By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Mar 9, 2022) US Soccer Players - Major League Soccer and Liga MX have had an odd relationship for many years. Sometimes it has been insubstantial. Other times rather symbiotic. The two have competed directly against one another in various tournaments and matches. All of that has kept the debate going over which is the better league. After recent events, it seems that . . .
MLS Power Rankings: Starting with NYCFC
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Mar 2, 2022) US Soccer Players - In the first Power Rankings of the year, the MLS Cup holders sit at the top of the table. Considering what we saw on the opening weekend of the season, that could change quickly. The carryover from last season is still in play early in 2022, even with some teams making significant upgrades. Eventually, that should show in the . . .
The Galaxy and LAFC in a city now used to champions
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Feb 23, 2022) US Soccer Players - Once again, it's not a good time to be a middling team in the greater Los Angeles area. LA pro soccer is obligated to step up and challenge for a championship in 2022. This town demands it. The Super Bowl is fresh on Angelenos' minds. Just a couple of weeks ago, the LA Rams hosted the Super Bowl and won it in dramatic fashion. The . . .
The Western Conference in the Concacaf Champions League
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Feb 16, 2022) US Soccer Players - The Seattle Sounders seemed to put it all together a year ago. The Sounders were the best team in the Western Conference for a large chunk of the season but faltered near the finish line. That late stumble cost them 1st-place in the Western Conference regular-season standings and eventually pushed the club out of the playoffs . . .
Is another championship or bust season approaching for the LA Galaxy?
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Feb 9, 2022) US Soccer Players - As the start to the 2022 Major League Soccer season, several teams are already in position as contenders. Reigning champions NYCFC leads that group. It includes Supporters' Shield winners New England, MLS Cup runners-up the Portland Timbers, and Western powers Seattle Sounders and Sporting KC. If you ask the LA Galaxy, though, that . . .
Familiar expectations for LAFC
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Feb 3, 2022) US Soccer Players - Is it easier to succeed when there are no expectations or high expectations? Aim at nothing, get nothing or shoot for the moon and settle for landing among the stars? LAFC's 2022 campaign will be a testament to which approach is better. With manageable expectations, LAFC hit the ground running upon joining MLS in 2018. Everything . . .
MLS Power Rankings: The 2021 season ends
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Dec 15, 2021) US Soccer Players - The 2021 MLS season came to a thrilling finish Saturday as New York City FC survived a dramatic late equalizer and penalties to win its first-ever MLS Cup title at Portland. The best team won MLS Cup, of course, but how much will that finish reflect on the final Power Rankings of 2021? The playoffs, after all, are a bit random. . . .
Soccer City USA hosts a title game
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Dec 8, 2021) US Soccer Players - The city of Portland has several nicknames. The Rose City, Rip City, Stumptown, and PDX pay homage to some portion of the city's history and culture. None of those nicknames are going anywhere. For instance, the Rose City nickname is not contingent upon the number of roses that bloom in and around Portland at any one time. But there . . .
Another year that wasn’t the Galaxy’s
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Dec 1, 2021) US Soccer Players - This year was supposed to have been the year of the LA Galaxy. Maybe not the year the storied MLS club returned to its former glory, but certainly the year the club made strides toward that end after several down seasons. After all, everything was seemingly in place for such a breakthrough. They hired an MLS Cup-winning coach to guide . . .
The LAFC job
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Nov 24, 2021) US Soccer Players - LAFC's 2021 season did not go nearly as planned. What was supposed to be a continuation of their successful beginning in MLS turned into something else entirely. After a 2020 season where they finished 7th and exited in the opening round of the playoffs, LAFC struggled to be a factor in the Western Conference. Eventually missing out . . .
