With club soccer on break for the March international window, MLS kept some of the games going. Jason Davis worked through the issues this created for clubs losing players to international duty. Ten MLS teams saw action with limited rosters, and the Philadelphia Union took full advantage. Philadelphia shutout the Columbus Crew 3-0 at home. David Accam scored in the 31st and 41st minutes and . . .
USMNT gets a shutout in Orlando
Friday's soccer news starts with the USMNT's 1-0 win over Ecuador. With the pressure on the USMNT in a short week of training, the team responded with a friendly win. Coach Gregg Berhalter's choice to put the pre-game focus on tactical decisions gave the first March friendly a clear story to tell. For the most part, the players on the field showed that even without a lot of practice sessions they . . .
USMNT 1 – Ecuador 0
The USMNT started the March 2019 international window with a 1-0 shutout of Ecuador at Orlando City Stadium. A deflected Gyasi Zardes shot in the 81st minute was the game's only goal. Sean Johnson kept the clean sheet. Coach Gregg Berhalter's tactics and personnel decisions showed throughout the first-half. The USMNT played with composure on the ball, winning corners and pressuring the Ecuador . . .
Preview: USMNT vs Ecuador
The soccer news starts with the USMNT in action against Ecuador at 8pm ET on ESPN2. The preparations for the game at Orlando City Stadium focused on USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter making his preferences known in advance for his first choice squad. Ecuador is the 9th-ranked team in CONMEBOL, 58th overall in the FIFA World Rankings. It's a different calibre of opponent than what the USMNT faced in . . .
Gregg Berhalter’s March tactics
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Mar 20, 2019) US Soccer Players - The USMNT is coming out of a dark period. The failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup casts a shadow over the program that still lingers, more than a year-and-a-half after the loss in Trinidad eliminated the Americans from the tournament in Russia. The memories of how it all went wrong haven’t faded. Questions about roster . . .
Jason Kreis and the USMNT U-23s
The soccer news starts with US Soccer announcing that Jason Kreis will coach the USMNT U-23s. Kreis takes over the program immediately, with the team currently in camp in Spain. The U-23s are the team that attempts to qualify for the Olympics, something that has turned into a challenge in recent cycles. Kreis takes the job while remaining part of Inter Miami. "It's a tremendous opportunity," . . .
MLS and the March international break
The soccer news starts with the MLS schedule. Showing some respect to the international break, there are only five games in an abbreviated week 4. There's certainly an argument for that being five too many. In the league's own media roundup, they pointed to the "80 MLS stars set for National Team action" over the break. That's the standard reason for topflights taking the international break off . . .
Aaron Long: “How lucky am I that I have Tim on my right and Luis behind me in goal?”
By Clemente Lisi – HARRISON, NJ (Mar 18, 2019) US Soccer Players – Aaron Long is the latest talent to come out of the Red Bulls' system. Over the past few years, the Red Bulls have relied on many young talents like Tim Ream, Matt Miazga, Tyler Adams, Sean Davis, Conor Lade, and Tim Parker. Some have moved on. Others, like Long, are working hard to help RBNY win its first MLS Cup. Named MLS . . .
Atlanta United’s point
The soccer news starts with the obvious issue for Atlanta United. So far in 2019, it's not working. Atlanta split the points at home with Philadelphia in a 1-1 draw that required a comeback. This isn't the Atlanta we knew from 2018, adding pressure to a transition that was never likely to be easy. “I feel like we were finding some problems to really find our free man," Atlanta coach Frank de Boer . . .
MLS Week 3: DC United scores five, FC Cincinnati wins at home
Week 3 of the 2019 MLS season saw DC United shutout Real Salt Lake 5-0 at Audi Field and FC Cincinnati win their home opener. Seattle extended their run of form once again with help from Jordan Morris and Minnesota lost in Carson. Wayne Rooney had a hat-trick in DC's 5-0 win over RSL, converting a 34th minute penalty and scoring in the 41st and 65th minutes. RSL went a man down with a red card to . . .
