Toronto FC appears determined to fix its defensive problems, and it has turned to an Ecuadorian
international to help it do so.
On the day it signed Richard Eckersley to a permanent deal, Toronto announced it acquired
defender Geovanny Caicedo. The 30-year-old, who has earned eight caps for Ecuador since making his
debut in 2009, last played for LDU Quito.
photo by Andrew Katsampes/ISIphotos.com
Richard Eckersley will be calling Toronto FC home for the foreseeable future.
Eckersley was signed to a permanent move with the Reds after joining the club on loan from
Burnley last April, the club announced on Thursday.
photo by Nick Turchiaro/ISIphotos.com
After uncertainty clouded his future with Toronto FC, Joao Plata is staying right where he
is.
One of MLS's most technically-gifted players, Plata has agreed to re-sign with Toronto FC on a
multi-year deal.
It's official: Thierry Henry is going back to Arsenal.
The New York Red Bulls forward and his former Premier League club put the final touches on a
short-term loan that has Arsenal's all-time leading goal scorer returning to the Emirates through
the end of February.
Henry will be eligible for the club's FA Cup match against Leeds United on Monday.
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.
Lee Nguyen's wait to find out his new club is almost up.
MLS will conduct a weighted lottery for the services on Thursday afternoon, the league
announced.
The teams that have thrown their hat into the ring for the lottery are the Vancouver Whitecaps,
Toronto FC, Houston Dynamo, FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake and Los Angeles Galaxy.
Photo by Bill Barrett/ISIphotos.com
Omar Bravo's time in MLS is up.
Sporting Kansas City and top-flight Mexican club Cruz Azul agreed to a deal that will see the
Designated Player return to his native country after one season in MLS. No terms of the deal were
disclosed.
The Seattle Sounders' search for Kasey Keller's successor has been completed.
Seattle announced the long-rumored signing of Austrian goalkeeper Michael Gspurning on
Wednesday, ushering in a new era between the posts at CenturyLink Field.
"First off, you don't replace Kasey Keller.
Jeremy Hall is acquiring quite the jersey collection in a short amount of time.
The one-time U.S. youth product and Generation adidas signing is on the move again after being
traded from FC Dallas to Toronto FC on Tuesday in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2013 MLS
SuperDraft.
Photo by Nick Turchiaro/ISIphotos.com
The odds were that two MLS teams would go up against each other in the CONCACAF Champions League
quarterfinals, and that scenario unfolded during Tuesday's quarterfinal draw in New York.
The Los Angeles Galaxy drew Toronto FC for the first round of the knockout stage, which
commences in March.
Danny Koevermans needed little time to adjust to MLS, and his performance in Toronto FC's
regular-season finale was the latest piece of evidence of that.
The bruising Dutch Designated Player came up with a goal and an assist in Toronto's
season-ending 2-2 draw with the New England Revolution to put a cap on an impressive few first
months in MLS and take home SBI MLS Player of the Week honors.
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 Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com
By THOMAS FLOYD
All eyes will be on Harrison, N.J., tonight for the New York Red Bulls' critical meeting with
the Philadelphia Union.
A Red Bulls win or draw will clinch the final playoff berth for New York and eliminate the
Portland Timbers and Chicago Fire.
With the MLS playoffs a dream that disappeared long ago, Toronto FC had one thing left to play for
in 2011. They had a place in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals to try and win.
Standing in their way was FC Dallas, one of the better teams in MLS, a team that needed just a
draw on Tuesday night at their home ground to reach the Champions League quarterfinals.
Major League Soccer has taken some major strides during the 2011-2012 CONCACAF Champions League,
but as the final games of group play approach, there is still work to be done before crowning this
campaign as a great success.
Only one MLS team, Seattle, has clinched a place in the knockout stage so far, but that could
all change Tuesday night.
By JOEY SAMUEL
CHESTER, Pa. - It wasn't pretty, and it certainly wasn't impressive. But it was good enough, at
least for now.
Behind a goal from Sebastien Le Toux, the Philadelphia Union tied Toronto FC, 1-1, in front of a
record crowd at PPL Park.
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.
Photo by Jose L. Argueta/ISIphotos.com
By THOMAS FLOYD
Much has been made in recent weeks of the games in hand at D.C. United's disposal. But as the
club has learned, those extra matches aren't particularly helpful if you lose them.
In what coach Ben Olsen called an "unacceptable performance," United fell 2-1 Wednesday at the
Vancouver Whitecaps, dropping crucial points against the league's worst team.
Photo by Brad Smith/ISIphotos.com
By THOMAS FLOYD
If you had spoken with D.C. United coach Ben Olsen this past offseason and told him centerback
Ethan White, a 20-year-old Homegrown Player, would start 19 matches his rookie year, he "probably
wouldn't have believed you.
Photo by Patricia Giobetti/ISIphotos.com
For the second straight day, the Portland Timbers got the better of the Vancouver Whitecaps by a
1-0 scoreline.
