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The MLS Reserve League allows teams to provide meaningful, competitive matches to players outside of the main lineup, giving them important, game experience.

Each MLS team fields a reserve squad to play 10 official games, two against each opponent in a six-team region. The top eight teams will qualify for the MLS Reserve League playoffs.



New York
New England
Philadelphia
DCU
Toronto
Columbus


Colorado
RSL
Dallas
Houston
Chicago
Kansas City


Vancouver
Portland
Seattle
San Jose
Los Angeles
Chivas USA

MLS Reserve League Format:
•Each team will play 10 games (5 home and 5 away), two against each region opponent.

•Reserve teams may only use players from one of three sources:
(1) First team;
(2) Academy protected-player list;
(3) Trialists.

•Suspensions attributable to yellow and red cards issued in Reserve Division games shall only be imposed for future Reserve League matches and not for games during the MLS regular season. Conversely, suspensions attributable to yellow and red cards issued during MLS regular season games shall not apply to Reserve Division matches.

•Any player who receives four yellow cards during the Reserve League season shall be suspended from the next Reserve League game in which he may appear.

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League divided into three divisions; each team to play 10 games[/B]

NEW YORK – Major League Soccer is re-launching its Reserve League this year, with games beginning this weekend.

The MLS Reserve League will provide essential developmental opportunities to players and is made possible by the growth of first team rosters from 24 in 2010 to 30 players in 2011.

MLS clubs previously fielded reserve sides from 2005 through 2008, benefiting players such as 2010 Budweiser Golden Boot winner Chris Wondolowski (San Jose), Omar Cummings, Jeff Larentowicz, and Kosuke Kimura of the defending MLS Cup Champion Colorado Rapids, and many others.

The new MLS Reserve League will be split into East, Central, and West divisions with teams facing each divisional opponent twice for a total of 10 games per team. Clubs may schedule additional games for their reserve squads against non-MLS opponents. The games featuring two MLS reserve teams begin March 20 and conclude Oct. 16.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...s-kicks-sunday

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MLSR FIRST KICK 2011

Reserve League: D.C. United vs Columbus Crew
The Black-and-Red open Reserve League play with a 3-2 win

D.C. United kicked off the 2011 MLS Reserve League season with a 3-2 win against the Columbus Crew on Sunday, March 20 at the D.C. United Auxiliary Field in Washington, D.C.

The Black-and-Red wasted little time getting on the scoresheet, with defender Rodrigo Brasesco heading home a Brandon Barklage cross in the third minute. Five minutes later, Columbus pulled level as Bernardo Anor slotted a strike into United's net. The match stayed level at 1-1 until the 39th minute, with rookie striker Blake Brettschneider firing home a close-range effort after Columbus goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum failed to clear the ball in his own area.

http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/03...-columbus-crew

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Reserve League: Earthquakes 2, Whitecaps FC 1

Luzunaris scores game winner for Quakes in 64th minute

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes came back to defeat Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2-1 in their Reserve League opener on Tuesday at the Nutrilite Training Facility thanks to a game winner from Matt Luzunaris.

The first half was a back and forth affair, with Vancouver drawing first blood in the 8th minute. New signing Camillo played the ball forward to Long Tan, who dropped a pass back to Gashi on the left side of the field. Gashi touched the ball forward and unleashed a thunderous strike from 30 yards that went into the corner of the goal, striking the crossbar before dropping into the net.

http://www.sjearthquakes.com/news/20...whitecaps-fc-1

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Reserves: D.C. 4, Revs 1

Despite Stolica's first minute goal, Revs fall to United

FOXBOROUGH, MA – Blake Brettschneider and Branko Boskovic each factored in three of D.C. United reserve’s goals in the visitors’ 4-1 victory over the New England Revolution reserves on Saturday at Gillette Stadium in Major League Soccer’s reserve league.

The Revs struck early, with Ilija Stolica – assisted by Chris Tierney – scoring New England’s lone goal in the first minute of play.

