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Keri Sanchez and Leah Gallegos scored second-half goals Saturday to lead South Bay-based Ajax America past Oklahoma Alliance FC, 2-0, and into the Women's Premier Soccer League final in Richardson, Texas.

Defending champion Ventura County Fusion and Hollywood United FC lost in the Premier Development League's Western Conference semifinals in Bremerton, Wash.

Spanish national-teamer Veronica Boquete scored two second-half goals to give the Buffalo Flash its first W-League title with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps at Canyon High School in Canyon Country.

WPSL: Sanchez, the head coach of NCAA Division III Claremont-Mudd-Scripps' women's team, scored on a deflected shot in the 48th minute to give two-time WPSL champ Ajax America (9-3-1) the lead, and former USC star Gallegos (Franklin HS) doubled the advantage in the 75th.

Ajax struggled in the heat, which reached 102 degrees and prodded officials to call breaks in each half, and held off the athletic Alliance (8-2-0) until the Californians' play picked up after sundown.

Ajax will face Boston Aztec Breakers Reserves (11-1-1) in Sunday's final at UT Dallas. Boston topped FC Milwaukee Nationals, 2-1, as Mandi Back headed home a corner kick in the 31st minute and Leah Blayney scored in the 81st. Laurie Nosbusch's late goal halved the deficit for FC Milwaukee (10-1-1).

PDL: The Fusion's and Hollywood United's seasons closed in the Pacific Northwest.

Portland Timbers U-23 (17-0-0), which is affiliated with the club that will jump next season from the USSF D2 Pro League to Major League Soccer, rallied from an early deficit to beat Hollywood United, 2-1.

Brent Whitfield, acquired this month from the Fusion, scored his 10th goal of the season to give HUFC (11-3-3) a fourth-minute lead, but Portland got the equalizer from Freddie Braun in the 63rd minute and the winner from Steven Evans in the 66th. Braun's pass led to Evans' goal, a 25-yard bullet that froze goalkeeper Jose Miranda.

Kitsap Pumas (12-2-3), the host of the Western Conference final four, outfired Southwest Division champion Ventura County, 5-4, on penalties following a 1-1 draw. The Fusion finish with an 11-4-2 mark.

Thunder Bay (Ontario) Chill, the 2008 PDL champion, advanced to next weekend's final four with a 2-1 victory over Michigan Bucks in the Central Conference final. The other three berths will be determined Sunday.

W-LEAGUE: Kelly Parker, bottled up by Vancouver's defense, set up two goals as Buffalo (14-0-2) rallied to halt the Whitecaps' bid for a record third W-League title at Canyon High School.

Amy Vermeulen took advantage of a defensive miscue to fire the Whitecaps (8-1-4) ahead in the 57th minute, but Parker -- a Canadian national-teamer and the W-League's MVP -- set up Englishwoman Gemma Davison in the 61st minute to tie the score.

Boquete scored the go-ahead goal three minutes later, then added the finale from a Parker feed in the 87th minute.

Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues (12-2-0) finished third with a 3-0 romp over the Atlanta Silverbacks (9-4-1) in the first game Saturday.

The struggling Galaxy -- just one win and 11 goals conceded in their past five games, including U.S. Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League losses -- can expect a real battle Sunday against the Chicago Fire, who have readjusted their roster with two big-name Designated Player acquisitions.

Mexican star Nery Castillo didn't make the trip to L.A., but Swedish midfielder Freddie Ljungberg, who was acquired Friday from Seattle, will make his Fire debut at Home Depot Center.

If he's motivated -- and he clearly wasn't with the Sounders -- Ljungberg could position Chicago as a true title contender.

“He’s a very good player. He’s an excellent player,” Fire technical director Frank Klopas told MLS's website. “He’s first of all a very competitive person; he’s got the kind of mentality that will fit in very well with our club. He’s a winner, he wants to win championships, and he’s a very good player.”

Klopas and head coach Carlos de los Cobos plan to employ Ljungberg, who has spent much of his career as a winger, in central midfield.

“I know a lot of times with his career at Arsenal he was out wide, but I see him as a guy in the middle … almost like a playmaker type,” Klopas said. “He’s a guy that always wants the ball, and I think he would fit in the middle -- at least for our team -- a lot better than out wide.”

Ljungberg reserved his comments on the deal for his blog.

“There has been a lot of speculation, but no more …,” Ljungberg wrote. “I want to start off by saying how proud I am to have been part of the most successful new franchise in MLS history, the Seattle Sounders FC. I didn’t know exactly what to expect when I first came to Seattle, but I have to say that how the city and the fans have embraced me has gone beyond my wildest dreams, and for that I am forever grateful. I also want to thank my teammates, who are absolutely great on and off the pitch. I have made some very close friends, who I know I will be in contact with forever.”

The two-time World Cup selection, surely, will soon know that the Sounders were not the most successful new franchise MLS has known; that would be the 1998 Fire, which under Bob Bradley won the MLS Cup/U.S. Open Cup double.

Ljungberg also wrote that, in a meeting with Klopas and Fire owner Andrew Hauptman, “the vision they shared with me about taking Chicago to the next step and becoming a powerhouse in the MLS was extremely appealing to me.”

Castillo, who officially joined the Fire this week, said that fellow Mexican star Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who spent 2 1/2 seasons (mid-2007 through 2009) as Chicago's DP, told him that Chicago “was a nice place to play. He was really happy with the organization over here in MLS and said that it was a beautiful city. Cuauh mentioned also that he had a good time when he was over here and that it was a great memory for him.”

