Ultimate Guide to the MLS Weekend: Seattle Desperate for Win in Rivalry Week

Rivalry Week always brings out the best and worst in some of Major League Soccer's top franchises, and as the play-off race heats up, every one of the matches in Week 26 means something different to each club.  For the Seattle Sounders, a win over the Portland Timbers on Sunday would not only help their cause in the battle for the Cascadia Cup, it would give the fans in the Emerald City something positive to talk about.  The Sounders have experienced plenty of ups and downs throughout the 2015 campaign with injuries being one of the top reasons why they sit just over the red line in the Western Conference standings in sixth place. No one expected the Sounders to struggle as much as they have with Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins out for an extended period of time. Things looked to be returning to normal on August 16, when a Martins-led attack destroyed Orlando City 4-0 at CenturyLink Field. But given Orlando's recent form, the final result was more of a statement about how awful the Lions back line has been recently instead of a celebration of the Seattle attack returning to what it should be.  Sigi Schmid's side was handed a wake-up ...

MLS Player Rankings: 4 LA Galaxy Players Feature, Pair of Earthquakes Debut

The one team in Major League Soccer that everyone is watching right now is the LA Galaxy. With Robbie Keane and Giovani Dos Santos firing on all cylinders up top, the Galaxy seem like they are set to win their sixth MLS Cup in December.  However, Keane and Dos Santos aren't the only stars putting in impressive work on the pitch of late, as two of their teammates also join them in the MLS Player Rankings after Week 25.  The other red-hot team in California, the San Jose Earthquakes, also made a splash on the list of the league's top 20 players this week, as both of their forwards entered the list.  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 joined the six stars from the California clubs in the latest MLS Player Rankings.Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: Trio of Earthquakes, Galaxy’s Keane, Dos Santos Feature

As playoff desperation began to sink in across Major League Soccer in Week 25, a few clubs decided to make things interesting in the push for the postseason. Riding the annual wave of Dominic Kinnear late-summer momentum, the San Jose Earthquakes shocked us all by winning two matches on the road against Sporting Kansas City and D.C. United by a combined 7-0. However, San Jose wasn't the only side in the Western Conference to marvel us with a ridiculous result, as the LA Galaxy plowed past New York City FC 5-1 on Sunday in front of an international audience.  Due to the magnificent individual performances from both California sides, who meet in the final regular-season California Clasico on Friday night, five players from the two teams earned spots in the latest MLS Team of the Week. Joining the California-based quintet in our 4-3-3 formation are two superstars of the league and a few defenders who popped out of relative obscurity and delivered strong matches in times of need.  Continue reading to see who was named to our MLS Team of the Week from Week 25. Begin Slideshow

MLS Player Rankings: Keane Takes Top Spot with Week 24 Brace

With so many world-class scorers gracing the pitches of Major League Soccer, every top-notch forward must be able to produce in every single match for their respective side. One player who is more than capable of doing just that is the LA Galaxy's Robbie Keane, who has been superb since his return from injury in June. Keane again bagged a brace for Bruce Arena's side in Week 24, which led to him retaking the top spot in the MLS Player Rankings.  Below Keane on the list of the league's top 20 players are a trio of New York Red Bulls stars in the top 10 and three new entrants who have flown under the radar recently.  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 where in the latest edition of the MLS Player Rankings.Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: Keane, Martins, Maidana Thrive in Week 24

Week 24 in Major League Soccer offered us plenty of skillful goals, a pair of dramatic comebacks and some standout performances by the league's best.  After sitting out most of the summer with injuries, Obafemi Martins and Robbie Keane delivered two goals each for their respective sides as the fight for play-off positions in the Western Conference heats up. Over in the Eastern Conference, a pair of under-the-radar attackers shined in the wild six-goal affair between Philadelphia and Chicago on Sunday night.  Despite our shift to a 3-4-3 formation to accommodate as many terrific attackers as possible, three quality center-backs put their respective sides in position to win this weekend due to their tremendous efforts at the back. We even witnessed a phenomenal display of skill in net, which made our choice for goalkeeper quite easy.  Continue reading to see which 11 players featured in our latest MLS Team of the Week. Begin Slideshow

