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...
Led by resurgent Cooper, expansion Timbers gearing up for playoff push
By JOSE M. ROMERO The Kenny Cooper who has showed up in recent matches is exactly the player the Portland Timbers hoped they were getting when they grabbed the veteran forward with their place in the MLS allocation order prior to their expansion season. The timing of Cooper's resurgence couldn't be better for a team...
Whitecaps damage D.C. United’s playoff chances with win
By JOSE M. ROMERO On the outside looking in for a playoff spot to begin the night, the climb toward the MLS postseason got a little steeper for D.C. United. The Vancouver Whitecaps played spoiler Wednesday night at B.C. Place Stadium, holding on for a 2-1 victory thanks to strong defensive play for 56 minutes,...
Whitecaps send RSL to fourth straight loss with clean sheet win
By JOSE M. ROMERO Parking and seats on the SkyTrain were probably more difficult to come by than Vancouver Whitecaps' goals Thursday night in downtown Vancouver. With the NHL Canucks playing nearby in their regular-season opener, the Whitecaps still drew a big crowd of 20,113 fans to their brand new home, B.C. Place Stadium, and...
Alonso brace helps Sounders clinch CCL quarterfinal place
By JOSE M. ROMERO The Seattle Sounders have gone unbeaten in Mexico and Central America in CONCACAF Champions League group play this year, and now they are into the quarterfinals of the tournament for the first time in the club's three-year MLS history. Seattle came from behind for a 2-2 draw with Comunicaciones on a...
Late goal, good bounces help Dynamo win at FC Dallas
By JOSE M. ROMERO Playoff positioning -- and the 19th-century cannon/trophy known as El Capitan -- were on the line Saturday afternoon at Pizza Hut Park, where the Houston Dynamo defeated FC Dallas 1-0 with a late goal to claim this year's Texas Derby title. Geoff Cameron headed in a corner from teammate Brad Davis...
Timbers draw with Earthquakes, move into lead for final playoff spot
By JOSE M. ROMERO Winning was what they wanted. Losing was what they absolutely could not do. But a draw was what happened for the Portland Timbers Wednesday night at Jeld-Wen Field, a difficult result to take since Portland let its lead in the game slip away. The Timbers drew with the San Jose Earthquakes...
Dynamo strengthen hold on playoff spot with comeback win over Earthquakes
By JOSE M. ROMERO The Houston Dynamo changed their fortunes for the better in the span of a week, capping off seven days that began with a loss to Sporting Kansas City and progressed to a draw at Columbus, then ended with a 2-1 come-from-behind win over the San Jose Earthquakes Saturday night at Robertson...
Crew, Dynamo play to wild 2-2 draw
By JOSE M. ROMERO The Houston Dynamo was in the driver's seat at halftime, leading 1-0 over the Columbus Crew with a man advantage after Emmanuel Ekpo was sent off for popping the Dynamo's Adam Moffat in the face with a high elbow in the 11th minute. The Dynamo, leading at halftime after Je-Vaughn Watson's...
