Major Link Soccer: Revs hold down Timbers

The New England Revolution came to the Pacific Northwest Thursday and did Sounders FC a favor by holdingPortland Timbers FC to a 0-0 draw. It was the first time the Timbers have failed to score in a game this season (mlssoccer.com). Of course it would have been better if the Revs took all three points, but sharing points on a long road trip against a hot team is a good result. The Revs have been playing better of late and one analysis says it's mostly to do with a switched formation (Boston Globe).

A day after MLS announced a two-game suspension on Steven Lenhart his coach, Frank Yallop, calls for his player to change his ways, though Chris Wondolowski thinks his teammate is being unfairly singled-out (mlssoccer.com).

Chivas USA, which has faced much criticism this season for its wholesale replacement of last year's horrid side with mostly Mexican-American players, announced a contract extension with keeper Dan Kennedy, calling the big Anglo the team's "symbol" (The Goat Parade). Meanwhile MLSSoccer.com is promoting the coming May 7 video of the two days they spent recently with CUSA coach José Luis Sánchez Solá, better known as El Chelis. If the promo is any indication, expect some seriously salty language from the charismatic leader (mlssoccer.com).

In Salt Lake they are asking the question we posed in Major Link Soccer yesterday: with Alvaro Saborio out for weeks, who is going to score goals? (RSL Soapbox)

East-leading Montreal Impact, riding high off of Wednesday's 6-0 beat-down of Toronto FC in the Amway Canadian Championship semi-finals, got more good news on Thursday with news that veteran centerback Matteo Ferrari will be back from his injury on the weekend. DC United, currently last in MLS in points, is hoping for the return of an important player, winger Nick DeLeon (mlssoccer.com).

Over in Scotland the league is struggling mightily, and now on the table is a change of scheduling, including a possible move to an MLS-like April-October season (BBC Sport).

Finally today, a look at the new MLS referees' union, and what it might mean to the league (espnfc.com).

- Scott Ayers