MLS Cup: Fill the Cup with Red Bull

New York 1-0 Real Salt Lake (Rio Tinto Stadium)
Cinderella still has wings, as the Red Bulls stun Real Salt Lake 1-0 in a match that saw the home side hit the post several times. Now thanks to the silly format of the MLS Cup, the east coast club has won the Western Conference crown, but more importantly, New York will be making their first appearance in the MLS Cup, where they will face Columbus. Dave van den Bergh was the hero for the Red Bulls, cleaning up a rebound in the 28th minute (truly a garbage goal). RSL had the bulk of the possession and the best of the chances from that point on, but it appears that the soccer gods are Mormons, as RSL went begging on chance after chance. Overall, it was a pretty dreadful match, especially when compared to Thursday's instant classic between Chicago and Columbus. But by far the best thing about this match is that now Alexi Lalas will have to make good on his promise to shotgun a can of Red Bull. I hope he gets sick.

MLS Cup: Conf. championships set

Eastern Conference Championship
Thursday, November 13
Chicago Fire @ Columbus Crew (7:30pmET  on ESPN2)
It's Blanco versus Schelotto. This is the real MLS Cup. It's too bad that it has to take place in the Eastern Conference championship. Both clubs rolled over their semi-final opponents, but Columbus will enjoy home field advantage. The Fire are just 6-5-4 on the road this season, whereas the Crew are 11-2-2 in the comfy confines of Crew stadium. The Crew and Fire drew both times they faced each other in the regular season, so this match has the makings of an instant classic.

Prediction: Chicago 2-3 Columbus

Western Conference Championship
Sunday, November 16
New York Red Bulls @ Real Salt Lake (TBA)

Who gets to claim underdog status in this one? The team who have been colossal underachievers since they joined the league in 2005 or the perennial choke artists New York, who barely made it into the playoffs before beating the defending Cup champs. Midfield play will figure greatly in this one and unfortunately for New York, RSL have Javier Morales who definitely should be in the conversation for MLS Cup MVP. Can Angel and company pull off another shocker?

Prediction: New York 2-3 Salt Lake (AET)

MLS Cup 2008 - (@ the HDC)

Sunday, November 23
3:30pmET on ABC, TeleFutura

MLS Cup: Crew, RSL advance

Kansas City 0-2 Columbus (1-3 agg.) (Crew Stadium)
The Columbus Crew dispatched the Eastern Conference fourth seed with a 2-0 win in the home leg of their semi-final series on Saturday. Brad Evans scored in the 7th minute and Robbie Rogers doubled the lead in the 58th. The Crew advance to the Eastern Conference final to face the Chicago Fire, winners in their semi-final series against New England.

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Salt Lake 2-2 Chivas USA (3-2 agg.) (HDC)
A 2-2 draw in the away leg was all that Real Salt Lake needed to advance after securing the one-goal advantage in the home leg against Chivas USA. A Sacha Kljestan PK in the 30th minute gave Chivas the lead, but Dema Kovalenko equalized for RSL and then Javier Morales put them ahead in the 77th. An 83rd minute goal by Justin Braun made the final few minutes interesting but they were unable to find the aggregate equalizer to force overtime. Salt Lake will face the winner of Sunday's Houston-New York match. New York and Houston drew 1-1 in the first match at Giants Stadium.

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MLS Cup: Favorites save late draws

Chivas USA 0-1 Salt Lake (Rio Tinto Stadium)
After saving RSL from elimination, Yura Movsisyan kept RSL moving in a positive direction, scoring the only goal, a cheeky back-heel, in the opener of Salt Lake's Western Conference semifinal with Chivas USA. His 90th minute goal gives Real the advantage going into the second-leg in Los Angeles next week.

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Houston 1-1 New York (Giants Stadium)
After backing into the playoffs courtesy of a DC United loss, New York managed to lead the home leg of their series with Houston for almost 40 minutes, as Juan Pablo Angel put the Red Bulls up 1-0 in the 48th minute before the Dynamo's Kei Kamara in the 85th minute. By virtue of finishing of finishing fifth in the Easy, New York shifted over to become the fourth seed in the Western Conference semifinals.

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Columbus 1-1 Kansas City (CAB)
Davy Arnaud's 53rd minute strike looked like it would be the game-winner against Eastern COnference top-seed Columbus, when Steven Lenhart scored a crucial equalizer two minutes into injury time. Columbus will now host Kansas City at Crew Stadium, even on goals (there is no road-goal advantage in the MLS Cup).

