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The Portland Timbers’ Diego Valeri dilemma
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Oct 4, 2019) US Soccer Players - Last week, Real Salt Lake marked the 10-year anniversary of their underdog 2009 MLS Cup win. The club honored the members of that squad during their game against the LA Galaxy. One face was a particularly welcome sight for the home fans. Javier Morales, the Argentinean playmaker whose creativity and class powered the . . .
The wait after Decision Day
The soccer news starts with Sunday's Decision Day in MLS, with the regular season coming to a close. For all of the playoff teams, what happens next has to wait. The decision to reset the playoffs and the schedule means there's now the international window to contend with. Whatever momentum a team might have to close out the regular season, the next game won't happen until October 19 or 20. For . . .
MLS Power Rankings: The end of the regular season
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Oct 3, 2019) US Soccer Players - The playoffs are almost upon us. There is one matchday left in the regular season that will determine the final rankings of the bottom half of this table. Everything else will be left up to the postseason finish of most clubs. If form holds, LAFC will host NYCFC for MLS Cup. Of course, form never seems to hold in this league. Upsets . . .
Marsch’s Red Bull Salzburg scores three goals at Liverpool
The soccer news stays in the Champions League with another major statement from Red Bull Salzburg's coach Jesse Marsch. His club staged an improbable comeback at Anfield in a 4-3 loss to Liverpool. With Liverpool up three goals from the 36th minute, Red Bull's Hwang Hee-chan scored in the 39th. Takumi Minamino cut the Liverpool lead to one in the 56th with Erling Braut Haaland equalizing in the . . .
The LA Galaxy then and now
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Oct 2, 2019) US Soccer Players - With one match left to go in the 2019 regular season, the LA Galaxy has a playoff berth secure for the first since 2016. Much has changed across the league since then. LAFC and Atlanta United had yet to debut. The league was at 20 teams. Toronto FC and Seattle hadn't gotten to an MLS Cup before 2016, let alone win one. The MLS Best XI . . .
The Rapids’ turnaround
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Oct 2, 2019) US Soccer Players - Sometimes the metaphors are too easy. Too obvious, even. It doesn't seem right when there's no so little effort required. The most obvious metaphor for the Colorado Rapids 2019 season is right there in their name. "Rapids". As in the rushing water of a stream or river, the kind that brave or foolhardy hobbyists sometimes like to . . .
USMNT roster for October 2019 Nations League games
USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter released his roster for the October 2019 Nations League games. The USMNT plays Cuba at DC's Audi Field on October 11 (7pm - FS1) and Canada in Toronto on October 15 (7:30pm ET - ESPN2). Berhalter called in 26 players with MLS not playing during the international break. Entering this competitive phase, one thing that’s important is we continue some of the younger guys . . .
Real Madrid wins the second-half
The soccer news starts in the Champions League, with Ethan Horvath was on the bench for Club Brugge's 2-2 draw at Real Madrid in Group A. Real Madrid needed a comeback, falling behind to Emmanuel Dennis's goals in the 9th and 39th minutes. His opener needed instant replay to overrule an offside call. Sergio Ramos scored for Real Madrid in the 55th minute with Club Brugge's Ruud Vormer seeing red . . .
The Atlantic Cup in the playoffs
The soccer news starts with DC United's Decision Day scenario. DC enters the final day of the 2019 MLS regular season in 4th-place, unable to finish any higher but capable of falling to 6th. That's the difference between hosting the 4th vs 5th playoff game, being the away team in that game, or facing the 3rd-place team away. The spot is DC's to lose, considering that they're home to last place FC . . .
