MLS: Ferreira Named MVP—FC Dallas Preps for Final

FC Dallas landed in Toronto to begin preparations for Sunday’s 2010 MLS Cup Final.  The team seems to be soaring after their 3-0 throttling of LA last week en route to earning their first ever Western Conference crown, and today the team also learned of the official announcement that named David Ferreira as the 2010 MLS MVP. Dallas is a team that seems to have won over nearly every skeptic, and in reality, there is little reason for anything other than optimism going into this weekend’s final.  The team has already dispatched both of the 2009 MLS Cup finalists from this year’s playoffs.  They were able to take care of Salt Lake, who many had penciled in as this year’s favorites, and they completely dismantled the star-studded LA Galaxy. Despite having a good feeling about Dallas’s chances of winning their first MLS championship on Sunday, I have several concerns about this particular matchup. First, Dallas is playing Colorado, and the history between these two clubs is not a pretty one from Dallas’s perspective.  Most recently, Colorado booted Dallas from the 2005 and 2006 MLS Cup championship race...  Read MoreRead more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Conor Casey and Heath Pearce: Snubbed US Internationals Lead Clubs to MLS Cup

The 2010 World Cup in Africa was where every professional soccer player wanted to be this summer. Colorado Rapids’ forward Conor Casey and FC Dallas’ defender Heath Pearce had both featured prominently for the United States National Team during the four-year cycle, but both were left off the squad. Pearce was one of the final seven players cut from the squad, while Casey didn’t even make the final 30. Both players took the news hard, but they worked even harder to propel their club teams to new heights. Now, four months after the tournament ended and the Americans were ousted in the Round of 16, Casey and Pearce have led their teams to the MLS Cup.  “It was tough when it all went down at the beginning of the season and it took me a while to get back to pace,” Casey recently told the media. Pearce was not only disappointed in getting cut, but he had an issue with the way he was cut, saying in an interview with The Dallas Morning News in late-June, “… To have your hand shook and be told, at 2 o'clock in the morning, ‘We know you've been working hard, but we're releasing you,’ isn’t the easiest ...

FC Dallas: Playing For MLS Cup, What a Difference a Defense Makes

Last year, FC Dallas scored the most goals in Major League Soccer (50), yet they also gave up the most goals in the league (47). All that offensive firepower couldn’t save them as they finished a point shy of the playoffs. The team realized its awful weakness, and credit to them, they addressed the problem. In 2010, Dallas gave up 28 goals, as only two teams conceded fewer in MLS. (Los Angeles and Real Salt Lake, fittingly the two teams that finished ahead of them in the Western Conference standings). What a difference having a defense has made, as Dallas shut out the offensively-potent Galaxy en route to reaching the MLS Cup. The pieces to fixing the defense were put in place last season, as all four starters on the backline were all 2009 acquisitions. So what was different in 2010? Well, for starters, they all were actually available for the full season. Left-fullback Jair Benitez wasn’t signed until July 22 and made his debut July 24. He played and started in 13 games the rest of the season. Center-back Ugo Ihemelu was traded for on August 31 and made his debut September 5. The biggest acquisition was U.S. international Heath Pearce, who the team ...

Mr. Bilello, I Have Don Garber on Line One.

This was certainly an interesting week for MLS and US Soccer. We are gearing up for MLS Cup 2010. We saw a 17-year-old score his first goal—a game winner no less—for the US National Team against South Africa. And Don Garber delivered his “State of the League” address. I was already feeling vindicated that my 2010 Most Valuable Country award for Colombia was pushed further from reproach as David Ferreira won the 2010 Volkswagen MLS Most Valuable Player award. With Jamison Olave’s already announced MLS 2010 Visa Defender of the Year award, my pick was looking pretty solid. Little did I know that during the 2010 MLS State of the League address MLS commissioner Don Garber would offer up some tidbits to help my burgeoning soccer blogger ego by hitting key points that Soccer Soap Box has been focused on for some time. I thought Mr. Garber touched on critical areas during his address that many fans knew were necessary: an improved and re-launched Reserve League, increased roster capacity that focuses on younger players, help for teams competing in the CONCACAF Champions League and a re-examination of the playoff format that saw two Western Conference teams compete for the Eastern Conference championship in ...

Juan Agudelo: New York Red Bulls Striker Caps Dream USA Debut With Late Winner

One of five promising American talents which USA boss Bob Bradley handed debuts to, Juan Agudelo, shone in the 30 minutes of playing time he was given against South Africa after coming on for Robbie Rogers.The New York Red Bulls striker became the youngest player ever to score for the USA national team with his dramatic 85th minute winner in the international friendly. Agudelo will turn 18 on November 23, and has only appeared three times in a Red Bulls shirt. But there were no signs of inexperience, as his clever run into the box and neat finish off the crossbar handed the USA a last-gasp, 1-0 victory at Green Point Stadium. The young striker has been in sensational form for the USA U-17 team, which he represented at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, scoring a total of 12 goals in 16 games before he went on to notch an additional three goals in seven appearances for the U-20 side. After moving from Colombia to the US at the age of eight, he started his career with New York Red Bulls in 2007, but did ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Newcastle Jets: Down Under Solace

