Photo by David Bernal/ISIphotos.com

By ADAM SERRANO

CARSON, Calif. – The Colorado Rapids squeaked past Chivas USA, 1-0, in a physical preseason scrimmage between the two sides on Tuesday.

Second-half substitute Quincy Amarikwa put the Rapids ahead in the 85th minute.

Portland and Vancouver have done well in preparing for their sophomore seasons. (Getty Images)

Yesterday I took a look at the 10 clubs from the Eastern Conference in how they've done so far this winter. Naturally right after the post was put up one of those clubs went out and signed a DP.

Today, we'll look at the nine clubs from the Western Conference to see how they've been doing so far this winter.

Here's another week of former SKC Wizards updates. First, came word last week that Craig Rocastle will not be playing for the Missouri Comets. Instead he has moved to Greece where he's joined his former club, Thrasyvoulos Fylis FC, who is currently at the bottom of the second division in Greece. In other news, Ryan Smith has come out with his side of what happened when he left KC.

Here's another week of former SKC Wizards updates. First, came word last week that Craig Rocastle will not be playing for the Missouri Comets. Instead he has moved to Greece where he's joined his former club, Thrasyvoulos Fylis FC, who is currently at the bottom of the second division in Greece. In other news, Ryan Smith has come out with his side of what happened when he left KC.

Photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com

For a team coming off of a championship run, the Los Angeles Galaxy have had plenty of major moving parts over recent weeks.

Between Landon Donovan going back to Everton on a short-term loan, Juninho returning to Sao Paulo, Donovan Ricketts being dealt to the Montreal Impact, Sean Franklin re-signing and David Beckham, well, still making a decision, the Galaxy remain the talk of MLS deep into the offseason.

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.

Sporting Kansas City continued their busy start to the offseason, making another trade. This time, the team brought in left sided midfielder/back, Bobby Convey from the San Jose Earthquakes. In return, Sporting KC is sending an international roster spot to the Quakes. A bit of a surprising move for KC sending the international spot to San Jose, as KC will now go from 9 international spots to 7, the other spot KC is losing is because it's expiring from the Adam Cristman trade with DC.

Photo by David Bernal/ISIphotos.com

Sporting Kansas City's busy week continues.

After dealing Davy Arnaud to Montreal to re-acquire Seth Sinovic and re-signing goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen, Sporting KC added depth to its midfield Tuesday, acquiring Paulo Nagamura from Chivas USA in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft.

Here's your former SKC Wizards update for this week. Lots of news, including 6 new former Wizards. Jeferson, Scott Lorenz, Craig Rocastle, Seth Sinovic, Ryan Smith, and Milos Stojcev are all now classified officially as former Wizards. Also in the news is the movement of Tyson Wahl, who was traded from Seattle to Montreal for allocation money.

Sporting KC started a busy day today by announcing a trade with Chivas USA. Kansas City sent midfielder Ryan Smith to Chivas USA for 2 supplemental draft picks in the upcoming draft. Both sides can see this as a win for them. From Kansas City's perspective, they get something for nothing. Smith's time in Kansas City was over.

Sporting KC started a busy day today by announcing a trade with Chivas USA. Kansas City sent midfielder Ryan Smith to Chivas USA for 2 supplemental draft picks in the upcoming draft. Both sides can see this as a win for them. From Kansas City's perspective, they get something for nothing. Smith's time in Kansas City was over.

Already two trades have become known. Ryan Smith goes to Chivas USA for 1st and 3rd Round Supplemental draft picks. That's picks 43 and 81 overall. so we're talking no-risk, flyer types in a draft that constantly adds more picks. Also, it came out today that the Portland Timbers loan of Ryan Pore also included an international slot and a promise from the Montreal Impact that they wouldn't take a player who ended the year on Portland's active roster.

Let the offseason wheeling and dealing begin.

