WCQ Rosters Announced

United States Men's National Team head coach Bob Bradley has unveiled the 20-man roster he has called upon to lead into battle in a pair of upcoming World Cup Qualifiers. Among them are seven players from Major League Soccer, as well as two others who recently completed moves overseas.

The United States will take on Cuba on September 6th in Havana and then host Trinidad & Tobago four days later from Toyota Park in Chicago.

"These next two games are very important to help us position ourselves to advance to the final stage," said Bradley. "With the win against Guatemala, we have put ourselves in a good situation at the start of the semifinal round. I was very pleased with the way our team stuck together in a difficult environment. We need to have that same type of effort in the matches against Cuba and Trinidad & Tobago."


Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton FC)

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Michael Orozco (San Luis), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Eddie Lewis (LA Galaxy)

Forwards: Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Eddie Johnson (Cardiff City)

MLS Ends Red Bulls' Kandji Adventure

The New York Red Bulls will have to look somewhere else in their search for a strike partner for Juan Pablo Angel, after Major League Soccer blocked a deal for Macoumba Kandji of the USL's Atlanta Silverbacks. The deal was quashed by MLS because of a $200,000 transfer fee that Atlanta had insisted upon, an unusually high amount for a USL player. Though New York was willing to pay up, MLS decided that the move might set a bad precedent and killed the deal.

Kandji, 23, was one of several forwards being considered in an attempt to fill the void created when Jozy Altidore was sold to Spain earlier this summer. Other players reported to be in Juan Carlos Osorio's sights include Colorado's Omar Cummings and FC Dallas' Dominic Oduro. Ives Galarcep reports that the club is also keeping its options open with Sainey Touray - a Gambian who has been on trial with RBNY - and Crystal Palace Baltimore's Matthew Mbuta, who played in the midfield when the club upset New York in the U.S. Open Cup.

A 6'4", 175 lb. striker, Kandji has scored 10 goals and added five assists for Atlanta in the 2008 season, and has earned USL Player of the Week honors twice. Here is a clip of Kandji in action:

Expansion: St. Louis Priced Out?

St. Louis is usually one of the first cities mentioned when talking about future MLS expansion, but with the league drastically hiking fees for a group to land the rights to a club over the past few years, Major League Soccer may have just priced themselves out of the St. Louis market.

When Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment brought Toronto FC into MLS in 2006, they paid $10 million to the league. Philadelphia’s franchise, which will begin play in 2010, paid three-times that amount, $30 million. And when the MLS held a board of governors meeting in Toronto last month, it was suggested that the expansion fee could be raised to as much as $50 million for the 17th and 18th teams, in light of the league’s growing popularity and competition between cities.

“We’re not going to pay so much,” says Jeff Cooper, chairman of St. Louis Soccer United. “We have to look at this as a business decision. If they’re unreasonable with the price, we can go elsewhere.”

Cooper, a local attorney who has made his fortune through asbestos settlements, has long been the main figure in an investment group trying to bring Major League Soccer to St. Louis. Their idea centers around an 18,500-seat stadium and retail center that would make up the jewel of the $573 million complex in Collinsville, IL, a city 15 miles to the east of the St. Louis.
If the $50 million expansion fee proves too costly, an alternative being pitched by some members of the group would have the new stadium be home to a United Soccer League franchise instead. But all hopes are that MLS will lower their price for a St. Louis team.

“We’re standing ready as soon as MLS is ready,” said Cooper. “I don’t know what else we can do.”

St. Louis Soccer United is planning to submit a formal bid to the league in the coming weeks, ahead of an October 15th deadline set by MLS for potential expansion cities to make their plans known. Other cities suggested to be in competition for the league’s next two spots include: Las Vegas; Portland, OR; Vancouver; Montreal; Ottawa; Atlanta; Miami; and a second team in New York.

A decision on the two newest sites for expansion is expected early next year.

Ugly Start In Champions League For MLS Clubs

It was an ugly evening for both of the MLS teams competing in the first-ever CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round on Tuesday night as Chivas USA and the New England Revolution both wound up on the wrong end of the scoreline in matches they were favored to win.The Revolution dropped a 2-1 decision to Joe Public FC of Trinidad & Tobago at Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya after goals from Gregory Richardson and Jamal Gay pushed the hosts ahead in the second half. A late penalty kick was converted by Honduran midfielder Mauricio Castro, giving the Revs a glimmer of hope heading into next week’s final leg.

Chivas USA fell to a lesser-known Central American side in their opening game, losing to Panama’s Tauro FC by a score of 2-0 at Estadio Rod Carew in Panama City. Tauro’s Edwin Aguilar netted both of their goals, the game-winner coming just seven minutes into the match. He would go on to add an insurance goal an hour later, leaving injury-riddle Chivas a deep hole to dig out of in the final leg.

Both Chivas and New England will host the second-leg of their respective match-ups on Tuesday, September 2nd, with the winners on aggregate advancing into the Group Stage of the competition.

Edu Eager For Rangers Debut

US midfielder Maurice Edu has been on the go non-stop over the past few weeks, having represented his country in the Beijing Olympics and a World Cup Qualifier in Guatemala, as well as pulling club duties with Toronto FC and flying to Europe for negotiations all within the span of 10 days. Now, the 22-year-old midfielder is finally getting set for a calmer spell at his new home, Ibrox Stadium, which will officially begin when Edu joins Rangers in Scotland later this week.

“It’s been nuts, totally crazy,” Edu told the Evening Times. “I’ve been all over the place. When I was out in China, I heard a little buzz about a move to Rangers. As the tournament progressed a little bit, I heard the interest was growing and it was possible they might make a bid.

“It has always been a dream of mine to play European football,” he continued. “To have a chance to play for a club like Rangers is a dream come true.”The 2007 MLS Rookie of the Year won’t be walking straight into the starting lineup, however; he’ll have to prove his worth against the likes of midfielders Aaron, Steven Davis and Pedro Mendes. The challenge is something Edu is fully aware of – and looking forward to.

“In this transfer window Rangers have signed quite a few good midfielders. The bar has been set. It is now up to me to go out there and prove my worth.

“I think it is important to be in an environment like that. That is going to force you to play at your best and improve your game. It should bring out the best in you. It is definitely a challenge, but it is one that I am up for. You can’t expect to start every game, I’m just going to try and make the decision for the manager as difficult as possible.”

Ruiz Arrival Planned For Tuesday

Putting an end to rumors about whether he would even report to his new team, Carlos Ruiz is scheduled to arrive in Toronto on Tuesday to meet his new teammates and tour the facilities, according to a press release put out by Toronto FC Media Relations.The Los Angeles Galaxy announced that they had traded Ruiz to Toronto FC on Wednesday, while the Guatemalan forward was in his home country preparing to take on the USA in a World Cup Qualifier. Though he was expected to report to his new team before last weekend, there was no sighting of the Little Fish as TFC fought the New England Revolution to a 1-1 tie on Saturday.

