Five-a-side: What's hot around MLS

MLSnet.com columnist Steve Davis takes a look at some of the hot topics around MLS, including how this year's reduced roster size is forcing many clubs to make tough decisions


Wigan still keen on winger
Five-a-side: What’s hot in MLS

Buddle sharp in Galaxy win over Oita

The Los Angeles Galaxy's Edson Buddle has been insisting throughout training camp that his troublesome Achilles tendons have been feeling better, and he proved it in the nightcap of Wednesday's Pan-Pacific Championship against Japan's Oita Trinita.


Galaxy look to continue strong play
Beckham Will Go Back To Los Angeles Galaxy - Cantamessa

MLS Abroad: Guzan getting run

One of the many things any young soccer player has to work at when making the jump to a top-flight European team, no matter where he is from, is patience.


Bradley names eight MLS players to US roster
Karim Benzema Ready To Stay With Lyon

FC Dallas head to Brazil for training

FC Dallas hit the road again for the next portion of their 2009 preseason, heading to Brazil on Wednesday, where they will train for the next 10 days and play three games before returning to Frisco on March 7.


Luis Fabiano Leaves Sevilla For Brazil For Knee Rehabilitation
Rafa Benitez Hails Returning Liverpool Stars
Dynamo face Dallas in preseason opener

Hyndman sees more accountability

Before FC Dallas left the Lone Star State for a weeklong trip to Florida, several players stated that a big goal of the trip was to develop stronger team chemistry.


Pieces falling in place for Hoops
Hoops’ Hyndman wants more scoring
Capello Satisfied With Spain Test
Capello: Spain Are The Best National Team At The Moment

Galaxy's Klein looks to take charge

The Los Angeles Galaxy's Chris Klein is looking to take charge this season, whether it's lending his expertise on the field or showing the team's new personnel around training camp.


Galaxy look to continue strong play
Resino Takes Charge Of First Training Session At Atlético Madrid

Draw toughens Dynamo task in Mexico

A night that began with so much fanfare and promise turned sour in the waning moments as an 82nd-minute goal by Gabriel Pereyra forced a 1-1 tie for Atlante just six months after the team was handed a 4-0 defeat by the Dynamo in last year's SuperLiga competition.


Barcelona Can Win The Copa Del Rey - Henry
Valencia Did Not Deserve To Lose Against Osasuna - Emery
Dynamo focusing on task at hand

Galaxy look to continue strong play

Chris Klein and the LA Galaxy hope to duplicate their effort in a 2-0 win over Oita Trinita when the club takes the field against Suwon Samsung Bluewings FC in the final of the Pan-Pacific Championship on Saturday night at The Home Depot Center.


Valencia Players Not Worried About Late Pay – Vicente
Bluewings advance to final with win
Beckham Will Go Back To Los Angeles Galaxy - Cantamessa

Learning curve steep for D.C. rookies

Some have arrived bearing international resumes, high expectations and guaranteed contracts. Others are unheralded trialists just trying to snag a precious roster spot.


FIFA Ranking - Tunisia Drop Eight Places
Mood buoyant as RSL head to camp

Buddle leads Galaxy into Pan-Pacific final

If the personnel that took the field for the Los Angeles Galaxy's first official preseason match Wednesday was a glimpse of what's to come -- missing David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Donovan Ricketts -- then coach Bruce Arena and team followers might not have much to worry about.


Galaxy get bigger, stronger — better?
Beckham Will Go Back To Los Angeles Galaxy - Cantamessa

2009 MLS Direct Kick Package unveiled

Major League Soccer's Direct Kick television package is again available for $79, providing fans the opportunity to watch more than 130 MLS regular season matches and select playoff games during the 2009 season.


Spirits high as Chivas USA camp opens
Preseason roundup: Fire, Real beat USL clubs
La Liga Preview: Valencia - Malaga

Gazidis adjusts to life after MLS

MLSnet.com's Dylan Butler caught up with former MLS Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis, now the chief executive of Premier League club Arsenal FC.


With no deal, Beckham set to return
Five-a-side: What’s hot around MLS
Predrag Mijatovic Seething At Real Madrid’s Faubert Purchase
Xabi Alonso Backs Benitez In Liverpool ‘Tug Of War’

Leiweke: Milan claims are 'nonsense'

The David Beckham-to-AC Milan saga has taken another twist as Tim Leiweke, president and CEO of AEG, told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport that claims made by Milan vice president Adriano Galliani on Thursday that a deal was close to being made were "nonsense."

"Two weeks ago Milan made a ridiculous offer that took me just a few seconds to reject," Leiweke told the Italian newspaper. "With this figure Galaxy wouldn't even be able to cover the loss in revenue from shirt sales. Since then I haven't heard a thing and no meeting has been set up."

There were claims in the Italian press during the week that a Milan delegation were set to travel to the United States to hammer out a deal to sell Beckham to AC Milan, which currently have the England international on a loan deal until March 9.

"In the past few hours we have taken steps forward," Galliani told Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday. "I am optimistic, not pessimistic. Can the deal be completed next week? We shall see."

That's not the case, according to Leiweke.

"I've decided to speak out because I've read too many inaccuracies," Leiweke told Gazzetta dello Sport . "After that ridiculous offer we've had no more contact from Milan."

Beckham has stated publicly his desire to remain with the Serie A giants and Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber set a deadline of Feb. 13 for a deal to be made. But the two sides couldn't come to an agreement.

"If Milan are so determined to buy him, why are they dragging this out for so long?" Leiweke told Gazzetta dello Sport . "If they think they'll get him on the cheap that way, they're wrong."


Arena: Beckham won’t be distraction
Beckham Will Go Back To Los Angeles Galaxy - Cantamessa
With no deal, Beckham set to return

Bluewings advance to final with win

CARSON, Calif. -- It wasn't quite the goalfest some were perhaps expecting to open the 2009 version of the Pan-Pacific Championship, but Suwon Samsung Bluewings will take the result.

The reigning K-League champion beat Chinese club Shandong Luneng Taishan FC 1-0 Wednesday in the first game of the event at The Home Depot Center.

After 80 minutes of play that featured few scoring opportunities and little excitement on the pitch, Bluewings forward Cho Yong-Tae found the back of the net in the 81st minute to break the scoreless tie.

Cho's score not only gave the South Korean club the win but helped clinch a spot in Saturday's title match against either Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy or J-League champion Oita Trinita.

Shandong will play the losing club in the third-place game.

In its second version, the Pan-Pacific serves as a preseason event for participating teams. Perhaps that is why the Suwon-Shandong affair Wednesday lacked action early on.

The game's only score came when Cho sent a soft rolling shot into an empty net. Shandong goalkeeper Li Leilei was left kicking air when he attempted a sliding tackle on Bluewings defender Lee Kwan-Woo just outside the penalty area.

Lee leaped over Leilei then sent a short rolling pass to Cho, completing a counter attack fueled by quick touch-and-go passes.

The Bluewings held momentum for most of the second half after coach Cha Bum-Kun went to his bench. He substituted Lee and Cho at the start the second half.

Suwon outshot Shandong 10-5 with most of those coming in the second half. Shandong survived a series of Bluewings shots late in the match, including a Cho blast from about 25 yards out in the 75th minute.

Lee could have had a second score if it wasn't for Li's left fist. He redirected Cho's shot with a punch, sending it to his left just wide of the post.

Wide right, wide left. That was the story for Shandong strikers early in the match.

Li Jinyu sent a header just wide of Bluewings left post in the 15th minute. That was the Chinese Super League champion's clearest attempt at goal before Li Jinyu sent another header wide left 12 minutes later.

Shandong would not create another play threatening the Bluewings' goal until Yong-Tae had his blast stopped by Leilei.

Shandong came into the Pan-Pacific opener after falling in three one-sided scrimmages, all against MLS teams. Shandong lost to Chivas USA 5-1, Seattle Sounders FC 2-0 and Real Salt Lake 8-0.


International clubs look to impress in PPC
Real Madrid Register Lassana Diarra For Champions League

James brings youth to Dynamo defense

HOUSTON, Texas -- When the Houston Dynamo announced in December that they were trading away perennial MVP candidate Dwayne DeRosario to Toronto FC for allocation money and rookie defender Julius James, some fans were left wondering if Houston had gotten enough in return.

