MLS Team of the Week: Larin, Davies & Piatti Headline League’s Best from Week 22

The 22nd week of play in Major League Soccer was by far the craziest of the year to date. Forty-one goals hit the back of the net across 10 matches, including 10 strikes in one game on a wild Saturday night.  One of the scoring bonanzas on Saturday night happened at the Citrus Bowl, as Cyle Larin led Orlando City to a blowout win over Columbus. The Rookie of the Year frontrunner is joined by two of his teammates in the best XI from Week 22.  The six-goal outburst from D.C. United in their win over Real Salt Lake allowed two of the club's players to make the list, while Vancouver also added a pair to this side following its Cascadia Cup win over Seattle. Due to the lack of standout play at right-back, we opted to fill our 4-1-3-2 formation with two left-backs. Other than that small switch, each player in the MLS Team of the Week fits into his regular spot. Continue reading to see who was named to the Week 22 edition of the MLS Team of the Week. Begin Slideshow

5 Alternative Formats for the MLS All-Star Game

MLS defeated Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on Wednesday in the 20th edition of the All-Star Game.  It was also the 11th meeting against an international opponent since 2005. However, the likes of Goal.com's Ives Galarcep has called for a change to the competition. The East vs. West format was suggested by Galarcep, which is plausible, but there a few other noteworthy ideas. Here are five alternative formats to the MLS All-Star Game.Begin Slideshow

Fans Chant for Didier Drogba as He Arrives in Montreal for MLS Move

They love Didier Drogba already in Montreal. The Chelsea legend arrived in the city on Wednesday as the newest member of Major League Soccer's Montreal Impact. Canadian fans gave him a hero's welcome at the airport and sang the Ivorian striker's song. Naturally, there were selfies. Drogba himself shared the awesome scene (and the selfie) as he arrived. [Instagram, Montreal Impact]  Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

MLS All-Stars vs. Tottenham: Start Time, Live Stream, Form Guide and Predictions

Overseas teams have had a mixed time of it in the MLS All-Star game over the years. Since 2005, when the format of facing an invited guest became the norm, the All-Star team have won six out of 10 clashes. Most recently, the MLS All-Stars overcame Bayern Munich 2-1 in 2014. The latest challengers to the best MLS can offer are Tottenham Hotspur, who will face off with the All-Stars in Colorado on Wednesday. With Spurs hoping to find some momentum ahead of the new Premier League season, it should be an entertaining and intense occasion. Read on for full details of the matchup, along with a look at the form guide and various predictions.   Date: Wednesday, July 29 Time: 9 p.m. ET, 2 a.m. BST TV Info: Fox Sports 1 (US), Sky Sports 1 (UK) Live Stream: Fox Sports Go, Sky Go   Form Guide As noted above, the MLS All-Stars have a decent record against overseas opponents. However, despite winning the first four clashes from 2005, a loss on penalties to Everton in 2009 kick-started a drop off in success. The following two years saw them thrashed twice by Manchester United before Chelsea were narrowly beaten 3-2 in 2012. The victory over Bayern—a good omen ahead of this year's clash—came following a 3-1 defeat to ...

Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane, Michael Bradley out of MLS All-Stars vs. Tottenham

Los Angeles Galaxy duo Steven Gerrard and Robbie Keane, as well as Toronto FC's Michael Bradley, will miss the MLS All-Stars match against Tottenham Hotspur through injury. Coach Pablo Mastroeni will have to do without three significant players, all of whom were likely to start, when Spurs visit Denver on Wednesday night, reported James Andrew of the MailOnline. This disappointment adds to the absence of New York City FC's Frank Lampard and New England Revolution's Chris Tierney. However, Mastroeni's squad now welcomes two of Galaxy's most exciting players in Juninho and Gyasi Zardes. The Denver crowd will also get to see local favourite Sam Cronin of the Colorado Rapids in action, while Columbus Crew pair Ethan Finlay and Waylon Francis have also been added to the squad. Spurs' visit would have been a familiar challenge for Gerrard, Keane and Lampard, three former Premier League stars who are well-versed with facing one of England's toughest sides. Keane enjoyed two hugely successful spells with the club, and having found a new lease of life since moving to the United States, he would have offered the All-Stars' most prominent threat. Although Gerrard and Lampard are still settling after their recent transfers, their experience could have been key. There's the age-old ...

