MLS Weekend Wrap

Not to be outdone by their counterparts from across the pond this weekend, Major League Soccer provided plenty of thrills in nine league matches.  The biggest of those thrills came from an old veteran of the English Premier League, Robbie Keane, who scored a hat-trick for the Galaxy in their come-from-behind win over Real Salt Lake. In the Eastern Conference, Marco Di Vaio and Federico Higuain stepped to the forefront and recorded two goals each in their club's wins over D.C. and Toronto. Who else shined this weekend in MLS? Read on for comprehensive recaps of each of the nine matches played in MLS on Saturday and Sunday. Begin Slideshow

New England Revolution’s Juan Agudelo Scores on Unbelievable Chip

On Saturday, Aug. 17, 20-year-old Juan Agudelo got the call for his New England Revolution against the visiting Chicago Fire in a crucial Eastern Conference matchup. This was a little over a week since it had been confirmed that Mark Hughes and Stoke City had reached an agreement with the Colombian-born player that would bring him to England at the start of January. He signed a pre-contract with the club, which was first reported on Aug. 6.  I'm sure Hughes will be even happier with his decision after he sees what Agudelo did to open the scoring in this crucial fixture. It occurred in the wee hours of the morning in England, so I would assume he was asleep when this happened: As Chris Tierney hit a great ball over the top from behind the halfway line, Agudelo realized that onrushing keeper Sean Johnson would prevent him from hitting the ball straight at the goal for a classic breakaway finish. With this in mind, he had the audacity to hit it with his heel, looping the ball way over the keeper from around 10 yards out. Despite the impressive attempted defensive clearance from Bakary Soumare, the assistant referee affirmed that it had crossed the line. The American ...

Omar Gonzalez Becomes Los Angeles Galaxy’s Third Designated Player

The Los Angeles Galaxy have announced that Omar Gonzalez will become their third designated player (DP).   The 24-year-old's contract was set to expire at the end of the season, and a move across the pond would've been the next logical step for him. Now, his European aspirations will have to be put on hold for now. The U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT) defender has enjoyed tremendous success with the Galaxy, winning two MLS Cups and MLS Defender of the Year. Gonzalez is far from the best DP ever that many expected though. Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan are L.A.'s two other current DPs. Former Galaxy designated players include none other than David Beckham and Juan Pablo Angel. With the likes of Kaka, Frank Lampard, Andrei Arshavin, Gio dos Santos, and Samuel Eto'o all rumored at some point to be the Galaxy's third and final DP, signing Gonzalez to the lucrative contract seems to be somewhat of a letdown. As for how this impacts the national team, it can be debated whether or not staying in MLS is the right choice for Gonzalez. Going up against tougher competition in Europe is always good for a young player, but staying with the Galaxy and getting guaranteed minutes ...

MLS Week 25: Complete Schedule and 5 Things to Watch for This Weekend

Another version of the three Rs will be on display in MLS Week 25. This time, the return, the rebound and the rematch will be on display. A total of nine matches have been scheduled for this weekend. Eight alone will fill your Saturday viewing pleasure to the brim. But with so much action on tap, what warrants your attention in Week 25? Read on to find out.   Note: Unless otherwise mentioned, credit all statistics to the official MLS Press Box Stats and Standings.Begin Slideshow

Best and Worst from MLS Week 24: Landon Donovan, Doneil Henry and More

American soccer fans had plenty to be proud of in MLS Week 24. For once, it had nothing to do with Clint Dempsey. Alvaro Saborio continued his ascendancy over MLS competition on Saturday. The Costa Rican scored his ninth goal of the season in a 1-0 victory for Real Salt Lake. Camilo Sanvezzo followed suit with a goal of his own in a 2-0 victory for the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Brazilian is now tied for the MLS Golden Boot lead with 14 goals. The Chicago Fire also joined the winner's circle with a 2-1 victory at Toyota park. The club is now two points out of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. But some tough competition kept all the aforementioned parties from making the list of best and worst from MLS Week 24. Read on to find out why.Begin Slideshow

Week 24 MLS Power Rankings

As the Clint Dempsey era in Major League Soccer officially began, the stars of the league rose to the occasion and shined brightly on the league's biggest stage. Stars like Landon Donovan, Kei Kamara, and Federico Higuain all put on spectacular goalscoring displays this weekend.  As for how their respective clubs fared in this week's B/R MLS Power Rankings, you'll have to read on and figure out. Begin Slideshow

MLS Weekend Wrap

Fans of Major League Soccer fans were left seeing double on Saturday night as three players found the back of the net twice. Federico Higuain, Conor Casey and Kei Kamara all scored twice in their respective club's victories. Not to be outdone, Landon Donovan found the back of the net three times on Sunday for the Galaxy against FC Dallas, who saw Blas Perez score the fourth double of the weekend.  Also going on in the league this weekend, was a debut of a certain, newly minted designated player. Read on to see how Clint Dempsey and the Sounders fared in their match, as well as recaps from the other eight matches played across North America this weekend. Begin Slideshow

Clint Dempsey and Other Players to Watch in MLS Weekend Action

This weekend of Major League Soccer marks the return of a legend to America’s top flight professional soccer league: the United States Men’s National Team's captain, Clint Dempsey. The Seattle Sounders will take the Dempsey show on the road to Canada to face a Toronto FC side that is unbeaten in its last three MLS matches. While seeing Dempsey back in MLS will spark intrigue of its own, it might well be even more fascinating to see how manager Sigi Schmid deploys his newest weapon. Deuce is a diverse enough to player to fit in just about anywhere in the midfield or as a striker. Odds are, though, that with Designated Player Obafemi Martins available, as well as USMNT striker Eddie Johnson, the Texan will find himself in a No. 10-inspired role. Regardless, it is official: Clint Dempsey is a Major League Soccer employee. Here are three other players to watch this weekend in MLS.   Thierry Henry Thierry Henry’s New York Red Bulls are scorching hot, most recently coming off a massive road victory against fellow Eastern Conference favorites Sporting Kansas City. They head to Columbus to face a Crew side that has been unable to put together a full 90-minute performance of late. Historically, the Frenchman has picked ...

Clint Dempsey’s MLS Return Highlights League’s Continued Improvement

Clint Dempsey is one of America's best soccer players, and the fact that he is coming back to the MLS speaks volumes about the league's continued improvement. Dempsey was recently announced as the newest signing for the Seattle Sounders, who bought the midfielder's rights from Tottenham of the English Premier League. Brooks Peck of Yahoo Sports compared it to winning the lottery. "MLS as a whole and Seattle Sounders fans in particular won the lottery with a ticket they didn't know they bought when Dempsey was announced as the club's newest and biggest signing." It wasn't exactly the Powerball jackpot, but Dempsey's return is a very big deal for the league. Having one of the U.S. Men's National Team's biggest stars back on American soil is a boon for the league and for American soccer fans. Too many of America's best players are spending their club seasons across the pond in Europe. Jozy Altidore, Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley are among the American stars currently making a living overseas. Goalkeeper Tim Howard has also spent the past 10 years in the English Premier League, where he is currently the starting keeper for Everton. Dempsey decided to buck the trend, leaving some to question his decision. In an interview on NPR earlier this ...

Clint Dempsey Must Dominate with Seattle Sounders After Leaving EPL

Clint Dempsey still possesses the talent necessary to succeed in the English Premier League, which is the main reason his move to the Seattle Sounders was a surprise. Voluntarily reducing the level of competition in the prime of his career opens the door for critics. Instead of getting ready for the new EPL campaign with Tottenham, he's now preparing for his debut with the Sounders as Major League Soccer enters the stretch run of its regular season. He's walking into a completely different atmosphere. While the weekly expectations are undoubtedly high in England, Dempsey is actually going to face more pressure following the move. That's because he will expected to crush the competition as the new focal point of Seattle's attack. Although the club will probably try to alleviate some of that attention by working him in slowly, there's no reason Dempsey should do anything other than dominate in the MLS. He should be the best player on the pitch in virtually every match. Anything less would be a disappointment. He's not a role player anymore. He can't deliver a couple highlight-reel strikes and still have value to the club. The United States national team's captain must lead the way for the Sounders. So far, ...