Just For Kicks
MAJOR League Soccer's board of directors will be announcing a number of changes after their November championship match. Changes ahead for
Major League SoccerSpecific changes have not been made public.
"We've made some recommendations as it relates to rule changes, the schedule, our future on television and our thoughts about expansion," said commissioner Don Garber, who took office in August.
Garber, 41, has been with the National Football League for 15 years, most recently as senior vice president of the NFL's International Division.
Although season ticket sales remained steady this season, the MLS' fourth, average attendance has dropped some.
One of the concerns is bringing the game back to the hard-core fan. This may lead to the end of the shootout and having the game clock run backward.
Also, the points system is in question. It differs from what is standard around the world (3 points for a win, 1 for a tie).
The MLS has enjoyed a certain level of stability. All the original teams still operate in their original cities. Franchise values have climbed from $5 million to $26 million.
And, the MLS supplies most of the players for the United States National Men's team.
The task for Garber is to put more fans in the stands, to carefully guide expansion and push for an increased level of play.
The MLS entries in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup being played in Sam Boyd Stadium at Las Vegas advanced to the semifinal round.
The Chicago Fire beat Joe Public of Trinidad and Tobago, 2-0, Tuesday on goals by Ante Razov and Dema Kovalenko. Jamie Moreno's goal powered DC United past Olimpia of Honduras, 1-0, last night.
United, the defending champion, plays Necaxa of Mexico while the Fire play Alajeula of Costa Rica tomorrow.
The winner qualifies for the FIFA Club World Championship next January in Brazil.
The group leaders with record and points in the European Champions Cup that completed the first round of play yesterday: A, Lazio of Rome (2-0-1, 7); B, Barcelona, Spain (2-0-1, 7); C, Rosenborg, Norway, and Borussia Dortmund, Germany (1-0-2, 5); D, Manchester United, England (2-0-1, 7); E, Real Madrid, Spain (2-0-1, 7); F, Valencia, Spain, and Bayern Munich, Germany (1-0-2, 5); G, Bordeaux, France (2-0-1, 7); H, Hertha Berlin, Germany, and AC Milan, Italy (1-0-2, 5).
Mia Moe (Punahou) has scored the game-winning goal in two of the last three matches for 19th ranked Loyola Marymount.
The freshman midfielder scored at 29:19 Sunday as LMU beat Colorado College, 2-0. Junior striker Angela Ichinose (Iolani) scored the other goal.
Moe was named West Coast Conference player of the week and earned her a spot on Soccer America's team of the week. The previous weekend she scored at 13:40 of the second overtime as LMU beat Texas, 1-0, and assisted on the goal that topped Baylor, 1-0.
KJ Nishikawa (Iolani), a junior striker, has helped defending Big West Conference champion Pacific to a 6-3 start, 2-0 in league play, with a goal and an assist.
Tony DiCicco's record in five years as coach of the United States women's team, is 100-8-8, an .897 winning percentage.
The Americans play South Korea Sunday at Columbus, Ohio, in the first of three U.S. Women's Cup matches. Finland (Oct. 7) at Kansas City and Brazil (Oct. 10 at Louisville, Ky. round out the competition.
