Major League Soccer

Los Angeles acquires Quaranta, Jazic; Red Bulls set to sign Kovalenko.

Santino Quaranta, 21 and in his sixth MLS season, was traded to the Los Angeles Galaxy. -- D.C. United web site photo --

CARSON, Calif. (Wednesday, August 8, 2006) -- The Los Angeles Galaxy has acquired striker Santino Quaranta from D.C. United in exchange for a partial allocation and a conditional 2008 Major League Soccer draft pick, either a first- or second-rounder in 2008.

Yesterday, the Galaxy signed Canadian national team defender\midfielder Ante Jazic.

United also is expected to gain another partial allocation from the New York Red Bulls should midfielder Dema Kovalenko, who did not re-sign this season with D.C., sign with the Red Bulls, as expected. Combined with the Quaranta deal, United will have the ability to acquire a significant player, though it probably will not do so until next season.

Ballyhooed when United signed him as a 16-year-old as the eighth overall 2001 draft pick, Quaranta was, at the time, the youngest player ever drafted in MLS. Quaranta's career has been hampered by injuries and also personal problems; in six MLS seasons, he has been limited to 62 regular-season matches in which he scored 14 goals.

"With this move, we have added a young, exciting and dynamic player who appreciates the incredible opportunity to play with the Galaxy," L.A. president and general manager Alexi Lalas said in a team press release. "We expect him to contribute immediately as we continue the process of improving this team."

Quaranta, 21, who has made nine appearances for the United States men, was limited to four games with United in 2006 because of a right hamstring injury. Recently, he took leave of the team for several days to tend to family problems.

"He is a young, electrifying player who has played internationally and has the potential to add a lot of quality to our team," Galaxy coach Frank Yallop said.

As a rookie in 2001, Quaranta burst on to the MLS scene by scoring five goals and registering one assist in 16 games en route to earning a trip to the MLS All-Star game. Limited by various injuries over his next three seasons, Quaranta appeared in 18 games in 2005, recording five goals and five assists.

"This trade to the Galaxy will give us important allocation money for future use and will provide Santino with a change of scenery," United technical director Dave Kasper said on the club web site.

In 2005, Quaranta played for the U.S. men in the Gold Cup and World Cup qualifying matches, recording one assist in nine games. Previously, Quaranta starred for the U.S. under-17 men, posting 17 goals and 11 assists in 32 games in 2001.

Quaranta is expected to available for action when the Galaxy meets the Houston Dynamo tomorrow night.

Jazic will also be available tomorrow. "Ante is an experienced left back who will bring some much-needed composure and bite to the position," Lalas said in a release. "It's a pity he's Canadian, but I guess nobody's perfect, eh?"

Jazic, 30, at 5-foot-11 and 175-pounds, most recently played two seasons with Kuban Krasnodar of the Russian Premier League, joining the club in July 2004. Prior to that, he played with Rapid Vienna of the Austrian First Division in 2001 following several years in Croatia with Hajduk Split (1999-2001) and Hrvatski Dragovoljac (1997-99).

"He certainly adds to our roster," Yallop said.

Jazic last appeared for Canada March 1 in a 2-0 victory over Austria. Among his 15 caps were appearances in the preliminary and semifinal rounds of 2006 World Cup qualifying. His first played for Canada on May 18, 1998 in a 1-0 win over Macedonia.

"Hopefully, I can help the team earn a playoff spot," Jazic said in a team release.

Kovalenko trained with the Red Bulls yesterday, former U.S. men's manager Bruce Arena's official first day at the helm.

Kovalenko played eight season in MLS, four seasons with the Chicago Fire followed by four years with United, registering 34 goals and 34 assists. He also has five goals and three assists in 25 playoff matches with the two teams

DENVER -- The Colorado Rapids extended the contract of coach Fernando Clavijo for two years to run through the 2008 season.

Clavijo's initial two-year pact with the club was to expire at the end of the year.

"I'm extremely pleased and thankful for the trust put in me to be able to go on and finish the project that I started at the beginning of 2005," Clavijo said is a club press release. "Our team has come long way since last season, but there is still work to be done in this three-year plan to be positioned as the franchise at the top of MLS."

Colorado is currently third in the Western Conference at 8-7-4 with 28 points, giving the team a cumulative a 21-20-10 (.510) regular-season mark under Clavijo. In the 2005 playoffs, the Rapids lost to Los Angeles 2-0 in the conference final after eliminating FC Dallas in the semifinals.

"We believe in continuity as a base for success and want to make sure that he carries on with his work as he continues to successfully develop our club." Jeff Plush, Colorado vice president and managing director said in the press release.

Clavijo appeared 61 times for the U.S. men, including 55 starts, between 1990-1994, culminating with three appearances in the 1994 World Cup. A veteran of the old North American Soccer League, he was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame last August.

SALT LAKE CITY - Real Salt Lake coach John Ellinger told the Deseret News he expects midfielder Jafet Soto to sign a contract with the team by the end of the week.

Soto, 30, is a veteran of the Mexican First Division and the Costa Rica national team, playing in qualifying for the 2006 World Cup.

RSL already has two Costa Ricans, midfielder Douglas Sequeira and defender Daniel Torres, on its roster.

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