MLS Major League Soccer

MLS Newsstand - September 19, 2016

Published on September 19, 2016 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


1. After five-year wait, Portland Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson stands tall in starting role

By Jamie Goldberg The Oregonian - September 19, 2016

Jake Gleeson rose from the bench and took a deep breath before grabbing his gloves.

Portland Timbers goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey had just jammed his finger into the Providence Park turf while making a save against the San Jose Earthquakes.

Gleeson had never wished for his opportunity to come at the expense of a teammate and friend, but he knew this was his moment to prove he was capable of starting in MLS.

It was nearly five years to the day since Gleeson had stepped into a regular season game for the Timbers. Not long before that, he had considered giving up the sport altogether. But as he jogged onto the pitch on that April night, the New Zealand native exuded an air of confidence.

He was poised and ready.

- - -

It was only by chance that Gleeson fell into goalkeeping.

Growing up in Wellington, New Zealand, he spent his afternoons playing cricket or rugby. He was an all-rounder in cricket - a player accomplished at both batting and bowling - and hoped to someday turn pro.

But on one fateful Saturday morning when he was 12, Gleeson accompanied a friend to his soccer practice with a top youth club called North Wellington. When they arrived at the training, the team was short a player, so Gleeson jumped in goal to help out.

A few weeks later, the North Wellington starting goalkeeper dislocated his knee and the club asked Gleeson if he would join the team as their goalie. He decided to give it a shot.

"I think it was out of desperation," Gleeson joked.

Even though he had never trained as a goalkeeper, Gleeson quickly took to the position. He was fearless in the net, and never hesitated to challenge opposing players in 1v1 situations.

But he didn't truly start to take soccer seriously until he was 15, when goalkeeper coach Mark Oates pulled him aside and told him he had the potential to go far with the position. Oates persuaded Gleeson to throw himself fully into the sport and join a nearby men's team called Western Suburbs FC.

"He wanted to be the best and took mistakes very personally and would keep going until he got it right," Oates said. "There were many times where I would physically have to move him out of the goal or stop sessions so he would take a break. He had the combination of talent and attitude, and that made him stand out."

As a teenager, Gleeson quickly moved up the ranks.

He was named to the U-17 New Zealand National Team and went on to represent the Young All Whites at the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Gleeson was in the net when New Zealand was shelled 7-0 by Brazil, but he still turned heads with some massive saves. His performance earned him trials with English Premier League clubs Everton and Manchester United.

But contracts didn't materialize, and Gleeson returned to New Zealand without any new options.

He was still playing for clubs in New Zealand by the time he began his first year at Victoria University, but didn't have a path forward and had started to wonder if it was time to hang up his gloves.

"I was frustrated that nothing had worked out and when you're from New Zealand, it's not like you have a massive number of opportunities," Gleeson said. "I was ready to give up football altogether.

"Then Gavin came along."

- - -

It was past midnight in August 2007 when Gavin Wilkinson, then the coach and general manager of the USL Timbers, decided to flip on the U-17 FIFA World Cup to watch New Zealand face Brazil.

It wasn't a game that would have interested many USL general managers, but Wilkinson was a fellow Kiwi and had competed for the New Zealand National Team during his playing days.

It was clear from the opening minute that the Young All Whites didn't have a chance, but the 6-foot-4 teenager in the net still caught Wilkinson's eye.

"I remember Jake standing out as a young goalkeeper that showed a tremendous amount of promise," Wilkinson said. "It was by chance two years later that we were talking about it and I started to wonder what happened to him."

The Timbers were already gearing up for their entry into MLS when Wilkinson reached out to Gleeson in late 2009 and asked if he wanted to meet for lunch in Wellington.

Gleeson and his family were at a Christmas celebration in Taupo, five hours north of Wellington, but Gleeson and his dad, Pat, jumped in the car at 5 a.m. to drive back to the city for the meeting.

"At that stage, he was stuck," Wilkinson said. "He was at a crossroads and I think he just wanted an opportunity to show what he could do."

Wilkinson saw promise in Gleeson, and offered him the chance to come to Portland and reignite his career. Gleeson jumped at it.

- - -

At first, all was rosy for Gleeson in Portland.

He spent 2010 with the Timbers U-23 side, helping the club become PDL champions. He signed with the first team shortly before their inaugural MLS season in 2011. And when Timbers goalkeeper Adin Brown, who was starting in place of injured keeper Troy Perkins, sustained an injury of his own in the second game of the season, Gleeson stepped into the net, making three consecutive starts and twice earning MLS Save of the Week.

"I was young and hadn't played at that level before and did all right," Gleeson said. "I didn't know how long it was going to take me to get back out there, but I knew this was a level I could play at. Obviously, five years later is when I got to play again."

When Perkins returned to full health, Gleeson found himself back on the bench. Two years later, the Timbers brought in veteran goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, and Gleeson continued to dedicate himself to his training, trying to learn everything he could from Ricketts as he prepared for his next chance.

But when Ricketts was picked up by Orlando in the December 2014 expansion draft, the Timbers still felt like Gleeson needed more time to develop. They signed Kwarasey, and the Ghanaian went on to become a hero of Portland's MLS Cup title run. He scored a penalty kick of his own before saving a PK from Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Jon Kempin to lead the Timbers past the knockout round of the 2015 playoffs in historic fashion.

Gleeson appeared in one playoff game during the run when Kwarasey was out with the flu, but there was no reason to think that Kwarasey wouldn't be Portland's starting keeper heading into 2016.

Gleeson was beginning to wonder if he had a future in Portland when he met with Timbers coach Caleb Porter at the end of 2015. But Porter told him to stay patient. He felt that Gleeson was capable of competing for the starting job.

"He wanted to know whether we saw a future for him here," Porter said. "He talked about maybe going on loan somewhere. We held him back because we felt like he was on the cusp of winning that job."

- - -

Two weeks after Kwarasey's injury, Gleeson walked through the tunnel with the rest of the starting lineup for a match against Toronto. It was his first start at Providence Park in more than five years, and he was ready to make an impression.

He saved a point-blank shot to deny Jozy Altidore in the 63rd minute. He made an incredible dive to bat away a shot from Michael Bradley in the 77th minute. And he stopped a close-range header from Will Johnson in stoppage time to lead the Timbers to a 2-1 victory. For the performance, Gleeson was named MLS Player of the Week.

"He has great size and quick reactions," Porter said. "He's up there with the best goalkeepers in the league as a shot stopper."

The performance against Toronto impressed Porter, but it was another few weeks before he decided to stick with Gleeson as the No. 1.

