Lineup roulette continues for Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Mo.– Give or take a couple seconds,Roger Espinozagot five solid minutes on the training field at center back before starting alongsideMatt Beslerlast weekend against Chicago.

It wasn’t the kind of position that manager Peter Vermes wanted to put the 24-year-old left back into so hastily, but, as the week progressed and the injuries and international call ups piled up, he was left with little choice.

“I was still mulling it over on Thursday and finally in Friday’s training we tried some things,” Vermes said. “I was looking at a couple different things. On the plane, I made my decision on which way we would go.”

In the end, Espinoza found himself playing centrally with barely any preparation to speak of while Scott Lorenz filled in at left back andChance Myersmade his first appearance of the season at right back. Unsurprisingly, Sporting gave up three goals and lost after going down a man in the first half.

Luckily, Kansas City won’t have quite the same selection headaches this weekend in Vancouver when the club faces the Whitecaps at Empire Field, though Vermes still likely won’t have a full complement of players to choose from.

Julio Cesar, who is still recovering from a cut to his foot that required 18 stitches and kept him out of last week’s game, is questionable butShavar Thomas, away on international duty with Jamaica last weekend, will be back in the fold.

For the first time this season,Michael Harringtonis also in the running to make his 2011 debut, though the team’s de facto right back and most consistent performer from a year ago still isn’t game fit or a guarantee to play any significant minutes north of the border.

“He’ll look to travel,” Vermes said. “Now the question is where {Michael} is {physically}. Every day we are trying to monitor how he recovers from the day before.”

Myers andLuke Sassano, who have each started one game so far in place of Harrington, are also question marks. Vermes said Sassano should be ready to travel after missing out on last week’s game, while Myers left practice on Wednesday with a groin issue.

About the only guarantee in the back is that Besler will occupy one of the center back spots and Espinoza will move back over to his usual place at left back.

But lineup roulette or not, Vermes is satisfied with the job his back line has done so far. Kansas City have given up five goals, but one was a debatable penalty, two were down a man and the others were preventable with a little instruction and fine-tuning on the practice field.

“You never want to give up goals,” Vermes said. “But, in both games, they are things that can be solved very easily.”

“The more and more guys that come back either from injury or international duty are going to be a big help,” he added. “We can get more and more consistency within the team. All that helps in our favor.”

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FC Dallas still searching for linking midfielder

FRISCO, Texas— All throughout preseason,FC Dallashead coach Schellas Hyndman fielded questions about who was going to replaceDax McCarty’s boots in central midfield. Three weeks into the 2011 campaign, those questions are still posed.

After leaving the North Carolina product unprotected in the Expansion Draft, Hyndman was confident he had the players to fill the spot. Now, he’s not so sure.

“What ends up happening isDaniel Hernandezis one of those central midfielders andDavid Ferreirais one of those central midfielders, so now the connecting spot is a spot I don’t think we have completely settled in,” said Hyndman.

In each of FC Dallas’ first two games, Hyndman has substitutedEric Alexanderout of the center midfielder spot as he sought to make a tactical change.Andrew Jacobsoncame on for Alexander in a 1-1 tie against Chicago in Week 1, and last weekend, in a 2-0 loss to San Jose,Eric Avilacame on for Alexander as Hyndman sought to add more of an offensive attack.

“I think in both games we just needed some offensive spark and the players that he brought on have provided that,"Alexander offered up in explaining his coach's reasoning."I’m in there for my work rate and maybe just trying to get the game settled for the first part.”

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The second-year player, who made his debut with the US national team in January against Chile, performed admirably while McCarty was injured in the midst of FC Dallas’ 19-game unbeaten streak in 2010. The 44th overall pick in the 2010 SuperDraft played in 14 of the 19 games during that span, scoring two goals and working himself into the starting lineup.

This year, however, with the additions of Jacobson, Fabián Castillo, Ricardo Villar and rookieBobby Warshaw, Hyndman is still searching for the best player to field in the middle of the pitch.

“Whether it’s Eric Alexander, whether it’s Andrew Jacobson, it could be Bobby Warshaw, it could be Ricardo Villar, or it could be Jackson {Gonçalves},” said Hyndman.

The veteran coach used Jackson as a central midfielder during Wednesday’s practice and liked what he saw, citing the Brazilian’s speed, skill on the ball and athleticism as positive additions to the midfield.

On one run in a shortened-field scrimmage, Jackson collected the ball from a defender, dribbled past two pursuers and then slid a shot pastKevin Hartman. Outside of Hernandez, Ferreira andMarvin Chavez, another midfield position seems to be solidified.

“I think after the performance of Castillo the other night, you can say he’d probably settle in on the left side,” said Hyndman. “So we are still looking for that one spot.”

With the Chavez’s and Castillo’s speed on the flanks, the leadership in the middle from Hernandez, and the creativity from Ferreira, the linking midfielder will be a storyline to follow for FC Dallas in 2011.

Central midfielder aside, Hyndman knows that his team will be one that competes.

“I think we are a talented team,” said Hyndman."I think we are a team that works hard on both sides of the ball and I think we are a team that’s athletic, so we want to use those areas to our strengths."

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Portland drop Chivas USA in US Open Cup play

PORTLAND, Ore.–Jack Jewsburyskidded a low ball into the net from 35 yards in the 84th minute to break a scoreless tie and liftPortland Timberson their way to a 2-0 victory overChivas USAin a US Open Cup play-in game on Tuesday.

WATCH:Highlights: Portland 2, Chivas USA 0

The game was the first for the Timbers in Portland since its ascension to MLS and drew a sellout crowd of 5,061 to Merlo Field on the campus of the University of Portland.

Jewsbury, who entered the game in the 71st minute, was the second wind that Portland needed late in the match, bailing out a team that controlled the run of action for nearly the entire game but had been unable to break through.

Craig Mitchelldyer/Portland Timbers

In addition to his goal, Jewsbury was credited with an assist just three minutes after his first goal for the club, when his corner kick found its way to the feet ofEric Brunner, who then blasted the ball into the net to put the Timbers up 2-0.

Portland had numerous chances in the first half, beginning with a header chance for Cooper just 20 seconds into the match that sailed over the crossbar.

The Timbers remained in attack mode but were called offsides six times in the first half. Although they had numbers forward, the Timbers weren't able to create a goal-scoring moment until Jewsbury's shot.

Perlaza, the Colombian forward Portland brought in, had a couple of golden opportunities go awry. He had a run up the middle that might have had an open net chance but inexplicably stopped the ball and over ran it. Later, he mis-hit a shot on the left side of the goal that went wide right of the net.

Despite playing down a man for the entire second half afterAndrew Boyensdrew a red card for a foul on Timbers forwardKenny Cooper, Chivas USA put up a fight. The Goats had two scoring chances, with the most notable effort coming at the feet of Marcos Mondaini.

