By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Aug 15, 2018) US Soccer Players - The LA Galaxy is in the midst of what is the club’s most important week of the season. After having climbed into playoff contention, this week presented an opportunity to solidify that stance. On August 11, the Galaxy was set to host two beatable opponents in a four-day span before a trip north to try and keep another contending team . . .
LAFC raises expectations
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Aug 8, 2018) US Soccer Players - For as great of a debut MLS season as LAFC is having, nothing is certain. LAFC seems poised for a playoff spot, but that is not a sure thing yet. If the playoffs do happen, the team is not guaranteed a spot in the conference final or MLS Cup. History says the expansion club will not even reach the playoffs. Right now, there is one . . .
MLS Power Rankings: Atlanta stays top, moves for the Galaxy and Sounders
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Aug 1, 2018) US Soccer Players - Surges by some and skids by others caused for some major movement in the MLS Power Rankings. The LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders decided to start playing soccer once more while Chicago and Sporting KC have forgotten how to do so, and all of that reflects in the table this month. Atlanta still dominates the table as Josef Martinez . . .
The suddenly mighty Galaxy
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Aug 1, 2018) US Soccer Players - When the LA Galaxy fell to FC Dallas on May 12, the result was not too surprising. It was after all the club’s fourth consecutive loss and fifth setback in a six-match stretch. The Galaxy had Zlatan Ibrahimovic at its disposal, but not even his world-class talent could help the team collect points. Little seemed to be going the . . .
High stakes in the LA derby
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jul 25, 2018) US Soccer Players - Even though the club is very much in its infancy, LAFC has already played some very important matches. The club’s first-ever game on March 4 at Seattle was one. So was the first game against the LA Galaxy, on March 31. Banc of California Stadium’s christening was important as well, as the April 29 tilt against Seattle ushered in the . . .
Preview: 2018 Liga MX Apertura
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jul 18, 2018) US Soccer Players - With the 2018 World Cup over, the attention shifts to club soccer. While some European leagues are in their preseason, Liga MX offers fans the chance to jump right back into some meaningful action. Liga MX kicks off its 2018 Apertura season when Veracruz hosts Pumas and Queretrao visits Atlas on Friday. For the American contingent . . .
Big wins for the Galaxy and LAFC point to something more
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jul 11, 2018) US Soccer Players - The World Cup offered MLS teams a bit of downtime. A couple of weekends without league matches meant teams could focus on sorting out their issues, helping new players get acclimated to their teams, and work on getting ready for the summer and a push toward the playoffs. For the LA Galaxy and LAFC, the break also meant sending some . . .
MLS Power Rankings: Time running out for struggling teams
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jul 5, 2018) US Soccer Players - Summer is well underway. In MLS, that means teams can still overcome early-season misgivings, but only by sorting out their issues now. Seattle reached MLS Cup the last two years despite carrying a poor record into July. The Sounders were 5-7-6 through June 2017 and 5-9-1 through June 2016 and yet both times were able to turn things . . .
The market just changed for LAFC and the Galaxy
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jul 4, 2018) US Soccer Players - Like most other parts of the country, Southern California's focus is on the World Cup. Ratings have been consistently high locally. Everywhere anybody turns there is talk of soccer, whether it is on social media, gatherings at work, or with friends and family. Soccer has been on the forefront and it seems like both the LA Galaxy and . . .
Mexico gets out of the group but it wasn’t easy
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jun 27, 2018) US Soccer Players - Perhaps Mexico does not do well as a favorite. Or maybe Mexico players were simply too overconfident. Whatever the case, Mexico came narrowly close to an embarrassing World Cup exit on Wednesday as only a greater embarrassment kept El Tri’s pulse beating. Still, the damage is done. Mexico’s World Cup venture has gone a full 180 . . .
