Chicago Fire: Winners of Three Straight, Put Onus on a Total Team Effort

With their 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City, the Chicago Fire have won three straight matches and are scorching up the MLS standings.Friday night’s victory puts the Fire within three points of both the New England Revolution and New York Red Bulls. Both teams have matches tonight against Seattle Sounders FC and Toronto FC. A loss by both or either team would help the Fire tremendously. Midfielder Marco Pappa tied striker Dominic Oduro for the most goals this season for the Fire with his goal against Sporting Kansas City. Pappa’s goal was assisted by Chris Rolfe. They were not the only players who were stellar in Friday night’s win as goalkeeper Sean Johnson finished the game with five saves, giving him 13 for the entire week. It has been a very successful week for the Fire who on Sunday defeated their hated rival, the Columbus Crew. After the win over the Crew, I asked Pappa if there was a friendly competition between he and Oduro for most goals scored. Not only was I received with a laugh but I was given a friendly reminder; the Fire is all about team. “It is not a competition… We are trying to score ...

AC Milan Legend Alessandro Nesta Drawing Interest from MLS Side Toronto FC

Alessandro Nesta could be on his way to Canada as several sources are reporting that Major League Soccer club Toronto FC is interested in the services of the Italian.Nesta has decided to leave AC Milan after 10 years and has expressed interest in playing in the MLS. The 36-year-old World Cup winner would be a welcome addition to the Reds who currently sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference in the MLS with eight points and 28 goals allowed through 14 matches.According to CBC, Nesta has also attracted interest from MLS clubs Red Bull New York and Impact de Montreal. Montreal signed former Bologna striker Marco di Vaio following the end of the Serie A season. He made his debut on Wednesday when the MLS transfer window opened.Nesta was at the Canadian derby between Montreal and Toronto. It seems that TFC coach Paul Mariner is confident that his struggling side can snag the two-time Serie A and two-time UEFA Champions League winner.From CBC's report: "This club's a massive club," he told reporters after practice. "And I'd put it up there with Los Angeles and New York. This is a really big club and this is a fantastic city in which ...

What United States Must Do to Push Soccer into Main Stream

Major League Soccer has 19 teams and over 437 professional soccer players in America. Yet the sport hasn't reached the popularity of the NHL, NBA and NFL. Even baseball (MLB) is prioritized on television and sports coverage over soccer.Although David Beckham and Thierry Henry have made LA Galaxy and NY Red Bulls into household names, their rivalry is still overshadowed by the Super Bowl, baseball playoffs and the NBA drafts. The US men's soccer team has played in every single World Cup since 2002 and even hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Yet the stadiums aren't packed, seats remain empty and stories aren't covered. This list will take a look at the changes that can be made in order to push soccer into main stream in the US. Begin Slideshow

New York Red Bulls: 5 Potential Players for 3rd Designated Player Spot

The New York Red Bulls' quest for their 3rd designated player has been a long and highly anticipated process. After bringing in Barcelona men Rafa Marquez and Thierry Henry in the summer of 2010, the Red Bulls established themselves as one of the premier spenders in Major League Soccer.However, while their cross-country rivals L.A. Galaxy landed their 3rd DP and won two trophies last season, New York has remained passive in the transfer market and has been waiting to find the perfect man to shell out the big money for.Being a Red Bull fan for years, I’ve heard all the rumors one can imagine. This article is not about rumors but more of a labeling of five guys who Backe quite possibly might be looking at to bring into the squad this summer. Enjoy!Begin Slideshow

Are You Kidding Me? MLS Does Not Want Nesta

    This one is hard to figure out. On one side of the coin you have a 36-year-old defender who is one of the greatest of all-time, if not the greatest (even if other greats may have won more trophies). He is more than willing to come and continue his career in the United States in Major League Soccer. He loves it here and spends much of his free time away from the pitch at his home in Florida. Italy’s Alessandro Nesta is more dominant than Fabio Cannavaro, MVP of the 2006 World Cup and subsequently the FIFA World Player of the Year. He helped his first club Lazio win the Scudetto (Serie A title) in 2000. It was its first Scudetto since 1974. Moving on to AC Milan in the summer of 2002, Nesta continued by helping the Rossoneri win the Scudetto in 2004 and 2011. The club also won the 2003 and 2007 UEFA Champions League, the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup. Sadly, he missed most of World Cup 2006 due to injury even though he was regarded as Italy’s top defender entering the tournament. He also won a number of individual honors. Perhaps Nesta’s biggest claim ...

