Soccer By Ives

MLS Preseason recap: TFC's Silva shines, Johnson scores in Seattle debut, & more

By CALEB SONNELAND

Toronto FC rookie Luis Silva drew raves heading into the 2012 MLS Draft, and is beginning to show why as he establishes himself as a real threat for TFC, which posted a 5-1 victory against South Florida in pre-season MLS action.

The dynamic playmaker found himself on the score sheet early in the fifth minute as he slotted home a 1-on-1 opportunity with the USF keeper to make it 1-0. Just 10 minute later, Joao Plata, who would end the match with a goal himself, teed up Silva in the box for the latter to calmly stroke home to double his tally and Toronto's advantage.

Silva turned provider later in the half as he assisted on goals from Nick Soolsma and Terry Dunfield to wrap up a productive half for the former UC Santa Barbara man with two goals and two assists.

USF grabbed a consolation goal in the 78th minute and the final score rested at 5-1. Toronto will be in action again this Saturday at 6pm with Orlando City of the USL.

Here are some other preseason scores to get you thinking about MLS Opening Weekend:

Impact use top spot in allocation order on Johnson, trade him to Seattle

Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

The Montreal Impact tried their hand at picking a forward and getting trade value in return once again.

After picking Brian Ching from Houston in the expansion draft only to deal him back to the Dynamo for a draft pick, the Impact used their place atop the MLS allocation order to select Eddie Johnson before promptly dealing him to the Seattle Sounders.

In return, the Impact received forward Mike Fucito and winger Lamar Neagle, while Johnson's latest attempt to resurrect his career will take place at CenturyLink Field as a complement to Fredy Montero. The last two players to have gone through the allocation process have both wound up in Seattle, as the Sounders traded up to snag Sammy Ochoa last August.

MLS Preseason: Timbers top Fire, Seattle blanks Columbus and more

photo by ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

The Portland Timbers wrapped up their preseason camp in Carson, California on Wednesday with a win that improved them to 3-0-1 during their time there.

Portland recorded a 2-0 victory over the Chicago Fire in the last preseason match of its training camp at the Home Depot Center. Eric Alexander and Jorge Perlaza scored in the rainy, 120-minute game off feeds from Franck Songo'o to hand the Fire its first loss in five preseason matches.

During their time in California, the Timbers outscored their opponents 8-1 and did not give up a goal in the final three matches.

Here are the match highlights as well as other results from the MLS preseason:

MLS Notes: Nguyen draws ire for tweet, Rapids eye playmaker and more

Social media has been a revelation for players and fans to engage in talks, express themselves to each other and establish a stronger relationship. There's a downside to tweeting before thinking things through, however.

Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Lee Nguyen used a homophobic slur in a joke-toned tweet at teammate Brad Knighton Monday night, drawing immediate backlash. He promptly deleted the tweet, issued an apology and corresponded with the advocacy website Gay4Soccer, but the damage had been done. The Whitecaps issued a warning to both players but is not taking any further disciplinary action.

In a club statement, team president Bob Lenarduzzi wrote: "Earlier (Monday), two Whitecaps players engaged in an exchange on Twitter that the club considered unacceptable. The players involved acted swiftly to remove the tweets on their own accord. We believe that the involved players are both sincere in their regret, and in their apologies. The club has issued the players a formal warning."

Here are a few more items from around MLS:

MLS Notes: Cascadia clubs get chippy, Valencia undergoes surgery and more

The Cascadia Cup rivalry takes no games off, even in the preseason.

The Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps dueled to a 1-1 draw in a 120-minute scrimmage in Casa Grande, Ariz., on Monday -- a game that included nine cautions and a red card. The game was split into two 45-minute sessions and a 30-minute one, with each team using different lineups in each period to take advantage of their expanded lists of trialists and rostered players.

Recently re-signed Vancouver forward Camilo Sanvezzo kicked off the scoring in the opening minute, finishing off a pass from Atiba Harris. Second-year Sounders midfielder Servando Carrasco answered with the equalizer for the Sounders off a feed from David Estrada in the 48th minute to cap the scoring.

