Will the Seattle Sounders’ Surge Continue?

Many skeptics had already written off the Seattle Sounders several weeks ago for the 2010 season, convinced that the team could never make the playoffs in its second season of MLS existence. Instead Coach Sigi Schmid’s team, bolstered by the return of some injured players along with foreign acquisitions Blaise Nkufo and Alvaro Fernandez, is now in comfortable playoff striking range as well as faring successfully in non-league competition. Seattle Sounders FC hopes to continue its current surge as the Rave Green returns from 3,000 miles away in San Salvador to the friendly confines of Qwest Field for a match against the Houston Dynamo. Seattle can further climb up the Western Conference of MLS when it hosts the Dynamo on Sunday night at 8 p.m. PT. Undefeated in its last four MLS matches and in seven games over all competitions, Sounders FC at a current 7-8-4 and 25 points has vaulted from seventh to fourth in the West, two points behind FC Dallas. Seattle has won three straight and has not lost in its last four MLS starts dating back to July 11. The seven-game unbeaten run of 5-0-2 in all competitions began with a 2-0 win over the L.A. Galaxy in a July ...

Schellas Hyndman, Kasey Keller Discuss Major League Soccer Parity

Schellas Hyndman and Kasey Keller, two accomplished people within the Major League Soccer fraternity, had interesting points to make recently about parity. When Hyndman met the media following a recent 1-1 tie that his FC Dallas team achieved in Seattle it was with the buoyant optimism one associates with a victory. The Dallas management was fortunate to see that there was a gigantic soccer legend within their city and made a successful move to sign Hyndman after he had posted an awesome 466-122-49 figure at Southern Methodist. If there is one thing that such an eye-popping college record reveals about Hyndman it is that he knows the ways to win.  He is currently being discussed as a serious Coach of the Year candidate in the MLS after leading the team upward from lesser accomplishments before he took over as coach  to a current glossy 6-2-9 mark. The nine tie record is interesting.  It reveals a shrewd knowledge of what it takes to achieve success in the MLS, as Hyndman revealed that night following the hard fought 1-1 draw with the Seattle Sounders. “This is a tough place to come in and get a win given the big crowd factor supporting the home team,” Hyndman acknowledged.  ...

Rafael Marquez Signs with New York Red Bulls, Championship Must Follow

And the rich get richer. Already sporting the best frontline tandem in Major League Soccer in the form of Juan Pablo Angel and his fellow designated player, Thierry Henry, the New York Red Bulls have added Henry's former Barcelona teammate Rafael Marquez. Getting a mega-watt star like Thierry Henry was a big deal—he's a global brand, and he's a scorer. Adding a player like Marquez, the captain of the Mexican national team, might be an even bigger deal. Rafa, a central defender for Barcelona, plays defensive midfielder for his national team. The Red Bulls plan to use him in that midfielder role as well. In addition to choking off the opponents attacking runs, Marquez will excel at turning defense into offense and be the primary link between the two. Just picture a Marquez to Henry to Angel counterattack—scary stuff. Like Henry, Marquez is just 31 years old. Like Henry, he does not consider MLS a retirement home. Neither player is that far removed from his prime and both are here to add to their glory (win titles), not bask in it. While not hugely popular with fans of the U.S. national team (his flying head butt of Cobi Jones during the 2002 World Cup won't ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Real Madrid: Massacre in the Making?

The outcome for the Los Angeles Galaxy's exhibition with Real Madrid might as well be decided long before the match even begins at the Rose Bowl. Bruce Arena's Galaxy will be limping into the Rose Bowl with a string of defeats to the Chicago Fire in MLS play and the Puerto Rico Islanders on aggregate in the CONCACAF Champions League. Whereas for Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid Club de Futbol, they are primed for a shot at hoisting some hardware in La Liga. Real Madrid are a side that have hoisted their share of hardware. They won La Liga in the 1931–32, 1932–33, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1971–72, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1994–95, 1996–97, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, and 2007–08 seasons. During the 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1917, 1933–34, 1935–36, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1961–62, 1969–70, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1988–89 and 1992–93 campaigns, Real Madrid won the Copa Del Rey. Then there is the UEFA Champions League. Real Madrid were the first winners of this major competition and won the 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1965–66, 1997–98, 1999–2000 and 2001–02 editions. Finally, Los Blancos won ...

Memo To Bruce Arena: Get Your Priorities Straight

The Webster's dictionary defines a Pyrrhic victory as "A very costly victory, wherein the considerable losses outweigh the gain, so as to render the struggle not worth the cost."In a sense, Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy ended their CONCACAF Champions League run with a 2-1 victory over the Puerto Rico Islanders at Bayamon's Juan Roman Loubriel Stadium that can be seen as such. It can also be seen as a meaningless victory because the Colin Clarke's Islanders advance 5-3 on aggregate.This is the price Arena must pay for not fielding his entire starting eleven. Then again, after the starting eleven's backline collapsed against the Chicago Fire on Sunday, it may not have made much difference in the long run.This is a Galaxy team that needs to get its priorities set, and set straight. Los Angeles clearly took this tournament lightly after their patchwork lineup became an over-the-hill babyshambles last Wednesday at the Home Depot Center.Are they that obsessed with the "dream match" (which probably looks to be nothing more than a Pasadena massacre) against Real Madrid? To play against Cristiano Ronaldo, Iker Casillas, Gonzalo Higuain and his ilk? I'm starting to doubt if they will hoist the Supporters' Shield, let ...

