How Long Will the Portland Timbers’ Unbeaten MLS Streak Last?

For the first two seasons of their existence, the Portland Timbers were known more for their passionate fanbase and eccentric owner but now the team on the pitch is making noise with every match they play.Currently, the Timbers are in the midst of a 14-match unbeaten run that was extended on Wednesday night at the newly-named StubHub Center in Carson, CA against the Los Angeles Galaxy. If you had told anyone who covers Major League Soccer week-to-week that the Timbers would be in this position after their Week 1 draw with the New York Red Bulls at home, they would have laughed in your face. In that draw, Caleb Porter’s club scored two second-half goals against a lackluster Red Bulls defense. That result was followed up the next week with a loss to the current Eastern Conference leaders, Montreal Impact, at home. Ever since those two early-season matches, the Timbers have shocked the league, earning eight draws and six victories in their last 14 matches.  During this 14-match spell, the Timbers have taken away results from clubs that they should have taken points away from like D.C. United, Chicago Fire and the San Jose Earthquakes.The Timbers have also come away with some surprising results, as ...

Los Angeles Galaxy Unveil New Fan-Created 3rd Kit

During the time of the soccer calendar where plenty of European clubs are unveiling new kits, the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer had a kit unveiling of their own.Just hours after the club acquired MLS veteran Pablo Mastroeni from the Colorado Rapids, they made a much bigger splash through social media with their new third kit (via MLSSoccer.com).According to the press release on the club's official website, the kit was designed by a fan named Carlos Rodriguez.The kit resembles the color scheme that the Galaxy used when they started as a franchise in 1996.Rodriguez's inspiration came from attending a Galaxy match at the Rose Bowl in that inaugural season against the New York-New Jersey MetroStars, which is the franchise now known as the New York Red Bulls. “That year set forth what this team is about. The team didn’t win MLS Cup that year, but this team is built to win and these colors represent winning to me,”                                                     -Carlos Rodriguez via lagalaxy.com June 15, 2013. Los Angeles president Chris Klein also chimed in on the fan contest that was in charge of choosing the new kit design. “It’s important to involve our fans in anything that we do, so to do ...

Week 16 MLS Power Rankings

It has taken three weeks for a new club to find their way to the top of the MLS Power Rankings and unseat Montreal from the top spot.That is exactly what happened this week after a small but important group of five league fixtures played on Saturday.Read on to see who is the new No. 1 in the power rankings this week.Begin Slideshow

MLS Saturday Wrap

With a plethora of international action highlighting Saturday's play across the sport, Major League Soccer delivered five entertaining domestic matches.The most excitement came from BC Place in Vancouver, as Kenny Miller became the focal point of the Whitecaps' win over New England for all the wrong reasons.In Portland, Darlington Nagbe was the focal point of the Timbers' match with FC Dallas for the right reasons as the league's longest unbeaten run was extended to 13 matches.Read on for comprehensive recaps of all five MLS matches played on Saturday.Begin Slideshow

Week 15 MLS Power Rankings

While it may have been a short weekend in Major League Soccer with just five matches played, fans of the league did have plenty to talk about when the matches ended. In four of the five matches this week, more than three goals were scored and plenty of late-match heroics were shown as well.Read on to find out where your favorite club sits in this week's power rankings. Begin Slideshow

MLS Saturday Wrap

With a shortened list of games this weekend due to the lack of international fixtures, fans of Major League Soccer knew that they would have to rely on four Saturday matches for their weekend entertainment.In three of the four matches, fans of the American league got exactly what they asked for. The theme of those three specific matches was late-match heroics as Daniel Palladini, Olmes Garcia and Lamar Neagle all scored late in the second half to hand the home side in each match a point or greater. As for the fourth match of the weekend, which was played in Foxborough, there is not much good to say about how the 90 minutes went down.Read on for recaps of each of the four matches played in MLS on Saturday. Begin Slideshow

MLS: San Jose Part Ways with Manager Frank Yallop

Just hours before the weekend began, the San Jose Earthquakes announced that they were going to part ways with longtime manager Frank Yallop, per sjearthquakes.com. In a statement released by Yallop through the club, it was learned that the decision was made between himself, club president Dave Kaval and general manager John Doyle.  “Dave, John and I met earlier this week and we mutually agreed that it was time for the club and me to move in different directions..... The ownership group has been very supportive during my time here. I would also like to thank Dave and John for all their efforts to help me put the best team on the field, while also building a professional atmosphere for both players and staff."  -Statement from Frank Yallop via sjearthquakes.com (June 7, 2013) Yallop had been with San Jose since 2008 when the club was reborn in Major League Soccer after the previous franchise under the same name moved to Houston in 2006.Last season was the most successful season of Yallop's managerial reign, as he led the Earthquakes to the Supporters' Shield title. The 2012 edition of the club also reached the semifinals of the Western Conference playoffs before they were eliminated by the ...

Week 14 MLS Power Rankings

Major League Soccer was turned on its head this weekend with plenty of stars missing because of international duty. Not only were some stars missing from certain matches, a few results turned the heads of plenty of fans and were easily labeled as surprises.The biggest surprise of them all came in Foxborough as the Revolution obliterated the Galaxy while Montreal's win at Sporting Park also raised a few eyebrows. Find out where those four clubs, as well as the other 15 in the league, landed in this week's edition of the MLS Power Rankings. Begin Slideshow

MLS Weekend Wrap

It was another wild and crazy weekend in Major League Soccer as we saw 26 goals scored and four red cards handed out in nine matches. The biggest match of the weekend came in the Eastern Conference as the Montreal Impact took advantage of Sporting Kansas City's lack of depth due to international fixtures and came out victorious. Also happening in the East this weekend was another goal for Philadelphia's Jack McInerney, who scored his league-leading 10th goal against Toronto.Out in the Western Conference, Atiba Harris and Blas Perez dueled in the draw between Colorado and FC Dallas, while Chivas USA took their futility to another level against Seattle. Read on for comprehensive recaps of each of the nine matches played in MLS this weekend. Begin Slideshow

Week 13 MLS Power Rankings

All eyes this week in Major League Soccer were squarely focused on the Los Angeles Galaxy.The Galaxy acquired Robbie Rogers from Chicago, and on Sunday, he became the first openly gay player in American professional sports. Aside from Rogers' appearance, the Galaxy had a big weekend as a whole, as they stormed past the Sounders at home.Read on to see where the Galaxy and the other 18 MLS clubs rank in this week's power rankings. Begin Slideshow