When a ball slipped through Gleeson's legs in a game at Vancouver on May 7, Porter watched closely to see how he would respond to the uncharacteristic mistake. Gleeson was unfazed. Since then, he has put up a highlight reel of acrobatic saves, and has consistently kept Portland in games with his heroics. He is now first in MLS in saves with 107 in just 23 starts and has one of the best save percentages in MLS at 76.4.

In mid-July, Porter pulled Gleeson aside after training and told the 26-year-old that he had at long last earned his spot and would continue to stay in the net even when Kwarasey returned to full health from the torn ligament in his finger. On July 18, the Timbers gave the final vote of confidence when they transferred Kwarasey to Norwegian club Rosenborg BK.

"He's worked really hard to get here," said Brown, who is now the Timbers goalkeeper coach. "He's been around long enough to know what's expected of a No. 1 and he's stepped into that role nicely."

While Gleeson has embraced his role as a starter, he said he continues to approach training with the same motivation and intensity as he did when he was fighting for that No. 1 spot.

He is finally where he wants to be, and is not taking his long-awaited opportunity for granted.

"It's been worth the five years of work to get here," Gleeson said. "Because these last few months have reminded me why I love the game."

2. Portland Timbers midfielder Jack Jewsbury to retire following 2016 season

By Jamie Goldberg The Oregonian - September 18, 2016

Portland Timbers midfielder Jack Jewsbury will retire from professional soccer following the 2016 season.

Jewsbury announced his retirement at the club's Stand Together Banquet Sunday.

The 35-year-old has made more than 300 appearances over 14 seasons in MLS. Though the Missouri native began his career with the Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting Kansas City), he has spent the last six seasons in Portland. Jewsbury joined the Timbers in their inaugural MLS season in 2011 and was the club's first MLS captain.

Here is the full release from the Timbers:

PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland Timbers midfielder Jack Jewsbury - one of an elite group of players to play 300 or more games in MLS - announced this evening that he will retire as a professional player at the conclusion of the 2016 season. Jewsbury, who will finish his distinguished playing career after 14 MLS seasons, made the announcement at the club's annual Stand Together Banquet, held at The Nines Hotel in downtown Portland on Sunday night.

"As tough as this decision was, my family and I are extremely excited about the next chapter and the new adventures ahead," Jewsbury said. "It has been an honor to represent MLS during my 14 seasons, and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to play for two first-class organizations and fan bases that have taken this league and the sport in our country to the next level.

"I will always treasure my six years playing for Portland, including the postgame victory laps on the field with my daughters and celebrating the Timbers MLS Cup victory with the entire city."

Jewsbury, 35, is one of just three players in MLS history to play 150 or more games with two different clubs in the league, and currently ranks 10th all-time in games played (348) and 29th in minutes played (25,363) as one of just 38 players to appear in 300 career games or more in MLS. Originally a fifth-round (43rd overall) selection of the Kansas City Wizards in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft, Jewsbury has amassed 28 goals and 37 assists over his 348 games played (277 starts) during his 14-year playing career in the league. Additionally, the Springfield, Mo., native has made 19 postseason appearances (16 starts) to date - including six games during the Timbers' run to their first MLS Cup in 2015 - tallying a goal and three assists in the playoffs during his MLS career, including two assists during the 2013 playoffs as the Timbers advanced to the Western Conference Championship.

"Jack Jewsbury has been a first-class leader on and off the field since the Timbers joined MLS. The consummate professional. I cannot say enough about what he has given to this organization," said Merritt Paulson, owner of the Timbers. "Jack will leave this team a Portland Timbers icon and I am hopeful he stays involved with this organization."

Of his 28 career goals in the league, 10 have been game-winners, with half of those coming for the Timbers, including his decisive strike in a 1-0 victory at Vancouver on Oct. 21, 2012, to clinch the Cascadia Cup that season, and two during the club's MLS Cup-winning season in 2015, with crucial stoppage-time game-winners at Colorado on May 30, 2015, and vs. San Jose on July 5, 2015.

"Throughout Jack's career, he has exemplified professionalism and what it means to be a Timbers player," said Gavin Wilkinson, general manager and president of soccer for the Timbers. "Since joining the Timbers in 2011, Jack has proved to be a phenomenal addition to this club, as he's played an instrumental role in its growth from an expansion team into an MLS Cup champion five years later. Throughout his time with the Timbers, he has been a leader on the field and in the community, helping this team reach new heights and continually putting the club before himself."

Currently in his sixth season with Portland, Jewsbury was acquired by the Timbers prior to the start of their inaugural MLS season in 2011 from Sporting Kansas City, and has gone on to make 153 appearances (135 starts) to date for Portland, scoring 14 goals and tallying 17 assists. The team's first-ever MLS All-Star and captain, while recording seven goals and eight assists over a career-high 32 games in 2011, Jewsbury was the Timbers' Players' Player of the Year in 2011 and the recipient of the club's Unsung Hero award in 2013. During his first season with the Timbers, Jewsbury played in the 2011 MLS All-Star Game against Manchester United on July 27, 2011, after being voted to the First XI as one of the top vote-getters in the league.

"Jack Jewsbury has been an absolute pleasure to coach during the four years I've worked with him, and I can't say enough about him as a player, professional and person," said Caleb Porter, head coach of the Timbers. "There's no better reflection of our club and what it embodies than Jack, and his contributions on and off the pitch are immeasurable. He will go down at the end of the season as a legend for this club, one who put the team first and gave all he had every training session, every game. The biggest credit to his accomplished career is that, in his last season, he's playing one of his biggest roles down the stretch."

Jewsbury, who resides in the Portland area with his wife, Brittany, and their two daughters, ranks among the top five in several Timbers career statistical categories, including ranking third in MLS games played, MLS games started and MLS minutes played (12,100). Additionally, Jewsbury ranks tied for third in assists and seventh in goals scored for the Timbers in MLS play. On the club's all-era record books (since 1975), he currently ranks fifth in career games played and tied for eighth in assists.

Among his many significant contributions with Portland as the club made its MLS debut in 2011, Jewsbury's first regular-season goal with the Timbers helped them secure their first-ever point in the league with a 1-1 draw at New England on April 2, 2011, while his goal at Chicago on July 16, 2011, helped Portland to its first road victory as an MLS side. In the club's first-ever home contest during U.S. Open Cup qualifying, Jewsbury provided the game-winning goal and assisted on a second tally in the Timbers' first competitive win as an MLS team in a 2-0 victory over Chivas USA on March 29, 2011.

