Major League Soccer produced a rare set of results in Week 18 as eight of the 20 clubs that took to the pitch were shut out. 

Due to the high number of clean sheets, we found a way to put five defenders in the Bleacher Report MLS Team of the Week for the first time in 2016.

Despite the high number of zeroes across the league scoreboard, there were a handful of solid attacking performances in Week 18. Benny Feilhaber, Ilsinho and Kevin Doyle were among the top attackers over the last three days in the North American top flight. 

Continue reading to see who was named to the latest Bleacher Report MLS Team of the Week.

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In advance of Saturday's Major League Soccer clash between the New England Revolution and the Columbus Crew, much has been made about the presence of Kei Kamara in the New England lineup. 

Kamara, who played 41 matches in a Columbus shirt, isn't worried about facing his former side. The 31-year-old forward is more focused on earning three points to get the Revolution back on track. 

"It’s not Kei Kamara vs. Columbus Crew," Kamara told Bleacher Report. "It’s the Revs against the Columbus Crew." 

"I do have one or two good relationships with the players over there, but it’s only been a couple of months since I left the team," Kamara said. "It’s about me being focused. It’s not really too much about what goes on outside or anything else. If my team can get three points out of the day, it’s going to make me a lot more happier." 

The approach may stun some outsiders given the tense situation in which the forward left Columbus. Kamara was shipped to New England five days after arguing with Federico Higuain over who should take a penalty in the Crew's home match with the Montreal Impact. 

At the time of the deal, Columbus boss Gregg Berhalter told Andrew King of MLSSoccer.com that the trade was not made because of an isolated incident. 

“It was not solely about this weekend, and that’s an important point,” Berhalter said. “We’ve been evaluating this, and this is something we had to decide, for the culture of the club, what direction we were going to go in. But it was not based on this weekend alone.”

Since the Kamara trade, New England has a record of 3-4-0, while Columbus is 1-2-4. Kamara scored his first two league goals in a Revolution shirt on last Saturday at Stade Saputo in a 3-2 defeat to the Montreal Impact. 

As much as scoring meant to him, Kamara was still a little frustrated that his brace came in a defeat. 

"I’m a goal scorer so everybody wanted to see me score a goal," Kamara said. "I just want to be a part of a winning streak more than scoring goals and not getting wins, but it’s nice to get those goals out of the way."

New England enters Saturday's home match with the Crew just one point behind the final playoff position in the Eastern Conference despite its current three-game losing streak. All the Revs need to boost themselves into the top six of the East is a winning streak. 

“That’s the thing about the whole season, it’s really all about the playoffs," Kamara said. "It’s all about how many winning streaks you put together to give you points to get yourself in the playoff positions. Right now we’re struggling but we’re not far off. One or two wins definitely gets us back into it. It’s really key for us. We’re looking forward to the game we have to play." 

As the chemistry continues to grow between Kamara and the rest of the talented New England attack, wins are sure to come the club's way. Kamara admitted he's still trying to develop a perfect chemistry with players like Lee Nguyen and Kelyn Rowe while adapting to Jay Heaps' system. 

“They have a good attacking squad over here," Kamara said. "For me it’s just about making that chemistry click a little bit more faster with these guys because they’ve done well throughout the years and I’m just trying to blend in with them." 

"It’s going to take me time to adjust and get used to it," Kamara said. "Obviously I played a whole season (in Columbus) so I had a lot of time to adapt to it there. Right now it's about me adapting to the system and clicking really fast with these guys because it’s about getting ourselves in a playoff position." 

Heaps' approach to the game is one Kamara respects due to the manager's time as a player in MLS and the reputation he's built during his time in charge. Heaps has guided the Revolution to three consecutive postseasons and a berth in the 2014 MLS Cup final, where the Revs lost to the Los Angeles Galaxy. 

