Major League Soccer arrives at Cal Poly

Finally, the world’s most popular sport is gaining momentum in the United States, and now, in San Luis Obispo, as three Major League Soccer franchises will participate in the MLS Central Coast Showcase tonight through Sunday at Alex G. Spanos Stadium.

“Right now in the community, Cal Poly athletics is the highest form of youth sports, so to have pro teams come in gives them a glimpse of a higher level,” said Cal Poly men’s soccer team assistant coach Brian Reed. “The kids that have gotten to know Cal Poly soccer have a chance to see another level of the sport so hopefully it can give them something to shoot for.”

In the first of a pair of MLS preseason contests, the San Jose Earthquakes will take on the Columbus Crew at 7 p.m. The Earthquakes will challenge D.C. United at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Perhaps the most renowned talent that will be featured is that of D.C.

“They have established themselves as a powerhouse in the MLS,” Reed said. “They’re a consistently good team.”

A charter member of MLS, United won league championships in 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004. The franchise recently garnered international attention upon signing Argentine midfielder Marcelo Gallardo, a former World Cup starter who played in France a season ago.

Gallardo, who played for Argentina in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, is D.C.’s first high-profile player signed beyond MLS salary limits – allowed through the same exception that permitted English star midfielder David Beckham to join the Los Angeles Galaxy.

United also boasts Jaime Moreno of Bolivia, MLS’ all-time leading scorer, who also has two World Cup tours on his résumé, and Brazilian Luciano Emilio, the 2007 MLS Golden Boot winner.

The Earthquakes have returned to MLS play after a two-year hiatus. Key to their attempt at a resurgence ought to be Joe Cannon, a two-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year.

San Jose opened its season with a pair of exhibitions against the Houston Dynamo, losing the first 1-0 and ending the second with a scoreless tie.

Cal Poly, which finished third in the Big West Conference last season, scrimmaged the Earthquakes Wednesday night, falling 1-0 on a Takayuki Suzuki 56th-minute score. Two hours prior to each MLS game, the Mustangs will have an intra-squad scrimmage.

“The boys have been working on their strength and conditioning programs and it’s fun for them because now they can get out and play some games again,” Reed said in light of Cal Poly not having played a game since Nov. 16. “So I know they’re really dying to get back in the stadium.”

Spanos Stadium became an increasingly viable MLS venue Oct. 17, 2007, when 7,143 fans witnessed Cal Poly’s 2-1 win over defending national champion UC Santa Barbara, shattering the school’s attendance record by several thousands.

Cal Poly sophomore defender Jeremy Cleveland hopes the turnout will rival the record.

“I hope it’s a big turnout because the games will for sure be good,” he said. “It’s been highly publicized, but whether people go is up in the air.”

The Mustangs’ David Zamora, a Freshman All-American last season, said he too has been looking forward to the games for quite some time.

“It’s going to be great,” he said. “Soccer is becoming really big in the U.S. and I hope everyone enjoys the showcase.”

Cleveland said he thinks Columbus has a good chance of winning.

“Columbus has a lot of young players,” he said, adding he played club soccer with one of the Crew’s players.

Reed agreed Columbus is loaded with talent.

“Columbus has established itself as a thing to be reckoned with over in the Eastern Conference,” Reed said. “I’m sure San Jose is really eager to find out how they’re doing so far, and how far they need to go to compete in the MLS again.”

Reed said he hopes the showcase will get “the 10-, 11- and 12-year-old kids to tell their parents that they want to go see more pro soccer games.”

The goal of the showcase is to “make the average fan a fanatic, and make somebody who wasn’t super into soccer beforehand, really excited about soccer,” Reed said. “We want to keep the energy up for soccer long after these are done.”

Tickets can be purchased at GoPoly.com, by phone at 756-5806 or by visiting the Cal Poly Athletics ticket office near the Cal Poly Rec Center.