Talking MLS

Talking Points & Talking Heads of Major League Soccer and the rest of the North American soccer pyramid.

[talkingmls]

Welcome to the MLS Cup Playoffs

"Playoffs? You want to talk about PLAYOFFS???"

Well, yes, actually; we do. It's time for the 2014 postseason in Major League Soccer, with the first action kicking off Wednesday with FC Dallas-Vancouver in Canada — the only matchup not broadcast on national television in the United States. It will be available on TSN1 in the Great White North, as well as on MLS Live in the States.

The New York Red Bulls will face Sporting Kansas City in the other Knockout Round game on Thursday.

The winner will advance to the Easter Conference semifinals against No. 1-seed D.C. United, who completed the greatest one-year turnaround in MLS history.

New England will play Columbus in the other East semifinal.

On the West Coast, the winner of Dallas-Vancouver will head to Seattle for a matchup with the Supporters Shield-winning Sounders.

Real Salt Lake and LA Galaxy will square off in the other West semi.

All screenshots courtesy of MLSsoccer.com's Playoff Coverage.

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Landon Donovan, breakin’ hearts and scorin’ goals. (x)

We’re up by one, 2-1 All-Stars.

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Landon Donovan scored a goal on Manuel Neuer. Just let that sink in for a minute, I guess.

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Dom Dwyer: great goal, better selfie. Sporting Kansas City and Chicago Fire tie, 1-1 in Graham Zusi's first match since the 2014 World Cup.

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Welcome back, MLS.

It's been a great World Cup break. But it's good to be back, isn't it?

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Change we can believe in. Only 96,002 signatures to go. 

Sign the petition here.

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The U.S. has an insane travel schedule.

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I believe this has been well documented. Group of Death = Group of Long-distance Airplanes.

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And the first CONCACAF qualifier for the Knockout Stages of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil is ......

Raise your hand if you bet on Costa Rica to get to this point — ahead of Mexico, Honduras or the United States.

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Kaka is heading to MLS. At least, if you believe several reports.

The report began at Spanish sports daily AS, and spread from there, eventually receiving independent confirmation from ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman. 

Breaking News: @OrlandoCitySC have signed their 1st DP @KAKA. He will be loaned out to Sao Paolo until 2015. @MLS making moves. #WorldCup

— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) June 19, 2014

Good move for Kaka? For MLS? For American soccer, in general?

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Among the first teams officially eliminated from the 2014 World Cup: defending champion Spain.

Three of the past four World Cups have now seen the defending champs ousted in the Group Stages. It happened twice before 2002.

For more photos, click here.

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Demon exorcised.

USA 2, Ghana 1

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Soon, America. Soon.

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Preserved here for posterity.

RVP's incredible diving goal opened a 5-1 Dutch rout of defending world and European champion Spain.

[thegameswelove]

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Every member of the 2014 U.S. Men's National Team in Brazil — by the numbers.

Check out Beckerman's number, RSL fans. He made it; dream come true.

United States World Cup Squad 2014

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USL PRO has announced its 18th expansion franchise, and fifth for the 2015 season, in Austin, Texas. The Austin Aztex, which currently play in the Premier Development League, will join the third division of the American soccer pyramid alongside Colorado Springs, Louisville, Saint Louis and Tulsa. 

"After two very successful seasons on the field in the PDL — which included a 2013 national championship and a steadily growing fan base — we are ready to move to the USL PRO level," Aztex club chairman Rene van de Zande said in a statement. "We have a clear vision for what we want to achieve with our club in Austin and joining USL PRO is part of this. We commend USL PRO for developing a strong and high quality league as well as for the relationship it has established with Major League Soccer."

The five newcomers will join LA Galaxy II, Oklahoma City Energy, and Sacramento Republic FC, as well as the league's seven original members that partnered with MLS in its affiliate program that runs through the end of the 2014 season.

The original Austin Aztex FC was founded in 2008 in the USL First Division, but owner Phil Rawlins moved the club to Orlando in 2010, becoming Orlando City SC — which will join MLS in 2015 alongside New York City FC.

The original club bounced around between USL-1 and USL-2 before Rawlins' move four years ago.

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The World Cup in Brazil kicks off this week.

Are you excited yet? What about now?

Now?

Maybe HBO's John Oliver can get you pumped for this cycle's big event in Brazil.

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RSL's Luis Gil bagged the first goal, but a late equalizer conceded to Ethan Finley saw the Crew take a point back at home.

This match seemed fairly lopsided late. But nearly 60 percent of possession for Columbus? That'll be a talking point for RSL coach Jeff Cassar.

(Graphic courtesy of Real Salt Lake's Instagram feed)

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This one has been foreseen by some time by casual fans of North American soccer's third division. 

Orlando City SC, which will join MLS in 2015, has sold its USL PRO operating franchise to Louisville City FC, effectively relocating the third-division club to Louisville at the same time Orlando moves to the top flight of North American soccer.

OCSC minority owner Wayne Estopinal, who owns an architectural firm in Louisville, will be the new franchise's majority owner. Orlando City will also maintain a minority ownership of the USL PRO club, and will affiliate with the club — if the affiliation deal between MLS and USL PRO continues through 2015.

The current affiliation program between the two leagues is set to expire at the close of the 2014 season. MLS officials have previously said they want each team to have a USL PRO affiliate, or enter its reserve team in the third division, such as LA Galaxy II.