"He’s made a difference here and it’s shown over the last couple of years of what he’s done with the guys in the playoffs," Kamara said. "For me it’s a respect for somebody I’ve played against. At the same time, I’ve seen him on the sideline for a number of years now. It’s a respect level when I come in here and obey what the system is and the style he wants me to help the team with." 

Once everything clicks between Kamara and his teammates, the Revolution could be poised to go on a run that boosts them toward the top of the East. In order to start a needed winning streak in New England, Kamara and the Revs must win at home against Columbus in a league where home wins can determine your playoff fate. 

“Every win is going to count," Kamara said. "We’re halfway into the season so there’s a lot more games. It’s really about maximizing points from those home games. Everybody’s going to get wins in their house. We have to maximize the points we have to get in our house right now." 

Joe Tansey covers MLS for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter, @JTansey90.

All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. 

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Plenty has changed in Major League Soccer since the last edition of our MLS Player Rankings came out before the Copa America Centenario. 

In the matches since the Copa break, New York City FC have surged to the top of the Eastern Conference, and a few attackers have caught fire in front of the net. 

Because some of the top players on this list have played less than four games since the revival of the MLS schedule on June 18, we are still taking into account some pre-Copa performances, as we use the last four matches to judge each player. 

Although many players have faded from the top 20 since the start of the season, one has been a constant near the top of our list of the best players MLS has to offer at the moment. That midfielder is the new No. 1 heading into the second week of July. 

Continue reading to see who grabbed the top position in the Bleacher Report MLS Player Rankings after Week 17. 

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All sorts of statements were made during Major League Soccer's four-day slate over Independence Day weekend. 

FC Dallas caught the attention of many on a team level for their 4-0 thrashing of Orlando City on the Fourth of July at Toyota Stadium. Oscar Pareja's men held the Lions to zero shots on goal in the victory. 

On an individual level, a pair of rookie scorers burst on to the national scene for New York City FC and the Montreal Impact. A pair of strikers named Kamara also celebrated the holiday weekend in style with two goals each. 

Our MLS Team of the Week is shaped in a 4-3-3 formation to accommodate all of the splendid goalscoring outings from attack-minded players. 

Continue reading to see who was named to the latest Bleacher Report MLS Team of the Week.

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Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, DeAndre Yedlin and the Major League Soccer Players Union have all been named as defendants in a class-action lawsuit filed by three youth soccer clubs.

According to Vice Sports' Jorge Arangure Jr., the Dallas Texans; Crossfire Premiere of Redmond, Washington; and Sockers FC of Chicago are seeking to "recoup hundreds of thousands of dollars in training and solidarity fees" after they were not afforded the ability to claim monetary benefits when players such as Bradley, Dempsey and Yedlin transferred internationally.

However, a spokesman for the plaintiffs released a statement Friday that indicated the United States men's national team stars wouldn't be part of the legal process for long, per Arangure. Rather, the statement pointed out that "the U.S. youth clubs had to name the players, Dempsey, Yedlin and Bradley, as well as the defendant class of players, solely for a legal reason to maintain the complaint."

According to Arangure, the court's decision could have far-reaching consequences if it sides with the youth clubs:

Dempsey suited up with the Texans during his developmental days, while Yedlin and Bradley played for the Crossfire and Sockers, respectively.

All three players proceeded to make trips across the pond to play professionally in some of the world's biggest leagues. Both Yedlin and Dempsey have experience in the English Premier League, while Bradley held down stints in Italy's Serie A and Germany's Bundesliga.

Dempsey and Bradley both now reside in MLS with the Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC, respectively, while Yedlin plays in the Premier League for Sunderland on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

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If it feels like the first half of the Major League Soccer season has flown by, it has. 

Before the league embarks on a busy July schedule in which most of the 20 clubs will play five or more matches, we wanted to take a look back at the opening four months of the regular season.

We opted to grade each MLS squad in four categories. The offensive grade was determined by goals scored, diversity in production and attacking chemistry. Our defensive category took into account goals against, clean sheets and a variety of little things that give each club an advantage. 

