Week 31 MLS Power Rankings

It may be hard to believe, but the reality is that there's just one month remaining in the Major League Soccer regular season. With a month left, plenty is still on the line when it comes to earning spots in the MLS Cup playoffs and in the race for the Supporters' Shield trophy.  Another hotly contested race is the race to be No. 1 in the B/R MLS Power Rankings.  Which club came out on top this week?  Read on to find out. Begin Slideshow

Robbie Keane Scores Outrageous Goal in LA Galaxy Training, Caught on Instagram

Robbie Keane is still banging the goals in for L.A. Galaxy and Ireland, but you probably haven't seen too many like this one he tucked away in training. Caught on Instagram, Keane controls with precision, flicks the ball one way and the other before juggling for a couple of steps and then volleying into the corner. Even without defenders, that's not too shabby.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

MLS Week 31: Complete Schedule and 5 Things to Watch for This Weekend

The impact of Brian Ching's impending retirement is the story to watch in MLS Week 31, but an additional four storylines will complete your weekend preview. Only five of the nine matches scheduled for the coming days will be covered in great detail. Each of the five selected will be dissected from a unique angle to intensify your viewing pleasure. So, what exactly warrants your attention in Week 31? Read on to find out.   Note: Unless otherwise mentioned, credit all statistics to the official MLS Press Box Stats and Standings.Begin Slideshow

Meet ‘Bitchy the Hawk,’ Toronto FC Mascot Who Scares off Seagulls

BMO Field is well taken care of.  Toronto FC's official website introduces the world to a hawk that fans of the club are already familiar with.  Enter parabuteo unicinctus, or as she is more commonly known—Bitchy the Harris Hawk. This bird of prey has a 1.2 metre wingspan and strikes fear in the eyes of seagulls (as well as rabbits, rodents, lizards and possibly visiting teams). She will be watching over the club at all TFC home games. A sports team adopting a mascot is nothing new. From the very real to the insanely fake, teams run mascots onto the field in every sport.  From Georgia's UGA bulldog to the Washington Huskies' adorable Dubs, we simply can't get enough of animals in the sports world.  So we assume Bitchy here will be an MLS star shortly.  As to how and why a hawk becomes the official mascot of a soccer side, the website has us covered. It seems she came to the team in 2012 and the club then ran a "Name the Hawk" promotion.  In the end, the fans decided to maintain her original name. We can't say they were wrong in doing so, because that is as catchy as any other mascot's name. It also means we have ...

Home Guard: USMNT Stars Sit Out This Week’s Key MLS Games

The USMNT Home Guard took to the field for their MLS teams last week as the playoff race and the CONCACAF Champions League group stage come down to the final rounds.  Or some of them did anyway. The premier matchup between Landon Donovan's LA Galaxy and Clint Dempsey's Seattle Sounders was contested without the two USMNT stars.  Donovan is nursing a rolled ankle and Dempsey a bum hamstring. Neither injury appears serious and their clubs seem to be taking a cautious approach. USMNT fans will only have to work their worry beads until each appears again. Donovan's Galaxy have an away game at Cartagines on Wednesday. Dempsey's Sounders host the NY Red Bulls this Sunday. USMNT hopeful Juan Agudelo of the New England Revolution also sat out last week with a tricky hamstring that limited his minutes last week. The Revolution are also taking a cautious approach with their young star. In this week's edition of the Home Guard we'll look at the performances of the remaining MLS players on USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann's short list and look down the road toward the upcoming October World Cup qualifiers. Player data courtesy of MLSsoccer.com with all metrics computed by the author.  Begin Slideshow

Week 30 MLS Power Rankings

This week in Major League Soccer, the race for the playoffs in both conferences intensified.  With a few clubs earning unexpected wins over the last three days, the playoff races are far from being decided.  One thing that is even closer than the playoff race at the moment is the race to be No. 1 in the B/R MLS Power Rankings. This week, the margin between the top two clubs was just one point. Which club squeezed out a victory to earn the title of top club in the B/R MLS Power Rankings?  Continue reading to find out.Begin Slideshow

