By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 14, 2019) US Soccer Players - Zlatan Ibrahimovic announced his departure from the LA Galaxy this week after two seasons packed with scoring exploits on the pitch and headline-grabbing quotations off it. David Villa, an MLS icon of similar proportions with NYCFC before spending the past year in Japan with Vissel Kobe, revealed his impending retirement as well. . . .
The Atlantic Cup in the playoffs
The soccer news starts with DC United's Decision Day scenario. DC enters the final day of the 2019 MLS regular season in 4th-place, unable to finish any higher but capable of falling to 6th. That's the difference between hosting the 4th vs 5th playoff game, being the away team in that game, or facing the 3rd-place team away. The spot is DC's to lose, considering that they're home to last place FC . . .
Wayne Rooney and DC United’s season
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Aug 23, 2019) US Soccer Players - Many metaphors might work for a discussion about the relationship between Wayne Rooney and DC United at the moment. It is a breakup, after all. Though Rooney will stay with United until the end of the season before returning to England to join Derby County, it does feel like a "divorced people sharing a house" . . .
Atlanta advances to the US Open Cup final
The soccer news starts with Atlanta waiting to see who they'll play in the 2019 US Open Cup final after a 2-0 shutout at Orlando City. Eric Remedi opened the scoring in the 37th with Emerson Hyndman doubling the lead in the 78th minute. United goalkeeper Brad Guzman made two saves to keep the clean sheet. "It’s never easy to get to a final," Hyndman said. "It’s a knockout format and that’s never . . .
Real Betis introduce themselves to America
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (May 24, 2019) US Soccer Players - Real Betis arrived in the nation’s capital worn and tired, both physically and mentally. They’d flown across the Atlantic for their first-ever US tour mere hours after the end of a long, difficult season. A 10th-place finish in LA Liga and deep but ultimately unsuccessful runs in the Copa del Rey and Europa League, left players . . .
The MLS rivalries in the I-95 corridor
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Apr 15, 2019) US Soccer Players – For the major East Coast cities linked by Interstate-95 in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the country, every game between them is a rivalry game. That's regardless of the sport. all of them have a rich sports tradition and distinct rivalries. Over the past two decades, rivalries built by those other sports have . . .
Depth becomes an issue for DC United
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Apr 10, 2019) US Soccer Players - After Saturday’s rout at the hands of LAFC, DC United star Wayne Rooney suggested that getting back on the field quickly would be good for his team. The idea was that playing a competitive game would help United put the embarrassment of the loss behind it and push the team to regain the form that had the Black & Red as an early . . .
DC United faces expectations in 2019
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Jan 16, 2019) US Soccer Players - As encores go, 2019 figures to be a difficult one for DC United. The club didn’t lift the MLS Cup in 2018, but expectations will rise dramatically in the new year. United’s late-season run to the MLS Cup playoffs and the energy that it inspired in the newly opened Audi Field are tough acts to follow. This is a period of transition . . .
MLS gets it wrong with half of the knockout round
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 . . .
