Looking for Soccer News?

According to a recent report from Sky Sports, Antonio Valencia has supposedly endorsed the idea of making a switch over to Major League Soccer in the United States. He has recently been linked with a move to DC United where he would link back up with former Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney, and as we […]

The post Valencia linked with move to MLS appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Valencia linked with move to MLS appeared first on Soccer News.

Los Angeles Galaxy are not done improving their team. After two horrific seasons – one where they were the worst team in MLS and the other one when they missed out on play-offs in the last game of the regular season – the Californian club continue adding pieces to their puzzle. At least it seems […]

The post LA Galaxy shopping in Serie A appeared first on Soccer News.

The post LA Galaxy shopping in Serie A appeared first on Soccer News.

D.C. United fired a blank in Wayne Rooney’s absence in a stalemate 0-0 draw against Montreal Impact. English striker Rooney served a suspension after the former Manchester United star was shown a red card in D.C.’s 4-0 home defeat against Los Angeles FC on Saturday. Impact were also without their key forward, Maxi Urruti, who […]

The post D.C. United 0 Montreal Impact 0: Hosts held as Rooney serves ban appeared first on Soccer News.

The post D.C. United 0 Montreal Impact 0: Hosts held as Rooney serves ban appeared first on Soccer News.

Los Angeles Football Club remains the No. 1 team in the Pro Soccer USA MLS power rankings after a decisive 4-0 win over host D.C. United at Audi Field.

The result also juggled things a bit in the top five, with the Black-and-Red falling to No. 4, Seattle Sounders FC moving up to No. 2 and the Columbus Crew SC cracking the top three for the first time this season.

While No. 1 remains unchanged, there’s a new team at the bottom this week with the San Jose Earthquakes moving up four spots after their first win of the year, a 3-0 triumph over the Portland Timbers.

The Major League Soccer Power Rankings are created by averaging the rankings submitted by a committee of Pro Soccer USA’s editor and writers.

Pro Soccer USA writers Dylan Butler and Robert Jonas contributed to this report.

The post MLS Power Rankings Week 6: Columbus Crew SC, San Jose Earthquakes move up appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

Los Angeles Football Club is not only the top team in Major League Soccer, it has been the dominant force in the weekly Pro Soccer USA Player Rankings. 

In six weeks, six different LAFC players have graced the ranking of the league’s top 20 in-form players. 

Bob Bradley’s side is again represented by the most players in the list, as four LAFC players made the rankings. 

Most of the players near the top of the rankings have been there all season, while at the bottom half, a handful of newcomers are making noise. 

Our weekly player rankings are based off form over a four-game span, with the most-recent performance carrying an extra bit of weight. 

20. Kai Wagner, D, Philadelphia Union

Previous Ranking: 19 

Apr 6, 2019; Philadelphia, PA; FC Dallas midfielder Michael Barrios (21) heads the ball against Philadelphia Union defender Kai Wagner (27) during the first half at Talen Energy Stadium. (Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports)

Philadelphia’s shutout streak ended at 210 minutes on Saturday night, but Kai Wagner and his teammates still produced a solid performance over 90 minutes. 

Outside of Reto Ziegler’s free kick goal, the Union held firm to earn a 2-1 win against an FC Dallas side looking to punch fast on the counter. 

In the last three games, Wagner and his defensive teammates have allowed 13 shots, but that will be tested in Week 7 by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the LA Galaxy.

19. Saphir Taider, M, Montreal Impact

Previous Ranking: 9 

Apr 6, 2019; New York, NY, USA; Montreal Impact midfielder Saphir Taider (8) plays the ball against New York City FC midfielder Alexander Ring (8) during the second half at Yankee Stadium. (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)

Saphir Taider’s slide down the rankings has to do with Montreal struggling in the attacking third without Ignacio Piatti. 

In the scoreless draw against New York City FC at Yankee Stadium, Taider’s creativity was limited to one key pass and he made three clearances while completing 82.5 percent of his passes. 

