All hands on deck again as the shorthanded NY Red Bulls managed to gut out a 1-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday night.

The Red Bulls gained a tenuous lead seven minutes in as Kenny Cooper scored an ugly goal chasing down a Cory Ashe back pass, which Houston Goalkeeper Tally Hall cleared into the big striker, causing the ball to bounce into the back of the net.

From then on, Houston looked the more likely to score, particularly down the final stretch of the game. Brad Davis will be kicking himself after missing three golden opportunities to level the score, but ultimately, Houston couldn't find the final ball. This is the Red Bulls' third straight 1-0 victory and their second straight with without injured Thierry Henry.

Player Ratings

GK Ryan Meara

Another solid performance from the rookie keeper, which was capped off by an impressive 93rd-minute save to seal the Red Bulls win. He did show a lack of concentration, failing to catch a 57th-minute cross, but fortunately, the Dynamo were unable to pounce on the mistake.

Player Rating: 6.5

RB Brandon Barklage

Played another solid game. Defended the back post brilliantly clearing away cross after cross. Found Juan Agudelo with a great cross late in the game that almost turned into a spectacular goal.

Player Rating: 7

CB Markus Holgersson

Seems to have shaken the yips that lead to a number of mistakes earlier in the year; was solid throughout the game.

Player Rating: 6.5

CB Tyler Ruthven

Gave away the ball too easily in the 15th minute, and his poor clearance late in the second half almost lead to Dynamo equalizers, but outside of those two moments, was confident and effective on the back line.

Player Rating: 6

LB Connor Lade

His solid performances have allowed him to maintain his spot despite Roy Miller's return. Nothing changed in this game, as he defended well and offered some good service into the box going forward. 

Player Rating: 7

DM Dax McCarty

Had a solid game as he continued his fine run of form. Did brilliantly defending the back line again, even managed to launch a vicious strike from long range that missed just a bit wide and found Juan Agudelo in the box, which was just cleared by the Dynamo back line. His rating would have been higher, except for a few erratic passes that gave the Dynamo the ball in the Red Bulls' half.

Player Rating: 7

RM Dane Richards

Was an outlet for the Red Bulls helping to relieve pressure as the Dynamo pushed forward for the equalizing goal. Had a few dangerous moments, but still lacks ideas when taking an opposing player on in front of goal.

Player Rating: 6.5

CM Medhi Ballouchi (Off 45')

Outside of the pass that set up Kenny Cooper's strange seventh-minute goal, he was almost completely anonymous. Didn't defend great and didn't help win the battle of the midfield. Was mercifully substituted on halftime.

Player Rating: 5

CM Joel Lindpierre

Didn't really put his mark on the game. Won the ball a few times, but was a big reason the Red Bulls couldn't maintain possession in the Houston side of the field.

Player Rating: 5.5

LM Jan Gunnar Solli (Off 87')

Looked tired and didn't really add much to the game.

Player Rating: 5.5

ST Kenny Cooper (Off 90+1')

Put in the hard work and deserved his goal just based upon effort alone, as he chased down a Cory Ashe back pass and forcing the ball into the back of the net. Was mostly cut off throughout the first half, but dropped deeper when Juan Agudelo came on and was able to help move the ball through the midfield in the second.

Player Rating: 6

Substitutes

ST Juan Agudelo (On 45')

Freshened up the Red Bulls attack and put pressure on the Dynamo defense. Had two shots on goal saved brilliantly by Tally Hall, almost found the end of a Dax McCarty chip and almost connected with Kenny Cooper on another chip into the box.

Player Rating: 7

LM Roy Miller (Off 87')

Came on late, almost found another goal very similar to Kenny Cooper's seventh-minute strike. Didn't have a lot of time to make an impression.

Player Rating: INC

ST Jhonny Arteaga

Came on late for Kenny Cooper; didn't have time to make an impression.

Player Rating: INC

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The New York Red Bulls are placed second in the Eastern Conference after three consecutive shutout wins in MLS. The Red Bulls won all three games by a 1-0 margin, the first coming at home on April 28 against the New England Revolution (3-6-0), then away at Los Angeles against the Galaxy (3-5-1), and finally, back on home turf against the Houston Dynamo (2-3-2).

The Red Bulls (6-3-1) won a crucial game against the Dynamo which put them on top of DC United (5-3-3) with a game in hand. If New York were to win against Philadelphia (2-5-1), which seems very likely, they would solidify their lead against rivals DC. 

