Major League Soccer Players in World Cup

Here are some MLS players that will make an impact in Team USA at the 2010 World Cup.  Kyle Beckerman, midfielder, helped Salt Lake to win on the MLS Cup last season.  As for the World Cup, he may be a victim of too many midfield players in the U.S. team but, if an injury happens, he could be dispatched.  Jonathan Bornstein a Chivas USA defender.  It may be bad luck, but earlier this month he was smack in the middle of the goal in a 2-1 U.S. loss to the Netherlands.  He is expected to play this summer his first World Cup.  Conor Casey a Colorado Rapids striker.  Last season Casey made 16 goals for Colorado, putting him on the roster bubble. 

He could be one of the toughest roster choices of Coach Bob Bradley for the U.S. team.  He took part in the 3-2 win over Honduras in San Pedro Sula last October, which secure the U.S.’ berth for the World Cup.  Brian Ching a Houston Dynamo striker.  He was a player in the 2006 World Cup team, but did not play.  Now he has another shot in South Africa.  Landon Donovan a forward/midfielder, L.A. Galaxy.  He proved himself by playing well in the EPL while he was on loan for Everton.  He has over 100 caps in his U.S. career.  He was a starter for three games at the 2006 World Cup.  The U.S. is counting on his effort and leadership in South Africa.

Red Bulls Will Score

The New York Bulls will try to end their 13 game winless streak and hope to earn points when they are matched against MLS Cup depending champion Culumbus Crew this Sunday at 6:00 pm in the Giants Stadium.  Even with one man down in the last 30 minutes of last Sundays match against FC Dallas, Red Bulls won by 3-2 even after Hoops tied the game twice.  Juan Pablo Angle, forward, scored two goals in the win as New York wins tree straight against FC Dallas.

Columbus is at present on top of the standing of the Eastern Conference with 39 points and a record of 10-3-9.  They have lost only one regular season game in their last 10-1-7 and has not tasted defeat in their last eight 60-0-2.  They enjoyed a bye last weekend but won against Puerto Rico Islanders last August 18 in their first home match Champions League Group.  Three days prior, the Crew reeled their fifth straight win with a 2-0 victory over FC Dallas.

Jaime Moreno Scores Twice for DC United

Jaime Moreno, in his first stint back in a DC United uniform, scored his first two goals of the season ten minutes apart to lift DC United to a scintillating two goals to one victory over FC Dallas. With the shot count on goal at 11-3 in favor of DC United, the team was one goal down at halftime because of Andre Rocha’s 28^th minute goal.

His first goal came in the 56^th minute after a long pass from Bryan Namoff and shot the ball right off the diving FC Dallas goalkeeper. Ten minutes later, he received an assist from Christian Gomez who thread past two FC Dallas defenders to chip the shot into the goal past the Dallas goalkeeper. The FC Dallas goalkeeper Ray Burse played in lieu of Dario Sala, who was red carded in their last match. Other defenders missing for FC Dallas was Daniel Torres, who was recovering from a broken hand played in place of George John, who was recovering from a hamstring injury.

MLS Expansion for Barcelona at Miami to Be Nixed

FC Barcelona had earlier intended to be a major player in the emerging MLS market by putting up a team for Miami. Of all the bids that were submitted, the Barcelona-Miami bid was considered to be the most fiscally sound of all the expansion plans.

But the recent financial crisis has made such a move financially risky and with this Barcelona Director General Joan Olive has made moves to divest its interests in the planned expansion. Despite the desire to be part of the MLS, the current economic downturn has made the risks greater than the expected rewards thus forcing the hand of Bolivian American magnate Marcelo Claure to reassess his bid for the team. But the door to the expansion club side has not been entirely closed and if there is a change in the economy then another round of reviews would be in order.

FC Barcelona retains a thirty percent stake in the new organization which translates not to dollars and cents but actually the branding and sporting requirements of the team. This includes personnel, the coach and the players. The decision to award the franchise is still a long ways off and many say that this move is seen as a way to leverage the stiff $40 million fee for the expansion rights.

Seattle Sounders Is Ready To Play

Seattle Sounders are ready to play a first game in Major league soccer. The Sounders being two months before the first game have fans waiting at the gate with tickets exceeding more than Major League Soccer’s average selling during the season last year.

Joe Roth, filmmaker, team co-owner actor Drew Carey, Paul Allen co founder of Microsoft corp. and Disney as team sponsor. With all this, the team was able to hire on Sigi Schmid, Freddie Ljungberg from England. NFL Seahawks has a partnership with the Sounders.

The Sounders make it the 15th newest team to come to the Major League Soccer League in the United State.

Seattle Sounders has a contract with Microsoft to sponsor free TV games all year. This has put a strain on the with sharing the airwaves.

MLS Players Suspended

Jeff Parke of the NY Red Bulls made his public apology Saturday after being suspended for 10 games from Major League Soccer because of taking up a certain substance which is banned by the league.

A substance called androstatriendione and boldenone metabolites were positively found with both Parke and Jon Conway during a routine check up. According to the two, they bought the supplemental vitamin in a local store.

Parke admits he was careless that he had not consulted the proper team personnel before taking those vitamins. He also said that he is willing to take full responsibility of his acts and hopes that it would serve as a lesson to other players.

It was the first time that an MLS player has been suspended due to a banned substance. There has been no official statement from Conway since the suspension has been released.

Juan Carlos Osorio who is the coach of Red Bulls was really shocked when he heard the suspension. He reiterated that both players are sorry for what happened but they didn’t intend to embarrass anyone and it was an honest mistake which they have accepted.

With the suspension, both players are not allowed to play in any competition within the 10 game suspensions. In addition, each of the players would be fined 10% of their basic salary.

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