Monadini went 1-v-1 against Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson, but his shot was slowed by the goalie's gloves and then Brunner swept in to clear the ball out as it rolled toward net.

The victory moves Portland into a US Open Cup matchup with theSan Jose Earthquakeson a date yet to be determined in April.

Scoring Summary

POR: Jewsbury, 84

POR: Brunner (Jewsbury), 86

Misconduct Summary

CHV: Mondaini (Yellow), 14

CHV: Boyens (Yellow), 35

CHV: Boyens (Yellow), 43

CHV: Boyesns (Red), 43

CHV: Braun (Yellow), 49

POR: Purdy (Yellow), 74

POR: Hall (Yellow), 89

Lineups:

Portland --GK Gleeson, D Wallace, D Brunner©, D Horst, D Purdy, M Alhassan, M Marcelin, M Lowry (Jewsbury, 71), M Pore (Hall, 65), F Cooper, F Perlaza

Substitutes Not Used:GK Guppy, D Goldthwaite, D Taylor, M Braun, M Nagbe

Chivas USA --GK Kennedy, D Pearce, D Zemanski (Bowen, 89), D Boyens, D Owusu (Jazic, 63), M Lahoud, M LaBrocca©, M Mendoza (Flores, 46), F Mondaini, F Braun, F Estupiñan

Substitutes Not Used:GK Thornton, GK Arias, M Trujillo, M Mayen

Referee:Juan Guzman

Assistant Referees:Jeff Hosking, Desmond Miller

4th Official:Ronald Lagraff

Attendance:5,061

Weather:Rain, 50 degrees

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Vancouver's Teibert leads Canada's U-20s to win

It took a pair of second-half goals for Canada to overcome a scrappy Guadeloupe side on Monday night in the opening match of the CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Guatemala.

The Canadians had gone down 1-0 in the opening half, but goals by Lucas Cavallani and Derrick Bassi (above, No. 5) lifted the Canucks to a 2-1 victory.

Canada struggled with the physicality and athleticism of the Guadeloupe side for much of the first half, frequently getting pushed off the ball and allowing their opponents' speed to cause problems. The Canadians paid the price 26 minutes in, when a Guadeloupe counterattack resulted in a goal for the island nation.

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A well-placed shot by Christophe Houelche from 22 yards put Canada behind, and gave the Guadeloupians the confidence to attack and keep the Canadians on the back foot for large spells.

Canada came back from the halftime break with much more purpose, sparked by the midfield tandem of Russell Teibert and captain Ethan Gage. Teibert, ofVancouver WhitecapsFC, proved to be a serious handful for the Guadeloupians all night long, and in the 53rd minute he pounced on a botched clearance and sent in a pass to Cavallani, who easily slotted home from the top of the six-yard box.

Five minutes later, Teibert again played provider. On a set-piece just outside the Guadeloupe penalty area, the 18-year-old Whitecaps rookie stepped up and delivered a pinpoint free kick onto the head of central defender Bassi, who simply nodded the ball into the goal.

The two quick goals deflated the Guadeloupians, and Canada seemed content to hold possession for the rest of the match.

With the win, Canada take control of Group C. Guadeloupe take on Costa Rica on Wednesday, with the Canadians next seeing action against the Ticos on Friday.

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Sueño MLS 2011 – presented by Allstate kicks off

The journey has begun for thousands of aspiring young soccer players as pre-registration opens for Sueño MLS 2011 – presented by Allstate, the premier nationally televised search for the best undiscovered soccer talent in the United States.

Hopefuls can register atwww.SuenoMLS.comfor an opportunity to participate in one of three open tryouts. The competition and personal stories will be chronicled by Univisions popular weekly sports show,República Deportiva.

Now celebrating its fifth year,"Sueño MLS 2011 – presented by Allstate"will be staged by three MLS teams, including first-time hostPhiladelphia Union, as well as returning hostsChicago FireandFC Dallas. Up to 400 tryout spots will be made available at each city on a first come, first served basis. In past years, spots have filled up in only a few hours following the start of registration. A waiting list will be available for those who are not able to register for the initial spots.

Juan Miranda/Getty

In each city, players will be battling for one of five invitations to a week-long trial with their respective youth development host club and an invitation to the four-day“Final Event,” which will be staged for the first time in the greater Dallas area. The finals will include training sessions, scrimmages, guest celebrity scouts, and an opportunity to meet some of the League’s biggest stars. The ultimate champion will be crowned on Sunday, May 8, live on “República Deportiva."

New to Sueño MLS for 2011, is the Allstate “Good Hands®” top goalkeeper award - El Portero Allstate. One goalkeeper at each of the three local tryouts will be selected as the top goalkeeper, and at least one of the three will be chosen to join the other local finalists at the national final. “El Portero Allstate” will be selected in addition to the Sueño MLS 2011 - presented by Allstate champion.

Since its inception in 2007, Sueño MLS has given thousands of talented young athletes a chance to showcase their skills and impress youth development scouts. The original winner, forwardJorge Floresof Anaheim, Calif., is now entering his fifth year with MLS’Chivas USA. He also represented the United States Under-20 National Team at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt. The 2008 FC Dallas Sueño MLS winner, Gabriel Funes Mori, played with the FC Dallas Juniors U-18 team before moving on to Argentina’s legendary side River Plate, and later starred on the Argentine Under-20 National Team.

Tryouts for Sueño MLS 2011 – presented by Allstate, kick-off the weekend of Saturday, April 9, with two days of open tryouts in Frisco, TX, home of FC Dallas. The program then moves to Chicago on April 16, and on to Philadelphia April 23. Specific tryout locations will be announced at a later date. The “Final Event” will take place May 5-8, at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, TX, where League scouts and celebrity guests will be on hand to provide guidance and select the ultimate winner in front of a live Univision national television audience on Sunday, May 8.

MLS partners participating in Sueño MLS 2011– presented by Allstate, also include adidas, Degree Men, Gatorade, Pepsi and Volkswagen.

2011 TIMELINE

March 27Live announcement on Univision Network’s República Deportiva

April 9-10Local market tryouts (FC Dallas)

April 17-17Local market tryouts (Chicago Fire)

April 23-24Local market tryouts (Philadelphia Union)

May 5-8“Final Event” in Frisco, TX, hosted by FC Dallas

May 8Announcement of winner on Univision Network’s República Deportiva

PARTICIPANT ELIGIBILITY:

Eligible players must be between the ages of 14 and 18 years old (with appropriate identification) and retain their amateur status. Current collegiate student athletes will not be permitted to attend the final event in Frisco, TX. Sueño MLS participants will be responsible for all personal expenses associated with the local market tryout, including travel to local tryouts, lodging, food, soccer equipment (shoes, training gear, etc.), etc. Program sponsors will cover all expenses for eighteen (18) participants selected to attendthe final event in Frisco, TX. For more information, please visitwww.SuenoMLS.com. Participation in the event is free. Players may not register for more than one city.

