MLS Team of the Week: Giovinco Solidifies Status as MVP Favorite in Week 29

The 29th week of play in Major League Soccer left a few questions unanswered after the extended slate of games, but one thing was made clear: Sebastian Giovinco is the favorite to win the Most Valuable Player award.  Giovinco, who experienced a rough patch of form in front of goal in late August and early September, powered Toronto FC to a 3-1 victory with two goals and an assist on Saturday. The performance also solidified his status as the MVP frontrunner among a field of worthy candidates.  Outside of Giovinco's stellar day at BMO Field, Real Salt Lake continued their late surge toward the playoffs with a win over the LA Galaxy, while Seattle also impressed out in the Western Conference with a big win on the road in Vancouver. Both RSL and the Sounders boast a pair of players in the latest MLS Team of the Week.  We shaped our best 11 from Week 29 in a 4-4-2 with two right-backs as our full-backs, given the good amount of solid showings at that position this week.  Continue reading to see who joined Giovinco in the latest MLS Team of the Week.Begin Slideshow

Ultimate Guide to MLS Weekend: Red-Hot Revolution Sparking Deja Vu

If you asked any observer of Major League Soccer two months ago if the New England Revolution had a shot at securing home-field advantage in the Eastern Conference playoffs, most of them would have looked at you like you were crazy.  But thanks to a run similar to last season's surge to the second seed in the East and eventually MLS Cup, the Revolution are on top of the Eastern Conference entering the weekend portion of Week 29.  Many people around the league were paying attention to what the Revs were putting together, but New England didn't officially announce its MLS Cup credentials until Wednesday night, when they defeated the New York Red Bulls at home 2-1.  The victory at Gillette Stadium put Jay Heaps' side one point ahead of the Red Bulls, who still have two games in hand, entering a final stretch of five games that could produce the maximum 15 points required to earn the top spot in the East. Starting with their visit to Montreal on Saturday, the Revolution have five very winnable games against sides near the red line in the Eastern Conference.  New England has reached this point thanks to the play of Lee Nguyen and Diego Fagundez ...

MLS Player Rankings: Kamara Goes Top, Kljestan, Nguyen Surge, Martins Returns

The first full weekend slate of Major League Soccer matches in September produced some history and helped another player continue his march toward a potentially monumental number.  Columbus forward Kei Kamara became the 16th player in MLS history to score 20 goals with two in the Crew's win over the Union, while Bradley Wright-Phillips' chase for back-to-back 20-goal seasons became more of a reality with a strike against Chicago. Four of Wright-Phillips' teammates also feature in the latest edition of the MLS Player Rankings, including one midfielder who is playing some of the best soccer of his life. Another midfielder in the Eastern Conference jumped seven spots this week thanks to his stellar play of late. Down at the bottom of the list of the top 20 players in the league, Obafemi Martins made a welcome return, while a pair of electric scorers also entered.  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 was chosen for our latest MLS Player Rankings.Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: Kamara, Kljestan, Winter Come Up Big in Week 28

Just like every week before it in the 2015 Major League Soccer season, Week 28 witnessed some expected and unlikely results. But this weekend added one variable to the mix: playoff desperation.  With the fight for the highest seed possible and the struggle to stay alive in the postseason race facing them, a few clubs impressed under pressure. Columbus, Orlando City and Real Salt Lake all earned plenty of praise for their respective victories in Week 28. Columbus was led by star scorer Kei Kamara in Philadelphia, while Orlando City and RSL used standout performances from summer signings to get past Sporting Kansas City and Houston, respectively. Due to their strong matches, the Crew, Orlando City and RSL have more than one player in the latest MLS Team of the Week.  Since there were plenty of solid efforts in midfield in Week 28, we shaped our best 11 from the weekend in a 4-5-1 formation.  Continue reading on to see who was named to our latest MLS Team of the Week.Begin Slideshow

Ultimate Guide to the MLS Weekend: Playoff Push Begins in Earnest

Now the international window has closed and those mourning the loss by the United States to Brazil have moved on for the most part, it is time for Major League Soccer to step to the forefront of the conversation for the next two months.  As we expected when the realignment was announced for the 2015 season, things are air tight in the Western Conference for all of the teams not named the Colorado Rapids. In the Eastern Conference, the same congestion is present, but one outlying factor—Montreal's games in hand—has many people thinking they already know who the six playoff teams are.  While we think we know plenty about specific teams, we will find out who really has the might of a contender over the final two months as the playoff push ramps up. As early as this week, we will witness knockout games in the playoff race, but it could take until the final day of the regular season to determine who is seeded where in each conference. Before we take a glance at the teams above the red line in the coming weeks, we need to spend some time discussing the seven clubs with a somewhat realistic shot at making the ...

