2011 MLS Power Rankings: Week 5

We are now five weeks into the 2011 Major League Soccer season, and we have been treated to some great action from across the country. At the top of the list once again is Real Salt Lake, who are primed for even bigger riches ahead with the CONCACAF Champions League Final looming in the distance.Also on the move are the Portland Timbers, who have finally hit their winning stride this week.Bleacher Report brings you this week's MLS Power Rankings.Begin Slideshow

European Style Relegation/Promotion Would Add Interest, Uniquness to MLS

For those of you that don't follow international soccer, aka, football/futbol, the top leagues in the world, most notably the European top leagues: English Premier League (EPL), Bundesliga (Germany), La Liga (Spain) and Serie A (Italy) for example all practice the system of relegation and promotion of their clubs. What this means is, if you are a minor league club and you happen to have a good season, usually over the course of a few solid seasons, you will get rewarded by being promoted to the big leagues, literally, the same way a minor league prospect does in baseball. Only in this instance its the entire team. If it sounds confusing it should to MLS and U.S. born soccer fans as they are one of a few countries—with Australia and Canada being others—that do not use this practice in any of their major sports, but most notably soccer.   Reasons why relegation or promotion wouldn't work in U.S. sports The problem with this in the U.S. is the minor league systems in a given sport are so far less than the major sport that this would be counter-productive. It's far easier to keep the Pittsburgh Pirates in Major League Baseball where they can continue to ...

MLS Soccer 2011: Philadelphia Union Remain Beast in the East

The Philadelphia Union went into Saturday's contest against the visiting Seattle Sounders FC with a 3-1 overall record, standing atop the Eastern Conference. The game finished in a 1-1 draw, but it was one the Union easily should have won. They remain the leader in the East with 10 points and a 3-1-1 record.All it took was one little lapse on defense in the 91st minute. Sounders forward Fredy Montero crossed the ball into the six-yard box, where Alvaro Fernandez, a late substitute for Seattle, rose above the defenders and headed the ball off the inside of the far post to tie up the game with little time left on the clock.For 90 minutes, the Philadelphia Union had imposed their defensive will on the Sounders offensive attack. Until the last minute goal, Philadelphia's back-line only allowed one lone shot on goal, which ended up being a huge play in the game.In the 77th minute, goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon had deflected the ball into the middle of the box off a Montero cross, where Fernandez was the recipient of a point-blank opportunity to put Seattle on the board. It was to no avail as defender Danny Califf stood along his team's goal ...

Omar Gonzalez Breaks Chicago Fire Hearts Again in LA Galaxy 2-1 Victory

The drought is over.Last season at Toyota Park, the Los Angeles Galaxy's Omar Gonzalez equalized at the death to take victory away from the jaws of the Chicago Fire in their 2-2 draw.On Sunday, Gonzalez broke the hearts of Fire fans in Bridgeview yet again, scoring on a 72nd minute corner kick from Argentine international Miguel Lopez to break the two-game winless streak for Bruce Arena's club in a 2-1 victory.Chad Barrett opened the scoring for the G's in the 42nd minute of play.While Dominic Oduro was able to pull one back in the 89th minute, the goal came too little too late, as the Galaxy defense held firm in their own third, which was part of the theme of the day for Los Angeles.Another part: bad finishing from Chicago, namely Marco Pappa, who had a lion's share of chances to finish, all of them missing wide of the the mark.Meanwhile, Los Angeles's shoddy passing was more polished as the match wore on, though they still need to work on delivering to the right side. Possession-wise, the Galaxy will look to improve on capitalizing on the space they earn.Case in point: Frankie Hejduke late in the first half. He had ...

Los Angeles Galaxy-Chicago Fire: Analysis, Reaction and More

Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy are unbeaten in their last three games, but are also winless in their last two matches and are looking for a positive result against Carlos De Los Cobos’s Chicago Fire. The Fire are led by Marco Pappa and Uruguayan import Diego Chaves and are coming off a humbling 4-2 defeat to the Portland Timbers. As for the Galaxy, they played to another scoreless draw to Toronto FC at BMO Field earlier this week. The Galaxy will be without the services of David Beckham and Juninho, who are serving suspensions for yellow card accumulation and a red card, respectively. Landon Donovan may not be available as well due to injury. Follow Bleacher Report for continuing coverage of Major League Soccer, as well as recaps of other action from around the league.Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

New York Red Bulls Get Revenge on San Jose Earthquakes

The Red Bulls were left seeing red last November after the San Jose Earthquakes shocked them in front of a sell-out Red Bull Arena in leg two of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. The Red Bulls had a 1-0 lead going into the second game in New Jersey, but San Jose erupted for three goals and ended New York’s hopes of winning their first MLS Cup in 2010. The Red Bulls had to wait five months to get their revenge, but it was well worth the wait as New York took out all of their anger and frustration Saturday night with an impressive 3-0 victory. Despite the torrential downpour, heavy wind, and slick conditions, the Red Bulls performed as though the treacherous weather had no affect on them one what-so-ever. 14,308 braved the elements and had a lot to celebrate in a game dominated by the Red Bulls. New York enjoyed 60 percent of the possession, took a total of 16 shots, and gave up only three shots on goal. 2010 MLS Golden Boot Winner, Chris Wondolowski was shut down as was the rest of the Earthquakes due to some great defense by New York’s back four.The Red Bulls were sharp for the duration ...