The game on Wednesday night was the Red Bulls' second night without world-renowned striker, Thierry Henry, who currently is recovering from a hamstring injury. 

An early seventh-minute goal by Kenny Cooper was the only goal of the game. 

Cooper's eighth goal of the season came from a horrible back-pass from Dynamo's left-back Corey Ashe. The Red Bulls forward deflected the ball into the back of the net as goalkeeper Tally Hall cleared the line. 

New York played a watertight defense, even with their makeshift back line. The young defenders were able to clear the ball time and time again against dangerous set pieces taken by Dynamo.

Houston's Brad Davis rallied the team in the final ten minutes, but it amounted to nothing. He should have been able to score two goals, but his concentration seemed lacking. 

With this loss, Houston has not posted a win in five straight games. Their form currently stands at: L-L-D-D-L, placing them in seventh in the Eastern Conference of the MLS.

This is the third consecutive game that New York goalkeeper Ryan Meara was able to record a clean sheet. 

Four yellow cards were shown throughout the match—three for the Red Bulls: Kenny Cooper for a rash challenge in the 45th minute, Connor Lade for a challenge in the 55th minute and Dax McCarthy for arguing with the referee in the 59th minute. Houston's Calen Carr was shown the yellow in the 12th minute of the game for a rash challenge.

The Red Bulls play against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, whereas the Dynamo play against third-placed DC United. A win by both New York and Houston ensure the Red Bulls holding on to second at the end of the week. 

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Add Alessandro Nesta to the growing list of prominent Europe-based players being linked with Major League Soccer.

Last month it was Spanish striker Raul. This week it's Emmanuel Adebayor. And at various times this season, former German international Michael Ballack has been linked with the American top-flight.

On Thursday, Nesta fueled the MLS speculation during a press conference in which he announced he will leave Italian giants AC Milan at the end of the current season.

From the Associated Press (via The Washington Post):

Alessandro Nesta says he will leave AC Milan at the end of the season and consider a move to Major League Soccer.

Nesta has spent 10 years at Milan but, at age 36, says “the high pace of the Italian league, the Champions League and the Italian Cup means that I can’t play all the time. And I’m not one to sit and wait on the bench.”

Nesta insists he has not signed with any club but adds that he would “very happily” join the MLS.

Nesta helped Milan to two Serie A titles and two Champions League trophies. The defender also won the World Cup with Italy in 2006.

He spent nine seasons with Lazio and also won the league with the Rome club.

Nesta's comments prompted an instant backlash from MLS figures on Twitter.

ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman, a former New England Revolution striker, sent out what amounted to a "thanks but no thanks" tweet.

Nesta saying he can't stay up/fit for Serie A games makes not want him in NY. Sorry but not a retirement league @MLS #RBNY

Former Houston Dynamo forward Paul Dalglish, now the manager of USL Premier Development League club Austin Aztex, claimed MLS is more demanding than Serie A.

MLS is probably the most physically demanding league in the world. Not so much the games but the weather conditions and travel is brutal.

Meanwhile, Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl reported that Nesta does not have many options.

1 good source tells me despite what Nesta says, he has serious interest from just 1 place right now: MLS/New York.

So, readers, what do you think? Is it a good fit?

Nesta, a World Cup winner with 78 caps for Italy, would certainly raise the international profile of MLS. And New York and New Jersey both have substantial Italian-American populations that would likely be thrilled to see a player like Nesta before he retires.

But has he already alienated too many important people?

Discuss in the comments.

Follow @MikeCummings37

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Top goalscorers frequently come and go in Major League Soccer. Some have one or two outstanding seasons and never regain form; others simply depart to test their skills in a foreign league.

However, in the last few seasons the league has seen some more consistency in regards to its crop of strikers. The race for the MLS Golden Boot has seen a core of three of four players fighting for the honor, while familiar players continually to follow behind. 

So here is my list of the top 10 lethal goalscorers in MLS, most which will likely battle for the Golden Boot till the end of the season.  

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When the Houston Dynamo walk onto BBVA Compass Field on Saturday night to face D.C. United in front of 22,000 fans (4:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network)—it spells a new challenge for the Dynamo and caps a journey that started in San Jose.

It's also another big step for Major League Soccer as Houston becomes another team with its own place to call home.

When the Dynamo moved from San Jose to Houston in 2005, it was because AEG, the team's principle owners, couldn't secure a stadium location. So the team moved to Houston and called Robertson Stadium at the University of Houston home.

In its first season in Houston, the Dynamo won the 2006 MLS Cup, beating the New England Revolution 4-3. 

