The Blue Links: June 25th, 2015

Last week we saw the third loss of the season for SKC and for some reason all I can remember is this.

The best part of that GIF is the ref telling everyone to point and laugh at Luke Mulholland as he lay there reflecting on that terrible decision he just made.

I blocked out the ending of that match and the only other thing I remember are the stalker-ish Orlando City people. The Cauldron of course let them know the deal.

You know you have had a rough night when Orlando City is talking shit. You know other people see your games? https://t.co/TefxYCORia

— The Cauldron (@KCCauldron) June 22, 2015

OCSC had just fallen to the Montreal Impact the day before, so the frustration is understandable. But they did defeat Sporting KC's weekend opponent, Colorado Rapids, 2-0 last night.

It was a good night for former SKC players last night as well. Kei Kamara put up a brace in a win over the New England Revolution. It brought Kei's MLS leading goal tally to 12, his career high, with half the season remaining.

"I can't lie about that; it's good," he said with a laugh. "It's going to sound like an echo, but for me, for that to happen where I started my career with Columbus, I'm more than happy about that. It's my best season so far." -Kei Kamara

The Union have struggled this season and as recent as two days ago, articles with the title, "The Union are the worst team in MLS" were being written. But our old buddy CJ Sapong has come into form and scored for the 4th straight match last night to take down the Seattle Sounders 1-0. CJ still helping out his old team..

Other MLS action last night: RSL got 2 redcards and fell to NYRB 1-0. The three big stars for Toronto all scored in a 3-1 defeat of the Impact. DC United defeated the Chicago Fire 1-0. The Fire have all sorts of problems right now, as their stadium is sinking a town into debt. And in the last mach of the night, the Galaxy shut out Portland scoring 5 goals in two straight matches. Yikes.

It looks like NYCFC have locked up Andrea Pirlo. He would become the team's 3rd DP. David Villa says he would welcome the legend to the club. The other passed-his-prime DP for NYC, Frank Lampard is vacationing in France right now. The talent from the three of them is undeniable, but this isn't doing much to help get rid of the idea that MLS is a retirement league. Watch one of their old geisers, Lampard, fall off of a rope ladder on vacation.

The USWNT is facing China in the Quarterfinals tomorrow at 6pm. Watch parties at Sporting Park and Johnny's Tavern.

We've got the upstairs reserved for Friday, but there certainly isn't room for #AllOfUS. Get there early! pic.twitter.com/zz2DUqmXGK

— American Outlaws KC (@AOkcdoesnotstop) June 25, 2015

We hope to see you all at @SportingPark again this Friday to cheer for #USA in the #FIFAWWC quarterfinals! #ISIPhotos pic.twitter.com/obWI00sFJX

— FC Kansas City (@FCKansasCity) June 24, 2015

Wherever you watch, you will be showing more support to our girls than England did with this sign.

ESPN Nine for IX made this last year, but they have been playing it as of late. You can relive all the glory and get an insane behind the scenes view of the 1999 World Cup run in the documentary "The 99ers".

Julian Green has fallen off the radar since the World Cup, struggling to get quality time with Hamburg and playing with the club's U-23 squad.

"Fourth division is not a solution for me and it will not get me anywhere."

He spoke to the Guardian and says he fully expects to be back with Bayern when his loan with Hamburg is up on June 30th.

Erik Palmer-Brown discussed his time at the U-20 World Cup. Full interview here.

"It was an amazing feeling. Down in New Zealand, it was an amazing country. It was wintertime there, so it was perfect weather to play. It was just an unreal feeling, getting out there on the world stage and being able to represent your country."

The MLS standings look like this after all the action last night. Sporting sit in 5th but have several games in hand on the leaders and are in a great spot.

ESPNFC has them at #2 in the power rankings behind the Sounders. MLSSoccer.com rankings have KC sitting in 4th behind DC United, Seattle, and Vancouver.

Sporting KC welcome the last place Colorado Rapids to Sporting Park on Saturday at 7:30pm. Our friends at the Burgundy Wave beg the question of the team, "Rapids Fans Just Want to Understand What's Going On!" With a win, Sporting would find themselves just 2 points below Seattle with 2 games in hand.

I leave you with 20 Craptastic MLS and NASL Mascots of Yesteryear. Yes, Dynamo the Dragon is on the list from the Wizards. But he is not anywhere near as weird as some of those on the list.
However, none of them compare to the brand new mascot for Partick Thistle in Scotland, named Kingsley. Sleep well my friends.