MLS Saturday: Colo cry Salty tears (Week 31)

Salt Lake 1-1 Colorado (DSG Park)
With a dramatic 90th minute goal, Yura Movsisyan saved RSL from elimination by equalizing Conor Casey's 11th goal of the season. The draw allows RSL to punch their ticket into the MLS Cup and eliminates Colorado on the final weekend of the regular season.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Kansas City 3-1 New England (Gillette Stadium)
It was not the way New England wanted to go into the playoffs, as the Revs saw two players sent off in a 3-1 loss to KC. The Wizards Claudion Lopez scored from the spot after Gabriel Badilla was ejected for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity in the 28th minute. Just before halftime, Khano Smith was also sent off for a hard foul on Herculez Gomez (retaliation for Steve Ralston, perhaps?). In the second half, KC added a goal from Davy Arnaud and an own goal scored off the Revs Michael Parkhurst. The Revolution's Jeff Larentowicz managed a consolation goal in the 90th minute.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Toronto 0-2 San Jose (BS Stadium)
In a game with no MLS Cup implications, San Jose managed the home win, getting goals from Ryan Cochrane and Shea Salinas (from the penalty spot). The win put San Jose a point over Los Angeles, who currently have the worst record in MLS but have a game to play.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Houston 1-1 Chivas USA (HDC)
Also, no direct playoff implications in the other nightcap, as Houston's Dwayne DeRosario and Chivas USA's Jim Curtin exchanged second-half goals. But Chivas USA will be without their keeper for the first match of the playoffs, after Dan Kennedy, who stopped one PK, was sent off for taking down Nate Jaqua on a breakaway.

----------------------------------------------------------------

MLS Saturday: Penultimate (Week 30)

Saturday
Chicago 2-3 Toronto (BMO Field)
A brace by 50-cent fav Rohan Ricketts gave Toronto the 3-2 win. Amado Guevara put TFC up in the 12th minute and Ricketts doubled the lead six minutes later, putting back a PK rebound. Chicago's Justin Mapp pulled one back in the 25th minute, but Ricketts scored again in first-half injury time. Cuauhtemoc Blanco scored a 59th minute conciliation goal for the Fire. It was all for naught, however, as Toronto was eliminated from playoff contention due to results around the league.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Columbus 1-3 New York (Giants Stadium)
Danny Cepero? Wasn't he Ralph Macchio's character in The Karate Kid? Cepero -- who assumed goalkeeping duties for the Red Bulls after starting keep Jon Conway tested positive for andro this week -- became the first goalkeeper to score in Major League Soccer history with a long ball sent in from his own half. The ball took a big bounce on the artificial turf and went over Crew keeper Andy Gruenebaum's head. But this embarrassing goal was only the icing on a 3-1 win, powered by a Juan Pablo Angel brace, that kept New York in contention for one of the last three MLS Cup playoff spots with a match in hand. Steven Lenhart had the Crew's lone goal.

----------------------------------------------------------------
San Jose 2-2 Kansas City (CAB)
Despite a valiant effort by the Quakes and a sick save by Joe Cannon in the final two minutes, a 3-2 loss saw the re-expansioners eliminated from the MLS Cup playoffs. The two clubs traded shots, with Claudio Lopez scoring first in the 18th minute and then Scott Sealy answering two minutes later. The Wizards regained the lead in the 27th minute but rookie Shea Salinas scored his first goal of his MLS career, a pin-ball putback, to finish the scoring. Then, Herculez Gomez scored the winner in the final minute of extra time off a corner.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Los Angeles 0-3 Houston (Robertson Stadium)
Another year, another Beckham-less MLS Cup playoffs...just goes to show that you can't trade the whole farm for one prized cow. With ol' Bessy on the sideline due to yellow card accumulation, the terrible Galaxy defense surrendered three first half goals (own goal-14, Dwayne DeRosario-20 and Nate Jaqua-23) and were eliminated from playoff contention by the Dynamo, who clinched the Western Conference crown.