Didier Drogba Could Have a Long-Term Influence on Montreal Impact

Didier Drogba signing with the Montreal Impact, per the team's official website, was well-received based on the comments in the announcement.  Fans should be pleased with this move. Drogba may have only been offered an 18-month contract, according to ESPN FC, but it could have a lasting impression on soccer in Montreal. Drogba is 37 years old, which is a slight worry. In his final season with Chelsea last year, it was evident how much slower he was compared to his previous swansong in the 2012 Champions League final. A forward's speed declines with age. Marco Di Vaio was clearly not as agile during his final season in Serie A, but he was still quick enough to score an astounding 34 goals in 76 appearances with the Impact. In fact, Di Vaio was 37 when he finished third in scoring in 2013 with 20 goals. He was a major influence during Montreal's run to the playoffs that year. Di Vaio and Drogba are different players, but the Ivorian forward is in incredible shape. He'll still be able to muscle off defenders and win aerial duels. Plus, with a quality playmaker in Ignacio Piatti, the ex-Chelsea striker will have excellent service. Throw in wingers such as Andres ...

MLS All-Stars vs. Tottenham: Key Players, Live Stream and TV Info

New York City midfielder Frank Lampard will miss the MLS All-Stars game against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday because of the calf injury that has kept him out of action for his new club. However, the likes of Steven Gerrard and David Villa will be involved, as will former Spurs star Robbie Keane. The match at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Denver, Colorado, marks the official start to Spurs' pre-season campaign as they look ahead to the upcoming Premier League season. Read on for a full preview of what is sure to be an intriguing clash, along with a look at the key players, live streaming and television information.    Date: Wednesday, July 29 Time: 9 p.m. ET, 2 a.m. BST TV Info: Fox Sports 1 (U.S.), Sky Sports 1 (UK) Live Stream: Fox Sports Go, Sky Go   Preview Lampard has been replaced in the All-Stars roster by New York Red Bulls skipper Dax McCarty, who admitted to being "humbled" by the inclusion, per his club: The full 22-man squad can be found at the MLS website and includes numerous stars who have lit up the league so far this season. Toronto FC's Italian striker Sebastian Giovinco is included, and he will be a significant threat to the Spurs goal, having netted five times in his last three MLS outings, per WhoScored.com. U.S. men's ...

MLS Player Rankings: Villa Rises over Crowded Field to Earn Top Spot

As the calendar flips from July to August and the races for the Supporters' Shield and the six playoff spots in each conference heat up, the league's top players are rounding into form.  After Week 21, seven players had a legitimate case to be the top man in the MLS Player Rankings. Four forwards in the Golden Boot race and three impressive midfielders who have played well for their respective sides were in consideration for the No. 1 spot.  Following a long process where the small details were considered, David Villa edged out Sebastian Giovinco and Robbie Keane for the top spot based on his form in front of net over the last month.  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 on to see who landed where in the MLS Player Rankings. Begin Slideshow

MLS Power Rankings: FC Dallas and Vancouver Whitecaps Rise

Several MLS teams picked up significant wins this past weekend which have drastically altered the power rankings.  FC Dallas recorded a lopsided 4-1 win over the Portland Timbers to stay on top of the Western Conference. One of the biggest surprises was the Houston Dynamo, who dominated the defending champion LA Galaxy at home. Another wild affair involved Toronto FC as it overcame a three-goal deficit to tie the Columbus Crew on Saturday. New York City FC and Orlando City SC combined to score eight goals in the highest-scoring match of the round. With all of this in mind, here are the latest MLS power rankings.Begin Slideshow

MLS: Why the Houston Dynamo Desperately Needs Erick Torres

MLS may have one of Mexico's most talented players in Giovani dos Santos, but there's another Mexican forward who will make his league debut this month in Erick Torres. Torres' arrival has gone under the radar thanks to Dos Santos' move to the LA Galaxy, but the former could well be more integral to his new team.  The Dynamo are in eighth place in the Western Conference and are six points away from a playoff spot. Houston's defending has prevented the team from moving up the standings, but its attack has also been a major problem. Now that Torres has joined, the Dynamo have another clinical striker who will be able to finish chances. Houston has been shut out seven times in 19 games and recorded multiple goals in just six matches. The Texan side won five of those six contests. The Dynamo has a solid option in Will Bruin, who has scored eight goals in 18 appearances. However, he has mustered just 13 shots on target, per the official MLS website. Bruin is a solid striker, but having quality depth is important in MLS. Torres scored 15 goals in 29 games for a lackluster Chivas USA side in 2014. He also took 95 shots last season, which ranked ninth in the ...