Já no ocaso da sua extensa carreira, Peter Vagenas (ao centro na foto) não conseguiu evitar que
os canadianos do Vancouver Whitecaps fossem o "lanterna vermelha" da Major League Soccer dos
Estados Unidos. Aos 33 anos, e após quase uma década nos LA Galaxy e duas temporadas nos Seattle
Sounders, o veterano médio começa a pensar em pendurar as botas.
Já no ocaso da sua extensa carreira, Peter Vagenas (ao centro na foto) não conseguiu evitar que
os canadianos do Vancouver Whitecaps fossem o "lanterna vermelha" da Major League Soccer dos
Estados Unidos. Aos 33 anos, e após quase uma década nos LA Galaxy e duas temporadas nos Seattle
Sounders, o veterano médio começa a pensar em pendurar as botas.
Any day when the Captain of the Seattle Sounders can raise a cup is a good day. When Kasey
Keller can raise a Supporters Cup on the grounds of the opposition it seems even sweeter. That he
was handed it by a member of the Emerald City Supporters after it was handed over from the Timbers
Army increases in power.
Vancouver's Strategy Still trying to figure out how to best use his new signing, Tom Soehn
made a formation adjustment from the San Jose match. Peter Vagenas was left on the bench and Davide
Chiumiento started in the center. The switch resulted in a diamond 4-4-2 look, with Chiumiento in
front of the holding midfielder Koffie.
Toronto's StrategyUnder fire manager Aron Winter set out his Toronto team in a 4-3-3. Martina was used as a central
striker, a position he is not accustomed to. Joao Plata and Nick Soolsma were the left and right
wingers respectively. Plata was supported well on the left by left back Danleigh Borman and was the
most dangerous Toronto player on the pitch.
I noticed a couple of errors yesterday relating to the LA Galaxy's games in the 2000 CONCACAF
Champions Cup (played in January 2001, but still called the 2000 edition). They've been fixed, and
the corrected version can be downloaded here (stats through 2010).
Brian Kelly & Zak Ibsen were each listed with two sub appearances.
Sigi Schmid didn't reveal much in his weekly conference call with reporters on Wednesday, but it
does sound like this team is really rounding into shape. By the time the Seattle Sounders leave for
Florida next week, the list of players still competing for roster spots will be anywhere from one
to five names shorter.
By AVI CREDITOR
The Colorado Rapids enter the 2011 preseason with an unfamiliar distinction: Defending MLS Cup
chamions.
Not much has changed in terms of the team's make-up. Captain Pablo Mastroeni is back in the fold
after climbing the champion's mountain for the first time in his career; the lethal strike tandem
of Conor Casey and Omar Cummings is still in tact, which may have been an uncertainty had Cummings
gotten the chance to impress on trial at Aston Villa; and the defensive unit, which had a number of
unknown commodities in 2010, has a successful season under its belt as it enters another campaign
together.
By JOSE M. ROMERO
PHOENIX -- The Sounders are one of the teams that trained at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande,
Ariz., last offseason. They're repeat customers in 2011, hoping the preseason will be the
springboard to a third playoff berth in three seasons of existence.
Seattle Sounders Central Midfielders Ratings based on 2010 performance
View full size photo »
Our discussion of soccer tools goes right to the Center now.