“When he didn’t turn up at the weekend, everybody was saying it was because he doesn’t want to play on the turf, but that wasn’t the case,” said head coach John Carver. “The good news is that he is flying in tonight and then he can see the stadium and the facilities and have a look at the turf.”

Ruiz, 28, made 10 appearances this season for the Galaxy, scoring just once before being traded. He has 82 MLS goals to his credit in 150 games played, making him one of the most prolific scorers in league history, but also has a well-earned reputation for being a dirty player and a diver.

“They tell me he is one of the best finishers in the league, so that excites me,” continued Carver. “I’ve heard he is a good guy in the locker room and that he’s a good character. What I’m not going to do is start a war with him. You can’t do that with certain players. Some players need a cuddle to get the best out of them and you have to get in the faces of others. This is a guy who you have to show respect to. He can be a hero here.”

FCD's Sikora Out 4-6 Weeks

FC Dallas midfielder Victor Sikora has suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee and will miss 4-6 weeks of action, according to club officials. The injury occurred during FCD’s 1-1 draw against Kansas City on Saturday when the former Ajax star was tackled by the Wizards’ Sasha Victorine just minutes into the second half. He required a substitution shortly thereafter.
Sikora has made two appearances for the Hoops – both starts - since signing with the club earlier this month. Prior to the injury, Coach Schellas Hyndman had many good things to say about his newest acquisition, grading the midfielder on his first performance with the club in their game at Columbus.

“It’s a physical league, new environment, new team, on the road and [assistant coach John] Ellinger and I looked at each other a couple of times and said he could be our Designated Player,” said Hyndman. “He did so many really good things for us.”

Dallas will hope to have Sikora back in time for their final handful of games this season, as they continue their fight for a playoff spot in the crowded Western Conference. FC Dallas welcomes the red-hot Columbus Crew to town this Saturday.

CONCACAF Champions League To Begin

The inaugural CONCACAF Champions League begins this week, with eight Preliminary Round first-leg matchups taking place August 26-28. Twenty-four teams will battle it out between now and April 2009 to decide who will be crowned the first-ever CONCACAF Champions League champion and receive the honor of representing North America at next year’s Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Two MLS teams will kick off their CCL conquest this week – Chivas USA and the New England Revolution. The Houston Dynamo and DC United have already qualified for the group stages and will begin tournament play in mid-September.Here’s the complete schedule of this week’s Preliminary Round action:

August 26th:
New England Revolution (USA) @ Joe Public FC (T&T) – 8:00 p.m. EST
Chivas USA (USA) @ Tauro FC (PAN) – 8:00 p.m. EST
Hankook Verdes (BLZ) @ Cruz Azul (MEX) – 10:00 p.m. EST

August 27th:
Real Esteli (NCG) @ Montreal Impact (CAN) – 8:00 p.m. EST
Puerto Rico Islanders (PR) @ LD Alajuelense (CRC) – 10:00 p.m. EST
CD Marathon (HON) @ AD Isidro Metapan (SLV) – 10:00 p.m. EST

August 28th:
Pumas UNAM (MEX) @ Harbour View FC (JAM) – 8:00 p.m. EST
San Francisco FC (PAN) @ Deportivo Jalapa (GUA) – 10:00 p.m. EST

RSL Acquires Will Johnson

Real Salt Lake has landed the services of young Canadian forward Will Johnson, adding another key player to their squad that could play a big part in the team’s fortunes down the stretch of the 2008 MLS season. He was acquired on Friday from the Chicago Fire in exchange for conditional SuperDraft picks in 2009 and 2011.
Johnson, 21, has featured prominently for Canada at the U-20 and U-23 levels, and has also made four appearances for the senior national team. He appeared in all three of the country’s Olympic qualifying games, finding the back of the net three times, though Canada ultimately failed to advance to Beijing.

On the club side, Johnson spent 2005 with the Chicago Fire after they signed him as a discovery player, but he only made six appearances that season. He moved to Heerenveen in Holland in 2006, making 14 appearances and scoring once before being sent on loan last season to De Graffschap of the Dutch Eerste Divisie.

“Johnson is an exciting young player who brings speed, skill and intensity to the field,” said RSL GM Garth Lagerwey. “He has the potential to be a core member of our team for the long haul. His experience in both Major League Soccer and in Holland gives us further options up top and in the midfield.”

Will Johnson becomes the latest of a swarm of North American-born players to return to Major League Soccer, including RSL teammates Clint Mathis, Robbie Russell, Nat Borchers and Ian Joy, who have all returned from overseas this season to join Real Salt Lake.

EJ Out On Loan

U.S. international forward Eddie Johnson has been loaned out by Fulham to Championship outfit Cardiff City, the team announced today.Johnson, 24, made four appearances for Fulham (two starts) during the 2007-08 English Premier League season, failing to register a goal or assist in that time. He was not part of the club’s 2-1 loss to newly-promoted Hull to open this season, but will hopefully see more playing time with the Bluebirds. The former Kansas City Wizards star could debut for his new club as soon as Tuesday’s Carling Cup matchup against MK Dons. He will be formally unveiled at Ninian Park on Saturday.

“Hopefully we’ve picked up another good player that will come in and help the cause,” said Cardiff boss Dave Jones.

Cardiff City has been in the market for a young American striker lately, nearly landing FC Dallas’ Kenny Cooper in recent weeks before their offer was finally rebuffed by the MLS club. Cardiff city finished 12th in the Championship last season, six points out of the final playoff spot.

World Cup Qualifier Thoughts

The United States Men's National Team got off to a great start in World Cup qualifying on Wednesday night, with Bob Bradley's squad marching into Guatemala and emerging with a 1-0 victory. It was the first time in history that the US earned a win in a WC qualifier on Guatemalan soil. Captain Carlos Bocanegra was the hero, heading home a DaMarcus Beasley corner kick in the 69th minute to give the Nats all they would need.

Some thoughts on the game:
-- Heath Pearce no longer looks like the solution to our left-back problem. He was continually beaten down the line by his opposing player and looked completely out of gas in the final minutes of the match. Bob Bradley needs to explore other options at this position.

-- Landon Donovan was on the field in the second half, right? I mean, I was watching pretty closely and I didn't see him much after halftime. It was another LD disappearing act - Bradley cannot continue putting him on the right side of midfield... he needs to be in the center of the field, where he can run at the defense.