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Kreis: RSL played best soccer ever at Rio Tinto

SANDY, Utah— Whenever theLA Galaxycome to Rio Tinto Stadium,Real Salt Lakeand their fans seem particularly energized. Saturday night’s 4-1 win was no exception, asRSLturned in an emphatic performance right from the opening whistle.

Two goals in the first 10 minutes sent the home side on their way, and it was 3-0 before the halftime break. The first-half beating was as thorough as it was entertaining.

HIGHLIGHTS:RSL 4, LA 1

“Forty-five minutes of probably the best soccer I’ve seen in front of this stadium {from} this team,” head coach Jason Kreis said of the first half. “It was sheer delight to watch that.”

Attacking midfielderJavier Moraleswas the catalyst for the victory, notching two goals, including one from the spot in the 10th minute and a stunning rocket from outside the box in the 41st. Both ignited the 20,507 fans who filled Rio Tinto despite the low temperatures. 

“We feel the crowd all the time,” Morales said. “I think they are amazing. For me, we have the best crowd in the league."

“Tonight the crowd before the game was so, so loud before the kickoff,” Kreis said. “I thought it was just a magical moment—the beginning of the game for us—I just knew the guys were going to be way into it.”

There were doubts before the game, though, as RSL were missing several players, including strikerAlvaro Saborioand midfieldersWill JohnsonandArturo Alvarez, who were all away on international duty.

MexSport

The absences gave others a good opportunity to make their cases. Brazilian striker Paulo Jr., in particular, made his very well.

The 22-year-old’s first start in league play included setting up RSL’s first goal in the 2nd minute, drawing a penalty in the 9th minute that Morales converted, and getting on the scoresheet himself in the 69th minute with a clean, classy finish off a pass fromFabian Espindola.

“He was good, really, really good, when we had the ball tonight in the first half,” Jason Kreis said after the match. “I thought he was dangerous every time he touched {the ball}, and every time he was around it. Obviously, he made a lot happen with the assist on the first goal, the penalty onthe second goal, and then scoring on the {fourth goal}.” 

Although Saborio will remain a regular starter up top, Paulo Jr.’s performance on Saturday will put pressure on all of RSL’s attackers.

“There’s no doubt,” said Kreis. “The very next game, imagine: I’ve got to choose now between Sabo, who’s coming back; Fabian {Espindola}, who’s doing so many wonderful things for us; and Paulo who has an assist, a goal, and sets up a penalty.

Such choices are a luxury, no doubt. But for Kreis, it doesn’t matter who’s on the field provided they have the right mindframe.

“We’ll try to continue to get everyone to buy in that this is about the team,” he said.

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Sporting juggle lineup as call-ups, injuries loom

KANSAS CITY, Mo.– When Peter Vermes inspects his lineup card this weekend, there will be a few conspicuous names missing.

Sporting Kansas City will travel to Chicago on Saturday to meet the Fire (4 pm ET, TeleFutura) but standoutsKei KamaraandShavar Thomas(international duty) andMichael HarringtonandRyan Smith(injury) won’t be available as Vermes’ team looks to stay perfect on the season.

Those absences may reduce Vermes options when it comes to his preferred starting 11 and in-game substitutions, but he knows this will be a prime opportunity to prepare players on the fringe for the rest of a long season.

“It’s always great when you have the ability to look down the bench and pick a guy out for a certain job or certain occasion in a certain game,” Vermes said Thursday at his weekly press conference. “The hard thing is when those guys leave, you don’t have the chance to pick them out.”

“That’s the difficulty, but I have confidence in the other guys in our team. This is not going to be first time, and it’s not going to be the last time.”

Though a little shorthanded, Sporting will have the benefit of playing in front of a sizeable contingent of their own fans, around 300 of whom are expected to be in attendance on the club’s dime.

Kansas City will also be able to lean on the fact that they have been close to dominant against Chicago in recent times, losing just once in their last seven meetings with the Fire and going 2-0-1 at Toyota Park over the past three seasons.

Both of those developments should bode well for a team still clearly trying to find its way.

“We’re so early on in the season that everything is still evolving in the way we play and the way we want to play,” Vermes said. “We have some new guys in our team and they’re still grasping certain aspects of our style of play.”

One player who has thrived in Vermes’ system is Kamara, who is currently in Africa with Sierra Leone preparing for an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Niger.

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The most likely scenario to replace the versatile striker revolves around keepingOmar Bravoand C.J. Sapong (at right) at left and center forward and inserting the medically clearedTeal Bunbury(above) into Kamara’s customary spot on the right.

Harrington’s right back spot will be filled by eitherLuke Sassano, who got the nod last weekend, andChance Myers, who took reps with the first team this week in practice.Matt Beslerand Júlio César are expected to start in central defense for the second straight game.

No matter who gets the nod, Vermes knows Sporting will face a stiff test against one of their historical rivals.

Even though the club opened the season with a 3-2 victory againstChivas USA, the reality is Kansas City didn’t exactly set the soccer world alight on opening weekend, giving up two set-piece goals and struggling to imprint their will on the game.

“We had a very average performance last week,” Vermes said. “The bottom line is, it’s really an evolution of how we become better as a team. We have to continue to keep working and getting better with the way we play so those average performances become above average and excellent. That’sgoing to take a little time.”

Part and parcel in that evolution will be the continued growth of Sporting’s bench and the progression of the role players call upon to fill in during times of injury and inevitable national-team call-ups the squad is dealing with at the moment.

For Vermes, who said he has faith up in the players up and down the roster, any chance those guys have to see the field can only be beneficial down the line.

“In the long run,” he said, “it can only make you stronger.”

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New England trip a homecoming for DC's Davies

WASHINGTON– There’s little question that every road game for Charlie Davies will have a special feel to it. The fact that he’s playing soccer at this level once again after what he’s been through is a story that’s resonated with fans all across the league.

But this weekend’s trip to New England also brings Davies back to his roots, as he returns home New England to face the Revolution. The 24-year-old grew up near Manchester, N.H., an hour’s drive from Gillette Stadium, where he’ll play Saturday evening.

“I’m really excited,” Davies said after an indoor training session on Thursday. “Our goal is to win, and it’d be pretty good after two games {to have} six points.”

While his parents won’t be in attendance Saturday – they’ve since moved across the country to San Diego – Davies said he had around 50 requests for tickets, to go with 20 more for his fiancée, Nina, whose family will also be in attendance.

Furthering Davies' ties to the area was his three-year stint playing at Boston College, where he was a standout his junior year. When he steps on the field to face the Revolution, he’ll be entering familiar territory, having played against New England in a spring game in college.

