Rookie Barnes making impression

CARY, N.C. -- Draft picks don't have much time to adjust to the rigors of professional level.

From the time players are selected in the SuperDraft or offered a trial as a free agent, they are auditioning for a spot on the roster. Those roster spots are few and far between, especially for players who are drafted outside the first round.

New England Revolution defender Darrius Barnes hasn't locked up one of those precious roster spots yet, but he has done enough to interject himself into the discussion for a place on the Revolution's senior roster.

"Every time I step on the field, I try to give it my all," said Barnes, a third-round pick out of Duke University. "I think it's paid off so far. I still have some work to do. Hopefully, I can keep getting better every day out."

Barnes has impressed coaches and players alike with his smooth transition from the college game. Good work in practice has yielded starting nods in central defense for each of the Revolution's first two preseason games.

"Darrius has settled in well because he's got a great attitude," Revs defender Jay Heaps said. "He's a great talent. He's athletic. He understands the game."

Heaps and Barnes work well together for reasons aside from their common alma mater. Heaps' vocal leadership helps Barnes to perform his defensive duties and utilize his talents, according Revs boss Steve Nicol.

"He helps him get into the right spots," Nicol said. "[But] everyone has to do their job first."

One of Heaps' jobs is to help Barnes learn the finer points of defending at the next level. Barnes has made strides because he is willing to listen and learn, Heaps said.

"He's like a sponge," Heaps said. "Every day, he's getting better and better. That's what is most important about making the transition from college. Some players stay the same, while others continue to improve."

That growth has allowed Barnes, who entered camp as a long shot to make the roster, to leapfrog second-year defender Rob Valentino on the Revs' central defense depth chart. With Michael Parkhurst in Denmark and Gabriel Badilla on the sidelines, Barnes has had the opportunity to bed in with the first team and assimilate to the professional lifestyle.

Barnes credits Heaps and other veterans like Chris Albright, Shalrie Joseph and Jeff Larentowicz for outlining what the team expects from him and what duties and responsibilities he needs to perform in order to succeed.

"I'm starting to get familiar with everybody," Barnes said. "The guys have been a big help for me trying to make the transition. The speed of play is a little bit faster than it was in college, so that's been an adjustment for me. The guys have definitely helped me and held my hand to help show me the ropes. They've helped me out with the transition."

As the season approaches, Barnes hopes that transition will include a permanent spot on the roster. The situation looks promising right now, but Barnes said he knows that nothing is certain until he signs a contract.

"I just try not to deal with the extraneous things and try to control what I can control," Barnes said. "I just try to come out and perform the best I can."

Red Bulls add Celades to midfield

E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The restructuring of the New York Red Bulls continued on Wednesday when the club announced the signing of Spanish midfielder Alberto Celades.

The former Barcelona and Real Madrid midfielder, who joined the club in preseason training in Argentina, had his first practice on Wednesday on the Giants Stadium turf.

"It's a new experience," he said through a translator. "I played in Spain for a long time. I wanted to experience a new league, a new experience, a new team."

The 33-year-old midfielder was a product of the FC Barcelona youth system and made 72 appearances from 1996-1999 before spending a season at Celta Vigo. Celades spent five years with Real Madrid, making 56 appearances, winning a pair of La Liga trophies and the 2002 UEFA Champions League title.

After spending one year on loan at French Ligue 1 side Girondins Bordeaux, he then spent three years with Real Zaragoza.

Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio said he sees Celades as a box-to-box midfielder with a keen eye on distribution.

"He can see his options very early, earlier than many players," Osorio said. "He has the ability to see to different options and then select the best one, keep possession and he has that eye of the needle pass. He has kept himself very healthy, no injuries so far and he has done it at the highest level. That can only lead me to believe he will be more than capable of doing that in the MLS. ... His distribution is second to none."

Osorio said he first learned of Celades' availability from former MetroStars coach Alfonso Mondelo, the MLS Director of Player Programs. Osorio said he already knew of Celades' abilities and saw enough out of him in Argentina to offer a contract.

"It's a good thing he has already made his money, otherwise it would have been very hard to bring him here," Osorio said.

Also practicing with the Red Bulls Wednesday was Carlos Johnson, a Costa Rican right fullback who is on the verge of signing with the club. He most recently played with Norwegian club Byrne FK, but was released when the club was relegated.

"I got a good impression," Johnson said of the Red Bulls. "I know last year the team lost in the championship game. The coach tells me that he's pleased I'm here. Now I have to start working."

The 24-year-old has seven caps with the Costa Rican national team and represented his country at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2001.

"Box to box, can defend, can attack, very good one-v-one defensively and offensively, very athletic and technical player and probably the most important thing, he wants to be here," Osorio said of Johnson. While Johnson's signing is imminent, the Red Bulls are not done just yet. According to published reports out of El Salvador, Alfredo Pacheco, a 26-year-old left back from CD F.A.S., has already come to terms with the Red Bulls, but he is delayed because of visa issues.

The Red Bulls could potentially have five different starters for their opener from the team that stepped on the field for MLS Cup in November.

"The way we designed the team for this season, it allows us more options," Osorio said. "I think that has to be one of the strengths of the team. It's not just about juggling starting lineups, it's about keeping everybody fresh and one of the ways to do it is by having good competition in every position. Now we have better options."

Schmid lauds fans for helping land Cup

SEATTLE -- Sigi Schmid believes one group is responsible for the decision to play MLS Cup 2009 in the Emerald City: Seattle's soccer fans.

"It shows that Seattle has jumped ahead of a lot of people just because of the response of the fans," the Sounders FC coach said. "I think MLS Cup coming here is really a tribute to the interest that the city has shown and what the fans have done by getting behind this team and supporting it. It's almost like a thank you to the fans to be able to witness and watch a showcase game."

Fan interest in the expansion team, which was awarded to Seattle in November of 2007, has been unprecedented. With more than 20,000 season tickets sold, Seattle boasts the largest season ticket base in Major League Soccer.

International exhibitions featuring teams such as Manchester United, the Brazilian national team, and the Mexican national team have also long drawn strong soccer audiences in Seattle.

A sold-out crowd of 32,400 spectators at Qwest Field will greet Schmid's team when they open the season on March 19 against the New York Red Bulls. Season ticket holders were mailed rave green scarves which will serve as their tickets for the nationally-televised match.

The potential home field advantage makes MLS Cup an enticing target for Schmid's squad.

"Our objective, even though we're an expansion team, is to find our way into that game if at all possible."

Seattle soccer fans also have one more reason to celebrate -- the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The continental governing body announced that Qwest Field will host a doubleheader on July 4. Teams are yet to be determined.

The 23-day tournament will be played at 13 venues, including four with artificial surfaces (Qwest Field, FIU Stadium in Miami, Gillette Stadium and Giants Stadium).

Warzycha, Crew changing little in '09

The Columbus Crew finally tasted the fruits of the ultimate victory in Major League Soccer when their lucky 13th season ended with the club's first title.

If new coach Robert Warzycha had any doubts about his team being ready to play like champions in 2009, they were dispelled early in preseason training.

"Based on the results of the testing they had, they're fitter than last year. The results were better," Warzycha said. "They used the offseason to prepare for the season. The results of the test showed me they're going to be hungry to win another championship."

Other than a big change at the top -- and it will be many months before the verdict is on the departure of head coach Sigi Schmid to Seattle Sounders FC -- the Crew are remarkably similar to last season's team that surprised the experts and thrilled their unsuspecting fans when they went from a non-playoff team to defeating New York 3-1 in MLS Cup 2008 on Nov. 23.

"There's not too many new guys," midfielder Adam Moffat said. "It's good we kept the same squad. Obviously, the squad is a lot smaller this season so it makes it more competitive."

With the reduction in rosters by four players to 24, the Crew jettisoned many fringe players but the core remains. In fact, 10 of the 11 starters in the championship match are back and only two others in the top 18 are gone.

Central midfielder Brad Evans was lost to Seattle in the expansion draft but the Crew feel they have the personnel to replace him. Foremost could be Moffat, who won the starting job over Evans in 2008 before going down for the season with a knee injury after playing seven games.

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However, it appears Moffat won't be ready by the season opener March 21 at Houston and second-year player Emmanuel Ekpo, a member of Nigeria's silver medal team at the Beijing Olympics, could get the nod.

"We feel that there are several players who can fill in at almost any position and that spot is one where we have options," Warzycha said.

He didn't have to state the obvious but one person is irreplaceable. The incomparable Guillermo Barros Schelotto re-signed in December after being named the league and playoff MVP. Although he will be 36 in May, he came to camp eager to add another title to his impressive resume.

"You play for the championships," the Argentinean forward said. "This year, we want to show we are the best team again."

Schelotto had 19 assists in the regular season, tied for second-most in league history. He added another six in the playoffs, including three in the MLS Cup.

"You know when your team starts with Guille (pronounced ghee-zhay), you have a pretty good foundation to build on," defender Frankie Hejduk said.

While Schelotto drives the attack, the backline is anchored by MLS Defender of the Year Chad Marshall. The Crew's first draft choice in 2004 had a breakout season at both ends of the field. The center back partnered with either rookie Andy Iro or Danny O'Rourke, who was in his first season as a defender after years in the midfield. Iro and O'Rourke, a Columbus native, return.