There is no question that the season-ending 3-0 defeat to FC Dallas will leave a very bitter taste in the mouths of the Los Angeles Galaxy for weeks on end, at least until next season starts."It would have been nice if we were leaving from Toronto," Galaxy forward Mike Magee said with a grin.But it can also be seen as a blessing in some ways, since the loss gave Bruce Arena's men about two weeks to rest and prepare for the final match on their calendar, the 2010 Qantas Challenge against the Newcastle United Jets."A few years ago when (former Galaxy coach) Ruud (Gullit) was here, it was almost like preseason at the end of the season," Donovan recalled. "He put guys through really difficult training sessions and it was a really difficult trip." "This time I think its going to be a lot of fun. (Current Galaxy head coach) Bruce (Arena) obviously understands what the trip is about. We want to go and be entertaining and enjoy the game." "I'm actually excited about it. It will be a fun game to play in. We're going to go over, have fun and put on a good show, hopefully."The Galaxy will be making ...

Sporting Kansas City: What to Make Of the MLS Club’s New Name

Robb Heinemann, the Kansas City Wizards President, made an announcement last night about the incoming changes for the club, and how he wants to construct a world-class club that their fans can be proud of. This "club" however, will no longer be regarded as the Wizards. Instead, they will known as Sporting Kansas City. Presumably a solute to Portugal's Sporting Lisbon.Throughout the latter half of the Major League Soccer season, the Kansas City Wizards kept hinting a change in the club's appearance to come in 2011. Fans were anticipating a change in their club's name to compliment their new era in their new stadium, tentatively named KC Soccer Stadium. My only worry about this, is the same as yours: the reception. Although, Heinemann claims the name alludes to the "sporting culture" of the Kansas City area, it just does not seem to reflect on the area well; even if the club has plans to add a lacrosse and rugby team to SKC, making it a true 'sporting club'. Amid likely criticism, the new name will probably receive the same types of criticism that Real Salt Lake suffered in their early years; however, there seems to be less attention to the club's name, possibly ...

MLS Commissioner Don Garber Intent on Bringing Back the New York Cosmos

New York Cosmos fans have another reason to believe that their beloved team will eventually join Major League Soccer. During his annual State of the League address, MLS Commissioner Don Garber made it clear it that he wants the New York Cosmos to be the 20th team in Major League Soccer. "As I said before, we're very focused on our 20th team in New York," Garber said. "We've been meeting with the city, we've been meeting with the Wilpon family, the owners of the Cosmos name and brand. We've also been meeting with other investors who have expressed interest. "We are very, very focused on this entire process and hope to be able to get something done for 2013." Anyone who is deluded enough to believe that the New York Cosmos' possible return will save the MLS obviously doesn't follow the league. The money of the Krafts, Hunts and Phil Anschutz—along with MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Major League Soccer's loyal fans—were responsible for saving the league. That said, the New York Cosmos would be a marvelous addition. They would be valuable without being seen as an MLS "savior." While former NASL clubs like the San Jose Earthquakes and Seattle Sounders have ...

Los Angeles Galaxy Name 4 To MLS Best XI

In spite of their 3-0 season-ending defeat to FC Dallas, Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy saw four of its players named to the MLS Best XI this season.The Galaxy are the first team to send four players to the Best XI since DC United in 2006, and are the fifth team in league history to achieve this honor.Edson Buddle enjoyed the best season of his 10-year MLS career in 2010, scoring a career-high 17 goals, including nine of the Galaxy’s first 10 of the season. His 17 goals were the second most in MLS and came despite missing six weeks of action while with the U.S. National Team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Including the postseason, the Galaxy were 13-1-1 when Buddle scored a goal, while his seven game-winning goals were the second most in MLS and the most by a Galaxy player since 2005. Buddle added two goals in the Galaxy’s Western Conference Semifinal Series win over Seattle, giving him a total of 19 in all competitions for the Galaxy in 2010. One of seven players in league history with 90 career goals, Buddle showed the ability to score with both feet and his head ...

Staying Put: Landon Donovan Says He’s Not Leaving Los Angeles

Los Angeles Galaxy captain and American international Landon Donovan has reiterated that he will not leave the MLS club and will be back next season. Donovan's Galaxy fell at home 3-0 to FC Dallas in the Western Conference Final of the MLS Cup Playoffs on Sunday night, ending Los Angeles' hopes of a third title. It has been a busy year for the 28 year old: He went on loan to English side Everton from January to March. In that time, Donovan became the biggest American sensation in soccer, if he was not already. He scored twice in ten matches for the Toffees and was a critical part of the squad as they defeated Chelsea and Manchester United and drew Arsenal in his time there. After returning in time for MLS, Donovan helped the Galaxy get off to a start of 7-0-1. During that time, Donovan recorded a goal and eight assists. We all know what followed when he went to South Africa: Donovan recorded three goals in the World Cup, including the winner against Algeria in stoppage time of the second half. The Algeria goal landed the Yanks in the knockout stage, where despite a Donovan penalty, the United States crashed out to Ghana. Having been ...