Small rosters. Brutal scheduling. Multiple tournaments. Player injuries. Any other excuses for New England's and Chivas USA's early exit from the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League?

The undermanned Revolution was on the wrong side of a 4-0 pasting by Trinidad's Joe Public last night at Gillette stadium, to drop the two-legged match by a 6-1 aggregate. Click to continue reading...

Clips of Hamed Diallo's hattrick against the Seattle Sounders
First goal
Second goal
Third goal
These and other video clips courtesy of USL Live / PlayOn! Sports are also available through iTunes via the RailHawks Underground podcast. Click to continue reading...

I think I would really love the chance to "kick it" with Allen Hopkins. He seems like an amiable & educated fellow like myself. I'd like to imagine that he and I could sit around a table over high-ball drinks and discuss the intricacies of MLS transfer guidelines, how Robin "Sweet Dick Willy" Harris died before his time, why Jeff Cunningham should have never left Ohio and our favorite social movements of the 60's & 70's. Click to continue reading...

The long-running rumor of the Seattle Sounders signing former U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller finally came true this week. Keller became the second signing, behind forward Sebastien LeToux, who plays for the Seattle Sounders in the USL First Division, that the expansion team has locked up for its inaugural Major League Soccer season in 2009. Click to continue reading...

It can be strongly argued as it will be here that the greatest player in American footballing history is finally coming home. Kasey Keller signed with the Seattle Sounders FC yesterday and while the club continues in USL-1 this season, Keller will play for the club next year in MLS. Keller was a trailblazer for American [. Click to continue reading...

Both former US National team players Kasey Keller and Clint Mathis are leaving their European clubs in order to head to the United States to play in Major League Soccer.

Kasey Keller began his career with the Portland Timbers 19 years ago. Since then he has spent some time with 7 different European clubs.

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D.C. United will be representing Major League Soccer in this year's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final, earning the honor after dispatching a less-than-full-strength New England Revolution squad on Tuesday night by a score of 3-1. A pair of goals from reigning MVP Luciano Emilio sandwiched Santino Quaranta's game-winner, while Joe Germanese tallied the lone goal for New England. Click to continue reading...

Is Michael Orozco the new Jeff Agoos?

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Kasey Keller has signed with Seattle Sounders FC for next spring. See MLS Expansion section for details.

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New England showed that the US Open Cup is DEFINITELY NOT a priority for them this season as they rested nearly all of their regulars in DC last night (only Shalrie Joseph & Adam Cristman played) and got whooped for it. Click to continue reading...

Like there was really any doubt that this move would happen. Former US National team keeper Kasey Keller has signed on to play in Major League Soccer next year with expansion side Seattle Sounders FC, sources say. We mentioned a press conference that is set for tomorrow earlier in the week, and now we know [. Click to continue reading...

Charleston Battery! In the US Open Cup final!

It's true. A USL-1 side will play in the USOC final, just the second time since 1996 that a non-MLS team has reached the final.

Charleston will play DC United, who beat New England 3-1, in the USOC final.

The Battery beat Seattle Sounders, who for the second consecutive year got bounced in the semifinals. Click to continue reading...

United wins 3-1 and is on to the U.S. Open Cup final where they'll play.... well, we don't know that yet. The other semifinal between the Seattle Sounders and Charleston Battery is currently in overtime following a 1-1 finish after 90 minutes. Should Charleston win, United will host the Battery at RFK Stadium, while a Seattle victory would mean a trip to the Pacific Northwest for the Black-and-Red.

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Almost forgot to put this up for those who care about the oldest soccer tournament in the US. But there is some US Open Cup semifinal action tonight! DC United plays host to New England first at 7:30pm ET at RFK Stadium and will only be broadcast via two radio streams (available at www.USOpenCup.com). Click to continue reading...

Here's something we missed yesterday. MLS expansion club (of next year) Seattle Sounders FC have invited everyone out to Qwest Field for "a special player announcement" at 2 p.m. Thursday at Qwest Field. The invitation goes on to call it a "historic event as the Sounders FC adds another to their 2009 roster. Click to continue reading...

The Seattle Sounders organization has sent out e-mails to their season ticket holders informing them that the second Sounders player for the 2009 season will be revealed on Thursday, August 14th, in a press conference at Qwest Field.

"You're invited to join Seattle Sounders FC in a special player announcement on Thursday, August 14th at Qwest Field. Click to continue reading...

We put two and two together again and hopefully as in our Alexi Lalas and Ruud Gullit rumor, this pans out as well.

Two weeks ago we received the following short email:

"Hello Rumors,
I have it on good authority that Kasey Keller has signed with MLS. No idea where he will go but probably Seattle. Click to continue reading...

It's that time of the year again, time for the US Open Cup Semi-finals. DC United (37) take on defending Open Cup champion New England Revolution (21), while the Seattle Sounders of USL-1 visits another USL-1 side, the Charleston Battery. It is guaranteed that the final will pit an MLS team against a USL team.

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After a disappointing loss Sunday night in New Jersey, the guys are looking forward to tonight's important match with the New England Revolution. Tonight's game at RFK Stadium kicks off at 7:30 p.m. (ET) and it is not being televised - so get yourself to the stadium! If you absolutely can't make it, it will be available on the radio in both English (1050 AM) and Spanish (1540 AM) and streaming live on dcunited.

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Yes. Its gonna be a good one too. Go to www.USOpenCup.com for all there is to know about it.

The DC United vs New England Game kicks off first at 7:30pm ET at RFK Stadium and will only be broadcast via two radio streams (available at the above site.

The Seattle Sounders vs Charleston Battery game also kicks off at 7:30pm and will be shown on USLLive. Click to continue reading...

Do you realize it's less than 2 weeks until the USA playing their next World Cup Qualifier in Guatemala City - Wed Aug 20! Where will you be watching. Me? At the Sweetwater of course.

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From the Oregonian: "The funeral procession marking the end of the Portland Timbers-Seattle Sounders rivalry started early Thursday evening. Click to continue reading...

It sure appears to be the case. I just got word about the possible championship scenarios for the 2008 US Open Cup today. Under three of four possible scenarios, either Seattle or Charleston from the USL-1 will host the title game next month. The only MLS side that could host is DC, that is if D.C. [. Click to continue reading...

From US Soccer:

CHICAGO (Aug. 7, 2008) – The possible sites and venues for the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final have been announced as four teams prepare for the semifinal matches that will take place Tuesday, Aug. 12. Once again, the U.S. Open Cup final will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel.

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In my ongoing, and possibly ill-fated quest to personally affect the viewership of this week's final USL showdown between Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders on FSC this Thursday I'd like to big up the PDX players from Above The Clouds. They do Hypebeast-caliber custom designs for sneakers and trainers that are just about flawless. Click to continue reading...

This report comes a freelancer to ESPN, who talked to Atlanta Silverbacks coach Jason Smith.

Funny how the two success stories referenced making the USL to MLS switch are ex-Sounders: Brian Ching and Maykel Galindo.

Sebastian Le Toux, striker, Seattle (Wash.

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Good afternoon to the folks on the West side of the country (and the MLS standings). Here are some news items and notes for you to peruse as your day winds to a close:

FC Dallas signs Sikora

FC Dallas said goodbye to Colombian midfielder Juan Toja over the weekend, but have already replaced him.

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*Puerto Rico Islanders 1 : 2 Seattle Sounders * *Second Consecutive Victory... Click to continue reading...