On Wednesday, the city of Houston played host to the Major League Soccer All-Stars.

Tonight, the Houston Dynamo will host the biggest star in the MLS today, who was ineligible for the “showcase” against Manchester United days earlier. Thierry Henry, the French International, will make his New York Red Bulls and MLS regular season debut.

On the heels of a World Cup that received a lot of attention, Henry has attracted a lot of focus to the Red Bulls and the league. Much like David Beckham in 2007, the high-profile star Henry will bring in a lot of money from jersey sales and extra fans to the games. He’ll also make a big difference on the field.

Henry played in two Red Bulls exhibition matches last week against English Premier League sides Tottenham and Manchester City and he impressed. He scored in the 25th minute of his debut against Tottenham and in both matches, showed creativity and a great vision with dangerous passes that sprung forth a strong attack.

In both those games, Henry only played the first 45 minutes. Against Houston, however, he will see increased time.

But what makes his MLS debut more special is that it will be the first pairing of him and New York captain Juan Pablo Angel.

Angel, another Designated Player with EPL experience, is the Red Bull’s all-time career goals leader (even though he has only played in three and a half seasons with the club). He is a quality finisher who the team has heavily depended on.

However, they have yet to find a strike-partner for him. The team has paired him with ten different players—Jozy Altidore, John Wolyniec, Salou Ibrahim, Macoumba Kandji, Dominic Oduro, Dane Richards, Francis Doe, Oscar Echeverry, Mike Magee, and Clint Mathis—before landing Henry.

The pairing could easily be the most potent in all of MLS. Henry played on the wing for much of the beginning of his career which has helped him become a great passer and crosser.

They are both dangerous scorers so defenses will not be able to key on one and double him. They will have to respect both forwards which should create more space than either is used to as well as open the field for their teammates, especially the wings like Richards, Jeremy Hall, and Danleigh Borman, who all have good speed.

Henry also has good pace and is able to get behind the defense. All of those skills should help the two players find each other and wreck havoc on their opposition. The opponent in their first game together could help expedite the process.

Houston—in seventh place in the eight-team Western Conference—has given up 25 goals, tied for most in the Western Conference, and will be further weakened.

Veteran goalkeeper Pat Onstad missed practice on Thursday and is not expected to start. Central defender Bobby Boswell will also miss the game due to a suspension he must serve for receiving a red card in the Dynamo’s previous game against Columbus.

If Henry and Angel can capitalize on the opportunity of playing together and against a vulnerable defense, the team can gain some much-needed momentum as they head into the end of the season pushing for a playoff spot.

Not only will a successful Henry/Angel tandem generate plenty of buzz for the league and the team off the field, but it may also finally bring home a trophy.

What once was a dream—not only landing Henry, but also winning the championship—becomes, at least partly, a reality tonight.

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Massimo Allegri who is the coach for the Italian Team AC Milan announced that he believes David Beckham "will not return to AC Milan for the third time."

David Beckham played for Manchester United and Real Madrid before playing for LA Galaxy.

Beckham was loaned by the LA Galaxy to A.C. Milan with the intention of keeping him in shape during the off-season of Major League Soccer. Mr. Allegri also insinuated that Beckham may not return since he is recuperating from an injury of the Achille's Tendon which sidelined him in the 2010 World Cup.

While Beckham was present in the pre-season game between A.C. Milan and Arsenal, which ended in a draw, many people have expressed doubts about the future of the football/soccer astro.

The US Latin Station Univision has conducted a survey about whether or not Beckham is able to recuperate his style if he also decided to return to the MLS. I would like to ask the readers about their opinion on the future of Beckham.

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The news has been swirling for weeks about Freddie Ljungberg and now, there is solid information to report concerning his status.

Seattle Sounders FC announced Friday that the Swedish international star has been traded to the Chicago Fire in exchange for a selection in the 2011 or 2012 Super Draft.

