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junker-town · 4 years ago

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Each MLS team in 2021, previewed by the experts who know them best

Previewing the new MLS season by the people who know their teams best.

MLS enters its 26th season still trying to figure out exactly what it is, but probably stronger than it ever has been before in terms of its standing on the world stage. No, it’s not yet a “league of choice” — something Commissioner Don Garber has long promised — but it is financially stable and competitive from top to bottom, something few other leagues anywhere can boast right now.

Once considered a bit of a retirement league, MLS continues to bring in more and more international-quality players either in the primes of their careers or on the upswing. They’ve also got three new stadiums opening this year, one of which will house a brand new team.

We reached out to our team blogs — and a few other subject experts — to explain why their teams are worth watching this year.

Eastern Conference

Atlanta United

For all the completely understandable reasons that Atlanta United fans may have checked out last season, this may be a season in which fans can’t look away. Everything about the team feels reinvigorated, from the coaching staff to the new and returning players. Atlanta United set a low bar after failing to reach the playoffs in a season in which 10 (!) teams from each conference qualified. The season may not be an instant success from day one in terms of results, but it should be a highly entertaining product on the field.

Josef Martinez is poised to make his return, George Bello could have a breakout season under new head coach Gabriel Heinze and Ezequiel Barco will be itching to show teams in Europe his quality. Why shouldn’t you be excited? Even if the team doesn’t win any trophies, Atlanta United’s tactical setup and philosophy should be exciting enough in itself to make this season so much more fun than 2020. Oh yeah, and there’s the whole thing about fans potentially returning to stadiums across the league. - Joe Patrick, Dirty South Soccer

Chicago Fire

Gaston Gimenez and Alvaro Medran gave the Fire one of the best midfield combos in MLS last season. They’re both back, and they both have a year of experience in MLS under their belts. Playing in front of them will likely be Luka Stojanovic, who played all of 60 minutes in 2020 before a season ending knee injury. Stojanovic should provide both a scoring punch, and more creativity in the attack, two things he was signed to add before his injury. Mauricio Pineda, who went from Homegrown signing, to the team’s leader in minutes played, to the Fire’s Defender of the Year, should continue to improve in 2021. Veteran Johan Kappelhof is back after an injury plagued 2020, looks as fit as ever, and may actually see time in defensive midfield. And Robert Beric, who was one of the hottest strikers in MLS at the end of last season, should pick up where he left off in 2021.

Last season was a mess at times, and the team didn’t put together many complete, 90 minute performances. This season will be different for the Fire. As defender Miguel Navarro said recently, “This year, there aren’t any excuses.” - Patrick McCraney, Hot Time in Old Town

FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati has got just about everything you need for an entertaining season. They’ve got some of the biggest crowds in the league, passionate and loud fans willing their team on. They’ve got a brand new home with the team opening up their very own stadium in the historic West End neighborhood in the center of the city. The club’s got some of the flashiest and most expensive attacking talent in the league in the likes of Brenner and Lucho Acosta. And, finally FC Cincy has that bit of dysfunction that you need to keep everybody on their toes.

Look, the team’s got the talent potential to legitimately be a good team in MLS. But that’s only come with the team’s own self-inflicted hardships. That means that, while it’s hard to make predictions, it’s definitely safe to say that the club is going to have its ups and downs. Success will come down to whether the team can make that dance on that precarious line between success and catastrophe. Fans will certainly be hoping the team lands on the right side of that line. But however it ends, it’s going to be quite the trip. - Adnan Ilyas

Columbus Crew

The easy answer for why to watch the Crew is that the team is the defending MLS Cup champions. What makes the Black & Gold even more exciting is that they managed to improve over the offseason. The Crew’s offense was already fun to watch with MLS Cup MVP Lucas Zelarayan, U.S. international Gyasi Zardes and Portuguese winger Pedro Santos, but Columbus added one of the top scorers in MLS history in Bradley Wright-Phillips and winger Kevin Molino.

The team also became deeper with acquisitions of Perry Kitchen in the midfield to go along with Darlington Nagbe and Artur and Marlon Hairston to back up Harrison Afful at right back. It’s hard to win an MLS Cup and get better but it very much looks like the Crew did just that this offseason. - Patrick Murphy, Massive Report

Inter Miami

You should keep an eye out for Inter Miami this year because of settled expectations. After years of controversy around rushed stadium plans, an overhyped transfer mindset, and a rushed roster; Miami are ready to settle in.

Miami’s shine wore off quickly last season. The David Beckham owned and marketed squad never seemed comfortable under Diego Alonso. The Uruguayan coach was quickly sacked after the team’s tenth place finish.

In comes Phil Neville, to no one’s surprise, and now Beckham has his man and no excuses. The ex-Juventus duo of Gonzalo Higuain and Blaise Matuidi should be more motivated than ever after uncharacteristically poor seasons. A long offseason can only do two well-seasoned… - Josh Sutter

CF Montreal

Sporting Director, Olivier Renard has been successful previously in Belgium with player recruitment. With each of KV Mechelen and more especially Standard Liege, he generated significant profits from recruiting, shrewdly, players that each club was able to develop and sell-on at significant profit.

The Belgian is optimistic about the new season and feels confident CF Montreal will make progress. Although fans and media may still express doubt over the quality of the new workforce, one thing that everyone agrees on is that Renard’s prudence has ensured more than adequate cover for every position. He’s also recruited players for similar positions with differing attributes, providing greater flexibility of systems for the coach. - Paul Vance, Mount Royal Soccer

Nashville SC

After a successful inaugural season that saw the Boys in Gold reach the MLS Cup Eastern Conference Semifinals, Nashville SC is back looking to build on its success and establish themselves as a contender for the foreseeable future.

SC had a phenomenal year defensively allowing .96 goals a game, the best mark by an expansion team in MLS history. Nashville was also third in goals allowed with 22, and SC has one of the better backlines in MLS led by centerbacks Dave Romney, Walker Zimmerman, the reigning MLS Defender of the Year, and keeper Joe Willis who at age 33 had the best season of his career.

With a strong backline allowing for more chances on the offensive end, expect Nashville SC to challenge for a top-five regular season finish in the Eastern Conference. - Zachary Junda

New England Revolution

The New England Revolution are coming off a disappointing loss in the Eastern Conference Finals. The only way they can be pleased with their performance in 2021 is by making the MLS Cup.

New England actually improved their squad with the acquisitions of Arnor Traustason, Christian Mafla, and Wilfrid Kaptoum. The Revs also have key players like Matt Turner, Henry Kessler, and Tajon Buchanan along with DP’s Carles Gil and Gustavo Bou returning to the squad.

In 2020 Revs fans saw just how much Gil means to the club. Once he returned from injury the club looked completely different. They had their heart and soul back on the pitch.

