Why LA Galaxy vs. New England Would Be Best MLS Cup Final

Two results this weekend will determine the participants in the 2014 MLS Cup final. Los Angeles and New England hold leads in their respective series entering the weekend, but there is no guarantee either side will make the final.  If fans of the league want to see the best MLS Cup possible, they will be rooting for those two teams to finish off Seattle and New York in the second leg of the conference-final round.  The obvious headline with the Galaxy in the final would be the retirement of Landon Donovan. The American legend is the league's all-time leader in goals and assists, and he has a knack for performing well in big games.  Having the best player to ever step foot on an MLS field end his career by hoisting a trophy would be the perfect ending for Donovan. The 32-year-old already experienced a great send off from the United States men's national team, but the October 10 game didn't end perfectly. Donovan did bury his disagreements with Jurgen Klinsmann for one night, and he put on a show in East Hartford; however, he was robbed of scoring a goal in his final international game. After the match, Donovan was able to celebrate ...

Mike Petke at Fault for New York’s Disadvantage Heading into Second Leg

The New York Red Bulls suffered not one, but two key losses during the first leg of the Eastern Conference Final Sunday against the New England Revolution. In the 2-1 loss at Red Bull Arena, Golden Boot winner Bradley Wright-Phillips picked up a silly yellow card in the 60th minute for bothering Revolution 'keeper Bobby Shuttleworth before a goal kick. By picking up a yellow card in the softest way possible during an extremely chippy match, Wright-Phillips earned himself a one-game suspension for yellow-card accumulation. After the match, Wright-Phillips and his teammates had no idea that a yellow card would earn him a suspension. New York manager Mike Petke failed to tell his players about the rule because he didn't want his team playing scared.How a manager fails to tell one of his key players something so important before a big match is just baffling. Petke's decision to not speak about the rules could end up costing his side in the second leg at Gillette Stadium Saturday. The opportunistic Wright-Phillips found the back of the net on 27 occasions in the regular season and four times in the postseason. Although he may not be the most talented player on the pitch for New York, ...

Behind the Rise and Fall of the 10-Year Franchise History of Chivas USA

On the surface, October 26 seemed like any other home finale for Chivas USA at the StubHub Center. The fans in attendance were treated to a 1-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes. The victory helped Wilmer Cabrera's side earn their third win in the final four games of the Major League Soccer season. "I was really just focused on the game," Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy said. However, once the final whistle blew, reality started to set in. Just a day later, MLS would issue a statement ceasing operations of the club immediately.After 10 seasons as a professional soccer franchise, Chivas USA was no more. They became the third franchise in MLS history to fold. Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny were dissolved in 2001.  As he usually did after home matches, Kennedy went out to the crowd and thanked them for their support. But this interaction with the fans would be his last. "It hit me a bit when I grabbed my wife and my mom to bring them out on the field," Kennedy said. "Normally I try to get out and shake the hands of some of the fans anyway." Despite the poor results of the past few years, the supporters' groups of ...

MLS Team of the Weekend from Conference Final 1st Legs

The Major League Soccer Conference Finals kicked off with a bang this past weekend with LA and New England earning leads heading into the second leg next weekend.  In the two matches Sunday afternoon, plenty of individuals turned in terrific showings at Red Bull Arena and StubHub Center.  Most of the dominant performances came in the middle of the park, which led us to shape our MLS Team of the Week in a 4-5-1 formation. Continue reading on for a look at which 11 players earned a spot in the MLS Team of the Week. Begin Slideshow

Did the LA Galaxy Do Enough in 1st Leg to Feel Comfortable Heading to Seattle?

After 90 minutes of play in the Western Conference Final, the LA Galaxy hold a 1-0 lead over the Seattle Sounders.  The score does not represent how well the Galaxy played at StubHub Center on Sunday. Bruce Arena's side dominated the possession battle by earning 60 percent. And they also had some of the better attacking moves forward.  However, the Galaxy are only ahead by one goal on aggregate after forcing just three of their 20 shots on target against a stingy Seattle back four. The biggest missed opportunity came late in the match, when Chad Marshall slid in to deflect an Alan Gordon shot out of play. Marshall was on the wrong side of a deflection in the 52nd minute, when Marcelo Sarvas' shot hit the center-back on its way into the back of the net. If the deflection did not occur, the Galaxy may still be on level terms with the Sounders.  As the two sides prepare for the clash in seven days' time at CenturyLink Field, one has to wonder if the Galaxy did enough on their home field to hand themselves a solid advantage.  In two matches this season in Seattle, the two sides each came out victorious on one occasion. ...

