Winners and Losers from MLS Week 14: Nigerian Forwards, Penalty Takers and More

With the level of excitement rising across the soccer-viewing population of the United States for the World Cup, the final week of play in Major League Soccer before the world's biggest tournament delivered us with plenty of talking points to hold us over until Thursday.  Just like every week, we saw our fair share of winners and losers, which included a pair of Nigerian forwards, the turf monster and a healthy obsession. Continue reading on to see the full list of winners and losers from MLS Week 14. Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: Adi, Shipp, Casey Bag Braces in Week 14

The final week of play in Major League Soccer before the World Cup break delivered plenty of quality performances at every position. From a trio of forwards scoring a brace to a pair of center backs who shut down opposing attacks, Week 14's Team of the Week impressed on many levels.  Continue reading on to see who was named in the 4-3-3 formation that makes up the latest MLS Team of the Week. Begin Slideshow

MLS Player Power Rankings: Higuain Fends off Challengers to Remain at Top

With most of the focus of the soccer world stuck on the superstars preparing for the World Cup, some of the stars of Major League Soccer turned in performances of note in the penultimate week of play before the World Cup break.  From World Cup snubs Landon Donovan, Obafemi Martins and Jermain Defoe to emerging stars of the league in Dillon Powers and Pedro Morales, plenty of players impressed on the pitch in Week 13. Although plenty of quality was shown on the pitch, it was one player who didn't play this weekend that stayed at No. 1, thanks to his overall showing in 2014. Continue reading on to see where the league's best rank in the MLS Player Power Rankings.Begin Slideshow

8 Things We Learned from MLS Week 13: New England’s Trap, Rivalry Fun and More

If you haven't learned to expect the unexpected in Major League Soccer, you did in Week 13, as a few mystifying results were produced. The biggest shock came from Montreal, as the Impact took down Eastern Conference leaders New England by a 2-0 scoreline. Other big names like Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake fell flat, while four teams in rivalry clashes showed us plenty of passion from start to finish. Continue reading on for a look at the eight biggest takeaways from MLS Week 13. Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: Brown, Defoe and Morales Star with 2 Goals Each

With World Cup preparations overshadowing Week 13 of play in Major League Soccer, some fans were not able to watch a full weekend of terrific performances.  Three teams won their respective matches by more than two goals in a week that saw players shine in the midfield, and up front, for those sides.  Five players also scored two goals for their teams this week, but two of those players missed out on the best XI thanks to some stiff competition up front.  Continue reading on to see which players were good enough on the pitch to make it into the MLS Team of the Week. Begin Slideshow

MLS Player Power Rankings: Donovan, Keane, Higuain Fly Up Chart After Week 12

The Major League Soccer weekend caught a ton of attention for the performance of Landon Donovan, but there were plenty of other players who shined throughout Week 12 as well.  One of those players, Federico Higuain, made a convincing case to become the top candidate to overtake Javier Morales at the top of the latest MLS Player Power Rankings.  Continue reading to find out who won the battle for the No. 1 spot and where Donovan ended up on the list of the top 20 players in the league.Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: Donovan Dominates the Headlines

Whether you like it or not, the last week in American soccer belonged to Landon Donovan. Donovan caught headlines for being left off the United States' 23-man World Cup roster on Thursday, and then found himself back in the news on Sunday, when he scored twice in the Galaxy's win over Philadelphia. Thanks to his, and Robbie Keane's, magnificent display at the StubHub Center, the pair were easy selections for the latest MLS Team of the Week.  Continue reading on to see who joined Donovan and Keane in the Week 12 Team of the Week. Begin Slideshow

Landon Donovan’s World Cup Exclusion Is Good for LA Galaxy, Bad for Rest of MLS

Landon Donovan's exclusion was easily the biggest story after Thursday's release of the United States' 23-man World Cup roster. Now, he can also be included in one of the biggest storylines in Major League Soccer history, depending on how he responds to the news handed to him by U.S. manager Jurgen Klinsmann.  If history is any indicator of how Donovan will respond to the biggest adversity he has faced in his career, there is no doubt that he will lead the L.A. Galaxy to what could become an historic run to the MLS Cup. We only have to look back to the summer of 2013 for the most important example of Donovan laughing in the face of adversity.  After being on the outside looking in following his self-imposed sabbatical to Cambodia, Donovan returned to the international stage with a vengeance at the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The 32-year-old midfielder blazed through opposing defenses for five goals and seven assists on his way to earning the Golden Ball for most valuable player.  Thanks to his impressive showings against the best in CONCACAF, Donovan regained his regular spot in the national team setup, and he was thought to have clinched a spot on the plane to Brazil.  Looking further into the past, ...

MLS Player Power Rankings: Players on Hot Teams Thrive in Latest Poll

After Week 11 in Major League Soccer, it is clear that two teams are in a class of their own in their respective conferences. Because of their stellar form, Real Salt Lake and the New England Revolution have a combined eight players in the latest MLS Player Power Rankings.  One of those players was able to snag the top spot away from Bradley Wright-Phillips, who spent just a week at the top after taking down Clint Dempsey. Continue reading on to see which player earned the top spot on the list for the first time this season.Begin Slideshow

Winners and Losers from MLS Week 11: World Cup Snubs, New England and More

Welcome to our latest look at the biggest winners and losers from the last week of action in Major League Soccer.  In Week 11, plenty of individuals made some costly mistakes, while one debutant made an instant impact on his club's result.  Other winners and losers included teams and players who felt the effects of the ongoing World Cup camps for nations such as the United States and Honduras. Continue reading for a look at the winners and losers from MLS Week 11.Begin Slideshow