18. Latif Blessing, M, Los Angeles FC 

Previous Ranking: Not Ranked

Mar 30, 2019; San Jose, CA, USA; Los Angeles FC forward Latif Blessing (7) kicks the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes during the first half at Avaya Stadium. (Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports)

Latif Blessing is the unheralded hero of the LAFC attack. 

Blessing didn’t pick up a goal or assist in the 4-0 win over D.C. United, but was all over the final third setting up attacks or creating space inside the D.C. defense with his pace.

The former Sporting Kansas City man ended the match with three key passes and the most touches of any LAFC attacker with 73. 

17. C.J. Sapong, F, Chicago Fire

Previous Ranking: Not Ranked

HT: Classy stoppage time goal courtesy of @BigAfrika88! https://t.co/g5Q6XFrGLx

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 6, 2019

Just like Blessing, C.J. Sapong returns to the player rankings after a short absence. 

The Chicago Fire forward notched his third tally of the season after he used a superb first touch to set himself up on the left side of the box in a 2-2 draw against Toronto FC. 

Sapong scored his third goal of the season at Toronto. Alex Bono put himself in no man’s land on the play, but Sapong now has three goals and an assist in five games.

— Pro  Soccer USA’s Dan Santaromita

16. Cristian Espinoza, M, San Jose Earthquakes

Previous Ranking: Not Ranked 

The first San Jose Earthquakes player to appear in the player rankings is more than deserving of his spot after his Week 6 performance. 

Cristian Espinoza picked up his second goal and first assist of the season in the 3-0 win over Portland.

And Cristian Espinoza adds a third right off the kickoff! #SJvPOR https://t.co/Pv8t7Lt0XT

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 7, 2019

What makes the 24-year-old’s performance even more impressive is he handed out seven key passes on 68 touches. 

15. Bill Hamid, GK. D.C. United

Mar 10, 2019; New York, NY, USA; D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid (24) sets up for a shot during the first half against the New York City at Yankee Stadium. (Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)

Previous Ranking: 7

Bill Hamid experiences a significant drop in the rankings after conceding on four occasions to LAFC on Saturday. 

Week 6 marked the first time the Black-and-Red produced a disappointing defensive performance, but luckily for them, they get to bounce right back on Tuesday against Montreal at Audi Field. 

14. Krisztian Nemeth, F, Sporting Kansas City

Mar 14, 2019; Kansas City, KS, USA; Sporting Kansas City forward Krisztian Nemeth (9) celebrates after scoring a goal with teammates Felipe Gutierrez (21) and Johnny Russell (7) during the second half against Independiente at Children’s Mercy Park. (Peter G. Aiken/USA TODAY Sports)

Previous Ranking: 10 

With Sporting Kansas City focused on preparing for a monumental task in the Concacaf Champions League on Thursday, Krisztian Nemeth was one of a few regulars taken out of the starting lineup by manager Peter Vermes. 

Nemeth made a 20-minute cameo for the Western Conference side in 1-1 draw with FC Cincinnati, but he wasn’t able to follow up on his Week 5 hat trick with a goal. 

13. Ike Opara, D, Minnesota United

Mar 30, 2019; Foxborough, MA, USA; Minnesota United defender Ike Opara (3) during the first half against the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium. (Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports)

Previous Ranking: Not Ranked 

Nemeth’s former Sporting Kansas City teammate Ike Opara is quietly putting together an impressive start in the Minnesota United back line. 

The 30-year-old center back made eight clearances and won three aerial duels in the Loons’ surprising 2-1 win over the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena. 

In Minnesota’s three victories, Opara and the defense have held opponents to three goals. 

12. Nicolas Lodeiro, M, Seattle Sounders

Previous Ranking: 20 

Nicolas Lodeiro was the only Seattle Sounders player to strike the back of the net in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake. 