Marshall's 6-foot-4 frame and leaping ability patrolled the box in front of goalkeeper William Hesmer and he was a force on the Crew's set pieces. Marshall had four goals in the regular season, added a timely score against Chicago in the Eastern Conference Championship and headed in the winning goal in the second half off a Schelotto corner kick in the MLS Cup.

"More of the same," was Marshall's response when asked for his goals in 2009.

Sometimes not making moves is good. The Crew certainly hope so.

Hesmer started all but a meaningless game at New York after the Crew (17-7-6 in 2008) had clinched the Supporters' Shield. He tied for the league lead with 10 shutouts and was third in goals against average (1.14). Andy Gruenebaum, who was supplanted by Hesmer after the 10th game of the 2007 season, will be the backup.

Hejduk starts at right back and Gino Padula will man the left side. The Crew were nearly unbeatable with Padula in the lineup, losing only one of 18 matches he played in his first season with Columbus. The Crew will miss the experience in the back of three-time MLS Cup winner Ezra Hendrickson, who retired to become an assistant with Seattle.

The unsung hero was defensive midfielder Brian Carroll. He quietly parlayed his first year in Columbus to an invitation to the U.S. national team camp in January. His role as conduit from the defenders to the midfielders made the transition game go and was a reason the Crew were second in scoring (50 goals) while also allowing the third-fewest (36).

U.S. Olympian Robbie Rogers was named to the All-Star team and was a Best XI selection along with Marshall and Schelotto. He creates havoc on the left flank with his speed but is equally adroit on the other side when needed. Rogers, who made his first appearance for the national team in January, is hoping to turn a productive season into a European contract.

His counterpart on the right side is just a year older at 22 but Eddie Gaven will enter his seventh MLS season and fourth with the Crew. Gaven had three goals and two assists with most of his points coming down the stretch when the Crew pulled away from New England with a 7-0-2 run.

There is plenty of competition in the middle of the park for Moffat and/or Ekpo. Duncan Oughton, the longest-tenured Crew player, and September discovery signee Stanley Nyazamba will be in the mix, but Stefani Miglioranzi was traded to Los Angeles in the offseason.

Schelotto, of course, will be up top in conjunction with hard-working Alejandro Moreno, who had a career-high nine goals.

The bench is deep and versatile among the forwards. Pat Noonan joined the team in August and was a part of a championship team for the first time after three near-misses with New England. The Crew was 2-0-1 when he started for the injured Schelotto in September and he can also play wide midfield.

Jason Garey has provided instant offense at times in a reserve role and Steven Lenhart had an impressive rookie season as he came off the bench to score three late tying goals, including a critical one in the first postseason game at Kansas City.

There is little room for newcomers but 2009 draft choices midfielder Alex Grendi and defender Chris Clements are among those vying for a spot on either the full or developmental roster.

"We have a great team, obviously, and it's pretty much the same team," Rogers said. "Anything less (than a championship) would be a disappointment for all of us."

A deep roster is needed. Unlike last year when the Crew went out early in the U.S. Open Cup, and had no other tournaments, Columbus will be in the CONCACAF Champions League. There will also be disruptions as Hejduk and possibly others get called away to the U.S. side for the CONCACAF Gold Cup and FIFA Confederations Cup and World Cup qualifiers. Also, Moreno (Venezuela) and Ekpo could miss time for national team duty.

Juggling the lineup falls to Warzycha in his first full season. The former Crew player (1996-2002) was interim coach in 2005 when he took a team that was 4-10-2 to a 7-6-3 record. He had been Schmid's understudy the past three seasons.

He was a popular choice among the fans and players to become the team's fifth head coach.

"It's different being the head coach and being in that position and being responsible for basically everything. That's what the position brings and you have to be ready for it," Warzycha said.

The former Polish international is expected to play more up-tempo but otherwise has done little tinkering so far with a winning formula.

"We haven't been doing anything drastically different than we did before. We had a good thing going," Marshall said. "It's definitely good from his end that he can demonstrate stuff, being a coach that is still able to play and hit that ball and show you what he's talking about. He brings that aspect to it, which is great."

To fill Warzycha's void on the staff, former Crew defender (1996 and '98) Ricardo Iribarren was hired.

Otherwise, nearly all the familiar faces return. The big difference is the Crew are now the hunted ones instead of being at the back of the pack.

"We have real humble players. Everyone is still working really hard. It feels kind of the same as last year," Rogers said. "Bobby's done a good job at bringing in guys and keeping guys together that will work hard for each other and that are not content just with that trophy last year so I think we have a great group of core players and I'm excited for the league to start.

"Playing with silver ball (as MLS Cup champions) is a target on our back. It will be interesting to see how teams come out against us compared to last year."

Ljungberg joins Seattle training session

SEATTLE -- Freddie Ljungberg, who has spent the last three months rehabbing from offseason hip surgery, joined his Seattle Sounders FC teammates in training Monday. Although his participation was limited, his teammates still managed to make a positive impression from the outset.

"They were very concentrated, I must say that. In the warmup I joined in and at the beginning it was the most concentrated warmup I'd ever been in," Ljungberg said. "In Europe they'd go have a laugh. They seem focused and that's a very good thing."

While the club is happy have its designated player in camp, the Swede is not game-fit and will likely miss the season opener. In 2-3 weeks, coach Sigi Schmid expects Ljungberg to be at full speed in training. Nevertheless, that timeframe would rule him out of action for the season opener, March 19 against the New York Red Bulls at Qwest Field.

Neither the club nor Ljungberg put a timetable on his competitive debut.

"We don't want to put pressure on exactly what date it is, but it feels great. There's nothing I can't do, so it's all good," Ljungberg said. "I'm so much ahead of schedule that it looks too good to be true. They're a bit scared that if I do too much I'll have a setback.

"There is no pain in anything that I do, which is great, so that's why they want me to take it step-by-step. ... In the next two weeks I want to train really hard, then I can start to ease off and just do the technical stuff on the pitch."

Schmid reiterated that message, while pointing out that his star midfielder has been fit enough to practice with a second division club in Sweden.

"We're going to look at it day-to-day," Schmid said. "We're not pushing too much of a timetable on it. We want to see how he gets through today, how he gets through tomorrow."

Ljungberg underwent hip surgery on Dec. 19. The surgery, which according to the club was meant to rectify recurring injuries, involved repairing a slightly torn labrum and shaving a small amount of bone away from his hip. The initial diagnosis called for 10-12 weeks of recovery time.

During the training session, Ljungberg participated in the warmups and team drills but sat out the 11 vs. 11 session. He also granted some insight into his anticipated role with the team.

"I'm probably going to play central to get a lot of the ball either as a dropping-off striker or as a central midfielder," Ljungberg said. "That's what I played at Arsenal when we were 1-nil down. I went up one position when we were trying to get a goal, so I had a lot of experience there when I was young."

Midfielder Peter Vagenas, who is recovering from knee surgery, also joined the team upon their return from Argentina.

Convey, Yallop excited about future

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- It's funny how a chance meeting can set in motion a series of events. No one knows this better than Bobby Convey, who after running into San Jose Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop last December in England, now finds himself on the other side of the world suiting up for Yallop's side.

After spending last week practicing with the team in Los Angeles, Tuesday marked Convey's first training session with the Quakes in northern California, and the Philadelphia native looked upbeat as he took in his new surroundings. Yet Convey's thoughts also drifted back to that December meeting when he bumped into Yallop.

At the time, Convey was clearly on the outs with his club, Reading. A knee injury suffered in 2006 knocked him out of the lineup for an extended period, and playing time had become scarce thereafter. The team even told Convey last summer that he was free to go elsewhere, although the timing of the message, coming as it did just two days before the summer transfer window closed, meant he was stuck there for at least another six months.

But when Convey saw that the MLS Generation adidas side (a select team comprised of younger MLS players) would be playing against Reading's reserve team, he decided to take in the match with his wife. Then after spotting Yallop on the sidelines he thought it was time to catch up with his old mentor, who was an assistant coach with D.C. United during Convey's rookie season in 2000.

Convey confided in Yallop that he was looking to perhaps return to MLS. With the Quakes sitting atop the allocation order for returning MLS players, San Jose were perfectly poised to benefit should Convey return.

"My wife and I went to dinner with Frank because I've known him for so long," said Convey. "He said, 'What do you want to do? We have the first pick.' It kind of went from there. There was other MLS interest, but with San Jose having the first pick it wasn't really up to anyone else. It was either come here or wait until the summer and I didn't really want to wait until the summer."

Given the Quakes' position in the allocation line, it's possible that the deal might have come to pass without the two running into one another. But the meeting did get the wheels spinning in Yallop's head. The San Jose was manager was keen to acquire his former protйgй, but with the Quakes a bit hamstrung by the league's salary cap, the decision wasn't so straightforward.

Eventually after several conversations between Yallop and general manager John Doyle, the choice to acquire the U.S. international was made.

"Me and John were thinking maybe we couldn't afford [Convey]," said Yallop. "But then we looked at each other and said, "Let's do it. He's a good player.' And you don't get this kind of opportunity very often. He's only 25 years old, which for me is great."

Now that Convey is firmly in the San Jose fold, his future is rife with possibility, whereas just a few months ago, his prospects at both club and international level were looking bleak.

