Freddy Adu is once again on the mind of American soccer fans, as the US National Team's sojourn to South Africa is set to kick off in a few days, and the diminutive midfielder/forward figures to play some (as yet undetermined) role.

Freddy's struggles on the club level are not only well documented, they're downright overwrought. Adu's move to Europe hasn't exactly gone to plan, and after a stint on loan with Ligue 1 side Monaco, the future is uncertain for the former Great American Hope.

Yet, all is not lost. In fact, I might argue that it's more than just "not lost", it's not even been found yet. Lest I remind you, Freddy Adu is only twenty years old.

But, you knew that. Right? You didn't forget that Adu is still just a kid, barely out of his teens, no where near the age that any player could be called "washed up", did you? No matter Adu's struggles in Europe, or his inability to break into the National Team on a regular basis, you kept in mind his relative youth, and realized that he still has plenty of time to get settled with a club, gain valuable experience, and become a solid contributor to American efforts on the international stage-didn't you?

Patience is not something sports fans possess in abundance, no matter the game. Add to that lack of calm the passion and desperation that comes with supporting the still-evolving USMNT program, and rationality is rarely on display. Adu is not only a victim of the ridiculous hype he received as the youngest ever professional athlete in a top-level American sports league, he's also the victim of millions of impatient critics, all anxious for him to fulfill the long talked about potential that they've heard about for what seems an eternity.

It just feels like Adu is old. It just feels like his time is slipping away, and if something doesn't change soon, he might actually fade away into oblivion. While twenty isn't exactly young in international soccer terms, it's still entirely too young for a player to be written off. Simply as a point of comparison, think of Sacha Kljestan; a young player with a bright future who appears to be on his way to National Team prominence, Kljestan is already twenty-three years old, with twenty-four approaching rapidly. Kljestan is a product of the American college soccer system, and while that may not be the preferred path for up-and-coming players, it does serve as a reminder of just where Adu is in his maturation process. If Adu had not turned pro so young, and had played for a few years in college, the excitement about his future would only now be building, rather than hitting the lull that it seems to be now.

Adu has a long way to go, that much is clear. A move to a club where playing time is more likely might be in the cards, and Freddy has intimated as much through his Twitter feed. That would surely be the first step towards him reviving his career, and provide more pressure for Bob Bradley to put him on the pitch for the Nats. Playing time is crucial to Adu's further development, and nothing will happen without it.

It won't be an easy road. Freddy Adu is still nowhere near where we thought (or were told) he would be at twenty years old. His club future is uncertain, his National Team role unclear. He's not the savior of American soccer, and he's not our first truly world renowned star as we hoped he'd be. He's barely a blip on the radar at the moment, a player with more skill and flair than most we produce, but is ultimately a disappointment at the moment, no matter how you look at it.

But, like I mentioned, he's only twenty years old. It's not over yet.

Back to contributing a weekly column at MLS Daily. I skipped last week with the gracious understanding of TJ, but have triumphantly returned with a column on MLS and the CONCACAF Champions League.

MLS Must Make Better Champions League Showing

During the recent FIFA Congress in the Bahamas, world soccer's governing body passed new rules regarding international players; no longer will youth internationals be required to declare which nation they will play for by their twenty-first birthday.

The immediate impact of the rules on the US National Team wasn't clear; while there are players who might switch to the US after playing for youth teams of other nations but had not been capped by the senior side, tracking down those names is not always easy.

The first domino may have fallen, however, as Schalke midfielder and former German youth international Jermaine Jones has declared his desire to play for the US. While I'm not intimately familiar with Jones, it appears that he's a defensive midfielder. The US pool isn't deep enough that he probably shouldn't get a shot at some point, though it's hard not to wish that he was a back or a striker.

Jones also has a bit of a temper, apparently, and it will be interesting to see if his less-than-perfect history keeps him from getting called up by Bob Bradley.

When do you think he'll get his first call up?

