USSoccerPlayers

MLS Playoffs: Houston 0 - Los Angeles 2

The Western Conference Final started late for East Coast viewers and ended late for the crowd at the Home Depot Center, with LA advancing to the 2009 MLS Cup 2-0 in overtime.  Two lengthy stoppages due to power outages and overtime pushed the game past the venue's regular 11pm curfew.  With chances few and far apart, Houston had the best opportunity in regulation, having a goal waived off in the 80th-minute. 

In overtime, Houston continued to look dangerous early but couldn't find a goal.  In the 103rd-minute, a David Beckham freekick ended with a scramble in front of the Houston goal.  Galaxy defender Gregg Berhalter put the ball in for the game's only goal. LA doubled that lead from the spot in the 109th when Landon Donovan beat Pat Onstad.  Once again, Donovan sent his penalty to the keeper's right rather than taking his normal keeper left shot.  Beckham barely missed making it 3-0 directly from a freekick three minutes later. 

"We still haven't won anything," Beckham said. "We want to win next week but reaching it was the biggest thing. We've done that, done the hard work and this team deserves it."

Donovan Ricketts got the shutout for LA, highlighting his performance with a save in regulation against Brian Ching and denying Houston late in overtime. 

Saturday's TV

USA - Slovakia on Fox Soccer Channel and Galavision at 10am. MLS Eastern Conference final on

World Cup Qualifying: New Zealand - Bahrain on Fox Soccer at 2am, Russia - Slovenia at 11am on Setanta, Greece - Ukraine at 1pm on Setanta, Portugal - Bosnia at 3:30pm on Setanta (8pm on ESPN Deportes).

International friendlies: Brazil - England at 12pm on Fox Soccer, Argentina - Spain on ESPN Deportes at 2:30pm, Italy - Holland on GolTV at 2:45pm.

MFL: TeleFutura has Pachuca - Tigres at 6pm and Queretaro - San Luis at 8pm. Deportes has Toluca - Puebla at 6pm and the same time for Chiapas - Atlas on Fox Sports en Espanol. On Telemundo: Monterrey - Morelia at 6pm, Chivas - Cruz Azul at 8pm, and Atlante - U.A.G. at 10pm.

Colombian League on GolTV: Independiente - Once Caldas at 8:15pm.  All Times Eastern

Five Things For Slovakia

1. Guzan In Goal:  Brad Guzan is coming off a superb performance in the League Cup for Aston Villa.  On October 27th against Sunderland, Guzan stopped a penalty in regulation and then stopped three more in the shootout.  Though hopefully he won't need to save any penalties on Saturday, he could use that big moment where he is the difference.  Goalkeeping at any level is all about confidence.  With Guzan expected to be the backup in South Africa, he needs results from the limited number of games he plays. 

2. Setting The Defense:  Without starting central defender Oguchi Onyewu and Confederations Cup regular Jay DeMerit, the US will once again be reshuffling the back line.  US coach Bob Bradley has given no indication that he's moving away from a back four, so the US will once again be trying to figure out who plays where.  Carlos Bocanegra can be on the left or the center.  Steve Cherundolo is solid on the right.  Jonathan Spector's regular games for West Ham United in the Premier League should have him in the mix, and he can play left, right, or center. 

The Coaches

By Andrew Dixon - MIAMI, FL (Nov 13, 2009) USSoccerPlayers --

Hey you might not have heard,  but there's an MLS playoff game on tonight. 
No, Seriously.  Houston Dynamo and the LA Galaxy.
Yeah, tonight. ESPN2. 11pm Eastern.
I hear that guy David Beckham might even play.

Yes, I know.

RSL is on the verge of something real special.
Every match might be C. Blanco's last in MLS.
Dennis Hamlett has the chance to become the first Black coach to a take team to MLS Cup.

But c'mon, tonight's Western Conference showdown between LA and Houston could be most watched conference final, well ever, actually.  Not saying it'll be the best game ever, but given the soap opera LA has been and the recent success of the Houston Dynamo it'll probably be the most watched.

