended seating to accommodate up to 30,000 spectators. Crew Stadium, located on 1 Black And Gold Boulevard, was not the very first soccer-specific facility (that honor belongs to the Charleston Battery's Blackbaud Stadium opened a month earlier), but it was the one that opened up the floodgates. It set a precedent whose seismic aftershocks are felt to this day.

God bless that Lamar Hunt. A wealthy oil billionaire who willed a dynasty of success to his family and the Hunt Sports Group, he decided that 1998 was the year the Crew would move out of Ohio Stadium into their own footballing paradise.

Now don't get me wrong; Ohio Stadium is a great sporting place in its own right. But it's the wrong code, and it was never popular with team or its fans.

T-170: So Crew Stadium was created. Blessed with a FIFA-regulation 115 x 75 yard pitch, it is built on the Ohio Expo Center and State Fairgrounds and took 274 days to complete. The USA men's national team is unbeaten at Crew Stadium, and it has hosted a couple of MLS All-Star test matches, the 2001 MLS Cup and a number of local high school football games, among other sporting events.

But this stadium, first and foremost, where Robert Warzycha's men-complete with cheer squad and the Nordecke (more on them in a bit)-call home. Today, the Los Angeles Galaxy soldier on, without the services of Landon Donovan and fellow confirmed USA men's national team selection Edson Buddle, to the Massive Zone and one of the most formidable environments in the league.

T-160: I do want to express, once again, my condolences to fans in St. Louis who supported St. Louis Athletica. As a former fan of the Sol, I feel their pain.

T-150: Back to the contest at hand. I wanted to go ahead and talk a little bit about the Nordecke and how this all came about.

Before the north end of Crew Stadium was demolished to make way for a concert area, there were three groups of supporters that dominated the end and showed their support: La Turbina Amarilla (The Yellow Turbine in Spanish), The Crew Supporters Union and The Hudson Street Hooligans.

The differences between the groups in terms of age and ethnicity had to be abandoned, and from this came the Nordecke, which means "North Corner" in German. True to their name, the Nordecke sits in the north corner of Crew Stadium.

T-140: The Crew bring in an impressive pedigree: with three Supporters' Shields, a US Open Cup in 2002, an Anschutz in '08 as part of their double, and two quarterfinal appearances in the CONCACAF Champions Cup and Champions League.

T-130: What's going to make thinks pretty testy is that Chad Marshall and Robbie Rogers did not make the 23-man roster. Makes you wonder if they were taking their opportunity seriously or wanted the first plane out of Hartford back to Columbus.

T-120: Line-ups.

T-110: Columbus edged the Galaxy last season in the race for the Supporters' Shield...by a single point. The Crew earned it with 49 points. The Galaxy, meanwhile, got a measly 48. The deciding match took place in ROund 27 of last season, a 2-0 defeat at Crew Stadium.

A successful revenge bid will do wonders for their push to claim just their third MLS Supporters' Shield.

T-100: The Galaxy's next three matches include a June 5 home match with the Houston Dynamo, and two road contests: a June 9 meeting at Sandy's very own Rio Tinto Stadium with Real Salt Lake followed by a June 26 trip north of the border to Rio Tinto Stadium to face off against Toronto FC.

T-90: Columbus's next three matches include a June 2 trip to Santa Clara's Buck Shaw Stadium to face the San Jose Earthquakes, a June 5
road test at Dick's Sporting Goods Stadium against the Colorado Rapids and a June 26 home affair with D.C. United. And what a walkover the latter of those matches will be.

T-80: Other games going on today include D.C. United vs. Chivas USA, New England Revolution vs. New York Red Bulls, Houston Dynamo vs. Philadelphia Union, Colorado Rapids vs. Seattle Sounders FC, Real Salt Lake vs. Kansas City Wizards, and San Jose Earthquaked vs. Toronto FC.

TFC, by the way, defended its Voyageurs Cup, as the Montreal Impact's Phillipe Billy broke Vancouver Whitecaps hearts in a 1-1 draw on Wednesday. They will wrap up the campaign with a June 2 match with the Caps, and expect them to field a patchwork side for this one. The Reds will take on C.D. Montagua in the Preliminary Round.

