D.C. United fell behind by two goals then roared back to equalize in the second half only to see a red card and subsequent free kick goal from hat trick hero Sebastion Le Toux send the Black and Red to their third defeat in three to start the MLS season.

The Philadelphia Union fell in their first encounter with a Major League Soccer squad, 2-0, not without drama and the firm realization that maybe the match against Atlas U-20s in which two players were sent off was not completely out of character. The Union had three men sent off this time - one of whom was allowed to be replaced - en route to a 2-0 loss to FC Dallas.

Union news

Robert Pires admits to SkySports that his future is uncertain at Villarreal and that the Union has been in contact. But he denies that he has spoken to any club about a move. "During the last few weeks I have been the subject of unjustified attacks and lies about my future," he said. "I have not traveled to France to talk with other teams.

Carlos Ruiz could be the spark the Union need in Philadelphia. (Getty Images)

Just when we thought both Luciano Emilio and Carlos Ruiz were done with Major League Soccer, one club is hoping to get one or even both of them back before next week's MLS transfer window deadline.

The Philadelphia Union have been working long and hard to sign former D.

The Philadelphia Union's first organized match got the expansion club off to a flying start as three different players scored in a 5-0 exhibition romp over the University of North Carolina in Greensboro on Saturday night.

Sebastien LeToux scored a first-half hat-trick while Shea Salinas and Jack McInerney added second-half strikes to give Union head coach Peter Nowak his first victory as Philly head coach.

For the first time ever, Major League Soccer had eight games in one day at the weekend. And it was a dramatic octet of matches with no fewer than four red cards, surprising results and three goals each for Zach Schilawski and Sebastien Le Toux as the Revs and the Union bagged three points each on home soil.

Philadelphia Union take their show on the road to Toronto tonight. (Getty Images)

Its a big week for Toronto FC, not only have they made a few changes since their last game (a 4-1 loss at New England) but they will also be making their home debut for the season. BMO Field will also be debuting it's new grass surface, the grass that fans all across the league have been begging for in Toronto since the club launched in 2007.

By TRAVIS CLARK

Fredy Montero is placing the Seattle Sounders on his back and carrying them back into postseason contention.

The young Colombian striker was once again instrumental in orchestrating the Sounders attack, scoring one and setting up a second in Seattle's 2-0 win Sunday evening.

BY ADAM SERRANO

The 2010 season may be only be a few days dead, but the 2011 season has already kicked off with the Expansion Draft.

The Vancouver Whitecaps and the Portland Timbers added ten players to their initial MLS rosters on Wednesday as their clubs began to take shape for the 2011 season.

BY ADAM SERRANO

The 2010 season may be only be a few days dead, but the 2011 season has already kicked off with the Expansion Draft.

The Vancouver Whitecaps and the Portland Timbers added ten players to their initial MLS rosters on Wednesday as their clubs began to take shape for the 2011 season.

Chivas USA has acquired the services of Venezuelan international striker Giancarlo Maldonado, according to reports coming out of South America this afternoon.
A product of the River Plate youth system, Maldonado has played for Mexican side Atlante since 2007, scoring 30 goals in 61 appearances.

The Philadelphia Union are a playoff caliber team. It's true. The league's most valuable player (official or not), two of the most exciting young offensive prospects in MLS, An endless supply of young, talented midfielders, a driven coach, and an assistant coach who made his name as a player development guru.

The Philadelphia Union are a playoff caliber team. It's true. The league's most valuable player (official or not), two of the most exciting young offensive prospects in MLS, An endless supply of young, talented midfielders, a driven coach, and an assistant coach who made his name as a player development guru.

By AVI CREDITOR

Major League Soccer's newest franchise will open the season Thursday night against the team to most recently hold that distinction. The temptation to compare the Union to Seattle Sounders F.C. during the season opener will be mighty, but unfair.

After Seattle's conquests in its expansion year, expectations will be high for this club to replicate that success.

By TRAVIS CLARK

Fresh off the heels of a second consecutive Supporters' Shield, the pressure is on Columbus to stay at the top.

Nearly the entire established first XI from last year returns, with only Alejandro Moreno departing for Philadelphia via the expansion draft.

Game time: Saturday, 8:30 p.m.

TV: 6ABC

Philadelphia Union (2-5-1) pay a visit to the Chicago Fire (2-3-4) on Saturday in the latest stop on the Union national tour, otherwise known as nine of 11 games being on the road to start their season. They picked up their first road win last Saturday against Houston and come in with all sorts of momentum, as their attack clicked last week better than it has in their existence.

