A massive test awaits Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy as they face off with the Columbus Crew on May 29 at Crew Stadium.

With a 8-0-2 record (26 points), the Galaxy possess the best record in Major League Soccer at the moment. However, they face an equally formidable opponent in Columbus, who are 6-0-2 (20 points) and have two in hand over Los Angeles.

The Columbus Crew are led by Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who has tallied four goals and assists apiece. He is supported by a cast of capable finishers in Andy Iro, Eddie Gaven, and Emilio Renteria, who have each scored twice this year.

Will Hesmer is a capable goalkeeper, having made 30 saves for a 0.75 goals against average. Defensively, Frankie Hejduk has been a workhorse for the Crew with his presence in the backline.

Outside of Edson Buddle and Landon Donovan, the Galaxy will have the bulk of their roster ready for this weekend's match. Defenders Todd Dunivant and Omar Gonzalez are the ironmen of the team, starting all 10 league matches played. Defender Gregg Berhalter is the glue behind one of MLS's stingiest back lines.

Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts has a 0.22 GAA and has made 26 saves so far this season.

Watch for Chris Birchall, Juninho, Michael Stephens and Mike Magee to play a key role in the Arena 4-4-2 Diamond formation. The wildcard this match will be Tristan Bowen.

If his goal against Boca Juniors on Sunday is an indicator of things to come, Heyduk, Andy Iro and Eric Brunner will have a tough time deciphering the Galaxy's playmaking ability with these five up front.

“It just shows our character,” defender Sean Franklin said on the friendly result. “Landon [Donovan] and Edson [Buddle] are special players, and they’re at where they’re at because they deserve to be with the national team. Even though they’re gone, our team is pulling together.

"Our offense is coming together, and our defense is doing well too, so as much as we wish we could have those guys on our team and to be with us. We also know that we still have a team without those guys, and we’re doing fine. When they come, they’re just going to help us out even more.”

Prediction

The momentum the Los Angeles Galaxy earned from their May 23 victory over Boca Juniors must be resonating in the hearts and minds of Bruce Arena's men. Schelotto should get on the score sheet here, but look for the young guns to play a key role against the Crew.

By the end of the weekend, there will be one team left standing with an unbeaten record. And it shouldn't surprise anybody.

Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. PT.

INS AND OUTS

These are the Champions!...Coming to Carson

On Monday, the Galaxy announced that they will be facing off against defending UEFA Champions League winners Internazionale Football Club Milano Spa, also known as Inter Milan for short. The match (which The View from Victoria Street predicts will be a sellout) will take place August 7 at 7:30 p.m. and presale tickets will go on sale Thursday.

“We have always said that it is our ambition to give our fans exciting games that further enhance the experience of being an LA Galaxy fan and bringing the champions of Europe to The Home Depot Center certainly fits that vision,” Galaxy President of Business Operations Tom Payne said. “This is the second consecutive season in which we have brought the Champions League winners to Southern California and just like last year, we are anticipating another unbelievable evening for our team and our fans.”

These names are coming to the Home Depot Center: Milito, Samuel, Julio Cesar, Lucio, Maicon, Eto'o, Muntari, Sneijder, Suazo, Stankovic, Materazzi, Toldo, Cambiasso and Zanetti.

Unbelievable indeed, as the 102-year-old organization, the Nerazzuri (Black and Blue) will send the team that won the crown, including some big prizes from the transfer derbies across the pond, to Victoria Street.

So...anyobdy care to make books on Diego Milito tallying a brace in that match, just like he did against Bayern Munic (assuming he returns next year)? Stay tuned. Watch for a full preview of this contest on The View and on Bleacher Report.

Youth Academy Update

The Galaxy Youth Academy U-16 and U-18 faced LAFC Chelsea last weekend at La Canada High School in La Canada Flintridge.

The U-16's were inept and were shut out 1-0. Not so for the U-18's. Down 2-0 at halftime, a Gyasi Zardes brace combined with a spot kick by Christian Alvarado gave the LA Galaxy U-18 a 3-2 win. Zardes's second goal came in second half stoppage time to give the U-18 G's their third win in the last four outings.

Next up for the Young G's is the U.S. Soccer Youth Development Academy showcase, scheduled for May 28-June 1, 2010.

The Galaxy U-18's take on CASL Chelsea FC Academy at 7:00 a.m. PT on May 28. On May 30, they clash with NJSA 04 at 9:00 p.m. PT and will wrap up play with an 8:00 a.m. PT match with St. Louis Scott Gallegher Metro on May 31.

As for the U-16's, they will face CASL Chelsea at 9:00 a.m. PT on May 28, NJSA 04 at 7:00 a.m. PT on May 30 and St. Louis Scott Gallegher Metro at 8:00 a.m. PT on May 31.

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In American sports, four leagues dominate the professional level in terms of fans, revenue, and interest: the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. However, come summertime, only one league dominates: MLB. Sure, the NBA and NHL Finals go into early June and the NBA draft is in late June, but overall, MLB dominates. 

Now I'm a big MLB fan and think it is a great league. However, I know others who would disagree and say that MLB and their 162 game schedule makes it hard to follow a team and games have little importance (unlike NCAA Football and the NFL). Even the NBA doesn't come close to this number of games in a season (82 compared to 162). A single MLB game doesn't even compare to the importance of an NFL game, and understandably so. But in the summer, the only thing that's on is MLB. But there is an upstart professional sports league that plays in the summer and has around a 30 game season (equivalent to a NCAA Basketball season). 

The MLS (Major League Soccer) plays throughout June and July and have only 30 games in a season. That makes each MLS game about five times more important than an MLB game in terms of meaning in the rankings. Now soccer isn't very popular in the US—at least not yet—but in other countries, like England and Spain, it's by far the biggest sport.

The English Premier League, the world's top soccer league, is followed worldwide by over half a billion people in over 200 countries. That's by far the most popular sports league in the entire world. Check out this video. The EPL is to England what the NFL is to the US. The US has a larger viewing audience potential than England and US clubs would eventually be able to pay as much or more than the leagues in Europe. 

