Chivas USA and the LA Galaxy will face each other this Saturday for this season’s 1st Hollywood derby, and it seems that not much has changed for the Galaxy squad which finished in the bottom of the conference last season.

Having played only 2 games, it seems that LA is trying to keep their games to a minimum before Becks-star arrives to a basement club. Maybe one of the worst teams of MLS does need a world class player to turn out results—I thought they all ready had one though, but I guess Donovan falls short of world class. 

On the other hand, Chivas seems to be building nicely off their success from last term. Having just steamrolled (4-0) Real Salt Lake, Preki has the Mexican farm-league squad high in confidence walking into the showdown this weekend with their neighbors.

The victory would pull them up above Dallas at the top of the Western Conference for a spell with Dallas facing off against New England on Sunday.

I really thought Chivas USA would pull off the win last week against Houston, but the Dynamo showed their Champion’s character and bruised into (1-0) victory thanks to a Brain Ching header.

The loss definitely pushed us down in the conference, but at least we’re only 1 pt. from 1st place Colorado. Chivas has an excellent opportunity to put pressure on the leaders as they face Real Salt Lake, who followed up their (2-2) draw to Dallas with a zeros stalemate against Columbus.

In the weekend’s other Western conference fixtures, Houston plays early Eastern conference contenders, the Red Bulls, while Colorado and Dallas face off in a Western frontier gunfight.

On the Eastern side of things, the early defeats of DC United and Twellmen’s resurgence of goals for New England are the present talking points, as well as the fact that Kansas has played only one game so far with the victory keeping them in check and with games in hand.

Kansas plays Chicago this weekend as New England has already played (ESPN2 Thursdays) salvaging a (2-2) draw against Columbus.

Chivas USA opened their 2007 MLS season with a 2-0 victory over league debutants, Toronto in confident fashion. True Palencia has returned to Mexico, and it was the first game of the season; however, I can’t stop from thinking that this could be the Mexican experiment’s breakout year (to bad Blanco is on his way to Chicago)!

With Preki at the helm, MLS has for the 1st time a true quality servant of the game. Sure you could make the claim for the Chicago Fire stalwart, Peter Nowak (now with a hand in our American setup), but his philosophy is built more on hard work and resistance while Preki brings a swagger and cultured interpretation to the game. In the long run, truer coaches of his quality will actually be more nurturing for the league then the punch-drunk star-quality of select loan players.

Preki’s own strike efficiency was evident in the two goals taken by Chivas–both opportunistic and unerring, which will surely feed the confidence of this young, new nucleus side.

The 1st one was courtesy of the forgotten man Razov, who was played in and finished off nicely after a neat one-two from a wide position. The youngster Kljestan finished off a deserved strike from distance in the 2nd half as his touches throughout the game had showed promise.

Of course it is too early to tell, and Chivas USA will have a tough test in Houston this Saturday as they face reigning Champs, the Dynamo (who could only fashion a nil draw with the Galaxy on Sunday [on the heels of their disappointing departure from the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup at the feet of Pachuca]).

My eyes will also be on the Colorado game as the Rapids pulled a suprise victory over Eastern power DC United and sit level with Chivas in the Western Conference. They face the Chicago Fire; the only team in the East to win all 3 pts. after the 1st Round of MLS action.

Americans, did you know we were in the middle of a cup? Come on, you haven’t heard of the “CONCACAF Champions’ Cup?” It still has its new car shine.

We find ourselves in the Semi-finals, where, by strength, two MLS teams are playing against two Mexican Teams for the spoils. It stood DC United vs. Chivas Guadalajara and the Houston Dynamo vs. Pachuca, with the finalists being decided over two games, home and away.   

As the semi-finals are over, the MLS couldn’t even produce a finalist. Although D.C. United looked fried from the outset after playing horrible at home, there was a chance with the Dynamo to re-lift a cup as they led with a 2-0 margin, but the 2nd leg game ended yesterday with a complete shelling of the old San Jose Clash.

Pachuca put on a flex session as they executed and pushed forward with calm, pace, and encouragement. In every forward movement, they looked like they were going to score. Only a shoestring plea by Houston was saving the MLS Champions from a full on wood chipping.

Houston tried to stave off this onslaught through the Italianesque striking of Brian Ching, who has continued to show that no matter the field and how high the level gets, he can close his mind into one thing, finish to the back of the net. I can hear Serie B calling if he wants to go to Europe.