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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.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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The MLS Cup playoff picture

What if I show them my man boobs?

With one match to play, five teams are vying for the final three spots in the MLS Cup playoffs. Taking into consideration tie-breaks (head-to-head, then goal differential), these are the current standings:

TEAM	GP	W	L	D	Pts.	Diff
Kansas City	29	10	10	9	39	-4
New York	29	10	10	9	39	-3
Salt Lake	29	10	10	9	39	1
Colorado	29	11	14	4	37	-1
DC United	29	11	14	4	37	-7

As you can see, Kansas City, New York and Real Salt Lake are all in the driver's seat. The match to watch next week will be Real Salt Lake versus Colorado, with the winner most likely punching their ticket to the MLS Cup playoffs. The other four clubs will face teams that have already qualified or have been eliminated. DC face Columbus on Sunday, who will likely rest their starters, but even if the Red-and-Black manage a win, they could be eliminated if Colorado beat Real Salt Lake. This is because Colorado boast a much better goal differential, meaning DC would have to win by something like eight goals (depending on the score of Colorado v Salt Lake) to move ahead on the tie-break.

Is all that too confusing? 

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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MLS Saturday & Sunday (Week 29)

Saturday
New England 0-1 Kansas City (CAB)
Jimmy Conrad scored his sixth of the year for the Wizards. Flashback to preseason...Conrad tells Extratime tools that if he scores 10, KC wins the MLS Cup. Four more to go, Jimmy. With three playoff spots left, KC kept pace with RSL and New York with the win.

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Toronto 2-2 FC Dallas (PSP)
TFC's Marco Velez and Marvell Wynne scored in between a Kenny Cooper sandwich. But considering the top piece of bread was a PK given in injury time, Toronto FC fans were left with a bad taste in their mouths. The PK was awarded after rookie Julius James tugged Adrian Serioux down by the shirt. No video evidence was offered on mlsnet.

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Chivas USA 1-0 San Jose (BSS)
Justin Braun scored in the seventh minute and than the Goats Americano shut it down with good defense for 83 minutes. The win clinched a post-season berth for Chivas USA, who have won four in a row.

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Sunday
Columbus 2-2 Chicago (Toyota Park)
This just in: Brian McBride plays for the Chicago Fire. I know this because he finally reared his head (pun intended) in their match with his ol' team Columbus. Providing the first and last goal of the game in a 2-2 draw. Eddie Gaven and Guillermo Barros Schelotto scored second-half goals for the Crew. But more importantly, the Crew secured the Supporters Shield and are thus, this year's MLS league champions.

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DC United 0-0 Houston (Robertson Stadium)
A nil-nil draw moves DC closer to the offseason and further away from the playoffs. Hope that Open Cup trophy is big enough for Tom Soehn's tears. DC also loses defender Bryan Namoff for the next match, as he was shown a second caution in the 73rd minute.

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Colorado 2-3 Los Angeles (HDC)
David Beckham is away. Landon Donovan plays just 27 minutes. And the Galaxy ... win. Go figure. Edson Buddle, a Ugo Ihemelu own goal and Brandon McDonald's first of the year gave L.A. the 3-2 victory. Former U.S. national team defender Cory Gibbs and a Tom McManus PK gave Colorado its two.

MLS Thursday: Her name is Rio (Week 29)

Real Salt Lake pulled the tarp off Rio Tinto* Stadium on Thursday, but could only manage a draw against the visiting New York Red Bulls. NY's Dave van den Bergh scored off a rebound in the 31st minute, and RSL's Jamison Olave equalized 10 minutes later. Even an 83rd minute ejection of Juan Pietravallo couldn't deliver the winner for RSL in their new stadium's debut.



*Rio Tinto is a London, England-based corporation specializing in mining and exploration.

MLS Saturday & Sunday (Week 28)

Saturday
Chivas USA 3-0 DC United (RFK Stadium)
A tale of two teams headed in opposite directions, as Chivas put three past United at RFK. Ex-United striker Alecko Eskandarian scored in the first half (after a horrendous gaffe by United keeper Louis Crayton) and added an assist in the second. Sasha Victorine and new-Goat Dejair provided the second and third goals.

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Los Angeles 0-1 Columbus (Crew Stadium)
Alejandro Moreno's 43rd-minute goal was all the Crew needed to fend off the LA Beckhams who have won just once in their last 15 matches. Ouch. Can that be right? Yes it can. Highlights
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Salt Lake 2-2 New England (Gillette Stadium)
Javier Morales scored a beauty in the 13th minute and then set-up Andy Williams in the 73rd minute. With the 2-0 lead it looked like RSL would coast. Well, it looked like that for about four minutes, as Steve Ralston scored in the 77th and Taylor Twellman added the equalizer just two minutes later. BTW, Williams received his walking papers in extra time.