MLS Player Rankings: Nguyen, Igboananike Debut After Shortened Week 27

With only 10 teams taking to the fields across Major League Soccer in Week 27, the door was open for a few stars to display their talents on a bigger stage.  Thanks to the absences of plenty of superstars due to international duty and bye weeks, players like Lee Nguyen who have been flying under the radar recently caught a good amount of the headlines.  Nguyen is one of three players who took the most advantage of the unique situation in Week 27 and earned a spot on the list of the league's 20 best players.  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 which 20 players landed where in the latest edition of the MLS Player Rankings. Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: Drogba Nets Hat-Trick in First Montreal Start

Week 27 in Major League Soccer may not have had a full slate of games, but the five matches that were played produced plenty of excitement.  Most of the headlines came out of Montreal as Didier Drogba scored a hat-trick in his first start for the Impact. Drogba, whose rights were traded by Chicago to Montreal in order for his transfer to happen, netted his first three MLS goals against the team that coveted him so much but couldn't get a deal done.  On the other side of the continent, another big-name player made his presence known early at CenturyLink Field. In his return from injury, Clint Dempsey combined well with Obafemi Martins in the Sounders' 2-1 win over Toronto.  The three other matches had intriguing results as well, especially Philadelphia's unexpected road win over San Jose on Saturday night.  Our list of the week's best from Week 27 is shaped in a 4-3-3 formation due to the impressive outings from the stars at the forward position. Continue reading to see which 11 players were named to our latest MLS Team of the Week. Begin Slideshow

Ultimate Guide to MLS Weekend: International Break Wreaking Havoc on Week 27

Every time FIFA international dates pop up on the calendar, the debate around Major League Soccer to observe it and pause the season takes center stage.  Although there is a shortened schedule this weekend, the teams participating in Week 27 will suffer from at least one major loss to international duty.  No game is more affected by international call-ups than Sunday's clash between the Columbus Crew and FC Dallas at Mapfre Stadium (7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1). When both teams are at full strength, they are two of the most watchable teams in the league. But with Columbus down nine players, including the league's top scorer Kei Kamara and FC Dallas without the dynamic Fabian Castillo, the match will be watered down.  While it is great for MLS to have such a wealth of talent now, it does have its downside, especially in a week like this, where Columbus has a chance to earn a vital three points out of conference. But instead of trotting out its starters and using the FC Dallas clash as a nice September litmus test, Columbus will send plenty of reserves to the pitch on Sunday.  FC Dallas will be able to field most of its first-team players, ...

MLS Player Rankings: BWP, Bradley Surge; Kljestan, Salinas Debut

After watching their respective Week 26 matches, it is hard not to talk about the New York Red Bulls and the San Jose Earthquakes in every article written about Major League Soccer.  The Red Bulls earned the majority of the weekly headlines for their trampling of D.C. United at home on Sunday, while San Jose earned rave reviews for their control of the midfield battle against the LA Galaxy on Friday.  Because both teams are flying at the moment, they have a combined seven players in the latest edition of the MLS Player Rankings. Three of the seven are new to the list, thanks to impressive outings in midfield.  Outside of the players from MLS' two hottest squads, one United States international made a big leap on the list of the top 20 players in the league due to his recent attacking form.  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 which stars landed where in the MLS Player Rankings after Week 26.Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: BWP, Grella & Kljestan Feature After Red Bulls’ Big Week

Rivalry Week handed plenty of sides in Major League Soccer motivation to earn three points, but no club had more to prove than the New York Red Bulls.  Against their most-hated rival D.C. United, the Red Bulls produced one of the most dominant performances in MLS this season on Sunday night at Red Bull Arena.  Due to the large amount of success earned by Jesse Marsch's side in Week 26, three Red Bulls headline the latest edition of the MLS Team of the Week.  Elsewhere across the league, a few teams earned surprising results against difficult opposition. The Colorado Rapids specifically caught our attention with a 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City. Because of the impressive nature of their win, the Rapids are the only other team with two or more players in the best 11 from Week 26.  Since there were a number of strong showings at the central midfield position, we aligned our team in a 3-5-2 formation.  Continue reading to see who was named to our latest MLS Team of the Week. Begin Slideshow