Some people might say soccer is boring, but they obviously have not been to an international match where the players are a lot better and the fans go crazy. The US has the money, audience, and potential for the MLS to become as big and important as the Big Four are now. And with 16 teams currently and future teams in Vancouver, Montreal, and Portland, the league is growing at a fast rate. The teams in Seattle and Toronto currently have a higher attendance per game than their MLB teams. And if the US somehow miraculously wins the World Cup, the MLS could be the next big thing really soon. 

Watch some of the World Cup this year before you say soccer is boring. Soccer has as much action as baseball, and the MLB is big in the US. Remember this when the MLS is big in a decade.

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

Midfielder Michael Stephens is one hot rookie. Plain and simple.

Aside from his boyish looks and youthful charms, he is a player of the future for the Los Angeles Galaxy. On Sunday against Boca Juniors, Stephens showed what his ability could do when he has the ball at his feet.

It's his power to dictate off the misdirection and facilitation that makes the Galaxy's No. 26 quite a sensation.

Michael Francis Stephens was born on April 3, 1989 in Hinsdale, Illinois. The so-called epicenter of the "teardown" phenomenon, Hinsdale has seen more than 25 percent of its housing stock having been replaced with larger, newer homes for nearly three decades.

However, Stephens spent a great deal of his life in nearby Naperville. A footballing hotbed, Naperville is home to a number of business such as Nalco Holding Company, Tellabs, Alcatel-Lucent, and the BP North American Chemical Headquarters (you can get more information on the town in my profile on Brittany Bock right here ).

Stephens began his playing career at the Edison Academic Center. In 2004, he was named a Parade All-American. A season later, he would be named an NSCAA/adidas Youth All-American.

In 2005, Stephens was called up to the All-Star team that represented the States at the ODP Regional Team Tournament held in Argentina. Later that year, Stephens was chosen for another all-star side after attending the adidas ESP camp. That group of individuals would tour Germany in spring 2006.

Sockers F.C. Chicago was Stephens's major club, playing for the youth sides from 1999 through 2006, leading the U-19's to the Region 2 finals in his last season.

In the fall of '06, Michael Stephens joined the UCLA Bruins. A Pac-10 Rookie of the Year, Stephens was named to the Top Drawer Soccer All-Freshman first team and Soccer America's All-Freshman second team. Starting 22 of all 24 games played, he scored two goals and three assists, including one in the NCAA semifinals against the Virginia Cavaliers.

In 2007, Stephens started 20 of all 21 games played. However, this paled in comparison to his breakthrough performance in 2008.

A Soccer America MVP second-team selection, Stephens became the third player in UCLA men's soccer history to garner Pac-10 Player of the Year honors. Named also to the NSCAA/adidas All-Far West and All-Pac 10 first teams along with Top Drawer Soccer.com's National Team of the Season, Stephens scored seven goals and nine assists in 21 starts for the Bruins.

In 2009, Stephens wrapped up his career with seven assists in 15 matches played before representing the USA at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. He would go on to wrap his season with first-team All-Pac-10 and second-team NSCAA All-Far West honors.

Stephens finished his career as a UCLA Bruin with 11 goals and 20 assists in 78 starts and 81 overall appearances for Jorge Salcedo's team. He also played for the Chicago Fire's Premier Development League side, playing in eight matches.

And on January 14, 2010, Michael Stephens's hard work paid off as the 16th overall selection by the Los Angeles Galaxy. And his red-hot presence on the pitch is why the red-hot G's are ready to tear down the opposition, just like how old houses are torn down and replaced by the new back in Hinsdale.

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Once again, the Los Angeles Galaxy plan to host the UEFA League Champions for a friendly in August.

And once again, the MLS misses the entire problem with U.S. professional soccer:

No one cares.

It’s just that simple. Sure, bringing Inter Milan to play MLS squads will bring big crowds to L.A. and Dallas for two games, but that doesn’t make up for the fact that the MLS title game almost gets pushed off ESPN2 for Trick Pool.

The MLS needs to build a product for the people who are going to watch, and those people aren’t in America.

So guess where they should look?

Hint: It starts with an E and rhymes with syrup.

The market is already there. Europe loves soccer almost as much JaMarcus Russell likes cake. Do you know what my German cousin wanted as his No. 1 souvenir from his only trip across the pond? A David Beckham GALAXY jersey.

The only time Californians put “David Beckham” and “Galaxy” in the same sentence is, “The only thing that could hurt our state’s economy more is another David Beckham contract with the Galaxy.”

So the MLS should take note and take advantage. Send the friendly to Italy. Inter Milan practically sells out every game, so even if they played the Washington Nationals, there still would be more than 80,000 people filling Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, which is nearly triple the amount that fit in the Galaxy’s Home Depot Center.

Now that’s real exposure.

If they can split the revenue with Inter, even 40-60, they can join Floyd Mayweather for a making it rain “fiesta.” Retail tickets for Inter games can be more than € 60 Euros, and that’s not including all the souvenirs. Everyone knows that soccer fans are a big fan of a riot, and what better way to do it than in Landon Donovan’s No. 10 after the Galaxy win in Milan?

Okay, scratch that. Let’s take it one step at a time.

Think about the reason U.S. soccer has gained any acclaim and support going into this year’s World Cup: playing well internationally. In the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa, the U.S. took down FIFA’s top dog, Spain, and nearly upset Brazil in the championship.

People started to notice the U.S. because they weren’t bottled up at home, playing against the inferior competition. They snuck up on the defending Euro Cup champion and made themselves a slight favorite to advance from pool play in June 2010.

Translate this to the MLS. Simply take the product and put it overseas against the top teams. It doesn’t matter if it’s a friendly, because there’s no chance Manchester United, FC Bayern, and AC Milan take it easy and risk losing at home in front of their stark raving fans. Coming over to America and playing mediocre won’t matter for UEFA clubs, but any competitive soul defends its home turf to the fullest.

Sorry, Orlando Magic.

Sure, these MLS might get annihilated against UEFA’s heavy hitters, but losing exhibition matches isn’t U.S. soccer’s problem. It’s their lack of fans. Ask any American soccer fan what their favorite soccer team or who their favorite soccer player is, and 99 times out of 100 it’s a European team. You may like Donovan Ricketts, but we all know Cristiano Ronaldo is “ya boy.”