Ljungberg, 33, a two time MLS All-Star selection for the Sounders, led Seattle and finished fourth in in the league with nine assists in 2009. He was named the MLS October Player of the Month after assisting on the team's final four goals of the regular season, helping the Sounders reach the MLS Cup Playoffs in the club's inaugural season.

Ljungberg was also a finalist for MLS Newcomer of the Year.

"Freddie is a tremendous individual and an exceptional player who contributed greatly to the huge success of Sounders FC, both on and off the field, in the past year and a half," said Adrian Hanauer, general manager.

"Freddie, along with Kasey Keller, gave this club immediate stature in the world's game, and we are grateful for his service. We wish him all the best in Chicago."

"I want to start off by saying how proud I am to have been part of the most successful new franchise in MLS history, the Seattle Sounders FC. I didn't know exactly what to expect when I first came to Seattle but I have to say that how the city and the fans have embraced me has gone beyond my wildest dreams and for that I am forever grateful. I also want to thank my teammates who are absolutely great on and off the pitch. I have made some very close friends who I know I will be in contact with forever," said Ljungberg.

Ljungberg was signed as Seattle's first Designated Player on October 28, 2008. He came to Seattle after 10 seasons in the English Premier League. In his nine years with Arsenal, he was a member of teams that won two EPL titles, three FA Cups and a UEFA Champions League final appearance.  Ljungberg was recently selected in an Internet poll as one of the most popular players in Arsenal’s celebrated history.

This season, Ljungberg played in each of the first 15 Sounders games while starting 14 and contributing three assists. Altogether, over the two seasons with Seattle, he played in 37 matches, starting 35, scoring two goals and adding 12 assists.

In a related move that comes as anything but a surprise, the Sounders have added midfielder Alvaro Fernandez, 24, to the active roster. Fernandez, a member of the Uruguay National Team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, was acquired on Thursday and has received his International Transfer Certificate.

This makes Fernandez eligible to play Saturday night against the San Jose Earthquakes in a clash that was already replete with many interesting dimensions.  The Sounders will enter play at Buck Shaw Stadium in the San Jose suburb of Santa Clara for the 7 p.m. PDT match just one point behind the host Earthquakes. 

While Seattle stands at 6-8-4 with 22 points, the host team coached by Frank Yallop and led by former U.S. World Cup player Bobby Convey has a 6-4-5 mark and 23 points.

Saturday's Bay Area match affords an opportunity for Seattle to jump from sixth to fourth in the Western Conference. San Jose enters the week tied for the fourth and final playoff slot. The Quakes have been idle since drawing, 2-2, at Los Angeles July 22. They are undefeated in four games with a 1-0-3 mark since June 5.

The teams are even in the overall series at 2-2.  In their last meeting at Qwest Field May 22, San Jose won a tough defensive battle 1-0.

Following the San Jose match the Sounders are off for El Salvador.  On Tuesday Champions League play resumes as Metapán and Seattle vie for a spot in the group stage. Sounders FC defeated Metapán 1-0 in the first leg at home behind a 40-yard blast from Fredy Montero just seconds after entering the game as a reserve.

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On Thursday, the Seattle Sounders FC acquired Uruguay National Team midfielder Alvaro Fernandez. The 24-year-old Fernandez played in four matches for semifinalist Uruguay during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Fernandez qualifies as the club's third Designated Player. His signing will be finalized upon receipt of his International Transfer Certificate. Fernandez has not yet been added to the active roster. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, terms were not disclosed.

Fernandez started for Uruguay in the quarterfinal against Ghana, and was a substitute in wins over South Africa, Mexico, and South Korea. La Celeste took fourth in South Africa, its best finish since 1970.  He has been capped 11 times by Uruguay, including appearances in six qualifiers-since his debut in 2008.

"I'm very excited to be playing in the U.S. because the football has grown a lot in the last few years and keeps getting better," said Fernandez. "Seattle is beautiful and I think it's the ideal place to be with my family. All these things helped in making my decision."

Sounders Coach Sigi Schmid said:

"Alvaro is a versatile player who can play in a number of midfield positions. He brings good energy to the game as well as World Cup experience. He can score and also set up others."