The DC United organization is now running a survey program, an obvious attempt to properly gauge the fan base as it continues it search for a stadium deal in the Washington metropolitan region.

You can view (or take if you're a DC Metro resident) the survey here.

What strikes me as most interesting about the survey are the location options for the respondent. The District, Lower Montgomery County, and the Dulles Corridor are the choices; this immediately indicates that Fairfax County is not a possibility, and while DC area residents might have concluded as much through familiarity with the situation, it might not have been as obvious to outside observers. Here's a quick review of the map I used to illustrate possible locations for the stadium back in April:


Locations 3 and 4 are the ones in focus here; with the District only a remote possibility, it will more than likely come down to Montgomery County (4) or Loudoun County (3, and location of the "Dulles Corridor"). Loudoun as a candidate has gotten some run in recent weeks, with Ashburn, VA mentioned specifically.

Neither option is preferable for a team that draws a majority of its fans from the more urban areas of the city and Arlington County. I assume the survey is simply a mechanism to determine which location is least distasteful to United's loyal fan base; while I would still expect those fans to attend matches in good numbers, it's impossible to know that actual impact a move out of RFK might have.

The survey goes on with questions that will create an average fan profile for the team. While efforts like these are necessary and part of the modern marketing environment, I suspect it may be less effective for United than almost any other team in the league. The club's fans span such a broad range of backgrounds, income levels, etc. that it's bound to be a hodge-podge of information more than an effective marketing tool.

The team is also offering an incentive for completing the survey: an opportunity to purchase pre-sale tickets for the DC United-Real Madrid friendly to be played at FedEx Field on August 9th.

This should have been a morning post. But things got in the way, and my brain refused to function properly, so you're getting it in the evening. No matter, it's still relevant.

The big, bad, beast to the south is still alive and stirring. After taking an early lead, losing that lead, and then charging ahead on the strength of a long range bomb, the Mexican National Football Team finished off an over-matched Trinidad & Tobago 2-1 last night at Estadio Azteca, vaulting themselves back into contention for South Africa 2010.

As I wrote yesterday when I briefly previewed the match, the chances of a T&T upset were slim to none. Despite their recent struggles, Mexico is still a much better side than everyone else in CONCACAF save for the US, and that predominance shone through. T&T, after conceding in the first two minutes of the game, were forced to chase the rest of the night. If it weren't for a defensive miscue by the Mexicans, it's unlikely the Soca Warriors would have sniffed goal at all.

So what does it mean? Nothing really, though it does relieve the pressure on El Tri if only for a bit; the Mexicans can breath as they head into the less-than-crucial Gold Cup, before they take on the Americans at home on August 12th. The media can relax (to a point), the players can relax (to a point), and the manager can deflect questions about the team's performance by pointing to the schedule; of Mexico's five remaining qualifiers, three are at home in the comfortable, noisy, oxygen-deprived atmosphere of Azteca. Simply holding serve at home and getting a few points on the road will give them an excellent chance at cracking the top three in the hexagonal and secure their place in the field for next year's World Cup.

Still, there is plenty of work to do, and no matter their history of home dominance, things may get a bit tricky for Aguirre & Co. I believe there's a reasonable chance that they'll drop points in Mexico City, be it to a motivated (let's hope) American squad or to the dangerous Hondurans. Points away from Mexico will be at a premium, with an away match at Costa Rica looming on September 5th; if Mexico doesn't play well enough at home to give themselves a cushion, the final Hexagonal fixture at Trinidad & Tobago on October 14th could decide their fate.

As an American and a US National Team supporter, I would love to see Mexico struggle their way through the remainder of qualification. Even better if they are forced to show off against the fifth place CONMEBOL nation in a winner-goes-to-the-Cup series; not only because it would be nice to watch the Mexicans squirm, but also because it will be a reality check for a footballing nation that believes its status to be greater than it actually is.