So to quote Missy Elliott, why not put our “thing down, flip it, and reverse it?"

Send MLS teams to Europe, get them on their international screens like how the UEFA championship was on ESPN, and schedule more exhibitions than Jackson Pollock. If they start to perform better, MLS followings in Europe can start to pop up, which is easier than hoping they pop up in the homeland, because at least Europe already likes the sport. Might as well infiltrate a market that enjoys the product for sale and has money to spend.

MLS, take a page from other U.S. pro sports. Play some regular season matches overseas and consider putting a team in London like the NFL. Play offseason matches in China like the NBA. Go to places that want to watch soccer.

Yes, I may be underestimating the monetary ramifications of all this globetrotting, but if the Galaxy can spend $250 million on Becks, they can fly business class to Europe and stay at a four-star hotel and have enough money left for some good bagels and lox in the morning.

Oh, and don’t forget to leave Beckham there when you go. Actually, he’d probably just stay on his own.

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Once again, the Los Angeles Galaxy plan to host the UEFA League Champions for a friendly in August.

And once again, the MLS misses the entire problem with U.S. professional soccer:

No one cares.

It’s just that simple. Sure, bringing Inter Milan to play MLS squads will bring big crowds to L.A. and Dallas for two games, but that doesn’t make up for the fact that the MLS title game almost gets pushed off ESPN2 for Trick Pool.

The MLS needs to build a product for the people who are going to watch, and those people aren’t in America.

So guess where they should look?

Hint: It starts with an E and rhymes with syrup.

The market is already there. Europe loves soccer almost as much JaMarcus Russell likes cake. Do you know what my German cousin wanted as his No. 1 souvenir from his only trip across the pond? A David Beckham GALAXY jersey.

The only time Californians put “David Beckham” and “Galaxy” in the same sentence is, “The only thing that could hurt our state’s economy more is another David Beckham contract with the Galaxy.”

So the MLS should take note and take advantage. Send the friendly to Italy. Inter Milan practically sells out every game, so even if they played the Washington Nationals, there still would be more than 80,000 people filling Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, which is nearly triple the amount that fit in the Galaxy’s Home Depot Center.

Now that’s real exposure.

If they can split the revenue with Inter, even 40-60, they can join Floyd Mayweather for a making it rain “fiesta.” Retail tickets for Inter games can be more than € 60 Euros, and that’s not including all the souvenirs. Everyone knows that soccer fans are a big fan of a riot, and what better way to do it than in Landon Donovan’s No. 10 after the Galaxy win in Milan?

Okay, scratch that. Let’s take it one step at a time.

Think about the reason U.S. soccer has gained any acclaim and support going into this year’s World Cup: playing well internationally. In the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa, the U.S. took down FIFA’s top dog, Spain, and nearly upset Brazil in the championship.

People started to notice the U.S. because they weren’t bottled up at home, playing against the inferior competition. They snuck up on the defending Euro Cup champion and made themselves a slight favorite to advance from pool play in June 2010.

Translate this to the MLS. Simply take the product and put it overseas against the top teams. It doesn’t matter if it’s a friendly, because there’s no chance Manchester United, FC Bayern, and AC Milan take it easy and risk losing at home in front of their stark raving fans. Coming over to America and playing mediocre won’t matter for UEFA clubs, but any competitive soul defends its home turf to the fullest.

Sorry, Orlando Magic.

Sure, these MLS might get annihilated against UEFA’s heavy hitters, but losing exhibition matches isn’t U.S. soccer’s problem. It’s their lack of fans. Ask any American soccer fan what their favorite soccer team or who their favorite soccer player is, and 99 times out of 100 it’s a European team. You may like Donovan Ricketts, but we all know Cristiano Ronaldo is “ya boy.”

So to quote Missy Elliott, why not put our “thing down, flip it, and reverse it?"

Send MLS teams to Europe, get them on their international screens like how the UEFA championship was on ESPN, and schedule more exhibitions than Jackson Pollock. If they start to perform better, MLS followings in Europe can start to pop up, which is easier than hoping they pop up in the homeland, because at least Europe already likes the sport. Might as well infiltrate a market that enjoys the product for sale and has money to spend.

MLS, take a page from other U.S. pro sports. Play some regular season matches overseas and consider putting a team in London like the NFL. Play offseason matches in China like the NBA. Go to places that want to watch soccer.

Yes, I may be underestimating the monetary ramifications of all this globetrotting, but if the Galaxy can spend $250 million on Becks, they can fly business class to Europe and stay at a four-star hotel and have enough money left for some good bagels and lox in the morning.

Oh, and don’t forget to leave Beckham there when you go. Actually, he’d probably just stay on his own.

Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

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

Sometimes opportunity comes at you in the most unexpected of matches. For Van Nuys's Tristan Bowen, it came in the 82nd minute of the Los Angeles Galaxy's club friendly match with Boca Juniors.

And it didn't need to have pizzazz like the South American clubs are infamous for. Nor did it have to include a celebration that could draw the ire of the officials and the opposing fans.

The goal opened his MLS scoring account, and perhaps the floodgates for the future.

You'd be crazy to think that completing sequences and sealing the deal haven't been Tristan Bowen's calling card ever since he began his young footballing career.

Tristan Bowen was born on January 31, 1991 in Van Nuys. An integral part of the San Fernando Valley region, Van Nuys was at one time one of the least affordable places to live in California, with the price of a one-family home reaching $600,000 in August 2005. Only recently has the price lowered to more affordable levels such as $330,000-$340,000 in 2009.

Van Nuys is home to one of the few cricket pitches in America, the Leo Magnus Cricket Complex. Other major attraction include its Japanese Garden, the Sepulveda Dam, and the biggest of them all, Van Nuys Boulevard.

Stretching from Valley Vista Blvd. in Sherman Oaks to Fenton Avenue in Pacoima, Van Nuys Blvd. was home to a 1979 motion picture about the local car culture on this celebrated road.