It was no slight to James. DeRosario had become a fan favorite due to his flair and clutch play during previous MLS Cups and replacing him will be no small task for the Dynamo in 2009.

Still, the trade provided not only allocation money, but removed the Canadian midfielder's high salary from the books providing enough cap space for the team to re-sign defensive stalwart Bobby Boswell. The salary cap space remaining might also allow the team to bring in additional talent during the year, which might have otherwise been difficult.

In James though, there is no doubt the team acquired a promising young talent. After being selected ninth overall in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, he played in 13 games last year, starting 10 and scoring one goal.

A Trinidad and Tobago international, the 24-year-old James has already taken note of the differences between his new team and his former employer.

"It's amazing. It's unbelievable," he said. "It's a different team, a different caliber of players. The expectancy and pressure is a lot more, it's great."

For any young defender, playing alongside two of the best centerbacks in MLS in Bobby Boswell and Eddie Robinson is quite a learning experience.

"They basically take me under their wing, showing me ... the things the coaches like," he said. "Every time I step on the field and I come off, I learn something."

Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear has been happy with James' progress.

"I think he is coming along OK. He and Bobby have formed a good little partnership in a short period of time. His athleticism obviously stands out," Kinnear said. "We are still in his ear for his positioning, his focus and concentration, but so far he has done very well for us."

This week, while every other MLS team is still in the thick of preseason training, James might be thrown directly into the fire. The Dynamo take on Mexico's Atlante FC in the first leg of their quarterfinal series in the CONCACAF Champions League, and with Eddie Robinson receiving a red card in Houston's last group match against CD Luis Angel Firpo, Kinnear will have to choose between starting the young defender, or rely on a more veteran presence such as Craig Waibel.

Even if he doesn't start, Kinnear believes that James will likely play some part on Tuesday night at Robertson Stadium.

"I am sure he will be on the field, we will see from the beginning or not," Kinnear said. "It's the way it is around here. A lot of guys have found their feet early in February instead of late in March."

James is looking forward to the opportunity as the Dynamo look to reach the semifinals in CONCACAF cup play for the third consecutive year -- a stage, however, they haven't been able to get past.

"We played against one or two Mexican teams in a friendly," James said. "It's a different look from MLS teams. They are a little more technical, less physical."

The young University of Connecticut product is happy to be in Houston and eager for Tuesday.

"I'm excited," he said. "It's a new team, new fans. I know the coaches have confidence in me, but I am going to be playing in front of the fans for the first time so I am excited. I am pumped."


Barcelona Are The Perfect Team For Me - Dani Alves
Dynamo introduce 18-year-old striker
Beckham Disappointed After England Defeat; Coy On Milan Link
Dynamo dominate Hoops on flanks

United focus on defensive chemistry

WASHINGTON -- Playmaker Christian Gomez has returned to the D.C. United fold. Inspirational veteran Ben Olsen and his troubled left ankle are gradually easing back into the daily grind of team training sessions. A stable of young talent has been secured with new contracts.

As D.C. United's technical staff works its way through the 'to-do list' for its 2009 squad makeover, one pressing item remains a very open question, however: improving the stability and rigidity of a defense that ranked second-worst in Major League Soccer last season.

"We went from a year [2007] where we were in the top as far as allowing goals -- we were very good -- to a year where we were at the bottom," said head coach Tom Soehn in the early stages of preseason. "That came from several different areas, but that's something that we're going to pride ourselves on, to make sure we defend better as a team, from front to back, through the goal."

Even the club's most attacking-minded players are echoing those sentiments. On Gomez's first day back in United colors, Santino Quaranta took pains to put the Argentinean's arrival in perspective.

"When you got guys like him and Jaime [Moreno], Luchi [Luciano Emilio], our attack is going to be something else," said Quaranta, who presently tops the D.C. depth chart at right winger. "But we've seen before that we have to try to steady this defense first before we try to win games 4-3. We're trying to start from the back and go to the front."

As Soehn noted, the back four are certainly not the only ones responsible for defending in United's system, but that group is presently under the most scrutiny given its 2008 struggles, relative youth and dearth of high-profile new arrivals.

First-round SuperDraft pick (and Generation adidas member) Rodney Wallace offers ample potential along the left flank, and the club has shown its faith in Bryan Namoff, Marc Burch, Devon McTavish and Greg Janicki with new contracts. But Soehn and his staff continue to stoke competition among the current crop of defenders, especially in the center back slots, with trialists Kyle Veris and Mamadou Danso under evaluation amid a continuing hunt for potential veteran acquisitions.

However, those efforts hit a setback earlier this month when Roger, a well-traveled Brazilian capable of playing centrally or on the left, elected not to sign with the Black-and-Red after spending more than a week with the team.

"We're working on the guys we have, but potential signings, we're always going through the process," said Soehn last week.

In retrospect, last year's decision to bring in the talented but unfamiliar South American duo of Gonzalo Peralta and Gonzalo Martinez backfired considerably, leading to a greater focus on chemistry and cohesiveness this time around.

"Last year our organization, defensively, was a disaster. No one ever really seemed to be on the same page and I think from day one this year we need to start working on that, because obviously if you let in goals it's tough to win games," said McTavish, a utility player who spent most of his time at center back down the stretch last season.

"We have good one-on-one defenders, we have good people who read the game well -- as long as we can get everyone on the same page and defending as a unit."

McTavish, Janicki and Burch were just three of more than a half-dozen players to see time at center back in the course of the marathon '08 campaign as injuries, suspensions, fatigue and ineffectiveness forced Soehn to constantly rejigger his back line down the stretch. But the Black-and-Red hope that experimentation can pay off in the form of a clearer focus and stronger start this time around.

"Get a group of guys and let us play together every day," said Janicki. "I know it was an injury here, an injury there -- they were kind piecing things together back there for a while for most of [last] season. I think once you just get used to playing with the same guys in the back, communication gets better and you play better as a group. So I think just finding those core guys and sticking with it for a while is more the biggest thing."

This week Soehn said that tactical awareness and collective understanding are a high priority for the team's week-long stint in Puerto Rico, which began on Wednesday.

"We're going to work on tactics a little bit more," said the third-year boss. "Every day we get closer to the [season] opener, we start talking about tactics and making sure that we're understanding what we're about and each person knows their role within a system -- not just one system, but several systems so you can adjust."


Familiar faces aim for resurgence in D.C.
La Liga Preview: Valencia - Malaga
Dynamo keep focus on long campaign

Dynamo focusing on task at hand

HOUSTON -- In less than a month, the Houston Dynamo will take the field in their much-anticipated MLS season opener against the Columbus Crew at Robertson Stadium.

Yet well into training and getting ready for their fourth season in the Bayou City, the Dynamo have two very important matches ahead of them before they officially take the field for the first time.

In the next two weeks, the Dynamo will play Atlante in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals. The two-leg series alone is enough to make head coach Dominic Kinnear forget about the Crew, the team that now holds the MLS title after beating New York last season in MLS Cup.

"We are not really thinking about MLS just yet," said Kinnear. "I think we are looking pretty good health-wise so far. Right now, all we want to do is play as many games as possible against good opponents to get us ready both mentally and physically.

"After that, we'll see where we're at."

In between matches against Atlante, the Dynamo will play host to the Montreal Impact on Saturday, Feb. 28. After completing the series with the Mexican outfit with a trip to Cancun on March 3, the Dynamo will close out the preseason portion of their schedule against the USL-1 Austin Aztex in central Texas.

The Champions League matches and the preseason finales will give Kinnear and his Orange enough to worry about for now.

"Right now, I think we are doing pretty good results-wise," Kinnear said. "We have a couple of wins, a couple of ties and a loss, so that is not too bad for our first couple of games. There have been a few good individual performances and the team has been going pretty good too."

The Dynamo were unbeaten in their first three preseason matches against FC Dallas and Los Angeles. They did not allow a goal until San Jose scored twice in a 2-0 win against the Dynamo on Feb. 15.

Kinnear is happy with how things are progressing, especially defensively.

"In one of the periods against San Jose last week, there was a little bit of a lapse in concentration," said Kinnear. "That led to a couple of the goals, but it's really good to see the guys, for the most part, playing good on both sides of the ball this early in the season.

"Everyone has been very professional and has coming in ready and in shape. So far, everyone seems mentally sharp, and as always the motivation to do well is very high."