This season New England should compete for an MLS Cup. With how deep the squad is there should be plenty of goals scored and some exciting soccer being played throughout the 2021 season. - Sam Minton, The Bent Musket

New York City FC

What NYCFC lack in star power, they more than make up for in fundamentally sound role players and younger guys who are beginning to show exactly how high their ceilings really are. Maxi Moralez is one of the more fun playmakers in the league to watch. James Sands is a stud Homegrown defensive midfielder and will probably be moving to Europe sooner rather than later. And Anton Tinnerholm is by far the best right back in the league.

Another fun tidbit is that as of right now, New York City has two free Designated Player slots. This means there is the potential of some eye-opening additions once the summer window opens. Even if they aren’t the best in the league — or even their conference — right out of the gate, there are few MLS clubs with higher upside than NYCFC. - Christian Smith, Hudson River Blue

New York Red Bulls

The Red Bulls have never been more committed to the energy drink soccer philosophy than they will be this season. Former Salzburg academy and reserves manager Gerhard Struber was recruited from Barnsley by Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz personally, and former Wolverhampton Wanderers sporting director Kevin Thelwell has brought in a diverse array of young signings for him to pursue an extreme high-press scheme with.

The Red Bulls will continue to disappoint fans seeking Hollywood signings, but the specific attributes and profiles sought out by the club’s new technical leadership promise to give the team a coherent and dynamic tactical approach. It’s an approach that could potentially run other MLS teams off the field, the way New York did in the Supporters Shield-winning campaigns of not too long ago. - Ben Cork, Once a Metro

Orlando City

Simply put, Orlando City are fun. They play an exciting brand of possession-based soccer, typically building out of the back but perfectly willing to have Robin Jansson or Oriol Rosell send a long ball out wide to catch the opposition napping and create a quick transition opportunity.

Up and down the roster, there are exciting players at almost every position. That starts with Nani, the one-time Portugal international. Daryl Dike was a revelation at forward last season. Chris Mueller is a hard-working and creative player with a motor that only runs at full power. Pereyra is a sorcerer with the ball because, as Falcon says, a sorcerer is a wizard without a hat. And let’s not forget Ruan’s (and Benji Michel’s) blazing speed, Junior Urso’s passion, Pedro Gallese’s highlight saves, or Moutinho’s magical crosses. - Michael Citro, The Mane Land

Toronto FC

On paper, Toronto FC are still projected to be one of the best teams in MLS, led of course by the reigning MVP: Alejandro Pozuelo. Michael Bradley is expected to contribute more offensively than in years past, while Jozy Altidore appears to have bought in to new head coach Chris Armas’ vision, as he’s apparently working hard and pushing others in training in hopes of bouncing back after a disappointing 2021 campaign.

The club is also extremely high on some of their young Canadian talent, like Ayo Akinola — the league-leader in goals per 90 last season — Jayden Nelson, Ralph Priso, and Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, as TFC arguably boast the best prospect cupboard in all of MLS. The youngsters are expected to earn quite a few minutes under Armas, which should be intriguing to fans who have been waiting to see what some of their local talent could do. - Michael Singh, Waking the Red

Western Conference

Austin FC

If preseason is any indicator of how this team will approach the offensive side of the game, and goals on goals on goals is your kind of thing, then Austin FC may just be worth it. Austin has shown they’re willing to attack, throw numbers forward and certainly not lacking in any creative ideas at the moment.

Austin hasn’t lacked in finding goals during the first two pre-season games against Houston and Dallas (total of 5 goals scored) and are finding their offensive joy from everyone across the attacking line. Plus, you just never know when Matthew McConaughey is going to make some kind of cameo. - Jason Poon

Colorado Rapids

Last season, MLS adjusted the playoff qualifications more or less for the Rapids since they would be playing significantly fewer games due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the club. Despite playing just 18 games in 2020 (every other team in the conference played 21-23), Colorado still made the playoffs the old-fashioned way: overall points. Sure, they didn’t look great and got bounced in the first round by Minnesota United, but they finished the season on a three-game winning streak AND won the Rocky Mountain Cup for the first time since 2015.

The front office may not have signed a DP in the offseason like fans wanted, but without losing any key players and only bringing in more talent, spirits should be high in what will hopefully be Robin Fraser’s first full regular season as head coach. If things go how they’ve been trending over the past season and a half, the Rapids will do well and make it to post-season again. - Abbie Mood Lang, Burgundy Wave

FC Dallas

Normally it would be the Homegrown players and which ones will be next up. But after transfers for Reggie Cannon and Bryan Reynolds last season, it appears that while the pipeline of academy talent is still there for FC Dallas it may be their young South American talent that is more intriguing this season to keep an eye out on. Jadar Obrian was the leading scoring in the Colombian top flight last year, while Freddy Vargas appears to be a dead-ball specialist on the wing that the club has lacked since the departure of veteran defender Reto Ziegler.

If they can tie it all together with the Homegrowns like Jesus Ferreira, Tanner Tessmann, Ricardo Pepi and a returning Paxton Pomykal, this club could make some serious noise in MLS. - Drew Epperley, Big D Soccer

Houston Dynamo

You will want to tune in to Dynamo games because there really is no telling what is going to happen. Houston can look like an unbeatable juggernaut at times when they are playing at home and other times when on the road, they will look like a group of guys who just learned how to play the sport. You’ll also want to watch Dynamo games to see that maturation of Tab Ramos as a coach and how his tactics and system begin to become ingrained in this team.

They may not be the best team, heck, they might not even be that good, but Ramos is going to have them playing his way and playing hard. The Dynamo are on the path to becoming a relevant team again and at times it may not be pretty, but you’re going to see a team learning, growing, and becoming the embodiment of their manager out on the field. - Dustyn Richardson, Dynamo Theory

LAFC

This is the most exciting team to watch in MLS, period. If you’re a neutral, you’ll love the goalfests that LAFC frequently are involved in. They not only score a ton themselves, but two of the last three seasons have also conceded bucketloads. You know how every coach who has an introductory press conference says, “We want to play exciting, attacking, front-foot soccer”? That’s what this team does. It can be nervy for fans, but it’s also fun to root for a team that can seems capable of scoring four goals against any opponent.

Beyond the goals and the high-octane style, LAFC have a growing group of young and young-ish talent from around the world that is showing just how successful the club’s scouting network has been thus far. Yes, they’ve struggled to get the 3rd Designated Player right, and their current one, Brian Rodriguez, may or may not return from his current loan to the Spanish second flight, but when the first choice XI is available they are a ton of fun to watch and they are rightly considered title contenders in 2021. - Alicia Rodriguez, Angels on Parade

LA Galaxy

There’s been holes in the roster in the past, to be sure, but again, this squad has been better than their performances have shown. If they can be back to their best — if Chicharito can finally find traction in MLS and become a consistent scorer, if Sebastian Lletget can play as well for club as he does for country, if the defense can stop shipping goals, if Jonathan dos Santos can play at Best XI standard again, if Victor Vazquez can stay healthy, if newcomer Samuel Grandsir can have an immediate impact, if a Homegrown player or two emerge to be regular contributors — then they can be near the top of the standings in relatively short order.

