Chicago Fire to Take on Sporting Kansas City After Tying with Real Salt Lake

The Chicago Fire completed their second of three games in 11 nights after tying with Real Salt Lake 0-0 on Wednesday.At halftime, the Fire inducted former star and current Real Salt Lake assistant coach C.J. Brown into the "Ring of Fire" during an emotional ceremony. Brown held back tears of joy during his speech.The game also featured marvelous defense that won over the praise of Fire coach Frank Klopas. “As a team we didn’t give anything away and we were good defensively,” Klopas said during his postgame press conference. When speaking about the match ending in a tie, Klopas spoke of cautious optimism:“Overall, I was happy with the team’s performance. It would be great to get three points. But in games like this, when you get those opportunities, you have to make them finish because you’re not going to get too many.” Klopas was aware of the battle that they just had with the team with the best record in Major League Soccer. He is also aware of the team that they will be facing tomorrow when the Eastern Conference-leading Sporting Kansas City invades Toyota Park. Sporting Kansas City comes to town on a two-game losing streak. With losses to ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Montreal Impact: Analysis, Reaction and More

Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy return to action on Saturday afternoon when they face Jesse Marsch’s Montreal Impact at the Stade Olympique in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Currently, the Galaxy have a record of 3-5-1 (10 points) and are struggling to get results early in the season. As for the Impact, they are having a relatively decent inaugural year, earning a record of 3-5-2 (11 points). However, they are coming off a 2-0 defeat to Toronto FC in the Amway Canadian Championship and will need to bounce back from this setback against a Galaxy team also in desperate need of a result. With a full house expected on Saturday, the biggest question of the day will be: "Which LA Galaxy team will show up?"  Will it be the team that played gong show soccer against New York, or the team that was in fine form last season? Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00PT/4:00ET and will be televised locally by KDOC and KWHY. 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.com

New York Red Bulls: Player Ratings Against Houston Dynamo

All hands on deck again as the shorthanded NY Red Bulls managed to gut out a 1-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday night.The Red Bulls gained a tenuous lead seven minutes in as Kenny Cooper scored an ugly goal chasing down a Cory Ashe back pass, which Houston Goalkeeper Tally Hall cleared into the big striker, causing the ball to bounce into the back of the net.From then on, Houston looked the more likely to score, particularly down the final stretch of the game. Brad Davis will be kicking himself after missing three golden opportunities to level the score, but ultimately, Houston couldn't find the final ball. This is the Red Bulls' third straight 1-0 victory and their second straight with without injured Thierry Henry. Player RatingsGK Ryan MearaAnother solid performance from the rookie keeper, which was capped off by an impressive 93rd-minute save to seal the Red Bulls win. He did show a lack of concentration, failing to catch a 57th-minute cross, but fortunately, the Dynamo were unable to pounce on the mistake.Player Rating: 6.5 RB Brandon BarklagePlayed another solid game. Defended the back post brilliantly clearing away cross after cross. Found Juan Agudelo with a great cross late ...

Red Bulls Jump into 2nd Place in East

The New York Red Bulls are placed second in the Eastern Conference after three consecutive shutout wins in MLS. The Red Bulls won all three games by a 1-0 margin, the first coming at home on April 28 against the New England Revolution (3-6-0), then away at Los Angeles against the Galaxy (3-5-1), and finally, back on home turf against the Houston Dynamo (2-3-2).The Red Bulls (6-3-1) won a crucial game against the Dynamo which put them on top of DC United (5-3-3) with a game in hand. If New York were to win against Philadelphia (2-5-1), which seems very likely, they would solidify their lead against rivals DC. The game on Wednesday night was the Red Bulls' second night without world-renowned striker, Thierry Henry, who currently is recovering from a hamstring injury. An early seventh-minute goal by Kenny Cooper was the only goal of the game. Cooper's eighth goal of the season came from a horrible back-pass from Dynamo's left-back Corey Ashe. The Red Bulls forward deflected the ball into the back of the net as goalkeeper Tally Hall cleared the line. New York played a watertight defense, even with their makeshift back line. The young defenders were able to clear the ball ...