T-70: In earlier action this week, the Chicago Fire and FC Dallas played to a 1-1 draw.

T-60: An hour to go.

FIRST HALF START: 4:36 P.M.

1' - And we're off. Early header chance goes wide, but is offsides.

3' - Corner for the Crew. Let's see what the home side does here. Header goes over.

4' - Great attacking from Columbus. Another corner.
One-time shot goes wide. Goal kick.

5' - Donovan Ricketts scoops that up.

7' - Ricketts again clears the chance, this time for Steven Lenhart.

10' - GOAL! 26 Michael Stephens Assist 11 Chris Birchall
And all the wind seems to be sucked out of Crew Stadium. What a strike from Stephens to open up his scoring account and his career.

12' - The Crew need to figure something out. Draw men forward. Put more pressure on the defense. Make Ricketts work. Otherwise, this will be a chance for the Galaxy to consolidate.

13' - This could be a big night for Los Angeles, as the Lakers are looking to wrap the Western Conference Finals up.

15' - Ricketts now does some work, tipping the ball over for a corner.

16' - Goal kick for Ricketts, and the folks in the Nordeceke are not liking this one.

17' - A little smoke, a little tiro, and a little taunting from the Massive's supporters. Crew back on the attack. Galaxy counter. Here's Sean Franklin. Pass inside gets squandered, forcing the Galaxy to reset against the run of play.

18' - This is the first time they are breaking out the big blue kits, too.

19' - Oh dear. What is with the atricious trumpeting down there? My goodness!

20' - Ayayay. Stephens nearly got his brace early. Great save from Will Hesmer.

21' - Now that was an interesting pass. Here come the Crew. A shot from Eddie Gaven goes wide left.

24' - Here's Guillermo Barros Schelotto with the set piece, and Michael Kennedy, our match referee, is going to sort things out here.

Yellow card 4 Omar Gonzalez
Los Angeles Galaxy

Well that was a stupid push. Too easy. Kennedy had no choice as well.

26' - The G's will have to do some short passing here to dictate the proceedings. And that is what they are doing. One time shot from Tristan Bowen goes wide.

27' - Crew on the counter. Chance for Schelotte deflected. Here come the men in yellow. Excellent defending.

28' - Yellow card 20 A.J. De La Garza
Los Angeles Galaxy

29' - While the call was fair, I hope Kennedy is not being a homer here...he is running the risk of being labeled so.

30' - Set piece time for Schelotto. Ricketts is there to save it. The big cat from Montego Bay, doing the work once again.

31' - Goal kick for Hesmer.

32' - Gonzalez and De La Garza need to be careful here for the rest of the match.

33' - And Ricketts is disgusted for the lack of the communication with Gregg Berhalter. Couple of corners on the way. Broken record. Both of them wide left. Bailed out of that one.

34' - Here come the Crew again. Another corner. That is also denied. Good tackle on Tristan Bowen. And a yellow for Jed Zayner.

Yellow card 24 Jed Zayner
Columbus Crew

35' - I'm telling you, this Michael Kennedy ain't messin' around here. Wide set piece sails right of the mark. Bowen is up.

36' - Columbus on the attack again. Good defending by A.J. De La Garza.

37' - Bad touch for Robbie Rogers. Bruce Arena is not pleased by his men giving up the possession.

39' - Shot by Steven Lenhart goes high. Best chance for the Crew so far.

40' - Another header by Lenhart goes hight and over the bar.

41' - Magee needed a second touch on that one. Berhalter in shaken up. He did hold up Lenhart, though. He'll need to be treated and get those knees bach ip in shape.

42' - Ricketts had to make that save. Columbus isn't doing anything special; they are just peppering the net.

43' - A long pass was deflected by the LA. Robbie Rogers was there. Corner for the Crew.

44' - Unbelievable. Nice way to break up your own opportunity on the transition, gentlemen!

45' - Let's see how many minutes of stoppage time we got. It's two minutes. And another pass goes behind. Keep it simple, guys.

45' + 1' - Goal kick for Ricketts.

45' + 2' - Halftime.

Well, I noted Stephens in my "This Is The Los Angeles Galaxy" series, and he has delivered. In other scores today...D.C. United and Chivas USA are tied 1-1, and the New England Revolution lead the New York Red Bulls 2-1.