The Dynamo will be playing fewer games this season, and that should help the team down the stretch when the goal will be getting the MLS championship trophy back to Houston. They will be playing in regular season competition and the U.S. Open Cup as well as the 2009-10 version of the CONCACAF Champions League, though not participating in SuperLiga for the first time.

Other than mentioning that the players were aware of the number of games, Kinnear said the team wasn't worried about a potential benefit, especially short-term.

"The message isn't out there that we are playing a certain number of games," said Kinnear. "I think so far the guys are pretty level headed and they are not thinking too far ahead, and they are not took worried about what is behind them so they can always focus on the next thing in front of them.

"Right now that is Atlante on Tuesday night."


Real Madrid Register Lassana Diarra For Champions League
Dynamo face Dallas in preseason opener
Dynamo keep focus on long campaign

Disappointed Franklin regroups after loss

CARSON, Calif. -- Sean Franklin could only shrug his shoulders after a night he might want to forget.

The Los Angeles Galaxy defender walked off The Home Depot Center pitch after being shown a red card in the 79th minute of the Pan-Pacific Championship final Saturday in front of 9,160 in attendance.

It was a sour moment knowing he had to leave the game after contributing to a Suwon Samsung Bluewings win in penalty kicks against the Galaxy after a 1-1 draw in regulation.

"It's just frustrating," Franklin said. "I don't think I played that well tonight. I contributed a little bit but I think I could have done better than that."

What Franklin did was head in an own goal in the 39th minute to give the Bluewings a 1-0 lead.

Franklin said he was trying to clear a deep pass into the penalty area by Suwong captain Kim Dae-Eui intended for midfielder Choi Sung-Hyeon.

Instead, Franklin got a piece of the floating pass with the top of his head, sending it over Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders into his own net. Saunders was standing about 15-yards away from his goal when the ball sailed over him.

After the play, Franklin stared into the distance, standing with his hands at his waist.

Teammate and rookie Omar Gonzalez walked over to Franklin and rubbed his head, trying to comfort the Galaxy's No. 1 pick in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft.

"I just said to him to keep his head up," Gonzalez said. "It was a pretty bad play but we just have to go from here and not look back."

Franklin didn't look back, walking off the field after being shown a straight red card. Franklin was booked with a yellow earlier in the match. Referee Paul Ward didn't show a second yellow for Franklin's second foul, this time on Suwong defender Jorge Alves.

"That's how calls go," Franklin said. "The own goal is just unfortunate, I'm just glad my teammates battled back late and forced a last play."

Ironically, it was a foul by Alves on Galaxy forward Edson Battle in the penalty area in the 88th minute that sent the game into a decisive penalty shootout.

That gave the Galaxy new life, but missed penalty shots by Buddle and Kyle Patterson ultimately lost the shootout for Bruce Arena's team.

Despite the loss, the match against the Bluewings and the preseason tournament gave Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena a glimpse of what his young players can do heading into the upcoming 2009 MLS season.

"I was pleased that this team showed a lot of character coming back," Arena said. "I was impressed. Let's face it. We played a Suwong team that's more experienced. I thought our young guys did a great job."

Arena was particularly impressed with his young defense, despite some mistakes.

Franklin echoed Arena's thoughts.

"I think the backline is doing fine," Franklin said. "We have a lot to improve on but we're looking at all the positives. We'll just get better as the season gets going."


Change evident as Galaxy camp opens
Beckham Will Go Back To Los Angeles Galaxy - Cantamessa

Fernandez eyes better fate with Revs

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Last season didn't go as planned for New England Revolution midfielder Argenis Fernandez.

The Revolution signed Fernandez from Costa Rican side Santos in March after he impressed during the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Fernandez, 21, expected to compete for time in midfield once he arrived in April.

It didn't happen.

Fernandez, like many other foreign players, had troubles adjusting to the pace and power in MLS. After making just two MLS appearances and playing 61 minutes for the Revs, Fernandez slipped down the pecking order to the point where it was clear that he wasn't going to feature.

The Revs approached Fernandez and offered the possibility of heading back to Costa Rica on loan. By early July, the young Costa Rican was on his way to play for LD Alajuelense.

"We loaned him out last year because we felt he wasn't going to play," Revolution head coach Steve Nicol said. "He wasn't ready to play. The physical nature, coming from where he did, was probably a surprise to him. So we loaned him out and brought him back to see where he is."

As a young player, Fernandez needed first team action to develop his game. He found it with Alajuelense, which handed him starts in the CONCACAF Champions League and in Costa Rican league play.

"I got to play a lot of games," Fernandez said through a translator. "I thought I did the things that I needed to do well. I was able to start many games and the continuity is something that is very important for a soccer player."

Back in the United States, Nicol and the Revolution were monitoring Fernandez's progress. An untimely red card scuppered Nicol's plans to see Fernandez in person at the end of the Costa Rican season, but the Revs opted to bring him back to training camp to see if he could compete at the MLS level.

If Fernandez wants to make an impact in MLS, he will have to find a way to adapt to the league's physical style. Listed at 5-foot-6, 125 lbs., Fernandez simply doesn't have the stature to fight toe-to-toe with MLS centerbacks. It will take some time for him to adapt to the rigorous physical demands, Fernandez said.

"In the United States, it's more force and more of an aerial game," Fernandez said. "In Costa Rica, we play more on the ground. It's been a little bit of a challenge. I'm trying to get accustomed to that kind of style."

Nicol dismissed the notion that Fernandez's physical limitations will impact whether he makes it with the Revolution.

"At the end of the day, it's about ability on the ball," Nicol said. "Lionel Messi isn't much bigger than you or I, but nobody can get near him. It's not really all about [the size]. It's about first touch, when to move it, when to keep it and when to go at people. We'll see if that's changed any."

The circumstances may help Fernandez settle this season. After signing for New England on March 11, Fernandez didn't have the opportunity to go through preseason with the Revolution. A full preseason with the team will give Fernandez the chance to bed in with the team and stake his claim for playing time.

"Obviously, he has to have improved since we let him go last year," Nicol said. "That's why we let him go -- because he wasn't going to play. Now we're going to see what he's all about. We can't tell that indoors. It's unfair. Once we get outside, we'll see what he's got."

It won't be easy for Fernandez to seal his place on the roster. With only one international slot available and the Revs scouring Latin America for defensive help, Fernandez will have to distinguish himself quickly if New England signs multiple foreign players. Fighting with Steve Ralston and Mike Videira for playing time at attacking midfield won't be easy either.

Even with the challenges ahead, Fernandez said that he wants to stay with the Revs and make his mark in MLS.

"That's the goal," Fernandez said. "I want to stay here. I want to play in the games and be a part of this group."


Thompson hoping for expanded role
Capello: Spain Are The Best National Team At The Moment
Capello Satisfied With Spain Test
Revs get back to work, eye return to MLS Cup

Johnson looks to make impact for Quakes

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Almost since the league's inception, there have been questions if the MLS offseason is too long. The conventional wisdom is that too much sharpness is lost in the roughly three months that ensues between season's end and the start of training camp. Yet the approach has at least one fan in the form of San Jose Earthquakes forward Ryan Johnson, who by all appearances has used the just concluded offseason to great effect.

The San Jose attacker caught the eye of Quakes fans last year, scoring five times as a super-sub and spot-starter while also splitting time between forward and left midfield. But with Quakes scoring a league-low 32 times last season, the competition for the two forward spots in 2009 was always going to be wide open, especially given the departure of Scott Sealy to Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv.

So from the moment the season ended, Johnson set about doing everything he could to make one of the forward positions his own, often engaging in solitary workouts to improve his game.

Given the offseason's duration, such sessions can get monotonous, but Johnson said he didn't mind. Perhaps the fact that he got married to fiancйe Donna Sione had something to do with it, although Johnson claims there were other reasons as well.

"I actually enjoyed the offseason," said Johnson. "It was good to get away from all the stress of winning games in the regular season. I got to just focus on me, and not just focus on results and other things around me. It was good to just get my body to where I wanted it to be."

That included sharpening up the more technical aspects of his game, something that was driven home during some conversations with manager Frank Yallop.

"[Yallop] talked to me about being better in front of goal," said Johnson. "I would get chances and get myself in situations, but I needed to do a better job of putting them away, and that's one thing I've been focusing on during the offseason. It's starting off good."

