Western Conference League Table:

Western Conference v • d • e
Pos	Club	Pts	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD
1	Los Angeles Galaxy	59	30	18	7	5	44	26	+18
2	Real Salt Lake	56	30	15	4	11	45	20	+25
3	FC Dallas	50	30	12	4	14	42	28	+14
4	Seattle Sounders FC	48	30	14	10	6	39	35	+4
5	Colorado Rapids	46	30	12	8	10	44	32	+12
6	San Jose Earthquakes	46	30	13	10	7	34	33	+1
7	Houston Dynamo	33	30	9	15	6	40	49	−9
8	Chivas USA	28	30	8	18	4	31	45	−14

Only two teams from the Eastern Conference gained enough points to qualify for the play-offs after 30 games played (New York Red Bulls & Columbus Crew), the top six from the Western Conference make this years' play-offs. LA Galaxy win the supporters shield for their overall points tally. (I think I may be finally getting a grip on how this crazy league system works!)

LA Galaxy 2 FC Dallas 1 Beckham scores

Aiming to win the 'Supporters Shield' as the MLS season runs down, LA Galaxy host FC Dallas at the Home Depot Centre.

The Galaxy start strongly but it is Dallas who strike first after 21 minutes, Ricketts left no chance as the ball gets headed in from right in front of goal.

Just eleven minutes later, Donovan wins the ball at the by-line, cuts back to Beckham who slammed it rocket-like from the edge of the penalty box, goal to Beckham, Galaxy back on level terms. Neither team really established superiority in the first half which finishes honours even at 1-1. It will be up to LA to use the home advantage and last-goal scored advantage in the second half.

It takes Juninho just 30 seconds of the second half to pounce on a loose clearance and give The Galaxy a one-goal advantage, 2-1 to LA.

LA start to get a little control, the Dallas 'keeper is made to work overtime on 66 mins, Buddle heads from a Beckham corner, the Dallas 'keeper gets down well to his left for a great reaction save, this is followed by a few more close Galaxy efforts on goal.

Some late pressure from Dallas is soaked up by the Galaxy, Beckham is substituted to considerable home applause in the 89th minute. LA look to hold onto their slender lead as the clock ticks down the three minutes of extra time. The game finally finishes, and Galaxy run out winners, thanks in no little part to Beckham.

Quality Cars in Milan

Sadly David Beckham has more or less ended his professional sporting ties with Milan (Milano), although as a fashion capital, I am sure, he and Vic will not be strangers for long. Milan is famed for culture and fashion, yet has many small family businesses to sustain such as Garage Del Parco.

Garage Del Parco is leading light of auto usate milano (Milan used cars) .. You can sell your car quickly and painlessly to Garage Del Parco, or you can buy a car which is fully checked and tested. See a car that takes your fancy? Finance is available... don't see anything that takes you fancy, let them know your price-range and preferred fuel-type, and they will email you as they receive new cars which may interest you.

Dealing with vendita auto usate (used cars for sale) from under ten thousand Euros to over forty thousand Euros

Garage Del Parco is a family business running for more than 40 years, they will compro auto usate (buy used cars), and refurbish them, only selling them when they are in the best possible condition - once they have been serviced, you will even get the honest appraisal of the mechanics who have worked on the car - they will tell you if the car has any faults. After all they have an impressive reputation to uphold.

There is nothing quite like dealing with an experienced family business who give that personal touch time after time - when you come to buy or sell your next car, or have it serviced, you will see the same old familiar faces once more - still owned by the man who started the business more than 40 years ago, but now with his family and small, but trusted team on board. No wonder they have so many satisfied customers. I'm not sure which if the cars on offer would attract Beckham's attention should he return to Milan soon, but I know he used to have a Grand Voyager. He does like his cars though, and I am sure could be tempted to take a stroll around the premises..

Hope you enjoyed the Italian links....Garage Del Parco... fantastico!

LA 1 Rapids 3

Colorado Rapids came back from an early (9 mins) goal from Edson Buddle at the Home Depot Centre. Birchall laid it on for Buddle who took his time, and got a lucky deflection that looped the ball right over the keepers head.

Colorado got a lucky break of their own as Franklin's clearance from a corner hit Buddle and flew into his own net. After that, more pressing from Colorado saw them take the lead on the half hour mark, taking a 2-1 lead into the second half.

The Galaxy failed to pull back the lead and on the hour mark, Colorado made it 3-1. Galaxy had a late effort disallowed for offside, but the game had already given them the slip.

Beckham played the full ninety, earlier in the week he had said that he was happy with his progress since the injury - one goal and an assist already in the bag and still not up to full fitness levels...

England 0 Montenegro 0

England start bright enough, Crouch is through after 2 mins but fails to get a toe to the ball, spurns the chance to open the scoring. After 8 mins a hopeful shot from Ashley Young flies over the top of the bar. On 15 mins, Gerrard takes a free-kick to G Johnson who sets up Crouch, Crouch heads a little high and wide. A strike by Ashley Cole is flapped at by the keeper who manages to keep it out of the goal. Several more chances come England's way, but on the whole England look a bit ponderous and slow despite their superior possession.

