Quakes stay fit, rout Honduras

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- When you're scheduled to play an international friendly in the middle of the MLS regular season, the game plan is pretty simple.

"We wanted to score some goals and get a victory, and not have any injuries," San Jose Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop said after watching his club do just that, beating the Honduras Olympic team 4-0 Tuesday night at Buck Shaw Stadium.

Ned Grabavoy, Shea Salinas, Jovan Kirovski and Kei Kamara all got on the scoreboard for San Jose, who enjoyed its best offensive output since the team's rebirth this season.

"It's always good to score, but obviously it's a friendly, and (Honduras) wasn't the strongest team that we've faced this year," Yallop said. "But it's never easy finding the back of the net, and it was nice to have four different scorers. It might give us some confidence to feel a little more comfortable in front of goal."

The Earthquakes dominated the match from the start, scoring twice in each half while shutting down the Honduran attack.

"I think we played with a bit of confidence for a change. It's a friendly, but it shows that we can play decent football," Yallop said. "We've been a little bit edgy on everything lately, so it was nice to see (the Earthquakes) just go out there and play and perform."

The exhibition allowed the Earthquakes to field several players who've seen limited action so far this season, and also gave some who've been struggling a chance to shine.

"I thought Ned Grabavoy had a good game in the middle of the field," Yallop said. "He was playing free and moved the ball well. Ramiro (Corrales) played well the first half, and Shea (Salinas) had some moments. It was good to see Jovan (Kirovski) get his first or second 90 minutes in, too. There were some good performances out there."

Before the game, the Earthquakes introduced the just-signed Darren Huckerby and Francisco Lima to the press. They did not dress for the game, but should be ready, along with the newly acquired Scott Sealy, to see action when San Jose travels to Canada on Saturday to face Toronto FC.

"Maybe the players we've signed have moved some people a little bit, so that's good," Yallop said. "Competition for a place is always good on any team. And (these signings) are going to put some people under pressure, which is good.

(Huckerby, Lima, and Sealy) will all hopefully be available Saturday," Yallop said. "Like Darren (Huckerby) said, he's only trained once in two months, so it'd be a little tough for him to be thrown out there, but hopefully he can be on the bench. I don't want to force him into anything he's not quite comfortable with. The same with (Francisco) Lima. We'll see how he feels. Scott Sealy will probably be available, because he's played in MLS and he's fit and raring to go. but they might all get some time."

After traveling to Toronto Saturday, the Earthquakes finish out the season with nine home games in their remaining 13 matches as they attempt to climb back into the playoff picture after beginning the year with a 3-9-4 record. The events of Tuesday might just be a good start.

Hoops eye first league win since June

FRISCO, Texas -- It has been 14 days since FC Dallas last played a league match. That was on July 4 when a goal by Abe Thompson in stoppage time saved the day for the Hoops as they were able to salvage a point with a 1-1 draw against Kansas City. But FCD has not been victorious against an MLS foe since June 15, when they beat Chicago 1-0 at home.

On Saturday, Colorado pays its first visit of 2008 to Pizza Hut Park, a venue where the Rapids are 0-4-0 all-time. However, the two Western Conference sides met on June 1 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park and the Rapids prevailed 2-1, ending a six-match winning streak by FCD that had dated back to 2004.

Colorado has failed to win on FCD's home field in each of the last 12 matches and has a 10-0-2 record in that span. The last time the Rapids won in north Texas was on March 25, 2000, when they prevailed 1-0 at the Cotton Bowl.

But FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman, who still is in search of his first league win, isn't about to take the Rapids lightly.

"I think they're an extremely fit team from training in the altitude all the time," he said. "They're an organized team and attack with a lot of different weapons. With them playing a 3-5-2, it's going to be a midfield war. This is a very important game for us because we've got them on our home field."

His players also realize what an important game this is shaping up to be.

