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MLS Ticker: Schedule changes made for CCL semifinalists; Toja fined for embellishment; and more

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By DAN KARELL

Keeping his promise to help Major League Soccer teams in the CONCACAF Champions League, Don Garber has given the Los Angeles Galaxy and Seattle Sounders some rest time between their semi-final round matches.

The league announced on Thursday that the Galaxy’s match on April 6 against the Montreal Impact has been moved to October 16, while the Sounders match against Chivas USA on April 7 has been moved to September 4.

Both the Sounders and Galaxy are in the final four of the Champions League, and are hoping for a chance to be the first MLS team to ever go to the Club World Cup. Los Angeles faces Monterrey on April 3 and 10, while Seattle takes on Santos Laguna on April 2 and 9.

Here are some more stories to catch you up around the league:

TOJA FINED UNDISCLOSED AMOUNT FOR EMBELLISHMENT

New England Revolution midfielder Juan Toja has been fined an undisclosed amount by the MLS Disciplinary Committee, after watching video of his act in the 42nd minute of the match last Saturday against Philadelphia.

The action caused Amobi Okugo to be awarded a yellow card, which has not been retrospectively rescinded. The Committee also announced an additional fine of $500 to Chivas USA assistant coach Walter Fleita for his behavior in the 84th minute of last Sunday’s match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA. Fleita earned himself a dismissal from the bench, which came with a one-match suspension and a $500.

Toja is in his first year with the Revolution following a four year stay in Europe, playing with Steaua Bucaresti in Romania and Aris in Greece. Prior to moving to Steaua, Toja was a star for FC Dallas in 2007 and 2008.

FC DALLAS SIGNS TENTH HOMEGROWN PLAYER

Since the establishment of the Homegrown Player Rule in 2008, FC Dallas has been at the forefront of the league.

On Thursday, the team announced that they had signed their tenth homegrown player in club history, inking 17-year-old goalkeeper Jose “Jesse” Gonzalez to a contract. He’ll compete alongside Chris Seitz, Raul Fernandez, and fellow FC Dallas academy graduate and homegrown player Richard Sanchez for a place in the first-team.

Like Sanchez, Gonzalez is currently playing in the Mexican national youth system, most recently featuring for the Mexican Under-18 team.

The club also announced that they had signed former midfielder Ramon Nunez to a new contract. The Honduran international last played for Dallas in 2006.

QUICK KICKS

ESPN has added former MLS midfielder Alejandro Moreno as a English language soccer analyst for Liga MX matches and Mexican National Team matches. (REPORT)

The San Jose Earthquakes could give new signing Walter Martinez from Honduras his debut this weekend when they face Seattle on Saturday. (REPORT)

President Obama will welcome the Los Angeles Galaxy on March 26, in honor of their MLS title last season. (REPORT)

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What do you think of these reports? Do you see the Sounders and Galaxy being fresher for the second leg than their opponents? Do you agree with the action taken on Toja? Do you like the move by ESPN to bring in Moreno?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

    • How so? other leagues move games around when teams play further in other competition than expected, such as doing well in multiple domestic cups plus Euro or CL competition.
      Other CONCACAF teams are labeling game days as national holidays to boost attendance.
      I’m really just happy that we are taking things more seriously.

      Reply
    • The English FA has moved plenty of games to accomodate teams in Cup competitions. It’s not out of the norm. A little research helps. Chelsea had a league game in Jan. against Reading moved back a couple of days due to 4th round of the FA Cup. They also had the April 6th match against Sunderland was moved to the following day due to their quater-final match in the Europa League against Rubin Kazan.

      Reply

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