Bowen's education academically paled in comparison to his education he got juggling a round ball in the air for long periods of time. A homeschooled young man that did not attend college due to his dream of "heading from high school straight into the pros," as alluded by rapper Nelly, Bowen was first involved with the Galaxy through its subsidiary youth academy Galaxy Rios in March 2007.

The skills he learned with Galaxy Rios and a short stint with the San Fernando Valley Quakes of the USL Premier Development League culminated in a 2008 SUM U-17 Cup appearance and a USL Super-20 Pacific Southern California Division crown.

Now it was time for Bowen to up the ante. He played a number of patches with the reserves in the MLS Reserve Division and would eventually be signed by Galaxy on November 12, 2008.

In his first year with the Galaxy first team, Bowen appeared in three matches. As a result of his limited playing time, the Galaxy loaned him to the PDL's Hollywood United Hitmen and USL First Division's Miami FC to maintain match fitness.

As a member of the USA U-18 and U-20 teams, he played three matches in November 2008, playing friendlies against the youth sides from Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Rayo Vallecano.

Fast forward to the 2010 season and the friendly with Boca Juniors, and the late run in the middle of Boca's defending third by Bowen.

All that training, all that fitness, all those aspirations of playing with the team that got him to where he is today paid off on the finish from that dummy pass by Michael Stephens.

All Bowen did was complete the sequence and seal the deal.

Not many can say that their first-ever goal scored as a professional came against Boca Juniors. Tristan Bowen can be proud to be that elite company of players.

And you can also be sure that it will not be the last goal scored by the No. 17 as a professional against Boca...or any team for that matter. Tristan Bowen is a young gun to be reckoned with.

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The Red Bulls began the season on a big high, winning five of six games thanks to a rock solid defense and good finishing in the final third.

But after the great start to the season, the New York Red Bulls have fallen back to Earth.

The past three games in MLS have yielded losses, beginning with a 4-0 thrashing compliments of the San Jose Earthquakes, and two losses at their new home arena, Red Bull Park, 1-0 to Seattle, and 3-1 to Columbus.

In those games, the once focused back line came apart for certain decisive moments of those matches, and the rest of the squad has looked lackluster for large chunks of the games.

However, this past weekend, the Red Bulls stunned Italian powerhouse Juventus F.C. 3-1 in a friendly.

What was the reason for the excellent offensive output, you ask?

Because the so called "Baby Bulls" played the game.

The "Baby Bulls" or backups for the Red Bull starting eleven, brought an intensity and attacking flair that had not been seen on the pitch for a couple of weeks.

The boys brought this same energy to the US Open Cup victories on April 27 and May 12 over the expansion Philadelphia Union and the hated rival New England Revolution, which the Red Bulls won 2-1 and 3-0 respectively.

The "Baby Bulls" are a good blend of youth and veteran know how, including young stars such as the number two pick in the 2010 MLS Draft, midfielder Toni Tchani, fourth round pick in the 2010 MLS Draft, forward Conor Chinn, cagey veterans defender Chris Albright, and the immortal forward John Wolyniec.

Due to the disbanding of the MLS Reserve division a couple of seasons ago, friendlies and US Open Cup matches are the only chances these players get to see the pitch in a competitive game.

Surely new head coach Hans Backe has noticed the triumphs of the backups and role players, and hopefully soon he will be willing to give them a chance in the starting lineup in MLS.

It would help give players like forward and captain of the squad Juan Pablo Angel and midfielder Joel Lindpere (when he returns from injury) some rest so they do not have to play so many games in a short amount of time.

On Wednesday May 26, the Red Bulls will host the Colorado Rapids in the US Open Cup qualification final, and Backe will once again look to his young guns and other role players to set the tone, and lead the Red Bulls forward in their quest to be champions.

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


It's never easy being Mike Magee. Some things are not granted to you, like a chance at striking it rich in Europe, or getting past a season without nagging injuries. But as a soccer player, what can be granted is the opportunity to overcome those challenges and turn adversity into mental and physical toughness and make a success of it.

Magee's life is like the winds that swirl Chicago, where he was born on September 2, 1984. Unlike many players on the Galaxy-or MLS for that matter-he went through the IMG Soccer Academy in Bradenton, Fla. and graduated in 2001 after enrolling in 2000.

At the time, teams in Major League Soccer didn't have a youth academy in place. The Bradenton Academy, founded just over a decade ago in 1999, gives the best up-and-comers the chance to train in a professional environment.

A typical day for the student-athlete at Bradenton consists of academic classes in the morning followed by sports training in the afternoon.

Students at the academy take accelerated courses and graduate high school a year early, making the players who do not turn pro immediately some of the most heavily recruited prospects in college soccer.

Magee, however, chose not to up his stock by going through the NCAA ranks. He tried to audition for the best teams in Europe, like Ajax Amsterdam of the Eredivisie.

Magee failed miserably. It was then that he realized the best things in life weren't granted, and so he chose to give MLS a try. Magee was selected fourth overall in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft by the NY/NJ MetroStars (now Red Bull New York) as part of a trade for the previous year's third overall pick, Brad Davis.

Magee became the youngest player to ever appear for the MetroStars at 18 years and 222 days on April 12, 2003 against the Columbus Crew. Two weeks later, it was against this same team where he would become the youngest to score a goal in club history. Magee went on to play in all but one game of the 2003 season, scoring seven goals. The season saw the MetroStars earn their best finish in U.S. Open Cup play, as runners-up.

In 2004, the signing of three foreign strikers limited Magee's role as an attacker, but it gave him a new one as an attacking midfielder. A tactician with great leadership, excellent passing and ball skill, Magee scored three goals in the '04 campaign, including a game-winner against his future club, the Galaxy, and also recorded four assists in 18 appearances.

In 2005, Magee tallied five goals and assists apiece, including a brace on September 17 against the New England Revolution. His importance could not have been more understated: the MetroStars were 4-1-4 when he earned a goal or an assist.

However, 2006 was one of Magee's toughest years. He only managed three goals in a campaign niggled by injuries and had season-ending knee surgery.

The surgery did little to help Magee, who, after returning as a substitute on August 12, only played seven matches after a right knee injury on September 15. Simply put, it was a 2007 season to forget.

