*If, like me, you were unable to watch the Desert Diamond Cup opener Wednesday between the Galaxy and Revolution on your iPad/smartphone because the MLS stream apparently doesn't support mobile devices, check out the highlights below. Benny Feilhaber's smooth bicycle kick just 90 seconds in got things started, while Edson

By CALEB SONNELAND

Well, that didn't take long. Seven minutes, to be exact.

The Portland Timbers' big summer investment looks to be a worthwhile one as Kris Boyd, the newly-acquired Designated Player, grabbed the go-ahead goal in the 7th minute of Portland's 1-0 win over Swedish outfit AIK.

Our friends over at New England Soccer Today are once again flexing their muscles and showing off their superior sources, and today's piece does not disappoint. Few people were probably expecting Monsef Zerka to return this season, but most were operating under the assumption that the front office was at least making some attempt to bring him back at a reduced salary.

If the January U.S. Men's National Team camp was all about wins, adding Jermaine Jones might have been the correct decision. That has never been the case.

The January camps, instead, have always been about giving deserving, often overlooked, players in their offseason a chance to impress while their more established European colleagues are in the midst of their season.

Jared Jeffrey (blue) and Benny Feilhaber (Grey)
On Friday, the full team lined up against the U-23 MNT for the first of two scrimmages while the teams share space at The Home Depot Center. For both groups, it was the first opportunity to play 11 v. 11 since camp began and continue to evaluate players for the upcoming friendlies.

The U.S. men's national team will play its first match of 2012, and an MLS-heavy squad will take the field against Venezuela on Saturday night in Arizona with many players looking to impress Jurgen Klinsmann and work their way into the full senior team mix.

Some familiar faces are back in the mix as Benny Feilhaber and Ricardo Clark are in camp, while Heath Pearce joins them as the only players on the camp roster with more than 30 caps.

David Estrada was voted MLS Player of the Week for his hat-trick vs. Toronto. This is not why we chose this photo to lead our final MLS Results post, though. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren.

We're having a spring clean at Kickette HQ, so starting next week, our MLS Results will be incorporated into the Monday Weekend Results post.

Last night, the US men's national team took on the US under 23 team in a scrimmage in LA. Both teams are currently involved in camps. The US team for their upcoming games against Venezuela and Panama, and the U23's as they continue to prepare for their upcoming Olympic qualifying. Three Sporting KC players appeared for the full national team last night.

The full team lined up against the U-23 MNT for the first of two scrimmages while the teams share space at The Home Depot Center. For both groups, it was the first opportunity to play 11 v. 11 since camp began and continue to evaluate players for the upcoming friendlies.
"These scrimmages are good for us and the Under-23s, that's why we do it purposely, because it's a big year for U.

Graham Zusi was flying down the flanks throughout the first half
Graham Zusi and Jack McInerney traded sweet strikes as the National Team and the U-23's finished with a 1-1 draw in the second of two scrimmages played here between the teams at The Home Depot Center.

BY ADAM SERRANO

CARSON, Calif. – In a match that was much closer than the last time these teams met, the U.S. Under-23 national team battled to a hard fought 1-1 draw against the U.S. national team on Tuesday evening at the Home Depot Center Complex.

For 90 minutes the U.S. Men's National Team dominated play against Venezuela on Saturday night at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz, but couldn't find the goal they needed to take the lead. Substitute Ricardo Clark finally had the answer with a stoppage time header to give the U.S. a deserved 1-0 victory.

The U.S. players had a lot to celebrate Saturday night

1. Ricardo Clark's game-winner in the 97th minute marks the latest goal scored in the second half by the United States in team history.
2. Jurgen Klinsmann has collected back-to-back victories for the first time since becoming head coach last summer, following the 3-2 win against Slovenia on Nov.

Jϋrgen Klinsmann has chosen 21 players to represent the United States against Italy on February 29th in Genoa. After putting together a squad that consisted mostly of U.S.-based players in January, Klinsi is clearly taking a different approach for this match, with just four MLS players in the team this time around.