-- The refereeing - as expected - was god-awful from start to finish. While I agree that Steve Cherundolo deserved his second yellow card, I thought that the first one was issued far too quickly and too early in the match. In all, the US was booked six times, while Guatemala was booked just thrice. It should've been the other way around. Ironically, I didn't think that Guatemala's red card was deserved.

-- Carlos Ruiz is a thug. I'm shocked that Tim Howard didn't make a Filet-O-Fish out of El Pescadito after getting kicked in the head in what was a classic Ruiz moment. Ruiz looks frustrated that his best days have passed him by, and appears to love lashing out at anything and anyone around him. Why did any MLS team want to take another chance on this guy?

-- Clint Dempsey should NOT play in the next qualifier. He was absolutely useless on the field, and proceeded to sulk at coach Bob Bradley when taken out, spending the rest of the game on the bench. I understand that Dempsey has talent, but his attitude and ego are out of hand and have no place on this team.

Edu Money Turned To Grass?

Toronto FC lost a key part of their midfield when Maurice Edu transferred to Scottish Premier League outfit Rangers this past week, but they may stand to gain something else that was on their wishlist: a grass pitch.

Edu’s transfer fee was reportedly in the range of $5 million, of which Toronto FC will get $3.3 million; MLS will pocket the other $1.7 million. Mo Johnston, the team’s director of soccer, is hoping the club will turn the funds into a long-lasting grass field they can play on, instead of the artificial FieldTurf surface being utilized today.That surface has been blamed for scaring away several of TFC’s potential signings, including former Norwich City man Darren Huckerby, who is currently tearing up the league as a member of the San Jose Earthquakes. Toronto had been extremely interested in Huckerby, but the player ultimately decided on San Jose, at least in part, because of the surface at BMO Field.

“Training on BMO Field every day doesn’t bode well for people’s legs, and it’s difficult,” said Johnston. “We need to start figuring that out.”

Another issue may prevent a speedy transition to grass: As part of the deal with the City of Toronto for the land on which the stadium now sits, the club had to promise that the stadium would be able to be used year-round. However, the harsh Canadian winter would likely not allow such a pitch to survive throughout the year.

As a solution, club officials have floated the idea of using the money to build a nearby training facility that has turf, and will fit the terms of their original agreement with the city. Such a facility would allow them to play on natural grass in BMO Field throughout the MLS season.

“We’ll make a proposal to the board in terms of can we put (the money) towards a practice facility. Maybe a grass field, which I think is vital and important in moving forward,” said Johnston.

Rapids, Clavijo Part Ways

Another MLS coach faced the firing squad on Wednesday afternoon as the announcement was made that the Colorado Rapids have decided to part ways with head coach Fernando Clavijo immediately. Assistant coach Gary Smith has been tapped to fill the position on an interim basis for the remainder of the 2008 season. Clavijo becomes the second MLS head coach in ten days to be out of a job, with Ruud Gullit (LA Galaxy) being the other.“We appreciate all that Fernando has done for this team over the last four years and wish him and his family the best,” said Rapids’ managing director Jeff Plush. “He has worked tirelessly on behalf of our organization and brought us some of our greatest successes. We are poised to achieve great things, and when we do we will look back fondly and appreciatively of Fernando’s tenure with our club”

The ‘mutually amicable agreement’ between the two sides was reached with Clavijo out of the country, tending to a family emergency in his native Uruguay. Smith was in charge of the club last weekend, when the Rapids posted a 2-1 win over the Kansas City Wizards, Colorado’s first win since July 4th.

The move should come as no surprise, as Rapids executives have reportedly been unhappy with the team’s mediocre results under Clavijo for some time, having watched the team stumble to a 40-49-25 regular season record in his 3+ seasons in charge. In 2008, the club has gone 7-10-3, putting them in fourth place in the Western Conference.

Adios, El Pescadito

The second time around wasn't nearly as sweet for Carlos Ruiz, as the Guatemalan forward was mercifully traded to Toronto FC on Tuesday afternoon, ending weeks of speculation over his future with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

It wasn't clear what the Galaxy would be getting from Toronto in return for one of Major League Soccer's most prolific goal-scorers, but the trade certainly falls into the 'addition by subtraction' category. By finally passing Ruiz onto another team, the Galaxy have freed up a key roster spot that they will put to use by bringing in U.S. midfielder Eddie Lewis.

Brought in this past offseason as part of a plan by L.A. to build the greatest offense this league has ever seen, Ruiz found himself shelved with an injury in their season opener. The slow-to-heal knee injury caused Ruiz to miss nearly two months of action, allowing Edson Buddle to emerge as one of the best forwards in the league, effectively taking Ruiz's spot in the starting eleven.

Consigned to the Galaxy bench for most of the season, Ruiz now gets one more chance to prove his doubters wrong, teaming with Amado Guevara in Toronto. If he can recapture his form from a few years ago, Toronto will have made off with a steal and will be a serious MLS Cup contender. Otherwise, this may be the last stop on the MLS road for El Pescadito.

Arena Officially Unveiled In L.A.

Looking to turn around their 2008 season, the Los Angeles Galaxy have turned to former U.S. Men’s National Team coach Bruce Arena, who was unveiled as the team’s new head coach and general manager on Monday. He will fill the roles of recently departed former GM Alexi Lalas and head coach Ruud Gullit, who left the team exactly one week ago.“I am very excited to assume this position with the Los Angeles Galaxy,” Arena said. “I realize we have a lot of work ahead of us and I am optimistic that with the support of management, our coaching staff and the players, we will move forward to positioning this team to qualify for this season’s MLS playoffs. My ultimate goal is to win championships and build a club that all of our fans will be proud of.”

Arena brings with him an impressive American soccer résumé, having been the most successful coach of the U.S. MNT in history, combined with his back-to-back MLS Cup wins with D.C. United in 1996 and 1997. Following the 2006 World Cup, it was announced that Arena’s contract would not be renewed, allowing him to join the New York Red Bulls organization. After a mediocre year-and-a-half in the Big Apple, Arena took a break from coaching, having compiled a 16-16-10 record with the Red Bulls.

Overall, Arena’s MLS coaching record stands at 91-56-12; with nine more wins, he will become the third coach in MLS history to have 100 wins to his credit. That kind of success is exactly the reason that AEG wanted to bring him to the Galaxy.

“Bruce is the best coach for the Galaxy and certainly one of the best coaches in the history of the league,” said Tim Leiweke, President & CEO of AEG. “I am impressed with his passion, desire and focus and believe that his recent experiences with the U.S. National Team and Red Bulls have prepared and motivated him for this next challenge.

“We have always felt that the Galaxy should aspire to be the club that sets the pace and tone in Major League Soccer,” continued Leiweke. “I believe Bruce sees it the same way and will put us back in that position.”