This season, Jewsbury has one goal and two assists across 19 games played (13 starts), providing a key assist in a 4-2 victory over Seattle Sounders FC at Providence Park on Aug. 28, and scoring in a 3-0 win over Sporting Kansas City in Portland on Aug. 7.

Prior to joining the Timbers, Jewsbury, who played collegiately at Saint Louis University, spent eight seasons with the Kansas City Wizards (2003-10), winning a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title and starting in a 3-2 loss to D.C. United during his first MLS Cup in 2004.

3. Jordan Morris evolves into star striker for Sounders

By John McGrath Tacoma News Tribune - September 18, 2016

SEATTLE Sounders rookie striker Jordan Morris scored a goal Saturday that cannot be overestimated. It was the difference in a 1-0 victory over Vancouver - a game winner worth three points in the standings and the sense, less quantifiable, that an MLS playoff berth still is viable.

For 80 minutes, the Sounders had gone toe-to-toe with their Cascadia Cup rivals. Elimination wasn't at stake, but with the schedule down to six games and the Sounders beginning Saturday six points behind Portland for the final postseason position, Seattle couldn't afford to lose.

The Sounders pushed, the Whitecaps pushed back, neither team able to impose its will. And then Morris connected with a perfectly aimed Nicolas Lodeiro cross in the 81st minute, putting the ball into the net off the ol' noggin.

There were still nine minutes remaining, and what would amount to four minutes of stoppage time, but Morris' score on the header provided a mood of finality.

"A good goal by any standard," said Sounders interim coach Brian Schmetzer, "and it also was a brave goal. Jordan sticking his head in there is not easy, but he did and he was rewarded."

Morris' 10th goal of the season revealed how far the much-touted Stanford product has progressed since he made his MLS debut on March 3. That was the afternoon he took a pass in stride for a point-blank shot an elite striker doesn't miss.

Except Morris didn't merely miss the shot. He clunked it - the soccer equivalent of rolling a golf ball off the green on a two-foot putt - foreshadowing a Sounders' season of perpetual tribulation.

Six-and-a-half months after resembling the new kid in school whose first day went worse than awkward, Morris returned to the site of his professional baptism and took charge.

"He's got a lot of confidence, you can see that," Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson said of Morris, who turns 22 next month.

"With all young players, it's very important you stick with them when times are tough."

Morris' development from star-struck prospect to star striker has been a team effort that gained traction with the midseason acquisition of Lodeiro, the 5-foot-7 dynamo from Uruguay whose knack for making plays was evident Saturday.

"I've definitely gotten more confident as the season has gone on," said Morris. "And adding Nico - he plays all those great balls - has been an important in building my confidence."

Given the uncertain status of franchise pillar Clint Dempsey, sidelined Saturday because of an irregular heartbeat, it's not a stretch to see Morris as the go-to scorer capable of carrying the Sounders down the stretch.

"He still may have butterflies, because these are big games," said Schmetzer. "Which is normal."

Schmetzer then offered an observation: He doesn't need Morris to be normal.

"Strikers are characters like Robbie Keane," said Schmetzer, referring to the Irish legend who serves as captain of the LA Galaxy. "They can be be nice guys, like Jordan. They can be executioners, like Dempsey. Each has his own little bit of personality.

"Jordan has to keep finding his way. He has so many starting points with his size, speed and athleticism, he's going to be successful. He just needs to make sure he becomes a student of the game and is aware of everything around him."

The Sounders resume play a week from Sunday with a road match against the Galaxy. Postseason hopes could hinge on whether Morris can continue to be the striker force whose score prevented his team from a last month spent on life support.

"Six games left," said Schmetzer. "He can score some more goals, and we expect him to score more. He has the ability."

4. Orlando City has little room for error during playoff push after loss to Columbus

By Alicia DelGallo Orlando Sentinel - September 18, 2016

After losing back-to-back games and allowing four goals in each of them, Orlando City slid down a spot in the Eastern Conference table and now needs victories more than ever.

Lions coach Jason Kreis said the pressure hasn't increased, it's still "immensely high," but the amount of flexibility in results for the club grew slimmer with Saturday night's 4-1 loss at home to Columbus.

"This is going to be a tight race all the way until the end," Kreis said after the match. "We just want to do everything we can to be a part of that race. Now, going into D.C. United, if we had gotten the three points tonight, we're probably saying to ourselves, 'Draw here would be good enough,' whereas now maybe it won't be. Now maybe we need to go there to try and pick up all three points."

Kreis didn't hide his disappointment in the team's performance against the Crew. For weeks, he'd preached better defense and shooting for clean sheets every game. Instead, the Lions conceded 12 goals in their last five matches - eight in the past two games - since their last clean sheet against Colorado Aug. 20.

Orlando City now is eighth in the East and remains tied in points with No. 7 D.C. United.

"We're just taking everything from this game and learning from it and moving on from it," Lions defender Tommy Redding said. "I think most of it is just a mental thing. It's tough losing two games consecutively by [conceding] four goals in each game. We're just not going to take it personally but as a group we're going to make sure this doesn't happen again. It's not a great feeling and we're going to work on it as hard as possible."

Redding said Kreis' message to the group after the loss was to not let it mess with their heads, to stay together and believe in each other going forward.

Kreis' cool head and thoughtful demeanor in the postgame press conference offered a reassuring tone far removed from the throngs of supporters booing the team as it walked off the pitch when the final whistle blew Saturday.

Disappointing, Kreis admitted, but he also found optimism, focusing on the performances of substitutes Brek Shea, Carlos Rivas and Mikey Ambrose, who played in the second half.

"All three had very positive contributions to the match," Kreis said. "So I'm pleased with that. I'm also pleased with the way the team responded in the second half. It would've been very easy to close up shop and everybody rest themselves for next week and they didn't do that. They pushed on and fought. I think we can all be proud of that."

Little Larin

Starters from both MLS teams walk out with children before each match, but before Orlando City's game against Columbus, star forward Cyle Larin walked out for the first time with his little brother, Cole.

The 7-year-old attended the match with Larin's mother. He'd been to games before, but he has never been on the pitch pregame with his big brother.

"It was great for me," Larin said. "I just wanted to show him how it is and how walking out in front of those people [feels.] He didn't say anything, he was just taking in the crowd and he just listened to everything I said as I was walking out. It was good."

Larin said Cole was in town for only two days before heading back to their hometown in Canada.

5. Orlando City players injured for months return to game-day roster

By Alicia DelGallo Orlando Sentinel - September 18, 2016

Defender Rafael Ramos and midfielder Pedro Ribeiro made much-awaited returns to Orlando City's 18-man roster for the Saturday's match against the Columbus Crew.

