San Jose Earthquakes Acquire Midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy from New York Red Bulls

The San Jose Earthquakes used a package deal of a 2013 international player spot and a conditional draft pick from that same year to entice New York Red Bulls to send along midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy, San Jose's official website reported Monday morning.Ballouchy, a seven-year MLS veteran who had been traded to New York from the Colorado Rapids in September 2010, started 10 times for Red Bulls this season (16 total appearances), providing a goal and two assists.The native of Morocco moved to Denver with his brother as a teenager, spending his junior year attending South High School. The two then moved to Palo Alto, where Ballouchy attended Gunn High School for his senior year.He committed to Creighton University and spent his freshman year at the Nebraska school, but then transferred to Santa Clara University. Playing for coach Cam Rast, Ballouchy thrived in his new school's sunny, palm-tree laden climes.By the time his second season at SCU had come to a close in 2005, Ballouchy had been named a Soccer America and NSCAA/adidas First Team All-American while leading the Broncos to a spot in the NCAA Tournament.His production caught the eye of talent evaluators, and was soon included in one of ...

Olympics 2012: New England Revolution’s Jerry Bengtson Sinks Spanish Armada

With two games down in the Olympic group play, there are a few subplots that have dominated news so far. None is more striking than the demise of Spain. With its emphatic 4-0 win in the final of Euro 2012, Spain had gone from strength to strength, winning three major international tournaments in a row. And while its Olympic squad was mostly a 23-and-under roster, it still shocked the soccer world that one of the favorites will make an ignominious first-round departure.  The Man Who Fired the Shot Heard Around the Soccer World Spain’s demise came at the hands of a Honduran team that proved equal parts tough and resilient, characteristic attributes of a team pulling an upset. One man was of particular note, though, embodying the lonely nature of his underdog team, written off as it was surely was by the experts. Jerry Bengtson, recently signed by the New England Revolution, took up the solemn duty as the lone striker in Honduras’ lineup. And though a majority of his afternoon was spent in the thankless role of the sole player Honduran defenders and midfielders hoofed it to downfield, he had one very bright moment. Seizing a driven cross, Bengtson ...

10 Big-Name Players Who Will End Their Careers in MLS

There are a lot of big-name players who are set to end their playing careers in the MLS.Players like Thierry Henry and Alessandro Nesta have had major careers in Europe and are now strutting their stuff in America.Since we are looking at players who will end their career in the MLS as supposed to players who could, we'll be drawing from the stars currently in the league, and there are quite a few.Considering certain factors, mainly their age, it seems clear that these player will be finishing their career in the USA.Here are 10 big-name players who will end their career in the MLS.Begin Slideshow

Steven Lenhart’s Heroics Help San Jose Earthquakes Earn 1-1 Draw vs. Chicago

Flushed from the excitement of San Jose Earthquakes’ dramatic come-from-behind 3-2 victory over rivals Los Angeles Galaxy on May 23, forward Steven Lenhart summed up his side’s resolute approach by exclaiming, “Goonies never say die!” It was an apt reference to the popular 1980s movie about a ragtag group of kids who continually defy the odds, and it would grow to define an entire season.The Goonies moniker perfectly encapsulated the Earthquakes’ penchant for finding ways to snatch points from the jaws of defeat. The players have made it their own, with team captain Chris Wondolowski even wearing a shirt emblazoned with the motto after some games. While 2012 has been a watershed season for comebacks, San Jose are hardly new to that game. Wondolowski, currently leading the league in scoring with 17 goals through 21 games, topped Major League Soccer with nine game-winning goals in 2010, tying Carlos Ruiz for the single-season league record. Entering Saturday’s game against Chicago Fire, San Jose led the league with 26 goals scored from the 61st minute onward. Their 4-3-3 record after conceding first was also tops.So when Fire winger Chris Rolfe caught ‘Quakes keeper Jon Busch off his line and sent his side ahead 1-0 ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. FC Dallas: Rating the Galaxy Players

Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy had a tough assignment in containing Schellas Hyndman's FC Dallas in the scorching East Texas heat, and they got the job done in the form of a 1-0 Galaxy win (remember this scoreline? I do).With the victory, the club breaks even with a record of 10-10-3 (33 points) and continues its pursuit of the Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS Western Conference standings. Every win elicits good player ratings, and at the very least average for some. Here are the ratings for the Los Angeles Galaxy players who took part against FC Dallas in Frisco, Texas.  Josh Saunders - 7 Another shutout for Saunders, even though this has been a luxury of some sort for the Galaxy netminder. Saunders only had to make one save the entire match, but did enough to earn another clean sheet.  A.J. DeLaGarza - 7 Another consistent night for A.J. DeLaGarza. He made a number of stops and had the speed to contain the FC Dallas attack. This was just more of the same from A.J.  David Junior Lopes - 6.5 Lopes had another great game, but now a question must be answered: Will he sit on the ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. FC Dallas: 6 Things We Learned