The Uruguayan midfielder produced one of the best goals of Week 6, one-timing a cross with his left foot into the left side of the net. 

.@NicolasLodeiro with a beauty! #SEAvRSL
https://t.co/KnlSEcuX5U

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 7, 2019

The 30-year-old playmaker has two goals and three assists in 2019, with goals coming in the last three games. 

11. Eduard Atuesta, M, Los Angeles FC 

Mar 30, 2019; San Jose, CA, USA; Los Angeles FC midfielder Eduard Atuesta (20) controls the ball against San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Shea Salinas (6) at Avaya Stadium. (Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports)

Previous Ranking: 12 

One of the most consistent players in MLS through six weeks continued to thrive in the middle of the park for the best team in the league. 

Eduard Atuesta completed 85.1 percent of his 67 passes and helped the LAFC defense hold D.C. United to four shots on target in a dominant road performance. 

10. David Accam, F, Philadelphia Union

Mar 23, 2019; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Union forward David Accam (7) plays the ball past Columbus Crew defender Harrison Afful (25) during the second half at Talen Energy Stadium. (Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports)

Previous Ranking: 6 

David Accam’s scoring streak ended at two games on Saturday night. 

The Ghanaian forward was taken off in the 68th minute while the Union were still looking for a way to break down FC Dallas’ defense. 

Although he didn’t score in Week 6, Accam has forced his way into Jim Curtin’s starting XI, which is a massive upgrade from an injury-laden 2018 campaign. 

9. Paxton Pomykal, M, FC Dallas

Mar 30, 2019; Sandy, UT, USA; FC Dallas midfielder Paxton Pomykal (19) and midfielder Ryan Hollingshead (12) celebrate after Pomykal scores a goal against the Real Salt Lake during the second half at Rio Tinto Stadium. (Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports)

Previous Ranking: 5

Paxton Pomykal’s ability to influence the FC Dallas attack was taken away by a shift to bunker in after an early goal and a depleted forward line. 

The FC Dallas Homegrown Player was limited to one key pass by the Union defense in his least impactful performance of the season to date. 

8. Alejandro Pozuelo, M, Toronto FC 

Apr 6, 2019; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto FC midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo (10) runs with the ball in the second half against Chicago Fire at BMO Field. Toronto FC tied Chicago Fire 2-2. (Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports)

Previous Ranking: 11

Alejandro Pozuelo didn’t dominate the spotlight in Week 6, like he did in Week 5, but he still made a difference in the Toronto FC attack. 

Pozuelo recorded his second assist in a Toronto FC uniform on Jozy Altidore’s opening goal in the 31st minute. 

The Spaniard dished out a pair of key passes and was one of four Toronto FC players to record over 100 touches. 

7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, F, LA Galaxy

Previous Ranking: 15

 Zlatan Ibrahimovic continued to force his way up the rankings by adding a goal and an assist to his season haul against Vancouver on Friday night. 

The 37-year-old Swede has scored three of his four goals in the last two weeks, and his assist on Daniel Steres’ goal was his first of the season. 

Just what the sell-out crowd came to see…

@Ibra_official pic.twitter.com/YdjTn6nK5K

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) April 6, 2019

Since joining MLS, Ibrahimovic has recorded 26 goals and 11 assists. 

6. Wayne Rooney, F, D.C. United

Apr 6, 2019; Washington, DC, USA; D.C. United forward Wayne Rooney (9) dribbles the ball as Los Angeles FC defender Eddie Segura (4) defends at Audi Field. (Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)

Previous Ranking: 2

Wayne Rooney didn’t score for the third straight game because of LAFC’s stingy defense and an early exit from a red card. 

Rooney will serve the one-game suspension on Tuesday, when D.C. plays host to Montreal, but he should be back on the field for another showdown of world-class stars on Saturday, when the Black and Red visit Tim Howard and the Colorado Rapids. 

