8Apr/120
New York Red Bulls: Ryan Meara Solidifies the Goalie Position
It’s only been five games into the 2012 season, but Ryan Meara has made an impact in goal that the New York Red Bulls were missing badly last season. In the first five games last season, the team had only allowed three goals, but they had to use three different goalies (and they only had two wins). As the season went on, mistakes by the man in net were abundant and the team used five different players at the position. Mistakes, inconsistencies and not having chemistry on defense doomed the Red Bulls, as they barely made the playoffs and suffered a second-round exit. It was a position that team desperately needed to upgrade in the offseason. So it was a bit puzzling when a franchise that has had no issues spending money on players and recruiting mostly foreigners to join the squad put the team literally in the hands of an American rookie. The 21-year-old out of Fordham University was selected by the Red Bulls with the 31st pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. He was the first goalie taken in the draft and the only player ...8Apr/120
Sporting Kansas City: 5 Keys to Their Fast Start in MLS
With their 1-0 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday, Sporting Kansas City extended their season-opening win streak to five straight matches. It is only the second time in league history a team has won their first five matches. The other? The Los Angeles Galaxy won eight straight to kick off the league's first campaign in 1996.With that number, five, in mind, here are the five keys to Sporting Kansas City's hot start in 2012.Begin Slideshow8Apr/120
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Sporting Kansas City: Rating the Galaxy Players
The lack of David Beckham played a major factor in the Los Angeles Galaxy's 1-0 defeat to Sporting Kansas City, although to their credit, they held their own on defense. This time, it was the offensive punch that went AWOL, as the Galaxy failed to get a shot on goal. So, how did the players do? It wasn't that bad of a defeat, but a loss is still a loss. Here are the player ratings. Josh Saunders: 7 If it weren't for the 41st-minute header by Kei Kamara (and the pretentiously slow-motion celebration that ensued), Josh Saunders would have recorded his first shutout of the season. Saunders made three saves, but that goal allowed lowers his grade. A.J. DeLaGarza: 6 Normal performance from DeLaGarza, who I have conceded will have to stay in the center. To my surprise, save for once, LA weren't killed down the middle. Can DeLaGarza keep it up? Sean Franklin: 3 The goat of the match. Was responsible for giving up the Kei Kamara goal that gift-wrapped another three points for Sporting Kansas City. Do I smell a possible trade soon? Todd Dunivant: 6Good outing from the Iron Man, made some clearances but needs to do ...8Apr/120
New York Red Bulls: Player Ratings Against Columbus
Red Bulls strikers Thierry Henry and Kenny Cooper both scored a brace, the second time that has happened already this season, as the Red Bulls routed Columbus 4-1 at Columbus Crew Stadium. Cooper scored a quick-fire double in the 8th and 13th minute and from then on the game was never in doubt. Henry added his first goal towards the end of the first half and again in the waning minutes of the second half.Columbus really struggled to maintain possession and move the ball into the attacking third. In the few moments when the crew managed to create chances their finishing was terrible, the highlight coming in the 63rd minute when Emilio Renteria missed an opportunity from just outside the 6 yard box. Columbus did add a 89th minute Chad Marshall goal off a corner kick, but it was too little too late for the lethargic Crew. Player Ratings GK Ryan MearaPoor communication almost cost the young keeper early on, but he got better as the game progressed. Had a number of great saves towards the end of the second half as his defense seemed to lose focus. Deserved a clean sheet for his second half effort, but was denied by an ...7Apr/120
Montreal Impact Get Their First MLS Win Against Toronto FC
It ended up being a lot harder than it should have been, but the Montreal Impact have finally won their first game in the MLS, with a 2-1 win over Toronto FC on Saturday.The Impact scored first in the 17th minute. Off a turnover in midfield, Lamar Neagle set up Sinisa Ubiparipovic near the top of the box. Ubiparipovic made no mistake as he slid the ball between both central defenders and into the bottom right corner of the goal.Despite dominating play in the midfield throughout the first half, the Impact had a lot of trouble handling Toronto's crosses coming into the box. If not for a spectacular reaction save from Donovan Ricketts on a Danny Koevermans header, TFC would have tied the game just before half time.The Impact later got some help from the referee when Logan Emory was sent off for taking down Sanna Nyassi in the 65th minute. The straight red was a bit harsh as Emory and Nyassi were virtually side by side at the time of the foul—but considering some of the calls the Impact have gotten this season, I'm sure they'll take it without any complaints.The Impact almost blew the lead shortly after, however, but were ...7Apr/120
