The final three playoff spots in the Eastern Conference are up for grabs as the league heads into the All-Star break.
Columbus, one of the teams vying for a spot, drew the Chicago Fire 1-1 on Saturday.
The Fire are tying for fun. With their 15th draw of the season Frank Yallop’s side is three stalemates away from equalling the league’s all-time mark for one point games.
Chicago, five points out of fifth, isn’t out of the race, but for now three of Toronto, RBNY, Columbus and New England are poised to gain entry into the postseason. Columbus will host Toronto FC when the regular season restarts on Saturday.
A slow start in the first half, in which Columbus head coach Gregg Berhalter deemed his team to be ‘complacent,’ proved to be the Crew’s undoing in Chicago.
"In the first half, we lacked the desire, pure and simple," Berhalter said, according to Andrew King of MLSSoccer.com. "In the second half, when we started playing, there was combination and desire all across the board, the defensive side and offensive side."
TFC head coach Ryan Nelsen can attest to Berhalter’s frustration. When both sides register a complete game, cliche and all, they resemble two of the better sides in a muddied Eastern Conference.
Transfer rumours
Ronaldinho to the Red Bulls? Jermaine Jones to the Chicago Fire?
The rumour mill is in full swing, with two big names garnering headlines before the August 6th transfer deadline.
According to a Brazilian news outlet, Ronaldinho could be reunited with former Barcelona teammate Thierry Henry in New York. The Brazilian star may serve as Henry’s replacement should the Frenchman retire at the end of the season.
RBNY sporting director Andy Roxburgh is denying the rumour.
Meanwhile, Jermaine Jones has reportedly turned down a designated player contract offer from the Chicago Fire.
Goal.com’s Ives Galarcep reports Jones turned down a two-and-a-half year deal worth $6 million from the Fire, but the United States international took to Twitter to deny the accuracy of those figures.
Here come the Galaxy
Don’t look now, but the Galaxy are coming.
Bruce Arena’s club doubled up against teams from the Pacific Northwest this week, coupling their win against Seattle with a victory over Portland in L.A. on Saturday night.
After falling behind early thanks to Diego Valeri’s goal in the 14th minute, the Galaxy equalized in style just before the halftime whistle.
Robbie Keane scored twice in the second half to see the Galaxy through. The Irish star attributed a switch in tactics to his team’s recent success.
"We've gone back to a formation that works best for everyone,” Keane said, referring to Arena’s decision to forsake the midfield diamond for the more traditional 4-4-2.
MLSSoccer.com’s Matthew Doyle has more on the Galaxy’s new, yet familiar, look.
Goal of the week
He’s back again. Bradley Wright-Phillips is having an incredible season for the Red Bulls, leading the league in scoring while forming a formidable partnership with Thierry Henry.
BWP was at it again on the weekend, propelling the Red Bulls to a huge result over the Revolution in Harrison on Saturday. What a goal the winner proved to be.
Number 18 on the year had all the hallmarks of a 2014 Wright-Phillips goal. Start the play off with an excellent outlet pass, catch up with the play and end with a clinical finish. The man cannot be stopped.