"It was miserable over [in England] knowing I wasn't going to play," said Convey. "It's just nice for my wife and I to come back here and start playing again and know you have a game on Saturday instead of knowing your going to go watch."

After spending almost his entire career on the left flank, a big challenge for Convey will be adapting to a new role as an attacking midfielder. But the newest member of the Quakes is convinced that he can thrive in such a setting, especially given some limited time in the spot while with D.C. United.

"It's just getting used to playing there again, it's a transition," said Convey. "The [midfield] line's always at your back, so you have to be a little bit more aware. But I'm sure I can adapt easily."

One aspect of Convey's play that is prized by Yallop is the player's versatility. Convey's initial practice sessions have seen even lining up as a second striker, and Yallop didn't rule out playing him anywhere in midfield. That suits Convey just fine, who is clearly grateful for the opportunity to resurrect his career.

"[Yallop] is giving me the opportunity to play now," said Convey. "He's someone I know, someone I trust, and someone who can get the best out of me.

"It's an opportunity to come here and play. It's not about money, it's not anything else. It's about playing and enjoying being back in the States."

Revamped Quakes feeling offensive

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- For all of the difficulties that expansion teams face, one thing they're not burdened with is high expectations. Given how the San Jose Earthquakes managed to stay alive until the penultimate week of the 2008 regular season, it can be argued that they exceeded the hopes of many of their fans.

Even the most cynical of observers had to admit that a solid foundation had been laid, especially in defense. And with midfield players like Darren Huckerby and Ramiro Corrales set to return, the process of augmenting a solid starting group seemed relatively straightforward.

Yet the run-up to the 2009 campaign has been largely a case of two steps forward, one step back. Players like forward Scott Sealy, midfielder Francisco Lima and winger Ronnie O'Brien were all key contributors last year, yet for varying reasons each player was allowed to depart.

In their place has arrived a passel of attacking players, each of whom have questions surrounding them. The new crop of forwards is talented, but unproven in MLS. In midfield, Bobby Convey has been brought into orchestrate the San Jose attack, but he has spent the vast majority of his career out wide, casting doubt on just how effective he'll be in a more central role.

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So are the Quakes better off than they were at the end of last season? If you're San Jose manager Frank Yallop, the answer is "yes", and a quick look at the Quakes roster reveals a team with fewer holes than the one that took the field in 2008.

"I just feel like we've got a lot of talent on the field now," said Yallop. "We can score at any time. Last year I felt like we had to play really well to get a goal. Now, out of nothing we can score. ... And we've got a bit of experience where we can take the sting out of the game. I just feel more confident with the guys we have."

But are the changes enough for the Quakes to finish above seven other teams and make the playoffs? It's possible, but only if plenty of pieces fall perfectly into place, and that might appear to be asking too much of this San Jose side.

The biggest changes -- and not coincidentally, the biggest risks -- are up top. Yallop does have a group of forwards with more strength and power than a year ago, including 6-foot-4 Cam Weaver and 6-foot-3 Pablo Campos. Ryan Johnson, himself no shrinking violet at 6-foot-1, looks set to prove that last year's haul of five goals in a supersub role wasn't a fluke, while the diminutive Quincy Amarikwa possesses the kind of explosiveness that can unhinge any defense. Add in jack-of-all trades Davide Somma, and it's clear that Yallop, along with general manager John Doyle, has improved the frontline.

That said, only Johnson has logged more than 10 MLS starts. Weaver did make over 50 appearances for Norwegian second division side FK Haugesund over two seasons, but it's unclear how his respectable haul of 21 goals will translate into MLS.

That means the only available evidence comes from preseason games, and one only has to look to last year, when the Quakes went 6-1-2 against professional clubs, to realize that such matches are a poor predictor of regular season success. Still, the group's performances in training and exhibitions have been enough to convince the team's veterans that their forwards can do some damage.

"Last year, we had guys who we had to teach how to win," said captain Nick Garcia. "They didn't know what it was like to be in an environment where the demands would be on them like they were. ... Cam Weaver, he has a great mentality, and he's a hard worker where you don't have to teach him how to win. You don't have to teach him the mental side of being into practices and games."

Added goalkeeper Joe Cannon: "You can say [the forwards] are unproven, but just looking at how things are going in terms of what they look like in training, I can definitely say we're miles ahead of where we had been before."

The Quakes have undergone a bit of a makeover in midfield as well, and this could play an even bigger role in the team's fortunes. If Convey is successful in carving up opposition defenses, then the resulting domino effect will create more space for a player like Huckerby. But if Convey fails, then the tactic of opponents applying double teams to the Englishman is one that will be repeated often. Clearly, Yallop is betting on the former scenario playing out.

"[Convey] is a good footballer, and he's showed that in training," said Yallop. "I don't think the adjustment will be too bad, and the way we play, it's pretty simple stuff. Keep the ball, be simple until you get around the goal, and then use your stuff."

The departure of O'Brien could also prove troublesome in that his long-range passing from crosses and set pieces won't be easily replaced. In his place will be Arturo Alvarez, a wildcard who is more likely to cut in and have a shot at goal rather than stay wide and deliver a barrage of crosses. Given that Huckerby plays a similar style on the opposite wing, there is the chance that the forwards might not get the kind of service they need to excel. But Johnson insists that the pair's unpredictability will make up for the absence of O'Brien.

"Our wingers, they're pretty versatile," said Johnson. "They can swing the crosses in early or get down the line. But a lot of times they've been getting beyond the forwards and getting breaks on to goal. They also like to cut in, so they have a lot of different weapons they can use. It's not like they cross it every time. Sometimes they'll go at guys, sometimes they'll slip the ball through. I think they're going to be a handful when we're all flying up the field."

But perhaps a bigger concern is what they'll offer on the defensive side of the ball. Neither player is known for being overly conscientious in tracking back, and that could place an immense burden on whoever mans the holding midfielder spot, be it Ramiro Corrales or Simon Elliott, especially if they're paired in the middle with an attack-minded player like Convey.

"I think that's going to be a key for us, making sure that Darren and Arturo help cover," said Cannon.

And as solid as the backline was a year ago, it's worth noting that the group did falter late in the season, with opponents getting behind the defense with alarming frequency. The loss of James Riley in the expansion draft didn't help, nor has a troublesome ankle injury that has sidelined Ryan Cochrane for almost all of preseason. And while the team acquired a solid pro in Chris Leitch, it's important that the group not take for granted the success they had in 2008, when they ranked fourth in MLS in terms of goals allowed.

As in most cases, it will be all about finding that delicate balance between attack and defense, where the electric runs of Huckerby will be complimented by the solid defensive work of Garcia and central partner Jason Hernandez.

A favorable early schedule that sees the Quakes play four of their first five games at home should help the team avoid the horrid start that plagued their 2008 season. As a consequence, the Quakes are exuding a confidence tempered by a heavy dose of realism.

"It's a much more optimistic feeling [this year], and a much more comfortable feeling in that you know the guys you've got," said Cannon. "They're battle-tested, they've played together. But there is still room to improve."

Reds, Real off to fast starts in Carolina

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Toronto FC coach John Carver was going to make sure history did not repeat itself this year.

A year ago, Toronto FC came to the Lowcountry of South Carolina with high hopes, but left the Carolina Challenge Cup embarrassed and with a badly bruised psyche after going winless in three matches during the week-long tournament. This year, Carver was determined to make a better showing.

So far, so good.

Dwayne De Rosario scored in the first minute and Rohan Ricketts added a goal in the 83rd minute as a 10-man Toronto FC defeated the USL First Division's Charleston Battery, 2-1, in the opening round of the Carolina Challenge Cup Saturday night.

Real Salt Lake blanked D.C. United, 3-0, in the opening game of the tournament at Blackbaud Stadium.

After going 0-2-1 in last year's tournament, which included a 2-0 loss to the Battery, Carver was resolute in getting a better showing this time around.

"Before we came down here all the talk from me was about coming down here and doing really well," Carver said. "We were disappointed in our showing last year and I think that had a lot to do with the players we had last season. I've got a different squad of players this year and I think everyone can see from our performance on the field and we've got a huge upgrade.

"I was a little bit embarrassed by what happened last year. We had a lot of fans come down, who paid their good money to support us and I felt as if we let them down. I wanted to come down here this year and put on a better showing. On the evidence tonight I think we've already done that."

Toronto FC didn't make it easy on themselves as they were forced to play the entire second half a man down. Toronto FC defender Adrian Serioux received his second yellow card after a hard challenge on Charleston forward Darren Spicer in stoppage time of the first half.

"He has given away a penalty shot, got two yellow cards and was sent off in his debut," Carver said. "I'm hoping he's getting it out of his system in the preseason."

The game got off to a quick start as the newly acquired DeRosario made his presence in the lineup felt almost immediately.

Toronto midfielder Amado Guevara played a through ball to De Rosario, who muscled his way past an off-balance Nelson Akwari. Akwari, the Battery's captain a year ago, slipped on the play and De Rosario had a clear path to the net. De Rosario beat a charging Keith Wiggans for the score.

"We got off to a good start and got a goal in the first couple of minutes, which is always a coach's dream," Carver said. "But an early goal can also bite you in the backside because you can become a little bit complacent and I thought that happened to us."

