Author Archives: Ridge Mahoney

[MLS] Real Salt Lake ended its two-week training stint in Argentina by tying the reserve team of Rosario Central, 2-2, on Wednesday in Rosario.

For two MLS clubs, the preseason preparations include official competition. D.C. United and Houston not only came away from their away legs of their Concacaf Champions’ Cup quarterfinals with ties, both teams also glimpsed a preview of what they may encounter as the season unfolds.

[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP] After stopping in San Antonio to play MLS opposition, including each other, in the Texas Pro Soccer Festival last week, Houston and D.C. United begin play Wednesday in the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals sporting very different lineups than they did last year. In United’s case, the look is drastically new.

[OLYMPIC QUALIFYING] What gives latest American teen phenom Jozy Altidore an excellent chance to avoid the pitfalls that have befallen predecessors Eddie Johnson and Freddy Adu? Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney explains.

[MLS] When Kansas City hired Curt Onalfo as head coach a year and a half ago, he promised to implement at least two elements not always present in past Wizards’ teams: a commitment to attack and score goals, and Latin flair. Kansas City scored 45 goals last year, fifth-best in MLS, and unveiled Argentine playmaker Carlos Marinelli and Colombian winger Eloy Colombano. Long before the move of Eddie Johnson to English Premier League club Fulham became official in January, Onalfo and technical director Peter Vermes had begun work on landing replacements. They officially announced the signing of Colombian striker Ivan Trujillo last week but for months had been chasing a much bigger prize.

The preseason has yet to end, but FC Dallas Coach Steve Morrow is already in midseason form, at least in regards to the officiating. He’s not happy. Good fields, good weather and good competition are the elements most sought for proper preseason training, yet a fair shake from the officials doesn’t hurt, and Morrow felt so strongly his team was wronged in a 3-1 loss to Brazilian club Avai FC Sunday in Florianoplis he nearly pulled his players off the field Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney explains.

With keeper Brad Guzan back in Southern California tending to an MCL sprain, Chivas USA lost to Houston, 1-0, on Friday and Toronto FC, 3-2, on Sunday in its last two matches of the Texas Pro Soccer Festival.

For the second time in three games on the western-most leg of its Asian tour, the Galaxy ended regulation tied but lost on penalty kicks. Not to be blamed, though, is David Beckham, whose excellent play created numerous chances his teammates failed to convert.

[MLS] Adam Moffat scored the lone goal as Columbus beat the Blackburn reserve team, 1-0, at the Blackburn training grounds on Thursday while Crew coach Sigi Schmid continues the search for reinforcements.

[MLS] Players on loan are usually forbidden to play against the clubs that have loaned them out, but for the annual USA-Brazil Challenge between FC Dallas and Clube Atletico Paranaense an exception was made.

[MLS] It’s preseason, yes, but what’s going on with the Houston defense? Gamba Osaka lit up the Dynamo with a 6-1 thumping in the Pan Pacific Championship final a week and a half ago; on Wednesday, the first day of play in the Texas Pro Soccer Festival, Houston conceded three while beating Toronto FC, 4-3.

Nowhere, it seems, can MLS teams in preseason training escape the specter of bad fields. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney explains.

[MLS WAIVER DRAFT] Only three players were claimed in the MLS waiver draft Tuesday, but at least a few more of the players placed on waivers may find their way onto rosters.

[MLS] Once FC Dallas had traded striker Carlos Ruiz to Los Angeles, speculation began regarding who would pick up the scoring slack. Coach Steve Morrow is still negotiating the acquisition of Chilean forward Reinaldo Navia. Forwards Ricardinho, Dominic Oduro, Kenny Cooper and Abe Thompson are vying for playing time; Roberto Mina, unable to reach agreement on a new contract, is not. On Tuesday, FC Dallas got goals from an unlikely source. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney explains.