Indeed, at last week's Central Coast Showcase held on the campus of Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, the Jamaican scored twice in a 3-2 win against expansion Seattle Sounders FC before adding another in a 2-0 win against Houston. And it's clear that his current form has made an impression on Yallop.

"[Johnson] has kind of continued what he did last year," said Yallop. "I thought he had a great first year for a guy coming in and basically playing up front, not for the first time, but getting used to that position. He's worked himself in the offseason and he's comes back ahead of the game. I think he's looked really good in the games, really good in practice, and I think he's going to have a good year."

Another change that has benefited Johnson is the different role he's being asked to play this season. There were times in 2008 when the Jamaican was expected to provide a powerful presence up top, holding the ball up for his teammates. But with the acquisitions of 6-foot-4 Cam Weaver, as well as 6-foot-3 Pablo Campos, Johnson can now use his pace more often.

"It helps me a lot," said Johnson of playing alongside Weaver and Campos. "I don't have to exert so much extra energy being that physical guy every play of the game. I can worry about being the sneaky guy getting behind defenders, and I have the speed to do that. It's going to be tough for other teams because we're going to have two strong forwards who can do both."

Of course, duplicating his current form in the regular season is a different challenge entirely, as MLS has been littered over the years with spring training wonders that fizzled once the games began for real. But it's a task that Johnson is eager to take on.

"It's a good start," said Johnson of his preseason displays. "But I've got to keep it going."


Atlético Madrid’s Johnny Heitinga Unconcerned By Criticism
Weaver adds aerial dimension to Quakes’ attack
Juande Ramos Hints At Real Madrid Debut For Faubert

Preseason roundup: PK lifts Red Bulls

The New York Red Bulls picked up their first victory of the MLS preseason, defeating Eastern Conference rival Toronto FC 3-2 on Friday at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. In California, the San Jose Earthquakes edged the Seattle Sounders 3-2, while Real Salt Lake made short work of Chinese squad Shandong Luneng Taishan at Oxnard College.

New York Red Bulls 3, Toronto FC 2: The Red Bulls rallied from an early two-goal deficit to defeat Toronto FC, 3-2, Friday afternoon at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

The teams played four, 25-minute periods and Toronto jumped in front on 13 minutes as defender Marvell Wynne played the ball through to Chad Barrett, who ran at goal before sliding it to an unmarked Pablo Vitti, who put it away from eight yards out.

A minute later, Toronto FC doubled their advantage. Amadou Sanyang regained possession in the midfield and passed it to Barrett, whose 25-yard blast beat goalkeeper Danny Cepero.

After Dwayne De Rosario was called for handling a cross in the box, the Red Bulls got a goal back when veteran John Wolyniec converted a penalty kick in the 31st minute.

The Red Bulls got the eventual game-winning goal in the 87th minute when Danleigh Borman cut into the center of the field and played a well-weighted through ball to Mbuta, who slotted it past goalkeeper Brian Edwards.

Then, with three minutes remaining, Mbuta was tripped up in the 18-yard box heading towards goal and the referee pointed to the spot. Lionel Saint-Preux scored on the ensuing penalty kick, giving the Red Bulls, which improved to 1-2-2 in the season, its first victory.

San Jose Earthquakes 3, Seattle Sounders FC 2: Ryan Johnson struck for a first-half brace and rookie Quincy Amarikwa scored the game-winner early in the second half to lead the San Jose Earthquakes to a 3-2 victory against Seattle Sounders FC in the Major League Soccer Central Coast Showcase at Alex G. Spanos Stadium in San Luis Obispo Friday.

Johnson struck in the eighth minute, receiving a cross from Ned Grabavoy and slotting a left-footed shot past Sounders FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller.

Fredy Montero tied the game for Seattle three minutes later as former Quakes defender James Riley found Nate Jaqua on the wing and he centered the ball to Montero. Montero then found the net with a shot past Quakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon.

Johnson struck for his second in the 22nd minute. Newly signed forward Cam Weaver headed a ball down to Johnson in the box and he slotted a shot past Keller to put San Jose back in front.

Johnson nearly had a hat trick in the 31st minute after striking a shot from a narrow angle on the left that swung past Keller. But the ball clanged off the crossbar and away from the net.

Montero added his second just before the stroke of halftime, taking a pass from Sebastien Le Toux and heading a shot to the far post past Cannon.

Amarikwa netted the winner for the Earthquakes with an unassisted goal less than 40 seconds into the second half. The third-round draft choice out of UC Davis beat Keller one-on-one in the box for his first goal of the preseason.

Goalkeeper Andrew Weber came up clutch for the Earthquakes in the 85th minute, stopping a point-blank shot from Sanna Nyassi to secure the win.

Real Salt Lake 8, Shandong Luneng Taishan 0: Real Salt Lake took a 3-0 lead in the opening 15 minutes and cruised to an 8-0 victory against Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng Taishan at Oxnard College on Friday.

Tino Nunez struck for the first of his two goals in the first minute and Will Johnson put RSL in front, 2-0, in the 10th minute. Yura Movsisyan gave Real Salt Lake a 3-0 lead on 15 minutes and Nunez capped the first-half scoring with his second goal in the 40th minute.

Arthur Aghasyan got his name on the scoreboard in the 55th minute and Alex Nimo added the sixth goal from the penalty spot seven minutes later.

Luis Miguel Escalada made it 7-0 for RSL in the 80th minute and, to add insult to injury for Shandong Luneng Taishan, the Chinese squad allowed an own goal two minutes from full time.


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Kirovski embracing return to Galaxy

CARSON, Calif. -- Jovan Kirovski said he is thrilled with not only being back in southern California -- he is a native of Escondido, just north of San Diego -- but especially as a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy, where he got his MLS start in 2004.

Some of his memories with the club aren't very pleasant, however. There was his rookie season, for example, when head coach Sigi Schmid was let go despite the team being in first place at the time. There also was a year later, when he clashed with Schmid's replacement, Steve Sampson, and was traded to the Colorado Rapids for a first-round pick in the 2007 draft.

Kirovski still doesn't like to talk about the year he was traded -- "That's in the past," he said -- but he was more than happy to return in November, when the Galaxy reacquired him from the San Jose Earthquakes for a conditional pick in next year's draft.

"I missed being here, sure. It's been fantastic so far," said Kirovski, who turns 33 in March, "especially with (David) Beckham being involved, high profile all over the place, big games. It's great to be involved with a team that's all over TV.

"I'm looking forward to being back. The fans are great here, the support is great and it's a good club to be with."

The Galaxy have had their share of struggles lately. They haven't even made the playoffs in each of the last three seasons and there has been no shortage of preseason drama in 2009. Two of their best players stand a chance of playing elsewhere when the regular season starts on March 22. Landon Donovan has stated his intention of staying with Bayern Munich when his loan agreement expires early next month, and Beckham has expressed similar sentiments regarding his stay with AC Milan.

Kirovski said the club's downward slide has surprised him.

"When I was here my first year," he said, "we were in first place and Sigi got fired. We were not only expected to win, but win with style. This team has always been known about winning championships.

"The last three seasons I've been following them it's been disappointing. But (head coach/general manager) Bruce (Arena) has been involved with U.S. Soccer, he knows the game and he knows the players, so hopefully he'll get us back on track."

The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder, who scored a goal in his first MLS game in 2004 and has 24 career goals, is exactly the kind of player the rebuilding Galaxy need, according to veteran Chris Klein.

The two of them go back to when they played together as 17-year-olds.

"That was a few years ago as kids," laughed Klein, who recently turned 33. "He's a unique type of player, a guy that's been around the game at the highest level. To have him and his personality around the young guys and the veterans is a primary reason why they brought him in here.

"In MLS, it's very tough to find 18 very good soccer players. You can find 11 really good ones, and then a few athletes and prospects. But with Jovan, you just have a really good soccer player, a guy that can play up front, a guy that can play midfield and a guy that just offers exactly what he is, a guy that knows exactly who he is and knows how to play the game.

"He's a very smart player and he's still got it in him to help this team push forward to where we want to go."

Kirovski said he already likes what he has seen in camp.

"Every spot is competitive," he said. "Everybody wants to win. I think we're headed in the right direction, for sure."


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Thompson hoping for expanded role

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England midfielder Wells Thompson would have struggled to improve on 2007.

Thompson's statistical line during that campaign: 27 appearances, 11 starts and four playoff starts, including a trip to MLS Cup. Not bad for a rookie winger out of Wake Forest.