In addition to the two main areas of play, we graded each manager for his tactical decisions and talent acquisitions as well as the team for its performance as a unit. 

Continue reading to see what grades were handed out to the 20 sides in MLS.

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If you asked fans of Major League Soccer at the beginning of the season who they thought would lead the Eastern and Western Conferences at the halfway mark, no one would've answered with the Philadelphia Union and Colorado Rapids. 

Both clubs have taken different approaches to reach the top of their respective conferences, but each way has been effective. Philadelphia revamped its roster through the MLS SuperDraft and with a few young signings, while Colorado has relied on league veterans and a United States men's national team star to navigate the treacherous waters of the West. 

Philadelphia was aggressive at the top of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft as it attempted to build depth at every position, a goal stated by technical director Earnie Stewart when he took over after the end of the 2015 regular season. 

The Union used two trades and their original draft pick to select Georgetown University defenders Joshua Yaro and Keegan Rosenberry as well as Creighton University forward Fabian Herbers.

Rosenberry has seen the most playing time of the trio and found himself in the spotlight for a stretch of matches in May after he shut down Robbie Keane, Giovani dos Santos, Didier Drogba and Ignacio Piatti in one-on-one situations. The No. 3 overall pick is a front-runner for Rookie of the Year and is currently fourth in All-Star voting. 

One of the Union's draft picks from two years ago is also thriving after a tumultuous situation at the goalkeeper position. The old regime in Philadelphia tarnished the development of Andre Blake by bringing in Algeria international Rais MBolhi, who turned into one of the worst acquisitions in the history of MLS. In his first year as a full starter, the 25-year-old Blake has made 47 saves and earned six of the club's seven wins.

The Union have also benefited from their improved play at their home stadium. Jim Curtin's side didn't lose at Talen Energy Stadium until June 25 against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Philadelphia holds a 6-1-2 mark at home and has earned an additional six points on the road, including an impressive spell at the end of May in which it took a point from Orlando City and the Rapids in a three-day stretch. 

Some shrewd personnel moves have also helped Stewart and Curtin form their club's identity. Forward C.J. Sapong, who missed a chunk of 2015 due to a few circumstances, has become the physical presence they need up top, while Tranquillo Barnetta and offseason acquisition Chris Pontius have combined well with mainstay Sebastien Le Toux. 

But the Union are currently in the middle of a three-game skid caused by the sudden departure of central midfielder Vincent Nogueira, who mutually parted ways with the club due to personal health reasons. Since the Frenchman, who was one of the most underrated players in MLS, left, the Union have given up three goals per game against New York City FC, Chicago and Vancouver. 

The Union will be in the market for a new defensive-minded midfielder during the summer transfer window, but for now they have to fix the issue with Barnetta and Dutchman Roland Alberg, who hasn't stopped scoring since he entered the lineup. 

Philadelphia's biggest concerns over the final four months of the season will be replacing Nogueira, holding firm in the back as its young set of defenders take on bigger challenges and fending off the established sides in the East that will surely make a run for the top spot. 

Over in Colorado, manager Pablo Mastroeni has produced one of the most amazing turnarounds in league history after finishing last in the West a year ago. Thanks to a league-high nine wins and a perfect home record, the Rapids lead the West and the Supporters' Shield standings with 32 points, six more than Philadelphia has atop the East. 

The Rapids have used a mixture of MLS castoffs, European signings and the surprising addition of Jermaine Jones to catch the West by storm. After losing goalkeeper Clint Irwin and center-back Drew Moor to Toronto FC in the offseason, many thought the Rapids would struggle on the defensive side of the pitch. 

Veteran Bobby Burling and second-year man Axel Sjoberg have formed one of the unlikeliest center-back pairings in the league and have led Colorado to the best defensive record in MLS. The Rapids have conceded on only 11 occasions in 2016. The next-best total belongs to Toronto FC and the LA Galaxy, who have both let in 18 strikes to date. 

