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There was a lot of mid-week action in MLS last night. Thierry Henry scored for the Red Bulls in a draw with RSL. The Revs handled the Rapids 3-0. After D.C. United's 3-0 victory over Toronto, United and SKC have opened up a gap between the rest of the field. Kansas City is at the top of the Eastern Conference with 38 points and United is a close second with 37 (having played one less game).
On Monday the Galaxy beat Seattle quite emphatically. Great for Sporting in that it erased one of the games in hand for Seattle in the race for the Supporter's Shield, and it also showed that the Sounders have some problems in the back.
We now finally know the details of SKC's two shiny new Designated Player contracts. It is again just great business from Sporting. Zusi and Besler will be paid the same amount in the coming years, with bonuses for marketing and performance differing.
"Each player then will see his base compensation rise to $650,000 in 2015, $700,000 the following season, $725,000 in 2017 and $750,000 during the final year."
Sporting locked the two of them down for way less than the price of Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey... and somehow even cheaper than the new DP contract that saw DeMarcus Beasley go to Houston.
I don't care if Zusi's goal took a deflection... its up for goal of the week and you should vote for it.
The Chicago Fire have jumped into the Jermaine Jones mix. Meanwhile, he is still running around in America winning social media:
In addition to Jones, another American international may be coming home to play. The Galaxy are apparently pursuing Sacha Kljestan for a loan move back to SoCal.
Collin joined the boys this week on the Benny Feilhaber show. It is hilarious as always:
Benny has been absolutely killing it this season and it might be because of his new workout routine:
Jacob Peterson's gritty work all season paid off as he was rewarded with the match winner against his former club, TFC. Peter Vermes hails his versatility and his importance to the team.
"I think he's one of the guys that, when you look at his work ethic on a daily basis, there's no doubt that the guys have an incredible amount of respect for him," Vermes said. "Because they know that they never have to question his commitment."
MLS Insider has dome some good work in the past, especially this Graham Zusi piece. Now they have a piece on the new big star in the league (but not big enough for the All-Star game apparently), Dom Dwyer. You have to kind of the love the guy.
Sporting will be playing host to the Union on Friday. Last time they came to town, it didn't go too well. At halftime, the club will induct three new Sporting Legends. Jimmy Conrad, who has the most goals in club history by a defender; Peter Vermes, because of course; and Lamar Hunt the former owner, for his role in founding Major League Soccer and progressing the sport in the country.