Sacha Klejstan Transfers To RSC Anderlecht

United States international Sacha Kljestan, who was one of the seven players cut from the 30-man roster, has transferred from Chivas USA (MLS) to RSC Anderlecht (Belgium). After more than a week of speculation about a prospective move, Kljestan officially signed a four-year contract with the Belgian club after not playing in Chivas' most recent game against the New York Red Bulls. Kljestan recorded 15 goals and 33 assists in 114 games for Chivas playing in the midfield. He has scored four goals for the United States including a hat trick against Sweden on January 24, 2009. After failing to make the final roster for the United States, Kljestan reportedly was looking to transfer to gain more experience by playing in Europe as well as improving his overall ability against tougher competition. Anderlecht finished first in the Belgian First Division, earning a place in the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

This Is The Los Angeles Galaxy: Sean Franklin

This is Part 14 in a series of articles on the players who make up the 2010 Los Angeles Galaxy. The number 28 has an interesting importance in terms of mathematics, science, and astronomy. It's the second perfect number, the first being six and the next being 496. It's the atomic number of the mineral nickel and the fourth magic number in physics. There are 28 days in a lunar month, and in mathematics, it is a harmonic divisor number, a happy number, a triangular number, a hexagonal number, and a centered nonagonal number. In Gematriya, the system of Hebrew Numerology, the number 28 corresponds to the word koakh, meaning "power" and "energy." 28 is the number used by former NASCAR driver Davey Allison for his entire NASCAR Winston Cup career. 28 is the number of the postal code of the province of Madrid, where clubs like Atletico and Real Madrid ply their trade. And 28 is the number that defender Sean Franklin of the Los Angeles Galaxy wears. Franklin made his mark as a member of the Cal State-Northridge Matadors. With great speed to go with an agile 5-foot-10 frame, Franklin now makes his mark ...

Los Angeles Galaxy Play Worst Football of Season, Lose To Real Salt Lake

For the first few months, the Los Angeles Galaxy established themselves as the top team in Major League Soccer this season. But Real Salt Lake reminded the Galaxy and the rest of the league who the defending MLS Cup champions are. Bruce Arena's Galaxy fell 1-0 to Jason Kreis's Real Salt Lake at Sandy's Rio Tinto Stadium in a match interrupted by lightning. Wait a second. Did they actually watch their unbeaten streak end before that media circus of footballing haves and have-nots known as the FIFA World Cup ever got underway? Regretfully, yes. And while they are still the top team in the league, this was not the best time for the Los Angeles Galaxy to have the wheels fall off and momentum sapped. It was timing of the worst kind. For the Galaxy, it was an unforgivable display of poor football exacerbated by a few factors: too much direct football by Juninho, the inability to cope with the altitude—which resulted in terrible passes—and atrocious defending that led to Javier Morales's goal in the 81st minute. But the biggest factor that destroyed the match for Los Angeles was the absence of Edson Buddle and Landon ...

Is Steve Ralston’s Return to the New England Revolution Good News?

Steve Ralston is back with the New England Revolution. Revs fans are rejoicing the return of one of their favorite, most dependable, and talented players.  As one of those fans, I should be screaming, “Thank God, the Ralston-forcements are here!” And to a degree I am—but only to a degree. In fact, it pains me so to say that this is the worst good news I have heard for a long time. Let’s start with why this is clearly good news for the Revolution. Ralston is a great player. Be it his status as the first-ever MLS Rookie of the Year, his league leading number of starts or assists, or the simple intelligent play he brought to the hectic Revolution midfield for as long as fans can remember. It is clear that Ralston easily fits within the MLS elite. Ralston appears to be a great guy. I’ve briefly met him a number of times at games and season ticket holder events. And while certainly I don’t know him, he always lived up to his reputation as an excellent person. Ralston seems to be a great teammate and captain. As captain, he clearly had the respect of his teammates.  Many have talked publicly about how hard a loss he ...

Is Michael Ballack Going To Portland?

Michael Ballack was released today by Chelsea. He's officially a free agent. He could be perfect for the Portland Timbers for next season. Or, he could not. He's 34. He's coming off an injury. It's doubtful any of Europe's big clubs will want him. Ballack is a rock in the midfield. I'm a strong believer that any designated signees should play center midfield. It's where they can control the game, and guide the other players. He's somebody that has another two or three good seasons in his legs. He could probably use the added rest of not starting a season in September, but rather waiting for next March. But there are more political reasons the Timber ownership should look to sign a name such as Ballack to their roster. He would be a considerable jump up from Freddie Ljungberg, the major signing of their rivals in Seattle. In the event that Vancouver, also joining the MLS in 2011, signs a major name, Portland won't be the last man standing. There are, still, quite a bit of people in Portland who don't feel the MLS is a major league. They're upset that the Triple-A Portland Beavers baseball club is likely to leave town. Signing Michael Ballack will bring ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake: A Play-By-Play (and Other Miscellany)

