Soccer By Ives

Report: Morales and Beckerman selected as All-Star reserves

 

                                                              Photo by ISIphotos.com

Real Salt Lake fans worried that their team wouldn't be represented in the MLS All-Star Game at Rio Tinto Stadium on July 29th can rest easy. RSL will have its players there.

The Deseret News is reporting that Kyle Beckerman and Javier Morales will be selected as all-star reserves. The report did not identify whether the players were chosen by MLS commissioner Don Garber, who makes two all-star selections, or Houston Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear, who is coaching the MLS All-Stars vs. Everton and will make five all-star reserve selections on Monday.

The selections come a year after Real Salt Lake had no players in the All-Star Game.

What's the SBI take? Beckerman is certainly deserving of the nod, and while Morales is definitely talented and one of the better playmakers in the league, does an MLS All-Star team that already had Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Freddie Ljungberg and Guillermo Barros Schelotto really need a player like him Morales on it? If the pick was made to appease the home team, Clint Mathis would have been a better and more meaningful choice.

What do you think of this news? Glad to see the home team represented? Think Morales got the nod a year later than he deserved it? Think Mathis was more deserving?

Share your thoughts below.

Movsisyan signs pre-contract with Randers, will leave RSL after season

Real Salt Lake striker Yura Movsisyan has signed a pre-contract with Danish club Randers, meaning he will leave MLS after the current season to join Randers on January 1, 2010. Movsisyan is in the final year of his MLS contract and is allowed to sign with a new club six months before his current contract expires.

A first-round pick in 2006 by Kansas City, Movsisyan has chosen to play out the final year of his initial four-year MLS contract, which means he will be able to leave Real Salt Lake on a free transfer. Patrick McCabe, Movsisyan's agent, confirmed the deal to SBI and revealed that Randers had approached RSL about a transfer fee to acquire Movsisyan during the summer but were turned down.

SBI's Mid-Day Musings (Notes on the U.S. Open Cup, Red Bulls and other MLS moves)

Today is one of those days where you watch the clock and count the minutes until game-time, making almost everything else you do in that time just a tad bit more difficult to do.

It's okay, we are all in that boat. I am trying to finish up the Bext XI, Worst XI, Team of the Week this afternoon, but am having a hard time getting it done. I will knock it out before 2pm for those of you who haven't abandoned your computers for a watch party by then.

If you're struggling to get through the day, here are some news, notes and soccer thoughts for you:

The Seattle Sounders defeated the Colorado Rapids, 1-0, in U.S. Open Cup play-in action in Washington. The victory helped the Sounders join D.C. United, Columbus, Chicago, Houston, New England, Chivas USA and Kansas City in the full U.S. Open Cup field. Kevin Forrest scored the lone goal for Seattle. The schedule and opponents for the eight MLS teams should be released today.

MLS Rewind: Stoppage time shootout in RSL-LA draw, KC ties DC and TFC downs Whitecaps

 

                                                      Photo by ISIphotos.com

Three stoppage time goals turned what looked to be a 1-0 Real Salt Lake victory into a 2-2 tie as the Los Angeles Galaxy scored both goals in extra time to stay unbeaten on the road.

Robbie Findley's header goal looked to be the winner for RSL before handball in the area gave Landon Donovan a game-tying penalty kick in the 91st minute. RSL found a go-ahead goal just a minute later after a clear penalty call on Bryan Jordan for bringing down Fabian Espindola. Will Johnson converted the PK to give RSL a 2-1 lead.

That would have been the game-winner if not for Mike Magee, who pounced on a deflected shot and slotted a tight-angled shot through the legs of Chris Seitz for a last-ditch equalizer. Here is Magee's equalizer:

Here are some other results from Wednesday night's action:

MLS Matchday Eight (Mid-week Edition)

 

Good evening all. The new MLS week starts early this time around with a pair of Wednesday night tilts to get things going.