----------------------------------------------------------------
FC Dallas 1-3 Salt Lake (RES)
From hero to goat, Marcelo Saragosa scored to put Dallas ahead, but then saw two yellow cards inside of 20 minutes and was shown the door. Five minutes later, Yura Movsisyan equalized for the home team. Then, Will Johnson put RSL ahead on the other side of halftime, and finally Robbie Findlay finished the scoring in the 86th minute. The Hoops lost midfielder Pablo Ricchetti on a straight red in the 90th minute. They also lost out on a playoff spot, thanks to results in other matches. SIlly, Dallas. You should have kept him.

----------------------------------------------------------------

MLS Wednesday & Thursday (Week 30)

Wednesday, October 15
San Jose 1-2 Houston (Robertson Stadium)
San Jose's playoff hopes are on life support, after Houston's Stuart Holden put back two post-rattling rebounds. The win was made all the more impressive due to the fact that Houston's Kei Kamara (ex-Quake) was ejected in just the 11th minute. Scott Seally equalized for the visitors in minute 68, but Holden would find the back of the net with an injury-time thriller.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, October 16
New England 1-2 DC United (RFK)
Despite the turds they've been laying since winning the US Open Cup, DC United is still in the hunt for a wild card spot in the MLS Cup playoffs, thanks to a second-half brace by Francis Doe. Doe's dos doozies came following Taylor Twellman's 58th minute goal, his eighth of the season.

MLS Thursday: No break for Quakes (Week 28)

Los Angeles 1-3 Chicago Fire (CAB)
An 89th minute PK, converted by Kenny Cooper (his 16th goal of the year), saved a draw for the Hoops at home against San Jose. Ryan Johnson scored for the Quakes in the 58th minute after collecting a ball chipped over (and dummied by Scott Sealy) the Dallas backline and beating the keeper. But a Francisco Lima handball in the box gave Dallas the equalizer from the spot.

----------------------------------------------------------------

MLS Saturday (Week 25)

Columbus 1-1 Toronto FC (BMO Field)
Pat Noonan's first goal since returning to MLS from Europe helped the Crew secure a point in Toronto. Carl Robinson's sixth minute goal put the Reds on top until Noonan's equalizer in the 40th minute. Both goals were rather impressive, but since the Crew's goal was broadcast on a tiny screen so the local station could broadcast a weather report, I'll show you Robinson's one-timer.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Los Angeles 0-2 Kansas City (Arrowhead Stadium)
Goals by Josh Wolff and Davy Arnaud, just two minutes part (67th and 69th minutes), couldn't make up for the terrible NFL-lined pitch that this game was played on. I couldn't tell if it was a hand ball or a Hail Mary. Yuck. And double yuck for Los Angeles. All those changes and they look like the same ol' terrible Galaxy. The best thing about this game was the box score which features this gem: KC -- Josh Wolff (caution; Shirt Removal) 67.

----------------------------------------------------------------
FC Dallas 2-2 DC United (RFK Stadium)
Andre Rocha score his second goal of the season and saved a draw for FC Dallas against United, who had jumped out to a 2-1 lead on goals by Jaime Moreno and Santino Quaranta. The assist on Moreno's goal went to new addition, Thabiso Khumalo. Kenny Cooper scored the opening goal of the match in the ninth minute and demonstrated why Bob Bradley must call him up.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Salt Lake 1-2 New York (Giants Stadium)
Juan Pablo Angel and Dave van den Bergh each scored a goal in the second-half to bring the Red Bulls back from a 1-0 deficit in the first half, courtesy of Yura Movsisyan.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Houston 1-1 San Jose (BSS)
The point-split theme continued in the nightcap with Houston saving a draw at San Jose. Ronnie O'Brien put the home team up 1-0 in the 50th, and then Brian Ching, fresh from his national team duty, provided the equalizer in the 71st minute. But an 85th-minute ejection of Eddie Robinson for a second caution made things interesting.