Even though the Dynamo were hugely successful after moving from San Jose, it still took six years for Houston to build a stadium—which is even more of a feat considering the new stadium was the reason for the move.

Now, the team has a brand new, state-of-the-art stadium to show off, which is located next to the Toyota Center and Minute Maid Park in downtown Houston. The stadium is another sign that Major League Soccer is pushing its way into the mainstream and that it's getting the recognition it deserves.

Now, people and cities are willing to support the league's long-term projects.

The Dynamo's $95 million mansion brings the total number of MLS soccer-specific stadiums—renovated or new—to 15 for the league's 19 teams.

Just 10 years ago, when the league was floundering, a soccer-specific stadium like BBVA Compass Field in Houston would never have been imagined—let alone actually getting built. Teams were trying to stay alive; they weren't looking to expand or work on large-scale public projects.

Today, even the teams without soccer stadiums seek to find funding because they're being left behind. Newly catered soccer-specific facilities are now demanded by fans.

One of the teams still in search of a new stadium is the New England Revolution.

The Revolution have a home at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, but the large football stadium, located 40 minutes outside of Boston, isn't drawing fans. And the location certainly isn't conducive to creating an atmosphere fans want to watch a match.

The team's president Brian Billelo knows that. He's addressed the question every year I've covered the team. He answered it again this year, during a conference call with reporters on November 9:

"It’s our No. 1 priority that we’re working hard on. It’s obviously been a big challenge for us, but something that we emphatically want to see happen and want to make happen. In terms of on the team side, there’s a lot of different projects I’m going to be working on with Michael [Burns] to turn that around and improve that immediately. On the business side, that is [the] No. 1, 2 and 3 priority for us."

It took Houston years to get all the answers and funding. It has taken New England just as long to get started.

But there are other hurdles New England needs to climb before something like BBVA Compass Field, Red Bull Arena or PPL Park will become a reality in New England. (D.C. United is also going through a similar situation, and rumors have surfaced that the team might move to Baltimore.)

New England, like D.C. United, is actively seeking a new home like Houston was a few seasons ago, and the Dynamo's new home in downtown is a good sign for teams looking for new urban stadiums.

If those teams can secure deals, it will be another giant leap for MLS. If they can't, it might be time to think like the Dynamo and find a place with fans and the money to build a new stadium.

Houston, which has been a blueprint franchise on the field for years, now becomes another blue print franchise off the field.

The Dynamo are a team that has stamped out its spot in a city's landscape, and BBVA Field is another sign that MLS continues to move forward.

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With so much of the focus in this still young MLS season on either Kansas City, Salt Lake City or even the defending champions in Los Angeles, the remarkable has actually come true.

The New York Red Bulls are flying under the radar.

Of course, it's partly their own fault. Underachievers for so long now, prognosticators could be forgiven for dismissing Hans Backe's side.

Yet this season, I'm going out on a limb. I'll say that they finally reach their potential.

Here are six reasons why.

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This week, Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy continue their season with their inaugural meeting with the Montreal Impact at Stade Olympique. With a record of 3-5-1 (10 points), the Galaxy have one of the worst records in Major League Soccer and are in need of a wake-up call to remain in the postseason hunt.

Kickoff is scheduled for May 12 at 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET and will be televised locally by KDOC and KWHY. Here are 10 things to expect from this Saturday's contest between L.A. and Montreal.

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If you're looking for hard-hitting, old-school, intense soccer tackle highlights, then you have come to the right place. MLS has now been in existence for over 15 years, and it seems like as the league has developed, so has the intensity of tackles. We have seen some of the most significant player suspensions in league history come in the last few years thanks to some very hard challenges.

While not all the hardest challenges in league history have videos on the web today, I have grouped together the 10 hardest hits/tackles/challenges of the last few years all in one painful slideshow. Enjoy!

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The Seattle Sounders Jumped to the table of this week's Power Rankings after handling the Los Angeles Galaxy and Philadelphia Union in one week. Sporting Kansas City had a tough week with its first home loss of the season. And Vancouver stepped up with a big win over San Jose on Saturday. 

1. Seattle Sounders (6-1-1, 19 pts.) Beating Los Angeles in the midweek game was what the Sounders needed to get that monkey off their back. Following that win up with a solid, 1-0 win over Philadelphia wrapped up an impressive week for a team that was playing under the radar for much of the season.

2. Real Salt Lake (7-3-1, 22 pts.) Was there any doubt RSL would beat New England, who was coming off a Wednesday night game? No. But it just proves that this team wins when it needs to, which is vital.