D.C. United is on the road taking on Kansas City tonight (8:30pm kickoff), while the Los Angeles Galaxy look to keep its unbeaten record on the road in tact with a trip to Rio Tinto Stadium to take on Real Salt Lake (9pm).

If you will be watching tonight's matches, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play on the matches in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action.

MLS Notes: Morales suspended, Rimando sidelined and Leitch suffers concussion

 

                                                                              Photo by ISIphotos.com

What a difference a week makes.

Last week, Javier Morales spent his Monday being honored as MLS player of the week for his performance in Real Salt Lake's 6-0 destruction of New England. This Monday, Morales spent the day being suspended by Major League Soccer for elbowing Pablo Mastroeni during Real Salt Lake's 2-0 loss to Colorado on Saturday.

Morales was not punished for the infraction during the match, but the MLS disciplinary committee decided that Morales' actions warranted a suspension. The suspension means that Real Salt Lake will be without Morales, defender Jamison Olave (red card suspension) and Nick Rimando (finger laceration) for the team's match against Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Here are some other MLS notes to get your day going:

Morning Ticker: Marquez sidelined, Vela quarantined and MLS deals made

 

Rafael Marquez, every American's favorite Mexican national team player, is set to miss the rest of the European season after suffering a knee injury on Wednesday.

Marquez, who made headlines back in February for once again drawing a red card vs. the United States, suffered a torn meniscus during Barcelona's 0-0 tie vs. Chelseain their Champions League semifinal first-leg match-up.

The injury puts Marquez's availability for upcoming World Cup qualifiers for Mexico in serious doubt. He had already served his two-match suspension for the red card earned for kicking U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard, but now may not be available for Mexico's upcoming qualifiers vs. El Salvador (June 6th) and Trinidad & Tobago (June 10th).

The injury also means Marquez will miss the highly-anticipated La Liga clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid on Saturday. He joins Real Madrid defender and MMA wannabe Pepe on the suspended list for that match.

Here are some other stories from this morning and Tuesday to get your day going

Mathis turns back the clock with stunning strike

 

                                                                       Photo by ISIphotos.com

It might not seem that long ago, but it has been eight years since Clint Mathis was terrorizing MLS defenders as one of the league's best attacking players and one of the best Americans to ever play in MLS.

Plenty has happened since Mathis' heyday in 2000 and 2001. He played in a World Cup, played in the German Bundesliga and came back to MLS, where he has played for a handful of clubs. This season, Mathis has enjoyed a resurgence and the 32-year-old showed off his recent run of good form on Saturday, delivering a goal and assist during Real Salt Lake's 6-0 drubbing of New England.

Mathis' goal was the best of the bunch for RSL, and should win MLS goal of the week in a walk.

Here's the goal:

What do you think of Mathis' goal? Have you been impressed with his play this year? Do you see Real Salt Lake being the favorite in the West, or do Chivas USA and Seattle still have the edge?

Share your thoughts below.

Real Salt Lake mauls New England in six-goal rout

 

                                                                          Photo by ISIphotos.com

Real Salt Lake was coming off a shutout loss and was 52 minutes into its game against New England without finding the net. Then a goal finally came from defender Jamison Olave.

Then came another. And another. And another.

Real Salt Lake rattled off SIX goals from six different players in 36 minutes on its way to a 6-0 thrashing over a previously unbeaten Revs team that came into the match having given up just three goals in four matches.

Clint Mathis, Yura Movsisyan, Luis Miguel Escalada, Andy Williams and Robbie Findley followed up Olave with goals of their own to help push RSL to 3-2 and 3-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium.

We'll post highlights on Sunday. For now, feel free to share your thoughts on Real Salt Lake's blowout in the comments section below.

Real Salt Lake at New York Red Bulls: Match Night Commentary

The New York Red Bulls are home at Giants Stadium tonight, looking to record their first win of the season against a strong Real Salt Lake team. The tilt is a rematch of last season's Western Conference final, won by New York.

The Red Bulls will welcome newcomer Alfredo Pacheco to the fold. The Salvadoran defender will make his debut for the club after a prolonged process to be loaned to the club.