Both served as substitutes and did not come off the bench. Ramos, whose multiple hamstring injuries kept him off the pitch for nearly four months, was available for selection the last two weeks, but Orlando City coach Jason Kreis opted not to give him a spot in the 18.

Earlier in the week, Ramos said he didn't know what else he could do to prove himself, and that if he was left out again Saturday it would be a massive disappointment. Veteran defender Kevin Alston has been starting at right back instead.

"This week was great for me, I think it went very well," Ramos said after training Friday. "I'm ready to play. I've just got to wait now. It's good for me and Kevin, because it makes me a better player and it makes him a better player, too. Now, he's on the team, he's doing well, I'll just try to do better.

"I can't control the coach but what I can control, I'm trying to do my best. I'm trying to do more and more every day because if he feels that I'm not ready yet, it means I have to give him more."

Ribeiro's return was a bit of a surprise, earlier than expected after undergoing back surgery in April. The 6-foot-2 midfielder and forward, known for his power and versatility, played 29 minutes with OCB while the MLS Lions were on the road in Montreal and Los Angeles.

His return to the first team was not expected for another couple of weeks.

"It's a little quicker than any of us expected, but we literally, if we hadn't had him, we would have had 17 healthy bodies," Kreis said after Saturday's 4-1 loss to Columbus. "So, Pedro would have been very limited.

"The plan was for him to play 60 minutes tonight with the B team. The plan had to change when we didn't have enough healthy bodies to field a team."

6. As rivals close the gap out West, RSL finds itself in a sudden late-season funk

By Christopher Kamrani Salt Lake Tribune - September 18, 2016

Sandy - Inside the quiet Real Salt Lake locker room Saturday night, one of the club's most tested postseason veterans stewed. The league's worst team - at the time - had just flustered RSL for 90 minutes, handing the team its first regular-season home loss of 2016. Tony Beltran watched other teams chasing RSL in the Western Conference standings secure three points to keep pace with the pack.

RSL didn't. The Houston Dynamo escaped Rio Tinto Stadium with a 1-0 win, leaving RSL winless in its last three matches as the West playoff race tightened further. And Beltran didn't mince words or search for silver linings, because there were none to be found.

"I think everybody needs to grasp the severity of the situation here," Beltran said. "We have an opportunity in front of us, an opportunity that we worked all year for, and that is to be in the postseason."

Beltran then referenced 2015, which Saturday night was definitely a throwback to. Not much offensive creativity, not much rhythm and missed opportunities at home. RSL's seven-year postseason streak was snapped a year ago. Every player who was there last year still remembers how it felt to miss out, he said.

"Maybe if we're a little tired and feeling off our rhythm, it's no excuse," Beltran said. "We have to find the energy. We have to fight, because we only get one shot at this."

RSL enters the final month of the regular season suddenly scrambling. After beating the top two teams in the league at home in late August, the club had won three of four and talked of a Supporters' Shield run. How quickly things change in MLS. RSL has a single point from its last three outings and has been shut out in back-to-back matches.

"All of these home games going in to the playoffs is where we really want to pick up points and cement our spot," midfielder Jordan Allen said. "We want to gain momentum going to the playoffs. It's huge thing."

For the time being, RSL is going backward.

Another defensive mistake, what coach Jeff Cassar described as "a mental error" haunted RSL for the rest of the night. The first-half goal conceded translated into another shot at a shutout circling the drain. In 30 regular-season matches this year, RSL has just four clean sheets. To compound that, the RSL attack has been held in check the last week.

"You need someone to step up in that game," Cassar said. "You can't have anyone be average. Someone needs to step up and take that game by the scruff and make a play."

That someone might've been in jeans and a jacket Saturday night. Midfielder Javier Morales, who missed the match due to a quadriceps strain, was sorely missed. The connectivity he has with RSL's three-pronged attacking group is an underrated part of the club's success in 2016.

Morales may not have numbers similar to those in recent seasons, but it remains evident the club needs its aging playmaker in order to build any momentum toward the postseason.

RSL remains in fourth place out West with two remaining home matches left on the schedule. Next up? The best team in the league, FC Dallas, who returns to Sandy a month after RSL's dramatic 1-0 win. Wiggling out of this late-season funk is one thing, but seeing teams below RSL close the gap this weekend served as a harsh reminder.

"That red line is not that far away," Beltran said. "That adds to the disappointment."

7. Jordan Morris could have the biggest impact of any recent MLS rookie

By Graham Ruthven and Dave Martinez The Guardian - September 19, 2016

The question was never over Jordan Morris's ability, but of whether he could handle the expectation that came with his move to the Seattle Sounders. He is the brightest young talent in the American game right now, alongside Christian Pulisic - something that was obvious from the moment he made his full international debut as a teenager still playing college soccer. On Saturday Morris provided yet another answer to all that has been posed of him this year.

His diving header nine minutes from time gave Seattle a crucial 1-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps, keeping alive their chances of making the play-offs. It was Morris's 10th goal of the season so far, making him Seattle's top scorer in his debut campaign as a full professional and ranking him third on the list of top scoring rookies in MLS history. His season is going well, even if the Sounders' as a whole has been rather less successful.

By netting against the Caps on Saturday Morris set a new rookie record, scoring five game-winning goals this season to bypass the previous record of four held by Cyle Larin and Damani Ralph. Indeed, the 21-year-old has become a difference-maker for the Sounders, especially with Clint Dempsey ruled out of action for the time being. But it is the criticism faced by Morris this season, rather than the records he has broken, that provides the biggest indication of his potential.

There are still fundamental flaws to Morris's game that certainly require development. He is still a decidedly one-footed player and is often guilty of trying too much on his own. Seattle surely still plan on using him, in the long term, as a channel-runner and pitch-stretcher, making the most of his movement in the final third rather than his questionable poaching instincts in the box. Morris is most certainly a work in progress.

Yet that's what makes him such a compelling prospect: imagine how good he could become when everything finally comes together. MLS has not been without impressive rookies in recent years, with Larin, Andy Najar and Omar Gonzalez some of the standouts, but Morris could ultimately have a bigger impact than all of them. GR

There's still hope for everyone in MLS

Parity isn't just some meaningless catchphrase thrown about to describe MLS. Consider this: with 12 of 20 teams set to qualify for the postseason, Toronto FC have become the first and only team in MLS to clinch their playoff spot - with just four weeks of competition before the start of the postseason.