MLS Saturday (Week 24)

Chivas USA 3-1 Toronto FC (BMO Field)
Ante Razov set up two goals and scored the third, as Chivas USA surged past Toronto in a match that saw a bizarre double ejection of Alecko Eskandarian (TFC) and Mario Velez (CHV) in first-half injury time. Velez and Eskandarian collided midair collision and ref Kevin Stott gave both straight reds. The loss of Velez, however, clearly hurt Toronto more than Esky's absence for Chivas.
----------------------------------------------------------------
New England 0-4 Columbus (Crew Stadium)
Since winning the SuperLiga, the Revs can't seem to get back on track. Meanwhile, the Crew are looking like the team to beat, as Guillermo Barros Schelotto's two assists and a goal put down the Revolution. Second-half sub Jason Garey picked up a brace and Andy Iro rounded out the lopsided contest.
----------------------------------------------------------------
New York 0-1 Chicago (Toyota Park)
Stephen King was "It," as his 36th minute goal decided the match in favor of the home team, handing New York their first loss since July 10 and putting Chicago in second place overall.

----------------------------------------------------------------
DC United 1-2 San Jose (BS Stadium)
Arturo Alvarez continues to make FC Dallas look stupid for trading him (and Bob Bradley for not calling him up), as he scores his sixth of the year for San Jose. Darren Huckerby added another in the second half. DC's Santino Quaranta cut the deficit in the 76th minute, but United could not find the equalizer.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Real Salt Lake 2-2 Los Angeles (HDC)
With Becks on international duty, bookend goals by Bryan Jordan and Edson Buddle gave the Galaxy a point at home against RSL. Salt Lake's Yura Movsisyan and Will Johnson scored on either side of halftime.

MLS Saturday (Week 23)

August 30
New York 0-0 DC United (RFK Stadium)
Battle of the beltway, ends in a scoreless draw. Helping neither team.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Los Angeles 2-2 New England (Gillette Stadium)
Goals by Taylor Twellman and Shalrie Joseph sandwiched (and spoiled) a Landon Donovan brace.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Columbus 2-1 Dallas (PHP)
Dallas led for just two minutes on a Jeff Cinningham goal before Alejandro Moreno and Eddie Gaven scored two goals in three minutes to give the visitors the win.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Kansas City 1-2 San Jose (BS Stadium)
Darren Huckerby's 83rd minute goal saved the Quakes from yet another draw, after San Jose's Arturo Alvarez and KC's Davy Arnaud traded goals on either side of halftime.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Toronto 1-2 Chivas USA (HDC)
TFC's struggles continue as a 19th minute goal by Jim Brennan was erased by a goal by Alecko Eskandarian a minute later, but it was an Atiba Harris goal four minutes into injury time that gave Chivas USA the win.

MLS Saturday Round-up (Week 22)

August 23
Colorado 0-3 DC United (RFK Stadium)
It wasn't a great start of the post-Clavijo era for Colorado, as Luciano Emilio proved he can give as good as he can get, setting up teammates Joe Vide and Santino Quaranta before Quavas Kirk cleaned-up a rebound to round out the scoring in this lopsided contest.

----------------------------------------------------------------
New England 1-1 Toronto FC (BMO Field)
Taylor Twellman demonstrated that he is well on the way to regaining his form with his second consecutive match with a goal, but Toronto was able to stop the bleeding with Chad Barrett equalizer in the second half. TFC is still on the Carlos Ruiz watch, as the Guatemalan douche still hasn't reported to Canada after being traded from the Galaxy last week. There is some question whether Ruiz will ever show. I, for one, would say good riddance.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Real Salt Lake 0-3 Columbus (Crew Stadium)
An assist and a PK goal by Guillermo Barros Schelotto and the Crew had a rather comfortable lead by halftime over the visiting Salty Lakers. Brad Evans added his third of the season in the 55th minute in a play begun by -- you guessed it -- GBS. MLS reduxer Clint Mathis made an appearance in the 72nd minute for RSL, but was a nonfactor.

