Seattle Sounders Launch Surge With Big Help From International Talent

When Sounders’ fortunes were plummeting earlier in the season top brass knew that the alarming spiral was due to more than injury misfortunes, though they were indeed a factor. The Sounders needed to jump start their season after falling to 4-8-4 in MLS Western Conference Standings. They now stand at .500 with an 8-8-4 mark with 28 points and a chance to move into winning territory Saturday night with a win against Chivas U.S.A. at Home Depot Center. The match is slated to begin at 8 p.m. PT.It was at the Home Depot Center in a July 4th 3-1 loss to the L.A. Galaxy, that the team hit rock bottom.“We need to do some tightening in the midfield area,” Coach Sigi Schmid exclaimed.  “We need to toughen up and close up holes that are allowing people to roam free and score.”The change occurred, the middle was tightened, but there was great improvement on offense as well. Some of that progress, understandably, was occasioned by the tougher defense and greater opportunity to possess the ball and mount offensive attacks.Two critical and well-timed moves by General Manager Adrian Hanauer in the front office assisted the current Seattle victory surge. Two World ...

Thanks to LA Galaxy, the Ailing Game of Soccer Survives in America

CARSON, Calif.—Ever seen the diverse town worship an unpopular sport here in the origin of an enigmatic, paranoid town, unlike in other countries where fans revere the fascinating sport and blow on annoying vuvuzelas, an obnoxious buzzing sound that bothers our nerves badly? What is increasingly discovered in Hollywood is that the masses are obsessed with superstars and celebrities, more than the sport or cinematic script itself, and hastily, the famous human being becomes a publicity magnet in a town where stars are truly admired. It’s always fun to gaze at a sporting icon locally and during the summer months, if someone is paying close attention the ultimate star is Landon Donovan, a famous soccer star who is idolized and known for lifting the ratings of a dull event. Without him, the Los Angeles Galaxy constitutes no buzz, no hearsay, not even an acknowledgement in the front page of the Los Angeles Times sports section. But the presence of Donovan bolsters an uneventful game in a nation that only glances at soccer during the World Cup, optimistic of a spectacular finish to cure a lowly event. It’s almost realistic to believe that he markets the game of soccer in the states and ...

Sounders-Dynamo: Latin Combo Fernandez, Montero Delivers Win in Second Half

The Latin Combo delivers when needed, as the visiting Houston Dynamo learned when the Seattle Sounders capitalized on goals from Colombian Fredy Montero and Uruguayan Alvaro Fernandez in a 2-0 triumph before 36,111 fans Sunday night at the Xbox Pitch of Qwest Field. The Montero goal in the 64th minute continued the rampaging pace of the Colombian Comet that earned him MLS Player of the Month honors for July.  Montero’s eighth goal of the campaign came following a long punt by goalkeeper Kasey Keller. With a Dynamo defender draped on his back, Montero chested the ball down, spun to his left, and drove a 15-yard effort past goalkeeper Tally Hall. In addition to securing a clean sheet for the evening, Keller achieved that goalkeeper rarity: an assist, on the Montero tally.  It marked the first ever in Sounders franchise history for a goalkeeper. Alvaro Fernandez has, for the second time in a row, come into a match in the second half and tallied an important goal.  Last week, he secured a Seattle aggregate win on points over Metapan on a muddy San Salvador field to earn a 1-1 tie and 2-1 overall triumph as the Sounders moved on to the next round of the ...

MLS Cup: The Case for the New York Red Bulls

Yesterday's game between the Fire and the Red Bulls may have been one of the most anticipated games in the league's history. The Red Bulls controlled the tempo for most of the game and got opportunity after opportunity to score. Although they didn't score, we got to see what they were made of. And trust me, it will only get better from here. Over the span of about a month, Red Bull GM Erik Soler has signed former Barcelona stars Thierry Henry and Rafael Marquez. Making these moves shows that the Red Bulls believe they can win the MLS Cup this year. And now that they have made these moves, they should win the MLS Cup. Pairing Henry up front with Juan Pablo Angel (one of my personal favorite players) gives a dynamic duo that will give defensive lines nightmares. Right now, Angel has twelve goals and one assist.   With Henry giving teams more to worry about, those numbers will grow, and in time, they will learn each other's tendencies (such as Angel holding the ball for a split second before shooting). I think this is the best forward combo in the league. Adding Marquez into the mix gives the Red Bulls ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Red Bull New York: Back to the Major League Grind

After an underachieving stretch of matches that highlighted (or lowlighted, depending on your side of spectrum) July and early August, the Los Angeles Galaxy return to Major League Soccer play with nothing else to play for other than the trophies the league has to offer. The home stretch of the 2010-11 season for Bruce Arena's club begins with a road trip to the Red Bull Arena, where the New York Red Bulls await. The Galaxy's lead in the overall standings has been reduced to a mere three points. That's because the Columbus Crew sit at 37 points (11-4-4) while the Galaxy are stuck at 40 (12-3-4). With the race for the Shield entering the final two months of play, every game counts, and every victory will be important. Los Angeles cannot afford to let their efforts go to waste. Especially with the revamped New York Red Bulls, who have Rafa Marquez and Thierry Henry among their new signings. Combined with the scoring ability of Juan Pablo Angel, the Red Bulls will stop at nothing to make things miserable for the struggling Galaxy back ...