LA Galaxy: All-Time Starting Team

The Los Angeles Galaxy are an original member of MLS and one of its most decorated clubs. They have won five trophies, including 2 MLS Cups (2002,2005), 2 US Opens (2001,2005), and a CONCACAF Champions League crown in 2000. This prestigious honor is contested by clubs from Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, and other soccer mad countries. The Galaxy have had their share of stars from American legends like Cobi Jones and Alexei Lalas and international superstars such as David Beckham, Abel Xavier, and Carlos Ruiz. Here is the all time team for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Enjoy!Begin Slideshow

LA Galaxy vs. Puerto Rico Islanders: A Play-By-Play and Other Miscellany

T-60: It's going to take an Act of God to allow the Los Angeles Galaxy to advance here in the second leg of the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round against the Puerto Rico Islanders. Bruce Arena's side are a team out of form, and have no one but themselves to blame for this torrid meltdown. T-45: Lineups: LOS ANGELES GALAXY (USA) League: Major League Soccer Manager: Bruce Arena Formation: 4-2-1-3 Colors: Dark blue tops, dark blue shorts, dark blue socks 1 Donovan Ricketts 20 A.J. De La Garza ---- 22 Leonardo ---- 4 Omar Gonzalez ---- 2 Todd Dunivant 27 Bryan Jordan ---- 8 Dema Kovalenko ---- 88 Alex Cazumba 10 Landon Donovan (C) 17 Tristan Bowen ---- 14 Edson Buddle PUERTO RICO ISLANDERS (PUR) League: USSF Division-2 Professional League (USL First Division) Manager: Colin Clarke Formation: Colors: Orange tops, orange shorts, orange socks 1 Bill Gaudette 2 Scott Jones ---- 4 Marco Velez ---- 13 David Horst ---- 3 Richard Martinez 5 Noah Delgado (C) ---- 20 Josh Hansen ---- 8 Christopher Nurse ---- 18 Osei Telesford 7 David Foley ---- 11 Nicholas Addlery T-40: A little history on this stadium. The Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium (Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel) is a 12,500-seat stadium at Route 2 ...

New England Revolution Wipes Out Puebla FC On Penalty Kicks

The Superliga 2010 Semifinals between the New England Revolution and Puebla FC was a classic clash of the football/soccer titans of North America. The result was a 1-1 tie between the two teams in regular time with the game determined by penalty kicks. The first goal was scored by Mansally for the Revs at 55 minutes with a left-foot kick into the left lateral area of the net. The response of Puebla was fast with Olivera scoring an equalizer with a right-footed kick from distance toward the center of the goal. Before the goals, the game was lacking in excitement as both teams measured their strength. Afterward, the game was then a struggle for possession of the game between the two teams as they attempted to score another goal. It was not to be as the game went into penalties with both teams scoring goals until Lugo failed to score for Puebla. Mansally finally scored the winning goal with another left-footed kick into the goal and New England made Superliga 2010 history by advancing to the finals. New England will face either the winner of the Houston Dynamos and Morelia Monarcas in the finals. New England Revolution 1 (5) - 1 (3) Puebla ...

Fredy Montero Named MLS Player Of Month For July

Dynamic Colombian striker Fredy Montero was on fire during July, and the MLS as well as the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) recognized this, naming him Player of the Month on Wednesday. Montero, who was also named to the MLS All-Star team two years in a row, guided the Seattle Sounders to a surge in which the team climbed out of the Western Conference lower ranks to a position currently challenging for a playoff spot. During July, the speedy forward contributed two goals and three assists in five games, helping steer Seattle to a 3-1-1 record during that span. Montero's hot streak began with a 14th minute goal on July 11 that lifted the Sounders to a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas.  He had a surge of eight games in which he garnered either a goal or an assist.  This ended in early August on Tuesday, with a 1-1 draw in San Salvador against Metapan in CONCACAF competition.  Had the rain not have been so heavy and the ground so muddy, the speedy Montero would have had a better chance to extend his streak. On July 15, Montero supplied the assist on teammate Roger Levesque's 89th minute game-winning goal against D.C. United. The win was the first ...

Seattle Sounders Secure 1-1 Tie With Metapan But Win Aggregate

The steady, heavy rain failed to dampen Seattle Sounders' spirits as a hard fought 1-1 tie at San Salvador’s Estadio Cuscatlan Tuesday night against host Metapan translated into an overall win. It was a win because the U.S. and El Salvador teams were playing a two-game home and home series to see who advances to the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League preliminary series. Last week in Seattle in the team’s first meeting of the series, the Sounders defeated Metapan 1-0 on a 40-yard blast by Fredy Montero. With the 1-1 draw Tuesday, the Sounders secured the winning 2-1 aggregate advantage on overall goals scored. On Tuesday and the week before, the deciding goals came after Seattle Coach Sigi Schmid made key second half substitutions. Montero had been inserted into action in the final third of the contest and scored seconds after entering the pitch. Tuesday night the new face on the Seattle roster, rangy Uruguayan Alvaro Fernandez, emerged as man of the hour with a nifty 10-yard header in the 73rd minute just nine minutes after entering the match. It marked the first score of Fernandez’ Sounders career. The score came on a superbly placed pass from defender James Riley, who provided great defense all evening ...