3. San Jose Earthquakes (7-2-1, 22 pts.) A goal-fest on Wednesday and a 5-3 win over D.C. was followed up by a disappointing 2-1 loss to Vancouver on Saturday.

4. Vancouver Whitecaps (5-2-2, 17 pts.) A Canadian Championship win on Wednesday was followed up by a 2-1 win over a San Jose team that looked unstoppable. Is there a bigger turnaround in MLS this year? Probably not.

5. Sporting Kansas City (7-2-0, 21 pts.) A loss at home? Can't be for Sporting. It happened. To top it off, Kansas City lost to the expansion Montreal side that is still a work in progress. 

6. New York Red Bulls (5-3-1, 16 pts.) No Henry? No problem. New York kept its second straight clean sheet by beating Los Angeles at the Home Depot Center. Has Hans Backe found his new center-back pairing?

7. D.C. United (5-3-3, 18 pts.) A tough loss to San Jose on Wednesday was followed up with a good win over hapless Toronto. D.C. has plenty of confidence going forward. Ben Olsen has his team flying.

8. Montreal Impact (3-5-2, 11 pts.) Going to Livestrong Park is not easy. Kansas City dominates teams when they come to town. But the Impact were able to hang on and get a vital, 1-0 win. Things are looking up for the expansion side. 

9. Houston Dynamo (2-2-2, 8 pts.) The Dynamo had another week off. But this week two tough games await: New York on Wednesday and D.C. on Saturday. The good news is the team's new stadium opens up on Saturday for the first time. It's supposed to be beautiful.

10. Chicago Fire (3-2-2, 11 pts.) Beating Chivas on Friday night was a good road win for the Fire. Can Chicago keep that momentum going forward with a packed schedule?

11. New England Revolution (3-6-0, 9 pts.) Beating Colorado in the midweek was important, because going to Salt Lake on Saturday was going to be almost impossible. The Revs beat Colorado with some beautiful play and goals. The performance against RSL was promising as well. Will this be the big turnaround Jay Heaps wants and the team needs? Or is it more false hope?

12. Colorado Rapids (4-5-0, 12 pts.) Two road games in one week is tough. Colorado made it out alive with three important points on Sunday night, beating Dallas 2-0.

13. FC Dallas (3-3-3, 12 pts.) Dallas is still searching for that push it needs. The Hoops show promise and then fade. 

14. Los Angeles Galaxy (3-5-1, 10 pts.) Two tough losses for Los Angeles this week. Championship hangover is alive and well for the Galaxy.

15. Chivas USA (3-6-0, 9 pts.) Chivas needs to find a way to win at home. 

16. Columbus Crew (2-4-2, 8 pts.) A draw away to Portland was a good result for Columbus. But the lack of goal-scoring punch is frightening for the Crew.

17. Portland Timbers (2-5-2, 8 pts.) JELD-WEN Field was supposed to be a fortress, but Portland can't seem to make it impenetrable on the field. 

18. Philadelphia Union (2-5-1, 7 pts.) Sebastian Le Toux's finishing is sorely missed in Philadelphia. The Union are tied for the fewest goals scored with Chivas USA with five. 

19. Toronto FC (0-8-0, 0 pts.) It's just ugly in Toronto right now. 

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The Chicago Fire expect to be very busy this week with two MLS games on the docket.

Real Salt Lake visits Toyota Park on Wednesday while the Sporting Kansas City invades on Saturday.

A difficult stretch continues for the Fire who defeated Chivas USA 2-1 on Friday behind rookie center back Austin Berry’s first career goal.

The Fire were also without coach Frank Klopas, who was suspended for abusive language to the referees during the end of the loss against Seattle.  

This week's matches against Real Salt Lake and Sporting Kansas City will go a long way in determining how far the Fire can go as MLS Cup contenders.

Real Salt Lake are tied for the best record in the league. A win on Wednesday would definitely make a statement. Adding to the drama will be the Ring of Honor induction of all-time great defender C.J. Brown.

Brown is the Fire’s all-time leader in starts, minutes and overall games played. The current Real Salt Lake assistant coach is a two-time Chicago Fire defender of the year (2006 and 2010) and three-time humanitarian of the year (2001-03).

Emotions will be running high that night.

On Saturday, the Fire will have completed a stint in which they would have played three matches in eight days. Winning the two games this week would pull the Fire within two points of the Eastern Conference-leading Sporting Kansas City.

And that is exactly where they want to be.

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