Major Link Soccer

Good morning everyone. The Sounders are back home this weekend for a game against the Chicago Fire. The Fire are in a quasi-rebuilding mode this year with plenty of new players on the pitch. They've had a good run so far with the help of some red cards against their opponents. It's a winnable game for the Seattle Sounders.

Hanauer Speaks: Sounders General Manager Adrian Hanauer recently sat down with Joshua Mayers from the Seattle Times. The two talked about issues such as adding new players, the search for a designated player and the slow start ot the season. Hanauer is still looking for players to add to the roster, but that likely won't happen until the summer window opens. Longer versions of two of the interview answers are available here.

More links after the jump:

RSL Advances to CCL Final: It was another side volley in a Champions League match this week that secured a place for Real Salt Lake in the finals of the CONCACAF Champions League. Jamison Olave scored in the second half with a nice shot from 8 yards out. RSL will play Monterrey in Mexico on April 20th in the first leg in a two leg series. The winner will represent the region in the FIFA Club World Cup.

Toledo Strikes Again: The Vancouver Whitecaps and the New England Revolution returned to action on Wednesday in an exciting mid-week game north of the border. The man of the match goes to referee Baldomero Toledo whom rarely misses an opportunity to insert himself into the action. Toledo handed out three reds and plenty of yellow cards during the course of play. The most notable being a 2nd yellow to Eric Hassli for removing his shirt. However, the real story of the match was the sheer, dogged determination by a Whitecaps team composed mostly of reserves to secure a tie.

NASL Back in Action: It was 27-year ago when the North American Soccer League finally folded under the financial burden of its aging European and South American stars. It returns this year in a much less glorious form after a handful of clubs broke away from the United Soccer Leagues after a bitter row in the U.S. second division of soccer. Eight teams have been approved for play under the sanction of the USSF.

Starfire to Host USL-W Championship: The Starfire Sports Complex in Tuckwilla will be the hosts of the W-League Semifinals and Finals on July 29-31. The USL W-League is the first and longest-standing women’s league in North America.