David Beckham and Cuauhtemoc Blanco, the league's two highest-profile, highest-paid players, are in the semifinals this weekend. They're complemented by two of the most prolific U.S. scorers: the Los Angeles Galaxy's Landon Donovan and the Chicago Fire's Brian McBride.

Los Angeles will face the Houston Dynamo trio of national team mainstays (Brian Ching, Ricardo Clark, Stuart Holden) playing for a celebrity co-owner, boxer Oscar De La Hoya.

The underdog of the semifinals quartet is Real Salt Lake, which eked into the playoffs and upset the defending champion Columbus Crew after staying under the radar for most of the season.

"Anybody who has this (Salt Lake) badge on this chest, they're not going to get as much media coverage as they should," goalkeeper Nick Rimando says.

A look at the stars in each matchup:

Houston at Los Angeles (11 p.m. ET Friday, ESPN2): Beckham started the attack leading to the Galaxy's winning goal with a long pinpoint pass into Donovan's path. Donovan crossed to Mike Magee, who was fouled to set up a penalty kick that Donovan converted.

"(Donovan has) always been a confident guy, but I think this year he realizes he can change a game and he goes out there with that mentality," Ching says.

Ching, who broke a stalemate against the Seattle Sounders with a powerful strike in extra time, isn't just a big target player who scores with his head.

"He can score goals with his left foot and right foot," Los Angeles coach Bruce Arena says. "He's a complete forward."

De La Hoya has many business interests but isn't an absentee owner. He was an upbeat presence in the Dynamo locker room after the team's 11-game unbeaten run was broken in Los Angeles in June, goalkeeper Pat Onstad says.

"He was pretty upbeat and positive," Onstad says. "I think he wants the sport to succeed, particularly in Houston."

Salt Lake at Chicago (8 p.m. ET Saturday, Fox Soccer Channel): Salt Lake has fewer marquee names but does have 12-year MLS veteran Andy Williams and longtime U.S. team player Clint Mathis.

Williams, who scored an insurance goal for Salt Lake at Columbus, is a steady and skilled player who has accepted coach Jason Kreis' challenge to put in the required effort on both sides of the ball, a challenge Kreis made in his first offseason after becoming coach in 2007.

"He worked extremely hard that offseason and came in fit and focused," Kreis says.

For Chicago, Blanco completed the comeback against the New England Revolution, taking Patrick Nyarko's pass in the box, picking his spot and drilling a late winner. Rookie teammate Baggio Husidic says the Mexican veteran teaches by example with his creativity.

"He's played a big part of my development in passing and reading the game better," Husidic says.

Enlarge By Jim Prisching, AP Chicago's Cuauhtemoc Blanco has mentored young teammates.