Fernandez played the 2010 season for Chile's Universidad. Located in Santiago, Universidad finished second in the Primera Division.  The team is currently in the semi-final stage of the Copa Libertadores, the South American club championship.

"My goals are always the same whenever I join a team, to try to help, on and off the field,” Fernandez said, “to help the club achieve its goals and, obviously, win championships. I believe I can contribute through my experience. I describe myself as a fast, smooth player, who can play on either flank. I am strong in the air, and I work very hard."

Fernandez earned his first selection by the Uruguay National Team while playing for Nacional.

In addition to national team play, Fernandez has top-flight experience in Uruguay, Mexico, Portugal, and Chile. In 2009 Nacional won the Uruguayan Primeria Division and reached the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores.

"Alvaro is experienced internationally and he has demonstrated a tremendous work rate and great tactical awareness," Chris Henderson, Sounders technical director, said. "He likes to connect passes, possesses good pace, and moves well off the ball."

“We have been tracking Alvaro for a while,” Sounders General Manager Adrian Hanauer revealed.  “Versatility, quality, character, a lot of the same attributes that we have been interested in all along. Alvaro is a player who has a very good pace. He is good in the air. Versatility, he can play anywhere across the midfield. Again, we just felt like another quality player was necessary to continue to build on what we have got and certainly to make a run for the playoffs.”

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Soccer announcers have been fawning over the myriad successes and near-successes that MLS teams have had in their battles with European clubs, yet one must wonder if the victories have any meaning.

The culmination of these friendlies (The MLS All Star Game) sheds the most light on the fledgling position of the MLS in the footballing world.

Unlike the rest of the major American sports leagues, which showcase a match of their best star players in competition with each other, MLS chooses to field a team of its best players against a major European club.

Moreover, the European clubs in both the All-Star Game and the friendlies are in preseason form, with their best players watching from the stands.

The MLS All-Star Game is akin to a preseason match between the New York Yankees and the best that the Japanese baseball league has to offer.

Even if the underdog wins, the victory is attributed to the incomplete, preseason form of the favorite.

While Manchester United was praised for its 5-2 thrashing of the MLS All-Stars, had the result gone the other way, Manchester’s poor performance would have been blamed on the absence of Wayne Rooney, Nemanja Vidic, and the club’s other top stars.

Consequently, the most that the MLS could have hoped for in all of its friendlies was to be recognized as a decent breeding ground for talent...talent that is to be plucked by the real superpower leagues of the world.

Can American soccer grow under the current status quo? One needs to look south for the answer, to the leagues in Argentina and Brazil.

While the Brazilian and Argentinean National teams are arguably two of the best in the world, only three Brazilian and six Argentine members of their respective World Cup 2010 squads play at clubs in their home country. (The U.S. had four MLS-based players on its World Cup team.)

In fact, the remaining players on the national squads are playing in the major leagues of Europe.

It seems that the soccer leagues of the two South American powerhouses have perfected the art of developing young players, only to see them leave for the European leagues once they reach a certain level of professionalism.

Perhaps there is hope yet for American soccer? While MLS may not be a strong league, the U.S. has a strong grassroots soccer program that has produced many fine players.

One must not forget that the vast majority of the best U.S. soccer players, including most of the members of the World Cup squads, started out in MLS.

But can MLS ever achieve the level of the English Premier League, Serie A, or the Bundesliga? Highly unlikely!

Not only are the European leagues a path to stardom and World Cup glory, but they also pay significantly better than all other leagues. As a result, MLS is simply unable to retain its best players due to financial limitations.

Yet even if MLS were to become the richest league in the United States, it would still not be able to rival its European counterparts. One of the most important elements of European soccer is competition.

Domestic league competitions are second in most fans’ minds to the UEFA Europa League and Champions League, where the best clubs of Europe compete to be crowned the kings of the continent.

The level of competition is fierce, and the prize is coveted. Even if MLS were to become a strong league, the other leagues in CONCACAF and CONMEBOL would have trouble following suit.

