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Welcome to the Pro Soccer USA Major League Soccer Player Rankings.

Each week we will rank the best players in the league, starting with the best 10 players from the Week 1 slate. 

For the first edition of the player rankings, we ranked players based on their Week 1 performances by taking into account statistics and how big of an impact each star had on their respective teams. As the weeks move on, the players in the best extended form will continue to reside near the top of the rankings, with some extra weight placed on the most-recent performance. 

Our in-market MLS writers across the country helped suggest names that should make the cut, and throughout the season, you’ll see their feedback added to the rankings. So with the introduction out of the way, let’s delve into the top performers from Week 1. 

10. Benny Feilhaber, Colorado Rapids

Benny Feilhaber scored once and played a large role in Colorado’s efforts moving forward in the Rapids’ 3-3 draw with the Portland Timbers. 

Feilhaber, who is playing for his fourth MLS club, scored in the 46th minute to level the game 2-2 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Take it yourself, @b_feilhaber22! #COLvPOR https://t.co/dyhI9MSlDn

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 3, 2019

From his deeper-lying position, Feilhaber made a pair of clearances and interceptions and completed 85.3 percent of his passes. 

As the season goes on, it’ll be interesting to see how Rapids manager Anthony Hudson deploys the MLS veteran with Kellyn Acosta alongside Feilhaber in midfield and a decent stable of attackers in front of him. 

9. Frederic Brillant, D.C. United

Frederic Brillant anchored the only defensive unit to earn a clean sheet in Week 1, beating reigning MLS champ Atlanta United 2-0.

Brillant and D.C. United’s back line limited Atlanta United to two shots on target in the pouring rain at Audi Field. 

The 33-year-old totaled seven clearances and four tackles in his attempts to steer Josef Martinez and Co. away from the net. 

The most impressive part of D.C.’s defensive effort was it held Martinez, Hector Villalba and Ezequiel Barco without a shot on goal. 

8. Eduard Atuesta, LAFC 

Eduard Atuesta had one of the most underrated performances of opening weekend, and that’s exactly what you want out of your defensive-minded midfielder if you’re LAFC. 

Atuesta’s most notable contribution was his assist on Diego Rossi’s 47th-minute equalizer during an intense 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City at Banc of California Stadium.

The 21-year-old was one of the most active players on the ball in Week 1. He made 96 touches and completed 89.7 percent of his 78 passes. 

Although there will be other players on the LAFC roster who receive more of the spotlight, Atuesta is going to be one of the club’s most important keys to success in 2019. 

7. Francisco Calvo, Minnesota United 

A large amount of criticism has been directed at Minnesota United defender Francisco Calvo during his time in MLS. 

On Saturday, the Costa Rican was the recipient of praise for his performance in a fullback role during the Loons’ 3-2 road win over the Vancouver Whitecaps. 

Calvo did a little bit of everything. He scored a goal, made six interceptions, two clearances and won three aerial duels. If the 26-year-old is able to produce at a similar rate for most of the season, the Loons will take a step up in the Western Conference.

6. Albert Rusnak, Real Salt Lake 

Albert Rusnak made his presence known in the final third during Real Salt Lake’s 1-1 draw at BBVA Compass Stadium with the Houston Dynamo.

The Slovakian playmaker scored the Claret and Cobalt’s only goal of the contest in the 40th minute off an assist from Corey Baird. 

Albert picks up right where he left off. pic.twitter.com/tmKD6JYbb7

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) March 3, 2019

In total, Rusnak produced five key passes and two shots on target with his 57 touches in the road draw. 

Rusnak’s performance Saturday was the perfect example of what the club hopes to get from him on a regular basis after scoring 10 goals a year ago. 

5. Paul Arriola, D.C. United

Paul Arriola’s goal right before halftime Sunday was a deserved reward for the U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder’s first-half performance. 

On an ugly night in the nation’s capital, Arriola was everywhere in the first half for the Black and Red, and he benefited from the continuation of a run toward the left post to finish off his team’s first goal of 2019. 

Our first goal of the 2019 season. Courtesy of @PaulArriola!! #DCU | #MLSisBack pic.twitter.com/E6j2ICWJPt

— D.C. United (@dcunited) March 4, 2019

While Wayne Rooney and Luciano Acosta will receive most of the spotlight throughout the season, Arriola is one of the players the Black and Red need to step up in order to challenge the likes of Atlanta and the New York Red Bulls for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. 

4. Saphir Taider, Montreal Impact

Normally when we talk about a standout player for the Montreal Impact, it’s Ignacio Piatti, but we have a feeling we’ll be talking more about Saphir Taider this year as well.

Taider’s move to the Impact flew under the radar a bit in 2018, but he performed well in his first season in Quebec, and picked up where he left off in Saturday’s 2-1 win against the San Jose Earthquakes. 

HT: Quality finish from Saphir Taïder and @ImpactMontreal lead at the break. #SJvMTL https://t.co/PdjrtYK3kR

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 3, 2019

The 27-year-old midfielder assisted on Piatti’s 20th-minute strike and then scored himself in the 44th minute to put Remi Garde’s side in the lead for good. 

Taider totaled four shots and four key passes in his season debut, and he’ll look to replicate that performance on the road in Week 2 in Houston.

3. Michael Bradley, Toronto FC 

Any one of the top three players could’ve been No. 1, and it was hard to label Michael Bradley with the No. 3 tag, especially since he doesn’t score much.

Bradley delivered his first two-goal performance in a Toronto FC shirt, and the Reds bounced back from their Concacaf Champions League exit with a 3-1 road win over the Philadelphia Union. 