Best and Worst from MLS Week 30: Dominic Oduro, Erick’s Own-Goal and More

The best action in MLS Week 30 was highlighted by the Houston Dynamo, Lee Nguyen and Dominic Oduro, but what about the worst? The Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles Galaxy failed to meet the criteria after a 1-1 draw at the StubHub Center. Real Salt Lake also failed to capture a victory at home this past weekend. The club inexplicably fell 2-1 to the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday. They won't be featured, either. Some tough competition also kept the Portland Timbers from making the list of best and worst from MLS Week 30. Read on to find out why.Begin Slideshow

MLS: Why Jason Kreis Would Be Perfect Fit as First NYCFC Head Coach

With all of the news coming down recently about the expansion of Major League Soccer to 24 teams by the end of the decade, it is easy to forget that the latest expansion team, New York City FC, is just 18 months away from their first game. As the 2015 milestone approaches for the club that will be owned by a partnership formed by the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball and Manchester City of English Premier League fame, the search for a man to lead them into their inaugural season is apparently up. According to a report by Sports Illustrated's Brian Straus, current Real Salt Lake head coach Jason Kreis is the leading candidate for the job.  Kreis has rocketed to managerial stardom since he took control of the reins at Real Salt Lake at the spry age of 34 in 2007.  After being an integral part of the club's first two seasons as a player, Kreis was handed the managerial position and he has worked wonders with a club in one of the smaller markets in the league.  Since Kreis began as manager of the Claret and Cobalt, he has turned them into one of the perennial favorites to contend for both ...

#Henrying Goes Viral: Thierry Henry’s Goal Celebration Gets Photoshop Treatment

Thierry Henry has gone viral, following in the footsteps of NFL star Tim Tebow and golf's Jason Dufner, after fans started messing around with his goal celebration for the New York Red Bulls. So first things first: What is Henrying? Where Tebowing was getting down on one knee and praying, and Dufnering was more of a slouch and sit, Henrying is leaning with arm on hip after a job well done. You would have thought that after winning just about every major title in football, the 36-year-old would be able to rest on his laurels—as it turns out, it becomes an internet meme even when he does. According to Sports Illustrated, the celebration has become an Henry staple in recent weeks (or that he's done it twice, and that it's now a trend). The folks at KickTV came up with the meme concept, and have explained it handily for you here: The result was a series of somewhat impressive feats of Photoshopping, and we've picked out a few of the best below: #Henrying pic.twitter.com/BKN3yptf4Y — AFC Fisher (@AFC_Fisher) September 19, 2013 Thierry #Henrying like a #WreckingBall #Miley #RBNY pic.twitter.com/fePWWn1p9h — Michael Milberger (@mmilberger) September 19, 2013 "Diego, chill. I got this." #Henrying pic.twitter.com/415LhBms2B — Samuel (@samuelj29060) September 19, 2013 He's had enough. #Henrying pic.twitter.com/s1Kw9R8E6n — ...

Landon Donovan vs. Clint Dempsey: Analysing Stats Ahead of Galaxy-Sounders Clash

When the Los Angeles Galaxy host the Seattle Sounders this weekend in Major League Soccer action, two of the biggest stars in United States men’s national team history will be on opposite sides of the pitch. Landon Donovan of the Los Angeles Galaxy and Clint Dempsey of the Seattle Sounders will lead their sides in a crucial Western Conference matchup with MLS playoff implications at stake for both clubs. For the Sounders, their pursuit of the Supporters Shield will certainly be tested against the two-time MLS Cup Champions the Los Angeles Galaxy who, in addition to Donovan, boast plenty of other studs like Irish striker Robbie Keane and American center-back Omar Gonzalez. Despite the gravity of the game for both clubs, many U.S. eyes will be firmly focused on Donovan and Dempsey, two of most electric footballers in American soccer history. This weekend’s game marks the first time these two players will be facing each other as opponents since 2012, when Dempsey played for Fulham and Donovan was on loan for Everton in the English Premier League.   Donovan got the better of Dempsey on the day, setting up Everton’s two goals to help secure a 2-1 victory. In preparation for the match, here is ...