“{I’ve played there} just one time, but it feels like I’ve played there a thousand times – just playing around there, going to a lot of Revolution games,"Davies said."I played the Revolution when I was with Boston College, {so} it’ll definitely be something I’m accustomed to.”

WATCH:Davies scores No. 2 vs. Columbus

Whatever his role is Saturday evening, Davies made one thing clear: He wants to do what he can to helpD.C. Unitedcome away with a second straight win.

“For me, personally, it’s just to contribute, whether that be with a goal, an assist, holding the ball up, whatever the team may need,” he said. “Taking steps forward with progress and my confidence, and then the three points which we’re expecting to achieve.”

Of course there will be the emotional impact of playing in front of a home crowd, but Davies realizes that it’s going to be like that for each and every game he plays, whether it’s at RFK Stadium or anywhere else on the road.

“Every game’s going to be a great experience for me, just because I’ve waited a year-and-a-half just to play in one,” he said. “Every game from here on out is going to be special to me.

“Playing in Boston, my hometown basically, and being around the people I grew up with, that’ll be another special time of course.”

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MLS remains most diverse among major US leagues

An annual study of the birthplace of its athletes has found that Major League Soccer is once again the most diverse major professional sports league in the United States.

MLS opened the 2011 season last week with players born in 57 different countries, including the United States and Canada. Roughly 38 percent of the players on MLS rosters are born outside of the US and Canada, compared to 26 percent for Major League Baseball and 25 percent for the NHL.

This year the league added players born in China (Vancouver’s Long Tan) and Israel (Chicago’s Orr Barouch), as well as players born in Chile, Belgium, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Norway, Tanzania and Uganda.

DOWNLOAD THIS MAP/DESCARGUE ESTE MAPA (PDF)

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Schellas XI: FC Dallas'coach sounds off

This is the first installment of a weekly column featuringFC Dallashead coach Schellas Hyndman. The third-year MLS coach addresses 11 topics in brevity, including everything MLS and beyond.

I. With the 2011 season now underway, Hyndman spoke about the challenges that MLS coaches are confronted with.

“This is maybe the hardest league to coach in because of the salary cap, draft, expansion and a lot of different things that coaches have to deal with.”

II-III. On the other hand, Hyndman’s players, whom he normally addresses as “boys” when speaking with them, have many challenges to face on the field, such as the physicality of play. In 2010,David Ferreiralogged 2,699 minutes out of a possible 2,700.

“I would like to give David rest this year. I think he’s going to need it because of the extra games, the extra competition that we added. Last year, we played 30 {games}, not including the playoffs, and this year we may play 40, not including the playoffs.”

IV. However, throughout the season, injuries, yellow card accumulation, international obligations and also refereeing affect the moves a coach makes.

“I think what really affects teams like ours because we aren’t a real physical team is how well the officiating is. Is the officiating going to protect the player on the {ball}? If it does protect the player on the ball, I think David can go through the whole season.”

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V. But one won’t catch Hyndman complaining about the officiating, even afterBrek Shea’s red card against Chicago.

“Was it a straight red? I think the directive that we are getting from the league and the officials is more offensive play, protect the player on the ball.”

VI. Saturday’s game featured a sell-out crowd of 20,145. Throughout the week before the first game, Hyndman had told his players about the opportunity to play in front of such a large crowd.

“Our players were kind of expecting to see a good crowd. I thought that the ticket people did a fantastic job.”

VII. Two players making their first opening-day starts in front of the large crowd wereEric AlexanderandEric Avila.

“I think this is a big, big jump for them becoming a starting player in this league. I think they both did well enough to be looked at again.”

VIII. Defensively, Hyndman loves seeing his outside backs get forward, something thatJackson Goncalvesand Loyd did frequently against Chicago.

“I think that is one of the trademarks of our team, that both our fullbacks do get very much involved in the attack and they are the skillful players.”

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IX. On the other end of the field, another player seeking a breakout year is forwardRuben Luna, a favorite of the FCD coaching staff.

“I like very much his finishing ability, his character, his hard work and his determination. I think Ruben’s that natural striker.”

X. One experienced veteran,Milton Rodriguez, has been asked by Hyndman to mentor Luna as he makes a name for himself in the league.

“I think that’s very important, for Ruben to be mentored by somebody who is such a good player and somebody who has such good character. I’ve already had my conversation with Milton and he acknowledges it’s something that he wants to do.”

XI. Lastly, with the US playing host to Argentina this weekend at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Hyndman has an opinion on the players called up.

“I think it will be very interesting to see how some of the MLS players do. I’m very interested in the Under-20s now that Ruben is with the Mexican Under-20s and Moises {Hernandez} is with the {US U-20s}, and also {Fabián} Castillo {a member of Colombia’s U-20s}. I’m more concerned with that.”

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Chivas USA's Mondaini impressive in MLS debut

CARSON, Calif.– It only took one match for Argentine midfielder Marcos Mondaini to show that he has the tools to make a significant impact withChivas USA.

In the club’s 3-2 loss to Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, the Argentine (above, right), who was acquired on loan from Uruguayan club CA Fénix during the preseason, was a consistent threat for Chivas. The former youth product of Argentine giants Boca Juniors frequently caused difficulty for Sporting, creating a number of chances for the Rojiblancos with his play along the flanks.

After the match, head coach Robin Fraser admitted that it was a shining MLS debut for Mondaini.

"He's been getting better from the first day that he got here, to be honest,” said Fraser. “He's an intelligent, crafty, quick player who has been in a number of big games, and I thought for his first MLS game he was completely unfazed.”

In Fraser’s 4-1-4-1 formation Mondaini was frequently working in tandem with midfielderNick LaBrocca, the two combining with attackersJustin BraunandAlejandro Morenoto create chances for the Goats.

Not solely limited to creating, Mondaini had a chance of his own in 12th minute of play when LaBrocca sent him in on goal. Mondiani fired a shot that forced a toe-save from Sporting goalkeeperJimmy Nielsen.

For a team that had struggled to score goals in the preseason, Mondaini’s liveliness along the left side left many encouraged that Chivas USA can create many more chances in the coming matches. However, for the man himself, the success was bittersweet.

While encouraged by his ability to perform in his first match, he admitted that there was still much work to be done for Chivas with a match against the defending championColorado Rapidson the horizon.

“It’s a little bit weird because I’m happy to play my first game for Chivas, but I’m sad about the result,” said Mondaini. “We need to keep our heads up and keep working. It was an open game especially for us, but unfortunately we allowed some unfortunate goals, so we have to fix our mistakes.”

Adam Serrano covers Chivas USA for MLSsoccer.com. He can be reached atadam.m.serrano@gmail.comand on Twitter: @adamserrano

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Gilbert denied visa, will not join Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. — Arsenal defender Kerrea Gilbert will not be playing in aPortland Timbersuniform any time soon after being unable to obtain the required P1 Visa.