Houston’s service was more hopeful balls and chance forays as they were fully outclassed in a packed hostile environment. Free was the ticket price, so Pachuca was the event. A handful of Houston supporters showed up as Mullins and Ching hit the net (too bad this tournament does not honor the away goals rule!).

Pachuca was rolling though with complete fury. Their team was one of belief, where they were prepared to get four goals on the night, at least try until the final whistle. Being 2-0 down on aggregate, Pachuca ended up 4-2 at the end of regulation. It took everything from Houston’s Goal Keeper Wells to keep the MLS squad from utter embarrassment.  He had to pull out an average National Team level performance to keep Houston afloat.

But alas, the strike came that broke poor Well’s back in overtime. A dipping volley that deposited itself in the near post 90 from an out swing; it planted Wells even though he was in position to save an average strike.  

So, the final should be good, but the U.S. versus Mexico has already been decided, and the class of the Mexican will be able to turkey carve up the continent.
 
My only question I have for the Savages is, “If Toronto F.C. surprises somebody and qualifies for this tournament, will that be Canada’s first entry into the continental scramble?”

The US plays a different game. They look at their International Friendly fixtures as the arena to pick up FIFA Federation pts. Since their tournament play leaves a lot to be desired, the Americans look like no other team, with victory always surpassing obvious inconsistencies.

Yet, still the score line reads 3-1 the US, so Uncle Sam’s stands content that we are gaining in strides. Remember it’s an opening win to a build up that leads to the big one. Well unfortunately it’s our inability to see our program in the distance that gets lost in the immediate haze of sub-meaningful matches.    

Having said that, you would still expect Ecuador to play with more desire in front of a heavy away faithful at the Pirate Zone in Tampa, as they played as if it was their first day back from a European vacation—just returned. True, though many of their power players were not around, it wasn’t as if the Americans had the same luxury.

Thankfully for the US, Landon Donovan showed some of that star-dust he will be hoping to find form with in the prospect of playing along side of Beck-stars in LA. From his astonishing opening minute strike to his 2 game killing goals, Donovan showed the ruthlessness in front of goal, that if found more consistently would keep him more familiar with the likes of Ronaldinho, Kuranyi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Toni, Gerrard, etc. (all also multi-goal scorers at the International break!)

The Ecuadorians were content to represent their individual ability; however, they never really looked like scoring and lacked any incentive or inspiration to really get it done in the final third.

If Clint Dempsey or “Wing-foot” Demarcus were sharper, then the uninspiring midfield fulcrum of young Hispelgier and Baby Bradley might not have seemed so absurd. I guess the oversea academy systems are good breeding grounds for the affluent American soccer world.  See you against Guatemala!

International Soccer is coming to Tampa, FL this weekend Sunday when the US Men’s National Team take on Ecuador as Uncle Sam’s Army (as well as the team) begins its buildup for this summer’s tournaments.

Usually an International Friendly is time to give new faces a chance to play at the highest level; however, as Ecuador is also participating in the Copa America this summer, the game on Sunday takes on a different light as each team will be looking to establish the momentum and roster to carry them through.

You can expect the game to be a physical contest as the Americans will look to disrupt a speedy and skillful side in Ecuador (if judging from their recent World Cup performances in Germany). Ecuador will not be as pressed to “win” as the US, so look for the Ecuadorians to rely more on their skill than their work ethic, which could play into the hands of the Americans (as it usually does).

It will be interesting to see the defensive lineup for Bob Bradley, who will be making changes due to the retiring faction of US players. For the Americans, this is obviously a time to challenge the waters and solidify a spot that usually has already been groomed and engrained for untouchables.

However, I think every US Soccer fan will have it wrong if we only focus on the narrow view of a win on Sunday. Really we should be asking ourselves if the leadership from the top down has what it takes to raise our slipping level.

It would seem almost impossible now to name a new coach to the fold as we are only a few months away from tournament play. It looks like Bradley will have to weather the storm.

Both the Houston Dynamo and DC United showed their value in their 1st Leg CONCACAF Champions’ Cup Semifinal matches against traditionally strong Mexican sides.

The Dynamo are clearly in the better position as they defeated Pachuca, newly crowed Copa Sudamericana Champions, (2-0) in Houston while DC United needed a 90th min. strike from recently acquired Brazilian striker Luciano Emilio, who headed DC level (1-1) against Guadalajara in DC.

Now the American teams have to travel down to hostile territory to secure the dream of qualifying for the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2007, as the winner of this tournament wins the right to compete against the crème de la crème.