But, those of you familiar with my opinions also see Mexican struggles as a double-edged sword; without a strong rival to the south, I'm concerned that US Soccer will rest on its laurels, comfortable in Giant of CONCACAF label. Mexico pushing the US is not only good for American soccer, it's good for the popularity of the game in this country and for the overall reputation of CONCACAF on the world stage.

I expect Mexico to qualify. It may be tougher than they would have liked, and it may take luck and fortune as much as quality and skill; but El Tri remains the cream of the Caribbean & North American crop (along with the US of course), and there's no really reason for their fans to panic.

They will, of course, and I'm jealous, but that's another post altogether.

Bottom line, Mexico took the first step on a reversal of fortunes that will see them headed to South Africa in one year's time last night, and while it wasn't the performance we expect from them, they have not yet fallen from their perch as giants of the region.

It wasn't that long ago that I posted a tweet from Freddy Adu about possibly leaving Benfica; now comes this one, in which Freddy alludes to efforts by his agent to get the young American out of Portugal.

FreddyAdu11 just got good news from my agent about possible destinations. Im hoping for spain because i like the style of play alot.

Spain would make sense for Freddy. Let's hope that something is in the works that gets him into a situation that leads to playing time. While all of us are frustrated to see Adu wasting away on benches, I can't imagine how the player himself feels.

Of course, there is always the thought that Adu has painted himself into this corner; that's certainly possible, and he make not be faultless, but believing that's the case is not a real reason to root against him.

By Jason Kuenle

Five of the ten rounds have been played in the finals of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. The table does not look like most commentators or US and especially Mexican fans might have expected. With the US in second and Mexico in fourth, it would be easy to believe that CONCACAF has taken on a new direction. A closer look at the results may challenge that viewpoint.

Half of the hexagonal teams played three games at home in the first half, while the other three played only two. Costa Rica has likely played the easiest schedule so far with three home games and a road game against Trinidad and Tobago. That the Ticos managed 3 points from all of the games is a testament to the quality of their side, but the second half brings games in El Salvador, Honduras, and the US and a crucial visit from Mexico in September. None of these games come with guaranteed points.

On the other side, Mexico has had one of the toughest paths, with games in the US, in El Salvador, and in Honduras. Despite their early struggles, Mexico should be favored to win in four of their last five games. Honduras has three remaining home games, as well, including a game against the US. If the US can get a draw or win in either the Mexico or Honduras game, it should cement their place in the World Cup at the expense of the other side. Losses for the US in both of those games will make automatic qualification a battle.

The adage that it is tough to win on the road in CONCACAF has held true. In 15 games, home sides have posted 11 wins, 3 draws, and the Trinidad loss to Costa Rica. In these games, the home team has outscored their opponents 30 to 13. Nine of those 13 goals came against El Salvador and Trinidad. If these trends hold, by August 13th, the standings could be quite different. In round 6, the US visits the Azteca and Costa Rica heads to Honduras. Wins by the home teams in those two games would drastically tighten the standings with Costa Rica at 12, the US and Honduras at 10, and Mexico at 9.

The results in last night’s games restored some of the expected order to the CONCACAF standings. But with the hexagonal only half over and the points leaders with more difficult schedules than those teams just behind them, no team is safe.

Jason Kuenle has been a guest commentator for Match Fit USA since winning the MFUSA writing contest. He can be contacted by e-mail at secondhalfsub@gmail.com.

Two points.

One point from a draw with Egypt, one from a draw with either Italy or Brazil (probably Italy); that's just about the best we can hope for out of the United States' sojourn to South Africa for the Confederations Cup. And, amazingly enough, we should all be excited about those two points.

There are problems with the American team as it is currently constituted. Players that are expected to contribute are rusty from not getting playing time with their clubs. Obvious starters at several positions are as yet undetermined, and the depth of the squad is in question. Bob Bradley doesn't seem settled on an effective strategy, and his direction in recent games has left a lot to be desired.