Alessandro Nesta Leaving AC Milan: Italian Defender Hints at MLS Move

Add Alessandro Nesta to the growing list of prominent Europe-based players being linked with Major League Soccer.Last month it was Spanish striker Raul. This week it's Emmanuel Adebayor. And at various times this season, former German international Michael Ballack has been linked with the American top-flight.On Thursday, Nesta fueled the MLS speculation during a press conference in which he announced he will leave Italian giants AC Milan at the end of the current season.From the Associated Press (via The Washington Post): Alessandro Nesta says he will leave AC Milan at the end of the season and consider a move to Major League Soccer. Nesta has spent 10 years at Milan but, at age 36, says “the high pace of the Italian league, the Champions League and the Italian Cup means that I can’t play all the time. And I’m not one to sit and wait on the bench.” Nesta insists he has not signed with any club but adds that he would “very happily” join the MLS. Nesta helped Milan to two Serie A titles and two Champions League trophies. The defender also won the World Cup with Italy in 2006. He spent nine seasons with ...

MLS: Ranking the 10 Most Lethal Goalscorers

Top goalscorers frequently come and go in Major League Soccer. Some have one or two outstanding seasons and never regain form; others simply depart to test their skills in a foreign league.However, in the last few seasons the league has seen some more consistency in regards to its crop of strikers. The race for the MLS Golden Boot has seen a core of three of four players fighting for the honor, while familiar players continually to follow behind. So here is my list of the top 10 lethal goalscorers in MLS, most which will likely battle for the Golden Boot till the end of the season.  Begin Slideshow

Houston Dynamo’s New Stadium Another Step Forward for MLS

When the Houston Dynamo walk onto BBVA Compass Field on Saturday night to face D.C. United in front of 22,000 fans (4:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network)—it spells a new challenge for the Dynamo and caps a journey that started in San Jose.It's also another big step for Major League Soccer as Houston becomes another team with its own place to call home.When the Dynamo moved from San Jose to Houston in 2005, it was because AEG, the team's principle owners, couldn't secure a stadium location. So the team moved to Houston and called Robertson Stadium at the University of Houston home.In its first season in Houston, the Dynamo won the 2006 MLS Cup, beating the New England Revolution 4-3. Even though the Dynamo were hugely successful after moving from San Jose, it still took six years for Houston to build a stadium—which is even more of a feat considering the new stadium was the reason for the move.Now, the team has a brand new, state-of-the-art stadium to show off, which is located next to the Toyota Center and Minute Maid Park in downtown Houston. The stadium is another sign that Major League Soccer is pushing its way into the mainstream ...

6 Reasons Why the New York Red Bulls Will Win the MLS Cup

With so much of the focus in this still young MLS season on either Kansas City, Salt Lake City or even the defending champions in Los Angeles, the remarkable has actually come true.The New York Red Bulls are flying under the radar.Of course, it's partly their own fault. Underachievers for so long now, prognosticators could be forgiven for dismissing Hans Backe's side.Yet this season, I'm going out on a limb. I'll say that they finally reach their potential.Here are six reasons why.Begin Slideshow

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Montreal Impact: 10 Bold Predictions

This week, Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy continue their season with their inaugural meeting with the Montreal Impact at Stade Olympique. With a record of 3-5-1 (10 points), the Galaxy have one of the worst records in Major League Soccer and are in need of a wake-up call to remain in the postseason hunt.Kickoff is scheduled for May 12 at 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET and will be televised locally by KDOC and KWHY. Here are 10 things to expect from this Saturday's contest between L.A. and Montreal.Begin Slideshow

MLS: Top 10 Hardest Tackles in League History

If you're looking for hard-hitting, old-school, intense soccer tackle highlights, then you have come to the right place. MLS has now been in existence for over 15 years, and it seems like as the league has developed, so has the intensity of tackles. We have seen some of the most significant player suspensions in league history come in the last few years thanks to some very hard challenges.While not all the hardest challenges in league history have videos on the web today, I have grouped together the 10 hardest hits/tackles/challenges of the last few years all in one painful slideshow. Enjoy!Begin Slideshow