Across the Pond
A little later than intended, but never the less there is plenty of MLS action to report on as their season is now in full swing.
We shall start with David Beckham where he and his LA Galaxy team mates took on their fellow Californians the San Jose Earthquakes. The derby, billed as the Californian Classico, couldn't have come at a better time for the Galaxy having hit a good patch of form following Beckham's return to their starting line up.
It was no surprise then who it was who took the lead and who was involved; a teasing ball in from the right hand side from Beckham was nodded down by Josh Tudela and into the path of Edson Buddle who hit a delicious volley past Quakes keeper, Joe Cannon. Despite such an emphatic start to the match it took until the 63 minute for the next one. Galaxy went 2-0 up with Edson grabbing his second after he got on the end of an Ante Jazic cross to head home.
With just under half an hour left it was looking bleak for San Jose, even more so when Buddle got his hat-trick 5 minutes later to make it 3-0. It was a good win for the Galaxy who still occupy first place in the Western Standings.
Next on the agenda for the Galaxy is the visit of Brian McBride's former club, Columbus Crew on Saturday 21st June.
Danny Dichio and Toronto FC were looking to bounce back quickly against Colorado Rapids, following the defeat to Houston last week. With Dichio back in the starting line up it didn't take too long for the London born striker to make an impact. With not long to go before half time, Toronto took the lead through an exquisite Danny Dichio volley from the edge of the area. A fitting way to mark his return to the starting eleven.
To give Toronto a two goal advantage, Rohan Ricketts broke free and let leash a daisy cutter from the edge of the area into the bottom corner before showing excellent skill and trickery to give Toronto their third and all but seal the points for the Reds. The Rapids did pull one back but it proved to me a mere consolation goal.
A visit from the Kansas City Wizard on Saturday is up next for Toronto and Dichio.
There is more news on the Brian McBride situation in that Toronto have insisted they will not stand back and let the Chicago Fire have the former Fulham man for free. It is becoming widely expected in the American media that McBride will be a Fire player sometime this summer but it is down to them to offer some sort of package to Toronto FC in order for the deal to go through.
Despite their being interest from several unnamed European clubs, it is the MLS that is McBride's preferred destination and with talks with the league still in process, it seems it will be sooner rather than later.