By RYAN TOLMICH
Portland Timbers captain Will Johnson will extend his stay with the club after signing a contract extension, the Timbers announced on Monday.
Johnson joined the Timbers prior to last season before having his best year as a professional by scoring eleven goals in all competitions. The Timbers midfielder also contributed five assists on his way to earning a spot in the MLS Best XI.
Johnson becomes the latest Timber to sign an extension, joining Diego Valeri, Diego Chara and Darlington Nagbe among the key Timbers starters to secure long-term deals with the Timbers.
Here are some more MLS items from the weekend and Monday:
EARTHQUAKES ADD PORTUGUESE WINGER YANNICK DJALO ON LOAN
The San Jose Earthquakes have reached a deal with Portuguese powerhouses S.L. Benfica to bring in winger Yannick Djalo on a season-long loan.
The 27-year-old winger comes to San Jose having played seven years in Portugal’s top flight to go with one season in France’s Ligue 1. He has been capped once by the Portuguese national team, having appeared in a Euro 2012 qualifier against Cyprus
“We’re excited to announce the signing of Yannick,” Earthquakes head coach Mark Watson said via the club’s official site. “There was a lot of work and time spent scouting in the offseason, and we feel like we have a very good player in Yannick. He adds a versatile, attacking dimension to our team. He can operate as an attacking midfielder, but also has the pace to get behind defenders.”
In accordance with league policy, terms of the deal were undisclosed.
HOMEGROWN PLAYER JONES SCORES HAT-TRICK VS. SOUNDERS RESERVES
University of Washington forward Darwin Jones scored a stoppage time winner to complete his hat-trick in the Huskies 4-3 victory over the Seattle Sounders reserves Sunday night.
Jones, who is a homegrown-eligible player for the Sounders, added an assist to go with his three goals in a demonstration of the talent that saw him invited to the 2013 Sounders preseason camp. Jones was one of four Sounders products in the UW starting lineup.
Jalil Anibaba, Chad Barrett and trialist Cam Weaver scored for the Sounders, while highly-regarded U.S. Under-20 National Team midfielder Christian Roldan scored on Jones’ assist.
CHIVAS USA FALL TO UCLA IN SCRIMMAGE
The UCLA Bruins knocked off Chivas USA 2-1 in a friendly scrimmage Monday.
The Bruins, who finished third in the 2013 NCAA soccer rankings with a 12-3-5 record, scored two goals in the opening 23 minutes to take the lead.
Chivas USA pulled one back in the 69th minute on a Matthew Fondy goal, but the Goats were unable to find another goal on the afternoon.
REVS WAIVE MIDFIELDER DELPICCOLO
The New England Revolution waived Paolo DelPiccolo less than five months after acquiring the midfielder in the Waiver Draft.
DelPiccolo previously played for the Montreal Impact, where he was limited to reserve team appearance. Prior to joining the Impact, he spent time in Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt. The 22-year-old was originally drafted in the second round of the 2013 draft after playing at Louisville.