As a result, interleague competition in the Western Hemisphere would remain weak, and the vast majority of fans (including American fans) would remain more loyal to their favorite UEFA team.

According to a report by Bleacher Report contributor Andre Rojter, MLS was ranked 88th in the world by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics.

With the financial situation of the U.S. and the dominance of Europe of as a football federation, the statistic is unlikely to change.

One can only hope that MLS will continue to produce young and talented players who will reach their full potential in the leagues of Europe.

To see the article by Andre Rojter, please follow the link: 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/423659-congrats-mls-you-are-ranked-88th-in-the-world

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Seattle striker Fredy Montero answered the call once more to give the Sounders one more dramatic win at a time of nervous deadlock.

The Sounders pulled out a 1-0 triumph over El Salvador’s AD Isidro Metapan before 17,228 fans at the Xbox Pitch of Qwest Field in the first leg of CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round series Wednesday night.

The game was moving into the final half hour and the Seattle Sounders had been unable to score despite numerous efforts and a stifling defense that kept the visitors at bay.

An element of urgency was present for good reason.  With this the home leg and a rematch set for San Salvador on August 3 the Sounders could fall into a big hole with a draw and the road test beckoning.

Montero had been kept on the bench until the 60th minute.  Seattle’s other speedy striker Steve Zakuani had come in during the 57th minute.  The stage was set and the booming leg of Montero, who was recently named to the MLS All-Star team for the second year in a row, was prepared for the occasion.

After trotting onto the pitch to replace Nate Jaqua, Montero scored on his first touch within seconds of entering the match.  On a free kick near midfield, Osvaldo Alonso rolled a short pass to Montero.

The Colombian fired toward the net from 40 yards.  More dramatics ensued.  Metapán goalkeeper Misael Alfaro got a touch on the ball before it bounced across the goal line.  The struggle in vain was reminiscent of the Robert Green moment for England against the U.S. in the World Cup.

The agony of defeat registered following the match in the Metapan dressing room, as described by Coach Edwin Portillo.

"Everyone is giving him moral support,” Portillo explained.  “He was in the locker room crying. The ball changed directions and he wasn't in a very good position at the time, but at the same time it was a surprising kick from the player who just came in. For the keeper with the years of experience with the national team, he is bothered by it, he is not happy."

At a later point, as Metapan fought to tie the match, goalkeeper Misael Alfaro figured in a rarely seen ploy.  He was designated to take a penalty kick.  When Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller retrieved the ball he hurled it quickly downfield, hoping to set up a scoring opportunity as Alfaro sprinted toward the goal to take charge of the net.

Neither that nor any other opportunity, save the Montero score, materialized for the Sounders, but there were some promising chances.  In the first half Michael Seamon came close to corralling a pass in the box that could have produced a score but the missile sailed out of bounds.  There was a header by Steve Zakuani in the 74th minute that forced a save.  A shot by Sanna Nyassi in the 83rd minute sailed just wide of the far post.

As for Montero’s goal, it was his seventh this season in all competitions. He has scored and assisted six times apiece on 12 of the last 14 goals by Sounders FC, dating back to April 22.

Seattle achieved a commanding 15-2 advantage in shots with a 5-1 edge on goal and 8-2 on corner kicks.  On the defensive end the Sounders were able to keep Metapan pinned for much of the night at midfield.  Kasey Keller had a clean sheet and was credited with one save.

Keller said afterwards, "Overall, we were not quite at our best today but we got the goal and we got the win. It's something to hold on to down in El Salvador. It's going to be a tough game. They are a crafty team. I thought we stuck with them pretty well. I think physically we were better and that showed at the end of the game. I had very little to do and I was happy about that."

While pleased with the victory, Seattle mentor Sigi Schmid after the contest expressed regret that his team could not post more than one score given its wide statistical edge.

"We had chances,” Schmid acknowledged.  “I thought we had chances to score more than just the one and we're disappointed that we didn't get more. It's most important not give up a goal at home.

