By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 25, 2020) US Soccer Players - There's a certain subset of American soccer fans who are more than happy to accept Major League Soccer for what it is. Although there's no arguing that the league has taken notable strides in terms of quality and professionalism over its 25 years of history, MLS retains its reputation for sometimes being uneven with its play and . . .
The Eastern Conference playoff shakeup
Wednesday's soccer news starts with reconsidering what success means in the Eastern Conference. The top two regular season finishers are out, with the MLS playoffs once again demonstrating that upsets can become the norm. The night started with 2nd-seed Toronto exiting to Nashville 1-0 at Rentschler Field. With the game scoreless through regulation, Daniel Ross got the game's only goal in the . . .
Two super clubs need points in the Champions League
Tuesday's soccer news starts with the fourth matchday from the 2020-21 Champions League. Bayern Munich in group A, Liverpool in group D, and Barcelona in group G have already qualified for the knockout round midway through the group stage. All three did it the simplest way possible by winning all of their games. Meanwhile, things haven't gone so smoothly for two super clubs. Real Madrid is in . . .
The 2020 playoffs begin in MLS
Monday's soccer news starts with the MLS roundup, playoff edition. The Eastern Conference needed to figure out the teams advancing from the play-in round. New England knocked out Montreal 2-1 at home. Carles Gil put the Revs up in the 38th with Romell Quioto equalizing in the 61st. Gustavo Bou put New England through to the first round with a goal five minutes into stoppage time. "We're building . . .
Johannsson and Diskerud score in Allsvenskan
The roundup of USMNT players in Europe, Mexico, and Brazil starts in Sweden. Aron Johannsson's Hammarby drew 2-2 at home with Malmo in the Allsvenskan. An own-goal put Malmo up in the 13th minute with Johannsson equalizing in the 35th. Malmo went up again in the 45th with Alexander Kacaniklic equalizing in the 79th. Mix Diskerud scored in Helsingborg's 2-1 loss at Elfsborg. Elfsborg converted a . . .
The play-in round and the underdog scenario
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 20, 2020) US Soccer Players - It would be fair to say that it has been a while since a true underdog has lifted the MLS Cup trophy. Last year's champions, the Seattle Sounders, are the model MLS franchise with two MLS Cup titles in the last four seasons. In 2018, an ascendant Atlanta United used its flashy and expensive South American talent and famous coach to . . .
The USMNT’s two sides of the ocean
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 20, 2020) US Soccer Players - Reggie Cannon hasn't been in Europe for very long. The FC Dallas product arrived at Boavista just two months before the USMNT gathered in Wales at the start of the November international window. Cannon's already found his feet as a regular starter there, finding it dramatically different from his MLS experience. The fullback . . .
MLS faces a play-in problem
Friday's soccer news starts with reports that Inter Miami is without its star players for tonight's play-in game at Nashville. The Miami Herald's Michelle Kaufman updated earlier stories that five Inter players tested positive for the coronavirus, reporting that Federico Higuain, Gonzalo Higuain, and Leandro Gonzalez Pirez are part of that group. That leaves Inter Miami and MLS facing a playoff . . .
The situation in the Eastern Conference
By J Hutcherson (Nov 19, 2020) US Soccer Players - Coming up with a problem where the only answer was a convoluted solution, Major League Soccer kicks off its Eastern Conference play-in round on Friday. After realigning the conferences to restart the season, MLS felt it had no choice but to reset playoff expectations in the now-14 team Eastern Conference. Instead of advancing the top eight . . .
Guardiola’s contract asks a super club question
Thursday's soccer news starts with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola now under contract with the club through the 2022-23 season. Rumors linked Guardiola with a return to Barcelona, perhaps playing off the idea that he isn't known for spending significant time at any club he's coached. "Having that kind of support is the best thing any manager can have," Guardiola said in a press statement. . . .
