The New York Red Bulls this week find themselves at a crossroads with an important game against the Chicago Fire in primetime on Thursday evening. Just around the corner in June, tougher competition than those in their first few games this season awaits New York.

It would be cliche, and perhaps misplaced hyperbole, to compare this season's New York Red Bulls to A Tale of Two Cities. But while this past week hasn't provided the worst possible results, the early success this team has enjoyed has turned a draw and a loss into gut-wrenching disappointments.

Either it's very early in the regular season, or the regular season doesn't mean anything at all. Whatever the reason, the most hardened cynics of Major League Soccer and the New York Red Bulls take the team's early success with a grain of salt.

Among the New York faithful, however, there is reason to be optimistic, if not celebratory. A minor misstep in Columbus during opening weekend was quickly brushed aside by a series of wins throughout April that propelled the Red Bulls to the top of the Eastern Conference, the top of the entire league, and an impressive ten-point lead over perennial rivals DC United, who occupy the cellar of the conference with expansion Toronto FC after three straight losses to open the season.

In a significant improvement over last year, the New York Red Bulls showed a lot of heart and determination in their season opener against the Columbus Crew. If only the score reflected their efforts. For the third straight year, New York opened the season with a draw, this time a goalless result at Crew Stadium on Saturday night.

The New England Revolution travel to Chicago on Saturday to kick off their 2007 campaign.

Since the club's inception in 1998, the Chicago Fire have often looked to Eastern Europe for talented players to serve as integral performers with the club.

Chicago Fire forward Calen Carr has re-signed with Major League Soccer for his fifth season with the Chicago Fire Soccer Club.

Coming out of the University of Illinois at Chicago, Baggio Husidic was drafted by the Chicago Fire at the 2009 MLS SuperDraft as a Generation adidas player.

Collins John's path to Chicago has been quite abnormal. But, the Fire are happy to have the trialist in camp.

As the Chicago Fire kicked off preseason training, the club had two locally-based trialists vying for a first-team place.

The league calls it First Kick. The supporters call it Crewsmas. Both of those monikers are more catchy and efficient than the more literal Annual Make Toronto FC Come Down and Stand Around and Watch the Crew Unveil More League Honors Before Outplaying the Hosers As Usual Day.

As it turned out, the Crew had more than home field advantage going for them when the two-time defending Supporters' Shield winners opened the season Saturday against Toronto FC with a 2-0 victory.

The Columbus Crew begin their defense of the Supporters' Shield this Saturday when they host Part I of the Trillium Cup against Toronto FC at Columbus Crew Stadium on Saturday.

The Columbus Crew announced today that it has signed midfielder Othaniel Yanez and that he will occupy a place on the club's supplemental roster. Per club and league policy, no further terms of the deal were disclosed. In addition to the signing of Yanez, the club also announced that it has waived midfielders Cory Elenio and Alex Grendi in order to become roster compliant.

The two-time defending Supporters' Shield-winning Columbus Crew will open the 2010 MLS season - its 15th overall - this Saturday, March 27, when it hosts arch-rival Toronto FC at Crew Stadium. First Kick 2010 will also be the first leg of the home-and-home Trillium Cup competition between the two clubs.

One of the marquee matchups in MLS history will conclude the opening weekend in First Kick 2009 when the Los Angeles Galaxy play host to D.C. United, as both teams will be looking to put disappointing 2008 campaigns behind them early on.

United boldly lured a plethora of South American talent before the 2008 season, highlighted by designated player and World Cup veteran Marcelo Gallardo, and made plans to contend for a host of honors both home and abroad. But what followed was more akin to a nightmare as injuries, underachievement and simple bad luck conspired to produce one of the most trying years in the club's existence.

Find out what the print and blog worlds are saying about all things D.C. United in the newest edition of the D.C. United Newsstand.

United had big, bold plans for 2008, but very little went to plan over the course of a frustrating, exhausting season. The Black-and-Red are determined to make amends but have adopted a more low-key mentality this time around, blending proven commodities and youthful recruits with an emphasis on depth rather than star power.

After being outplayed during their first two games of the tournament, D.C. United claimed a 2-0 win over the USL First Division's Charleston Battery in the final game of the event at Blackbaud Stadium.

