Major League Soccer is growing and improving but outsiders often criticise the league for having a lack of quality. It is a relatively fast football played in the US, with plenty of big, athletic players of the kind which is becoming so important in so many footballing countries across the world.

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Este gol del salvadoreño Arturo Álvarez, jugador del San Jose Earthquakes, puede valerle un premio. Se lo hizo el 3 de julio al Real Saltk Lake y está nominado como uno de los mejores del año. En total son 32 goles, uno por cada semana. El de Arturo corresponde a la semana 11.Otros nominados son Claudio "Piojo" López (Kansas City), Freddy Montero (Seattle), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy) y Jeff Click to continue reading...

There is nothing like diving. An art hated by many, appreciated by some, it's a part of football whether we like it or not. So until it's eradicated from the game, I am providing fans a new wave of classifying a dive. A fool proof system to help you identify the severity of the transgression committed when our favorite footballers decide to cheat. Click to continue reading...

I finally got to this. There shouldn't be any surprises, but the depth chart is obviously switched right now. Forward: Montero, Ljungberg, Jaqua, Levesque, Le Toux Left Wing: Zakuani, Ljungberg, Levesque, Le Toux Right Wing: Jaqua, Ljungberg, Levesque, Le Toux Center Mid: Evans, Vagenas, Alonso Defensive Mid: Alonso, Vagenas, Ianni Left Wingback: Gonzalez, Scott, Wahl Right Wingback: Riley, Evans, Ianni Centerbacks: Hurtado, [. Click to continue reading...

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Fredy Montero hopes for better success in front of goal in Houston

The Seattle Sounders and Houston Dynamo played a highly contentious match on Thursday evening to a 0-0 draw. A capacity crowd of 35,807 at Quest field in Seattle saw a match that contained 6 yellow cards (3 for each side) and countless missed opportunities on both sides.

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So OK, let's get this one out of the way up front:
Does Onstad throw his shoulder at Montero? Obviously yes.
Does Montero drop to the ground like he just took a .50 cal round to the head? Obviously yes.
Does Onstand then do the "I'm checking to see if my face is bleeding" act like he's Chuck Wepner or something? Click to continue reading...

photo courtesy Joshua Trujillo/seattlepi.com

What was Pat Onstad thinking? How could he lose his cool so suddenly in the most important game in the Dynamo's season? A dangerous cross came through the penalty area, just out of his reach, and continued over the byline. Sure, replays show Fredy Montero obstructing the goalkeeper, but not in any way dangerously.

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Houston and Seattle played a classic match last night on national television. The unsporting Freddy Montero was unable to hand the physical pounding Dom Kinnear and the Houston defenders had in store for the much hyped, but little regarded (at least in Colombia) forward. Montero's solution: whine and go to ground easily.

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So let's start the discussion. Here are some of my initial thoughts from tonight:
1. The Onstad Bump: After the game, Alexi Lalas showed the smarts that made him the GM he was when he said that Onstad should have gotten a red card for that contact. "99 times out of 100, that's a straight red," ranted his Gingerness. Click to continue reading...

The Major League Soccer playoffs began on Thursday, October 29, 2009 with the Seattle Sounders FC hosting the Houston Dynamo. It was a sold-out and very loud crowd of 36,000 at Qwest Field in Seattle for the match. Here's a full recap of the match along with video highlights.

Seattle Sounders FC draw with the Houston Dynamo 0-0 Video Highlights (will be added later)

1st Half

Houston had the first great chance of the match as Stuart Holden sent a corner into the box and Andrew Hainault headed the ball just wide of goal.

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Seattle Sounders midfielder Freddy Llungberg is Major League Soccer's Player of the Month for October. He had four assists as the expansion Sounders qualified for the MLS playoffs. Llungberg was the Player of the Week for Week 31. 2009 MLS Player of the Month Awards March: Fredy Montero – Seattle Sounders FC April: Brian McBride – Chicago Fire May: Conor Casey – Colorado Rapids June: Guillermo Barros Schelotto – Columbus Crew July: Landon Donovan –. Click to continue reading...

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

With apologies to the LA SuperClasico series, there is perhaps no MLS playoff series this year more intriguing and more tough to call than the Houston Dynamo-Seattle Sounders series.

The two-time MLS Cup champion Dynamo take on the expansion Sounders in a young rivalry that showed plenty of promise during the season.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

With apologies to the LA SuperClasico series, there is perhaps no MLS playoff series this year more intriguing and more tough to call than the Houston Dynamo-Seattle Sounders series.

The two-time MLS Cup champion Dynamo take on the expansion Sounders in a young rivalry that showed plenty of promise during the season.

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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.

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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.

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Fredy Montero leads the charge for the expansion Sounders. (Getty Images)

The playoffs are finally here and tonight they kickoff with a bang up in the Pacific Northwest as the Houston Dynamo travel to Qwest Field to face the Seattle Sounders FC in a big first leg western conference semi-final series.

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After a second half of the season that was a tad weird to say the least, Dynamo get a chance to put on their Tri-umph faces and Lay It on the Line for that third title.
I think this video above truly expresses my feeling about Seattle tonight. And while the truth is I have never once flipped the toggle on an XBox, or done a 360 on top of one, I know for a fact that an Orange Ring of Death exists on those consoles, and that's what I am expecting to see over these two legs, starting tonight. Click to continue reading...