MLS Recap - Week 21

Thursday, August 14th:

Los Angeles Galaxy 2 - Chivas USA 2

LA – Landon Donovan 14 (Chris Klein) 8’
CHV – Atiba Harris 2 (Paulo Nagamura) 50’
CHV – Paulo Nagamura 2 (Atiba Harris) 63’
LA – Alan Gordon 4 (Ante Jazic) 92’+
------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, August 16th:

FC Dallas 1 - Columbus Crew 2

FCD – Jeff Cunningham 4 (Adrian Serioux) 35’
CLB – Brian Carroll 1 (Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Alejandro Moreno) 62’
CLB – Brad Evans 3 (Guillermo Barros Schelotto) 65’
------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, August 16th:

DC United 1 - Chicago Fire 0

DCU – Fred 2 (Jaime Moreno) 27’
------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, August 16th:

Real Salt Lake 3 - Houston Dynamo 4

RSL – Yura Movsisyan 1 (Robbie Findley) 3’
HOU – Brian Mullan 2 (Brad Davis) 16’
RSL – Javier Morales 4 (unassisted) 25’
HOU – Brian Ching 9 (Brian Mullan, Craig Waibel) 29’
HOU – Ricardo Clark 1 (unassisted) 35’
HOU – Nate Jaqua 1 (Brian Ching, Brad Davis) 42’
RSL – Kenny Deuchar 3 (Robbie Findley, Javier Morales) 80’
------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, August 16th:

Kansas City Wizards 1 - Colorado Rapids 2

COL – Conor Casey 4 (Terry Cooke, Mehdi Ballouchy) 11’
KC – Michael Harrington 1 (unassisted) 44’
COL – Conor Casey 5 (unassisted) 47’
------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, August 16th:

New England Revolution 0 - San Jose Earthquakes 4

SJ – Ronnie O’Brien 2 (Francisco Lima, Ramiro Corrales) 11’
SJ – Ryan Johnson 4 (Scott Sealy, Ronnie O’Brien) 71’
SJ – Scott Sealy 3 (Darren Huckerby, Nick Garcia) 76’
SJ – Ronnie O’Brien 3 (Darren Huckerby) 87’
------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, August 17th:

Toronto FC 0 - New York Red Bulls 2

NY – Mike Magee 3 (Seth Stammler) 37’
NY – Juan Pablo Angel 7 (Dane Richards, Jorge Rojas) 92’+

Next Galaxy Coach: Bruce Arena

It looks as if last night's 2-2 draw with Chivas USA will be the only game that Cobi Jones gets to be the head coach of the Los Angeles Galaxy. It has been confirmed by several sources that former U.S. Men's National Team coach Bruce Arena will take over the reins of the club, and should be on the sidelines for the Galaxy's next game, this coming Thursday against the Chicago Fire.The Arena-to-Los Angeles rumor heated up quickly after he was seen in attendance at last night's game and also meeting with AEG President Tim Leiweke. In an interview with ESPN2 during the game, Leiweke dropped a few hints that Arena was being courted to take the position.

"If I could convince Bruce to join AEG and join the Galaxy, he'd be the ideal guy to come in here," said Leiweke. "There's not a better candidate. There's not a better potential coach. He knows more about the game. I have more respect, Mr. Anschutz has great respect for Bruce, so we'd be honored to have him.

"I personally think he's the best coach in the history of the league and we'd be damn lucky if we could get him in here," he continued. "You've got to look at the environment he was put in [with the Red Bulls]. The last time I looked, he had a couple of championships."

Arena, renowned in the soccer community for his knowledge in the American system, will now be tasked with turning around another disappointing season in Los Angeles, as the team would miss the playoffs for an unprecedented third consecutive year if the season ended today. In addition, Ives Galarcep is reporting that former Chicago Fire head coach Dave Sarachan will join Arena as an assistant coach in the Galaxy organization.

Arena will become the eighth head coach in the history of the franchise, replacing the recently departed Ruud Gullit, who resigned from his position due to "personal reasons" on Monday. The status of interim head coach Cobi Jones is uncertain at this point, but it is highly likely that he will remain with the club in some form.

Broken Jaw Sidelines Chivas' Marsch

Chivas USA midfielder Jesse Marsch is expected to miss 6-8 weeks of action after suffering a broken jaw midway through the second half of Chivas' 2-2 tie against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Thursday night. Surprisingly, no foul was called on the play by referee Alex Prus.

"If the referee is standing three yards away and he's looking at the whole play... it's hard to me that you miss somebody elbow somebody and fractures his jaw and you don't see that," said Chivas head coach Preki. "That, for me, is really tough to swallow."

Marsch had been battling with LA defender Sean Franklin in the 76th minute when he was struck by Franklin's elbow. Having already made their third and final substitution just prior to the incident, Chivas was forced to play a man down for the final 15 minutes, eventually conceding the game-tying goal in stoppage time.

Marsch, 34, had appeared in all 19 games this season for the already injury-laden club. He is tied for second in goals scored, with four.

Edu Set To Join Rangers FC

Toronto FC midfielder and emerging USMNT star Maurice Edu is likely on his way to Europe - Scotland, more specifically. Several sources are reporting that Major League Soccer has agreed to a $5 million transfer fee for Edu with Scottish club Rangers FC, with only personal terms between the player and the club left to be finalized before a deal is announced.Edu, 22, is scheduled to fly to Miami on Sunday, as he has been called up for the United States' next World Cup qualifying game, against Guatemala on Wednesday. His call-up comes on the heels of representing his country at the U-23 level with the recently-eliminated U.S. Olympic team in China.

Named MLS Rookie of the Year after being selected by Toronto as the #1 overall draft pick in 2007, Edu has since risen to become one of the league's most highly-regarded midfielders. He has made 38 appearances for TFC (37 starts), accumulating five goals and two assists in that span.

If Edu goes to Rangers, he will join fellow countryman DaMarcus Beasley at the Ibrox. Rangers are looking to rebound from a 2nd place finish in the Scottish Premier League last season, again runners-up to Celtic. Their 2008-2009 season got underway last Saturday, with Rangers picking up an away win at Falkirk, 1-0.

Roster Announced For US v. Guatemala

United States Men's National Team coach Bob Bradley has unveiled his 18-man roster for the upcoming World Cup qualifying group game against Guatemala, which will take place in Guatemala City this coming Wednesday, August 20th. The game can be seen on ESPN2 and Galavision starting at 10 p.m. ET.
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton FC)

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock)

Midfielders: Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Eddie Lewis (Derby County), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers)

Forwards: Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Eddie Johnson (Fulham FC)

Feilhaber In Talks With MLS

Continuing a recent trend in Major League Soccer, another overseas-based American player is in negotiations to return home. This time, it’s 2007 Gold Cup hero Benny Feilhaber, who is reportedly ready to leave Europe in favor of increased playing time in the United States.Feilhaber, 23, spent last season with Derby County in the English Premier League, but was rarely called up and made only ten appearances as the club went down to relegation. Prior to Derby, he had been with Hamburger SV in Germany, but made a total of just nine appearances from 2005-2007, spending most of his time with the club’s reserve team.

