Soccer: One More Month Until Kickoff!
Photo by Miguel Vera via Flickr
With only a month left until the 2009 MLS Campaign kicks off, the Galaxy are poised to win their first trophy of the David Beckham era, sans Beckham himself. After winning their first Pan-Pacific Championship match on Wednesday against Japan's Oita Trinita, the blue-and-gold can take the championship with a victory over South Korea's Suwong Samsung Bluewings tonight. The championship game is the second match of a double-header taking place at the Home Depot Center.
The 4 team championship is in its second year and serves as a tune up for the Galaxy as they continue to work through their preparations for the upcoming season.
Meanwhile, the Beckham era has taken a series of turns over the week, with reports out of Italy claiming that AC Milan had struck a deal or were actively negotiating with the Galaxy to secure a transfer. AEG CEO Tim Leiweke seems to have take exception to all the noise, and made his position clear regarding this matter. With only a little over 2 weeks left, things are sure to heat up even further, then there is also the question of how Galaxy fans will receive Beckham if he does have to come back.
On a related note, Bayern Munich is unlikely to sign Landon Donovan, having expressed that they would prefer a younger player as a backup to their already talented line up of forwards. Good news for the Galaxy faithful, as Donovan was the heart of the majority of the offense last year and should figure well playing with National Team counter part Eddie Lewis, but bad news for Donovan as his European aspirations seem to be dwindling.
Chivas USA does not have any transfer news to report but have returned to L.A. after a 10 day training stint in Guadalajara, where they went 1 and 1 in their scrimmages versus Irapuato and Tapatio. The red-and-whites continue their preparations with a scrimmage against UCLA and Swedish club Hammarby, today at the Home Depot Center training center. Next week they will participate in a charity game in Santa Clarita. If you can't wait until next week, you can catch the red-and-whites at the Soccer Nation Expo being held this weekend.
Pan-Pacific Championship Game Details:
When: February 21, 8:00 pm, (First match at 5:00 pm)
Where: Home Depot Center, Carson
TV:FSC