Leading the Golden Boot pres. by Audi race: Michael Bradley. pic.twitter.com/uKFFUwLptN

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 2, 2019

The TFC captain benefited from open space at the top of the penalty area on two occasions to send Toronto to the top of the Eastern Conference standings after Week 1. 

After one week, Bradley is tied with Jordan Morris for the Golden Boot lead. 

2. Jordan Morris, Seattle Sounders

Morris is ahead of Bradley because he played so well in his first regular-season game back from an ACL injury. 

The USMNT forward played some of the best soccer he ever has for the Sounders in Saturday’s 4-1 trouncing of expansion side FC Cincinnati, in which he scored twice. 

HE'S BACK ALRIGHT!

Jordan Morris makes it a brace in his first 45 minutes of MLS action in over a year. @JMoSmooth13 #MLSisBack pic.twitter.com/eALExZUTke

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 3, 2019

Not only did Morris’ return help boost the Sounders’ early-season credentials to top the West, it put him directly into the USMNT conversation.

With the forward depth chart still up in the air behind Jozy Altidore, Morris has an opportunity to earn a Gold Cup roster spot if he puts together an extended run of form.

1. Darwin Quintero, Minnesota United

Although Darwin Quintero didn’t score twice like Bradley and Morris, he played a role in all three of Minnesota United’s goals in the win over Vancouver. 

Quintero’s performance made the biggest impact in Week 1, as he helped the Loons, who were 1-14-1 on the road in 2018, open their season with a victory over the new-look Whitecaps at BC Place.

One, two, three and to the four…

…Darwin Quintero and Francisco Calvo are at the door pic.twitter.com/SY1afDQ1M6

— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) March 3, 2019

The 31-year-old’s performance was an extension of the form he ended with in 2018, as he had one goal and six assists in September and October. 

We’re not saying the Loons are instantly a playoff contender after winning one road game, but we’re certain we’ll be talking about them more in 2019, especially if Quintero continues his high level of production.

The post MLS Player Rankings Week 1: Minnesota, DC get 2 ranked players appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — During the 2018 NCAA men’s soccer season, University of Denver striker Andre Shinyashiki was widely regarded as the top forward in collegiate soccer.

“All he needs is one second, one moment to change a game,” DU head coach Jaime Franks said back in November.

Four months later, Shinyashiki is still getting it done, this time as a professional. The Colorado Rapids’ first-round draft pick made an immediate impact in his MLS debut, scoring an equalizer at the death to salvage a point for the 10-men Rapids in a Colorado snowstorm Saturday.

“There’s nothing more a guy like me can dream of,” Shinyashiki told ProSoccerUSA. “Obviously, you want to try to win, but given the conditions that we were in, it was still a positive result.”

Rapids coach Anthony Hudson was likewise impressed by the goal, and the fact that his team salvaged a point despite the odds stacked against them.

“There’s not many places in the world where you’re going to play a game like that,” Hudson said. “We’ve definitely added quality and strong characters and that was the key.”

In a busy offseason, Colorado added proven veterans like Kei Kamara, Diego Rubio and Benny Feilhaber. But moving up in the draft to land Shinyashiki is another move that Hudson cited as key to his team’s transformation this season.

“He was always a top target,” Hudson explained. “Everyone had told me how good he was and then we watched him play at the combine and were really impressed. I’d seen enough at the combine. We saw his movement, his mentality and his touches. Then we met him there and saw that he was a brilliant character. For me, it was like a big signing. We wanted him in the first team this year.”

Despite previous experience playing for the Rapids U-23 side, the idea of being drafted was never a guarantee for Shinyashiki. Like any other draftee, the process involved a lot of anxiety and unknowns.

“I definitely knew of the interest, but it was still up in the air,” he remembers “I didn’t know they were going to trade to get me. There were rumors, but I didn’t know until they said my name. [Colorado] was a place I wanted to come to really badly, so I was happy when it happened.”

Born and raised in Brazil, soccer has always been a part of Shinyashiki’s life.

“I grew up in Brazil playing in the streets like a typical Brazilian does,” he said. “To say every boy in Brazil grows up wanting to be a professional soccer player is a very accurate statement. Very few make it so I’m just extremely blessed and thankful to be here.”

As a young man, his life still revolves around the game. At DU he studied marketing with the hopes of entering sports marketing after he hangs up his boots. In his spare time, he watches soccer and plays FIFA.

The idea of living and breathing the sport is something that Hudson is looking for in a young player.

“There are certain characteristics we want for our young players,” Hudson explained. “Technically, they’ve got to be good on the ball. Character is the big part. You want strong characters in terms of wanting to win. The game means everything to them. Open to criticism, wants to improve, bounces back from setbacks. All of those things.”

In Shinyashiki, he’s seen it first-hand.

“When you look at Andre on the training ground, he gets disappointed when he doesn’t win,” Hudson continued. “He’s not afraid of senior players. He’s not afraid to express himself on the pitch or stand his ground in some meetings. He’ll say something and ask a question, which is a good sign rather than someone who nods and agrees. That’s why we have a lot of trust in him.”

He’s gotten his professional goal out of the way, but the 22-year-old know that there’s still plenty of work ahead, not just for this season, but for his career. For now, he’s ready to absorb all the information he can, while putting his head down to do the work required to be successful in MLS.

“I just want to help the team as much as I can,” Shinyashiki said. “As a forward, you’re always looking to score goals and get assists, but it’s also about pressing hard and helping the guys behind me. To make the playoffs is our first goal and ultimately win everything. But it’s a day by day approach you have to have in order to accomplish those things.”

