The soccer news starts with expectations in MLS. For FC Cincinnati, a quick start in their opening game led to an unnecessary reminder of the degree of difficulty. Expansion is tough. So is defending a title, something Atlanta went through at DC United. Neither of these extremes is news, necessarily. MLS isn't the type of league that regularly rewards the safe assumption. Maybe you'd like to . . .
MLS Week 1: FC Cincinnati’s tough debut
It's the start of the 2019 MLS season with Seattle welcoming the league's newest team FC Cincinnati in a 4-1 win at CenturyLink Field. Cincinnati took the lead with Leonardo Bertone scoring the club's first MLS goal in the 13th minute. Kelvin Leerdam equalized for Seattle in the 27th with Jordan Morris scoring in the 33rd and 43rd. Raul Ruidiaz finished off the Seattle goals in the 87th. "It's . . .
MLS: Clear favorites and leveling up in 2019
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Mar 1, 2019) US Soccer Players - There’s no debate over the favorites for the MLS Cup title in 2019 as the new season begins. Despite swapping Tata Martino for Frank de Boer and selling Miguel Almiron for an MLS-record fee, Atlanta United is the pick for many to repeat as champions. The Red Bulls set a record for points in a season in 2018 on their way to a . . .
Year two of LAFC vs the Galaxy
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Feb 27, 2019) US Soccer Players - Competition brings out the best in everyone. Whether it's two goalkeepers competing for one spot or strong teams testing each other, the challenge brings out the best in a player or organization. Having two teams in Los Angeles created such a competition. More to the point, it revived it. The LA Galaxy had Chivas USA to deal with . . .
The season looms for six MLS coaches
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Feb 27, 2019) US Soccer Players - After an offseason of rampant change, the 2019 Major League Soccer season arrives with more unanswered questions than perhaps any in league history. With the league now at 24 teams, that should mean more movement of players and coaches than ever before. The coaches will be a particular focus in 2019. Six teams made changes at the . . .
2019 is another test of MLS parity
By J Hutcherson (Feb 26, 2019) US Soccer Players - It’s supposedly a truism that any team can win the title in MLS. Maybe. The league has changed enough in recent years to create a clear us and them hierarchy. The elite teams are the elite for the same reason as the likely winners of UEFA’s Champions League. They spend more. We’re well into the era of designated players, allocation money, and . . .
Counting down to the 2019 MLS season
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Feb 25, 2019) US Soccer Players – Those countdown clocks set to signal the start of the 2019 MLS season are about to hit all zeroes. Three months after Atlanta United FC lifted MLS Cup, here we are again. The start of a brand new season is less than a week away and there’s plenty to look forward to this year. There’s been plenty of action already. The National . . .
MLS, Liga MX, and North American club soccer
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Feb 22, 2019) US Soccer Players - Major League Soccer has a long way to go before it can say it has maxed out its potential in the United States and Canada. Despite rampant growth in the last decade and reaching 27 confirmed teams, no one believes that MLS is bumping up against the ceiling of what’s possible. That doesn’t guarantee a place among the world’s top . . .
Minnesota United builds more than a stadium
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Feb 20, 2019) US Soccer Players - It doesn’t require much in the way of retrospect to conclude that Minnesota United was always targeting 2019 as the year the Loons really gave winning in Major League Soccer a full effort. Minnesota’s arrival as an expansion team back in 2017 came with some strings. An accelerated timeline for joining the league meant that the . . .
Houston wins, Toronto loses in Champions League
The 2019 Concacaf Champions League round of 16 first-legs opened with mixed results for MLS teams. Houston shutout Guastatoya on the road, but Toronto FC's 4-0 loss at Independiente took some of the shine off of the Dynamo's result. Houston went to Guatemala to open their round of 16 series, coming up with a late goal from a familiar face. DaMarcus Beasley scored in the 84th minute to give . . .
