Five things we learnt from Week One

MLS celebrated the start of its 20^th season last weekend introducing two new franchises, returning Sporting Kansas City to the Western Conference and airing live on Sky Sports for the first time.

On a weekend that saw three red cards, conference champions DC United and Seattle Sounders both started their respective title defences with victories.

LA Galaxy and Toronto FC also recorded comfortable wins but New York Red Bulls were held in their first game since the retirement of Sky-bound Thierry Henry.

And here’s what we learnt from game Week One:

The Pog in his 'Boro pomp

1)      Emanuel Pogatetz is still playing...professionally!

No, we couldn’t believe it either but the Austrian, who signed for Middlesbrough a decade ago, is still going strong at Columbus Crew SC.

Despite his now Zlatan-esque ponytail, Pogatetz could do nothing to stop Giles Barnes [yes, he’s playing too] from giving Owen Coyle a winning start in charge of Houston Dynamos.

However, still at just 32, the central defender could be vital if The Crew are going to return to the form that saw them win back-to-back Supporter’s shields in 2008 and ’09.

2)      Kaka means business at Orlando

It was by no means the kind of dynamic performance of his AC Milan pomp but Kaka was comfortably the best player on the park in Orlando City’s first MLS game.

The Brazilian was at the heart of everything in attack for the home side and his last-minute equaliser sent most of the 62,000 Citrus Bowl fans into rapture.

The Champions League winner will only get better and if fellow designated player Carlos Rivas can stay onside, the expansion side could cause some waves in the Eastern Conference.

Henry put his feet up for good in December

3)      Bradley Wright-Phillips will miss Henry

Wright-Phillips bagged three hat-tricks as he plundered 27 goals to earn the MLS golden boot last season.

But on Sunday’s evidence his supply line will be much leaner this time around with the absence of Henry, who recorded 14 assists last year.

The striker failed to have a shot against Sporting Kansas City and will have his work cut out to repeat last year’s scoring feats.

4)      Jozy Altidore can score goals

It took the US international just one game on his MLS return to double his tally during a miserable two-year spell at Sunderland.

The former Hull City striker never settled in the Premier League, but stateside Altidore has produced displays that match his unerring self-confidence.

He has 26 goals in 78 appearances for the national team and scored his first MLS goal at just 16 – his goals could yet fire Toronto into the post season.

 5)      Seattle boast the MLS’s most potent strike force 

Martins and Dempsey in Seattle green

We already knew that Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey were a lethal duo, but the ease with which they tore New England Revolution apart will send shockwaves through the league.

Last year’s MLS cup finalists simply could not cope with the pair who managed 32 goals and 23 assists between them last campaign.

With three goals already, they are the main reason The Sounders will be confident of regaining the Supporters’ Shield.

Images courtesy of awunimoss, nicholas.7 and al'sview, with thanks.