If MLS can secure his return, Feilhaber will most likely end up with the New England Revolution, as they now hold the top spot in the allocation order. The Los Angeles Galaxy and Colorado Rapids had both been ahead of New England, but recently used their allocation spots on other returning players in Eddie Lewis and Cory Gibbs. New England moved up in the allocation order as part of a recent trade that sent Pat Noonan to the Columbus Crew.

Best known for his stunning 25-yard volley that lifted the US over Mexico in the ’07 Gold Cup, Feilhaber has amassed 16 caps with the full national team – scoring two goals - and was also a part of the Olympic team that was recently eliminated from play in China, but was limited to being a substitute due to a recent knee injury from which he is still recovering.

Battery, United Reach Open Cup Final

D.C. United will be representing Major League Soccer in this year's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final, earning the honor after dispatching a less-than-full-strength New England Revolution squad on Tuesday night by a score of 3-1. A pair of goals from reigning MVP Luciano Emilio sandwiched Santino Quaranta's game-winner, while Joe Germanese tallied the lone goal for New England.
Also on Tuesday, the Charleston Battery prevailed in a battle of USL-1 powerhouses, reaching the final by defeating the Seattle Sounders in penalty kicks. Seattle jumped ahead early thanks to an Osvaldo Alonso own-goal in the 20th minute, but could only hold the lead for a quarter of an hour, as Charleston leveled the game in the 33rd minute through a goal from Randi Patterson. Following regulation and extra-time, the Battery won the game in PKs, 4-3, to advance to the championship game against D.C.

It is the first Open Cup final appearance for Charleston, while their Major League counterparts have been there twice before, winning the tournament in 1996 and finishing runners-up a year later. Charleston becomes the first non-MLS team to reach the final since 1999, when the Rochester Rhinos upset the Colorado Rapids 2-0 to be crowned champions.

Clint Mathis To Sign With RSL

Major League Soccer is set to welcome back yet another one of it’s own as Clint Mathis is reportedly on the verge of a deal to join Western Conference leaders Real Salt Lake. Since the Los Angeles Galaxy still hold the rights to Cleetus, RSL will have to give up either a third- or fourth-round pick in the 2010 SuperDraft to acquire the former U.S. star.Mathis, 31, has made 210 regular season appearances in Major League Soccer, with another 21 playoff games and three All-Star selections to his credit. He was previously a member of Real Salt Lake for their inaugural season in 2005, and has also had multiple stints with Los Angeles and New York (both with the MetroStars and Red Bulls). Mathis spent a single season at Steve Cherundolo’s club Hannover 96 in Germany (2004) and also played a year for the Colorado Rapids (2006) before returning to New York.

The Galaxy had traded for Mathis at the conclusion of the 2007 season, but he only briefly featured alongside David Beckham during their pre-season tour of Australia and Asia before deciding to sign with Greek outfit Ergotelis. After scoring one goal in eight appearances for the relegation battlers, he has apparently decided to return to the United States.

On the international stage, Mathis received 46 caps between 1998-2005, scoring 12 goals for the US Men’s National Team. He was part of the 2002 U.S. World Cup squad, and even scored a goal in the tournament in their 1-1 tie with South Korea. His final international goal came on March 9th, 2005, when he scored the final goal in the United States’ 3-0 victory over Colombia. Mathis’ final appearance came ten days later, in a 1-0 win over Honduras.

Galaxy Choose Lewis Over Gibbs

The Los Angeles Galaxy look set to use their top spot in the allocation order to lock up left-sided midfielder Eddie Lewis, who is reportedly returning to Major League Soccer after spending the better part of a decade playing in England.

Lewis, 34, most recently played for Derby County during their historically futile 2007-08 season in the English Premier League. He has also had stints at Leeds United, Preston North End and Fulham, but started his career in the United States, playing for Major League Soccer’s San Jose Clash from 1996–1999. He has also been a staple in Bob Bradley’s national team roster, with 80 caps and 10 goals to his credit.

By opting to use their allocation spot on Lewis, the Galaxy took a pass on another returning national team player in defender Cory Gibbs. The former Charlton centerback could now end up going to the Colorado Rapids, who hold the second allocation spot, but he is rumored to prefer a move to the New England Revolution. However, it’s not clear at this point whether the oft-injured Gibbs is even part of Steve Nicol’s plans.

Lewis' service from the left flank will add to an offense that is unrivaled in Major League Soccer. He will also bring leadership to a club that is at the moment in turmoil after the departures of both their general manager Alexi Lalas and head coach Ruud Gullit.

Player Announcement in Seattle

The Seattle Sounders organization has sent out e-mails to their season ticket holders informing them that the second Sounders player for the 2009 season will be revealed on Thursday, August 14th, in a press conference at Qwest Field.

"You're invited to join Seattle Sounders FC in a special player announcement on Thursday, August 14th at Qwest Field. Gates will open at 2:00 p.m.

"You won't want to miss this historic event as the Sounders FC adds another to their 2009 roster.

"Fans attending can park in the north lot of Qwest Field, and enter the stadium through the NW VIP gate where they will be directed to the field.

"Attention youth players - you're encouraged to wear your team uniform! There will be an informal clinic led by members of the Sounders FC staff.

"Join Sounders FC at Qwest Field on August 14th for this event - it is one that will certainly be remembered."

The club, set to become Major League Soccer's 15th team when they begin play next season, has already signed Sebastien Le Toux to a multi-year contract. Le Toux, 24, was last year's MVP, leading the team in scoring (10 goals, two assists).

Seattle will take on the Charleston Battery tonight in a semifinal clash to decide who will represent the USL in the 2008 U.S. Open Cup final. The winner will take on either D.C. United or the New England Revolution, who also play tonight.

So who is this "mystery player" set to be unveiled? Smart money is on this man:

Chaos in LA: Lalas Sacked, Gullit Resigns

Long-threatened changes have finally come about in Los Angeles, as Galaxy head coach Ruud Gullit has submitted his resignation, while general manager Alexi Lalas came to an agreement to end his contract early. The sweeping personnel moves come just three days before the Galaxy are set to clash with intrastadium rivals Chivas USA, in a match that should set the tempo for both club's final third of the season.