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Sporting Kansas City: 6 Things We Learned
The Los Angeles Galaxy drop yet another match in Major League Soccer play, losing 1-0 to Sporting Kansas City at Livestrong Sporting Park. Kei Kamara's header in the 41st minute was all Sporting needed in a performance that lacked offensive production. Here are six things we learned from Saturday's match between the Galaxy and Sporting Kansas City. 1. David Beckham's absence made all the difference. When any of Los Angeles's main players are not in the lineup, bad things tend to happen. Although the outcome wasn't as bad as it could have been, David Beckham's play-making abilities are an asset to the Galaxy. No Beckham equals no victory due to the lack of off the ball movement. 2. Improved defending from LA Although the result was the Galaxy's first shut-out loss of the season, the back-line of Sean Franklin, A.J. DeLaGarza, Todd Dunivant and Tommy Meyer held their own for the majority of the match. It did provide one answer regarding the back-line: Andrew Boyens is a liability, and with Meyer in the lineup, the damage was reduced to just a simple header surrendered by Franklin, who was the worst player on defense for the Galaxy. 3. Landon Donovan eases ...6Apr/120
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Sporting Kansas City: Analysis, Reaction and More
It’s high time for Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy, who enter the cauldron of fire, also known as Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan.Awaiting them: the top team in the East—Sporting Kansas City, who come into Saturday’s tilt unbeaten and ready to continue their winstreak. With issues in the backline and an unsightly habit of surrendering goals on the fly, how will the defending champions of Major League Soccer fare in one of the most hostile environments in North America?Can Los Angeles bounce back from an embarrassing 3-1 defeat at home to the New England Revolution? Or will Sporting establish themselves as the class of the league? Kickoff at Livestrong is scheduled for 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET and will be televised by ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Keep it right here on Bleacher Report for continuing coverage of the 2012 Major League Soccer season and all things world football.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com5Apr/120
Kenny Cooper: The New York Red Bull Is the Perfect Partner for Thierry Henry
Kenny Cooper didn't live up to expectations last season for the Portland Timbers. The former FC Dallas standout was supposed to be the kind of impact player the expansion team needed to make its first season in Major League Soccer special.Instead, Cooper struggled on John Spencer's team and didn't find the net the way people expected. He looked lost at times and short of confidence. The homecoming from a disappointing European journey with German team TSV 1860 Munich just didn't pan out for Cooper.With a relatively high salary by MLS standards, Cooper was deemed too expensive to hold on to by Portland. The New York Red Bulls jumped at the chance to trade for the player before the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, sending allocation money and the Red Bulls' 2013 first-round draft pick to Portland.And Cooper has been anything but a disappointment for the Red Bulls since arriving; in fact, he's been a perfect counter-balance to the Red Bulls' other experienced forward, a certain player by the name of Thierry Henry.There was a chance the Red Bulls would be without Luke Rodgers this year. It was known that Rodgers' troubles with the law in England meant that obtaining a work visa ...4Apr/120
Los Angeles Galaxy: Ins and Outs, April 4, 2012
LA Dance...Into The Fire! Until we dance into the fire, That fatal kiss is all we need.Dance into the fire, To fatal sounds of broken dreams...-Duran Duran, "A View To A Kill" Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy are entering the cauldron Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City, KS, straggling, wounded, bloodied and broken, but not unbowed. Awaiting them: Sporting Kansas City in the Apr. 7 Holy Saturday tilt (1 pm PT/4 pm ET: ESPN, ESPN Deportes). For Robbie Keane, who salvaged some dignity last week against the New England Revolution, he knows the odds are suddenly stacked against the defending league champions. “It’s never good when you lose a game, especially when you’ve got a week ‘til your next game," Keane told MLSSoccer.com's Luis Bueno. "If there’s a game in a few days time, you kind of have to get your head around getting yourself focused, but it’s going to be a long week for the boys. "It’s up to everyone to pick their heads up and be men.” Accountability is important for the Galaxy heading into their match, but bouncing back with authority is also just as critical.“We have to take this as a team, as a group of players," Keane added. "We ...4Apr/120