Photo by David Bernal/ISIphotos.com
By ADAM SERRANO
CARSON, Calif. – The Colorado Rapids squeaked past Chivas USA, 1-0, in a physical preseason
scrimmage between the two sides on Tuesday.
Second-half substitute Quincy Amarikwa put the Rapids ahead in the 85th minute.
After an offseason full of major moves, promise and tangible signs of improvement, the Portland
Timbers were hit with a sizeable dose of bad news Friday.
Colombian striker Jose Adolfo Valencia, signed as a Young Designated Player back in December,
requires knee surgery to repair damaged cartilage in his left knee and is going to be out for
anywhere from the next 6-to-12 months.
Photo by David Bernal/ISIphotos.com
As it turns out, Arturo Alvarez won't be suiting up for Chivas USA heading into the 2012 MLS
season after all.
Alvarez, who was selected by Chivas in the first stage of the MLS Re-Entry Draft but never came
to terms with the club as he sought opportunities overseas, has reportedly signed with Portuguese
top-flight club Pacos de Ferreira on a two-and-a-half-year contract.
Chivas USA is the latest MLS club to join the trend of signing Colombian central defenders.
Following in the recent footsteps of the Portland Timbers and FC Dallas, the Goats announced the
signing of veteran Colombian centerback John Alexander Valencia on Tuesday, adding the 30-year-old,
6-foot-4 defender to the club.
By FRANCO PANIZO
The Seattle Sounders have acquired Danish midfielder Christian Sivebaek following his transfer
from FC Midtjylland, the Sounders announced on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old midfielder arrives in Seattle after playing for Midtjylland since 2006.
Dom Kinnear has enjoyed one of the strongest coaching careers in MLS history, and the Houston
Dynamo have assured that he will be sticking around for a while.
According to the Houston Chronicle, the Dynamo have signed Kinnear to a three-year contract
extension.
Photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com
For a team coming off of a championship run, the Los Angeles Galaxy have had plenty of major
moving parts over recent weeks.
Between Landon Donovan going back to Everton on a short-term loan, Juninho returning to Sao
Paulo, Donovan Ricketts being dealt to the Montreal Impact, Sean Franklin re-signing and David
Beckham, well, still making a decision, the Galaxy remain the talk of MLS deep into the
offseason.
By CALEB SONNELAND
The Philadelphia Union continue their busy offseason by adding Costa Rican defender Porfirio
Lopez from Chinese side Dalian Haichang.
Lopez, a 26-year-old left back, was most recently on loan at Costa Rican side Alajuelense, where
he was a part of the team's back-to-back Apertura and Clausura championship teams.
By JOHN BOSCHINI
Things are looking worse and worse for Steve Kean as Blackburn manager as his club slumped to a
2-1 loss to Bolton on Tuesday, intensifying calls for him to be fired.
Blackburn is now rooted to the bottom of the English Premier League and is four points away from
safety having played a game more than its competitors.
Photo by Stephen Brashear/ISIphotos.com
By JOSE M. ROMERO
The MLS Cup final was played not even three weeks ago, but teams are already making training
plans in preparation for next season.
Three MLS teams are confirmed for training at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Ariz.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
Lee Nguyen's long journey is leading back home.
Nguyen, a Texas native, signed a multi-year deal with MLS on Tuesday, bringing a one-time U.S.
attacking prospect to the league after six years overseas. Nguyen appeared three times in 2007 for
the U.
The opening weekend of the 2012 MLS season will feature a Canadian derby.
The Vancouver Whitecaps will host the Montreal Impact at BC Place on March 10 as part of MLS
First Kick, the league announced on Tuesday, as bits and pieces of next season's schedule begin to
be released.
Chivas USA made the biggest move in Monday's short first stage of the 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft by
using its fourth overall selection to pick former Real Salt Lake midfielder Arturo Alvarez.
Two other teams made selections, as the New England Revolution used the second overall pick on
former Toronto FC fullback Danleigh Borman, and the Columbus Crew used the ninth overall pick to
add former New York Red Bulls defender Carlos Mendes.