And here is another headscratcher: with most teams having four to five matches left on their schedule, there has not been a single team yet that has been mathematically eliminated from the postseason chase. Not perennial punchline Chicago Fire. Not the snake-bit Columbus Crew. Not even the wayward Houston Dynamo.

Everyone still has a chance to dream. And that chance brings with it a pressure to perform.

There are the underachieving Columbus Crew who finally managed to avert bad luck and streaky form to put in a complete 4-1 result against Orlando City on the road. One of MLS' best kept secrets, Ola Kamara, scored a brace and added an assist.

The Chicago Fire didn't win ... but they didn't lose, either. Up 2-1 against DC United late in the second half, a stoppage-time equalizer from Bobby Boswell robbed them of three points. Still, another point means they are nine away from the Revolution with six matches to go - not the best odds, but certainly not an impossible feat.

In the West, the Seattle Sounders buoyed their playoff chances on the backs of a reeling Vancouver Whitecaps, beating them 1-0 on a spectacular Jordan Morris goal. The Sounders are now five points behind sixth place Sporting KC, with two matches in hand and six games to go.

Even the cellar-dwelling Houston Dynamo got into the act, dealing Real Salt Lake their first loss at Rio Tinto this season, holding on to a first-half Alex goal to victory. Now, let's not be silly: chances are the Dynamo are the first team eliminated from the playoffs. However, with 11 points and six matches separating them from the postseason, their season is not over.

No, the MLS format is not perfect. It punishes the best teams while rewarding mediocrity. But when you have an entire table fighting for their shot at a league trophy, you will be hard pressed to find a more exciting competition. DM

Landon Donovan can deliver goals for LA Galaxy

Landon Donovan didn't have a mic to hand, but if he had, it would have been dropped hard on Sunday. The mocking jeers of "AARP" from the home fans at Children's Mercy Park were still ringing in the ears of the 34-year-old as he took a pass from Robbie Rogers and angled a left-footed shot just inside the far post to salvage a point for the LA Galaxy. Donovan cupped his ears, enjoying the silent impact of his first goal since returning from retirement.

Not just content with delivering the ultimate retort on the pitch, Donovan aimed another deadpan barb at those who had doubted he'd make any kind of impression after nearly two years out of the game. "Listen, I've got an eight-month-old at home," he said afterwards. "Diapers are expensive. I wish I was getting the benefits of AARP right now. But I think they probably realised I might have a little time left in me, this old guy."

Indeed, Donovan proved he can make the difference for the LA Galaxy as the season heads into the play-offs, even if it's as an impact substitute off the bench, as was the case against Sporting KC. His introduction signalled a tactical swift from the 4-4-1-1 shape the Galaxy started the match in to a 3-5-2 formation, with Donovan playing as the link between midfield and attack. He offered something different.

But most significantly, Donovan delivered a goal. Bruce Arena fundamentally wants goal threat from the league's all-time top scorer and he got that as soon as he was introduced off the bench on Sunday. It wasn't just that Donovan scored the goal to secure a point, he was the best player on the pitch for the final 15 minutes of the match.

He re-energised an ailing Galaxy side that looked to have run dry on ideas. This wasn't a case of the 34-year-old reviving his career, but of Donovan reviving his club too. And so there can no longer be any doubt over the impact Donovan could potentially have on this MLS season. The Galaxy have missed something, an intangible dimension, for much of the year, but whatever that something is Donovan brought it against Sporting KC. Opposition fans should probably be advised against taunting him from this point on. GR

New England are still the ultimate September team

The past three seasons have followed a familiar pattern for the New England Revolution. It has become the norm for the Foxborough side to endure a difficult summer, only to emerge in September as a force ahead of the playoffs. The same thing has happened again this season, with Saturday's momentous 3-1 away win at the Montreal Impact meaning Jay Heaps' team have now won their last three league fixtures to lift themselves into sixth place in the East.

The win at Stade Saputo means that since 2014 the Revolution have won 11, drawn two and lost just one of their fixtures played in September, scoring 27 times over the course of that run. For whatever reason, New England are a team that take until summer months into that awkward no-man's land before autumn to find their groove.

The Revs have four fixtures left to secure their place in the playoffs, with DC United dropping points in a draw against the Chicago Fire on Saturday. DC still count a game in-hand over New England in the race to finish in the top six, but their patchy form suggests it is Heaps' men who currently hold the upper hand.

But the Revolution aren't just a team hitting form at the right time of the season, but a team having fun as well. It's not often a soccer side finds a way to combine the pressure situation of a play-off format with the exuberance of joyfulness, but the Revolution have done so. "It's the most fun I've had all season, these past two games," Juan Agudelo said after the previous week's win over New York City FC and that is surely still the case after Saturday's victory over Montreal. New England aren't just winning, they're winning with great big grins on their faces.

This has become the way of September for the Revs in recent years, but such late season form hasn't always translated into a play-off run. It didn't last season, as Heaps' team were beaten by DC United in the Eastern Conference semi-finals and now the challenge for New England is to ensure one follows the other, assuming they make the post-season of course. GR

Red Bulls need to hold on to a good thing

All things considered, the New York Red Bulls are arguably the best team in the Eastern Conference. They have one of the strongest strikers in league history. A goalkeeper of the year. The best playmaker in the competition. One of the best midfield tandems in either conference.

So why, then, can they not hold on to a two-goal lead on the road?

While a 3-3 result in Toronto extends the team's unbeaten run to 12 matches (15 in all competitions), the result comes at the end of yet another road collapse. A few into the second half, Bradley Wright-Phillips scored a brace for his 20th goal of the season to put the Red Bulls 3-1 up. Not only did that restore the Red Bulls' two-goal lead - it also made him the first player in MLS history to score 20 goals in two or more seasons.

Still, not even history and momentum could help New York from their cursed road form. Jozy Altidore made sure of that with a double to make it 3-3.

Yes, the Red Bulls extended their unbeaten run, but that was no reason to celebrate. This is the sixth time in New York's 12 unbeaten matches that they have surrendered a lead and ended up with a draw. It is also the fifth time in that span that they lost a two-goal lead on the road en route to a disappointing point.

Closing out matches was not a problem for the 2015 Shield winning Red Bulls. They ruthlessly put opponents to the sword, pressing for 90 minutes during an impressive 14-5-1 streak to close out the campaign. Five of those wins came on the road.

This season, they have only won two road matches - and were Erik Hurtado not allergic to the net, it may have been just one.