Not so for 2008. With Magee fully recovered, he helped the now-renamed Red Bulls earn an MLS Cup appearance. Now back in his position as a striker, Magee was instrumental in New York's cause with five goals and an assist. It was his best effort since the 2005 season.

But it would be his last effort with New York. Before the 2009 season, Magee was traded to the Los Angeles Galaxy for a conditional second round SuperDraft pick. Magee finished his run at New York with 23 goals in 130 appearances.

In his first season donning the blue, gold, and white of Los Angeles, Magee made 23 starts, but could only manage two goals. The role he took in 2004 with the MetroStars was not lost on Magee, however, and as a result he led the team wth six assists.

The biggest highlight for the No. 18 of the G's was the 2009 MLS Cup. Just moments away from Real Salt Lake hoisting the Anschutz Trophy in regulation, Magee's game-tying goal would see the match go the distance.

The flashes of what his ability can do when he has space to operate and finish then are as apparent now. Case in point: the match with FC Dallas.

In the 17th minute, Chris Klein's delivery to Tristan Bowen found a trailing Magee, who drilled it past Hoops goalkeeper Kevin Hartman for a 1-0 victory.

It could have been so much more for Mike Magee. A college education, an increase in stock, something to fall back on if Europe didn't work out, proof that people will go professional in anything outside the world of sport, as the NCAA alludes to in their slogan.

But if you need proof that adversity's transformation into mental toughness and physical resilience can become a successful combination, Mike Magee is the key.

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There's no denying that it takes two to tango. But there should also be no denying that it takes one clinical goal and one stingy backup goalkeeper to shut down Club Atletico Boca Juniors.

Playing without its best players, due to World Cup 2010 commitments, Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy took advantage and brought home a scintillating 1-0 victory over the 31-time Argentine Primera Division and six-time Copa Libertadores winners—who had a similarly watered-down roster.

In the 82nd minute, Los Xeneizes's defense paid dearly for giving too much space when rookie Michael Stephens delivered the ball inside to Tristan Bowen, who opened his scoring account for the season.

The biggest star of the night, arguably, was backup goalkeeper Josh Saunders. Making a head-shaking 13 saves compared to two for Boca's counterpart Javier Garcia. Saunders frustrated Boca's vaunted attack, led by Lucas Viatri (six shots), Matias Gimenez (three shots on goal), and substitute Sergio Araujo (four shots).

Garcia, however, is as cheeky as they come.

“Our style is superior,” García said. “We played a better game, created far more chances while they only had their one. They didn’t look to take control of the ball.”

In your defense, Javier, you do have a point. After all, Boca—with 24 shots, 13 on goal and nine corners—had every chance to put the game away early and often.

It doesn't matter if you create a chance to score every minute or every second. When you let a backup goalkeeper upstage one of South America's most beloved clubs, it has to be a disappointment.

As for you, Javier, it's a travesty that you were not man enough to admit it.

“For an international team that’s as world-renowned as Boca is, to beat them is great for us,” Saunders said. “It’s middle of the season and a lot of the players haven’t necessarily played a lot got to play tonight and we got a result out of it.”

To put things in perspective, it's akin to Long Beach State's victory over UCLA in college basketball this past season. A win by a low-profile team over a high-profile team that has won major hardware does not happen often. Today, it did.

At the same time, this performance might be problematic.

Here's why: Saunders' effort must land him at least a trial with the Galaxy's first team. With or without the likes of Juan Roman Riquelme, Martin Palermo, Federico Insua, and those players, a shutout over Boca Juniors is a shutout over Boca Juniors. No matter who is on the team, if they are wearing the blue jersey with the horizontal gold back and you shut them out, it's a big deal.

And you don't lay a shutout on Boca Juniors without gaining the attention of the first team manager. Though he's making plans for the upcoming Apertura back on Brandsen Street, surely Claudio Borghi must be thinking about giving Saunders at least a trial run at keeper. The Galaxy could be losing this guy due to this performance.

Now I am not Orson Welles. I am not preaching the "End of the World as We Know It" (wait, that's REM, whoops), but this must go down as Saunders's best game of the season. Imagine how he will do when it's the third round of the U.S. Open Cup, or if he gets the start against one of his old clubs, the Puerto Rico Islanders.

Can you say "the best is yet to come?" Frank Sinatra did.

A number of teams had been trouncing Boca Juniors this past season, and the goal by Bowen might explain why.

Los Xeneizes were the prisoners of giving up space in their own defensive third. It just takes one well drawn-up passing sequence (in this case by Mike Magee to Stephens to Bowen) to sink a line-up like this.

“We fought for 90 minutes and we got a goal right at the end," Bowen said after the match. "[Defender] Sean [Franklin] played a ball to me and I brought it down. I turned and played a ball to Mike and just continued to run into the ball and Mike Magee played a ball across. [Stephens] dummied it and all I had to do was put it in the net.”

For Arena, the victory did not come from the saves or the Bowen goal. It was the fitness.

“This is an exhibition we didn’t need, in all honesty,” Arena said after the match. “We have a bunch of injuries and some fatigue. To get through this without an injury was good.”

True that they had some knocks, Bruce, but they got up and were able to walk when subbed. And again, a win over Boca is a win over Boca, and a win over Boca is a big deal. A tango lesson that the G's passed with flying blue, gold, and white colors is a huge momentum booster heading to the next match.

This leads us to our...

Next Mission: Into the Massive Zone

Guillermo Barros Schelotto was a former member of Boca Juniors. He made 211 appearances, scoring 65 goals and lifting 14 titles for the club. Now a member of the Columbus Crew, his team faces a difficult mission: a match with the league leaders who shut out his former club.

The Galaxy's May 29 match with the Columbus Crew is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. PT at the Crew Stadium.


Atencion, Atencion: Please step forward if you sent the Keystone Kops...

One of the most questionable set pieces was by Clint Mathis in the 14th minute. After Boca captain Hugo Ibarra was booked by match official Elias Bazakos, Mathis tried to be flashy in his set piece, and instead butchered a shot high and wide towards the Angel City Brigade section.