"We've spoken a lot about it," said FCD center back Duilio Davino. "For us, we have to concentrate on taking it game-by-game. The Colorado game is what we have to concentrate on and what we have to come out and win."

Forward and leading scorer Kenny Cooper concurs. "They've got players like Pablo Mastroeni who I have a lot of respect for, Terry Cooke and Conor Casey up top," he said. "They have a lot of good players and are a team that we won't underestimate. They have a very good team. This is a good game for us and hopefully we can give Schellas (Hyndman) his first league win this weekend."

The Rapids' starting 11 features two players that Hyndman is very familiar with in midfielder Colin Clark and defender Ugo Ihemelu, both of whom played for him at SMU.

"I think it's going to be great to coach against them at a higher level," Hyndman said. "Colin (Clark) has really turned into a good player in the MLS. He's got a great engine, goes up and down the left flank and almost plays for two players. Ugo is a special player. He is probably one of the more athletic players in the league. It's hard to beat him one-on-one whether it's with a run or a dribble. But he may cough up a silly ball that we can jump on."

FCD is just 2-5-3 in their last 10 matches and has scored multiple goals just twice in that run of games. Under Hyndman, the Hoops are 0-1-2 but have gotten points in each of their last two league matches after dropping their first game with their new boss on June 21 at New York.

Despite his side's recent struggles, he is still clear about what he wants to see from his team on Saturday evening.

"We want to see a team playing together," Hyndman said. "What we're just trying to do now is put everybody on the same page. We need flank players getting forward, good work ethic, good crosses and our players to hold their shape a little bit better."

Carroll, Hesmer reunited in Columbus

COLUMBUS -- Columbus Crew goalkeeper Will Hesmer was an Academic All-American at Wake Forest while earning a history degree, but somewhere along the way he must have taken a few public relations courses.

When Columbus coach Sigi Schmid called in the offseason and inquired about obtaining midfielder Brian Carroll in a trade, Hesmer was eager to praise his former college teammate.

"Sigi was looking for more of a consistent midfielder, a guy who is going to hold that hole and win balls. But not only win them, but find teammates out wide and move us quickly into the attack. Brian was a perfect addition for that," said Hesmer.

Schmid knew Hesmer wasn't just a friend pumping up Carroll.

"I've always liked Brian Carroll because he's steady," Schmid said. "There's not a lot of highs and lows in his game. If he has an off game it's still decent and when he has a great game it's better than decent. He doesn't have a lot of valleys in his game."

The Crew engineered a deal on Nov. 26 with San Jose for Carroll, who was claimed by the Earthquakes in the expansion draft from D.C. United. San Jose received Crew forward Kei Kamara.

"Kei was a good player but it was a humungous trade for our team in the sense of filling a need, especially since we were going to move Danny O'Rourke to center back," Hesmer said.

Actually, when Schmid had Hesmer on the phone he wanted to know what type of person Carroll is.

Uh, it's probably a good thing Hesmer -- a groomsman in Carroll's wedding -- didn't go into details about being roommates for two years on the Winston-Salem, N.C., campus.

"Animal House. That's actually what my mom nicknamed our college house -- me, BC and two other guys," said a grinning Hesmer. "It was a fun time. Every year we hosted one sorority for their initiation night so we'd get to be the only four honorary guys. That was always a good time to have 150 college girls in your house. Those days are behind us ... hopefully."

Carroll, who will be 27 on Sunday, turned pro a year earlier than Hesmer in 2003. Carroll played only U.S. Open Cup matches and friendlies for D.C. United his rookie season but started 26 matches in 2004 and all four playoff games when D.C. won MLS Cup. He also registered his first assist that season against the Crew on June 19.

He had two goals and 11 assists in 121 regular-season games for D.C. but was left unprotected after the 2007 season and was claimed by San Jose. Thus began his coast-to-coast-to-Midwest move -- all in 30 minutes from his living room.

Shortly after he was taken by San Jose he was informed of the trade.

