Kick Off: Seattle's Eddie Johnson nets goal his debut

Simon Borg

Welcome back, Eddie Johnson.

The former US international showed exactly why the Seattle Sounders moved to acquire him on Friday by scoring the opening goal of the club’s 5-0 victory over Florida Gulf Coast University on Sunday. And it was a beauty.(VIDEO)

At that rate, Sounders fans will fast forget about crowd favorites Lamar Neagle and Mike Fucito though Sounders GM Adrian Hanauer spoke about how Friday’s trade was “emotional for me and for everyone on the staff.” But he also reiterated that, “We obviously did it because we think we can get better."

The MLS preseason wrapped up its Southern California leg this weekend and there was one team in particular that stood above the rest, according to one writer.

In one match that garnered headlines over the weekend, Orlando City showed they continue to play MLS teams tough with a 1-1 draw against the Philadelphia Union. Watch the highlights and comments from goal scorer Danny Califf, head coach Peter Nowak and penalty-kick-save hero Zac MacMath. (VIDEO)

A big crowd attended Sunday’s battle between the Vancouver Whitecaps and the University of Victoria which saw the MLS team come out 2-1 winners. Our highlight of the match? The move by Davide Chiumiento, who schooled this college kid at the 1:16 mark of these highlights. (VIDEO)

Interesting news for D.C. United fans: The soon-to-be-announced lease deal for the club to remain at RFK Stadium in 2012 and 2013 will allow for “adequate time for serious negotiations to commence between the city, Events DC and the team about a new soccer stadium in D.C.,” according to one Events DC official.

Also making news in MLS are the comments by LA Galaxy Designated Player Robbie Keane, who has left the door open for a return to the EPL: "When I go back to LA, it could be totally different. At this moment in time, I can't tell what will happen. It's a case of watch this space. But people have seen over the years with the clubs I've been at, how quickly I leave if I don't think I fit in."

Clearly, Chad Ochocinco fit well in the Sporting Kansas City locker room. According to Teal Bunbury, the NFL player stays in touch with him or with other SKC players, “I’d say once a month or every other month.”

New York Red Bulls forward Juan Agudelo is dreaming about the London Olympics a little more often than Ochocinco stays in touch: “It's something that I think about every day. I'm extremely excited. I don't know if I’ve ever been more excited about anything than this."

In a candid interview with Goal.com, FC Dallas playmaker David Ferreira says he came close “to throwing in the towel and quitting the fight” during his comeback from injury. But now that he feels “reborn,” he already has choreographed his first goal celebration of 2012.

Staying with FC Dallas, the BigDSoccer.com blog unearthed a trend that fans will need to keep an eye on this year: Under Schellas Hyndman, FC Dallas have not won in their first three matches of any MLS season (0-6-3). The potential reasons for the trend are explained here.

Another MLS head coach, New England’s Jay Heaps, was in the stands to watch his former team – the Duke Blue Devils – beat up on Boston College in Massachusetts. We’re talking college basketball.

Heaps & Co. are awaiting the arrival of Tom Cruise, who will hope to prove he’s good enough to wear a Revs jersey in a reported two-week trial. Find out more here.

Meanwhile, rumors have Mexican playmaker Adolfo “Bofo” Bautista joining the Chicago Fire. (SPANISH)

This report claims that Real Salt Lake have offered draft pick Sebastian Velasquez a contract. (SPANISH)

Salvadoran international Jaime Alas tells an outlet from his native country that San Jose Earthquakes officials will be traveling to Central America this week to meet with officials at Firpo in the hope of working out a deal. (SPANISH)

Who would want to be a soccer coach for $83 a month? That’s how this longtime American soccer coach got his start at a California college. That job led to a World Cup and working alongside some of the biggest names in the sport.

To think that these days even players who don’t know how to play soccer can earn up to $20,000 a game. That’s what the indoor Rochester Lancers side is offering Allen Iverson. Yes, “The Answer” himself.

Former LA Galaxy midfielder Chris Birchall wants to talk money matters. He claims he was one start away from having the option to return to the Galaxy and make more money. According to the player he needed 20 starts for the option to be triggered but was stuck on 19.

There’s no looking back for the Earthquakes, who could usher in a new era for the club with positive news from the San Jose Planning Commission’s upcoming vote on the club’s new stadium this Wednesday. It’s the final hurdle.

There were a handful of MLS stories in England’s FA Cup fifth round over the weekend: former RBNY defender Tim Ream made his Bolton debut in a win at Millwall, ex-Colorado manager Gary Smith and tiny Stevenage tied EPL powerhouse Tottenham and LA Galaxy captain Landon Donovan didn’t get to say his on-field goodbyes because of the flu, but Everton still won.

Back to Smith, who’s leading third-division side Stevenage. He speaks with a tinge of regret about how things went down in Colorado: “Looking back on it, I was probably a bit too vocal in the press and I will have learnt an awful lot,” he said.

There’s concern for former Columbus Crew midfielder Robbie Rogers, who suffered a reported concussion in his debut for Leeds United in England.

In other stories from around Europe this weekend, Paris-St. Germain needed a late equalizer to keep their one-point lead on second-place Montpellier in France and Lionel Messi scored four goals as Barcelona routed Valencia in La Liga action. Watch the highlights here. (VIDEO)

In a story that will leave you scratching your head, the billionaire owner of Australian soccer club Gold Coast United revealed his distaste for … soccer. “I don’t even like the game. I think it’s a hopeless game.”

Valencia’s Ever Banega has entered the hall of fame for most bizarre injury incidents in soccer: He ran over himself with his own car. Out six months.

Did Inter Milan forward Luc Castaignos get a raw deal after receiving a three-game suspension for spitting in the direction of a Bologna player although he was too far away from ever reaching him? Watch the incident here via Italian TV. (VIDEO)

And lastly, one of the most popular TV soccer anchors, ESPN's Max Bretos, was embroiled in the network’s racial-slur controversy this weekend involving Jeremy Lin. He was suspended 30 days, but he defended himself, including revealing a significant fact.

MLSsoccer.com Must-Reads:

Tigres prospect chooses the USA over Mexico for international duty

Injury crisis causing headaches for Real Salt Lake manager Jason Kreis

Countdown to First Kick: 20 days remaining as in the age of this new MLS starting GK