There’s nothing hotter in MLS right now than revealing plans and renderings for a new stadium. All the cool kids are doing it these days, unless you’re the Chicago Fire and you’re unveiling a return to a really old stadium (still better than the old digs). But there’s something about the St. Louis MLS stadium that makes it special.
It was a nail-biting match, but the Seattle Sounders came up with a massive upset again MLS Cup favorite LAFC on Tuesday night to claim their third Western Conference championship in four years.
While the Sounders played well, LAFC was its own worst enemy. Its frustration in not being able to break the Sounders down was not only evident on the field, but also in the stands. By the 80th minute, the fans were throwing beer at Sounders players.
As a player, how do you respond to things being thrown on the pitch?
Another start, another full 90, another match without a significant contribution from Newcastle United’s Miguel Almirón. After arriving from Atlanta United for a club-record fee of $27 million last January, it’s now 20 Premier League appearances for the 25-year-old Paraguayan without a single goal or assist.
The Dynamo have a new coach, and for the first time since Dominic Kinnear roamed the sidelines at Robertson Stadium, Houston fans have a reason to be excited about the man in charge. Tab Ramos is coming to Houston.
The Houston Dynamo announced Tab Ramos as its new head coach on Friday, confirming reports from earlier in the week.
It’s official Dynamo fans. Tab Ramos is your new head coach! #ForeverOrange
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been coy over his future in Major League Soccer. This much we know: He’s done for the season after failing to lead the LA Galaxy past LAFC on Thursday night.
Carlos Vela had two goals and an assist as LAFC beat the Galaxy for the first time ever, 5-3 in the MLS Western Conference semifinals at Banc of California Stadium.
Ibrahimovic had a goal and an assist in what could be his final match in MLS, but said afterword it’s “too early to speak” about his future.
Major League Soccer had the usual MLS All-Star Game format in 2019, but the league reintroduced an event in the lead-up to the match: the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge.
In all honesty, the event was much better than I thought it would be. The competition was much closer than initially expected and some late drama brought it down to the wire.
LAFC manager Bob Bradley raked in his third Coach of the Year Award after an incredible 21-win and 72-point season.
Bradley joined New England Revolution manager Bruce Arena as the only managers with three MLS Coach of the Year awards (renamed this year as the Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year Award) as well as being the only two managers to win the Sigi Schmid in three separate decades.
points (single-season points record)
+ goal differential
Supporters' Shield
The LA Galaxy triggered a first-ever playoff El Tráfico by defeating Minnesota United 2-1 at Allianz Field in Saint Paul on Sunday, registering the only upset of the first round of 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs. Zlatan Ibrahimović was oddly ineffective and wasteful for the Galaxy, but Sebastian Lletget and Jonathan dos Santos struck in quick succession in the second half to sink the Loons in their maiden playoff voyage.
While the new single-elimination format for the MLS playoffs was widely hailed immediately after its announcement, it’s been edifying to watch the first round produce some all time classics over the course of its first two days.
A curious reporter decided to take a week’s worth of ESPN transcripts to see just how much the Worldwide Leader talks about certain topics. The results weren’t flattering for soccer fans.
Using data pulled from closed captioning, the most commonly used word on ESPN for a week (ending 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday) was, with 58,967 uses … drum roll please … “the.” OK, no one really cares about articles and prepositions. Let’s get to the names: