Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Chivas USA: 10 Bold Predictions

Before the Los Angeles Galaxy get run over by the likes of Tottenham Hotspur next week at the Home Depot Center, there is the matter of a match that is more important, and less difficult.Note that I say this because Chivas USA are no Spurs. But you wouldn't think of that as the case in the last meeting between the Goats and the G's, in which the designated home side (that is, Chivas) outplayed LA and made the Galaxy look like the Blues, who are no Spurs, either. Heck, they aren't even close to the caliber of the Tottenham youth team! How about that!The Galaxy cannot overlook Chivas USA. With a record of 6-7-5 (23 points), the Goats currently have three games in hand over their cross-locker rivals, while Los Angeles are barely hanging on to the fifth spot at 8-10-3 (27 points).A loss here from Los Angeles, and it can be said that this is indeed a down year for the Galaxy, if it isn't already. They can salvage matters on Saturday and turn this into a warm-up for the dog-and-pony show to follow.Here are 10 bold predictions for the second leg of the 2012 Honda SuperClasico.Begin Slideshow

Three Reasons Why David Beckham Still Has the Magic Touch

His old Manchester United teammate Ryan Giggs may have beat him to a coveted Olympic spot, but David Beckham has never been one to accept defeat tamely.Twenty years into his remarkable career, Beckham is showing he still has the magic touch. Here are three key reasons why:1. Resilience Fabio Capello knows it, Steve McClaren knows it and Alexi Lalas knows it, and judging by some vitriolic comments in the blogosphere, Stuart Pearce is well on his way to finding it out.You count David Beckham out at your own peril.  Beckham is a man who always seems to find triumph in adversity. We all remember Beckham's ultra-professional response to his public demonizsation following his sending-off at France '98. That was just the beginning of a long career marked by astonishing resurgences.  At 37, he still has the uncanny knack of responding to failure with renewed determination. Controversially left out of Stuart Pearce's Team GB Olympic squad, Beckham promptly produced three magnificent goals over two games for LA Galaxy.   2. First Touch  Watching England players at Euro 2012 react to the ball like it was a lit bomb bowling towards them inspired a certain nostalgic respect for Beckham's sure first touch. It may be ...

MLS, Adidas Announce World’s First ‘Smart League’ in World Soccer

Imagine a soccer league in which coaches and players had data on players' speed, acceleration, power, running distance and even heart rate.Then imagine all the numbers coming across in real time.In 2013, we won't have to imagine anymore. In 2013, Major League Soccer will become the world's first "smart league," thanks to the Adidas Micoach Elite System.If that sounds something like the futuristic football game played at the beginning of the movie Starship Troopers—well, it's not. Actually, it'll be here before you know it.Before MLS becomes the world's first smart league in 2013, Adidas will give fans a sneak peak of the Micoach Elite System next week in Philadelphia. On July 25, the MLS All-Stars will play Chelsea in the 2012 MLS All-Star Game, which is about to become the world's first "smart game."Here's how it works, according to an Adidas press release (via MLS.com): The Micoach Elite System includes a small data cell that fits into a player’s base layer in a protective pocket on the back between the shoulder blades. Connected by a series of electrodes and sensors woven into the fabric of the base layer, the cell wirelessly transmits more than 200 data records ...

Viral Video of the Day: Thierry Henry Scores in MLS with Stunning Volley

Thierry Henry's still got it.Proof comes in the form of today's B/R Viral Video of the Day. It's a clip that needs little introduction.The basic facts are these: Henry scored on Wednesday during the New York Red Bulls' 1-0 victory over the Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer action.Simply put, the goal was stunning.Watch and you'll agree. Henry can still bring the genius after all these years.In this clip, it's Red Bulls teammate and fellow Frenchman Sebastien Le Toux who provides the cross. Henry brings down the cross-field ball with his chest, and with his second touch, unleashes an unstoppable volley off the far post and into the net.Yes, unstoppable. This isn't a case of Henry scoring a soft goal against a weak MLS keeper. Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon wouldn't have stopped that shot.If you're an Arsenal fan, you probably watched that and felt a wistful twinge in your gut. As Gooners, we became accustomed to seeing goals like this one regularly during Henry's eight-year spell with Arsenal (and sort of again last winter when he was on loan).Some memorable goals that immediately come to mind are Henry's turn and volley against Manchester United in 2000, the outrageous preseason ...