Scouting Report: Slovakia

By Clemente Lisi - NEW YORK, NY (Nov 12, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- The United States National Team traveled to Bratislava this week to play World Cup-bound Slovakia on Saturday in a high-profile friendly meant to help Bob Bradley’s squad build experience ahead of 2010.

The game will also be the first test since the Confederations Cup in June that doesn’t involve a CONCACAF opponent, giving Bradley a real taste of what the World Cup in South Africa will be like next year.  The first of two games in Europe (the US plays Denmark on Wednesday in Aarhus), Bradley hopes to test some MLS players while getting a closer chance look at his European-based ones. 

The US roster is a mix of veterans and new faces.  Among those who will be missing are Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan and Houston Dynamo midfielder Stuart Holden, who were not called in because of the MLS playoffs.  Bradley also passed on goalkeeper Tim Howard, who is resting following a foot injury, in favor of Aston Villa’s Brad Guzan. 

Friday's Daily: Playing Ricketts

With J Hutcherson -- Late show for those of us on the East Coast tonight, with LA hosting Houston (11pm - ESPN2) in the latest edition of best in the West. Surprising no one, the Western conference ended up taking three of the four slots in the Conference finals. That's courtesy of Real Salt Lake's wild card slot in the Eastern bracket, and all the indication you need for which Conference is stronger in '09.

Houston might consider themselves the media underdogs, but they've already established a template for dealing with Los Angeles. Against Seattle, they kept the game even away and won it at home. Overshadowed by the support for the Sounders at Qwest, Houston put 27,465 in Robertson Stadium for round one's finale. That's a little more than the Home Depot Center holds.

In an all to play for game home or away, Houston is in the better position. 

Chivas USA Latest To Part With Coach

Preki is no longer the coach at Chivas USA.  The US National Team alum and National Soccer Hall of Famer left the club by mutual consent on Thursday.  His contract would have expired at the end of the year.  “It has been an honor to be a part of the Chivas USA family for the last four years,” said Preki. “In my time here I have grown as a coach, and I am proud of our accomplishments. While I am excited to take the next step in my career, I will always have good memories of my time with Chivas USA.”

Friday's TV

Western Conference Final on ESPN2: Houston - Los Angeles at 11pm.  All Times Eastern

Gonzalez Wins ROY

Los Angeles Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez won Major League Soccer's Rookie of the Year Award.  Gonzalez started every game in his rookie season, scoring a goal and registering an assist.  He joined the club from the University of Maryland as the Galaxy's third overall pick in the 2009 SuperDraft. 

MLS Playoffs: Eastern Conference Preview

By Graig Carbino - ALBANY, NY (Nov 12, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- Everyone has that one friend. He’s the guy that has the messiest apartment. He shows up late for everything.  He forgets to pick you up at the airport and never pays his tab at the bar. 

You never expect too much out of him because, hey, he’s “that guy.” He is your friend, mostly based on reasons you cannot explain even to yourself. Regardless, there is something there that has drawn the two of you together and you know (or hope) down deep that one-day things might change. Then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, they do.

Some fateful day, when it really matters, when everything is on the line, he comes through. Maybe it’s as robust as finally being around for you when you are at your worst. Maybe it’s as simple as him having your back when you’ve spoken out of turn. No matter the situation, he steps up right when you least expect it to reaffirm what you knew was always there. Despite his appearance, despite what others think of him, he is your boy and you wouldn’t have it any other way.

The 2009 version of Real Salt Lake is that friend.

Thursday's Daily: Strength Of Schedule

With J Hutcherson -- For the United States National Team, proving it in Europe no longer has the same impact it did in the Arena era. Results will do that, and the United States has shown they can get them against mid-tier European teams. Even against the elite, the US hasn't simply rolled over.

Sure, there was a lot of criticism a year ago when the US lost to England at Wembley and Spain at Santander. At the time, it was taken as indications of everything from tactical naivete to proof that the US was a team that desperately needed home field advantage for the shock result.

Thursday's TV

Copa del Rey on GolTV: Almeria - Hercules at 3pm. Copa Sudamericana on Fox SPorts en Espanol: River Plate - LDU Quito at 8:30pm.  All Times Eastern