Timbers general manager Gavin Wilkinson told The Oregonian that the team will no longer try to bring Gilbert to the US to play soccer this season.

“He will not be joining us this year,” Wilkinson told the newspaper. “It was taking too long. We always had a deadline on it and that deadline was extended a little bit.”

When contacted by MLSsoccer.com, a Portland spokesperson confirmed Wilkinson’s comments, adding that there would be"no further pursuit of the matter."

Gilbert signed with Portland in December, but subsequent concerns over legal troubles dragged on through the duration of preseason training.

A fullback developed through the Gunners’ ranks, Gilbert showed great projection and was viewed as one of the team’s best additions of the offseason.

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Larentowicz, Smith help lift Rapids to win

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. ---Jeff Larentowiczhad a pretty tough week at the office, but he’ll enjoy the rest of his weekend after theColorado Rapidsended up comfortable winners over thePortland Timbersin the season opener Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

The Rapids’ midfielder was involved in a serious car accident on Wednesday which necessitated him wearing a neck brace. That came after he fractured his thumb against theVancouver Whitecapsin the Rapids’ final preseason game last weekend, and amid concerns over a tight hamstring which caused him to miss some training in the build-up to Saturday’s opener.

WATCH:FULL MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

But Larentowicz’s goal in the eight minute not only helped put some of the week behind him, but also calmed some of the Rapids’ jitters as they began the defense of their MLS Cup title. The midfielder smashed the ball in from close range afterOmar Cummingsrefused to give up on a ball which appeared to be going out of play close to the corner flag.

The Jamaican’s persistence allowed him to cross the ball in quickly and it broke very kindly for a grateful Larentowicz.

“It was good,” Larentowicz told MLSsoccer.com after the game. “I wanted to put Wednesday behind me and move on. The thumb thing will stick with me for a little while. It hurts, but it’s nothing I can’t deal with.”

Larentowicz, who spent six weeks with his arm in a cast during the 2009 season with theNew England Revolution, said the 3-1 win may not have been as comfortable at times as the score line suggests.

It tookJamie Smith’s fantastic long-range strike in the 30th minute to eventually calm any nerves, he said.

Smith, who finished the game in the center of midfield after captainPablo Mastroeniwas substituted midway through the second half, unleashed a screamer from 25 yards which smashed into the Portland net off the underside of the crossbar.

Getty Images

The goal, which effectively finished off any resistance from Portland, was described by Timbers’ head coach, John Spencer, as “world class.”

Smith said he was as happy that his fellow Scottsman had described his goal in such a way as he was to have scored it.

“I watched John play growing up as a kid,” he told MLSsoccer.com. “I’ve never met him but, from what I gather, he’s a great guy and I’m pretty honored he said that.”

Smith’s goal topped a dominant performance by the Rapids in the opening half-hour. Larentowicz’s goal was followed in the 29th minute by a Cummings right foot strike from inside the penalty area. The Jamaican, who will miss the Rapids’ next game against Chivas because of international duty, latchedonto aConor Caseyheaded flick to first shoot with his left foot.

The ball rebounded kindly off Portland goalkeeper Adin Brown and Cummings was able to finish easily. It is the first time in MLS history that a player has scored a goal in his club’s season opener four straight years.

Rapids head coach Gary Smith praised Cummings’s play and that of the back line, especially centerbacksDrew MoorandMarvell Wynne.

“That front two were lively, they are a threat,” he said. “Drew and Marv, the middle two in general, were terrific. They kept an exciting pairing quiet.”

“I was pleased to hear the final whistle and delighted to have the three points,” Smith added. “Portland will be disappointed tonight but they will get better and better. I was pleased to get the second and third goals and offer the fans something to get behind.”

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Winter says Toronto ready for"Canadian derby"

VANCOUVER, B.C.— The cities may be 2,700 miles apart, but the Toronto–Vancouver rivalry may already be as big as any in MLS.

“It’s a derby game,”TFChead coach Aron Winter said following training at Empire Field on Friday.“It’s important to our fans.”

The Reds take on Vancouver at 6:30 pm ET on Saturday in what will be the Whitecaps’ first-ever game in Major League Soccer. The showdown is receiving widespread attention in Vancouver, where local fans love to hate everything about their eastern rivals.

With about 100 fans from Toronto having made the trip and a national TV audience on TSN, the game is one of the most anticipated in recent Canadian soccer history. Despite Toronto have won just once during preseason, Winter remains confident.

“We’re prepared,” he said. “We’ve discovered a few things that we can do against them.”

When asked to elaborate, Winter didn’t bite.

“I’m not going to say that,” he said. “That’s for me to tell my boys {on Saturday}.”

The game will represent a homecoming of sorts for Toronto defenderAdrian Cann, who played for the Whitecaps from 2006 to '08. He says he’s excited to be back to play his former club.

“It’s a bit of a memory being here, “ he said. “I’m enjoying the the time here, but that will end Saturday once the game starts.”

Cann says that he has moved on from his contract dispute with TFC and is ready to help the Reds earn their first MLS Cup Playoffs berth. That remains the goal, said captainDwayne De Rosario, and the club remains on track to meet it.

“I’m not going to stand here and promise anything,” De Rosario said. “It will be a challenge, but we’re playing proper football now. We’re confident.”

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Jewsbury embracing role as Timbers captain

BEAVERTON, Ore. -- WhenJack Jewsburyfound out that he’d been traded to thePortland Timbersfrom the only team he’d ever known in MLS, the eight-year veteran was caught off guard but not shocked.

“I wouldn’t say it was expected, but I wasn’t totally surprised,” said the former Kansas City midfielder after the Timbers final practice before jetting off to Colorado for their MLS debut against the Rapids on Saturday.

So does Jewsbury now feel like he has something to prove with his new club?

“Yeah, maybe, but not so much for anyone else but for myself,"he said."I’m pretty tough on myself and I try to be as honest as I can about my performances, and that was kind of the deal in Kansas City. I really did think I should’ve been in the starting XI game-in and game-out.”

But any sting that might have been felt from the move out west was taken away when he was named captain just a little over a week upon his arrival in Portland. For coach John Spencer, Jewsbury’s leadership qualities made him an acquisition worth waiting for.

“We chased him for a good two months. If we could have done a deal to get him pre-Expansion Draft, we’d have done it in a heartbeat,” said Spencer. “To me, he’s just a natural-born leader with a lot of experience in MLS and just a player I’ve admired for a number of years from afar.”

For all of that admiration, however, Spencer doesn’t intend for Jewsbury to act strictly as a mentor to his young squad.

“I don’t want guys coaching, I want guys playing,” said the former Rapids captain."{Jewsbury is} just a good leader that’s got a level head about him and I’m just delighted to get him here finally.”