United dominated for the remainder of the match, with Boskovic netting his first goal – assisted by Stephen King – in the 18th minute. Boskovic then assisted two of Brettschneider’s goals, first in the 34th minute and again in the 43rd. D.C.’s final goal came in the 69th minute, when Marcus Salandy-Defour emerged from a scramble in the box to finish Brettschneider’s service

http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/news...es-dc-4-revs-1

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RSL falls 0-2 to FC Dallas in Reserve League opener

Pair of second half tallies give result to visitors

LEHI, Utah (Tuesday, March 29, 2011) – FC Dallas used second half goals from forward Ruben Luna and midfielder Bryan Leyva to record a 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake in the 2011 MLS Reserve League opener for both sides at a chilly XanGo Field. The match marked the first contest in Central Division play for Major League Soccer’s revamped edition of the Reserve League after returning from a two-year hiatus.

http://www.realsaltlake.com/news/201...-league-opener

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Reserve League: Sounders FC top Quakes, 1-0

Goal by Michael Tetteh in the 87th minute gives Seattle the road win


AN JOSE, Calif. – Michael Tetteh came off the bench to break a scoreless draw, striking an 87th-minute game winner to give Sounders FC a 1-0 edge over the Earthquakes in Sunday’s Reserve League match at the Nutrilite Training Facility.

Tetteh cut in from the left, took a friendly bounce off an Earthquakes defender while trying to dribble to the right and then unleashed a shot that whizzed through the legs of center back Brad Ring and into the net past a diving Andrew Weber.

Weber made several quality stops for San Jose and finished with seven saves in his second Reserve League start of 2011. Both sides had their chances at goal with a narrow 13-11 shot advantage for Seattle, but it was Weber that was tested more often with Sounders FC placing eight shots on goal to San Jose’s one.

The Earthquakes Reserves return to action on Saturday, April 23 when they host Chivas USA at 4:30 p.m. PT at the Nutrilite Training Facility.

http://www.sjearthquakes.com/news/20...top-quakes-1-0

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FC Dallas Reserves defeat Colorado Rapids Reserves 1-0


Maykel FRISCO, Texas – FC Dallas Reserves defeated the Colorado Rapids Reserves 1-0 today on the adidas Field at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. Just as in Friday’s first team match, FC Dallas struck in the first minute of the second half. Following the kick off, Maykel Galindo found the ball at his feet while streaking through the Colorado back line. In a foot race with a defender on his left side, Galindo volleyed a shot with his right foot that beat Colorado goalkeeper Steward Ceus high over his left shoulder for a 1-0 lead.

http://www.fcdallas.com/news/2011/04...s-reserves-1-0

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Recap: Union Edge RBNY 2-1 in First Reserve Match

Chris Agorsor nets the game-winner at Chester Park

Wallingford, Pa. (April 10, 2011) - After a heated battle at PPL Park Saturday night, the Philadelphia Union and New York Red Bulls met again Sunday morning to kick off play in the re-launched MLS Reserve League. Philadelphia came away victorious again, edging New York 2-1 at Chester Park.

Jack McInerney and Chris Agorsor were the goal scorers for the Union, while John Rooney accounted for the lone Red Bull tally. Each side started nine first team members.

The Union held an early edge in possession and generated the first scoring opportunities of the match. 16-year-old Zach Pfeffer narrowly missed a goal from 20 yards out, sending a curling strike just wide and high of the near post. Juan Diego Gonzalez had an opportunity to finish a loose ball in the area following a half-bicycle from Agorsor, but the defender’s header was just off the mark.

http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/new...-reserve-match

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Liverpool trialist nets for Chivas in reserve match

Banton scores, sets up another; unclear if Goats able to keep him


CARSON, Calif. – After a week’s training with Chivas USA, trialist and Liverpool youth player Jason Banton got a chance to show his abilities to the Rojiblancos staff in a match situation.

