By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Oct 2, 2019) US Soccer Players - With one match left to go in the 2019 regular season, the LA Galaxy has a playoff berth secure for the first since 2016. Much has changed across the league since then. LAFC and Atlanta United had yet to debut. The league was at 20 teams. Toronto FC and Seattle hadn't gotten to an MLS Cup before 2016, let alone win one. The MLS Best XI . . .
The Galaxy, LAFC and the league need a playoff derby
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Sep 25, 2019) US Soccer Players - The playoff format in MLS has been as stable as the number of teams in the league. Over the years, the league has featured knockout matches, two-leg series, three-leg series, and various methods of how to determine seeding and who plays home or away. At the end of 2018, MLS changed the playoffs yet again. This season, the system will . . .
Carlos Vela in the clutch
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Aug 28, 2019) US Soccer Players - Carlos Vela has been having himself a season. The LAFC talisman has shattered MLS records and dominating opponents and is likely to win the league's Most Valuable Player award. Aside from his 27 goals and 15 assists though it was his team's performance in last weekend's LA derby that makes his MVP case stronger. With the game in the . . .
The rivalry problem in MLS
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Aug 22, 2019) US Soccer Players - MLS has done a great job at building the league up over the last decade-plus. After the 2007 MLS season, 12 teams were in existence. Now, 24 teams are vying for the MLS Cup title. On Tuesday, the league announced St Louis as the 28th franchise. Forming the league has been a systematic process based on geography, venues, and willing . . .
Tigres and Cruz Azul advance in the Leagues Cup
The soccer news starts with the Leagues Cup. Tigres advanced 5-3 on penalties over Club America with their game finishing 2-2 in regulation at BBVA Stadium. Tigres went up in the 14th minute from an own-goal with Andres Ibarguen equalizing from the penalty spot in the 36th. Ibarguen scored again in the 83rd minute. Club America went a man down in the 90th minute with a red card to Roger Martinez. . . .
The Galaxy pushing the MLS rulebook is good for the league
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Aug 9, 2019) US Soccer Players - From its origin as a ten-team startup competition organized with a unique single-entity business structure, MLS has grown to 24 teams in 22 markets with 18 purpose-built stadiums. Through that run, the league tries to balance the need to grow against managing risk. By design, MLS is about navigating the choppy economic waters of . . .
LAFC and the Galaxy at the break
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jul 31, 2019) US Soccer Players - Heading into the summer stretch in MLS, both LAFC and the LA Galaxy have shown signs mostly signs of strength. LAFC leads the league with a 15-3-4 record, good for 49 points. The Galaxy is one point out of 2nd-place place on 37 points and beat LAFC earlier this month. Lately though the clubs have hit a bit of an inconsistent spell. . . .
The Galaxy’s correct response to the Leagues Cup
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jul 24, 2019) US Soccer Players - Over the years, the LA Galaxy has had several outside competitions get in the way of its annual quest for an MLS title. Regular tournaments like the US Open Cup and Concacaf Champions League joined with short-lived tournaments like the SuperLiga and the Pan-Pacific Championship. Now the Galaxy finds itself with yet another . . .
Chicago loses, LA wins in Leagues Cup
MLS had one team advance on the opening night of the 2019 Leagues Cup alongside one overarching issue. Both the Chicago Fire and the LA Galaxy tested their depth against first choice Liga MX competition and for the Galaxy the gambit worked. Chicago lost 2-0 to Cruz Azul in front of an announced crowd of 14.213 at SeatGeek Stadium. Roberto Alvarado scored in the 43rd minute with Elias Hernandez . . .
League first in MLS
It took Major League Soccer the day before the debut of the Leagues Cup to pull an MLS. While Liga MX confirmed that they will use first choice lineups and treat the new tournament seriously, MLS is relying on coaching discretion. No surprise, that means teams that did nothing to get to this tournament other than accept an invitation are responding accordingly. The LA Times' Kevin Baxter reported . . .