As for Jewsbury, he’s embracing the armband, something that surely helps heal any wound caused by his unexpected exit from Kansas City.

“That was part of the deal when I came here,"explained Jewsbury."Coach Spencer told me, 'We’re bringing you in here not only for your experience but also for your leadership. There’s a good group of young guys here, talented young guys, and I think it was very important to have someone in the middle of the field that has been around the league and has played some games.'

"I’m definitely trying to embrace that role.”

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Paulson: Timbers could have first DP by April 14

PORTLAND, Ore.– Merritt Paulson, owner and president of thePortland Timbers, shed some light on two important topics that affect the shape of the team’s 2011 roster.

Speaking on Talk Timbers (95.5 The Game) with radio host John Strong, Paulson said that the team is actively pursuing two center midfielders - and one of the options could be Portland’s first designated player.

“We will add a player of note, of significance, a center midfielder, and I would venture to guess we’ll have that player by our home opener on April 14,” Paulson said. “We’ve got a couple of options. (Marcos) Flores, who people have talked about on the chat boards is not one of the options.

“One of the two players would be a DP and the other one would be an extremely good fit as well.”

On the subject of English defender Kerrea Gilbert, signed by the Timbers on Dec. 13, Paulson said he expected the issue of whether or not he would join the team to be resolved within the next week.

Gilbert has been caught up in legal red tape and unable to come into the U.S.

Paulson said he was aware that Gilbert, 24, had a couple of alcohol-related incidents on his record. But the team spoke to friends and others close to the player and“people said he was a good guy,” Paulson said.

Gilbert came up with Arsenal has been unable to consistently crack the top-tier lineup and has spent most of the past four seasons on loan. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger even wrote a letter of recommendation, Paulson said.

But as Gilbert began the Visa process, a number of new incidents arose.

“At that point, he seemed like he guy we wouldn’t want anyway,” Paulson said.

Gilbert, however, maintained that the new information was false. Paulson said the team was trying to corroborate Gilbert’s story.

So how likely is it that Gilbert will wear a Timbers jersey?

“I would have said ‘No way’ if you asked me two weeks ago,” Paulson said. “It’s all coming to a head this week. With this new information there’s still a chance we get him. But we need validation one way or another on the history, and we take character very seriously.”

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Sounders admit Galaxy own them, must move on

SEATTLE– A clean shot here, a deflection there and, realistically, theSeattle Sounderscould have walked out of the third consecutive First Kick opener at Qwest Field with a third resounding victory.

But theLA Galaxygot the one goal they needed Tuesday night for a 1-0 victory, leaving Seattle staring down the barrel of a fifth loss to the Galaxy in their last five MLS meetings.

WATCH:FULL MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

“They got the goal, we didn’t,” Sounders wingerSteve Zakuanitold MLSsoccer.com after the match.“I don’t know what it is, we just can’t seem to beat them at the moment. We’re going to have to figure that out at some point.”

Some point won’t come again until July 4, the one-year anniversary of Seattle’s 3-1 spanking by the Galaxy in Southern California. Add that to last May’s 4-0 “Refund Game” whipping at Qwest and two losses over two legs in last fall’s MLS Cup Playoffs, and LA have an 11-2 combined score line over theirlast five meetings.

Sigi Schmid says that sticks in the craw of his team, and hopefully it’s something that will drive them forward.

"Sometimes you have a bogey team,"the Sounders coach said of the Galaxy,"a team that for some reason, it just doesn’t work for you and, right now, they’re that team for us.

“There’s a lot of games between now and July and we’ve got to focus on those other games. Our guys are pissed, our guys are disappointed – especially since it’s the opening game of the season and we haven’t lost an opener before.”

The disappointment on Tuesday night stems from the fact that, for the most part, Seattle played LA evenly and didn’t come close to “getting dominated,” as more than one Sounders player admitted had been the case in the past against the Galaxy.

Seattle put six of their 10 shots onJosh Saunders’ frame, connected two-thirds of their passes and, most surprisingly, dominated possession against their Western Conference rivals with 57 percent of the time on the ball.

Oswaldo Alonso,O'Brian WhiteandRoger Levesquemissed quality chances that could have put three on the board against LA. But the Galaxy were the only ones to convert a chance, thanks to Juninho’s rocket in the 58th minute.

“Today, there was no reason to lose this game,” said Seattle goalkeeperKasey Keller.“It’s just one of those things. One goal is the difference. We had the opportunities. On another day, maybe we score three and they score none. ... I don’t know if we did enough to comfortably win game. We definitely could have gotten something out of this game.”

Wizened Keller does have the right perspective, though, admitting that sometimes, teams just own you. The 20-year professional recalled a stretch during his four seasons at Tottenham Hotspur when crosstown London rivals Chelsea had an unbeaten streak of more than a dozen games against his Spurs.

“It was just one of those clubs where they just have your number,” he said. “Other teams it seems like every time you play them, you have their number. It just seems like at the moment, LA has our number regardless of how poorly we play or how well we play.”

With July 4 nearly half a season away, the Sounders must look ahead to another daunting task: traveling to New York to face the defending Eastern Conference-topping Red Bulls in just four days, arguably the most brutal opening slate of any team in the league. And that’s what they must focus on, said Schmid.

“I’ve said before this game, there’s going to be 33 games left after this one and there’s still a lot of points out there,” he said, “so we’ve got to lick our wounds, go forward and take care of the points as they go.”

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Sounders'Montero gets a new title: Poacher

SEATTLE–Fredy Montero’s earned a sparkling reputation over his first two seasons in the league as one of the most dynamic young strikers in MLS and a face of theSeattle Soundersfranchise.

And less than 24 hours ahead of the First Kick of the 2011 season, one of the defenders tasked with somehow putting the clamps down gave the Colombian a new title.

“He’s the ultimate goal poacher,” Galaxy defenderTodd Dunivantsaid Monday.“Especially on set pieces and that sort of thing. He can turn on a dime and find little spots, but he’s always poaching out goals and finding little seams. The second you switch off, he’s right there to smash it in.”

“He’s done that to us a few times…” Dunivant added. “He’s kind of the total package.”

Just how the Galaxy defense shuts down Montero on Tuesday night is one of the biggest storylines for the season opener at Qwest Field, where he’s scored 14 goals in 29 league games since his debut in 2009.

Getty Images

And that first glimpse of Montero was enough to put the league on notice. Montero scored two goals and added an assist in the Sounders’ 3-0 win over theNew York Red Bullsin their inaugural game at Qwest, then added a goal and an assist in the team’s 2-0 win over thePhiladelphia Unionin the 2010 season opener in Seattle.

Simply put, Montero traditionally thrives on the pitch at Qwest and has especially impressed in mid-March, when some other players are still settling into their early season routine.