SECOND HALF START: 5:39 P.M.

46' - The second half begins. Can't believe the parachuter for Columbus fell down while landing. Was that a sign of things to come. Do the Crew do statistics on that? Is this all a conspiracy?

Stay tuned.

47' - Ricketts will have to ask his team to set the tempo early this half. This is Todd Dunivant with the throw-in. Times two. The Columbus back line is their to summon another one for Dunivant.

48' - Schelotto is down. Knee injury it seems. He is fine, though. This would be a huge blow to the Crew's chances if he is injured and has to be subbed early.

49' - A little game of keep away, can the Crew break it? Leave it to Michael Kennedy to break that up. Dunivant couldn't believe that.

50' - Here is a set piece for the Crew. Goes wide, and it's a goal kick for Mr. Ricketts.

51' - I'm looking forward to the new Super Mario Galaxy 2 game for the Wii, to be honest. I predict it will be a Game of the Year.

52' - Now Andy Iro is shaken up, before getting back on his feet. Seam Franklin and his mohawk...I'm lovin; it.

So we are just over 50 minutes into the match, and the Nordecke are hoping for an equalizer. A Michael Bradley goal has made this 1-0 to the Galaxy.

53' - As Ricketts grabs that for a goal kick, they are making a habit with all these one-goal leads. They did it against FC Dallas, they did against Boca Juniors, and now they are doing it against the Crew.

54' - I think Birchall will need to get that little micro-fracture on his kneecap fixed when the season ends. Should happen.

55' - This is Andy Iro. A former UCSB product under Tim Von Steeg, he looks to get the Crew back into the sort of things.

56' - Berhalter looks for the foul. None given, and here's Columbus on the attack again.

57' - Stephens clears for a corner. Here comes Schelotto, the #7 for the Crew. Corner denied. Back come the G's.

58' - Nobody in the vicinity on that cross.

59' - High one-time from Schelotto. Goal kick. Looks like the G's are getting away with that one-goal lead so far, but there is still a ways yet to go. And here's one of the favorites among the subs, Emilio Reteria, to come in for the Crew

Substitution Columbus Crew
IN 20 Emilio Renteria
OUT 4 Gino Padula

61' - Bad header inside Columbus's third. Here come the Crew.

62' - Corner for Columbus.

63' - Wide shot for the Crew. Goal kick for Ricketts.

64' - Foul on Magee for tripping Schelotto

Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 84 Clint Mathis
OUT 18 Mike Magee

65' - That's the first time in a while Hesmer had to grab something. Back come the Crew. A little war of words ensues between Lenhart and Berhalter. Fun stuff on the pitch inside the Massive Zone.

66' - This is a good chance for Robbie Rogers. It's wide right. Schelotto misses his mark. Dangerous right there.

68' - Ricketts went off his line on that one. But it seems to have backfired cause Columbus are on the attack again.

IN 17 Emmanuel Ekpo
OUT 22 Adam Moffat

And Moffat screams in disgust at having to be subbed early. Hey, respect the decision of the manager, my friend. You'll thank him later if they equalize.

71' - Goal kick for Ricketts after Renteria is called offsides on the corner.

73' - Substitution Columbus Crew

IN 9 Jason Garey
OUT 32 Steven Lenhart

Set piece squandered. And here is another for the Crew. Their patience has to be rewarded sooner or later.

74' - Great punchout by Ricketts. a shot goes off the post for Iro almost equalize. Another corner and that is stopped.

That's the best chance for the Crew so far. Here they come again.

75' - Goal goes offsides. Oh dear. That should have been 1-1.

76' - The crowd yells "Bollocks! Bollocks!" And you know what? I can't blam 'em.

77' - Another card....

Yellow card 11 Chris Birchall
Los Angeles Galaxy

78' - The local press in Columbus will be launching the headlines "We Was Robbed!" if this result hold up. Great save Ricketts. And yet another corner. This defense is being tested.

79' - Bowen is tackled. And the collective howls rain on Crew Stadium.

80' - Tristan Bowen almost forced the corner. It's a goal kick for Hesmer.

81' - So we have less than nine minutes to go and stoppage as well, and it's still 1-0 Galaxy.