New York Red Bulls Misfire Against Chicago to a Draw

For the fifth consecutive game, the New York Red Bulls missed their opportunity to earn a win. With a 0-1-4 record during this span, the Red Bulls are now nine points behind Easter Conference Leader, the Columbus Crew. This game marked the debut of the Red Bulls' Rafael Marquez playing alongside Juan Pablo Angel and Thierry Henry. Rafa Marquez played for 61 minutes and he made it clear to his his team and Red Bull fans who's in charge. Thierry Henry played aggressively in the first half and almost scored an goal in the 21st minute. He did leave the game in the 45th minute because he suffered a groin strain. For Chicago this was Nery Castillo's first match with the Chicago Fire, playing with recently traded ex-Seattle Sounder Freddie Ljungberg. When Castillo made his Fire debut in the 56th minute, fireworks went off and the crowd erupted into pandemonium as he entered the pitch.  For the first time ever in a MLS match, a total of five designated players competed against each other. With all the star power in this game, the game belonged to Chicago Fire's goalkeeper Sean Johnson. With his Herculean effort, he negated the Red Bulls ...

MLS Should Set Landon Donovan Free

While the English Premier League season kicking off in less than a week, we know American star Landon Donovan won’t be playing in England this year, but across the Atlantic for his hometown Galaxy. Donovan had spent three months with Everton in the EPL last season, this year however a transfer to the premier league looks highly unlikely. MLS commissioner Don Garber has put a hefty price on Donovan in order to keep Donovan in the states. Garber realizes that Donovan is the face of American soccer, the most recognizable American soccer player, and the best player the country has ever produced, he feels the league needs Donovan in order to succeed, but does Donovan need MLS?  I understand that Garber wants to keep the best American player in America, but how does keeping Donovan in the MLS validate US soccer around the world? Which is the ultimate goal, isn’t it? Wouldn’t it be better if America had its best player playing overseas against better competition, proving that the US can produce world class soccer players? Garber said “MLS needs soccer heroes, and we have a great American soccer hero playing for us in LA, holding the torch for the sport in our ...

Henry, Marquez Converge at Red Bulls-Fire Game but Are Out-Shined

Arguably the greatest trio in MLS history played their first game together at Toyota Park in Chicago. Despite numerous chances the final score was 0-0.    New York's combination of Thierry Henry, Juan Pablo Angel, and Rafael Marquez overshadowed the massive Fire trade for Freddie Ljungberg and the acquisition of Nery Castillo during the pre-game hype. Yet, the story of the game was rookie Fire goalie Sean Johnson, who made a number of critical saves to keep a clean sheet.   The majority of the talk surrounded Thierry Henry, who has looked very good in his two Red Bull appearances thus far. He has been involved in three goals and connected well with teammates, especially star striker Juan Pablo Angel.   Rafael Marquez signed last week, and this was his first game in a Red Bull uniform. He is expected to be a force in the midfield and at the back. Winning the ball and directing play are his strengths.   Meanwhile, Freddie Ljungeberg moved to Chicago in late July from Seattle for a couple of draft picks. He has much experience playing in the MLS and is great at moving the ball down the field.   The other Fire signing, Nery Castillo, also debuted tonight. He is ...

American Soccer Fan Favorite Clint Mathis Retires, Leaving Strong Legacy

Clint Mathis, one of the most memorable and beloved soccer players of his generation, retired after starting Saturday’s Los Angeles Galaxy-Real Madrid exhibition match. With a career spanning 13 professional seasons, Mathis was successful at the college, club, country, and international club levels. He had a nose for goal and carried along an iconic personality. Mathis was a star for four years at the University of South Carolina. He scored 53 goals and added 15 assists in 58 total games; he was a two-time All-American and set the school record as a sophomore with 25 goals in one season, leading his team to the NCAA tournament all four years. His goal scoring prowess really progressed in Mathis’ time with Major League Soccer. After being a first round draft pick of the Los Angeles Galaxy in 1998, Mathis finished his rookie season with five goals and 10 assists, establishing himself as a rising talent. In 2000, he was traded to the MetroStars where he quickly solidified his presence as one of the best playmakers America has produced. The MetroStars had a dismal 1999 season, but were instantly uplifted with Mathis’ arrival. He scored 13 goals and 13 assists in 21 games with the team that season, including ...

Oh No! The New England Revolution Might Be Good

There is a strange feeling hovering around the New England Revolution’s most ardent fanbase right now.  And it is hard to describe. The Steve Ralston retirement debacle was the last in a series of “Can you do anything right?” moments.  (Yes, I know “it was the league office’s fault," but please, he’s a Revolution player, the Revolution promoted the game as his retirement send-off, and fans expect the Revolution front office talks to the league more than they do. It was sad.) However, over the last few weeks odd things have been happening on and off the field.  Good things.  And it’s not clear the fans are at all sure how to deal with good news.  And maybe rightly. What’s been going on? Well, for one, the Revolution have been winning some games.  They might not be beautiful, they might mostly be SuperLiga and not MLS games, but they are not losing. That’s a start. In fact, they are even heading to the final of the odd, but nonetheless interesting, SuperLiga competition.   It’s a great showing by the team, and something every supporter is happy to see. Second, the Revolution front office decided that in 2011 there would be seating on both sides of the field ...