"My first year was almost as good as it got when we went to the championship game," Thompson said.

The only problem with starting off well is the need to come up with an encore. By the statistics, Thompson regressed a bit in 2008 after making 19 appearances, eight starts and two cameo appearances. In this case, the stats reflect Thompson's slip down the pecking order.

Thompson's problems started during preseason after he picked up a heel injury. Instead of preparing his encore and improving his game, Thompson hobbled into the start of the season by missing the first four games.

By the time Thompson got healthy, Sainey Nyassi had entrenched himself in Thompson's right midfield spot.

"It's important that you start well," Revolution coach Steve Nicol said. "Sainey started well and there's somebody else in [Thompson's] place. That's the way it goes. If Sainey's doing well, it's up to the other guy to do better."

Nyassi's emergence left Thompson on the bench, resigned to making the occasional substitute appearance. When he earned his opportunities, Thompson didn't do enough to dislodge the speedy Gambian from the lineup.

"He had a couple of opportunities during the season," Nicol said. "As far as we're concerned, he didn't take them. That's the way it is."

After a solid rookie season, the Revolution coaching staff expected Thompson to continue his improvement during the 2008 campaign. Thompson didn't progress as robustly as the team would have hoped, with Nicol particularly citing Thompson's need to improve his passing.

"There's no doubt he can run at players and take people on, but there are other parts to his game that need to be better in order for him to be playing on a regular basis," Nicol said.

Thompson said he hadn't discussed what he needs to do to regain his spot in the lineup, but thinks he needs to improve on his consistency in order to carve out more playing time in 2009.

"We haven't sat down and talked about it too much," Thompson said. "It's just the little things and doing them on a consistent basis. I can do it, but it's whether I do it day-in, day-out. I need to work on my crossing game with my left foot. When you get to this level, it's the little things that separate the good players from the great players."

A new season brings a new opportunity for Thompson to stake his claim for a place in the team. This year, Thompson has managed to avoid injury in the opening stages of camp in order to give himself a better chance. Nicol said Thompson needs to stay off the treatment table and play well during preseason to vie for playing time.

"Every year starts the same," Nicol said. "Everybody has to prove what they can do and show what they can do on the field. It's up to us to give him a fair crack of the whip. That's the biggest thing. If it has to do with working hard, then he'll make it. He's been working his socks off."

Thompson said he has faith that he can force his way into the starting lineup and return to the form he showed during his first season.

"Last year, I didn't get to play as much as I wanted to play," Thompson said. "That's the last thing I want to do this year. I feel like I belong out there. I want to be out there. I will do whatever I can to fight hard to get my spot back."


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Hoops' Hyndman wants more scoring

FRISCO, Texas -- On Tuesday afternoon in Florida, FC Dallas won their second consecutive preseason match, a 1-0 decision against fellow MLS Western Conference side Colorado. However, in their three games against league opposition -- two against the Houston Dynamo and one against the Rapids -- FCD has yet to score once in the run of play, which is a bit concerning to head coach Schellas Hyndman.

The Hoops prevailed Tuesday thanks to a converted free kick by Kenny Cooper in the 57th minute.

"Yes, of course (it's a concern)," Hyndman said. "I've also made it very clear to everyone that we've spent a lot of time in our shape, a majority of our time in defending principles. So we're just starting to work on attacking principles. It's much easier to destroy than it is to build and the attacking phase is usually focused on building-combining, beating someone, doing something creative and then putting the ball in the goal. In the defensive phase, it's a little more about destroying."

The Hoops did manage to find the net regularly in a 5-1 win Saturday against the University of Memphis. After going scoreless for nearly the entire first half, FCD got two goals from striker Jeff Cunningham, his first two tallies of preseason. The Hoops also got two-assist performances from midfielders Dax McCarty, who also scored, and new acquisition Dave van den Bergh.

After arriving late to preseason camp because of a visa issue, Andre Rocha made his 2009 debut Monday, playing approximately 20 minutes.

"Andre did fine," he said. "Andre is a very skillful, very technical player. It's just that he came into camp late and his fitness level is what's holding him back. We're taking this week and probably next week to try and help him with his fitness level. Right now, Andre is trying to get himself fit again."

FCD will face Florida International on Thursday afternoon but Hyndman doesn't see Rocha's minutes increasing in that preseason affair.

"I think his level of fitness has got to improve," Hyndman said. "One of the things that happens when you play players that aren't fit, miraculously, they end up getting an injury that will keep them out of there."

A player fighting for a roster spot is forward Jamie Watson, who had a goal on Saturday despite suffering from a stomach virus that forced him to miss training on Friday. Watson has continued to be bothered by the same virus in Florida and played only the final 10 minutes in Tuesday's match.

"He's not (feeling too well)," Hyndman said. "He didn't play too much yesterday and part of that was because he didn't have a good training yesterday morning because he wasn't feeling really well. I think he's still recovering from the stomach virus. He's got great character and great heart. But at the same time, he's competing for a roster spot. He's hungry and realizes that he's got an opportunity."

While the attack remains a work in progress, there has been marked improvement on the other side of the ball. In their last three preseason games, FCD has allowed a grand total of two goals. That came after a resounding 3-0 defeat in Houston on Feb. 6. Since then, the Hoops kept a clean sheet in the return match against the Dynamo three days later in Frisco and allowed one goal each against Memphis and Colorado.

"I think our defense is getting better," Hyndman said. "It's a combination of not just our defenders getting better, it's our whole team coming together in some type of structure and understanding their roles to defend. I think that has helped us a bit.

"I think our goalies have done a good job. Ray (Burse) did a really good job yesterday in the second half when they were really putting on a lot of pressure and we were making a lot of changes. I thought Dario (Sala) did a really good job for us when we played Houston at home. I think it's a combination of defending structure, people taking a little bit of pride in it and I think our goalies are coming up with some big opportunities to make a difference."


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FCD roll past Memphis in scrimmage

FRISCO, Texas -- After being held scoreless for the opening 43 minutes Saturday, FC Dallas struck twice in two minutes through Jeff Cunningham, then added three goals over the final 20 minutes for a 5-1 victory against the University of Memphis in a preseason game at Pizza Hut Park.

Cunningham's brace sent the Hoops on their way, then FCD got goals from Sean Bucknor in the 71st minute, Dax McCarty in the 81st and Jamie Watson in the 84th. Memphis' lone goal came in the 75th when Sean Goulding scored after a poor clearance.

"We scored some goals," FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman said. "I thought it was a little difficult in the first half. There was a lot of enthusiasm on their part. We did a lot of things well but we just didn't execute. It seemed like everything we hit went to the 'keeper.

"At the same time, what I'm looking for is the things we've been working on. I thought our defense was doing a good job. And then the two things we've been working on in the attack, penetration and flank play, I thought we got quite a few crosses from both sides. Again, the finishing wasn't where we want it to be, but that's why it's preseason."

Cunningham might have scored two goals but it was McCarty who was the star of the day for FCD. The fourth-year midfielder spent the opening half at the attacking midfield spot before leaving at the break. He returned to the pitch in the 61st, this time on the right of midfield and made things happened. Besides his goal, McCarty also assisted in FCD's other two goals of the second 45 minutes of play.

"I thought Dax had a really good game," Hyndman said. "I thought Dax had great distribution, quality timing of the pass and scored a great goal. I thought he was very active. He's a completely different player than he was last year. He's very active, skillful at penetrating and passing, and can work on both sides of the ball. When I put him out wide, he was coming into the middle at the right time and getting wide again at the right time. He's a smart player, very technical and he's a competitor. He might have had the best game for him out there. If I had to pick a Man of the Match, he would be one that I would consider very strongly."

Hyndman employed an identical starting 11 to what he used in Monday's scoreless scrimmage with Houston. That included Marcelo Saragosa getting his second consecutive start at right back, a new position for a player better known as a holding midfielder.

"It's a process in motion," Hyndman said. "He's learning. The mistake in the back led to the goal where the ball went off his foot and went into the center. I thought the overlapping, the attacking play and the distribution was good, plus he's so hard to beat in the air. It's a process of learning and we're going to spend more time with him, but he could very well play for us in that position."

In the second half, defender Danny Torres, who just joined the team this week, made his preseason debut at left back. Midfielder Andre Rocha, who also joined the team earlier in the week after visa problems kept him back in Brazil, did not see any action for the Hoops.

