MLS Superstar Power Rankings

A full slate of games in Major League Soccer this weekend meant that the league's finest players were on display.The crop of designated players out on the pitches of North America grew this week, as Landon Donovan was finally able to play his first full game of the season after missing the first month of the season due to his self-induced sabbatical. Other stars who shined bright in MLS this weekend included Thierry Henry and Marco Di Vaio.Find out where those trio of stars rank in this week's edition of the MLS superstar power rankings. Begin Slideshow

MLS Weekend Wrap: Goals, Recaps and Stats

There were 14 goals in nine total games in Major League Soccer in Week 7 of MLS action. The biggest margin of victory came in the form of a 2-0 New York Red Bull victory over DC United.  Exactly one third of the 18 teams that competed failed to find the back of the net.Houston was the only other team along with New York to score more than one goal.FC Dallas, the Houston Dynamo and the Portland Timbers each collected three home points. Two away teams grabbed their first road victories of the season in New York and Colorado. Meanwhile, Robert Earnshaw for Toronto FC tied Mike Magee with five goals for the league's scoring lead.Rookie goalkeeper Clint Irwin collected his second straight clean sheet for the Colorado Rapids. He faced another penalty in the effort as well. Landon Donovan played his first full match of the season Major League Soccer season and was persistent throughout.The Timbers continued their winning ways, grabbing their second straight three points against the 2013 debut of Alan Gordon and Steven Lenhart for the San Jose Earthquakes.All that and more on this week's version of the Major League Soccer Saturday wrap. All data is gather from ...

Soccer in America: Is the MLS More International Now Than Ever Before?

The quality of play in Major League Soccer is improving every single season. I don't think that there are very many people that would argue the contrary.Players are developing in the MLS and more and more quality talents are being imported into the league.It's difficult to quantify just where the MLS would stand in the hierarchy of other countries. For example, if EA Sports' FIFA video game franchise is to be believed, then the average MLS team would probably be playing in England's Championship division.Commissioner Don Garber has stated many times that he wants the MLS to be one of the top leagues in the world by the year 2022.An ambitious goal indeed, yet as we approach the self-imposed deadline, the likelihood of achieving that goal seems more and more likely.When we examine player quality in the MLS, we are blinded by big names like David Beckham and Thierry Henry.There is no question that Beckham's time with the LA Galaxy helped the league gain worldwide recognition.As a Galaxy season ticket holder, I can speak with first-hand knowledge of Beckham's influence. His jersey is still the most popular one sported at the Home Depot Center.People like to argue that the MLS ...

10 Best MLS Goals of 2013 So Far

The 2013 Major League Soccer season is well under way with six weeks of play in the books. More than any season in recent memory, the opening weeks of 2013 have been full of spectacular goals with many of this year’s early season strikes already Goal of the Year candidates. Here are the 10 best so far.Begin Slideshow

Why Juan Agudelo Will Become a Star for the USA at World Cup 2014

Chivas USA midfielder, Juan Agudelo, is the youngest ever player to score a goal for the U.S. national team.  The Colombian-American arrived on the international stage during a friendly against South Africa in which his late goal was the game-winner. He has been a topic of great interest among U.S. soccer fans and media ever since. A product of the New York Red Bulls academy system, Agudelo has experienced many of the highs and lows that come with being a young prospect considered to have a special sort of potential.Under Hans Backe, former manager of the Red Bulls', Agudelo struggled to find a solidified starting spot in the team's first 11.  When he did get minutes, his play was inconsistent.There were occasions when he dazzled.  Like opening New York's 2011 scoring account against the Seattle Sounders.  Or netting this ridiculous effort against D.C. United. It is awe-inspiring moments like these that get U.S. fans so excited about the player he might some day become.  Like Freddy Adu, Eddie Johnson and Jozy Altidore before him, Agudelo faces unwarranted pressure to become the sort of dynamic, world-class striker the country has never produced but are so desperate to have. High expectations, coincided with injuries and scant ...