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Toronto 3-1 New York (Giants Stadium)
TFC broke an eight-game winless streak in style, thanks two goals by Chad Barrett. Sandwiched in between was a goal by Dane Richards, and then, TFC's added a icing goal in the 86th minute. Check out the extra gear on defender Marvell Wynne:

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Houston 3-1 Colorado (DSG Park)
After three goals in nine minutes, Hawaii 5-0 Brian Ching's two goals had Houston up 2-1. Conor Casey's goal would prove to be a conciliation goal, as Ricardo Clark iced it in the 19th minute. No goals in the second half, despite the 53rd minute double-caution ejection of Casey.

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Sunday
Chicago 1-1 Kansas City (CAB)
Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Michael Harrington traded goals on either side of halftime and the Wiz and Fire split the points.

MLS Saturday & Sunday (Week 27)

Saturday
Houston 1-1 Toronto FC (BMO Field)
How can you score two goals and still draw? A rare goal from defender Marvell Wynne saved a point at home against Houston, as Hunter Freeman knocked an own goal for the visitors.

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Columbus 1-0 New England (Gillette Stadium)
The power in the East may have shifted a bit to the west, as Columbus continues their good form, picking up a road win thanks to Chad Marshall's fourth of the season.

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Colorado 5-4 New York (Giants Stadium)
An old-fashioned NISL-like shootout, with seven goals in the first half. Omar Cummings goal in the third minute was quickly answered by New York's Mike Magee. Conor Casey put the Rapids back on top, only to see a Juan Pablo Angel PK and a Dane Richards strike put New York up 3-2. Then, defender Mike Petke equalized in the 43rd and Casey converted a PK of Colorado's own. New York's Matthew Mbuta equalized again for the home side before Casey completed his hattrick with the winner in the 90th minute. Whew.

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Salt Lake 3-2 San Jose (BS Stadium)
Yura Movsisyan sandwhiched two of his own between a Darren Huckerby brace, leaving the two sides deadlocked till the 59th minute, when RSL's Javier Morales emerged as the hero.

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Kansas City 1-2 Chivas USA (HDC)
Alecko Eskandarian and Sasha Victorine supplied the two goals for Chivas USa, who made the lead hold up despite a 70th minute bicycle kick from Josh Wolff.

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Sunday
DC United 0-3 Dallas FC (PHP)
The three-headed monster of Andre Rocha, Jeff Cunningham and Kenny Cooper kept DC United in the dumps. United are winless since taking the Open Cup title.

MLS Saturday & Sunday (Week 26)

SATURDAY
Toronto 0-2 Kansas City (CAB)
A Jack Jewsbury PK and a 79th minute from substitute Kevin Souter (his first of the year) -- could it get worse for Toronto? Only if Vancouver is given a team and then they're not even a novelty anymore.
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Chivas USA 1-0 Salt Lake (RES)
MLS journeyman Alecko Eskandarian scored the lone goal of the match, and RSL go winless in their last three matches.

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New England 1-1 Colorado (DSG Park)
Colorado's Colin Clarke and New England's Kenny Mansally traded goals on either side of the half, as the Rapids and Revs split the points.

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DC United 2-5 Los Angeles (HDC)
When even the star player who was fouled said you made a bad call, it's time to get a new job. With Los Angeles up 3-2, referee Terry Vaughn sent off defender Marc Burch for an ill-timed slide tackle on David Beckham. The controversial call overshadowed a terrific outing by Landon Donovan who scored a hattrick and added an assist. Alan Gordon and Peter Vagenas rounded out the scoring for the Galaxy, while DC's Devon McTavish and Thabiso Khumalo each scored their first goals of the season. Watch the goals here, but everyone really wants to see "the foul" so here:

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SUNDAY
FC Dallas 4-1 Chicago (Toyota Park)
There's no telling who will show up for FC Dallas in any given match, but this time they came to played, as Jeff cunningham scored two goals and Aaron Pitchkolan and Bruno Guarda added two more before Brian McBride scored a conciliation goal for the suddenly sorry Fire who have only four wins in their last 10 matches.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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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.
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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.

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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.

