We are nearing the end of our Three Questions series, and I hope you have found it insightful and useful during the offseason. We'll end the series tomorrow and Tuesday with the MLS Cup participants, prior to the 2012 Superdraft. ...
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Mexican clubs have dominated the CONCACAF Champions League in recent years and Monterrey CF kept up that trend when winning their maiden title this year. Monterrey, therefore, will enjoy their first appearance in the FIFA Club World Cup with a quarter-final tie against the winner of the qualifying play-off between Oceania champions Auckland City and the J-League champions (as yet undecided).

ALONSO 56, p. (1-0), NEAGLE 61 (2-0). El daño ya se habia hecho. El marcador de 3 0 del partido de ida el pasado sábado no pudo ser igualad0 esta noche en el CenturyLink Field con el 2-0 a favor del Seattle en la segunda vuelta de la semifinal de la conferencia oeste de [...]

ALONSO 56, p. (1-0), NEAGLE 61 (2-0). El daño ya se habia hecho. El marcador de 3 0 del partido de ida el pasado sábado no pudo ser igualad0 esta noche en el CenturyLink Field con el 2-0 a favor del Seattle en la segunda vuelta de la semifinal de la conferencia oeste de [...]

ALONSO 56, p. (1-0), NEAGLE 61 (2-0). El daño ya se habia hecho. El marcador de 3 0 del partido de ida el pasado sábado no pudo ser igualado esta noche en el CenturyLink Field con el 2-0 a favor del Seattle en la segunda vuelta de la semifinal de la conferencia oeste de [...]

Times are not bright. It is cloudy, cold and rain is expected. The Seattle Sounders are down three goals and one of their MVP candidates is out for the game. Real Salt Lake doesn't get blown out with a healthy roster. It is a very Seattle day.

It isn't a very Sounders day though. Three straight US Open Cups, 63 regular season points, three straight MLS Cup Playoffs appearances, success in the CONCACAF Champions League.

By JOSÉ M. ROMERO

Much was made of Real Salt Lake's regular season-ending six-match winless streak and how it might be a sign that RSL is in trouble heading into the playoffs.

On Saturday night, Real Salt Lake put that notion to rest in emphatic fashion.

With the red cards, penalties and an own goal in the last two matches there isn't much that can be taken from the previous two meetings between these sides. Even the issue with the 2010 contests has been addressed, as the Seattle Sounders substitution patterns have dramatically improved in 2011 over previous season.

Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Philadelphia Union v Houston Dynamo watch

Peter Nowak says, "The playoffs are not about worrying who won their last 10 or 20 games, it's going to be who wins this series.

So, we don't need to worry too much about how the Union played against New York, right?

Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Philadelphia Union manager Peter Nowak can prove Sunday just how good a manager he really is.

It will happen when the starting lineup is announced.

Outsiders may think Nowak's a potential coach of the year, but those who follow the Union closely know he's been a better executive than a chooser of starting lineups.

The Los Angeles Galaxy take on Real Salt Lake tonight in a match-up of Western Conference powers, and a game that could draw the Galaxy to the verge of the MLS Supporters Shield.

Real Salt Lake will try to spoil the Galaxy's party, while also snapping their own two-match losing skid.

Frank Klopas is going with a heavy lineup for tonight's game:

Sean Johnson; Dan Gargan, Josip Mikulic, Cory Gibbs, Gonzalo Segares; Marco Pappa, Pavel Pardo, Logan Pause; Daniel Paladini; Patrick Nyarko, Dominic Oduro

The U.S. Open Cup Final isn't until Tuesday so there's no reason to worry about overextending these guys.

Photo by Patricia Giobetti/ISIphotos.com

Donning a substitute's bib, Javier Morales went through the motions. Medically cleared to return to action for the first time in months, Morales paced up and down the sidelines at RFK Stadium, staying warm in case he was called upon to try and light a spark under Real Salt Lake.

Zakuani, a casualty of precisely....what?

