By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Apr 7, 2021) US Soccer Players - Perhaps no season in MLS history provided a ruder introduction to the league for new coaches than 2020. A typical preseason led directly into two games before a two-month layoff with no games and effectively no training. The return to play, first in Orlando at MLS Is Back, then in a truncated regular season that featured few fans . . .
NYCFC will ask a lot of its midfield
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Apr 2, 2021) US Soccer Players - New York City Football Club is preparing for its seventh season in Major League Soccer. Since entering MLS back in 2015, NYCFC turned itself into one of the better teams Eastern Conference. That means staying in contention and emerging as a legitimate MLS Cup threat over the long-term. Last season turned on an injury. New head . . .
Is MLS weirdness worth celebrating?
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 25, 2020) US Soccer Players - There's a certain subset of American soccer fans who are more than happy to accept Major League Soccer for what it is. Although there's no arguing that the league has taken notable strides in terms of quality and professionalism over its 25 years of history, MLS retains its reputation for sometimes being uneven with its play and . . .
LAFC and NYCFC regroup around returning players
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Oct 28, 2020) US Soccer Players - Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is famous for many things. He led the Gunners to the last undefeated season by a Premier League champion back in 2001, an incredible achievement that no other club may match. The aesthetically pleasing, attacking style of play he established at the London club set a standard for world soccer . . .
NYCFC and Houston playing under the radar
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Sep 4, 2020) US Soccer Players - A question about the 2020 MLS season: Does this season have a radar? As in, under it? We often talk about teams that don't get much media attention but are slowly building towards becoming a contender as under the radar. The abnormal nature of this year makes it tough to know if such a radar even exists. Pulling forward what we . . .
NYCFC plays on without home field advantage
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Aug 27, 2020) US Soccer Players - Many of those who resent extreme wealth's outsized influence on soccer enjoyed watching petro-dollar-infused clubs Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City fail in their quests to hoist the UEFA Champions League trophy this month. Here on the North American scene, they may also savor the discomfort currently inflicted on NYCFC, . . .
NYCFC beats Columbus
Tuesday's soccer news starts with NYCFC picking up three points with a 1-0 shutout of Columbus at Red Bull Arena. Yankee Stadium is unavailable due to the compacted Major League Baseball schedule. Alexander Ring scored the game's only goal in the 59th minute with Sean Johnson making three saves to keep the clean sheet. Columbus retains the top spot in the East with a one-point lead over Toronto . . .
The history of the Hudson River derby
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (May 24, 2020) US Soccer Players – This season marks the fifth year of the Hudson River derby. If not for the pandemic putting the season on hold, the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC would be preparing to play each other this coming Sunday at Yankee Stadium. A frozen schedule means looking back at the rivalry's past and it's importance to MLS. If anything, . . .
The New York City soccer market
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Apr 29, 2020) US Soccer Players - The New York City metropolitan area is home to nearly 20 million people. According to what is surely an imperfect accounting, people speak more than 500 languages in the country's largest metropolis. New York is practically a universe unto itself, containing so many diverse peoples and cultures that it's sometimes difficult to keep . . .
Atlanta and NYCFC need Champions League comebacks
Thursday's soccer news starts with Atlanta United's first-leg loss at Club America in the 2020 Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals. Atlanta now trails 3-0 after a tough start in front of a sparse crowd of 20,731 at Estadio Azteca. Club America took the lead in the 11th minute, adding goals in the 13th and 36th. With Atlanta looking stronger, halftime sub Matheus Rossetto exited with an injury . . .
