New York Red Bulls Win Emirates Cup, Do U.S. Soccer Proud

It's been a rough stretch for soccer in the United States, with the national squad losing a heartbreaking Gold Cup Final to Mexico, the majority of MLS teams performing poorly in friendly matches with the eyes of the world watching, and even one club in particularly falling 7-0 to the defending EPL champions, Manchester United.Honestly though, it's all to be expected. The U.S. is supposed to be bad at world football. Our teams are supposed to lose.The problem? Nobody told that to the New York Red Bulls.While the Emirates Cup, an annual tournament hosted by Arsenal FC in London as part of their preseason training program, might be just for fun (with a few elements of skill-honing and providing valuable minutes on the pitch for young players who wouldn't get them otherwise), it's still a tournament hosting some of the most impressive clubs throughout the world.Winning it, especially for a team in a league that gets so much criticism for underachieving, is an accomplishment, no matter how small or meaningless the tournament itself might be.This year, Arsenal hosted three other top teams from around the world, including the New York side, Paris Saint-Germain from French Ligue 1 and Boca Juniors ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs Portland Timbers: The Northwest Expedition Concludes

Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy, fresh off a 4-0 whitewash of the Vancouver Whitecaps, will look to complete a Northwest Expedition clean sweep when they travel to Jeld-Wen Field in Portland, OR to take on John Spencer's Portland Timbers on Wednesday, August 3.Los Angeles are currently 12-2-9 (45 points) and have the best record in Major League Soccer.“I thought our team played very well for 90 minutes [against Vancouver]. The first half, both teams created chances, but we took control around the 30 minute mark and had a very good second half,” Arena told MLSSoccer.com's Luis Bueno. “Landon’s goal broke Vancouver’s backs. It was a very good day for the Galaxy.“I thought our ball movement was better. Defensively we were solid, but the ball movement was the key to the game. We passed better and we got out of pressure better.”For the Galaxy, playing a complete 90 minutes will be important against a side that has one of the most challenging environments to get a road result at.“The game was pretty even until the first goal,” said Galaxy midfielder and team captain Landon Donovan. “Vancouver did a good job of attacking, but I think we also did a good job ...

Real Salt Lake’s Roller Coaster Season Continues with Loss to Columbus Crew

With three of their best players on the sideline in street clothes Saturday night, Real Salt Lake came out flat and played to a frustrating and embarrassing 2-0 loss to the Columbus Crew. Missing the match for RSL were the injured Javier Morales, suspended Alvaro Saborio and last year's Major League Soccer Defender of the Year Jamison Olave who was injured in the recent MLS All-Star Game. The Columbus Crew wasted no time in getting the lead in a stadium they had not previously won in. In the fifth minute, midfielder Eddie Gaven found himself wide open running toward the back post where he received a cross from teammate Robbie Rogers and easily knocked the ball past a diving Nick Rimando. Just a few minutes later, a stunned Real Salt Lake team gave up the second goal of the game on a snap down header from Tommy Heinemann. The assist on his goal came once again from Rogers who sent in another great cross. The Crew, who seemed content to hang back and protect the lead were able to frustrate the Real Salt Lake offense and come away with the shutout victory. RSL did have multiple good opportunities, but had difficulty finishing. Saborio's ...

MLS: Seattle Sounders Fall in Houston, Ending 9-Match Unbeaten Streak

On the road in Houston, the Seattle Sounders suffered their first MLS loss in nine matches on Saturday, falling to the Houston Dynamo 3-1 and ending their longest unbeaten streak of the 2011 season.The Seattle side has been one of the hottest teams in Major League Soccer in recent weeks, strongly contending with the L.A. Galaxy for the Supporters Shield title and rising in the standings. But those hopes have diminished as the Sounders fall seven points behind the Galaxy and struggle to find a foothold in recent matches.The worries began when the Sounders suffered an embarrassing non-MLS 7-0 defeat to the English Champions, Manchester United in front of over 67,000 home fans.While the majority of the struggle against the powerhouse squad came as the Sounders' reserve players proved to be no match against Wayne Rooney's attacking game (the first-team Sounders actually fared pretty well), it still caused a certain level of damage to Seattle's pride as one of the best teams in American soccer.That shock carried on into a CONCACAF Champions League match in Panama on Tuesday, as the Sounders failed to find the back of the net, and ultimately fell behind in the home-and-away series by one goal.The ...

MLS: Los Angeles Galaxy Flex Muscles in 4-0 Win over Vancouver Whitecaps

No Beckham? No Birchall? No problem.It took them an average first half and change, but Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy got the job done, shutting out the Vancouver Whitecaps 4-0 on Saturday afternoon at Empire Field in Vancouver, British Columbia.The problem for Vancouver coming into the match was that a certain No. 10 in blue was suiting up for the Galaxy. That No. 10 happens to be Landon Donovan, who continues to set the pace with 11 goals this season.A game-winner in the 61st minute off the transition combined with a penalty conversion in the 75th minute of play from Donovan was all the Galaxy really needed, as the goals from Sean Franklin in the 80th minute and Adam Cristman in the 90th minute were mere insurance.This was a statement win by the Galaxy that was several weeks in the making. They have put the Portland Timbers on notice ahead of their Wednesday night tilt at Jeld-Wen Field.A little side note: bench Juan Pablo Angel. I have fallen out of favor with one of the most overrated players in Major League Soccer. He was nonexistent in a clear-cut mismatch that should have seen him record at least one past the ...

