By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Sep 6, 2018) US Soccer Players - MLS has been around for more than 20 years now. That's long enough for the league's record book to matter. This isn't a new league anymore. Records do fall, but they also last. In August, Atlanta’s Josef Martinez is the league’s newest goal king, Seattle set a league record for most consecutive wins, and Real Salt Lake became the . . .
Is 2018 turning out worse than 2017 for the LA Galaxy?
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Sep 5, 2018) US Soccer Players - The LA Galaxy took one on the chin in the club’s first outing of September, falling by 6-2 at Real Salt Lake to open the month. The result does not inspire confidence, nor does it lead to much hope and positivity. Yet the Galaxy is still in the midst of the MLS playoff hunt. The club has more than just a pulse remaining. There is a . . .
Toronto’s letdown season and Sporting KC’s core
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Sep 5, 2018) US Soccer Players - Toronto FC was going to be a dynasty. At least, Toronto FC had all the ingredients to start a dynasty after back-to-back Eastern Conference titles and an MLS Cup in 2017. Praise flowed in the direction of the owners MLSE, club president Bill Manning, and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko as the one-time laughingstock established . . .
Playing Brazil in the USA
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Sep 3, 2018) US Soccer Players – Pele, Socrates, Ronaldo, Kaka, Neymar. These are a mere sampling of the one-name soccer wonders Brazil has produced over the past six decades. Even your average American sports fans, who often hesitates when trying to name international athletes, can identify many of them. The name that stands out on that list is Pele. Not only is . . .
Philadelphia pushes up the Eastern Conference table
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Aug 31, 2018) US Soccer Players - The Philadelphia Union grabbed three crucial points towards MLS playoff qualification with a 2-0 victory over DC United at Audi Field on Wednesday night. The win was the club’s fourth in a row, widening a 10-point gap between the Union and 7th-place New England. It greatly improves Philadelphia’s chances of making the . . .
Deuce calls time: A Dempsey appreciation
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What does LAFC do without Laurent Ciman?
By Luis Bueno – RIVERSIDE, CA (Aug 29, 2018) US Soccer Players - When LAFC began constructing the roster for its first-ever MLS campaign, the club fortified the defense first and foremost. Upon completion of the MLS expansion draft in December, LAFC had its first-ever center back pairing. The new club landed veteran defender Laurent Ciman after dealing away two expansion draft selections to . . .
Shuffling MLS rosters in August
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Aug 29, 2018) US Soccer Players - Laurent Ciman scored the first-ever goal in Banc of California Stadium history back on April 21. The center back hit a hard, low free-kick that Seattle’s Stefan Frei fumbled into his net. LAFC would go on to win the game, creating an indelible memory for the capacity crowd in the venue and for all of the new fans of Major League . . .
5 things worth watching this season in Europe
By J Hutcherson (Aug 28, 2018) US Soccer Players - With all of the European big leagues now playing games that count and the group stage of the Champions League closing in, it's worth asking a simple question. What's worth our time this season across European soccer? Since it's almost impossible to correctly predict a Leicester City scenario, let's set aside the shocking surprises. Instead, I'm . . .
The Concacaf Nations League
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Aug 27, 2018) US Soccer Players – With MLS heading towards an exciting regular-season finish and Europe’s domestic leagues monopolizing our Saturday mornings once again, focus shifts quickly. The international schedule returns in early September, with the club game making way for national teams. For the United States, the 2022 World Cup cycle starts this fall with . . .
