Major Link Soccer: Timbers' Kwarasey transfers to Norway

Seattle

You can tell by the way Jordan Morris talks after each loss - he takes responsibility for the team's failures even as a rookie. Yet he's been the Sounders' best forward this season, scoring a goal every other game. In a rookie season where he was initially seen as a complementary piece, Morris hasn't shied away from putting the weight of the team on his shoulders.

MLS

It's been rumored for a while and now it's official: Timbers GK Adam Kwarasey has transferred to Norwegian club Rosenborg BK. After watching Jake Gleeson turn in yet another standout performance this past weekend, it's understandable why Portland wanted to move Kwarasey, the 6th highest-paid player on their roster. Kwarasey was the man in goal during the Timbers famously fortunate penalty shootout against SKC that saw one shot strike both posts and stay out.

Seattle isn't the only MLS team trying to figure out how to transition from its old core to new; RSL Soapbox argues it's time for Jordan Allen to succeed Javier Morales, who's been a fixture as RSL's #10 for nearly a decade.

While a lot of Orlando City's signings have been splashy since joining MLS, not a whole lot of them have worked out. Former Brazilian international Julio Baptista is one of the few that's thrived, scoring goals and earning timely penalties.

Diego Forlan to MLS rumors just aren't going to die until he retires, huh? This week it was the Red Bulls denying reports of a tabled offer for the Uruguayan, adding, "nor was he ever a target of the team."

USA

The USWNT is almost always the best part of the Summer Olympics (especially since the men are never there anymore). And they sure do know how to market themselves, releasing a short cartoon for each USWNT player illustrating a personal anecdote.

A little over halfway through 2016, let's take a look at the 50 most-watched sports events this year; USA-Argentina and Chile-Argentina are the only two soccer games to make it at 8.09 and 9.8 million (Univision + FS1), respectively.

It seems like you like SB Nation blogs well enough - Vox Media has purchased Gow Media, so soon you'll be able to consume this kind of content through your ears!

While we're talking business, do you also happen to speak Spanish? Vox Media is looking for an editor-in-chief to launch and lead SB Nation's bilingual brand and content.

World

FC Edmonton exists through sheer force of their owner's will, who's admittedly lost "millions of dollars" trying to make the club sustainable.

The 2016 Liga MX Apertura kicked off this weekend; former Mexico manager Miguel Herrera's Xolos side looked strong in their 2-0 over Morelia.

Vladimir Putin has ordered officials to hurry their construction of Zenit Arena ahead of the 2018 World Cup; the stadium has been under construction for nearly a decade.

Soccer to Watch Today:

Friendly - Monaco vs Zenit - 7:55am (ESPN3, WatchESPN)

Friendly - West Ham United vs Slovácko - 9:00am (NBC Sports Live Extra)

Friendly - Villarreal II vs Levante - 10:00am (Youtube)

Friendly - Oxford United vs Leicester City - 11:45am (ESPN3, WatchESPN)