The post ‘Always a top target’: Colorado Rapids draft pick Andre Shinyashiki pays dividends appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

#MLSisBack and so too is the weekly Pro Soccer USA Power Rankings.

Week 1 is in the books and there was plenty of drama, some snow, some brilliant goals and the early emergence of the best teams in Major League Soccer. Following an impressive 2-0 home win at a rain-drenched Audi Field over defending MLS Cup champion Atlanta United, D.C. United check in at the pole position this year, while debutants FC Cincinnati, the 24th club in Major League Soccer, is ranked No. 24.

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

D.C. United (1-0-0, 3 points): The Black-and-Red laid the hammer down on the defending MLS Cup champions with a dominant performance ending in a 2-0 win. Luciano Acosta controlled the midfield and Paul Arriola was a beast up the flank. Seattle Sounders (1-0-0, 3 points): Jordan Morris is back and in a big way, scoring a brace while Victor Rodriguez and Nico Lodeiro ran the ship from midfield. No slow start for the Sounders this year. Los Angeles Football Club (1-0-0, 3 points): The 3252 were in midseason form and so, too, was Adama Diomande, who scored the stoppage time winner to lift LAFC over Sporting Kansas City in a battle of teams that should be atop the Western Conference standings in the fall. New York Red Bulls (0-0-1, 1 point): MAPFRE Stadium is a tough place to play for any New York Red Bulls team, so for Chris Armas’ rotated squad to get a point there on Opening Day speaks volumes of the club’s depth. Portland Timbers (0-0-1, 1 point): The Timbers were up a man, but squandered a pair of leads and settled for a wild 3-3 draw at snowy Colorado. A point on the road is usually celebrated, but not in this case for the Timbers. LA Galaxy (1-0-0, 3 points): Zlatan did Zlatan things again, but the story of the Galaxy’s 2-1 win over the Fire was the emergence (finally!) of 16-year-old Efrain Alvarez, who helped set up the winning goal. Sporting Kansas City (0-1-0, 0 points): Fresh off a dominating performance at Toluca (which didn’t factor into these power rankings), Sporting took a first-half lead only to see Diego Rossi and Diomande score second-half goals to to secure all three points for the hosts. Atlanta United (0-1-0, 0 points): Through three games this season (and again, CCL doesn’t factor into these rankings), it’s hard to tell who Atlanta is or will be. The defending MLS Cup champions were overrun in the midfield and Josef Martinez was starved for service. As a result, high-flying Atlanta was the only team to not score in Week 1. Montreal Impact (1-0-0, 3 points): The Impact fell into a one-goal hole just 11 minutes into their MLS opener, but rallied to level on the first of what will likely be many goals by Nacho Piatti and the winner by Saphir Taider one minute before halftime. A solid road win for a team that should make noise in the East this year. Houston Dynamo (0-0-1, 1 point): Mauro Manotas to the rescue — again! The Colombian, whose brace send the Dynamo through to the CCL quarterfinals in the midweek, netted the equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake at BBVA Compass Stadium. Toronto FC (1-0-0, 3 points): Don’t count out Toronto FC and don’t count out Michael Bradley. That’s what we learned from an impressive Week 1 win over the Union at Talen Energy Stadium as the TFC captain struck for a brace. FC Dallas (0-0-1, 1 point): The Luchi Gonzalez-era at FC Dallas got out to a resounding start when Michael Barrios put the hosts in front after just 13 minutes. But they conceded a second-half equalizer by Carles Gill and settled for a 1-1 draw, Columbus Crew SC (0-0-1, 1 point): Another coach making his debut with a team and another home draw. Caleb Porter knows there’s work to do, but thanks to Gaston Sauro’s near-post header off a Federico Higuain corner, Crew SC come away with at least a point. Minnesota United (1-0-0, 3 points): One of the more intriguing teams entering the 2019 season, Minnesota picked up an impressive 3-2 win over the rebuilt Whitecaps. Francisco Calvo scored a goal and drew a penalty that Darwin Quintero converted in the road win. New York City FC (0-0-1, 1 point): Is this a sign of things to come for the Cityzens in what could be a rollercoaster year? They race out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Ebenezer Ofori and Alex Ring, only to concede twice in the second half and settle for a 2-2 draw in Orlando. Real Salt Lake (0-0-1, 1 point): Albert Rusnak opened his 2019 account and RSL played the Dynamo to a 1-1 draw at BBVA Compass Stadium. Considering the club’s woeful road form a year ago, it’s a positive start. Colorado Rapids (0-0-1, 1 point): The resolve shown to fight back from a pair of deficits and forge a draw against the Portland Timbers despite being a man down is the greatest takeaway for the Rapids in Snow Clasico 3. Chicago Fire (0-1-0, 0 points): The Fire showed signs that their attack could be potent this year. C.J. Sapong, who struggled last year for the Union, scored his first goal for his new club and Djordje Mihailovic, Aleksandar Katai and Przemyslaw Frankowski were dangerous. Orlando City SC (0-0-1, 1 point): Similar to the Rapids, the Lions showed fight to come back from a two-goal deficit with Chris Mueller and Tesho Akindele scoring after halftime and Nani making his debut. Philadelphia Union (0-1-0, 0 points): Well, Marco Fabian scored on his debut, which is a plus for the Union, who have plenty of work to do in a pivotal season for Jim Curtin on the banks of the Delaware River. New England Revolution (0-0-1, 1 point): The negatives — a pregame injury to Michael Mancienne and conceding again on a counter. The positives — a second-half rally and first goal from new signing Carles Gil in a 1-1 road draw. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (0-1-0, 0 points): Rome wasn’t built in a day and the same is true of the 2019 Whitecaps under new coach Marc dos Santos. It is going to take time for the chemistry to build, but newcomer Erik Godoy scored after six minutes and Hwang In-Beom put in a solid shift on his debut. San Jose Earthquakes (0-1-0, 0 points): Wondo watch continues as the Quakes fell to Montreal, 2-1. Magnus Eriksson scored the lone goal for San Jose and newcomers Marcos Lopez and Cristian Espinoza had bright moments. FC Cincinnati (0-1-0, 0 points): Talk about never forgetting your first! What an opening MLS goal for FCC on an absolute screamer by Leonardo Bertone to give his side a 1-0 lead on 13 minutes. That’s where the positives end for the expansion side who looked every bit like the newcomers they are against a team that should contend in the West.