I will be providing commentary of the match throughout the night. Please feel free to follow along and, as always, feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action.

Kyle Davies heading to Real Salt Lake

U.S. Under-20 national team defender Kyle Davies is heading to Real Salt Lake.

The young defender was allocated to RSL after Real Salt Lake won Davies rights in a lottery held by MLS on Thursday afternoon. FC Dallas had the best chance of landing Davies, but RSL won the lottery.

Davies had spent time with English club Southampton before deciding to return to the United States.

What do you think of RSL landing Davies? Did the rich just get richer? Share your thoughts below.

Findley hat-trick helps RSL smash Columbus

 

Perhaps he was inspired by Jozy Altidore's hat-trick on Wednesday, or maybe it was simply being in the starting lineup. Whatever it was, Robbie Findley found some magic on Thursday night, scoring a hat-trick to help Real Salt Lake drop suddenly struggling Columbus, 4-1, at Rio Tinto Stadium.

While two of the goals came on gifts from Crew goalkeeper Wil Hesmer, Findley was still the man last night for a Real Salt Lake team that looked much more like the Western Conference favorites some (including SBI) pegged them to be when the season began.

As for the Crew? Three games and two points is not the start head coach Robert Warzycha was hoping for and now Columbus must face unbeaten Chivas USA on two days rest on Sunday. It isn't easy being the champion, is it?

What did you think of last night's game? Think RSL is for real? Are the Crew in trouble? Is Robbie Findley someone you would like to see on the U.S. Gold Cup roster this summer?

Share your thoughts below (and go to the jump  to catch all three of Findley's goals).

MLS Pre-season: Toronto FC vs. Real Salt Lake (Live streaming video)

The Carolina Challenge Cup concludes tonight with Toronto FC and Real Salt Lake battling for the trophy and for bragging rights heading into the 2009 MLS season.

If you want to watch the match, you can do so here thanks to the Toronto FC video masters. Kickoff for tonight's match is around 5pm.

If you will be following the match, please feel free to share your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below.

Enjoy the action:

MLS Ticker: Conway allowed to train with Red Bulls, Suarez retires and RSL draws Seattle in Open Cup

 

                                                                           Photo by ISIphotos.com

New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Jon Conway still has four games to serve from his 10-match suspension for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, but at least he won't have to serve the remainder of that suspension on his own.

MLS commissioner Don Garber lifted the ban on Conway participating in training with the Red Bulls during his suspension. Conway stopped training with the team and essentially disappeared for the last two months of the 2008 season after his suspension was handed down.

Conway is eligible to return from suspension for the Red Bulls match vs. Real Salt Lake on April 18th.

Here are some other stories to get your day going:

MLS Pre-season: Real Salt Lake routs D.C. United

Real Salt Lake rattled off three unanswered goals in the second half to roll past D.C. United in the opening game of the Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston.

Goals from Luis Escalada, Yura Movsisyan and Andy Williams did the damage for REal Salt Lake while D.C. endured a nightmare day, seeing two defenders issued red cards (Dejan Jakovic and Anthony Peters) and three starters leave the match with injuries (Louis Crayton, Fred and Santino Quaranta).

Toronto FC takes on the Charleston Battery on the second match tonight in Charleston.

What do you think of the result. Are you a happy RSL fan? A worried D.C. fan? A giddy Red Bulls fan who is praying D.C. will struggled this year?

Share your thoughts below.

MLS Pre-season- A look around the Western Conference

The 2009 MLS Season is now just two weeks away so it's time to start making the rounds in MLS for a sense of the happenings in MLS pre-season.

Here is a look at what the teams in the Western Conference have been up to in the past week:

Houston Dynamo

The Dynamo received some awful news on Wednesday when veteran defender Eddie Robinson was sidelined indefinitely after having knee surgery. The injury, which could keep him out up six week, likely means that newly-acquired defender Julius James will have to be thrust into the starting lineup alongside Bobby Boswell.