By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Nov 2, 2018) US Soccer Players - The 2018 MLS playoffs didn’t exactly begin with a bang. That’s not a comment on the two games that took place on a Wednesday Halloween night roughly 72 hours after the events of Decision Day, but an observation about the excitement around them. NYCFC knocked off the Union 3-1 at Yankee Stadium. Portland sprung the rare road upset in . . .
Away wins in the MLS knockout round
The soccer news starts with the away teams in the MLS knockout round. Columbus needed penalties to see off DC United at Audi Field. In a back and forth game, Frederic Brillant put DC up in the 21st minute. Federico Higuain equalized in the 30th minute. With the game in extra time, Higuain scored again in the 96th. Nick DeLeon equalized in the 116th to send the game to penalties. Columbus advanced . . .
How good is DC United’s position?
The soccer news starts with a look at the Eastern Conference table. DC United, the team with the back-loaded schedule of home games using that to make a lot of noise. As our MLS Power Rankings made clear, DC might be the Eastern Conference contender, but there's one hard to ignore issue. They're in 7th-place in the East. Now, there's the MLS scheduling caveat. The construction of Audi Field means . . .
Q&A with Paul Arriola: “These games give us experience right now”
By Clemente Lisi – E RUTHERFORD, NJ (Sep 10, 2018) US Soccer Players – Paul Arriola is one of the many young faces that makes up the current US National Team set up. While European-based players like Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah have garnered a lot of the attention, the DC United midfielder is one of those who makes a strong case that MLS remains a major contributor to the USMNT roster. With . . .
Rooney works for DC United, Toronto’s trophy
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Aug 17, 2018) US Soccer Players - DC United signing English superstar Wayne Rooney generated more than a little bit of doubt among American soccer watchers. Several European stars have made the jump to Major League Soccer and treated their time in North America as semi-retirement. The big paycheck and the cushy lifestyle, perhaps combined with the differences in . . .
Fans, stadiums, and questions for American soccer
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Jul 19, 2018) US Soccer Players - It was a pleasant Saturday night by DC summer standards, with relatively mild temperatures and low humidity. The home team was debuting their pricey, richly-anticipated new stadium. The buzz around it compounded by a marquee global superstar, Wayne Rooney, making his first appearance in town. It was an occasion many of the area’s . . .
DC United moves forward
DC United held their ribbon-cutting event to officially let everybody know that Audi Field is ready for its first MLS game. United's nice new home opens on Saturday when they host Vancouver, and with it the club sets new expectations. Those start immediately, with DC United needing to turn their back-loaded home schedule into points. Once again, the unbalanced schedule creates a slight opening . . .
Rooney’s DC debut
The soccer news starts with Wayne Rooney making new friends in the District of Columbia. DC United officially introduced their new Designated Player and star of the show at the Newseum on Monday. Rooney got the expected questions, including what might end up being a recurring theme... the weather. "Obviously, it’s hot" Rooney said. "But the one thing which I was concerned about was whether it . . .
Wayne Rooney at DC United
The soccer news starts with Wayne Rooney tweeting from the plane on his way to DC to join United. The safe assumption was that Rooney wasn't traveling to enjoy the National Mall or revisit some of his favorite places from the last time he was in the nation's capital. DC United made the move official on Thursday, signing him through the 2021 MLS season. Rooney turns 33 on October 24. "It is . . .
No more coach/GMs: Complexity and specialization in MLS technical staffs
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (May 24, 2018) US Soccer Players - One of American soccer’s quietly enjoyable traditions is Washington Post reporter Steve Goff’s annual sit down interview with Bruce Arena. An on-record meeting of two of the sport’s savviest and most grizzled old heads, it invariably features witty and instructive interchanges that reflect a decades-long relationship spanning . . .