It won’t all be fixed overnight, but the combination of Vanney’s arrival and the roster re-tooling, plus hopes of bounce back seasons for several players means there is considerable optimism that the Galaxy have finally turned a page and will be elite again soon. - Alicia Rodriguez, LAG Confidential

Minnesota United

Minnesota United comes into 2021 off what is by far the club’s best season since entering MLS in 2017 and best since overall their 2012 NASL runner-up season. A Western Conference final appearance, and ultimately late loss, capped off a weird year.

While MNUFC might be lacking a major striker and scoring threat up top, they definitely aren’t lacking in other areas. The Loons’ midfield from front to back is filled with great players and depth. Adrian Heath’s typical 4-2-3-1 and alternate 4-4-2 formations gives Minnesota plenty of options with midfielders Osvaldo Alonso, Jann Gregus, Emanuel Reynoso, Ethan Finlay, Robin Lod, and Hassani Dotson leading the way. Behind them is a stout set of defenders, albeit one that may once again be lacking Ike Opara. However this defense showed in 2020 how capable they can be even without the Ace of the back line on the pitch. And clearing out the look is the 1-2 combination of goalkeepers in Dayne St. Clair and Tyler Miller. That 1-2 punch is surely the deepest set of goalkeepers in the league.

Provided the defense holds its 2020 form and Heath’s squad can create some scoring the Loons could be a threat near the top of the Western Conference and an overall fantastic team to watch in 2021. - Ashle Norling, E Pluribus Loonum

Portland Timbers

There are plenty of reasons for this, but let’s start with arguably the most important: Sebastian Blanco is back, or at least will be back soon. The best player on the Timbers was absent for the majority of the 2020 regular season, and Portland were still good enough to finish in the top three of the Western Conference. They had one of the best offenses in MLS last regular season without Seba. With Seba, they earned a Concacaf Champions League Tournament appearance thanks to Portland’s victory in the MLS is Back Tournament last August. The prospect of a Timbers squad with Blanco back is exciting in and of itself.

And there are other storylines, too. What’s going on at the No. 9 spot? Jeremy Ebobisse is a talented young player, but are the Timbers going to wind up starting Felip Mora instead? Will Father Time catch up to Diego Valeri and Diego Chara or will they continue to be two of the best in MLS history at their respective positions? Will the defense continue to give up goals in the final 15 minutes? All these questions need answering, and the best way to do so is to watch the Timbers. - Kyle Garcia, Stumptown Footy

Real Salt Lake

There’s a huge amount of untapped potential here. Albert Rusnak could be a 10-goal, 10-assist player, even if he wasn’t last year; Pablo Ruiz has been a revelation in the midfield; Rubio Rubin might prove a hugely underrated signing; and Bobby Wood could find form again.

The narratives around so many players could prove a level of excitement we haven’t felt in years, and there’s a real chance the team feels untethered from ownership. This could be the year things start to look up again. - Matt Montgomery, RSL Soapbox

San Jose Earthquakes

In the Matias Almeyda era, games have largely been goal-fests. Beyond that, the Quakes have a self-belief that can sometimes look misguided, but a decade-long track record of coming back in games, plus Almeyda’s ace man management, have combined to make this team believe they are in pretty much any game. Beyond that, Almeyda’s playing style is unique in MLS. A disciple of Marcelo Bielsa, the Earthquakes use a man-marking system and utilizew an incredibly vertical style of play.

They are far more accustomed to chaos than most teams, and while it does fall apart, spectacularly, on occasion, their frantic approach usually unsettles opponents and leads to stretches of beautiful play among the blunt force. If you are a student of tactics then Quakes games are a treat, as you watch the chess match between Almeyda and his opposite number on the other bench. - Alicia Rodriguez, Center Line Soccer

Seattle Sounders

No MLS team has enjoyed the level of sustained success as the Sounders. They’ve qualified for the playoffs in all 12 of their season, have been to 4 of the past 5 MLS Cup finals and won two league titles since Schmetzer took over midway through 2016. While every season has seen at least some turnover among the starters, this year feels different.

There’s reason for concern, but also reason to be excited. The Sounders have a host of young players who could contend for significant minutes this year and a new primary formation for the first time during their current era. If the Sounders are to continue this run of excellence, it will need to be through evolution. That should make them worth watching. - Jeremiah Oshan, Sounder at Heart

Sporting KC

It would be easy to list Alan Pulido and Johnny Russell in the attack as one reason for excitement but it might be the number of homegrowns on the roster that is the most interesting. With 10 of 27 players coming from SKC’s Academy, there will be a lot of youth. Academy products Gianluca Busio and Jaylin Lindsay are looking like regular starters and Daniel Salloi, Felipe Hernandez and Cameron Duke seem slated to get regular time so the team will be young.

But it may be Wilson Harris who scored 4 goals in the first three preseason games and scored consistently for SKC II that could be the surprise and have a breakout year. Add in Tyler Freeman, Grayson Barber and Ozzie Cisneros and there could be a youthful revolution in Kansas City for the next couple seasons. And Puldio and Russell in the attack will still be a great reason to watch as well... - Thad Bell, The Blue Testament

Vancouver Whitecaps

In the absence of an Attacking Midfield talisman, the hope is that Vancouver gets creative with how they create (I know, stick with me). Adding Bruno Gaspar gives the Whitecaps balance at fullback, something they’ve desperately needed. Meanwhile, Deiber Caicedo will complete an all-Colombian winger pairing that Marc Dos Santos has been craving since he first took the job. With these moves, all signs point to a team that is going to spend a lot of time getting busy in wide areas, and that could make for some pretty exciting football. Lurking in the box will be Canadian stallworth Lucas Cavallini. Although last year was tough for the target man, he still scored six goals in a short season, and if the service is even slightly better than last year, there’s no reason he can’t flirt with the 15-goal mark.

Finally, if the defenders and goalkeepers stay healthy, the Whitecaps could have exciting position battles at both spots. Olympic Qualifying standout Derek Cornelius is battling Serbian International Ranko Veselinovic for a place at centerback, while two young Canadians in Max Crepeau and Thomas Hasal will vie for a spot between the sticks. - Sam Rowan, 86 Forever

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jaigeddes · 4 years ago

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First eight freeports to lead regional regeneration drive

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled the UK’s first freeport areas as part of his push to drive investment-led regeneration in the regions.

New freeport hub plans can now move forward at East Midlands Airport, Felixstowe and Harwich, Humber, Liverpool City Region, Plymouth, Solent, Thames and Teesside.