The day after the Galaxy won the 2011 MLS Cup, cross-hall rivals Chivas USA began reinforcing their squad for the 2012 season sending first and third round 2012 Supplemental Draft picks to Sporting Kansas City for 25-year-old English midfielder Ryan Smith.

Sporting KC kicks off their playoff campaign tomorrow night in Colorado against the Rapids in the first leg of the Eastern Conference semifinals. KC split the season series with the Rapids, drawing both games 1-1. In the game out in Colorado Conor Casey scored in the 13th minute after a poor back pass.

Last night Colorado defeated the Columbus Crew 1-0 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, advancing to face KC in the Eastern Conference semi-finals. The game will kick off at 6:30 central time Sunday out in Denver. KC split the season series with Colorado, both on the backs of 1-1 draws. Colorado's goal scorer in both games was the now injured Conor Casey.

Tomorrow the MLS Cup playoffs kick off when New York takes on FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park. The following night Colorado takes on Columbus in Denver. So the question is, which of the 3 teams (Dallas, Colorado, Columbus) do you want to see Kansas City play on Saturday and next Wednesday in the Eastern Conference Semifinals?

The MLS Players' Union released updated player salaries today. Five players have been added to the list for Kansas City while 3 players are gone from the list. One other player has seen their salary increase.
Added to KC's salary list are Daneil Cyrus, Jeferson, Joseph Peterson, Soony Saad, and Seth Sinovic.

Another update on former Wizards. Nothing big player news wise, but an interesting quote from Aberdeen's coach in response to rumors of Eddie Johnson moving to the club. Basically he said that he'd heard of the player but he hadn't scored a goal in years. Makes you want to say ouch for the former Wizard.

This week's former SKC Wizards update is here. Some other news this week, Ryan Smith has left his trial with Real Zaragoza as the parties couldn't come to an agreement for the winger. Scoot Lorenz has joined this list for the time being while on his loan with Minnesota. Speaking of loans, Ryan Pore has departed Portland on loan, heading back to the NASL to play for the Montreal Impact.

This week's former SKC Wizards update is here. Some other news this week, Ryan Smith has left his trial with Real Zaragoza as the parties couldn't come to an agreement for the winger. Scoot Lorenz has joined this list for the time being while on his loan with Minnesota. Speaking of loans, Ryan Pore has departed Portland on loan, heading back to the NASL to play for the Montreal Impact.

Joseph Peterson playing against Newcastle Just wanted to pass on some player status... Ryan Smith - No change. He needs to deal with the league if a team wants him. SKC and League on same page. No offer has come through on him as of this morning. He still is not a free agent but he is free to look. Stephane Auvray - No change, no comment.

Joseph Peterson playing against Newcastle Just wanted to pass on some player status... Ryan Smith - No change. He needs to deal with the league if a team wants him. SKC and League on same page. No offer has come through on him as of this morning. He still is not a free agent but he is free to look. Stephane Auvray - No change, no comment.

With one of my precious days off today from my job that pays the bills, I made my way to Swope for Sporting KC's practice today and the press conference with Peter Vermes and Soony Saad. The one thing that was most surprising about practice today was that it was more laid back than I thought it was.

With one of my precious days off today from my job that pays the bills, I made my way to Swope for Sporting KC's practice today and the press conference with Peter Vermes and Soony Saad. The one thing that was most surprising about practice today was that it was more laid back than I thought it was.

Last time we see Smith's name in KC? Last Saturday I heard that Ryan Smith was shopping himself around and was headed to a team in Spain. Since then there have been a few articles showing up hinting or outright stating that Smith is on a free transfer, that he is a free agent and can go anywhere he wants with no compensation to his current club (Sporting Kansas City).

Last time we see Smith's name in KC? Last Saturday I heard that Ryan Smith was shopping himself around and was headed to a team in Spain. Since then there have been a few articles showing up hinting or outright stating that Smith is on a free transfer, that he is a free agent and can go anywhere he wants with no compensation to his current club (Sporting Kansas City).