The European flavor in attack has led to some surprising results as well, as Albania international Shkelzen Gashi and Republic of Ireland forward Kevin Doyle have been able to consistently produce chances alongside an unusual player in the No. 10 role. 

After he returned from his six-game suspension to start the season, Jones was pushed forward in the Colorado attack and produced results immediately. In his first appearance, the 34-year-old contributed a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win over the New York Red Bulls. The furious attacking pace of Jones led to two more tallies and an assist in the next three games. The Rapids earned 10 of a possible 12 points during that span.

But the most valuable additions made by the Rapids in 2016 have come from the Seattle Sounders. Midfielders Micheal Azira and Marco Pappa have been key assets to a midfield that doesn't get enough respect on a national level. Azira, who only played in 25 games in two seasons with Seattle, has been in the starting XI for each of Colorado's 16 league matches. The play of the 28-year-old in front of the back four is one of the key reasons for the club's superb defensive record. 

Winger Marco Pappa was always a solid contributor in Seattle, but his talents have taken on a new importance in a less talented attacking group. The Guatemala international made an instant impact with one goal and three assists in his first six matches. The 28-year-old recently returned from injury on June 22 and should return to his role as a consistent contributor once he regains full match fitness. 

Despite all the attention that the field players deserve for their achievements during the first half of the 2016 campaign, all eyes are on Colorado's goalkeeping situation at the moment. USMNT stalwart Tim Howard is set to replace 24-year-old Zac MacMath in the near future, despite the solid form of MacMath and Howard's lack of playing time at Everton and the USMNT since the start of the calendar year. 

Disrupting the chemistry of a back line that has conceded 11 times in 16 matches is something most clubs wouldn't do, but someone with Howard's resume doesn't become available that often. Getting off to a good start with Howard in net will be key, especially since the margin for error in the West is so slim.

The Rapids enter July with a one-point advantage on FC Dallas and a five-point lead on Real Salt Lake. In addition, perennial powers like the LA Galaxy, Portland Timbers and Sporting Kansas City are expected to discover more form in the second half of the season. 

Both Philadelphia and Colorado deserve all the praise they receive for reaching the middle part of the regular season atop their respective conferences, but in order to remain there at the end of October, they each need to fix one big ongoing issue and fend off the challenges from the other respected sides in their conferences. 

No one knows what will happen in the unpredictable league that is MLS, but if we've learned anything in the first four months of play, it's that Philadelphia and Colorado are here to stay. 

Joe Tansey covers MLS for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter, @JTansey90. 

All statistics obtained from MLSSoccer.com. 

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Orlando City captain Kaka will not be able to participate in Copa America Centenario for the Brazil national team due to a muscle injury.

Continue for updates.

Brazilian journalist Paulo Freitas reported the news on Kaka, citing former goalkeeper and general national team coordinator Gilmar Rinaldi as the source of information.

Orlando City SC confirmed Kaka's status, and Freitas added the 34-year-old would need 15-20 days without training.

Jack Lang of ESPN FC highlighted how Brazil have had to do considerable roster reshuffling even before Kaka's injury:

Brazil begins their Copa America tournament on Saturday with a match against Ecuador. The Canarinho have won the continental football competition title eight times, which ranks third to Uruguay's 15 and Argentina's 14.

This year marks the first time the tournament won't be hosted on South American soil, going to the USA instead.

Although they haven't won the past two titles, Brazil has come out on top in the tournament in four of their past seven outings. They will need to figure out a way to bolster the attack without Kaka roaming the midfield, though.

And Kaka is far from the only marquee Brazilian player not suiting up for Copa America. As Freitas reported, Rafinha, Ederson, Ricardo Oliveira and Douglas Costa will also be out of action.

