CCL: United thru on PKs

After a 2-2 result in the home leg, DC United managed a 1-1 draw away against Salvadoran squad CD Luis Angel Firpo and then advanced on penalty kicks 5-4 in the preliminary stage of the CONCACAF Champions League. Meanwhile, the USL-1 Puerto Rico Islanders defeated MLS club Toronto FC 1-0 in aggregate.

New York, who managed a 2-2 draw in the away leg, will play at home today against T&T side W Connection FC. MLS clubs Columbus Crew and Houston Dynamo received byes into the group stage.

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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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 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 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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Canadian striker returns to MLS

Dutch club Heerenveen have confirmed that Canadian striker Will Johnson will be returning to Major League Soccer, after spending the past season on loan with De Graafschap.

The 21-year-old Johnson was originally signed by Chicago and made six appearances for the Fire, who still own the player's rights. Given Chicago's recent acquisition of Brian McBride, however, it is likely that Johnson will be traded. Toronto FC would certainly be interested since the thrice-capped Canadian national team player wouldn't count against their foreigner cap, like he would on American-based clubs.

MLS Sunday: Bulls stampede Reds (Week 21)

Toronto FC 0-2 New York
(Giants Stadium)
For the first time this season, the Red Bulls won back-to-back games, having scored a victory last Sunday against rivals DC United and adding a 2-0 win over Toronto FC this Sunday. Mike Magee scored the game-winner in the 37th minute and then Juan Pablo Angel added his seventh of the season in second-half injury time to seal it. The victory was made even more impressive considering that the Red Bulls played the entire second half down a man after Venezuelan defender Gabriel Cichero was sent off in the first minute of the second half for a flying elbow on Danny Dichio. Dichio, who had just come on to start the second half, could not continue and had to be substituted minutes later.

Goff: Mo headed to Scotland

Uber-blogger Steve Goff is reporting that Toronto FC midfielder and Olympian Maurice Edu is being courted by Scottish giants Rangers.

Two sources tell me that Toronto FC midfielder Maurice Edu, a USA Olympic starter and an emerging national team candidate, is close to joining Glasgow Rangers. I am told the transfer fee would approach $5 million. It's not a done deal, but the sides are apparently nearing an agreement.

If a deal is struck, Edu would join fellow American midfielder DaMarcus Beasley in Scotland, although rumors have had Beasley on the move as well, perhaps to the EPL.

MLS Saturday round-up (Week 20)

August 9
Toronto 1-0 Colorado (DSG Park)
While the Fire will have to wait till Brian McBride returns from the Olympics, Toronto's end of the deal is already paying dividends, as Chad Barrett delivered the game-winning goal for the Reds in the 44th minute off a free kick. The match got rather physical in the second half, and the cards were flying, including a second yellow ejection of Colin Clark in the 70th minute, which sunk any chance of a Colorado comeback.

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Chicago 2-1 New England (Gillette Stadium)
Even with the return of Double-T (Taylor Twellman) to the Revolution scorer's sheet, New England's SuperLiga fatigue (and the 74th minute ejection of midfield general Shalrie Joseph) caught up with them, as the SL champs allowed two goals by Gonzalo Segares and Wilman Conde in the final eight minutes and lost to the visiting Chicago Fire.
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Chivas USA 2-3 Kansas City (CAB)
Kansas City scored three unanswered and weathered a late comeback attempt to beat visiting Chivas USA. First half goals by Sasha Victorine and Claudio Lopez, gave the Wizards a somewhat comfortable lead, and when Davy Arnaud added a third in the 58th minute the match seemed all but over. However, Chivas made a late charge, ass Carey Talley scored in the 73rd and Justin Braun scored his third of the year to make it interesting in the final eight minutes.
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A real Dickov move

Scotsman Paul Dickov will snub Toronto FC and MLS to play in the English League One with Leicester City for a boatload of money. Dickov's dalliance with TFC appears to have been a rouse to collect a big payday from what is essentially a third division club.