Besides McCarty, Bucknor had a goal and an assist for FCD. After McCarty set him up for his goal in the 71st, the native Jamaican returned the favor 10 minutes later, feeding McCarty, who blasted one in from near the top of the restraining arc to make it 4-1.

However, the most amazing tally might have been the final one, scored by Watson. It came under less than ideal circumstances.

"I didn't really expect to play today," he said. "I missed training yesterday because I was sick. I was sick as a dog all day yesterday. So, Josh (Watts), the trainer and Schellas both came in and told me to go home to not get everyone else sick. So I showed up this morning not expecting to play. Then at halftime, he (Hyndman) comes over and tells me that he was going to put me in for the last 20-25 minutes.

"I wanted to play smart because physically, I wasn't feeling my best," Watson continued. "I guess when you're not feeling physically fit, you need to not make mistakes. I got in front of goal with the ball from Dax. It's all on me at that point after he has done all the hard work."

FCD leaves for Florida on Monday, where they will play three games, one against MLS side Colorado, before returning on Feb. 22.


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International clubs look to impress in PPC

CARSON, Calif. -- The second edition of the Pan-Pacific Championship, which begins Wednesday with a doubleheader at The Home Depot Center, features an intriguing mix of talent from outside the United States.

The Japanese entry in the event, Oita Trinita, is the J-League's Yamazaki Nabisco Cup champion. They also are the first J-League side to conduct their preseason training on the U.S. mainland. Yokohama F. Marinos of the J-League did train in the U.S. in 2005, but that was during a league break.

Oita also has been boosted by the recent return of midfielder Masashi Miyazawa, who had been on loan with the league's Vegalta Sendai, and includes defender Masato Morishige, a 21-year-old who recently signed a two-year contract and was a member of the Japanese team in the Beijing Olympics.

Head coach Pericles Chamusca said he is anxious to show the Home Depot Center crowd what his team is capable of.

"We hope to show our type of soccer to the U.S. fans," he said.

The tournament's Korean entry, the Suwon Samsung Bluewings, recently signed Chinese national team defender Li Weifeng from the Chinese Super League's Wuhan Guanggu. The Bluewings also finished in the Lunar New Year Cup in Hong Kong, where they lost to Sparta Prague of the Czech Republic.

The club recently extended the contract of coach Cha Bum-Kun, who is the South Korean national team's all-time leader in goals and was the first player from his country to play in the German Bundesliga. Bum-Kun is expected to remain with the team through 2011.

"We are looking forward to competing on an international level," Cha said. "It will be very good for our young players and help them improve."

The Chinese side, Shandong Luneng Taishan FC, has been busy in its preseason preparations with three one-sided scrimmages -- but on the wrong side -- against MLS teams. The Chinese Super League champions lost to Chivas USA 5-1 just more than a week ago. They also had closed-door scrimmages against the Seattle Sounders (a 2-0 loss) and Real Salt Lake (an 8-0 loss).

Head coach Ljubisa Tumbakovic of Serbia said he and the team are thankful to be in the competition, despite some less-than-ideal circumstances.

"We are in a difficult situation because of injuries," he said. "We are not well-prepared right now."

The first game of the doubleheader matches the Suwon Samsung Bluewings against Shandong Luneng Taishan FC at 5:30 p.m. PT, followed by the Los Angeles Galaxy and Oita Trinita at 8 p.m.


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'One that got away' returns to D.C. fold

WASHINGTON -- Between new stadium developments and the return of former star Christian Gomez, there's been plenty for D.C. United fans to buzz about as the 2009 season opener approaches. The reacquisition of a unique playmaker and former league MVP certainly deserves its share of attention, but another, less-heralded arrival to the United engine room could pay important dividends this year as well.

Andrew Jacobson, once known to the D.C. faithful as "the one that got away," has made a strong impression in preseason workouts thus far (notwithstanding his current hamstring injury) and some teammates have already tipped him as a potential contributor in the center of midfield.

In fact, his displays have played a role in United's decision to release Joe Vide, a well-liked holding midfielder who earned ten starts in all competitions last year, scoring one goal and generally performing yeoman's work for the club during some of its darkest times of 2008.

"We have a competitive roster and one of our young guys [Jacobson] has shown really well there," said head coach Tom Soehn on Tuesday. "I knew there were going to be some hard decisions, and I still think there's some hard decisions to come. ... It's been competitive in every part of the field."

Jacobson's progress is particularly encouraging given the fact that, like Gomez, he's spent the past 12 months struggling in a distant locale. United selected Jacobson with their top SuperDraft pick a year ago, but the lanky Californian elected to try his hand in France's top flight with Lorient FC instead. A promising start to his time in Brittany was derailed by a foot injury and most frustratingly, life off the field proved difficult for him and his longtime girlfriend Kelly, who accompanied him on the trans-Atlantic move.

"I was always encouraged by the coach; he would always say I was playing well," said Jacobson of his stint with the Ligue 1 side. "It wasn't really soccer, it was more the culture. It was very keep-to-yourself, very family-oriented. Everyone on the team had families and we were a little bit isolated there."

So when the international transfer window opened in January, he decided to make a move. A Danish club expressed interest, but "it looked like more of the same" to Jacobson and he soon returned stateside in the hopes of catching on with United, where he received a warm welcome despite his year away.

"I think all of us have that goal where we want to do as much as possible in our soccer careers," said Clyde Simms, D.C.'s incumbent in the holding midfielder spot. "As a matter of fact I was in the same position this offseason, thinking about going overseas. So I'm glad he did it and kind of got it out of his system, and I think that experience that he had over there will help us as a team."

Despite the struggles he and his girlfriend endured in France, Jacobson calls it "a great experience" and believes it dramatically improved his tactical acumen and overall professionalism. Now he and Kelly are quickly warming to life in the capital city, having moved into one of the many new apartment buildings constructed in the neighborhood near Washington's new baseball stadium.

"I'd never really been here before I came a few weeks ago," he said. "My view of it was, there's the capitol area and everything else is a little dangerous. But I find it's a great city, I really like it. [...] It seems like every day we get more oriented with the city, adjust better with the life, and we're both happier here."

On the field, he's looking forward to learning the MLS ropes under veterans like Gomez and Simms.

"There's very talented center mids on the team and if I can watch what they do and learn from them, whenever I get my chance to play then I can hopefully perform with them, up to their level," said Jacobson. "I'm just happy I'm in a place where I can look at players in my position and strive to play like them. That gives me room to progress."

The respect is mutual. United have several other contenders for playing time at defensive midfield with Simms, Ben Olsen and Devon McTavish all in the frame, but Jacobson also possesses an attacking dimension that could lead to opportunities further up the field as well.

"Offensively I think he's great with the ball," said Simms. "He's going to add a lot of versatility to our midfield, for sure. If you put him in there -- say Christian's injured -- I think he'd be able to fill that void pretty good."

Jacobson is taking a more modest outlook towards his new surroundings, focusing on his own day-to-day learning experience as United looks to dramatically improve its fortunes in '09.

"My goal is for the team to win. If that means me sitting on the bench and watching them win, that's fine with me," he said. "Personally, my goal in life is to have a good career -- it's not a one-year career. So I want to progress this year. If that means getting a lot of playing time than that's what it takes, and if it means getting better in practice than that's what it takes."


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Kljestan making impact with US squad

COLUMBUS -- When the United States national team takes to the Crew Stadium pitch on Wednesday evening to face rival Mexico to open the final round of World Cup qualifying, it will be almost 10 months since Sacha Kljestan scored a riveting goal on the same field for Chivas USA.

"I hope to get a chance to be a part of the match against Mexico and if I do then maybe if there's an opportunity I can do it again but my main focus is on us winning," he said.

It was April 12, 2008, when Kljestan ran onto the ball and unleashed a wicked 25-yard knuckler that left Columbus goalkeeper William Hesmer defenseless as the ball curled into the upper right corner. The midfielder went on to score four more times for Chivas and earn a spot on the MLS Best XI, but none of his goals would be as clinical.

His finishing ability is one reason the Huntington Beach, Calif., native made the 20-man roster for the match against Mexico. It also didn't hurt that he become only the second U.S. player to have his first three national team goals in the same game when he had a hat trick during a 3-2 win over Sweden on Jan. 24.