In the closing minute, G Johnson is put through, takes a bad decision, declining the shot - instead his pass is woeful, Rooney gathers the ball but cannot find the net through a sea of bodies. England are looking comfortable in the middle of the park, but Montenegro are not too bothered by English attacking moves which are plodding and uncertain.

The second half begins brightly like the first, Rooney shooting over from distance in the first few minutes. More swift moves follow, Gerrard passes straight through everyone from the right hand side, more pinpoint passes from Gerrard go begging. More free-kicks are earned and wasted (missing Beckham now...), but the only player really looking worth his salt for England is Gerrard. Unfortunately England are so ponderous, Gerrard is spending too much time in his own half.

69 mins, Crouch off for Kevin Davies who gets an early chance to cross from the right, corner won. Shortly after that Davies and Rooney combine, ball falls to Rooney, stunning save from the keeper denies him.

73 mins, Wright-Phillips on for Ashley Young, Wright Philips exercises the Montenegro defence on the left--hand side. On 83 mins a dipping Montenegro chance shot out of the blue beats Joe Hart (only time he has had to even move...) but thankfully hits the bar to avoid a disaster. More chances fall to England as the clock ticks away, more free-kicks wasted, Barry has a chance on his wrong (left) foot saved by the diving keeper - time finally runs out on a disappointing draw.

Nevertheless, you have to say, had this been a boxing match, England got a convincing points win... Sadly this is not how qualifiers work, and England have squandered a chance to establish themselves as Group leaders. The positives were that Montenegro had not one shot on target, at least England drew about four or five decent saves.

The bad news is that England look ponderous, Rooney looks bemused - the play was not incisive enough, there were plenty of chances but no joy.

Philadelphia Union 0 Los Angeles Galaxy 1

Beckham started in a central role once again, and lasted just about 75 minutes before being substituted - no doubt next time, he will want the full ninety.
The Union put up a good fight from the start, but the Galaxy started to put on the pressure slowly, culminating in a corner on 27 minutes - take by Beckham and headed home by Buddle.
For the second half, the Union came out in determined style, but the goal keeping of Donovan Ricketts kept the Galaxy in the lead, the game finishing at 1-0 to The Galaxy who continue to dominate the Western Conference.

Western Conference v • d • e
Pos	Club	Pts	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD
1	Los Angeles Galaxy	56	28	17	6	5	41	22	+19
2	Real Salt Lake	51	27	14	4	9	41	18	+23
3	FC Dallas	49	27	12	2	13	39	22	+17
4	Seattle Sounders FC	45	28	13	9	6	36	32	+4
5	San Jose Earthquakes	43	27	12	8	7	30	28	+2
6	Colorado Rapids	41	27	11	8	8	37	27	+10
7	Houston Dynamo	27	27	7	14	6	36	46	−10
8	Chivas USA	25	26	7	15	4	26	36	−10

The Galaxy are cruising towards the play-offs and look in good shape despite Landon Donovan being less than his best recently. Regular visitors will note that the colours of this blog have now been changed to reflect Beckhams return to LA. If he gets another game for England, I may be tempted to go for a red & white theme...

Euro-qualifiers next week

England squad to face Montenegro on 12 October 8pm

Ben Foster, Robert Green, Joe Hart

Ashley Cole , Phil Jagielka, Glen Johnson, Rio Ferdinand, Joleon Lescott, John Terry, Stephen Warnock

Gareth Barry, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Tom Huddlestone, Adam Johnson, Aaron Lennon, Jack Wilshere, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Ashley Young

Darren Bent, Peter Crouch, Kevin Davies, Wayne Rooney

Some surprises in there, not least of which is the inclusion of Kevin Davies who will be hoping to pick up his first cap at the age of 33 - not a bad choice, but again this makes a nonsense of Capellos's declaration that he would be opening the door for younger players. I wonder how Michael Owen has taken the news?? a proven striker at the highest level performing well for his club, scoring goals and three years younger than Davies but seemingly not even on Capello's radar...!!

Chivas USA 1 LA Galaxy 2 Beckham scores!

Beckham starts in a more central role, and has a chance early on - the chance is wasted high and wide much to the delight of the Chivas supporters. On 7 mins Chivas hit the Galaxy goalpost, and in the very next minute, Beckham puts Buddle one-on-one with the Chivas keeper. Buddle chips the keeper and the ball tantalizingly bounces back off the cross-bar.

On 23 minutes, Buddle makes amends and extends his lead as the leading goal-scorer in the MLS, 1-0 to The Galaxy.

On 38 mins, Buddle is pulled back giving Beckham the chance to demonstrate his dead-ball skills, he does just that and the score is now 2-0 to The Galaxy... Admittedly the free-kick was at the perfect distance, but he slotted it beautifully in the top right hand corner giving the keeper little chance.

