by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Feb 20, 2013

[MLS 2013 COUNTDOWN] Hondurans are in vogue in MLS -- and this was before the Catrachos beat the USA, 2-1, on Feb. 6 in San Pedro Sula. The Vancouver Whitecaps signed highly rated defender Johnny Leveron, who played on the 2012 Honduran Olympic team that reached the quarterfinals.



The Whitecaps have been eyeing Leveron since Olympic qualifying in March 2012. The 23-year-old Leveron is a left-footed defender and should give the Caps help in the middle of their backline.



Vancouver needs help as captain Jay DeMerit is sidelined with Achilles tendinitis and hasn’t played since Feb. 2 against the Houston Dynamo.



Hondurans Victor Bernandez (San Jose) and Oscar Boniek Garcia (Houston) had great success after moving to MLS in 2012. Mario Martinez's first MLS goal was the series winner in Seattle's playoff battle with Real Salt Lake.



MLS PRESEASON RESULTS:

Tuesday, Feb. 19

Chivas USA 0 Gangwon FC0.

Los Angeles 6 Tijuana "B"2



FC DALLAS. Dallas acquired Jamaican midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson from Houston for a second-round selection in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. Watson, 29, played two seasons with the Dynamo. Dallas also signed 31-year-old Brazilian winger Michel, who has played for Aris in Greece since 2010.



HOUSTON. The Dynamo is hoping to conclude a deal for 25-year-old Scottish winger Andrew Driver as a backup for Brad Davis and Boniek Garcia. Interest in Driver intensified after Cameroonian free agent Franck Songo'o left camp.



MLS PRESEASON SCHEDULE:

Wednesday, Feb. 20

AIK Stockholm vs. San Jose (Portland Preseason Tournament) at Jeld-Wen Field in Portland, Ore.

Charleston Battery vs. Chicago (Carolina Challenge Cup) at Blackbaud Stadium in Daniel Island, S.C.

Houston vs. Vancouver (Carolina Challenge Cup) at Blackbaud Stadium in Daniel Island, S.C.

Orlando City vs. Montreal at Seminole Soccer Complex, in Sanford, Florida.

Philadelphia vs. D.C. United at Dewey O. Boster Sports Complex in Deltona, Fla.

Portland vs. FC Dallas (Portland Preseason Tournament) at Jeld-Wen Field in Portland, Ore.

*Real Salt Lake vs. New England (Desert Diamond Cup) at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Ariz.

*Seattle vs. New York (Desert Diamond Cup) at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Ariz.

*Streamed on mlssoccer.com