The soccer news starts with Portland's lopsided loss at LAFC and a disappointing draw for Atlanta United at home against FC Cincinnati. Both of last season's finalists already face questions about their approach. The only answer for that is winning games, but that's not getting any easier in MLS. For Portland, giving up four goals is an MLS cliche, but it doesn't takeaway from expectations . . .
The stadium game continues in MLS
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Feb 8, 2019) US Soccer Players - Time flies when you’re having fun. It also flies when you’re attempting to prepare for your first season as a Major League Soccer franchise. For both the freshly named Inter Miami and the future Nashville MLS club, there’s a lot to do and not much time to do it in. The business of putting a team together - hiring a coach, signing . . .
Are the Portland Timbers MLS Cup underdogs?
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Dec 7, 2018) US Soccer Players - There’s no rule that says a championship game must have a favorite and underdog. It’s quite possible that two teams can arrive at a final equally matched, on paper or in reality. That takes away the need for the tried-and-true narrative that one team is the obvious choice to win while the other is fighting an uphill battle. It . . .
Preview: 2018 MLS Cup final
The soccer news starts with the 2018 MLS Cup final on Saturday (8pm ET - Fox) with Atlanta United trying to put the exclamation point on their season at home against Portland. The big talking points haven't changed. Tata Martino's last game draws at least a temporary line between eras for a team about to complete its second season. That's the situation for United, a dynasty in the making that will . . .
What will the 2018 MLS Cup teach MLS?
By J Hutcherson (Dec 4, 2018) US Soccer Players - When Atlanta United hosts the Portland Timbers on Saturday (8pm ET - Fox) there's more at play than just the 2018 MLS Cup. That game should help set the tone for the offseason all over the league, with clubs looking at what worked for the two finalists and what they can take and adapt for their teams. In a league still under single-entity, . . .
The battle of the underdogs in the Western Conference
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Nov 16, 2018) US Soccer Players - There’s still more than a week to go before the FIFA international break is over and MLS resumes its playoff season with the conference final stage. The anticipation for one matchup, in particular, is already high. The Eastern Conference final, pitting the record-breaking New York Red Bulls team against the club the' beat to the . . .
Portland advances in the MLS playoffs
We start the soccer news with Portland knocking Seattle out of the 2018 MLS playoffs on penalties. With the second-leg finishing 2-1 Seattle in regulation, 3-3 on aggregate, the series headed to extra time. Raul Ruidaz put Seattle up in regulation in the 68th minute, shifting the series with the Sounders advancing had that score held. Portland responded with a goal from Sebastian Blanco in the . . .
FC Cincinnati gets a jump on 2019
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Aug 1, 2018) US Soccer Players - Over the weekend, the newest MLS expansion franchise made their first two MLS moves with a pair of signings. Because FC Cincinnati is attempting to ramp up quickly towards a 2019 launch, the business of building a roster has to start even as the club is in the midst of a final USL campaign. Looking to MLS is playing to the benefit of . . .
Roster issues and the US Open Cup
UPDATE: In a statement released on Friday evening, US Soccer announced that Portland officially withdrew their protest. US Soccer released the following statement: "After a thorough review of the Portland Timbers' official protest, it has been determined that the inclusion of additional foreign players was a result of a good faith misunderstanding among U.S. Soccer, Major League Soccer and . . .
NYCFC and the best in the East and MLS
NYCFC took their league leading record on the road on Sunday, losing to Portland 3-0. That result comes on the heels of plenty of praise for NYCFC this season and rumors linking their coach Patrick Vieira with the soon-to-be open Arsenal job. One game doesn't make a season, certainly not in MLS. However, NYCFC goes from obviously the best team in the league to perhaps the best team in the league . . .
