By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 22, 2020) US Soccer Players - Now that all 26 MLS clubs are underway with preseason camp, it's worth taking stock of where they are right now. Late winter is the season of perpetual hope. MLS works hard to make sure no group of fans is without some reason to believe that their beloved side might make a surprise run to a final in any given year. The odds of a . . .
The sophomore season coaches in MLS
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 27, 2019) US Soccer Players - Year one under a new head coach is often an exercise in balancing excitement and expectation with the reality on the ground. No coach can remake a team in his image in the short time frame of a single offseason. For coaches who don't step into a job until later in the winter, the challenge is significant. The Major League Soccer . . .
The early MLS contenders
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Dec 16, 2019) US Soccer Players – The close of a calendar year is often a time for reflection. It is also a time to look ahead to the new year and what 2020 may have in store for all of us. For MLS, the big question is how will teams navigate player signings, preseason, and the Concacaf Champions League as a new MLS season approaches. While MLS is unpredictable, . . .
It’s Seattle vs Toronto in the 2019 MLS Cup
The soccer news starts with another conference final upset. 4th-place Toronto FC knocked out 2nd-place Atlanta United 2-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Toronto advances to play at Seattle in the 2019 MLS Cup final on November 10 (3pm ET - ABC). Toronto and Seattle met in the 2016 and 2017 MLS Cups, both held at BM Field. Seattle won in 2016 on penalties after finishing scoreless and Toronto completed . . .
There is no David vs Goliath in MLS
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Oct 30, 2019) US Soccer Players - Major League Soccer doesn't have titans. Even the David vs Goliath narrative is an overreach because no MLS team truly merits the label of "Goliath" relative to any other MLS team. The traditional, non-specific designations used so casually in Europe like "big club" and "small club" won't work in a single-entity league. It's not . . .
Atlanta’s title defense
The soccer news starts with last year's MLS champions. Atlanta United didn't win the East in 2018, finishing second to the New York Red Bulls who also won the Supporters' Shield. That meant a bye under the old system, with Atlanta waiting on the winner of the NYCFC vs Philadelphia knockout round game. NYCFC advanced, losing 1-0 to Atlanta at Yankee Stadium and 3-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Atlanta . . .
The top three in the East
The soccer news starts with the top of the table in the Eastern Conference. NYCFC is in 1st-place with 58 points, Atlanta has 54 in 2nd, and Philadelphia is in 3rd with 52. Though the Union is only four points ahead of 4th-place DC United, the top three in the East are on 31 games played to United and the rest of the top six's 32. The three points that extra game represents is enough of a . . .
The changing Eastern Conference
The soccer news starts with one game making a difference in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia's 3-1 win over Atlanta United on Saturday reset the table, with the Union in 1st-place on 51 points, NYCFC in 2nd on 50, and Atlanta two points behind in 3rd. There's now a six-point gap between Atlanta and 4th-place DC United, with that now the easy line that separates the contenders in the East. . . .
Philadelphia against Atlanta and LAFC
The soccer news starts at the top of the Eastern Conference with Atlanta and Philadelphia tied on points at 48. 1st-place Atlanta has the edge on total wins 15 to 14 with a game in hand 27 to 28 played. That has them in the driver's seat in the East with the chance to put points between them and the Union at Talen Energy Stadium on Saturday. Atlanta's return to form has them on a seven-game . . .
Atlanta wins the US Open Cup
The soccer news starts with Atlanta beating Minnesota 2-1 at home to win the 2019 US Open Cup. An own-goal put Atlanta up in the 10th minute with Pity Martinez scoring in the 16th. Robin Lod scored for Minnesota in the 47th. Atlanta went a man down with a red card to Leandro Pirez in the 74th minute. An announced crowd of 35,709 sets a new record for a US Open Cup final "I think the goal so early . . .