After the Timbers' first team accomplished that feat in the debut of BC Place on Sunday, the
Portland reserves did the same on Monday on the strength of an 82nd-minute goal from Bryan Burke
and a clean sheet by Jake Gleeson.
The New York Red Bulls needed a win against Toronto FC on Saturday to really boost their playoff
chances, but for a team with just two road wins all year, a draw was probably the more realistic
goal.
Toronto FC nearly left the Red Bulls with zero points, but Thierry Henry stepped up to save New
York one more time, collecting a Dax McCarty' corner kick and hitting a perfect turn and shot in
the 88th minute to help the Red Bulls salvage a 1-1 draw at BMO Field.
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.
By THOMAS FLOYD
The last time D.C. United recorded back-to-back league wins, Tom Soehn was the coach, Josh Wicks
was in goal, and the attack was led by Ben Olsen, Christian Gomez, Luciano Emilio and Jaime
Moreno.
That was June 2009. Needless to say, a lot has changed for United and now-coach Olsen in the
past 27 months, but the lack of any sort of winning streak has continued.
By JOEY SAMUEL
Toronto FC managed to keep their chances of reaching the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals
alive on Tuesday night, but only just barely.
Missing several key players, including captain Torsten Frings, TFC managed to draw Mexican power
Pumas UNAM 1-1 at BMO Field.
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.
Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com
By THOMAS FLOYD
Good luck trying to figure out the New York Red Bulls' problems.
With a full-strength starting 11 that featured two players who are each paid well more than Real
Salt Lake's entire roster combined, the Red Bulls were outclassed by their visitors from Utah on
Wednesday night, conceding three goals in the first 21 minutes before falling 3-1.
By DAVID GUBALA
Toronto FC entered Tuesday's CONCACAF Champions League match with a must-win mentality, looking
to rebound from a heavy 4-0 defeat at Pumas last Sunday. A regular starting XI featured for Aron
Winter's side with hopes of a post group-stage round still remaining well alive.
It's a make-or-break night in the CONCACAF Champions League for Toronto FC. If TFC can't come up
with a home victory over Panamanian side Tauro FC at BMO Field, then the Reds face an extremely
difficult uphill battle in their remaining two Group C games. A win, however, would put Toronto in
a decent spot moving forward.
Photo by Nick Turchiaro/ISIphotos.com
With the final half of the CONCACAF Champions League group stage set to kick off Tuesday night,
Toronto FC is faced with an opportunity that it can not let slip through its fingers.
TFC host Tauro FC (8 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel) in a Group C match that carries plenty of
significance in relation to Toronto's hopes of advancing to the knockout stage.
Colorado Rapids have lost four straight meetings at BMO Field when playing Toronto FC and added
a fifth one by losing 2-1 on Saturday afternoon.
It was the stellar Dutch striker, Danny Koevermans that piled on more misery for the Colorado
Rapids. Toronto FC's Designated Player showcased an impressive second half brace, scoring six goals
total in seven league appearances for the club.
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 Jose L. Argueta/ISIphotos.com
By THOMAS FLOYD
For a D.C. United team that is an intriguing darkhorse contender in the wide-open Eastern
Conference, Saturday's match at the Seattle Sounders could be a telling barometer of where the club
stands.
FC Dallas scored an early goal to take control of their CONCACAF Champions League match against
Tauro FC, but never could find a second goal, leaving the door open for the visitors to grab a
valuable draw.
That's what Tauro did, when Luis Moreno converted a penalty kick drawn after a clumsy Ugo
Ihemelu challenge just before halftime.
Photo by Patricia Giobetti/ISIphotos.com
The Seattle Sounders pulled off perhaps the most impressive road victory for an MLS team in
CONCACAF Champions League play by topping defending champion Monterrey in Mexico on Aug. 23.
In order to maintain their post atop Group D, the Sounders will have to dig deep on the road
again, this time in Costa Rica.
Toronto FC finally put it all together against the Columbus Crew.
TFC put an end to its Trillium Cup nightmare by posting a 4-2 victory over the Crew for its
first win in the rivalry series in 13 matches (1-5-7) and a performance worthy of SBI's MLS Team of
the Week honors.
By DAVE GUBALA
Toronto FC defeated the Columbus Crew for the very first time in franchise history in a six-goal
thriller and were able to lift the Trillum Cup on Saturday night at Crew Stadium.
It was a back and forth game from the very start.
Tommy Heinemann reduced Toronto's lead to one in the 67th minute but the Crew were unable to
respond as Julian de Guzman netted a third goal in the 87th minute.
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 THOMAS FLOYD
When Freddy Adu, fresh off a breakthrough performance in the Gold Cup, signed with the
Philadelphia Union last month, the 22-year-old playmaker was seen as the key missing cog for a
team with lofty playoff aspirations.
But for a player whose club playing time in Europe has been sporadic at best over the past few
years, gaining the fitness to contribute on a consistent basis has been a challenge early in his
second MLS stint.