Best and Worst from MLS Weekend

The CONCACAF Champions League limited this week’s MLS action, but it did not limit the amount of mind-blowing and face-palming moments that have become synonymous with the league. Ryan Johnson’s brace propelled the Portland Timbers to their first win of the season. The 37th consecutive sellout at JELD-WEN Field witnessed a 2-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo—cementing MLS’ position as the most competitive and paradoxical league on the planet. Due to a week off, the Seattle Sounders remain winless. Rave Green have the distinct honor of being the only MLS team to bear that title. Neither Portland nor Seattle made the list of best and worst of Week 6 in MLS. Read on to find out who did.Begin Slideshow

Chicago Fire Cool the New York Red Bulls 3-1

Chicago Fire fans can breathe a sigh of relief. The “Men in Red” finally got into the win column today. It took two late goals from an unlikely hero to defeat the New York Red Bulls 3-1 in front of over 12,000 fans at Toyota Park.Brazilian forward Maicon Santos put the Fire ahead in the 83rd minute of play with a brilliant move that left Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles out of position.Santos followed his go-ahead goal with a header for an insurance score near the 90th-minute mark.The match began as a seesaw event that featured good passing and solid defense.Both teams swapped possessions during the first 15 minutes of play. Neither the Fire nor the Red Bulls were able to take advantage of several scoring chances.The Fire had a great chance at drawing the first blood when they had a corner kick opportunity within the second minute, but Chris Rolfe lofted a soft shot that went into Robles' arms.Later in the first half the Red Bulls took a 1-0 lead with a goal. The bicycle kick by defender Jamison Olave caught the attention of the fans, and Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson never had a chance to make the save.The ...

MLS Power Rankings: Week 6

It was quite the unorthodox week in Major League Soccer with a Eastern Conference showdown being played on Friday night and five teams sitting on the sidelines. With just 14 teams in action because of the participation by the Sounders and Galaxy in the CONCACAF Champions League, each of the seven games played this weekend was thrust into the national spotlight at some point. Sporting Kansas City opened the weekend with a win at home over D.C. United on Friday while the Chicago Fire closed out the slate of seven games on Sunday with a home victory of their own over the New York Red Bulls.Sandwiched in between those games were five clashes on Saturday that saw Portland and Colorado both earn their first win of the season.Find out where your favorite MLS team landed in this week's edition of the MLS power rankings. Begin Slideshow

MLS Weekend Wrap: Goals, Recaps and Interesting Stats

There were seven total games played in Week 6 of Major League Soccer this weekend.Of the seven three ended in shared spoils while three teams gained a win for the first time this season. There were 16 total goals scored by 14 different players for an average of over two goals per game. Ryan Johnson and Maicon Santos led the weekend in goals with two each. Johnson's brace was enough to help the Portland Timbers earn their first three points of the season over a physical Houston Dynamo side. Chicago, too, got their first victory of the year.One of the better back-to-goal strikers in the league, the forever controversial Steven Lenhart, took the pitch for the first time this season in San Jose's 1-1 draw at home against the Vancouver Whitecaps.  Vancouver utilized a lineup switch in which stars Kenny Miller and Darren Mattocks were not in the starting 11.The Colorado Rapids also got their first win of the season against rivals Real Salt Lake in the second edition of this campaign's Rocky Mountain Cup. They are now in the drivers seat to win the regional competition with just one match left between the two clubs. Here are more details about each of the games ...

MLS Superstar Power Rankings

With a shortened schedule of seven games in Major League Soccer this weekend, determining who should sit on top of the inaugural superstar power rankings was quite an easy decision. Five teams were idle this weekend due to the involvement of Seattle and Los Angeles in the CONCACAF Champions League. Those two teams combined have five designated players on their rosters. For the players who did make their way onto the field, there were a few standout performances by the league's best talent.Continue reading to find out who topped the first edition of the weekly MLS superstar power rankings. Begin Slideshow