Banton tallied a goal and helped create a second on Sunday when the Chivas USA reserves defeated USL PRO side LA Blues 2-0 on the practice fields surrounding the Home Depot Center. It was a performance that led to a number of questions of whether or not the 18-year-old Englishman warranted being brought into the Goats squad.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...-reserve-match

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Real Salt Lake reserves top Colorado, 2-0

Chinn, Warner help RSL complete Rocky Mountain sweep

LEHI, Utah — Led by goals from Conor Chinn and Collen Warner, Real Salt Lake's reserves completed a Rocky Mountain sweep, getting the better of Colorado Rapids with a 2-0 victory on Thursday at Xango Field in Reserve League play.

The victory is the first for RSL in the reserve league, improving their record to 1-0-1. For RSL reserves coach Jeff Cassar, the difference-maker was the team’s mentality.

“I thought we had the right mentality today," he said. "We came out here and didn’t let Colorado have anything.”

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...p-colorado-2-0

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Crew reserves stay busy as they bide their time

Rookies like Cole Grossman eyeing weekend match vs. Louisville


OBETZ, Ohio – Cole Grossman may have started both CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal matches against Real Salt Lake earlier this year, but the rookie has yet to play in the Crew’s four regular-season games.

That’s why the midfielder won’t take lightly Sunday morning’s reserve match at Crew Stadium against the University of Louisville.

“You have to use it as an opportunity to get better,” Grossman said. “It’s particularly tough if you don’t have the right attitude. It’s important for rookies to not get too emotional about not playing a lot and understand the realities of professional sports.”

The Duke product played the second half of the Crew’s first MLS Reserve League match against D.C. United on March 20 – a 3-2 loss – and scored against St. Louis University during a 2-0 win on April 2.

“I try to approach them as if they were one of the regular games,” Grossman said of the reserve matches. “You don’t get anything out of them if you don’t.”

The Crew’s next Reserve League game is April 23 at Toronto FC following the first-team game. While every player wants to be on the varsity team, so to speak, playing for the reserves is harder for veteran players who don’t crack the first XI or the 18-man game-day squad.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...ide-their-time

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Salgado scores in 'Caps reserves match

Top draft pick nets breakaway finish in draw with Chivas USA

VANCOUVER, BC – Teenager Omar Salgado scored a first-half goal to lead Vancouver Whitecaps FC reserves to a 1-1 draw against Chivas USA reserves at Empire Field on Sunday.

With his mother and grandmother in the stands, Salgado showed the talent that motivated Whitecaps FC to take him first overall in the MLS SuperDraft with the young striker looking increasingly dangerous as the match moved along.

“If he keeps responding to the coaching and the criticism in the right way, he has a very bright future,” Whitecaps FC assistant coach Colin Miller said. “He took his goal well today. It was a class finish, a natural striker’s goal.”

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...reserves-match

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Toronto FC's second team loses 2-1 to Columbus Saturday night.

http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2011/04...reserve-opener

Fire Reserves Down Dynamo Martin Rivas brace spurs home side past Houston

http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/201...es-down-dynamo

Reserves: Quakes top Chivas USA 3-1
Johnson, Ampaipitakwong score for San Jose in Reserve League win

http://www.sjearthquakes.com/news/20...chivas-usa-3-1

Timbers defeat Galaxy, 3-1, in Reserve League Match

http://www.lagalaxy.com/news/2011/04...e-league-match

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Chivas reserves defeat LA Galaxy reserves 3-1

Estupiñan scores twice for the Red-and-White and Jimenez scores for LA Galaxy

CARSON, Calif. (Thursday, May 3, 2011)- Chivas USA defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-1 in an MLS Reserve League match on Tuesday at The Home Depot Center’s Track and Field Stadium. Rookie Victor Estupiñan scored two first half goals for Chivas USA, while fellow rookie Hector Jimenez scored for the LA Galaxy.

The match was very open in the first half, with both teams creating several good chances. Estupiñan opened the scoring in the 31st minute, collecting a pass from midfielder Gerson Mayén and rounding Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders to tap into an empty net.


http://www.cdchivasusa.com/news/2011...y-reserves-3-1