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: Quarterfinal Round Preview

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup returns to action tonight with the quarterfinal round. Of the four matches, only one is an all-MLS matchup.Let's look at all four matches and see who plays who and where for the semifinal round. San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) at Seattle Sounders (MLS)Site: Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, CA.Time: 10:30 p.m. ETThe Seattle Sounders have won the last three U.S. Open Cups, so you know they will be taking this match seriously, something MLS clubs are not known for, with a few exceptions. They are trying to become the seventh team to win four or more cups, but the first to win them all consecutively.The Sounders will be looking to bounce back from a 2-1 loss to their bitter rival Portland Timbers on Sunday in Portland. They are in fourth place in the Western Conference of MLS, winless in their last seven league matches.Seattle's last cup match was a 5-0 win over Cal FC, but they were the last amateur side left in the tournament, assembled about a month-and-a-half before the match by former US international Eric Wynalda, and they had already beaten Portland. Cal FC held Seattle scoreless in the first half.The San Jose ...

Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers: Live Score, Analysis, Recap

Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Mario Balotelli, Fernando Torres: Those are just a few of the players you won't be hearing about in this Seattle Sounders-Portland Timbers live blog. While the eyes of the soccer world are turned (as usual) to Europe, the best rivalry in North American soccer also takes place today, and we're coming to you live from Portland to cover the action the best we can.Portland and Seattle are geographical and cultural rivals, with the most passionate fans in the MLS. And instead of the European superstars invoked at the top, today you'll be hearing about Kris Boyd of Portland and David Estrada and Fredy Montero of Seattle. Seattle comes into the day in fourth place in the MLS Western Conference, with Portland sitting dead last in ninth. But this is the sort of game where you can throw the stats and the form sheets out the window and more than the season standings are on the line.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes: 10 Bold Predictions

Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy will be out for some hard-earned revenge when they take on Frank Yallop's San Jose Earthquakes at Stanford Stadium on the campus of Stanford University in Palo Alto, California on Saturday, June 30.Los Angeles only sport a record of 6-8-2 (20 points) but are on a three-game win streak and have thrown themselves in the MLS Western Conference race. They take on a San Jose team that are riding a two-game win streak and are coming off a 2-1 victory over Real Salt Lake, a team Los Angeles also defeated this past week.Kickoff at the Farm is scheduled for 7 PM PDT/10 PM EDT and will be televised by ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. Here are 10 bold predictions for Saturday's tilt between LA and San Jose.Begin Slideshow

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Vancouver Whitecaps: Rating David Beckham’s Performance

Ho hum. That's all it was. It was simply another ho hum performance for midfielder David Beckham as the Los Angeles Galaxy rolled to a 3-0 shutout victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. on Saturday. Nothing too fancy, nothing too outstanding, just regular workmanlike football from a player who has worked all his life to get to where he is today. But sometimes having a ho hum performance isn't so bad if you have a solid supporting cast to back you up. Three of those members—Landon Donovan, Mike Magee, and Robbie Keane—were the stars of the show. Oh yes, and Juninho's efforts in closing space and winning second balls were commendable. The effort by those players reduced the work that Beckham needed to do as a provider. He had a number of set piece opportunities that just didn't materialize the way he wanted to. Had at least one them gone through, perhaps the rating for Becks may have been improved. Also, Beckham picked up a yellow and did have some words with referee Allen Chapman. The thing about this is that this might be the situation Beckham faces as a member of Team ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Vancouver Whitecaps: Rating the Galaxy Players

What a comprehensive performance from Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy, who reverted to their 2011 selves and dismantled the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. on Saturday night.I can't stress this any more: We are the midway point of the year, and Los Angeles followed their biggest win of the season up with their most complete win of the season. All cylinders were firing for the Galaxy, whose defense neutralized the attack, whose midfield closed space and won possession, and whose forwards finished the play. In fact, the result would have been more one-sided if the finishing was a little bit crisper. That isn't to say this wasn't already a beatdown; this may go down as Vancouver's worst performance of the season, or at least one of the worst. Without further ado, it's time for some player ratings. Here we go.  Josh Saunders: 8 Saunders had a clean shutout, didn't have to do a lot of work, only made two saves, but they were big ones. Having Josh Saunders back in the mix has proven to be a lifesaver of sorts for the Galaxy, who need to keep getting these results. And it all starts with ...