Galaxy have stopped short of dominating the half as they continue to show frailty in defence, yet Chivas look unlikely to claw back the two-nil lead that LA take into the half-time break.

Second Half:

Chivas came out from the break determined to make an impact, making their first chance with a headed attempt on goal after just 20 seconds. It took another 20 minutes for Chivas to make a dent in the LA Galaxy lead. Alan Gordon (ex-LA Galaxy) headed towards goal, Rickets parried, but only up into his own net. Gordon was shown to be offside in the replay, but the goal stood and Chivas are back in the game as Beckham is substituted (Eddie Lewis). Ironically a number of Beckham's second half searching passes were flagged (quite wrongly) as off-side, so to have Gordon scoring from an offside position did not please Galaxy supporters and staff.

The Galaxy struggle a little without Beckham especially as Donovan does not appear to be firing on all cylinders...

The referee made a mockery of himself on 77 mins. Eddie Lewis was on the end of a studs-up sliding tackle, in his attempt to jump out of the way, he landed on the Chivas player who had narrowly missed breaking his leg. To the consternation of the bench (who witnessed the proceedings at close hand), the ref immediately sent Lewis off! Beckham came off the bench to remonstrate with the ref along with a whole crowd of players and staff. After a few minutes trying to sort out the mess, the ref eventually booked the offending Chivas player! I know the officials have a hard job, but some make themselves look silly. How can you acknowledge the foul (by the booking) and then send off the player who was fouled (even if, as a result the offending player gets hurt..)?

Either way, The Galaxy are up by a goal, but down by a player and hanging on at this stage. Four minutes of extra time are called, most of which is dominated by Chivas - However, The Galaxy hold out against the run of play and resume the lead of the Western Conference.

LA Galaxy 0 NY Red Bulls 2

The only good thing about this game from an LA perspective is that Beckham played the full 90 minutes. He took advantage of a stoppage about 2o minutes from the end to let Bruce Arena know that he was fit enough to finish the game, indicating that he did not want to be substituted.

The Galaxy had their chances, many of then supplied by Beckham, but they could not find a way past the Red Bulls goalkeeper.

After 36 minutes, Red Bull winger Richards tapped in a rebound for the first goal, and the first half finished with Galaxy trailing by a single goal.

In the second half, Richards won a penalty when he was clearly dragged down in the box, Angel converted very coolly, and Red Bulls took their two goal lead to the end of the game. Beckham had a chance to make a real impact of 65 mi

ns when he curled a free kick towards the top corner, but the Red Bulls keeper was not letting anything past...

I wonder if the rest of the team steps off the gas a bit when Beckham is on the pitch - it is difficult to comprehend why the forwards were quite so ineffective. Donovan for one was almost anonymous, and without Donovan darting about in front of goal, The Galaxy are always going to struggle. Buddle was probably more effective, but he is a player that tends to drift in and out of a game at the best of times.

In the closing minutes, Beckham picked up another booking (the second from the only three games he has played this season) - at least he is not holding back!

Over all, if they had taken their chances this could have been a very different game, defence has never been LA's strongest suit, so when they don't take their chances up the field they are always vulnerable. That said, the Red Bulls keeper had a magnificent match, and it would have taken something special to beat him, certainly something more than Donovans final effort close the the end of the game, when in front of goal he more or less passed the ball to the keeper. Beckham did OK, he provided dangerous crosses and ambitious passes, but the bite of the team was missing - hopefully the teeth will be sharpened next time out...

LA Galaxy 2 DC United 1

LA started Saturdays game in unconvincing style allowing DC plenty of chances, even reliable Donovan Ricketts in goal almost gifted the visitors, allowing the ball to squirt under his body before twisting to trap it on the line. With the score still at 0-0, Beckham took the field at 53 mins allowing him to build up his fitness.

A comedy of errors in the box allowed DC to steal a goal on the hour mark, but Beckhams contribution seemed to wake up LA and with just 10 minutes to go, Donovan managed to pounce on a loose ball at the back, skipped round the keeper and levelled the score. Five minutes later Bowen sent the ball across the box for Donovan to head home for the final score of the match which ended 2-1 extending LA's lead of the Western Conference:

Western Conference v • d • e
Pos	Club	Pts	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD
1	Los Angeles Galaxy	50	25	15	5	5	38	19	+19
2	Real Salt Lake	47	25	13	4	8	38	16	+22
3	FC Dallas	42	24	10	2	12	31	19	+12
4	Colorado Rapids	37	24	10	7	7	32	24	+8
5	San Jose Earthquakes	36	23	10	7	6	25	23	+2
6	Seattle Sounders FC	36	25	10	9	6	30	29	+1
7	Chivas USA	25	23	7	12	4	25	29	−4
8	Houston Dynamo	23	24	6	13	5	29	40	−11

Next game Friday...