MLS Player Rankings: Kaka Rises to the Top After Week 4

With the international break and Major League Soccer season in full swing this weekend, plenty of key figures missed out on their respective club's matches.  One player who was not absent from the pitch in Week 4 was Kaka, who continued his remarkable start in Orlando with a goal and an assist.  Due to the massive amount of fluctuation in the MLS Player Rankings this week, the Brazilian snatched the top spot away from Vancouver's Octavio Rivero.  Because the list is a cumulative ranking of the league's top players, those who did not participate in Week 4 are still in the top 20, but they dropped significantly this week.  Here's a look at our weekly compilation of the top 20 players in MLS. Begin Slideshow

MLS: 10 Things We Learned on Matchday 4

Sunday's MLS Matchday 4 concluded an entertaining weekend. The round was packed with terrific individual performances, some controversy and a few comebacks. Orlando City SC drew 2-2 with the Montreal Impact at Olympic Stadium with just four players on the bench. The Vancouver Whitecaps left it till late against the Portland Timbers, while D.C. United also struck at the death versus LA Galaxy. Goalkeepers also ruled the weekend. Houston Dynamo shot-stopper Tyler Deric and the Whitecaps' David Ousted were brilliant and single-handedly saved their respective sides from disaster. Here are 10 things we learned on Matchday 4.Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: Kelyn Rowe Shines for New England in Slow Week 4

Just like the three weeks that preceded it, Week 4 of action in Major League Soccer wasn't exactly a great two-day advertisement for the league.  Despite the lack of impressive team showings, plenty of individuals delivered for their respective sides across North America this weekend.  One player who thrived in the spotlight was Kelyn Rowe, who bagged the only brace of Week 4. Rowe is one of five midfielders who appear in our best 11 of the week.  Because of the wealth of strong individual displays in midfield, we chose to mold our MLS Team of the Week in a 3-5-2 formation.  Continue reading to see who joined Rowe on the list of the best players from Week 4. Begin Slideshow

Kaka Scores for Orlando City in MLS Clash Away to Montreal Impact

Kaka got on the scoresheet as Orlando City staged a quick-fire comeback in their MLS clash with the Montreal Impact. The Brazilian's composed finish dragged Orlando back from 2-0 down to 2-2, with the man who laid on the assist, Pedro Ribeiro, having scored moments earlier. [@OrlSoccerDaily, Vine]Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

MLS: Keys to Every Game on Matchday 4

Matchday 4 of the MLS season begins on Saturday with eight games on the schedule. Two more will follow on Sunday. With 58 players on international duty, coaches will have to rotate accordingly this weekend. The first Cascadia Cup match of the season between the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place is the highlight of Saturday's games. Elsewhere, D.C. United and the LA Galaxy square off, while FC Dallas meet the Seattle Sounders in a rematch of last year's Western Conference semifinals.  Here are the keys to every match in MLS this weekend.Begin Slideshow

New York Red Bulls Captain Dax McCarty Hits out at MLS Disciplinary Committee

DC United midfielder Perry Kitchen appears to have escaped suspension for his stamp on New York Red Bulls right-back Chris Duvall in yet another perplexing decision from the MLS Disciplinary Committee.  DC beat writer Pablo Maurer was among the first to point out that Kitchen has escaped any repercussion for his seemingly blatant act of foul play.  I'm told that Perry Kitchen has escaped any disciplinary action (for now) for his alleged stomp on Sunday vs #RBNY. We'll see. #DCU #MLS — Pablo Maurer (@MLSist) March 25, 2015 The incident itself, which took place at a DC penalty in stoppage time with the Red Bulls leading 2-0, seemed to be quite clear cut, but no action was taken by the referee at the time. Not sure how, but Perry Kitchen wasn't suspended for this https://t.co/9coCHecybN — Seth Vertelney (@svertelney) March 25, 2015 When the Disciplinary Committee announced its review of the weekend's incidents, Kitchen's name was absent, and Red Bulls skipper Dax McCarty responded.  Interesting precedent @MLS disciplinary committee is setting. Intentional stamp on opponent is NOT a suspension. Got it. @thesoccerdon — Dax McCarty (@DaxMcCarty11) March 25, 2015 Perhaps sensing that he had crossed a line, McCarty added one final tweet.  Send my fine on over to Red Bull Arena @MLS. 😎 — Dax ...

MLS Player Rankings: Fresh Face Jumps Past Established Stars Following Week 3

In a week where some of the top names in Major League Soccer were sidelined by bye weeks, one of the league's new faces showed up in a major way at the Citrus Bowl.  Because the likes of Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore had the week off, a few fresh faces climbed into high spots on the list of the league's best 20 players.  Our new top player made a jump of nine spots to claim the top spot after Week 3.  Continue reading to see who earned the No. 1 position on the MLS Player Rankings for the first time this season. Begin Slideshow

MLS: 8 Things We Learned on Matchday 3

MLS Matchday 3 is in the books, and, as usual, there were some interesting storylines and takeaways. The San Jose Earthquakes won in their first game at Avaya Stadium against the Chicago Fire on Sunday. FC Dallas earned its third win in as many games to stay perfect on the season. Finally, the New York Red Bulls defeated their rivals D.C. United. There was also more refereeing controversy, another brutal injury and some incredible individual performances.  Here are eight things we learned this past weekend in MLS.Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: Wright-Phillips, Rivero Dazzle in Slow Week 3

The third week of the Major League Soccer season was far from exciting from start to finish, but there were some glimpses of brilliance across the league on Saturday and Sunday. With two of the most creative teams in the league, Toronto and Seattle, off this weekend, fans should have expected a drop off in quality from the first two weeks. But the goal production dried up significantly as only seven of the 16 clubs who played in Week 3 found the back of the net.  Some of the players who did score a goal this weekend produced terrific bits of individual skill before beating the opposing goalkeeper.  Due to the lack of extraordinary output at a certain position, we opted to field our best 11 from Week 3 in a traditional 4-4-2.  Here's a look at the Week 3 edition of the MLS Team of the Week. Begin Slideshow

Ronaldo to MLS May Be a Distraction from Miami Debacle

Cristiano Ronaldo is planning to play in MLS in 2018, per Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl. It's big news given his status as one of the world's best players, and he'll be only 33 years old. However, the timing of the news is curious considering what's transpired with the Miami expansion debacle. According to Wahl, the cities that have been linked to Ronaldo are Miami, Los Angeles and New York.  This isn't the first time Ronaldo has been linked to the United States, either. His agent, Jorge Mendes, claimed that the Ballon d'Or winner could move to the U.S. once his contract expires, per French TV program Telefoot (h/t to MLS' official website). Even if Mendes stayed silent on the matter, it's feasible to see a player like Ronaldo in MLS. He's a huge star, he's vastly wealthy and likes to soak in the limelight, just like David Beckham. This Ronaldo news could very likely happen, and he would obviously be a great addition for MLS. However, this also looks like a PR move designed to distract the fans from the disaster in Miami. It's not a guarantee that Ronaldo would choose South Florida. The LA Galaxy, New York City FC and the expansion team in LA ...