Wednesday's soccer news starts with a basic question in the lead up to the final day of the 2017 MLS regular season. What's good enough in 2017? What stops a team from triggering an attempt at a rebuild? What has fans looking forward to next season even for a team that doesn't make the playoffs? Is that even possible in a league where a dozen teams make the postseason? It's certainly not for the . . .
Borussia Dortmund under no illusions in the Champions League
Christian Pulisic's Borussia Dortmund drew 1-1 at APOEL in the Champions League. APOEL scored in the 62nd minute with Sokratis equalizing for Dortmund in the 67th. In the other Group H game, Real Madrid and Spurs drew 1-1 at the Bernabeu. Those two are tied at the top of the group with seven points, with Spurs ahead on a tiebreaker. Dortmund is six points behind in 3rd-place, tied with APOEL on . . .
Precourt announces the Crew might move to Austin
Tuesday's soccer news starts with an MLS team potentially moving to a new city. News broke last night that the Columbus Crew might leave for Austin if they can't get a new stadium deal. Yes, the MLS team with the first soccer-specific stadium has decided that they're better off somewhere in downtown Columbus or a completely different city. The Columbus Dispatch's Michael Arace and Andrew Erickson . . .
U-17 World Cup: USMNT 5 – Paraguay 0
A closely contested first-half turned into a rout for the USMNT, advancing to the quarterfinals of the U-17 World Cup. The USMNT beat Paraguay 5-0 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Dehli. They now await the winner of tomorrow's England vs Japan game. Tim Weah opened the scoring for the USMNT in the 19th minute. Weah doubled the lead in the 53rd. Andrew Carleton made it 3-0 for the USMNT in the . . .
Learning from the NASL’s expansion problems
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Oct 16, 2017) US Soccer Players – We’re nearing the end of the latest round of MLS expansion. Though commissioner Don Garber recently suggested that the next round might face a delay, the league was quick to confirm that they’re set to announce two more teams in mid-December. That’s how the league works right now, adding clubs on a regular schedule. Cities . . .
The MLS playoff picture
Monday's soccer news starts with the MLS table. Major League Soccer's normally unbalanced schedule is now locked in at 33 games played across both conferences with one game left in the 2017 regular season. In the Eastern Conference, 1st-place and 3rd-place are called for. Toronto has the top spot a dozen points ahead of 2nd-place. The Red Bulls take 6th five points ahead of 7th-place and six . . .
MLS Week 32: Draws and shutouts
It was a full schedule in Major League Soccer in week 32. The games started with Chicago's 3-2 win over Philadelphia at Toyota Park. Nemanja Nikolic opened the scoring in the 3rd minute with the Union equalizing through an own-goal in the 6th. Alejandro Bedoya put Philadelphia up in the 13th. Mikolic equalized from the penalty spot in the 64th and scored again in the 78th. "I think the whole . . .
Back to the club schedule in Europe and Liga MX
In the Bundesliga, Bobby Wood subbed out in the 79th minute for Hamburg's 3-2 loss at Mainz. Trailing from the 2nd minute, Walace equalized for Hannover in the 9th. Mainz went ahead in the 52nd and scored again in the 58th. Sejad Salihovic pulled a goal back for Hannover two minutes into stoppage time. Timmy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt won 2-1 at Hannover. Sebastian Haller put Eintracht up in . . .
MLS and the way(s) forward
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Oct 13, 2017) US Soccer Players - American soccer suddenly finds itself talking about things that are tough to pin down. Systems, structures, and cultural nuances can be slippery and difficult. Still, there’s no time for it like the end of a three-decade run of consecutive World Cup qualifications. Naturally, focus will turn towards Major League Soccer. A . . .
Intrigue in the Western Conference
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Oct 13, 2017) US Soccer Players - Unlike the Eastern Conference, the Western Conference of MLS possesses a bit of intrigue with two weeks to go in the regular season. In the East, the only thing left to learn is the seeding of the six teams who have already locked in their playoff position. In the West, only Vancouver has officially booked a place in the postseason . . .
