MLS’ historic August has given way to a humbling September. MLS teams have hit the skids in the CONCACAF Champions League, proving just how difficult juggling the home stretch of the regular season and international competition when dealing with a tight schedule, travel and MLS roster regulations.

On Wednesday, the L.A. Galaxy lost at Costa Rica’s Alajuelense while the Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas lost home games to Honduras’ Real España and Mexico’s UNAM Pumas, respectively. Those results dropped the five MLS entrants’ September CCL record to 2-7-1. The aforementioned trio, along with the Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC, were a combined 10-1-1 in August.

Go

SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC

- only one’s hanging strong!

The overall performance of MLS teams in the competition remains relatively good. All five clubs remain alive for a spot in the March quarterfinals, and the 15 overall victories in the continental championship tournament, which kicked off in late July, is just one short of the MLS record for the competition with two rounds of the group stage still remaining.

Still, the trend is troubling.

The Galaxy, which started 2-0-0, is now 2-2-0 and behind Alajuelense (3-1-0) and Mexico’s Morelia (2-1-0) for the two Group A quarterfinal berths. The Rapids, who also are fading in MLS, are in last place in Group B at 1-2-1 following two consecutive home defeats by a combined 6-2.

Dallas (2-1-1) and Toronto (2-2-0) meet Oct. 18 in what likely will be a Group C elimination match. Seattle is in the best shape, leading Group D at 3-1-0 despite Wednesday night’s defeat.

There are several potential explanations for the swoon.

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The most powerful and prestigious soccer leagues in the world have stopped at 20. From a huge country like Brazil to a relatively small one like England, 20 clubs seem to be the limit for even the strongest circuits. Whether it’s to keep the number of games manageable, maintain the depth of the talent pool or simply a trend, 20 has become the standard.

MLS president Mark Abbott, for the time being, seems to be content with 20, too, raising the bar significantly for those markets or investors keen to join the league. While other major American pro sports leagues have expanded to 30 teams and beyond, Abbott told Sporting News that 20 is suitable for MLS.

Thanks to the SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC and other recent additions, MLS has high expectations for its expansion franchises. (AP Photo)

The Montreal Impact will ascend from the second-division NASL to become club No. 19 next year, while MLS has targeted New York City as the site for No. 20.

“Our focus right now is the 20th team in New York and we have not yet set a timeline for expansion beyond that, or even (determined) if we’re going to expand beyond that,” Abbott said. “There’s no place we need to be. Even at the size we are, we have a tremendous national footprint and are at the size that soccer leagues typically are. We feel good about the size we’re at. Other markets could be very successful as MLS markets, but (expanding beyond 20) wouldn’t be out of need. We don’t need to grow beyond where we are.”

The league’s growth has been explosive. Following the 2001 season (its sixth) MLS contracted the clubs in Tampa and South Florida, cutting membership to 10 teams. It climbed to 12 in 2005, with six more coming aboard over the next six years, including the Portland Timbers in 2011.

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Seattle Sounders FC face a real test in keeping their rampaging form going when they meet Real Salt Lake on Saturday afternoon at CenturyLink Field. Sounders FC extended their league unbeaten streak to four games in their last match, a club-record 6-2 victory against the Columbus Crew. Real are coming off back-to-back victories, winning the only MLS game last weekend, a 2-1 home victory against Philadelphia Union.

Seattle Sounders FC won a second consecutive game and extended their unbeaten streak to four games in impressive fashion, rolling to a club-record 6-2 win against the Columbus Crew on Aug. 27 at CenturyLink Field. Sounders FC have 48 points from 27 games on the season, in second place in the Western Conference.

A bending 40th minute strike by Fredy Montero proved to be the difference as

SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC

defeated FC Dallas in the semi-finals of the US Open Cup.

The win moves Seattle one win closer to their third consecutive USOC Trophy.

The Championship will be held at CenturyLink Field against the Chicago Fire on October 4th.

SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC used a first-half strike from Fredy Montero and a fine defensive effort to defeat FC Dallas, 1-0, in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinal match on Tuesday night in front of 4,593 fans at Starfire Sports Stadium in Tukwila, Wash.