The free trade zones are designated areas where the normal tax and tariff rules do not apply. This allows goods to be imported, manufactured and re-exported without being subject to checks, paperwork, or import taxes.

The wide package of tax reliefs also apply to purchasing land, constructing or renovating buildings, investing in new plant and machinery assets and on Employer National Insurance Contributions.

Streamlined planning processes and government funding will also boost redevelopment and promote regeneration and innovation.

Sunak said the move would stimulate construction and transport links bringing big regional benefits.

He also announced £1bn for 45 New Town deals and committed to move part of the Treasury to a new campus in Darlington.

Other spending pledges

£135m to progress A66 Trans-Pennine upgrade to get spades in the ground by 2024.

Up to £30m for the Global Centre for Rail Excellence in Wales.

UK infrastructure bank in Leeds

To support Government’s Build Back Better plans across the couyntry, Leeds will become home to the UK’s first infrastructure investment bank.

The bank will have £12bn to release, mainly to provide local authorities with access to efficient finance for high-value and complex economic infrastructure projects.

Sunak said: “The bank will invest across the UK in public and private projects to finance the green industrial revolution.

“Beginning this Spring, it will have an initial capitalisation of £12bn and we expect it to support at least £40bn of total investment in infrasturcture.”

The new infrastructure bank was recommended by John Armitt, the head of the National Infrastructure Commission — an arms-length government body — who said it should start with an asset base of £20bn.

Paul Hamer, CEO of Sir Robert McAlpine, said: A National Infrastructure Bank, with an initial capitalisation of £12bn to invest in an array of public and private projects, is very good news indeed for construction and the country as a whole.

“It’s clear that government have an intent for ‘Build Back Better’ to be much more than a slogan and to make good on the commitments they made last summer. What’s more, in locating the Bank in Leeds, the Government has sent a powerful message that it appreciates the need to level up areas outside of London.”

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pauljacobevans · 8 years ago

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How Many Hacks in an LED Display?

There are so many nice hacks in [Joekutz]’s retro LED display project that it’s hard to know where to start. There’s his DIY LED display controlled by an Arduino UNO. To have some text or picture for the display, he’s wired the output of a Bluetooth speaker directly to the Arduino, and sends it speaker tones that encode the text to draw. And as if that wasn’t enough, he’s hacked a quartz driver board from an analog clock to use the display as a clock as well. Let’s start with the LED matrix display, perhaps the best excuse for trying …read more http://pje.fyi/PKZb2s

#led hacks #Arduino Uno #bluetooth #darlington array #LED array

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365footballorg-blog · 7 years ago

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Ranking the top 10 personnel moves of the 2018 MLS season

USA Today Sports Images

October 18, 20184:17PM EDT

As we near the end of the regular season, the time is ripe to weigh which squad moves made by MLS clubs have borne the juiciest fruit.

Bear in mind, this is not a straight production and performance ranking of the best transfers made. Fit and influence in a new team is also highly important to winning, so the same goes here.

League general managers have done such a fine job adding impact pieces to their roster puzzles that our honorable mentions collection is exhaustive and hard to argue: Adama Diomande, Cory Burke, Rod Fanni, Benny Feilhaber, Aleksandar Katai, Darlington Nagbe, Cristian Penilla, Diego Rossi, Johnny Russell, Danilo Silva, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi, Walker Zimmerman.

No. 10: Felipe Gutierrez

Felipe Gutierrez | USA Today Sports Images

I went back and forth between Gutierrez and Russell for this spot, but in the end, had to give it to the Chile veteran because of his clear advantage in replacement value. After all, he moved out of his optimal position to bring a new flavor to Benny Feilhaber’s old spot.

He’s enjoyed easily his best offensive season since leaving his homeland six years ago while remaining one of the top tacklers in the MLS. The clincher? Sporting KC are a Supporters’ Shield-esque 9-3-3 when he starts, and a middling 6-5-5 when he doesn’t.

No. 9: Kei Kamara

The Vancouver striker is hardly a silent or sneaky guy, and yet somehow, he’s quietly put in the second-best season of his career. Kamara has given the Whitecaps the cobra’s head they’ve lacked since Camilo departed after the 2013 season, potting 14 goals (six of them game-winners, good for third in MLS) to go with five assists.

He’s provided all that production in fewer than 2,000 minutes, and the team simply doesn’t run as smoothly when he’s not on the field (1-3-2 when Kamara doesn’t play). And for all of his on-field value, it might actually pale in comparison to the advanced tutelage he’s offered to Alphonso Davies.

No. 8: Kim Kee-hee/Tim Parker/Milton Valenzuela

You know I love a good cheat pick, and this one’s a tripleheader. Let’s call it the “Wins Above Replacement” backline crew, to steal a baseball term. Simply put, their teams all would have suffered a significant amount if forced to turn to the next guy on the depth chart.

A safety officer on and off the ball, Kee-hee has stepped into the heart of a Seattle defense that had developed what you might call “Roman Torres problems.” The Sounders have logged 13 of their 15 wins and conceded less than a goal per game when the South Korea defender starts.

Over in New York, Parker has proved the perfect partner to Aaron Long on a team that often forces their center backs to fend for themselves on the run. The Red Bulls are 1-3-1 while allowing two goals per game when the hometown boy has sat this season.

Finally, Valenzuela has given Columbus Crew SC great balance in both directions. Looking north-south, the young DP is a top tackler who also stands third in the league among defenders in key passes. And by outproducing the left wingers that have played in front of him, he’s also scared opponents off of crowding Harrison Afful’s side.

No. 7: Kaku

A lot of fingernails got chewed to the quick when the Red Bulls dealt away Sacha Kljestan, but that quickly became old news once the season started. Alejandro Romero Gamarra, better known as Kaku, fit right in with the Supporters’ Shield contenders right away in his debut MLS season (no small feat), making sure Bradley Wright-Phillips would not go hungry up top.

The playmaker dribbles past defenders, hits a mean splitting pass, gives up the ball far less than one would expect from a final third operator and presses like a demon, a certain requirement at Red Bull Arena. Because of all this, he stands tied for fourth in the league with 14 assists, and all five of his goals have been game-winners.

No. 6: Saphir Taider

It has become quite de rigueur of late to moan about how underrated Nacho Piatti is up in Montreal. These complainers are not wrong, but I’ve got hot news for them: The three-time All-Star and 2016 Best XI honoree is not even the most underappreciated player on his team.

It says here that distinction goes to Taider, the do-it-all midfielder who’s the main difference in a side that has already surpassed last year’s point total by four with two games remaining. The Algeria star is second on the team with seven goals and third with eight assists by running their bread-and-butter counter, and gets stuck in defensively without fouling much. Without Taider, Montreal aren’t even in the playoff race.