Not only are these two teams opening the season with an old-fashioned Texas Derby, but they are also playing for El Capitan, a replica 19th-Century Mountain Howitzer Cannon given to the winner of the season series. Houston has held the cannon in three of the last four seasons with FCD winning in 2008.

On Saturday night at Pizza Hut Park, FC Dallas will face Columbus in their final preseason game, the Pioneer Cup. However, that match won't just be the final tune up before FCD faces Houston on March 27 to open the 2010 MLS season, but it will also allow the club to honor the memory of league founding member and former team owner Lamar Hunt.

The SMU men's soccer team has already faced some formidable foes this spring with matches against Major League Soccer sides FC Dallas and Houston. On Saturday, the Mustangs return to the Bayou City for the second time this spring to face North Carolina, a club that was in the 2009 NCAA Men's College Cup.

FC Dallas has sent third-year goalkeeper Josh Lambo on loan to the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the USSF Division-2 Pro League for the 2010 season, the team announced today. Per the agreement, Lambo may be recalled by FC Dallas at any time during the year.

Steve Purdy's 2009 season with FC Dallas was a pretty tough initiation. After initially earning a spot in Schellas Hyndman's back four and making five appearances, Purdy struggled with injuries the rest of the year. FCD released him, but now he's back on trial.

Though the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa is six months away, U.S. supporters and millions around the world witnessed the official draw in a viewing party that was supported by the Red Bulls.

With the 2009 season in the rearview mirror, here are the answers to some of the biggest questions surrounding the New York Red Bulls as the club prepares for the 2010 season.

Coming off the first-ever MLS Cup appearance, there was great optimism in the New York Red Bulls camp leading into the 2009 season.

Driving east from the Ghanaian capital of Accra, one would probably never expect to find an expansive and modern soccer academy. However, if you looked closer, you would eventually see Red Bull Academy's 500-seat grandstand like an oasis in the distance.

The Red Bull Academy announced its 2009 Players of the Year today for each of its five squads. The award winners were chosen after careful deliberation among the academy staff.

Toronto as an epicenter of soccer in North America? That's what MLS commissioner Don Garber thinks, and the prospect has a nice ring for soccer fans in Canada's largest city and the fifth-largest market in North America.

As widely expected, Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber announced on Tuesday that BMO Field, home of the league's first Canadian club, Toronto FC, will be the venue for MLS Cup Final to be held on November 21, 2010.

Major League Soccer will host its premier event, MLS Cup, in Canada for the first time when the passionate fans of Toronto, the fifth largest city in North America, welcome the League's 15th championship match to BMO Field on Sunday, Nov. 21 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Toronto FC Academy's good form at the Dallas Cup continued Monday with a 5-0 win against Kosmos FC in the U19 Division Tournament. The Reds have now won both of their games in Dallas without conceding a goal.

Media Advisory: MLS Commissioner Don Garber will be in Toronto, joined by MLSE COO Tom Anselmi and Toronto Mayor David Miller for a major announcement on Tuesday, March 30 at 12 p.m.

Both Chivas USA and Colorado are looking for a positive start to the season, and Chivas USA might have the edge. The Red-and-White haven't lost their season-opener since 2005, and will be looking to continue that streak against the Rapids.

Chivas USA fell 3-1 against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday night at Harder Stadium in Santa Barbara, Calif. in the last exhibition game before Friday's Home Opener against the Colorado Rapids at The Home Depot Center.

With less than two weeks to go until the first match of the 2010 season, Chivas USA continues to gear up for the Friday, March 26 Season Opener against the Colorado Rapids at The Home Depot Center.

Chivas USA played to a 0-0 draw with the LA Galaxy on University Field 1 before beating Durango of Santa Barbara by a 5-1 score on Field 6 on Saturday.

Much has been made about Chivas USA's renewed dedication to attacking soccer in 2010, and rightfully so. The team has scored an impressive 30 goals in 13 preseason scrimmages and boasts a strong 7-2-4 record during that time.