Missed Chances Will Come Back to Haunt New York in Eastern Conference Final

It looks like the playoff magic the New York Red Bulls used to advance to the Eastern Conference Final is beginning to wear off.  In the 2-1 loss to the New England Revolution to begin the two-leg series, both sides missed solid opportunities in front of goal. But it was the host Red Bulls who squandered the best chances of the match.  Everything looked to be headed in the right direction for New York in the 27th minute, when Bradley Wright-Phillips cleaned up a Peguy Luyindula shot off the post to equalize the match at a goal apiece. Luyindula was praised for keeping the play alive, as he took a shot from the ground so Wright-Phillips could have the chance to hit the ball into the net.  The lone goal scored by the Red Bulls would end up being one of the few attacking chances the team converted in front of the home crowd at Red Bull Arena.  Wright-Phillips found himself in the spotlight again right before the halftime whistle. The Golden Boot winner had a terrific opportunity to hand the Red Bulls all of the momentum heading into the locker room. But instead of finishing off a Thierry Henry cross with ease, he ...

6 Bold Predictions for MLS Conference Championship Games

Major League Soccer kicks back into action this weekend with the first legs of the conference finals.  Plenty of stars will take the pitch at the Red Bull Arena and the StubHub Center Sunday, but only a select few will be able to put their name in the spotlight.  In our six bold predictions for the conference finals, we take a look at a few individuals on both sides of the ball who could have big games for their respective clubs. Begin Slideshow

LA Galaxy vs. Seattle: Key Issues and Decisions That Will Shape MLS Game

The Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy will face each other for the third time in quick succession Sunday in the first leg of the Western Conference Final.  Sigi Schmid's Sounders earned a road draw and a win at home to clinch the Supporters' Shield at the end of the regular season. But the Galaxy did dominate Seattle in the Pacific Northwest back in July.  Everywhere you look on the pitch Sunday at StubHub Center, you will see one of the best players in Major League Soccer at their position. The spotlight will focus on Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Robbie Keane and Obafemi Martins to begin with. But as we saw with Marco Pappa in the regular season, anyone can steal the headlines.  Here's a look at the key issues and managerial decisions that will decide the outcome of the first leg. Begin Slideshow

New York vs. New England: Key Issues and Decisions That Will Shape MLS Game

The two-legged MLS Eastern Conference Final begins Sunday afternoon at Red Bull Arena, as the fourth-seeded Red Bulls host No. 2 seed New England.  New York bounced Sporting Kansas City and D.C. United from the MLS Cup playoffs to reach this stage, while the Revolution dispensed of Columbus easily in the Eastern Conference semifinal. Mike Petke's Red Bulls won both of the regular-season meetings between the two teams, the last of which came on August 2 at Red Bull Arena.  Here's a look at the key issues and managerial decisions that will decide the result of the first leg. Begin Slideshow

DeAndre Yedlin Faces the Most Pressure Heading into Western Conference Final

When the Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy begin their Western Conference Final series Sunday night at StubHub Center, there will be a ton of stars littered across the pitch.  Although most of the high-profile names reside in the attacking end of the pitch for both sides, one key figure will be looking to stop the dangerous LA attack.  Seattle right-back DeAndre Yedlin has experienced a meteoric rise to stardom triggered by his electric display for the United States at the 2014 World Cup. The 21-year-old captivated potential suitors with his recovery speed and abilities moving forward. Before the summer transfer window closed, Yedlin inked a deal with English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.  Since signing up to play for Spurs in the summer, Yedlin has seen a bit of a drop-off in form. He hasn't played as bad as the likes of Matt Besler since returning from Brazil. But there is plenty of room for improvement ahead of the two crucial games with the Galaxy.  Yedlin has been employed in more of a defensive role lately. Throughout the home-and-home series with the Galaxy to end the regular season, and during the Western Conference semifinal series with FC Dallas, he was occupied by his defensive ...