MLS New York Red Bulls Sign Veteran Frank Rost, Solve Goalkeeper Problem

The New York Red Bulls have announced the signing of Bundesliga veteran Frank Rost, who has made 426 combined appearances with Werder Bremen, Shalke 04 and Hamburger SV. Rost is also the German record holder for the most appearances in the UEFA Cup—now referred to as the UEFA Europa League—which serves as the second-most prestigious European club competition.Having agreed to a designated player contract, Rost will become the first ever goalkeeper to be a designated player. This move ends speculation of a big New York deal, after Canadian international Dwayne DeRosario was sent to DC United largely for salary cap reasons.Rost will replace the struggling tandem of Bouna Coundoul and Gregg Sutton, who have both made serious errors between the sticks for the Red Bulls this season. Coundoul, known for his athletic saves and questionable decision making, was the starting keeper for most of last season. But he was soon replaced by the more sure-handed Sutton. Still, even Sutton has struggled this season, particularly on the recent West Coast road trip.Rost is sure to be a boost to the club, which seems to be struggling to find a good run of form despite their share of the Eastern Conference lead. In recent weeks, the ...

Los Angeles Galaxy’s Week Officially a Wash After 3-1 Defeat to Seattle Sounders

Oh boy. Bruce Arena, goodness gracious, you can't even tell a white lie right. I mean, here's the problem: you're telling everyone that you are going to take the U.S. Open Cup seriously by fielding your best team out there, and what do you do?You deliver the worst performance since the debacle at Real Salt Lake earlier in league play (don't even get me started on that one, good sir). Fans witnessed a 3-1 blowout defeat to the Seattle Sounders in the 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night at the place of nightmares known as the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Washington.What I saw was the type of football that Real Madrid is going to have fun capitalizing on. I mean, the Galaxy really, really didn't want to be in the match. It's like, we're fighting over a bloody flower vase, children! What's the point in playing over such tripe?Oh, and did I mention that you only qualify for the preliminary round of the CONCACAF Champions League when you win the darn thing? This makes the Galaxy's position in the Major League Soccer regular season standings that much more important, I suppose. Group stage play and all ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders: Analysis, Reaction and More

Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy will look to continue their 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run with a Wednesday night contest with Sigi Schmid’s Seattle Sounders in the quarterfinals at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Washington.Last year, in the same venue and the same round, a Nate Jaqua brace sent the Sounders one step closer to a successful Open Cup defense to the tune of 2-0.This year, Seattle are ready to inch closer to a three-peat. In their way is a determined Los Angeles Galaxy outfit that has payback on their minds, but also have a friendly with a certain Real Madrid team looming in the distance. Can the G’s secure their revenge? Or will it be the same old story in Seattle? Keep it right here on Bleacher Report for continuing coverage of the 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the 2011 Major League Soccer season and all things World Football.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

San Jose Earthquakes Video: Watch Earthquake Goalie Score Crazy Full-Pitch Goal

There's a San Jose Earthquakes video making its way across the sports world today, after goalie David Bingham scored one of the wildest goals ever seen on a football pitch. Yes, you read that right; the Earthquakes' goalie scored a goal in a friendly match against English club West Bromwich Albion on Monday. The keeper snared a rogue through pass from West Brom early in the contest, and hunted for a potential outlet up the pitch from his box. But, try as he might, he simply couldn't find an open man to hit his clear to, so he simply dropped the ball on the turf and let fly a massive kick. It was a bit powerful, to be sure, but nothing out of the ordinary—at least at first. Plenty of keepers have that kind of power when they have time to deliver the ball, and Bingham's kick soared downfield, well ahead of even the West Brom defenders. Unfortunately for the Baggies, it caught their occasionally scatterbrained goalkeeper, Boaz Myhill, napping on the job, and the ball bounced well out of his reach and into the net, sending the stands into hysterics over the wild shot. The best part about the goal? Bingham had no idea he'd ...

World Football Challenge 2011 Preview: Top Clubs Come to America for the Summer

The World Football Challenge returns to America and kicks off tonight on July 13.This first game will see Manchester United, one of the six European clubs to partake, take on the New England Revolution.The English contingent includes Manchester United and Manchester City, their inner city rivals."El Clasico" rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid represent Spain, while Juventus and Sporting club de Portugal come from Italy and Portugal, respectively.Along with these European teams, there are two Mexican clubs, Guadalajara and Club America.All these teams will compete against each other as well as five MLS teams.The last World Football Challenge did not have any MLS participants, but MLS teams have previously played European opponents in the summer.In past years, these games have been intriguing because of the differing levels of the participants.The European teams are generally just beginning their preseason, thus making the games a little more even. These teams are also less likely to let star players participate for a variety of reasons.Managers will be wary of playing their best players due to injury concerns and will rest them if they have played in a big summer tournament like the Gold Cup or Copa America. These games are more likely to be ...

