Seattle Sounders

Even with players away on international action this weekend there was still a full slate of MLS games. The headline game was the match between RSL and the LA Galaxy, which RSL easily one. At the other end of the table, the Columbus Crew are still winless to begin the season.

Real Salt Lake 4 LA Galaxy 1
Javier Morales scored twice and added an assist as Real Salt Lake strolled bast the LA Galaxy. RSL got off to a great start when Morales assisted on Andy Williams’ goal in the 2nd minute. Morales then made in 2-0 after only 10 minutes when he scored for the penalty spot. Morales then beat Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders from 20 yards out in the 41st minute to send RSL into halftime with a 3-0 lead.

MLS Power Rankings:Week 1

by David on March 23, 2011

We have had one week of action in Major League Soccer which means it is time to update our MLS Power Rankings.

After a season-opening victory, Real Salt Lake maintained its spot atop the MLS Power Rankings, and RSL faces a huge game this weekend against the number 3 ranked LA Galaxy, who will be without Landon Donovan, Alvaro Saborio because of international duty.

MLS Power Rankings Week 1

1. REAL SALT LAKE (1-0-0)
Last week: Beat San Jose, 1-0, on Saturday.

This week: vs. Los Angeles Galaxy, Saturday, 9 p.m.

Juninho’s goal in the 58th minute stood to give the LA Galaxy a 1-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders in the first match of the 2011 MLS season.

Despite a 6-2 disadvantage in shots on goal, Juninho made the Galaxy’s biggest chance count in front of a crowd of 36,433 at Seattle’s Qwest Field, the largest ever for a Sounders game at home.

Seattle held the better of possession for most of the first half, but did not have anything to show for it. Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders recorded five first half saves for LA, while the Galaxy didn’t record a shot on goal.

leadingMajor League Soccer returns Tuesday as the Seattle Sounders host last season’s Supporters’ Shield-winning LA Galaxy in front of what is sure to be raucous crowd at Quest Field.

“There’s a lot at stake because obviously they are the team that knocked us out of the playoffs, so we want to come out and we want to play well for that reason,” Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid said.

Team Notes
Seattle Sounders FC
A sense of urgency has pervaded Seattle’s preseason as the expectations have risen in the franchise’s third year. Schmid presides over a roster bolstered in the offseason by the arrivals of Erik Friberg (BK Häcken, Sweden) and O’Brian White (Toronto FC).

Ten Toughest Venues In MLS

by David on March 11, 2011

P1190419Major League Soccer polled players throughout the league to find out the most difficult place to play. Whose supporters make their stadium the toughest place to go and get a result? While you can probably guess that Seattle is number 1, some of the other results might surprise you.

1. Qwest Field (Seattle Sounders)
Is there any way 36,000 fans can’t make a difference? When defenders can’t hear their ‘keeper, even within the 18-yard box, it’s a problem.

2. Rio Tinto Stadium (Real Salt Lake)
They may not be as hyped as the fans in Seattle or Toronto, but RSL’s loyalists make Sandy, Utah, a true fortress (and the team has the home record to prove it).

MLS Preseason Rankings

by David on January 26, 2011

Major League Soccer clubs have either opened up their training camp or about too. So it is a perfect time them for the first MLS rankings of 2011, courtesy of the MLS Soccer.

There is little surprise that the team who made the single biggest splash this offseason is ranked number one. Couple of surprises for me in that the Philadelphia Union is ranked #10 as they enter their second year while the Revs are ranked #17, below the expansion Portland Timbers. Do you agree or disagree with the rankings?

MLS Offseason Transactions

by David on December 23, 2010

Now that Major League Soccer has announced the schedule for First Kick 2011, fans can start to plan for the 2011 MLS season.

It has been a busy off-season for MLS clubs and here is a run down of all the transactions that took place this off season.

MLS Offseason Transactions

Chicago Fire
In: Gibbs (Re-Entry Stage 2)

OUT: C.J. Brown (retired), Krysztof Krol (loan expired), Brian McBride (retired) Peter Lowry (expansion draft to POR), John Thorrington (expansion draft to VAN), Collins John (released), Wilman Conde (signed with Atlas)

LA Galaxy Pick Up Juan Pablo Angel

by David on December 15, 2010

Today’s was the MLS Re-Entry Draft, which is usually a pretty boring affair. But not this year as eight players were chosen. The biggest name being Juan Pablo Angel who went west to the Los Angeles Galaxy where Angel will be reunited with his former coach Bruce  Arena.

Ángel, who scored 61 goals (including playoffs) in four seasons in New York, could line up a front line of Ángel and 2010 Best XI selection Edson Buddle, along with big names Landon Donovan and David Beckham in pursuit of a second consecutive Supporters’ Shield. With the Galaxy taking on Angel’s salary, that would appear to end any hopes of the Galaxy bringing Ronaldinho next summer.

The MLS playoffs took a strange turn in the first round and many of the expected favorites for the semi-finals suffered shock defeats and are now out of the race for the MLS Cup. In fact three out of four of the matches ended with the better league record team losing to the underdog. The upsets likely will not please the league office considering the television ratings will likely take a small hit due to many stars heading home earlier then expected, but the better team won the match and deserves to continue on. But instead of Thierry Henry and Guillermo Barros Schelotto names being screamed this upcoming month expect to here of Chris Wondolowski and Conor Casey’s.

More upsets in MLS Playoffs

by David on November 7, 2010

The MLS Playoffs are not working out how Don Garber planned

First, the most expensive team in MLS, the New York Red Bulls get stunned at home by the San Jose Earthquakes. The the defending MLS Cup champion’s Real Salt Lake were eliminated by FC Dallas and the Colorado Rapids beat the favored Columbus Crew to set up an unlikely Eastern Conference final on Nov. 13 between the Rapids and Earthquakes.

Colorado advanced to the Eastern Conference final after beating the Crew on penalty kicks. The Crew won the game 2-1, but the aggregate was tied 2-2 after Colorado won the first game 1-0 at home on Oct. 28.