With a team in flux, two points represents two competitive performances. Against Egypt, it means the Yanks kept pace with the African Cup of Nations winner; against Italy or Brazil, it means they played up to superior competition and defended well enough to get a point. Both outcomes would be heartening; few, if any, of the well-reasoned observers I know expect the Americans to proceed out of such a difficult group. We know that the Americans are supreme underdogs, and we know that the chances of even one victory aren't great.

What we care about, what we want to see out of a team that has disappointed recently, is effort, passion, and a feeling of cohesion. If the US lines up in South Africa against some of the world's best nations and folds, then something is extremely wrong and it may be time to seriously discuss major changes. If they manage to play with heart and energy, but still lose, we'll be able to take something away from the tournament heading in the final qualification run. Even two points would go a long way towards giving us hope ahead of 2010. Although the expectation is that the soccer media (such as it is) and the respected blogging world will downplay American chances for the World Cup, and rightfully so, an encouraging Confederations Cup might temper our pessimism.

I'm not usually much for moral victories. I'm generally disdainful of being encouraged by losing, no matter how much better the competition may be. Perhaps I'm just too American that way. But I'm making an exception for the Confederations Cup, if only to a point. Instead of moral victories earned in losses, I'd like to see a few moral victories earned through the much-more-palatable draw. We can stomach what most of the non-soccer public will call a "poor" showing under those circumstances, because we, as passionate and intelligent fans, would understand exactly what those draws might mean.

Progress? Maybe, but not necessarily. Potential. That's what we want to see. Potential. Just give us a reason to hope that the future could be better than the past.

Two points is all it takes.

As USMNT fans, we tend to be obsessed with the fortunes of Mexico. El Tri is our biggest rival, the other CONCACAF giant, and the footballing nation by whom we measure ourselves (for now). Without the US National Team in action on a qualifying match day, my eyes will be turned to the south tonight, to take a look at exactly what is going on with the hated Mexican villains.

Much has been made of Mexico's recent struggles in World Cup qualifying, and it's true that things haven't exactly gone as planned with one game remaining in the first half of the hexagonal. But tonight at Azteca, Mexico has a chance to dramatically turn momentum in their favor. They face the Soca Warriors from Trinidad & Tobago in their vaunted citadel, and a win would go a long way towards relieving some of the pressure being heaped on the team and newly installed manager Javier Aguirre.

Aguirre has called for patience and calm from the Mexican media, stating that he believes things are not all darkness and gloom. And he's right, for the most part. The Mexicans still have a clear path to qualification, and gaining full points at home tonight against T&T is the first step. While it's certainly not an easy task, it should be within the abilities of a talented team. The reasonable expectation is that El Tri will still qualify for the World Cup, and do so in the first three places of the hexagonal, meaning that they won't be required to play a tense two-legged playoff with the fifth place CONMEBOL side.

I've argued on this site in the past that a struggling Mexican team is bad for American soccer; complacency (in my opinion) is a problem for the US, especially as public scrutiny is non-existent. Without the giant of Mexico looming on the southern horizon, there would be less imperative on US Soccer to push for improvement in the program on a large and rapid scale. So while I'm not exactly rooting for El Tri against the Soca Warriors tonight, I won't be too broken up if they do come out on top.

Which is what I expect; I don't see T&T seriously threatening in Azteca, and would be shocked if anything other than a Mexican victory comes out of the match. Aguirre should put out a strong attacking side, take advantage of the crowd and the altitude, and run Trinidad & Tobago ragged in the first fifteen minutes. From there it's simply a matter of controlling the game, something the Mexicans do well when required.

I can't root for Mexico, and I'm more than likely going to be pulling strongly for the upset; but my heart and my head are often at odds, and tonight will be a perfect example.

The always excellent L.E. Eisenmenger of the Boston Pro Soccer Examiner has a nice little interview with Costa Rican international and Revolution defender Garbriel Badilla up at her blog. Included in Badilla's comments is a common refrain from Latin American players; that the style of play in MLS is too physical, and that the technical aspects of the game (and the players here that are adept at it) suffer as a consequence.