The Battery tied the game 12 minutes later on Tyler Hemming's penalty kick in the 15th minute.

The Battery earned the penalty kick after Serioux pulled down Spicer from behind as he was making a run on net, which resulted in his first yellow card of the game. Hemming, who played for Toronto FC last season, calmly made the penalty kick to tie the match.

Toronto FC got the game winner in the 83rd minute off a nice pass from Fuad Ibrahim. Ibrahim chased a ball down deep in the left corner of the field and fed Ricketts just outside the 18-yard box.

Ricketts hit a low shot that curled around Wiggans for the score.

"Ibrahim made a good run into the corner and got the ball," Ricketts said. "He turned and I called for it. He got me the ball and I had one thing on my mind and that was to get a shot off. I shifted it to the outside. I just put my head down and hit it. My intentions were good and the result was good and that's all that matters."

In the night's opening game, Real Salt Lake defeated D.C. United, 3-0, as Luis Escalada, Yura Movsisyan and Andy Williams all scored for Real Salt Lake in the second half.

It took Salt Lake only four minutes to find the back of the net after the start of the second half when Escalada scored off a Raphael Cox cross from the left flank, tucking the ball just inside the far post past goalkeeper Louis Crayton.

Former University of South Carolina star Clint Mathis found Movsisyan with a beautiful pass that he easily scored on for RSL's second goal of the match.

After Dejan Jakovic had been sent off after 35 minutes, in the 90th minute, D.C. United lost a second player to ejection when Anthony Peters was called for a hard challenge. Williams scored on the resulting free kick just inside the far post.

D.C. United will take on Toronto FC to open the second leg of the tournament Wednesday night, while the Battery face Real Salt Lake in the second game of the doubleheader.

East notes: Revs have big holes to fill

Injuries to Taylor Twellman and Gabriel Badilla have left New England Revolution head coach Steve Nicol with two significant holes to fill before the season opener on March 21.

Twellman didn't travel with the Revolution on their trip to North Carolina because of a sore neck after participating sparingly in the Foxborough, Mass. and Austin, Texas portions of the prepartions. Twellman collided with former Los Angeles goalkeeper Steve Cronin last August and has dealt with lingering effects ever since.

Doctors said last week that a vertebrae at the base of Twellman's skull was knocked out of alignment in the collision. Twellman will do exercises to strengthen the muscles around his vertebrae to help alleviate the problem, a process that doctors hope will have Twellman back on the field in two to four weeks.

The date of Badilla's return remains cloudy. He has missed almost the entire preseason with a strained lower back and hasn't resumed full training with the team. Jay Heaps and rookie Darrius Barnes have patrolled central defense as the Revs try to acquire an African-based defender to bolster the back line.

"We prepare to have everyone fit and healthy," Nicol said. "The biggest thing we want to have is choice. When you have Twellman and Gabby out, you feel like you have fewer choices."

While Badilla will be missed because the team lacks options in central defense after Michael Parkhurst's departure, Twellman's loss will hurt even more.

As the Revs prepare to switch to a 4-4-2 formation in 2009, Twellman's hold-up play is crucial to how the Revolution want to attack and his absence may force a reassessment. With Twellman in the fold, the Revs were more likely to play a 4-4-1-1 with Steve Ralston operating in the space behind Twellman. Without him, there is some uncertainty, especially with Ralston fighting a quadriceps injury.

"It's a huge deal that Taylor's still not able to play," Revolution midfielder Shalrie Joseph said. "It has impacted a lot of the guys. It gives some guys a chance to step up, like Kheli [Dube] and Kenny [Mansally]. These are guys who have been given the chance for some playing time during preseason. Hopefully, one of them can give us that added bonus."

Dube will be asked to shoulder more of Twellman's responsibilities while the 99-goal striker remains out of the lineup. Dube said he is working on his target and distribution play to help fill Twellman's shoes. Mansally provides another option, but he may be better suited to a role that allows him to use his pace.

Nicol said he has faith that his squad can paper over the cracks until Twellman and Badilla get healthy.

"We have players that are capable of playing there," Nicol said. "That's the one thing you have a squad for. If Taylor doesn't play, someone else can step in and play. We have players who can step in."

Two sides to Serioux: Toronto FC head coach John Carver got a glimpse of the downside of new central defender Adrian Serioux in Saturday's 2-1 exhibition victory over USL-1 club Charleston Battery in the Carolina Challenge Cup.

Serioux donned the red and white for the first time in a game situation and promptly picked up a pair of first half yellow cards to earn his walking papers. A strong and hard tackler, Serioux has a penchant for indulging in rashness rather than steadiness from time to time.

For a TFC club in desperate need of central defensive leadership after dealing Tyrone Marshall to Seattle and watching Marco Velez struggle to adapt to MLS last season, Serioux will need to focus on keeping himself on the field. The options behind him -- Velez will likely partner him to start the season, with the young and inexperienced Nana Attakora-Gyan and defensive midfielder Kevin Harmse also in the frame as cover -- indicate that Serioux can ill afford to miss time.

If the Canadian international can tame his wild side, Toronto will benefit from a player with significant overseas experience and ample talent, according to TFC captain Jim Brennan.

"He's going to bring a lot to the team," Brennan said. "He's coming home and he's excited about that. He's a guy who has played at high levels, both in England and over here. He's a leader and he brings a big presence. He's a big, solid defender."

Two tussle for one spot in K.C.: Central defenders are also front and center in Kansas City where a battle is being waged between Matt Besler and Aaron Hohlbein to partner Jimmy Conrad in the season opener against Toronto FC.

First-round draft pick Besler might be more of a natural fit there, according to Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo, because he's left footed and complements the right-footed Conrad. But Besler lacks Hohlbein's experience as a third year player and Onalfo said Hohlbein came into camp with a lot of confidence.

Besler and Hohlbein have essentially split time partnering Conrad during preseason as Onalfo tries to figure out which of the two players will get the nod to start the season.

"It's a matter of seeing who fits in best with our team," Onalfo said.

Injuries ensure status quo in Columbus: Drastic changes weren't likely in Columbus after Sigi Schmid decamped for Seattle and assistant Robert Warzycha took charge. A pair of injuries will ensure the status quo will remain to start the season.

Scottish midfielder Adam Moffat suffered a setback in his recovery from the left knee injury that sidelined him for most of last season and told the Columbus Dispatch he was likely to miss at least the first two games of the season. Moffat started 2008 in the role Brad Evans filled so well before departing for Seattle in the expansion draft. Now that task will fall to Emmanuel Ekpo, a more attack-minded option who should add a bit of pace and panache in central midfield.

Pat Noonan will also miss time after wrenching his back while moving, according to the Dispatch. Noonan's herniated disc could keep him out for up to two months, a blow for a player hoping to carve out more playing time after a stop-start half-season with the Crew in 2008.

United can only go up from here: D.C. United didn't have much luck last season as injuries ravaged the team and impacted its playoff chances. From the looks of Saturday's 3-0 loss to Real Salt Lake in the opener of the Carolina Challenge Cup, that luck may not have improved despite the offseason layoff.

United lost Fred (hamstring), Santino Quaranta (hamstring) and Louis Crayton (hip flexor) to injuries and saw new signings Dejan Jakovic and Anthony Peters both ejected.

Quaranta told The Washington Post that he expected to miss a couple of weeks and expressed disappointment that he picked up yet another hamstring injury after suffering through a similar problem last season.

United can ill afford to lose any of those three players for an extended period of time, but Crayton's loss would be acutely felt. United currently has second-year stopper James Thorpe and rookie Milos Kocic in camp and recently swapped a conditional SuperDraft pick in 2010 for Los Angeles goalkeeper Josh Wicks. Wicks will provide cover, but his play for the Galaxy last season suggests he is not a long-term solution should Crayton miss significant time.

Amended ruling means 'keeper competition in N.Y.: MLS Commissioner Don Garber upheld an appeal from the MLS Players Union on Monday and allowed New York goalkeeper Jon Conway to practice with the Red Bulls once the season starts.

Conway had been barred from practicing with the team while serving the first six games of a 10-game suspension imposed when he violated the MLS Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health (SABH) Policy last season.

With four games left to serve on his ban, Conway can use the practice time he'll now have to stake a claim to oust Danny Cepero from the No. 1 shirt in time for the Apr. 18 home game against Real Salt Lake.

Kicking off the season with Jim: Chicago took time away from a whirlwind preseason -- the itinerary includes stops in Florida, Mexico, California and Arizona -- to inject a little humor into its preseason preparations.

Comedian and television star Jim Belushi will headline the Fire's 2009 Season Kickoff Luncheon on March 24. The annual event serves as the opening salvo for the season and raises funds for Chicago's FireWorks for Kids Foundation.

2009 Gold Cup to be played in 13 US cities

CONCACAF is spreading the wealth as the 2009 Gold Cup will be played in a record 13 different U.S. cities this summer, it was announced by the continental governing body Monday afternoon.

By comparison, the 1994 FIFA World Cup was played in nine different venues. Previously the regional championship used six venues.

"While 13 cities create logistical challenges, we think the benefits of reaching out to more venues are clearly worthwhile," CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer said. "The ability of so many people to see national teams play we feel is well worth the effort."