Pro Soccer USA’s writers Dylan Butler, Julian Cardillo, Robert Jonas, Emily Olsen and Joe Tansey contributed to this report.

The post MLS Power Rankings Week 1: D.C. United open 2019 season on top appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

MLS side Toronto FC confirmed the signing of Alejandro Pozuelo from KRC Genk on a Designated Player deal. The Spanish midfielder will join the Canadian club in mid-March, once the regular season in Belgium’s top flight ends. The MLS champions from 2017 announced signing of Pozuelo after several weeks of wait, confirming he will become […]

The post Toronto sign Pozuelo as Designated Player appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Toronto sign Pozuelo as Designated Player appeared first on Soccer News.

Major League Soccer didn’t disappoint in its first week back. 

Forty-one goals, three red cards, one snow game, a return of one of the top Americans playing in the league and the debut of the next big phenom highlighted the 12-game slate Saturday and Sunday. 

Seattle was one of the biggest winners of the weekend, receiving two goals from Jordan Morris in his return from injury, but credit has to be given to Toronto FC, Minnesota United and Montreal for opening the season with road victories. 

One of the biggest losers of the weekend was Atlanta United, the only team not to score in Week 1. But let’s not get too worried about the Five Stripes yet. After all, they lost 4-0 to Houston in Week 1 2018 and went on to lift the MLS Cup. 

Here’s a look at some of the best, worst and just flat out odd highlights from Week 1 in MLS. 

Goals of the Week 

Leonardo Bertone, FC Cincinnati 

If you didn’t know who Leonardo Bertone was entering the MLS season, well now you do. Bertone etched himself into the FC Cincinnati record book with this stunning strike to open the team’s MLS account.

A of a volley!! Leonardo Bertone with the first goal in #FCCincy @MLS history!!!#SEAvCIN #IgniteUnite pic.twitter.com/NOczJXo6pf

— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) March 3, 2019

Jordan Morris, Seattle Sounders

In his first game back from an ACL tear, Jordan Morris scored twice for the Sounders. His second came on a quick counter that was run by Victor Rodriguez, who delivered a nice pass through the box to Morris. 

HE'S BACK ALRIGHT!

Jordan Morris makes it a brace in his first 45 minutes of MLS action in over a year. @JMoSmooth13 #MLSisBack pic.twitter.com/eALExZUTke

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 3, 2019

Andre Shinyashiki, Colorado Rapids

Andre Shinyashiki’s first professional game is going to be one he’ll remember for a long time. He pocketed an equalizer for the Rapids to earn a 3-3 draw down a man at home against Portland. 

WHAT. A. NIGHT.

The rookie @AShinyashiki9 caps #SnowClasico3 with a goal in the dying moments!!!!! pic.twitter.com/WRsyk9uUUv

— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) March 3, 2019

Golden Boot watch (all-eyes-on-Gold-Cup edition) 

Michael Bradley and Jordan Morris, two likely participants for the United States men’s national team at the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, scored twice for their teams Saturday.

Bradley’s two-goal performance was his first since March 14, 2009, when he was playing in the Bundesliga for Borussia Monchengladbach.

Morris’ last brace before Saturday came on Sept. 25, 2016 against the LA Galaxy. 

It’s an unlikely pairing to see atop the Golden Boot standings after Week 1, and even if they fall down the standings, which Bradley definitely will, we need to keep a close eye on both players with the Gold Cup on the horizon.

Also, D.C. United’s Paul Arriola scored Sunday as the highlight of a terrific performance. Let’s hope Gregg Berhalter was watching. 

Players of the Week (you-need-to-pay-more-attention-to-these-guys edition) 

Bradley and Morris stood out because of their USMNT stature, but they weren’t the only attackers who turned in impressive performances in Week 1. 

A few players who deserve more attention on the national stage picked up where they left off in 2018. 

Minnesota United’s Darwin Quintero, who had 11 goals and 15 assists for the Loons in 2018, played a role in all three Minnesota goals against Vancouver. 

One, two, three and to the four…

…Darwin Quintero and Francisco Calvo are at the door pic.twitter.com/SY1afDQ1M6

— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) March 3, 2019

Quintero isn’t the first MLS star you mention in the discussion of the league’s best players, but he’s been a consistent threat up top since joining MLS. 

And there’s the league’s most underrated player, Ignacio Piatti, who while you were watching Morris and Co. thrash FC Cincinnati scored his 64th goal in an Impact jersey. 

Piatti’s teammate, Saphir Taider, contributed a goal and an assist in the win over San Jose, and Real Salt Lake’s Albert Rusnak scored and dished out five key passes down in Houston. 

Bizarre Stats of the Week 

Atlanta United has lost 17 regular-season games in three years. Ben Olsen’s D.C. United is responsible for five of those defeats. Yes, we’re still double and triple checking that to make sure it’s true, because it doesn’t make sense. 