In the midst of a 7-game winless streak that has seen the club spiral from the top of the Western Conference into a struggle for the last playoff spot, AEG executives had made it very clear that the status quo would not be acceptable. After a last-minute loss to the expansion San Jose Earthquakes, it appears that they’ve seen enough, and will now look toward long-time fan favorite Cobi Jones to guide the team in the interim.
“In truth, it has proved a lot more difficult that I anticipated for my family to settle in the area and the club has been very supportive and understanding of my decision,” said Gullit. “I would like to thank the players and the fans for their fantastic support and I wish the LA Galaxy much success in the future. I would like to spend some time with my family before considering any other position in football.”

Lalas has been an AEG employee since 2004, starting with the San Jose Earthquakes before moving to the New York/New Jersey MetroStars in 2005. He joined the Galaxy in April 2006, filling the position vacated a month earlier by the unfortunate death of Doug Hamilton. Lalas faced increasing pressure from his bosses and the club’s fans to deliver success on the field after overseeing several questionable trades that saw blossoming young talent traded away for little or no dividends.

Gullit was signed in November 2007 to a three-year contract, his goal being to turn around the Galaxy’s fortunes after the club missed the postseason for the second consecutive season. Despite early offensive success, Gullit came under fire for his inability to understand the defensive side of the game. After Gullit cut loose journeyman defender Abel Xavier earlier in the season, the two engaged in a public spat in which Xavier asserted the belief that many of the club’s players didn’t respect Gullit’s managerial style.

“Gullit cannot have the power that he has in the club because no club can give that much power to the coach,” Xavier said at the time. “You take the risk of losing your identity when you give one person so much power. Most of the players are not happy to be coached by Ruud Gullit. They are afraid to talk back because they have non-guaranteed contracts and can be traded.”

================================================

Statement from Tim Leiweke, President and CEO of AEG:

“Both parties have agreed on mutually-agreeable terms to part company. It is an amicable arrangement and we appreciate and respect the issues that Ruud has highlighted with the club and are very grateful for all the hard work he has contributed while with the organization. Hopefully, he has laid the foundations for future success for the Los Angeles Galaxy.

“With Ruud moving on, we believe that this is the right time to make more sweeping changes throughout the organization. Our commitment continues to be focused on not only winning the MLS Cup this and every season, but to build a club capable of competing at the international level. This decision is the right one for the organization, the right one for the players and the right one for our fans. We thank Alexi for the tremendous hard work and dedication he brought to his job each and every day."

MLS Recap - Week 20

August 9th:
Toronto FC 1 - Colorado Rapids 0
TOR – Chad Barrett 6 (unassisted) 44’

Chicago Fire 2 - New England Revolution 1
NE – Taylor Twellman 2 (Mauricio Castro) 3’
CHI – Gonzalo Segares 2 (unassisted) 81’
CHI – Wilman Conde 1 (unassisted) 86’

Chivas USA 2 - Kansas City Wizards 3
KC – Sasha Victorine 1 (Claudio Lopez, Matt Marquess) 22’
KC – Claudio Lopez 4 (Davy Arnaud, Kerry Zavagnin
KC – Davy Arnaud 2 (Aaron Hohlbein) 58’
CHV – Carey Talley 2 (penalty kick) 73’
CHV – Justin Braun 3 (Carey Talley) 82’

August 10th:
DC United 1 - New York Red Bulls 4
DC – Jaime Moreno 8 (Fred, Luciano Emilio) 16’
NY – Juan Pablo Angel 5 (unassisted) 27’
NY – Mike Magee 2 (unassisted) 45’
NY – Juan Pablo Angel 6 (unassisted) 50’
NY – Sinisa Ubiparipovic 1 (Jorge Rojas) 87’

Cunningham Shipped to Dallas

With big striker Danny Dichio set to return to the lineup from injury and the recent acquisition of Chad Barrett, Toronto FC has deemed Jeff Cunningham expendable to the club's needs, trading the 11-year veteran to FC Dallas. The deal, announced yesterday, mercifully ends his tumultuous 15-month spell with the club, with TFC settling for just a third-round pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft in exchange.Cunningham, 31, is the fourth-leading scorer in Major League Soccer history with 99 goals to his credit, trailing only Jaime Moreno (119), Ante Razov (113), and Jason Kreis (108), but has failed to impress since moving to BMO Field in May of 2007. He has scored just six goals of those goals in a TFC uniform - three last season, three this season - and hasn't found the back of the net in more than two months (June 8th).

His standing in Toronto has diminished significantly since the start of the season, as new head coach John Carver has clashed heads with the Jamaican-born player on several occasions. He has started only seven games in 2008 and seen just 747 minutes of action.

After Cunningham missed an opportunity to score in a game against the Montreal Impact on July 22nd, Carver had this to say: "You want my honest opinion on that? I'm thinking how has [Cunningham] scored 99 goals, that's what I thought. How has he scored 99 goals in this league? Because if you have desire, no matter how you put the ball over the line, you put it over the line."

Noonan Rejoins MLS

It was rumored for a while, but now it's official - Pat Noonan will be rejoining Major League Soccer, except he won't be playing for the same team as when he left.The New England Revolution have re-signed the 28-year-old striker from Norwegian outfit Aalesund FK and have arranged a trade with division rivals Columbus Crew for the player. In exchange for Noonan, the Crew had to give up their first draft pick of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, allocation money, and their spot in the allocation list that has garnered much attention lately. With the move, New England now sits third on the allocation list, behind the Los Angeles Galaxy and Colorado Rapids.

"We made them a pretty generous offer," said Crew head coach Sigi Schmid. "They have a pretty good team right now so they're feeling confident in what they can do. They just won the SuperLiga and we're happy to add Pat to our team. I'm not going to ask why. I'm just going to be happy about the trade."

The trade was a bit of a shock as the Revolution are seemingly helping their closest competition; Columbus currently sits in second-place in the Eastern Conference, just two points behind New England (though the Revs have a pair of games in hand).

"They're right behind New England as a conference foe and right on their tail," Noonan said. "You almost wouldn't expect them to trade me to a team that's doing well and winning games. Then I heard a couple of days ago it was Columbus and I was surprised and excited. I look forward to joining a team that's been successful this year and has a lot of new faces. Sigi is doing a great job with the team. He's an established coach."

Noonan has scored 37 goals and added 29 assists in 119 games played for the Revolution from 2003-2007. He posted back-to-back seasons of scoring more than 10 goals in '03 and '04 (10 and 11 goals, respectively). He was also named to the 2004 MLS All-Star Team and has appeared in 17 playoff games for New England.

USA Opens Olympics With Victory

The United States Men's Olympic Team started out the 2008 Olympic tournament in the best way possible, earning three points for their 1-0 victory over Japan in the wee hours of this morning.