An old adage in MLS says that teams who end the regular season in hot form go on to do quite well in the postseason - and the Red Bulls certainly qualify as a hot team. But if Jesse Marsch and his side continue to drop leads, no amount of draws will matter. It will be another early exit for the Red Bulls. DM

8. FC Dallas and NYCFC stage epic battle, Donovan's 'first' goal, battle in the East

By Jason Davis ESPNFC.com - September 19, 2016

That's Entertainment

What do you get when you take two of the league's top attacking teams, drop them onto a tiny field, and let them go at one another for 90 minutes in front of a charged up New York crowd?

A 2-2 scoreline and more entertainment than that result would typically convey.

Credit FC Dallas for arriving in New York ready to play. Oscar Pareja's team was fresh off of Tuesday's U.S. Open Cup triumph against New England, meaning that they not only played twice in five days, but had the hazy fog of celebrations to shake off midweek. Striker Maxi Urruti carried over his form from the final -- he scored twice in the 4-2 victory -- by scoring against New York City FC.

On the other side, NYCFC and its fans are crossing their fingers over the status of Frank Lampard after he left with an injury before half-time. The English midfielder has been fantastic through the summer, and while players like Jack Harrison and Khiry Shelton are capable of stepping up (Harrison's cross for Shelton and the forward's commitment to getting goal side on NYCFC's equalizer deserves ample praise), Lampard's scoring threat from midfield is crucial to their playoff chances.

Landon's Back

It's September 2016, and the LA Galaxy have the greatest goalscorer in the history of Major League Soccer coming off the bench scoring goals. After making his "re-debut" for the Galaxy last week in a home romp over Orlando and mostly just helping to see out the game, Donovan announced to the rest of the league that he intends to be more than an extra body down the stretch for Bruce Arena by scoring the equalizer in a 2-2 draw against Sporting KC.

Donovan may not be fit enough to start or make more than a 15-minute cameo at this point, but his talent for finding the back of the net clearly needs no recovery period. His goal was expertly taken: a low, hard strike to the far corner with the inside of his left foot. Donovan's two-footedness is one of the more overlooked parts of his game, and is part of why he'll be such an asset to the Galaxy. There's no issue slotting him in on either side of the field.

LA will need Donovan's efficient goalscoring if their trend of giving up a glut of shots continues. Sporting outshot the Galaxy 21-4 on the day, feeding into the narrative that Arena's side is riding their luck week-in, week-out. Can it continue?

Beasts of the East

Yes, the New York Red Bulls again wasted a two goal lead, adding another chapter to their horror story of dropped points in 2016. But the other lesson from New York's 3-3 draw with Toronto FC at BMO Field was that the two teams who battled it out over 90 minutes are clearly the best in the conference and can make a good argument for the best in the league.

Again, the Red Bulls wasted the efforts of Bradley Wright-Phillips. BWP scored twice, becoming the first player in MLS history to score 20 goals in back-to-back seasons.

TFC not only maintained their grip on first place in the East with their comeback, they also became the first team to officially qualify for the playoffs. It won't satisfy anyone in Ontario, but it does speak to how far the club has come from the dark days of filling the role of league laughingstock. A combination of big spending, academy success, and smart acquisitions from within the league has put Toronto into the upper echelon of organizations.

One part of the big spending was the signing of Jozy Altidore. The US international scored twice on Sunday, leading TFC back from a 3-1 deficit and continuing his ridiculous run of form. With Sebastian Giovinco out injured, Altidore has had to carry TFC on the attacking end. Based on his own injury absences he is unlikely to garner any MVP consideration, but no one in MLS has been more valuable to their team over the last two months that Altidore.

The Finish

What an important goal from Jordan Morris. Seattle keeps their playoff hopes alive with the win over Vancouver, and the rookie, who dealt with higher expectations than any incoming striker in league history, reached double-digit goals in his first year.

Several teams looking to lock down playoff spots stumbled this weekend. Orlando, Montreal and Real Salt Lake all dropped points at home that they really couldn't afford to lose.

The Rapids don't threaten much with their attack (three goals in their last six matches), but it still hasn't caught up with them. A road point in San Jose -- thanks in large part to the heroics of Tim Howard in goa l -- keeps Colorado in the hunt for the Supporters' Shield.

9. SeatGeek adds name, expertise to MLS sales training center

By Eric Fisher SportsBusiness Journal - September 19, 2016

SeatGeek has expanded its relationship with Major League Soccer to sponsor the league's National Sales Center in Blaine, Minn., and help expand the center's curriculum.

The facility, now called the MLS National Sales Center Powered by SeatGeek, for six years has been the home of a selective ticket sales training program for MLS executives. The roughly four-month program, the first of its kind developed by a major pro sports league, provides participants with in-depth training on ticket sales methods and has placed more than 200 account executives with 22 MLS clubs since its formation.

SeatGeek's involvement expands upon a leaguewide partnership it struck with MLS to create an open ticket distribution platform. The New York-based company will provide content, data and personal appearances by senior executives to help burnish the sales center initiative. Discussions on the National Sales Center sponsorship began during negotiations in the past year regarding the larger league partnership.

"We're at a real point of change in this industry, with the advent of all sorts of new technologies, social selling, and so forth, and this project allows us to really get in at that training level, and help bring about change in the industry for the better," said Jeff Ianello, SeatGeek executive vice president of client partnerships.

The arrangement is unique in several respects: Among them, it represents a corporate naming-rights deal for a program that doesn't have a significant public-facing presence, and SeatGeek, which built itself as an aggregator of secondary ticket listings, is now helping train executives on the nuances of primary ticket sales.

But even before the arrival of the MLS deal and a companion agreement with Sporting Kansas City that will involve primary inventory, SeatGeek was already in the midst of transition. A deal last year with Spectra Ticketing & Fan Engagement allows for the listing of primary inventory from hundreds of Spectra clients on SeatGeek's platforms.

"We believe that the people we train are going to be some of the future decision makers in our industry, whether or not they stay in soccer," said Bryant Pfeiffer, MLS vice president of club services. "We get them at a really important, formative stage in their career. So we believe there is a lot of value to SeatGeek in having an important seat at the table like this."

MLS runs three sessions a year at the National Sales Center. More than 200 applicants typically vie for 20 to 25 slots each session.

10. Altidore's pair helps Toronto FC clinch playoff spot

By Kurt Larson Toronto Sun - September 18, 2016

At a certain point last season, before Jozy Altidore's gaggle of hamstring injuries, general manager Tim Bezbatchenko told me his Designated Player "could score" 20 goals in this league. He just needed to stay healthy.

The mere thought of Altidore playing next to Sebastian Giovinco - the best one-two combination in Major League Soccer - likely had him salivating.