There were five draws Saturday, three of them ended 1-1. There would’ve been a fourth if LAFC didn’t score a dramatic late game-winner against Sporting Kansas City Sunday night.

Sporting KC had five yellow cards in the first half of its loss to LAFC, and Roger Espinoza was handed his ninth red card in MLS play. He’s one away from Jamison Olave’s league record. 

Both Los Angeles teams won 2-1 after being down 1-0. LAFC and the LA Galaxy both scored twice in the second half to win their respective home openers. 

It’s Efrain Alvarez time

Finally.

After the Galaxy’s reluctance to bring Efrain Alvarez into the first team last season, the 16-year-old phenom came off the bench Saturday and produced an assist on the Galaxy’s equalizer. 

THIS. KID. IS. SIXTEEN.

On his MLS debut, @LAGalaxy phenom Efrain Alvarez showed us exactly why Mexico and the USMNT have been fighting over him. pic.twitter.com/k7ejbj4I9D

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 3, 2019

If Alvarez lives up to the hype during the 2019 season, he’ll follow Alphonso Davies and Tyler Adams out of MLS as young players making big-money moves. Also, #PlayYourKids.

Francisco Calvo appreciation section

Francisco Calvo has been the symbol of Minnesota’s defensive struggles, so we figured he needs his own section for how well he performed against Vancouver. 

The Costa Rican produced a strong game in his new full back role, and it was highlighted by a goal in the 66th minute. 

Milestone watch

While we wait on Chris Wondolowski to tie Landon Donovan atop the MLS all-time scoring chart, another league veteran hit a milestone Sunday. 

LAFC’s Jordan Harvey became the 40th player in MLS history to appear in 300 games. 

With today's start, @JordanCHarvey has now played in 300 career regular season @MLS matches.

His wife @_kimcaldwell surprised him with a special message from friends and family. pic.twitter.com/GGK66oKy1b

— LAFC (@LAFC) March 4, 2019

Harvey, Kei Kamara, Wondolowski, Dax McCarty, Dominic Oduro, Ricardo Clark, Drew Moor, Jeff Larentowicz, Chad Marshall and Kyle Beckerman are the active members of the 300-game club.

Larentowicz is in line to be the third player to hit 400 games played if he appears in eight games for Atlanta United in 2019. 

Looking Ahead

The New York Red Bulls and Houston Dynamo kick off the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals at home Tuesday. Sporting Kansas City and Atlanta United are on the road Wednesday. 

The post Week 1 MLS recap: 41 goals, 3 reds, snow and the next big thing appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

Atlanta United’s MLS title defence started with a loss on Sunday, while Los Angeles FC left it late. Frank de Boer has endured a mixed start to life as Atlanta head coach and his side suffered a 2-0 loss to DC United at Audi Field in their MLS opener. Paul Arriola scrambled in the opener […]

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In their opening match of the 2019 season, the Colorado Rapids and Portland Timbers faced off in the midst of an early March snowstorm in Commerce City.

Despite three different lead changes and a red card to Colorado, which led to two different Portland leads, the 10-man Rapids stormed back with a late stoppage time goal from Andre Shinyashiki to split points with the defending Western Conference Champions.

Here are three takeaways from Colorado’s 3-3 draw with Portland.

Blustery Day in Burgundy

Saturday’s match at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park surpassed 2017’s match between Atlanta United and Minnesota United FC as the coldest MLS match on record with an official temp of 18 degrees Fahrenheit at kickoff.

The temperatures, along with snowy and windy conditions had an apparent affect on the game.

“It’s really not easy to play in the conditions we had tonight,” Rapids head coach Anthony Hudson said.

The conditions also played a role in the X-factor of this match – Andre Shinyashiki and is equalizer at the death. Despite his Brazilian background, the rookie from the University of Denver is well aware of what it’s like to play cold weather soccer in Colorado.

With the conditions the way they were, and it being early days in the 2019 season, it makes it hard to grade Colorado and Portland accurately, aside from mentality and effort, a test which the Rapids passed with flying colors in this one.

Kamara Doing it all

It didn’t take long for new Rapids addition Kei Kamara to get on the scoresheet as he added Colorado’s first goal of the season and his first in burgundy to open up the game’s scoring in the 16th minute. It was both surprising and unsurprising.

Pundits, perhaps rightfully, doubted Kamara for his age at 34-years-old. Some see him as a diva and not a good teammate, due to his past publicized dispute with Frederico Huguain.

But Kamara proved the naysayers wrong on Satuday. He did it not just by scoring, but also by getting in and doing the dirty work in possession. Defensively, he also contributed some tackles and clearances in the Rapids’ own half.

“The fact that he picked up some positions to help the team out shows the type of character he is and the type of person we’ve seen since he’s come into preseason,” Hudson said of Kamara. “He cares a lot. He’s been a great teammate. That’s just a small portion of it. That showed [against Portland].”

New and Improved Rapids?

Colorado is most undoubtedly a better team than it was last year, at least in terms of roster and roster improvements. Pundits and even team executives around the league acknowledged the team’s offseason as an active but productive one. The Rapids brought in proven MLS talent such as Kamara, Benny Feilhaber, Keegan Rosenberry, Diego Rubio and Nicolas Mezquida. They also drafted Andre Shinyashiki.

All of those moves paid early dividends on Satuday with newcomers accounting for all three of Colorado’s goals on Saturday.

“I think there were big performances,” Hudson said of his new players. “It was a shame, because for me, the sending off changed the game [against Portland] and it changed our performance. So, as the game was going on, I was disappointed because up until then, we looked really good. Our fullbacks were getting forward, our two strikers looked dangerous, I thought we played well in the difficult conditions.”

