Defenders are usually the top candidates for Rookie of the Year and while only a few such players have broken into starting lineups this year, D.C. United is very fortunate it had a University of California product ready to step in.

Experienced defender Bobby Boswell played a vital role in D.C. United's rebound from a disastrous three-win season in 2013.

The way forward for Houston is impossible to chart in the absence of former head coach Dominic Kinnear, who ended his nine-year stint in charge Friday night with a 2-1 loss to Chicago.

The Fire has set a league record for tied games while slipping from its 2013 record, yet its head coach is optimistic about the future.

Veteran Real Salt Lake goalie Nick Rimando had another strong season despite being called away by the national team for the World Cup and other games.

There's an old saying that I think makes some sense: "Praise in public, criticize in private."

The USA controlled play in the first half but couldn't sustain the momentum against Honduras, and wound up with its second 1-1 tie in the last five days.

In a performance that ranks among the USA's most miserable in recent history, Jozy Altidore provided the only American highlight with a superb 10th minute goal.

The Landon Donovan Era ended with a 1-1 tie against Ecuador as the next phase of head coach Jurgen Klinsmann's reign took a significant step.

Landon Donovan used the final 41 minutes of his national team career to remind us how much he'll be missed: Coach Jurgen Klinsmann's squad looked much better when the 32-year-old soon-to-be retiree was on the field during a 1-1 tie with Ecuador on Friday in East Hartford, Conn.

Nearly 14 years after it started, the national team stint of Landon Donovan will end Friday night in East Hartford, Conn., in a friendly against Ecuador.

I have been thinking a lot about Landon Donovan this week.

With its colorful fan base and incredible string of sellouts at Providence Park, Portland is a flagship MLS franchise off the field. The defending Western Conference regular-season champion needs a strong finish just to get into the playoffs this year.

So what should we make of the situation at the New York Red Bulls?

As the first-team eliminated from playoff contention, Montreal is already looking to the future.