New York Cosmos and Their Fans Proudly Support the 2010 Global Peace Games

November 6, 2010—On a beautiful, crisp autumn Saturday, soccer was very much alive and happening at Flushing Meadows Corona Park (Queens, NY) Field #3 as the 2010 Global Peace Games for Children and Youth took place. Founded by Judy McPherson (Founder of Play Soccer Non-Profit International), the purpose of the Global Games is to unite, motivate, inspire and encourage children to apply the education they receive through sport in their daily lives. Since 2001, over 300,000 individuals globally have participated in this unique event. In honor of the Global Peace Games for Children and Youth returning for the 10th year, Judy was joined by the New York Cosmos and their fans, which consisted of the New York Cosmos Supporters Club, the Borough Boys and older and new generation of Cosmos fans. New York Cosmos Chairman Paul Kemsley, along with Director of the New York Cosmos Academy East Giovanni Savarese and Cosmos Executive Director Joe Fraga, were in attendance to demonstrate their support to the Global Peace Games and the local organizations that helped organize this event. Organized by local organizations, every organization participating in today’s Global Peace Games ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders: A Play-By-Play (and Other Miscellany)

We are now in the second leg of the 2010 Major League Soccer Western Conference Semifinals between Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy and Sigi Schmid's Seattle Sounders. My name is Jo-Ryan Salazar, the Featured Columnist for the Galaxy on Bleacher Report, here to provide you this play-by-play (and other miscellany), a word's-eye view of all the action from the Home Depot Center this evening. And as always, be sure to follow the coverage of the MLS Cup Conference Finals and MLS Cup 2010 from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on Bleacher Report.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

2010 MLS East Final: San Jose Earthquakes vs. Colorado Rapids

The Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer is not the strongest conference in the league by any stretch of the imagination. Only two teams in the entire conference made the postseason. Both of them are out.In their place: the last two seeds in the whole field: the Colorado Rapids and the San Jose Earthquakes. Both are one victory away from booking a plane to Toronto, Ontario, Canada and BMO Field.Thus, it is time for us to take a look at the protagonists.San Jose Earthquakes It's been a year of reckoning for Frank Yallop's San Jose Earthquakes, who picked up the final MLS Cup Playoff berth over the Kansas City Wizards.San Jose crushed the MLS East regular season champions 3-1 in the second leg to win 3-2 on aggregate.Led by Budweiser Golden Boot-winner Chris Wondolowski and a brace from a resurging Bobby Convey, the Quakes overcame a 1-0 deficit to the New York Red Bulls in the first leg.Convey leads San Jose with 10 assists in the regular season, while Wondolowski, the Northern California product, has 19 goals this year, including the postseason.Another key offensive player to watch for the Quakes is Ryan Johnson, who had eight assists in the regular season. ...

Why Signing Juninho Will Be a Boon for the Los Angeles Galaxy

There is no question that 21-year old Juninho has made his mark as a midfielder for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Of the three imports from São Paulo that came in to bolster the hopes of Bruce Arena's side, it's Juninho that has made the strongest impact.Now this columnist does not claim to be an insider to the confidential wheelings and dealings of the board rooms of São Paulo Futebol Clube or the Los Angeles Galaxy, but it has to be a straightforward choice. An easy one. A choice that one would have to be blind, stupid, or possibly dead to not comprehend.Sign Juninho to a long-term contract. Let me say it again: the Galaxy need to buy the rights to Juninho from São Paulo, with the money they will get from the retirements of Clint Mathis, Eddie Lewis and Chris Klein, and sign him to a long-term contract.We will leave the negotiating to those responsibile parties, but seriously: the Galaxy, as an organization, needs Juninho more than São Paulo does.Juninho has already paced the G's to a Supporters Shield title, and it could get even better. It would be a shame if the powers that be on Victoria Street drop ...

Sounders-Galaxy: Round Two

Defense dominated in Game 1, which ended in a 1-0 win by the Los Angeles Galaxy over the host Seattle Sounders in their Western Conference MLS clash last Sunday night. Round two commences at 6:00 p.m. PT Sunday in a nationally televised clash on ESPN2. The big question is what kind of match we can expect to see this time around.  The upcoming match at Home Depot Center in Carson, California, pits two of the most celebrated veteran coaches of soccer, Bruce Arena of the host Galaxy and Sigi Schmid of the invading Sounders, against one another.  Given their expertise as chess players, coupled with the teams' four meetings this season (with L.A. holding a 3-1 edge), it was no surprise that defense dominated in the last match. Here are two mentors who know how to create successful game plans.Sounders faithful point to the fact that the two decisive Galaxy wins over Seattle came in the first half of the season, when L.A. was the hottest team in MLS and the Sounders were struggling.  Schmid noted after last Sunday’s meeting that Arena had concentrated on disrupting the Sounders’ game in the midfield and that its success helped to account for ...