Someday, this might be the moment we all look back on and say this was the moment it all started to come together.

Philadelphia Union vs. Seattle Sounders, 60th minute at PPL Park, Sunday, June 27, 2010. The first match in the new stadium. Seattle forward Pat Noonan lines up to take a penalty kick after a clear dive by Fredy Montero draws a penalty call.

Someday, this might be the moment we all look back on and say this was the moment it all started to come together.

Philadelphia Union vs. Seattle Sounders, 60th minute at PPL Park, Sunday, June 27, 2010. The first match in the new stadium. Seattle forward Pat Noonan lines up to take a penalty kick after a clear dive by Fredy Montero draws a penalty call.

Is Captain Ink Really Captain Fantastic?

Shape

After watching my beloved Philadelphia Union throw away some more points on Wednesday night against Real Salt Lake, it dawned on me that Piotr Nowak is trying to utilize a 4-2-2-2 formation.

All 16 clubs across Major League Soccer are asking fans to join them in making a difference in America's communities. As part of the Pepsi Refresh Project, each Club has outlined an idea that will vie for fan votes and an ultimate $50,000 Pepsi Refresh grant to fulfill the project.

National anthem. Play fair. Injured Alejandro Moreno. Union fans travel well. Goalie Bill Hamid stops Le Toux's shot. Juan Diego González's header. Danny Allsopp celebrates his first goal. Chris Seitz getting soaked in the rain. Sébastien Le Toux battles for the ball. Stephen King, Stefani Miglioranzi and Dejan Jakovic fight for the ball.

Peter Nowak is letting us down.

The Philadelphia Union drafted first, sixth and seventh in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. They drafted first in rounds 2 through 4.

There seemed to be a plan: Draft young, develop your players. First overall pick Danny Mwanga, sixth and seventh overall picks Amobi Okugo and Jack McInerney were teenagers.

The Philadelphia Union tied the Houston Dynamo by the score of 1-1 at the PPL Park. Here are some photos from Saturday's game. (Click on the photo for a full-size photo.)

Brad Knighton had a busy day

Nick Zimmerman and Corey Ashe going up for the ball

Sheanon Williams bringing the ball out the sideline

Getting high on the back of Michael Orozco Fiscal

Brad Knighton couldn't get over in time to stop Andrew Hainault shot

Brad Knighton punching out the ball

Union fans waiting for the start of play

Roger Torres brings the ball up field

Sebastien Le Toux gets mugged in the box

Sebastien Le Toux touches the ball past keeper Pat Onstad

Nick Zimmerman Gets into the mix with Pat Onstad

Sebastien Le Toux goes hard for the ball

Flags flying down at the River End

Sons of Ben thanking Houston for an entertaining day

Photo essay by Paul Rudderow

Amobi Okugo could be a big time player for the Union. (Kevin Kinkead for WVHooligan)

In this expansion era in Major League Soccer we've seen the good and the bad on how to bring a new club into the league. The bad is obviously just about everyone but Seattle. Most clubs stumbled in their first year due to either poor management from the start or bad player choices.

A new season is nearly upon Philadelphia and its brand-spanking new team. The wait for the Sons of Ben was a long one, but just a few days from being over.

Philadelphia Union will travel to Seattle and play the club's inaugural match Thursday. And while that is going to be both a triumphant and exciting moment for both club and supporters, the grind of the full season will be a much bigger test.

The rise of the Columbus Crew has been a slow and steady one, but it doesn't seem like the new powerhouse will go away anytime soon.

The back-to-back Supporters' Shield winners are locked and loaded for a third consecutive chance at finishing top of the league during the regular season campaign.

The rise of the Columbus Crew has been a slow and steady one, but it doesn't seem like the new powerhouse will go away anytime soon.

The back-to-back Supporters' Shield winners are locked and loaded for a third consecutive chance at finishing top of the league during the regular season campaign.

The quick & dirty 2010 MLS preview, mostly so I can see how wrong I am at the end of the season...
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Columbus Crew
Losing Alejandro Moreno could hurt more that the Crew are expecting, but they should be good enough to win the East.
2. DC United
DCU has looked good towards the end of the preseason, but depth could be a major issue.

It was a weekend to remember for some, and to forget for others, as the weekend in MLS saw all 16 teams in action scoring 26 goals between them. Every game included at least one goal, and most quite a few more, as teams are still looking to find their feet and players look to stamp down playing time and starting spots.

