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Atlanta United continued their good run of form in MLS, while DC United recorded a narrow win on Sunday. Gonzalo Martinez’s goal was enough for Atlanta to claim a fourth straight victory by beating Orlando City 1-0 in Georgia. Former River Plate midfielder Martinez scored his first goal for the club in the 14th minute, […]

The post MLS Review: Atlanta win again, Arriola lifts DC appeared first on Soccer News.

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In their first rivalry meeting of 2019, the Colorado Rapids hosted visiting Real Salt Lake to contest the Rocky Mountain Cup. After the visitors opened up a 2-0 lead with a penalty kick from Albert Rusnack (25’) and a goal from Corey Baird two minutes later, Colorado pulled back to within 2-1 at halftime with a goal from Kellyn Acosta (45’+3’). Colorado equalized with a second half goal from Danny Wilson (47’) but six minutes later Sam Johnson put RSL back in front, 3-2. Despite a strong push from Colorado in the waning moments, RSL went home with the victory.

Here are three takeaways from the Colorado Rapids’ 3-2 loss to Real Salt Lake:

Historically Bad

Colorado is now 0-9-2 through 11 matches, matching the 2007 edition of RSL (0-5-6) for the worst start through 11 matches in MLS history. In terms of points, the Rapids have earned four less points in that same span, arguably making them a worse team.

“Obviously it doesn’t give me any satisfaction to be part of that,”  Rapids defender Danny Wilson said postgame. “I think we can all hang our heads in shame. We’re the people that are here, we’re the only people that can do anything about it.”

With just two points earned thus far, the Rapids are currently earning points at a clip of 0.18 points per match with a third of the season already gone. Extrapolated over a 34-game season, Colorado is on pace for only 6 points. Obviously, a couple of wins or a handful of draws could easily turn this statistic, but Colorado’s current lack of points with a third of the season gone puts them well on pace to be in the company of some of the worst teams in MLS history as well.

For perspective, D.C. United’s squad earned 16 points over 34 games in 2013, a team regarded by many as the worst in league history. That team only earned three wins that season.

Seb Anderson Struggles

The 16-year-old homegrown has started the Rapids’ past three games and has at times shown flashes of ability to play with grown men who can be up to twice his age. But Saturday’s match marked some regression to the mean for the young defender, who was exposed on RSL’s first two goals.

Despite the early game struggles, interim head coach showed faith in the young player by keeping him in the match, and tactically switching Anderson from the left side of the formation to the right side, a more comfortable role and natural position for the youngster.

Casey showed further positive reinforcement with his postgame comments about Anderson.

“Seb is 16-years-old,” Casey said. “He’s a confident kid with a huge future with this club, so I’m very excited to have him on the team.”

VAR and controversy

As with most MLS games, MLS rivalry games, and particularly those between Colorado and RSL, Saturday’s match was filled with controversial decisions which arguably made an impact on the game for both sides.

In the 12th minute, Sebastian Saucedo went down after it appeared that Wilson made contact to his back. Twelve minutes after that, Saucedo did earn a PK, but only after a VAR review.

pic.twitter.com/QpuiTICdXj

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) May 12, 2019

Colorado also had reasons for complaint as another VAR review reversed the decision to issue a red card in the 35th minute for what looked like s studs out challenge by Justen Glad. Late in the match, with the Rapids pressing for an equalizer, some argued for a handball against RSL defender Nick Besler.

.@MLS @ColoradoRapids ROBBED at #Rapids96 @DSGpark ?
You make the call…#COLvRSL#RockyMountainCup 2019 pic.twitter.com/enS0RfQGHq

— John A. Babiak (@Photog_JohnB) May 12, 2019

Head referee Robert Sibiga again went to VAR, but opted not to award a penalty.

Both teams had differing views on the decisions.

“Again, we could’ve put them away some more, but then at the end they were throwing numbers forward and you know a couple of VAR looks,” said RSL head coach mike Petke. “I thought the refs, and I don’t say this maybe never, I thought the refs handled the game pretty well.”

Conversely, the Rapids felt hard done again by refereeing.

“I think something has to be done in this league about the referees,” said Wilson. “Because for some reason, we seem to be on the end of a lot of [decisions]. That’s all I’m saying.”

PRO Referees were unavailable for comment on the decisions made after the match, citing no listing of pool reporters in the locker room, despite two pool reporters on hand.