But it’s still early days for the new-look Rapids and it’s a long 34-game season. It’s still too early to tell if Colorado is indeed improved enough to make the playoffs and questions remain regarding whether or not the Rapids can sustain success under Anthony Hudson. But with the team trending positively, Rapids fans are ready to buckle up for the road that lies ahead.

The post Blustery Day in Burgundy: Takeaways from the Colorado Rapids’ 3-3 draw with Portland appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the winner as LA Galaxy, who unveiled a statue of former star David Beckham before the match, came from behind to beat Chicago Fire 2-1 in the opening round of the new MLS season. The visitors had led through Charles Sapong’s opener in the 49th minute, Galaxy defender Diego Polenta having gifted […]

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With snow blanketing Dick’s Sporting Goods Park and the match deep in second-half stoppage time, Colorado Rapids rookie Andre Shinyashiki came off the bench and warmed the hearts of his team’s frozen fans with the dramatic equalizer in a 3-3 draw with the Portland Timbers. Check it out.

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COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Playing in sub-freezing conditions, the new-look Colorado Rapids opened their season at home against the Portland Timbers. Despite being reduced to 10 men in the first half, Colorado weathered the storm both literally and figuratively, coming back to earn a 3-3 result with a second-half stoppage time goal from rookie Andre Shinyashiki.

“I thought we were very good,” Rapids coach Anthony Hudson said. “I thought we were really confident. We looked good going forward and scoring the goal, we were in a good place. It’s a shame because the sending off changed what was a good game at the time.”

With five new players in the starting XI, Colorado opened the scoring as Kellyn Acosta crossed the ball to newcomer Kei Kamara, who coolly finished to give the Rapids a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute.

“I think there were big performances,” Hudson said of the new additions. “I thought the new players did very well. But I think the biggest thing was to come back twice. It’s massive for this group.”

A quarter of an hour later, the tides shifted as Rapids defender Axel Sjoberg was sent off for a deliberate handball in the box. Diego Valeri’s initial effort from the penalty spot was saved by Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard. But Valeri gathered the rebound to score on a follow-up effort to level the score at 1-1 in the 29th minute.

“We were told it hit his hand, but there was no way of getting his hand out of the way,” Hudson said of Sjoberg’s sending off. “That’s what we were told.”

Portland took its first lead in first-half stoppage time as Sebastian Blanco connected with Valeri’s corner to send the visitors into the half with a 2-1 lead. 

Despite going down a goal and a man, Colorado battled to level the match in the second half. Benny Feilhaber, another new face to the Rapids, leveled just seconds into the second half. Feilhaber dribbled through seven different Portland players to send in an effort which was initially blocked, but he scored on the follow up to even the score at 2-2.

The deadlock wouldn’t stand, however. On a Portland counterattack, midfielder Andy Polo sent in a dangerous cross across Colorado’s box, which resulted in an own goal by Rapids defender Deklan Wynne in the 66th minute.

With the lead, Portland began to take control of the game’s possession while continuing to outshoot Colorado. The Timbers ended the match with 22 shots (seven on target) compared to the Rapids 10 shots (three on target) while holding 58.2 percent of possession.

Nevertheless, Colorado battled yet again, tying with a late-ditch effort. Dillon Serna’s shot in the attacking third was saved by Timbers goalkeeper Jeff Attinella, but the rebound spilled to Shinyashiki, who ended the match at 3-3.

“To come back twice from a goal down showed a huge amount of character from the players,” Hudson said of the result. “As you know, in those situations, you’re down to 10 men, the conditions are the way they are, you’re playing against one of the best teams in the country. The easiest thing to do is to give up [in those conditions], but they kept going.”

Colorado will face the Seattle Sounders next Saturday night at CenturyLink field, while the Timbers continue their season-opening road trip against LAFC next Sunday. 

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The three designated player (DP) slots every Major League Soccer team has are the most important roster spots to fill. The DP slot allows a team to spend however they want on three players. Unlike other salary budget mechanisms, such as Targeted Allocation Money (TAM), these slots are guaranteed every year to each team. In other words, it’s a mechanism a club with resources or pull can use to create a meaningful competitive advantage.

It’s no surprise then, that every MLS team that’s won MLS Cup has leveraged the DP slots better than others.

Theoretically, if a club had the resources and pull, it could sign Messi, Mbappe and Neymar using the DP slots. This, of course, is not realistic. Teams have to deploy strategies on how to use their DP slots. I believe there are three different DP strategies teams employ: Hype DP (bringing buzz to the team), Field DP (being top-10-percent player in the league) or Asset DP (ability to produce revenue and allocation by selling later on).

Historically, the Hype DPs are the original designated players. Take a look at the first generation of DPs from 2007-2009 with players such as David Beckham, Freddie Ljungberg, Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Denílson or Claudio Reyna.  There’s a running theme — teams hoped they would be elite competitors in MLS, but more importantly that they would sell tickets and bring fame or buzz to the club. There will always be a place for Hype DPs in the league, whether they’re older Europeans or a returning American or Mexican national team player (See: 2019 Orlando City signing, Nani).

The second type of DP was an elite MLS player regardless of name — the Field DP.  To be truly elite means being considered  among the top 10 percent (today, that’s about the top 30 players in the league when considering an 11-player lineup for 24 teams), which means being a perennial All-Star and a possible MVP threat. It started with David Ferreira signing with FC Dallas in 2009, but Field DPs today — Seattle’s Nico Lodeiro, Portland’s Diego Valeri or Montreal’s Ignacio Piatti — are the face of the league and provide their clubs a true competitive edge.

