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Photo by ISIphotos.com

The MLS season is set to end on Sunday after the 2009 MLS Cup, and the MLS Expansion draft is looming just eight days away, meaning all the teams that need head coaches are about to take part in one of the most frantic coaching change flurries MLS has ever seen.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

The MLS season is set to end on Sunday after the 2009 MLS Cup, and the MLS Expansion draft is looming just eight days away, meaning all the teams that need head coaches are about to take part in one of the most frantic coaching change flurries MLS has ever seen.

by FRANCO PANIZO

Liverpool midfielder David N'Gog may have salvaged his club from losing against Birmingham on Monday, but he did so with one of the most highly-criticized dives in recent memory.

With Birmingham shockingly leading the hosts 2-1 in the second half, N'Gog dribbled into the penalty area before being brought down by midfielder Lee Carsley's sliding challenge.

by FRANCO PANIZO

Liverpool midfielder David N'Gog may have salvaged his club from losing against Birmingham on Monday, but he did so with one of the most highly-criticized dives in recent memory.

With Birmingham shockingly leading the hosts 2-1 in the second half, N'Gog dribbled into the penalty area before being brought down by midfielder Lee Carsley's sliding challenge.

Standing on a rooftop overlooking the site of the Philadelphia Union's future stadium, I couldn't help but see the pieces being put into place for a club that should help revitalize soccer on the East Coast.

As cranes lowered ten-ton cement blocks into place to piece together the Union's stadium, you could stand inside the unfinished building and see the vision.

Standing on a rooftop overlooking the site of the Philadelphia Union's future stadium, I couldn't help but see the pieces being put into place for a club that should help revitalize soccer on the East Coast.

As cranes lowered ten-ton cement blocks into place to piece together the Union's stadium, you could stand inside the unfinished building and see the vision.

Tom Soehn will not be back as head coach of D.C. United after removing his name from consideration to be retained upon the conclusion of his current contract at the end of the calendar year.

D.C. United failed to make the playoffs for a second straight season, but it did enjoy success under Soehn, who helped guide the team to a Supporters Shield in 2007 and U.

Tom Soehn will not be back as head coach of D.C. United after removing his name from consideration to be retained upon the conclusion of his current contract at the end of the calendar year.

D.C. United failed to make the playoffs for a second straight season, but it did enjoy success under Soehn, who helped guide the team to a Supporters Shield in 2007 and U.

The list of things to do in the nation's capital grew even longer today, as D.C. United keeper Josh Wicks underwent successful surgery to repair his dislocated shoulder that ended his 2009 campaign. Wicks injured his shoulder in a nasty fall during United's 2-1 loss to San Jose on September 27.

The list of things to do in the nation's capital grew even longer today, as D.C. United keeper Josh Wicks underwent successful surgery to repair his dislocated shoulder that ended his 2009 campaign. Wicks injured his shoulder in a nasty fall during United's 2-1 loss to San Jose on September 27.

The Houston Dynamo may have failed in their bid to become the second MLS team to qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals but D.C. United still have a glimmer of hope left. After a rough start to the tournament that saw them drop their first two games, three consecutive wins and a draw have turned fortunes around.

The Houston Dynamo may have failed in their bid to become the second MLS team to qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals but D.C. United still have a glimmer of hope left. After a rough start to the tournament that saw them drop their first two games, three consecutive wins and a draw have turned fortunes around.

A year after every MLS team failed to reach the knockout round of the CONCACAF Champions League, the defending MLS champion Columbus Crew has stepped up to make sure Major League Soccer will be represented in the current Champions League Tournament.

The Crew tied the Puerto Rico Islanders, 1-1, on Tuesday night to lock up a quarterfinal berth.

A year after all but one MLS team failed to reach the knockout round of the CONCACAF Champions League, the defending MLS champion Columbus Crew has become the first Major League Soccer team to earn a place in the quarterfinals.

The Crew tied the Puerto Rico Islanders, 1-1, on Tuesday night to lock up a quarterfinal berth.

Two must-win games are on the slate tonight for MLS teams still involved in the CONCACAF Champions League. D.C. United is in Mexico, and takes on Toluca down in Mexico (8pm, FSC/Telefutura). Meanwhile in Puerto Rico, the Crew are out to ensure their passage to the third round (2am, FSC).

It's been a dramatic turnaround for the Black-and-Red in Group B.

Richard Dunne made his old club pay, but in the end neither Dunne's Aston Villa or opponent Manchester City could take all three points on Monday.

Craig Bellamy's second-half equalizer made the final score 1-1 in an entertaining Monday fixture at Villa Park. Dunne gave Aston Villa a first-half lead on a header scored over former Villa midfielder Gareth Barry, but Bellamy continued his recent run of hot form by netting an equalizer off an Emmanuel Adebayor pass.

