Bayern Munich Named as MLS Opponent for 2014 All-Star Game

It has been customary for a team of MLS All-Stars to face a top team from Europe in the MLS All-Star Game on a yearly basis, but it can be argued that the MLS will face its toughest test yet in the summer of 2014. According to the Portland Timbers' official Twitter account, the All-Stars will take on Bayern Munich. The 2014 MLS All-Star Game will be held at Jeld-Wen Field in Portland, Ore., next summer, and the fans will certainly be in for a treat. Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge initially announced on Dec. 8 that his team would be involved in the MLS All-Star Game, according to Tim Polzer of SI.com via SportBild. We were the first German club (to receive) an invitation to the MLS All-Star Game. We have accepted the invitation. We are discussing plans to go for a week in the U.S. and to play two matches. The DFL (German Football League) has great interest that we travel to the U.S. The talent level has increased significantly in MLS over the past several years as the sport continues to gain traction in the United States. With that said, Bayern Munich are arguably the best team in the world right now, ...

Best and Worst from the 2013 MLS Cup Final

The best action of the 2013 MLS Cup final was highlighted by Jimmy Nielsen and Kyle Beckerman, but what about the worst? Plenty of candidates met the criteria in Sporting Kansas City's shootout victory over Real Salt Lake. Mother Nature intervened. Referee Hilario Grajeda continued the farcical trend of poor officiating in MLS. Both clubs failed to deliver the quality of play worthy of a cup final.  Read on for all the beautiful and painful details. Begin Slideshow

MLS Cup 2013: Did Sporting KC Get Lucky?

 On Saturday night, Sporting KC defeated Real Salt Lake in the MLS Cup final. After 120 minutes, the teams remained tied at 1-1 and Sporting outlasted RSL 7-6 in 10 rounds of penalties to claim the title. Sporting KC is one of the class organizations of Major League Soccer. They have a terrific stadium, a terrific fanbase, one of the best coaches in the league and a bevy of top-class players. But, were they lucky to win the title on Saturday night?   Should Aurelien Collin Even Have Been on the Field for His Goal? On Saturday, with Sporting KC trailing 1-0 in the 76th minute, Sporting center-back Aurelien Collin scored the tying goal, forcing the game into extra time. Collin was huge for Sporting throughout their playoff run, scoring three goals in their five playoff games. But, should he even have been on the field to score his goal against RSL? All match long, Collin was engaged in a battle with RSL forward Robbie Findley. Findley’s pace caused Collin problems, which Collin handled on multiple occasions by simply taking Findley out. In the 22nd minute, Collin tackled Findley hard and from behind, but there was no call on the play. The only possible explanation was that ...

MLS Cup: 6 Thoughts from Sporting KC’s Win over Real Salt Lake

Sporting Kansas City beat Real Salt Lake in penalties on Saturday night to claim the 2013 MLS Cup title. After 90 minutes of regulation, 30 minutes of extra time and two nice goals from Alvaro Saborio and Aurelien Collin, Sporting managed to edge RSL 7-6 after 10 rounds of penalties. Here are six thoughts from the game.Begin Slideshow

Sporting KC vs. Real Salt Lake: Score, Recap and Analysis for MLS Cup Final 2013

Sporting Kansas City came out on top in a 10-round shootout following a 1-1 tie to defeat Real Salt Lake and win the 2013 MLS Cup on Saturday at Sporting Park. This is the second time, and first since 2000, that Sporting KC have hoisted the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy. This wasn't the most beautifully played match, but it was exciting.  There was also a decent reason for why the players weren't performing at their peak ability. It was insanely cold for this match:   With a matchup of MLS' highest scoring team, Real Salt Lake, and the league's stingiest defense, Sporting KC, fans witnessed a tale of two halves. The first was a defensive affair inspired by the strong defensive pressure of Sporting. Salt Lake took just three shots in the half and none were on goal. Conversely, Kansas City took 10 shots with three coming on goal in the first half.  Sporting was the far more aggressive side in the half and it helped them take Real Salt Lake out of their game. RSL likes to control possession and build a rhythm. Sporting kept them from doing that with intense on-the-ball pressure and wound up winning 52 percent of possession for the first half.  Were it not for the stellar ...

