Topps and Major League Soccer have signed an exclusive trading card deal with product rolling out July 15, 2013. Topps brand manager Jeff Heckman was quoted as saying, “I just think it’s a league that is really on the rise,” Heckman said. “Soccer is an interesting place for us right now. As far as professional leagues, it’s always a bit slower. But with fan support and adoption, I think you have seen it grow in the last five to 10 years.”

Topps has been known to market other leagues from Europe but noted that with MLS growth also comes interest for collectibles. We’ve all become familiar with “bobblehead” night at recent LA Galaxy games so why not a trading card?

Beckett Media got a first preview of the player cards and let’s just say they are very impressive. Each hobby box will have 24 packs with 10 cards in each pack. In addition, there will be two autographs and three relic cards in every box. Autographs will include players from the MLS SuperDraft and top stars from the league on cards called MLS Maestros Autographs. Each autograph will feature four different parallels, including a Golazo parallel numbered 1-of-1. Other autographs include Golden Boot Die-Cut Autographs with current and former goal scorers.

Something to note, Heckman mentioned that Topps was looking to create a brand of collectible cards. So, the Landon Donovan card could be worth something later on…maybe the decks with Thierry Henry or Tim Cahill will fetch a good amount of dough one day in the future.

Chris Pontius’ DC United trading card

Graham Zusi’s Sporting Kansas City trading card

Now, I know it is slightly disappointing when we have mini images but I can say they are very nicely done and will definitely be something to grab when they hit the store shelves. I, for one will be collecting all the Dax McCarty cards and I’m sure players will no doubt love signing cards for fans and supporters alike.

Despite out-shooting DC United, 24-4, the New York Red Bulls settled for a 0-0 tie in their 2013 home opener at Red Bull Arena Saturday afternoon in front of a crowd of 22,022 spectators and many more watching on the main NBC network at home. New York now has two points off a 0-1-2 record.

Holgersson and Pontius battle on the pitch

The Red Bulls controlled most of the match and Fabian Espindola came closest in the opening 45 minutes, heading a Thierry Henry feed off the crossbar. Earlier eight minutes in, New York’s Eric Alexander slipped Henry in which forced goalkeeper Bill Hamid to make a full stop.

NYRB’s Thierry Henry

In the 56th minute, Espindola hit the crossbar again, this time from 15 yards out with a left-footed blast. Eric Alexander played it over the top to Henry and the forward volleyed it high. Bill Hamid came up for United later, making a point blank save on Tim Cahill to keep the score line even.

New York defender Brandon Barklage nearly earned three points for the hosts at the end, forcing Hamid to make a last save off the end line with a header.

Dax McCarty was named Man of the Match and rightly deserved. While the game was a draw, it still had the electric feel of a home opener and the team’s morale was optimistic in the end. The Red Bulls are hungry for a win and it is obvious in their play. With Mike Petke in place – the wins should start happening soon.

Dax is Man of the Match

 New York Red Bulls (0-1-2, 2 point) – Luis Robles, Brandon Barklage, Jamison Olave, Markus Holgersson, Heath Pearce, Eric Alexander (Connor Lade 89’), Dax McCarty, Tim Cahill, Jonny Steele (Juninho 68’), Fabian Espindola, Thierry Henry (Amando Moreno 92’+)

D.C. United  (1-1-1, 4 points) – Bill Hamid, James Riley, Brandon McDonald, Dejan Jakovic, Chris Korb, Chris Pontius, Perry Kitchen, Nick DeLeon, Marcelo Saragosa, Dwayne De Rosario (Marcos Sanchez 76’), Lionard Pajoy (Carlos Ruiz 71’)

The New York Red Bulls will hit the road to play against the Montreal Impact on March 23rd with the game airing on MSG.

Images courtesy of New York Red Bulls

The 2012 Major League Soccer season has been insanely long – longer than most players of the league are use to. While this speaks volumes in the way of the progress of the American league, it is also testing teams and players in the post season.

If you need any kind of example of this, the first leg of the Eastern Conference final between Houston Dynamo and D.C. United today was a good one. Hearts may be willing enough in the post season, but some times bodies are not.

Within the first half hour of the match, there had been injury substitutions on both teams; most notably Chris Pontius for D.C. United. Pontius seemed to be favoring his right leg – a troubling sight indeed as he’s had a few troubles with a right groin injury in the past few games.

While the ending of the match was 3-1 in Houston’s favor, I think the real story here is the strain on the players’ bodies. D.C. United are the walking wounded, having not only lost players to injuries, but to red cards as well. It’s a lot to handle. And for a team like D.C. United, who has been the dark horse of this playoff season so far, it’s a hard pill to swallow. The fact your playoff hopes rest on who hasn’t been pushed to injury or out on cards? Not something one likes to face.

Tonight was only the first leg of this series. D.C. might get Dwayne De Rosario back next Sunday. They’ll definitely have Bill Hamid back (although I don’t think anyone can shun Joe Willis’ performance the past two games. Houston might have scored three, but Willis did his job well). The fact they will have home advantage will help too – not having to travel will give them rest and I have no doubt RFK will be rocking once more.

D.C. are young and hungry for the win – all they need is two goals to tie the series, three to win it. While holding Houston from scoring. Okay, so these are pretty big hurdles standing in their way, but they have went up against such a challenge before and been successful. Remaining cool and collected will be their greatest strategy on the second leg. If Ben Olsen can get through to his team to hold their heads on straight, they should have no problems. Houston were able to score three tonight because they profited from a young and exhausted team losing its cool. D.C. United turned their backs on the ball, slipped up a few times, missed good opportunities and it cost them. You can’t do that against Houston.

But the moments of brilliance tonight and against New York earlier have shown D.C. United have what it takes to take the eastern championship and go on to the MLS Cup.

And even if the injuries hold them back, even if there are some crappy calls they can’t get past, D.C. United have a lot to be proud of.

Drama. Pure, unadulterated drama. Do you really expect anything less from a second leg playoff game between D.C. United and New York Red Bulls?

This one was definitely that. I couldn’t even tell you where to begin with this game. By the end, D.C. United’s bench was up and yelling, jumping, screaming. After 94 minutes, it would Ben Olsen’s Army proving the victors. I told you last time D.C. were looking for old glory and I think they’ve found it.

This game has drama before it even began. Scheduled to kick off Wednesday evening, it was postponed due to the huge snow storm that moved through the New York area and blanketed the arena with snow.

When things finally kicked off 24-hours later, they were tensed from the get go, as both teams had one goal. But everything came to head beginning just before the 70th minute. Kenny Cooper was pushing forward for the Red Bulls on a clear goal run. D.C. United’s miracle goalkeeper Bill Hamid – who had made some amazing saves throughout the night – made a critical decision. He dove for Cooper’s feet just inside the box, tripped him up. It was a blatant foul, disrupting a goal-scoring opportunity in the penalty area. I completely agree with the ref’s ruling, which was a straight red card for Hamid and penalty to New York. You hate to see it, but that’s some times how it happens.

Down to 10 men, Joe Willis was substituted in as back up keeper and Cooper stepped up for the penalty, which he sank. Only the ref called it off because of a clear encroachment from Theirry Henry right in front of the ref! Why Henry made that mistake, I’ll never know. But Cooper had to step up again and Willis made probably the biggest play for his team on the night; he saved the second penalty attempt.

From there, it was even more drama til the end. Soon, Rafa Marquez received his second yellow on a foul on Chris Pontius, which brought New York down to 10 men and leveled the playing field once more.

Both teams were desperate. And then, in just a gorgeous play, Robbie Russell made a beautiful first touch on a pass and promptly set it up for Nick Deleon. The D.C. rookie smashed it right into the back of the NYRB net. In the replay, it was seamless and looked incredibly easy.

New York’s calm had gone and it was a free-for-all. A goal was needed, but it wouldn’t come and the Red Bulls were out.

Again, I’m a Crew fan and would probably be strung up by my toes by fellow fans for rooting for D.C. United, but as I said before, there is something about this D.C. United team you gotta pull for. A young squad, without their top scorer in Dwayne De Rosario and who haven’t seen the playoffs in five years. Not to knock New York, who deserved their spots in the playoffs as well, but it was heart, not necessarily skill that prevailed tonight.

I know that’s probably the easiest, most cliché thing to say in a sporting match, but watch this D.C. United team and tell me I’m wrong.

Olsen’s rebuilt this team and they are now the only top seed East team remaining in the chase for the cup. For the first time since 2007, D.C. United are making a scary statement; that they are giving their all and expect nothing but victory.

“I can’t believe we got that … I can’t believe we won. But I’m unbelievably happy,” Nick DeLeon said at the end of the match. I think it says everything.

There was a phrase that was often repeated last night by the commentators during the D.C. United v. New York Red Bulls match. As the teams squared off in the first leg of their playoff match up, it was D.C. United that came looking for blood, wanting to make a statement. The pressure came frequently and early from Ben Olsen’s side, which prompted one commentator to remark, “This is like a D.C. team of old. From the glory days.”

And while I think he was over zealous and used the phrases freely throughout the crazy 90-minute match, he had a very good point. As most of you know, I’m a Crew fan, however, I’ve always had a respect for D.C. United. They are one of the oldest, and most decorated teams in Major League Soccer. But the team has had some rough seasons as of late. They’ve struggled, fought and not really been up to par to the teams before them.

But this season has been different. Since Ben Olsen has went from D.C. player to D.C. coach, the team has seen an upswing. Add in acquisitions like Dwayne De Rosario, Perry Kitchen and Nick DeLeon, plus the coming of age for Chris Pontius, and D.C. United truly have looked like a team of old. I’ve been scared to see the Crew go up against them because of what they have been capable of.  They’ve put teams like New York in their place before.

To me, it’s seemed like this season has been one of redemption for Oslen’s Army. And they played like that Saturday night. New York should very well count their lucky stars. Not because they didn’t play well; New York showed a calm and cool approach to the game and players like Henry remind us why they are a sleeping giant waiting to strike.  But mostly they are lucky because if it were not for a few key mistakes and missed goals by D.C., New York would find themselves behind in the series.

D.C. struck first blood with a goal from DeLeon, D.C. pressed high all night and all of the running and service Pontius was providing was deadly. Absolutely deadly. And Lionard Pajoy’s runs were promising, making himself a nuisance for the NY back line.

Things might have not gone their way in the second half. And the ridiculous series of events that lead to Andy Nejar’s red card didn’t help matters either. But the 10-man D.C. United was just as worrisome as the 11-man one. New York might have held their own but it was D.C. United who were great to watch. And if you don’t believe that, then you obviously didn’t notice RFK Stadium, which was absolutely pulsing with the excitement and support from the home crowd, which, as their tifo proclaimed, had the team’s back.

The play wasn’t always pretty, but the heart and want they showed was spectacular.

D.C. are hunting the glory days this post season. And I think they are well on their way to reclaiming those.

Dejan Jakovic of DC United is upended by Bright Dike of the Portland Timbers

It was an evenly matched back and forth kind of game last night between DC United and the Portland Timbers at JELD-WEN Field.  That was, until the 60th minute.

A controversial hand-ball call on Portland gave United a penalty kick taken by leading scorer Chris Pontius.  The goal, Pontius’ 12th, gave United a 1-0 lead over the Timbers.

Throughout the match, Portland’s Bright Dike made the match more interesting to watch than it might have been otherwise.  The fiery forward missed a number of opportunities, but it was only a matter of time (79th minute) before he got one past United keeper Bill Hamid to even up the score.  It remained 1-1 until the final whistle.

Although they struggle on the road, DC United could have used a win here.  Now they’ll have to settle for the one point and fourth place in the Eastern Conference.  Had they gotten the win, they would have been tied for second along with Chicago and New York.

Feasibly, Portland won’t make the playoffs.  But they can consider themselves spoilers as they prepare themselves for next week’s match in Seattle.  Should the Timbers win on Oct. 7, they will capture the Cascadia Cup title.

As for DC, they will continue their playoff quest on Oct. 6 at Toronto FC.

Captain Chris Pontius crosses to Lionard Pajoy who volleys in the game winning goal for D.C. United

D.C. United is on a roll!  They are far from being considered title contenders at this point, but they are moving in the right direction with two wins in a row since losing 2011 MLS MVP Dwayne De Rosario to a knee injury last week.

Last night’s 1 – 0 win over the Philadelphia Union at PPL Park, finally broke United’s three month away losing streak.  The last time the team won on the road was June 16. Ouch! And it was a huge win too, after rivals Columbus Crew stole three points from Chivas USA Wednesday night and took fifth place in the East, moving one point above D.C.

It’s a tight race in the Eastern Conference.  D.C. (14-10-5) are now in the number four position with 47 points, only two points behind the New York Red Bulls.  The Houston Dynamo is right on DC’s tail with 48 points and the Columbus Crew has 49.  The top five teams qualify for the postseason playoffs.

Lionard Pajoy, who scored five goals with Philadelphia before a mid-season trade to United, missed his first opportunity early in the second half, but thankfully made up for it later.

Substitute Macon Santos created the play for DC with a cross to newly named skipper Chris Pontius on the right.  Union goalkeeper Zac McMath came well off his line as Pontius made his way into the area and chalked up his fourth assist with a cross to Pajoy.  The composed Columbian forward chested the ball down and half-volleyed from eleven yards outside the box.  It was all over – ball in the net – before McMath could recover.  Check out his goal.

While D.C. was good enough offensively, the defense was a little shaky as goalkeeper Bill Hamid was put to the test.  But to his credit, he stopped six shots and notched his sixth shut out so not too shabby.

As I said, a good enough performance from D.C. United, who were pretty much dismissed as a playoff possibility only two wins ago.  Keep up the good work boys!

On Sunday, tune in as D.C. United host Chivas USA and Houston will travel to PPL Park to take on Philadelphia.

Can newly named captain Chris Pontius lead DC United to the playoffs?

Can DC United compete without Wayne De Rosario?  Does the rest of the team have the talent and mental toughness to pick up the pieces and be a playoff contender?

Things started to look bleak for D.C. United’s playoff hopefuls.  Early last week, United’s star player, Wayne De Rosario, was sidelined for the rest of the season due to a knee injury.  The attacking midfielder suffered a medial collateral ligament sprain to his left knee during World Cup Qualifiers playing for his home country Canada on September 11th.  His injury required no surgery but he will be out for 10-12 weeks.

Journalist Steven Goff of the Washington Post poignantly explained the significance of De Rosario’s name missing from the roster:

“Since his arrival in June 2011, the 2011 MLS most valuable player has been the centerpiece of United’s rebuilding efforts and the one player who could alter a match with the flick of his foot.”

With only six weeks left in the season, how does a coach and team rebuild their ongoing efforts without a player like that?  Head Coach Ben Olsen admitted there is no getting around the loss of one of the league’s most productive and influential players.  There is no replacing De Rosario, but Olsen has asked every other player to do a little bit more and they seemed to have taken his words to heart.

Olsen called Saturday night’s 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution “gutsy” and said ”the guys gutted one out and pulled together for each other.”

Part of Olsen’s new plan has been placed on the shoulders of DC United’s newly named captain, Chris Pontius.  Already the teams’ leading goalscorer and MVP of the MLS All-Star Game, he will be the key to keeping the team’s playoff hopes alive.

Pontius has showed he has talent but now his leadership will be tested.  The attacking midfielder was clutch in his first game as skipper in Saturday night’s match.  He led his team by scoring an equalizer, his 11th goal of the season, and followed that up with the assist to the game winning goal.

After Saturday, DC United has extended their unbeaten streak at home to 14 games and is currently in fifth place in the Eastern Conference.  If the team, led by Chris Pontius, can step up their game — especially Danny Cruz picking up a lot of slack in a short amount of time — DC United can continue to keep their playoff hopes alive!

Good Monday to you all! I hope you had great weekends! Today’s headlines are packed with US Soccer news, and big news from the English Premier League, including John Terry’s ban. It’s your Monday Daily Kick Around!

U.S. Men’s National Team

The USMNT are in Mexico for the first time since 1984. The game, set to kick off at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday, will definitely be entertaining. It is US v. Mexico after all! Yesterday, head coach Jurgen Klinsmann named a 23-man roster to take to the match. The biggest snub I think would be D.C. United’s Chris Pontius. Chris has been on fire for D.C. this season and definitely deserves the call up.

Major League Soccer

The SuperClasico kicked off last night in LA between the Galaxy and Chivas USA. And make no mistake, it definitely was a show from the Galaxy. They stomped Chivas 4-0.

Other scores:
Philadelphia 1 – Chicago 3 
New England 0 – Montreal 1 

La Liga

Saturday marked a big day for Barcelona forward David Villa as the club took on Dinamo Bucharest. He played in his first game since his broken leg last season. And he told media after the match, which Barca won 2-0, he felt “very pleased” and good on the pitch; he intends to come back better than ever this eason.

English Premier League

Well John Terry has the luck of someone on his side, that’s for sure. After being found not guilty of racial abuse to Antoin Ferdinand this summer, it seems the UEFA is reducing his three-match ban from the red card he received during the Champion’s League second-leg semi-final match. ESPN is reporting Terry’s ”final match of his suspension was deferred for a probationary period of three years.” If that isn’t lucky, I don’t know what is considering Terry’s track record.

Manchester United’s ploy to go public with its shares is sort of blowing up in their face. Some headlines are even comparing it’s demise to that of Facebook’s recent stock fall.

PrivCo, an independent financial analyst, said United’s stock price could plummet further – and gave the shares a value that would mean the club is worth less now than when the Glazers bought it in 2005. 

World Soccer

Some times things happen during matches when players’ tempers get out of control. One ref is hitting back at a player who he claims purposely attacked him on the field. During a friendly match yesterday between Portuguese side Benfica and German side Fortuna Dusseldorf, Benfica’s Luisao allegedly knocked over ref Christian Fischer on purpose. And Fischer plans to sue Luisao because of it.

Fischer, who refused to restart the Esprit Arena game after the 38th-minute incident, told the Express he would be taking legal action, adding: “As proof, I got hold of the TV recordings. Thus he [Luisao] can say whatever he wants. It just makes his statements even more ridiculous: everyone saw what happened.”

After two years of getting their butts handed to them by Manchester United, many media personalities and fans were wondering just what this year’s MLS All Star game would bring. With the regulars like David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Thierry Henry in the roster for first-time All Star coach Ben Olsen, the MLS’ers had the power.
But could they finish?

The answer was yes. And while I do love the star power that Major League Soccer has signed and kept over the past few years, I have to admit with pride I’m happy it wasn’t those big name guys that scored.

Yup, you read right. Becks and Henry were key in a few of the goals and really during all minutes they were on the pitch, yes. And … well, was Landon Donovan even on the pitch during the first half? ( More on him later, by the way.)

In the end, it would be what Alexi Lalas deemed our “second tier” MLS players that had the three goals on the night – Chris Wondolowski, Chris Pontius and Eddie Johnson.

