By J Hutcherson (Dec 14, 2021) US Soccer Players - One thing that the pandemic disruptions have made clear in MLS is that clubs and the league itself will not wait to make changes. 2020 counted, judged by how many teams made significant roster and technical staff decisions. 2021 was more of the same, with general managers, technical directors, and coaches moving on as teams revamped before and . . .
Mastroeni drops the interim title at Real Salt Lake
Tuesday's soccer news starts with USMNT alum Pablo Mastroeni getting the coaching job at Real Salt Lake. Mastroeni moved from assistant to interim head coach on August 27, leading the club into the playoffs as the 7th-seed. Real Salt Lake began an unlikely run, knocking out the 2nd-seed Seattle Sounders and 3rd-seed Sporting Kansas City on the way to the Western Conference finals. “I am excited . . .
The 2021 MLS season in review
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Dec 13, 2021) US Soccer Players – The 2021 MLS season has been quite a ride. A year after a pandemic delayed season, it came back strong in difficult circumstances. It had it all: close games, last-gasp goals, and plenty of upsets. In fact, it's the continued unpredictable nature of MLS that many use as a criticism. Instead, it's what many of us think remains one . . .
Is New York City FC finally becoming an MLS power?
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 9, 2021) US Soccer Players - The Philadelphia Union had nearly pulled off an improbable victory over New York City FC in Sunday's Eastern Conference Final at Subaru Park. Despite the absence of a starting XI's worth of players due to a COVID-19 outbreak, a packed crowd was roaring their shorthanded team on towards a place in the MLS Cup final. Then a late . . .
Preview: The 2021 MLS Cup final
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Dec 6, 2021) US Soccer Players – All eyes will be on Portland this Saturday when the Timbers take on New York City FC (3pm ET - ABC). It is the first time Providence Park will host the final, while the Timbers will compete in their third MLS championship game in seven years. NYCFC, meanwhile, will be playing for their first MLS Cup. "To be able to host MLS Cup, . . .
Portland hosts NYCFC in the 2021 MLS Cup
Monday's soccer news starts with the MLS conference finals. Portland shutout Real Salt Lake 2-0 in the Western Conference. Felipe Mora scored for the Timbers in the 5th and Santiago Moreno doubled the lead in the 61st. RSL's Aaron Herrera saw red in the 79th minute. “Tonight was very special,” Portland coach Gio Savarese said. "The passion, the energy, it was at a level that gives me . . .
Uncharted territory for Philadelphia and NYCFC
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 3, 2021) US Soccer Players - No matter what happens this weekend, there will be a first-time finalist playing for the MLS Cup this season. The Western Conference final pits two former champions and two-time MLS Cup finalists against one another in a match rich with narratives at Providence Park on Saturday. The Timbers will be playing for the right to host the . . .
Major League Soccer’s playoffs paradox
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 2, 2021) US Soccer Players - On one level, Bruce Arena's words made sense. On another, they were bewildering. "We don't have the best roster in the league. It's got to get a little bit better, for sure," said the veteran coach after his New England Revolution fell to New York City FC on penalties in Tuesday night's MLS Eastern Conference Semifinal match at . . .
Portland’s playoff pattern
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 1, 2021) US Soccer Players - The human mind is programmed to look for patterns. We see them everywhere, in nature, in numbers, in our daily lives. Sometimes the patterns are real and meaningful and can tell us something about the future. Other times, they're merely a product of chance and provide no insight at all. Then there's the matter of sample size. If . . .
NYCFC advances to the Eastern Conference final
The New England Revolution exited the playoffs 5-3 on penalties to NYCFC after drawing 2-2, joining Colorado as the top seeds that didn't advance from the conference semifinals. 4th-seed NYCFC becomes the only lower seed to win a game so far in the Eastern Conference bracket. "What we said internally was that no matter what happens, we stick together, we keep going," NYCFC goalkeeper Sean . . .