Not only are these two teams opening the season with an old-fashioned Texas Derby, but they are also playing for El Capitan, a replica 19th-Century Mountain Howitzer Cannon given to the winner of the season series. Houston has held the cannon in three of the last four seasons with FCD winning in 2008.

Houston Dynamo defender and captain Wade Barrett announced his retirement and accepted a position as an assistant coach for the club, it was announced today. Barrett made the announcement at an afternoon press conference, attended by Dynamo players and coaches and local media.

Over the past four years, Houston Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear has reloaded year after year, replacing valuable contributors such as perennial MVP Dwayne DeRosario, Nate Jaqua and Joseph Ngwenya.

Starting Sunday, March 21, hopefuls will be able to register for an opportunity to participate in the premier search for the best undiscovered soccer talent in the United States. The tryouts and personal stories will be chronicled by Univision's popular weekly sports show, "República Deportiva."

The Houston Dynamo closed their preseason with a 3-1 win over Chivas USA Saturday night in the second annual Spring Classic at Harder Stadium on the campus of the University of California-Santa Barbara.

There was a time not too long ago when offseason meant turmoil for the Los Angeles Galaxy. But a club that once appeared to be in perpetual upheaval in recent years finally appears to have taken on an air of stability.

The Los Angeles Galaxy's Michael Stephens said he felt a little more eager than usual when he woke up Friday morning.

Gregg Berhalter is a familiar name for fans U.S. soccer, but 2009 was his first MLS season. The 36-year-old, who was solid for LA, looks to improve during his second season in the league.

Did Sean Franklin become the latest victim of the so-called sophomore jinx after an injury-plagued 2009? The 2008 MLS Rookie of the Year will have none of such talk.

It's getting to be a familiar refrain for the Los Angeles Galaxy's Edson Buddle: plenty of scoring potential but an unsettling penchant for injuries.

First Run of MLS Cup 2009 Championship Scarves and Shirts Available at Midnight at RSL's South Towne Center kiosk.

A crowd of more than 5,000 fans braved freezing temperatures Tuesday evening at Rio Tinto Stadium to honor Real Salt Lake for winning the 2009 MLS Cup.

Arriving at the Salt Lake City International Airport with the 2009 MLS Cup trophy in tow, players and coaches from Real Salt Lake were greeted with a brand of adoration normally reserved for rock stars.

Having arrived to a spirited welcome from several hundred fans earlier today at Salt Lake City International Airport, the Real Salt Lake family will rest easy tonight before bringing its celebration to the people of Utah TOMORROW, Tuesday, Nov. 24, when the club will host events stretching from the State Capitol to Sandy in celebration of the Utah side's MLS Cup 2009 Championship.

Goalkeeper Nick Rimando made two saves and Robbie Russell buried the winning kick in the seventh round of the penalty kick shootout, and Real Salt Lake won the first trophy in club history, defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy 5-4 after a 1-1 draw.

years in the making, a book at the right time —- So maybe you’ve heard. Mexicans love soccer. Maybe you’ve heard. Hispanics are a growing force in the American soccer world. But you haven’t heard the story of the the boys from Little Mexico. Steve Wilson was kind enough to give TIAS the longest excerpt rights for his [...]

a giveaway, a tackle, a hug, another four years —- Was it just a hug or something more? And what can we all learn from that most intimate moment filmed for millions to see? Penn State writing teacher Casey Wiley looks for long-term meaning in an emotional moment as he wraps up the fan’s four-year cycle… before [...]

a life toward soccer, pt 4 —- The TIAS Diary Project continues with the 4th part of a series put together by Los Angeles artist Noe Valladolid. This is his life story, his soccer story in words and pictures. For the first installment, I referred to it as a stab at [...]

a life toward soccer, pt 3 —- The TIAS Diary Project continues with the 3rd part of a series put together by Los Angeles artist Noe Valladolid. This is his life story, his soccer story in words and pictures. For the first installment, I referred to it as a stab at a TIAS comic [...]

Hating On Kickers: One Fan - Two Sports —- The TIAS Diary Project returns with an essay that hits close to home for me. Home–I should say head, as it was my head and long hair the American football coaches at my high school would grab during gym class when they called me a pussy, called me [...]