MLS Names All-Star Reserves: Juan Pablo Angel, Bornstein Head Up 13

Here are the MLS All-Star Team reserve selections for their July 28 showdown with Manchester United at Reliant Stadium in Houston: Nick Rimando, Kevin Alston, Jonathan Bornstein, Wilman Conde, Heath Pearce, Brad Davis, David Ferreira, Shalrie Joseph, Jeff Larentowicz, Sebastien LeToux, Juan Pablo Angel, Brian Ching, Jaime Moreno. Jaime Moreno and Brian Ching were MLS Commissioner Don Garber’s picks. I was hoping to see talented young Honduran native and DC United Midfielder Andy Najar on this list as well via either Head Coach Bruce Arena or Don Garber. He will likely be selected next year. Full Roster: Goalkeepers: Donovan Ricketts (LA Galaxy), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake) Defenders: Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Jamison Olave (Real Salt Lake), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas) , Wilman Conde (Chicago Fire) &, Kevin Alston (New England Revolution). Midfielders: Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC) , Marco Pappa (Chicago Fire), Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake), Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew), Sebastien Le Toux (Philadelphia Union), David Ferreira (FC Dallas), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution), Jeff Larentowicz (Colorado Rapids). Forwards: Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Juan Pablo Angel (New York Red Bulls), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Jaime Moreno (D.C. United) Unavailable: ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes: Of Another Clasico

Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy will be up and at 'em for another round of home cooking. The San Jose Earthquakes come to town in the renewal of the California Clasico on Thursday, July 22 at the Home Depot Center. With Real Salt Lake dropped in unceremonious fashion by FC Dallas last week, the Los Angeles Galaxy inch ever closer to the Major League Soccer Supporters' Shield. With a 12-2-3 record (39 points), the G's sit nine points ahead of RSL in the MLS Western Conference and eight ahead of overall second-place side Columbus Crew. Currently, Frank Yallop's Quakes sit fifth in the MLS Western Conference with a 6-4-4 record (22 points) and are also in position to claim the last MLS Cup Playoff spot. The California Clasico predates the Honda SuperClasico between the Galaxy and Chivas USA by several years, going back to the league's founding in 1996. In the very first match between between the Galaxy and the Quakes (who were called the San Jose Clash at the time), held on April 28, 1996 at the Rose Bowl, the Galaxy won 2-1. Since then, the Galaxy have dominated their Northern California rivals, ...

Red Card Controversy Beclouds Seattle Sounders-Celtic FC Friendly

Glasgow, Scotland’s heralded Celtic FC, a top international soccer team formed in 1888, took its U.S. tour to Seattle on Sunday for an exciting friendly in which the visitors edged the Sounders 2-1 before 45,631 patrons at the Xbox Pitch of Qwest Field. Until the sun finally came out toward the end of the second half, the match had been played under cloudy skies. How symbolic that was considering the first-half controversy that beclouded the contest. Star Celtic midfielder Georgios Samaras, who won plaudits performing for Greece in the recently concluded World Cup competition, broke through the Sounders’ defense in the 32nd minute and was fouled in the box by goalkeeper Terry Boss. The undaunted Samaras booted the ball into the net nonetheless. Referee Paul Ward could have counted the goal but instead handed Boss a red card and awarded the Celtic striker a penalty kick. Bedlam erupted as both Celtic FC and Sounders players protested the call. The Scottish team’s players preferred to let Samaras’ goal stand while the Sounders were furious over the red card banishment to Boss. Meanwhile, the crowd erupted in a loud chorus of boos. When calm was ultimately restored, Boss stalked off toward the dressing room and ...

Los Angeles Galaxy Back Online After 2-1 Win Against D.C. United

Los Angeles Galaxy fans, allow me to give you some therapy. Take a deep breath, as deep as you can, and say "Ahhh." One more time, "Ahhh." In the world of sports, we call that a sigh of relief. That's because after three straight dismal outings on the road, Bruce Arena's Galaxy finally broke through with goals by Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle in their 2-1 victory over D.C. United at RFK Stadium. I'll have to tell you this: my prediction for a draw nearly came true. A poor clearance in the 90th minute saw D.C. United almost succeed on the counterattack, but an easy header from Pablo Hernandez missed and hit the top netted instead of the goal. And believe me when I say this: that was the easiest chance for D.C. yet. Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts was beat. He was beat to the punch by the black shirts of Curt Onalfo pushing forward. I can't believe that the Argentine international could not succeed in preventing the Galaxy from earning their first win at RFK since 2006. It was criminal to miss that close. But giving credit where it's due is what I like to ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. DC United: A Play-By-Play (and Other Miscellany)

And the countdown begins; T-180 minutes to kickoff: Ah, the dog days of summer. American football training camps are in full swing, the CFL up north is doing its thing (go Roughriders) the European teams are doing their tours,and MLS is going through their season while the SuperLiga is getting a head start on the CONCACAF Champions' League. Now the mid-to-late July sun has finally appeared, and even though most people hate it, I love it. This type of weather reminds me of my days when I was in the Philippines as a youth, savoring the ins and outs of Makati City while getting mosquito bites along the way. T-170: At the nation's capital, the temperature will hit a scorching  94 degrees Fahrenheit as El Scorcho runs amok down at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, the pit where the league laggards D.C. United are set to do battle against Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy. T-160: The Galaxy have dropped three straight road contests, and are on a two-game losing streak (this includes the U.S. Open Cup). The urgency to turn the ship around could not be any more pronounced. T-150: As for Curt Onalfo's club, the ...