One of the offseason signings charged with stabilizing Toronto FC's back line did not even make it to opening day.

TFC released Ecuadorian international centerback Geovanny Caicedo, citing family and trouble adjusting to the league as reasons for ending his brief tenure with the club.

Benny Feilhaber put in a solid performance off the bench in a losing effort. (Photo: Chris Aduama/aduama.com)

After each match the contributors to New England Soccer Today will rate the performances of the New England Revolution players who made an appearance on a 1 to 10 scale (1 horrendous, 5 average, 10 perfection).

In what could be described as an early season three pointer, the Revs dropped a disappointing decision to hated rivals D.C. United on Saturday afternoon 2-1. Rivalry matches seem to always bring out higher scrutiny, bigger pressure, and heated debate, and this one is certainly no different.

Once again the Revs had their hands a bit tied with injuries (Lozano, Feilhaber) and suspensions (Shalrie), so it was up to coach Jay Heaps to get creative and try to put forth a game plan that would garner three points at home.

It would have been nice to win this one, especially being that it was against DC United. But alas, the chips did not fall in our favor. I think what hurts the most, after watching the replay, is that really just a few inches were the difference in the scoreline. It was just a matter of inches that Chris Tierney's first free kick didn't get past Joe Willis and just a matter of inches that Lee Nguyen's nutmeg shot in the 40th minute drifted wide of the post.

New York hopes to get back on track with a win over rivals New England. (Getty Images)

The weekend is here folks. Yesterday was a busy day around the league with suspensions and fines being handed down plus a trio of signings that foreshadow a busy summer transfer window ahead.

But the weekend is here and nine games are on tap.

New York hopes to get back on track with a win over rivals New England. (Getty Images)

The weekend is here folks. Yesterday was a busy day around the league with suspensions and fines being handed down plus a trio of signings that foreshadow a busy summer transfer window ahead.

But the weekend is here and nine games are on tap.

Revolution captain Shalrie Joseph was happy to sign a designated player deal with the club in December. (Photo: revolutionsoccer.net)

When the Revolution signed Shalrie Joseph to a designated player deal in December, the first question that came to mind was the most obvious one: For how much?

The New England Revolution and Chicago Fire looked destined to play to a scoreless draw in Major League Soccer's only match on Saturday, but Revs rookie Kelyn Rowe came on in the second half and gave the home side a sorely-needed spark at Gillette Stadium.

The UCLA product scored the opening goal in the 69th minute, then set up a 73rd-minute insurange goal from Benny Feilhaber to help lift New England to a 2-0 victory on Saturday night.

More than a year since his last appearance in a US jersey, New England midfielder Benny Feilhaber is aiming to re-establish his place on the team and carve out a place in Jurgen Klinsmann's system.

The 2011 season grades forge ever onward! Corey, Matty, and I have looked at the four major areas of the team - goalkeeping, defense, midfield, forwards - and assigned our grades on a 4.0 scale.

Unfortunately for the New England Revolution, we don't curve based on the rest of the league.

Without further ado, here are our grades for the Revolution midfield, which was strong on paper but still performed below expectations.

BREAKING NEWS: Is Oscar Pareja about to become the new head coach of the Colorado Rapids?
-He was a player for the Dallas Burn, and is currently the director of the very successful FC Dallas academy.
STARTERS
This is one man dangling a piece of meat over a pack of ravaging wolves.

Photo by Jose L. Argueta/ISIphotos.com

Two American strikers are drumming up some transfer buzz in Denmark.

According to multiple reports out of the country, Danish Superliga club AGF Aarhus is looking at Charlie Davies and Chris Wondolowski as potential targets during the transfer window, which opens Thursday and lasts through the end of the month.

It's no surprise with so many talented players having come through the U.S. system that there would be a lot of guys who have shared the same field together and then separated as their careers progressed. Well, it's reunion time here in Phoenix, and a review of the roster reveals several players who have won national championships together, MLS Cup titles, U.