This week's slate (all times PDT):

SATURDAY, JULY 31
New England Revolution (4-9-2, 14 points) at Philadelphia Union (4-7-2, 14 points), PPL Park (Chester, Pa.), 12:30 p.m., MLS Direct Kick
The Revs take a four-game win streak, all shutouts -- over the Galaxy and through SuperLiga's groups stage -- into their first meeting with Philly. They've got two new forwards (Serbian Ilija Stolica and Brazilian Roberto Linck), although neither will be in uniform for this. The Union, which has lost just once (to Manchester United) in the past five weeks, also has been making moves. The biggest: acquiring winger Justin Mapp from Chicago. The one that hits close to home: waiving former UCLA/Tesoro HS goalkeeper Brian Perk, a U.S. U-20 star who just played in the friendlies against Celtic and Man United.

FC Dallas (6-2-8, 26 points) at Colorado Rapids (6-5-5, 23 points), DSG Park (Commerce City, Colo.), 1 p.m., MLS Direct Kick
The hot Hoops are unbeaten in their past seven games. The Rapids are winless since the World Cup break, but they've lost just two of six games in that span. The biggest link between them is defender Anthony Wallace, a 2007 first-round draft pick that FC Dallas sent this week to Colorado after, of all things, reserve goalkeeper Dario Sala's red card from the bench in last week's draw at Toronto FC. The Hoops had to open roster space to recall No. 3 goalkeeper Josh Lambo from loan to USSF D2's FC Tampa Bay to serve as Kevin Hartman's backup, so off Wallace went.

New York Red Bulls (8-6-2, 26 points) at Houston Dynamo (5-8-4, 19 points), Robertson Stadium (Houston), 5:30 p.m., MLS Direct Kick
French star Thierry Henry, impressive in last week's friendlies against Tottenham and Manchester City, will make his MLS debut for the Red Bulls, who have won just once (over Man City) in the past month. The Red Bulls, preparing for the arrival of Mexican star Rafael Marquez (he was released from his Barcelona contract Saturday), on Friday released well-traveled forward John Wolyniec, who spent part of 2006 with the Galaxy but had played primarily in New York since 2003. The Dynamo haven't won in in their past seven MLS games and in their past nine against MLS teams (with a loss in the U.S. Open Cup and draw in SuperLiga, both against Chivas USA), but beat both Mexican foes in the SuperLiga group stage. Their porous defense must compensate for central defender Bobby Boswell (red-card suspension) and goalkeeper Pat Onstad (abdominal strain).

Toronto FC (6-5-5, 23 points) at Kansas City Wizards (4-8-4, 16 points), CommunityAmerica Ballpark (Kansas City, Kan.), 5:30 p.m., MLS Direct Kick
The Wizards are still buzzing following their victory last week over mighty Manchester United (OK, mostly Man U reserves, but still!) that followed road results against Columbus (1-0 win) and Colorado (1-1 draw). Greek defender Nick Kounenakis is cleared to play, but gone are forward Sunil Chhetri (to join India's preparations for next year's Asian Cup) and Argentine midfielder Santiago Hirsig (released). Former UCLA forward Chad Barrett is in fine form for TFC, which is unbeaten at home but 1-5-1 on the road.

D.C. United (3-11-3, 12 points) at Real Salt Lake (9-4-4, 31 points), Rio Tinto Stadium (Sandy, Utah), 6 p.m., MLS Direct Kick
D.C. is pinning its hopes on Montenegrin striker Branko Boskovic and Argentine forward Pablo Hernandez, its midseason acquisitions (and roommates, although they don't share a language), and news that four players among the many wounded (Marc Burch, Dejan Jakovic, Devon McTavish and former Servite HS star Chris Pontius) might be available this week is a big plus. RSL is going through a little slump, coming off a loss to FC Dallas and home draw with Chivas USA after a 10-game unbeaten streak. The return of captain Kyle Beckerman, who played against the Goats, bodes well for the Utahns.

Seattle Sounders FC (6-8-4, 22 points) at San Jose Earthquakes (6-4-5, 23 points), Buck Shaw Stadium (Santa Clara, Calif.), 7 p.m., MLS Direct Kick
The Sounders have sorted out their personnel problems, dealing Swedish star Freddie Ljungberg to Chicago and signing midfielder Alvaro Fernandez, who helped Uruguay to fourth place in the World Cup, to a Designated Player contract. San Jose needs to make a move with playmaker Andre Luiz lost for the season and fellow Brazilian Eduardo on the same path. The Quakes are unbeaten (but with just one win in five games) since returning from the World Cup break.

Columbus Crew (10-3-4, 34 points) at Chivas USA (4-9-3, 15 points), Home Depot Center (Carson), 7:30 p.m., FSN Prime Ticket
The Goats have lost just once in their past eight games -- against Puebla in their SuperLiga opener -- but have just one win in their last eight MLS matches. Former UCLA star Sal Zizzo hasn't officially been added to the roster, and captain Jonathan Bornstein is out because of a leg injury and goalkeeper Zach Thornton might not play because of a sprained ankle. The Crew has bounced back from their second mini-slump of the season (draw at Houston, loss to K.C.) with shutout wins over New York and Houston to extend their lead in the Eastern Conference to eight points. Columbus is 2-2-3 on the road and has no wins against Chivas USA at Home Depot since 2005.

SUNDAY, AUG. 1
Chicago Fire (4-5-5, 17 points) at L.A. Galaxy (12-2-4, 40 points), Home Depot Center (Carson), 4:30 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports en Español
The Galaxy's superstars are in the news, with Landon Donovan mulling interest from Europe (with Manchester City the big suitor) and David Beckham preparing to return to training (soon after next weekend's Real Madrid match, we're told). L.A. is struggling, with just one win in its past five games and two in its past six against MLS competition. It's coming off a 4-1 CONCACAF Champions League embarrassment against the Puerto Rico Islanders, and, after 11 shutouts in the first 15 competitive games, has surrendered 12 goals in the past six matches. Chicago won't have new Designated Player No. 1 Nery Castillo this week, but new Designated Player No. 2 Freddie Ljungberg will be ready to go.

