Los Angeles Galaxy Ins and Outs, June 16, 2011

Welcome back, Todd Dunivant Colorado Rush Hall of Fame inductee Todd Dunivant returns to his old stomping grounds as Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy take on the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City Colorado. “It was a special night for me,” Dunivant said of his induction to MLSSoccer.com's Luis Bueno. “You go back and you don’t know exactly how those kinds of things go but they did a real good job. “It was a really neat. It was tough to hold back the emotions and then showing the video and having my family there, it was a special night.” Coping with the altitude will be important for Dunivant. “I used to be tougher but now when I go back, I feel it like everyone else,” Dunivant said. “Growing up I thought it was a myth but I was always used to it but going out of it and then going back to Colorado, man, it hits you like a ton of bricks. You do notice it.” Omar Gonzalez starts to wonder As for defender Omar ...

Soccer: Team Japan Set to Return Saturday for the Cosmos Copa NYC 2011

New York, NY—One fantastic thing about living in New York City is that you can visit the world. All you need is a Metrocard and a bus or subway map, and you're off.  With the Cosmos Copa NYC 2011 kicking off this Saturday, June 18th at the Parade Grounds in Brooklyn, I've made it a point to learn about as many of the Cosmos Copa Teams as I can.As well as learning about the teams themselves, I wanted to hear recommendations as for good places to eat, grab a drink, and snack.Cosmos Copa Team Japan will return to NYC's World Cup when they face Colombia on Saturday at the Parade Grounds. Their match will take place at 4 PM at Field 8. A victory would guarantee that Japan will continue their quest of winning the Cosmos Copa NYC 2011.I've only once seen Team Japan play, and this came against the defending Cosmos Copa Champions Poland. I found them to be a very entertaining team who moved the ball well. In addition, the team is not afraid to attack the net, and has a fantastic defense.Ironically enough, while I've only seen Team Japan play once, I've ...

NYC Croatia Will Make Their Cosmos Copa Debut This Saturday

New York, NY—One thing fantastic about living in New York City is that you can visit the world. All you need is a Metrocard and a bus/subway map, and you're off.  With the Cosmos Copa NYC 2011 kicking off this weekend on Saturday, June 18th at the Parade Grounds in Brooklyn, I've made it a point to learn about as many of the Cosmos Copa Teams as I can.Along with learning about the team itself, I wanted for the team to make a recommendation of where's a good place to eat and grab a drink.Cosmos Copa Team Croatia will make their debut when they face Sweden on Saturday at the Parade Grounds. Their match will take place at 8:30 a.m. at Field 11. A victory guarantees Croatia will continue their quest of winning the Cosmos Copa NYC 2011.A few weeks ago, I had the privilege to observe NYC Croatia practice. Basically, I shadowed Team President Tommy Radalj who taught me the ins and outs of running a Cosmos Copa Team. Very insightful and tons of responsibility and communication with so many different parties.Now to the team itself. I believe in any competition, there's always an intimate moment between both combatants/opponents. ...

Cosmos Copa NYC 2011: New York City’s World Cup Returns

While soccer is a game of strategy, it is also a game of passion—passion is a soccer player's best friend and worst enemy. It can motivate us to realize our dreams, but it can also become our worst nightmare.Even though it may temporarily blind one's judgement and emotions, passion always leaves the window open for adaptability and redemption. That's the beautiful thing about passion.And with the return of New York City's World Cup, this year's Cosmos Copa NYC 2011 will be full of passion.If last year's finale between Poland and Jamaica, in which Poland was victorious after prevailing 5-3 in penalties, was a classic, imagine how competitive this year's tournament may be.The event, an amateur-adult soccer tournament founded in 2009 by Spencer Dormitzer and Chris Noble and formerly recognized as "Copa NYC," will this year feature 30 New York-based teams, 29 winners, and one champion, each representing their countries in their quests to hoist the Cosmos Cup. The winning team will be declared the "Cosmos Copa City Champion," heroes whose ethnic community can be proud.Even though only one team will be declared champion, all 30 teams will have plenty to ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids: In Search of a Winning Formation

Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy are in search of their first victory for the month of June. After leaving four points at the table at home against D.C. United and Toronto FC, the G's get their next crack at three on the road against the COlorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Saturday, June 18.Currently, LA are 8-2-7 (31 points), good for the best record overall in Major League Soccer.The play of midfielder Miguel Lopez has been a highlight for what has been an average month for the club after Landon Donovan and Donovan Ricketts had CONCACAF Gold Cup obligations to meet.“They’ve been two players who have been playing week in and week out when they’re fit and when they’re here,” midfielder Chris Birchall told MLSSoccer.com's Luis Bueno. “It’s hard for players to come in really because they know even if they play well they’re going to be out when they come back.”The issue now for the next two matches is what formation Arena and company will utilize to get a winning result.“We’ve got a squad where different players can play different formations and we’re still probably trying to find out what’s our best formation,” Birchall added.“We were getting ...

