By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Jun 15, 2018) US Soccer Players - Following a six-game burst of games on Wednesday night, Major League Soccer will pause for two weeks of World Cup group stage matches in Russia. The league’s decision to take a World Cup break seems like the type of thing worth celebrating, especially in light of the rising number of internationals plying their trade in the American . . .
LA in the US Open Cup
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Jun 6, 2018) US Soccer Players - The enduring enigma known as the US Open Cup returns to Southern California on Wednesday, but there will be a new wrinkle this year. For the first time since 2014 there will be two local MLS teams competing in this event. MLS expansion side LAFC joins the LA Galaxy as both teams will play concurrently on Wednesday evening some 12 . . .
Can LAFC learn from the Vegas Golden Knights?
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (May 23, 2018) US Soccer Players - The new team that arrived with great fanfare this season, taking everyone by storm and captivating viewers across the USA and Canada as it nears a championship wears black and gold. This team is not Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Football Club but rather the National Hockey League’s Vegas Golden Knights. The expansion team had an . . .
The MLS transfer window closes, does anybody care?
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (May 2, 2018) US Soccer Players - The effects of Targeted Allocation Money aka TAM on MLS in 2018 are clear and profound. Using the new salary budget mechanism, clubs across Major League Soccer have invested heavily in new talent, largely from abroad. That's pushed the quality of the competition to new heights. Especially on the attacking end of the field, MLS is a . . .
LAFC’s stadium game
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Apr 25, 2018) US Soccer Players - For all the excitement and attention that the greatest new thing in Los Angeles causes, rarely does it apply to stadiums. There's a simple reason for that. The last time a new open-air stadium opened for business in LA was more than 50 years ago. LAFC is changing that. Major League Soccer’s newest club will officially christen Banc . . .
Does Minnesota United get enough respect in MLS?
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Apr 4, 2018) US Soccer Players - On Saturday afternoon, Minnesota United lost to Atlanta United at TCF Bank Stadium by a score of 1-0. The Loons fell to Atlanta despite playing up a man for nearly an hour after defender Leandro Gonzalez-Pirez received two yellow cards in the first half, putting the visitors as a significant deficit. Minnesota controlled the balance . . .
Zlatan arrives, LAFC moves on
Monday's soccer news starts with Zlatan Ibrahimovic endearing himself to the Galaxy part of Los Angeles. Zlatan started his MLS run with two goals against newest rivals LAFC. He capped that with letting those fans know he "gave them Zlatan" while admitting arriving in LA on Thursday and playing on Saturday too a lot out of him. That's his job now, setting the highest possible standard at the . . .
MLS Week 5: Zlatan for the Galaxy and shutouts across the league
Week 5 of the 2018 MLS season couldn't have gone better for the league and the LA Galaxy. In a game shown on national television, the Galaxy's new superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic came up with the equalizer and the late winner in a super sub performance. Things weren't going the Galaxy's way early in what turned into a 4-3 win over LAFC. It was LA's newest team building the lead through their star. . . .
El Trafico and the MLS rivalry game
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Mar 30, 2018) US Soccer Players - As a matter of marketing-led tradition, MLS likes to package its myriad rivalries together into a couple of big blowout weekends. The better to leverage the passion in matches between teams who don’t (or shouldn’t) like one another based on history, geography, or something more ineffable. For the league, it's a chance to service . . .
Zlatan finally in LA, bigger questions for the Galaxy
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Mar 28, 2018) US Soccer Players - The LA Galaxy have long been pursuing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and now that the club finally landed him the team is trying to get him in the lineup as soon as possible. Ibrahimovic could conceivably arrive in Los Angeles one day and then play in a league game the next. The Galaxy want to ramp up the speculation, excitement and curiosity . . .