Brazil has their work cut out to seize the Copa America trophy for the first time since 2007 with all those key absences. Neymar was also declared out for the tournament back in April.

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It was an eventful day for David Villa in Major League Soccer on Sunday, as his New York City FC took on Orlando City at Yankee Stadium.

The Spaniard combined with another of New York's marquee stars, Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo, for a brilliant goal that appeared to put his side out of reach shortly after the hour mark.

He had the chance to make it 3-0 from the spot moments later, but he slipped—evoking memories of Chelsea captain John Terry in the 2008 UEFA Champions League final in Moscow—and skied his penalty.

To make matters worse for Villa, Orlando completed a spirited comeback to escape from New York with a 2-2 draw, thanks to goals from Julio Baptista and Kevin Molino.

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No matter where the respective careers of Zac MacMath and Andre Blake take them, they will always be linked together. 

The pair of goalkeepers, who have been intertwined since the Philadelphia Union drafted Blake with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, will face off for the first time on Saturday, when the first-place side in the Western Conference, the Colorado Rapids, host Eastern Conference leader Philadelphia. 

Both netminders have taken a similar, but different, path to their current positions. Philadelphia's disastrous signing of Rais MBolhi in 2014 kept MacMath and Blake out of a starting role. MacMath was cast out on loan to the Rapids, but he didn't play in 2015. Blake has only started to establish himself as one of the league's top players at his position after the MBolhi debacle and injuries held him back. 

Despite both careers' upward trajectory, the former teammates may not face each other for quite some time due to a few factors. MacMath is set to hit the bench once again thanks to an incoming goalkeeper. After the Copa America Centenario concludes, Tim Howard will assume the No. 1 position in Colorado. Even if MacMath is in solid form, the Rapids don't have many reasons to justify sitting a multimillion-dollar acquisition every week. 

If you look at Blake's case, he may not be playing in Major League Soccer for years to come. The Jamaica international has shined so far this season for the Union, and no one would criticize the club for selling the 25-year-old to a major European club to make a profit. Just like Cyle Larin at Orlando City, Blake may end up having to move to Europe in order to get the best out of his talent at the club and international levels. 

As for Saturday's contest at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, it marks a vital measuring stick for both clubs before the Copa break hits after two days of midweek action on Wednesday and Thursday. The Rapids can become the first team to reach 30 points this season with a victory on Saturday. Colorado earned 37 points in the entire 2015 campaign. 

A road win in Week 13 would be a massive statement for the Union, who have played tough against some of the league's best but only have a growing collection of draws to show for it. Usually wins against out-of- conference foes don't matter much in MLS, but if Jim Curtin's men were to defeat the surging Rapids in their home stadium, it could cause quite a stir across MLS, and it would make the Union the first 20-point club in the Eastern Conference. 

The other big story to watch in Week 13 is how the Houston Dynamo respond to the sudden departure of manager Owen Coyle. The 49-year-old officially parted ways with the club late on Wednesday night during a time window the United States men's national team's pre-Copa friendly against Ecuador dominated. 

Coyle's time in Houston will go down as one of the bigger managerial failures in MLS history. The Scottish manager never fully adjusted to all the MLS quirks and proved once again how tough it is for foreign coaches to be successful over a long time in the one-of-a-kind league. 

The pieces are there for the Dynamo to be competitive in the Western Conference in the near future, but the front office must make a quality hire. Some of the job candidates include assistant Wade Barrett and Wilmer Cabrera. Cabrera, who previously managed Chivas USA before the club folded, currently leads the Dynamo's USL affiliate. 

Below we'll have a look at the rest of the Week 13 action in our weekend preview. 

