San Diego Padres baseball players, in a race to make the MLB postseason, have reacted angrily to the announcement of the Chivas USA vs. Chivas Guadalajara ChivaClásico taking place at PETCO Park on Sept. 14.
One Padres player calls the decision to host the match “asinine.” After putting up with football lines in the early years of MLS, it’s ironic now to see professional baseball players react to having soccer invade their territory although even the hallowed Green Monster at Fenway Park hosted soccer in July.
Another Green Monster played a soccer match on Thursday night as Marathón of Honduras welcomed the Seattle Sounders in their Champions League opener.
It was looking good for Seattle after the Sounders got the first goal early on. But by halftime a controversial penalty kick saw the MLS club down 2-1 and unable to come back despite a strong second half.
The Champions League match in Salt Lake proved to be a memorable soccer experience that fans and players are still savoring. Cup nights can be special here in North America, too.
Looking ahead to the Columbus Crew’s massive Champions League away match at Santos Laguna next week, the team could be without Guillermo Barros Schelotto for the trip because of immigration procedures.
One MLS manager places the Crew, Los Angeles, Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas into a class of their own.
It’s not just three points and the FC Dallas 10-game undefeated streak that are on the line when FCD welcome Chivas USA on Saturday. Both club presidents have engaged in a friendly wager in which even a draw is contemplated.
All bets are off when it comes to the California Clasico between the LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes this Saturday. What’s for sure is that former Quake and current Galaxy captain Landon Donovan will be a lightning rod for attention from fans during the match.
New England travel to Kansas City to take on the Wizards in a desperation match for both teams sitting outside the playoff picture. The Revolution still have not shaken off the sting of Wednesday’s controversial last-minute play in Chicago involving Marko Perovic, who went down in the box.
The Fire, who travel to Houston to face the Dynamo, are feeling good about the insertion of Freddie Ljungberg into the squad and the difference he has made.
Union defender Danny Califf says that there are no more bullets left in the gun after Philly has shot itself in the foot so many times this year. He thinks the final stretch will be much better. It starts when the Union take on DC United on Saturday.
The MLS Player Union has updated their version of the list of MLS player salaries to include the latest newcomers to the league after the close of the transfer window.
One of the big earners on that list is NY Red Bulls DP Rafa Márquez, who says he’s been surprised by how physical MLS matches are. Meanwhile, his teammate Thierry Henry wishes he’d have waited a few weeks before making his debut.
In Toronto for a match against TFC on Saturday, Henry keeps talking about winning. It’s all he’s wanted to do since he was seven.
Former TFC manager John Carver has resurfaced as manager, taking over at Sheffield United.
In other RBNY news, the club has a former U-17 and U-20 National Team player in camp and also explains why the deal for Brazilian Marcos Paullo fell through.
While the Vancouver Whitecaps have been aggressively signing players, the Portland Timbers are ramping up their signings, too, with a Ghanaian midfielder joining the fold ahead of the 2011 expansion season.
One report says Argentine World Cup defender Gabriel Heinze could opt for MLS as he seems on the outs at Olympique Marseille. (FRENCH)
Americans Eric Lichaj, Brad Guzan, Jozy Altidore and Dominic Cervi were all involved with their European clubs in Europa League playoff first legs on Thursday. Guzan got more than he bargained for as he had lighters and coins thrown at him.
In the same competition, Mario Balotelli made his Manchester City debut, scoring the game-winning goal on the road as a substitute.
The first match of the Bundesliga season kicks off today at 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN Deportes) between the last two league champions: Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg.
Speaking of Europe, the moves are heating up as we enter the stretch run of the summer transfer market. William Gallas is heading to Tottenham and Milos Krasic finally joins Italians Juventus. But Brazilian Neymar won’t be one of those making a switch. The 18-year-old spurns Chelsea to sign a five-year deal and stay with Santos.
Finally, while European super clubs are feeling the pinch of the world economy, apparently so are the Beckhams.
