Friday, May 13, 2011

Western Conference Notes: Chivas moves on, Shea contract extended and more

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Photo by Nick Turchiaro/ISIphotos.com

By ADAM SERRANO

Chivas USA is preparing for life without Marcos Mondaini.?

Mondani was suspended on Thursday for four matches, plus an additional $1,500 fine for a tackle on Javier Morales that resulted in a broken ankle for the RSL playmaker. Mondaini had become a staple in the Chivas USA starting XI prior to the red-card explusion.?

The Rojiblancos will be without Mondaini starting with their game against the New York Red Bulls this Sunday. For veteran Alejandro Moreno, there is no time for Chivas USA to dwell on Mondaini's absence.?

"It's a shame that we lose him for an extended period of time, because he's a player that was becoming an?important part of what we were doing offensively," Moreno said. "Now we just move forward. We really have no time?and no chance for us to dwell on whether guys are on the field are not. We just need to pick up the pieces, see?whose available and try to make the best of it with the guys that we have on the field."

Mondaini will be available for selection again on June 11 when Chivas USA travels to Houston to take on the Houston Dynamo.

More news from around the Western Conference is after the jump:

COLORADO RAPIDS

With numerous player being lost in the past weeks, be it to suspension or injury, the Colorado Rapids have gone to their youngsters in their time of need. In particular, an injury to forward Conor Casey has youngsters Quincy Amarikwa and Andre Akpan eager to play their own roles for the defending MLS Cup Champions.?

FC DALLAS

FC Dallas extended Brek Shea's contract until 2015 on Thursday.

The versatile Shea has played a number of different positions this year for FCD ranging from the flank to central defense. With the recent loss of David Ferreira, Shea has become even more of an integral part to the Dallas attack.?

LOS ANGELES GALAXY

The Galaxy are set for a star-studded July. Having already announced a friendly against Real Madrid on July 16, the LA Galaxy announced a friendly with EPL side Manchester City on July 24.

Although David Beckham was left behind in Los Angeles for the team's 1-1 draw in Philadelphia Wednesday night, the veteran midfielder is set to return to the lineup this weekend against Sporting Kansas City.

PORTLAND TIMBERS

The Portland Timbers are ready for their inaugural Cascadia Cup match against the Seattle Sounders. Having already announced that they will be clad in their red "Rose City" jerseys, Timbers GM Gavin Wilkinson announced that he believes that the Portland-Seattle rivalry may become MLS' version of the Manchester derby.?

REAL SALT LAKE

The past month has had some negatives for RSL, between not winning the CONCACAF Champions League and losing Morales until at least October. The team received some good news, though, as the club broke ground on a new practice facility in downtown Sandy, Utah. The practice ground will open in the summer of 2012 and will replace it's current practice facility in Lehi, Utah.

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES

After a charmed season in 2010, bounces have not gone the San Jose Earthquakes way in 2011. A late goalkeeping error by Jon Busch prevented San Jose from taking full points against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday evening. Following the match, head coach Frank Yallop admitted that frustration is beginning to sink in for the Quakes.

"It's just so frustrating on the bench, not to get that second one that I think would have sealed the match," Yallop said. "It's three precious points, but we let it slip away."

The Earthquakes also revealed the day of the U.S. Open Cup play-in game they'll be hosting. They'll welcome the Chicago Fire to Buck Shaw Stadium on May 24 at 10:30 p.m. with the winner guaranteed a spot in the Open Cup field of 40.?

SEATTLE SOUNDERS

The Portland and Seattle rivalry is finally upon us and players on both sides are making their distaste for one another no secret.

Perhaps the most vicious is Sounders forward Roger Levesque, who admits a "Hate-hate" relationship with Timbers fans. A former member of the USL Sounders, Levesque has been in a number of battles with the Timbers over the years and will likely play a role on Saturday's highly anticipated MLS matchup.

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS

The Whitecaps picked up a draw against the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday after a David Chiumiento goal, but all is not well at Empire Field. San Jose controlled a great deal of the match and left the Swiss playmaker wishing that the Caps could have done more against the Earthquakes.

"I'm happy for the goal but not happy for the end result, because we want to win," Chuiumiento told reporters after the match. "This was the perfect night to do it, but we weren't ready. Always drawing is OK, but we need a win for the head and the mentality and everything."

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SoccerByIves/~3/wJsH_fOPgB0/western-conference-notes-chivas-ready-to-play-without-mondaini-shea-contract-extended-and-more.html

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