Failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup was hard to digest, very hard, so our hot soccer-blooded hearts make us feel that everything is wrong, and our soccer is the worst. That’s just the heat of the moment; truth is that U.S. soccer is pretty good, and it has gotten better and better over the last couple of decades.
We’re sorry to bring it up, but directly following the USMNT’s fiasco at Ato Boldon Stadium, a lot of talking heads entered the debate surrounding how to fix U.S. Soccer without offering much in the way of concrete, actionable plans. But it was hard to ignore the insight offered from two of America’s most prized European exports: Borussia Dortmund’s Christian Pulisic and Newcastle United’s DeAndre Yedlin.
One year on from capturing the Supporters’ Shield, setting an MLS regular-season points record and finishing with a convincing MLS Cup victory over Seattle, Toronto FC is in very serious jeopardy of missing the 2018 playoffs entirely. With only 27 points from 27 games and one of the league’s worst defensive records, a November spent watching instead of defending the Cup is probably deserved.
So what happened to Toronto in 2018?
#1. Failure To Push Forward (Mentally/Personnel)
Atlanta United will certainly make the playoffs on the backend of a terrific season, but D.C. United deprived Tata Martino’s side of clinching while giving its own playoff hopes a major boost by defeating the Five Stripes 3-1 in the nation’s capital.
Wayne Rooney was again instrumental for D.C., assisting Luciano Acosta on the game’s opening goal in the 29th minute before restoring the Black-and-Red’s advantage from the spot in the 52nd. With the match in the balance, Rooney then provided another assist for Acosta in the 77th minute to secure the three points for D.C. United.
LA Galaxy drew LAFC 1-1 in El Trafico where the almighty Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored goal No. 499 on Saturday. Now, Zlatan is one goal away from the 500 mark. Can the unstoppable Swede hit the 500th against Real Salt Lake on Saturday?
With Ola Kamara’s cross aimed right at Zlatan, the former Red Devil punted it from the right of the box. The clarity of the goal was in question, but luckily, at least this one time, VAR was there for the rescue.
One of the greatest soccer players the United States has ever produced called it quits on Wednesday. Clint Dempsey, the joint record holder for most goals in U.S. Men's National Team history, announced he was retiring from soccer, effective immediately.
D.C. United’s big name signing has proven that he’s brought a little magic with him from overseas, igniting a hot-streak for the capital club that's seen them go five games unbeaten and making a serious push for the playoffs.
Josef Martinez is the new Roger Maris. The new Mark McGwire. The new Barry Bonds. Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez now owns the MLS single-season scoring record.
Martinez scored in the 74th minute, his 28th goal this season, breaking a four-way tie for the MLS single-season scoring record. The record was previously held by Tampa Bay Mutiny’s Roy Lassiter (1996), San Jose Earthquakes’ Chris Wondolowski (2012) and New York Red Bulls’ Bradley Wright-Phillips (2014).
Oh, and it was the match winner, as Atlanta defeated rival Orlando City SC 2-1.
Always looking for new, weird ways to promote, self-promote and promote some more, Major League Soccer and Twitter are joining together to create one crazy marketing ploy for Friday night’s El Trafico between the LA Galaxy and LAFC.
Right now, Austin does not have an MLS team. It doesn’t yet have a stadium, any players, a coach or anything you might associate with a soccer club. It does, however, have a shield, a color scheme and a name. An Austin MLS logo was unveiled at a gathering of about 300 fans on Wednesday evening in Austin, an event attended by Columbus Crew owner Anthony Precourt.