MLS: Real Salt Lake Has Some Real Problems They Need to Fix Fast

Remember the good ole days when Real Salt Lake were just a goal away from reaching the Club World Cup and forever being branded as the most successful MLS club in history? Remember when the Rio Tinto was not just a stadium full of equal opportunity for both sides, but a 20,000-seat Hell-hole that was destined to only produce one result?As the rest of MLS tries to forget, RSL fans are trying to hold on to the few memories they still have and use their detective skills to figure out what has been the cause of the team's recent struggles.Here is a cheat sheet of how to get RSL out of this stunning slump.Offense was never really a dominating part of RSL’s game, even when the team was nearly on top of the continent, but their recent attack would not scare a self-conscious turtle to get back in its shell. The loss of Javier Morales certainly has played a significant role in RSL’s recent struggles, but Mondaini cannot be solely blamed for the club’s failure.DP Alvaro Saborio and Espindola have failed to supply constant pressure on opponent defenses and are playing too passive in the attacking third. Kyle Beckerman will also need ...

Philadelphia Union Midfielder Justin Mapp Named MLS Player of the Week

Despite boasting the third best record in Major League Soccer and holding onto the number one spot in the Eastern Conference since pretty much opening day, it has taken the Philadelphia Union almost 11 games to get their first MLS Player of the Week Honoree.No, it wasn’t team leading goal scorer Carlos Ruiz, or 2010 Team MVP Sebastien Le Toux. Heck it wasn’t even dynamic young forward Danny Mawanga. Considering his two goal performance in Sundays 6-2 win over Toronto, Danny was certainly a candidate.The answer is Philadelphia Union midfielder Justin Mapp, as voted by the North American Soccer Reporters for his two-goal performance in Sundays win over Toronto.“It’s an absolute honor to accept this award and I’m very pleased about it,” said Mapp in a posting on the team's website. “However, the biggest accomplishment this weekend was for the team. It was very important for us to have gotten the three points on the road and to have scored all those goals. It was a key win for the team, and even though I’m pleased about the award, I’m just proud of the team’s performance this weekend.”Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. D.C. United: Will Depth Win the Day for LA?

Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy will be without the services of midfielder/team captain Landon Donovan and goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts for the month of June, as they host D.C. United at the Home Depot Center on June 3.The Galaxy are riding a four-game winning streak to go with a six-game unbeaten streak. Los Angeles has a record of 8-2-5 (29 points), good for first overall in Major League Soccer."Well obviously we’re only losing two players right now in (Donovan) Ricketts and (Landon) Donovan and certainly (Josh) Saunders is going to get the call in the goal," Arena told reporters on Saturday. "With Landon, we have a combination of players we can use so we’ll make due the best we can. We’re 15 games in now. We only have four games in June, two home and two away."For us, that’s like being on vacation compared to what we’ve been through. We’ve had three weeks of three games in a week so that’s been difficult but hopefully some guys will step up and step in for Landon Donovan and Saunders is going to have the responsibility in Ricketts’ position."Saunders currently has a 2-1-1 record to go with a 1.50 goals against average, a 68.8 ...

2011 MLS Power Rankings: Week 11

Right now, the world is still abuzz with excitement as it crowns FC Barcelona as the club footballing capital of Europe. Whether or not it becomes the club footballing capital of the world will be determined come December.Back in the good old U.S. of A, another high-profile club is making their move for dominance.Unfortunately, the Los Angeles Galaxy are far from becoming the FC Barcelona of Major League Soccer because Bruce Arena is no Pep Guardiola. And they don't play like Barça, either.But that hasn't stopped the Galaxy from retaining the No. 1 spot in this week's MLS Power Rankings, which has also seen the Philadelphia Union and Seattle Sounders issue statement victories over the weekend.Allow me to emulate the chorus of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. Ahem.These are the Rankings...Begin Slideshow

New York Red Bulls vs Vancouver Whitecaps: 1-1 Draw Results in Winless May

In a game where both teams desperately needed a win, both the New York Red Bulls and the Vancouver Whitecaps ended the month of May winless as both teams battled to a 1-1 draw. For the Vancouver Whitecaps, this may have well been a win for them. Playing in front of 21,000 home fans at the Empire Field, the Whitecaps demonstrated to their fans that while they may have the worst record in the league, it doesn't mean that they're a horrible team.For the Red Bulls, this was the third straight game where an opposing opponent was awarded a penalty kick. The culprit this time was the Red Bulls' Carlos Menedes who clearly fouled Camilo from behind. Moments later, Eric Hassli gave Whitecaps fans a reason to cheer when he converted a penalty kick in the 24th minute of the match.Despite playing without Dane Richards and their Designated Player duo of Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez, the Red Bulls didn't buckle under the deficit. Luke Rodgers demonstrated why many Red Bulls fans believe he may be the team MVP, tying the game at 1-1 in the 34th minute.For the remainder of the game, both teams missed their opportunity ...