LA Galaxy’s Todd Dunivant Ready To Go Against Seattle Sounders

Los Angeles Galaxy left back Todd Dunivant, after nursing a right hamstring injury, is expected to be available for the second leg of the 2010 MLS Western Conference semifinal against the Seattle Sounders on Nov. 7. “I did everything [in training Wednesday],” Dunivant said. “I’m still trying to be smart about it, ease into the week a little bit and not test it too much. But I did everything and didn’t have any restrictions. That’s a good sign." Outgoing defender Eddie Lewis did well to fill in Dunivant's shoes in the first leg, which resulted in a 1-0 Los Angeles victory. “I think I ate extra well,” Lewis said on his start and the ensuing cravings that followed. “I figured I better fuel up because I have to get my running shoes on. These things happen all the time. That’s why you always keep one eye on things in case you get the call.” “We kind of decided on Sunday it didn’t make sense to play through that,” Dunivant said. “Potentially I’d be out for the rest of the playoffs and potentially put our team in danger as well. I didn’t want to go out there for 10 minutes and then get subbed. That’s ...

Giovanni Savarese: ‘The Cosmos Will Aim To Model the FC Barcelona Playing Style’

Giovanni Saverese, the former MLS and Venezuelan national team striker, said that the New York Cosmos will aim to play entertaining soccer, a style of play that allows the players to express themselves, a style of play that is currently best exemplified by world powerhouse FC Barcelona. Savarese, the Cosmos director of youth teams, said the group behind the effort to revive the legendary club is serious and has the wherewithal to do what it takes to become the 20th club in MLS and the second team from the New York metropolitan area. The former Venezuelan goalscorer is a credible and effective spokesperson for the organization. Listen to the long and informative interview with Jorge Ramos of ESPN Radio en espanol. Interview with Giovanni Savarese of the New York CosmosRead more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

MLS Playoffs: New York Red Bulls’ Quest for the 2010 MLS Cup is Over

Playing front of record crowd of 22,839 fans, the New York Red Bulls' inaugural season at Red Bull Arena ended with a 3-1 (3-2 aggregate) loss to the San Jose Earthquakes. When it's said and done, the San Jose Earthquakes came into Red Bull Arena and simply dominated the Red Bulls in their own home and ignored the boisterous home crowd and their Empire Supporters Club. Led by Bobby Convey's magnificent two-goal performance and Chris Wondolowski's game winner, the San Jose Earthquakes now advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they will face the winner of the Columbus Crew-Colorado Rapids series. Entering tonight's match down a goal, San Jose struck first when Bobby Convey scored in the sixth minute to tie the aggregate score 1-1. Despite the strong effort by the Red Bulls, they missed their opportunity to tie the game in order to reclaim the aggregate lead in the first half. Their best chance came in the 38th minute, when Juan Agudelo broke down San Jose's defense and took a shot that hit the post. If that wasn't enough, at times it appeared that Mehdi Ballouchy was dancing with the ball too much when he should ...

Bobby Convey Returns To Form and Propels San Jose to MLS Semifinals

HARRISON, NJ (November 4, 2010) - Robert Francis "Bobby" Convey, the on again, off-again, American star, remembered that he still has game and went on to score two goals and serve an assist to propel the San Jose Earthquakes to the MLS Eastern Conference Championship.   Convey, the former D.C. United 17-year-old rookie phenom, the youngest player drafted into MLS, now 27, looked fully recovered from recurring knee injuries. Convey did it all in this game and thoroughly outshined the high profile New York Red Bulls "Galacticos," Thierry Henry, Juan Pablo Angel and Rafael Marquez. Convey scored two brilliant goals (6th and 76th minute), and made a skillful lob into the penalty area that allowed to Chris Wondolowski (81st minute) to head the ball over Bouna Coundoul. San Jose went on to win the second leg of the series, 3-1. The one bright spot for New York Red Bull was the play of 17 year-old Colombian American striker Juan Agudelo, who displayed tremendous dribbling skills, speed and guile. At the 78th minute, Agudelo penetrated the penalty area on the left side, dribbled past a defender, and sent a beautifully weighted lob to Angel who headed the ball into the San Jose net ...

Seattle Sounders FC: What’s Really at Stake Against the Los Angeles Galaxy

When the Sounders step inside the Home Depot Center on Sunday, they’ll be playing for their playoff lives. The bottom line is that if they do not come up with a victory, they will not advance. They’ll come back to Seattle, and their season will be over. That’s the face value of the match, at least. For the second consecutive season, the Sounders have snuck into the playoffs. And after three playoff games, the Sounders have failed to put a single ball in the back of the net. They have played 300 minutes of goalless, playoff soccer. Something has to give on Sunday. Because in my opinion, the Sounders are playing for a little more than just surviving and advancing. Elimination by the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday means that the Sounders would have had the exact same year they had last year. Sure, they won the US Open Cup Championship again. It’s a feat. But it’s only a momentary feeling of accomplishment. During the preliminary rounds, teams are sending their reserves and playing for depth. Only when a team reaches the semifinals do MLS sides actually put forth effort. The real tournament to win is the MLS Cup playoffs, and if the Sounders can’t even get out ...