5. Zack Steffen, GK, Columbus Crew SC

Previous Ranking: 17

The first-choice goalkeeper for the U.S. Men’s National Team picked up his fourth clean sheet of the season in a 1-0 win on Saturday against the New England Revolution.

With the future Manchester City player in net, the Crew have conceded one goal in five games, while letting up three without him in goal against Philadelphia. 

Zack Steffen recorded his 23rd regular season shutout tonight and he credits it to the #Crew96 defense. pic.twitter.com/e6WTXR21ok

— FOX Sports Ohio (@FOXSportsOH) April 7, 2019

Zack Steffen’s shutout streak is now at 444 minutes, second all time in Crew history. First place? Zack Steffen, at 525 minutes last season. Another shutout will break that record, and if he goes over 500 minutes scoreless, he’ll have a second streak in the all-time MLS top 10, becoming just the third player to achieve that feat twice.

— Pro Soccer USA’s Ben Ferree

4. Memo Rodriguez, M, Houston Dynamo

Mar 30, 2019; Commerce City, CO, USA; Houston Dynamo midfielder Memo Rodriguez (8) drives the ball away from Colorado Rapids defender Keegan Rosenberry (2) in the first half at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. (Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)

Previous Ranking: 4

 Memo Rodriguez remains at No. 4 after a week off for the Houston Dynamo. 

The Homegrown midfielder has four goals in his last three games, and he’ll look to keep that streak alive when the Dynamo return to the field against the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday.

3. Alberth Elis, F, Houston Dynamo

Previous Ranking: 3

Mar 30, 2019; Commerce City, CO, USA; Houston Dynamo forward Alberth Elis (17) chases down a loose ball in the second half against the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. (Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)

 What we said about Rodriguez can be applied to Alberth Elis as well. 

The Honduran forward, who has played a major role in Rodriguez’s success, comes into Week 7 with two goals and three assists in his last two games. 

Although San Jose won in Week 6, the Dynamo attack should still be champing at the bit to get after a Quakes back line that’s conceded on 14 occasions.

2. Diego Rossi, F, Los Angeles FC 

Previous Ranking: 14

The only reason Diego Rossi didn’t claim the top spot after Week 6 is his teammate is ahead of him in the Golden Boot race.

The Uruguayan one-upped Carlos Vela in the scoring column on Saturday with a hat trick that accounted for the final three LAFC goals. 

Add Goal of the Week nominee to the list.

Vote for Diego Rossi's curler against D.C.

https://t.co/jBckS6tiSG pic.twitter.com/fYIYTeVynA

— LAFC (@LAFC) April 8, 2019

Five of Rossi’s six strikes have come in the last three weeks.

1. Carlos Vela, M, Los Angeles FC 

Previous Ranking: 1

The king of the MLS Player Rankings has occupied the top spot for a month.

Even though Rossi got most of the praise for his performance against D.C., Vela produced a goal and an assist to boost his totals to seven goals and four assists in six games. 

The Mexican international was rightfully selected as MLS Player of the Month for his fantastic start. 

HE WON'T BE DENIED!

Vela fires LAFC ahead with his 7th goal of the season in just 6 games. #DCvLA pic.twitter.com/vY0VuoPsUi

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 6, 2019

 

The post Week 6 MLS Player Rankings: Vela, Rossi lead LAFC dominance appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando City winger Nani had a brief confrontation with Colorado Rapids midfielder Kellyn Acosta, and both Acosta and Colorado coach Anthony Hudson took issue with the fact referee Jair Marrufo didn’t send Nani off for a head-butt. 

Nani went down in the penalty area with the Lions down 3-2 in the 74th minute of Saturday’s match and came up looking for a penalty call. While Marrufo was talking to Rapids centerback Kofi Opare, Acosta and Nani got into an argument. Nani appeared to head-butt Acosta twice before the two were separated by Orlando City striker Dom Dwyer and Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard. 