Roughly two years after inking the tandem, the Reds officially qualified for the 2016 MLS Playoffs not solely because of Giovinco this season - but largely because of Altidore.

The U.S. international single-handedly brought Toronto FC back from a two-goal deficit midway through the second half to stun the visiting New York Red Bulls 3-3 Sunday at BMO Field.

For those counting, Altidore now has eight goals in nine games since returning from reoccurring hamstring issues. He's without question the most in-form striker in MLS.

"We know how important Jozy is to us," head coach Greg Vanney said. "We've said it all along: Jozy's value to us; His value to (Sebastian Giovinco) is immeasurable.

"Everything he brings is massive. We are a much better team when Jozy is on the field. We're obviously a much better team when both of them are on the field."

Giovinco, though, missed Sunday night's all-important Eastern Conference tilt with a groin injury - which left Altidore to line up a free kick 20 metres from goal with 20 minutes remaining.

With the Reds trailing 3-1, Altidore hammered the ensuing restart over New York's wall and into the upper corner, leaving Red Bull 'keeper Luis Robles rooted to his goal line.

"We've been begging (Jozy) to take those every now and then but he's got (Giovinco) usually out there," Vanney said.

Altidore found TFC's playoff-clinching equalizer with four minutes remaining when he laced a low, left-footed drive from the top of the penalty area that beat Robles near side.

"He's just proving what we all knew about him before this stretch," Vanney added. "But I've said this all week: He was very, very good before he got injured. He just didn't have the goals to show for it.

"He defines himself by the ways he can help his team win. I think that's smart. In his head he knows he has nothing to prove. He has nothing to prove to me."

The same can't be said for Toronto FC, the team.

The Reds were calamitous in arguably their worst defensive half of the season.

New York's well-worked combination and cross saw Toronto's Steven Beitashour produce a sliding own goal early in the first half.

That was followed by a poor giveaway from Eriq Zavaleta on the half-hour mark - which led to New York's Bradley Wright-Phillips converting a one-on-one against TFC's Alex Bono.

"It's one game, it's one day, we've all had some howlers," Vanney said of TFC's defensive mistakes. "You have to move on from it and remember what got you here."

Had Michael Bradley not cut the lead to 2-1 minutes before halftime, the Reds might not have retained first place in the East. Toronto FC's captain converted a one-timer off a cut-back cross from Justin Morrow to cut the lead in before the break.

"It made a big difference coming into the locker room down 2-1 instead of 2-0," Vanney said.

That feeling of doom returned, however, minutes after the break when Wright-Phillips found his fifth goal against TFC in his last two games. The Englishman curled an effort far post after being played in all alone along the left side of the box.

For the time being, the Red Bulls appeared to be in control of the East. Until Altidore had his say, dropping the Red Bulls into a tie with New York City on 45 points and back into second place in the conference.

The Reds find themselves two points clear of the two New Yorks with a game in hand and the easiest remaining schedule of anyone in the league. They'll also get the best player in the league back next week.

Not that Altidore is too far behind the Atomic Ant.

"At the end of the day, Jozy's by far the best striker the U.S. has," Vanney said. "And for us, he's immense. We saw that today."

Some of us have been saying it all year.

11. TFC clinches playoff spot in most dramatic way possible

By John Molinaro SportsNet.ca - September 18, 2016

TORONTO - What a comeback!

Down two goals and seemingly out of it after being outplayed in the opening 45 minutes, Toronto FC scored two second-half goals to earn a dramatic 3-3 draw against the New York Red Bulls on Sunday night at BMO Field before 24,078 spectators.

Jozy Altidore was the hero on the night for Toronto, scoring a brace, including the equalizer in the 86th minute. The draw not only allowed Toronto to hold on to first place in Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference, but the home side also officially clinched a playoff berth with five games to spare.

TFC plays four of their final five matches of the campaign at BMO Field, so they are in firm control of their fate in the race for top spot in the East, with a slender lead and games in hand on second-place New York City FC and the third-place Red Bulls. They also have Western Conference leaders FC Dallas (five points up on TFC) in their sights for the Supporters' Shield, awarded to the first place team overall in MLS at the end of the regular season.

Toronto coach Greg Vanney admitted he was disappointed with how his team gave up three soft goals and committed so many big defensive errors in allowing New York to take control of the game. At the same time, he lauded his players for the determination they displayed in coming back.

"I am very proud of the character of this group to be able to fight back twice after [committing] some really bad mistakes that often kick you in the gut and takes some steam out of you," Vanney said.

Altidore also thought TFC displayed a lot of character in a match he said felt like a playoff contest.

"To stay in this game, to come back and to [earn] a good point in the end, it showed a lot of guts," Altidore stated.

In a sign of how much this team has grown during Vanney's two-year tenure and how much the mindset in the locker room has changed, TFC's coach said his players weren't at all satisfied with salvaging a point.

"They're disappointed that we got a draw because their vision, and for what they want from themselves, is to really get out in front of the Eastern Conference and they wanted to win today," Vanney said.

He later added: "All things being said, we'll take it because we fought hard. ... This is a sign that this group [of players] is different than any of the other groups that came before them."

New York coach Jesse Marsch bemoaned his team's ability to kill the game off at 3-1, but also said Sunday's entertaining affair was a great advertisement for MLS.

"It felt like a heavyweight fight - both teams throwing punches and both teams taking punches," Marsch offered.

TFC forward Sebastian Giovinco sat out his second consecutive match due to injury (strains in his quadriceps and adductor). Toronto was also missing forward Tosaint Ricketts (groin), defender Mark Bloom (ankle) and Ashtone Morgan (foot), and midfielder Jay Chapman (MCL tear).

With Giovinco and Ricketts out, Jordan Hamilton started up front alongside Altidore. Vanney also decided to stick with backup goalkeeper Alex Bono, even though starter Clint Irwin remains available after his lengthy injury layoff.

A wild and eventful first half saw TFC go down 2-0 after some incredibly lazy and sloppy play early on. Toronto failed to clear its lines in the 12th minute, and it eventually resulted in an own-goal by Steven Beitashour off a cross played into the box by New York's Felipe. That goal seemed to wake up Toronto, who carved out scoring chances, only to see Jonathan Osorio (twice) and Altidore spurn their opportunities.

The Red Bulls padded their lead in the 31st minute when TFC defender Eriq Zavaleta lingered on the ball too long in his end, and coughed up possession while being closed down. On the ensuing three-man break, Bradley Wright-Phillips beat a helpless Bono in the Toronto net. It was goal that was all but gift-wrapped by Zavaleta, who could have made an easy clearance before being stripped of the ball.

