LA Galaxy vs. New England Revolution: Key Issues That Will Shape MLS Cup Final

The 2014 MLS Cup final will be played this Sunday. The LA Galaxy and New England Revolution will battle for the title at the StubHub Center, where the Revs were crushed 5-1 by the Galaxy in July. However, the Revolution won eight of its final 10 matches in the regular season after Jermaine Jones joined the club in August, but the Galaxy is no slouch and will be a fearsome force against the Revs on Sunday. Here are the key issues that will shape the MLS Cup final between the Galaxy and the Revolution.Begin Slideshow

Seattle Sounders Striker Obafemi Martins Wins MLS Goal of the Season

Seattle Sounders striker Obafemi Martins missed out on the MLS MVP award to LA Galaxy's Robbie Keane, but he has found some consolation by taking Goal Of The Year honours.  Over 50 percent of online voters selected Martins' lob against the San Jose Earthquakes back in May, as the season's best goal.  Martins showed great vision to lob home from what appeared to be an impossible angle to score the only goal of the game.  The face of San Jose goalkeeper Jon Busch said it all!   [YouTube: Seattle Sounders FC]Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Play of Each Team’s Defense Will Be Biggest X-Factor in the MLS Cup Final

Plenty of the talk surrounding the 2014 MLS Cup Final has been about the brilliant attacking play of the LA Galaxy and New England Revolution during the postseason.  We can gush over the play of Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane, Lee Nguyen and Jermaine Jones all we want, but when a champion is crowned Sunday at StubHub Center, the true star of the game will be a defender.  During the terrific postseason runs put together by both sides, they have needed their respective defenses to put in star showings to earn a chance to hoist a trophy this season.  LA's back four have been more visible during the postseason because they have conceded on just two occasions. Before the 2-1 defeat to Seattle in the second leg of the Western Conference Final, the Galaxy had not conceded in the playoffs.  The LA defense succeeded thanks to a personnel change made by manager Bruce Arena before the 5-0 blowout win over Real Salt Lake in the second leg of the Western Conference Semifinal.  In the big home victory, Arena utilized A.J. DeLaGarza at right-back instead of his normal center-back alignment next to Omar Gonzalez. The switch reaped its rewards in just 10 minutes, as DeLaGarza earned an ...

Donovan Can Go Out on High with MLS Cup Following Turbulent Final Season

Landon Donovan's final Major League Soccer season began badly. Stumped on 134 career goals, which had him level with all-time leading goalscorer Jeff Cunningham, he failed to find the net in each of his first seven matches for Los Angeles Galaxy. It was a dry spell that no doubt contributed to his omission from his country's World Cup squad and, given Jurgen Klinsmann's displeasure with his 2012 sabbatical, likely served to reinforce a decision the United States manager had long wanted to make. Donovan was understandably devastated. "I was looking forward to playing in Brazil," he remarked in a Facebook post. "I am very disappointed with today's decision." The following Sunday—with a point to prove—the 32-year-old delivered one of the more memorable performances of an unforgettable career. In the second minute against Philadelphia Union, his free-kick from distance was headed into goal by teammate Leonardo. Then, shortly after the restart, he stabbed Robbie Keane's cutback past goalkeeper Zac MacMath to finally surpass Cunningham. With his hands in the air as he let out an almighty yell, he ran a few yards in celebration before collapsing to the pitch in relief. It was, indeed, more relief than joy—and in the 81st minute, he bagged a second goal for good ...

Robbie Keane Wins 2014 MLS MVP: Voting Results, Comments and Reaction

Major League Soccer named Los Angeles Galaxy forward Robbie Keane its MVP for the 2014 season on Wednesday, ending a whirlwind campaign for the 34-year-old Irishman that ranks among the best of his storied career.Keane scored 19 goals and had 14 assists, both highs for his MLS career, en route to leading the Galaxy to the MLS Cup. Los Angeles will play the New England Revolution on Sunday as it attempts to win its third Cup in the last four years.  Keane, a longtime Irish national who spent most of his prime in the English Premier League, bested Revolution midfielder Lee Nguyen and Seattle Sounders forward Obafemi Martins. New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips finished fourth. Keane's weighted point total (88.69) gave him a significant advantage over second-place Martins (63.22) and Nguyen (57.54), per the MLS release. MLS uses a three-tiered voting system, with media, club and player votes all playing a factor. Keane is the first Galaxy player to win the MVP since teammate Landon Donovan in 2009 and third overall (Carlos Ruiz, 2002). Donovan, Keane and defender Omar Gonzalez were one of three Galaxy members to be voted to this year's MLS Best XI, which honors the league's top 11 players.A prolific scorer throughout his time in ...