Photo by David Bernal/ISIphotos.com
Sporting Kansas City's busy week continues.
After dealing Davy Arnaud to Montreal to re-acquire Seth Sinovic and re-signing goalkeeper Jimmy
Nielsen, Sporting KC added depth to its midfield Tuesday, acquiring Paulo Nagamura from Chivas USA
in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft.
Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com
The Jay Heaps coaching era in New England is officially underway.
Heaps was introduced as New England Revolution head coach at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday,
taking over for the ousted Steve Nicol.
Heaps retired from playing for the Revolution in 2009 and was most recently a color analyst for
the team's television broadcasts.
BY JONATHAN VERA
CARSON, Calif. – Playing a game with nothing on the line, the Seattle Sounders went into their
match against Chivas USA on Saturday night looking to stay healthy and looking to keep up their
recent outstanding form heading into the MLS playoffs.
Photo by Don Feria/ISIphotos.com
By THOMAS FLOYD
Well, the New York Red Bulls sure took the drama out of this weekend.
With New York's 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Union on Thursday, the 10th and final ticket to
the postseason was booked, and the Portland Timbers and Chicago Fire were eliminated from playoff
contention.
Photo by Andrew Katsampes/ISIphotos.com
By THOMAS FLOYD
The MLS playoff race sure is heating up.
With just a handful of matches remaining, nine teams are still competing for six available
postseason berths. A slate of influential weekend fixtures kicks off Friday with a critical clash
in the wild-card race between the Houston Dynamo and Portland Timbers.
By ADAM SERRANO
Hector Jimenez has been living life under the radar in his rookie season, but when the
midfielder from the University of California has had his chance to see action, he's grabbed a hold
of it.
Jimenez was instrumental in the Galaxy's 2-1 victory over Morelia in the CONCACAF Champions
League, helping to create the winning goal.
BY JONATHAN VERA
CARSON, Calif. – The Philadelphia Union were just a few seconds of regulation and a few
minutes of overtime from regaining the hold on first place they lost during the summer, but before
they could even celebrate it, Juan Pablo Angel stepped in to spoil the party.
The Philadelphia Union stand a win away from first place in the Eastern Conference, but Chivas
USA will be trying to stop that while also keeping their own faint playoff hopes alive today at
Home Depot Center.
The Union can jump ahead of Sporting KC into first place with a victory today, but will need to
do better than they have on the road this year, where they've posted a 3-6-5 mark.
Photo by Tony Quinn/ISIphotos.com
By THOMAS FLOYD
Saturday's showdown between the Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas may be a rematch of last year's
MLS Cup, but neither team has looked anything like a title contender lately.
Dallas is 0-6-1 in its past seven matches in all competitions, while Colorado has gone 0-5-1 in
six games.
Photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com
Chivas USA isn't dead just yet, and it has its veteran, mid-season acquisition to thank for
that.
Led by a resurgent Juan Pablo Angel, Chivas USA came back from a two-goal deficit to force a 2-2
road draw with D.C. United and blew out Toronto FC, 3-0, to maintain it's postseason hopes for at
least another week and capture SBI MLS Team of the Week honors.
BY JONATHAN VERA
CARSON, Calif. -- It wasn't too long ago that Juan Pablo Angel looked more ready to retire than
to start scoring goals again, but the Chivas USA striker has enjoyed a renaissance in recent weeks
that has him looking like the Angel of old.
Photo by Wendy Larsen/ISIphotos.com
By THOMAS FLOYD
While the Texas derby between FC Dallas and the Houston Dynamo is an intense affair in its own
right, the playoff implications surrounding Saturday's showdown have added a little more spice to
the rivalry.
By ADAM SERRANO
Dasan Robinson is on his third club in just a year, but he's ready to return to the form that
once made him one of the finest young defenders in MLS.
Recently acquired by the Los Angeles Galaxy in exchange for Kyle Davies from Toronto FC, who had
acquired Robinson less than two months earlier from the Chicago Fire, Robinson is not unfamilar
with the L.