Even though this was a friendly, one would think that a player on the Galaxy U-18 side would have performed a much better shot from that angle. Good thing he fixed it at approximately the same spot 15 minutes later forcing a diving two-fisted punch out by Garcia.


So long Rosario, hello..."El Albo"!?

That's right, ladies and gentlemen, Rosario Central, a club that may not be as well-known as Boca or River Plate but still has a strong fanbase, has been relegated to the Nacional B.

Have you heard of this club: Club Atletico All Boys? Me neither. Some of you may have heard of Newell's Old Boys...but Club Atletico All Boys?

I suppose that's what happens when you spend three decades in the wilderness of the leagues below La Primera Division de Argentina. But on Sunday, the wait ended with a 3-0 victory over Los Canallas at the Estadio Gigante de Arroyito. All Boys finished all clear with a 4-1 aggregate win.

Good things come to those who wait. And now, Los Albos get the chance to renew their rivalry with Clausura 2010 champions Argentinos Juniors—the club in which a certain man by the name of Diego Maradona made his debut and mark.

As for Rosario Central, after their loss to All Boys, I just have this to say: "No soup for you!"

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T-180: I have never tasted Argentine cuisine. But I heard that it sticks to your ribs because it's high in protein, but otherwise, that's about it. So I did a little research on das lokal Wikipedia, and I uncovered some interesting delights from Buenos Aires, the home of Boca Juniors (and River Plate and 11 other clubs in the Argentine Primera Division for the upcoming 2010-11 season).

For example, did you know that the milanesa napolitana is a regional variation of the schnitzel parmigiana? Or what the locals call pizza in Buenos Aires is the rough equivalent to calzone up here? And they have variations, too: pizza canchera, pizza rellena (stuffed pizza), pizza por metro (pizza by the meter), and pizza a la parrilla (grilled pizza). Take note, CPK...

Did you also know that fainá is a type of thin bread made with chickpea flour, AND that it is ordered as a combo with muscat (or moscato) and pizza at pizzerias in the city?

With enough steakhouses to make the health-conscious traveler make a detour to Brazil (no, that wouldn't work either because of the churrascarias..run!), asado is an enduring legacy of the Gaucho tradition in Argentina. Try some at La Estancia. I recommend it.

Sorrentinos are another Argentine institution, developed in nearby Mar del Plata. These are similar to round ravioli, but are stuffed with mozzerella, ham and ricotta.

And don't forget about those empanadas! Oh, and besides those, you can't go wrong with alfajores (shortbread cookies with caramel and a fruit paste), dulce de membrillo (cheese with quince paste) or dulce de batata (sweet potato jelly, sold by the round).

Enough talk about gastronomy (save that for your next visit to an Argentine restaurant in your neck of the woods). Time to dig into our special friendly match today: the Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Club Atletico Boca Juniors. (Besides, any more talk and I will need to order all of the food I just mentioned. Ayayay.)

T-170: With an 8-0-2 record and a comfortable lead in the Major League Soccer and MLS Western Conference standings, Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy will take on a [watered-down, but still potent] Boca Juniors side that didn't exactly have its best year. However, due to their impressive overall average the past three seasons (and they had two impressive seasons prior to their calamatous outing this year), Boca remained in the top flight.

T-160: Manager Roberto Pompei will be taking the reins on this tour. Later on, Claudio Borghi will be managing the team for the 2010 Apertura. Prior to his hiring, Borghi managed Argentinos Juniors, the 2010 Clausura champions. 

During a press conference at Brandsen Street (that's where the Alberto J. Armando Stadium is located), Borghi was looking forward to the challenge.

"Even though I am not a fan, it's an honor to lead an organization like this," Borghi said. "Usually, it takes time to gain a high-profile job [at Boca], but I jumped at the opportunity. I look old, but I am young, and we have a young coaching staf with high aspirations. It will be a tough road ahead of us, but we are confident we'll do well."

When asked about what the fans can expect, Borghi answered with more of the same.

"We have to respect the tradition and ways of Boca. Fans have told me that there are times where Boca must win by all means mnecessary. We will bring an attacking style of play, dictating the game with multiple looks. We won't change the way we will run our formations because we have to see if this will work, as it has for other coaches [in the Primera Division]."

Note that Boca's English web site is horrible with the translations. Therefore, I have to reword it into something that you can understand.

Borghi also had an interesting answer regarding the winners of the 2010 Clausura, Argentinos Juniors.

"I believe Argentinos did well in winning the title, but we were not championship material. You're crazy to think that we were ready to win that Clausura. But since the team began to gel, we like our chances in winning the title.

"Being a champion in Argentine football is important, although new teams in recent years have lifted the trophy. For me, it's a big motivator, the confidence of achieving our main objective this season."

If hopes are indeed high, then look out, we may have ourselves quite a game on our hands. The Galaxy have their own goals in mind. For example, there's the issue of returning to the MLS Cup and actually winning it, rather than losing it on spot kicks. Then, there is possibility of a double by going on a US Open Cup run. And the possibility of a treble on top of those two begins against the Puerto Rico Islanders. Actually, another chance for a treble comes with earning the Supporters Shield...hmmm.

But first things first. We have a friendly with a big name in the footballing universe to tango with tonight!

T-120: Line-ups:

T-90: Boca got its colors from the flag of Sweden. The 4146 ton freighter "Drottning Sophia," arriving to port from Copenhagen, was a Swedish vessel. La Boca, the district where the club hails from, is home to one of the busiest ports in the world. Hence, the origin. Originally it was a diagonal stripe, which later on was changed to the Boca's trademark gold horizontal band on blue.

At least it's much better than their first jersey color, which was pink.

T-60: My guts is telling me there will be a standing-room only crowd of 27,000 tonight. This could be the very first time this season that the grassy enclosure below the video board is open, the famous "Lalas Hill."

T-55: The Angel City Brigade section has been moved to accomodate the Boca Juniors supporters.

T-32: Already the Boca fans are warming up their lungs for this one. Perhaps the sharing of ideas will be exchanged between supporters groups after this friendly is over.