82' - Another corner for the Crew. Well that was wasted. The banners wave high in the Nordecke.

Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 27 Bryan Jordan
OUT 11 Chris Birchall

Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 7 chris Klein
OUT 28 Sean Franklin

83' - Arena asks his players to be safe with the ball.

84' - Berhalter wonders why the lineman did not raise the flag. He won the argument there.

85' - You know, seriously, this should be 1-1 already. It makes you wonder.

86' - Some players were not paying attention there. Emmanuel Ekpo is making his mark as a sub. But that is an offsides on the Crew.

87' - The Galaxy need to close the deal here. They have given Columbus way too many chances here. And they do!

88' - GOAL! Los Angeles Galaxy 17 Tristan Bowen Assist 7 Chris Klein
His first MLS goal, and a great delivery from Klein. And now, the sense of urgency is there. This is another player I highlighted earlier this week, and now he is earning his stripes.

89' - Let's see what they do here. Great save by Donovan Ricketts off his line.

90' - Some of the fans are heading for the exits. A sportmanlike act by Todd Dunivant after tripping Schelotto. Set piece for the Crew.

Yellow card 2 Todd Dunivant
Los Angeles Galaxy

Homeresque sympathy from Michael Kennedy. And that set piece went south.

90' + 1' - Four minutes of stoppage time. Hilario Grajeda may have made a four-minute enemy in Bruce Arena. I'm serious, fellows.

90' + 2' - All right, it should have been 2-1 to the G's, with Bowen getting the game winner. (2-2 if you count the ding-dong off the post).

90' + 3' - But if you're going to finish, you gotta finish right. great defense by Gregg Berhalter. Shot goes over for Andy Iro.

90' + 4' - That is a wrap!

Win number 100 for Bruce Arena. Stay tuned for my take on this match on Bleacher Report and...The View.

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After a disastrous 2009 season and another offseason of whole-sale roster and staff changes, the New York Red Bulls finally seemed liked a franchise ready to turn things around. The team opened a brand new stadium and opened the season with a 5-1 record, sitting atop the Eastern Conference standings.

However the past may have caught up on the Red Bulls. They have lost their last three league games and have been outscored 8-1. There has been a lack of goal scoring, strong defending, and overall enthusiasm and heart.

The reserves meanwhile have watched their collective stock skyrocket. Because of a schedule loaded with league games, U.S. Open Cup games, and friendlies with international clubs, head coach Hans Backe decided to use his bench in the Open Cup and friendlies. So far he has seen incredible results.

In non-league games since the start of the season the Red Bulls have four wins and zero losses and have outscored the competition 11-2. The “Baby Bulls”, as they are being called, have been impressive winning three games to qualify for the Open Cup and beating Italian giants Juventus. Opposing teams have also used mostly starters against them, making the performances even more impressive.

Finally given significant playing time, the reserves are stepping up to the occasion and proving their worth. With the regulars struggling, it might be wise for Backe to give some of the reserves an opportunity during league play matches.

While inconsistency in the lineups was a huge problem for the team in its disastrous 2009 season, with players shuffling in and out of the lineup and no time to gel as a unit, some changes, even temporary, to shake things up could be in order.

The biggest issue has been pairing a striker alongside Juan Pablo Angel since Macoumba Kandji went down with an injury.

Salou Ibrahim has been the forward of choice, and he has scored two goals, but overall he is disappointing. He tends to be slow and botches a number of chances. However, John Wolyniec and rookie Conor Chinn have been scoring goals in bunches. Both have put in four goals in the four games the reserves have played.

Wolyniec is a local fan favorite who throughout his career has provided big goals and is always big on effort. Chinn’s recent scoring streak shouldn’t be a surprise either, as he was the second leading scorer behind Angel in the preseason. Either needs to be implemented into the starting lineup immediately.

The midfield could also see a number of changes. Joel Lindpere missed the previous match against the Columbus Crew because of injury and Carl Robinson will miss the next five-to-six weeks because of a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee.

With the depth at center midfield now shaky, it is time to let Tony Tchani, the second overall pick in the 2010 MLS draft, get regular playing time. He is a bit raw, but incredibly talented. He scored the lone goal against Columbus and has looked impressive in his other matches.