San Jose Earthquakes Cut It Close in 2-1 Victory over FC Dallas

It wasn’t exactly a let-off, although something of that register might have been expected—perhaps even understood—after such a thrilling match four days earlier had seen San Jose Earthquakes dismantle Real Salt Lake to the tune of five goals to nil.But San Jose could consider themselves fortunate to escape with a 2-1 win over FC Dallas at Buck Shaw Stadium on Wednesday night in a match that saw the visitors granted a penalty just seconds from the final whistle. “If they would have equalized in the end with that penalty kick, you would have had to say that they deserved at least a draw, to be honest,” Earthquakes manager Frank Yallop told reporters after the game. “You can’t use the word ‘lucky’, but that game could have gone either way." “I keep saying, ‘Every game in this league is difficult’. They’re bottom of our conference (eighth out of nine teams), and I think they’re a really good team. They’re very dangerous, and very hard to handle." “They’ve been a bit unlucky in a lot of the games they’ve had, but there’s not a big gulf between the top and the bottom in the standings. They’ve played some great stuff, and they ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Vancouver Whitecaps: Rating David Beckham’s Performance

It was a tale of two stretches of time for the Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham. During the first 80 minutes, Beckham played like he deserved to be playing for the Los Angeles Blues. Absolutely stupefying play. No intensity, and the set piece slot machine was in one-arm bandit mode. And then, in the 81st minute, Beckham was able to fire a close laser on a Landon Donovan delivery to make it 2-1. Game on, says the England international, still feeling the aftereffects of the Team Great Britain pipe dream that tormented him like a thief in the night. Los Angeles were due for a late-night mugging of some sorts, and it was Beckham who found a player of the future in Jose Villareal. Beckham delivered a long ball to Juninho, who then fed the ball to Villareal to complete the rally. The game-tying assist salvaged a point for Bruce Arena's Galaxy and kept their unbeaten streak against Martin Rennie's Vancouver Whitecaps alive. At least, until the next match. But when it's a tale of two stretches of time—one big, the other small—it's not going to equate to a good player rating. For a designated player of David Beckham's caliber, ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Vancouver Whitecaps: Rating the Galaxy Players

It looked to be a one-sided contest for Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy as they took on Martin Rennie's Vancouver Whitecaps at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver. After 80 minutes had passed, a miraculous rally combined with some clutch defending late in the game  preserved a 2-2 draw for LA on the road. In any draw, there will be good ratings, and there will be bad ratings. Here are my player ratings for the Los Angeles Galaxy players who took to the pitch on Wednesday night.  Josh Saunders 5 Made four saves but could have been better off making just a few more in the first half. Average night for Saunders, only because it ended up as a draw.  Sean Franklin 4 Was part of a backline that had a horrid first half of football. He is not responsible for the mistakes that led to Vancouver's goals, but I am tarring him with the same brush. A few strokes, and...done.  A.J. DeLaGarza 3 Culpable after failing to turn aside the Barry Robson goal in the 27th minute of play. A rare act of inconsistency from DeLaGarza. Question is, will this be a habit?  Todd Dunivant 3 Couldn't play the entire match ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Vancouver Whitecaps: 6 Things We Learned

If this isn't a good reason why Major League Soccer is a wonderful thing, nothing will be. Ten minutes away from full time, Martin Rennie's Vancouver Whitecaps were on their way to their first-ever victory over Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy.Then the wheels fell off. Two goals in seven minutes salvaged a draw for Los Angeles, 2-2, at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver, B.C. With the draw, Los Angeles improve to 8-10-3 (27 points) and remain fifth in the MLS Western Conference.Here are six things we learned from Wednesday night's tilt.Begin Slideshow

New York Red Bulls: Five Biggest Fixtures Left on the Schedule

After a hard-earned win against Chicago at Red Bull Arena Wednesday afternoon, the Red Bulls got back into the discussion as a contender to finish at the top the Eastern Conference when it is all said and done.That achievement would be the second time the Red Bulls reached that mark in three years, and would be a massive improvement over a disappointing 2011 season.However, getting to the point where they can call themselves Eastern Conference regular season champions would be no easy task, as there are plenty of big games up ahead for New York.Here are the five biggest fixtures still left on the schedule that the Red Bulls must get results in if they want to get back to reigning the conference. Enjoy!Begin Slideshow

Toronto vs. Liverpool: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

Toronto FC will play host to Liverpool FC in Liverpool’s first stop on their North American preseason tour. The English club come to North America for a chance to test what their squad has to offer heading into the start of their preseason. It is also a great chance to build their brand in North America. Liverpool is already one of the most popular soccer teams in the world, and they hope that this preseason tour will boost their popularity in places like Canada and the United States. Toronto is a great MLS city. They average around 20,000 fans in attendance every game but have had as many as 50,000 crammed into the Rogers Centre (they normally play at BMO Field). In 2004, when Liverpool last played at the Rogers Centre, there were over 30,000 in attendance. Toronto is not having the season that they desired; they are currently last in the Eastern Conference and hold only 16 points, which is the worst in the MLS. If Toronto could keep this match close or even pull the upset, it would provide them with a huge boost of confidence heading into the rest of their season. Liverpool will use this match ...