Most of the W-League's clubs are strictly amateur, and a few -- maybe more than a few -- are more or less semipro, taking care of some of their players' expenses and so forth.

Only the Buffalo Flash, officially, is a professional club, with salaried players drawn from around the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Europe. It's a policy that has worked: The Flash, in only its second season, is playing for the W-League championship on Saturday, taking on two-time titlist Vancouver Whitecaps at Canyon High School in Canyon Country. The 7 p.m. game will be televised by Fox Soccer Channel, and that's pretty meaningful.

“We're in Buffalo, N.Y. There's not a lot of quality in the area, in terms of top universities,” says head coach Aaran Lines, a former New Zealand national-teamer who played for clubs in Germany, Poland, Australia and with two second-tier American clubs, the Portland Timbers and Rochester Rhinos. “If I wasn't able to call upon a professional roster, we would be bottom of the division, fighting for last place.”

Instead, the Flash heads into the biggest game in its history with a 13-0-2 record, 11 shutouts and a 13-game winning streak.

“I think we have a lot of quality. We're a very powerful team ...,” said star forward Kelly Parker, a Canadian national-teamer who has scored 15 goals in 10 games and won her second W-League MVP award Friday night at a Santa Clarita banquet. “When you get a group of quality players that are smart, with soccer minds, I think it allows you to gel a lot quicker. We have a lot of soccer minds, a lot of players with a lot of experience.”

There certainly is a lot of quality.

Midfielder Jenny Hammond, who starred at Santa Margarita Catholic High School, and forward Mele French played with Sky Blue FC last year, and forward Mandy Moraca was with FC Gold Pride during preseason this year.

Forward Veronica Boquete (Spain), goalkeeper Pamela Tajonar (Mexico) and defender Kimberly Brandao (Portugal) are international players, there's a quartet with experience with English youth national teams, and a few others have played in Germany or Sweden, home to Europe's best leagues.

“You've got to spend wisely, bringing in good players, and that's not easy,” Lines said. “And there's a certain level of pressure that comes along with being the only professional franchise (in the league). … I was particular. We started our opening game with 11 players. I knew what I wanted with players, and we didn't compromise, and the quality that we have now is because we were patient.”

The Flash went 10-2-1 in its first season, reaching the Eastern Conference semifinals with a talented side, but Lines said “this year, man for man, I have better players than what I had last year. We had a good team last year for a first-year franchise, but this year we're just a notch up in quality and depth off the bench, as well. All around we have improved.

“And it's great for Buffalo. We've put Buffalo on the map, in terms of soccer, by making this TV game.”

Martina Franko was starting in the center of the L.A. Sol's backline last season until she learned she was pregnant. She made a quick return after giving birth in January to a son, and some of the thanks for that goes to U.S. national team captain Christie Rampone.

Rampone, who as captain/coach led Sky Blue FC, while pregnant, to the Women's Professional Soccer title last year, had experience returning to the field from pregnancy, and Franko tracked down her email address for advice.

“She gave the recommendation: 'Don't do anything for six weeks. Trust me, because if you come back too fast, you'll put yourself back months,' ” Franko said. “So I took that advice and just took it slowly getting back.”

Franko joined the Vancouver Whitecaps in April, and if she's not yet atop her game -- “I could definitely be a little sharper,” she said -- she's still better than nearly everyone else in the W-League. She's the anchor of a backline that has been pivotal in the Whitecaps' unbeaten run to Saturday's W-League final against the Buffalo Flash at Canyon High School in Canyon Country.

“We're organized as a team, our defense and our midfield, and it's hard to get through an organized defense,” said Franko, who is among 11 Canadian national-teamers on the Whitecaps roster. “And we have experience playing against really good attackers and being patient and not letting teams break you down.”

Franko is from Northern California but is married to a Canadian -- that's how she qualifies for Canada -- and she was a defensive leader for the Sol during her time with team in the inaugural WPS season.

“Martina was with me in L.A. last year,” says Whitecaps coach Hubert Busby Jr., an assistant coach for the Sol last season, “and every day in training she had to go against Marta. (Going against W-League forward) doesn't faze her.”

She'll be going against two outstanding forwards in the final: fellow Canadian national-teamer Kelly Parker, the W-League's MVP, and Spanish star Veronica Boquete. The Whitecaps don't figure to do anything special against them.

“Just play our game,” said Franko, cradling 6-month-old Micah following Vancouver's semifinal win Thursday over top-seeded Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues. “We play against Kelly every day in practice in national team camp, so we know what to expect. It looks like they have a couple of quick forwards, but it's not like we haven't played against quick forward all season, so we'll just play our game.”

Ajax America this weekend is making a record fifth successive appearance in the Women's Premier Soccer League's final four, and much of what's driving the club in its history of success.

The South Bay-based team has won two WPSL titles and reached last year's championship game, has included U.S. national teams stars among its players and has sent many on to Women's Professional Soccer and its predecessor, the late, great Women's United Soccer Association.

Ajax (8-3-1) is one of the biggest names in the women's game, and everything that goes along with that will accompany it into Saturday's semifinal against Oklahoma Alliance (8-1-0). Boston Aztec Breakers Reserves (10-1-1) meets FC Milwaukee Nationals (9-1-1) in the other semi; the final is Sunday.

“Ajax has a legacy,” says right back Temryss Lane, who is as well-known for her television work (on Fox Soccer Channel's just-canceled “Fox Football Fone-In”) and modeling as for her play at Arizona State University and in Sweden's top-tier Damallsvenskan. “In honoring what the name represents, I think everybody comes out here to give it their all. And we're all so intense and competitive.”

Midfielder Dani Bosio, the WPSL Pacific Conference Co-Player of the Year, agrees.