Nani wasn’t disciplined during the match, other than a brief talking-to from Marrufo. That doesn’t mean he’s in the clear. The MLS Disciplinary Committee can announce fines and suspensions in the days after a match. Decisions are usually announced in the second half of the week. 

Orlando City eventually won the match 4-3 thanks to a penalty kick in the 89th minute, which was converted by Nani. 

“At 3-2, if we do what Nani does to us, I’m stood here asking questions why we can’t keep our discipline and we are down to 10 men,” Hudson told reporters after the match. “And it seems to be every week and it seems to be where it’s easy for them to, you know, for that to happen against us. My guarantee is you’d be asking me about our discipline if we do what Nani does, we’d be 10 men. So we’re 3-2, they should be down to 10 men, and we can’t ask anymore of the players.”

He added, “It’s disheartening and it’s tough when we make the mistakes we’ve made and every week we have decisions like this. Every week.”

After a pause, Hudson said, “Every game, every week, and I don’t want to sound like I’m blaming other things, but that’s the bottom line. If anyone looks at it, the guy had three attempts to head-butt Kellyn. I think, listen in think the bottom line is I probably wish some of our players were a little bit … probably Kellyn should dive. Probably Kellyn should fall over and pretend like he’s been hit in the head. Maybe that would have done the job, but I don’t know.” 

Acosta called the situation “comical” in a tweet and shared video of the altercation. 

Comical a dive and 2 headbutts… #nocard & I get told to shut the f*** before I get carded. Something has to change… #WheresMyProtection ? https://t.co/0MqsTsQS2O

— Kellyn Acosta (@KellynAcosta) April 7, 2019

Orlando City faces Real Salt Lake on the road on Saturday, while Colorado faces the Seattle Sounders at home on Wednesday. 

The post Orlando City winger Nani draws ire of Colorado Rapids’ coach, midfielder Kellyn Acosta appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

Luciano Acosta is once again being monitored by big European clubs. D.C. United star is doing well in 2019 MLS season and after a disappointing January, he could be actually on the move to Europe. According to the reputable The Athletic, Acosta was watched by Manchester United scouts in D.C. United’s heavy loss to Los […]

The post Manchester United scouting Luciano Acosta appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Manchester United scouting Luciano Acosta appeared first on Soccer News.

A dreadful defensive mix-up left FC Cincinnati to settle for a 1-1 MLS draw with Sporting Kansas City, whose teenage midfielder Gianluca Busio was on target again on Sunday. Newcomers Cincinnati have made a strong start to life in MLS, however, successive wins over Portland Timbers and New England Revolution have been followed by a blip […]

The post FC Cincinnati 1 Sporting Kansas City 1: Busio pounces on defensive blunder appeared first on Soccer News.

The post FC Cincinnati 1 Sporting Kansas City 1: Busio pounces on defensive blunder appeared first on Soccer News.

Saturday’s match between the Colorado Rapids and Orlando City was an exciting and high-scoring affair for spectators with seven combined goals in what ended a 4-3 victory for Orlando. After Kei Kamara opened the scoring to move into sole possession of 5th place on the MLS all-time scoring list, Orlando saw goals from Nani, who scored his first in MLS, and Tesho Akindele to give the Lions a 2-1 lead at the half.

Following a lengthy rain delay, Colorado came back to score two unanswered goals from Nicolas Mezquida and Cole Bassett to take a 3-2 lead, but a late goal from Chris Mueller and a PK from Nani (conceded by Rapids defender Axel Sjoberg) helped the Lions to the comeback win. 

Here are three takeaways from the Colorado Rapids’ 4-3 loss to Orlando City SC:

Deteriorating defense

Not even three full seasons removed from possessing a defense that cemented itself in MLS history books, the Colorado Rapids now have one of the worst defenses statistically in the league. Through six matches, the Rapids conceded an average of 2.67 goals per game. Their 16 goals conceded also ranks as the worst in the league.

