WASHINGTON, DC (July 17, 2008) USSoccerPlayers -- Major League Soccer's season plays on, with Columbus hosting Kansas City in one of the more unlikely ESPN games.
Columbus - Kansas City
8pm - ESPN
MLS Primetime Thursday moves to ESPN, with Columbus in second and KC in sixth. Columbus dropped points to RSL last week in a rare slip, but home field normally holds against the Wizards. That would mean cutting three points off New England's lead at the top of the Eastern Conference.
All-Star Rebuild
With Peter Nowak's Olympic roster taking announced All-Stars Sacha Kljestan, Michael Parkhurst and Robbie Rogers out of the running, Steve Nicol has called in the replacements. Chivas USA defender Jonathan Bornstein, New England Revolution midfielder Steve Ralston and FC Dallas midfielder Juan Toja will be on the roster in Toronto.
Also on Thursday, MLS announced the Inactive All-Star roster, the League's way of acknowledging that the invited guest format means a squad worth of potential All-Stars not getting a game.
MLS Inactive All-Star Roster
Goalkeepers (2): Jon Busch (Chicago Fire), Greg Sutton (Toronto FC).
Defenders (4): Michael Parkhurst* (New England Revolution), Gonzalo Segares (Chicago Fire), Bakary Soumare (Chicago Fire), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC).
Midfielders (6): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Amado Guevara (Toronto FC), Sacha Kljestan* (Chivas USA), Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew), Robbie Rogers* (Columbus Crew).
Forwards (2): Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Luciano Emilio (D.C. United).
RBNY Additions
Jorge Rojas and Juan Pietravallo are officially part of the Red Bull midfield legion, getting their P-1 visas and now officially available to play.
DC Roster Issues
DC released backup keeper Jose Carvalo, and here's the press statement to prove it: “We would like to thank José for his time at D.C. United and we wish him the best of luck with his new club,” said United General Manager Dave Kasper.
United will also be missing Gonzalo Peralta and Marcelo Gallardo, who will be out for a few weeks recovering from sports hernia operations.
Capacity Creates Demand
The San Jose Earthquakes have announced 500 tickets left for the Chivas - Atlante SuperLiga game they're hosting on Saturday. 10,300 capacity at Buck Shaw.
Kansas City also announced that their new temporary home won't do for a Beckham game, moving back to Arrowhead for one night only on September 13th.