"It's been important for Sacha to develop a more complete game, to continue to improve, to play at a higher level," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. "To play an important role on the national team you have to do things that you do and make them calculable when the games are faster and harder and more difficult."

Kljestan also benefitted from a week-long trial with Celtic FC in January and although he reaffirmed his commitment to start the MLS season with Chivas USA, there is a possibility he could be headed overseas this year at some point.

"Come summertime we'll have a look at what's going on," he said. "I hope to be a mainstay with the national team."

His full attention for now is helping the U.S. hand the Mexicans a third consecutive qualifying defeat in Crew Stadium after victories in 2001 and four years later.

"I remember the '05 game pretty good. The '01 game I've seen highlights but I don't remember watching it," he said. "My main memory is the 2002 World Cup (another U.S. 2-0 victory). I always watched USA-Mexico but that the one that sticks out in my mind of all the games.

"Watching those games and watching the U.S. dominance over the past eight years, especially in the United States, has been quite an accomplishment."

Kljestan, who had a pair of goals in the 2008 Olympic tournament, has a good chance of being in the starting lineup on Wednesday as he continues his development as a steady international player after 13 caps, including six qualifiers.

"We continue to see things that show us he is picking up on certain things and improving and we see certain things that we can point out to him that maybe he can get better," Bradley said.

The most noticeable difference in the 23-year-old Kljestan is his appearance. Gone is the stringy long hair that had been his trademark in favor of a cropped look. The only one upset by the change was U.S. and Crew defender Frankie Hejduk, who won't let go of his rock star locks.

"Frankie's sad I cut my hair. He said he's the only one left now with the long hair. We're not brothers anymore, he says," Klejstan joked.

He's learned quite about the U.S.-Mexico rivalry from Hejduk, who has played in eight of them.

"There always so intense. Neither side wants to give an inch," Hejduk said.

The irony for Kljestan is he plays professionally for a club that is an offshoot of the Mexican club Chivas de Guadalajara and he's had several Chivas teammates from the "enemy" side.

"I've always had the support of some of the Mexican players I've played with, guys like Ramon Ramirez and (Juan Francisco) Paco Palencia and Claudio Suarez, especially," he said. "Even though these are guys that if I was a little bit older potentially I could have matched up against in USA-Mexico games now they always tell me good luck when I leave for the national team. They always help me out with tips when I get back from games. I've always had their support. We can always trash talk a little bit, USA-Mexico, but they're all good guys and support me."

Yet to be seen is their reaction if he helps defeat Mexico.

Kljestan is one of eight current MLS players on the roster for the match (including Landon Donovan, on loan to Bayern Munich). The league players and several others spent January training in Carson, Calif., before being joined by their European brethren the past two days in Columbus.

Houston Dynamo forward Brian Ching doesn't think it will be hard to get everyone to jell by Wednesday's kickoff.

"If you look at this team and the whole qualifying process it's pretty much the same core group of guys and Bob's done a good job of keeping the guys focused and on the same page as far as coming in and knowing what to expect from every player," he said.

It's the American Way.

"We don't talk much about just the camaraderie of this group of guys when they get together," Bradley said. "That's what's been behind our success. It's a great thing to see."


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United happy to have Gomez back

WASHINGTON -- Friday was a joyous day at the office for D.C. United employees as club sponsor Volkswagen brought a bevy of their new models out to sunny RFK Stadium, inviting players and staff on test drives across the vast parking lots that surround the venerable facility.

Meanwhile, down in the basement, United's locker room was the site of a happy homecoming as Christian Gomez, one of the team's biggest stars in recent memory, was once again handed the keys to the D.C. attack after a year of exile in Colorado.

Monday saw Gomez traded back to the club where he began his MLS career in exchange for winger Ivan Guerrero, a Designated Player roster spot and a second-round pick in the 2010 SuperDraft, and on Friday the Argentinean was warmly welcomed by his old teammates before joining them for a lively midday training session.

"I feel good," said Gomez after a workout where he looked a bit short on fitness but still sharp with his touches on the ball. "I feel good with my teammates, to see them again. I'm ready to begin a new season."

A proven performer in the clutch, Gomez was the heartbeat of United's attack in his first stint with D.C. and he returns to a club in need of his assertive mentality since the exit of designated player Marcelo Gallardo, his replacement in the team's playmaking role.

"I think he's really happy to be back," said head coach Tom Soehn. "He's got a locker room full of friends and we're happy to have him back."

Gomez and United have endured substantial trials and tribulations in their year apart. Gallardo was plagued by injuries during his time in the nation's capital and the team's form suffered badly as a result, causing the proud club to miss the playoffs for only the fourth time in MLS history. While Gallardo owns a more illustrious international resume, United believe that Gomez's proven MLS track record can help them return to prominence in a competitive Eastern Conference.

"The way he plays, you surround him with the right players and the right formation, and he'll excel," said Santino Quaranta, himself a prodigal son in his second stint with United. "He's one of the best players in this league, still, and there's so many different ways you can play Christian: as a second forward, in a 3-5-2, in a 4-4-2 -- whatever way you want to play him. I think that's going to be a good thing about our team this year: we're going to be unpredictable."

Conversely, Gomez's Rapids career began brightly but the midseason departure of head Fernando Clavijo saw him fall far out of favor as new boss Gary Smith imparted a new philosophy to the side.

"When Fernando Clavijo was there, the game plan was to play through me," said Gomez, when asked about his fading fortunes in Colorado. "And obviously when he was let go a new coach came on board and he wanted to play more of an English style, and that doesn't suit me."

Gomez's 3-1/2 seasons in D.C. were studded with success. His August 2004 arrival in Washington sparked United to an MLS Cup championship run, while the next three seasons featured sustained regular-season excellence with back-to-back Supporters' Shield trophies in 2006 and 2007 and league MVP honors for the playmaker in '06.

But when he and the United front office were unable to agree on terms of a new contract a year ago, the Black-and-Red sent Gomez west in a blockbuster trade that set him up as the centerpiece of Clavijo's Rapids squad -- and laid the groundwork for D.C.'s capture of Gallardo. Yet on Friday Gomez showed little sign of the bad blood that reportedly lingered at the time of his departure.

"No [there were] no hard feelings," said Gomez. "I was looking for a contract that was in the best interests of me and my family. There was another team that was interested in me and obviously I couldn't reach a deal with United, so I had to do what was best for me and my family."

Gomez was a centerpiece of United's brightest moments this decade, so it's little surprise that the rest of the Black-and-Red are also more than happy to go "back to the future" as they search for a more effective formula in 2009.

"Getting the gang back together slowly!" joked United veteran Ben Olsen. "I think him coming back is a big step for us going forward, and hopefully the chemistry is still there with everybody. He's the type of guy who is an unselfish player. He can hurt you both with his passing and vision, and scoring."

The Spanish phrase gran expectativas (great expectations) kept popping up in Gomez's many interviews on Friday as he made clear that he acknowledges -- and welcomes -- the pressure created by his illustrious United past.

"When you first arrive to a club -- or in my case, I am coming back for a second time -- I would call it good pressure because you want to have a good season and win a championship," he said. "It's something a player cherishes, to have that sort of pressure."


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Five-a-side: What's hot in MLS

1. Early start equals ... late start?: No MLS team needs to settle into the sweet spot of preseason efficiency like Houston.

That's because Houston starts its 2009 run of competitive matches sooner most clubs; The Dynamo have a Feb. 24 date in the ongoing CONCACAF Champions League. Dominic Kinnear's club meets Mexico's Atlante at Robertson Stadium as the quarterfinals commence, with the return date set for a week later in Cancun.

So how did Kinnear react to such an early, important date? Ironically, he had players report later than most clubs.

The Dynamo opened preseason camp on Feb. 2 -- about 10 days later than some MLS sides. So, while most clubs had nearly two months to prep for their initial competitive match of 2009, the Dynamo chose to do so in just over three weeks.

"We know Atlante has a little bit of an advantage, because they've played some games already," Dynamo defender Eddie Robinson said. "But we'll be ready."

Kinnear says he's taking the CONCACAF Champions League opportunity quite seriously, and he's challenging his team to do so, too.

But he also has to look at the big picture -- and that could stretch well into November. Plus, Houston isn't too far removed from a hectic slate of 50 matches a year ago. So, instinctively, Kinnear just felt his club could use a bit more time off than normal. He asked players to come in fit, but extended their winter break a bit.

