By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jul 28, 2021) US Soccer Players - The Seattle Sounders have been flying high since the start of the season. They entered the month undefeated with the stingiest defense in MLS and atop the Supporters' Shield table. In the span of a week, though, the luster has come off the Sounders' shine. Seattle lost its first and second games of the season during this rough . . .
The Galaxy experiences the difference between surviving and contending
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jul 21, 2021) US Soccer Players - The LA Galaxy has been a not-so-quiet surprise in the early portion of the MLS season. For a team that has not been close to championship caliber, the Galaxy looked more than competent for stretches. In fact, the club looked a bit like its previous iteration - scoring clutch goals, looking capable defensively and, most importantly, . . .
LAFC and Brian Rodriguez’s future
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jul 14, 2021) US Soccer Players - For any MLS club, the chance to land a 21-year-old attacking player fresh off a major international tournament who spent the previous season in Europe seems like a major victory. A player like that should add quality to the team, making them more dangerous going forward. LAFC could use such a player, particularly on the attacking . . .
MLS Power Rankings: Solid at the top, movement everywhere else
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jul 7, 2021) US Soccer Players - As the season heads into the dog days of summer, early-season trends have given way to full-blown character traits. Teams now show their true colors heading into July. Those that looked like they were shaking off some early-season rust like Atlanta United and Inter Miami are instead showing something else. Meanwhile, teams like . . .
The Galaxy’s revival continues
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jun 30, 2021) US Soccer Players - The LA Galaxy has always had stars on its roster. Sometimes, like with Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2018 and 2019, the stars perform well while the team struggles. Other times, like in the early 2010s with David Beckham and Landon Donovan, the stars perform well and carry the team. A year ago was one of those star-studded lean years. . . .
Sporting Kansas City should be in contention
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jun 23, 2021) US Soccer Players - The Seattle Sounders are threatening to run away with the Western Conference. Seattle is the only team in MLS yet to taste defeat this season and is coming off a decisive 2-1 win at the LA Galaxy. Some of the teams who were supposed to contend for the regular-season title are well off the mark. Portland is in 5th-place, but both LAFC . . .
Portland can overcome its problems
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jun 16, 2021) US Soccer Players - As MLS gets ready to resume play following a three-week international break, some Western Conference teams have taken on roles. Seattle is the front-runner, sitting comfortably atop the Western Conference. The LA Galaxy is the biggest surprise after a surprisingly strong start. City rival LAFC is the biggest disappointment as the . . .
Carlos Vela, Chicharito, and El Tri
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jun 9, 2021) US Soccer Players - When the Mexican national team played the US in the Concacaf Nations League final on Sunday, it may have seemed natural that the LA Galaxy and LAFC's biggest name attacking players would be in the El Tri squad. For good reasons too. Carlos Vela, a former MLS Most Valuable Player, is one of the most talented players in the league. . . .
MLS Power Rankings: Seattle stays put, New England moves up the table
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jun 2, 2021) US Soccer Players - The 2021 MLS season is not at the halfway mark, but the league is taking its first of two international breaks in June/July. This one will help some struggling teams while hurting those who look like they are starting to figure things out. We already see a clear amount of separation at the top of the conference tables. That's not . . .
LAFC without and with Carlos Vela
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (May 26, 2021) US Soccer Players - The last time Major League Soccer played a normal season, it ended with Carlos Vela winning the Most Valuable Player award. And with good reason. Vela had a record-breaking year in 2019 as part of one of the best regular seasons in MLS history. This year, LAFC needs another standout performance from Vela, and the sooner, the . . .