Ryan Smith is saying he's a free agent, Sporting KC is saying otherwise, but that hasn't stopped Smith from trying to find a team closer to his family in England. Word out of Spain is that Smith is headed to Real Zaragoza for a trial. The Spanish club finished only 2 points clear of the relegation zone in Spain last year, but in 13th place.

Ryan Smith is saying he's a free agent, Sporting KC is saying otherwise, but that hasn't stopped Smith from trying to find a team closer to his family in England. Word out of Spain is that Smith is headed to Real Zaragoza for a trial. The Spanish club finished only 2 points clear of the relegation zone in Spain last year, but in 13th place.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Ryan Smith has resurfaced in Spain.

The speedy left winger, who left Sporting Kansas City earlier this season for unspecified family issues, is reportedly on trial with Real Zaragoza after joining the club at the start of its preseason camp.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

By THOMAS FLOYD

Already considered one of the best atmospheres in MLS, Jeld-Wen Field seems poised to reach a whole new level Sunday afternoon.

That's when the historic Pacific Northwest derby between the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders comes to the Rose City for the first time in league history.

On the morning of June 9, Graham Zusi was riding the bench for a 1-6-3 Sporting KC squad. That night, the team opened their new stadium, Livestrong Sporting Park with a match against the Chicago Fire.

A couple of hours before the game, Zusi learned that he would be starting in place of midfielder Ryan Smith, who was bothered by a groin injury.

Photo by Bill Barrett/ISIphotos.com

As it turns out, Sporting Kansas City just needed a little home cooking to turn its season around.

It's no surprise that Sporting KC's recent turnaround has coincided with the opening of Livestrong Sporting Park. The club went 3-0-3 in June (2-0-1 at home), buoyed by a much-improved defense that conceded just twice during that stretch, to earn SBI MLS Team of the Month honors.

Sporting Kansas City is on one of the hottest runs in MLS at the moment, but will need to continue its run without one of the team's key figures.

Midfielder Davy Arnaud is set to miss up to six weeks after undergoing sports hernia surgery, Sporting KC announced on Wednesday.

A little out dated, but not too much. Last night Thad and I recorded a new episode of From the Byline to the Back Post. For those that are subscribed to it on iTunes you've probably seen it already, but for everyone else, why haven't you subscribed yet? Check it out on Posterous as well. This week Thad and I discuss Ryan Smith, Craig Rocastle, the Gold Cup, the US Open Cup, and the multitude of games that had taken place since we last recorded.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Game time: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.

TV: The Comcast Network

Philadelphia Union will host one of Major League Soccer's hottest teams tonight when Sporting Kansas City comes into town.

Kansas City (3-6-4) may sit near the bottom of the table, but they are unbeaten in their last six (including U.

Ryan Smith is done for KC for the season. He left the team and has returned to England for a family issues and will not be returning to the team this season. The specifics of the situation were not revealed, but he does have a daughter that is in the UK, so maybe that played some sort of part in it.

Ryan Smith is done for KC for the season. He left the team and has returned to England for a family issues and will not be returning to the team this season. The specifics of the situation were not revealed, but he does have a daughter that is in the UK, so maybe that played some sort of part in it.

The announcement came Tuesday that Sporting KC midfielder Ryan Smith has left the team due to family reasons.

It has been a rough year for the 24-year-old English midfielder. He appeared in only six MLS games this year after offseason knee surgery kept him out early and a groin strain has kept him on the sidelines recently.

Photo by Nick Turchiaro/ISIphotos.com

Sporting Kansas City has had to cope without speedy winger Ryan Smith for much of the 2011 season, and it turns out it will have do so for the remainder of the campaign as well.

The team announced Tuesday that Smith will miss the rest of the season, returning home to England due to unspecified "family reasons.

KC plays their second home game of the season tomorrow when they take on the San Jose Earthquakes at LiveSTRONG Sporting Park. The Quakes come into the game having not lost since April 30th to the Philadelphia Union. That's a span of 8 games in all competitions, 6 in league play, including last week's 4-2 win in DC.