Orchestrated free kicks are very hard to pull off. The choreography of the runs and passes is something people are used to seeing on Sundays in the NFL, not Saturdays in MLS. Each pass, it must be said, is also yard-for-yard harder to complete, because, you know, the players are using their feet and not their hands.
The Houston Dynamo have new (sort of) ownership. Mexican businessman Gabriel Brener, a minority owner of the Dynamo since 2008, has pushed his chips into the middle of the table and bought the majority ownership of the Dynamo, Houston Dash and affiliates.
The opening of the January transfer window provides MLS-based players an opportunity to test themselves in the top European leagues, if only for two-months on a loan deal. For the sake of the United States national team, these loan deals are instrumental in providing American players an opportunity to progress.
The Portland Timbers’ left-back Jorge Villafana is reportedly on his way to Liga MX club Santos Laguna for a transfer fee of just under $1 million. Villafana was a crucial part of the Timbers defense that led Portland to their first ever MLS Cup title.
While leading Portland in both appearances and minutes played throughout the course of the campaign, Villafana also chipped in with a goal and four assists from the fullback position.
The long-standing transfer saga concerning Carlos Vela and MLS reared its head again on Monday. While it has long been reported that Vela is open to a move to the United States, his final destination has been the subject of much speculation.
Due to Major League Soccer’s player discovery process, the Colorado Rapids have the first right to Vela.
2015 MLS Cup | Columbus Crew SC versus Portland Timbers
Sunday, December 6th | 4:00 PM ET
ESPN | WatchESPN | UniMás | TSN | RDS
After nine months and 356 games, it all comes down to one final winner-take-all match between the Columbus Crew and Portland Timbers for the 2015 MLS Cup. With identical regular season records (18 wins, 11 losses and 8 draws), there’s no clear favorite heading into Sunday’s showdown.
He's not Messi, but this Lucas Melano Messi-like goal would make La Pulga proud. The fellow Argentine went beast mode en route to a ridiculous goal that sealed the Timbers spot in the MLS final. Melano received a pass cutting into the box and proceeded to fake out not only FC Dallas defender Matt Hedges, but also goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez. The fake passes we're executed perfectly which gave Melano just enough room to flick home the golazo. We're starting to think that Melano should be getting more minutes, because he obviously has the potential to play like his countryman Lionel Messi.
His return to Brazil did not end up like he expected, but it seems Ronaldinho is not done with professional soccer just yet.
His possible next stop: the MLS.
In an interview with FutbolMLS.com, the two-time FIFA World Player of the year talked about his love for the United States and how the league’s growth is attracting talented and experienced players.
With no teams holding more than a single goal advantage in their respective ties, all four MLS Conference Semifinals are set for tense finishes heading into Sunday.
For fans of MLS, it promises to be 360 minutes (likely more) of continuous drama and thrills.
MLS Conference Semifinals
Jermaine Jones played soccer in Germany, Turkey and England before he played in the country he represents as an international.
An old-school defensive midfielder for both the New England Revolution and the U.S. Men's National Team, Jones will knock you to the ground whenever he damn well pleases. He plays with an edge, and he might be on edge because he misses home.