MLS Team of the Week: FC Dallas Trio, Portland, Red Bulls Duo Feature

The wild and wacky 2015 Major League Soccer season took its latest unexpected turn this weekend, especially on Sunday.  Portland, D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls all put in impressive performances in their respective matches with the MLS Cup playoffs on the horizon. Before those three sides stole the headlines on Sunday, FC Dallas continued its strong run to the postseason with a win that secured the top spot in the Western Conference.  Thanks to the tremendous showings from each of the four dominant clubs, eight of the 11 players in our latest MLS Team of the Week come from those teams.  We shaped our best 11 from Week 33 into a 3-4-3 formation in order to accommodate three forwards who impressed over the three days of action in North America. Continue reading to see who landed a spot in our Week 33 MLS Team of the Week. Begin Slideshow

Ultimate Guide to MLS Weekend: Playoff Desperation Growing in Penultimate Week

Entering the penultimate weekend of play in Major League Soccer, half of the league's 12 playoff berths have been clinched.  The New York Red Bulls, D.C. United and Toronto FC have secured spots in the Eastern Conference, while the LA Galaxy, FC Dallas and Vancouver Whitecaps are in out in the Western Conference.  For the four teams battling for three spots in the East and the six left fighting for the final three positions in the West, Week 33 will be vital to the playoff hopes of each club. The formula is pretty simple in the East for Orlando City to have a chance at stealing the sixth seed on Decision Day. The Lions must win at home over New York City FC on Friday and Montreal has to lose or draw in New England on Saturday. Orlando will be hoping the Revolution can dispense with the Impact at Gillette Stadium if it beats its fellow expansion side at the Citrus Bowl. A draw in New England wouldn't kill Adrian Heath's side's playoff hopes, but it wouldn't be the ideal situation for the Lions heading into the final week of the regular season.  If everything goes in Orlando's favor this time out, it could benefit ...

The 5 Most Important Storylines Heading into MLS Decision Day

For the first time in Major League Soccer history, the final day of the regular season will replicate that of the Premier League and other major European leagues.  The 10 games that will be played on October 25 will feature two blocks of simultaneous action in each conference.  The Eastern Conference kicks off the day at 5 p.m. ET with its quintet of matches, while the Western Conference starts its action at 7 p.m. ET.  Throughout Decision Day, we will find out who will be the top seeds in each conference and who earns the coveted Supporters' Shield.  A few close battles for individual titles will also be decided on the final Sunday of the regular season before the MLS Cup playoffs kick off three days later.  Here's a look at the five biggest storylines to watch on MLS Decision Day. Begin Slideshow

MLS Player Rankings: Wondolowski, Larin Rise, 7 Players Debut After Week 31

A week after the biggest names in Major League Soccer lit the back of the net on fire, very few came up with goals to start the final month of the regular season. Only four of the top-10 players in our MLS Player Rankings were able to score in Week 31. Two of those players were Chris Wondolowski and Cyle Larin. Thanks to their efforts in front of goal, the pair of forwards jumped the most spots this week.  Beneath the stars in the top-10 positions, seven new faces added their respective names to the list following a weekend that left few things settled in both playoff races.  Our player rankings take into account form over the last four matches with the player's most recent performance holding more stock than the other three. Continue reading to see who landed where in the latest edition of the MLS Player Rankings.Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: FC Dallas Trio, Chicago Fire Pair Star in Week 31

The first weekend of action in October in Major League Soccer produced a sliver of clarity in a league known for its parity.  FC Dallas became the first team to clinch a playoff spot out of the Western Conference on Sunday, and the Hoops did it dominant fashion as they trounced rival Houston 4-1 in the Texas derby.  Oscar Pareja's side may have had the most dominant showing of the weekend, but the Hoops were unable to leapfrog the LA Galaxy in the Supporters' Shield race as Bruce Arena's team drew 1-1 in Seattle to secure their spot in the postseason.  Over in the Eastern Conference, last-place Chicago stole all the headlines with a 3-1 win over New England, while D.C. United recovered from a brutal losing streak with a win over New York City FC that put them into the playoffs. Because of the strong performances put in by FC Dallas and Chicago, they are two of the three clubs represented by more than one player in the latest MLS Team of the Week. We shaped this week's team in a 3-4-3 formation in order to include three impressive center backs and a wealth of attackers. Continue reading to see who landed a spot in ...

Ultimate Guide to MLS Weekend: Who Wants to Win the Supporters’ Shield?