This is an exclusive offered to The Shin Guardian by the great collective of writers at The Blizzard.

This season, MLS has become a bloody place. Four of the league's most dynamic attacking players — Seattle's Steve Zakuani, Dallas's David Ferreira, Salt Lake's Javier Morales and DC's Branko Bošković — have suffered horrific injuries, totalling six broken bones, a dislocation and severe ligament damage between them, leading to a torrent of discussion about the physical nature of play in MLS.

Today's TTnT is brought to you by the letters R, S, L, C, and K and by the numbers 2 and 3.

RSL, of course, is Real Salt Lake, who have the most Euro-poser name in the league, at least until Garber announces the introduction of Bayern Milwaukee. CK stands for corner kick, and two is the number of goals that RSL scored off corners in their last game, played at home against the Philadelphia Union.

Denz of RSL SoapBox, SB Nation's Real Salt Lake blog, and I exchanged three questions a piece ahead of tonight's Union-RSL match at Rio Tinto. Read my responses to Denz's questions by clicking on the linked text here.

tBG: What has sent RSL into such a freefall (though that may be hyperbole)?

RSL Insider's Brian Dunseth sits down with midfielder Javier Morales to discuss his devastating ankle injury and path back to the field.

Read More

I really hope Javier gets back soon, Real Salt Lake is always more fun to watch them with him in the lineup. I wish him, Steve Zakuani and David Ferreira nothing but the best on their long roads to recovery here.

My dude Dunny with the long-awaited Javier Morales sit-down. Good to see him on the mend because, real talk, RSL has been a ghost of itself since his injury. Hopefully we'll get to see him back in time for a playoff run through the Wasatch Front.

Thierry Henry: A Picture of FrustrationIt's getting harder and harder to envision the New York Red Bulls as a playoff team, much less a contender for the 2011 MLS Cup. A season that began with the ridiculously grand vision of a Supporters Shield now seems destined to end in bitter disappointment for fans.

It's back baby...

Maybe 6 or 7 months, more, since we did a spanning the weekend soccer globe.

Our first one in what seems like ages and upstaged by USSF and Sunil Gulati.

Lame. But off we go.

Friday

International U-20

• England vs.

It's back baby...

Maybe 6 or 7 months, more, since we did a spanning the weekend soccer globe.

Our first one in what seems like ages and upstaged by USSF and Sunil Gulati.

Lame. But off we go.

Friday

International U-20

• Argentina vs.

The New England Revolution will make an arduous Independence Day trip to Utah to take on Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Monday. The Revs are winless in their last seven matches, going all the way back to a 1-0 home victory against Vancouver on May 14th. RSL, on the other hand, are starting to come out of a rough patch after beginning the season on fire but losing momentum due to injuries and Gold Cup absences.

Saborio looking sharp.Real Salt Lake are starting to find their way. With the 3-1 victory over Toronto FC, some 15,000 fans were treated to the RSL of old. Passes flowed, shots flew and more importantly, goals went in. It was Real Salt Lake's first win in five games, but it came in such convincing fashion, it's hard not to wonder if things won't start turning around for them.

Saborio looking sharp.Real Salt Lake are starting to find their way. With the 3-1 victory over Toronto FC, some 15,000 fans were treated to the RSL of old. Passes flowed, shots flew and more importantly, goals went in. It was Real Salt Lake's first win in five games, but it came in such convincing fashion, it's hard not to wonder if things won't start turning around for them.

After losing to Monterrey at home in the final leg of the CONCACAF Champion's League Final on April 27 Real Salt Lake has not looked like the same team that was considered to be the class of MLS by many observers at the beginning of the season, myself included. A bit of a let down could be expected after the loss to Monterrey and it did come in the form of a 1-0 loss to the Portland Timbers on the road.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Game time: Saturday, 4 p..m.

TV: 6abc (likely ABC 6.2)

Philadelphia Union will host a depleted Real Salt Lake squad this Saturday at PPL Park.

