Monday's soccer news starts with the top of the Western Conference with three teams undefeated. LAFC and Real Salt Lake both have 10 points with LAFC ahead on a tiebreaker. 3rd-place Minnesota is on eight points, trading a win for a loss. That none of them are on a dozen points might resonate more if it wasn't the same situation at the top of the Eastern Conference. MLS remains a week-by-week . . .
Minnesota plays Colorado during the international break with plenty at stake
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Oct 8, 2021) US Soccer Players - The international break is normally a time for clubs to pause, collect themselves, and plan. These days, that's usually the situation in Major League Soccer as well. The league is making more of an effort to ensure that its product isn't negatively affected by call-ups and overshadowed by important international matches played . . .
At closer to full strength, Minnesota United tries for a late season push
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Sep 22, 2021) US Soccer Players - It's that time of year. The leaves are turning, sweaters are emerging from storage, there's a nip in the air, you can't get away from pumpkin spice, and Adrian Heath is playing his favorite card. Following Minnesota United's 3-0 victory over the LA Galaxy on Saturday, the Loons coach went back to a theme he has visited year-in, . . .
Colorado and the top of the Western Conference
Friday's soccer news starts with MLS giving us a game on Saturday when Colorado hosts the LA Galaxy (3:30pm ET - Univision). The Rapids find themselves a point behind 1st-place Seattle with a game in hand. The last time Colorado lost at home was in the second week of the season. They beat the Galaxy 2-1 in Carson on August 17. "We really focus on our performance and adhering to our principles," . . .
LAFC, Minnesota, and Portland measure ambition in the West
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Jul 30, 2021) US Soccer Players - On Thursday night in Los Angeles, LAFC played to a 2-2 draw with Minnesota United. Two clubs with MLS Cup ambitions split the points in an entertaining game that featured a goal from Carlos Vela and a stoppage time equalizer from United's Hassani Dotson. Adrian Heath and Minnesota United were the happier of the two teams after . . .
Last place in MLS means different levels of pressure on coaches
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (May 14, 2021) US Soccer Players - The great soccer minds of history never quite answered just how long a coach should get before it's fair to judge them on their record. Almost everyone agrees that coaches need a season. No one is quite sure how quickly a club should jettison its field boss if things go bad in the beginning or middle of a campaign. Barely five . . .
No need to panic three weeks into the MLS season
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (May 5, 2021) US Soccer Players - Panic rarely makes things better. By its very nature, the word conveys an emotional response to a problem. Letting emotions loose without hanging onto some modicum of logic tends to lead to rash decisions. Rash decisions upend plans, restart processes, and end progress before it has a chance to begin. It's usually best to avoid . . .
Besler, Agudelo, and MLS free agency
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Apr 14, 2021) US Soccer Players - The game of off-season Major League Soccer musical chairs moved some experienced faces to new places this winter. The introduction of tradeable allocation money and the limited version of MLS free agency helped. Still, even though MLS vets with USMNT experience making moves is becoming an annual occurrence, it feels strange. All . . .
What to expect from the MLS final four
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Feb 10, 2021) US Soccer Players - The most unusual year in Major League Soccer history ended with the Columbus Crew lifting its second MLS Cup trophy following a comprehensive victory over the Western Conference champions Seattle Sounders. The season did not end the way the Sounders had hoped, but the club's achievement of reaching four MLS Cup finals in five years . . .
Seattle does its job in the Western Conference final
Tuesday's soccer news starts with Seattle's comeback to advance to the 2020 MLS Cup final. The Sounders beat Minnesota 3-2 at home, scoring two late goals. United took the lead through Emanuel Reynoso in the 29th minute. Reynoso assisted on Bakaye Dibassy's goal in the 67th. Will Bruin cut the Minnesota lead to one in the 75th with Raul Ruidiaz equalizing in the 89th. Gustav Svensson scored . . .
