Home grown

Here's why I love Major League Soccer. For all its imperfections, the league has provided a fertile breeding ground for the young American player. If MLS didn't exist, Freddy Adu would likely be playing for Inter Milan's youth team, and Justin Mapp would probably be starting his junior year at some NCAA soccer power. Instead, they are both budding professional stars, on US National Team head coach Bruce Arena's radar (Mapp having been called into the most recent training camp and Freddy being, well, Freddy), and both scored very similar goals this weekend which happen to be two of the best goals in MLS this season. Both goals were helped by rather lax defending, but each player showed excellent poise, receiving the ball 40-45 yards from goal and skillfully working their way into great positions. Freddy picked the perfect spot for a rocket shot into the far corner, and Mapp finished his mazy run through five defenders with a well-placed ball across his body. Some of that comes with talent, but it also comes with game experience... something these guys might not have much of if MLS wasn't around.