CONCACAF Champions League: Real Salt Lake Loses to Saprissa but Moves to Finals

Real Salt Lake may have lost the battle, but they won the war. In what was one of the biggest soccer matches in the history of soccer in the United States, Real Salt Lake lost 2-1 to the home club, Deportivo Saprissa, in San Juan, Costa Rica Tuesday night. Real Salt Lake could not have been happier with the loss because it allows them to move on to the CONCACAF Champions League finals where they will face the winner of the series between Mexican clubs Monterrey and Cruz Azul later this month. For the casual soccer fan, this score does not make sense. How does a team lose a game in a tournament and move on? The games are played on a home and home basis and the total number of goals from both games are tallied to determine the winner. Real Salt Lake won the game at home in Utah by a score of 2-0. That meant that Saprissa would have had to win by at least three goals to make up the difference. The aggregate score for both matches was 3-2 for Real Salt Lake which helped them become the first Major League Soccer team to reach the finals. The game, which was scoreless ...

Seattle Sounders: Seven Strikers Worth Signing To Partner with Fredy Montero

The Seattle Sounders have been lucky enough to keep Fredy Montero away from Europe and sign him to a long term DP contract. The problem they face now is, they have no partner for him.With a stacked midfield which includes World Cup vet Alvaro Fernandez, former Ajax and River Plate man Mauro Rosales, electrifying Steve Zakuani, and likely All-Star Osvaldo Alosno, a strike partner for Montero will complete the puzzle. Now the big question is, who?With a DP spot available, and a poor striker pool, here are 7 players who could turn the Seattle Sounders from a good team into a great team.Begin Slideshow

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. D.C. United: G’s Look to Deal More of the Same

Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy have had success last season against D.C. United, but will find it a bit tougher when the travel to RFK Stadium to face an improved D.C. outfit.The Galaxy are coming off a 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union and take on a D.C. United team that got hammered 4-1 by the new league leaders, the defending MLS Cup Champion Colorado Rapids.“The performance was more important [Saturday] than anything else,” David Beckham told Luis Bueno of MLSSoccer.com after their win over the Union. “We wanted the three points of course, but after the embarrassment of last week, the performance was the important thing—and the character—and I think we showed that.“We came out at the start of the game better than we did last game. We needed that, we needed a good start to the game. We started with a hard tempo and continued that, even when we went down to 10 men. We needed to show even more character and I think we did that.”“Our experienced guys did well in the second half, understanding what needed to be done to get the three points,” Arena said. “Landon I thought played very well. … Landon’s experience, David and [Juan ...

2011 MLS Power Rankings: Week 3

Three weeks are now in the books in this young 2011 Major League Soccer season. Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids continue to leave the rest of the league in the dust. While Colorado has the overall lead in the standings, RSL have a couple of games in hand and will look to catch up on their Rocky Mountain neighbors.Other teams are making their move up and down the ladder after a match week filled with draws, draws and more draws. As well as the occasional win or two.Bleacher Report presents to you this week's MLS power rankings.Begin Slideshow

New York Red Bulls vs Houston Dynamo: Red Bulls Miss Opportunity To Win in Tie

A day prior to their match against the Houston Dynamo, the New York Red Bulls made a bold statement that they are intent on winning the 2011 MLS Cup. By trading away their first-round 2010 MLS SuperDraft selection midfielder Tony Tchani, midfielder/defender Danleigh Borman and their 2012 MLS SuperDraft selection to Toronto FC for midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, the Red Bulls organization made it clear to the league and their fans that are in a "win now" mentality. With the acquisition of four-time MLS Cup winner Dwayne De Rosario, the Red Bulls now have a player who's been not only one of the most consistent MLS players for the decade, he's also been a "clutch" player during the postseason as evidenced by his heroics in his four MLS Cup champions with both the San Jose Earthquakes and Houston Dynamo. Last night at Red Bull Arena against the Houston Dynamo, De Rosario demonstrated the force he is capable of being with his new teammates. Coming out in the second half as a substitution, De Rosario registered his first assist with the Red Bulls when Dane Richards scored in the 47th minute of the game. Unfortunately for Red Bulls fans, Houston tied it in the 50th ...

