Alums

Coach Cirovski's former players are having a bit of an impact on professional soccer this weekend.

To wit:

Maurice Edu started and played 71 minutes for Rangers earlier today as they got another step closer to the SPL title with a 4-0 drubbing of Hearts. Edu's thoughts on the success of this season's squad were highlighted on the club's web-site after the game.

We're back from seeing Stephen King and Ethan White lock down D.C. United's second consecutive clean sheet in four days at RFK. I thought White was fantastic tonight against FC Dallas, with one bad giveaway off a miskick that rebounded harmlessly to Bill Hamid. King had a decent game starting in the midfield, but took two awful shots on goal from two good opportunities from outside of the box. Marc Burch was healthy enough to make the bench for United, but was an unused substitute. Chris Seitz made the bench for FC Dallas as their backup goalie, but did not see action (Kevin Hartman was terrific between the posts for Dallas).

Tonight's marquee league match pitted Los Angeles' Galaxy against New York's Red Bulls. A.J. Delagarza and Omar Gonzalez were responsible for keeping Thierry Henry, Luke Rodgers (later replaced by Juan Agudelo), and Dwayne De Rosario in check. Both played the full ninety in a game that ended 1-1. Matt Kassel made the 18 but did not see the pitch for the Red Bulls.

Robbie Rogers also started and played the full ninety in a 1-1 game, with Columbus handing the Sounders a second disappointing result this week after losing to DC on Wednesday.

Last night, Portland ran their record to a perfect four for four at home in the league with a 1-0 win over the Union. It was the Timbers' second consecutive clean sheet -- with both shutouts featuring Jeremy Hall and Rodney Wallace starting at the two fullback positions and playing the full ninety. With Troy Perkins minding the net, Hall and Wallace made a number of quick-witted clean clearances that relieved the pressure brought to bear by a marauding Danny Mwanga and Sebastien Le Toux. Danny Califf stayed back in Philadelphia with illness. Zac MacMath dressed and backed up Mondragon for Philly, but did not see playing time.

Graham Zusi's Sporting Kansas City was off this weekend after Zusi started for the team last week in their loss to the Red Bulls.