With one month remaining in the Major League Soccer regular season, very few things have been settled in the playoff race.  In the Eastern Conference, six clubs have separated themselves from the pack. Montreal should secure the sixth and final playoff berth since it still has two games in hand on seventh-place Orlando City. However, where each of the six sides end up remains to be determined.  Out in the Western Conference, the LA Galaxy became the first team to reach 50 points with a victory over FC Dallas on Sunday. Beneath them, seven clubs have seven points between them after the chaos in Week 30.  One race that was not provided any clarity during the final weekend of September was the contest for the Supporters' Shield. The Galaxy catapulted into the lead for the league's best record with their win over FC Dallas after the New York Red Bulls, New England, Columbus and Vancouver all slipped up at home. Although the Galaxy sit atop the Supporters' Shield table entering Week 31, they do not have the easiest path to the trophy. Bruce Arena's team has to travel to Seattle on Sunday before hosting Portland and a making a trip to Sporting Park on the final ...

MLS Player Rankings: Giovinco Goes Top, Drogba Surges

Week 30 in Major League Soccer belonged to the designated players.  Sebastian Giovinco, Didier Drogba, David Villa, Obafemi Martins, Robbie Keane, Michael Bradley and a few others made a massive impact on their respective matches over the last week.  The performances put in by Giovinco and Drogba stood out the most as the Italian made league history with his 20th goal of the season, while the Ivorian's hot start continued Montreal's push toward the playoffs.  Due to the dynamic play of the high-priced talents across the league in Week 30, we have plenty of movement throughout the latest MLS Player Rankings.  Our player rankings take into account form over the last four matches with the player's most-recent performance holding more stock than the other three.  Continue reading to see who else earned a spot on the list of the top-20 players in MLS after Week 30.Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: Drogba, Lampard, Kaka Star in Week 30

The 20th season of Major League Soccer has seen plenty of all-time greats join the ranks and in Week 30 some of those superstars were at their best.  Didier Drogba stole most of the headlines for his brace in Montreal's win over slumping D.C. United, but Kaka and Frank Lampard also played key roles for their respective sides in victories this weekend.  The trio of experienced veterans are joined by a bright rookie in the latest edition of our MLS Team of the Week. Although Drogba's goals may have been the most appealing visually, Cyle Larin produced the best single-game performance of the week as he scored on three occasions in Orlando City's shock road win over the New York Red Bulls. Also included in the best 11 from Week 30 are a pair of Portland Timbers, a goalkeeper who 'stood on his head' and then some, and a midfielder who was sent off immediately after scoring the game-winning goal for his club on Sunday. Due to the plethora of standout attacking showings in Week 30, we shaped out Team of the Week in a 3-4-3. Continue reading to see who joined Drogba, Lampard and Kaka in thee MLS Team of the Week.Begin Slideshow

Ultimate Guide to MLS Weekend: Real Salt Lake Looks to Continue Late Surge

After months of uncertainty caused by formation tinkering and roster moves, Real Salt Lake finally looks the playoff contender we all know it to be.  The seven-time postseason participant left it until the last-possible moment to begin its charge up the Western Conference standings, but all that matters entering the final weekend of September is the club's position to pounce.  Sunday night's trip to Avaya Stadium presents the Claret and Cobalt with a perfect opportunity to climb into at least a tie for the final playoff position in the Western Conference if all goes well. Even if Jeff Cassar's side can't crack the top six after Week 30, it would keep the positive momentum rolling with a win over the plummeting San Jose Earthquakes.  RSL's assault on the top six almost never happened as the club went into the most-recent international break on the heels of a heartbreaking defeat against FC Dallas. RSL had a chance to level the contest at Toyota Stadium from the spot, but club stalwart Javier Morales uncharacteristically missed a penalty in the 78th minute. One minute later, FC Dallas went down the field and sealed a 2-0 victory that at the time seemed to shut the door on RSL's playoff ...

MLS Player Rankings: Kamara Edges out Giovinco for Top Spot After Week 29

Over the course of the 2015 Major League Soccer season, two players have stood out above the rest of the pack: Kei Kamara and Sebastian Giovinco.  Recently, Kamara has dominated the Most Valuable Player conversation with his play up top for the surging Columbus Crew, but Giovinco silenced that with his performance for Toronto FC on Saturday.  Although Giovinco is the clear favorite for the MVP at this point in the year, he is not the player on top of the latest MLS Player Rankings. That title belongs to Kamara for the second-consecutive week as he meets the criteria for our top player more than the Italian at the moment.  Our player rankings take into account form over the last four matches with the player's most-recent performance holding more stock than the other three.  Continue reading to see who ended up beneath Kamara and Giovinco after Week 29 in the our latest MLS Player Rankings.Begin Slideshow