8 Things We Learned from MLS Week 7: SKC’s Success, Rimando’s Class and More

Week 7 of play in Major League Soccer brought us a mixed bag of results with a few dull draws and some entertaining displays spread out across North America.  In the exciting clashes throughout the league, plenty of stars rose to the occasion and some controversial decisions were made.  One result from Week 7 even brought a club to the brink of panic mode before the month of April concludes. Continue reading for the biggest takeaways from Week 7 in Major League Soccer. Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: Dwyer, Trapp, Mattocks Lead Youth Movement

The seventh week of play in Major League Soccer saw a bit of a youth movement on the score sheet.  Young stars of the league such as 23-year-olds Dom Dwyer and Darren Mattocks, 24-year-old Matt Hedges and 21-year-old Wil Trapp played big parts in crucial goals throughout Week 7.  A few experienced stars did shine bright as well, but it was the showing by one in particular that had everyone around the league buzzing afterward.  Continue reading on to see which young stars and experienced veterans found their way into the Week 7 edition of the MLS Team of the Week.Begin Slideshow

MLS Reporter Takes a Ball to the Back of the Head, Keeps Reporting

Kelli Tennant was covering the Los Angeles Galaxy's game against the Vancouver Whitecaps when an errant ball nailed the back of her head.  Like a true professional, Tennant keeps going after the startling shot to her head. [Vine, h/t USA Today's FTW]Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Union Waste Outrageous Fortune with Punchless Display vs. Dynamo

CHESTER, Pa. — The Philadelphia Union are apt to wait for weeks if not months to be presented with a more winnable match than the scoreless draw they played with the Houston Dynamo at PPL Park. The Dynamo were without six-time Major League Soccer All-Star midfielder Brad Davis, who missed his third straight match with a sprained right ankle. If the Dynamo missed Davis, though, they certainly did not let on in the first half. Houston struck 12 shots at Union keeper Zac MacMath's goal and forced him to make two saves. It also earned three corner kicks in the first 45 minutes and had the Union pinned in PPL Park's River End for most of the half. Union boss John Hackworth's team talk during the interval must have gotten through, though, because the Union seized control of the match throughout the second half. Unfortunately for the Union fans among the more than 17,000 in attendance, though, a winning marker never came. The match essentially turned on two plays. Dynamo forward Will Bruin crashed a right-footed shot off the post past MacMath in the 38th minute. Had the Dynamo scored there, no vivid imagination would have been needed to imagine them getting another goal before the break. ...

Clint Dempsey’s $6.695 Million Salary Surpasses Entire Payroll of 15 MLS Teams

MLS released its 2014 information on players' salaries on Thursday, which includes a bevy of interesting tidbits, including just how handsomely Clint Dempsey is compensated by the Seattle Sounders.  There is hardly a more shocking fact than the one tweeted out by ESPN's SportsCenter on Thursday, illustrating just how wide the chasm remains between the sport's haves and have-nots:  Although, that is just a tad misleading, because MLS is most certainly growing.  ESPN FC's full report cites a list released by MLS, listing the salaries of each of its athletes. The report reminds that the sport maintains three designated-player spots for each team that allow an organization to bring in top-tier talent that might warrant compensation that falls outside the salary cap.  The most recent examples all fill the top of the 2014 heap:  Toronto made a splash this offseason by bringing in U.S. national team midfielder Michael Bradley from Roma and England veteran Jermain Defoe from Tottenham Hotspur. The duo are the league's highest-paid players after Dempsey, with Bradley earning $6.5 million while Defoe pulls in $6.18 million. It's important to note Bradley remains the top earner as it pertains to base salary, earning $6 million with Toronto FC—the discrepancy for which is due to, "bonuses for signing, marketing ...

Mike Magee and Fire Agree to Extension: Latest Contract Details, Reaction

It looks as if superstar Mike Magee will be playing soccer in Chicago for quite some time. NBC Sports Soccer’s official Twitter page alerted fans to the news regarding Magee’s contract status on Thursday: The exact terms of the contract were not disclosed in the immediate aftermath of the signing, but it can be expected that he will receive a significant raise given his recent performance on the pitch.    Magee won the 2013 MLS Most Valuable Player award after a season that saw him score 21 goals in 32 matches. He began his season playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy, where he scored six goals in the first 10 matches, but he was sent to Chicago in May in exchange for Robbie Rogers. It was a move that clearly made him happy, which was evident in quotes he made, via Nicholas Mendola of Pro Soccer Talk: “As a kid, I would have paid to play for the Chicago Fire, so as you can imagine, I’m beyond happy to have signed a new deal. My only goal with this team is to win an MLS Cup.”   The extension comes at an interesting time because there was recent discussion about the possibility that Magee was holding out during ...

MLS Player Power Rankings: Dempsey, Bradley Rise Near Top After Week 5

Week 5 of play in Major League Soccer produced the third-highest goal total on a single day with 28.  Thanks to the offensive outburst, plenty of players soared up the latest MLS player power rankings.  Four of the top five players—and six of the top 10—after Week 5 played a part in a goal scored by their team this weekend.  Continue reading to see which of those players ended up as the best player in the league after five weeks. Begin Slideshow

8 Things We Learned from MLS Week 5

The fifth week of play in Major League Soccer saw a few shocking results and plenty of visually pleasing play.  In a week where only one home team came out victorious, we saw a few rivalry games decided by the play of a few individuals and a team come together with their backs against the wall.  The six rivalry games did produce some juicy storylines, but so did the other three matches played during Week 5. Continue reading for the eight biggest takeaways from Week 5 in MLS. Begin Slideshow

Jose Mari, Cascadia and the Rest of the Winners and Losers from MLS Week 5

Any week that witnesses an eight-goal thriller, a MLS Cup rematch and a few rivalry matches is bound to have some winners and losers. That is exactly what Week 5 in Major League Soccer produced as the weekend began with a 4-4 draw in the Cascadia Cup and ended with a blowout in the SuperClasico. Mixed in between were plenty of things that stood out in a good and bad way.  Continue reading for the Week 5 winners and losers in MLS. Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: Dempsey, Yedlin Star During Rivalry Week

During the first rivalry week of the Major League Soccer season, the stars shined bright, while one unexpected star denied the defending MLS Cup champions of a home success.  Outside of the marquee rivalry showdowns, a few players from Colorado starred north of the border and Toronto dominated in a match it was supposed to lose.  Continue reading to see which players put on the greatest performances in Week 5 to earn a spot on the MLS Team of the Week. Begin Slideshow