In the middle of the London 2012 Olympics extravaganza...there is football. Major League Soccer action took place in the unbearably warm confines of FC Dallas Stadium and Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy struggled in the heat and pulled away with a 1-0 win over Schellas Hyndman's FC Dallas.With the win, Los Angeles pull even with a record of 10-10-3 (33 points) and continue their chase of the Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS Western Conference standings. As for FC Dallas, they drop to 5-11-7 and are in danger of not making the postseason.Here are six things we learned from Saturday night's match in Frisco, Tex.Begin Slideshow

The Rebirth of Eddie Johnson and Kenny Cooper Back Home in MLS

Eddie Johnson and Kenny Cooper are two names that have fluttered in and out of the US national team over the last five or so years.Both players were deemed to have outgrown MLS when they left for pastures new, more precisely Europe back in 2008 and 2009 respectively.Both however suffered the same fate in Europe struggling to make an impact and falling off the radar in terms of the national team.Johnson made the move to Fulham where he failed to score a goal. Loan spells at Cardiff City, Greek side Aris Thessaloniki and Preston North End didn’t prove to be any more successful.A very short stay in Mexico, with Puebla, proved to be just as unsuccessful and he rejoined the MLS in February 2012 initially joining Montreal Impact before being traded to the Seattle Sounders in exchange for two players.Cooper’s jaunt to Europe was equally poor, a move to German side 1860 Munich in Germany’s second tier, where he scored just two goals during his stay.After failing to establish himself with the German side he was loaned out to English team Plymouth Argyle in January 2010, the team were then based in the Championship.Cooper, however, managed only to play in ...

American Soccer’s Future: An Interview with MLS Star Bill Hamid

Bill Hamid is, in many ways, a glimpse into American soccer’s future. As a 21-year-old goalkeeper playing in MLS, he plays a position which the United States has made its own in the past decades. Continuing the tradition of talented American keepers, Hamid became the youngest goalie in MLS history to win a league game as a 19-year-old in 2010, beating the previous record holder (some guy named Tim Howard). Hamid’s fast ascent towards success is rooted in his unique position as a player. He was the first D.C. United player to sign with the main team from their academy. Opting not to go the college route, he went professional early (enrolling at United’s academy in January of 2007) and it has paid off. “It depends on what you want,” noted Hamid. “Certain players want to get their education under their belt, but other guys just want to jump in the game and start learning as fast as possible, and I decided to take that route. It’s on another level from college, because it’s year-round and the training is fast.” At a more broad level, Hamid seemed to agree that the academies are another step in building American soccer, saying ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. FC Dallas: Analysis, Reaction and More

Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy will be without the services of Landon Donovan and David Beckham when they travel to FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, Texas to face Schellas Hyndman’s FC Dallas on Saturday. The Galaxy currently sport a 9-10-3 record (30 points) and sit in fifth place in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference. As for FC Dallas, they have had an even tougher year. The Hoops have a record of 5-10-7 (22 points) and a loss could potentially cost Hyndman his job as manager. Robbie Keane will look to lead the charge for Los Angeles. The Irish international has a team-high nine goals this season and will be needed to finish in the blistering East Texas heat. Meanwhile, FC Dallas will look to help from Blas Perez and Brek Shea to push them forward. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET and will be televised by NBC Sports Network. Keep it right here on Bleacher Report for continuing coverage of the 2012 Major League Soccer season, the Olympics and all things world football.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

David Beckham Showed Why He Is Ageless, Tireless and a Star Among MLS All-Stars

David Beckham was in Philadelphia for just over 12 hours, give or take the amount of time it takes for an airplane to taxi on the runway, as the MLS All-Stars played against Chelsea at PPL Park on Wednesday night. Beckham had hoped to be a part of the Olympic squad for Great Britain at the Summer Olympics in London, but despite not being selected to represent his country on the field, the ageless star is playing the role of international ambassador for England this week.He's doing everything he can possibly do for his home country during the Olympics, while still managing to fulfill his responsibilities with MLS for the All-Star Game. Much to the surprise of nearly everyone at the All-Star game, including other players, the L.A. Galaxy star did more than just fulfill a responsibility on Wednesday night in Chester, Pa., just 10 miles down the road from Philadelphia International Airport. One has to wonder if Beckham stretched on the plane, because when he stepped on the field, he was one of the best players on either side. Beckham landed in Philadelphia, had one light training session during the day with a host of players he had never competed ...