10Aug/150
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 Slideshow10Aug/150
New York Red Bulls Troll Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard in Derby with City
New York City FC have signed some huge names this summer, but that doesn't stop crosstown rivals New York Red Bulls having a laugh at their expense. Red Bulls fans held up a huge banner dedicated to the "City Retirement Home," featuring a picture of Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo hobbling around on walking sticks. And they backed up the banner with a 2-0 win—with both Lampard and Pirlo starting for the visitors. [Fox Soccer]Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com10Aug/150
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 ...9Aug/150
Sounders’ Chad Barrett Scores in Opening Minute, Injures Himself Celebrating
The Seattle Sounders' Chad Barrett got his team on the board in the opening minute of Sunday's game against the L.A. Galaxy, but the celebration was short-lived.Barrett scored inside 50 seconds, thanks to a beautiful cross by Erik Friberg. However, during the celebration, he appeared to have pulled his right hamstring.It wasn't really much of a "celebration," as he briefly ran around with his teammates. It was just bad luck.Barrett was subbed out in the fourth minute.[ESPN FC]Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com7Aug/150
MLS MVP Is Sebastian Giovinco’s Award to Lose in 2015
There's no sense arguing about it anymore. Toronto FC's star forward Sebastian Giovinco is en route to a record-breaking MVP season. Giovinco's hat trick lifted TFC to a 4-1 victory over Orlando City SC on Wednesday. Admittedly, Orlando center back Aurelien Collin was abysmal, but the Italian is the one who embarrassed him. The forward collected the ball on the left flank, cut inside and ran towards Collin. The French defender then lunged into Giovinco with a two-footed tackle in the box. The ex-Juventus youth product won and converted the subsequent penalty. A well-placed free kick and another brilliant individual strike in the second half led to Giovinco's next two goals. Giovinco is now MLS' leading scorer, and he needs just three more assists to top the league in that category as well. He was also voted MLS Player of the Month for July, per the official TFC website. In scoring his 16th goal in 2015, Giovinco set a record for the most goals in a single MLS season for TFC, per Laura Armstrong of the Toronto Star. Dwayne De Rosario owned the feat before Wednesday night. He's also broken the record for most hat tricks in a season with two, per Daniel Squizzato of the official MLS website: Giovinco has been involved in ...7Aug/150
MLS Recreates Andrea Pirlo as a Doll to Celebrate His Arrival at NYCFC
You have one of the most cultured players of recent times arrive in your league—the only sensible thing to do is make a doll of him that you can dress in different attire. That's what the MLS has done for Andrea Pirlo, now of New York City Football Club. They've created the "Pirdoll." You can put him in his new kit, his old Juventus shirt or even the Italy blue. And if he's got an important engagement, there's always the suit, or even his architect gear. So what do you think: No Pirdoll, no party? [MLS]Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com6Aug/150
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," ...4Aug/150
MLS Power Rankings: Vancouver Whitecaps and LA Galaxy Rise After Week 22
There were a record 40 goals scored in MLS this past weekend with 10 scored in one game alone. D.C. United and Real Salt Lake battled in one of the highest-scoring matches in MLS history, and there was plenty more drama on Saturday. The Vancouver Whitecaps handed the Seattle Sounders their seventh loss in their last eight games, and Orlando City SC also picked up a massive victory against the Columbus Crew. With all of these results in mind, here are the latest MLS power rankings after Week 22.Begin Slideshow4Aug/150
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 Slideshow3Aug/150