MLS Cup 2013: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview for Finals

After a grueling but successful playoff run, two of Major League Soccer's best in Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake are all set to square off in the winner-take-all 2013 MLS Cup this weekend.  Kansas City will host the event since they finished with more points during the regular season. Both clubs have won the MLS Cup once in the past, with Salt Lake hoisting the crown most recently in 2009. Kansas City is playing for its first title since 2004, but looking to win its first since 2000, back when they were still known as the Wizards.  Eastern Conference champions Kansas City has been made the favorite by the oddsmakers (per Bovada), but a strong case can be made for both squads.  With talent across the board, highlighted by stars like Javier Morales, Kyle Beckerman, Graham Zusi and Benny Feilhaber, Saturday's championship showdown is sure to feature a number of twists and turns and produce plenty of fireworks. With kickoff right around the corner, let's get you set with everything you need to know for MLS Cup 2013.   Date: Saturday, December 7, 2013 Start Time: 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. local time) Where: Sporting Park, Kansas City Watch: ESPN Live Stream: ESPN3.com   Match Forecast* Sporting Kansas City: 51.0 percent Real Salt Lake: ...

MLS Cup 2013: Keys to Final Match for Sporting and Royals

Real Salt Lake and Sporting Kansas City will compete for the same 2013 MLS Cup Trophy on Saturday, Dec. 7, but they won’t compete with the same strategy. Each football club has a different key that will swing the match its way if accomplished. Here are those keys.   Real Salt Lake: Push the Tempo Only one team scored more goals in the regular season this year than the Royals. Their offensive is explosive, and their best chance to claim the MLS Cup crown is to take advantage of that explosiveness by pushing the tempo. Leading this lethal scoring attack will be the top goal scorer and assist man in the contest. Alvaro Saborio scored 12 goals this season, finishing tied for seventh in MLS. Javier Morales, who scored eight goals himself, also notched 10 assists, fourth most in the league. Sitting back and playing it safe takes the game out of the hands of Saborio and Morales. Pushing the tempo allows Real Salt Lake’s offensive stars to shine.   Sporting Kansas City: Take Smart Shots Kansas City scored 10 fewer goals than Real Salt Lake this season, despite attempting 52 more shots. And despite attempting 52 more shots, Sporting finished with 13 fewer shots on goal than the ...

MLS Cup 2013: Breaking Down Why Sporting KC Will Beat Real Salt Lake

While many in Kansas City will likely be tuned in to the SEC Championship on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET—along with the rest of the country—those that do will miss seeing their MLS team, Sporting KC, win the MLS Cup over Real Salt Lake.  In the great football-versus-footy debate, the former will probably win out on Saturday when Missouri takes on Auburn. But for those who do choose the latter in Kansas City, they'll be treated to a championship performance. There are plenty of reasons to favor Kansas City in this contest. For one, home-field advantage is in their favor, as Sporting KC will host the final. In their home digs, the club took 30 of a possible 51 points in the MLS regular season and won both playoff legs.  It's not the MLS' biggest home-field advantage, but it will be important: Of Real Salt Lake's 11 losses between the regular season and playoffs, eight came on the road.   There is also the simple matter of precedent: In their one meeting this year, Sporting KC defeated Real Salt Lake, 2-1, in Salt Lake City, behind goals from Soony Saad and Ike Opara. However, Opara's goal did come seven minutes into second-half stoppage time, so the match ...

MLS Cup Final Complete Preview

The 2013 Major League Soccer season will come to an end on Saturday afternoon with an appetizing matchup between Real Salt Lake and Sporting Kansas City at the 2013 MLS Cup final.  The two small-market teams have shown plenty of resolve throughout the season and they feature two of the best managers in America - Jason Kreis and Peter Vermes.  Sporting will play host to the Claret and Cobalt at Sporting Park due to a better regular season points total.  The match, which will be televised on ESPN at 4 p.m. ET, has plenty of intriguing storylines and will display some of the best American talent out there. Continue reading for a complete preview of the 2013 MLS Cup final.    *All statistics obtained from MLSSoccer.com. Begin Slideshow

MLS Cup 2013: Sporting KC Will Dominate Real Salt Lake to Claim Cup

The MLS Cup has officially come down to two teams with vastly different approaches to the game. One relies on smothering opponents defensively, while the other was one of the top scoring teams in the league. But while both have played their game well as of late, Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake contest is eerily similar to a battle of David vs. Goliath. This time, instead of wielding a slingshot, Real Salt Lake will need to find a way just to get by the Sporting KC backfield to simply find scoring opportunities.   Sporting KC's suffocating defense Coming into the season, Sporting Kansas City had a target on their backs after giving up the fewest goals in the league in 2012. In 2013, the club did the exact same thing, allowing the fewest goals in back-to-back seasons. Much of that success is thanks in large part to Matt Besler, one of the best defenders for the United States Men's National Team this season as well. When asked about the feat, Besler told Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star:  The goal I set for myself was to have the best defense in the league. Last year we gave up the fewest goals, and I knew ...