Ongoing club stability in terms of personnel and tactics permits him such latitude with the schedule.

"We've had some player movement, but not a ton," the manager said. "Everything kind of sustains itself. We've got the same coaching staff, the same formation, there's no drastic changes in how we do things, everybody knows what to expect from the first day. So I don't think it was necessary to start early."

Apparently, it wasn't such a bad idea. The Dynamo opened preseason with two wins and a tie against Dallas (two matches) and Los Angeles. And that was without several starters -- although Stuart Holden did get his first minutes of the preseason in a 2-0 win Thursday over the Galaxy in Los Angeles.

2. If you can't beat 'em, sign 'em up: Khano Smith is now a midfielder for the New York Red Bulls; the longtime New England Revolution linkman is Juan Carlos Osorio's answer to shoring up the left side of midfield following Dave van den Bergh's departure.

Smith came via trade from Seattle although he was barely ever a member of Sigi Schmid's team. Smith, taken in last November's expansion draft, was on the Sounders' roster just a couple of months before this week's trade to Giants Stadium.

It's got to come as some relief for the Red Bulls faithful to see Smith -- well, really, any former member of the Revolution -- finally pulling their way. Since 2005, no MLS rivalry has been so lopsided. Smith has done his part as New England has run up a 10-game unbeaten streak against the Red Bulls. Smith hasn't gotten into the scoring column frequently, but he has had some respectable matches during the long torment.

And it was a huge goal against New York back in Smith's rookie season that pointed the lanky left-footer's career in the right direction. The Revs trailed by two goals on aggregate in the teams' 2005 Eastern Conference Semifinal Series. Smith came on late for the injured Marshall Leonard. Blazing down the left side and beating Tony Meola from a tight angle in the 83rd minute, he claimed the series for New England.

3. Left side no longer left out: It has been mentioned in this space before that the left side is no longer the barren MLS wasteland begging to be supplied, as it once was.

It's true that left-sided players were once scarce in MLS. But in the midfield, at least, the Major League Soccer racks are stacked with talent these days. And it's getting stronger, still.

Bobby Convey's introduction to the Earthquakes camp gives manager Frank Yallop yet another option. Yallop is talking about using Convey centrally, which would seem to best fit the team needs. With holding presence Francisco Lima gone and Darren Huckerby already a force on the left at Buck Shaw, Convey would be a welcome addition if he can pass muster centrally.

On the other hand, Convey was generally a left-sided player at Reading, where he spent the last four-plus years.

And you get the feeling that Huckerby could be a menace along the right side, too. As it is, sophomore attacker Shea Salinas seems to have the first shot at starting duty on the right. But as he's still a bit young, it's not hard to see Convey lining up on the left with Huckerby on the right at some point this year.

Either way, Yallop should know how to get the best from Convey. They have great history and a solid mutual respect; Yallop was an assistant with D.C. United in 2002 when Convey, just 16 at the time, signed on to play at RFK.

Still looking at the left side in the big MLS picture, there's always a chance that DaMarcus Beasley, starting for Bob Bradley's national team but languishing on the bench at Rangers in Scotland, could make his way back into the league. He would immediately become one of the premier MLS left-sided talents -- assuming he lands at a team that wasn't already set at the spot.

San Jose previously sat at the top of the allocation order for returning U.S. ex-pats. With the Earthquakes having used that important chip to secure Convey, Los Angeles now tops the list, followed by FC Dallas.

4. Fun with preseason personnel experiments: The emphasis of preseason is definitely on the "pre." That is to say, it's always dangerous to read too much into coaching moves. After all, everybody has six weeks or more to tinker, and bored managers can sometimes do strange things.

Still, it's all we have. So, without attaching too much weight to the personnel machinations, here are some interesting moves that spilled out of friendlies this week:

Toronto coach John Carver deployed Canadian international Dwayne De Rosario as a second forward, playing off Chad Barrett for the Reds. Carver has said he wants to look at several options in identifying the best way to use the man they call "De Ro."

The week's "what?" moment came when Wade Barrett lined up at left midfield for Houston. It was mostly a stop-gap, as several injured or unavailable midfielders had Kinnear scrambling to fill out a first-choice foursome across the line. Still, Kinnear said it was good to see how Barrett, the club's longtime, steady left back, handled the role.

Seattle manager Sigi Schmid chose to play rookie Steve Zakuani, the league's No. 1 overall selection in last month's draft, along the left side in a 4-4-2 for the club's muddy friendly against the Galaxy. He was active, drawing a penalty kick and generally appearing eager to take on defenders.

In Dallas, manager Schellas Hyndman had longtime central midfielder Marcelo Saragosa stationed at right back. Incumbent Adrian Serioux is dealing with multiple injury issues, and Drew Moor is set to start in the center, so the in-need Hyndman was eager to experiment. He said Saragosa was happy to try the spot and looked pretty handy in his first stab at it.

5. Mr. Versatility -- again: Looks like Geoff Cameron is set to be a super utility man around Robertson Stadium once again. As a rookie in 2008 he played center back, right midfield and forward at different times last year in south Texas.

He even spent one match of his debut season at right back, and Kinnear said Cameron looked pretty good there, too.

Kinnear would prefer to have the big fellow settle into a role, of course. But with reduced rosters and Houston already looking at 39 matches this year -- with a likelihood of more, depending upon whether they advance in CONCACAF Champions League and the U.S. Open Cup -- Houston will probably lean on Cameron's versatility once again.

Where will the second-year man ultimately land?

"I think he's got a future in this league in midfield," Kinnear said. It will probably be on the outside, although Kinnear said Cameron's good feet, mobility and range make him a candidate for minutes in the middle, too.


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Angel era extended in New York

The greatest forward in the history of the New York Red Bulls will be around a little longer as the club announced on Monday that Juan Pablo Angel has been signed to a multi-year extension.

Although terms of the deal were not disclosed, Angel, arguably the most successful designated player in league history, will be among the top paid players in MLS.

"Juan has shown over the course of the two years that he's been here that not only been one of the franchise's most important signings and potent strikers, but I think one of the leagues," Red Bulls sporting director Jeff Agoos said in a conference call Monday afternoon. "He should certainly be one of the highest paid players."

According to Red Bulls managing director Erik Stover, Angel will be a member of the Red Bulls in 2009 and 2010 with "options beyond that."

"This is a clear sign from the organization that stability and continuity on and off the field are very important for us," Stover said. "This is the first of what we hope are many steps to help solidify our organization from top to bottom."

Angel, a two-time MLS All-Star, has scored 33 goals in 47 games since joining the Red Bulls on a free transfer from English Premiership side Aston Villa on April 17, 2007 as one of the league's first designated players. He has said during the offseason how important it was that the contract negotiations be completed before the start of his third MLS season.

That happened, with 31 days to spare before the regular-season opener at Seattle on March 19.

"This extension is very important for me and my family," Angel said. "We've been working really hard over the last couple of months and finally we got it done at the right time before the start of the season."

The former Colombian international missed seven games in 2008 due to injury, but still scored 14 goals in 23 regular-season games. He scored two goals in a 4-1 aggregate win over the two-time defending MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference Semifinal Series and led the Red Bulls to their first appearance in the MLS Cup.

Angel said last year's magical playoff run played a big role in his wanting to return to the Red Bulls.

"I think that was vital," he said. "What happened last year with the team was phenomenal. I'm really excited about this upcoming season. Having reached the MLS Cup last year gave us obviously a great (excitement) for this year."

Angel said the desire to play in Red Bull Arena, which is scheduled to open in time for the beginning of the 2010 season, was also a factor.

"Most importantly I'm really looking forward to when we start playing at the Red Bull Arena which I'm sure, I have no doubt, is going to be the best stadium (in MLS)," he said.

According to Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio, Angel's contribution to the team goes beyond the goals he has scored.

"He has shown in every game and every practice is second to none," Osorio said. "He is a very good example not only for the young players, but every player on the team. Every day he brings that willingness to become better. That is contagious."

The 33-year-old, who was a MLS Best XI selection after scoring 19 goals and five assists in 24 games in his first MLS season, could conceivably end his storied career with the Red Bulls.

But retirement hasn't entered Angel's mind just yet.

"Right now I feel very strong, I feel excited to wake up in the morning and work out with the team," Angel said. "As of now I don't have a change of mind. We'll see what happens over the next hopefully few years."


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