US Soccer Players

Upside: Champs League Trophy

Their Words

“We've missed out on this trophy once before, so we're even more motivated now, The belief we can win this trophy is greater than it was two years ago." Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm. 

Other Sources

Juan Agudelo ran out of patience with Red Bulls, forcing trade to Chivas USA - from The Newark Star-Ledger's Frank Giase: "but sometimes when you work in this sport you have to put on larger glasses."

Califf trade soap opera - from The Philadelphia Daily News's Kerith Gabriel: But that wasn’t the issue here.

US Soccer Explains TV Issues For Guatemala - USA

The Guatemala - USA World Cup Qualifier on June 12th will only be available on pay-per-view in the United States.  The US Soccer Federation has released a FAQ on the issues surrounding televising an away Qualifier.  Under CONCACAF rules, the home team controls the broadcast rights for World Cup Qualifiers.  Guatemala sold the broadcast rights to Traffic Sports in both English and Spanish, with Traffic Sports opting to make the game only available on pay-per-view through Integrated Sports Media. 

Studio 90: Guzan And Torres

Weekend TV: Champions League

Saturday

The Champions League final is on Fox: Bayern Munich - Chelsea at 2pm. MLS on ESPN2: Chivas USA - LA at 10:30pm.

Trades, Spending, And Playoffs

By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (May 18, 2012) US Soccer Players -- Leave it to Major League Soccer to try and takeover the story when most of us are focused on the Champions League final and national team roster announcements.  Thursday was a banner day for player movement in MLS, with the Juan Agudelo for Heath Pearce trade and the Danny Califf move making Chivas USA a compelling team.  Credit the club with timing, redirecting the conversation in the days before their home date against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

All of a sudden, we're talking about Chivas USA's upside and what the additions mean for an 8th-place team.  Add in the issues with the clubs Agudelo and Califf are leaving, and Week 11 gets that unexpected boost of added intrigue. 

Video: No Holden Back

MLS: Shea Suspended

Major League Soccer's Disciplinary Committee announced on Thursday that FC Dallas midfielder Brek Shea has been suspended for three games and fined for kicking the ball at the assistant referee.  The incident occurred in Dallas's 2-1 loss to Columbus on May 12th.  Portland's Mamadou Danso was suspended one game for what the League's press release described as "striking Houston Dynamo forward Calen Carr across the head" in the Timbers' 0-0 draw with Houston on Tuesday.

Monterrey 1 - Santos Laguna 1

Herculez Gomez was on the bench for Santos Laguna in a 1-1 draw with Monterrey to open the Mexican Clausura finals.  Santos went up a goal on the road in the 69th minute when Oribe Peralta scoring from distance.  That lead held into stoppage time when Humberto Suazo converted a penalty.  The series resumes on Sunday for the deciding leg at the Nuevo Estadio Corona.  Santos holds the tiebreaker after finishing 1st in the regular season. 

Friday's TV

No games today.

Upside: Volley

Their Words

“Alain gave me a great ball, and in practice yesterday I killed some birds, but tonight it was a good goal." Vancouver's Eric Hassli.

Other Sources

Berhalter's American revolution - from MLSsoccer.com's Greg Seltzer: "we're focusing on the next game."

Seeing red sparks Crew on offense - from The Columbus Dispatch's Adam Jardy: Reinforcements are on the way, however.