The game's only goal came just after the 2nd half got underway via Houston's Stuart Holden. As defender Marvell Wynne made a run down the right side of the field, he sent in a hard and low cross that a Japanese defender deflect back toward the top of the box, with the ball falling directly to Holden. Japanese goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa was able to get in the way of the 23-year-old midfielder's strike, slowing it a bit, but had to watch helplessly as it trickled over the goalline for the Americans.

"It's a good feeling to get a goal in an international game," said Holden. "It's good for me personally, but even more it's great to help the team get closer to getting a medal."

Also of note, former Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan manned the nets for the U.S., earning a clean sheet.
This morning's game was considered by many to be a "must-win" since the U.S. has been drawn into a so-called Group of Death with games against 1996 gold medal winners Nigeria and the talented Netherlands yet to come. Those two sides also met this morning, tying 0-0, meaning the United States is all alone at the top of Group B with three points.

Remaining round-robin schedule:
08/10 - vs. Netherlands - 7:45 a.m. ET
08/13 - vs. Nigeria - 5:00 a.m. ET

Jair De Jesus Garcia

Private Jair De Jesus Garcia, 29, passed away this past Friday in Afghanistan. He and three other members of his army unit were killed when their military vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device in the Chowkay Valley, according to defense officials. He leaves behind a nine-year-old son and a wife.

Garcia, once an assistant soccer coach at Robert Fulton College Preparatory in Van Nuys, loved playing soccer and was one of the first members of the Riot Squad, a Los Angeles Galaxy supporters group. He enlisted in the Army last year and was deployed to Afghanistan in June as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

In a statement on the soccer website BigSoccer, Riot Squad leader Tommy Mack had this to say:

"One of the first members of the LA Riot Squad has fallen in Afghanistan. He was a great soccer player, a greater human, and a true hero. A Galaxy fan through and through, he exemplified the best in all of us. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his friends, and most importantly his family."

Ultimatum in Los Angeles

Los Angeles Galaxy owner Phil Anschutz has apparently seen enough and is threatening to make extreme changes within the organization if the club does not get back on track right away.

Anschutz, often referred to as the Godfather of Major League Soccer, reportedly sent AEG right-hand-man Tim Leiweke to the club’s locker room before last weekend’s game to communicate his frustration with the club’s lack of recent success. In that impromptu meeting, Leiweke allegedly gave the team a two-week window to show improvement, or face being exchanged for new personnel.

That was before last weekend’s disappointing 3-2 loss to expansion San Jose, with a last-minute Ryan Cochrane goal proving to be the difference. The Galaxy now have until August 14th to regroup before taking on intra-stadium rivals Chivas USA in what is now being called a ‘must-win’ for LA.

The Galaxy were at the top of the Western Conference standings as recently as early July, but a 7-game winless streak has seen them sink to fourth place in the West, and its looking more and more like they will miss the playoffs for a third consecutive season. They now sit just five points ahead of the last-place team in MLS.

It’s not clear whose position is most at risk, but general manager Alexi Lalas is likely at the top of the list of those who would be fired first. A series of questionable trades over the past two years has had many supporters wishing the axe would finally fall on the former U.S. defender. Head coach Ruud Gullit’s seat is probably quite warm as well, with reports coming out of Los Angeles stating that he has clashed heads with now-gone defender Abel Xavier and star Landon Donovan, as well as Lalas.

Bojang On Trial With Galaxy

Still searching for answers to their defensive issues, the Los Angeles Galaxy are hoping to tap into talent from the African continent to solve their problems. Mandou Bojang has been brought in from Gambia for a trial with the club and could be offered a contract to play alongside David Beckham if he sufficiently impresses the coaching staff.

Bojang, 19, had been playing central defense with domestic side Gambia Ports Authority. He has already represented his country at various youth levels, including the 2007 U-20 World Cup, where he played alongside current New England Revolution contributors Sainey Nyassi and Kenny Mansally.

“It’s too early,” said head coach Ruud Gullit when asked if Bojang would be offered a contract. “You always give (trialists) at least a week. It’s hard to say right now (if we’ll be signing him). Paul Bravo is responsible for (Bojang being here). We just have to see if he’ll be a good addition to our team.” (Gambia Daily Observer, 08/04/2008)

The Galaxy have been living through a defensive nightmare for a handful of seasons now, and things have never been worse than they are right now. LA has allowed a league-worst 40 goals through just 19 matches this season for a horrendous 2.11 GAA. A porous backline has been the main reason for their current 7-game winless streak, allowing less than two goals in a game just once since their last win on June 14th.

Club officials are hopeful that they will be able to land U.S. national team defender Cory Gibbs, who is reportedly considering a return to MLS, but it will be no sure bet; Gibbs, while talented, has struggled with major injuries throughout much of his career.

Teams Plan SuperLiga Protest

When the Houston Dynamo and New England Revolution meet tomorrow night in the finals of Superliga 2008, they will already know what paycheck awaits them. That's because both sides have agreed to pool the first- and second-place prizes for the tournament and distribute them equally among the two squads, in protest of the league's decision to cap the tournament's bonus at 15% if an MLS team prevails.

Rules for the "$1 million" tournament stipulate that a winning MLS side will get $150,000, while a runner-up MLS side will receive $100,000. There are no such rules binding Mexican clubs if they should win the tournament; they get to take home all $1 million. Last year's winner, Pachuca, donated part of their winnings to charity.The MLS Players Union has issued a statement regarding the decision to pool the prize money from tomorrow night's final:

"The players on the Houston Dynamo and New England Revolution have agreed in advance of tomorrow night's SuperLiga final that they will split evenly the bonus money at stake in the game. The players have made this decision to show their solidarity and in protest of the league's violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement with respect to the negotiation of bonuses for this tournament."

Lets hope Major League Soccer decides to clean up this mess that has really become a black eye on what looked to be a promising tournament between MLS and FMF clubs.

Noonan Close to Returning to MLS

Former New England Revolution forward Pat Noonan may be on his way back to the United States sooner than later, as several recent reports have alluded to an imminent return from Norwegian side Aalesunds Fotballklubb.New England offered Noonan a new contact after the end of last season, but were not willing to substantially increase his salary, speeding up his move to Europe. The Revolution still hold Noonan's MLS rights, but it is unclear whether or not they would be interested in bringing the Indiana University product back into the fold; Steve Nicol's club currently has a wealth of strikers, including Taylor Twellman, Adam Cristman, Kenny Mansally and Kheli Dube.

Several other clubs around the league have expressed interest in acquiring the 28-year-old, most fervently the Columbus Crew, with the San Jose Earthquakes and Houston Dynamo also in the hunt to a lesser degree. MLS needs to first come to an agreement with Noonan's old club over a transfer fee before any domestic bargaining can begin.