Of those 16 goals, 18.75 percent have been own goals. Rapids centerback Deklan Wynne leads the way with 0.33 own goals per 90 minutes. That’s not good.

Mismatches, lack of communication and mental lapses were a common theme for the Rapids last season, and those same issues reared their ugly heads in this one. After a brutal outing last week against the Houston Dynamo, converted left back Dillon Serna bounced back with an assist on the Rapids’ opening goal. But on defense, Serna again struggled mightily against a bigger, more physical threat in Orlando midfielder Nani.

As Rapids head coach Anthony Hudson looked to tighten up that side of the field, Serna was subbed off and Axel Sjoberg made an appearance at halftime. Sjoberg likewise continued his early-season struggles, conceding the game-winning penalty with a handball offense in the 89th minute.

“Well we have to not give away soft goals like we did,” Hudson said postgame. “We give really not good mistakes.

“All the goals were really good football. Kei’s [Kamara] goal, Cole’s [Bassett] goal, there some of the runs, and movement, and passing. The cross from Cole, Niko’s header, the goals were brilliant. We have to work for it. But then we make mistakes and individual errors, and we gift teams goals. And then, once again, I have to talk about it because it happens every game.”

The good news? There are still 28 games remaining for Colorado to correct these issues.

Bassett hounds the competition

Despite the Rapids’ deficiencies, and the limelight casted on Nani opening his account in MLS, 17-year-old homegrown Cole Bassett once again shined for Colorado.

His goal in the 71st minute put the Rapids ahead briefly – and it was a world class strike.

COLE. BASSETT.

Chop it back + clinical finish with the left foot.

LET'S FINISH THIS! pic.twitter.com/gOQLKFMXOP

— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) April 7, 2019

Perhaps more impressive was his continued ability to take responsibility following losses when speaking to the media — in contrast to blaming refs, the other team, and other factors outside his control.

“I had a rough first half personally, but the second half I tried to step it up a bit. But the team played a lot better offensively, and scoring three goals on the road is definitely an improvement from where we came from,” Bassett said following the loss. “But at the end of the day, we can’t be giving up four goals when we’ve scored three away. So we need to get a result. When we score three goals away on the road, we should be getting at least a draw or should be getting a win.”

Nani issue

Rapids fans and those within the locker room felt hard done by this one: what looked like a headbutt from Orlando’s designated player, Nani, to Kellyn Acosta in the 74th minute.

It prompted a rebuke from Hudson in his postgame comments.

“At 3-2, if we do what Nani does to us — I’ve stood here asking questions, why we can’t keep our discipline and we are down to 10 men,” he said. “And it seems to be every week, and it seems to be where it’s easy for them to, you know, for that to happen against us. My guarantee is you’d be asking me about our discipline if we do what Nani does. We’d be 10 men. So we’re 3-2, they should be down to 10 men, and we can’t ask anymore of the players.”

Acosta also took to social media to vent on the issue.

Comical a dive and 2 headbutts… #nocard & I get told to shut the f*** before I get carded. Something has to change… #WheresMyProtection ? https://t.co/0MqsTsQS2O

— Kellyn Acosta (@KellynAcosta) April 7, 2019

Nani went on to win the game with his PK effort just under 15 minutes later.

The MLS disciplinary committee may review this, but in a sad twist of irony, Nani’s absence would only aid Rocky Mountain Cup rival Real Salt Lake, which faces Orlando next Saturday.

The post Colorado’s dreadful defense and other takeaways from 4-3 loss to Orlando appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

Nani opened his account for Orlando City with two goals and the last-gasp winner against Colorado Rapids, while Wayne Rooney saw red in DC United’s big MLS loss at home to Los Angeles FC. Recruited from Sporting CP, former Manchester United star Nani converted an 89th-minute penalty as Orlando prevailed 4-3 in a thriller for […]

The post MLS Review: Nani scores twice in seven-goal thriller, Rooney sent off appeared first on Soccer News.

The post MLS Review: Nani scores twice in seven-goal thriller, Rooney sent off appeared first on Soccer News.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic set up LA Galaxy’s opener and then scored his team’s second goal in an ultimately routine 2-0 MLS win over Vancouver Whitecaps on Friday. Vancouver could have taken the lead in the second minute at BC Place Stadium, where Lass Bangoura drew a seemingly generous penalty after going down following minimal contact with […]

The post Vancouver Whitecaps 0 LA Galaxy 2: Ibrahimovic steals the show appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Vancouver Whitecaps 0 LA Galaxy 2: Ibrahimovic steals the show appeared first on Soccer News.

DENVER – The Colorado Rapids announced another homegrown signing Wednesday, unveiling Sebastian Anderson as the team’s newest member.

“We have been very impressed by Seb’s work ethic and willingness to learn,” Rapids executive vice president and general manager Pádraig Smith said in a club statement. “He took full advantage of the opportunity he was given in preseason and showed a lot of people that he’s a smart defender who likes to press up the pitch.”

The 16-year-old is the third homegrown player the Rapids have signed this year, joining Sam Raben and Matt Hundley. The addition also marks the 11th homegrown signing in club history and makes Anderson the youngest professional athlete in the Denver sports market.

As a member of the Rapids Academy, Anderson was called into the U.S. national team’s under-17 camps as a defender. Anderson spent a good portion of his development as a midfielder, but per the Rapids is expected to play as a right back.

Previously committed to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Anderson will forgo collegiate soccer for time spent in the pros.

Anderson was added to the Rapids supplemental roster on a five-year deal with a club option for 2024.

The post Colorado Rapids add another homegrown with Sebastian Anderson appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

MLS announced today that its Generation adidas Cup, taking place at the Toyota Soccer Center at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas from April 13-20, will feature U-15 and U-17 academy teams from 14 different nations.

The competition includes 36 U-17 squads, organized in two separate divisions pitting top MLS academy sides against 15 international clubs, as well as a U-15 tournament with a quartet of MLS teams against four Liga MX counterparts. 

The tournament has featured up-and-coming young players including Djordje Mihailović (a Chicago Fire academy player finding his way into the Fire first team lineup as well as the U.S. Men’s National Team), Paxton Pomykal (an FC Dallas academy player who just scored his first goals for the tournament hosts this past weekend, and Efrain Álvarez (an LA Galaxy academy player who premiered in style in an MLS match  earlier this month). Weston McKennie, another FC Dallas Academy player now with Bundesliga side Schalke 04, also appeared in the youth tournament. 

The U-17 Champions Division is organized into four four-team groups: 

Group A

FC Dallas, New York Red Bulls, West Ham United, Club America

Group B

LA Galaxy, Toronto FC, CA Peñarol, Dinamo Zagreb

Group C

NYCFC, Real Salt Lake, Olympique Lyonnais, River Plate

Group D

Montreal Impact, Seattle Sounders FC, Flamengo, Valencia CF

The U-17 Premier Division is organized into four five-team groups: 

Group A

Atlanta United, Chicago Fire, D.C. United, San Jose Earthquakes, Club Tijuana

Group B

Houston Dynamo, Orlando City SC, Portland Timbers, FC Midtylland, Ulsan Hyundai FC

Group C

Columbus Crew SC, Sporting KC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, CF Monterrey, UMF Fjölnir

Group D

Colorado Rapids, New England Revolution, Philadelphia Union, Mount Pleasant FA, Toluca

The U-15 tournament pits the four MLS teams (LAFC, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia Union, and Toronto FC) against each of four Liga MX teams (Club Leon, Cruz Azul, CD Guadalajara, and CD Monterrey). 

Complete information is available on the MLS site’s Generation adidas Cup section. 

The post MLS announces full Generation adidas Cup schedule, featuring club academies from 14 nations appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.