Magee’s emergency goalkeeping performance earns him Player of the Week nod 27 Jun 2011 A midfielder and a goalkeeper split the MLS Player of the Week Award. Except that they’re the same guy. Confused? Don’t be. Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Mike Magee won the award after the votes from the North American Soccer Reporters were counted.
Fit to be tied: Number of draws skyrocketing in MLS 16 Jun 2011 Forget about the power rankings. If you are betting on MLS games, and aren’t putting money on draws, you aren’t looking at the stats. The combined record of MLS teams this season is 78-78-100. Of the 128 games played this season, 50 have ended in ties.
MLS needs to suspend Beckham for awful challenge on Tchani 12 Jun 2011 In a season marred by some ugly tackles, injured stars and star suspension, Beckham’s awful challenge that knocked TFC’s Tony Tchani out of the game was the talking point of the match. And, no doubt, it will be looked at by the MLS disciplinary domos later this week. This isn’t unusual, MLS, as a rule, reviews all major incidents from the weekend’s matches.
Donovan named May’s MLS Player of the Month 4 Jun 2011 Donovan got the nod by leading the ballots cast by the members of the North American Soccer Reporters. Donovan scored six goals in the month of May, as the Galaxy surged to the top of the Western Conference, albeit by playing a heck of a lot more league games than the recognized big dogs on the block, Real Salt Lake.
TFC’s rebuilding mantra has been proven wrong 30 May 2011 The significance of Toronto FC’s 6-2 home loss to the Philadelphia Union can’t be ignored. Through five coaches and three GMs/directors of soccer/technical directors, TFC fans have heard of long-term plans, rebuilding processes and the continuing pleas to fans for patience. Philadelphia was a raw expansion franchise last season. It has played a third of its schedule in year two of its existence, and it’s in first place in the East. You could make the argument that the Union is at a better point now than TFC has been any time in its history. When the Union faced TFC — on TFC's home turf — it was men vs. boys.
Braun’s hat trick earns him MLS Player of the Week honours 16 May 2011 Chivas USA sent a message to the rest of Major League Soccer on Sunday, beating the Red Bulls 3-2 in New Jersey. And, Justin Braun, who scored all three goals for the Goats, was named the MLS Player of the Week after all of the votes made by the North American Soccer Reporters were talled.
MLS Cup to be staged in Los Angeles 10 May 2011 LS has decided to keep its championship game at a neutral-site venue. And, it will go back to the safety of a warm-weather site for the Nov. 20 MLS Cup. The league announced Tuesday that the game will be awarded to the Home Depot Centre, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA.
TFC’s Plata wins MLS Player of the Week honour 9 May 2011 The shortest player in Major League Soccer has made a major impact. Toronto FC became the eighth separate team in eight weeks to have an MLS Player of the Week, as the North American Soccer Reporters gave the honour to Joao Plata, the Ecuadorean midfielder selected 49th in this year’s SuperDraft.
MLS needs to build on Real Salt Lake’s run in Champions Leagues to come 28 Apr 2011 Real Salt Lake finally lost a home game, the first since 2009. With a 1-0 win in the second leg, thanks to a goal from Chilean national-teamer Humberto Suazo, Monterrey took the CONCACAF Champions League title.
Donovan is the first domestic Player of the Week winner in 2011 25 Apr 2011 It’s taken until week six of the season. But, finally, there is a domestic Player of the Week in MLS. Landon Donovan was named the winner of the weekly honour after the votes from the North American Soccer Reporters were counted. He was in on all three goals as the Galaxy thrashed Portland 3-0 on Saturday.