After Twitter's recent compilation of Twitter Stories, the good folks at MLSsoccer.com took a moment to reflect on the tremendous impact this social medium has had on Major League Soccer and the American soccer experience. We posted a few of our favorites to the site in December, which you can see here.

The New England Revolution could have filled two of needs with the signing of central defender John Lozano and midfielder/forward Fernando Cárdenas.

"Both John and Fernando have experience playing in Colombia's top division, both with and against some of CONCACAF's top club teams," Revolution General Manager Michael Burns said.

Most surprising on the day of the MLS SuperDraft were the opening words spoken by Don Garber as he greeted the viewers and public... in French. His words were spoken in order to honor MLS newcomers and first to pick in the draft, the Montreal Impact. Beyond the initial surprise of that, the remainder of the draft left little in the way of talking points.

Tyler Polak could fill the Revs need at left back. (Photo Credit: Andy Mead / MLSsoccer.com)

With the 2012 MLS SuperDraft now in the books, the writers at New England Soccer Today handed out their grades for the New England Revolution's 2012 draft performance. The Revs selected UCLA midfielder Kelyn Rowe with the third overall pick and Creighton defender Tyler Polak with the 22nd overall pick.

BY ADAM SERRANO

CARSON, Calif. -- There were plenty of lessons learned on Friday as the United States senior squad soundly defeated the U.S. Under-23's 4-0 in a scrimmage that took place on the Mooch Myernick Field at the Home Depot Center complex.

The U-23 back line had its guts ripped out yesterday in a 4-0 win to the Nats. Goals came from Chris Wondolowski, Benny Feilhaber, Teal Bunbury and Graham Zusi. SKC represent. Here were your starting lineups. Currently hunting around for a highlight vid. Will update as it comes. - Will Parchman

With the excitement and craziness of the 2012 SuperDraft in the rearview, it's time for teams around MLS to get down to business. Camp opens tomorrow and the Revolution still have plenty of work to do. I figured that this frigid, lazy Sunday would be a good time to take a look at the Revs' off-season thus far and outline some of the storylines moving forward.

We tweeted Sunday afternoon that Benny Feilhaber is a huge fan of the Baltimore Ravens. Many people wondered ... well ... why? Benny tells us ...
"It started with my dad. He worked in Brazil but he always had trips to the U.S., and the first football game he watched was with the Cleveland Browns.

STARTERS
Two big MLS player moves are on the front burner today:
-Philly to sell Sebastien Le Toux to Bolton.
-LA to re-sign David Beckham tomorrow.
dN
Barca beat Real Madrid again! 1-2 today in the 1st Leg of the Copa Del Rey Quarterfinals. 2nd Leg is next Wednesday.

STARTERS
David Beckham made it official today and signed a new 2 year contract with the LA Galaxy.
-But Beckham is staying with a team that will have at least 2 giant holes to fill this season - central midfielder Juninho returned to Sao Paulo and centerback Omar Gonzalez blew out his knee.

The U.S. men's national team kicks off 2012 in Arizona, taking on Venezuela at University of Phoenix Stadium in its first match of the year (9 p.m., Galavision/ESPN3.com).

The friendly comes as part of the culmination of January training camp, and it provides Jurgen Klinsmann a chance to see some of the players he has yet to observe in international game situations on a competitive stage.

Before we dig into some of my takeaways from tonight's battle with Venezuela (another three-pointer!), the original starting lineup: Bill Hamid, A.J. DeLaGarza, Michael Parkhurst, Geoff Cameron, Heath Pearce, Jeff Larentowicz, Jermaine Jones, Graham Zusi, Benny Feilhaber, Brek Shea, Teal Bunbury. As for the highlights, check out the ESPN3 replay here.

Ricardo FTW!

The US's January Cupcake Campers took on Venezuela's B-minus side Saturday night in Glendale, Arizona.

And while the run of play favored the States, it was unlikely former scapegoat in Rico Clark who provided the only nail in the coffin as the US opened their pair of camp-closing games with a 1-0 victory.