----------------------------------------------------------------
FC Dallas 1-1 Kansas City (CAB)
It took 85 minutes and a FC Dallas red card, but KC defender Jimmy Conrad saved a point at home with an injury-time equalizer. It appeared as if the Hoops would make a seventh minute Andre Rocha golazo stand up, despite playing with 10 men due to second caution given to Pablo Ricchetti in the 62nd minute, but the pressure in the final minutes paid off for the Wiz. KC has a long way to go, however, with just five points from the last five matches.

----------------------------------------------------------------
San Jose 0-0 Chivas USA (HDC)
Despite creating several chances, Chivas USA were forced to share the points with their California neighbors. The Quakes are still without a loss since July 5th, but four draws and just three wins won't move you up in the standings too much.

Huckerby fan keeps MLS vlog

California-based Norwich City fan Graham Yallop (no relation to Quakes coach Frank) has been keeping tabs on their favorite son's excursion in the States.

The 32-year-old Englishman has been posting a YouTube vlog detailing Darren Huckerby's time with the San Jose Earthquakes, and he's been getting real buzz online, receiving 10,000 hits in eight hours, according to Norwich Evening News 24.

“The reason for starting it was for no other reason than sending a video to my best mate to allow him to keep up with the man's progress and new surroundings, nothing more," Yallop told the Norwich Evening News. "The reaction and feedback from both Norwich and Quakes fans has been amazing. The first video has 100 comments and growing with 28,000 hits.”

MLS Saturday Round-up (Week 21)

August 16
FC Dallas 1-2 Columbus (Crew Stadium)
Toronto trade bait Jeff Cunningham scored for his new club in 35th minute, but two second half goals scored three minutes apart sealed the home win for the Crew. Guillermo Barros Schelotto knotched his 11th and 12th assists on the goals by Brian Carroll and Brad Evans, as Columbus keeps pace with New England in the East.

-------------------------------------------------------------
DC United 1-0 Chicago (Toyota Park)
The return of the native son ended up being a bit anti-climatic, as Brain McBride's Olympic fruitlessness continued in his first match back in MLS. DC, however, got a goal from their winger Fred and a clean sheet from a newcomer of their own, Liberian goalkeeper Louis Crayton. It was the first match since their US Open Cup encounter and Cuauhtemoc Blanco's notorious head-butt, but it was a surprisingly clean match, although DC accounted for seven of the eight yellow cards.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Real Salt Lake 3-4 Houston (Robertson Stadium)
There were six goals scored in a sloppy first half. Unfortunately for RSL fans, Houston scored four of them. After RSL's Yura Movsisyan and the Dynamo's Brian Mullan traded goals in the first 16 minutes, Salt Lake went ahead in the 25th thanks Javier Morales. Houston, however, would respond with three unanswered goals in 13 minutes from Brian Ching, Ricardo Clark and Nate Jaqua. RSL made the last 10 minutes of the match entertaining after substitute Kenny Deuchar scored his third of the season in the 80th minute. This match saw the return of Clint Mathis, who entered the match at the hour mark for Andy Williams, but like fellow American Brian McBride, he was unable to mark his return with a goal.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Kansas City 1-2 Colorado (DSG Park)
The Rapids were without head coach Fernando Clavijo, who reportedly left for Uruguay for family emergency this week, leaving assistant Gary Smith in charge and perhaps this was a good thing for Conor Casey who nearly had as much production in this match as he's had all season, scoring two goals and snapping the Rapids two-game losing streak.