LA Galaxy Overcomes Tumultuous Second Half, Shuts Out Philadelphia Union 1-0

Well, Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy prove me wrong for yet another week. This time, it was all for the right reasons.The other Brazilian on the Galaxy's roster, Leonardo, broke through for his first-ever goal on a set piece from David Beckham in the 33rd minute to give Los Angeles a 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union.But the person on the pitch who really stole the show on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center was the match referee, Mr. Paul Ward.Ward issued 10 cards, all drawn out during the second half. This had to be his way of saying, "I don't care if you are a designated player or a deadbeat off the street playing the game for the first time. I will card you and I can't be reprimanded because players and coaches get fined for criticizing my abusal of my leet card-issuing abilities. Boo-yah!"Well, that's a casual way of putting it, but this was a tad too excessive.I found it hilarious that the "Chicken Thief" from last year's game at the Home Depot Center, Jack McInerney, got sent off by Ward late in stoppage time, as if it was a last-ditch face-saving attempt to placate the home ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Philadelphia Union: Live Blog, Analysis, Reaction

Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy look to bounce back from an embarrassing 4-1 defeat at Real Salt Lake when they take on Peter Nowak's high-flying Philadelphia Union today at the Home Depot Center. The new and improved Union are coming off a couple of hard-fought 1-0 victories and look to hit their stride on the road against a team they have yet to get a result. As for the Galaxy, a victory will give them momentum into an important road swing in the middle of April. Bleacher Report's Jo-Ryan Salazar provides you exclusive coverage of the Galaxy vs. the Union live from Victoria Street.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Watch out David Beckham, Here Comes Ochocinco… the Soccer Star?

We all know that Chad Ochocinco can hold his own on the football field, and he proved he could do it on the dance floor after a stint on Dancing with the Stars. But lookout, David Beckham—now he is trying to conquer the world of soccer.   Ochocinco had a six-day trial run with Sporting Kansas City. Unfortunately for Ochocinco, he was not as much a success on the soccer field as he is on the football field. Sporting KC did not give him a contract, but did say that he could continue to practice with the reserve team as an "honorary" member. As it turns out Ochocinco played competitive soccer back in high school and some may remember when he kicked the extra point for the Bengals in 2009 when Kicker Shayne Graham was injured. Even though his skills were not enough to keep him on the team, he was just happy to get out and get some exercise. According to the Kansas City Star, Ochocinco said, “I just played in a match for a professional soccer team. It doesn’t get any better than that. What is everybody else (in the NFL) doing? ...I can get better, stay fit, ...

This is the Los Angeles Galaxy: Miguel Lopez and Jack McBean

This is Part 11 in a list of players that will be joining the Los Angeles Galaxy this season.In order for Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy to be a relevant force in Major League Soccer, it must start from the grassroots level. More and more, young players are being given the chance to show what they can do in MLS and the Reserve League, the proving grounds for the next generation of stars in the league.Two young Galaxy players hoping to make an impact in the future are Miguel Lopez and Jack McBean.Miguel LopezMiguel Lopez is a 22-year-old midfielder who can play wide on the left or in the central midfield. Born in Ensenada, Argentina, Lopez began his career at Gimnasia La Plata at the age of 10, playing on the youth sides for seven seasons from 1998 through 2005.After spending three years with the Gimnasia, Lopez spent three seasons with Argentina B side Deportivo Coreano from 2005-08. He then spent one season with Primera C side Defensores Cambaceres before signing with Quilmes AC in June 2009.During his time with Quilmes, Lopez played alongside 2010 Galaxy SuperDraft selection and current Galaxy midfielder Paolo Cardozo. His skills playing the midfield while ...

Seattle Seahawks and Sounders Fans Wonder What’s in a Name, CenturyLink

In what many fans were hoping was an elaborate April Fool's joke, the merger with CenturyLink and Qwest became final today.  The Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Sounders Football Club have a very strong relationship with their fans, and their fans have a strong tie to the building their teams play in.   Qwest Field has become ingrained in the culture of Seattle sports fans.  Yes, it is just a name, and not nearly as catchy as Seahawks Field.  Granted, Sounders fans would take umbrage with that name at this point.   But, fans are not at ease with the pending changes.  In an earlier article, it was mentioned that we are better off having a nice stadium with a corporate name, but we beat the Saints a few months ago.  We want to have our cake and eat it too. Qwest Field doesn't sound overly corporate, and it just flows well—even after fans have had a few adult beverages with questionable volumes of fluid.  Is it a large, or is it a medium? In a prepared statement, CenturyLink President Brian Stading gave a bit of a glimpse into the future of the stadium's name.  "CenturyLink is excited to become a vital part of the Seattle ...