David Beckham Warned over Miami MLS Progress by Don Garber

David Beckham has been warned that he needs to make quick progress with his Miami-based MLS franchise by Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber. Garber has voiced his opinion on the creation of Beckham's franchise after two plans for a prospective new stadium were rejected this year, per BBC Sport.  The supremo has said time is not infinite for the former England captain, stating "this can't go on forever" in terms of the Miami franchise entering MLS. Nevertheless, he acknowledged Beckham's ongoing effort is evident: "The Beckham group continues to work to try and find a stadium solution that they believe will put them in a position to succeed." Sports journalist Simon Evans also highlighted Garber's opinion, with matters looking bleak for Beckham and his associates: Garber confirmed that MLS is operating under huge losses, with franchises posting a combined loss of $100 million a year. But the plan is to expand the competition to 20 teams in 2015—which will include Manchester City's venture with their New York City side, fronted by new signing Frank Lampard among others. Beckham had previously planned to build a stadium on a city waterfront location, per BBC, only to have his applications turned down twice by the City of Miami, which deemed ...

MLS Cup Final: Key Battles, Players to Watch and Who Deserves to Win

The Los Angeles Galaxy and New England Revolution are set to square off this Sunday in the 2014 MLS Cup Final.  Jermaine Jones and Lee Nguyen will lead the Revolution against Landon Donovan and the Galaxy. Donovan is set to play in the last game of his career. Will Donovan retire a winner? Or will the Revolution have the upper hand in this match? Watch former New England Revolution player Janusz Michallik and Bleacher Report's Ryan Bailey break down the 2014 MLS Cup Final.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

New York Red Bulls Face Questions After Thierry Henry Departure, Playoff Exit

It came as no surprise when it was announced that Thierry Henry would not return to the New York Red Bulls on Monday. The Frenchman will leave as a club legend, even after the team failed to lift the MLS Cup for the 19th consecutive year. With Henry's inevitable parting with the club now official, the questions that New York faces this offseason have become clearer. The answers to those questions, on the other hand, remain as unclear as ever. With New York City FC joining Major League Soccer next season, there is significant pressure on the Red Bulls to remain relevant. The answers to these five questions will shape the future of the Red Bulls and determine how the quest for continued relevance fares.   Who will the Red Bulls protect in the expansion draft? On December 10, NYCFC and Orlando City SC will take part in a 10-round expansion draft to help fill out the rosters of the newly minted MLS clubs. In short, the Red Bulls can protect 11 players from being taken by either expansion club, with Connor Lade, Matt Miazga, and Santiago Castano automatically protected due to their homegrown status. Surely, six of the 11 spots will be taken by Luis Robles, ...

The All-Time 5 Best MLS Cup Finals

Major League Soccer has a unique playoff format. It tests the coaches, player fatigue and squad depth. The winner of the MLS Cup is usually one of the most disciplined, intelligent and deepest teams. With the 2014 MLS Cup being contested on December 7, Bleacher Report looks at the five best finals in the league's history. They'll be judged mainly on entertainment value, drama and the impact on the league now. Here are the five best MLS Cup finals in history.Begin Slideshow

5 Possible Destinations for Thierry Henry

On Monday Thierry Henry announced he would be leaving the New York Red Bulls after four-and-a-half years, per the Independent.  The Frenchman played his 135th and final game for the Red Bulls at the weekend when they lost to New England Revolution in the Eastern Conference Championship play-off. The World Cup winner has yet to decide on where he will now take his talents, but here are five possible destinations.Begin Slideshow