Does the Designated Player Rule Help or Hurt MLS?

The transfer window for soccer opened earlier this month and, within that couple of weeks, MLS has doubled the amount of designated players in the league from the start of the season. Six players have already confirmed the move to the States and a possible seventh coming in the person of Ronaldinho. The real question from critics and MLS fans is will this further increase the quality of play and could these designated players make an impact on the league as a whole (or just the franchise they play for). The highest profile signing so far has been Thierry Henry's move to the New York Red Bulls. But, the question on the Henry signing would be if there were already two or three designated players on the Red Bulls roster, would Henry even consider going to a smaller market team in the league. The answer to that question is easy. NO. Henry wants to shine on one of the biggest stages of MLS, and the Red Bulls can provide that. There would absolutely no way that Henry would play for a smaller market team like Columbus, Colorado or San Jose. The good thing for MLS is that they are getting other international players to sign ...

Nkufo to Make Seattle Sounders Debut; Keller to Get Day Off

Seattle Sounders Coach Sigi Schmid following the final team workout Saturday prior to Sunday’s nationally televised home friendly against Scotland’s Celtic FC said the words that soccer fans have been waiting so long to hear. “We do feel confident that Blaise (Nkufo) will give his debut tomorrow,” Schmid said, “so it will be a nice day from that standpoint.” In a joint teleconference with Nkufo Thursday in the District of Columbia the afternoon of the team’s crucial MLS match with D.C. United, Schmid revealed that Nkufo had just experienced his first workout with the team the day before, but was unsure whether he would see action that night. Based on the limited amount of work Nkufo had in the form of the one workout after joining the team following a post-World Cup break, it was a certainty that the team’s new star player would not start. Ultimately Schmid decided that holding out Nkufo would be the proper decision and so he watched the 1-0 victory over D.C. from the bench. Now, having returned with the team to Seattle and obtaining more work, Schmid is prepared to put Nkufo on the pitch against Celtic FC. The Sounders’ coach returned to the subject of Nkufo in the course of ...

Omar Bravo Joins Major League Soccer Team Kansas City Wizards

The questions in Guadalajara have been answered. Omar Bravo Tordecillas of Los Mochis, Sinaloa has signed with the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer. Over the past couple of weeks, confusion surrounded the Guadalajara fans as their second best striker in the history of their club was not added to the list of players that would compete in the incoming local tournament. Omar Bravo Tordecillas has been with Chivas of Guadalajara since his early years as he was the result of their youth development program. Since his debut in 2001, Omar Bravo's career has been filled with accomplishments, titles, and with his name is many history books in the club and international level. His talent landed him in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany in which he was Team Mexico's top scorer with the two goals scored vs. Iran in his World Cup debut. As a result of his performance in Germany, many teams showed interest in the Mexican striker. Bravo's dream was to play in Europe, bit with so many offers on the table, Omar Bravo insisted to Chivas Management to facilitate his exit to join a European club. This provided bad media and the relationship between Bravo and Guadalajara President Jorge Vergara has deteriorated ...

This Is the Los Angeles Galaxy: Yohance Marshall

This is Part 24 in a series of articles on the players that make up the Los Angeles Galaxy. Football shares a few parallels with life in general. One of those parallels is a significant one: Getting a chance to prove yourself isn't always a given. For Yohance Marshall, it's a parallel he knows very well. Standing tall at 6'2" (1.88 m), this defender from Trinidad & Tobago has yet to shine on game day for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Currently, he is playing for the Austin Aztex in the USSF Division 2 Professional League on loan from the Gs. One day, his experience playing on the back line at House Park will translate to many memorable matches at the Home Depot Center. Yohance Marshall was born on January 22, 1986 in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad & Tobago. One of the most important cities in the Caribbean, Port-of-Spain is home to the pre-lenten Carnival, its main annual cultural festival and tourist attraction. The city's major sporting venues the Queen's Park Oval, Hasely Crawford Stadium (the home of the Soca Warriors), the Jean Pierre Complex and various sporting fields on the Queen's Park Savannah. Port-of-Spain ...

Celtic FC Visits Seattle

Neil Lennon is pictured in 2007 during his Celtic FC playing days celebrating a Scottish Cup victory with his teammates. The 39-year-old Lennon is beginning his first full season as manager of Celtic FC after being signed following an interim period. The first item on the agenda is defeating bitter Scottish Premier League rival Rangers FC. Last season Celtic finished second to Rangers. Lennon leads his team into Seattle for a friendly against the Sounders on Sunday that will be nationally televised over ESPN2 beginning at noon Pacific time. In previous matches on this trip Celtic lost 1-0 to Philadelphia Union in Chester, Pennslyvania and 3-1 to Manchester United at Rogers Centre in Toronto. Begin Slideshow