DeAndre Yedlin Returns To MLS Play

The World Cup may be over, but soccer is still buzzing in the U.S., especially in the Pacific northwest. Two of Major League Soccer's most exciting and heavily supported franchises met in a Battle for Cascadia on Sunday night with bragging rights and league standings on the line.

While the Timbers showed solid defensive prowess in the first half, the backline broke down in the second. Behind goals from Clint Dempsey and Marco Pappa, the Sounders grabbed a 2-0 win at a sold out CenturyLink Field to retain their spot on top of the Western Conference; and much of the reason Seattle's goal never looked in any real danger was due to the tireless effort put forth by DeAndre Yedlin.

After being beat by Belgium in the Round of 16, the U.S. men's national team members returned to their respective clubs, which included Yedlin and Dempsey back to their homes in Seattle. And after a solid campaign for his country, Yedlin showed the same defensive acumen and attacking threat that he showcased in his 115 minutes of play in Brazil.

You could often see the former Akron defender bombing down the right flank to help his team in attack before tracking back to defend Steve Zakuani or Fernando Adi. With the best offense in MLS and a solid back line in front of a goalkeeper who hasn't truly been tested this season, the Sounders look impressive going into the second half of the season.

And with Yedlin drawing attention from AS Roma, a solid domestic season could mean big things for the MLS All-Star.