“We're competitive. We want to win,” said Bosio, who starred at Pepperdine University. “We have the skills, we have the talent, but on top of that, we just love playing together. … We're not afraid of anyone. We want to win this.”

Ajax emerged from a rough second half of the season, in which it went 1-3-1 after a 5-0-0 start, to shut out North Bay FC Wave and California Storm in last weekend's Pacific Conference finals.

“This year was a struggle,” Lane said. “We were kind of lacking a little bit of heart, and now we've come together at the right time and realized what were play for, and it's not only ourselves, but for each other and Ajax the team.”

THE FIELD: Boston Aztec Breakers Reserves is the favorite. The team, as its name suggests, is the reserve side for Women's Professional Soccer club Boston Breakers, and it has fielded several Breakers players this season: Jordan Angeli, Tiffany Weimer, Alyssa Naeher, Chioma Igwe, Allison Lipsher, Liz Bogus and Taryn Hemmings. Several others are on the roster.

Ajax America has two players with WPS experience: defender Christie Shaner, who played last season with Sky Blue FC and the L.A. Sol, and midfielder Keri Sanchez, who played for the Sol.

FC Milwaukee's and Oklahoma Alliance's rosters are drawn from local players.

“I have no idea of the teams there, but I'm assuming Boston will be strong,” Boswell said. “Hey, its our fifth final four in a row, so we know what it's about.”

WPSL FINAL FOUR
at Richardson, Texas
Saturday's semifinals
Ajax America (8-3-1) vs. Oklahoma Alliance (8-1-0)
Boston Aztec Breakers Reserves (10-1-1) vs. FC Milwaukee Nationals (9-1-1)
Sunday: Final and third-place game

Former L.A. Sol assistant coach Hubert Busby Jr., who has guided the Vancouver Whitecaps' women's team into Saturday's W-League title game, was honored Friday night as the league's Coach of the Year in a banquet in Santa Clarita.

Busby, the top assistant to Abner Rogers with Southern California's former Women's Professional Soccer franchise, took a Whitecaps team that had won just three games in 2009 and failed to reach the playoffs in two of the three previous seasons to the Western Conference title. Vancouver (8-0-4) meets the Buffalo Flash (13-0-2) in tonight's W-League final at Canyon High School in the Canyon Country section of Santa Clarita.

Buffalo forward Kelly Parker, a Canadian national-teamer who scored her 14th and 15th goals of the season in the Flash's semifinal victory Thursday night at Canyon, was selected as league MVP for the second time. She also won the award in 2004.

Others honored:

Rookie of the Year: Rashidah Sherman (New York Magic)
Defender of the Year: Sue Weber (Long Island Rough Riders)
Goalkeeper of the Year: Alyssa Whitehead (Charlotte Lady Eagles)

Pali Blues defender Christie Shaner was a finalist for W-League Defender of the Year, and Santa Clarita Blue Heat forward Cherelle Khassal wass up for Rookie of the Year.

Ajax America midfielder/defender Dani Bosio and LAFC Chelsea midfielder Ann Marie Tangorra are the Women's Premier Soccer League's Pacific Conference Players of the Year after leading their teams into the playoffs.

Bosio, who starred at Santa Margarita Catholic High School and Pepperdine University, leads South Bay-based Ajax into the WPSL final four this weekend in Richardson, Texas.

Tangorra, an Arcadia High School product who plays at Cal State L.A., scored five goals and led the conference with seven assists as Pasadena-based LAFC Chelsea reached the Pacific semifinals in its first season.

Emanuel “Manny” Martins is the conference Coach of the Year after guiding LAFC Chelsea to a 6-4-1 mark.

Bosio and Tangorra are joined on the All-Pacific first team by Ajax midfielder Keri Sanchez, who played for the L.A. Sol in Women's Professional Soccer last season, and LAFC Chelsea midfielder/defender Elise Britt, a UCLA senior.

Included on the second team are Ajax forward Shannon Cross (USC/Mira Costa HS) and midfielder Carmen Bognanno, LAFC Chelsea defender Shanna Hudson (USC/Palisades HS), and Claremont Stars forward Lee Klopschinski (Upland HS).

WPSL ALL-PACIFIC
Players of the Year: Dani Bosio (Ajax America) and Ann Marie Tangorra (LAFC Chelsea)
Goalkeeper of the Year: Cori Alexander (California Storm)
Coach of the Year: Emanuel Martins (LAFC Chelsea)

First Team
Goalkeeper: Cori Alexander (California Storm)
Defenders: Dani Bosio (Ajax America), Haley Abbott (North Bay FC Wave)
Midfielders: Ann Marie Tangorra (LAFC Chelsea), Keri Sanchez (Ajax America), Elise Britt (LAFC Chelsea), Marissa Mykines (Spokane), Nine Watkins (North Bay FC Wave)
Forwards: Anessa Patton (Clovis), Fiona O'Sullivan (California Storm), Nicole Wilcox (BSC Portland Rain)

Second Team
Goalkeepers: Lindsay Dickerson (North Bay FC Wave), Kaycee Gunion (San Diego SeaLions)
Defenders: Shanna Hudson (LAFC Chelsea), Shauna Kruger (BSC Portland Rain), Sarah Devine (San Diego SeaLions)
Midfielders: Carmen Bognanno (Ajax America), Sissi (California Storm), Erica Wheeler-Dubin (San Francisco), Koleen Anderson (Clovis)
Forwards: Lee Klopschinski (Claremont Stars), Shannon Cross (Ajax America), Tiara Pittman (Spokane)

The luster of Real Madrid has caused a stir at UCLA, where hundreds of fans are gathering daily outside the North Athletic Field and along the path to the locker room the club is using to snap photos and beg for autographs.