No. 5: Raul Ruidiaz

The Peru striker only arrived at midseason, but his transformative powers have not gone unnoticed. Due to another Jordan Morris injury setback, Seattle coaches and fans spent the first four months of the season bemoaning the lack of an attacker who could stretch the field and unnerve defenders.

That all ended with the arrival of Ruidiaz, who give defenders fits, which in turn affords Sounders orchestrator Nico Lodeiro both space and a top target. Yeah, he’s bagged seven goals in 12 games, and that’s great. More importantly, Seattle are 10-2-0 with two goals scored per game when he plays (vs. just under a half-goal per game without him on the field).

No. 4: Borek Dockal

Borek Dockal | USA Today Sports Images

Oh boy, did Philadelphia Union fans seemingly cry out forever for a No. 10 to bridge their fine midfield and routinely starved attack. All those prayers were finally answered with the loan move that brought crystalizing force Dockal to Philly.

Though it took the Czech playmaker several weeks to heat up, he eventually was dispensing fresh, tasty offerings like a Wawa. Dockal had but one assist through his first eight games, but now tops the league with 17. Thanks to his incisive link play and array of final balls, Philadelphia are back in the playoffs with a good shot at hosting their first postseason game since 2011.

No. 3: Carlos Vela

There’s no shortage of excellent pickups on the LAFC roster (see the honorable mentions above), and if we were counting head coaching hires in this list, Bob Bradley would rank near the top. Even so, Vela has truly been the straw that stirs the expansion darlings’ drink from day one.

The Mexico star has 13 goals to go with a dozen helpers, and stands near the top of the league in non-penalty goals + assists per 90 minutes, key passes, free kicks won, dribbles and shots on goal. Nearly every frightening LAFC rush goes through him, and enough of them also end with him that the new kids on the block have a great chance to end their first regular season with a Knockout Round bye.

No. 2: Wayne Rooney

Though “Señor Wayne” has only been in MLS for 17 games, the former England icon has completely changed both the look and the outlook for the Black-and-Red. Many doubted that Rooney could still star, but they’ve all been converted since mid-July, when D.C. United had 11 points from 14 games and appeared in need of a series of miracles to reach the postseason.

Rooney hasn’t walked on water just yet, but he does steal points late with an alarming frequency. The 32-year-old has done it all, dropping deep, leading the line and everything in between on the way to nine goals and seven assists. His presence has also unleashed the beast in Lucho Acosta, and the two have led the capital crew on a 10-4-3 surge that has them holding the East’s last playoff spot, four points ahead of the only foe that can still catch them.

No. 1: Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Who else could it be, right? The mighty Zlatan burst onto the MLS scene with a stunning derby double and has hardly slowed down since. The LA Galaxy superstar has had a historic debut season, chalking up 21 goals and nine assists to put the StubHub Center crew in position to pull off what rather recently looked to be an improbable rally for a playoff berth. Without him, they are nowhere near this station.

The striker’s goals-per-game rate is almost identical to that of record-breaker Josef Martinez, he’s hit for seven winners, buried all four of his penalty kicks and he’s one helper away from becoming the third 20-10 player in league history. And let’s face it: even if the Galaxy don’t manage to snare that playoff invite, Zlatan’s showmanship on the field, lion’s roar of a personality off of it and worldwide Q Rating has improved the league immeasurably.

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Ranking the top 10 personnel moves of the 2018 MLS season was originally published on 365 Football

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This Week in MLS - June 25, 2018

Kelvin Kuo-USA Today Sports Images

June 25, 20182:48PM EDT

This Week in MLS – June 25, 2018

Mexico’s MLS trio to face Sweden’s Svensson in final World Cup group stage match

MLS Cascadia clash to follow World Cup Group Stage on FOX

Timbers Goalkeeper Publishing “Nursery Rhymes with a Sports Emphasis”

2018 MLS All-Star Fan XI heavy on World Cup, National Team talent, League award winners

MLS Referees shining in World Cup competition

MLS Week 18: Match Notes

Mexico’s MLS trio to face Sweden’s Svensson in final World Cup group stage match

Mexico and Sweden have produced two of the most dramatic moments at the 2018 FIFA World Cup with MLS players featuring for both sides in the tournament’s thrilling play. The two nations will face off in a decisive final match of group play on Wednesday (10 a.m. ET, FOX / Telemundo), with both sides needing a positive result to secure advancement into the Round of 16. An MLS player from either country is guaranteed to advance into the next round, while both countries could advance pending results of Germany’s match against South Korea kicking off simultaneously.

Los Angeles Football Club midfielder Carlos Vela has shined in the World Cup, starting both of Mexico’s matches and scoring the first goal in a 2-1 victory over South Korea with a penalty kick in the 26th minute. Vela subbed out in the 77th minute in favor of LA Galaxy midfielder Giovani dos Santos, who appeared in his third World Cup and helped Mexico close out South Korea to remain perfect in the tournament. LA Galaxy midfielder Jonathan dos Santos, meanwhile, could see his first World Cup action against Sweden.

The Mexican MLS trio will face off against Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Gustav Svensson, who came off the bench to help secure a 1-0 victory over South Korea in the team’s opening match. Sweden narrowly upset Germany on Saturday only for the reigning World Cup champions to strike back with a stoppage-time winner.

Svensson’s Sweden squad will have to hold off a Mexico attack that has been spearheaded by Vela, leading to consecutive World Cup wins for the first time since 2002. A win or draw would guarantee first place in the group for Mexico, while a multi-goal win would place Sweden in prime position to advance to the Round of 16 for the first time since the 2006 World Cup, its last time in the tournament.

MLS Cascadia clash to follow World Cup Group Stage on FOX

World Cup action precedes one of the most storied rivalries in MLS with the 101st all-time meeting between Cascadia foes Seattle Sounders FC and the Portland Timbers at CenturyLink Field on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET on the FOX broadcast network.

Dating back to 1975, this rivalry has had seen some thrillers, and notably some recent magic from Sounders FC forward Clint Dempsey, who last week tied Fredy Montero for the club’s MLS goal-scoring record. Currently sitting on 47 Seattle finishes, Dempsey’s rivalry magic began with a 2014 hat-trick that produced a 4-4 draw off of a down-to-the-wire, 87th-minute finish that sealed the dramatic comeback. Dempsey has a knack for scoring in the rivalry, with his nine goals against Portland over the last four seasons (2014-2017) accounting for more goals than against any other club in his MLS career.

Sounders FC hold an all-time 9-6-6 advantage in addition to an undefeated 7-0-3 home record over the Timbers in MLS heads-to-heads. However, Portland is on a hot streak of 11 games unbeaten in all competitions and nine in MLS regular season action. For a matchup that has drawn four of the five largest home crowds in Sounders FC club history, will Dempsey fuel the resurgence for Sounders FC, or could the Timbers extend their league-leading unbeaten streak?

