CONCACAF Champions League Final: RSL and Monterrey End in a 2-2 Draw

Javier Morales rescued a draw for MLS side Real Salt Lake to earn themselves a 2-2 away draw with Monterrey in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League final at Technologico stadium in Mexico.The Mexican side took the lead through Aldo de Nigris in the 18th minute, but Nat Borchers levelled for the MLS team in the 35th minute. Monterrey, however, took the lead again with a goal from Humberto Suaza. When it looked like the match had been won, up popped Morales to score an equalizing goal with a few minutes left to play. The return leg takes place on April 27th in Sandy, Utah. Should RSL win the tie, they will become the first MLS side to win the Champions League since the LA Galaxy managed it in the year 2000. Real Salt Lake & Monterrey Share The Spoils in Champions League Final First Leg (match highlights)Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

CONCACAF Finals: Real Salt Lake Gets a ‘Win’ in Mexico

I know. I watched the match. I saw the final score. I realize that it wasn't actually a victory, but there is a saying in soccer that a draw on the road is as good as a win. In most competition, the result of a draw is a win-win situation for both teams. You both get a point and you move on. On a hot Wednesday night in Monterrey, Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake got a whole lot more than a point for the draw that they played to against one of the toughest teams in Mexico. They gained the advantage in a two leg series and are headed home for the final. Representing Major League Soccer for the first time in the history of the CONCACAF Champions League finals, Real Salt Lake played well enough to earn a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the tournament that determines the North American Champion and who wins the right to play in the FIFA Club World Cup later this year. Wearing their alternate yellow jerseys for only the second time in the history of the franchise, the club from Utah started out strong by keeping possession and limiting chances for the Mexican side that was ...

Los Angeles Galaxy Ins and Outs, April 20, 2011

Los Angeles Galaxy manager Bruce Arena confirmed that José Leonardo Ribeiro da Silva will miss the entire season due to a torn ligaments in his right knee.“Those things happen," Arena told MLSSoccer.com's Luis Bueno. "You can never understand why they happen. Unfortunately it’s all part of the game but we’re going to do everything we can to get him back on the field and work with him. I’m confident he will be back on the field with the Galaxy.”The training staff was unable to tend to the Brazilian at the time he injured his knee, as the match was late into stoppage time.“It was the last play of the game,” Arena said. “We thought it was serious but the referee wouldn’t let our trainer onto the field.”Either Sean Franklin or A.J. DeLaGarza will be called to fill in the void left by Leonardo. Gregg Berhalter is two to three weeks away from reaching full match fitness.“We have cover there with Franklin and DeLaGarza, and the whole preseason we did that so they’ve been playing there throughout,” Arena said. “We didn’t want to predict an injury, but we said if we had an injury, we wanted to be prepared for ...

David Beckham Pepsi Ad: Watch Sofia Vergara Use Becks to Get Her Fix

David Beckham Pepsi Ad Is Allegedly Funny, Clever So Diet Pepsi has a new advertisement campaign that makes me yearn for the days of Ray Charles and the "Uh Huh" girls. Putting Sofia Vergara in a bikini was a smart move...except for the fact that (apart from half a second) her parachute-sized hat is about all you actually see of her. David Beckham, on the other hand? Well, hasn't that ship sailed already? If most Americans don't care to see him play his sport, why would we care about him hawking Diet Pepsi, or anything else for that matter? Although this commercial probably kills in England. Personally, I'd rather see that Miller High Life delivery guy than Beckham. He's so sassy! Now if this was supposed to be some sort of social commentary on celebrity stargazing—the swarms of people are tuned in to Vergara's every tweet but also race to catch a glimpse of Beckham on the pier—the commercial achieved its goal. But as far as moving their product, I don't think this is an exceptionally great piece of marketing. So you're telling me that people would rather catch a glimpse of David Beckham from afar than buy a Diet Pepsi? What does that say about ...

Real Salt Lake: How Winning the CONCACAF Final Can Help American Soccer and MLS

There’s an unwritten code in the laws of the American sports landscape: not paying attention to an event or team, unless they perform well.   It could be a nice way of saying we’re a nation of bandwagons, fair weather fans, or in terms of soccer, the Eurosnob. But thanks to Real Salt Lake and their unprecedented run in the revamped CONCACAF Champions League, RSL has now put themselves on the map in the North American soccer landscape, proving how they are the flagship franchise of Major League Soccer and the premier club of the United States. And with their run, they have finally put the Champions League on the map.  Well before then, their run to MLS Cup 2009 was ruled out as a fluke, consequently leading to harsh criticism that the problem is not the format of the playoffs, it is the fact that we have playoffs to determine champions that only the MLS front office calls “league champions.”  This past year, Salt Lake has proven to everyone that their MLS Cup run was no chain of good luck, and that they could play consistently. Heck, they probably play some of the most attractive football in MLS. That’s great for the sake ...

