By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 6, 2019) US Soccer Players - Truly historic seasons are easy to spot. They come with gaudy numbers and long winning streaks. They seem to buck the odds and cut against the type of bad luck that invariably affects everyone. They are marked by great individual campaigns that reflect on the work of the team as a whole. They always prompt debate, particularly when . . .
LAFC’s unfinished season
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Oct 30, 2019) US Soccer Players - The greatest team in league history entered the Western Conference final against Seattle. They finished the night as the greatest footnote in league history. LAFC had a magical, dominant, and amazing season now tarnished by the final act. LAFC was no match for the Seattle Sounders, at Banc of California Stadium no less, and watched . . .
Seattle upsets LAFC
The soccer news starts with a shock result at Banc of California Stadium. The Seattle Sounders knocked LAFC out of the playoffs, winning the Western Conference final 3-1. Eduard Atuesta put LAFC up from a freekick in the 17th minute. Raul Ruidiaz equalized for Seattle in the 22nd minute. Seattle took the lead through Nicolas Lodeiro in the 26th with Ruidiaz scoring again in the 64th minute. "The . . .
The Western Conference final
The soccer news starts with LAFC hosting the Seattle Sounders in the Western Conference final (10pm ET - ESPN) in what many see as a foregone conclusion. One way or another, the best team in MLS will advance. LAFC may have somewhat returned to the MLS mean late in the season, but they had already put the work in. 72 points to win the Supporters Shield, Carlos Vela setting the new single-season . . .
The playoff edition of the LA derby
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Oct 23, 2019) US Soccer Players - Over the last two seasons, LA's Major League Soccer clubs have been all over the place. Los Angeles FC arose from nothing, pieced together a strong lineup and coaching staff, and has blossomed into one of the most successful teams in the league over the last two seasons. The LA Galaxy, meanwhile, reminded Angelenos that it has been . . .
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 . . .
LAFC in the regular season
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Sep 18, 2019) US Soccer Players - The stretch run in MLS has arrived. Teams have a handful of matches left on their schedule and have scant few opportunities to snag points to make one last desperate push to make the playoffs or try and jockey for a better spot in the table. Then there's LAFC. The second-year club has four matches left and sits atop the Western . . .
LAFC with and without Carlos Vela
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Sep 4, 2019) US Soccer Players - The criticism was as easy as it was predictable. Following LAFC's 2-0 loss to Minnesota United on Sunday night in Los Angeles, voices from many quarters declared the league's best team so far in 2019 "average" in the absence of its Mexican superstar, Carlos Vela. LAFC certainly did not look as dominant without Vela, who missed the . . .
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 . . .
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 . . .
