The Portland Timbers announced their opening round match for the 2013 U.S. Open Cup is here in Portland, where they will face the Austin Aztexs or Wilmington Hammerheads. Meanwhile, the Timbers U-23 team advanced to round two with a win over the Sacramento Gold, and will now battle the Charleston Battery for the right to host the San Jose Earthquakes in round four.
The Portland Timbers were hoping for a similar result against the San Jose Earthquakes from their April 14th home win when the two teams met on the campus of Santa Clara University on April 21 in their next MLS fixture. While the Timbers jumped to a lead courtesy of Diego Valeri's 58th minute goal, San Jose was able to earn a point in stoppage time behind an Adam Jahn goal as the teams played to a 1 all draw.
Two matchups in two weeks in the regular season is very rare within MLS, and the quick turnaround usually makes for an entertaining duo of matches. With all of the outside story lines inside and beyond the match, though, there should be some extra vigor and passion in the Timbers - Earthquake match on April 21 at 8 PM at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
-Minnesota Thunder 1999 - lost to Mid-Michigan Bucks 1-2 in 2nd Rd 2000 - beat Mexico SC 7-0 in 2nd Rd, lost to Dallas Burn 0-2 in 3rd Rd 2001 - did not qualify 2002 - beat San Diego Gauchos 6-1 in 2nd Rd, lost to Los Angeles Galaxy 0-4 in 3rd Rd 2003 - lost to Seattle Sounders 0-1 in 3rd Rd 2004 - beat Rapids Reserves 2-1 in 3rd Rd, beat Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0 in 4th Rd, lost to San Jose Earthquakes (tied 2-2) 5-4 in Penalty Kick Shootout in Quarterfinals 2005 - beat Real Salt Lake 6-4 in 3rd Rd, beat Colorado Rapids 4-1 in 4th Rd, beat Kansas City Wizards 1-3 in Quarterfinals, lost to Los Angeles Galaxy 5-2 in Semifinals 2006 - lost to Des Moines Menace 1-0 in 2nd Rd 2007 - beat Indios USA 3-2 in 1st Rd, lost to California Victory 1-0 in 2nd Rd 2008 - beat St Louis Lions 4-1 in 1st Rd, lost to Cleveland City Stars 0-2 in 2nd Rd 2009 - beat 402 FC 3-2 in 1st Rd, beat Chicago Fire Premier 4-0 in 2nd Rd, lost to Kansas City Wizards (tied 3-3) 4-2 in Penalty Kick Shootout in 3rd Rd -NSC Minnesota Stars 2010 - beat KC Athletics 4-2 in 1st Rd, lost to AC St Louis 0-1 in 2nd Rd -Minnesota Stars FC 2011 - ineligible 2012 - beat Des Moines Menace 0-2 in 2nd Rd, beat Real Salt Lake 1-3 in 3rd Rd, lost to San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 in 4th Rd
Opponents: Los Angeles Galaxy (3) Des Moines Menace (2) Kansas City Wizards (2) Real Salt Lake (2) San Jose Earthquakes (2) 402 FC AC St Louis California Victory Chicago Fire Premier Cleveland City Stars Colorado Rapids Dallas Burn Indios USA KC Athletics Mexico SC Mid-Michigan Bucks Rapids Reserves San Diego Gauchos Seattle Sounders St Louis Lions
Next Up: -Minnesota United FC 2013 - play Des Moines Menace on Tue May 21 in St Paul MN in 2nd Rd - 7:30pm CT at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium
To the surprise of no one, MLS suspended Alan Gordon for three games for using a gay slur in Sunday's loss to the Portland Timbers. Since the incident, Gordon has been unable to sleep and apologized to Robbie Rogersthrough Steven Lenhart.
Walker Zimmerman made his first appearance for FC Dallas Saturday, 113 days after being selected in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft. The Furman product came on as a late sub in the club's 2-1 victory over DC United.
The centerback had sustained a groin injury in the preseason and his recovery had taken longer than originally expected.
The Major League Soccer Disciplinary Committee was busy this week handing out suspensions to four different players around the league.
The Committee announced on Wednesday one-match suspensions to Chivas USA defender Mario de Luna, Vancouver Whitecaps defender Johnny Leveron, Colorado Rapids forward Edson Buddle, and Real Salt Lake defender Kwame Watson-Siriboe.
Well today was expected to be a busy day and for the MLS Disciplinary Committee it was probably a busy couple of days reviewing everything from last week.
First up is a reduction in one players' suspension from last week.MLS Commissioner Don Garber has reduced by one game the suspension issued to San Jose Earthquakes forward Marvin Chavez for violent conduct in a May 8 game against Toronto FC.
Article by Leanne Elston The Games Three that Matter
Sporting Kansas City 0-1 Seattle Sounders
A 1-0 win for the Sounders at Sporting Park was the first of two important wins for them in this round (the second being a 4-0 home win against the San Jose Earthquakes).
The MLS Disciplinary Committee handed down some more justice on Friday afternoon, suspending San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Marvin Chavez for two matches for elbowing Toronto FC's Logan Emery in the face during San Jose's 2-1 win.
The play went unpunished at the time, but a review of the incident showed that Chavez did intentionally strike Emery in the face with the elbow.
For all the success Sporting Kansas City have had over the past two years, the Houston Dynamo have been the one riddle the club can't solve.
After being ousted come playoff time by Houston two seasons in a row, Kansas City will travel to BBVA Compass Stadium on Sunday and attempt to get a result against a Dynamo side that, in addition to riding a 36-game home unbeaten streak, just wrapped a 2-0 road trip.
