Shockingly, the USL has just as many teams in the group stages of the CONCACAF Champions League as Major League Soccer. Montreal did their business with a 0-0 draw away after winning 1-0 in the home leg. Puerto Rico definitely took the hard road, but made it work. After last week's thrilling match in Costa Rica, they gave up an early goal at home. Click to continue reading...

An impressive crowd of 19,240 at Gillette Stadium witnessed the New England Revolution take an early lead only to suffer a key ejection, a gaffe by their goalkeeper and a late goal to fall to the Chicago Fire, 2-1, for the third time this season.

Taylor Twellman made his return to the starting line-up and put his name on the score sheet three minutes after kickoff, but a late ejection to Shalrie Joseph, followed by a blunder by Matt Reis and another goal on a questionable play five minutes later allowed the Fire to escape with a 2-1 victory.

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I've been watching from the start, but had some connection problems.
4 - DeRo from distance, off the post.
6 - Announcers discuss Igwe, correctly asses that Jay Heaps was unjustly suspended from the final in the Atlante scrum.
8 - Joseph with a scorcher from distance. High.
10 - This game has had a ton of intensity from the start. Click to continue reading...

This week's show is now up as a podcast. You can listen to the show from here, via the On Demand player, or you can subscribe to the show via iTunes.

This week's show was recorded on Monday July 14th, and there was plenty to discuss.

* Superliga was a matchday in the book, I give my thoughts on all four opening games.

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Chase Hilgenbrinck's decision to leave MLS for the seminary and eventual priesthood was surprising but not sudden. The former Revolution defender tells the story ...

Why?
Because I feel called. I've actually had my calling. I've been discerning this decision for several years now.

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The first XI for the 2008 MLS All Star game was announced. This isn't necessairly the starting lineup - coach Nicol will decide who starts. These are just the first 11 guys named to the team. If it were the starting lineup it would look something like this:

Donovan - Cooper

Rogers

Kljestan - Blanco - Joseph - Beckham

Parkhurst - Conrad - Hejduk

Reis

What other players do you think will be added to the team?

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The pressers run on a routine - a coach usually gives thoughts on the game, but the Revs just threw it open for questions and the reporters were caught off-guard. Nicol said, "Well, if there are no questions. . ." Then he got up. So I asked him something, quick.

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1. New England Revolution - Nicol and Co. rise above the parity of MLS.
2. Columbus Crew - Ekpo adds another weapon to the Crew's arsenal
3. DC United - Unstoppable in June
4. Toronto FC - Still need to show something on the road.
5. New York Red Bulls - Grading on grit instead of style, this team is up there. Click to continue reading...

Alpha Dog 1. New England Revolution (WWDWW) The Revs dare to mess with Texas and come up trumps, their victory in Houston combining with Chicago's loss in Dallas to make them the unquestioned Alpha Dogs of MLS. Riding Matt Reis' heroics and Nicol's uncanny knack for polishing unknown turds to reveal previously unsuspected diamonds, the Revs aren't winning games in a dominating fashion, they're Click to continue reading...

Maybe it was a little too much of the out-of-sight-out-of-mind theory as to why MLS All-Star coach Steve Nicol snubbed his own star forward for next week's All-Star game against Scottish champs Celtic FC. The league and Nicol announced the remaining of the All-Stars today and overall I have to say I am a bit shocked [...] Click to continue reading...