The wings, for the most part, have been unsettled positions. Dan Richards has played every match, mostly on the right, but is wildly inconsistent, a problem his entire career. His speed is valued though and he can break loose at any time and be involved in a great play.

The recent matches have provided a number of alternative choices however. Two names come to mind immediately: Irving Garcia and Jeremy Hall.

Garcia was a late draft pick in 2010 Draft. He is small in stature but huge in effort and hustle. He is constantly working on both ends of the field. He played extremely well against Juventus and added an assist in the Open Cup win over the Colorado Rapids. He has good pace and coupled with his grit he has been very impressive lately.

Hall was originally drafted last season to be a wing but was used as a right fullback, where he did an overall good job. He’s bounced around a bit this season but can do the job at wing. He fired home a great streak against Juventus and like Garcia has very good speed, and his time at defense only helped his understanding of being a two-way player.

He could still be used at right back, but the midfield has struggled and the return and emergence of Chris Albright.

Albright missed the beginning of the season because of injury but he has healed and has shown very good form since making his debut in the first Open Cup match against Philadelphia. His experience and leadership make him a strong candidate to start and to solidify a defensive unit that has been hit hard as of late.

Finally, there is the goalkeeping position.

Bouna Coundoul has generally played well in his time in New York, although he has had some very shaky instances. He does have more talent than his backup, Greg Sutton, and rotating goalies much like Jon Conway and Danny Cepero did last year isn’t suggested, Sutton has played in a four “reserve” matches and played strongly. Two goals allowed in four games, especially one against the likes of Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet, is impressive and he might have earned a spot start.

It isn’t time for the Red Bulls and the team’s fans to panic yet; it simply is a rough patch in a season that isn’t even a third complete yet. That being said, it is not a time for players to become complacent. It does not have to be a temporary move, especially with the transfer window opening again soon, but it may be wise to shake things up a little bit and reward some of the very good play of the bench.

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Seattle Sounders FC hopes to reverse its seasonal Western Conference fortunes by scoring victory No. 1 against the Colorado Rapids in a 6 p.m. Pacific Time matchup at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

The Sounders hope that some of the Sigi Schmid coaching magic will furnish them with an edge over the Rapids.  An MLS legend at Columbus Crew prior to taking the Seattle job, Sigi Schmid has carved out an impressive record against the Colorado team.

Schmid’s lofty slate stands at 15-9-7 against the Rapids.  In his last 12 meetings against Colorado, his mark is even more impressive with one lone loss and an overall record of 5-1-6.

This encounter, the first Saturday night game of the year for the Rapids, will find the home club looking for its initial win over the Sounders since the Emerald City contingent joined the MLS.

Last season, the Sounders notched a 2-2 tie with Colorado at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.  One month later, Seattle shut out its opponent 3-0 at the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field in the second of two meetings ever between the two teams.

Both clubs were in action last Wednesday night with Seattle enjoying a much better result.  Seattle blanked international Argentine power Boca Juniors 3-0 before an effervescent home crowd.

Colorado endured a defeat by an identical 3-0 margin against the New York Red Bulls in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play-in game.  The loss prevented Colorado from entering tournament competition.

The Sounders would like to maximize an opportunity against the Rapids to leap frog over their rivals in the Western Conference.  They stand one point behind Colorado with 12 points and a 3-4-3 mark.

While Seattle stands just a shade below five hundred, Colorado is slightly above at 4-3-1 with 13 points earned.

It will take a victory for Seattle to vault above Colorado, which a three point effort would accomplish.  A tie would provide a point for each team and leave the rivals where they began the night.

The Sounders are hoping that the Boca Juniors success embodies a milestone with carryover impact into MLS competition.

Seattle seeks its first victory of the season over a Western Conference rival.  The team is 1-1-2 on the road this season with a loss at Toronto and ties against Salt Lake City and Dallas.

The single Seattle road victory marked the only defeat for the New York Red Bulls in their new stadium.  It was the most dramatic win of the campaign for Sigi Schmid’s team as speedy forward Fredy Montero came off the bench to drive home the game’s only score late in the action for a 1-0 victory.

In league play, Colorado is coming off of a 1-0 win at DC United May 15.