Philadelphia Union Sign Former La Liga Striker Veljko Paunovic

Philadelphia Union CEO and Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz proved once again why he is one of the best front office men in Major League Soccer (MLS). Not content with his clubs first place standing atop the leagues Eastern Conference table, Sakiewicz today signed Serbian striker/attacking midfielder Veljko Paunovic. Paunovic, who last played for Partizan FK of the Serbian Super Liga, spent a majority of his professional career playing for seven different clubs in Spain’s La Liga where he scored 70 goals in 297 matches.Not quite sure what the 32 year old still has in his tank, but his experience and leadership can’t hurt, especially for a team in search of more goal scoring.  Let’s face it, a few more goals here and there this season and Philadelphia could have a comfortable lead over NY Red Bull atop the conference Table. So far this season, the Union has scored just one goal in seven games and been on the losing end of a clean sheet three times. Defensively Philadelphia has been solid, allowing a conference low 11 goals, second only to Real Salt Lake who leads the league with only seven goals allowed.It will be interesting to see where Union Coach Peter Nowak plays ...

MLS 2011 Video: Watch Vancouver Forward Eric Hassli’s Unbelievable Goal

The 2011 MLS season is just about halfway done, but the race for best goal of the year is already over, courtesy of Vancouver's Eric Hassli.The shot took place late in the second half of the Whitecaps' game against Seattle on Saturday night. With his team down 2-1, Hassli got the ball just outside the goal box and lobbed it to himself, then he unleashed a vicious shot that caught the upper left side of the net to tie the game, 2-2.Soccer doesn't get enough credit from Americans, myself included, for being as exciting as it is. We all look at the box score and see a 1-0 score and assume that it was a dull 90 minutes with about 20 seconds of excitement for the goal.The way people feel about that kind of game is the same way they feel about a 1-0 pitchers' duel in baseball.But when you watch a soccer match, you can feel the energy and electricity from the fans in the stands more than you can in any other sport. They are into every little thing that goes on over the course of 90-plus minutes of action.When you see a goal like this, you really ...

2011 MLS Power Rankings: Week 13

It's been a terrible weekend for U.S. Soccer, with the men dropping a 2-1 stinker to Panama in Tampa on Saturday. Back on the home front, Major League Soccer marches on, with a full slate of results.Sporting Kansas City got their first win in a long time, while Toronto FC pulled off a huge upset on Saturday against the Los Angeles Galaxy. Meanwhile, the New York Red Bulls take over as our top team with their win over the New England Revolution.We have it all for you. Here's this week's MLS Power Rankings on Bleacher Report.Begin Slideshow

Portland Timbers Lose Heartbreaker to Colorado Rapids, 0-1

Mama told me there would be games like this.After two lackluster losses against the likes of Chivas USA and D.C. United, the Portland Timbers returned home on Saturday night to host the Colorado Rapids. Their form in recent games has been lackluster, to say the least. They have seemed resolved to play the long ball and completely ignored any kind of midfield play.On Saturday, they put in their best showing of the season.All night they worked the way around the midfield, finally allowing Diego Chara to make some plays and allowing Kalif Alhassan to finally make some of those breathtaking runs he displayed early in the season. The defense, midfield and forwards all worked together to put together numerous passes and opportunities.Man, oh man, did they have opportunities to score.Jorge Perlaza had two breakaways against the Colorado keeper and failed to find the mark both times. Kenny Cooper had a beautiful turn and strike in the box that was head for goal and somehow Matt Pickens, the Colorado keeper, managed to get a glove on it. It was a world-class save that should have gone in for a goal.Ryan Pore, last year's MVP of the UCL, came into the game ...

Alan Gordon Gets Sweet Revenge as Toronto FC Defeat LA Galaxy 2-2

Now some of you may be wondering, wait a minute, wasn't this match a draw? Technically, yes it was, but only by the seat of its you-know-what.However, don't tell this featured columnist, a.k.a. yours truly, that. This result, for Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy, was as good as a defeat.The warning signs were obvious.Exhibit A: Canada defeats Guadeloupe in a CONCACAF Gold Cup Group C match, 1-0.Exhibit B: The United States (have mercy on this side, oh football gods) post their worst performance since the 4-0 body bag game against Spain...a 2-1 defeat to Panama in Group C.People, this is similar to Luxembourg beating Germany, or San Marino beating Italy. Hello, hello, hello, I must be seeing some blood in the waters outside Tampa, and boy is it red with rage.Exhibit C: A trio of women, named T-RIO (insert snicker here) post renditions of "O Canada" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" that were so atrocious, they are worthy of an apology to Barack Obama and Stephen Harper.And Exhibit D: the power going out at some of the workstations in the press box at the Home Depot Center, the most notable being mine. (This is on my end; I just wanted to ...