With the introduction of TAM, this became a bit more complicated. Now you have teams with the ability to buy down potential DPs with TAM. This allows ambitious teams like Atlanta or Sporting Kansas City to have six to nine players who actually make more than the maximum budget charge.

But some teams would rather not spend the TAM and keep the DP tag for budget reasons. Philadelphia and Alejandro Bedoya seems to be a good example. Bedoya is an excellent player and would start on almost any MLS team in the league. But he’d almost certainly be a TAM player (top-100 player) and not a DP (top-30 player) if he played for one of those previously-cited ambitious clubs. This is not a bad use of a DP slot by Philadelphia, but it’s also not maximizing the slot — and the difference is important.

The newest type of DP is the Asset DP. The idea of signing a player as an asset to create future revenue and allocation from selling the player started with the Young Designated Player rule, which was created in 2012 and allows teams to take a smaller cap hit for high-quality players under the age of 24.

In order to be considered an Asset DP, you have to have the right age, potential and a low enough salary and transfer fee to create allocation in the future. The last requirement is an important one because an MLS club only creates allocation on a sale once it recoups all costs from transfer fees and salary.  

Ideally, a DP signing today could be all three at the same time, but those are few and far between.

Arguably, Miguel Almiron was the only one last year having the potential to be an asset, while also easily ranking among the top 10 percent on the field and bringing hype and buzz to Atlanta.

But many designated players do fit multiple categories, and when a team has all three DP slots filled with players who fit more than one category, it’s built a true competitive edge. The reverse is also true. Even worse than not using the designated player slots available is using them poorly, which becomes a salary-budget nightmare.

I’m categorizing every DP today heading into the 2019 season to get an idea which team is best using its DP slots.  For comparison’s sake, I’ve also assigned points to each category.

A true Field DP is worth 3 points. An Asset DP is 2 points. A Hype DP is worth 1 point. A DP who is a very good player but outside the top 10 percent is labeled as a TAM-level DP and gets 1 point.

Below is how I’ve categorized each DP:

 

For those who don’t like Venn Diagrams, below is the list with some explanation:

HYPE DP — 1 point:  Tim Howard, Chris Wondolowski

Howard is a below-average MLS keeper today, but his signing brought much-needed reason to watch the Colorado Rapids and allegedly was an integral part of procuring sponsorship.  Wondo should be a super-sub on a decent MLS club, but his chase of the all-time MLS goals record should be a needed draw for the San Jose Earthquakes

TAM-LEVEL DP — 1 point:  Bryan Acosta*, Jozy Altidore, Fanendo Adi, Paul Arriola, Michael Bradley, Ale Bedoya, Dom Dwyer, Roger Espinoza, Carles Gil*, Jan Gregus*, Federico Higuain, Sacha Kljestan (since writing this, he’s been bought down with TAM), Tomas Martinez, Nikola Nikolic, Saphir Taider, Vako

This list shows how hard it is to remain in the top 10 percent of the league. Bradley, Altidore, Kljestan, Nikolic and even Higuain would’ve been top 10 percent a year ago. Bradley and Altidore were also easily Hype DPs when they signed with Toronto. But with the World Cup failure and how much fans (unfairly in my opinion) put it squarely on those two, I’m not sure they bring hype anymore. Any name starred means they’re new to the league and I’m projecting based on YouTube clips and past performance, so it’s very likely they could need to be recategorized as the year progresses.

HYPE + TAM-LEVEL DP — 2 points: Jonathan Dos Santos, Bastian Schweinsteiger

Both Dos Santos and Schweinsteiger bring credibility with their names and on-field performances, but are just outside the top-10 percent cutoff.  In other words, if their names were Jonathan Des Moines and Basti Winedrinker, they’d be TAM players in this stage of their careers and not DP players.

ASSET DP — 2 points: Allan Cruz*, Carlos Gruezo, In-Beom Hwang*, Andre Horta, Santiago Mosquera

This list may feel like either players that are too new to MLS to judge or had slightly disappointing first steps in MLS. You’re not wrong, but each one has the potential to be sold for profit fairly easily. For example, as much as Horta’s debut last year was a disaster, he’s also a stellar performer for the Portugal youth sides.

ASSET + TAM-LEVEL DP — 3 points:  Jesus Medina, Diego Rossi, Albert Rusnak, Jefferson Savarino

This is a list of really exciting players who could potentially be sold for a lot down the road. It would not be surprising if any of them are elite this year and then sold for a very tidy profit in the future.  It would not be crazy to see both Medina and Rossi as their teams’ main attackers with rumors of suitors offering $10 million transfer fees at the end of the year.

ASSET + HYPE DP — 3 points:  Ezequiel Barco

Barco is a bit of an enigma, so it’s fitting he sits by himself in his own category. When Atlanta bought Barco last year, he was seen as one of the top talents in South America, if not the world. There was no doubt that brings a level of hype to the Atlanta region and again raises the club’s prestige on the world stage. Barco’s performance on the field was less than expected, but his underlying numbers show he could still be an asset. His very large transfer fee means that in order to be an asset, he has to be Almiron-level good in the league. So if he doesn’t turn into an All-star level player soon, he could easily fall off this list.

FIELD DP — 3 points: Romain Alessandrini, Sebastian Blanco, Felipe Gutierrez, Nico Lodeiro, Maxi Moralez, Ignacio Piatti, Darwin Quintero, Raul Ruidiaz, Diego Valeri, Bradley Wright-Phillips

Most of these players are no-brainer picks as top-30 in the league. Quintero and Ruidiaz certainly made their cases in Year 1, and if you look at Alessandrini’s goals and assists per 90 without penalties, he was easily in the top 10. Of this list, Gutierrez is probably most controversial as a top-30 player in the league. In my book, he’s one of the top, if not the best box-to-box midfielder, especially in Sporting Kansas City’s system, which requires coverage. Blanco and Moralez would’ve been in the TAM-level group last year, which again shows this is a fluid list.