"My agent did a pretty good job of finding out if that was going to happen, if there was a good possibility I would end up in Columbus," Carroll said. "When I found out I did get drafted by San Jose I thought I would be going to Columbus. It worked out. I'm in Columbus. It's great to be reunited (with Hesmer) and spend more time together, catch up on that year that I left school a year early."

As a defensive midfielder, Carroll does the dirty work that usually goes unnoticed. He's there to stop to the opposing attack from forming dangerous situations then acts as the conduit between the defenders and the offense when the ball is turned up field.

"You know every time out there you're going to get maximum work rate. He's a guy who covers a lot of ground and is intelligent," Schmid said. "He organizes us defensively. He's the one that's got to establish the line defensively. He gets the wide midfielders to tuck in at the right times. He orchestrates a lot of that out of the back and often times he's the first outlet out of the back with the defenders."

It's not surprising that Carroll does not often show up on the scoresheet: he has two assists and one shot on goal while playing all 1,440 minutes this season heading into Thursday's home match vs. Kansas City. Then again, he doesn't want to appear on a highlight reel when the other team scores.

"You look at Brian's position," Hesmer said. "I was telling him (Monday) on the golf course that the less he's mentioned the better. He should be getting All-Star consideration. No one is talking about him. He should get more credit. He deserves it but at the same time nobody is talking about him. That's great for him.

"Brian brings consistency. He brings the same performance every day. He's going to work his tail off every game. He's going to be in the right spot. He's a good communicator. He's smart. He knows the game really well. He's played for championship teams and he's played in the league for awhile. Guys who have been around the league are important."

The unassuming Carroll understands there is little glory in what he does and is fine with his role.

"When the team does well you don't really get recognized for that position but you know deep down that you had a good part to play in the team's success," he said. "I do relish the fact that when things are going well and we're winning everyone has an involvement in it, even the defensive midfielder. It's the name of the position. If you make a mistake it gets shown but if you do something well it doesn't really get seen."

Wells makes bid to remain starter in D.C.

WASHINGTON -- Just when things seemed to be clicking into place for D.C. United, a midsummer injury bug has stricken the playing roster and threatened the club's SuperLiga prospects. Three everyday starters and several reserves have been lost in recent weeks, limiting head coach Tom Soehn's options and increasing the workload on the tired legs of those left standing.

That situation was an unmistakable undercurrent of Saturday's 2-1 loss to Chivas de Guadalajara, in which Soehn looked down his bench in search of a spark for his trailing team and saw mostly rookies -- and most of them defenders, at that.

"We pretty much have 18 guys. Not many guys to choose from," admitted Soehn afterwards.

But one United mainstay isn't about to gripe over fatigue or fixture congestion, even though he's gone the distance in all the team's domestic and international cup matches, plus every league game save one.

"I'm pretty happy ... I'll never complain about playing games," said goalkeeper Zach Wells. "I didn't get a lot of chances to play in the last four years."

Despite undeniable potential, Wells made only 23 first-team appearances during that time, having spent most of his Major League Soccer career backing up veteran 'keepers: first Tony Meola in New York and, later, Pat Onstad in Houston.

Eager for a meaningful shot at a No. 1 role, he embraced an offseason trade to D.C., but soon found himself under the microscope when the team's brutal early-season form led to goals and losses galore. The goalkeeping battle club officials had envisioned between Wells and his Peruvian understudy, Jose Carvallo, failed to materialize and in recent weeks United have been perusing the international transfer market for a netminder capable of challenging for the starting spot.

Yet Wells, who approaches the game with a cerebral outlook that belies his mellow southern California upbringing, hardly seems unsettled by all that. In fact, he's produced his best performances of the season over that same period, with quality saves in United's recent league and U.S. Open Cup matches, including several big plays on one-on-one opportunities to help D.C. vanquish their unloved rivals from Chicago in last week's Open Cup quarterfinal.