The real story was the intensity of the match, though. Jason Banton was sent off for the Sounders toward the end of the game, receiving the last of 10 cards issued during a battle that featured a number of harsh challenges, according to game reports. Harris, Argentine centerback Martin Bonjour and Michael Boxall were among those issued cautions for Vancouver, while recent U.S. January camp invitee Jeff Parke was among four Sounders who saw yellow.

Highlights of the match can be seen here.

Here are a few more items from around MLS:

Pair of trades cap Supplemental Draft day

Photo by Tony Quinn/ISIphotos.com

At least the MLS Supplemental Draft day contained something last Thursday's SuperDraft did not: Multiple trades.

Hours after the completion of Tuesday's proceedings, the Seattle Sounders and Real Salt Lake agreed to one deal, while the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps agreed to another. 

The Sounders acquired UCLA defensive midfielder Andy Rose from RSL for the MLS rights to defender Leone Cruz. Rose was the sixth overall selection in the Supplemental Draft, while Cruz, a second-round pick in last year's SuperDraft out of Southern Methodist University, did not make the Sounders roster ahead of last season. He played as a guest player with RSL's reserves on a couple of occasions last year. 

Vancouver, meanwhile, continued its effort to grab more of coach Martin Rennie's former players from the Carolina Railhawks by dealing Mexican left back Gienir Garcia, the second overall pick in the Supplemental Draft, to Montreal for the negotiating rights to forward Etienne Barbara. A Maltese international striker, Barbara was by far and away the NASL's leading scorer last year (20 goals -- next closest player had 11), and Montreal had his MLS negotiating rights through a discovery claim.

Wednesday Ticker: Seattle gets Sivebaek, Chivas USA lands Bolanos and more

By FRANCO PANIZO

The Seattle Sounders have acquired Danish midfielder Christian Sivebaek following his transfer from FC Midtjylland, the Sounders announced on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old midfielder arrives in Seattle after playing for Midtjylland since 2006. He played in 80 league matches and tallied six goals for the Danish club during his time there. Sivebaek, who has represented Denmark at various youth levels, can also play right back.

Per club and league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Here are more stories from Thursday:

MLS Notes: Conway retires, Keller heads to broadcast booth and more

Veteran MLS goalkeeper Jon Conway has decided to hang up his cleats and gloves.

Conway, 34, was selected by the Los Angeles Galaxy in this past December's re-entry draft to compete for a backup spot behind Josh Saunders, but he instead elected retire after a 12-year career. 

"After talking to (Galaxy coach Bruce Arena) about the opportunity in L.A. and evaluating my options, it just felt like a good time to transition out of the game," Conway said in a press release.

Conway was a part-time starter for the Fire last season before ultimately relinquishing those duties to Sean Johnson for good. During his career he played for the San Jose Earthquakes, New York Red Bulls, Toronto FC and Chicago and was part of the 2003 Earthquakes side that won MLS Cup.

Here are a few more notes from around the league:

MLS Combine Breakdown: Sigi Schmid

Report: Sounders signing Danish winger

The Seattle Sounders appear to be hitting the international market during transfer season yet again.

After officially announcing the acquisition of Swedish right back Adam Johannson on Thursday, the Sounders are reportedly close to signing Danish winger Christian Sivebaek, a player general manager Adrian Hanauer told the Seattle Times that the Sounders are "very interested" in acquiring. 

According to reports out of Denmark, Sivebaek, a 23-year-old former Denmark youth international and current player for FC Midtjylland, is on his way to Seattle, where he is slated for a place in the midfield. The prospective move would continue Seattle's foray into Scandinavia, where it has signed players such as past Sounders Freddie Ljungberg and Erik Friberg and now Johannson.

The move for Sivebaek would be the third international signing this offseason for Seattle after the club signed Austrian goalkeeper Michael Gspurning.

What do you think about the Sounders' recent moves? Think the club is taking the right steps this offseason? What other positions do you think the team needs to address heading into 2012?

Share your thoughts below.

Rounding up the MLS comings and goings: Western Conference

Photo by Michael Janosz/ISIphotos.com

For a team coming off of a championship run, the Los Angeles Galaxy have had plenty of major moving parts over recent weeks.

