Breaking Down the MLS Playoff Races After the All-Star Break

Now that the excitement of the Major League Soccer All-Star Game is behind us, it's time to get down to business. Over the next three months, we'll find out who is worthy of earning the six playoff positions in the Eastern and Western Conferences.  Per the usual trend, the West is the more difficult of the two conferences once again in 2016. The West contains a few clear-cut MLS Cup favorites, while the East is still sorting itself out.  Below, we'll take a look at the playoff picture in each conference, starting in the East, and predict which six teams we think will qualify for the postseason.      Eastern Conference New York City FC are the surprise leaders heading into the final weekend of July. Patrick Vieira's men have climbed into the top spot on 33 points thanks to a tremendous road record of 6-4-1.  In order to continue their pace at the top, City must extend their road form into August, September and October, and they must also improve on their 3-3-5 home mark.  Unlike a few other clubs in the East, NYCFC don't have a long stretch of matches at, or away from, Yankee Stadium for the rest of the regular season, which may suit ...

MLS All-Stars vs. Arsenal: Score and Reaction from MLS All-Star Game 2016

It took a dramatic late goal from Chuba Akpom, but the Premier League's Arsenal outlasted the MLS All-Stars, 2-1, in Thursday's MLS All-Star Game in San Jose, California. The Gunners also received a first-half goal off Joel Campbell's penalty kick, while Didier Drogba scored the lone goal for MLS. Arsenal snapped a two-game MLS winning streak in the event, as the All-Stars beat Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur in their previous two matches. Paul Carr of ESPN Stats & Info noted Arsenal's triumph was the first win by a London team over the MLS All-Stars: Arsenal weren't in midseason form as they build toward the upcoming Premier League campaign, but they managed 52 percent possession and seven shots on goal, compared to four for MLS, per ESPN FC. Pace was not an issue in the initial few minutes. Arsenal's Theo Walcott nearly found the net on an early set piece bu goalkeeper Andre Blake turned it away, and the MLS All-Stars failed to convert a golden scoring opportunity when Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech blocked Giovani dos Santos from close range. The quick back-and-forth action led to an early goal, after Arsenal found Campbell with a long ball and Laurent Ciman fouled him in the box as he was ...

MLS All-Star Game 2016: Live Stream, TV Guide and Final Predictions

An MLS All-Star XI featuring Clint Dempsey, David Villa, Didier Drogba and Kaka will face off against Premier League giants Arsenal in a friendly on Thursday, as Arsene Wenger's talented team visits the shores of the United States. San Jose Earthquakes coach Dominic Kinnear takes the reins for the American side as they pit themselves against the north London mainstays from England's top division. The game takes place at the Avaya Stadium, San Jose, California, as the Gunners improve their fitness before their new campaign kicks off against Liverpool on Aug. 14. Here is how you can watch the entertaining friendly encounter:     Date: Thursday, July 28 Time: 7.30 p.m. ET / 12.30 a.m. BST (Friday) TV: ESPN (U.S.), Sky Sports 3 and HD (UK)  Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), WatchESPN (U.S.)     Match Preview And Prediction  The biggest names in Major League Soccer once again convene to take on top foreign opposition as they welcome Arsenal to California on their pre-season endeavours. For the second year running, Brazil legend Kaka of Orlando City will be given the armband to lead the MLS superstar team, as voted by American soccer fans, per MLS: The All-Star squad features a mix of new blood and veteran names as they attempt to halt the Gunners finding form before the Premier League commences ...

MLS All-Stars vs. Arsenal: Start Time, Live Stream, Form Guide and Predictions

Arsenal will be the opponents in this year's MLS All-Stars game as the Gunners continue their pre-season preparations ahead of the 2016-17 campaign. The north London outfit have played just one friendly thus far—a 1-1 draw with French side Lens—while the All-Stars come together annually for a showpiece game, which typically pits them against an illustrious side from Europe. The All-Stars have won their last two matches, beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in 2015 and Bayern Munich by the same scoreline the year prior. A 3-1 defeat to AS Roma in 2013 was preceded by a thrilling 3-2 victory over Chelsea, meaning three of the last four have gone the way of the Americans. Read on for a closer look at how the match might play out, but first here are the details you need to catch the game.         Date: Thursday, July 28 Time: 4:30 p.m. (Local), 7:30 p.m. (ET), 12:30 a.m. (BST, Friday) Venue: Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), Watch ESPN (US) TV Info: Sky Sports (UK), ESPN (US)         All-Stars Look to Maintain Winning Streak Major League Soccer's best have not won three successive All-Star matches since claiming four in a row from 2005 to 2008 when the opponents became European sides rather than the previous East-West ...