On Saturday, a litany of clutch stops ensured that his team stayed in contention against Chivas until the very end, and he'll need to maintain that excellence if his undermanned squad is to haul itself back into the SuperLiga reckoning against Atlante on Wednesday night.

"You can't get caught up in it," said Wells of the speculation surrounding United's hunt for another goalkeeper. "You can enjoy it when you're playing, but you can't be worried about all the other stuff that's going around. Because I've been in situations before where they bring guys in and they don't pan out, they don't think they're as good as they thought they were going to be."

Virtually the entire United squad was guilty of underachievement at some point or another during the spring struggles that plunged the Black-and-Red into the Eastern Conference basement, but the unforgiving nature of his position meant that Wells' shortcomings were laid bare, both on the scoreboard and the stat sheet.

Even when D.C. reeled off a perfect 4-0 record in June, he was excoriated for a glaring fumble that gifted San Jose an easy goal on June 22 -- the Earthquakes' only goal of the month, actually -- prompting his teammates to vocalize their backing.

"As a defender, as a teammate, I think we all support Zach," said defender Gonzalo Martinez. "Everyone makes mistakes. ... But we believe in him, because he's a good goalkeeper."

While foreign signings like Martinez were expected to require some adjustment time, Wells' experience with the league probably raised hopes of a seamless adaptation despite the challenges of a new city, a new club and a new-look defense in front of him.

"I think it was just a matter of everyone finding their feet and figuring out where they fit in the system and understanding the system of playing," Wells said earlier this month. "And then as players, being able to see everyone's strengths and weaknesses. Now we're starting to complement each other a little bit."

Wells is all too familiar with the frustration and inactivity that is a backup goalkeeper's lot, and his recent displays suggest he's in no hurry to return to the bench. Whether or not United finds another competitor for his minutes, he's already begun to defend his turf.

"In the end you can only control what you can control, and I think as a defense and as a team we're playing better," he said. "I think I'm improving every game, so you can only leave it in the management's hands at that point."

Top of SuperLiga table clash on tap

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- After Sunday night's victory against Santos Laguna, New England Revolution head coach Steve Nicol can see the SuperLiga semifinals in his future.

New England's victory, combined with CF Pachuca's 2-1 win against Chivas USA, sets up a top-of-the-table clash on Wednesday night at Gillette Stadium against the reigning SuperLiga champions.

Nicol figures that his team will advance to the next round with a victory and wants his team to string together a second consecutive victory to clinch a semifinal berth.P "It would be nice to win," Nicol said after his team defeated Santos Laguna on Sunday night. "If we did that, I think it'd be pretty safe that we'd go through but we take nothing for granted. Pachuca is a great team and plenty of history behind them."

Pachuca's storied history includes a victory in last season's SuperLiga, two CONCACAF Champions' Cup crowns and a victory in the Copa Sudamericana in 2006 -- the first team from outside South America to win a CONMEBOL event.

The Tuzos have altered their core a bit since those championship winning years with players like Andres Chitiva (Ciudad Juarez) and Juan Carlos Cacho (Pumas) moving to other Mexican clubs. Mainstays like coach Enrique Meza, captain Miguel Calero, Christian Gimenez and Gabriel Caballero remain and Bruno Marioni, once heavily linked with Houston and FC Dallas, joined this summer from Atlas.

The contest represents another stiff test for a Revolution side that has come through most of them this season.

"We know the broad Mexican style and I'm sure we'll see more of the same on Wednesday night [against Pachuca]," Revolution defender Michael Parkhurst said. "It will be another test. If we come away with another three points it'd be big. We'd be going out to Los Angeles knowing that we're already through."

Revs 'keeper Matt Reis said Pachuca will try to do many of the things Santos did in the first half before Juan Pablo Rodriguez was sent off for a stray elbow to Sainey Nyassi's head.

"They're going to play the same style," Reis said. "They'll be very good on the ball and very composed. They're going to try to play possession and pass the ball around us."