FIELD + HYPE DP — 4 points:  Marco Fabian*, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Josef Martinez, Nani*, Wayne Rooney, Carlos Vela

Zlatan, Rooney and Vela are no doubt top-30 players and bring acclaim to their clubs from an international stage.   Josef Martinez might not bring as much hype on the world level, but he’s well known in South America, and whenever your hometown team’s fans are talking about making a statue of you and you’re on the cover of local magazines, you’re a Hype DP.  There’s a question on why Martinez is not seen as an asset. This is based off my assumption that Martinez’s new salary will make it prohibitive to make a large enough transfer fee possible. If his salary is less than $3 million/year, then he’s an asset. If it’s higher, he’s no longer an asset for selling. I’ve projected out Fabian and Nani. While Nani’s signing has received lukewarm reception in MLS circles, his goals and assists per 90 in the last three years were all very healthy. He has a lot to offer, and past history says he should be excellent in MLS.

FIELD + ASSET DP — 5 points: Luciano Acosta, Alberth Elis, Kaku, Alexandru Mitrita*, Milton Valenzuela

First three on this list have had very large bids during this last offseason already. Acosta, when paired with Rooney, is probably a top-10 player in the league. Elis has shown underlying numbers similar to Almiron. A playmaking Kaku has the ability to be a top-10 player that’s worthy of a $10 million transfer, that makes him an asset. I know Lucho Acosta isn’t a designated player yet, but with the PSG transfer falling through and D.C.’s open slot, he will be very soon. Valenzuela is out with an ACL tear, but before that he was a 20 year old who was at-worst the third best in the league in that position. He’s a top-30 player for me already, and I’m sure Crew fans are hoping he can come back at the same level. I’ve put Mitrita here based on expectations.  His transfer fee level requires him to be a top-30 player in the league. If NYCFC want to sell him for a profit above his $9 million fee, then this expectation is doubly true.  If he performs short of expectations, then not only does he drop down on the list, but he also he loses his asset status. Its a high risk, high reward purchase.

FIELD + ASSET + HYPE DP – 6 points:  Pity Martinez*

When you buy the reigning South American player of the year, he’s expected to be a hype player and a very top player in MLS. Martinez’s aspirations of going to Europe and taking note of the Almiron sale means that he’s an asset. It’s fitting then that Pity replaces Almiron as the only player who fits all three categories — even before playing an MLS match. Let’s see if he lives up to it.

 

There’s a few DPs who don’t make the list because they don’t fit one of the categories. This could be based on performance (ex. Gashi), being on loan (ex. Ardaiz) or my expectation that they won’t be DPs anymore (ex. Giovani Dos Santos).

Phew!  So, given this point structure, how do teams fare with their DP strategies? 

Below is the “DP Utilization Rankings.” Another way to think about it is: How much is a team using the Designated Player rule as a competitive advantage versus other teams? It is just one of many ways to have a competitive advantage in the league (See: academies), but it’s a useful metric to think about when projecting a team’s performance in the upcoming season.

DP Utilization Rankings

Atlanta United – 13 points NYCFC – 11  DC United – 10 LAFC – 9  LA Galaxy – 9 New York Red Bulls – 8 Orlando City – 6 Houston Dynamo – 6 Seattle Sounders – 6 Columbus Crew – 6  Portland Timbers – 6 Real Salt Lake – 6 Philadelphia Union – 5 FC Dallas – 5 Sporting Kansas City – 4 Montreal Impact – 4 Minnesota United – 4 Chicago Fire – 4 Vancouver Whitecaps – 4 FC Cincinnati – 3 Toronto FC – 2 SJ Earthquakes – 2 Colorado Rapids – 1 New England Revolution – 1

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LA Galaxy general manager Dennis te Kloese says the decision to buy out Giovani dos Santos’ contract was for the benefit of all parties concerned. The club have taken up their off-season option in order to reduce their number of designated players to three ahead of the MLS season, which starts on Saturday. Dos Santos […]

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With the season just a day away, the Colorado Rapids placed forward Shkëlzen Gashi on waivers.

The move means Gashi is no longer on the Rapids’ active roster ahead of Saturday’s opener against the Portland Timbers. This clears up an international spot on the roster with the MLS roster compliance deadline taking place Friday evening.

Gashi joined the Rapids before the 2016 season as a Designated Player from FC Basel in Switzerland. The Albanian international scored nine goals and had four assists in his first season in Colorado, but struggled in each of the last two.

Gashi scored two goals in both 2017 and 2018 and saw his minutes cut as well. After making 25 starts in 2016, he made 12 starts in 2017 and played fewer than half as many minutes. Last season, Gashi made just nine starts and again saw his minutes go down.

With Kei Kamara and Diego Rubio joining the Rapids attack in the offseason, Gashi could have been in line for an even smaller role in 2019.

The 30-year-old is still under contract through 2019. The Rapids will be responsible for his salary unless another team in the league claims him off waivers. According to MLS Players Association numbers, Gashi made $1.67 million in 2018.

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Chicago Fire will start their new MLS season this weekend, when they meet up with Los Angeles Galaxy, but in the days leading up to the opening day of the season, there was plenty of talk of new arrivals in Illinois. Veljko Paunovic’s team has already brought in several players this winter, but now they […]

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