MLS week 4 opened with Seattle and LAFC drawing 0-0 at Lumen Field with the Sounders putting four shots on goal to LAFC's three. “Little bit of a mixed bag there," Seattle Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said. "I think that we gave up some chances there at the end. I don’t know what the expected goals are but they had a lot of clear chances because we were trying to find a goal at that end of the . . .
LAFC and Vancouver advance in CCL, Eintracht exits Champions League, goal for Dike
Wednesday's soccer news starts in the Concacaf Champions League with LAFC advancing to the quarterfinals 4-2 on aggregate over Alajuelense after losing the second-leg 2-1 at home. Alajuelense took the lead on the night from an 8th minute penalty, making it 2-0 in the 51st. LAFC's Carlos Vela pulled a goal back in the 81st minute. "We are happy to be around further in the competition, which was . . .
LAFC puts the focus on player development with Red&Gold Football
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Mar 15, 2023) US Soccer Players - While not everything about Southern California is perfect, for the most part, there are reasons it's high on the list of America's most desirable places to live. That's extra true if playing soccer is your particular professional vocation. The weather, the lifestyle, and the potential to leverage the area's status as a pop culture . . .
MLS tactics early in the 2023 season
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Mar 13, 2023) US Soccer Players – If there's a common trend when looking at MLS clubs finding success early in the 2023 season, it could be the two tactical formations already standing out. The 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 have proven to be part of the formula in both conferences so far. It is obviously very early, in addition to the small sample size. Formations are largely . . .
MLS Week 3: Atlanta wins at Charlotte, Cincinnati beats Seattle
Week 3 in MLS opened with Atlanta United winning 3-0 at Charlotte. Caleb Wiley put United up in the 5th and Luiz Araujo doubled the lead in the 12th. Wiley scored again two minutes into first-half stoppage time. Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan made three saves to keep the clean sheet. "Today was one of the most complete games," Atlanta United coach Gonzalo Pineda said. "Was it perfect? No, we . . .
Walker Zimmerman: “Appreciate what happened, but also focus on what’s next”
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Mar 6, 2023) US Soccer Players – He was the big man in the center of the defense for the United States at the recent World Cup. When he isn’t clearing away balls or intimidating strikers for the USMNT, center back Walker Zimmerman does all that each week for Nashville SC. Zimmerman hasn’t missed a step with Nashville, already getting off to a strong start in . . .
MLS Week 2: LAFC wins opener, shutouts for Revs, Crew, Inter Miami, Austin, and Seattle
Week two of the 2023 Major League Soccer season started with LAFC beating Portland 3-2 at BMO Stadium. Giorgio Chiellini put LA up in the 24th, Carlos Vela converted a 34th minute penalty, and Kwadwo Opoku made it 3-0 in the 52nd. Portland's Evander scored in the 62nd and Cristhian Paredes pulled them within one in the 84th minute. "We got off to a good start in both halves, but didn't finish . . .
Damir Kreilach at RSL and James Sands at NYCFC
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Mar 3, 2023) US Soccer Players - Absences loomed large in the story of Major League Soccer in 2022. More than a few teams dealt with missing big names last season, a list that's long enough that it's not worth using the limited space available here to run it down. Just know that Sporting Kansas City, the Seattle Sounders, Atlanta United, and others can claim to be . . .
The MLS seasons keep intensifying
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Mar 2, 2023) US Soccer Players - Most of MLS kicked off the new season last weekend. Yet for the league’s busiest teams, the grind really begins in earnest this coming week. That’s because the onset of Concacaf Champions League play means a three-game week for the five clubs participating in that tournament, necessitating some significant international . . .
How Austin FC, Houston, and Sporting Kansas City’s losses in week one suggest more from those clubs
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Mar 1, 2023) US Soccer Players - For 27 of the 29 MLS teams, the opening weekend that extended into Monday was just the first of 34 games that will determine the playoff field, and, ultimately, the 18 clubs that will compete for a championship this season. One of 34, and there’s plenty of room for optimism for some of the clubs that came out on the wrong end of the . . .