T-30: A half hour to go. Funny thing happened to me on the way here: I forgot about my credential, and it took me about an extra 40 minutes to get here because of Sunday transportation delays. Prince of Persia is being teased here.

T-28: This is fun stuff from the supporters in the Northwest corner. Getting those calories burned?

T-25: I wonder who will win the Eurovision Song Contest this year?

T-20: In other MLS scores from the weekend...Columbus defeated the Kansas City Wizards 1-0, an understrength Juventus team got whipped by the New York Red Bulls 3-1, Chivas USA lost to Real Salt Lake 2-1, Toronto FC silences the New England Revolution 1-0 in spite of drawing 1-1 with the Vancouver Whitecaps, the San Jose Earthquakes defeated the Seattle Sounders FC 1-0, and DC United's season on misery continues with a 2-0 loss to the Houston Dynamo. Of course, Toronto's victory was no fluke; the Revs got routed by Benfica 4-0.

More supporters of Boca join the fray. What, no Argentine flag?

T-15: While the HDC has its intentions, the security would be wise not to cross the line when it comes to these supporters. The next stops on the Boca Juniors  I wtour include a May 26 date with the Seattle Sounders and a May 29 match with the Portland Timbers.

Here come the drums.

T-10: We are 10 minutes away from the start of this match. Both teams to the change rooms, and a parade of champions.

T-9: I wonder if the national anthem of Argentina will be played today. Pretty good opus.

T-7: Our match referee is Elias Bazakos. Frank Anderson and Ian Anderson are the linesmen and Baldomero Toledo is our fourth official this afternoon. A little competition here between the Boca fans and the ACB. Fun stuff. But why the heck is the Riot Squad resting this one?

T-0: Because this is a club friendly, the FIFA Anthem is played. And for the first time this year, the Argentine national anthem is played. Jasmine V with the Star-Spangled Banner.

Strong winds are in the forecast today. Are these coming from Buenos Aires? That was a joke, by the way. Buenos aires means "good air" in Spanish. Ah, and both sides take a group photo. It's a friendly, after all.

FIRST HALF START: 5:09 P.M. PT

1' - Here's we go. In the words of Enrique "El Perro" Bermudez, "¡Aficionados, que viven la intensida de futbol!"

2' - First corner of the match, to Boca. Punched away by Josh Saunders. Expect a fast-paced match today. A little simulation? Mind the cheekiness, Elias.

3' - Here comes Boca. Too high a kick. Goal kick for Saunders.

4' - Another goal kick for Saunders. Both sides will be feeling each other out.

5' - Galaxy resets the rotation. This is Pablo Mouche, trying to get something going early.

6' - What the heck was Ezequiel Munoz doing? That was almost criminal right there. Too long for Gaston Rossi.

7' - Throw-in for Alex Cazumba, making his first start. Too high on the header by Eddie Lewis, but it's a corner.

8' - Great save by Javier Garcia. Here comes Boca on the transition. Hard tackle on Lewis by captain Hugo Ibarra. He's up, though.

9' - Some patience in the back third will be in order for Boca. Throw in for the Xeneizes.

11' - Early on in the match, scoreless.  Ibarra is the mastermind of Pompei's 4-4-2 system. Nothing LA hasn't seen before. It will all boil down to skill and athleticism. And a dash of luck.

13' - In other news, Rosario Central got demoted to the Nacional B after losing to Club Atletico All Boys 3-0. They are known as "El Albo," an abbreviation of the team name. Goal kick for Saunders.

14' - Yellow card 4 Hugo Ibarra
Boca Juniors

It was a rash challenge, and Bazakos had no choice. A young Cobi Jones on the video monitor. And that ensuing set piece is quitessential Keystone Kops football right there.

15' - Still can't believe that Rosario Central's star has fallen this year. While they are a minor favorite, they are still a favorite, and it's too bad for them. But I would like to see how "Los Albos" will do  in the Apertura.

16' - A change for Mouche is denied by Gregg Berhalter.

17' - Throw-in for Cazumba. Incidental contact. Here comes Boca.

18' - Saunders swoops in for that one. Goal kick.

19' - The Boca fans continue to bring in a little taste of "La Bombonera" to Calle Victoria.

20' - Tango lesson going well; still scoreless.  This is Eddie LEwis. Pass inside the box cleared by Munoz. Goal kick for Garcia.

21' - Breyner Bonilla resets things for the Xeneizes. Here comes the Galaxy, but Boca intercepts and go on the counter.

22' - Pay attention, Gaston Rossi! A lesson well leaqrned as Boca slow the pace a little. Offsides on Mouche.

23' - It seems more like a Boca home game than a Galaxy home game with the way things are going.

24' - Michael Stephens is turned around by Bonilla.

25' - Here comes Boca on the attack. However, that chance for ROssi is stopped.

26' - A shot for Rossi goes wide right. Best chance for Boca early. Dangerous one, too.

27' - Here's Ibarra again. I love that collective gasp by the fans. Pretty good stuff.

28' - Stephens almost got the best out of that scramble. Some action inside the Boca box. Wasted chance by Clint Mathis. He gets a break with the set piece.

29' - Diving save by Garcia. At least that wasn't Keystone Kops quality. Save was the type of proof of what his ability can do. No one in the neighborhood for that corner.

30' - Saunders gets tangled up, but still gets the corner.

31' - So we have seen some close calls and questionable decision making to go with physical play, but it's still scoreless. Matias Gimenez is tackled on that one.

32' - Saunders is there to grab that shot by Lucas Viatri. He's had to do some work today. Wonder if we will get to see Ricketts in the 2nd half.

33' - Boca back on the offensive. Offsides, though.

34' - So much for the possible sellout. But there is a good turnout for this contest. Throwin-in for Boca.

35' - Oooh, that was another good one from Viatri. Saunders grabs that one.

36' - A chance for the G's forwards is swept up by Garcia and the Boca backline.

38' - Boca has been snapping up the possession, but that is offsides on Gimenez.

39' - Rossi a bit shaken but he gets up. The Xeneizes reset.

40' - Not bad marking by Breyner Bonilla. His big presence has made it a problem for this [watered-down] Galaxy attack.