Seattle Sounders vs Real Salt Lake: Sounders Bring Down the Fortress in Win

For the first time since the summer of 2009, Real Salt Lake has lost a Major League Soccer match at home.Rio Tinto Stadium, known as "The Fortress" has been very good to Real Salt Lake, who owned a 29-match unbeaten streak until Lamar Neagle and the Sounders came to town.Playing in the rain for the second straight week, the result was a 2-1 victory for the road team.Although it was Neagle's goal in the 84th minute that proved to be the game-winner, the turning point of the match occurred much earlier.After the two teams played an even first half, the pace of play began to pick up after halftime. In the 58th minute, Real Salt Lake defender Jamison Olave was issued a straight red card for dragging down Seattle forward Mike Fucito on a scoring opportunity.Forced to shift the match to a defensive strategy, Real Salt Lake gave up the first goal in the 72nd minute when Patrick Iannni got on the end of a ball served in from the corner that bounced off several Sounders before finding the back of the net.A few minutes later Seattle added an insurance goal that was needed to preserve the win. Lamar Neagle ...

Houston Dynamo vs FC Dallas: Texas Derby Ends a 2-2 Tie in Game 1

On an 87th-minute goal by substitute Colin Clark, the Houston Dynamo (3-4-6, 15 pts) tied FC Dallas (6-3-4, 22 pts) 2-2 in Game 1 of the Texas Derby before 16,709 soccer fans at Houston’s Robertson Stadium. Game 2 and possession of El Capitán will be played at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco on September 24. FC Dallas struck first on an unassisted header goal by midfielder Andrew Jacobson in the 27th minute. Forward Fabian Castillo fired a shot off the cross bar which found Jacobson in position to hard the ball into the empty net to make the score 1-0. Five minutes later, Dynamo defender Jermaine Taylor got into the box and crossed over to Cam Weaver, who hit the ball to Will Bruin. Bruin than chested the ball back to Weaver, but he could not get a off a shot. The Dynamo quickly rebounded and after some spirited play, found the goal in the 42nd minute to tie the score. Dynamo captain Brad Davis kicked a cute chip to Weaver who volleyed the ball into the net from eight yards out. Davis was credited with an assist, his seventh of the season. Dallas got the lead back in the ...

LA Galaxy Get Chance and Luck in 1-0 Win over New England Revolution

In the anime series "Angel Beats!", there is a character by the name of TK that is known for eccentric English phrases. One of them is his catch phrase, "Get Chance And Luck."It could not have been any more true for Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy, who made the most of the chances, denied the chances Steve Nicol's New England Revolution had in front of them, and rode on a little bit of luck from the crossbar in their 1-0 victory over New England at Gillette Stadium.The second minute of stoppage time featured some tenacious defending from the Galaxy, who need to make these types of stops.If Omar Gonzalez or Donovan Ricketts is beat, A.J. DeLaGarza is there to lay his body and clear it off his line. If a deflection of the crossbar finds the feet of Shalrie Joseph, Gonzalez, Donovan Ricketts and Landon Donovan are there to clear as one.At the same time, this just goes to show you how much the Galaxy are going to miss the two Donovans in June. They pose a strong defensive presence, and while this June will be Josh Saunders's time to shine, someone will need to step up in Landon's absence.The ...

MLS: Los Angeles Galaxy vs. New England Revolution: Analysis, Reaction and More

Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy are looking to continue their winning ways when they take on Steve Nicol’s New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Galaxy are 7-2-5 (26 points), and are first overall in the league, while the Revolution are 3-4-4 (13 points), good enough for fifth in the MLS Eastern Conference. However, they have three games in hand over Los Angeles. Today will be the last game for a number of players on both sides before they take part in national team duty ahead of the Gold Cup: Landon Donovan and Donovan Ricketts for the Galaxy; and Shalrie Joseph and Benny Feilhaber for the Revs. Keep it right here on Bleacher Report for continuing coverage of the 2011 Major League Soccer season.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Houston Dynamo Has Ties to Texas for Texas Derby Against FC Dallas

As the Houston Dynamo prepare to take take on FC Dallas in the first game of the Texas Derby, the local flavor of the game becomes clearer to those who follow soccer in Texas. Nearly one-third of the Dynamo's Roster has close ties to the Lone Star State, with six players being native Texans and two having related ties to Texas. Let's look at these players up close and personal.Begin Slideshow