Once again, the soccer news starts with MLS in the Concacaf Champions League round of 16 first-legs and once again it's mixed results. Sporting Kansas City shutout Toluca 3-0 at home. Krisztian Nemeth scored in the 35th with Gerso Fernandez doubling the lead in the 52nd. Ilie Sanchez finished off the scoring in the 72nd minute. Sporting goalkeeper Tim Melia kept the clean sheet with three saves. . . .
Red Bulls win in CCL
The soccer news starts with another night of the Concacaf Champions League round of 16 first-legs. The New York Red Bulls shutout Atletico Pantoja 2-0 in the Dominican Republic. An own-goal opened the scoring in the 39th minute with Daniel Royer doubling the lead in the 67th. Luis Robles didn't have to make a save to keep the clean sheet. The series concludes on February 27 at Red Bull . . .
No future for the Confederations Cup
With UEFA now standing in the way of FIFA's plans for a revamped Club World Cup and new global Nations League, the future of the schedule is once again at issue. FIFA may or may not be planning a vote next month in Miami on their new $25b deal with an outside promoter for those two tournaments. Regardless, one thing is already clear. The future of the Confederations Cup is unlikely. US Soccer . . .
Manchester City keeps playing for the quadruple
The soccer news starts with the Fifth Round of the FA Cup, aka the round of 16 of England's bigger cup competition. It's also a February break for the Premier League clubs already out of the competition. That includes one of the two teams at the top of the table with Liverpool exiting in the Third Round. Manchester City is through to the quarterfinals, knocking out Newport County 4-1 on . . .
Assist for Adams, goals for Green and Rubin
The roundup of USMNT players in Europe and Mexico starts in the Bundesliga with another strong performance from Tyler Adams. Julian Green converted a penalty in the 2.Bundesliga and Rubio Rubin scored twice in Mexico. Adams's RB Leipzig beat VfB Stuttgart 3-1 away. Yussuf Poulsen put Leipzig up in the 6th with Stuttgart equalizing from the penalty spot in the 16th. Marcel Sabitzer put Leipzig up . . .
The New England Revolution in transition
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Feb 15, 2019) US Soccer Players - No Major League Soccer club has teased its supporters more over the course of 23 seasons than the New England Revolution. One of the league’s original franchises, the Revs are a study in coming up just short with potential that never reached fruition. As far as identities go, it’s not a great one to own. It’s going to take a lot of . . .
Club Brugge takes the lead in the Europa League
Friday's soccer news starts in the Europa League round of 32 first-legs. Ethan Horvath was in goal for Club Brugge's 2-1 home win over Red Bull Salzburg, making four saves. Club Brugge fell behind in the 17th minute with Stefano Denswil equalizing in the 64th. Wesley Moraes scored in the 81st minute. "A Club Brugge wrecked by stress in the first-half, afraid of making mistakes. I was livid at . . .
Borussia Dortmund loses in the Champions League
The soccer news starts with Borussia Dortmund's 3-0 loss at Spurs in the Champions League round of 16. Christian Pulisic subbed out in the 87th minute in a game that Spurs took over in the second-half. Spurs scored in the 47th, 83rd, and 86th minutes with Borussia Dortmund now facing an uphill scenario at home on March 5. "We had only one chance in the first and hardly any in the second-half," . . .
David Beckham deserves a statue
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Feb 13, 2019) US Soccer Players - In many ways, David Beckham was a trailblazer during his time in MLS. Perhaps the most popular soccer player to ever play in the league, Beckham’s legacy is still felt long after his days in the league ended. To this day, Beckham is still blazing new paths for others around the league to emulate. Beckham will become the first MLS . . .
Toronto and Cincinnati in the new era of MLS squad building
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Feb 13, 2019) US Soccer Players - There’s plenty to pick from if you’re looking for something entertaining out of the Major League Soccer offseason. The kickoff to the 2019 campaign is less than a month away. The league’s chattering class has more than enough to talk about as clubs race to get their business done. It might take a deep interest in MLS to understand . . .
