Week25
In our weekly peek around the league: Francesco is Coco for Hollywood, the BMO turf is drawing rants and the RSL defense is keeping Nick Rimando very busy.

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The artificial surface at BMO Field isn't making any friends. Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham made it well known earlier this year that he is no fan of the FieldTurf surface utilized at the home stadium of Toronto FC. Then, Canada star Thomas Radzinski admitted it kept him from signing with the club. Now, add another Maple Leaf international, Paul Staltieri, to that list.

The Tottenham Hotspur defender, back in the Great White North for national team duty against Costa Rica, lashed out at the pitch, pointing out that it most likely is the main culprit for all of TFC's injury woes. "Just running on it on an everyday basis, just cutting and turning when you are sprinting, it's just a completely different feel than any natural surface," he told the Toronto Sun. "If you look at the injury record of Toronto right now, I've got no doubt in my mind that it has something to do with the pitch."

Mo Johnston's club has struggled to a 5-13-6 record in their injury-riddled first season, and currently lists key players Ronnie O'Brien, Danny Dichio and Greg Sutton on the injury report.

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Player of the Week honors have been handed out, with Kansas City Wizards forward Scott Sealy landing the distinction for week 24. The Trinidad & Tobago international notched a pair of goals in KC's come-from-behind 3-2 win over the Columbus Crew on Saturday, including the game winner in the dying seconds of stoppage time.

Sealy's free kick in the 31st minute gave the Wizards an early edge before seeing Columbus rally to take a 2-1 lead. After a late penalty conversion from Eddie Johnson, Sealy's header past Will Hesmer helped Kansas City to three points, only the third time in MLS history that a club has turned a deficit into a win in stoppage time.

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Ives Galarcep is reporting on his blog, Soccer By Ives, that DC United is a virtual lock to land the services of Juan Sebastian Veron for the 2008 season. After making overtures for La Brujita earlier this summer, Galarcep is confirming that United appears set to sign Veron as the club's Designated Player this offseason.

The 32-year old midfielder is currently plying his trade with Estudiantes in Argentina, the team with whom he started his professional career in 1993. Veron has also played for such international giants as Manchester United, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Boca Juniors in his 15-year career.

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The David Beckham worldwide tour, currently on hiatus due to the headliner's knee/ankle injuries, has added another date. Mark your calendars, folks, as the Los Angeles Galaxy will travel to New Zealand in late November for a friendly with the Wellington Phoenix - a team in Australia's A-League. Tentatively scheduled for November 27th, the trip will coincide with a similar friendly against another A-League team, Sydney FC.

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Which team has allowed the most shots by their opponents? That would be Real Salt Lake, with opposing teams getting off 332 shots in RSL's 24 games, for an average of 13.83 cracks at goal per game. Keeper Nick Rimando has been forced to make the most saves in the league (121), and his save percentage (76.6%) is second only to Pat Onstad (78.7%).

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There are rumblings that former Italian defender Francesco Coco is interested in coming to America - if not as a soccer player, then as an actor. Earlier this month, his contract with Inter Milan was mutually dissolved, leaving the 30-year old free to explore his options.

While the New England Revolution and New York Red Bulls have reportedly shown interest, Coco recently proclaimed: "I want to be in the movies. I have always dreamed of being an actor after I have retired and now I can make this come true."

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Wizards fans, enjoy Eddie Johnson while you have him. The Kansas City forward has admitted in an interview with Yahoo Sports that his eye is on the Premiership, with several teams showing interest in the 23-year old. Having turning down an offer to move to Derby County earlier in the year, Johnson has re-affirmed that he would like England to be the next stop in his career, saying, "The Premiership is my goal... MLS is great and I am doing well, but I am going to want a change. That is how life is, people change."

EJ has been electrifying at times for the Wizards this year, scoring 14 goals in 18 games, including back-to-back hat tricks - the first-ever player to accomplish the impressive feat in MLS history.