Specifically, Badilla talks about the officiating here; it's his contention that the referees let entirely too much go, and the results are a less aesthetic brand of soccer.

Although this is nothing new, it's got me thinking more about the issue than I really have before. While the style of play that permeates MLS is very "American" (i.e., physical and athletic) in character, the league continues to go to Central and South America for talent, and the two clearly don't mesh. A rash of early-season cards might just be an aberration, or it could actually represent a sea change in the way the game will be officiated here. Perhaps the powers that be recognize that MLS needs to more to a more open and free flowing style.

Or not. Either way, the question is there, and it's not a simple one to answer. Does it benefit MLS to become more stylish and technical, which would hurt American players in the short term, because of the influx of Latin American talent (or simply because it's a more pleasing-to-the-eye product)? That type of transformation could lead to a period of foreign dominance in the league, with few Americans able to reach high-levels of play simply because their strengths would no longer come to bear as much as before.

On the other hand, it would clearly benefit the American player on the whole in the long term. A more technical league to grow up in would help raise the base level of skill across the board (or at least, that's the theory), benefiting players who already have strength and athleticism. As a bonus, those players who are not big enough or strong enough to be effective in the current MLS environment (think Freddy Adu) might then have a chance to play and develop.

I'm solidly on the side of that second thought. While I appreciate the abilities that make MLS players effective now, I lament the lack of creativity, flair, and out and out skill across the league. Few players possess the combination of abilities to be effective on both fronts; too often, we see skilled Latin American players come to MLS only to be rendered impotent by the prevailing style of play.

A football observer I respect has called MLS "English" in style. That may be true, or it may not, and I have no feelings either way on the use of the term. But English players aren't ever going to come to MLS in large numbers, while the number of Latin Americans should continue to grow. If this is the path that the league and its front offices have chooses (and we can debate if it's the right path on another occasion), doesn't it makes sense to adjust the officiating in a way that will create a league that matches that "futbol" influence?

Share your thoughts, I'd love to hear them.

Oh, and I'm writing this at work between tasks, so if it seems a little incomplete or not quite thought out enough, I apologize; I may need to explain myself a little more in the comments if you guys have thoughts on the matter.

New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman came off the bench on Sunday to score a brace, his 100th and 101st goals in Major League Soccer. In his seven years in the league, the striker has racked up 101 goals in just 174 matches played. That's a fantastic strike rate, and while Twellman is a legitimate American star in a league that isn't exactly overflowing with them, I'll have to admit to under-appreciating him.

It's not that I don't recognize that Twellman is a very good player, and it's not that I can't see greatness when it's in front of me; it's just that he's always been an afterthought, a man who's presence in MLS I've taken for granted.

Consider this post as my attempt to make amends.

Perhaps it's my disdain for the Revolution on the whole, which can be chalked up to both my MLS club preference and the unfortunate (yet ultimately fixable) stadium situation in which the Revs find themselves (i.e., crowd on one side of the stadium, football lines mucking up the artificial surface). Perhaps it's Twellman's less than impressive National Team record; I am, after all, an admitted "country first" fan, and because Twellman hasn't had a prominent role with the Nats in recent years, I tend to forget how good he has been for his club. Add to that the fact that the Revolution have never been able to breakthrough and win an MLS Cup, and you have my completely illogical feelings (or lack thereof) for the league's latest century scorer.

Only five men in Major League Soccer's fourteen year history have broken the 100 goal barrier. Jaime Moreno is the league's all time leading scorer with 125, a mark that Twellman should breeze by if his health cooperates. At 29, Twellman is no spring chicken, but he's also hardly over the hill; if his reappearance on the score sheet this weekend is any indication (okay, so it was the Red Bulls, but there's a chance), Twellman could very possibly head into 2010 or 2011 with the record in sight.