-------------------------------------------------------------
New England 0-4 San Jose (BS Stadium)
Two beautiful goals by Ronnie O-Brien bookended this one-sided contest, as New England continued their SuperLiga championship hangover with a 4-0 loss to cellar-dwellers San Jose. In between O'Brien's goals, Ryan Johnson and Scott Sealy got in the act for the Quakes, who haven't lost since July 5th.

MLS Sunday round-up (Week 19)

August 3
Los Angeles 2-3 San Jose (McAfee Coliseum)
San Jose's Ryan Cochrane delivered the knockout blow in the Battle of California, scoring in the 90th minute to defeat their downstate rivals. After going up 2-0 in the first half on goals by new additions Arturo Alvarez and Darren Huckerby, the Galaxy fought back with a goal just before halftime by Landon Donovan and another in the 76th minute by Edson Buddle. But Cochrane's clean-up of a Huckerby rebound gave San Jose the full three points.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FC Dallas 2-0 Toronto FC (BMO Field)
A brace by FC Dallas' Kenny Cooper gave Toronto their first home loss of the season. Dallas fans must be thanking their lucky stars that their club put the kibosh on a Euro tarnsfer for Franken-Coop. The match was scoreless until the 81st minute when Cooper converted from the spot, after Amado Guevara was given an off-the-ball red card for a foul on Pablo Ricchetti in the penalty area. TFC saw another player sent off, Marco Valez, in the 84th minute before Cooper added a second goal in injury time. Match referee Baldomero Toledo's terrible decisions and total lack off control demonstrated once again the need for more professional and competent referees in MLS. Toledo even sent off a TFC trainer for apparently mouthing off from the sideline.

Cooper's second
TFC trainer sent off
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes from around MLS

Girl Group Prima J featured on MLS Entertainment

MLSnet.com trying to add slickness and beer

The web site for Major League Soccer has added two new pages" MLS Entertainment and MLS Pubs.

Galaxy trial Gambian youth

Gambian centerback Mandou Bojang is currently on trial with the Los Angeles Galaxy. The 19-year-old was scouted by Galaxy Director of Soccer Paul Bravo on a recent trip to Africa. The 6'0" defender was a member of Ghana's U-17 and U-20 World Cup squads.

McBride for a ham sandwich, please

The McBride deal is done and it is as stupid as we had anticipated.

Timmy's here!

Chicago defeated Everton 2-0 with American goalkeeper Tim Howard between the pipes in the first of a series of friendlies in the United States for the EPL club. Everton's James Vaughn was ejected for a poorly timed tackle of Fire’s Daniel Woolard. Chris Rolfe and Tomasz Frankowski scored for the Fire.

Nicol: Heaps sent off for being punched

New England head coach Steve Nicol said that tournament officials should review the tape of the post-match brawl between his side and Mexican club Atlante. "I'm hoping the referee will look at it and see whether he made the right decision. Jay said the guy punched him and he got sent off so hopefully we can look at that and the referee can look at it and hopefully he has made an error in judgment and speak up for it."

San Jose add another player

San Jose continues to try to remake their team. After adding Arturo Alvarez from FC Dallas, the Earthquakes are close to signing Marlon Alex James, a 31-year-old St. Vincentian striker who currently plays for Kedah FA in the Malaysian League.

Rumblings in LA, no it wasn't the earthquake

Washington Post soccer blogger Steve Goff is reporting that MLS moneybags Phil Anschutz is unhappy with the Galaxy's performance in 2008, and many are speculating this could signal the end of Alexi Lalas' reign as GM.

Hoops oops good for Quakes

Further proof that the FC Dallas front office has absolutely no clue what they are doing, the Hoops traded Arturo Alvarez to the San Jose Earthquakes on Monday for allocation money and a 2009 SuperDraft first-round pick.

Alvarez began his career with the original Quakes in 2003 before Dallas acquired him for the 2005 season. Last year, he was a regular starter for Dallas scoring three goals and adding three assists. MOdest numbers to be sure, but Alvarez has already equaled those numbers with half the season yet to be played.