New York Red Bulls got on the scoresheet first vs the Philadelphia Union, with an Ibrahim Salou header from close range in the 50th minute. Salou spread the ball out wide to right back Jeremy Hall, who delivered a quality cross to the top of the six where Salou outjumped his defender to power home.

Union news

Sebastien Le Toux will not play against LA Galaxy on Saturday. A Twitter message released by the Union late Thursday said, "The medical/coaching staffs have decided it's in Sebastien Le Toux's best interest to take the week off to recover. While Le Toux will sit out this week against the LA Galaxy, his left knee injury is considered 'mild'.

Speculation about whether Chris Seitz will start in goal on Saturday continues.

Fred, Moreno and Orozco talk about what it means to play at home.

Union president Tom Viet and midfielder Andrew Jacobson were on WMGK's John DeBella show yesterday. "They talked about already being hated for being Philly, their new stadium which is set to open soon and their game this Saturday against the dreaded FC Dallas.

Game time: Saturday, 4 p.m. ET

TV: Live Well Network (Comcast ch. 245 in HD, ch. 246 in SD), TeleFutura (Comcast ch. 251)

Home sweet home.

After five straight road games and five straight losses, Philadelphia Union (1-5-0) finally get another home game, and guess what?

Click here to view the embedded video.

So this is what it took. Add a little winger. Stir. Mix in a suddenly on-fire overall No. 1 draft pick attacker. Add some defense that stops making foolish mistakes. Maybe even a great save by the keeper. Keep playing till the final whistle.

That's it?

We may never know why Shavar Thomas went from a supposedly solid defender for Chivas USA to an apparent invalid for Philadelphia Union.

Thomas never got back on the field after his disastrous 35-minute stint in Toronto on April 15. Now, he's off to Kansas City in a trade that makes him the second former Union player, following Dave Myrie, both a testament to this apparent Peter Nowak creed:

Don't play horribly in your first game for the Union, or you may never play for them again.

We may never know why Shavar Thomas went from a supposedly solid defender for Chivas USA to an apparent invalid for Philadelphia Union.

Thomas never got back on the field after his disastrous 35-minute stint in Toronto on April 15. Now, he's off to Kansas City in a trade that makes him the second former Union player, following Dave Myrie, both a testament to this apparent Peter Nowak creed:

Don't play horribly in your first game for the Union, or you may never play for them again.

Game time: Sunday, 2 p.m.

TV: 6abc, MyNetwork TV

D.C. United has lost five straight and hasn't won a game in more than two months. Philadelphia Union is winless in their last five. The Union have the league's worst road record. D.C. are the league's worst team, period.

The expansion draft is here! The Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps are ready to make the first selections.

I will provide some commentary throughout the draft here. (Note my comments are based in central time)

1:43: Wow, great pick I think from Vancouver. I really like that for them.

Well...the expansion draft is over...and the short story is we're saying goodbye to Dax McCarty and Atiba Harris. Both players have performed admirably while in Dallas, and we wish them the best of luck with Portland and Vancouver (respectively).

Here are the results of the draft: (in order of when they were taken)

Portland Timbers:

Dax McCarty (FC Dallas)
Eric Brunner (Columbus)
Adam Moffat (Columbus)
Anthony Wallace (Colorado)
David Horst (RSL)
Robbie Findley (RSL)
Peter Lowry (Chicago)
Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas)
Jordan Graye (DC)
Arturo Alvarez (San Jose)

Vancouver Whitecaps:

Sanna Nyassi (Seattle)
Atiba Harris (FC Dallas)
Nate Sturgis (Seattle)
Shea Salinas (Philadelphia)
Alan Gordon (Chivas)
O'Brian White (Toronto)
Alejandro Moreno (Philadelphia)
Joe Cannon (San Jose)
Jonathan Leathers (Kansas City)
John Thorrinton (Chicago)

So Dallas fans are obviously going to be upset at the loss of our beloved Ginger Ninja, Dax McCarty, but I hesitate to write it off as a total loss.

By L.E. Eisenmenger - BOSTON, MA (Jan 8, 2010) USSoccerPlayers -- Patrick McCabe is the Senior VP and Managing Director of First Wave Sports, as well as a prominent player agent. They represent coaches Sigi Schmid, Robert Warzycha, and Preki, and players including William Hesmer, Troy Perkins, Nat Borchers, Jim Brennan, Baggio Hassidic, Jack Jewsbury, Stefan Miglioranzi, Logan Pause, Teal Bunbury, Andre Akpan, Chad Barrett, Robbie Findley, Alejandro Moreno, Yura Movsisyan, and Cam Weaver.