A few players have obliged -- Malian midfielder Mahamadou Diarra signed for nearly 10 minutes following the first training session Thursday morning -- although most exit the field, climb into a motorized cart and are driven to the clubhouse.

Jose Mourinho, who took charge at Real Madrid in late May -- less than a week after guiding Inter Milan to the UEFA Champions League title -- has been holding two training sessions each day, with the morning practice open to media, VIPs and friends. Spectators at Tuesday's session included U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley and two of his assistant coaches, Jesse Marsch and Zak Abdel.

“We're just waiting to see what (U.S. Soccer) decides with Bob,” said Marsch, a former Chivas USA midfielder. “That and reflecting (on the World Cup), but we're mostly past that.”

U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati has not decided whether to extend Bradley's contract or bring in a new coach. Bradley's name had been linked to the coaching opening at London-based Fulham FC, where Americans Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson play, but former Welsh international and Manchester United star Mark Hughes, who was dismissed last December as Manchester City coach, was appointed manager Thursday.

Mourinho, who previously brought Chelsea and Inter Milan to UCLA for preseason training, has sessions planned through Tuesday. The club will fly Wednesday morning to San Francisco for a friendly that night against Mexico's Club America at Candlestick Park, then return to Southern California after the game. The team will train again Thursday and Friday, then play the Galaxy on Aug. 7 at the Rose Bowl.

Real Madrid's roster includes 11 players who competed in the World Cup, but only Portuguese stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe among them have been training at UCLA. Brazilian playmaker Kaka, Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain and midfielder Angel Di Maria, and Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart are expected to arrive Sunday, and five players from the winning Spain side -- including captain Iker Casillas, right back Sergio Ramos and central midfielder Xabi Alonso -- are due in camp Tuesday.

Real Madrid on Friday acquired Sami Khedira, one of the midfielders who had a big impact for Germany at the World Cup, from VfB Stuttgart. No word on whether he will join the team before its L.A. camp has finished.

Ajax America will face Oklahoma Alliance FC in the Women's Premier Soccer League semifinals Saturday night in Richardson, Texas.

The Edmond, Okla.-based Alliance (8-1-0) won the WPSL's Big Sky Conference championship Thursday night with a 3-0 romp over visiting Phoenix Del Sol.

Ajax (8-3-0), based in the South Bay-based club, is seeking its third WPSL title this weekend at UT Dallas. Boston Aztec Breakers Reserves (10-1-1) meet FC Milwaukee Nationals (9-1-1) in the other semifinal, with the title game slated for Sunday.

W-LEAGUE: Unbeaten Buffalo Flash and Vancouver Whitecaps advanced to the W-League final with 3-1 victories Thursday in Canyon Country. The Flash (13-0-2) topped the Atlanta Silverbacks as Canadian national-teamer Kelly Parker scored twice in the second half, her league-best 14th and 15th goals of the season.

Vancouver (8-0-4) beat top-seeded Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues after taking a 2-0 lead by the 13th minute on two Kaylyn Kyle free kicks. Kyle scored in the fourth minute and set up former L.A. Sol defender Martina Franko's header in the 13th.

The Flash and Whitecaps will meet Saturday night at 7 at Canyon High School. The game will be televised by Fox Soccer Channel. Atlanta and Hudson Valley will play in the 3:30 p.m. third-place game.

The W-League final four comes to Canyon High School in Canyon Country for semifinals Thursday and championship and third-place games Saturday.

The W-League, which is part of the United Soccer Leagues' empire, is one of two national amateur/semipro women's leagues.

Here's this week's schedule:

Semifinals (Thursday)
Buffalo Flash (12-0-2) vs. Atlanta SIlverbacks (9-2-1), 5 p.m.
Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues (11-1-0) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (7-0-4), 8 p.m.

Third-place game (Saturday)
Semifinal losers, 3:30 p.m.

Championship (Saturday)
Semifinal winners, 5 p.m.

Let's look at the four competing clubs:

ATLANTA SILVERBACKS
Hometown: Atlanta
This year: 9-2-1, Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference champion
History: Sixth season, all-time record 59-20-6, second final four
Best finish: 2007 runner-up
Head coach: Chris Adams
Top players: D Ronda Brooks, F Kyri-Ann Harbrueger, D Tara Minnax, F Alexa Newfield, M Megan Tomlinson
In brief: The Silverbacks have a balanced attack led by all-league midfielder Tomlinson (6 goals-4 assists) and forwards Newfield (4-7) and Harbrueger (5-0). Tomlinson was a Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year at Georgia, and Newfield is heading into her freshman year at Georgia. Veteran defenders Minnax (ex-Tennessee, played in the Women's United Soccer Association) and Brooks (ex-Auburn) are keys to a defense that has surrendered just eight goals and posted six shutouts in 12 games.

BUFFALO FLASH
Hometown: Elma, N.Y.
This year: 12-0-2, Midwest Division and Central Conference champion
History: Second season, all-time record 22-3-5, first final four
Best finish: 2009 Central Conference semifinalist
Head coach: Aaron Lines
Top players: F Veronica Boquete, D Kimberly Brandao, F Mele French, M Ann-Marie Heatherson, M Kelly Parker, D Eartha Pond, G Pamela Tajonar-Alonso
In brief: Parker, a UTEP product who has played for Canada's national team, is a W-League superstar: She was MVP in 2004 and made her fourth all-league team this season with 13 goals and six assists in nine games. Spanish forward Boquete has seven goals and a league-best eight assists, and veteran French (ex-Sky Blue FC, played for local sides Pali Blues and Ajax America) also has seven goals. Mexican Olympian Tajonar-Alonso and New Jersey-born Portuguese national-teamer Brandao are big in the back for a team that has won 12 in a row, posted 11 shutouts and surrendered just five goals.