And although he didn't make the final cut, U.S. Olympic coach Peter Nowak thought enough of the 23-year-old striker to invite him into camp in preparation for the Beijing Games.

This move makes absolutely no sense for Dallas, especially given that their best forward, Kenny Cooper, may be headed to Cardiff City shortly. Perhaps Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman let the 4-0 win over the Galaxy to go to his head. Allow me to set the record straight. No, you are not an offensive juggernaut. Yes, the Galaxy defense is that bad.

We ranked Alvarez and his frosted bangs No.1 in our U.S. Pool Party (players who deserve a call-up to the national team).



And in an apparent quest to remake FC Dallas into his old team Southern Methodist University, Hyndman traded second and third round selections in next year's SuperDraft to Colorado for former SMU midfielder Bruno Guarda on Monday.

MLS Sunday (Week 18)

JULY 27
New York 1-1 San Jose (BS Stadium)
The Earthquakes scored both goals in this one, unfortunately one of them was in their own net. Darren Huckerby gets his first goal in MLS, and defender Eric Denton accidentally plays a goal into his own net. New York continues to match bystanders.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Los Angeles 0-4 Dallas (PHP)
An explosion of offense at Pizza Hut Park, as Kenny Cooper leads FC Dallas in a rout of Los Angeles. Cooper scored twice in two and then helped create a goal for Dominic Oduro in the 36th minute to put the game away at halftime. The Galaxy's occassionally potent offense never got going in this one and Dallas' Abe Thomspn added a fourth in the 89th.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chicago 0-0 Kansas City (CAB)
Mired at the bottom of the table, a scoreless draw at home doesn't decrease the heat on coach Curt Onalfo's seat (hey, that rhymed). Kansas City fired eight shots on goal but Jon Busch saved each one, while Kevin Hartman picked up a clean sheet on the other end, saving five.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Columbus 2-0 Colorado (DSG Park)
The Rapids drop consecutive matches at home. Crew noob Steven Lenhart, making his first MLS start, scored his third goal of the year in the 21st minute, and substitute Jason Garey chipped the keeper in the 75th. Lenhart didn't see the second half, however, after throwing an elbow into Facundo Erpen's face in the 42nd minute and receiving a red card. Maybe he thought he was a Wet Ham supporter.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MLS Saturday (Week 17)

JULY 19
San Jose 0-0 Toronto (BMO Field)
After dominating much of the match against MLS worst club, TFC continues to search for a consistent scorer, as 11 shots went begging in this scoreless draw. San Jose debuted DP Darren Huckerby, while the Reds gave 16-year-old forward Abdus Ibrahim his first start, but neither could find their way to the scorer's sheet. Toronto's futility in front of goal, which included a blocked PK, was jeered by the home fans, as they once again settled for a draw.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Los Angeles 2-2 New York (Giants Stadium)
Over 46,000 were on hand to see the home side recover from an early deficit only to surrender an equalizer in injury time. The Galaxy, apparently unable to trade away the Guatemalan striker, started Carlos Ruiz who finally got off the snide scoring the first goal of the match. But Red Bulls new addition Jorge Rojas set up Dave van den Bergh for the equalizer in the 35th minute, a powerful right-footer inside the left post. Juan Pablo Angel chose finesse over power and chip the keeper from near the left-side endline in the 71st, but Landon Donovan evened things up again with his 12th goal of the season two minutes into extra time, a "wonder goal" apparently.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colorado 2-2 FC Dallas (PH Park)
Colorado's bookends of two Dallas goals forced the Hoops to a draw. Herculez Gomez got things going quickly with a goal in the fifth minute. The other three goals came in the second half, as Kenny Cooper's penalty kick tied it and Juan Toja's second goal of the year in the 64th minute put FC Dallas on top for approximately three minutes. That's when Conor Casey scored his third of the season to lock things at 2-2.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Real Salt Lake 0-0 Chicago (Toyota Park)
Our second scoreless draw of the night. These teams couldn't find the goal in a goal-making factory. A total of four shots of goal combined. It's enough to make someone headbutt someone. Please tell me Blanco headbutted someone.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MLS Saturday (Week 16)

