Things seem to be getting truly desperate for the Seattle Sounders. Winless in nine straight league matches, the Sounders are not concerned with playing the beautiful game when they face the Colorado Rapids at CenturyLink Field on Saturday (11 pm ET, NBC Sports Network). "We need to get three points; doesn't matter how we play," striker Fredy Montero said. "If we play good or bad, the most important thing is three points."
Montero is the key to the Sounders emerging from the funk they're in, according to MLSsoccer.com's Jonah Freedman.
For the Rapids, coming off a midweek home loss to Vancouver, the key will be figuring out who plays right back. On Thursday, Colorado shipped longtime starter Koseke Kimura to the Portland Timbers. in exchange for allocation money and an international spot. The Timbers were actually interested in acquiring Kimura “at the start of preseason.” He is available for Saturday’s match at Real Salt Lake (9 pm ET, MLS LIVE).
The Kimura trade was a small move, of course, compared to the news that Italian center back Alessandro Nesta finally inked a deal with the Montreal Impact. The 2006 World Cup winner signed an 18-month deal, though the Impact had to actually cough up some allocation money to the New York Red Bulls in order to get their man. Montreal are at home to Columbus on Sunday (7:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE).
Was a center back really Montreal’s first choice for a big-name signing? This report claims the club first made offers to two attack-minded midfielders.
In New England, the arrival of Honduran forward Jerry Bengtson gives the Revolution yet another attacking weapon. “He’s got great size, great speed, and a knack around the goal,” coach Jay Heaps said. Bengtson could play on Sunday against New York (7 pm ET, Galavision).
The Revs might not be done in the marketplace. On the latest edition of MLSsoccer.com’s ExtraTime Radio podcast, Heaps indicated that the club, which has the top allocation spot, is interested in acquiring US international Carlos Bocanegra.
In San Jose, the news is that one of their offseason signings, Colombian midfielder Tressor Moreno, could be on the way out. Moreno has not seen regular playing time for the first-place Quakes, and he told GM John Doyle, “I’m not happy if I’m not playing.” The Quakes have done just fine without him and next travel to FC Dallas on Saturday (9 pm ET, MLS LIVE).
The Chicago Fire are reportedly set to seal the rumored deal with Dutch striker Sherjill MacDonald, though nothing is confirmed.
What is confirmed for the Fire is that Sean Johnson is having the best season of his career. In this profile, he explains how his mistake in the Olympic qualifiers have helped him get stronger.
Johnson won't have to worry about a David Beckham free kick when the LA Galaxy come to Toyota Park for a nationally televised clash on Sunday (3 pm ET, ESPN). The superstar was suspended one game by the MLS Disciplinary Committee on Thursday for “confrontational and provocative behavior during and immediately following” last weekend’s loss to San Jose.
The suspension sparked a great deal of debate about whether the one-game suspension was enough.
Other MLS matches this weekend include Sporting KC-Houston (Sat., 8 pm ET, MLS LIVE), Chivas USA-Vancouver (Sat., 10:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE), and Philadelphia-Toronto (Sun., 4 pm ET, TSN/RDS/MLS LIVE).
FIFA has finally decided to end the debate about goal-line technology, giving the go-ahead for immediate implementation of two goal-line systems. MLS has long called for goal-line technology and suggested the league could introduce some form of it in 2013.
AS Roma appear ready to introduce their latest player in the next day or two. They have all but announced the deal to acquire USMNT stalwart Michael Bradley, a move first reported by MLSsoccer.com. (ITALIAN)
In other transfer news, former KC midfielder Sunil Chhetri has joined another team called Sporting, this one in Lisbon. USL PRO side Orlando City have brought in former Timbers man Rodrigo Lopez. And onetime US youth international Brendan King has joined Irish side Bray Wanderers on a free transfer.
MLSsoccer.com Musts
TV Listings: Where to catch all the MLS action this weekend
Three for Thursday: World Cup winners in MLS
What MLS players ate as kids, but not anymore
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