30Apr/100
Bryan Leyva is a Star in the Making for F.C. Dallas
Off the field, he looks like your average high school aged kid, hanging out with teammates, going shopping, and playing video games. But on the field, he is unlike most high schoolers. In fact he is unlike most people on this planet. Bryan Leyva, though only 18 years old, has the majestic touch and dribbling ability, and that if he continues to improve, could rival that of some of the top players in the world, including Bayern Munich midfielder Arjen Robben, A.C. Milan midfielder Ronaldihno, and Barcelona midfielder Xabi Hernandez. The Mexican starlet also made history last year, when he signed professional terms with F.C. Dallas, becoming their first ever academy signing. On April 27, 2010, on the campus of Indiana University, Leyva and his Mexican U-20 team coached by former El Tri member Juan Carlos Chavez, took on the Indiana Hoosiers men's soccer team. With a large crowd on hand, including at least half of them dressed in the iconic green Mexico jersey, Indiana and Mexico U-20 kicked off for just the fifth time in history. Leyva and teammate Gil Cordero played together as attacking midfielders, playing off each other, dribbling through two or more Hoosier defenders at a time, and helping provide a ...30Apr/100
Stephen King Traded by Seattle Sounders to D.C. United
Seattle Sounders FC announced today that midfielder Stephen King has been traded to D.C. United in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2011 MLS Super Draft. King is in his third MLS season. This was his second campaign with the Sounders. He made 10 appearances, including three starts, in 2009. King also started five U.S. Open Cup matches, scoring three goals, including two-game winners. He added one assist. The 24-year-old midfielder, who has not appeared in a match this season, made eight starts and a total of 20 appearances for the Chicago Fire as a rookie in 2008. He was chosen by Seattle in the 2008 expansion draft. “Stephen is a wonderful guy and we want to thank him for his contributions,” coach Sigi Schmid said. “We wish him all the best.” The high point of King’s Seattle career was scoring two game-winning goals in U.S. Open Cup play, including in the semifinal against Houston. King had an impressive collegiate career at the University of Maryland. He led the Terrapins to the 2005 NCAA championship, scoring 15 goals. King was a two-time Hermann Trophy semifinalist.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com30Apr/100
Seattle Sounders Setting Standard for 2010 MLS Attendance
Major League Soccer has long recognized the interest and value of the impressive fan base of the Seattle Sounders FC, and the enthusiasm with which locals fill the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field and root on the home team. Based on current MLS attendance figures, the Sounders on three home dates have averaged an impressive 36,077, drawing a total of 108,231 thus far in the 2010 campaign. Philadelphia Union was next with 34,870, based on one appearance. It should also be noted that Philadelphia will be switching venues in late June when their soccer specific PPL Park is slated to open. PPL Park will hold a capacity of around 18,500, according to Jonathon Feyerherm of The 90th Minute Soccer Blog. Los Angeles Galaxy, while not at the level of support the team enjoyed when David Beckham was healthy, has drawn a solid 61,525 over three appearances, for an average of 20,508. Toronto FC continues to draw solidly. In two appearances, the Canadian club has played to 40,372 patrons, for an average of 20,186 per contest. Real Salt Lake and D.C. United have averaged close to 20,000 fans per game. The Utah club played to a throng of 19,970 in its sole home appearance this season. ...29Apr/100
Seattle Sounders Seek to “Close the Deal”
In sales parlance, one of the key phrases throughout the years has been to “close the deal.” One of the key indicators that separates a poor (or average) sales representative and a stellar one lies in that important closing sequence, when a prospective buyer will say no and walk away or voice acceptance. Often the narrowest of circumstances make the difference. The Seattle Sounders can relate to the “close the deal” slogan with so many MLS contests this season. Following solid efforts, Sigi Schmid’s team has endured many ties when victories were at hand, or have seen a win or draw dissipate and defeat result. The 2010 Sounders season got off on a positive note with an opening 2-0 win over the Philadelphia Union before the home patrons. Seattle had been favored and secured a shutout for good measure. One week later, on April 3, a game with negative future repercussions saw the Sounders fall to the New York Red Bulls 1-0. A decided underdog, the Red Bulls registered the match’s only score in the 21st minute via a Macoumba Kandji kick. The nagging factor, and something that would plague the Sounders in matches to come, lay in missed opportunities. For instance, ask any ...29Apr/100
Columbus Crew Visits Seattle