41' - And that was an easy one for Viatri. How did he butcher that one?

42' - Here's a corner for Boca. The supporters in the NW corner anticipate.

43' - Too high for Bonilla off the Jesus Mendez corner...Goal kick Saunders.

44' - Throw-in for the G's. And this isn't good. Mathis is a bit shaken-up. Butr he is fine. Sportsmanlike gesture by ROssi. Class act.

45' - So, how many minutes of first-half stoppage time do we have here?  Goal kick for Saunders.

45' + 1' - One minute of stoppage time. A quick first half this will be, with both sides scoreless.

HALFTIME

Los Angeles Galaxy 0

Boca Juniors 0

SECOND HALF START: 6:13 p.m. PT

46' - The second half is underway. And that was a 30-year wait for All Boys that ended today. Wow. Congratulations Mt. San Antonio College for earning state and national titles. Perhaps a few of these players will play for Boca? Who knows.

Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 5 Yohance Marshall
OUT 4 Omar Gonzales

Boca arriving straight from the locker room on to the pitch. Interesting. Let's see what they do.

47' - Controlled possession will be key to Boca taking at least one goal here. Here's Stephens.

48' - Too much space given up, but that will be a goal kick for Saunders after too little mustard on the hot dog.

49' - A huge chance for LA is scooped up by Garcia. Munoz nearly paid the price there.

50' - Throw-in for Chris Klein. Alex Cazumba clears for a Boca corner. Great initial defending, but Boca Juniors are on the attack again. A couple of chances for Matias Gimenez are stopped by Saunders. Great sequence from the Galaxy backup keeper of the match.

51' - Klein goes over the shoulder. The Boca boys go back on the offensive.

Yellow card 16 Gregg Berhalter
Los Angeles Galaxy

Rough challenge on Mouche draws the ire of Elias Bazakos. Set piece time for Boca.

53' - Another tip over the top for Saunders. And another corner. Let's see what happens here. Did Munoz underestimate the skills of the BACKUP? This isn't Donovan Ricketts in goal, and already Josh Saunders has the game of his life so far.

54' - Galaxy on the offensive. A few big chances, and a long shot goes too strong for Klein.

55' - Here is Luciano Fabian Monzon with the throw-in. Percussion now goes to work.

56' - Galavision with some stock footage shots of the Boca subs warming up the legs.

57' - Not sure what Bowen was thinking, but it leads to a Boca counterattack. Mouche got upended. No foul. Can't get it all, Paulie.

58' - Here comes the Boca boys again. Berhalter sets things straight. Goal kick for Saunders. Garcia counters with a grab of his own.

59' - Bowen is brave in trying to miss his marker in Bonilla. Throw-in for the Galaxy. Cazumba resets.

60' - So we are two-thirds of the way here, and it's scoreless. Foul on the Galaxy. Set piece for the Xeneizes. Saunders saves that.

61' - It's goalmouth to goalmouth as Garcia resets the rotation for Boca. Here they come.

63' Double-collision right there. Ouch.

64' - Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 20 AJ De La Garza
OUT 16 Gregg Berhalter

Substitution Los Angeles
IN 27 Bryan Jordan
OUT 11 Chris Birchall

Corner for Boca by Mouche. Great save by Saunders off the Rossi volley

65' - So we are 65 minutes in the match, and Saunders has been a gem. He has been featured on the "This Is The Los Angeles Galaxy" series early for a reason.

66' - Here comes Boca on the offensive. The tempo accelerates. Horrible shot but it will be a corner, Mouche to take. High header.

68' - Here comes Mouche again, and that header for Rossi is saved. Another corner for Boca.

Substitution Boca Juniors
IN 14 Sergio Araujo
OUT 5 Jesus Mendez

69' - This is a stanza of great goalkeeping by Josh Saunders. Pompei may want to consider signing him up for a trial with the way things are going.

70' - Galaxy reset on defense. you know, with the way things are going right now, Saunders might need to be signed on trial with the Xeneizes.

71' -Too high of a shot inside the Boca attacking third.

72' - Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 2 Todd Dunivant
OUT 6 Eddie Lewis

73' - Hard tackle on Bowen. Set piece for Franklin. Even the people in the press box are Boca fans. Holy cow.

74' - Boca back on the offensive. Excellent speed by Luciano Monzon on the wing.

75' - Corner time for Mouche. Well-marked. Way too far for Tristan Bowen. Boy, he wanted that one.

76' - Substitution Boca Juniors
IN 11 Orlando Gaona Lugo
OUT 7 Pablo Mouche

77' - Another great save from Josh Saunders on Araujo.

78' - Boca back on the offensive. Saunders takes that one. How many times have I called him name on this Play-by-Play?

79' - Some antics in the northwest corner, where the supporters' action is. Mike Magee ready to check in for the G's.

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

Attendance is 18,268 for this match. So much for the sell-out, but we will take two-thirds capacity any old day. Fans in the ACB sway side to side.

Substitution Boca Juniors
IN 15 Nicolas Colazo
OUT 17 Matias Gimenez

81' - Halftime at US Airways Arena. Phoenix Suns 54, Los Angeles Lakers 47. NOW they show up. Good save on the header bu Araujo. He's getting his touches.

82' - GOAL! Los Angeles Galaxy 17 tristan Bowen Assist 26 Michael Stephens
Breakthrough goal. And finally, the G's make Boca pay for giving up too much real estate.

84' - It's now up to Boca to deliver an equalizer. Frustration begins to mount.

86' - Substitution Los Angeles Galaxy
IN 20 Nicolas Blandi
OUT 19 Breyner Bonilla

87' - Goal kick for Saunders. Let's see what happens in these closing minutes.

88' - Cheeky attempt with the overhead, but that's not going to work.

89' - Now I don't know which one to do here for this week's "TITLAG" special. Ahhh, maybe a twofer will do.

90' + 1' - How many minutes of stoppage time? Three minutes of stoppage time...and a corner.

90' + 2' - Dispossessed. Here comes Boca. Do they have any more in the tank?

90' + 3' - Header goes wide left. That's it!

LOS ANGELES GALAXY 1

BOCA JUNIORS 0

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