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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 Friday: Location, location, location (week 23)

August 30
Colorado 0-3 Real Salt Lake (R-E Stadium)
It's all where you play for these two team, as Fabian Espindola's brace kept RSL undefeated at home (7-0-5) , while Colorado's road woes continue with their seventh consecutive road loss.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Notes from around MLS

Introducing Thierry Henry? Ronaldo? Nah.
Next year's newest MLS franchise, Seattle Sounders FC, is inviting fans to come out the Qwest Field a little early, as in this Thursday, to attend a "special player announcement" press conference. Seattle is calling it an "historic event." Could it be the unveiling of Thierry Henry as Seattle's first DP? Probably, not. What's more likely is that it is Washington native Kasey Keller. But I wouldn't call that historic -- at 38 years old maybe you could call it prehistoric. I kid because I love.

A baseball fan, a NASCAR fan and a soccer fan walk into a bar...
Chivas USA have teamed up with Auto Club Speedway and the Los Angeles Angels of MLB to create ticket packages for those imaginary people who like all three of those sports. But I have to say, I've never met a soccer fan who liked baseball or NASCAR OR a NASCAR fan who liked foreigners or soccer OR a baseball fan who liked exercise.

Time to fire up the FIreClavijo web site again
The Rapids are 2-5-3 in their last 10 matches. They have scored a paltry 14 goals in 10 matches and allowed 16. Their only wins came against a Angel-less New York and a team in just as much turmoil as they, FC Dallas. But for some reason Fernando Clavijo is still employed. Could a change be in the thin air of the Mile High City? It depends on how you interpret Hercules Gomez recent post-loss comments:

"This one hurts. Three in a row at home hurts. The last three games we have had the better of the play. That's soccer and let's be honest: Something is not working, something is not right, something has to change. We are all professionals and we know what comes with the territory. I think we need to come out with a different attitude. Deciding to play the last 15-20 minutes of the game, every game, isn't really working out."

Clavijo must have naked pictures of Stanley Kroenke.

DC go deeper than Wells
DC have added a new goalkeeper to challenge current starter Zach Wells for time between the sticks. Liberian keeper Louis Crayton has been participating in practice with the team while paperwork is completed to add him, possibly before Saturday's match at Chicago. Crayton has played for eight Swiss clubs in 11 years and made 36 national team appearances.

RSL stands for Recycled Striker Land
Guess who's returning to MLS? Everyone's favorite, fat beer-guzzling Georgian -- no, not this guy -- Clint Mathis. The Galaxy currently hold the rights to Mathis, but are reportedly willing to trade them to RSL. A deal is close to being finalized.

Revs target Tico tough guy
After acquiring, then trading Pat Noonan, it appears that the Revolution are going to use their higher allocation spot to bring in 24-year-old Costa Rica defender Gabriel Badilla from Deportivo Saprissa.

Disarray in Dallas continues
I've said it many times before, but the firing of Steve Morrow was the beginning of the end of a team that at one time had potential to be a force in MLS, now they're just a farce. Their latest brain fart? Let's ship our future, MLS All-Star Juan Toja, off to Bucharest. Ok, so they were successful in keeping one player from jumping off their sinking ship (Kenny Cooper), but how do you allow Toja to be lured away by a team called FC Steaua Bucuresti. Oh, but they're not done, as they added forward Jeff Cunningham from Toronto FC (where neither got significant playing time) in exchange for a third round pick in the 2009 SuperDraft. Cunningham? Are you serious? I won't rehash my feelings on Cunny, but FC Dallas' incompetence in player personnel is mind boggling. The 'oops also added Dutch striker Victor Sikora, 30, who doesn't appear to bring a lot of firepower, having only scored three time in 46 appearances with NAC Breda.

RSL adds Double-R, the second
No, not Robbie Rogers. Robbie Russell. I know what you're thinking. Who? Russell is a 30-year-old American right back who has never been capped and has plied his trade in Norway and Denmark. So, there's that.

MLS Monday: Findley wins it for RSL

JULY 28
Toronto 1-2 Real Salt Lake (RES)
Three pretty goals, all in the second-half, decided this contest between two perennial underachievers. Real Salt Lake centerback Jamison Olave redirected a searching ball from near midfield past TFC goalkeeper Greg Sutton in the 63rd minute. Then, Amado Guevara equalized for the visitors in the 84th, with a perfectly placed free-kick from about 20-yards out, and it seemed like RSL would have to settle for a depressing draw at home. Enter hero, stage right, as Robbie Findlay put the Fightin' Mormons back on top in the 87th minute, collecting a Kyle Beckerman rebound and hitting a right-footer past Sutton for the win.

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.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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