HUDSON VALLEY QUICKSTRIKE LADY BLUES
Hometown: Newburgh, N.Y.
This year: 11-1-1, Northeast Division and W-League regular-season champion
History: Fourth season, all-time record 44-9-4, second final four
Best finish: 2009 semifinalist
Head coach: Jesse Kolmel
Top players: F Jackie Acevedo, D Hannah Cerrone, M Gabriela Demoner, G Erin McNulty, M Alicia Tirelli
In brief: Part of the Sky Blue FC family headed by the Women's Professional Soccer club, HVQ, which was known as Jersey Sky Blue in 2007-08, has posted the best regular-season record the past two years, receiving a bye into the final four. Last year's appearance ended quickly with a 4-0 semifinal loss to the Pali Blues; the Lady Blues head into this year's semifinals with a six-game winning streak. Brazilian-born Demoner (8 goals-2 assists), a former Franklin Pierce standout, was an all-league pick, and Acevedo (6-2) and all-conference selection Tirelli (1-5) provide support. McNulty is a Canadian national team backup.

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
This year: 7-0-4, Western Division and Western Conference champion
History: 10th season, all-time record 87-16-18, sixth final four
Best finish: 2004 and 2006 champions
Head coach: Hubert Busby Jr.
Top players: D Melanie Booth, D Martina Franko, D Robyn Gayle, M Kara Lang, F Jodi-Ann Robinson, M/D Sophie Schmidt, F Melissa Tancredi, F Amy Vermeulen
In brief: The Whitecaps, looking to become the first three-time W-League champion, return to the final four after three subpar seasons followed five appearances in their first six seasons. The heart of the team comes from Canada's national team, but their attack may suffer with MVP candidate Tancredi (6 goals-2 assists) and all-conference pick Robinson (3-2) away for other commitments. (Tancredi may play Thursday, but she won't be available Saturday). Former UCLA star Lang is out because of injury. Vancouver is solid at the back with veterans Franko (ex-L.A. Sol) and Gayle, both all-conference selections, and University of Portland star Schmidt -- a certain first-rounder in next year's WPS draft -- can be employed almost anywhere. Busby was an assistant coach for the L.A. Sol last season.

Major League Soccer's All-Star team had never been beaten by club competition. It's likely teams coached by Bruce Arena hadn't conceded nine goals in two nights.

Well, those are two of the firsts from Wednesday night's one-sided but often thrilling All-Star Game in Houston. Manchester United, fielding a young side as it prepares for English Premier League and UEFA Champions League campaigns, romped to a 5-2 victory, scoring its first goal after just 21 seconds and turning back the resurgent All-Stars with three goals in a 15-minute stretch near the end of the second half.

Italian teenager Federico Macheda was the game's MVP after scoring twice in the first 12 minutes -- the first after picking off Kevin Alston's weak pass back to fellow defender Jamison Olave, the second a header from Nani's corner kick -- but what most thrilled the 70,728 who packed Reliant Stadium was Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez's debut for Man United.

The Mexican striker, acquired from Guadalajara in May, came on in the 62nd minute and provided energy and creativity for the Red Devils. He scored the final Man U goal with a nifty move to get clear and a swell half-volley over advancing goalkeeper Nick Rimando from Paul Scholes' long ball.

“It's the perfect start to score a goal, but it's not just the goal, it's his overall movement,” Manchester United captain Ryan Giggs said of Hernandez's debut. “That's what we expect from him. He's a great talent, and we can't wait for him to play in the Premier League.”

GOALS ALLOWED: Arena's teams are getting pummeled. The Galaxy lost, 4-1, Tuesday night in its preliminary-round first-leg meeting with Puerto Rico Islanders in the CONCACAF Champions League, and the All-Stars surrendered more goals than they had in five previous games against British opposition.

FIRST LOSS: This was the seventh time MLS's best has taken on a foreign club. They were 5-0-1 (with wins over Guadalajara in 2003, Fulham in 2005, Chelsea in 2006, Celtic in 2007 and West Ham United in 2008, plus a draw last year against Everton, which then prevailed on penalties).

HOME SWEET HOME: Houston Dynamo forward Brian Ching was behind both goals, scoring from FC Dallas midfielder David Ferreira's free kick to trim the deficit to 2-1 in the 64th minute, then setting up Toronto FC's Dwayne De Rosario -- his former Dynamo teammate -- in the 90th.

GALAXY GUYS: Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts was the only L.A. player to start, and he had a couple of shaky moments in 45 minutes of action. Defender Omar Gonzalez played the entire second half, and Landon Donovan subbed in in the 74th minute. Forward Edson Buddle was the only All-Star who did not play. Donovan and Buddle played 90 minutes Tuesday night; Ricketts and Gonzalez did not play against Puerto Rico.

OTHER LOCALS: Riverside's Chad Marshall, from the Columbus Crew, started on the backline and played 64 minutes. Montclair's Nick Rimando, the former UCLA star who plays for Real Salt Lake, was in the nets in the second half.

ON THE WAY OUT?: Donovan wasn't dismissive when asked if he might be going abroad soon. Manchester City is pursuing the Galaxy captain, and the transfer window remains open until Aug. 15. “We'll see in the next month or so,” he said.

BEST GOAL: Got to go with Tom Cleverley's beauty that lived up to his name and gave Man U a 4-1 lead in the 73rd minute. Cleverley played a give-and-go with Darren Fletcher, juggled it over Wilman Conde and volleyed it home.

LEGENDS ON THE FIELD: Manchester United started Giggs, finished with Scholes and used Edwin van der Sar in goal. Among the missing: Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Park Ji-Sung, Nemanja Vidic, Michael Carrick and Patrice Evra.