I may not have given Twellman his due to this point, and I may have overlooked just how good he has been over his MLS career, but I'll certainly be cheering him on (with exceptions, of course) when he approaches the league scoring record. He's a damn good player who's prime has given MLS an East Coast counterpoint to his more heralded countryman Landon Donovan; while Donovan gets the praise, Twellman has been more lethal. Different players on different teams in different systems, but it still helps frame Twellman's contributions; 101 goals in 174 appearances for the Revs striker, 90 goals in 194 appearances for the LA Galaxy man.

I'll probably never "like" Taylor Twellman in any meaningful way, and I still get a laugh out of his Kick Medic commercials; but the man can play some soccer, and now that I've been slapped out of my idiocy on just how good he is by his century-breaking performance on Sunday, I'm here to say that I now appreciate Taylor Twellman.

The New York Red Bulls stink. After a crushing 4-0 defeat to the New England Revolution yesterday, the Red Bulls are now a dismal 2-9-3, for a grand total of nine points. Their goal differential is -10, and they've yet to put the ball in the net on the road.

Things are so bad that there's talk of Juan Carlos Osorio becoming the first officially fired coach in the 2009 MLS season. Red Bull's execs back in Europe are getting itchy; a terrible team with no momentum is bad news for an organization getting set to open their brand new arena in 2010.

It's my opinion, then, that the New York Red Bulls may be the safest bet in MLS. If you bet against them, that is. If you are the type to do a little online sports betting, or any betting for that matter (do real life bookies still exist?), then I highly suggest you take a long look at each and every New York match. I dare you to show me a game in which they'll be favored, and at this rate, even draws seem unlikely.

Some are reveling in the Red Bulls' woes, and while I understand the feelings involved, it's clearly not a good thing for MLS. Perhaps I should say that it's unfortunate for the league; the biggest market in the United States has what is perhaps the worst top-level team. If the goal is the sell soccer to the broader American public (both soccer fans and non-soccer fans), then the Red Bull's failure is a hindrance. Not even last year's playoff run is buying them any credit; the fans are staying away, the manager is on the verge of being fired, and talented players like Juan Pablo Angel, Mac Kandji, and Dan Richards are being wasted.

I don't see any light at the end of the tunnel. Even a managerial change might not turn around the Red Bulls' fortunes, or get them back to respectability. Betting football is never a sure thing, and neither are the New York Red Bulls. But if you had to choose the "safest bet" in MLS in 2009, going against New York each and every time just might be it.

New York's next four matches are at Toronto, Seattle at home, at Toronto again, and at Columbus.

I just might have to take my own advice.

On this week's Match Fit USA Soccer Show, Jason and special guest co-host Scott Bornstein cover the week that was for the US Men's National Team, revel in a Mexico loss to Honduras, question our faith in Bob Bradley, and review a little MLS action from Week 12.

The Match Fit USA Soccer Show, part of the Champions Soccer Radio Network.

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I know I've gone to this well frequently in recent days, but using Google Translate to scan the Spanish-language media never fails to amuse. Today will more than likely be the final installment until things ramp up again in August for the American visit to Azteca.

Nothing warms the cockles of American soccer fan hearts like an unexpected Mexican loss. Last night was no exception, and the fall of El Tri in El Salvador capped off a fine evening for USMNT fans.

A scan of the news today reveals more than a few stories on Mexico's failure:

The fist highlight is great, if only because Google's translator turns a Mexican idiom (I'm assuming), used by manager Javier Aguirre, into one of the four-letter variety in English. Funny, and accurate. Ouch. There's more from Aguirre as well, though it's almost impossible to tell exactly what he was saying with the convoluted translation.

From the other side of the battle is a story from Honduran site Diez.hn, praising the historical nature of El Salvador's win. The gem of the translation is the smirk-inducing phrase "a criminal who became the legendary Cuauhtemoc Blanco".