Wondo’s goal was set up by Becks and Henry, and while Chelsea captain John Terry was able to clear it away the first time, Chris was there to snatch up the sloppy kick and kick it right in. It was a case of “sniffing out the ball” according to Taylor Twellman, and proves just why Wondo is so damn good this season. He knows where to be and when to be there.

Pontius’s goal … oh Chris Pontius’s goal. It was lovely, absolutely lovely. The one-two from Pontius and his teammate Dwayne De Rosario was just beautiful chemistry at work, and it put the MLS’ers on top in the second half.

But it was Eddie Johnson’s last minute goal in stoppage time that would cause celebrations for the league fans in the stadium to hit a high note.

And Jay Demerit! I can’t forget to mention him! He didn’t score, but his defensive work – and did he ever work – was superb through out the night.

So the biggest and brightest of MLS beat Chelsea, the current European champions. In the end, what does that say about our growing, darling little domestic league? Make fun all you want, but I think it says quite a bit.

Okay, I’m not naive. I know, Chelsea is in pre-season. I know some of them haven’t played for a while and I KNOW not all the power was there for the Blues. But do we have to be such Negative Nellies? Our MLS All Stars beat Chelsea! The guys came together, worked together and showed some nice moves. People in England woke up to news this morning that their English side LOST to Americans! I mean, it doesn’t get any better than that, right?

It’s a step for the league. Not a huge one, not one to prove that we aren’t the new kids on the block anymore. But it does show how in 16 years, America is getting pretty good at this soccer thing. We’re learning and growing, and we’re bringing in some damn decent players who are upping our game.

What I don’t get, though, is some of the reactions to this game, even from a few of the players. Now, this is just based off my observations, but I know I wasn’t the only one to notice.

1.) “It’s just a frilly little All Star Game – confetti and a big trophy that means what?” – I saw a lot of this or statements like this on Twitter yesterday. Again, I’m not naive, okay? But can’t people see a good thing in a win? I guess it’s just the perpetual doomsday outlook of American soccer fans. We know our players aren’t the best in the world; we know we’re the underdogs. But come on people! This game proves we’re working on it!

If Becks or Henry had scored all those goals, then I might not laude the score line as much. But they didn’t. Two of our outstanding American players in the league scored the first two and Eddie Johnson… well, love him or hate him, he’s one of us. And he did his job. This is improvement and talent showing from American players, and that’s something to be proud of.

2.) Landon Donovan – Okay, I know you’re not reading this LD, but I’ve got a bone to pick with you. You can play the part of the good boy all you want in the media; you can tell reporters how important the All Star Game is, how you want to make a statement … blah blah blah.

But you know what I saw? Well, first of all I hardly saw anything of you on the pitch during the game which means you either allowed Chelsea to shut you down or you just didn’t try.

Secondly, I saw captain Dwayne De Rosario try to hand you the All Star trophy on that stage, and I saw you, in front of all MLS fans, decline to take it.

I get it, okay. You can tell everyone how awesome it is to be an All Star, but I get it’s like a week off from your team to hang out with other players and play against some random EPL team. I understand it’s a lot of pomp and circumstance. But you, Landon Donvaon, are the face of a league. And the All Star Game is a showcase of that league. Be proud of it, not just with your words, but in your actions. When De Rosario went to hand you that trophy, you should have picked it up and held it with the same pride you did the MLS cup last year.

The Carling Cup might not be as important as the EPL title, but you bet your ass when you win, you pick the damn thing up and show that you’re thankful for it and you want it just as much as anything else.

In all reality, the All Star Game is what it is. Kind of like a church camp with more soccer and … well no church. But the similarities are they are a break from the norm – getting away from the usual and doing something a tad different. It’s not the most exciting game some players will ever be in nor the most prestigious.

But it’s still a representation of our league. And that representation last night was solid. Fans of the league should be proud of that; and the players too.