6 MLS Youngsters Who Can Soon Make a Push for the US National Team

The United States Men's National Team is in a bit of a transitional phase. Older players like Landon Donovan, Carlos Bocanegra and Demarcus Beasley, while still important, will slowly be phased out of the squad. With this inevitability comes the time for young talent to break into the team and assert their case for a starting position representing their country. The following is a list of domestic talent, playing in the United States, that might be able to break into the USMNT sooner rather than later. Begin Slideshow

Soccer in America: Is the MLS More International Now Than Ever Before?

The quality of play in Major League Soccer is improving every single season. I don't think that there are very many people that would argue the contrary.Players are developing in the MLS and more and more quality talents are being imported into the league.It's difficult to quantify just where the MLS would stand in the hierarchy of other countries. For example, if EA Sports' FIFA video game franchise is to be believed, then the average MLS team would probably be playing in England's Championship division.Commissioner Don Garber has stated many times that he wants the MLS to be one of the top leagues in the world by the year 2022.An ambitious goal indeed, yet as we approach the self-imposed deadline, the likelihood of achieving that goal seems more and more likely.When we examine player quality in the MLS, we are blinded by big names like David Beckham and Thierry Henry.There is no question that Beckham's time with the LA Galaxy helped the league gain worldwide recognition.As a Galaxy season ticket holder, I can speak with first-hand knowledge of Beckham's influence. His jersey is still the most popular one sported at the Home Depot Center.People like to argue that the MLS ...

How the Top 6 MLS Draftees Have Fared in the Early Season

The Major League Soccer season is well underway. Dreams have been made, hearts have been crushed and the Chicago Fire have yet to realize that scoring goals leads to points. A fantastic crop of youth talent has entered the league, and with it, teams have been able to capitalize on early results. The following is a look into how the top six MLS Superdraft picks have performed in the first five weeks of the season. Begin Slideshow

Every MLS Team’s Biggest Flaw

The 2013 Major League Soccer campaign has been full of great play, exciting goals and, most importantly, incredibly disappointing performances. The following is a team-by-team slideshow of each MLS side's biggest flaw. Some teams' flaws will be difficult to identify because they've been so outstanding (Montreal). Others will be difficult because they've been so poor. It's only fitting that we start such a negative slideshow with...Begin Slideshow

LA Galaxy vs. Chivas USA: Galaxy Score Then Concede Late in a Thrilling LA Derby

The Los Angeles Galaxy will be ruing the fact that they had to settle for a 1-1 draw with rivals Chivas USA in a heated LA derby at the Home Depot Center on Sunday.Bruce Arena's team enjoyed the lion's share of possession throughout the 90 minutes. Robbie Keane looked to be in the mood as well, which usually does not bode well for Galaxy opponents.Of the teams' 25 meetings throughout this rivalry, Chivas have secured a non-loss result just nine times.Further damning for new coach Jose Luis Sanchez Sola was the fact that by the 40th minute his side was down to 10 men. Joaquin Oscar Velazquez was shown his second yellow card and given his marching orders for a clumsy challenge on Galaxy midfielder Colin Clark.Chivas, the visitors on the day, were able to hold their opponents at bay for the remainder of the half.In the second half, the Galaxy were sloppy and failed to convert any of the handful of chances that they were given. Numerous times the back post was left wide open, waiting for an attacker to get on the end of one of the many crosses fired in from the flanks.Chivas was doing an equally good ...

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Portland Timbers FC: Live Blog, Updates and Analysis

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Portland Timbers FC– CenturyLink Field, Seattle.SEA 1, POR 1Johnson, 13'; Wallace, 90'Full Time Report:The Seattle Sounders jumped to an early lead through striker Eddie Johnson. Steve Zakuani streaked down the left flank, launched a low cross into the penalty area, and the American striker tapped the ball home from just outside the six-yard box in the 13th minute.Portland began to settle and come into the game about 25 minutes in. They had chances through set-pieces and crosses but were unable to convert.The second half played out with Portland dominating the possession. They worked the ball around but found it difficult to break through a stoic Seattle defense. Finally, in the 90th minute, the Timbers broke though on an Rodney Wallace header. Andrew Jean-Baptiste put a hopeful ball into the box, and Wallace was there to head it home. Portland will be buzzing on the way back to Oregon. Seattle will feel as though they clutched defeat from the jaws of victory. Lineups:Seattle: Gspurning; Yedlin, Traore, Hurtado, Burch; Martinez, Rose, Alonso, Zakuani; Ochoa, Johnson; Subs: Hahnemann, Gonzalez, Scott, Caskey, Rosales, Carrasco, Martins Portland: Ricketts; Zemanski, Jean-Baptiste, Silvestre, Harrington; Chara, Jewsbury, W. Johnson-C; Valeri, R. Johnson, Nagbe;Subs: Kocic, Miller, Tucker-Gangnes, Wallace, Alhassan, Piquonne, ValenciaSubstitues:Seattle:61':Mauro Rosales for Samuel ...

Major League Soccer: Why Soccer in America Has Nowhere to Go but Up

Soccer in America has been a roller coaster ride in recent decades.In 1994, the FIFA World Cup was held in the United States. US Soccer president Sunil Gulati tried to bring it back in 2022, but the tournament was awarded to Qatar.The explosion of EA Sports' FIFA video game franchise has helped propel the sport into the lives of millions of younger fans who would have otherwise been unexposed.The Internet has been immense in helping the sport grow stateside.Twitter has made the players of the US Men's National Team instantly accessible. Youtube has been fantastic in showing the brilliance of Lionel Messi and Ronaldo.The problem with soccer in America is not that the sport is not liked. It's that the domestic league is viewed as inferior and looked down upon by many fans in the country.I am not one to suggest that the likes of Manchester United, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are not miles ahead of the Los Angeles Galaxy in terms of quality. But I do believe the Reading, Celta Vigo and TSG Hoffenheim would have trouble beating an average MLS side.The MLS is one of the most competitive leagues in the world. The gap between the top ...

LA Galaxy Sink Herediano to Secure a Spot in CONCACAF Semifinals

The Los Angeles Galaxy secured a 4-1 victory over Costa Rican side Herediano to secure a spot in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions League.This is the first time in the club's history that they have made it to this stage of the tournament.The atmosphere at the Home Depot Center was marvelous throughout the night. The visitors brought a sizable amount of support, but the home fans' enthusiasm dominated the entire 90 minutes.Omar Gonzalez opened the scoring for the Galaxy on a set piece that came after Bruce Arena's side bossed the early minutes.Similar to their season opener against the Chicago Fire, Robbie Keane and his colleagues found a way to control possession without letting the visitors ever truly threaten.Gonzalez, Keane, Jack McBean and Jose Villarreal would all put the ball in the net by the time the night was over. The outstanding play of Villarreal, who held the ball up well and took his chance marvelously, was one of the many positives to take from the match. Galaxy goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini seemed much more relaxed than he did against Chicago. His command of the penalty area was improved and it appears as though the relationship between him and his defenders is going to ...