Guillermo Barros Schelotto is one of the true legends of MLS soccer. He is shown here during Columbus' 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake last week. Seattle Sounder defenders are certain to be watching Schelotto closely given past performance standards of the 36-year-old veteran forward. Schelotto will lead Columbus into action Saturday night at Qwest Field against a team led by Sigi Schmid, whose last coaching stop before coming to Seattle was in Ohio heading the Crew.Begin Slideshow28Apr/100
Seattle Sounders-Columbus Crew: Sounders at Critical Stage
The Sounders are only six games into a 30-game schedule but they have come to an absolutely critical situation this season. After opening the 2010 campaign with a 2-0 home victory over the expansion Philadelphia Union, the Sounders—MLS’ darlings of 2009—have made things difficult for themselves. They won only once in the next five games, coming out with a record of 2-2-2 to date. They sit five points behind undefeated Los Angeles Galaxy for first place in the Western Conference with one extra game played. Seattle was given a chance to pick up some ground the previous weekend with two games against winless FC Dallas and the defensively deficient Toronto FC. Instead of taking advantage of supposedly weaker opponents, Seattle drew Dallas and was then subsequently shutout in a loss against Toronto. Now the Sounders will return home for a crucial match against undefeated Columbus Crew, with a game against the Galaxy looming next weekend. The Sounders surprisingly are experiencing weaknesses all over the field. The usually strong defensive unit has allowed two goals in three of the past four games, giving the team a 1-1-2 record in that stretch. The defense cannot afford to give up that many goals because the offense has had an ...28Apr/100
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Philadelphia Union: From Wiz to Matching Wits
For Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy, the attention shifts from the Wiz[ards]...to Whiz Wits. As in a city blessed with cheeseteaks that are best made with Cheese Whiz and onions (hence, Whiz Wit). The Galaxy will face the Philadelphia Union for the very first time on Saturday, May 1, at the Home Depot Center. Arena himself welcomed the change of scenery with open arms. “Admittedly, we played poorly on Saturday,” said Arena during the team's Tuesday training session. "Despite the fact that you can complain about the field and it was a little slick and everything else, we weren’t good. “You don’t ever want to play on that field in a game I think that means a lot because there is so much out of your control, it’s tough. It’s a tough venue to play in. I’m happy it’s out of the way and we’re out of there fairly untarnished. We didn’t play well so we need to accept that fact and move on from there. "There’s no question about it. We have to get better this week like it is every week and be prepared to play a better game on Saturday.” The Union are undergoing an ...28Apr/100
Philadelpha Falls in Open Cup and Loses Le Toux, Too!
The seeds of a Philadelphia Union-New York Red Bull rivalry were actually planted long before the two teams first met this past Saturday thanks in part to the Union Supporters group, Son’s Of Ben. You see the SOB’s have long made it a point to torment Red Bull fans with chants of "We've won as many championships as you have," and for those of you keeping count, that’s zero championships for NY in 15 years. The Bens would actually book passage to Red Bulls games just to establish themselves as an up and coming supporters group and wanted to remind NY fans that they were here to stay. That may be the case, but on the field, the Red Bulls have jumped on the early advantage, beating the Union 2-1 in league play over the weekend and by the same score again tonight in the Lamar Hunt Open Cup Play in game. New York, playing most of their younger players, carried the play of game in the first half and opened the scoring in the 16th minute, when Union goal keeper Chris Seitz failed to secure a Brian Neilson shot that eventually ended up on the boot of rookie Connor Chinn and into the back of ...27Apr/100
MLS Seattle Sounders: A Quick Endurance Test and a Bad Call
Some people, based on appearance, cannot easily be pinpointed. Their appearances do not provide clues to their professions. This cannot be said about Sigi Schmid, veteran MLS coaching legend who currently patrols the sidelines for the Seattle Sounders FC. Take a good look at Schmid and you see appearance mirroring profession. Schmid has enough of that gray hair that coaches get from all those agonizing and tense moments when games are in a deciding stage, as well as the shock and disappointment when things do not go according to plan despite the most extensive preparation. Then there are those lines of care, developed from years on the firing line. From exposing oneself to public opinion and the give and take of coaching in the MLS, a position sustained by making solid and correct choices. In short, Schmid looks like a Major League Soccer coach. He has seen it all and last week there was an occasion to try any coach’s patience. It was one of those moments that puts gray hairs on one’s head and lines of care on one’s face. Action ended last Thursday in Frisco, Texas with the scoreboard showing a 2-2 deadlock between host Dallas and visiting Seattle. On some occasions a tie ...27Apr/100