Seattle moves on to play in the Open Cup final on October 4 where they will meet the Chicago Fire, who topped the USL-Pro Richmond Kickers, 2-1, earlier Tuesday night. The final will be played on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field for the second year in a row. The two-time defending Open Cup champion Sounders FC are bidding to become the first team in 42 years to win the title three consecutive years. First kick is 7 p.m. PT.

Sounders FC improves to 12-0-1 in Open Cup play, a record which includes play-in matches. At home, the Rave Green have gone 10-0-0 and outscored visitors 21-6 in the tournament.

FC Dallas falls to 8-3-2 in their last 14 matches in all competitions, with two of three those losses coming to Seattle. Seattle now leads the all-time series 3-1-3.

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Goals were scored and records were broken at a dizzying pace Saturday at CenturyLink Field. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC midfielder Lamar Neagle scored the franchise’s second hat trick and Seattle scored four first-half goals, obliterating the Columbus Crew 6-2 with head-spinning entertainment in front of 36,364 fans.

Neagle’s three goals tied the most by a Sounder. Mike Fucito and Mauro Rosales also tallied as Seattle (13-5-9) continued its blazing-hot run.

“With the amount of games we’re playing, to be able to come out and score six goals against the Eastern (Conference) leader is something that the team has to be very proud of,” said coach Sigi Schmid, whose team has gone 4-0-1 in an arduous 15-day stretch.

Neagle was the driving force of that success Saturday, and while the Federal Way native couldn’t remember his last hat trick, this one is sure to stick.

“It’s great to finally score in front of family,” said the 24-year-old, whose other two MLS goals came on the road. “I think I had like 16 tickets I had to give out.”

Columbus (11-8-7) also produced a memorable goal as Jeff Cunningham became the MLS all-time leading scorer. The veteran forward converted a 59th-minute penalty kick for his 134th career goal, breaking a tie with Jaime Moreno.

The SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC, who have won 13 of their past 17 games, set their share of records, too.

Neagle’s fourth-minute goal was the fastest in team history. Three first-half goals in a span of 17 minutes was also a new best. Six goals overall are a new franchise mark (the previous high was four).

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SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC has signed Gambian midfielder Amadou Sanyang, the team announced today.

Signed at age 17 by Toronto FC, Sanyang made his debut on his 18th birthday, August 1, 2009, playing 14 minutes as a reserve versus New England. His first start came two weeks later in midfield versus D.C. United. He went on to play in 20 regular season games over two seasons, starting 15.

Sanyang, 19, was a free agent. Toronto had declined to exercise an option on Sanyang on December 3, 2010.

“Positionally, Amadou is a good fit for us because he can play either central midfield or in the back,” said Coach Sigi Schmid. “He’s a good passer, a good defender, and he can cover a lot of ground.”

Sanyang’s professional career began in 2007 with Real de Banjul. He helped lead the City Boys to the Gambian first division championship and was named the league’s top midfielder that year. Sanyang has also represented Gambia internationally at the U-17 and U-20 levels.

Not eligible to see action in MLS until turning 18, Sanyang played for the Toronto FC Academy for the first five months.

AMADOU SANYANG
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-0
Weight: 165
Birthdate: 8/1/1991
Hometown: Banjul, Gambia
Previous Clubs: Toronto FC (MLS, 2009-2010), Real de Banjul (Gambia, 2007-2009)

Michael Owen beat former Premier League foe Kasey Keller on a header early in the first half, then Wayne Rooney overwhelmed

SEATTLE‘s

reserves in the second half with three goals in 21 minutes and Manchester United routed the SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC 7-0 in an exhibition on Wednesday night.

Owen slid a header past Keller in the 15th minute after Seattle controlled the opening moments of the match. It remained 1-0 at halftime largely to a brilliant save by Keller on Owen late in the half, but United’s superior talent took over in the final 45 minutes.