BIG CROWD: It is believed that Wednesday's attendance is the fifth-largest in American all-star game history, any sport. The top four: 2010 NBA at Arlington, Texas (108,713), 1996 MLS at East Rutherford, N.J. (78,460), 1959 NFL at the Coliseum (72,250) and 1981 baseball at Cleveland (72,086).

LANDON'S TAKE: “An awesome night,” Donovan said afterward. “The crowd was incredible, we saw seven goals -- I think it was a great night for everyone minus the 25 of us (on the MLS All-Star team).”

SOME AGATE:
MU -- Federico Macheda 1
MU -- Federico Macheda (Nani) 12
MLSAS -- Brian Ching (David Ferreira) 64
MU -- Darron Gibson 70
MU -- Tom Cleverley (Darren Fletcher) 73
MU -- Javier Hernandez (Paul Scholes) 84
MLSAS -- Dwayne De Rosario (Brian Ching) 90

Scoring:

The MLS lineup: Donovan Ricketts/Galaxy (Nick Rimando/RSL, 46); Kevin Alston/New England (Dwayne De Rosario/Toronto FC, 74), Jamison Olave/RSL (Omar Gonzalez/Galaxy, 46), Chad Marshall/Columbus (Wilman Conde/Chicago, 65), Heath Pearce/FC Dallas (Landon Donovan/Galaxy, 74); Shalrie Joseph/New England (Brad Davis/Houston, 76); Guillermo Barros Schelotto/Columbus (David Ferreira/FC Dallas, 46), Javier Morales/RSL (Jaime Moreno/D.C. United, 65), Marco Pappa/Chicago (Jeff Larentowicz/Colorado, 46); Juan Pablo Angel/New York (Brian Ching/Houston, 46), Sebastien Le Toux/Philadelphia (Bobby Convey/San Jose/46).

Did not play: Buddle/Galaxy.

Not all of Real Madrid's stars will be on the plane that arrives Wednesday afternoon at Los Angeles International Airport, but the Spanish powerhouse will be at full strength by the time it meets the L.A. Galaxy at the Rose Bowl on Aug. 7.

Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho, who has previously brought Chelsea and AC Milan to Southern California for preseason training and friendlies, has a superstar roster featuring 11 players who competed at the World Cup in South Africa, including five from champion Spain.

The biggest names: Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored 33 goals in 37 Spanish Primera Liga matches last season, Brazilian playmaker Kaka, Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain, Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart, and Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas, defender Sergio Ramos and midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Casillas and Cristiano Ronaldo captained their teams in South Africa.

Other World Cup players on Real Madrid's roster are Portuguese defender Pepe, Spanish defenders Raul Albiol and Alvaro Arbeola, and Argentine midfielder Angel Di Maria, who just arrived from Portuguese giant Benfica.

The frontline also features Karim Benzema, who was controversially left off France's World Cup roster after he was caught up, along with fellow French stars Franck Ribery, Sidney Govou and Hatem Ben Arfa, in an underage-prostitution scandal in Paris. Benzima was charged last week with solicitation of a minor prostitute.

Real Madrid's roster for the game against the Galaxy (Spanish nationality unless otherwise noted):

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas, Jerzy Dudek (Poland), Antonio Adan
Defenders: Raul Albiol, Alvaro Arbeola, Royston Ricky Drenthe (Netherlands), Ezequiel Garay (Argentina), Pepe (Portugal), Nacho Fernández, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo (Brazil)
Midfielders: Xabi Alonso, Sergio Canales, Lassana Diarra (France), Mahamadou Diarra (Mali), Ángel Fabian Di María (Argentina), Fernando Gago (Argentina), Esteban Granero, Álex Fernández, Kaka (Brazil), Pedro Leon, Marcos Tébar, Rafael van der Vaart (Netherlands)
Forwards: Karim Benzema (France), Gonzalo Higuain (Argentina), Álvaro Morata, Juanfran Moreno, Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

Pali Blues defender Christie Shaner is a finalist for W-League Defender of the Year, and Santa Clarita Blue Heat forward Cherelle Khassal is up for the Rookie of the Year honor.

Shaner, an all-league pick after anchoring Pali's backline, played last season for Sky Blue FC and the L.A. Sol in Women's Professional Soccer. Khassal is a 19-year-old Englishwoman who emerged from Arsenal's academy.

The award finalists:

MVP: Kelly Parker (Buffalo), Rashidah Sherman (New York), Melissa Tancredi (Vancouver).
Rookie of the Year: Morgan Kennedy (Colorado Rush), Cherelle Khassal (Santa Clarita Blue Heat), Rashidah Sherman (New York).
Defender of the Year: Christie Shaner (Pali Blues), Gabriela Toulouse (Washington), Sue Weber (Long Island).
Coach of the Year: Hubert Busby Jr. (Vancouver), Jesse Kolmel (Hudson Valley Quickstrike), Aaron Lines (Buffalo), Win Puffer (Washington).

The Galaxy's five-man contingent for Wednesday's MLS All-Star Game caught a private flight to Houston late Tuesday night, following its CONCACAF Champions League debacle against the Puerto Rico Islanders.

The prospect of playing against Manchester United, maybe the biggest club in the world, might be the best tonic following a 4-1 defeat that puts L.A. on the verge of elimination in a tournament it had genuine aspirations of winning.

“It'll still be stinging tomorrow, believe me,” said Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena, who will guide the All-Stars in the 5:30 p.m. PT game, which will be televised by ESPN2 and Galavision. “But I need to be a good professional as well as our players, and we move on to that challenge tomorrow night in the way we're supposed to. And when we return, we resume business the way we're supposed to.”

How much action Arena gives to Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle will depend on how well they recover after playing the full 90 in Tuesday's 4-1 defeat. Expect goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts and defender Omar Gonzalez to be in the starting lineup; neither played against Puerto Rico.