MLS Player Rankings: Giovinco Reclaims Top Spot After Week 23 Hat-Trick

As the race for Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Player award intensifies, so does the competition for the top spot in our weekly MLS Player Rankings.  Just like we have seen almost every week this season, a group of players made solid cases to be put on top of the list of the top 20 in-form stars in the league.  After a long deliberation, Sebastian Giovinco, who many see as the front-runner in the MVP discussion, reclaimed his spot atop the rankings after hovering around the No. 1 position for the last three weeks.  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 joined Giovinco on the list after Week 23. Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: Duos from New York Red Bulls, Columbus, Vancouver Feature

Week 23 in Major League Soccer may not have matched the high-scoring output of its immediate predecessor, but it did deliver a good amount of impressive performances at each position on the field.  Despite the drop in goal production across the league compared to the previous week, a pair of high-quality forwards were able to hit the back of the net on multiple occasions for their respective sides.  The defending across the league improved too, as a wide range of players in the back four earned a good amount of praise, including a young duo from the New York Red Bulls, one of which features in our MLS Team of the Week. Joining one of those defenders is the captain of the Red Bulls, as well as duos from Columbus, Vancouver and Sporting Kansas City. Our team is set up in a 4-4-2 formation with the selection of the attacking midfielders not limited to specific positions. Continue reading to see who earned a spot in our latest MLS Team of the Week.Begin Slideshow

New York Red Bulls Stymie NYCFC’s Designated Players to Claim 3rd Derby Win

HARRISON, N.J. — New York Red Bulls captain Dax McCarty admitted after his club's 2-0 win over New York City FC on Sunday night that he wasn't completely sure of what NYCFC would throw at his side in terms of big-name players. When the starting lineup was released, Frank Lampard, Andrea Pirlo and David Villa were all called upon by NYCFC boss Jason Kreis to try to secure a win over their rival. But as the match progressed, the pricey triumvirate found little space against the young defenders and experienced midfielders in red and white. After a frantic beginning to the match, the Red Bulls began to assert themselves with their trademark high pressure. The press used by the Red Bulls created little space for Pirlo to work with out of his defensive midfield position. “We didn’t know how they were going to play. That was obviously a little bit of a guessing game. We figured that Lampard would start, but obviously when you have three players of that quality, you want to make sure you’re tight on them," McCarty said. "We know Pirlo from watching video. When teams give him time and space to just spread the ball wherever he wants, it’s killer." The midfield ...

Kaka Embracing Pressure and Leadership Role in 1st Year at Orlando City

Making a lasting impact at a club in just five months is a tough task for many, but Orlando City star Kaka has thrived in his playmaking role for the expansion side in Major League Soccer.  In 21 matches for the Lions this season, Kaka has contributed nine goals and four assists to a club in contention for one of the six play-off positions in the Eastern Conference.  “It’s not easy, but it’s been a challenge for us to put these 25 players together and create a team. I think our coach [Adrian Heath] is doing a very good job. I’m happy where the team is at. Hopefully at the end of the season we can at least celebrate [a berth in the] playoffs," the Brazilian told Bleacher Report recently. One of the key shifts in the player's mindset since starting his first game in purple has helped him produce for the club and lead by example. The highest paid player in the league, per the MLS Players Union salary database, is using the pressure to succeed as a positive.  “Everywhere that I’ve played, there’s been this type of pressure. Sao Paulo, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Brazil national team. I’m used to this situation," ...

MLS Player Rankings: Villa Remains at No. 1 Following Wild Week 22

Everywhere you turned in Major League Soccer on Saturday and Sunday, goals were flying into the back of the net, except if you had to sit through Sunday's painfully awful scoreless match between San Jose and Portland.  The players scoring the goals were some of the league's best as Cyle Larin, David Villa and Robbie Keane helped contribute to the highest scoring day in league history on Saturday. Thirty-nine of Week 22's 41 strikes were scored during the eight-game Saturday slate. Thanks to the impressive output of the star forwards, the top four players in our latest MLS Player Rankings are forwards. Four midfielders, a defender and another forward round out the top 10.  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 were named to the MLS Player Rankings after Week 22.   Begin Slideshow