Timbers Goalkeeper Publishing “Nursery Rhymes with a Sports Emphasis”

Affectionately known as ‘Dadttinella’ to the Timbers Army, Timbers Goalkeeper Jeff Attinella, who has served as the starting goalkeeper for the last eight of Portland’s nine-game MLS unbeaten streak, is expressing his love for sports off the field as well… as an author of children’s books.

The passionate sports fan was looking for a way to capture top sports moments in a format that would resonate with his 18-month-old daughter Remy Rose and as a result, It Had to Be Told was launched.

“I wanted to create an avenue to share what I thought were sports stories that shouldn’t be forgotten,” told The Oregonian in a recent interview. “I’m just trying to tie it all together so that when I’m reading to my daughter, it’s stuff that hopefully we can both connect with. These are stories that I really love and hopefully she really loves in the future.”

And if this story sounds familiar, former MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Kevin Hartman also penned a children’s book during his playing career called “Boots Saves the Day” to use while he worked with children’s literacy programs in Los Angeles.

As Attinella continues to write his ‘nursery rhymes with a sports emphasis’ his focus on the field has led to a career-high four clean sheets this season while posting 31 saves, eight in last night’s match against Atlanta United alone.

Will the Timbers winning streak continue this week against Cascadia rival Seattle Sounders FC? With Attinella and the Timbers traveling to Seattle to face a Sounders side that is desperate for points it will be a tough task… maybe one he’ll write a book about after.

2018 MLS All-Star Fan XI heavy on World Cup talent, League award winners

Major League Soccer announced the 2018 MLS All-Star Fan XI presented by Target on Monday, with the 11 players holding considerable World Cup experience in an impressive array of national team experience among the group. Among the standouts set to face Juventus on August 1 in Atlanta include 10 players with national team experience, five of whom have played at a FIFA World Cup. Los Angeles Football Club boasts Mexico’s Carlos Vela (2010, 2018 World Cup) along with Belgium’s Laurent Ciman (2010). Across town, LA Galaxy’s Zlatan Ibrahimović preps to face his former Juventus team with two World Cups under his belt (2002, 2006), while Sporting Kansas City’s Graham Zusi (2014) and Atlanta United’s Brad Guzan (2010, 2014) both represented the U.S. Men’s National Team on the world’s biggest stage.

Along with the World Cup veterans are current national team players Miguel Almirón (Paraguay), Josef Martínez (Venezuela) and Darlington Nagbe (United States). Ezequiel Barco is the only player in the Fan XI to not have national team experience, but the 19-year-old Atlanta United midfielder has eight caps for Argentina’s U-20 squad.

While the Fan XI players have shined for their national teams, it’s what they’ve done with their MLS clubs that garnered the honor to play in the All-Star Game. Among the many accolades accomplished by the group include the reigning Landon Donovan MLS MVP Diego Valeri, the 2017 MLS Newcomer of the Year in Almirón and the current Golden Boot leader in Martínez. Ciman, meanwhile, has scored three direct free kick goals this season, fourth-most in a single MLS season and the most ever in one season by a defender.

MLS Referees shining in World Cup competition

With more FIFA World Cup officials than any other league world-wide, MLS and Professional Referee Organization (PRO) have five officials achieving the global standard on the world’s biggest stage.

Mark Geiger leads the group with seven World Cup assignments in Russia, including his first call from the middle during Portugal v. Morocco on June 20. His eighth appearance will come from the center on Wednesday during the Group F match between South Korea and Germany, where he will be joined by MLS Assistant Referees Joe Fletcher and Frank Anderson on the sidelines.

MLS Referee Jair Marrufo also served as the man in the middle, leading the officiating team during the Belgium v. Tunisia match on June 23 that featured MLS Assistant Referees Fletcher, Corey Rockwell, and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Geiger.

Since the start of the tournament, MLS officials have overseen 11 games in various roles, and six games have featured two or more MLS officials. A list of all World Cup assignments for MLS officials can be found here.

MLS Week 18: Match Notes

Friday, June 29, 2018

Minnesota United FC vs. FC Dallas, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

Minnesota United suffered a second consecutive defeat, falling 3-2 to the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening. Christian Ramírez scored his fourth goal of the season and his third in the past five matches.

FC Dallas saw their four-game winning streak, and seven-game undefeated run, come to a crashing halt, falling 3-0 to the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on Saturday evening.

The teams met twice in Minnesota United FC’s inaugural campaign, each winning on their home ground. FC Dallas won 2-0 when the clubs first met on April 8 at Toyota Stadium; MNUFC returned the favor with a 4-1 victory on Sept. 23 at TCF Bank Stadium.

Saturday, June 30, 2018

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Portland Timbers, 4:30 p.m. ET (FOX)

The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Sebastian Blanco scored the game’s lone goal as the Timbers ground out a 1-0 victory on May 13 at Providence Park, in the 100th meeting all-time between the clubs.

Clint Dempsey scored his first goal of the season as Sounders FC reached a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Fire on Saturday evening at CenturyLink Field. It was Dempsey’s 47th goal for Sounders FC, tying him with Fredy Montero for the club’s all-time lead in its MLS history.

The Timbers extended their league undefeated streak to nine games with a third consecutive draw, reaching a 1-1 draw with Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Since their first meeting in 1975 in the old North American Soccer League, Seattle has won 50 times and Portland has won 36, with 14 draws. In Major League Soccer league play, Sounders FC have won nine matches, the Timbers have won six, and six have been draws. The Timbers won both meetings in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Sounders FC are now 7-0-3 all-time at home in regular season games against Portland – though the Timbers did win there in the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs.

The Timbers have won four of the past five league meetings in Portland, with one draw, over the last two seasons. Sounders FC last won in Portland in 2014. When the Timbers took a 4-1 win on June 28, 2015, the three-goal victory equaled Portland’s largest margin of victory against the Sounders since 1977.

Atlanta United vs. Orlando City SC, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Atlanta United extended their undefeated streak to five games with a third draw in that time, reaching a 1-1 result with the Portland Timbers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Orlando City SC saw their MLS club-record losing streak extended to seven games, falling 2-0 to the Montréal Impact in the back end of their home-and-home series Saturday evening at Orlando City Stadium.

The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Josef Martínez and Ezequiel Barco each scored goals in the first half as Atlanta United took a 2-1 win on May 13 at Orlando City Stadium, putting an end to Orlando City’s six-game winning streak.

The teams met three times a year ago in Atlanta United’s inaugural campaign – and the expansion side did not lose to their neighbors to the south. ATLUTD claimed one victory – a 1-0 win in the first meeting between the teams, July 21 at Orlando City Stadium.