T-180: Rio Tinto Stadium is a wonderful venue to play and watch football. Not only can it host soccer games, but rugby union contests as well. For example, the youth side of my rugby team, Belmont Shore, earned the ignominious honor of finishing with a lead medal—fourth place—at the national tournament down there. And yes, it does do high school gridiron contests as well, just like the Home Depot Center with their CIF State Championship games. With a 130 x 90 Kentucky Bluegrass surface, Rio Tinto Stadium was constructed from 2006 through 2008. This stadium seats 20,000 for football matches and 25,000 for concerts (including an upcoming gig by Paul McCartney). Stadium amenities include 32 luxury suites, a 2,000-square foot Stadium Club, 1,000 premium club seats, five locker rooms, a 60-foot Video Board, and ribbon LED boards stretching 200 feet long on both the east and west fascia. T-170: The Rio Tinto Group is a diversified, British-Australian, multinational mining and resources group with headquarters in London and Melbourne. The company was founded in 1873, when a multinational consortium of investors purchased a mine complex on the Rio Tinto river, in Huelva, Spain from ...

Sigi Schmid Pleased By Seattle Sounders Preparation

The practice at the Xbox Pitch of Qwest Field Tuesday morning left Seattle Sounders Coach Sigi Schmid pleased. It was reminiscent of last Thursday’s practice prior to Saturday night’s home clash against the New England Revolution.  The pacing and skilled effectiveness of the first half resulted in a 3-0 lead, which was ultimately the final score. Many thought that the spirited practices leading up to the New England game proved to be a strong victory catalyst. Schmid is hoping that the same pattern will assert itself Thursday night in Seattle as the Sounders host DC United.  With a victory, the Sounders can move up to the .500 mark. “Well, definitely we want to do well in this game,” Schmid said in a news conference following Tuesday’s practice.  “What we did against New England was just one game. It was just one step so we have got to take a lot more steps to get ourselves back to where we want to be. But the spirit of the squad is good. I thought training today was good, the finishing was sharp. If we can continue to build upon what we did on Saturday, we will be okay.” The Sounders coach then commented on DC United’s defense: “Well, ...

Fredy Montero, Seattle Sounders’ Determined Striker With Tangible Goals

Fredy Montero is someone who got his first pro soccer tryout with Deportivo Cali at the age of 13. He impressed enough to be signed after just one session. In the manner of accomplished athletes, the Sounders striker embellishes on natural talent with solid effort and a determined resolve to achieve.  He is a player who will unabashedly set goals and talk about them. A forward known for his blazing speed, Montero is determined to convert scoring opportunities into goals.  After the recent 3-0 friendly win against Boca Juniors at the Xbox pitch at Qwest Field, I caught up with him and asked if he had a scoring goal/projection for the current MLS campaign. “My objective is to score 20 goals,” he quickly replied.  “Playing soccer in Colombia with a shorter season I would have a goal more like 12 or 14 goals.  But in Major League Soccer there is a longer season.  Because it is longer my goal is to score 20 goals.” Saturday night the Sounders played its best half of the season.  The team scored three first half goals en route to an impressive 3-0 victory over the New England Revolution.  Montero supplied one of the goals.  Fellow striker Steve Zakuani scored a ...

Should Portland Follow FC Seattle’s Example?

The FC Seattle Sounders made a splash last year in their inaugural year in the MLS. The celebrity ownership of Drew Carey, sponsorship from X-Box, signings of Freddie Ljungberg and Kasey Keller, and, finally, playing in new Qwest Field all made for a massive, and impressive, unveiling of the Seattle soccer team. Both on the field and in the stands, Seattle provided an example of just how big an MLS team's launch can be, constantly exhibiting massive crowds and an impressive team showing. It even found a star-in-the-making in Fredy Montero. When Portland joins the MLS in 2011, it will hope to match the success of its upstate neighbors. But don't expect a repeat of the Seattle strategy. Yes, the Timbers secured $30 million dollars to renovate PGE Park. It will now be strictly a soccer stadium (the AAA Portland Beavers baseball club is rumored to be moving to Beaverton. I sincerely hope they will rename the team the "Beaverton Beavers".) No word exactly on what the renovations will entail, but it's already confirmed that they'll be installing stands along the east-end. Some of the stands will be covered and some will not. There will also be a restaurant strictly for east-end ticket holders. For everyone's sake, ...

Despite Slow Start, Philadelphia Union Still Big at the Box Office

Life as an expansion team in professional sports is rarely rewarding, but despite the fact that the Philadelphia Union are currently 2-6-1 and 14 points behind division-leading Red Bull in the league standings, their supporters still love them. Just five hours after single game tickets went on sale for home games at PPL Park, the Philadelphia Union’s first match in their new stadium sold out. The Union is scheduled to actually play their first game at PPL Park at 5pm on June 27 against the Seattle Sounders. “The incredible reaction we just saw to the first match at PPL Park reaffirms once again the excitement and passion that we witnessed from Union fans during our first two home games,” said Union CEO and operating partner Nick Sakiewicz. As a matter of fact, the team is already accepting $50 deposits to join the season ticket waiting list for the 2011 season. These deposits can later be applied to tickets when and if they become available.   There is a limit of six season tickets per account. Individual and group (15 or more) tickets for all other matches at PPL Park are still available. Individual tickets range from $25 for corner seats through $150 for field level ...