In recent years, Major League Soccer has gone up against numerous big-name European clubs in a friendly to help showcase both the talent in MLS as well as international talent of clubs vying for more market presence in the U.S. The MLS All-Star Skills Challenge is part of that ploy. So, here’s some helpful information to know before you watch it.
Jordan Morris scored his fifth goal of the season against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday. The goal ended up being the match-winner, bringing the Seattle Sounders to an 11-5-6 record and second place in the Western Conference.
The goal itself, which took a fair amount of skill and strength from the USMNT winger, ended up being much more controversial after the match than during it.
When whoever’s in charge of the worst competition ever created sits down to look at their social media numbers, they’ll see that the most liked/shared/commented/engaged with post of the 2019 Leagues Cup was a cat. Hopefully they’ll then decide to make the 2020 edition strictly cats.
You see, it’s a helluva fine boi.
As countless think pieces have told us over the last couple years, Major League Soccer is shifting away from its “retirement league” stigma and embracing young, high potential talent with sell-on value. That’s all smart and good, but, in my opinion, not nearly as fun as the retirement league. Maybe it’s an unpopular opinion, but I’m still here for Zlatan Ibrahimović, Wayne Rooney and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
(Editor’s Note: See update below on Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s punishment.)
Mohamed El-Munir, LAFC’s left back, needs surgery after a love tap from Zlatan Ibrahimovic on Friday. After visiting a specialist on Monday, it was revealed the 27-year-old has a zygomatic fracture on his face.
As someone whose job is soccer all day, everyday, I like to think that I have a pretty good grip on what’s going on, why it’s going on and when it’s going on. In what I feel is a pretty damning indictment of the newfangled Leagues Cup competition, I haven't a goddamn clue on any of those fronts.
Let’s figure out what in the hell this thing is together.
Who Plays In The Leagues Cup?
Atlanta, The New MLS Hotbed
Mercedes-Benz Stadium is home to a team that played its part in the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history. The only problem is that the Atlanta Falcons were on the wrong end of that comeback. However, the stadium is also home to the hottest property in MLS, Atlanta United.
It's come as a bit of a surprise to most around the country that Atlanta and its community has taken so well to the new club, although it sure helps that the team is performing incredibly.
Major League Soccer definitely has some great highlights, especially in the goals department. Sometimes, the awesome goals you see highlight the quality of the league, both good and bad. Mauro Manotas’ goal against Toronto FC on Saturday did just that.
July 20, 2019, marks 50 years since man landed on the moon. Space City’s MLS club is celebrating the feat with a sweet Dynamo space patch.
Apollo 11 changed the world when NASA astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins landed on the moon five decades ago. It was a seminal moment in human history, especially when Armstrong and Aldrin set foot on the moon’s surface.
It’s a feat being celebrated around the world this week. Houston, nicknamed Space City because it’s home to the Johnson Space Center (AKA “mission control”), is no different.