Let me give credit where it is due - Rio Tinto Stadium is absolutely gorgeous. And the RSL fans were electric, as would be expected for the debut of their home stadium. Moreover, Real Salt Lake has some really exciting components to their team! I absolutely love Javi Morales, and not just because he is a paisano.

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Photos by ISIphotos.com

With a crisp and chilly breeze blowing at his back, Juan Carlos Osorio rubbed his hands together and revealed a big grin as he declared just how excited he is for tonight's match against Real Salt Lake.

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Tonights game has that weight of importance that MLS fans only seem to feel when David Beckham and the Galaxy are in town. Its with that in mind that I invite NYRB and RSL fans alike to the TORB for some LB (Live Bloggings).

Here is some stuff to hype ya' up for tonites showcase clash, on ESPN 2 @ 10pm:

- Dema Kovalenko is dying to get into tonights game, and he tells the Desert News all about it.

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The Red Bulls will be following Leonardo the Lion and the rest of RSL to Rio Tinto Stadium for the inauguration of the teams new home. It is this blogger's hope they don't go there bearing any gifts . . .

That means no own goals.

No more than 1 goal against.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

It was about 10 months ago when most U.S. national team fans first saw or heard about Carlos Martinez.

The young Under-17 national team player wowed spectators with his two game-winning goals in last winter's Nike Friendlies and eager and overzealous fans began penciling him in as one of the potential stars of the national team program even though he was just 15 at the time.

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When the U.S. men's national team takes on Cuba on Saturday there is a very good chance that Brian Ching will be starting up top for the Americans.

That doesn't sit to well with U.

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Major League Soccer's winless streak in CONCACAF Champions League is finally over after Dwayne DeRosario played the role of hero for the Houston Dynamo yet again.

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As work continues to get in the way of my blogging and online trading, I figured I'de combine both for a new feature on The Red Bulls Offside (TRBO on your stock tickers) simply entitled "Bull Market."

Much like our current financial crisis, the Red Bulls are falling down an endless pit of despair without a rope or cleaver to prevent the fall.

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Look what team has shown up and crashed the party for title contenders. None other than Chivas USA.

Last year's Western Conference regular season champions struggled through most of this year with injuries and the departure of Brad Guzan, but suddenly things have started to come together for the Goats.

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We did this for the Champions League groups and it was such a raging success that we're doing it again for the UEFA Cup! We know many of you don't particularly care about the UEFA Cup, least of all at this stage of the competition, but there are several quality teams in the draw this year, including three (3) from this week's Soccer Source Top 25 and several others that were in previous weeks' editions this season or received "honorable mention". Click to continue reading...

Photo by ISIphotos.com

The U.S. men's national team is in Washington D.C. this week preparing for Saturday's CONCACAF World Cup qualifier against Cuba and while there are several young standouts in the 23-man camp, you still get the feeling that Bob Bradley will stick with the veterans at least one more time.

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Somebody finally stopped the Montreal Impact and it figures that it would be another Canadian team to do it.

The Vancouver White Caps ended Montreal's dream USL season with a 2-0 victory that helped give Vancouver a 2-1 series aggregate victory in the USL playoff semifinals on Sunday.

First-half goals from Jeff Clark and Eduardo Sebrango provided the margin of victory for Vancouver, which received a shutout from goalkeeper Tyler Baldock, who made his first start of the season in place of suspended goalkeeper Jay Nolly.

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THE CURRENT STANDINGS:

x - Columbus - 53
x - Houston - 43
New England - 43
Chicago - 42
Chivas - 39
RSL - 35
NYRB - 35
Rapids - 34

KNOCKING ON THE DOOR

Everyone EXCEPT the Galaxy

Dallas is actually at 34, but the tie breaker belongs to Colorado.

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It wasn't Chad Barrett's chip of Red Bulls' keeper Jon Conway that was the most embarrassing, and it wasn't the TFC 80-yard fast-break goal off a poorly executed NY free kick. The most embarrassing part of Saturday night's 1-3 Red Bulls' home loss to league doormat Toronto was the banner unfurled by the visiting Red Patch Boys in the second deck which spelled out the truth: "Oooh, the Red Bulls are Shite! Click to continue reading...

Welcome to the last Top 25 before a two week break for international competition. It was a very interesting week, with several top 10 teams losing key matches. How would that affect matters? Let's take a look:

1. (Last week: 1). Chelsea
This one is still pretty easy. The undisputed No. Click to continue reading...

When even the band-aids can't hold back the gush of blood, you know your in trouble. Led by Gabriel Cichero, Jorge Rojas and Juan Pietravallo, the Red Bulls put up a mediocre effort that lead to an eventual and predictable finish.

Gabe Cichero commited another of his "one gaffe a game" plays, as an errant and ill advised back pass header to Conway fell well short, allowing the speedy and dangerous Chad Barrett to snag the ball and float it in nets.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

If you think that Jose Francisco Torres' decision to play for the U.S. national team instead of Mexico didn't have an impact south of the border, think again.

Not only did the Mexican national team actively recruit Torres at the same time as the United States, Mexico also attempted to convince Torres to change his mind even after Torres was named to the U.

