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MLS Talent Improves in 2008; Roster Freeze Date is September 15

Published on September 8, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


Now that both the transfer windows - for players under contract joining MLS and for those leaving MLS - have closed, it is possible to analyze the balance of talent for 2008.

Since MLS Cup 2007, more than 50 significant signings have joined MLS clubs and are still active. This list includes players from 21 countries, including more than a dozen from the United States that have returned to their home country.

The average age of the active new signings is 28 years, 226 days. They include current and former members of the senior national teams of Argentina, Costa Rica, England, Guatemala, Honduras, Liberia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Puerto Rico, Switzerland, the United States and Venezuela.

As regard for MLS rises internationally, more clubs around the world are signing MLS players, and paying more than ever for them in transfer fees. Since MLS Cup 2007, 17 notable MLS players transferred to clubs abroad.

To see a list of the significant incoming and outgoing players since the end of the 2007 MLS season, click here.

Next Monday, September 15, is the MLS roster freeze date, or trading deadline. Teams have until 5 p.m. ET that day to complete any player transactions.

MLS Cup Playoff Race at a Glance

No new teams moved into playoff spots this past week, but several got closer. Current wild card holders D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls both lost on the road, allowing San Jose to pull within four points of them.

The Earthquakes are riding the longest unbeaten streak in MLS this season, now at eight games, and are just two points behind Chivas USA for the third automatic berth in the Western Conference.

Columbus expanded its lead atop the Eastern Conference with a decisive victory over New England. With its win against New York, Chicago now holds the edge over New England for second place thanks to a better head-to-head record. If the season ended today, the Fire would host the second leg of an aggregate goals conference semifinal series with the Revolution.

But the season does not end today.

Each team has seven games left to secure one of eight spots before the MLS Cup Playoffs begin Oct. 30.

2008 MLS STANDINGS

INCLUDES GAMES OF SUNDAY, September 07, 2008

---------- OVERALL ----------- ---- HOME ---- ---- ROAD ----

Eastern GP W L T PTS GF GA GD W L T GF GA W L T GF GA

Columbus (1) 23 13 6 4 43 40 29 11 8 2 2 25 14 5 4 2 15 15

Chicago (2) 23 11 7 5 38 30 18 12 5 4 2 12 8 6 3 3 18 10

New England (3) 23 11 7 5 38 31 33 -2 5 3 3 17 14 6 4 2 14 19

D.C. United X 23 10 11 2 32 37 36 1 8 3 1 28 13 2 8 1 9 23

New York Y 23 8 7 8 32 28 29 -1 7 1 3 20 10 1 6 5 8 19

Toronto FC 23 7 11 5 26 24 32 -8 5 2 5 12 8 2 9 0 12 24

Kansas City 23 6 9 8 26 24 33 -9 5 2 3 13 12 1 7 5 11 21

---------- OVERALL ----------- ---- HOME ---- ---- ROAD ----

Western GP W L T PTS GF GA GD W L T GF GA W L T GF GA

Houston (1) 23 10 5 8 38 34 27 7 8 1 3 25 13 2 4 5 9 14

Real Salt Lake (2) 23 8 8 7 31 29 29 0 7 0 5 20 7 1 8 2 9 22

Chivas USA (3) 23 8 9 6 30 31 33 -2 6 3 3 17 11 2 6 3 14 22

San Jose 23 7 9 7 28 23 27 -4 5 3 3 17 14 2 6 4 6 13

Colorado 23 8 12 3 27 30 32 -2 6 4 1 17 9 2 8 2 13 23

FC Dallas 23 6 9 8 26 30 30 0 4 4 4 17 16 2 5 4 13 14

Los Angeles 23 6 9 8 26 44 47 -3 4 4 4 25 21 2 5 4 19 26

X - D.C. United currently hold first wildcard and remains in Eastern Conference

Y - New York Red Bulls currently hold second wildcard and switch to Western Conference

Highlighted teams currently out of the playoffs

MLS Week 25: Sept. 11-14, 2008

(All times Eastern)

Thursday, September 11

Chivas USA at New England Revolution, 7:00 p.m. (ESPN2, Deportes)

New England has only one win in its past six regular season games. After going six games without a victory, Chivas USA have won back-to-back games, both coming against Toronto FC in a home-and-home series. New England leads the all-time series 3-2-2 and won the last meeting 2-1 at the Home Depot Center on May 11. Saturday, September 13

Columbus Crew at Toronto FC, 3:30 p.m. (DK, MLSLIVE.tv)

This is the third and final meeting between the clubs this season. The Crew hold the edge at 1-0-1 this year, and is 3-0-2 versus Toronto all-time. On Saturday Guillermo Barros Schelotto became the second player in MLS history to register eight assists in four games - Marco Etcheverry is the other. Schelotto's 18 assists are the most in a season since Steve Ralston had 19 in 2002. Carlos Valderrama holds the record with 26 assists in 2000. Toronto is six points out of the wild card spot with seven games remaining.