Who will play for the Revolution remains a question. Steve Ralston and Jeff Larentowicz are both questionable with quadriceps injuries after starting on Sunday night. Taylor Twellman missed Sunday's contest with a hip flexor strain that might keep him out again while Mauricio Castro's groin strain could also keep him out again.

The possible changes it make even more likely Nicol will continue with the 4-4-2 formation that brought his team success in the first half against Santos Laguna.

Tearful Reyna announces retirement

NEWARK, N.J. -- Choking back tears, Claudio Reyna formally announced his retirement from professional soccer Wednesday afternoon, ending a storied 14-year career for one of the most decorated players in U.S. history.

The New York Red Bulls captain, who made the announcement at St. Benedict's Prep, where he was the only two-time Parade Magazine National High School Player of the Year ever, said he began contemplating retirement about six weeks ago, when he was sidelined with a herniated disc. It was just the latest in what was a long line of injuries for the technically gifted midfielder.

"You know when it's time to move on and call it a day and move on," Reyna said. "You just know. I guess to try to hang on or keep playing or look for another team, I never wanted to be that guy and be in that situation. ... There was not going to be any Brett Favre situations here or anything. I'm done."

Reyna, who turns 35 on Sunday, was a trailblazer in Europe, paving the way for dozens from the USA to play abroad. He was the first U.S. player to captain a European squad when he did so with Wolfsburg in Germany in 1998. Reyna, who would also captain Sunderland in the English Premier League, eventually earned the nickname "Captain America."

He was also the U.S. captain in two World Cup campaigns, helping lead the Americans to a stunning quarterfinal berth in 2002. Reyna, who scored eight goals internationally, has 112 caps, fourth all-time in U.S. history.

"Going over (to Europe) and starting to play when Americans were laughed at in soccer, to be honest, I have the memory of trying to get soccer going," Reyna said. "I think when I did what I did is something I'm very proud of." Six years ago, Reyna was in the crowd watching another former MetroStars and U.S. national team standout, Tab Ramos, announce his retirement in the same St. Benedict's room.

And on Wednesday Ramos was in the room, along with several members of the Reyna family, longtime St. Benedict's coach Rick Jacobs, MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio and Red Bulls sporting director Jeff Agoos among others.

"There was talk of possibly doing it in the city, (or) at Giants Stadium. It wouldn't be what this means to me personally," Reyna said, sitting on a large leather chair, alone on the dais. "It has a real special meaning to me -- this place, this school, and the people that are ironically still here, some past teammates that showed up today to support me. That kind of explains what this place is all about."

When he was at St. Benedict's, where he enjoyed a remarkable 65-0 record, Reyna said, he had very modest goals.

"All the playing is just a huge bonus," he said. "I grew up hoping I could get a scholarship and go to college."

He did that, going on to play for Bruce Arena at the University of Virginia, leading the Cavaliers to three consecutive NCAA championships from 1991 to 1993.

Reyna thanked many of those who were in the crowd, from former coaches and teammates to the media. But it was when Reyna mentioned his wife, former U.S. women's national team player Danielle Egan, as well as his three sons, Jack, Giovanni and Joe Michel, that the tears began to swell.

"Juan Carlos was right," Reyna said after having to take a moment to compose himself. "He told me I was going to cry and he was right. I lost the bet."

While Reyna's playing days are over, the Springfield, N.J., native will remain active in the game, serving as an ambassador for the New York Red Bulls.

"I'll be continuing with the New York Red Bulls in an ambassador role to help the first team, academy, in various other roles throughout the Red Bull organization here in the area and of course throughout the world," Reyna said.

Reyna also said he is interested in beginning a coaching career, much like many of his peers, citing Kansas City Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo.

"It's something I really want to do," Reyna said. "Some players retire when they stop playing and start coaching the next day; I never wanted to do that. There's a process behind that, and I'm going to start that process ... when the time is right."

