By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Nov 7, 2018) US Soccer Players - Normally, a season in which a team loses its regular-season finale and a knockout-round match within a span of five days would be a failure. In most instances, that would certainly classify as one. Especially since the regular season finale was for the conference title and a playoff top seed. 2018 is far from a failure for LAFC even . . .
Halftime in the MLS conference semifinals
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Nov 7, 2018) US Soccer Players - Halftime of the conference semifinals in Major League Soccer’s 2018 playoff season means taking stock of a number of areas on the way to the deciding second-legs. Since no first-leg delivered a multi-goal win for any team, there’s plenty of drama packed into every matchup on the board. That doesn’t mean that a few of the final eight . . .
Columbus, Portland, and Atlanta take first-leg leads
The soccer news starts with the first-round of the MLS conference semifinals. Columbus took a 1-0 lead over the New York Red Bulls at MAPFRE Stadium. Gyasi Zardes scored the game's only goal in the 61st minute with Zack Steffen keeping the clean sheet with three saves. New York hosts the 2nd-leg on Sunday, November 11 at 7:30 pm ET on FS1. Portland came back at home to take a 2-1 lead over . . .
MLS gets it wrong with half of the knockout round
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Nov 2, 2018) US Soccer Players - The 2018 MLS playoffs didn’t exactly begin with a bang. That’s not a comment on the two games that took place on a Wednesday Halloween night roughly 72 hours after the events of Decision Day, but an observation about the excitement around them. NYCFC knocked off the Union 3-1 at Yankee Stadium. Portland sprung the rare road upset in . . .
Away wins in the MLS knockout round
The soccer news starts with the away teams in the MLS knockout round. Columbus needed penalties to see off DC United at Audi Field. In a back and forth game, Frederic Brillant put DC up in the 21st minute. Federico Higuain equalized in the 30th minute. With the game in extra time, Higuain scored again in the 96th. Nick DeLeon equalized in the 116th to send the game to penalties. Columbus advanced . . .
MLS Power Rankings: The contenders come in hot
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Nov 1, 2018) US Soccer Players - It’s finally playoff time, when MLS games carry an extraordinary amount of weight compared to the regular season. While teams have a vast amount of leeway during the regular season, now the margin of error is nonexistent. It's the stretch run that turns teams into playoff threats. The top three teams in this month’s power rankings . . .
Toronto FC’s arduous 2018
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 1, 2018) US Soccer Players - Michael Bradley had just played his second game in as many days, his third game in seven. After playing a substitute’s role in the USMNT’s 1-1 draw with Peru in Connecticut on Tuesday night, he’d caught a plane south and met up with his Toronto FC teammates for a Wednesday MLS visit to DC United at Audi Field on October 17. He . . .
NYCFC and Portland advance in the 2018 MLS playoffs
The soccer news starts with the knockout round of the 2018 MLS playoffs. NYCFC beat Philadelphia 3-1 at Yankee Stadium to advance to the semifinals. Ismael Tajouri put NYCFC up in the 10th minute with David Villa doubling the lead in the 26th. Maxi Moralez scored NYCFC's third goal in the 78th. Cory Burke pulled a goal back for the Union in the 83rd minute. "We tried to play, we made mistakes, we . . .
The Galaxy’s demise
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Oct 31, 2018) US Soccer Players - In early September, the LA Galaxy was well on its way to another disastrous season. The club had just limped away from Rio Tinto Stadium, victims of a 6-2 thrashing at the hands of Real Salt Lake, a result that extended its winless skid to six games. The early-summer turnaround appeared gone, and the team seemed to have hit rock . . .
What’s next for MLS teams that missed the playoffs?
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Oct 31, 2018) US Soccer Players - For most of us, the only answer to the question "what’s next?" in MLS is "the playoffs." The knockout round happens just days after the regular season ends. It's time for one-off games that count, the most intense version of Major League Soccer. Meanwhile, for 11 teams the end of the regular season means the end, period. With no . . .
