By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Sep 20, 2019) US Soccer Players - "Intense optimism and excitement." "Some of the most exciting and inspiring team news in more than a decade." "A moment of celebration for the Chicago Fire community the likes of which haven't been experienced for quite some time." It's not all that often that a soccer club makes a move that prompts its largest supporters' group . . .
The future of the Leagues Cup
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Sep 20, 2019) US Soccer Players - The first-ever edition of the Leagues Cup, a competition designed to pit Major League Soccer clubs against clubs from Liga MX of Mexico, came to a rousing if somewhat confounding, conclusion on Wednesday. First, a hearty congratulations to Cruz Azul, the tournament's inaugural winner. The 2-1 victory for La Maquina over Tigres . . .
Shutouts for Atlanta and the Red Bulls
The soccer news starts with week 29 in MLS. Atlanta United shutout FC Cincinnati 2-0 at Nippert Stadium. Josef Martinez scored in the 59th and 65th minutes with Brad Guzan making two saves to keep the clean sheet. Atlanta is in 3rd-place in the Eastern Conference, a point behind Philadelphia and six points behind 1st-place NYCFC with all three teams on 30 games played. "We pride ourselves on . . .
LAFC in the regular season
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Sep 18, 2019) US Soccer Players - The stretch run in MLS has arrived. Teams have a handful of matches left on their schedule and have scant few opportunities to snag points to make one last desperate push to make the playoffs or try and jockey for a better spot in the table. Then there's LAFC. The second-year club has four matches left and sits atop the Western . . .
Champions League losses for Chelsea and Liverpool
The soccer news starts with what counts as a Champions League disappointment. Christian Pulisic didn't play in Chelsea's 1-0 home loss to Valencia. Rodrigo scored the game's only goal in the 74th minute, with Chelsea taking 22 shots with 6 on goal to Valencia's 8 with 2. Chelsea missed a penalty, adding to the pressure now on the squad. "We created enough good chances, had a penalty, and then . . .
Living on the edge of the MLS playoffs
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Sep 16, 2019) US Soccer Players – It's easy to criticize the MLS playoffs. Specifically, the number of teams that make the postseason. Fourteen teams will make the playoffs, two more than last season, in a rebranded format. For critics of the league, this turns the regular season into a long qualifying tournament. Maybe it is, but that only adds to the pressure . . .
Chicago in contention and transition
The soccer news starts with the Chicago Fire announced that Joe Mansueto is now the club's investor/operator. Mansueto had a minority stake in the club before buying out Andrew Hauptman. The change in investor/operator comes as the club plans to move back to Soldier Field next season while considering a rebranding and name change. "I joined Andrew as a partner because he developed a tremendous . . .
MLS Week 28: NYCFC takes over in the East
Week 28 of the 2019 MLS season resumed with NYCFC coming back to beat San Jose 2-1 to extend their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference to six points over Philadelphia. Chris Wondolowski put the Earthquakes up on the road in the 20th minute with Keaton Parks equalizing in the 40th. Alxandru Mitrita scored NYCFC's winner in the 43rd minute. "NYCFC is at the top of the Eastern Conference for a . . .
The magic of playoff implications
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Sep 13, 2019) US Soccer Players - "Playoff implications" is like magic. The phrase immediately increases the intensity of regular-season games that would otherwise lack for intrigue. It's fair to say that it takes too long for Major League Soccer's regular season to get to the point where the "playoff implications" magic cascades down over proceedings. When it . . .
Wins for Houston, Colorado, and RSL
It was a midweek start for week 28 of the 2019 MLS season with NYCFC and Toronto drawing 1-1 at Yankee Stadium. Alexandru Mitrita scored for NYCFC in the 6th minute with Alejandro Pozuelo equalizing from the penalty spot in the 40th. Toronto had the lead on shots on goal 5 to 1. Houston shutout Minnesota 2-0 at home. Mauro Manotas opened the scoring in the 37th and assisted on Christian Ramirez's . . .