All four Galaxy players were voted to the All-Star First XI, but Arena and Houston head coach Dominic Kinnear will choose the MLS starting lineup from the entire 23-man roster.

Toronto FC's Dwayne De Rosario also expects to see limited minutes; he played the full 90 in the Reds' 1-0 Champions League win over Honduras' Motagua.

What are Donovan and Buddle expecting to do in Houston?

“I don't know,” Donovan said. “We'll see how my body feels and go from there.”

Said Buddle: “We'll see. I'm just taking it minute by minute. Hopefully, I can do what Bruce wants me to do out there. We'll have plenty of guys out there who didn't pl tonight that can play.”

MLS ALL-STARS
23-man game-day roster
Goalkeepers: Donovan Ricketts (Galaxy), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
Defenders: Bobby Convey (San Jose), Omar Gonzalez (Galaxy), Chad Marshall (Columbus), Jamison Olave (Real Salt Lake), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Wilman Conde (Chicago), Kevin Alston (New England)
Midfielders: Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC), Marco Pappa (Chicago), Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake), Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus), Sebastien Le Toux (Philadelphia), David Ferreira (FC Dallas), Brad Davis (Houston), Shalrie Joseph (New England), Jeff Larentowicz (Colorado)
Forwards: Edson Buddle (Galaxy), Landon Donovan (Galaxy), Juan Pablo Angel (New York), Brian Ching (Houston), Jaime Moreno (D.C. United)

Injured All-Stars
Defender: Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA)
Midfielder: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake)

Inactive All-Stars
Goalkeepers: Kasey Keller (Seattle), Jimmy Nielsen (Kansas City)
Midfielders: Joel Lindpere (New York), Freddie Ljungberg (Seattle), Robbie Russell (Columbus)
Forwards: Conor Casey (Colorado), Fredy Montero (Seattle)

The Galaxy's first CONCACAF Champions League appearance almost certainly will be a short one: They face a nearly insurmountable deficit heading into the second leg of their preliminary round series with the second-tier Puerto Rico Islanders after a stunning 4-1 defeat Tuesday night at the Home Depot Center.

The Islanders, who have made a habit of knocking off bigger and seemingly better clubs in this competition, romped to a 4-0 lead through a set piece, two shots into the net off goalkeeper Josh Saunders hands and one terrific blast by former Galaxy midfielder Josh Hansen before surrendering an own goal with just a few minutes to play.

The Galaxy held possession much of the game and outshot Puerto Rico, 23-7, but former Columbus Crew goalkeeper Bill Gaudette made several superb saves and the USSF Division 2 Pro League side outhustled its host when it most mattered.

“It was one of those games,” Galaxy defender Gregg Berhalter said, “where you just keep knocking your head against the wall, waiting to get a break, and then we give up goals and they score some good goals -- it was just a nightmare. It was one of those games you can't explain, but that's how soccer goes.”

David Foley provided a 26th-minute lead, knocking home the rebound after A.J. DeLaGarza saved Real Salt Lake loaner David Horst's header from a corner kick off the goal line, and former D.C. United forward Nicolas Addlery doubled the advantage with a fine half-volley off Saunders' hands just before halftime.

Hansen, who never played a first-team game in three months with L.A., rocketed in a shot off the right post from 28 yards 10 minutes into the second, and Addlery got his second, also off Saunders' paws, in the 81st minute.

“I think (to lose 4-1) at home, it is embarrassing,” said Edson Buddle, who got the last L.A. touch on Richard Martinez's own goal. “You've got to give credit to Puerto Rico. It does happen. The game has a way of checking you sometimes and putting things in perspective.”

Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said some veteran players didn't give the effort they should have -- forward Alan Gordon and left back Eddie Lewis seem prime suspects -- and that all should “maybe rip the coach here. … Whe you get a result like that, I don't think the coach did a good job tonight either.”

The teams meet again Aug. 4 in Bayamon, and the Galaxy must score at least four goals. A 3-0 L.A. win would even aggregate at 4-4, but Puerto Rico would advance on away goals. A 4-1 win would lead to overtime and, perhaps, penalty kicks. A 4-0 win would send L.A. to the group stage.

“It's incredibly difficult to go anywhere and score four goals,” said Galaxy captain Landon Donovan. “The flipside is if they're able to score four here, we should be able to score four there. We're going to go for it and see what happens.”

ELSEWHERE: Toronto FC, the tournament's Canadian representative, became the first MLS team to win a preliminary-round game in three years since the change in formats, beating Honduras' Motagua, 1-0, on former UCLA standout Chad Barrett's first-half goal.

Both Mexican teams in action won on the road. Cruz Azul rallied from a first-half deficit to beat Panama's San Francisco FC, 3-2, as Emanuel Villa scored a hat trick, and new arrival Rodrigo Ruiz's 83rd-minute goal lifted Santos to a 1-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago's San Juan Jabloteh.

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Preliminary round, first leg
Tuesday
Galaxy (MLS) 1 (og Martinez 83), Puerto Rico Islanders (USSF Division 2 Pro League) 4 (Foley 26, Addlery 45, 81, Hansen 55)
Toronto FC (MLS) 1 (Barrett 20), Motagua (Honduras) 0
San Juan Jabloteh (Trinidad & Tobago) 0, Santos (Mexico) 1 (Ruiz 83)
San Francisco FC (Panama) 2 (Jimenez 20, Torres 44), Cruz Azul (Mexico) 1 (Villa 3, 55, 72)
Wednesday
Marathon (Honduras) at Tauro FC (Panama), 5 p.m.
Isidro Metapan (El Salvador) at Seattle (MLS), 7 p.m.
Joe Public (Trinidad & Tobago) at Brujas (Costa Rica), 7 p.m.
Thursday
Xelaju (Guatemala) at FAS (El Salvador), 7 p.m.