The Lineup for the Ecuador&Colombia Friendlies

Goalkeepers:- Guillermo Ochoa (America), Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul)

Defenders:- Carlos Salcido (PSV Eindhoven Fulham), Francisco Rodriguez (PSV Eindhoven), Hector Moreno (Az Alkmaar), Edgar Duenas (Toluca), Jorge Torres (Tigres), Leobardo Lopez (Pachuca)

Midfielders:- Andres Guardado (La Coruna), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Rafael Marquez (NY Red Bulls), Antonio Rios (Toluca), Pablo Barrera (West Ham), Efrain Juarez (Celtic)

Forwards:- Carlos Vela (Arsenal), Elias Hernandez (Morelia), Enrique Esqueda (America), Javier Orozco (Cruz Azul), Javier Hernandez (Manchester United), Giovani Dos Santos (Tottenham).

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One thing that never ceases to amaze me is how players often hate on their former clubs soon after transferring. It is a trend i see with most players. They normally go on and on about how switching clubs is the best thing that ever happened to their careers and that they are ready for a fresh start when in reality, we know its all a load of rubbish!

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Editor's Note: MFUSA is happy to present the first edition of a weekly column from Center Line Soccer's Robert Jonas.
by Robert Jonas
As MLS stocked up on a new batch of Designated Players in the summer signing window, it was clear that these big-money earners fell into three categories. Click to continue reading...

Posted by Tim Patterson

Ching has a nice bicycle kick, but I think Rafa Marquez has my vote. What do you think?

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AC Milan have confirmed that they are in negotiations with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and there are also rumours suggesting the club is pursuing an interest in Robinho. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, formerly of Internazionale Milan, is available for a fee purported to be £25 million. Considering he cost, effectively, more than double that just twelve months ago indicates just what type of a good deal AC Milan believe they would be getting.

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David Beckham has yet to play a single minute this MLS season, but the former Manchester United midfielder is still the highest paid player in the American league this season.

Sir Goldenballs topped the annual list with an estimated total contract worth of $6.5 million and the LA Galaxy man hopes to return to the pitch soon enough for a postseason MLS Cup run following that painful knee injury the Englishman suffered on a non-contact play last Serie A season while on loan with AC Milan.

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Paul Kennedy of Soccer America writes of the attendance rise in Major League Soccer.
With two months left in the 2010 Major League Soccer season, average attendance is 16,350 fans a game, up 2 percent over last year's average -- and even higher in pure terms.
MLS is on course to finish with its fourth highest average attendance in the league's 15-year history. Click to continue reading...

Without any question, Barcelona are certainly going to be the team to beat against in La Liga this season, which begins this coming weekend. The men wearing the new Barcelona away shirt were able to fend off the challenge of Real Madrid last season, with their big money signings Ronaldo and Kaka and clinched the La Liga title.

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GK Jon Busch (San Jose Earthquakes) Simply put, Busch was phenomenal on Saturday afternoon. The 34 year-old striker made a series of sensational stops that clearly left the Galaxy's Landon Donovan a bit frustrated after 90 minutes of play. Any keeper who shuts down the league's first-place team like Busch did, in our book has definitely earned the spot for GK of the week.

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Posted by Tim Patterson

What do you think of Marquez's goal? Think this will be the first of many?

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Oh boy, this was not Toronto FC's day. The home unbeaten streak is finally over, with a devastating 4-1 loss to New York. I'm not going to dwell on this too much, because it was clearly a poor performance for TFC and no one really needs to analyze it to death.

Toronto looked pretty good for the first half hour or so, but couldn't bury any of their chances.

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Rafa marco el primer gol en la victoria del New York Red Bulls contra Toronto Fc como visitantes, el partido que terminaría cuatro goles a uno fue testigo del golazo del defensa mexicano quien tomo de bote pronto un balón fuera del área y lo mando guardar al fondo de las redes dejando sin oportunidad [. Click to continue reading...

"This is The Ex but you ain't no BMO Field"

TORONTO FC (9th) VS. NEW YORK (5th)
　
BMO Field - Saturday 1PM ET
TV: CBC RADIO: THE FAN 590
　
"Come for the deep-fried butter - stay for the footy!" Yes, it's late August and that means TFC and BMO Field must share space with the annual Canadian National Exhibition.

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Thierry Henry and Mexican captain Rafael Marquez made the biggest news last month by joining Major League Soccer but England's David Beckham remains the US league's highest-paid player. Click to continue reading...

The panel reached an optimistic, consensus point of view on the state of soccer in the U.S. and its potential for growth. The increasing Hispanic demographic, the US National Team's performance at the 2010 World Cup, and ESPN's strong media commitment in the sport were all cited as indicators that the sport is here to stay. Click to continue reading...

Chivas USA's Rodolfo Espinoza is making $218,500, forward Gianacarlo Maldonado $204,000 and Sal Zizzo $68,250, incidentally:

NEW YORK (AP) -- Thierry Henry and Rafael Marquez trail only David Beckham on Major League Soccer's salary list.

Henry and Marquez, who joined the New York Red Bulls from Barcelona following the World Cup, are the league's second- and third-highest paid players, according to the latest MLS Players Union salary list.

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Hordes of new signings around the football world will be straining every sinew to prove their fitness and earn a coveted first-team place for the new season. But how will their WAGs fare in our fitness test?!

Player: David James

Transfer: Portsmouth to Bristol Ciy (free)
WAG: Amanda Salmon

Fitness: Past peak fitness and needs major work to compete, even in the Championship.

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A number of MLS teams have recently used the designated player rule to bring in a number of talented players to the league. Adding these talents can only be good for developing young American players. Thierry Henry, Geovanni, Rafael Marquez, and others are all great competitors who can really challenge young American players.

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A number of MLS teams have recently used the designated player rule to bring in a number of talented players to the league. Adding these talents can only be good for developing young American players. Thierry Henry, Geovanni, Rafael Marquez, and others are all great competitors who can really challenge young American players.

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In front of a sold-out Red Bull Arena, the two best teams in Major League soccer met Saturday night with the LA Galaxy beating the New York Red Bulls 1-0 behind Edson Buddle's 13th goal of the season.

With LA manager Bruce Arena watching from a suite after spending two days in a New Jersey hospital, Buddle's 10th minute strike allowed the Galaxy to extend their lead in the Western Conference to an MLS-best 43 points.

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When I arrived at soccer practice to find my coach, a Columbian, wearing a light blue Tampa Bay Mutiny jersey, I was surprised. Here was a man who couldn't care less about MLS, especially one of its teams which no longer exists. Yet, it all made sense after he gave me this explanation.

"They had that Columbian dude"
(The Columbian dude in question is, of course, Carlos Valderamma) Living in the New York area and seeing the tens of thousands of spectators at international friendlies between Latinamerican teams is a constant reminder of the fanbase MLS is missing out on.

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Landon Donovan gets the ball past fallen New York Red Bull Rafael Marquez (AP Photo).

Game story.

The Galaxy just does enough to win on the road. Nothing spectacular. But it's against DP-heavy New York, in front of a sellout crowd, a statement in itself.

Notable: Edson Buddle scored his MLS-best 13th goal of the season in the 10th minute and his fourth in six games since his World Cup return.

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Even with a limited Thierry Henry and an absent Rafael Marquez the Red Bulls find a way to win via another international player Joel Lindpere. The New York faithful are sure to be happy that Lindpere declined a Euro 2012 qualifier callup with Estonia to suit up for this MLS match.

TP

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Even with a limited Thierry Henry and an absent Rafael Marquez the Red Bulls find a way to win via another international player Joel Lindpere. The New York faithful are sure to be happy that Lindpere declined a Euro 2012 qualifier callup with Estonia to suit up for this MLS match.

TP

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By AVI CREDITOR

Mexico had defending World Cup champion Spain on the ropes at a packed Estadio Azteca, but David Silva registered a second-half, stoppage-time equalizer to salvage a 1-1 draw in the highlight of Wednesday's international friendly action.

Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez opened the scoring in the 12th minute, continuing his torrid run of form as his initial season with Manchester United approaches.

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By AVI CREDITOR

Mexico had defending World Cup champion Spain on the ropes at a packed Estadio Azteca, but David Silva registered a second-half, stoppage-time equalizer to salvage a 1-1 draw in the highlight of Wednesday's international friendly action.

Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez opened the scoring in the 12th minute, continuing his torrid run of form as his initial season with Manchester United approaches.

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Tonight was the second match of three within a week for the Red Bulls as they haven't seen a league win in the last five. A strong Toronto FC side was coming to Red Bull Arena and looking to steal three points on the road, as a draw wouldn't be enough to take over second place. But after a sloppy start from both sides, the action got interesting.