This is an important test for Seattle as the Sounders seek to bury every vestige of the scoring drought blues.  After a listless 1-0 home loss to San Jose last Saturday, the triumph over Boca Juniors energized the Sounders and gave them something to believe in regarding their ability to score.

The drought was strange in that, rather than being in a full blown slump with the team being consistently outshot, Seattle frequently enjoyed substantial edges but failed to apply the finishing touch of placing the ball into the net.

A victory in Colorado on Saturday will go a long way towards convincing critics that Seattle is back on track and ready to march back down the road that marked the team’s impressive opening season of 2009.

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In a recent interview with ESPN Soccernet, 31-year-old Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard said that he would not rule out playing in MLS just like David Beckham did around the age of 36.

Lampard was quoted as saying, "I'd like to go and play in America when I'm 36 or 35 but you can't take away someone's right to go and play where they want."

With the introduction of Thierry Henry to MLS soon happening, it proves that Beckham's move was a success to get players over to MLS, but now it needs to happen with teams in smaller markets like Columbus and Salt Lake.

Hopefully, these aging stars coming over will not just look at New York and Los Angeles to play but actually look to go to some of the quality teams in cities they probably have never even been to.

Now this is a statement way in advance of the time frame in which this would actually happen, but it is a good conversation starter for MLS fans trying to figure out what international star will make his way across the pond next.

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John Wolyniec leads the Baby Bulls into the US Open Cup round of 16 with a brace.

New head coach Hans Backe once again went with the reserves for the US Open Cup qualifying match against the visiting Colorado Rapids last night.

And that decision certainly paid its dividends.

The Red Bulls were organized on defense and in midfield, thanks to strong performances from Sinisa Ubiparipovic, who could fight for a chance to see some playing time in MLS, and goalkeeper Greg Sutton, who kept a clean sheet for the second time in two cup matches.

Right from the onset, the "Baby Bulls" played aggressively, and tried to play balls out wide to wingers Jeremy Hall and Irving Garcia, or play centrally and over the top to the strike partnership of Conor Chinn and John Wolyniec.

The Red Bulls attacking nature finally came to fruition in the 11th minute.

Ubiparipovic dribbled through the middle of the field towards goal, and got past one defender before laying off a pass to his right to the feet of the quick Garcia.

From there Garcia fired a low pass across the face of goal, where it met the outstretched leg of John Wolyniec, and went into the back of the net to give New York a 1-0 lead. 

The early goal seemed to get the Red Bulls even more confident, as the play of young rookies Toni Tchani in central midfield, Irving Garcia on the right wing, and Conor Chinn up front, improved over the course of the half.

In the 43nd minute, defensive pressure from the Red Bulls caused the Rapids to turn the ball over.

From there, Tchani took possession of the ball, muscled off two Rapid midfielders, and single-handedly raced from midfield to the penalty box before splitting two more defenders with a pass to the feet of Wolyniec.

Wolyniec took that pass in stride, and curled in a beautiful goal for his second of the game and fourth of the young season, and it gave the Red Bulls a 2-0 lead just before the half.

That goal really took the Rapids out of the game, and while they had a couple more chances after halftime, their play was lackluster at best.

In the 53rd minute, Conor Chinn put the game away with a pretty goal using the outside of his boot.

Ubiparipovic played provider again, as he dribbled through the opposing half of the field. He dished off a pass that was meant for Chinn, but deflected off of Rapid's defender Drew Moor right towards where Chinn was running.

Chinn ran onto the loose ball and finished over the oncoming keeper Ian Joyce (who is from Kinnelon, NJ, a 30 minute drive from Red Bull Arena) to make the score 3-0. 

The Rapids became more and more frustrated, and defender Danny Earls tackled Ubiparipovic from behind and earned a straight red and an early shower in the 86th minute.

The play of the Red Bulls' reserves has certainly been a revelation this season, and gives coach Backe a good problem with trying to find his starting XI for MLS games.

It is good for the organization as a whole to have in form and talented players from the first to last guy in the squad.

And when Backe picks his squad for this weekend's match at the New England Revolution, don't be surprised to see Wolyniec, Tchani, and Ubiparipovic among the 18 men who travel up to Gillette Stadium.

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