And the Galaxy know it. They limited Montero to seven total shots and kept him off the scoreboard during two matches in the Western Conference semifinals last season, but they’re still plenty wary of the danger Montero might bring in front of a packed house on Tuesday night.

When asked if the“goal poacher” title fits Montero heading into his third year in the league, Galaxy manager Bruce Arena took a more diplomatic approach, but still stressed he challenges he can bring.

“I would sayJuan Pablo Angelis more of (a goal poacher),” Arena said. “Freddy’s a playmaker as well, and probably has more dimensions as an attacking player just sitting in front of the goal and sniffing out opportunities. He’s a fabulous player.

“Wherever he is on the field,” Arena added, “we’ve gotta be aware of him.”

Injuries to Sounders forwardBlaise Nkufoand midfielderSteve Zakuanicould put even more of the offensive onus Tuesday night on Montero, who had scored just one goal in three regular season games against the Galaxy before he was shut out during the 2010 postseason.

“I’m not sure we had success against him in particular, to be honest,” Arena said. “Like any good player, we’re aware of him when he touches the ball and where he’s playing away from the ball, and we just respect the fact that he’s a dangerous player.”

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Gringo Report: Acuña called to Mexico's U-22s

Mexico threw down the gauntlet on Thursday in what could be the latest tug-of-war with the US for the international services of a young Mexican-American.

The Mexican federation included Querétaro midfielder Isaác Acuña’s name in its preliminary list of U-22 players to participate in the Copa América and qualifying for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Acuña, a native of the border town of Calexico, Calif., has been impressive since making his professional debut with Querétaro as a second-half sub on Feb. 12. Since then, he’s scored twice in four consecutive starts for the Mexican Primera División club, including a 35-yarder that grabbed headlines.

The 21-year-old admitted last week that he hasn’t really thought about whether he’d play for Mexico or the US, but he would likely choose the first team that called.

"The truth is that I haven't thought about {my international future},” Acuña told Yanks Abroad."I guess I would choose the one that first calls me.”

The group of 22 players called by Mexico– all of whom play for Mexican first- and second-division clubs – will get together for a brief training camp from March 13-16.

Mexico plan to send a youth side to July's Copa América in Argentina (the senior team will play in June's CONCACAF Gold Cup), and that same side will participate in CONCACAF qualifying next March for the 2012 Summer Games in London.

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Raleigh's CASL Academy keeps producing top talent

The U.S. Soccer Federation Development Academy league is only four years old. In that short span, very few teams have enjoyed consistent success.

One youth program, Capital Area Soccer League (or CASL for short) based in Raleigh, N.C., is one of the few clubs that has managed to make several appearances in the National Playoff event at both the U-16 and U-18 age levels.

“Our club has been one of the top clubs in the Development Academy league,” CASL’s director of coaching Rusty Scarborough told MLSsoccer.com. “Over the three years, they’ve had six National Championship events, and CASL has been to five of those six.”

For more than 30 years, CASL has been nurturing some of the best players in the area, with notable alumni likeZack Schilawski,Logan PauseandMichael Harringtonnow playing in Major League Soccer.

A strong player retention rate over the years has been one of the keys to success, as very few players who start as youngsters with CASL abandon them for another youth setup. This is particularly true for the CASL Academy teams.

“The majority of our {Academy} players are CASL kids who have been in the club many, many years,” Scarborough said. “We have attracted, over the past year-and-a-half, some of the top players in the area because of the Academy league.”

CASL is much more than just the two Development Academy sides. With teams starting at the Under-5 age group going all the way up through Under-19, Scarborough estimated a player stable of roughly 9,500 kids. Along with that, several different levels within each age group give players in the region options.

The clubs takes a very serious approach to its Academy teams. Practices are held four days a week when a single game follows on the weekend, and three times when they have to play twice. Along with that, there’s more going on than just the day-to-day training exercises. A whole system has been put in place to help player development and ensure success.

“We pride ourselves in our training environment with this Academy league,” Scarborough said. “We incorporate nutrition, cognitive and behavioral surveys with a company out of Philadelphia called Exact Sports. We’ve included a strength and conditioning component as well.”

Another benefit that attracts players has been the success rate at getting Development Academy players into top college programs. Fourteen of the Class of 2011 will continue their playing careers this fall at top programs around the nation, including nearby North Carolina and Duke.

The two Development Academy teams officially go by CASL Chelsea because of the partnership the club struck up with English Premier side Chelsea FC. It was a long process that began four years ago, when one of CASL’s youth teams beat a London youth side at a Florida showcase.

From there, CASL eventually became the first American youth club to strike up a partnership with the English powerhouse. It’s a multi-faceted initiative that includes financial assistance for players, technical recommendations in development, and coaching seminars.

“The relationship has been awesome,” Scarborough said. “It’s been a tremendous asset to our club and the relationship has been really good to date. We look forward to the future with them.”

The success of CASL Chelsea has continued in the 2010-11 Dev. Academy campaign. After a strong performance last weekend, the U-16s currently have an overall record of 10-3-1, while the U-18s sit in first place in the Atlantic Division with an 11-1-2 record.

While another appearance in the National showcase is far from sealed, it won’t be surprising to see both CASL Chelsea teams making another trip to the playoffs later this year.

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Ghana's Owusu hoping to make mark with Chivas

CARSON, Calif.– During the preseason,Chivas USAhave been all about acquiring defense. The latest addition– Ghanaian international Seth Owusu – is eager to earn his spot.

“I decided to come to Chivas USA because I feel that I can enhance my career here because this is a stepping stone for me,” Owusu told MLSsoccer.com on Tuesday. “I believe that {head coach Robin Fraser} will be able to build me up into a good player.”

A natural left-side fullback, Owusu has also spent time at central defender while playing in Ghana and it is likely that he will see time at both positions for the Rojiblancos. A loan deal for the 22-year-old, believed to last until December, is expected to be finalized shortly from Ghanaian club Medeama SC.

In his short time with the team, Owusu has been quick to get to know many of his teammates as he prepares to adjust to his new league. Fraser admitted that he has not seen much of the burly defender, but feels that he has added a good presence to camp.

“He is still getting adjusted,” said Fraser. “He’s a smart guy, he’s pretty quiet. He’s pretty intense. He’s here with a great attitude, he listens and he works hard.”

One player who has been eager to help along the young Ghanaian has been fellow defenderJimmy Conrad. The veteran has taken an immediate interest in Owusu in helping his acclimation process to the league. Conrad played in the US’ 2-1 loss to Owusu’s Ghanaian countrymen in the 2006 World Cup.

Conrad admits he doesn't know much about Owusu, but true to the veteran’s colorful style, refers to him as a “man mountain.” Although Owusu says Conrad had words for him about the rivalry, the wily veteran was eager to deny any potential spite on the field.