Between Landon Donovan going back to Everton on a short-term loan, Juninho returning to Sao Paulo, Donovan Ricketts being dealt to the Montreal Impact, Sean Franklin re-signing and David Beckham, well, still making a decision, the Galaxy remain the talk of MLS deep into the offseason.

Other teams in the Western Conference are positioning themselves for improvement while trying to catch Los Angeles, though, as teams that missed out on the postseason last year -- specifically San Jose, Vancouver and Portland -- have all added integral pieces ahead of their early selections in next month's SuperDraft.

Here is a look at the comings and goings in the entire Western Conference to date (and for a look at the Eastern Conference, read on here):

Report: Sounders land Swedish right back

When the Seattle Sounders lost James Riley in the expansion draft there was some real concern about how Seattle would fill the void let by the dependable veteran's departure.

The Sounders have reached an agreement with Swedish right back Adam Johansson, according to the club website of Johannson's current club, IFK Goteborg. Seattle has yet to confirm the acquisition.

Johannson, 27, has earned nine caps for Sweden, with his debut coming against the United States in 2009.

Sounders re-sign Rosales

Mauro Rosales enjoyed an outstanding first season in Major League Soccer, leading Seattle's high-powered offense and earning MLS Newcomer of he Year honors in the process.

The Sounders rewarded Rosales outstanding debut, and secured his services in the process, signing the 30-year-old playmaker to a multi-year contract. Seattle general manager Adrian Hanauer revealed that the new deal is a two-year deal with a third option year.

Rosales recorded a Sounders record 13 assists along with five goals in 2011, helping Seattle win a third-straight U.S. Open Cup and qualify for the quarterfinals for the CONCACAF Champions League.

What do you think of this development? Excited to see Rosales return in 2012? See him challenging for MLS MVP honors next season?

Share your thoughts below.

Friberg leaves Sounders for Malmo

Swedish midfielder Erik Friberg became the latest Seattle Sounder to depart this off-season, moving to Swedish club Malmo on Monday in a transfer announced by the Sounders.

Friberg played 26 matches for Seattle, recording a goal and assist for the Sounders.

The off-season has been a busy one for the Sounders, who had already lost goalkeeper Kasey Keller to retirement, James Riley and Tyson Wahl in the expansion draft, as well as Nate Jaqua and Pat Noonan in the re-entry draft. The Sounders did add goalkeeper Michael Gspurning, and earlier today added Marc Burch in the re-entry draft.

What do you think of Friberg's departure? 

Share your thoughts below.

MLS Notes: Sounders find Keller's successor, Fire cut Ferrari and more

The Seattle Sounders' search for Kasey Keller's successor has been completed.

Seattle announced the long-rumored signing of Austrian goalkeeper Michael Gspurning on Wednesday, ushering in a new era between the posts at CenturyLink Field. 

"First off, you don't replace Kasey Keller. What you're looking for is a new goalkeeper," Sounders coach Sigi Schmid said in a team release. "We like Michael's background and pedigree. We like his size. He's got good feet so we can play through him and he's very good on crosses, takes good angles and has good hands."

The 30-year-old, 6-foot-5 Gspurning was a veteran of the Austrian domestic circuit before moving to Skoda Xanthi in Greece in 2007. The club's interest in Gspurning dates back to this past summer, and general manager Adrian Hanauer hinted at a potential signing in an October interview with the Seattle Times.

Here are a few more items from around the league:

Thursday Kickoff: Beckham in talks with PSG, Del Piero thinking MLS and more

By CALEB SONNELAND

With his contract set to expire at the turn of the year, David Beckham is allegedly in talks with Ligue 1's Paris Saint-Germain, according to the clubs sporting director Leonardo.

The 36-year-old was a staple in the LA Galaxy midfield this year and played a massive part in the team's successful campaign toward a MLS Cup. Beckham's head has been turned over the past five years by European club, however in those cases the moves were only on loan to keep the player's fitness at a peak.

With the end of his contract within touching distance, the Galaxy will need to fend off interest from PSG if it is to hold onto Beckham.

"Yes, we've spoken. These situations take time. We'll see if something suits him and suits us," said Leonardo on the subject.

Here are other stories from around the world to keep your day rolling. Have a happy Thanksgiving: