Week 22
Our weekly peek around the league returns from a brief hiatus as Sheva's agent throws his arms up, the Galaxy actually win something and the Crew are found to be a bunch of well behaved boys.

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The Chicago Fire have not rested in their search for quality players in the international market. Having reaped instant rewards with high-profile signing Cuauhtémoc Blanco and the lesser-publicized Paulo Wanchope, newly installed head coach Juan Carlos Osorio lobbied for and got Colombian defender Wilman Conde to solidify Chicago's backline.

Conde, 24, had been making a living at Osorio's old club Millonarios, but will now call Toyota Park home on a reported $300,000 transfer fee. He could make his debut as early as this Saturday's game against the New York Red Bulls, depending on the readiness of his visa.

To make room for Conde, the Fire plan to waive Brazilian midfielder Thiago later this week. The 25-year old has been a staple for the club since his arrival in 2005, with nine goals and 10 assists over that span. In 2007, however, he has seen his playing time decrease dramatically, starting only five games all year.

Luis Arroyave reports on his Red Card blog that the fire attempted to shop Thiago around, but received little interest from other teams in the league, leaving them with no choice but to put him on waivers.

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Chicago is not the only club looking to bolster its defense in preparation for a playoff run. For the second time in less than three years, the New England Revolution have brought Serbia international Dusan Petkovic into camp in hopes of acquiring the 6'3" defender. In 2005, Petkovic was offered - and turned down - a contract with the Revs, but at the age of 33, he concedes that his viewpoint has changed and is hoping to join Nicol's squad as they mount another challenge for MLS Cup.

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Two-thirds of the way through the 2007 MLS season, the Chicago Fire is the only club that has received either a yellow or red card in every game they've played. In contrast, the Columbus Crew have gone unpunished seven different times this season, best in the league.

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So maybe the stars haven't aligned perfectly for the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007, but the club can claim victory in at least one department: the weighted lottery for forward Israel Sesay. Currently holding the second-worst record in the league, the Galaxy were given the second-best odds of winning the draw for the 16-year old native of Sierra Leone.

Chosen to be a member of MLS' Generation Adidas program, Izzy's salary will not count toward the club's budget as he will fill one of three developmental spots on roster. He has also spent time at the US Soccer Residency Program in Bradenton, Florida.

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For the second time this season, Maykel Galindo has been honored as MLS Player of the Week, as his two-goal performance was instrumental in powering Chivas USA past city rivals Los Angeles. Also named POW in Week 3, Galindo has raised his goal total in his inaugural MLS season to 10, fifth best in the league.

Only Kansas City Wizards forward Eddie Johnson has been named Player of the Week more often than Galindo in 2007, with EJ earning the recognition three separate times this season.

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If Chelsea star Andriy Shevchenko is being courted by an MLS team, it would come as a surprise to his agent. Unable to take the field for the Blues so far this season due to a back injury, rumors have been swirling over a possible switch stateside for the 2004 European Player of the Year, but Sheva's agent Oscar Damiani told American Soccer Daily, "I don't know if [MLS] have given an offer to him directly, but no offer has been passed by me."

In recent interviews, Shevchenko declared that he would like to come to America before his career ends, but has conceded that now is probably not that time, what with three years remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge. In addition to DC United, the Ukraine ace is being linked with returns to AC Milan and Dynamo Kiev.

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Real Salt Lake can't buy a goal. Though Toronto FC has twice endured painful stretches this season without finding the back of the net, RSL's total of 14 goals scored through 19 games leaves them four behind Toronto and puts the club on pace to break the MLS record of fewest goals in a season (Colorado with 29 in 2004).

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Nate Jaqua (HOU), Brian Carroll (DCU), and Davy Arnaud (KC) will all miss their respective clubs' next game due to accumulating five cautions this season. In addition, a host of key players from around the league are just one yellow card away from a similar fate, including Sacha Kljestan (CHV), Pablo Mastroeni (COL), Christian Gomez (DCU) and Kyle Beckerman (RSL), as well as the Columbus duo of Frankie Hejduk and Guillermo Barros Schelotto.

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DC United midfielder Ben Olsen, who missed Saturday's game against Toronto FC, is off the injured list. An ankle injury forced him to miss the 2-0 win against Columbus on August 18th, although he took part in the 3-1 win against the New York Red Bulls on August 22nd. He will play Saturday at FC Dallas.

MLS goal leader Luciano Emilio also missed the trip to Toronto. He sustained a hamstring strain during the second half of the game against the Red Bulls. He is listed as questionable to play for Saturday night's match.