Each venue will host a doubleheader, with the exception of Giants Stadium, home for the July 26 final. It is the second time Giants Stadium has staged the final and first since 2005. Grass will be laid over the artificial turf.

Soccer fans in Columbus, Phoenix, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia will get to see the Gold Cup in their cities for the first time and a Gold Cup quarterfinal will be the first sporting event to be played at the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium on July 19.

"We think it provides a premier facility, certainly the largest in the area," Blazer said. "We're hoping to be able to see it sell out as we sold out Houston's Reliant Stadium in the past."

The competition begins on July 3 at The Home Depot Center, followed by Seattle's Qwest Field (July 4), Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum (July 5), Columbus Crew Stadium (July 7), RFK Stadium (July 8), Reliant Stadium (July 9), Florida International University Stadium (Miami, July 10), Gillette Stadium (July 11) and University of Phoenix Stadium (July 12).

The quarterfinals will be played at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field on July 18 and the new Cowboys stadium in Arlington, Texas, on July 19. The semifinals are at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 23 and the final is at Giants Stadium three days later.

The tournament will use the same format as in 2005 and 2007, with the 12-team field divided into three, four-team groups. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals along with the two best third-place teams.

But unlike in years past, each group will not have one home base and group stage matches will be played in three different cities. The group parings and schedule will be announced at a later date.

"We've added an additional day given that there's travel between each game in that first round," Blazer said. "The entire group travels together so there's no advantage from one team to another. There's plenty of time for rehab after the first round because there's a gap until you get to the quarters."

The three first-round groups for the qualifiers are still to be decided from the 12 qualifiers: Canada, Mexico and the USA from the North Zone; Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua from Central America; and Jamaica, Grenada, Guadeloupe and Haiti from the Caribbean.

Haiti replaced Cuba, which qualified, but asked the Caribbean Football Union to step aside. Blazer said Cuba's decision had nothing to do with the defections that took place during the last Gold Cup.

"There are legitimate issues that the Cubans had," Blazer said. "We're satisfied that these were reasonably unique, but at the same time qualified them to be able to get this exemption."

Revs' Castro hoping to raise bar in '09

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Expectations were high when New England unveiled the signing of Honduran international Mauricio Castro.

Castro joined the Revolution after spending six years in the Honduran first division, excelling for top clubs Motagua and Olimpia and earning a role with the Honduran national team. The New England coaching staff expected Castro to provide a steady alternative and an attacking presence to compete with Khano Smith for the left midfield berth.

Those expectations were met in some ways -- Castro provided another tidy passer in midfield and diligently performed his defensive work -- but fell somewhat short in the attacking third.

"We want a bit more from Mauricio going forward," Revolution head coach Steve Nicol said. "Defensively, he was sound. You can't say he was out muscled or out of position or anything like that. He keeps the ball well. But we're looking for a wee bit more going the other way."

Zero goals and three assists left Nicol and the Revolution wondering why Castro wasn't using the positive qualities he showed in other areas to create more of an impact offensively. Nicol said he thought it took some time for Castro to adjust to the rigorous demands of the U.S. top flight.

"Our league is hard to work into," Nicol said. "There are a lot of guys in the league, foreign players particularly, who are taken aback by the whole thing with the physical nature and the ability of the players."

Physical play might impact Castro's game on the field, but the long-distance travel impacted him off of it. Nicol said that Castro rarely traveled more than two hours by bus to play a game in his home country and usually played only one match a week.

The demands of cross-country travel and a cluttered fixture schedule with MLS, SuperLiga, CONCACAF Champions League and U.S. Open Cup duties certainly presented a different and difficult challenge, according to Castro.

"It was very tiring and very difficult," Castro said through a translator. "In Honduras, the distances aren't as long. Now I am more accustomed to it and it should be a lot easier for me."

Castro said he thinks he settled in well enough last season with his teammates and with the area, but expects to improve in 2009.

"I played a lot of games last year and I think I did pretty well," Castro said. "This year, I want to get better. It's another year and I think I will do better."

There will be even more opportunities for Castro to shine this season. Smith is now in New York after leaving the Revolution in the expansion draft, leaving Castro with an uncluttered path to the left wing berth unless Kenny Mansally or Chris Tierney emerges as another option. The schedule won't be as hectic during this campaign either after MLS tweaked the fixture dates and placed more games on Saturdays.

With those changes in mind, Castro said that he hopes to produce more tangible benefits for his teammates heading into 2009 once he overcomes a groin strain suffered last week while the Revs were training in Austin, Texas.

"I want to assist my teammates and score some more goals," Castro said. "I had some opportunities last year that I didn't score."

Nicol is backing Castro to nick the odd goal and provide more of an impact on the stat sheet heading into his second season.

"It's about production," Nicol said. "He's got two good feet and he can strike the ball. He has all the tools to do that. That's why we liked him."

Youngsters impress in Revs' win

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Most of the New England Revolution's fringe players had a chance to impress in Saturday night's 2-1 friendly victory against Wake Forest University.

The opening few minutes of the game suggested no one in white would take advantage of that opportunity.

The Demon Deacons pinned New England back in its defensive half as the Revs littered loose passes across the pitch. One such pass in the defensive third led to a free kick. Corbin Bone stroked home a low free kick from 20 yards to give Wake Forest a surprising lead.

Revolution head coach Steve Nicol said he wasn't pleased to concede the lead or a sloppy goal in the opening stages, but felt his team rebounded well from the early setback.

"I thought it was a typical preseason game," Nicol said. "They were always going to start well. They had the ball up the field and we couldn't get out. It was hard work to begin with, but then we settled down. After 25 minutes, we were firmly in control."

The control came swiftly and inevitably. Nicol's blended lineup of reserves and starters settled into the game and used their superior size and speed to wear down the out-of-season college players. An own goal and a Wells Thompson strike shortly before halftime gave the Revolution all of the cushion it would need.

The final result, while nice, wasn't particularly important for New England. Evaluating players, avoiding injuries and giving reserves an opportunity to impress were far more crucial to what the Revolution wanted to accomplish on the night.

Two of the players hoping to impress took the field against their alma mater.

Pat Phelan started alongside Shalrie Joseph in defensive midfield and played the first half. Stuck behind Joseph and Jeff Larentowicz in the defensive midfield pecking order, Phelan wanted to use a rare start to earn some regular-season minutes.

"You have to take it one day at a time," Phelan said. "This was an opportunity here and you have to make the most of your chances. Obviously, I don't like to sit on the bench. I know I'm young and I know I have things to learn, so I take that to heart every time I go out there."

If Phelan operated anonymously in midfield, Winston-Salem native and fellow Wake alumnus Wells Thompson arrived with all the bluster befitting a hometown hero. Signs with Thompson's name and number were posted all across the stadium and no player had a longer line for autographs when the game ended.

"You dream about these kinds of things," Thompson said. "North Carolina is the greatest place in the world to be. I had 50 or 60 people I knew here, I played well, scored a goal and we came out on top. You could write a list of how cool things were. I'm just trying to take it all in."

Thompson has spoken repeatedly during the offseason about wanting to spend more time on the field in 2009. Nicol thinks the goal in front of his hometown might give him a little boost in confidence as he tries to earn a larger role.

"Getting the goal was big for him," Nicol said. "This year is a big year for him. Last year, he was disappointed not to be playing. He's shown at times that he has the tools, but he just has to be more consistent."

The Revs also received a boost from the level of competition Wake Forest provided. Nicol said he knew his team would have a test, but Phelan said he didn't expect such a stern examination even after spending some time training with the Demon Deacons during the offseason.

"They were better than I thought they were going to be," Phelan said. "Jay [Vidovich, Wake Forest head coach] really pushes the spring schedule because he thinks a lot of the success in the fall comes from what happens in the spring. Our team did pretty well to fight back. We knew they'd come out and have a go. I thought we responded well to it."

Vidovich said his team is in rebuilding mode after losing half of its starting XI to the professional ranks after last season. As the Demon Deacons bed in eight new starters, these sorts of games prove invaluable, Vidovich said.

"It's a great test for them," Vidovich said. "It gives them a chance to see what it's like to play against guys they see play on television all of the time. You get to see their qualities. It's a great measuring stick. It's good for the team to help us see where we stand. We're in a rebuilding situation. To play against the big boys is a great test."

New England will face one more preseason hurdle against the Carolina Railhawks in Cary, N.C. next Saturday. With the season less than two weeks away, Nicol said the evening provided another reminder about how much work there is left to be done ahead of the season opener in San Jose on March 21.

"I think we showed that we still have two weeks to go and we have two weeks to get that extra step," Nicol said.

Rogers hoping to deliver encore

The thought occurred to Robbie Rogers more than once while he enjoyed a brief but relaxing offseason in Huntington Beach, Calif., not far from where the Crew won the MLS Cup on Nov. 23 at The Home Depot Center.

What could the 21-year-old midfielder do for an encore?

"I talked to my dad at the end of last year and the beginning of this year," he said. "We talked about my goals from last year and how I guess I reached all of them. I went to the Olympics, won the MLS Cup, won the Supporters' Shield, and was an All-Star and Best XI.

"It was a great year last year. I don't know if I'll be able to replicate that year."

