Four MLS clubs to play for Desert Diamond Cup this winter
By JOSE M. ROMERO PHOENIX -- Four MLS teams have agreed to take part in the Desert Diamond Cup, a round-robin tournament to be held at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Feb. 22-March 3. The defending MLS Cup champions Los Angeles Galaxy, the New York Red Bulls, the New England Revolution and Real...
MLS teams line up 2012 preseason training in Arizona
Photo by Stephen Brashear/ISIphotos.com By JOSE M. ROMERO The MLS Cup final was played not even three weeks ago, but teams are already making training plans in preparation for next season. Three MLS teams are confirmed for training at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Ariz., beginning in January. The New England Revolution arrive Jan....
Arena revels in another MLS Cup championship
By JOSE M. ROMERO CARSON, Calif. -- Make it three MLS championships for 60-year-old Bruce Arena, and no coach has more since the inception of the league in 1996. Just another feather in the cap for the 2011 MLS Coach of the Year, who appeared to be letting it all soak in as he sat...
MLS Cup: Costly says pressure is on the Galaxy
By JOSE M. ROMERO Practice had a calm, almost stoic feel to it for the Houston Dynamo Friday on the fields near the main Home Depot Center stadium. So said forward Carlos Costly, who added that he's anxious for Sunday when the Dynamo face the L.A. Galaxy for the MLS Cup. "There is faith in...
DeRosario’s MVP award sweeter after season of upheaval
By JOSE M. ROMERO CARSON, Calif. -- His career already full of accomplishments, Dwayne De Rosario was nevertheless humble in accepting his 2011 MLS Most Valuable Player trophy Friday afternoon at the Home Depot Center. Playing for three different teams in one season clearly had an effect on his perspective. "I would like to thank...
MLS Cup: Gonzalez focused on cup, not caps, as Galaxy’s defensive leader
By JOSE M. ROMERO The big man in the middle has quietly become a star for the Los Angeles Galaxy, but there's one more thing for standout centerback Omar Gonzalez to achieve this season to go with his Defender of the Year and Best XI honors. He needs to win the MLS Cup. The MLS...
MLS Spotlight: Seattle a perfect fit for Alonso
By JOSÉ M. ROMERO Osvaldo Alonso honestly felt that this could be the year for his Seattle Sounders. He said as much late last week, before the Sounders were blasted 3-0 at Real Salt Lake in the first leg of the MLS Western Conference semifinals. Now Seattle is on the brink of elimination, and will...
Real Salt Lake dismantles Seattle at Rio Tinto
By JOSÉ M. ROMERO Much was made of Real Salt Lake's regular season-ending six-match winless streak and how it might be a sign that RSL is in trouble heading into the playoffs. On Saturday night, Real Salt Lake put that notion to rest in emphatic fashion. The attacking combination of Alvaro Saborio, Fabian Espindola and...
Timbers score in second-half stoppage time for draw with RSL
By JOSE M. ROMERO Playoff spot clinched, Real Salt Lake had victory in its grasp in its regular-season finale Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium, plus the chance to lock up the No. 3 seed from the MLS Western Conference with no help from other results. RSL's reward for No. 3? Extra rest with a...
Rapids fall to Santos Laguna; need help to advance in CCL
By JOSÉ M. ROMERO These last two days of CONCACAF Champions League group matches have not been kind to American MLS teams. The Colorado Rapids, despite deploying front-line players in a clear effort to win, became the third U.S. club in two days to lose its finale of group play after Wednesday night's 2-0 loss...
Sounders fall to Monterrey in CCL group stage finale
Photo by Stephen Brashear/ISIphotos.com By JOSE M. ROMERO Good thing for the Seattle Sounders that they started off CONCACAF Champions League group play with a bang, because they ended it with a whimper. The Sounders dropped their Group D finale to Monterrey Tuesday night at CenturyLink Field, 2-1, and in so doing allowed defending CCL...
Sounders send Keller off in style with comeback win in front of record crowd
By JOSE M. ROMERO Kasey Keller won't turn 42 years old until next month, but what a gift he was given by his Seatlle Sounders Saturday night. Make that a few gifts. On what Washington state government officials proclaimed "Kasey Keller Day" around the state in recognition of the veteran goalkeeper's final regular-season home match...
