The soccer news starts with the US Open Cup semifinals. Philadelphia and Houston advanced, with the final set for September 26 at BBVA Compass Stadium. The semifinals opened with Philadelphia shutting out Chicago 3-0 at home. In a game dominated by the Union, Cory Burke scored in the 59th minute and doubled the lead in the 77th. Alejandro Bedoya assisted on both goals. CJ Sapong finished off the . . .
Looking for hope in San Jose, Colorado, Seattle, and Toronto
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Jul 20, 2018) US Soccer Players - The hope of March and April has given way to the despair of a season almost already lost in July for several MLS teams. Plans laid down in the dawn of the campaign have already gone up in flames in places like San Jose, Colorado, and perhaps Toronto and Seattle. Given their lack of games and a back-loaded home schedule, DC United is . . .
The simple math for the Sounders and Toronto
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Jul 4, 2018) US Soccer Players - With the Independence Day holiday upon us and the 2018 MLS season no longer in its “early” phase, it’s time for some game theory. Strike that. Forget game theory. It’s time for simple math. This deep into the season, math is not the friend of several teams thought to be shoe-ins for the postseason when the campaign began. The math . . .
MLS at the 2018 World Cup break
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Jun 15, 2018) US Soccer Players - Following a six-game burst of games on Wednesday night, Major League Soccer will pause for two weeks of World Cup group stage matches in Russia. The league’s decision to take a World Cup break seems like the type of thing worth celebrating, especially in light of the rising number of internationals plying their trade in the American . . .
Seattle or Toronto?
Friday's soccer news starts with what's becoming a recurring theme for the 2018 MLS season. Will the Seattle Sounders or Toronto FC become the first of the MLS Cup finalists to turn things around? 12 weeks into the season, Seattle is in last place in the Western Conference and Toronto is 10th in the East. There are very good reasons for both teams' situations, but there's also the expectation that . . .
Toronto vs Seattle on a Wednesday in May
The soccer news starts with a clear distinction. It doesn't take much to notice the difference between Toronto vs Seattle on December 9, 2017 and Toronto vs Seattle later tonight at BMO Field. The MLS standings does the job for us. Toronto won their first game of the 2018 season last Friday, shutting out Philadelphia 3-0 at home to move from bottom of the Eastern Conference to 10th-place. Seattle . . .
Another painful Champions League for MLS
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Apr 26, 2018) US Soccer Players - Wednesday night marked the finale of the 2018 Concacaf Champions League. Chivas de Guadalajara edged Toronto FC for the title in a gut-wrenching second-leg decided by penalty kicks. Trailing 2-1 from the first-leg, the reigning MLS champs played the second-leg without a specialist center back due to injuries. Michael Bradley and . . .
Another year for MLS in the Concacaf Champions League
Toronto FC got closer than any other MLS team in the Champions League era. They took the second-leg 2-1 in Guadalajara to tie the series 3-3 on aggregate and send it to penalties. Chivas lifted the trophy, winning the shootout 4-2 on penalties. Toronto staged a comeback in the series and on the night to get to that stage. Orbelin Pineda put Chivas up on the night with a 19th minute goal, extending . . .
The away goals in the Champions League
The soccer news starts with an old problem for the home team in the first-legs of knockout round serie, giving up away goals. Liverpool was as in control as a team can get at Anfield in their Champions League semifinal first-leg against Roma. Up five goals from the 68th minute, there was no doubt Liverpool would have the advantage in the second-leg. It turns out that won't be the full five . . .
Guadalajara looms for Toronto FC
The soccer news starts with a different scenario for Toronto FC. Rather than carrying a home advantage to an away leg in Mexico in the Concacaf Champions League, they need to stage a comeback. Toronto is down 2-1 to Chivas with the deciding game on Wednesday (9:30pm ET - Univision Deportes and go90 app). So far in the 2018 Champions League, Toronto has lost and tied their away legs in Mexico. A . . .
