I thought about doing a normal "What We Learned" post from this past week but with the holiday getting in the way I just don't see a need or the time for it. It's back to normal here for me as the work week will surely get crazy here.

Week 16 in Major League Soccer was a rather dull one, with plenty of draws and only a few quality goals.

Video: Fox Soccer Gold Cup Preview

As the dark cloud hovers over the FIFA-CONCACAF bribery scandal that now looms over this month's Gold Cup tournament that started yesterday, a dark cloud hovers over Red Bull Arena and the New York Red Bulls. Five starters will be missing for their respective teams battling for the bi-annual trophy as the region's champion.

The USA celebrated Independence Day (July 4th) weekend with a USWNT defeat over a young Colombian side. This was the first ever meeting of the two nations in history of women's soccer. An early 12′ goal, an upper-v beauty, by Heather O'Reilly set the tone for the match. The USA entered the halftime break dominant but with only a one goal lead.

Leave the Fireworks to the Professionals, M'kay?Viper said it earlier, but we'd like to wish happy 4th of July to all of our readers! We hope you enjoy your time today with friends and family today, eat plenty of BBQ and, most importantly, retain all of your fingers.
There's just a bit of news to report today as the Red Bulls enjoy a day of recuperation following their mammoth four-game road trip.

USMNTer Alejandro Bedoya is trying to make like The Jeffersons and move on up; dude has left Orebro SK in Sweden and is on trial with Birmingham City. If he ends up moving there I'm calling for a straight up, All-American party house in Birmingham with Bedoya, Eric Lichaj, Michael Bradley and The Brads complete with off-season keggers and a deportation-worthy 4th of July party.

Hello July (well, almost). Hard to believe it but another month is down in Major League Soccer and the league heads into possibly one of the busier months with friendlies taking place, USOC games going on, CCL play-in games happening and of course the all-crazy transfer market opening up.

MLS moves into one of it's important weekends of the season, the July 4th holiday weekend.

Classic Copa América: 1993 Final, 4th of July. Mexico v Argentina, Estadio Monumental, Guayaquil, Ecuador. (Commentating by Phil Schoen. 1st half highlights here)

Argentina's #9, Gabriel Batistuta (aka Batigol) thought he stole the show midway through the second half, however, it was Mexico's Benjamin Galindo who made things even with a cool penalty, smoothly touching it past Sergio Goycochea, a keeper that made his reputation based on his penalty-saving abilities.

Well, I'm off for the day. Going to enjoy some beer, food, friends, fireworks and a double-dip of MLS action.

Happy 4th everyone!

- Drew

From all of us here @The Viper's Nest. And a Happy 235th birthday to the United States of America! Please click on the video below and enjoy the musical stylings of Mr. Neil Diamond (with a New York theme, of course):

By CALEB SONNELAND

In terms of scorelines, Group B at the Copa America didn't bring much excitement to the soccer world with two 0-0 draws.

When Brazil clashed with Venezuela, Neymar and Robinho tested Renny Vega early, but the Venezuelan keeper held firm and kept the Brazilians at bay.

It's a holiday weekend here in the States, so I've been enjoying it, relaxing. But here is a little something in honor of the holiday:

By Chris Wright

In which Megan Rapinoe scores a nifty little goal during the US Women's 3-0 victory over their Colombian counterparts yesterday and celebrates with a brief rendition of a Springsteen classic...

Shame the game wasn't today really Rapinoe could have let loose with a lung-busting version of '4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)' which, if your not familiar with already, I heartily suggest you sit through a couple of times.

Fireworks in Cary as the Railhawks win again.
Rob Kinnan PhotographyThe Montreal Impact made the trip down to Cary to take on the Carolina Railhawks. The Railhawks were coming off a 5-1 shellacking of Atlanta while the Impact were coming off a 0-0 draw with Puerto Rico. The game promised fireworks, both because of the two teams and of course for the 4th of July holiday show afterwards.