Major League Soccer: Ranking the Most Dangerous 11 Strikers in the League

Since its inaugural season in 1996, Major League Soccer has been blessed with a lot of outstanding strikers throughout its history.As the league enters its 16th season, there is no shortage of offensive firepower across the league with a mixture of established veterans and exciting newcomers.By examining proven and potential performance, we have ranked the most dangerous XI of strikers in Major League Soccer today.But who made the cut? Who was unlucky to miss out on the list? Who is No. 1?Read on to find out...Begin Slideshow

Livestrong Park Video: Get a First Look at Sporting KC’s New Stadium

There's a video of the newest soccer-specific stadium in the United States floating around the sports world today, after viewers were treated to a first look at Sporting KC's soon-to-be completed arena, Livestrong Sports Park.  One of the MLS' four expansion teams, Sporting KC will play their home games at the shiny new 18,500 seat stadium on the outskirts of Kansas City. While it's not finished yet, that didn't stop Sporting player Teal Bunbury (who might have the best name in sports history) from giving viewers a quick tour of the facility.  So far, the results look promising for the stadium. Nice wide open concourses, and what look to be comfortable seats, ring the pitch, and the glass outside gives the stadium a decidedly modern feel to it.  The pitch itself has been sodded, and Bunbury becomes the first player to set foot on it, kicking a ball around the green space.  According to the video, the locker rooms will be the most technologically advanced in all of sports, although it's hard to see that now, with bare, semi-finished drywall and a severe lack of lockers, showers or sitting areas.  It's clear throughout the video that the stadium is still very much a work in ...

Real Salt Lake Ready To Make U.S. Soccer History in CONCACAF Final

One of the biggest playoff series this country has ever seen begins on Wednesday night, and very few people are talking about it, or even know what it is. While it features some of the world's greatest athletes, and will be more exciting than a first round NBA playoff game, the majority of sports fans don't even care that it is going on. I am not talking about anything to do with the Heat or the Lakers, the NFL has not started and Major League Baseball did not shorten its season. The event that I am talking about comes from the relatively unpopular (only in the United States) sport of soccer. Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake begins a two-game playoff with Mexican club team Monterrey to determine the winner of the CONCACAF Champions League for this year. CONCACAF is the governing body for soccer that spans North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Teams contending for this title are taken from the winners of various club leagues across 20 nations. The prize for the winner is to move to the prestigious FIFA Club World Cup that will be held in Japan later this year. The Club World Cup ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers: Ending the Chainsaw Massacre

Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy ended their three-game road tilt with five points out a possible nine. While league leaders Real Salt Lake have three games in hand on the G's, LA got a huge boost on Sunday with their 2-1 win over the Chicago Fire.The win sets the stage for the Galaxy's first encounter with one of the new teams this year, albeit in name only: John Spencer's suddenly-high flying  Portland Timbers on Saturday, April 23 at the Home Depot Center.“It’s important because we had five of our first seven goals… on the road. Whenever you can get points on the road, it’s important,” Arena told MLSSoccer.com's Luis Bueno. “The three points were critically important. At this stage of the season, with what we’ve dealt with—with injuries and the road games and the situations we’ve had to deal with—and to… have 12 points after seven games isn’t bad.”The Galaxy manager credited the Chicago victory to their depth, which will be needed once again.“We didn’t have a lot of guys eligible to play,” Arena said. “Guys stepped up (Sunday) that haven’t been playing regularly like Paolo Cardozo, Miguel Lopez, Mike Stephens and Frankie Hejduk. We’re happy Omar was able to ...

Soccer in Puerto Rico: Existing and Evolving

"I am the minority group. I am from the poor people. I represent the poor people. I represent the common people of America." - Roberto Clemente Unbeknownst to many in the United States, soccer has quietly evolved in Puerto Rico for the past few years. While Puerto Rico's Triple B's of baseball, basketball and boxing remain the island's most popular sports, soccer has become part of the ever-evolving Puerto Rican culture. Back in 2008, the Puerto Rico Soccer League (PRSL) was formed. With the inception of the PRSL, Puerto Rico finally had its first unified soccer league in the island's history. Current teams for the PRSL include Mayaquez FC, Sevilla FC, Puerto Rico United, Caguas Huracan, River Plate Puerto Rico and FC Leones. The 2011 season will be from April to August. In addition, River Plate Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico United and Sevilla FC will be making their inaugural debut in the United Soccer League's Pro Division—the third tier of soccer in the American soccer pyramid, behind Major League Soccer (first tier) and the North American Soccer League (second tier) in the hierarchy for the 2011 season. Now in 2011, the North American Soccer League (NASL) and the United Soccer ...