When Matt Pickens fractured his arm in a mid-March match against Real Salt Lake, no one would have imagined the 31-year-old might lose his starting job while recovering. But his replacement, Clint Irwin, might not relinquish the spot after an exceptional run that has seen him shut out opponents in three of his last five matches.
For the crowded top of the Eastern Conference table, which features a four-way tie for first, a packed slate of midweek games should provide some of clarity to the muddled race.
All four first-place teams are in action Wednesday night, with two of them — the New York Red Bulls and Montreal Impact — going head to head.
While some rivalries are cultivated by geographic factors, others are grown out of head-to-head clashes when the games matter most. After facing each other in the past two MLS Cups, it's safe to say no love has been lost between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Houston Dynamo.
Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber was in Columbus on Thursday to announce the next host of the MLS Business Summit.
At a press conference held at Crew Stadium, Garber and Columbus Crew President and G.M. Marc McCullers jointly announced that Ohio's capital city would be hosting this year's business summit from September 10-12.
One of the bright spots for the LA Galaxy this season has been the play of 18-year-old Jack McBean, who has played in all seven league matches so far this season. But McBean's season has been derailed after suffering a broken collar bone in a collision with Real Salt Lake centerback Nat Borchers.
A player making contact with a player's head with his foot might have been seen as accidental if it involved a player with a sparkling disciplinary record, but when the offending party has a reptuation and track record like Steven Lenhart's, it was tough to see him getting the benefit of the doubt.
Despite 21 attempts on goal, 14 corner kicks, and nearly 58 percent of the possession, the San Jose Earthquakes nearly lost.
It took a second-half goal from substitute Cordell Cato to even the scoreline as the Earthquakes played Chivas USA to a 2-2 tie on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
The Vancouver Whitecaps got two late goals to prevent an embarrassing loss to FC Edmonton in the first leg of the Canadian Championship semifinals. Trailing 2-1 for the majority of the match, Vancouver scored the tying goal in the 84 minute off a Camilo penalty kick.
When San Jose forward Adam Jahn came into Sunday's match against the Portland Timbers in the 84th minute, he was brought on to try and help an Earthquakes attack that simply hadn't been able to find a way past Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts.
For a second straight game, the Portland Timbers were facing the San Jose Earthquakes, and for a second straight match the Timbers were in control and holding a one-goal lead late in the second half.
The script changed late though, and reverted to one we have seen from the Earthquakes far too many times to be surprised by.
After incidents at their game in Portland in Week 7, the San Jose Earthquakes announced they had sanctioned the 1906 Ultras supporters group. Read More
Can that high-powered Los Angeles Galaxy attack put an end to Sporting Kansas City's 519-minute shutout streak?
That is the question heading into the marquee matchup of the Week 8 MLS schedule. With the availability of Robbie Keane (ankle) and Jose Villarreal (shoulder) in question, the Galaxy could have a tough time cracking Jimmy Nielsen and that stingy Sporting back line.
The New York Red Bulls turned in their most complete performance of the season last weekend at RFK Stadium and a trio of standouts led the charge to victory over D.C. United.
Thierry Henry, Dax McCarty and Jamison Olave drove the Red Bulls to their first road win of the season, and their efforts in beating D.
Major League Soccer's Disciplinary Committee usually handles cases of infractions during games. In this instance, MLS Commissioner Don Garber decided to make the decision himself.
Garber and MLS announced that San Jose Earthquakes forward Alan Gordon has been fined an undisclosed amount and suspended for four games total, three of which are for "using unacceptable and offensive language towards an opponent in the 60th minute of the game against the Portland Timbers on April 14.
Major League Soccer announced additional sanctions against San Jose forward Alan Gordon after his conduct in the Portland Timbers - San Jose Earthquakes match on April 14 in Portland. Gordon will be unavailable to San Jose for the next four matches - serving a one match suspension for a red card, and three additional for his tirade on the pitch.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber has suspended San Jose Earthquakes forward Alan Gordonfor three games and fined him an undisclosed amount for using unacceptable and offensive language towards an opponent in the 60th minute of the game against the Portland Timbers on April 14.
SEATTLE They say it rains but never pours in Seattle, but don't tell that to the 38,880 that basked in a deluge of Sounders goals Saturday afternoon at CenturyLink Field.
A Lamar Neagle brace paired with a brilliant Mauro Rosales strike and an opportunistic late goal from Obafemi Martins led the Seattle Sounders to a 4-0 thrashing of the San Jose Earthquakes.
After the rough coast to coast road trip that saw Kansas City go 1-1, the team returns home for the first of three straight at home on Saturday night against the Portland Timbers.
Portland comes into the game after spending the last two weeks playing the San Jose Earthquakes home and away.
Credit: USA Today Sports The Games I hope you're fired up for this week's MLS Weekly, because these guys were!
Columbus Crew 0-1 New York Red Bulls
The New York Red Bulls claimed top spot in the Eastern Conference with a narrow away victory over the Columbus Crew, thanks in large part to a standout performance from goalkeeper Luis Robles.
Another game, another stoppage-time equalizer for San Jose.
Despite a brace from MLS veteran Justin Mapp, the Montreal Impact were unable to hold on as the San Jose Earthquakes roared back to earn another tie thanks to some late-game heroics from reigning MLS Supporters Shield winners.
Last season's Most Valuable Player Chris Wondolowski put together the kind of performance that proves his worth as a designated player.
Wondolowski assisted on one and scored the game-winner as the San Jose Earthquakes came back from one goal down to defeat Toronto FC, 2-1, on Wednesday night at Buck Shaw Stadium.
HARRISON, N.J. This might be something few could have believed as recently as two weeks ago but in a recent stretch of eight days that saw the New York Red Bulls play three games, Roy Miller was one of the club's most consistent performers.