MLS Player Rankings: Piatti, Kljestan Climb High, BWP, Drogba, Giovinco Return

Week 20 in Major League Soccer gave us a good idea of which clubs will be contenders over the final three months of the season. The weekend slate of matches also gave us a preview of which stars will be dominating the headlines during the stretch run of the regular season.  Ignacio Piatti, Sacha Kljestan, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Didier Drogba and Sebastian Giovinco stood out the most for their respective performances in the Eastern Conference.  Wright-Phillips, Drogba and Giovinco all moved back into the Bleacher Report MLS Player Rankings thanks to their exploits on the pitch in Week 20, while Piatti and Kljestan continued their rise to the top.  Continue reading to see which players landed where in our MLS Player Rankings after Week 20.Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: Giovinco, BWP, Drogba Shine in Week of the Striker

Week 20 in Major League Soccer belonged to the strikers.  Didier Drogba and Sebastian Giovinco both netted hat-tricks north of the border in Canada for their respective sides, while Bradley Wright-Phillips extended his ridiculous form in the New York derby on Sunday.  The performances from the forward position were so good in Week 20 that we had to leave one player out of our Bleacher Report Team of the Week.  We shaped our Week 20 best XI in a 4-3-3 due to the plethora of impressive attacking performances.  Continue reading to see who else was named to the Bleacher Report MLS Team of the Week.Begin Slideshow

New York Derby Growing in Hate but Not in Competitiveness After 2 Years

HARRISON, N.J. — The hate and passion are evident in the New York derby.  All you have to do to realize that is look at the comments New York City FC boss Patrick Vieira made about New York Red Bulls manager Jesse Marsch after the Red Bulls' 4-1 win at Red Bull Arena on Sunday.  The former Arsenal midfielder accused Marsch of influencing the decisions of referee Mark Geiger due to comments he made during the week about refereeing in Major League Soccer. “The referees, they all have the same rules," Vieira said. "They all read the paper like everybody else so we’re talking about all of them. You get influenced by what you read and what you hear. And I don’t think it’s appropriate to come out in a week when there’s a derby and there’s a reason why you can not." "We just feel like we don't ever get the benefit of the doubt," Marsch said on Thursday, per Daniel Falkenheim of NJ.com. "I'm waiting for the referees, I'm waiting for anyone to recognize the fact that we have an honest team, that plays in an honest way, and gets punished for calls, for plays, for penalties, the whole bit, across the board and we ...

Sunday’s New York Derby the Most Important in Rivalry’s Short History

Major League Soccer's youngest and fastest-growing derby takes center stage for the final time during the regular season Sunday at Red Bull Arena as the New York Red Bulls host New York City FC.  It may be difficult to call Sunday's meeting between the two Eastern Conference titans the most important in the rivalry's history given the short span they have been pitted against each other, but three points for either Jesse Marsch's or Patrick Vieira's side could be crucial in building momentum in the playoff race and in the rivalry itself.  As hard as it may be to imagine, especially after their rocky start, NYCFC enter Sunday as the favorite to capture a victory in the final New York derby of the regular season. City carry a three-point advantage over the second-place Philadelphia Union into the weekend, and they have opened up a five-point gap on the Red Bulls.  Vieira and company also come into Red Bull Arena with a road record that could turn into one of the best in the league's 21-year history. City are 6-3-1 on their travels this season with a baffling home mark of 3-3-5 in a league where home field usually is a difference-maker.  Since the Copa ...

MLS Player Rankings: Diaz Goes Top, Lampard Continues Surge Up List

The presence of Mauro Diaz, Frank Lampard and countless others in their respective Major League Soccer lineups has altered results over the last few weeks.  The majority of players listed in the Week 19 edition of the Bleacher Report MLS Player Rankings carry the same game-changing qualities.  We also witnessed the opposite end of the spectrum with some stars in Week 19, especially in Portland and Montreal. Without their key playmakers in the lineup for specific games over the last seven days, both teams dropped points at home.  Our MLS player rankings take into account the last four performances from a certain player, with the most recent showing carrying the most importance. Since many clubs participated in midweek games on Wednesday in Week 19, some players were judged on matches in a short time span.  Continue reading to see who placed where in the latest Bleacher Report MLS Player Rankings.Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: Portland Timbers Trio Shines in Rivalry Win over Seattle

The biggest stars on the winning team shone in Major League Soccer's premier rivalry match on Sunday as the Portland Timbers downed the Seattle Sounders 3-1. Thanks to the stellar performances of a few Portland players, Caleb Porter's side dominates our Week 19 Team of the Week.  In addition to the trio of Timbers, a resilient defender and a masterful winger were added as top stars in Week 19. We shaped our team into a simple 4-4-2 formation, and the midweek set of matches were taken into consideration for selection when applicable. Continue reading to see who made the Week 19 Bleacher Report MLS Team of the Week. Begin Slideshow