Week 13 Schedule

D.C. United at Sporting Kansas City (Friday, 7 p.m. ET, UniMas) 

Houston Dynamo at Vancouver Whitecaps (Saturday, 6 p.m. ET, MLS Live) 

Toronto FC at New York Red Bulls (Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, MLS Live) 

Real Salt Lake at Columbus Crew (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Live) 

Seattle Sounders at New England Revolution (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Live) 

LA Galaxy at Montreal Impact (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, MLS Live) 

Portland Timbers at Chicago Fire (Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Live) 

Philadelphia Union at Colorado Rapids (Saturday, 9 p.m. ET, MLS Live) 

FC Dallas at San Jose Earthquakes (Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Live) 

Orlando City at New York City FC (Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) 

Players to Watch

Nick DeLeon, CM, D.C. United

How Ben Olsen aligns his D.C. United side for Friday's match against Sporting Kansas City is anyone's guess. The Black and Red will be without the injured pair of Chris Rolfe and Patrick Nyarko as well as Steve Birnbaum, who is on international duty with the USMNT. 

One player we can expect to see in midfield no matter where he plays is Nick DeLeon. The 25-year-old has found himself in more of a central role in 2016, but he could be shifted to the wing out of necessity in Week 13. 

Regardless of where he starts at Children's Mercy Park, DeLeon must provide a calming presence and help D.C. find a way to generate chances early on the road. If that doesn't happen, we could be set for another dull performance out of the Black and Red. 

Will Bruin, FW, Houston Dynamo

Houston has a chance to head into the Copa break on a positive wave of momentum, but achieving that won't be easy as road trips to Vancouver and FC Dallas await in the next week. 

Forward Will Bruin, who started the season with three goals and two assists in his first three games, has a chance to help himself and the Dynamo rebound from a rough week with a surprising win at BC Place.

Bruin's job won't be easy by any stretch of the imagination against a Whitecaps team that appears to be putting everything together at the moment, but if he can use his physical play and runs into the box to his advantage, Houston could leave British Columbia with at least a point. 

Jason Hernandez, CB, New York City FC 

Sunday presents New York City FC with a critical point in its brief two-year existence. 

Patrick Vieira's men are coming off a 7-0 drubbing at the hands of the New York Red Bulls, and they have to face a national audience once again on Sunday against Orlando City. 

All eyes will be on Jason Hernandez and the underwhelming NYCFC back four. If they produce another lackluster performance versus a dynamic attack led by Larin, questions will begin to circulate about the squad's motivation. The good news, if there is any at the moment, for NYCFC is it won't have to face Kaka, who was called into Brazil's Copa squad to replace Douglas Costa. 

Game of the Week

Philadelphia Union at Colorado Rapids

We touched on the conference leaders' clash above, but there is more to Saturday's contest in Commerce City, Colorado, than the storylines attached to the starting goalkeepers. 

The top matchup worth watching is Philadelphia's attack against Colorado's improving defense. C.J. Sapong will test the Rapids back line, which Axel Sjoberg leads, with his physical play for every second he's on the pitch. The Union also possess a nice creative backbone, led by Tranquillo Barnetta, who is beginning to round into form after missing the early parts of the season with an injury.

Colorado will have a challenge on its hands as it looks to replace Jermaine Jones' and Shkelzen Gashi's contributions. Jones, who is currently with the USMNT, has played the No. 10 role to near-perfection since returning from his six-game suspension, while Gashi, an Albania international, has adjusted well to MLS on the left side of midfield.

The Rapids will have Republic of Ireland forward Kevin Doyle at their disposal since he will leave for his country's Euro 2016 camp after Saturday. The 32-year-old will challenge the Union back line that is surprising many week after week. Shutdown right back Keegan Rosenberry, veteran left back Fabinho and third-year center back Richie Marquez will most likely play with center back Ken Tribbett for the first time since April 8 due to Joshua Yaro suffering an injury on Wednesday against Orlando. 

The only thing that could hinder an exciting match is the Union's traveling conditions. They have gone from central Florida's humidity to Colorado's mile-high atmosphere in a short period. If the elements get the best of the Union, it could be a one-sided affair. 

Joe Tansey covers MLS for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter, @JTansey90.

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