By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Dec 16, 2019) US Soccer Players – The close of a calendar year is often a time for reflection. It is also a time to look ahead to the new year and what 2020 may have in store for all of us. For MLS, the big question is how will teams navigate player signings, preseason, and the Concacaf Champions League as a new MLS season approaches. While MLS is unpredictable, . . .
The changing MLS transfer market
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 13, 2019) US Soccer Players - There's more than one way to break a record. There's the subtle way, nudging just past the previous mark, barely setting a new record at all. Then there's the big and loud way. Smashing the record by going so far past the old number that it makes the old mark laughable. Sporting Kansas City's signing of Alan Pulido this week for a . . .
Alan Pulido’s choice to pick Sporting Kansas City
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Dec 11, 2019) US Soccer Players - When star Mexican striker Alan Pulido decided to leave Chivas Guadalajara, he had plenty of options at his disposal. Pulido had suitors both domestically and abroad. With Europe already in his past, he had his pick of places to go. Somehow, he chose Middle America. It may seem like an odd choice, but Pulido's move to Sporting Kansas . . .
Ike Opara is the MLS Defender of the Year
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Oct 18, 2019) US Soccer Players - Ike Opara winning Defender of the Year in Major League Soccer in 2019 is definitely about Ike Opara. The 30-year-old Minnesota United center back won his second Defender of the Year in three years on Thursday, beating out Walker Zimmerman of LAFC and Miles Robinson of Atlanta United. Opara carried the player and front office votes . . .
Q&A with Sporting KC defender Seth Sinovic
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Aug 19, 2019) US Soccer Players – MLS is loaded with notable defenders. Among the best, and most consistent, over the past decade has been Seth Sinovic. The Sporting Kansas City left back was raised in Kansas and has been a part of the team since 2011. Over that time, Sinovic helped the team win the 2013 MLS Cup and three US Open Cups. Sinovic played college . . .
Peter Vermes on decimated Sporting KC’s CCL hangover
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (May 16, 2019) US Soccer Players - With his trademark flat-top haircut, straightforward manner, and unquestioned authority over technical matters as Sporting Kansas City's longtime coach and sporting director, Peter Vermes carries something of an old-school vibe. The former USMNTer and founding MLS player is presently getting an unwelcome throwback to the league's . . .
MLS out of the Champions League
The soccer news starts with what in fairness was the likeliest outcome. Sporting Kansas City exited the 2019 Concacaf Champions League at the semifinal stage, losing to Monterrey 5-2 on the night and 10-2 on aggregate. Gerso opened the scoring for Sporting in the 6th minute at Children’s Mercy Park. Monterrey’s Rogelio Mori equalized on the night in the 20th with Gerso scoring again in the 29th. . . .
Once again, the Concacaf Champions League turns on MLS
We start the soccer news with the highly unlikely scenario that Sporting Kansas City will come back in the 2019 Concacaf Champions League. Sporting KC lost their semifinal first-leg 5-0 at Monterrey. Dorlan Pabon opened the scoring in the 7th minute with Aviles Hurtado doubling the lead in the 14th. Jesus Gallardo made it 3-0 in the 55th and Nicholas Sanchez converted a 70th minute penalty. Pabon . . .
Sporting KC and another rendition of MLS vs Liga MX
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Apr 3, 2019) US Soccer Players - The 2019 Concacaf Champions League is entering its home stretch. As usual, Liga MX clubs dominate the landscape. MLS has not been completely shut out of the festivities, though. Sporting KC still has a pulse, the last team standing from the MLS contingent that could've taken three out of the four semifinal spots. Of those MLS teams, . . .
Sporting KC’s youth movement
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON, DC (Mar 29, 2019) US Soccer Players - Sporting Kansas City has been many things over 23 seasons in Major League Soccer. The club that was originally called the Wiz and then the Wizards for the first 15 of those seasons won an MLS Cup in 2000. They also produced some of the lowest average attendances in MLS history. The club’s first venue was Arrowhead Stadium, home of . . .
