By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Dec 20, 2021) US Soccer Players – Decision Day was the end of the line for the 14 teams not moving onto the playoffs. With that, several MLS stars brought their careers to an end. In the case of the San Jose Earthquakes, there was nothing to play for at PayPal Park. Instead, the crowd was there to see star striker Chris Wondolowski score the final goal of his pro . . .
MLS Power Rankings: The 2021 season ends
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Dec 15, 2021) US Soccer Players - The 2021 MLS season came to a thrilling finish Saturday as New York City FC survived a dramatic late equalizer and penalties to win its first-ever MLS Cup title at Portland. The best team won MLS Cup, of course, but how much will that finish reflect on the final Power Rankings of 2021? The playoffs, after all, are a bit random. . . .
Does winning in MLS next season mean figuring out what happened this season?
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 . . .
Another year that wasn’t the Galaxy’s
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Dec 1, 2021) US Soccer Players - This year was supposed to have been the year of the LA Galaxy. Maybe not the year the storied MLS club returned to its former glory, but certainly the year the club made strides toward that end after several down seasons. After all, everything was seemingly in place for such a breakthrough. They hired an MLS Cup-winning coach to guide . . .
A reunion and a “remake” in Toronto
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 25, 2021) US Soccer Players - While most of the United States gears down for one of the country's major holidays, it's a full work week across Lake Ontario at Toronto FC, and a busy one at that. The Reds concluded their 2021 campaign with a 1-0 loss to CF Montreal in Sunday's Canadian Championship final, following a second-from-bottom finish in the MLS . . .
The LAFC job
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Nov 24, 2021) US Soccer Players - LAFC's 2021 season did not go nearly as planned. What was supposed to be a continuation of their successful beginning in MLS turned into something else entirely. After a 2020 season where they finished 7th and exited in the opening round of the playoffs, LAFC struggled to be a factor in the Western Conference. Eventually missing out . . .
Matt Turner picks up another honor
Tuesday's soccer news starts with USMNT and New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner adding to his standout season for club and country. Already a Gold Cup winner, All-Star game MVP, and helping the Revolution set the regular season points record, Turner won the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award. He joins active USMNT goalkeepers Zack Steffen (2018 with the Crew), Bill Hamid (2014 with DC . . .
LAFC and the Galaxy end the season as outsiders
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Nov 10, 2021) US Soccer Players - If Los Angeles wants to be the center of the MLS universe, it's going to need more from both of its teams. After the Covid-19 pandemic upended the 2020 season, things were set to return to normal. It was a fair expectation that would include LAFC and the LA Galaxy returning to their winning ways. LAFC, of course, dominated the . . .