By DAVE GUBALA
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill – After watching a two-goal lead in the second half disappear in the span of
two minutes, the Chicago Fire looked destined for yet another late-game disappointment. Dominic
Oduro had other plans however, as he and Patrick Nyarko combined to give Chicago a sorely-needed
win and the Fire continued hope of an improbable run at the playoffs.
Photo by Bill Barrett/ISIphotos.com
By THOMAS FLOYD
Playoff seeding in both conferences could see a shake-up Saturday when Real Salt Lake and
Sporting Kansas City meet at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Thanks to a win over Houston last weekend, Kansas City currently sits one point behind Columbus
for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
By ADAM SERRANO
Pablo Mastroeni is considering hanging up his boots.
With a long and illustrious resume, the Colorado Rapids captain and former U.S. international
midfielder is thinking about retirement. Mastroeni has been a member of two World Cup squads (2002,
2006) for the U.
Photo by ISIPHOTOS.COM
BY ADAM SERRANO
Pablo Mastroeni is considering hanging up his boots.
With one of the finest resumes of an American player, the Colorado Rapids captain is considering
retirement after the 2011 season. Mastroeni has been a member of two World Cup squads (2002, 2006)
for the U.
BY JONATHAN VERA
CARSON, Calif.--D.C. United received a very encouraging sign from striker Charlie Davies that he
was ready to take on a bigger role as the club hits the playoff stretch drive, but also faced the
devastating news that they lost one of their best performers of the 2011 season.
Photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com
By THOMAS FLOYD
After a Labor Day weekend dominated by international fixtures and a schedule watered down by
Hurricane Irene the week before, MLS is finally back in full swing this weekend with a packed
slate of matches.
BY JONATHAN VERA
CARSON, Calif. – Chivas USA had their first home game in a month, and faced an opponent that
went a man down after a first-half red card, but the Goats couldn't capitalize on the advantage as
a crucial defensive error and inept offense kept Chivas USA from gaining ground in the playoff
race.
Photo by Tom Hauck/ISIphotos.com
By THOMAS FLOYD
Hurricane Irene may have deprived MLS fans of three weekend contests, including Sunday's marquee
matchup between the Los Angeles Galaxy and New York Red Bulls, but elsewhere across the league, the
games will go on.
By JOSE M. ROMERO
The Portland Timbers are still on the outside looking in as far as the MLS playoff picture, but
their important 1-0 win Wednesday night over Chivas USA at Jeld-Wen Field vaulted them into the top
spot among teams vying for the 10th and final playoff spot.
By JOSE M. ROMERO
The Portland Timbers are still on the outside looking in as far as the MLS playoff picture, but
their important 1-0 win Wednesday night over Chivas USA at Jeld-Wen Field vaulted them into the top
spot among teams vying for the 10th and final playoff spot.
The first all-MLS battle of the 2011-2012 CONCACAF Champions League takes place at BMO Field, as
FC Dallas and Toronto FC do battle for first place in Group C (8 p.m., Fox Soccer
Channel/Galavision).
Both teams won their group openers, with Dallas becoming the first MLS team to win on Mexican
soil by beating Pumas UNAM and Toronto winning in Panama with a 1-0 decision over Tauro.
Photo by Bill Barrett/ISIphotos.com
Sporting Kansas City is giving Designated Player Omar Bravo a chance to go up against his former
team.
The MLS club announced that it will play a friendly with Chivas de Guadalajara on Oct. 12 at
Livestrong Sporting Park. The match follows a bye week for Sporting KC, but it also comes three
days before what could be a crucial match beween the club and the New York Red Bulls considering
the current playoff picture.
Photo by Rick Osentoski/ISIphotos.com
By THOMAS FLOYD
First place in the Eastern Conference will be available for the taking at Crew Stadium on
Saturday.
That's when newly acquired Freddy Adu and the Philadelphia Union will look to close the
three-point gap separating them from the Columbus Crew and the top spot in the conference.
By ADAM SERRANO
Robbie Keane appears ready to go for the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Los Angeles received the Ireland international's P-1 visa on Wednesday, which will make him
eligible to play in the club's match against the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday.
