By Clemente Lisi – New York, NY (Aug 5, 2014) US Soccer Players – There is no better time than on the eve of the MLS All-Star Game to look back at the first half of the season. While most MLS players are taking a much-deserved – and albeit brief – breather, the next few months will be very busy. Teams will spent that time jockeying for position, hoping to finish strong, and carry whatever momentum into the postseason.

What have we learned so far? Four months into the 2014 campaign reveals that Sporting Kansas City is the best in the East, while the Seattle Sounders FC top the West. Both teams are vying for the Supporters’ Shield, with the dream matchup of Sporting Kansas City vs Seattle Sounders the best competitive choice for this year’s MLS Cup Final. That normally means very little in MLS.

Individually, New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips is the top scorer – one of many English players who have succeeded in MLS this season. Thierry Henry, who signed with the New York Red Bulls in 2010, remains vital, while Clint Dempsey continues to be the best American players in MLS.

Let’s take a by the numbers look at six categories – three team records and three individual ones – in an effort to break down some of the highlights of the past few months.

Who’s Scoring?

There is only one American – Clint Dempsey with nine goals – on the list of top 10 MLS scorers. That’s a real problem for a country trying to nurture goal scorers for the USMNT. The reality is more and more players who score goals come from other countries. Leading the list is Wright-Phillips with 18 goals, followed by his countryman Dom Dwyer along with Erick Torres, both with 14. Robbie Keane (with 12 goals) and Jermaine Defoe (at 11) currently round out the top 5.

Thierry Henry Remains Key

A look at the assists leaders this season shows Thierry Henry in the lead with 10 in 19 games. Given that the Red Bulls have scored 35 goals so far this season (Henry scored five of those), it means the veteran was involved in one-third of all of the team’s goals. He’s still key and remains one of the best players in MLS despite being 36. Without him, the Red Bulls would be nowhere near playoff contention.

He’s a Keeper!

Goals may win games – but so does stopping them. One of the best goalie’s so far has been Sporting KC’s Eric Kronberg. His numbers are impressive in nearly every category – 38 saves recorded in 17 games, just 15 goals allowed, 7 shutouts and a 0.88 GAA. Drafted by Kansas City in 2006, this is Kronberg’s first season as a starter. Unfortunately, he broke a finger last month and isn’t expected to be back until sometime next month.

Home Sweet Home

The Seattle Sounders are 7-0-3 at home. No surprise, really. The team averages 42,424 fans a game. No other MLS team is even close. Second is Toronto FC with 22,591 – nearly half the number of fans who show up at CenturyLink Field. The Sounders truly have a 12th man advantage and it shows in its home record. If Seattle can continue to play well at home and win the Supporters Shield, it would be hard for any opponent to defeat them in an MLS Cup Final.

We’re Going Streaking

Again, it’s all about Seattle. The Sounders hold the record for the longest home win streak at 6 games – a streak that was recently snapped when the Sounders lost 3-0 to the Los Angeles Galaxy. In a league with far too much parity, win streaks are what differentiates the better teams from the weaker ones.

Road Warriors

Sporting Kansas City is 7-0-4 on the road. For a team with an overall record of 11-5-6, the team’s 21 away points have catapulted them to the top of the Eastern Conference. Road victories are part of coach Peter Vermes’ philosophy that playing for a draw away from home is not enough. In order to succeed, wins – no matter where you can get them – remain a priority. It could be what gives Sporting Kansas City the ability to win a second straight MLS Cup.

Clemente Lisi is a New York-based writer. Contact him at: CAL4477@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/ClementeLisi.

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