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Hey everyone,

I will be at the game tonite, so don't expect my usual running commentary. But for those that would like to use this as the games forum, feel free to comment on the action.

While we wait for the game, here is some stuff to look out for tonight:

MATCH UPS TO WATCH:

Amado Guevara v.

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Those of you who interested in the progress, or lack of progress, being made by Major League Soccer's player development initiatives should give a read to my most recent ESPN.com piece, which focuses on the program.

If you haven't been keeping track, this year was the first year MLS teams have been eligible to start signing players straight from their academies.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

When Colombian midfielder Juan Toja left FC Dallas for Steaua Bucharest via transfer this summer, the transaction went relatively ignored, overshadowed by the reports and rumors surrounding Kenny Cooper's potential departure, as well as other MLS transfers in the works.

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How bad have things become at Newcastle United? Well, just check out this transcript of Thursday's press conference with new interim manager Joe Kinnear.

Warning: do not click on that link if strong language offends you or will get you in trouble with anyone who might see your screen.

--Smoods Click to continue reading...

This is what stands in the Red Bulls way, right now, from making it to the 2008 Postseason.

- TFC at home this weekend.
- Then, away to Utah to face RSL in the grand opening of their new stadium.
- Back to New York they go to face the dangerous playoff bound Columbus Crew.

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Hey everyone,

A few months ago, I highlighted my brand spankin new Black on white Red Bulls racing t-shirt, made by Puma.

Well, I went back to the same manufacturer for this gem! Its a red on black shirt, same design, just a much cooler look to it.

And before someone says anything, NO I did NOT purposefully take a strand of my slicked back hair to make a dumb Superman curl on my friggin forehead!

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

If you missed out on having any fantasy players in the Colorado-New York Red Bulls goal-fest last week, don't fret. More goals should be on the way.

With four weeks remaining in the MLS regular season, there are still opportunities for you to rack up on the fantasy points.

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It was a bit of a harrowing day for Columbus Crew fans on Tuesday amid reports that an ownership group that has been trying to land an expansion team in Las Vegas was buying a piece of the Crew. The speculation started to bubble and fear began creeping in about the idea of the Crew eventually leaving Columbus and moving to Las Vegas.

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The Houston Dynamo scored two goals in the first 15 minutes of its match against UNAM Pumas on Wednesday, but still wound up needing a second-half equalizer to salvage a point in a wild 4-4 tie in CONCACAF Champions League action on Tuesday night in Mexico.

Kei Kamara and Craig Waibel scored two goals apiece for the Dynamo, which dropped to 0-0-2 in Champions League play.

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Good evening. After taking the day off of work to snag some fish on my family boat, and capping the night off with some roller hockey, I am about ready to collapse. What kept me awake? The Emergency Broadcast System. That noise bugs me out to no end - so damn creepy.

So here I am, wide awake.

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The United Soccer League named it's All-League Teams on Tuesday. I know I don't report nearly as much about the USL as I should, especially given the league's recent success in the U.S. Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League, but here is a chance to get a look at the best the USL has to offer.

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Arsene Wenger today made his case for abolishing UEFA's away goal rule that serves as the primary tie-breaker in European competition. The illustrious coach of Arsenal FC told the Guardian he felt "the weight of the away goal is too heavy now tactically - it was created 42 years ago at a stage when the teams that went abroad just defended. Click to continue reading...

Neither wind nor rain nor stock market crashes nor presidential debates could keep the Top 25 ranking committee from convening for its weekly session. Sure, we're a bit late (we know you like to have these things in your inbox Monday morning so you can kick off the "work" week in fashion) but we make up for it with an extremely high quality edition of the rankings--even by our absurdly high standards. Click to continue reading...

The guy that puts together your favorite tailgate parties? The gal who puts together supporters group trips to enemy territory? The person who sneaks in the confetti? Or the one who composes all the new DC HATE chants? Hell, even your favorite friggin blogger ! The Red Bulls are asking you - "Who is the Red Bulls Fan Of The Year?

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With the MLS schedule for September now over, it is time for members of the media to submit their votes for MLS player of the month.

The only problem is that this month, perhaps more than any other month this season, picking the best player for the month is very difficult because there isn't an obvious choice.

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Photo by ISIphotos.com

Yes, I will admit it. I thought the MLS Western Conference was toast, a collection of speed bumps, a series of rest stops on the way to legitimate soccer in the stronger Eastern Conference.

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Two come from behind goals to tie the game, one goal for the lead, and the home result? Zero points. Ouch.

Last year, Bruce Arena was highly criticized for his inability to field a consistent squad week in and week out. Coach Osorio is beginning to get an earful for the same.

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Big, bad Brad Friedel posted another victory last weekend as he and Aston Villa kept on rolling.

Friedel was one of few bright spots for Americans Abroad last weekend. How bad were things? Consider this linep of Americans:

------------------------------Jozy Altidore-----------------------------

DaMarcus Beasley-----------Freddy Adu-------------Clint Dempsey

---------------------Michael Bradley---Maurice Edu------------------

Heath Pearce------Jay DeMerit----Jonathan Spector---Frank Simek

-------------------------------Brad Guzan------------------------------

Like that team?

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