Both 2nd Leg Matches will be played in Mexico—Chivas vs. DC United (April 3rd) and Pachuca vs. Houston Dynamo (April 5th).

Both teams just need one more strong performance to make it an All-American affair in the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup Final.

The roster:
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Tim Howard (Everton, England), Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany)

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham, England), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover, Germany), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City), Jay Demerit (Watford, England), Oguchi Onyewu (Newcastle, England), Heath Pearce (Nordsjaelland, Denmark), Frank Simek (Sheffield Wednesday, England), Jonathan Spector (West Ham, England)

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (Manchester City, England), Michael Bradley (Heerenveen, Netherlands), Brian Carroll (D.C. United), Ricardo Clark (Houston), Clint Dempsey (Fulham, England), Benny Feilhaber (Hamburg, Germany), Justin Mapp (Chicago)

Forwards: Brian Ching (Houston), Kenny Cooper (Dallas), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles), Eddie Johnson (Kansas City), Chris Rolfe (Chicago), Taylor Twellman (New England)

The warm-ups:
Ecuador on March 25 in Tampa, FL
Guatemala on March 28 in Frisco, TX
Chine on June 2 in San Jose, CA

The tournaments:
CONCACAF Gold Cup on June 9 against Trinidad and Tobago at Carson, CA
CONEMBOL Copa America on June 28 against Argentina at Maracaibo, VE

The reality:
While interim coach, Bob Bradley has brought in some new faces to the National side, unfortunately the product is to remain the same—a disciplined, disruptive style that usually fails to bring any true vision to the game.

It’s the lack of veteran quality in the squad, however, that leaves one a little disheartened. With most all the old-guard cycled out, it is finally down to Donovan and crew to prove that the USSF can produce viable soccer talent.  

While we should be able to lift the Gold Cup on home soil, the real test is really awaiting in Venezuela.

The International field has been set for both the upcoming US Men’s National Team Tournaments as well as for the US U-20s, and for the large part, it looks like it’s going to be an uphill battle.

The best opportunity to win a trophy will be for the US Men in the Gold Cup as we will match up against Guatemala, Trinidad, and El Salvador in the opening round. These are 2nd and 3rd tier teams that the US has a history of handling easily and contrasts sharply against the opening round we’ll be facing in the Copa America.

Down in Venezuela it will be another story as we will be up against Argentina, Paraguay, and Columbia and really look to be fighting it out against unpredictable Columbia for the last spot in this group. We had a difficult time facing similar traditional opposition in the World Cup at Germany, and this will appear no different as our current digression at the National Level is there to be observed.

With no new player developments at the top level we should be asking what is it that the USSF produces? Other than hype and chance after chance for certain players to compete, but never truly measure up!

Perhaps that best glimmer of the US Soccer future will come in Canada for the U-20s at their World Cup. Unfortunately, we face off against Brazil, Poland, and South Korea and are not assured of anything. The initial match against Brazil will be all important, though a victory does not have to be the result.

The way we play in this first match will tell the tale of the next two fixtures. Victory will be bonus, but a positive result will bode well for our young ones’ confidence and could carry us when we play the lesser, but disciplined powers of Poland and South Korea.

It’s about time we stop just competing at these tournaments and really start keeping score with our National team performances. Fans are getting less-and-less satisfied with the good old American try. With the current lack of direction at the top level, is not anyone else alarmed at the US growth in soccer?

One can usually tell the quality of a country’s National team by the quality of their professional league, and Mexico has certainly been the leaders in the CONCACAF region when it comes to the club level.

The USA, on the other hand, has been a bit of a contradiction with the success of the US National Team far outweighing the quality of the American domestic league, which the ex-England and Newcastle captain Alan Shearer recently dubbed as being on par with the English 2nd Division.

Don’t be so quick to misread Shearer’s comparison though as he didn’t compare MLS to the Coca Cola Championship (which is the 2nd to the EPL), but to the 2nd Division (equivalent to 4th level English soccer). 

With this being said, it is time for another US-Mexican showdown, but this time on the club level, which will actually be the better standard by which to measure US vs. Mexican football.

So, the Champions’ Cup Semifinal matches are now settled with 2 Mexican clubs going head to head over 2 legs with 2 MLS clubs. With these matches, the truth of the disparity (or lack thereof) between the two countries will be revealed.   

The first Semifinal will be Pachuca vs. Houston Dynamo, who pulled off an impressive (2-0) victory in the return leg at home to turn the tables against the Costa Ricans, and the 2nd Semi will be between DC United and Guadalajara, the most successful outfits of their respective leagues.