“We have a lead. It forces them when we go down there to score a goal. They can't sit back. Here they can sit back. And for us on the road to score a goal, we force them to score three, so that's really important. We wanted to hold them to zero at home and get as many goals as possible at home.

“We also wanted to make sure that we can play with a strong lineup when we go down to El Salvador because it's going to be a hostile environment. The refereeing certainly is going to be a little different than it is in the MLS and it's going to be a situation where we're going to need our veteran players down there to get the result that we need to advance."

Schmid made a significant point regarding the 1-0 Seattle win compelling Metapan to take more risks in next week’s match in San Salvador to prevail in the two contest competition.  This was acknowledged by Coach Portillo.

"Playing aggressively, that will be the focus of our team,” Portillo said.  “We have to change our tactics. We need to score two goals and that comes with more risk, but that's the only game. We will have to run the risk.  We don't have any other alternatives, so we'll have to expose ourselves to keep in the tournament."

Portillo conceded, “We came looking for a tie and ended up losing.”

As for the Sounders, there is an important Western Conference MLS test waiting prior to the excursion to El Salvador.  The San Jose Earthquakes beckon in a Sounders road test at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara Saturday night at 7 p.m. PT.

Counting all competition, the Sounders have won five games in a row.  In the MLS they stand at 6-8-4 with 22 points.

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Seattle Sounders managed to defeat the visiting team of Isidro Metapan of El Salvador by one goal. Freddy Montero of Sounders was able to score within 60 minutes with a 40 meter center kick that surprised the Isidro Metapan goalkeeper Misael Alfaro who allowed the ball to go into his net.

Freddy Montero scored his sixth goal for the Sounders in the 2010 Season with this goal after replacing Nate Jacqua. The game itself was intense, with the Sounders dominating from the beginning with their consistency and discipline.

The Sounders also had the hometown advantage against one of the most powerful teams in El Salvador. Reagrdless of such advantages, there were failed attempts at scoring a goal before Montero.

James Riley who is the fullback to the Sounders was able to strike through the right flank and play the ball to Nyassi. Nyassi was then able to connect with Montano who then allowed the ball to go off the intended target.

Osvaldo Alonso was able to take a free kick from the 18 yard box edge after a dangerous kick by Eirck Prado who is the defender for Metapan but it was deflected. Roger Levesque and Michael Seamon attempted another kick which was also deflected.

Misael Alfaro attempted an equalizer for the Isidro Metapan in the last minute of the game. The result was that the ball deflected at the Seattle Sounder Goalpost.

The Sounders and Isidro Metapan are expecting to have a rematch at the Estadio Jorge Calero Suarez in El Salvador on August 3 2010. It remains to be seen whether the Sounders will survive the rematch or Isidro Metapan could turn the tables on them.

The winner of the rematch will go ahead to the Group Stage and will be form part of Group C with Monterrey, Saprissa, and/or Marathon or Tauro 

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L ocal soccer fans in attendance at the 2010 MLS All Star Game in Houston got a reason to cheer as they saw a local player get into the game and score a goal.

Houston Dynamo's forward Brian Ching came into the game in the 46th minute as a replacement for Juan Pablo Angel.

The orange clad Dynamo fans in the stands came to their feet when he headed a free kick from David Ferreira past Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

His goal came in the 64th minute, taking the score to 2-1, cutting the Red Devil's lead to one.

He came back with an assist in the 90th minute on Dwayne De Rosario's goal.

The goals by Ching and De Rosario are all the MLS All Stars could put on the scoreboard.

Ching was added to the All Star roster by Commissioner Don Garber as one of his two exclusive picks.

"It was really amazing to do that in front of all those fans. It was an incredible atmosphere, and I will always remember that moment," Ching stated in the post-game press conference.

He also said, "This was a good night for the MLS. It showed how far the MLS has come. Soccer is the top youth sport out there, and if you look at the crowd we had, I think you could see it is finding its footing, and that’s really exciting."

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