Toronto pulled a goal back just before halftime when a lovely sequence of buildup play ended with Justin Morrow cutting a pass back towards the middle of the box for Michael Bradley to thump home. It was the TFC captain's first goal of the MLS season.

New York restored its two-goal lead shortly after the restart when a turnover saw the Red Bulls shred TFC on the counter and Wright-Phillips score past a helpless Bono. Toronto fought back again, though.

Altidore stroked home a beautiful, curling free kick from 25 yards out in the 68th minute, and then scored again with four minutes left in regulation on a shot that took a deflection snuck by Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles and just inside the post. The American forward now has eight goals in his last nine matches.

NOTES: Former Toronto FC captain Dwayne De Rosario was honoured in an on-field ceremony prior to kickoff on Sunday... New York leads the all-time MLS series against Toronto with 13 wins and six draws in 26 meetings. This was the third and final game of the regular season between these two sides - they split the previous two contests... TFC continues its four-game stint at BMO Field with matches against the Philadelphia Union (Sept. 24), Orlando City (Sept. 28) and D.C. United (Oct. 1).

12. Jozy Altidore made sure Toronto FC stayed on top of the Eastern Conference

By Ryan Rosenblatt FOXSports.com - September 18, 2016

On July 31, Jozy Altidore had zero goals on the season. Injuries had marred the striker's campaign and left Toronto FC completely dependent on Sebastian Giovinco. But on that last day of July, he scored. And two games later, he scored again. By the Sunday morning, he was on a run of six goals in eight matches.

Not coincidentally, Toronto FC found themselves atop the Eastern Conference. With Altidore scoringm the Reds looked like the class of the East and this was despite Giovinco being out due to injury. But the New York Red Bulls were also red hot and when they visited Toronto on Sunday, they were only a win away from taking first place.

New York got off to a quick start, going ahead 2-0 and then 3-1. TFC looked doomed for a loss and second place, but then Altidore decided he was going to go save his team all by himself.

First, from a free kick.

Then, inside the box.

Altidore wasn't getting help there. It was just him, all by himself, putting his team on his back. No Giovinco, no problem.

This has been the norm for Altidore of late. Yes, he's receiving passes and there's been some good interchange, but more often than not, he's doing the bulk of the work. His play with his back to goal and turning defenders has been exquisite. His finishing has been clinical. His movement has been constant. He's looking every bit like the great striker Toronto FC thought he would be when they signed him.

Toronto FC are still atop the Eastern Conference. They're in the race for the Supporters' Shield too. And if Altidore can stay fit and in form, along with Giovinco getting fit and Michael Bradley (who scored TFC's first goal on Sunday), plus an improving back line anchored by Alex Bono, they just might have a run at MLS Cup in them.

13. Landon Donovan scores equalizer as Galaxy rallies to tie Sporting KC

By Sam McDowell Kansas City Star - September 18, 2016

The best player in American soccer history walked onto the field as a late-game substitute Sunday, only 10 days after abruptly ending his 21-month retirement, and the chants grew louder. In front of a sold-out crowd in Kansas City, Kan., LA Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan acknowledged hearing his name broadcast over the Children's Mercy Park public address system.

He heard the chants, too.

"A-A-R-P," they echoed, intensifying with each chorus.

Thirty-one seconds later, after the conclusion of a second-half water break, Donovan responded with a not-so-subtle message.

He ain't done yet.

Landon Donovan put an exclamation point on the second match of his comeback tour Sunday, supplying the game-tying goal in the LA Galaxy's 2-2 draw against Sporting Kansas City on Sunday. Sam McDowell The Kansas City Star

Donovan put an exclamation point on the second match of his comeback tour Sunday, supplying the game-tying goal in the Galaxy's 2-2 draw against Sporting Kansas City.

Afterward, he placed his fingers to his ears, shoving them toward a suddenly-silent crowd of 19,480.

"Listen, I got an 8-month-old (baby) at home. Diapers are expensive. I wish I was getting the benefits of AARP right now," Donovan said.

"But I think they probably realized I might have a little time left in this old guy."

A week ago, Donovan, 34, donned a playing jersey for the first time in since 2014. He had retired following the MLS Cup.

After a seven-minute spell on the field last weekend left him just shy of exhaustion, Donovan commented that in his return from retirement, perhaps his most notable contribution would come as a locker-room mentor.

We knew better.

The 145th goal of Donovan's career - more than any player in league history - came off his left foot. A line drive through traffic crept inside the far post in the 76th minute and will carry playoff implications for both Western Conference teams.

"At that point, instincts take over and you do what you've done your whole life," Donovan said. "Ten years ago, I would've been really excited for me. I told you guys and my family that when I came back, I want to help this team. I felt like last week I was useless on the field. I don't like that feeling.

"This was a game that needed a play."

As for those playoff implications...

On Saturday, a handful of results across Major League Soccer narrowed Sporting Kansas City's already slim buffer in the Western Conference playoff race.

It's even tighter now.

Sporting KC, 11-12-7, remained unbeaten across its past eight home MLS matches, but it has turned late leads into draws in two consecutive games. As a result, it sits in the final playoff spot in the West, only five points ahead of Seattle, which has played two fewer matches.

"Basically four points dropped that probably very, very well could cost us the playoffs," Sporting KC midfielder Benny Feilhaber said. "Extremely concerning and disappointing for our squad to give up easy points like that."

Before Donovan stole the headline - and two points from the home team - Sporting KC used a dominant performance to propel a comeback. Galaxy forward Alan Gordon scored only seven minutes into the match, but Jacob Peterson responded in the 50th minute with his career-best sixth goal of the season after a Dom Dwyer pass lined up with his back-post run.

Dwyer put Sporting KC in front in the 69th minute, collecting a pass from Saad Abdul-Salaam, who recorded his sixth assist of the season.

Sporting KC outshot LA Galaxy 20-4 for the match, and it outshot the Galaxy 52-9 over three matches this year.

All three resulted in draws - the last thanks to the best scorer in United States men's national team and Major League Soccer history.

"To come back in a game like this, in a situation like this, in a stadium like this, against a team like this, it's pretty special," Donovan. "I think it could look a lot like that in the playoffs."

14. Landon Donovan on LA Galaxy goal: I've got a few years left before AARP

ESPNFC.com - September 19, 2016

Landon Donovan said he's not quite ready to be counted out and upon his return to LA Galaxy action had a rebuttal for Sporting KC fans who taunted him during the Galaxy's 2-2 draw on Sunday.

Donovan scored his first goal since coming out of retirement two minutes after entering as a second-half subs

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 19, 2016


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