Los Angeles Galaxy at Kansas City Wizards, 5:00 p.m. (HDNet)

The match will be played at the Wizards' "former" home of Arrowhead Stadium, the game moved there from CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Five of the Wizards' final seven games are in Kansas City. The Wizards are 5-2-3 at home, compared to 1-7-5 on the road. LA leads the all-time series 21-15-7 and won the only meeting of this season 3-1 on May 24. Kansas City is tied for the fewest goals in the League with 24, while the Galaxy, with 44, have scored the most. FC Dallas at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m. (FSC, FSE)

FC Dallas have lost three of their last four matches, and travel to RFK Stadium where they have won only four times in 12 seasons. United hold a slight edge in the all-time series at 14-12-4. This is the first of two meetings between the clubs with the last coming Sept. 28 in Dallas. United have two games remaining against Eastern Conference opponents, so will need results versus the Western Conference to qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Real Salt Lake at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. (DK, MLSLIVE.tv)

This is the first of two meetings this year between the clubs. Real Salt Lake have never beaten New York, but have lost only once. New York holds the edge with a 1-0-5 record versus the 2005 expansion side. RSL forward Fabian Espindola was injured celebrating a disallowed goal in the team's 2-2 tie versus Los Angeles. An MRI on his leg showed no fracture, but team officials said he could miss up to six weeks. Since RSL joined the League in 2006, the teams have met six times -- playing to draws on five occasions. The only time a team has won in the all-time series came Aug. 26, 2006 -- a 6-0 Red Bulls victory. The second meeting between the teams this season will come on Oct 9, the opening of Real Salt Lake's new stadium in Sandy, Utah.

Houston Dynamo at San Jose Earthquakes, 10:00 p.m. (DK, MLSLIVE.tv)

The San Jose Earthquakes, the League's hottest team, are on an eight-game unbeaten streak, including four wins against teams currently in playoff positions. Even without leading scorers Brian Ching and Dwayne De Rosario, who were both on international duty, the Dynamo defeated the Wizards last Sunday as midseason acquisitions Nate Jaqua (two goals) and Kei Kamara (two assists) maximized their starting roles. San Jose's Darren Huckerby has become a candidate for MLS Newcomer of the Year by notching four goals and four assists in just seven games. One of San Jose's most emotional wins of the season came the last time Houston visited, Kei Kamara, who scored for the Earthquakes in a 2-1 victory, now plays for the Dynamo.

Sunday, September 14

Chicago Fire at Colorado Rapids 3:00 p.m. (TeleFutura)

The Rapids got a major victory last Thursday at FC Dallas, keeping their playoff hopes alive. Rapids defender Mike Petke, an 11-year veteran of the League, scored his 12th career goal in the win versus FC Dallas. Chicago finishes off the month of September with three games against Western Conference opponents and then closes the season with four games in October versus Eastern Conference foes. The Fire have allowed just 18 goals in 23 games, the best defensive record in the league. The Houston Dynamo set the all-time record last season, allowing just 23 goals in 30 games.

Columbus midfielder Guillermo Barros Schelotto Wins MLS Player of the Week Award

Columbus Crew midfielder Guillermo Barros Schelotto was voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 24 of the 2008 season. Schelotto had a goal and two assists as Columbus defeated the New England Revolution 4-0. The victory improved the Crew's record to 13-6-4 (43 points) and helped them gain a five-point lead atop the Eastern Conference. The Columbus Crew have won four games in a row, and five of six since the All-Star break. This is Schelotto's fourth Player of the Week award this season and the sixth of his career. For more on Player of the Week honor click here.

The Major League Soccer Player of the Week is selected each week of the MLS regular season by a panel of journalists from The North American Soccer Reporters (NASR). The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership information can be found at http://www.soccerreporters.com/.

MLS Players in World Cup Qualifying

Major League Soccer was well represented in qualifying matches for FIFA World Cup 2010 South Africa over the weekend, with 31 players from 12 clubs in national teams playing over the weekend, and more qualifying matches ahead this week in CONCACAF, South America, Oceania and Europe.

For a roundup of the CONCACAF qualifiers, click here

For a roundup of the other World Cup qualifiers involving MLS players, click here

Here's a list of this week's World Cup qualifiers involving MLS players (all to be played Wednesday, Sept. 10, except where noted):

USA vs. Trinidad & Tobago (Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Ill., 8 p.m. ET) USA: Brian Ching (HOU); Ricardo Clark (HOU); Landon Donovan (LA); Frankie Hejduk (CLB); Sacha Kljestan (CHV); Eddie Lewis (LA); Marvell Wynne (TOR) TRI: Julius James (TOR)

Canada vs. Mexico (Tuxtla Gutierrez, 9 p.m. ET) MEX: Cuauhtemoc Blanco (CHI) CAN: Jim Brennan (TOR); Dwayne De Rosario (HOU); Ante Jazic (LA); Pat Onstad (HOU); Adrian Serioux (DAL)

Haiti vs. Costa Rica (Port-au-Prince, 6 p.m. ET) HAI: Ricardo Pierre-Louis (CLB) CRC: Gabriel Badilla (NE), Gonzalo Segares (CHI)

Honduras vs. Jamaica (San Pedro Sula, 9:30 p.m. ET) HON: Amado Guevara (TOR) JAM: Tyrone Marshall (TOR); Shavar Thomas (CHV); Andy Williams (RSL)

Guatemala vs. Cuba (Guatemala City, 10 p.m. ET) GUA: Marco Pappa (CHI); Carlos Ruiz (TOR)

Paraguay vs. Venezuela [Sept. 9] (Asuncion, 8 p.m. ET) VEN: Alejandro Moreno (CLB), Jorge Rojas (NY)

Brazil vs. Bolivia (Rio de Janeiro, 8:50 p.m. ET) BOL: Jaime Moreno (DC)

England vs. Croatia (Zagreb, 3 p.m. ET) ENG: David Beckham (LA)

Wales vs. Russia (Moscow, 11 a.m. ET) WAL: Carl Robinson (TOR)

New Zealand vs. New Caledonia (Auckland, 3:35 a.m. ET) NZL: Andrew Boyens (NY); Duncan Oughton (CLB); Jarrod Smith (TOR)

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 8, 2008


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