TFC, who recently added Chicago forward Chad Barrett, have been searching for some consistency from its forwards and were looking to upgrade the position. With Dickov off the table, it is unknown whether TFC have a back-up plan to grab another Designated Player.

Maybe they should give Patrick McCabe a call.

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.

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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
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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.

A better deal than Barrett for McBride

Ok, what would you do in this situation? You are the GM of a professional soccer franchise. Thanks to a complicated and convoluted player acquisition policy, you have acquired the rights to a aging superstar. But this player doesn't want to play for your team and has stated on the record that he would only join the league if he could play in his home town. The league wants him back in the league, his home town club wants him on their roster, and you, well, you are in the driver's seat, with all the bargaining chips, looking down from the bird's eye view, master of you domain, etc., etc.

These were the circumstances that Reds GM Mo Johnston and coach John Carver found themselves in when Brian McBride decided he wanted to finish his career at home in Illinois with the Chicago Fire. TFC holds the designated player allocation and therefore have first dibs at McBride. So with all that bargaining power what did MoJo and the Reds do? Well, according to Ives Galarcep, the trade will look a little something like this:

The trade between Chicago and Toronto FC for the rights to Brian McBride does involve Chad Barrett. A source with knowledge of the deal confirmed to SBI that the package I discussed last night is, in fact, what Toronto will receive. TFC will acquire Barrett, a first-round pick and allocation money in exchange for the allocation spot Chicago will now use to acquire McBride.

Chad Barrett...Wait a minute, Chad Barrett? You could literally ask for anyone on that team sans Blanco and possibly anyone on another team (if the league is desperate enough to engineer it) -- and the Reds ask for Chad (bleeping) Barrett. He's not even the best of the midget twins in Chicago. Assuming that Paul Dickov is indeed waiting in the wings, here's a few deals that would have been better for Toronto than the one they settled on.

FIVE DEALS BETTER THAN BARRETT FOR MCBRIDE
1) Chicago get McBride; Toronto get Justin Mapp
There was plenty of talk that Mapp was off-limits in this deal, but that is plain baloney. TFC should have called Chicago's bluff and demanded the player. The league wanted this to get done, so they would have forced the Fire to deal him. Doesn't anybody remember what the league did to Dallas in order to get Landon Donovan back to L.A.?

2) Chicago get McBride; Toronto get Stephen King
Not only does he write scary bestsellers, he's a serviceable midfielder.

3) Chicago get McBride; Toronto get John Wolyniec; New York get Wilman Conde; Wolyniec moves closer to his dream of playing for every team in the league
A three-way trade with Los Angeles for Carlos Ruiz that would have sent Conde to Los Angeles was a possibility until Eduardo Dominguez made the move unnecessary for the Galaxy. This would be the second-best deal. Or Toronto could just take Conde.

4) Chicago get nothing; Toronto get nothing; McBride gets to focus on the Olympics.
This actually makes the most sense for all parties involved. McBride should give his recognizable face a break (pun intended) and then possibly play in 2009. Rest up for the Olympics.

5) Chicago get McBride; Toronto get a deep dish, Chicago style pizza...mmmmm.

Other trade talk:

Cardiff City are ready to pay a £2 million to MLSfor FC Dallas striker Kenny Cooper. Dallas is hoping that Cooper will turn down the overseas move, but have little power to stop it if Cooper agrees.

Montreal win battle of Canada

Viva la Impact. The USL.1's Montreal Impact have won the Canadian Championship series and earned a berth as the Canadian Champion to the CONCACAF Champions League after a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC in the final match of the Canadian tournament.

Montreal, entered the game with six points, and needed just a point to win the group, while Toronto FC faced a must-win situation. The final team in the group, Vancouver (USL.1) was already eliminated from contention.

Reds captain Jim Brennan served a ball to Rohan Ricketts putting the home side up 1-0 in the 15th minute, but the Impact's Roberto Brown equalized just 11 minutes later.

It's quite a blow for the up-and-down MLS club with a $2.5 million payroll, but not surprising given Toronto's inability to find a consistent scorer.