Reyna came to Major League Soccer following a successful four-year stint at Manchester City, where he started 69 of the 77 games he played in. He became the Red Bulls' first designated player and was the first designated player to step on the field, when he started for New York in a scoreless draw at Columbus to open the 2007 season.

But Reyna played in just 27 games over his two seasons with the Red Bulls.

"There are so many reasons why I decided to stop, but simply I've just come to the conclusion that it's time, time to move on and to look back now that everything I achieved," Reyna said. "I'm very proud."

Dynamo open SuperLiga with rout

HOUSTON -- Last fall the Houston Dynamo and Mexican Primera Division side Atlante FC won championships within weeks of each other.

Ninety minutes after the two kicked off in their SuperLiga 2008 opener on Saturday night, there was little doubt as to which champion played the better game. The defending MLS champions scored a season-high four goals in a 4-0 lashing of the 2007 Apertura winners at Robertson Stadium on the campus of the University of Houston.

Houston dominated the match from start to finish, scoring three goals in the first half and adding another in the second en route to their highest scoring output since winning 4-1 against FC Dallas in the first round of the 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs.

The Dynamo will face CD Guadalajara Tuesday night in Houston in what is sure to be a tough match for both clubs. Chivas also won its Group A opener, defeating D.C. United 2-1 at RFK Stadium earlier on Saturday.

A late start due to a power failure that delayed the opening SuperLiga match in Washington, D.C., when CD Guadalajara defeated D.C. United 2-1, didn't affect the Dynamo coming out of the game. The Orange scored three goals in a nine-minute span -- the quickest three goals in club history -- as Dwayne De Rosario (20th minute), and Stuart Holden (21st and 28th minutes) beat Atlante 'keeper Federico Vilar.

Brian Mullan added another in the 54th minute for the Dynamo, who missed tying their club record for most goals scored ever by a single goal.

The Dynamo's two-time MLS goalkeeper of the year Pat Onstad enjoyed what was arguably his easiest night of the season as he faced zero shots on goal. Ernesto Pereyra Gabriel challenged the Dynamo in the eighth minute, but his free kick sailed wide and to the left.

In the 20th minute, De Rosario got things started when he beat Vilar after Davis set him up with a perfect cross from the left side. Davis pushed the ball forward and to his left a little bit before firing toward the cage. He found De Rosario who pushed the header just inside the far post for a 1-0 lead.

Exactly 92 seconds later, Holden made it 2-0 when he finished off a great pass from Geoff Cameron. De Rosario got things started for the Dynamo, who dominated possession after the ensuing kickoff. De Rosario then found a charging Cameron near the end line, who dished a perfect pass over to Holden, who beat a helpless Vilar from just outside the goal line.

Holden scored a highlight reel goal in the 29st minute when he deflected a perfect cross from team captain Wade Barrett with his right foot. Barrett saw Holden running toward the net and sent a quick pass to Holden who somehow got his foot in the right place just in time to deflect the shot into the goal. Stunned, Vilar picked the ball out of the net and watched as the Dynamo had its first three goal game of the season.

De Rosario was credited with an assist on that goal, before he and Javier Munoz Mustafa were ejected for violent conduct in the 44th minute.

Giancarlo Maldonado also had a good look on a free kick in first-half stoppage time, but he missed to the right in Atlante's only real threat until late in the match.

After the break, the Dynamo made it 4-0 on Mullan's first goal since June 21, 2007, which came in a 4-0 Houston win against Chivas USA at Robertson Stadium. Cameron started the play and set up his second goal of the night, racing forward on the right before sliding in a centering pass that Mullan pounded home.

Atlante, who will visit D.C. United on Tuesday in a must-win game for both to stay alive in SuperLiga, won the 2007 Apertura last December, defeating Pumas UNAM in the Mexican Primera Division final for the team's third championship. However, the title was the first for the team since moving from Mexico City to Cancun in August 2007.