The Galaxy will begin the defense of their MLS title without the best defender in the league after Omar Gonzalez tore his ACL in his first training session on loan with a German club after leaving the USMNT camp. Here's a Google translation of the club announcement (1.FCN): Serious injury

Bad news comes for the USWNT as star defender Ali Krieger will be sidelined for 6-8 months with tears in both her ACL and MCL. The injury occurred during the the first half the teams landslide victory against the Dominican Republic. After taking a shot on goal, Krieger was kicked hard in the knee when a DR player was trying to make a tackle.

Photo by Andrew Katsampes/ISIphotos.com

What was supposed to be a winter during which Omar Gonzalez was going to take the next step in his career has turned into disaster.

The Los Angeles Galaxy centerback tore his left ACL on his first day on loan with FC Nurnberg, and he has returned to Los Angeles to undergo surgery, according to Nurnberg's official website.

In his first practice session with FC Nurnberg, Omar Gonzalez ruptured the ACL in his left knee. What was first thought to be a minor injury will end up sidelining the USMNT defender for months.

In what was probably the absolute worst turn of events for 23 year old LA Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez, the MLS Defender of the Year tore his left ACL in his very first training on loan at German outfit FC Nürnberg. After much waiting and anticipation by United States National Team supporters, Gonzalez finally received [.

The MLS SuperDraft is Thursday, January 12 at 12pm ET (ESPN2, ESPN3). The Philadelphia Union have the 13th, 32nd and 35th picks this year, and nobody knows what the team will do. PSP runs down some of the options.

Tony Cascio

What: Winger

Why: Some experts believe the Union will look to solidify their wing play by adding a player like UConn's Tony Cascio.

Very sad news for the U.S. WNT today as it was confirmed via an MRI that defender Ali Krieger had in fact torn the MCL and ACL in her right night after being brutally tackled in the USA's opening match win over the Dominican Republic.
We are happy to report that she is handling the situation extremely well and is sincerely appreciative of the outpouring of support from fans across the world.

BY ADAM SERRANO

CARSON, Calif. –Fresh off one of the most successful seasons, the Los Angeles Galaxy returned to the practice field amid a steady downpour at the Home Depot Center.

Missing several pieces like Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane (both on loan), Omar Gonzalez (injury) and Juninho (joined Sao Paulo) the club returned to the training ground in preparation for their CONCACAF Champions League matches against Toronto FC in March.

The US Women's National Team knocked off Mexico 4-0 in their final match of the group stage of Olympic qualifying to win Group B. Carli Lloyd had a hat trick and Heather O'Reilly added a goal as the USWNT rolled to an easy victory. They will face Costa Rica for a chance to qualify on Friday (8pm, concacaf.

We of course don't have the official prognosis yet, but on the strength of quotes from both the player and Andre Villas-Boas it looks like we may have dodged a massive bullet.

Worrying moments

Ramires went down in serious pain during the second half of today's FA Cup fourth-round tie at Loftus Road against Queens Park Rangers.

by Maura Gladys

Five games, nine days and 39 goals. That's what it took for the U.S. women's national team to win the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying

One of the few negatives....

Tournament and book their ticket to this summer's London Olympic Games. The U.

Not DEEENCH at all:

Frimpong is out for the season after rupturing his ACL in his right knee while at Wolves on loan. He did the same thing to his left knee two summers ago and was out for over half a year:

What's the opposite of #DEEENCH?

I haven't seen any video, but everything points to Frimpong getting Frimponged.

Earlier today MLSSoccer.com reported that the reason Mac Kandji wasn't in camp right away is that he was looking for a team in Europe. This afternoon the Rapids announced that Kandji had been traded to Houston for a conditional 3rd round draft pick in 2014. Probably a fair trade for a guy who's had 0 goals and 3 assists in 16 games.

Photo by Tony Quinn/ISIphotos.com

The Houston Dynamo are still actively trying to improve their forward options, and they took a step in that direction by swinging a trade Wednesday night.

The Dynamo traded a conditional 2014 draft pick to the Colorado Rapids for Macoumba Kandji, adding the athletic, Senegalese striker to a stable that currently has Calen Carr, Will Bruin, Cam Weaver and rookie Colin Rolfe.

Just as he was on the cusp of potentially returning to action for Villarreal, Giuseppe Rossi faces yet another long spell on the sidelines.

The New Jersey-born Italian international tore his right ACL for the second time in the last six months during a training session and will be out for at least another six months, according to the club's official website.

With the domestic season over our focus swings to the ACL, where Adelaide United continue to smash all expectations. Could we see them playing in the Club World Cup this December? Paddy Bordier, Nick Cumpston and Nick Amies bring you the lowdown on all the ACL action as well as the latest news in the world's longest off-season.

Last season we remarked that the LA Galaxy were very much a team built to win in the short term. They had one of the oldest rosters in the league and the key players on the team did not look like they were planning on sticking around. Landon Donovan had proven himself in short stints in Europe and gave off the clear impression that he'd like to move his career to the EPL while he was still young enough to put some years into it.

I honestly don't know this club anymore. I'd better get used to that fact.
Look, we're all aware this season's results were horrendous. The denizens of the Andromeda Galaxy are aware of that. The fact remains it was one season, the season after Hicks and Gillett nearly destroyed the club and Hodgson helped dig the hole deeper.