The Crew certainly hopes for a repeat of a season that saw Rogers burst onto the scene in his second season as quickly as he moved down the left flank. He had five goals in the first seven matches and although his production slowed down quite a bit afterward he still had six goals and three assists in 27 games while finishing second in the league in fouls suffered. He also added a goal in the playoffs.

Along the way he was selected to the MLS All-Star First XI, missed two Crew matches while playing for the United States in the Beijing Olympics and earned MLS Best XI honors along with teammates Chad Marshall and Guillermo Barros Schelotto.

"It's been a crazy year," Rogers said.

He's already off to a good start in 2009, having been invited to U.S. national team camp in early January and getting his first cap Jan. 24 vs. Sweden. He was also on the 20-man roster for the World Cup qualifier Feb. 11 against Mexico at Crew Stadium although he didn't play.

"Training (with the national team) is always fast and playing with those players is a great experience for me and to be able to play in that game against Sweden was kind of like the perfect ending to the camp. Then to come back here for the Mexico game was awesome," he said. "I made a lot of progress this offseason and now I need to build on it this season."

Another MLS Cup and a strong year individually are among his objectives.

"I have some high goals right now. Hopefully, I can reach some of them," Rogers said. "I want to play more with the national team. After you get a taste of the national team it's like an addiction. You want to keep playing with guys like that and keep playing where it means a lot. I want to get into the Confederation or Gold cups and play in some qualifiers."

He also has a long-range goal. After one season at the University of Maryland where he helped the Terrapins to the 2005 NCAA championship, he signed with SC Heerenveen of the Dutch first division in August 2006. He played reserve matches for club before opting to come to MLS in was obtained via weighted lottery by the Crew in March 2007.

It's no secret Rogers wants to return overseas and will likely field offers this summer or after the MLS season. The Crew's current preseason trip to England could lay some groundwork while the team plays matches against the Everton and Liverpool reserve sides.

"I want to go to Europe. Whenever you're playing, people are watching. You're representing your team and yourself," he said. "We're getting ready for the season so I'm not thinking about it too much but in the back of my mind when you're playing a team like Everton there's scouts there and I have to start taking advantage of that."

While Rogers had a good preseason it was a bit frustrating for Marshall, the 2008 MLS Defender of the Year. He was also at the U.S. camp in January and was hoping for his first appearance in two years but was sent home early with a troublesome right knee. A few days later he underwent arthroscopic surgery.

"It was a few days after I got hurt at camp. I came home, got it scoped, cleaned out some fluid under my MCL area that was bothering me, nothing serious, just two-three weeks of recovery," Marshall said. "I started to feel it toward the end of the season and then I was working out in the offseason and obviously you can't really replicate national team camp with that kind of cutting and pace. It started to bother me and I let the trainer know. It wasn't going away.

"It was definitely unfortunate. I was really looking forward to that (U.S. camp) and hopefully doing well and getting back into that whole scene but it wasn't my choice. Obviously, the timing was bad but I've been working hard since I had the surgery. It shouldn't be a setback to the season. I want to get through preseason and get the season started but it's important to get fit."

He can take solace that he's still way ahead of where he was a year ago at this time after coming off series of concussions that ended his 2007 season prematurely. The first question at last year's Crew preseason camp was whether he was even fit enough to play, let alone start.

"Last preseason I didn't know if I was going to have a job or come in and be able to play. It's definitely come full circle," he said.

Like Marshall, the Crew were an enigma going into the 2008 season. Columbus had missed the playoffs three consecutive seasons but had shown promise toward the end of the previous year.

A preseason camp in England in March 2008 at the home of Blackburn Rovers solidified the team, said captain Frankie Hejduk.

"This is the point last year when we made the turnaround in terms of really getting together as a team when we went to England," he said. "We had a couple of good games. All the guys played really hard and really well. We started believing in ourselves."

The Crew is using the Everton facilities this year and it's a homecoming for new coach Robert Warzycha, who played for the Toffees from 1991-94.

"We were at Blackburn last year and we went to Everton game against them and the people were very, very friendly," he said. "It was a warm welcome, probably because one of the reasons was I played for the team in the past and (manager David) Moyes was very nice and offered if we ever wanted to come to England for a few games they can help us a lot so we called. It was easy. We're very fortunate we can use their facilities and play a game against them and Liverpool."

Most of the people associated with the Premiership club when he was there are gone save for a few.

"I know the two most important people over there," Warzycha joked. "I know the doctor (Ian Irvin) -- he's been there the last 25 years -- and the other guy is the equipment manager (Jimmy Martin). They are helping us a lot."

The Crew will play the Everton reserves Sunday and the Liverpool reserves Thursday with a game against lower division Guiseley on Tuesday. Warzycha knows the EPL teams won't field their top squads but expects competitive matches.

"I think the players 13, 14, 15 (on the roster) and up will play," he said. "That's the game we're looking for against Everton. That's we what we did last year when we went there because those players need the games more than anybody. The same with Liverpool. They also told us they're not going to put their U-18 team out there; that they were going to play their reserves, who are the guys under contract."

Warzycha and his team will attend the West Bromwich Albion at Everton league match Saturday and the Aston Villa at Manchester City match on Wednesday.

He feels it's good for the players to not only play but see the Premiership close up.

"They're very professional. They're very organized. You can learn a lot from the atmosphere. Playing against better teams you obviously learn a lot. The mental aspect is very important," he said. "If you watch Premier League on TV it's different than being there. You can see also pick up the atmosphere and the intensity. We did last year and it helped us a lot during the season."

Beckham, Galaxy pleased with resolution

CARSON, Calif. -- It was only a couple of days ago that Los Angeles Galaxy head coach/general manager Bruce Arena was talking about a sense of normality returning to the team after the announcement that Landon Donovan was coming back.

That sense became even more tangible on Sunday after the Galaxy reached a loan extension with AC Milan that would allow midfielder David Beckham to stay with the Serie A club until the end of the Italian league's regular season in late May. Beckham then will return to southern California in early July and be eligible to play for the Galaxy on July 16 against the New York Red Bulls at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

"Now we know where we're headed," Arena said. "Certainly we can continue with our plans for the season. This is great for us and a real positive for the Galaxy."

Sunday's announcement ends a much-publicized tug of war between AC Milan and the Galaxy, one which grew a bit testy at times. Beckham has played in 12 games for Milan, including Sunday's 3-0 victory against Atalanta, and had stated a desire to remain there ever since his loan started in January. The agreement not only gives Beckham an opportunity in November to buy out the remaining two years of his five-year contract with the Galaxy, but it also includes an exhibition between AC Milan and the Galaxy on July 19 at The Home Depot Center.

"This certainly sets the stage for a great season for our fans and we truly appreciate their patience as we have worked through all of our issues," said Tim Leiweke, president and CEO of AEG, the investor-operator of the Galaxy, in a statement. "Much has been written and said, but all along it has been our intention to keep David Beckham as a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy.

"We are pleased he is returning and at the same time, we feel it is important to allow him to finish his run in Milan, as it has been a remarkable run."

It was only a day earlier that AC Milan chairman Carlo Ancelotti praised Beckham for his commitment to the team and his willingness to forfeit what he said will be a great deal of money.

"All players express their affection for a club," Ancelotti said on the team's website, "but few have showed it in a tangible manner by renouncing a mountain of money. Beckham is one of these."

Arena admitted he occasionally grew frustrated as talks dragged on and also discounted various overseas reports that said Beckham didn't want to return. Arena said he contacted Beckham by e-mail on Sunday and the English standout said he was looking forward to rejoining the Galaxy in July.

"He is happy he is coming back," Arena said. "He wants to take on this challenge. If he wasn't interested in being here, he wouldn't have done this."

Beckham, in a statement released by the Galaxy, sounded relieved the saga finally is over.

"I'm really grateful to the LA Galaxy and AC Milan for making this dream deal happen," he was quoted as saying. "It allows me to play for AC Milan and the LA Galaxy in the same year, and also to continue my commitment to develop soccer in the United States, which is something I am passionate about.

"My family is happy and settled and will remain in LA. The perfect result for 2009 would be for me to help Milan to reach the Champions League and for the LA Galaxy to make the playoffs and win the MLS Cup Playoffs."

The Galaxy also announced a 10 percent cut on average in ticket prices, and those fans who already have purchased seats will be given refunds in the amount of the roll back. Tom Payne, the Galaxy's president of business operations, said he felt it was the "right thing to do."

"This is something we've actually thought about doing for quite a while," Payne said. "The economy is the biggest issue. If our fans have to decide whether to pay the bills or buy a Galaxy ticket, it's not a difficult decision."

Chivas taking one last look at trialists

CARSON, Calif. -- After downing Swedish team Hammarby IF last Saturday, Chivas USA looks to continue its strong preseason form with a charity scrimmage Sunday against PDL team Ventura County Fusion at the College of the Canyons Cougar Stadium in Santa Clarita (5 p.m. PT).

"It should be a quality game against a team that is going to come out and work very hard to prove that some of their guys have a future in MLS," said Chivas head coach Preki. "It will be a good game for them and a good game for us."

With the MLS roster compliance date just two days away, the Chivas USA coaching staff will certainly be using Sunday's scrimmage as a chance to take one last look at some of the team's newer players and trialists.

"It will be a mixed group," said Preki. "Some of the younger guys will get a shot as well as some of the older guys."