RSL (6-3-2) comes in having won just one of four games without playmaker Javier Morales, who broke his ankle May 8 on a brutal tackle from behind by Chivas USA's Marcos Mondaini.

Pressed into duty as a forward, Real Salt Lake's Jean Alexandre delivered a goal and an assist in his team's 2-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps.

On Monday, Alexandre was voted MLS Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters. The goal was the first in the Haitian international's MLS career.

There is a great deal to prove in tonight's match between the Portland Timbers and Chivas USA.

The Timbers are eager to improve a poor road record against a Chivas USA side that has MLS' worst home record. The Rojiblancos will be boosted tonight by the return of Marcos Mondaini, who returns from a four-game suspension after a tackle that injured Javier Morales.

Juninho battles Shalrie Joseph in the Galaxy's 1-0 win at New England on May 28th.

Three games in eight days has become almost routine for the Los Angeles Galaxy this season, and for a few other teams as well, as the schedule makes room for not on the US Open Cup, and the CONCACAF Champions League, but also the CONCACAF Championship, the Gold Cup with the winner getting a slot in the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2013 in Brazil.

BY ADAM SERRANO

Chivas USA may be looking to develop the best youth program in MLS, but plans for a potential "All-Southern California" Chivas USA appear to be overblown.

Following a pair of recent reports that have come out in the last week stating that the Rojiblancos are intending to field an "All-SoCal" team, General Manager Jose Domene clairified the statements in an interview with MLSsoccer.

Previous Updates
#1 4/11 66 players remaining
In these updates throughout the season, I'll be keeping track of which MLS players have played every minute of every game in the regular season. That feat has been accomplished only 42 times in 15 seasons. Click here for the complete list.

This evening the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA meet at the Home Depot Center for the first 2011 installment of the so-called "SuperClasico". For most of its history the clash has been less than Super with the Galaxy dominating the outcomes. The only time parity has even been a conversation piece was during the Alexi Lalas as GM years when the team imploded, especially 2007 and 2008.

- Ethan Gomberg SANDY, UTAH – Over 16,000 came out to Rio Tinto tonight to watch the Houston Dynamo get a point in a very difficult away match against a RSL team in flux. Real Salt Lake, after losing its midfield star, Javier Morales, also walked away with a point despite questions over the starting lineup.

Two broken bones in his left ankle.
It has been a rough season thus far to be on the MLS Dsciplinary Committee. Thus far in the league we've had several brutal tackles that resulted in snapped bones. However, this latest instance brings up a frustrating look at the difficulties of sending a message to the league.

After a midweek tease, the MLS slate is full this weekend with all but two teams playing on Saturday. For those looking forward to a little Friday night soccer, there will be none so you'll just have to wait for Saturday night's glamorous TV lineup, which includes the renewal of the U.

The Major League Soccer Disciplinary Committee today suspended Chivas USA midfielder Marcos Mondaini for his tackle on Real Salt Lake midfielder Javier Morales in the 38th minute of the game on May 7.

Mondaini received a red card for the challenge, which resulted in Morales suffering two broken bones and torn ligaments in his left ankle.

Javier Morales will be out until Octobor, Marcos Mondaini will return after four games. (Getty Images)

It should come to no surprise that Chivas USA striker Marcos Mondaini would be suspended for his reckless tackle on Real Salt Lake midfielder Javier Morales. The question was always going to be how long.

Javier Morales will be out until Octobor, Marcos Mondaini will return after four games. (Getty Images)

It should come to no surprise that Chivas USA striker Marcos Mondaini would be suspended for his reckless tackle on Real Salt Lake midfielder Javier Morales. The question was always going to be how long.

Scott and Ted are back with lots of discussion of the Javier Morales injury, including listener tweets and emails. On the phone this week, correspondents from Dallas, Toronto, DC, Houston, New England, Portland, Seattle, San Jose, Vancouver, Los Angeles and a bonus call with ELAC. CSRN MEDIA PLAYER