The teams played to a pair of draws, both in Atlanta – a 1-1 result on July 29 at Bobby Dodd Stadium, then a 3-3 deadlock on Sept. 16 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Montreal Impact vs. Sporting Kansas City, 7:30 p.m. ET (TVA Sports, TSN, ESPN+)

The Impact won their second consecutive game against Orlando City, winning both sides of their home-and-home series around the World Cup recess, claiming a 2-0 victory at Orlando City Stadium on Saturday evening.

Ignacio Piatti scored his eighth goal of the season, his third in the past two games. The Impact have scored 14 goals since April 21; Piatti has netted seven of those. Montréal scored five goals in the two wins vs. Orlando City – three from Piatti, and two via own goals.

Sporting extended their undefeated streak to seven games, coming back from two goals down for a 3-2 win against the Houston Dynamo at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday evening. Sporting extended their home undefeated streak to eight games.

Daniel Salloí scored a goal and added a pair of assists; of the past 10 goals Sporting have scored, since May 5, Salloí has played a part in six (four goals, two assists).

Sporting have a six-game undefeated streak alive in the series. The teams have reached draws each of the past two seasons, including a 1-1 result in last year’s lone meeting, June 10 at Children’s Mercy Park, Sporting having won the previous four games.

SKC has won three of the five games all-time in the series in Montréal. The last victories in the series by the Impact both came in 2013, winning once at each ground.

Columbus Crew SC vs. Real Salt Lake, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

Crew SC suffered a second consecutive defeat on the heels of an eight-game undefeated run, falling 2-0 to the Los Angeles Football Club at Banc of California Stadium on Saturday evening. Crew SC have been shut out at the attacking end in consecutive games for the first time this season.

RSL had their six-game home winning streak put to an end, but still stretched their undefeated run at Rio Tinto Stadium to seven games, following their 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday evening.

The teams met once a year ago, a 2-2 draw on July 29 at Rio Tinto Stadium. It was the second consecutive draw between the teams in Sandy, with Real undefeated in the past three meetings between the clubs on their home ground.

RSL have not won in Columbus in league play since 2006, the Crew having won seven of the past eight regular-season meetings there, including a wild 4-3 victory on May 28, 2016, in the last meeting at Mapfre Stadium. Real did win the second leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series between the teams in 2009 in Columbus, on their way to an MLS Cup title.

New England Revolution vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

The Revolution return to action after more than two weeks away from league play, extending their undefeated streak to five games in their last match, a 2-2 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium on June 13. Diego Fagundez scored a goal and added an assist; he has two goals and three assists in the last five matches.

D.C. United also return to play after more than two weeks away in MLS action, seeing their league winless run extended to three games with a second draw in that time last time out, playing to a wild 4-4 draw with Toronto FC on June 13 at BMO Field.

The teams have reached draws in each of the past three seasons in the lone matchups at Gillette Stadium, including a 2-2 result last April 22 in the only game in Foxborough. The Revolution have a six-game undefeated streak alive at home in the series in league play (2-0-4); United’s last win there came in 2012.

United won the final five league meetings at RFK Stadium between the MLS Original clubs, including a 1-0 win last Aug. 26 in the final matchup on East Capitol Street.

The teams have also met four times in the MLS Cup Playoffs, with United winning three of the four series all-time, last a 2-1 win at RFK Stadium in the Knockout Round in 2015.

Los Angeles Football Club vs. Philadelphia Union, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

LAFC won for a second consecutive match following a four-game winless run, getting two goals in the opening eight minutes on their way to a 2-0 win against Columbus Crew SC at Banc of California Stadium on Saturday evening.

Adama Diomandé scored for a third consecutive match, his fourth goal over that span, while Laurent Ciman scored his third goal this season – all directly from free kicks, the most direct free kick goals by a defender in one season in MLS history (since records available in 2003).

The Union snapped their two-game losing slide in emphatic fashion, rolling to a 4-0 win against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Talen Energy Stadium on Saturday evening. Borek Dockal netted a pair of goals, his first multiple-goal game in MLS.

The teams are meeting for the first time in LAFC’s inaugural MLS season.

Chicago Fire vs. New York City FC, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

The Fire extended their undefeated streak to four games with a third consecutive draw, reaching a 1-1 result with Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field on Saturday evening.

Aleksandar Katai scored his sixth goal of the season, his seventh consecutive game with either a goal and/or an assist, tying the Fire club record (Ante Razov, 2000).

NYCFC extended their undefeated streak to three games with a second win in that time, remaining undefeated at Yankee Stadium this season following a come-from-behind 2-1 win vs. Toronto FC on Sunday afternoon. Jo Inge Berget scored both NYCFC goals.

NYCFC are undefeated in the past six meetings between the teams, since the Fire won 1-0 on April 24, 2015 in their first ever encounter. NYCFC have won three of those six matches, with three draws.

The teams have split their three meetings at Toyota Park. The Fire won there in the first meeting in 2015, NYCFC took a victory there in the 2016 season opener, then the teams reached a 1-1 last Sept. 30 in the lone matchup in Bridgeview.

The Fire have never won at Yankee Stadium. NYCFC have won the past two meetings between the teams in the Bronx, their first home wins in the series after the first two meetings ended in draws.

San Jose Earthquakes vs. LA Galaxy, 10 p.m. ET (UniMás)

The Quakes saw their winless streak extended to seven games with a second consecutive draw, reaching a 1-1 result with Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday evening. Danny Hoesen scored his 10th goal of the season, his third goal in the last two games, and his eighth goal in the last 10 contests (since April 28).

The Galaxy return to action after two weeks away from league play, their last match a 3-0 win against Real Salt Lake at StubHub Center on June 9. Zlatan Ibrahimović scored a pair of goals, his third multiple-goal game in MLS (in 11 appearances); he has seven goals on the year.

The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Romain Alessandrini scored the game’s only goal as the Galaxy claimed the victory May 25 at StubHub Center.

The Quakes have won once in Carson since 2012 – a 3-0 win on Aug. 27, 2017. The Galaxy won 4-2 last May 27 at Avaya Stadium in the last match at San Jose – just their second victory in the last 16 regular season games in northern California, across four stadiums.

Known as the California Clásico, the Galaxy and Earthquakes have met 83 times in all competitions. In regular season play, the Galaxy have won 31 times and the Quakes 22, with 14 draws, since their first meeting April 28, 1996.

The teams have met each of the last six years at Stanford Stadium, and the game has drawn crowds in excess of 50,000 fans on each occasion, drawing 50,617 last year, with an average of 50,371 for the six contests.

Sunday, July 1, 2018

Toronto FC vs. New York Red Bulls, 4:30 p.m. ET (FOX, TSN)

TFC had their three-game undefeated streak put to an end, falling 2-1 to New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Victor Vásquez scored his fifth goal of the season, his third in the past five games.