Sunday's game also serves as a charity fundraiser for the Michael Hoefflin Foundation for Children's Cancer. All proceeds from ticket sales for the match will be donated to the foundation.

Chivas USA defender Jonathan Bornstein, recipient of the 2008 U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian Award, is particularly excited for the match.

"Helping the kids that are involved with the foundation is beneficial to everyone," he said.

"It will be nice to go out there and put on a show for these people because I know the money they're paying is going toward a good cause," said second-year striker Justin Braun, "and knowing that always makes the game a little bit better."

Going wide may broaden Mansally's horizons

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The idea to try Revolution striker Kenny Mansally out on the left wing popped into New England coach Steve Nicol's head right around the time he first saw him in action.

Mansally and compatriot Sainey Nyassi earned their moves to New England after impressing as wide players for the Gambian U-17s at the FIFA Youth World Cup in 2007. While Nyassi spent most of last season patrolling the right wing for the Revolution, Mansally operated more often as a striker, a position the coaching staff felt suited his skill set.

That perception may have changed during the preseason as Nicol -- partially because of his curiosity and partially because of a groin injury to Mauricio Castro -- shifted Mansally out to play on the left wing.

"We just wanted to look at it," Nicol said. "When we saw him playing [with the Gambian U-17s], we saw him playing wide. We already know he can play up top."

Mansally may be able to play as a striker but he said he also feels comfortable out wide. That could be due to the fact that he does see regular action as a winger for both the Gambian U-20 national team and the senior national team.

Playing on the left ushers in a new approach, according to Mansally.

"I'm excited because when I'm on the left side, I feel like I get more balls," Mansally said. "In the front, you keep it and release it. On the left, you keep it and you take him on."

Taking players on is just one of the new responsibilities for Mansally as he adjusts to a new professional role. As a wide player, Mansally has to track back more often on defense, swing in more crosses and challenge fullbacks one-on-one.

After spending most of last season as a striker, that relative freedom from defensive strictures allows Mansally to attack and go towards the goal or the byline when he obtains the ball out on the wing.

"Paul [Mariner, New England's assistant coach] tells me to go wide and that is the way I love it," Mansally said. "If I get a ball, I'll see a defender and take him on. Most of the time when you play in the front, you have three or four defenders on you. On the left side, you can take defenders on one versus one. It's a good move for me."

Time will tell if the move is permanent or whether Mansally will even see as much playing time as he did last season. With Castro back healthy on the left side and Kheli Dube and Taylor Twellman ahead of him in the pecking order at striker, Mansally may need to use his versatility in order to ensure that he finds his way onto the field.

Once he does find his way onto the pitch, Mansally thinks he can contribute more than last season's tallies of three goals and an assist in 2009.

"I think I'm going to do more this year than I did last year," Mansally said. "I was stopped a lot with my national duties. I played in most of those games. Then I was injured with my ankle. Now everything's fine. This year, I think things will be different. I will hope to get more goals and more assists."

Rebuilding Galaxy have pillar in Lewis

CARSON, Calif. -- Los Angeles Galaxy head coach/general manager Bruce Arena was well aware he had a number of areas to address as he embarked on his off-season makeover of the roster.

But one position that did not need attention was the left side of midfield, which was held down by veteran U.S. international Eddie Lewis. The popular 34-year-old simply is the kind of player Arena is counting on to resurrect the once-proud club from its recent doldrums.

"If we had 11 Eddie Lewises," Arena said, "we'd have a pretty good team."

The 5-foot-10, 155-pounder from nearby Cerritos played for the old San Jose Clash, followed by a nine-year stay in England that took him to Fulham, Preston North End, Leeds United and Derby County before he wound up with the Galaxy last August.

Lewis had hoped to play out the final year of his Derby contract, but the English club started to have financial problems that eventually led to a purge of the roster -- "from the top on down," Lewis said -- and the veteran became a victim. MLS then came into the picture and Lewis was more than interested about playing again stateside.

"The Galaxy looked like a real good opportunity and it all fell into place," Lewis said. "My wife (Marisol) and I discussed the possibility about coming home, and everything worked out."

He played eight games for Los Angeles last season, scored one goal and had two assists. His numbers might not be that impressive, but he is a major contributor in another way. If the Galaxy's newcomers needed an example on how a true professional conducts himself, Lewis is the perfect role model.

"In a sport where you often have a lot of prima donnas and egos, you've got a guy who's on solid ground," Arena said of Lewis. "He's a fabulous individual and he commands respect in the lockerroom. He's an honest guy, he gives a great effort every day and he'll do whatever you ask him to do. He always plays for the team first, which for the modern-day player is very unique.

"On top of everything else he happens to be an outstanding player. He's a guy who has the full package, and you rarely see that today. A lot of players are very selfish and think about themselves. Eddie's just a very well-rounded player and greatly respected by the club, not only by the players but management and everyone else. Everyone likes him because of the person he is."

Lewis also was more than willing to share his expertise on playing for the former U.S. national team coach who is running his first full training camp in Los Angeles. Arena's all-business approach may have been difficult for some to get used to, but not Lewis.

"It certainly helps having played for him," he said. "I think knowing his character, what he's about and what he's looking for. I think a part of him bringing me back was to convey that to the players.

"I think he understood me as a player and I knew what he was looking for. I've always been pretty up front with the players about the things we need to take very seriously. I've made it very clear that Bruce wants a high level of competition in training camp. It won't be the longest but it certainly is sharp and very competitive.

"It's also fun to play for him. I think if you ask most of the players whoever played for him they've all had good experiences. He's won a lot more games than he lost."

Lewis said he expects that trend to continue with the Galaxy. Arena went 2-5-3 after taking over the club last Aug. 18.

"Even if it's not immediate success, I certainly know we'll be better," Lewis said. "Having been part of that process is a real joy for me. Hopefully we'll pick up a few trophies along the way."

Red Bulls looking to upgrade backline

The New York Red Bulls are roster compliant and did not waive any players on Tuesday, but that doesn't mean the club is done looking for ways to upgrade its lineup.

One player who appears to be on the verge of joining the Red Bulls is Carlos Johnson, a 24-year-old Costa Rican right back who is currently playing for Byrne FK in Norway.

The move on Monday to send veteran Chris Leitch to San Jose for an allocation and an international slot could be viewed as a precursor to the imminent signing of Johnson, who has seven caps for the Costa Rican national team.

"We are very far along in our discussions with Carlos Johnson," Red Bulls technical director Jeff Agoos said. "We thought with the strong possibility with Carlos coming in and with Carlos Mendes and Jeremy Hall being able to play at that position, we felt that Chris would be better served playing in San Jose."

There are at least six players the Red Bulls are targeting at the moment, including three who played in a 1-1 draw with Argentinos Juniors Tuesday morning in Buenos Aires.

During the majority of the club's preseason camp in Argentina, the Red Bulls have taken a look at three trialists -- Albert Celades, Jaime Duran and Aklie Edwards.

Celades is a 33-year-old midfielder who has played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid. Most recently he played for Real Zaragoza and is currently unattached.

"He can play in a number of positions in the midfield, but I think he's better suited centrally than out wide," Agoos said. "He's a very talented player and with the pedigree he has, coming from Real Madrid and Barcelona, you know there's something behind it. He hasn't played in a number of months so he's getting back into fitness."

And while Agoos said Celades has expressed an interest in playing in the United States and living in the New York area, the two sides have just started negotiations.

"We're in preliminary discussions in terms of where each party stands. We're not very far along, to be quite honest," Agoos said. "Right now we're just have two interested parties in each other and we're trying to figure out if there's some common ground."

Duran, a 27-year-old Mexican defender, left camp because he received an offer from Mexican Primera Division squad Necaxa.

"We have heard in the past couple of days that may not have materialized so we will be in discussions with him about any possibilities with the club, but at this point he is not with the team," Agoos said.

Edwards, a 23-year-old defender, is a Trinidadian international who recently played for Defence Force in Trinidad. He can play either centrally or as a left back.

On Tuesday, the club took a look at a pair of young Boca Juniors trialists -- Nicolas Villafane and Gabriel Quirulef.

"I think if we had an expanded roster, it would be more of a likelihood of one or both being able to make this roster," Agoos said. "Nicolas did very well today, Gabriel did well also and they're players we're going to keep through the rest of this camp and make an assessment at the end of this camp on what the direction is with both of them."

Agoos also dismissed published reports out of El Salvador that claim the Red Bulls have agreed to terms with Alfredo Pacheco, a defender who played for CD F.A.S. in that country.

"I've heard there were reports that said there was an agreement of terms, but that's not an accurate statement," Agoos said. "To be quite honest it would be difficult for me to comment about a player who is currently with another club right now."

Quakes hand Chivas USA wake-up call

CARSON, Calif. -- If preseason scrimmages are supposed to be gentle affairs with soft tackling and easy fouls, then somebody forgot to tell San Jose and Chivas USA.

The two teams battled for a fiery 90 minutes on a rainy Wednesday morning at the Home Depot Center in a game that felt more like a mid-season contest than a preseason scrimmage as San Jose emerged as 1-0 victors behind a seventh-minute goal from Cam Weaver.

"This was our first MLS game," Chivas USA head coach Preki. "I think we got reminded today that this league is a little more physical."