MLS Should Listen to Sir Alex and Create Multiple Divisions for Their League

For the second straight year, Manchester United are taking a preseason tour of North America. Their first match takes place tonight at Gillette Stadium against the New England Revolution.In a press conference a day before, the friendly, legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson discussed the current condition of soccer here in the United States.Fergie discussed how the league has grown in the past ten years since Man United took their first tour of the country as well as the ways the sport of soccer continues to evolve.However, Ferguson also gave Major League Soccer and its fans a massive nugget to feed on regarding the future of the league when he said, "you could have four leagues because of the size of the country and the population base."For those who don't understand exactly how MLS works: MLS is a soccer league that contains 18 clubs in the U.S. and in Canada and is a single table system. In the autumn, there is a playoff between the top eight clubs to determine the MLS Cup champion.However, as the league continues to grow in popularity, many fans want a table system put into place. As of yet, the MLS uses no table system ...

MLS: Portland Timbers Suffer Tough Loss to Sounders, Is Their Season Over?

The Seattle Sounders first visit to Portland stadium in the Timbers inaugural MLS season was one for the memory banks. Kicking off at 1 p.m. PST in front on a nationwide audience on ESPN, the stadium was filled to the brim. The North End, which houses the Timber's Army, was in its best form all season. As fireworks were being shot off during the national anthem, three massive banners filled up the entire north end stands. One, a giant picture of the King of Clubs card, was a brilliant piece of symbolism by the Timber's Army. Another unfurled to state, "Quality, not Quantity," a sly dig at Seattle fans who continually proclaim that their stadium fills up at around 36,000 while the Portland stadium tops out at just over 18,000. That said, the feeling in section was one of trepidation. To be honest, not too many people expected the Timbers to come away with a win. Yes, they were there to support their club, but the team has been so out of form, and the Sounders have been playing extremely strong, that not too many supporters expected a positive outcome. The first surprise came when the line-up was announced, and ...

Portland Timber Fans Booing Injured Sounder Hurtado Ratches Up Soccer Rivalry

On a sun-splashed summer afternoon with raucous fans rumbling the rafters during a tied 2-2 Sounders vs. Timbers game in Portland, passion in the Pacific Northwest picked up where it left off the last time these two major league soccer fan bases put on the gloves several decades ago. Actually junior level matches have been going on for years, but this one reminded fans of dozens of matches back in the '70s at tiny Memorial Stadium in Seattle during the old NASL days with the goofy balls featuring the American red white & blue stars.   Fifteen thousand fans packed the stands back then, making the tight confines in the shadow of the Space Needle rock like any football venue in the Old County, which was rare for a sport that the rest of the nation did not understand.   But as special as it was all those years ago, it was no match for the wild new atmosphere of Portland's urban stadium setting of a former minor league baseball park transformed in a modern MLS pitch.  Painted and costumed fans spent the afternoon swaying and jumping to song chants and general debauchery as Portland tried to put on a better spectator show than Seattle's well known feats ...

2011 MLS Power Rankings: Week 17

With a number of big names coming in for a series of club international friendlies this month, Major League Soccer continued its 2011 season with a wave of matches over the weekend.A little move here, a little shake there, and what do you get? This week's MLS Power Rankings which see the Los Angeles Galaxy rise to the top once again.Let's have a look.Begin Slideshow

FC Dallas Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman Hands Victory to Real Salt Lake

In what is growing to be one of the biggest rivalries in Major League Soccer, Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas met in Utah and the result was a 2-0 victory for the home team. The two teams wasted no time in showing that neither team likes each other very much. After a first half that featured some hard fouls and chippy play, they went into halftime scoreless.In the end, this match came down to three big moments, and the biggest was a miscue by FC Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.In the 47th minute, Real Salt Lake midfielder Andy Williams lined up for a free kick from about 30 yards out. The kick cleared the wall and Hartman seemed to be in front of the ball for the routine save. As the ball spun in, Hartman misjudged it and it glanced off his hands and rolled into the goal.It was Williams' second goal of the season.The second big moment was almost the equalizer by FC Dallas. In the 81st minute, Brek Shea took the ball into the box and was close enough for keeper Nick Rimando to dive at his feet off his line. Shea calmly passed the ball to his open ...