The L.A. Galaxy pulled ahead of the Sounders FC in the MLS standing tonight with a very impressive 2-0 win at Chicago. (And that, of course, without David Beckham.)

However, the ESPN2 crew had a lot of love for the Sounders during a halftime look at the league, saying this: "The Seattle Sounders are a great story on the field and in the seats, packing the joint every night out. ...

"It's huge (for the league.) For the Seattle Sounders not only to be an expansion team, to not just go out there but to do it with class. Everthing about that organization is brilliant: the marketing, the fans are excellent, they're always involved, the environment that's there. And now Sigi Schmid -- they get the No. 1 guy that just won the league with the Columbus Crew, they put him in charge and he's done a very good job with this team. It's excellent to watch them play. Great to be in those stadiums with that environment."

Of course, it's not surprising that the Sounders would get a little love on ESPN2, and they'll be on the Deuce at 7 p.m. Thursday, meeting the New England Revolution ... and needing a full three points to get back ahead of the Galaxy.

Here's a look ahead to that one:

NEW ENGLAND (6-6-6; 24 pts.)
AT SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC (8-5-8; 32)
7 p.m., Qwest Field.
TV: ESPN2.
Radio: 97.3 FM (in Spanish on 1210 AM).

Head-to-head: First meeting. Sounders visit New England on Sept. 26.

Team leaders: For New England – G 6 Steve Ralston; A 6 Shalrie Joseph; S 27 Kheli Dube; SOG 10 Ralston. For Seattle – G 10 Fredy Montero; A 7 Nate Jaqua; S 64 Montero; SOG 23 Montero.

Schmid scouting report: “Their season has been up and down because they have had a number of injuries. They are a good team. They have a lot of fight. They know how to win. And, they are a team that is going to be tough.”

Notes: New England is the only MLS team that the Sounders haven’t faced. … The Revs are 7-7-3 all-time against first-year MLS clubs, and 6-2-3 since 2005. … Seattle is 6-1-4 at home, while New England is 2-4-3 on the road. However, the Revs are 2-2-0 on the road against Western Conference opponents, including a 1-0 win at league-leading Houston. … The Revolution will be without Taylor Twellman (concussion) and Chris Albright (meniscus tear). Jay Heaps (hamstring) is listed as probable. New England coach Steve Nicol also will miss the game due to league suspension for midconduct during the Aug. 1 game against Toronto. … For Seattle, Freddie Ljungberg (disorientation), Tyrone Marshall (red-card suspension), Stephen King (hamstring) and Terry Boss (concussion) are out. Ben Dragavon has been selected from the MLS goalkeeper pool for this game. … Seattle’s Sanna Nyassi and New England’s Sainey Nyassi are twin brothers. … Montero is tied for second in MLS goals scored. … The game is sold out. … Volunteers will collect schools supplies and cash donations at the stadium gates for donation to children in need.

Next: At Houston, 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Robertson Stadium; KONG 6/16.

Los Angeles will move even with the Sounders with a draw and pass them with a win tonight in Chicago.

The Galaxy game at Chicago will be shown live at 6 p.m. today on ESPN2.

Here's a preview from the MLS website.

Freddie Ljungberg worked out lightly and apart from the team again today, and coach Sigi Schmid said he won't play in tomorrow's game against the Revolution. There was also some implication he probably won't play Sunday in Houston either.

However, if there was good news it was word that tests trying to find the cause of Ljungberg's recent head/memory/vision problems came back negative.

And while that seems to eliminate certain grim possibilities, no one yet seems sure what is causing the problems. (Or at least no one is saying.) Everyone seems certain it's not migraines this time. And Schmid implied it might simply be diet or some other random factor that might have changed since Ljungberg's move to the Northwest.

To be continued, I suppose.

Meanwhile, Schmid also mentioned that Stephen King probably won't play due to hamstring. Meanwhile, reserve keeper Terry Boss has suffered a concussion and is unavailable. With Chris Eylander not yet ready to come off the injured list, the Sounders have again acquired Ben Dragavon from the MLS keeper pool, and he'll be in reserve for the Revs.