Chivas midfielder Paolo Nagamura set an aggressive tone early on, drawing a yellow card in the first minute of play for a hard tackle. The following 89 minutes were tight and cagey, with four more yellow cards being handed out to San Jose's Ramiro Corrales and Trey Lee and Chivas' Sacha Kljestan and Eduardo Lillingston.

"When you play any other MLS team in the preseason, it's going to be a tough one," Chivas defender Shavar Thomas said. "Everyone wants to make a statement for the season."

Chivas USA appeared out-of-sorts for much of the morning.

"This match was a lot faster paced than we've been playing," striker Justin Braun said. "We didn't play our game."

While the Red-and-White did well to lock down the defensive end of the field against a fast and physical San Jose team, they were unable to get any momentum going in the other direction.

"We had a lot of new faces," Preki said after the match. "When you put a lot of new faces on the field, you're not going to be as fluid as you normally are."

One of those new faces was Serbian trialist Bojan Stepanovic, who spent 85 minutes on the left wing for the Red-and-White. The 25-year-old last spent time with Serbian outfit FK Srem Sremska Mitrovica.

Another new face was that of Michael Lahoud in a defensive role. The young rookie got the start at right back and played a solid 80 minutes there. It's the third position Lahoud has played for the Red-and-White after having already appeared at both central and outside midfield.

"It's a long season," Thomas said. "There are going to be injuries and suspensions, so we have to try different things."

Whether Preki continues to use new faces or not, Chivas USA will have to step up its game before its scrimmage on Saturday against Eastern Conference powerhouse Chicago Fire at the Home Depot Center.

"We need to be sharper on Saturday," Braun said. "But if we come out and play the way we're supposed to play, we'll be alright."

Galindo likely to make preseason debut

After almost a year away from the pitch, Cuban striker Maykel Galindo may get his first minutes in a Chivas USA jersey this Saturday as the Red-and-White take on the Chicago Fire in a preseason scrimmage at The Home Depot Center.

While no official lineup has been announced, Galindo has been in full practice all week and is optimistic that he'll see some minutes Saturday morning, most likely as a substitute.

"It's been a long time without playing," said Galindo, "But I spoke with Preki and he asked me to prepare this week for the possibility of seeing some minutes on Saturday."

Chivas USA signed Galindo on February 8th, 2007 as a Senior International player after one and a half seasons with the then USL Seattle Sounders. He quickly rose to stardom with the Red-and-White, scoring a team-leading 12 goals, good for fifth in MLS, and notching five assists.

The 28-year-old was sidelined for much of 2008 after three separate sports hernia surgeries, but has been recuperating well in the 2009 preseason.

"We're looking forward to getting him back," said defender Jim Curtin. "He gives us a real speed threat and is deadly in front of the goal."

The Chicago Fire come to town with a respectable 4-1-1 preseason record, which includes a February 7th victory against CONCACAF Champions' League semifinalists Puerto Rico Islanders.

"It will be a good game against a good team," said midfielder Paolo Nagamura. "We've been working hard this past month and are going to play the way we hope to play on the first day of the season."

Chivas USA split two games with Chicago last year, with each team winning its home contest. Among the primary concerns for the Red-and-White on Saturday will be quelling the influence of Chicago's Cuauhtemoc Blanco.

"It will be good for us to deal with a player like Blanco who just floats around" said Jim Curtin.

The rivalry between Chicago and Chivas USA has grown considerably since 2007, as Blanco's presence always ignites the Red-and-White's largely Mexican fan base. Whatever the result on the scoreboard, the games are often fiery.

"It will be a good test for us, for sure," said Jim Curtin, who spent seven years with the Fire before coming to Chivas USA in 2007.

"It's always a little funny playing against them, but I'm looking forward to it."

CONCACAF Champions League roundup

Buoyed by the third largest crowd to watch a soccer match at Olympic Stadium, the Montreal Impact of the United Soccer Leagues First Division defeated Mexican Primera Division squad Santos Laguna 2-0 in a CONCACAF Champions League knockout stage match Wednesday night in Montreal.

"We were worried about our match fitness, but the support we had in the stands was unbelievable," Impact midfielder Sandro Grande told CONCACAF.com. "They say Canada is a hockey country but Montreal is a soccer city. This is a great first step."

Former Cuban international Eduardo Sebrango scored a goal in each half to lift the Impact to the 2-0 victory in the opening leg of the quarterfinals in front of a crowd of 55,571 inside Olympic Stadium. It is also the largest crowd to watch a CONCACAF Champions League match.

The return match is scheduled for March 5 in Torreon, Mexico.

Sebrango struck for his first goal less than five minutes into the match, following up a nice combination with Roberto Brown, to put a sliding left-footed shot from the edge of the 18-yard box past Mexican national team goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez.

Brown headed Nevio Pizzolitto's long ball out of the back into the box. Santos defender Johnnie Garcia watched the ball bounce, but Sebrango pounced, beating Sanchez to the ball and heading it into the open net in the 77th minute.

"I came in feeling excited and confident," Sebrango told CONCACAF.com. "Roberto (Brown) and I were clicking and it was a very important win. It was one of the best games in my career."

With the exception of the Houston Dynamo, which gave up a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Atlante, each of the home teams held serve in the first leg of the aggregate series.

In a Mexico City derby, Cruz Azul continued its recent stretch of dominance against Pumas UNAM, winning 1-0 on Jamie Lozano's fifth-minute free kick Wednesday night at Estadio Azul.

Los Cementeros extended its unbeaten streak against Pumas to seven games, dating back to Sept. 2006. Pumas keeper Odin Patino dived to his right, but had no chance to stop Lozano's goalazo from 25 yards out.

Both teams will travel across Mexico City to Estadio Olimpico Universitario next Wednesday for the second leg and a chance at a semifinal berth against either the Puerto Rico Islanders or CD Marathon of Honduras.

The Puerto Rico Islanders of USL-1 rallied from a 1-0 deficit to defeat CD Marathon 2-1 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico Thursday night.

Jerry Palacios, who leads Marathon with four goals in the Honduran Clausura, struck in the 41st minute, capitalizing on a Puerto Rico defensive miscue to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

But the Islanders, still in preseason mode, scored twice in the final 16 minutes to come away with an impressive victory.

Newcomer Nicholas Addlery tied the match at 1 in the 74th minute, heading Jonathan Steele's service over the head of Marathon goalkeeper Juan Obelar. Kendall Jagdeosingh, who replaced Pablo Nunez in the 57th minute, scored the eventual game-winner seven minutes later.

He dribbled from the corner flag into the edge of the box, touched the ball to his right foot and blasted a shot that took a deflection off defender Milton Palacios and past Obelar nine minutes from full time.

The second leg will be played in San Pedro Sula, Honduras on March 4.

"We have to start the first half (in Honduras) like we ended this second half," Jagdeosingh said told CONCACAF.com . "We have to not get too swelled of a head. We need to keep doing what we were doing."

Kreis, RSL bask in Charleston warmth

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The temperature in Salt Lake City Friday morning was listed at a balmy 31 degrees.

Not exactly prime training weather for a Major League Soccer team.

That's why no one was happier than Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis to be in sunny Charleston. S.C., this weekend where spring has arrived early and temperatures are expected to be near 80 degrees the rest of the week.

Real Salt Lake, Toronto FC and D.C. United are all in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, taking part in the sixth annual Carolina Challenge Cup. The week-long event, which concludes on March 14, features a round-robin format for the MLS teams, plus the host Charleston Battery, a member of the USL First Division.

"This is our third trip of the preseason," Kreis said. "We've been to Florida, we've been to California and now we're in Charleston and couldn't be happier about it. We've probably been in Salt Lake for a total of about 10 days since we got together. It's not always the easiest place to train during the preseason."

Kreis spent most of the first two trips away from Salt Lake concentrating specifically on either the team's attack or defense. While in Charleston, he's hoping to combine the two elements as a final tune-up before the regular-season starts.

"We're looking to try and put everything together on this trip," Kreis said. "We spent a lot of time defending on our first trip. Then we focused a lot on our attack in the second trip, so this trip we're just trying to put it all together. We really want to get a good test of where we're at because when we leave (Charleston) we'll actually start a week behind everyone else in the MLS because we have that bye the first week of the season.

"We'll have two weeks to clean everything up from these three matches, which I think will be a great test for us going into the regular season."

Kreis said he'll spend the next seven days refining his lineup.

"We're still searching for those top guys," Kreis said. "I'm not the kind of coach that says I have a first 11. I've got a group of 23 players that are competing for the first 11 spots every day."

This is Salt Lake's first trip to Charleston and the Carolina Challenge Cup. The San Jose Earthquakes won the tournament a year ago.

"I've heard nothing but good things about this tournament from everyone that has been involved with it in the past," Kreis said. "I think it's a great format. We get to look at a couple of MLS teams and see where we are with our development."

Kreis said he's been especially pleased with a couple of rookies -- Raphael Cox and Jean Alexandre.

"We've been very pleased with several of our college signees," Kreis said. "I think Raphael and Jean have incredible potential in front of them. We're extremely happy with the group that we've got returning from last year.

"We really felt like with the additions we made at the end of last season that we were a very strong team at the end of the summer. We trying to build on what we did at the end of last year."