MLS Team of the Week: Feilhaber, Ilsinho, Doyle Star in Week 18

Major League Soccer produced a rare set of results in Week 18 as eight of the 20 clubs that took to the pitch were shut out.  Due to the high number of clean sheets, we found a way to put five defenders in the Bleacher Report MLS Team of the Week for the first time in 2016. Despite the high number of zeroes across the league scoreboard, there were a handful of solid attacking performances in Week 18. Benny Feilhaber, Ilsinho and Kevin Doyle were among the top attackers over the last three days in the North American top flight.  Continue reading to see who was named to the latest Bleacher Report MLS Team of the Week.Begin Slideshow

Kei Kamara Focused on Getting Revolution on Right Track Against Former Club

In advance of Saturday's Major League Soccer clash between the New England Revolution and the Columbus Crew, much has been made about the presence of Kei Kamara in the New England lineup.  Kamara, who played 41 matches in a Columbus shirt, isn't worried about facing his former side. The 31-year-old forward is more focused on earning three points to get the Revolution back on track.  "It’s not Kei Kamara vs. Columbus Crew," Kamara told Bleacher Report. "It’s the Revs against the Columbus Crew."  "I do have one or two good relationships with the players over there, but it’s only been a couple of months since I left the team," Kamara said. "It’s about me being focused. It’s not really too much about what goes on outside or anything else. If my team can get three points out of the day, it’s going to make me a lot more happier."  The approach may stun some outsiders given the tense situation in which the forward left Columbus. Kamara was shipped to New England five days after arguing with Federico Higuain over who should take a penalty in the Crew's home match with the Montreal Impact.  At the time of the deal, Columbus boss Gregg Berhalter told Andrew ...

MLS Player Rankings: Piatti, Diaz, Villa Surge Near Top After Week 17

Plenty has changed in Major League Soccer since the last edition of our MLS Player Rankings came out before the Copa America Centenario.  In the matches since the Copa break, New York City FC have surged to the top of the Eastern Conference, and a few attackers have caught fire in front of the net.  Because some of the top players on this list have played less than four games since the revival of the MLS schedule on June 18, we are still taking into account some pre-Copa performances, as we use the last four matches to judge each player.  Although many players have faded from the top 20 since the start of the season, one has been a constant near the top of our list of the best players MLS has to offer at the moment. That midfielder is the new No. 1 heading into the second week of July.  Continue reading to see who grabbed the top position in the Bleacher Report MLS Player Rankings after Week 17. Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: FC Dallas Trio, Pair of Rookies Shine in Week 17

All sorts of statements were made during Major League Soccer's four-day slate over Independence Day weekend.  FC Dallas caught the attention of many on a team level for their 4-0 thrashing of Orlando City on the Fourth of July at Toyota Stadium. Oscar Pareja's men held the Lions to zero shots on goal in the victory.  On an individual level, a pair of rookie scorers burst on to the national scene for New York City FC and the Montreal Impact. A pair of strikers named Kamara also celebrated the holiday weekend in style with two goals each.  Our MLS Team of the Week is shaped in a 4-3-3 formation to accommodate all of the splendid goalscoring outings from attack-minded players.  Continue reading to see who was named to the latest Bleacher Report MLS Team of the Week.Begin Slideshow

MLS Players Union Sued by 3 American Youth Soccer Clubs: Details and Comments

Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, DeAndre Yedlin and the Major League Soccer Players Union have all been named as defendants in a class-action lawsuit filed by three youth soccer clubs. According to Vice Sports' Jorge Arangure Jr., the Dallas Texans; Crossfire Premiere of Redmond, Washington; and Sockers FC of Chicago are seeking to "recoup hundreds of thousands of dollars in training and solidarity fees" after they were not afforded the ability to claim monetary benefits when players such as Bradley, Dempsey and Yedlin transferred internationally. However, a spokesman for the plaintiffs released a statement Friday that indicated the United States men's national team stars wouldn't be part of the legal process for long, per Arangure. Rather, the statement pointed out that "the U.S. youth clubs had to name the players, Dempsey, Yedlin and Bradley, as well as the defendant class of players, solely for a legal reason to maintain the complaint." According to Arangure, the court's decision could have far-reaching consequences if it sides with the youth clubs: Dempsey suited up with the Texans during his developmental days, while Yedlin and Bradley played for the Crossfire and Sockers, respectively. All three players proceeded to make trips across the pond to play professionally in some of the world's ...