I'm not usually looking for anything of import when I do these translation posts, and I'm not sure if I've found something interesting here or not; if any of you speak Spanish and would like to provide a better translation of this story about Blanco having a run in with a photographer after the match. There seems to be something there about a "referee" saying to Blanco that Mexico will not go to the World Cup, but I'm assuming that isn't right. Let me know if you are aware of what actually happened.

This story is notable for the player ratings provided; it doesn't get more simple than "stiff".

Let's finish up with a story about the consternation that comes from being fifth in the six team hexgonal. Also mentioned, and you have to give the Mexicans credit for not whining, is acknowledgement from national officials that the referee wasn't the reason for the loss.

It's hard not to revel in the Mexican loss and the resulting press, and although they are far from done in their qualification efforts, time is getting short for El Tri to turn things around.

Major League Soccer went on uninterrupted this weekend, despite the World Cup qualifiers taking place around the region and the world. In fact, not only did the league play a full complement of matches (with two games set for today), they scheduled one that ran concurrent with the United States' match with Honduras.

So, if you were at all like me and focused on the international variety of the game, you might have missed a thing or two.

Don't look now, but the defending champs might be good again. The Crew thumped beat Kansas City at Community America Ballpark yesterday, thanks to a brace by reigning MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto. The win gives Columbus sixteen points on the year, good enough for a tie for third in the Eastern Conference with the Wizards and Toronto. If the Crew have truly rebounded from their poor start (and it looks like they may have), and the team is now responding to head coach Robert Warzycha, then the rest of the league should sit up and take notice. With essentially the same squad as last year and no clear dominant team in the conference, it would not be surprising to see them steadily climb the table. Columbus' next three matches are Chivas USA at home, on the road to FC Dallas, and hosting New York. Seems to me that the Crew could easily get six or seven points from that run, a total that might have them solidly in a playoff spot by the end of the month.

Did you know that LA was actually capable of something other than a draw? The Galaxy have drawn so much recently that yesterday's win in Toronto, without Landon Donovan no less, comes as a bit of a shock. LA still sits in the bottom half of the Western Conference standings, though the victory puts them only two points behind third-place sides Colorado and Seattle. Toronto and their fans can't be too happy about dropping a game to the star-less Galaxy at home, especially after losing to Vancouver and missing out (barring a miracle) on the Canadian Championship, and it will be interesting to see if yet another Canadian coaching change is coming.

Speaking of the two third-place clubs out west, the Sounders failed in their bid to topple front-running Chivas at the Home Depot Center, while Colorado needed a late stunner by Omar Cummings to salvage a draw with Rocky Mountain rivals Real Salt Lake. The Sounders created a few chances and seemed to have the better of play, but the resilient Goats held strong and came away with the victory thanks to a goal by Eduardo Lillingston. RSL probably deserved a win in a front of a strong home crowd (which may have been more about hometown boy David Archuleta performing after the game than the play of the club), but Colorado steals a point on the road. The win-turned-draw means Real Salt Lake now sits on twelve point, ahead of only FC Dallas and San Jose in the West.

FC Dallas actually has a chance to tie RSL on points if they can beat bottom dwellers San Jose, a match up of two of the worst clubs in the league thus far.

Also today is an installment of the rivalry between New York and New England, and the Revolution will look to build off of last week's big win over DC United.

International football takes the spotlight, and many of us are frustrated that MLS continues (or has to) play through the breaks, but the league remains somewhat intriguing despite the conflicts; it's back to club footy only next week, so let's hope that the league delivers.

Episode 15 of the Match Fit USA Soccer Show is on it's way, and it's a Black Cloud-free zone this time around. Zach is off, but that doesn't mean we'll be playing nice on the show. Scott Bornstein, host of the Winning Ugly Radio Show will be filling in for Ginge, and we'll get his take on this week's topics.

Scott and I will review the week for the US Men's National Team, both the good and the bad, revel in a Mexico loss in El Salvador, and discuss a little of the MLS shake out.

Subscribe in iTunes to get the show as soon as it's released, download the previous episode here, or visit CSRN to listen through the online media player.