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Melia on the US Open Cup: “It’s everything for us”
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Sep 18, 2017) US Soccer Players – Sporting Kansas City’s Tim Melia is having the best season of his career. He's in the conversation for the league’s Goalkeeper of the Year award. Melia ranks among the league’s best in a series of major categories, including goals-against-average, shutouts, penalty saves, and overall save percentage. He’s one of the reasons why . . .
Why is it so hard to play simply?
Monday's soccer news starts with a simple question. Why is it so hard to play simply? In the 83rd minute of Werder Bremen vs Schalke on Saturday, Schalke scored on a corner that the announcer called "simple football." It was a solid point. Schalke headed in that corner by paying attention to man marking and catching the Werder Bremen defense ball watching. It was basic stuff. No trickery, shadow . . .
MLS Week 28: Atlanta sets the MLS attendance record
Atlanta United drew an announced crowd of 70,425 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to set a new MLS attendance record. They also picked up a point with a 3-3 draw with Orlando City. Dom Dwyer opened the scoring for Orlando City in the 10th minute. Josef Martinez equalized in the 36th. Dwyer and Martinez traded goals again, with Orlando regaining the lead in the 39th and Atlanta equalizing in the 55th. . . .
Yedlin back for Newcastle United
The USMNT players in Europe and Mexico starts with DeAndre Yedlin returning for Newcastle United in their 2-1 win over Stoke City. Christian Atsu opened the scoring for Newcastle in the 19th minute at St James' Park. Xherden Shaqiri equalized for Stoke in the 57th. Jamal Lascelles scored Newcastle's winner in the 68th. "Our team spirit is great right now, and I think that’s a continuation of last . . .
Expansion MLS vs original MLS
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Sep 15, 2017) US Soccer Players - Before there can be any confusion on the matter, let’s first establish that it’s not all that difficult for a game with a 7-0 score line to stand out. Blowouts of that magnitude are rare in the sport, as a rule. Seven goals conceded represents such a complete capitulation in the modern professional game that it always draws . . .
FIFA tinkers with World Cup seeding
Friday's soccer news starts with FIFA deciding it's a heck of an idea to mess with World Cup seeding. The last time they did this it was using the October FIFA Ranking to determine the seven teams joining the hosts in pot 1. This time, next month's FIFA ranking seeds all the teams that make the World Cup. "All teams will be allocated to pots 1 to 4 based on sporting principles with each pot . . .
Is Christian Pulisic being deployed properly on the USMNT?
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON DC (Sep 14, 2017) US Soccer Players - It’s been a week since the USMNT wrapped up September’s World Cup qualifiers. The noise from media and fans has scarcely dropped a decibel. There's justification for some of the criticism. Some of it not so much. A few of the less articulate outbursts barely even deserve the term. One topic of discussion does merit a longer look. . . .
Is Gyasi Zardes sparking a Galaxy revival?
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Sep 14, 2017) US Soccer Players - In their last two games, the LA Galaxy has compiled four points on the strength of a home win and road draw. While that is not exactly a torrid pace, it does account for the longest unbeaten run the Galaxy has had since mid-June. Part of the Galaxy’s success has been Gyasi Zardes. The beleaguered striker has scored a goal in each of . . .
Atlanta ties margin of victory record in MLS
The soccer news starts with last night's MLS results and one of them requires a double take. Atlanta United shutout New England 7-0 at Mercedes-Benz Arena. Were red cards involved? Of course red cards were involved. Atlanta took the lead in the 2nd minute when Josef Martinez scored. The Revs went a man down in the 16th with a red card to Xavier Kouassi for a serious foul. Martinez finished off . . .