Grading the MLS Teams Midway Through the 2016 Season

If it feels like the first half of the Major League Soccer season has flown by, it has.  Before the league embarks on a busy July schedule in which most of the 20 clubs will play five or more matches, we wanted to take a look back at the opening four months of the regular season. We opted to grade each MLS squad in four categories. The offensive grade was determined by goals scored, diversity in production and attacking chemistry. Our defensive category took into account goals against, clean sheets and a variety of little things that give each club an advantage.  In addition to the two main areas of play, we graded each manager for his tactical decisions and talent acquisitions as well as the team for its performance as a unit.  Continue reading to see what grades were handed out to the 20 sides in MLS.Begin Slideshow

Philadelphia, Colorado Taking Different Paths to Reach Same Spot Atop MLS Table

If you asked fans of Major League Soccer at the beginning of the season who they thought would lead the Eastern and Western Conferences at the halfway mark, no one would've answered with the Philadelphia Union and Colorado Rapids.  Both clubs have taken different approaches to reach the top of their respective conferences, but each way has been effective. Philadelphia revamped its roster through the MLS SuperDraft and with a few young signings, while Colorado has relied on league veterans and a United States men's national team star to navigate the treacherous waters of the West.  Philadelphia was aggressive at the top of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft as it attempted to build depth at every position, a goal stated by technical director Earnie Stewart when he took over after the end of the 2015 regular season.  The Union used two trades and their original draft pick to select Georgetown University defenders Joshua Yaro and Keegan Rosenberry as well as Creighton University forward Fabian Herbers. Rosenberry has seen the most playing time of the trio and found himself in the spotlight for a stretch of matches in May after he shut down Robbie Keane, Giovani dos Santos, Didier Drogba and Ignacio Piatti in one-on-one situations. ...

Kaka Injury: Updates on Orlando City Star’s Status and Return

Orlando City captain Kaka will not be able to participate in Copa America Centenario for the Brazil national team due to a muscle injury. Continue for updates. Ganso to Replace Kaka in Copa America Centenario Wednesday, June 1 Brazilian journalist Paulo Freitas reported the news on Kaka, citing former goalkeeper and general national team coordinator Gilmar Rinaldi as the source of information. Orlando City SC confirmed Kaka's status, and Freitas added the 34-year-old would need 15-20 days without training. Jack Lang of ESPN FC highlighted how Brazil have had to do considerable roster reshuffling even before Kaka's injury: Brazil begins their Copa America tournament on Saturday with a match against Ecuador. The Canarinho have won the continental football competition title eight times, which ranks third to Uruguay's 15 and Argentina's 14. This year marks the first time the tournament won't be hosted on South American soil, going to the USA instead. Although they haven't won the past two titles, Brazil has come out on top in the tournament in four of their past seven outings. They will need to figure out a way to bolster the attack without Kaka roaming the midfield, though. And Kaka is far from the only marquee Brazilian player not suiting up for Copa America. As Freitas reported, Rafinha, ...

David Villa Slips, Misses Penalty, Combines with Andrea Pirlo for NYCFC Goal

It was an eventful day for David Villa in Major League Soccer on Sunday, as his New York City FC took on Orlando City at Yankee Stadium. The Spaniard combined with another of New York's marquee stars, Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo, for a brilliant goal that appeared to put his side out of reach shortly after the hour mark. He had the chance to make it 3-0 from the spot moments later, but he slipped—evoking memories of Chelsea captain John Terry in the 2008 UEFA Champions League final in Moscow—and skied his penalty. To make matters worse for Villa, Orlando completed a spirited comeback to escape from New York with a 2-2 draw, thanks to goals from Julio Baptista and Kevin Molino. [Twitter]Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Ultimate Guide to MLS Weekend: Goalkeepers in Focus for Union-Rapids Clash

No matter where the respective careers of Zac MacMath and Andre Blake take them, they will always be linked together.  The pair of goalkeepers, who have been intertwined since the Philadelphia Union drafted Blake with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, will face off for the first time on Saturday, when the first-place side in the Western Conference, the Colorado Rapids, host Eastern Conference leader Philadelphia.  Both netminders have taken a similar, but different, path to their current positions. Philadelphia's disastrous signing of Rais MBolhi in 2014 kept MacMath and Blake out of a starting role. MacMath was cast out on loan to the Rapids, but he didn't play in 2015. Blake has only started to establish himself as one of the league's top players at his position after the MBolhi debacle and injuries held him back.  Despite both careers' upward trajectory, the former teammates may not face each other for quite some time due to a few factors. MacMath is set to hit the bench once again thanks to an incoming goalkeeper. After the Copa America Centenario concludes, Tim Howard will assume the No. 1 position in Colorado. Even if MacMath is in solid form, the Rapids don't ...