“Now we’re on the same team, so hopefully, it’s a friendly thing,” Conrad said of a US-Ghana rivalry which now dates back to two World Cups.

While Conrad’s page in US national team history has been written, Owusu hopes that his time in MLS can further his own career with the Black Stars. Owusu is still searching for his cap after making an appearance in camp with Ghana for a Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan.

Owusu understands that he may have a target on his back, but through it all Owusu hopes that he can heal some World Cup wounds if even just a little.

“When I found out that I was coming to America, I was very happy,” said a smiling Owusu. “America and Ghana have a cordial relationship, so coming here will boost my morale and I will be able to help build the relationship between the Ghana and the US.

"But I know they will be looking to me {with spite},” he joked.

Adam Serrano covers Chivas USA for MLSsoccer.com. He can be reached atadam.m.serrano@gmail.comand on Twitter: @adamserrano

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D.C. United keep moving forward in preseason

The first few days ofD.C. United’s trip down to Charleston, SC, have gotten off to a bright start.

After arriving the past Thursday, the team spent the first couple of days enjoying the warm southern weather before opening up the Charleston Challenge Cup with a 2-1 win over defending USL champs and host Charleston Battery.

“The first few days have gone well,” midfielderDax McCartytold MLSsoccer.com.“Obviously, the first few days are to get the travel out of the legs, and just prepare for that first game.”

United’s final stretch of the preseason in Charleston is an important one, as the rebuilt roster continues to gel both on and off the field. Nine of the 17 players who saw the field in Saturday’s win weren’t on the team last year.

Building and constructing a cohesive unit in a short amount of time is a difficult challenge, and it’s also one that both coaches and players are aware of and working hard to quickly overcome.

Courtesy of D.C. United

“There are a lot of new players, a lot of new faces in this team,” McCarty said. “The key is trying to get on the same page as fast as possible. Once the team comes together, it’ll be a great thing to see because we’ll be a very dangerous team.”

There was plenty of evidence of what DC might be capable of Saturday night. McCarty, who donned the captain’s armband, covered a tremendous amount of ground from the center of the park and provided a sublime assist onChris Pontius’ opening goal.

WATCH:Full match: D.C. United 2, Charleston 1

RookiePerry Kitchenlooked good starting in the back line next to fellow newcomerDaniel Woolard, who started at left back.Josh WolffandJoseph Ngwenyaoffered a new look up front and combined nicely on the game-winning goal.

“All-in-all it was a pretty good performance,"said Wolff of Saturday's win."But, certainly, {there were} areas we need to get better in."

McCarty echoed those sentiments.

“I thought we created some good chances,” he said. “We scored two goals from open play, which is always nice to see. We were dangerous from set pieces and I thought we defended very well.”

For a team that struggled on both ends of the field in 2010, the rebuilding process is still ongoing. The chance to keep progressing will come Wednesday, when United play fellow MLS sideChicago Firein Game Two of the Charleston Challenge.

Molding the team is a task that will carry into the regular season, but having veterans like McCarty and Wolff to keep the team focused and guide the younger players through some of the growing pains will be especially valuable.

“Things are certainly starting to take shape, but I suspect there are going to be bumps along the way and you've got to be ready to accept them and grow from them,“ Wolff said. “The mindset is you have to get better each and every day, and I think we’ve continued to do that.”

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Too early to panic, but worrisome signs in Seattle

Road Trip to First Kick Starting March 6, join MLSsoccer.com’sJackie PickeringandNick Firchauas they travel from LA to Vancouver, checking in on all the West Coast teams, meeting with fans, and stopping into adidas HQ in Portland to pick up the game ball for First Kick on March 15 at Qwest Field.

TUKWILA, Wash.– It’s far too early for a sense of panic in Seattle. But there’s certainly not too much to be happy about after the Sounders dropped their second game of the Cascadia Summit Sunday evening, a 3-2 loss to expansion Vancouver.

“It's like I said before, maybe we are getting this out of our system before the season starts because it's all cyclical,” Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid said after Sunday’s match. “It all ends up evening out at the end of the day, so if we are having a bad run right now we will have a goodrun at some other time.“

A nice sentiment, but those aren’t the type of answers Sounders fans want Schmid to be giving, regardless of the match. After losses to regional rivals Portland (by a score of 2-0) and Vancouver in the preseason Cascadia Summit, the Sounders boss has no choice but to search for the positives.

Depending on where you stand,Sounders FC’s on-field results at the three-day event ranged from disappointing to extremely worrisome. To wit:

• Four soft goals allowed in two games
• No goals scored by a starting striker
• Unconvincing performances by each of the team’s top two goalkeepers
• A possibly serious injury toMichael Fucito

Combined, the results didn’t show a team that was ready to compete for a Supporters’ Shield in 2011. Far from it, Seattle looked more like the expansion team alongside Vancouver and Portland.

In his postmatch comments Sunday, Schmid echoed previous statements about the lack of scoring punch. He also condemned goalkeepersKasey Kellerfor a soft goal on Friday night andTerry Bossfor two more on Sunday.

“Goalkeeping-wise, Terry Boss has got to do better on the second and third, and Kasey had to do better on the first Friday night,” Schmid said.

There are still some roster adjustments to could be made in the coming days. However, Schmid and GM Adrian Hanauer both expressed confidence in the current group of players.

“You could get rid of some players or trade some players,” Schmid said, “but at this stage, I believe in the group we have, I think the group we have sitting in the locker room is a good group, it's a talented group and I think it's a group that's capable of playing good soccer.

“Right now, we haven't shown it. We've made some woeful mistakes, I think they'll be the first ones to admit that, but they need to step out the next time and show that our belief in the group is warranted."

Hanauer admitted his stomach was in knots after the losses, a feeling echoed by Schmid. Instead of using the word disappointing, Schmid spun the forgettable weekend as“motivating weekend.” He said that his team will remember these games when it meets Vancouver or Portland in games that count in the standings.

Roger Levesque(above), Sunday’s standout with a goal and an assist, offered his assessment on the weekend’s games.

“We have talented players and a good squad, it’s just a matter of getting players on the same page and playing to our strengths,” he said. “A few bumps in the road, but nothing to get too worried about.”

Notebook:

It’s too early to know the extent of Fucito’s injury, according to Schmid.

"When you have an injury like that, he's got a pull of the adductor I think, so you really don't know until the next day,” the Sounders coach said. “You've got to go about 24 hours and see how much it bleeds or how much it swells, then we'll know the extent of the injury, but we don't think he's torn it or anything like that."

Meanwhile, Hanauer offered an update on 30-year-old Argentine Mauro Rosales, who is currently training with the Sounders:

"We're talking with Mauro and we would like to sign him,” the GM said. “We're hopeful that we can get that sorted out, but it'll take a bit. Hopefully this week we can come to some resolution."

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