JULY 12
Columbus 0-2 Real Salt Lake (R-E Stadium)With their coach sitting out the match due to suspension, Real Salt Lake ended Columbus' unbeaten streak at five games, with two goals by Javier Morales in the third minute and Robbie Findlay in the 78th.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colorado 1-1 San Jose (BS Stadium)
Two terrific headers decided this contest. San Jose Rookie Ryan Johnson scored his third goal of year off a set piece for Colorado in the 62nd minute, but Colorado's Conor Casey equalized just 12 minutes later.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toronto 1-2 Chicago (Toyota Park)
A John Thorington goal in the 92nd minute gave Chicago the full three points at home against Toronto. Fire forward Chris Rolfe scored his fourth of the year just six minutes in, but second-half sub, 17-year-old Adbsu Ibrahim, scored an equalizer in his first match for TFC.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------d

San Jose gets Huckerby from TFC (updated)

According to the San Jose Mercury News, Huckerby has signed with the San Jose Earthquakes after Toronto sold San Jose the Discovery Player rights for money and a San Jose DP slot.

Huckerby rejected a bid by Toronto FC after visiting the club and expressing concern over BMO Field's artificial grass surface, according to reports from various English and Canadian media. Of course, if he agrees to a contract in MLS he'll have to play on a few turfgrass surfaces in the course of the season anyway.

Huckerby's last club was Norwich City, where he was enshrined in the Norwich City Hall of Fame, where he was instrumental in winning his side promotion to the EPL in 2004-05. At one time he was a rumored prospect of Liverpool and Celtic. He is currently out of contract.

MLS Saturday (Week 15)

JULY 5
Chicago 2-2 Columbus (Crew Stadium)
With three minutes left, the Fire thought they had picked up a road win, but Steven Lenhart equalized and saved the draw for Columbus. Chicago's Chris Rolfe cleaned up a rebound eight minutes into the match and then the Fire doubled its lead thanks to Calen Carr. But Columbus cut the lead with Nigerian Emmanuel Ekpo scoring his second goal in as many games before Lenhart's equalizer.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Jose 0-1 Chivas USA (HDC)
Ante RAzov's spectacular free kick in the 88th minute gave Chivas USA the win and the points, despite a spirited (but toothless) attack by San Jose and some stand-on-his-head goalkeeping (as usual) by the Quakes' Joe Cannon.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MLS homecomings continue

According to the Houston Chronicle, American forward Nate Jaqua has been offered his old job back, temporarily.

Dynamo president Oliver Luck told the chronicle that they have offered the 26-year-old striker a contract to rejoin the Dynamo with an eye toward trading him to the expansion Seattle Sounders FC. Jaqua has reportedly expressed a desire to play in Seattle because it is close to his native Oregon.

Jaqua left Houston last December for Cashpoint SC Rheindorf Altach in Austria, playing just half a season before being released.

In other transfer news, San Jose is waiting on league approval of their new signing Brazilian midfielder Francisco Lima. Lima played for Brescia in Italy last season, his fourth team in three years.

MLS Wednesday: Spoils shared

JUNE 18
New York 1-1 New England (Gillette Stadium)
Steve Ralston equalized a Seth Stamler shot on the other side of halftime, splitting the points with the struggling Red Bulls at home. Kheli Dube continues to be in the center of things as his knock down of a Jay Heaps searching ball found an unmarked Ralston in the box.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Jose 0-0 Real Salt Lake (Rice-Eccles Stadium)
A real yawnfest, as RSL can't take advantage, despite being a man up (at home) for the entire second half, after Jason Hernandez picked up two stupid yellow cards in just under 20 minutes. Terrible.