New York Red Bulls Avenge Playoff Loss to the San Jose Earthquakes

Harrison, NJ—The New York Red Bulls' 3-0 annihilation of the San Jose Earthquakes was parallel to Bishop Fred Pickering's memorable golf game in the classic golf movie, Caddyshack. The only difference between both epic games is that no one from the Red Bulls was hit by lightning. Withstanding heavy rainfall, the Red Bulls treated their fans, the media and anyone brave enough to be outdoors an entertaining performance. In doing so in convincing manner, they've reestablished themselves as one of the teams to beat in the Eastern Conference and now trail first place Philadelphia Union by two points. Needing to rebound after last week's disastrous 1-0 loss to the Philadelphia Union, the Red Bulls immediately established themselves as the aggressors. Heading in his first goal of the season, Luke Rodgers' gave the Red Bulls a 1-0 lead in the second minute of the match. Starting in place of Juan Agudelo, Rodgers cashed in on this opportunity as he finished the game with a two-goal and assist performance. Doubling on his goal total, Rodgers scored again in the 15th minute thanks to Thierry Henry's assist. Thanks to his well-timed burglarizing of San Jose's Ramiro Corrales, Henry intelligently passed the ball to the open Rodgers ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire: Stopping the Drought

Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy are a team without direction, even though it's just the middle of April, and nothing is certain yet in this 2011 Major League Soccer season.Though they come into this Sunday's encounter with Carlos de los Cobos' Chicago Fire on a three-game unbeaten streak, they stumble into Bridgeview's Toyota Park unbowed but wounded.The Galaxy are winless in their last two games. Landon Donovan is overcoming an injury from national team duty, and a couple of key players in Juninho and David Beckham are serving suspensions.While they do have Juan Pablo Angel (who most likely will don the captain's armband on Sunday for the G's if Donovan is not available), the Colombian international has yet to be a dominating force on the team, and opposing defenses have had their way.One player that could step up on Sunday is Mike Magee, who was instrumental in the 1-1 draw with D.C. United.“We have a deep team, so we haven’t missed too many beats,” Magee told Luis Bueno of MLSSoccer.com. “Obviously, Landon is a guy you’ll never be able to replace, but the team has done well. Throughout the course of the year, whether it’s been Omar [Gonzalez] or Landon, other ...

New York Cosmos Played First NASL Game Against the St Louis Stars 40 Years Ago

“Actions are the seed of fate deeds grow into destiny.” - Harry S Truman Long before Pelé, Giorgio Chinaglia, Franz Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto, and many former New York Cosmos legends joined the team, the New York Cosmos had already won their first NASL Championship in 1972. Long before the Cosmos made Giants Stadium their home, they played their first season at Yankee Stadium. Before playing their first home game at Yankee Stadium on May 5, 1971 in a 1-0 victory against the Washington Darts in front of 3,746 in attendance, the New York Cosmos had played their first official North American Soccer League (NASL) match almost a month earlier. Forty years ago or April 17, 1971, the New York Cosmos played their first official NASL game. Playing on the road, there first-ever opponents in league competition was the Saint Louis Stars. Playing at Busch Memorial Stadium, the New York Cosmos played the spoilers as they won 2-1 in front of 3,701 in attendance. Scoring the first New York Cosmos goal was now Cosmos Legend Randy Horton. While Horton scored the first goal, Wilberforce Mfum of Ghana scored game winner. F ollowing this historic game, I wonder how many ...

Real Salt Lake vs Colorado Rapids: Salt Lake Tops Colorado in Rocky Mountain Cup

Major League Soccer showcased it's best rivalry Wednesday night as the last two MLS Cup Champions met in the first leg of the battle for the Rocky Mountain Cup. The Cup, given annually to the winner of rivalry between Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids, may be staying in Utah for another year. In what is becoming the norm for these fierce rivals, the two teams battled hard and held each other scoreless until the game was won with a little bit of last minute drama.  It wasn't until stoppage time that the first and only goal of the match was scored. In a somewhat desperate effort to put a goal in, RSL players worked in front of the goal when the ball popped out and defender Jamison Olave was able to draw a foul just outside the box. On the ensuing free kick, Javier Morales bent a nearly perfect strike around the defensive wall that hit the near post. In the scramble for the ball, second half substitution Paulo Jr. collected the rebound just in front of the goal. Before he could fire a shot, his teammate Fabian Espindola slid into the ball and kicked it into the back of the net. His goal ...