By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jul 19, 2019) US Soccer Players - The Portland Timbers are in the midst of a difficult season, depending on how you define "difficult". There's no objective way to judge the degree of difficulty for a given MLS season. Even if we attempted to create one, we'd first have to agree on which factors matter most in the assessment. What tops the list? The vagaries . . .
DC wins, draw in Portland
Once again, it's MLS results to start the soccer news with two more games. DC stopped FC Cincinnati's win streak and Portland was unable to find a winner against Orlando City at Providence Park. MLS also announced what next season's Leagues Cup will look like, doubling the size of the tournament in year two. DC United beat FC Cincinnati 4-1 at Nippert Stadium. Lucas Rodriguez scored for DC in the . . .
Bruce Arena revamps the Revs
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jul 18, 2019) US Soccer Players - In 1975, Saturday Night Live poked fun at the hysteria around the movie "Jaws" with a skit called "Land Shark." The title character, dubbed "the cleverest of all sharks," able to "strike at any place, any time," preyed on apartment dwellers foolish enough to open the door when the creature knocked under false pretenses. At which . . .
Atlanta shuts out Houston, Revs win again
The soccer news starts with MLS games on the midweek schedule. Atlanta United shutout Houston 5-0 at home. The Dynamo went down a man in the 6th minute with a red card to Alberth Elis for violent conduct. Darlington Nagbe scored for Atlanta in the 27th minute with Brandon Vasquez making it 2-0 in the 29th. Josef Martinez scored in the 60th and 79th minutes with Julian Gressel adding a goal in the . . .
LAFC, the Galaxy, and rivalry games
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jul 17, 2019) US Soccer Players - As more teams enter MLS, the league has adjusted its schedule accordingly. More teams to play means fewer games against the same opponent if the league wants all of its teams to play one another. Consequently, Friday will be the first of two meetings this season between budding rivals LA Galaxy and LAFC. The teams will meet up in a . . .
Aaron Long and the Red Bulls way
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jul 17, 2019) US Soccer Players - It’s that time of year when temperatures hit triple digits and the clubs across Major League Soccer face the question of whether to sell now, sell later, or sell not at all. The league's growing profile means a few things, many of them good. More spending means better players, which means a higher quality of play. That in turn also . . .
The friendly situation in MLS
The soccer news starts with what's now the expected response from MLS clubs playing summer friendlies. Play the reserves, play trialists, substitute as needed. After all, there's the league schedule to consider. Colorado went that route in their 3-0 loss to Arsenal in front of a sellout crowd at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The Rapids selling out their stadium is a rarity in better times, much . . .
The new MLS playoff problem
By J Hutcherson (Jul 16, 2019) US Soccer Players - Judging good and bad in MLS has long been an issue. The playoffs haven't always helped. From 2002-04, only two teams missed out. It took multiple rounds of expansion to make the playoffs count. In 2010, half the league qualified. The league added two teams and two playoff spots the following season. MLS also couldn't help but tinker. In a nod to . . .
Another round of MLS expansion
The soccer news starts with MLS talking up expansion and naming four cities currently in the mix for the next round. The league confirmed that St Louis and and Charlotte met with MLS at the league's office. St Louis made a "formal presentation" while Charlotte's bid gave the league an update on their situation. "The ownership groups from Charlotte, Las Vegas, Sacramento, St Louis and other . . .
The early MLS Rookie of the Year candidates
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jul 15, 2019) US Soccer Players – MLS is a league that plays through FIFA international dates and major tournaments. Throw in a crowded schedule that includes the US Open Cup, and coaches learn quickly that rookies are instrumental to the success of any team. The need to rotate players makes the league one of the best in the world when it comes to giving young . . .