The Red Bulls won their second match on the trot after a three-game winless run, easing to a 3-0 win against FC Dallas at Red Bull Arena on Saturday evening. Bradley Wright-Phillips netted his 11th goal of the season, the 97th of his MLS league career, while Kaku collected his league-leading 10th assist.

TFC are undefeated in their past five home league matches vs. the Red Bulls, including a 4-2 win last Sept. 30 at BMO Field in the last meeting between the teams. The Red Bulls last won in Toronto in 2013.

The Red Bulls are now 10-2-2 all-time in home matches vs. Toronto FC. When TFC took a 2-0 win on March 6, 2016, it was the first win ever for Toronto FC at Red Bull Arena. The Red Bulls were 5-0-1 all-time in Harrison before the TFC win; the triumph also snapped an eight-game home undefeated streak for the Red Bulls vs. TFC (7-0-1), which began Oct. 25, 2009.

The teams also met in the Eastern Conference Semifinals last year, with TFC winning on away goals after the teams tied 2-2 on aggregate. Each team won away – TFC winning 2-1 at Red Bull Arena, before the Red Bulls took a 1-0 win in Toronto in a fractious encounter.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Colorado Rapids, 7 p.m. ET (TSN, ESPN+)

Whitecaps FC saw their six-game undefeated streak put to a sudden end, falling 4-0 to the Philadelphia Union at Talen Energy Stadium on Saturday evening.

The Rapids came from behind to put an end to their club-record losing streak after eight games, getting the game-winner from Tommy Smith seven minutes deep into second-half stoppage time for a 3-2 win against Minnesota United FC at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening.

The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Cristian Techera and Yordy Reyna each scored first-half goals as Whitecaps FC claimed a 2-1 win on June 1 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Whitecaps FC have come away with points on each of their three trips to Commerce City, winning twice (in both 2017 and 2018) – just their second and third wins ever at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The only other Whitecaps FC win in Commerce City came in 2012.

The Rapids have not won on their past five trips to Vancouver; their last win there, April 5, 2014, was their second victory ever at BC Place, now in 10 visits all-time.

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USMNT Player Ratings: Tyler Adams, Matt Miazga lead the way for rugged US

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March 27, 201811:53PM EDT

The US national team posted their first “W” of 2018 by controlling play for a solid 1-0 victory over friendly guests Paraguay in Cary, North Carolina on Tuesday night.

The home side gave their opponents precious little room to maneuver through midfield and turned steals into solid team-building exercises all night long. They were unable to pull the right levers in the final third, but made a 45th-minute Bobby Wood penalty-kick strike stand up without too much great fuss.

Zack Steffen (6) — The netminder didn’t have a whole lot to do, and most of his tasks were pretty straightforward. Steffen’s most important action came when he rejected a last-ditch restart shot. Unfortunately, he also endured a nervy distribution moment for the second straight US game.

DeAndre Yedlin (5.5) — It was an oddly quiet night for the Newcastle right back at both ends, especially in the first half. Yedlin was often sloppy with the ball when venturing forward. He did make a helpful nudge-away-from-trouble maneuver during a late set-piece scramble.

Cameron Carter-Vickers (5) — The Ipswich Town loan defender easily had the most uneasy night. A too-gentle back pass caused some early stress, and he’d later lose a battle at the top of the area in a clumsy fashion. For the time being, Carter-Vickers may be best suited at this level as the middle man in a three-man back line.

Matt Miazga defends vs. Federico Santander | USA Today Sports Images

Matt Miazga (7.5) — On the other hand, the Vitesse marshal was largely as cool as you’d like. Among his 10 total defensive stops in and around the US area, Miazga squelched dribble drives, turned away crosses, stepped into lanes and came up with a couple of important shot blocks. The only real blemish was a poor giveaway, and part of the blame lies with Steffen for putting him in dutch.

Jorge Villafaña (6.5) — Though the left back’s crosses were often imprecise, he was clearly dedicated to getting forward and repeatedly aided possession with shrewd moves. It was a mixed bag defensively for Villafaña. His most notable error involved losing a late back-post mark, but his best work soon followed when he ushered trouble away from the aforementioned restart scramble.

Wil Trapp (7) — While the night’s skipper has certainly passed better across games, he still supplied enough fuel for moves forward. What really made the 4-1-4-1 set hum, though, was Trapp’s wise control of the region between the home area and the midfield stripe. Thirteen of his 17 defensive plays came in this section, and all 12 of his positive passes out of it occurred prior to the US goal.

Darlington Nagbe (7) — The Atlanta United traffic director was moved wide right for this US cap, and he made it work. Nagbe routinely helped the team creep forward, and sprinkled in some key one-man pressure valve moves.

Marky Delgado (7) — The early phase of the game was bumpy for Delgado, who flubbed a couple of important rush passes into the final third. The Toronto FC midfielder soon grew into the game, however, and ended up providing plenty of the measured press-and-link work from his MLS portfolio. His shining moment came on the diabolical through ball that led to the winning spot kick.

Tyler Adams(7.5) — Plain and simple, Adams is a professional nuisance. If he’s not picking a pocket or shutting off an attack avenue, he’s probably exploiting space with a selective surge forward. That’s precisely what happened when he teed up the penalty winner by racing free on Delgado’s needle-threader.

Kenny Saief (7) — It was an excellent outing for the Anderlecht man, who showed an array of build-up skills. Obviously cozy comfy on the ball, Saief was a mighty handful across several attack lanes throughout his 67 minutes. He also surprised by piling up 11 defensive stops, largely from the pressure game. More, please.

Bobby Wood (6.5) — The Hamburg forward was an early spark, but fell quiet as the first half progressed due to some bad hold-up touches and teammates failing to reward a couple of excellent runs behind. Wood coolly buried his spot kick chance ahead of the break, before fading again after intermission.

Coach Dave Sarachan (6.5) — The interim boss’ grade get stretched and pulled in both directions by several factors. It’s easy to question how much can truly be gleaned from a formation likely to be a faint memory by the time the US plays a competitive match, and it was highly annoying to see only two subs get so many as 13 minutes after Sarachan vowed to properly use all six.

That said, it was a very well-drilled 4-1-4-1. The Nats effectively bottled up Paraguay’s danger guys, caused threatening turnovers, re-organized into shape calmly and worked the ball to the final third with great ease.

Rubio Rubin (6) — It took a few times on the ball for Rubin to find any space, but he did play one terrific switching ball to help set up a danger free kick.

Andrija Novakavich (6) — The striker had one noteworthy action, as he raced loose late to display his surprising wheels. The Telstar loan ace probably should have given up the fast-break shot, though.

Timothy Weah (6) — Though he only enjoyed a few touches, the PSG youngster quickly showed he was a game debutant.

Christian Roldan(-) — No need to rate the stoppage-time entrant.

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USMNT Player Ratings: Tyler Adams, Matt Miazga lead the way for rugged US was originally published on 365 Football

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