The Columbus Crew did it again. Five days after shocking MLS darlings Atlanta United on penalties in front of over 67,000 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Crew returned home and put the beatdown on the highly marketable New York City FC in the first leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Black & Gold put four past 10-man NYCFC in a resounding 4-1 victory, David Villa registering the lone goal for NYCFC.
Monday night’s playoff encounter between the New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC saw the continuation of a narrative that’ll likely follow TFC for years to come: wherever the club goes, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore are not going to be given a warm reception. It began on October 22 with Toronto’s visit to Atlanta, TFC’s first road match since that unspeakable encounter between the United States and Trinidad & Tobago. It continued on Monday night at Red Bull Arena.
That was one heck of a home-field advantage for the Houston Dynamo. Playing the first leg of the Western Conference semifinals Monday at BBVA Compass Stadium, the Portland Timbers lost three players to injury in the opening 60 minutes on a playing surface that wasn’t in playoff condition.
Sebastian Giovinco is extremely good at free kicks. The little Italian is as good as just about anybody in Europe, barring the truly world-class free kick-takers. He's certainly the best free kick-taker in MLS.
Giovinco displayed his exceptional talents in the 72nd minute with Toronto FC and the New York Red Bulls knotted at 1-1 Monday.
Bang.
Several members of the Emerald City Sounders supporters group were reportedly removed from B.C. place during Sunday's Whitecaps-Sounders playoff game for allegedly displaying a Sounders banner that contained a political statement.
We got kicked out of BC Place for this banner because MLS told them to do it. pic.twitter.com/kEGAZaXVYz
— Tom Biro (@tombiro) October 30, 2017
Behold the first ever soccer field inside a train station in the entire world located in Atlanta, Georgia.
“Station Soccer” is a new innovative idea that brings soccer and transportation together. “The vision is to build soccer fields at transit stations from unused spaces or parking that becomes healthy, connected environments accessible to all,” Soccer In The Streets board member Sanjay Patel said.
Thursday night’s MLS playoff action provided us with the perfect examples of an exhilarating 0-0 stalemate (Atlanta vs. Columbus earlier in the day) and an entirely forgettable one. The opening 90 minutes between the Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City was highlighted by a relatively subdued BBVA Compass Stadium (the Astros might just be the talk of the town at the moment) booing Graham Zusi’s every touch.
Zack Steffen had himself a game on Thursday night. The young Columbus Crew goalkeeper saved everything kicked, headed and scuffed his way against this season’s darlings Atlanta United in an MLS Knockout Round playoff.
Look, I don't want to talk about how short Cristian Techera is for a long time, because it really doesn't matter. If you must know, he's 5'2".
The important thing about Techera, though, is how freakishly good he is at kicking a soccer ball. The Vancouver Whitecaps, Techera's team, demolished the San Jose Earthquakes, who admittedly aren't very good, 5-0. The moment of the match belonged to Techera and Techera only.