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The World Cup winners drew a packed house to the Azteca (AP Photo).

The World Cup winners needed a last ditch effort to attain the draw, however:

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- David Silva scored two minutes into second-half stoppage time, giving Spain a 1-1 exhibition tie against Mexico on Wednesday in the first match for La Furia Roja since winning the World Cup.

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Thierry Henry will be making his home MLS debut tonight as the New York Red Bulls take on Toronto FC in a key Eastern Conference clash at Red Bull Arena.

The Red Bulls currently sit two points ahead of Toronto in the East standings and can open up that gap with a win tonight. TFC will look to leap-frog the Red Bulls into second place in the East with a victory.

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Union

Here's a preview of tonight's match against Real Salt Lake. If you don't have tickets you can watch the game on Live Well HD Network and MyNetwork TV WQMY at 7:30pm.

Because of Brad Knighton's suspension following his red card in Sunday's game, Danny Cepero, currently of Harrisburg City Islanders and formerly of the New York Energy Drinks, will be on the Union bench should anything happen to Chris Seitz.

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Union

Here's a preview of tonight's match against Real Salt Lake. If you don't have tickets you can watch the game on Live Well HD Network and MyNetwork TV WQMY at 7:30pm.

Because of Brad Knighton's suspension following his red card in Sunday's game, Danny Cepero, currently of Harrisburg City Islanders and formerly of the New York Energy Drinks, will be on the Union bench should anything happen to Chris Seitz.

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"The Champagne of Football Clubs"

NEW YORK (5th) VS. TORONTO FC (8th)
　
Red Bull Arena - Wednesday 7:30PM
TV: GOL TV
　
The last time Toronto FC played in New York (or New Jersey to be exact) they were fighting for their playoff lives against one of the worst teams in MLS history.

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This match was supposed to be about the four to five Designated Players that was going to perform on the field at Toyota Park on Sunday Night. The big names of world football coming together and strutting their stuff all match long as the spotlights were shinning bright. But while this was a fantastic scoreless draw to watch, I have to say the brightest star was the Chicago Fire's newest keeper Sean Johnson who made brilliant save after brilliant save all night long.

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The Chicago Fire (5-5-6) and New York Red Bulls (8-6-4) played to a 0-0 draw on Thursday in the first MLS game to feature five designated players.
Mexican star Rafael Marquez started in his MLS debut along with fellow New York DP's Thierry Henry and Juan Pablo Angel and the Fire's Freddie Ljungberg, but neither team made a mark on the scoresheet in front of 21,868 fans, the biggest crowd ever at Toyota Park. Click to continue reading...

It was the MLS game every Arsenal fan tuned in to watch. Freddie Ljungberg and Thierry Henry were on the same pitch once again. It also marked the debuts of Rafael Marquez and Nery Castillo as well as the first time 5 designated players played in the same match. Despite the hype of some of the world's best players on the pitch, the game ended in a scoreless draw. Click to continue reading...

The New York Red Bulls have traveled to the Midwest this weekend to take on the Chicago Fire in the rekindling of a rivalry that has been rather one-sided in recent years.

Tonight's match has special significance because it could be the first match to feature five Designated Players.

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The New York Red Bulls have traveled to the Midwest this weekend to take on the Chicago Fire in the rekindling of a rivalry that has been rather one-sided in recent years.

Tonight's match has special significance because it could be the first match to feature five Designated Players.

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Despite being a little thin at the striker position, the LA Galaxy dealt Alan Gordon to Chivas USA, which may seem a little odd... for the moment.

We now know that Galaxy coach Bruce Arena made the move in order to clear some cap space on the roster for a new potential signing.

"We want to be prepared if we're going to make any additional moves this year to be able to do it," Arena said yesterday.

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BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- One year ago, the New York Red Bulls were the laughingstock of MLS, and Sunday's matchup would have been a dud on the Chicago Fire's calendar. But things have changed dramatically since then.
A combined five designated players could take the pitch and Toyota Park possibly will have a sellout crowd on hand when the Fire host New York in a match jam-packed with anticipation (8 p. Click to continue reading...

Rafa Marquez attended his first Red Bulls training session yesterday, one day after being presented to the media here. It appears that Marquez will make his RBNY debut this coming Sunday @Chicago. And even though Rafa fills the third, and last, DP spot, it appears that the club is not done shopping and could add up to two more players before the transfer window closes later this month. Click to continue reading...