Real salt Lake forward Robbie Findley won Major League Soccer's Player of the Week award for week 32, the final week of the 2009 regular season. Findley had two of Salt Lake's three goals in their 3-0 win over Colorado. That result put RSL into the playoffs. 2009 MLS Player of the Week Winners WEEK 1: Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders FC) WEEK 2: Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC) WEEK 3: Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids) WEEK. Click to continue reading...

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

Now that the 2009 MLS regular season is over, it is time to start thinking about the end-of-year league awards.

Last week, SBI had readers vote on all the major awards, and while there weren't any shocking choices, there was some interesting voting breakdowns.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

Now that the 2009 MLS regular season is over, it is time to start thinking about the end-of-year league awards.

Last week, SBI had readers vote on all the major awards, and while there weren't any shocking choices, there was some interesting voting breakdowns.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

� Choosing the best players in MLS is never an easy task, but choosing the 2009 MLS Best XI is extremely tough when you consider the plethora of candidates at the forward position. Click to continue reading...

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

� Choosing the best players in MLS is never an easy task, but choosing the 2009 MLS Best XI is extremely tough when you consider the plethora of candidates at the forward position. Click to continue reading...

Photo by ISIphotos.com
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The 2009 race for MVP may be one of the better ones in league history, with a handful of legitimate candidates garnering consideration for the honors.

Los Angeles star Landon Donovan, FC Dallas goal-scoring ace Jeff Cunningham, Seattle standout Fredy Montero, Colorado striker Conor Casey, New England midfield maestro Shalrie Joseph� and reigning MLS MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto are all in the mix.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com
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The 2009 race for MVP may be one of the better ones in league history, with a handful of legitimate candidates garnering consideration for the honors.

Los Angeles star Landon Donovan, FC Dallas goal-scoring ace Jeff Cunningham, Seattle standout Fredy Montero, Colorado striker Conor Casey, New England midfield maestro Shalrie Joseph� and reigning MLS MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto are all in the mix.

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Jogaram em Washington DC, no Estádio RFK Stadium, para um público de 26.243 pessoas, as seleções dos Estados Unidos (11º no ranking da FIFA) e Costa Rica (43º no ranking da FIFA).
Antes desse jogo, as 2 seleções jogaram:
Eliminatórias da Copa do Mundo: 16 jogos, 8 vitórias de Costa Rica, 3 empates, 5 vitórias dos Estados Unidos, 21 gols da Costa Rica, 16 gols dos Estados Unidos. Click to continue reading...

The 2009 version of this award could be contended between just players from Seattle. The league's newest club also boasts some (if not all) of the best newcomers MLS has seen this season. From Fredy Montero, Freddie Ljungberg, Kasey Keller, to Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, there's plenty to choose from when selecting the award.

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It took a lot longer than I think many people expected it to, but the Wizards are now officially eliminated from the playoff race. The Wizards were eliminated before they even took the field against Seattle after Toronto's win over Salt Lake yesterday. Still it wouldn't have mattered, as the Wizards blew another lead and once again lost at home, this time to Seattle, 3-2 last night. Click to continue reading...

The Wizards are back home to close out the MLS season with 2 home games against Seattle and DC. They start tomorrow against Seattle. While they are extremely slim, the Wizards are still barely in the playoff picture. By the time they take the field, though, KC could be eliminated if either Toronto or Salt Lake win. Click to continue reading...

The U.S. men's national team is set to close out its World Cup qualifying campaign tonight against Costa Rica (8pm, ESPN2/Galavision). The Americans have already qualified, but Costa Rica needs a win tonight to ensure a berth in the 2010 World Cup.

Tonight's match is being played under a bit of a somber cloud as the U.

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Eric Brunner trade turned into a solid deal for Columbus. (Getty Images)

Since we are nearly done with the 2009 regular season I figured it was high time we started looking back at the best deals that were made that shaped this season into what it has become. I say going into every year that there will pretty much be a trade that shakes up things a bit when it happens and really helps push a club towards the playoffs instead of an early start to winter.

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While the day seems to be lost on everyone's Twitter feeds being down, I figured it was a good time to get back in the award discussion once again here. Instead of waiting for putting this in the evening links and thoughts I figured I would break this discussion off into it's own post for the day.

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Jeff Cunningham is on fire like few others have ever been in MLS. After a slow start to the 2009 season, the 33-year-old striker has taken off ever since the departure of Kenny Cooper to 1860 Munich. Since Cooper left, Cunningham has scored 16 goals in 13 games, including last night's game winning goal against San Jose.

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Jeff Cunningham is on fire like few others have ever been in MLS. After a slow start to the 2009 season, the 33-year-old striker has taken off ever since the departure of Kenny Cooper to 1860 Munich. Since Cooper left, Cunningham has scored 16 goals in 13 games, including last night's game winning goal against San Jose.

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A new look at Bayern Munich and Oktoberfest.
Kickette also has the pictures of booze and cleavage too.
If you're into that.
Now the links:

• Lotsa great high-quality goals. [101 Great Goals]
  
• Wicks suspended for Montero stomp. [Goff]
  
• USMNT ain't likely to get a W.

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Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan was named Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 29. Donovan got the only goal in the Galaxy's 1-0 win over Chicago to clinch a spot in the MLS playoffs. 2009 MLS Player of the Week Winners WEEK 1: Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders FC) WEEK 2: Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC) WEEK 3: Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids) WEEK 4: Donovan Ricketts (Los Angeles Galaxy) WEEK 5: Josh. Click to continue reading...