Richard Dunne made his old club pay, but in the end neither Dunne's Aston Villa or opponent Manchester City could take all three points on Monday.

Craig Bellamy's second-half equalizer made the final score 1-1 in an entertaining Monday fixture at Villa Park. Dunne gave Aston Villa a first-half lead on a header scored over former Villa midfielder Gareth Barry, but Bellamy continued his recent run of hot form by netting an equalizer off an Emmanuel Adebayor pass.

Both MLS clubs had a chance to seize the initiative in their respective CONCACAF Champions League groups last night, but only one managed to come through. D.C. walloped San Juan Jabloteh 5-1 to hop into second place in Group B, while Houston failed to score and lost to Pachuca 1-0. United has completed a rather remarkable turnaround in the competition, after going winless last year and dropping their first two this year.

Both MLS clubs had a chance to seize the initiative in their respective CONCACAF Champions League groups last night, but only one managed to come through. D.C. walloped San Juan Jabloteh 5-1 to hop into second place in Group B, while Houston failed to score and lost to Pachuca 1-0. United has completed a rather remarkable turnaround in the competition, after going winless last year and dropping their first two this year.

Two massive CONCACAF Champions League matches loom tonight for the remaining two MLS squads in the competition. D.C., in need of a win to boost their chances of making a rather unlikely quarterfinal bid, face lowly San Juan Jabloteh (8pm, FSC) of Trinidad & Tobago who have yet to win in the competition.

Two massive CONCACAF Champions League matches loom tonight for the remaining two MLS squads in the competition. D.C., in need of a win to boost their chances of making a rather unlikely quarterfinal bid, face lowly San Juan Jabloteh (8pm, FSC) of Trinidad & Tobago who have yet to win in the competition.

D.C. United still has some hope of advancing past the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League, but it will need a win by two goals or more to make that happen.

D.C. plays host to Honduran side CD Marathon tonight at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C (8pm, Fox Soccer Channel. knowing it must score goals to set itself up for advancing out of its group.

In just a few hours D.C. United will take to the pitch with their CONCACAF Champions League life on the line. Honduran club Marathon is visiting, fresh off a 7-0 humiliation against Toluca. Adding to their misery is the political unrest that forced the club to hop on a bus to El Salvador just to make the flight up.

Major League Soccer has plenty of great rivalries, from Chivas USA-Los Angeles Galaxy, to FC Dallas-Houston, to Chicago-D.C. United, but a new one is on the horizon and could become the league's marquee match-up before long.

When the Philadelphia Union begins play in 2010, it will set up shop within two hours of D.

D.C. United finally broke through on CONCACAF Champions League play on Tuesday night, posting a 1-0 victory against San Juan Jabloteh in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Christian Gomez converted a penalty kick in the 14th minute after a handball in the penalty area by Noel Williams. D.C. goalkeeper Milos Kocic made the goal stand up with several crucial saves as D.

By TRAVIS CLARK

After a two week hiatus for the U.S. Open Cup Final and to accommodate the international break, CONCACAF group play resumes this evening with the third matchday. D.C. United is the only MLS club in action, and have plenty of work cut out for them if they plan on making any inroads in the competition.

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                                                                       Photo by ISIphotos.com

By TRAVIS CLARK

The stakes were still high for Saturday's D.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

By TRAVIS CLARK

The stakes were still high for Saturday's D.C. United-Seattle matchup despite no trophy on the line. With the playoff race tightening each week, both side needed three points in the worst way.

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                                                           Photo by ISIphotos.com

Most eyes may have been on Port of Spain last night, but there was still an important MLS match last night as Kansas City traveled to face D.

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                                                           Photo by ISIphotos.com

Most eyes may have been on Port of Spain last night, but there was still an important MLS match last night as Kansas City traveled to face D.

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                                                       Photo by ISIphotos.com

Right in the middle of a playoff run, a fully fit squad is vital for D.C. United to prevent a second consecutive absence from the playoffs.

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                                                       Photo by ISIphotos.com

Right in the middle of a playoff run, a fully fit squad is vital for D.C. United to prevent a second consecutive absence from the playoffs.

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                                                                Photo by ISIphotos.com

By TRAVIS CLARK

The jovial cheer in the visitor's locker room pinged through the hallways of RFK after Seattle's 2-1 triumph.

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                                                                Photo by ISIphotos.com

By TRAVIS CLARK

The jovial cheer in the visitor's locker room pinged through the hallways of RFK after Seattle's 2-1 triumph.

Lost in the build up and aftermath of yesterday's Open Cup defeat against Seattle was D.C. United's signing of Academy goalie Bill Hamid. He agreed to terms of a Generation adidas contract, becoming the first United Academy player to sign with the first team.

The 18-year-old has a massive physical presence from up close, and is list at 6'3", 235 pounds.