With the 2015 MLS season still in its infancy the planets are in line for an entertaining soccer season.
The majority of the teams are playing in front of filled-to-capacity crowds of fans many who are generally new to the sport and are trying to learn the “Offside Rule” on the fly.
Furthermore, Major League Soccer clubs have had recent success importing some big names from overseas.
Names like Kaka, Lampard, and Gerrard, all following in the footsteps of David Beckham, are coming to the States in search of branding opportunities… and to play a little soccer of course!
Also, the players and the owners have agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement. One of the key implementations of the agreement is to raise the minimum player salary from $35k to $65k a year.
I suppose it would be uncomfortable having to park your new Ferrari next to your teammates ‘04 Hyundai.
That being said, we’ve got the fans, we’ve got the big names, and some of the player’s cars are getting upgraded as we speak, so indeed the planets are in line!
Defending Champs
This season the LA Galaxy look to defend their title after winning their league record 5th MLS Championship. Despite missing their Captain Robbie Keane (groin), last year’s MLS MVP, have won 3-straight games.
The previous week they scratched out a victory to their rival Seattle Sounders thanks to goalkeeper Jamie Penedo’s monstrous 10-save outing.
A stat that also earned him MLS player of the week. Alan Gordon has been great filling in for Keane’s absence and scored the game’s only goal against a Dempsey-less (Hamstring) Sounders.
This week LA faced a beat up Sporting KC on Sunday lead by a struggling Tom Dwyer. Coming into the game the Galaxy had given up more shots on goal (30) than any other team in the MLS.
This time it was the Galaxy that jumped on them early taking advantage of a rebound coming off the hands of goalkeeper Luis Miran, which Baggio Husidic ultimately buried into the back of the net in the 9th minute.
KC recovered with an equalizer in the 22nd minute after a series of handy interior passes that went from Dwyer to Benny Feilhaber to Krisztian Nemeth who ultimately flicked the ball over a laid out Penedo.
But once again it was LA, in thrilling fashion, grabbing up the 3 points and the win in the closing minutes.
“Super Sub” and US International Omar Gonzalez came off the bench and volleyed a corner kick from Juninho into the goal in stoppage-time (94th min).
With the win the Galaxy move into 3rd place in the Western conference. LA hasn’t lost at home (Stub Hub Center) in 25 straight games (20-5-0), but on the flip-side they have yet to win outside Los Angeles this season.
Next weekend the Galaxy will travel across the county to face the 1st place New York Red Bulls – currently number one in most MLS Power rankings.
Who are the strongest team in MLS this year?