Michael Owen beat former Premier League foe Kasey Keller on a header early in the first half. (AP Photo)

It helped having second-half subs like Rooney, Ji-Sung Park and Mame Biram Diouf, who scored just four minutes into the second half. Rooney scored in the 51st, 69th and 72nd minutes, while Diouf and Park also scored in the second half

The match in Seattle was the second stop on United’s preseason tour of the United States. They’ll go to Chicago for a match with the Fire on Saturday, then face the MLS All-Stars at Red Bull Arena next Wednesday. Man U will close out its tour with a Champions League final rematch against FC Barcelona.

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At Onthefield.com, our soccer involvement has been on the rise. Since the SEATTLE SOUNDERS inaugural season in 2009 we have fallen in the love with the culture and spirit of Soccer. The Northwest has shown us the way with their intense support and passion for the game – we have done our best to outfit the whole family for these events, which have even brought us world renown teams like Barcelona and Chelsea FC.

We are now getting our first experience of the world’s best and most popular Manchester United! They are in Seattle for the week and after will be going on a visit to Washington D.C. where they will meet the president. Onthefield.com has found its nitch in being a part in this huge international clash of soccer cultures…we customized the very jersey signed by every single Manchester United player for President Obama.

Look for our work on Sportscenter when the team presents our Jersey and customization to President Obama! Get the same treatment as the President of the United States at our shop at 901-B Occidental Ave. S., Seattle Washington 98134 (206) 624-9569 or at www.onthefield.com. You can get your favorite gear customized on the exact same press as some of the Manchester United players and President Obama at Onthefield.com!

Can’t wait to see everyone at the game tonight:

Seattle Sounders FC will host Manchester United, winners of a record 11 English Premier League titles and three European championships, on Wednesday, July 20, on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field, it was announced today. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (PT).  The presenting partners for the Sounders FC international friendly match are AT&T and Samsung Mobile.

“Our fans deserve the best and we have provided a blockbuster match,” said Sounders FC majority owner Joe Roth. “Manchester United is perhaps the most popular team on the planet and certainly one of most successful. Yet on this summer night the loudest roars of the crowd will be saved for the home side, Sounders FC. I imagine people from throughout the West will descend upon Seattle to see this match.” Read More >>

The matchup at the Home Depot Center promised to be a thriller when the streaking SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC met the top-of-the-table LA Galaxy in an Independence Day clash.

From the opening minutes to the final whistle, it didn’t lack for excitement with all the drama and exhilaration expected of the clash, despite the final 0-0 score line.

Fredy Montero earned an early penalty and goalkeeper Brian Perk, making his first career MLS start for the Galaxy, stepped up to make the save. Midway through the second half, Kasey Keller tipped away a screamer from Juan Pablo Angel, getting his fingertips to the ball to deflect it ever-so-slightly away from the net.

The two teams, well-versed in the strengths of their opposition, had several near chances throughout the night and the Sounders looked for one final grasp at the three points when Osvaldo Alonso was fouled just outside the box on the right side in stoppage time. Tyson Wahl bent the free kick to Jeff Parke at the far post, but put it just outside the frame and Parke couldn’t get it back into the danger area and the match ended with the scoreless draw.

“It was an exciting game, obviously there were a couple of things that could have influenced the game Kasey Keller makes a big save at the end there on Angel, Fredy Montero misses a penalty kick,” SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC head coach Sigi Schmid said. “Those are key plays that could change the game.”

Seattle had a chance to take an early lead when Montero attempted a bicycle kick in the box in the 17th minute and Omar Gonzalez defended the shot whit a handball, drawing a penalty for the Sounders. Montero stepped to the mark, but Perk dove to his right to block Montero’s shot and the match remained scoreless.

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The home of the Seattle Seahawks, SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC, numerous community events, concerts and consumer shows will now be called CenturyLink Field and CenturyLink Field Event Center, it was announced today. Qwest was purchased by CenturyLink in April.

“Although the name of this facility will change; the history, tradition and spirit of the 12th MAN and the Sounders FC supporters will never change,” said Seahawks, Sounders FC and FGI president Peter McLoughlin. ”We are excited about our partnership with CenturyLink and our on-going commitment to positively impact the fans of the Pacific Northwest.”

A press conference will be held on Thursday to reveal the logo.

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