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MLS West Notes: Wondo looks to regain scoring touch, RSL’s trialists and more

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By ADAM SERRANO

Chris Wondolowski is looking to regain his scoring touch.

After a disappointing Gold Cup where he struggled to find playing time for the United States during the later stages of the tournament, Wondolowski has returned to MLS bent on re-gaining his form. The 2010 Golden Boot winner hasn't scored in the two matches which he has played for the Earthquakes since returning from international duty.

During both matches, Wondolowski appeared to be pressing to score immediately as the Earthquakes struggled to create substantial drives forward. For Wondolowski, the important thing is to just get back into rhyhthm because then the goals will come. 

"Mentally, I think I'm all right," Wondolowski said. "It's just getting back into it and trying to keep working hard and try to get chances and when I do get chances, [to] finish them. That'll be a big key for me. It's one of those things. All strikers go through it. Sometimes anything you hit goes in, sometimes no matter how well you hit it, it doesn't go in."

More news from around the Western Conference is after the jump:

CHIVAS USA

Off the heels of annoucement of talks with various cities in Los Angeles county about a new stadium by Chivas USA co-owner Antonio Cue. ESPN Los Angeles gives its insight into some of the recent speculation about which communties have been linked to an "Estadio de Chivas USA" 

Talk of a switch of stadiums wasn't the only "swap talk" around the Chivas USA locker room as of late as midfielder Gerson Mayen stated that he had officially switched from representing the United States to El Salvador. 

COLORADO RAPIDS

Suspensions and injuries have caused a number of different players to step up for the defending MLS champion Colorado Rapids this season. One such player is outside midfielder Wells Thompson, who has performed well filling in for Brian Mullan and Jamie Smith during their absences. When the Rapids take on the Whitecaps during the weekend, Thompson is hoping that he will remain in the starting XI. 

FC DALLAS

FC Dallas is easily the hottest team in the league right now.

Led by the play of Brek Shea and the steady goalkeeping of Kevin Hartman, FCD has made itself a conteder to win the Supporters' Shield with two games in hand on the Los Angeles Galaxy while being only two points behind. However, as Schellas Hyndman told reporters in Dallas earlier in the week, it is simply too early for the club to be dealing with talk of that trophy. 

L.A. GALAXY

Is there a centerback curse surrounding the LA Galaxy?

After A.J. DeLaGarza and Omar Gonzalez were removed during Los Angeles' 0-0 draw with Seattle on July 4th, some were left to wonder just what had been going on with the club. The Galaxy have already lost two defenders to season ending injuries in Leonardo and defender Sean Alvarado while dealing with a serious injury to Gregg Berhalter during  much of the season. 

Against the Fire, it seems like Berhalter and Gonzalez will likely get the starting duties.

PORTLAND TIMBERS

The Portland Timbers may have lost the services of outside back Rodney Wallace for their match against the Seattle Sounders. Wallace suffered a knee injury when being kicked in the leg during the Timbers match against Sporting Kansas City last weekend. Head coach John Spencer stated that he will likely be "back next week." Wallace's injury is not the only health question for the Timbers, as forward Jorge Perlaza is currently suffering from a groin injury. 

REAL SALT LAKE

The fact that injuries have hampered RSL is not a new story, but it appears as though head coach Jason Kreis is bringing in some reinforcements.

A host of new trialists have arrived eager to earn their spot on RSL including midfielders Carlos Hernandez (formerly of the Melbourne Victory), Chris Agorsor, Dustin Corea and defender Seth Owusu. As Kreis looks to replace the production of injured Javier Morales, he admits that he's keeping his options open. 

SEATTLE SOUNDERS

The Cascadia Cup is back, and this time, the Sounders are looking to have Timbers arch-nemesis forward Roger Levesque start from the very beginning. Levesque has started for the Sounders in attack for the last two matches earning rave reviews from Sigi Schmid about his play. As the Sounders look to earn a victory against their hated rivals from Oregon, it seems that Levesque will be thrown into the fray. 

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS

The Whitecaps made a real splash on Thursday acquiring left back Jordan Harvey from the Philadelphia Union. After Harvey and the Union defense had impressed, many were left surprised at the Union making such a move. However, for Harvey, it was time to move on and focus on the positives of playing for the Whitecaps. A move that Harvey hopes will give him a fresh start. 

Comments

  1. exactly…..and that’s why we’re fighting for the supporter’s sheild…..oh wait. 4yrs! of this crap and he gets a contract extension!!!!!….

    Reply
  2. Yallop has all kinds of guys playing out of position. Johnson should be at FWD, Dawkins should be at CAM, Leitch in the middle???

    Reply
  3. maybe if our dumb coach wouldn’t play in midfield on the right, he might be scoring more because as we all know……..he’s a FORWARD!

    Reply

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