MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER NEWS

MLS was back in action after debuting the league's new logo and showcasing their young talent during the MLS and EA Sports FIFA 15 Launch Party, with the playoff race heating up.

The New York Red Bulls defeated the visiting Seattle Sounders 4-1 on Saturday thanks in part to Bradley Wright-Phillips' hat-trick. Wright-Phillips is seeking to break the league's single-season scoring record. Wright-Phillips' three goals gives him 24 for the season, just four shy of the MLS record, helping the Red Bulls hold on to one of the wild-card spots as they look to get into the postseason. New York, who have 41 points for the season, is unbeaten in its last four matches and are looking to stave off the Philadelphia Union (38 points) and Toronto FC (37 points) while also trying to catch the New England Revolution, who have 42 points, to avoid the wild-card single-elimination game.

In the Western Conference, Real Salt Lake -- last year's runner-up for the MLS Cup -- made a big stride in avoiding the wild-card game after thumping their Rocky Mountain rivals, the Colorado Rapids, by a score of 5-1, putting four goals behind the net in a span of 13 minutes. Real Salt Lake swept the Rapids for the season, winning the Rocky Mountain Cup -- given to the team who wins the season series.

Real Salt Lake, with 49 points for the season, is looking to stay ahead of FC Dallas -- who lost to the LA Galaxy 2-1 after being up 1-0 early in the second half. The Galaxy, currently in second place in the Western Conference, were bailed out by Robbie Keane, who tied the game in the 62nd minute as well as assisted with Galaxy's second goal, breaking the defender off of him and crossing the ball into the box where forward Alan Gordon headed the ball past Dallas keeper Jaime Penedo.

The Galaxy win gives them 54 points for the season, forcing a tie at the atop the Western Conference with the Seattle Sounders.

In other news, the LA Galaxy are rumored to be interested in attaining the services of Serie A team Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo to replace the retiring Landon Donovan next season, according to ESPN.

While the Galaxy reportedly want Pirlo to play for the franchise in 2015, Pirlo recently said he has no interest to move to Los Angeles until after he can give no more to his current Italian club team.

"Why should I move?" said Pirlo. "Serie A is a top-level league and life in Italy is comfortable. Two more years with Juventus, then maybe I will move to the MLS in the United States."

LIGA MX NEWS

Queretaro's signing of Ronaldinho is already paying dividends for the club, with the Brazilian legend scoring in his Liga MX debut with the club. Ronaldinho scored nine minutes into the game off a penalty kick after Guadalajara's Carlos Salcido gave up a handball in the penalty area that got him tossed from the match. Ronaldinho later assisted with the second goal of the game in the 70th minute, finding Camilo Sanvezzo on the through-ball pass to extend the lead to 2-0. Queretero ended up beating Chivas 4-1, moving from eighth to sixth place in the Liga MX standings.

Club America has finally gotten off their scoreless schneid, putting the ball behind the net in their game against Pachuca and beating them 2-1 at Estadio Azteca on Saturday. America had not scored since their Aug. 16 match against Monterrey, with the Team Liga MX front-runners getting on the scoreboard in the 30th minute after Pachuca's Daniel Arreola's defensive mistake that put the ball past his own keeper while trying to clear the ball out of the box.

Pachuca striker Ariel Nahuelpán would tie the game up, but America would eventually score without help from their opponent after Miguel Layún capitalized on teammate Rubens Sambueza's breakaway to break the tie in the 79th minute, winning the match 2-1.

With Saturday's victory, America managed to keep their lead atop the Liga MX table with 20 points, staying two points ahead of Club Atlas, three ahead of Deportivo Toluca, and four points ahead of Monterrey.

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