Jürgen Klinsmann Hired To Protect Sunil Gulati’s Job

Get ready to be “blamed,” American soccer fans, if Jürgen Klinsmann “fails.”  He is definitely “our guy.” Other columnists patronized those of us who go on the blogs screaming for Bob Bradley’s proverbial head after the World Cup, mostly supporting Klinsmann.  If we do not succeed at the next World Cup (and “succeed” and “fail” are wiggle words for sports politicians and their supporters in the American soccer media), prepare for the status quo salivating to blame us for wanting Jürgen.The truth of the matter is Jürgen is already behind the eight-ball, he should have been hired a year ago.  Not only did this happen at least one year too late (I would argue Bradley should have been fired after choking a two-goal lead to Brazil in the Confederations Cup Final), the youth program is a complete mess, nowhere near the level of where it needs to be, clearly not as promising as Mexico’s.  The lost year compared to other programs can be recovered to a point.  Argentina is going to have to do that.  But America’s youth program is nowhere near as good as Argentina’s.  Most of our national youth coaches have been let go.  (So much for “Project 2010.”) ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Vancouver Whitecaps: Play-by-Play Analysis and Reaction

Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy will look to end July with a bang when they begin the first of two road games in the Pacific Northwest against Tom Soehn’s Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday, July 30. The Galaxy currently sport a 11-2-9 record (42 points, first in MLS Western Conference) and, with the best record in the league, face a Vancouver Whitecaps outfit that is down on their luck with a record of 2-10-9 (15 points), good enough for the worst record in the league. It’s a David vs. Goliath matchupat Empire Field in Vancouver, British Columbia—except that Goliath will come in undermanned. David Beckham and Chris Birchall will be sitting one out due to suspension. Meanwhile, Vancouver’s Eric Hassli and Camilo are two players that could deliver a potential upset for the ages. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. ET and will be televised by Fox Soccer Channel and TSN. Keep it here on Bleacher Report for continuing coverage of the 2011 Major League Soccer season.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

David Beckham: MLS All-Star Determined to Play for Three Lions

David Beckham is one of the most legendary figures in sports history. He brings more than the full package to the table, containing all the characteristics a simple soccer fan like me yearns for.His presence can be felt by ladies hundreds of miles away. His personality leaves television stations desperate for an interview any chance they get.Finally, his precision and swagger with a soccer ball at his feet inspires kids to shoot 25-yard free kicks before they even learn how to walk. With no offense to Mr. Dos Equis, he is the most interesting man in the world.All of his characteristics made me stay thirsty for the 2011 MLS All-Star game, as it was a perfect opportunity to compare Beckham with his younger Manchester United reflections.However, I must say my expectations were not sky-high coming into the game. After all, in the previous four MLS seasons, Beckham had made just one All-Star appearance and in the past had made a habit of getting injured in meaningless games or friendlies.This being said, I expected nothing more than a 30-45 minute cautious cameo for the fragile figure.Fortunately, I got a lot more than that. Beckham put on a show for the full ...

MLS All-Stars vs. Manchester United: 5 Things We Learned from All-Star Game

The MLS All-Stars met Manchester United for the second straight year in the MLS All-Star Game and for the second straight game they were defeated.Last year, Manchester United won by a score of 5-2 and they repeated that effort this year with a 4-0 victory.The Red Devils dominated for nearly the entire match and gave up few scoring chances. The MLS failed to capitalize on the few scoring chances they had and were blanked on the scoreboard.The All-Stars thought they could compete with United, but that was clearly not the case; so what did we learn form the 2011 MLS All-Star Game?Begin Slideshow

Real Salt Lake’s Jamison Olave Injured in 4-0 All-Star Loss to Manchester United

The Major League Soccer All-Star Game outing for Real Salt Lake defender Jamison Olave ended in the 32nd minute when he was injured while sliding in to defend a ball at midfield. After executing a good sliding tackle to stop a ball on the ground intended for Manchester United's Wayne Rooney, Olave jumped up to play the ball and seemed to have felt the pain at that time as he fell back to the turf. Initial reports on the ESPN2 broadcast indicated that he suffered a mild left knee sprain. In what might be a bit of good news, Olave walked off of the field on his own, and remained on the bench rather than going to the locker room. He will be evaluated by team doctors when he returns to Utah. Although it is an honor to be selected to participate in the All-Star game, the risk of injury for players is a fear that players, coaches, and fans have as they play. For Real Salt Lake, if the injury to last year's MLS Defender of the Year causes him to miss any time with the club, it will be another in a line of injuries they have dealt ...