MLS Roundup - Week 19

July 28th:
Toronto FC 1 - Real Salt Lake 2
RSL - Jamison Olave 1 (Chris Wingert) 63'
TFC - Amado Guevara 3 (unassisted) 84'
RSL - Robbie Findley 5 (unassisted) 87'

August 2nd:
Chivas USA 0 - Chicago Fire 1
CHI - Patrick Nyarko 1 (Chris Rolfe) 16'

Kansas City Wizards 0 - D.C. United 2
DCU - Luciano Emilio 11 (Jaime Moreno, Ivan Guerrero) 28'
DCU - Jaime Moreno 7 (Marc Burch) 60'

Columbus Crew 0 - Houston Dynamo 2
HOU - Brad Davis 2 (Brian Mullen) 13'
HOU - Brian Ching 8 (Nate Jaqua) 43'

August 3rd:
Los Angeles Galaxy 2 - San Jose Earthquakes 3
SJ - Arturo Alvarez 4 (Scott Sealy, Darren Huckerby) 8'
SJ - Darren Huckerby 2 (Eric Denton) 40'
LA - Landon Donovan 13 (David Beckham) 42'
LA - Edson Buddle 12 (unassisted) 76'
SJ - Ryan Cochrane 1 (unassisted) 90'

FC Dallas 2 - Toronto FC 0
FCD - Kenny Cooper 12 (penalty kick) 81'
FCD - Kenny Cooper 13 (unassisted) 91'+

Toja Transfer Confirmed

FC Dallas confirmed on Friday afternoon that midfielder Juan Toja had successfully completed a transfer to Romanian club FC Steaua Bucuresti.

Toja, 23, has become one of the league's most promising stars since joining the Hoops from legendary Argentinean club River Plate before the start of last season. He was named as an MLS All-Star in both seasons, even recording a goal against Celtic in the 2007 All-Star Game.

"I want to thank FC Dallas for giving me the opportunity to play here, and giving me the opportunity to live my dream of playing in Europe," said Toja. "I am very excited for this opportunity. I want to thank my teammates, and wish them nothing but the best for this year and beyond. I also want to thank all the fans for all of their support."

Toja helped Dallas make the playoffs last season, tallying six goals and one assist in 27 games while being named team MVP. He had two goals and two assists through 16 games this year, but never hid his interest in moving to Europe to become more visible for selection to the Colombian national team.

"We wish Juan all the best in Europe and thank him for his contribution to FC Dallas, on and off the field," said general manager Michael Hitchcock. "Juan is a special player who will have success wherever he plays. That said, we're confident that we have a number of good young players who are ready to step up and fill the shoes that Juan is leaving."

FC Steaua plays in the top division of Romanian football, called Liga I Frutti Fresh... seriously. They have won the league championship more times than any other club, finishing first 23 times and second another 12 times. They are currently involved in the third qualifying round for the 2008/09 Champions League and have drawn Turkey's Galatasaray as their next opponent.

Trade: Thornton New Starter for Chivas?

With outgoing goalkeeper Brad Guzan's transfer to Aston Villa being finalized on Friday, Chivas USA wasted no time in picking up a veteran goalkeeper to fill his shoes, acquiring Zach Thornton from the New York Red Bulls in exchange for "future considerations".

He is expected to immediately challenge current Chivas goalie Dan Kennedy for the starting spot.

Thornton, 34, has not seen any playing time this season and only played 32 minutes in 2007 for the Colorado Rapids - in which he allowed two goals - before being waived at the end of the year. He spent 1998-2006 with the Chicago Fire, helping the club to win MLS Cup in their first year while also being named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year.

Regular season: 111-71-33, 1.28 GAA
Playoffs: 17-11-3, 0.95 GAA

Gibbs Seeks MLS Return

According to several reliable sources, oft-injured American defender Cory Gibbs is looking to make a return to Major League Soccer in the next couple of weeks.

Should the one-time MLS defender return, he would be made available through an allocation process similar to the recent Brian McBride situation, meaning the Los Angeles Galaxy would have first crack at signing the 28-year-old center-back, as they sit at the top of the allocation order. The Colorado Rapids are currently second in line, and would move up to first if the Galaxy exercise their right to sign Gibbs.Here's a little background information on the defender:

Gibbs was initially drafted by the Miami Fusion as the 40th overall pick in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft, but opted to go overseas instead. Signing with German side FC St. Pauli, Gibbs immediately saw playing time, appearing in 60 games from 2001-2003. After enduring relegation in two consecutive seasons - from the Bundesliga to the Regionalliga Nord, Germany's third-division - Gibbs sought out a move that would make him more visible for national team selection.

In 2004, he joined up with the Dallas Burn (now FC Dallas), playing in 21 games that season - all as a starter. After just one season, Gibbs was on the move again, transferring to Dutch club Feyenoord Rotterdam in January of 2005 on a four-and-a-half-year deal. Gibbs' travels would continue a year later, being loaned to ADO Den Haag in 2006.

Moving from the Netherlands to football's hallowed grounds in England, Gibbs signed with Charlton Athletic later in 2006, but would ultimately never make an appearance with the senior squad due to a series of injuries.

Gibbs was named by former U.S. head coach Bruce Arena to their 2006 World Cup roster, but would have to be replaced by Gregg Berhalter after suffering an injury in a send-off game against Morocco. Returning from his latest injury, Gibbs' most recent call-up to the national team came in March of this year, chosen by Bob Bradley as part of the 18-man roster for a friendly against Poland.

Overall, Gibbs has earned 19 caps with the U.S. Men's National Team.

Everton No Match for Fire

The Chicago Fire played rude hosts to Everton FC in an international friendly on Wednesday night, dismantling the Premier League club by a score of 2-0 at Toyota Park on goals from Chris Rolfe and Tomasz Frankowski. Newly-fined designated player Cuauhtemoc Blanco did not play in the match, but was not needed, as the MLS side largely controlled play from whistle to whistle.Chris Rolfe opened the scoring for the Fire shortly before halftime. A crisp give-and-go was executed between Justin Mapp and Gonzalo Segares, opened up space for Segares to cross the ball in from the left side. Skipping through the box untouched, the ball found its way to Chris Rolfe in the middle of the penalty area, who slammed his shot past American goalkeeper Tim Howard to post Chicago to a 1-0 lead.

The Fire put the game out of reach midway through the second period, doubling their advantage in the 70th minute. Peter Lowry's shot from the right side was saved by Howard, but the Everton netminder couldn't prevent the rebound from falling right to the foot of Tomasz Frankowski, who slotted the ball past the fallen keeper for Chicago's second goal.

Everton FC, who finished fifth in the Premier League last season, wraps up its two-stop tour of the United States this coming Sunday when they travel to Dick's Sporting Goods Park to take on the Colorado Rapids.