FutbolMLS.com is the go-to source for Spanish-language coverage of MLS and soccer throughout North America, and every Friday we bring you an English-language digest of the best stuff on the site. Oh, and don't miss everything you need to know about the weekend in American soccer in the Starting XI.
SABO-PLATA AMONG THE BEST?
Martins-Dempsey, Zardes-Keane…Saborio-Plata? With the return of Real Salt Lake’s Costa Rican international from injury, the Claret-and-Cobalt may have a case for possessing one of the league’s top strike pairs, argues FutbolMLS.com’s Jad El Reda.
The production is certainly there on one side of the equation – Joao Plata has enjoyed a fine season for RSL, with 12 goals and five assists to his name so far (out of players with 12 or more goals, only Keane, Martins and Sebastien Le Toux have more assists), but what about Alvaro Saborio? Despite the injury that kept him out of the World Cup, he still has seven goals and a pair of assists in 12 appearances this season, and has been one of the league's best strikers over the years.
- Get the latest RSL headlines at RealSaltLake.com
Whatever the argument for or against Plata and Saborio being included in the discussion of the league's best striker pair, it's clear they make RSL better. Among the stats cited, in the 11 games the two have started together since Plata arrived at RSL in 2013, RSL have average 2.3 goals per game as opposed to 1.5 in the 55 games they have not started together, and complete 74.3 percent of passes in the opposition half as opposed to 72.9 percent.
It was a big week for MLS, as the league unveiled the #MLSNEXT campaign, featuring a brand new logo, and as with all major happenings around MLS, the Tiro Libre Radio panel were on the spot to discuss and debate the new look, and what it could mean going forward.
There have been plenty of other happenings around the world of American soccer, and the hosts touched on all of them, including the continuing CONCACAF Champions League action, the heated push for the MLS playoffs, and Guatemala's excellent performance in the 2014 Copa Centroamericana. FutbolMLS.com Editor-in-Chief Kristel Valencia also talked to Chivas USA star forward Erick 'Cubo' Torres, about his future with the league, and the direction the league as a whole is going.
BOCA'S YOUNG AMERICAN
If you've been paying attention, you'll know there is a young American midfielder who could soon be breaking through with one of the most pedigreed teams in world soccer.
In the meantime, Boca Juniors midfielder Joel Soñora, who recently turned 18, is more than content to feature for the US U-20 national team, the next step in his quest to represent the country of his birth. The son of former Boca defender Diego Soñora was born in Texas, after his father signed for the then-Dallas Burn (now FC Dallas), and returned to Argentina when the elder Soñora left MLS in 2001.
After the US U-20s successful minicamp in Argentina, where they beat the youth sides of Argentine teams Racing Club and Defensa y Justicia, and drew with the Argentina U-20s, Soñora talked exclusively to FutbolMLS.com about his latest experience in the US setup.
"The experience was special because I returned to the national team after some time, although the days passed quickly, and because of playing Argentina," Soñora remarked.
He also believed that the US team was underestimated coming into their Argentina camp, and that they changed a few minds while they were down there, saying, "Anyone can beat anyone in soccer, and no one is a 'surprise.' When we played against Defensa y Justicia, it was noted that they were underestimating us, and when they couldn't hold on to the ball, they realized our true level."
For the full interview, click the link above.
WHAT'S EATING TACA?
The man originally signed to a DP contract to solve Sporting KC's scoring woes has been hard to find this season, as Claudio Bieler continues to see his time limited by the emergence of Dom Dwyer on Sporting's front line.
After a 10-goal haul in 2013, Bieler has scored just twice in 407 minutes with only four starts under his belt, with the latest goal coming in last Friday's 4-0 win over Chivas USA.
"The truth is I'm calm, happy to have had some minutes and a goal," Bieler said. "When one plays, things become more bearable, and of course, it pleased me to score."
And though he admits all he can do is take advantage of the minutes given to him, he is curious as to why he hasn't seen the field more, even with Dwyer's stellar season.
"The truth is that I continue without knowing why I'm not playing," he told FutbolMLS.com. "I know that we have two No. 9s, and obviously we can't overlook the great season Dominic is having, and that reflects in the goalscoring table. But the truth is that I don't know why I'm not playing and needless to say, someone in that situation does not feel happy."
For the full interview, click the link above.