The post Rocky Mountain Rumble: Takeaways from Colorado’s 3-2 loss to Real Salt Lake appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

Los Angeles FC moved further clear atop the Western Conference in MLS, while Philadelphia Union are at the summit in the east. Carlos Vela continued his prolific campaign for LA, scoring in a 3-0 win over Columbus Crew in Ohio on Saturday. Mark-Anthony Kaye opened the scoring before half-time, neatly tucking away a lovely pass […]

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COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – In their first rivalry meeting of 2019, the Colorado Rapids hosted Real Salt Lake as both teams looked to stake their claim at the Rocky Mountain Cup.

Having signed three new players this week, two of whom gained the starting nod in midfielder Jonathan Lewis and centerback Lalas Abubakar, the Rapids looked to end a seven-match losing streak while still seeking their first win of the season.

Despite Colorado’s efforts to come back from a two-goal deficit to level the match, RSL pulled out the 3-2 win on a second-half goal from Sam Johnson to leave Dick’s Sporting Goods Park with all three points.

“My head’s pounding and I’ll appreciate it tomorrow if I’ve got a voice,” RSL head coach Mike Petke said. “These rivalry games, it’s always a tough game. We controlled the game the first 30-35 minutes and to concede the goal, that was tough to take.

The Rapids, meanwhile, dropped their eighth in a row and second straight under interim manager Conor Casey.

“I just wanted to start and say the fans were unbelievable tonight — the atmosphere in the stadium, it’s been one of the best atmospheres that we’ve had all year,” Casey said postgame. “We started slow, unfortunately we’ve gone down 2-0 in the last two games, but the character of the group to come back once again and even the score — they never gave up on each other, we’re all very disappointed, there’s no question about it. The group knows it is moving in the right direction. We didn’t get the result we wanted tonight, but there was a lot of good, positive things to take away from tonight.”

Early in the match, Real Salt Lake (4-6-1, 13 points) built up a 2-0 lead in the first half on the back of goals from Albert Rusnak and Corey Baird.

After Sebastian Saucedo failed to draw a penalty decision after contact with Rapids defensive midfielder Danny Wilson early in the match, Saucedo was again clipped by Rapids defender Seb Anderson in the 22nd minute, prompting video review. Referee Robert Sibiga awarded a penalty and Rusnák buried it to put RSL up 1-0 in the 25th minute.

On the ensuing restart, RSL midfielder Nick Besler sent in a long ball for Baird, who calmly collected it in Colorado’s box, finishing past Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard to double Real Salt Lake’s lead in the 27th minute.

Colorado (0-9-2, 2 points) pulled back a goal in first half stoppage time with Lewis streaking down the right side of Colorado’s defense, sending in a dangerous cross which ricocheted out to Kellyn Acosta, who drew the Rapids within 2-1 by halftime.

The Rapids then leveled at the start of the second half. On a corner kick opportunity, Rapids midfielder Jack Price found Sam Nicholson, whose header deflected off the near post out to Wilson, who leveled the match with his goal in the 47th minute.

“Obviously, it’s nice to score a goal, but that’s about it. Because we’ve been defeated again,” said Wilson. “It’s frustration. Absolute frustration because the run that we’ve been on is unacceptable.”

Six minutes later, RSL retook the lead. Damir Kreilach’s dribble at the endline found Sam Johnson outside the Rapids’ six-yard-box and the Designated Player scored to put RSL ahead 3-2 in the 53rd minute.

Colorado again had an opportunity to equalize with a penalty conceded by RSL defender Donny Toia in the 59th minute. But Rapids forward Kei Kamara’s attempt was saved by RSL ‘keeper Andrew Putna, standing in for the injured Nick Rimando.

 The Rapids again found an opportunity from the run of play when Kamara put in a dangerous shot from the right side of the box, but Putna again came up big with a save.

RSL likewise had a prime opportunity in the 73rd minute, but Joao Plata’s effort deflected off the post.

Colorado continued to push for an equalizer, but a penalty shout was waived off following video review in the 90th minute and what looked like a goal from Abubakar in extra time was called offside.

Having ended a two-game home stand without points, Colorado now takes to the road to face LA Galaxy next Sunday (8 p.m. EDT) while RSL returns to Rio Tinto to host Toronto FC next Saturday (3 pm. EDT).

The post Real Salt Lake draw first blood in Rocky Mountain Cup, beating Colorado Rapids appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

Fredy Montero scored the only goal of the game as in-form Vancouver Whitecaps defeated Portland Timbers 1-0 in MLS. Former Sporting CP star Montero broke the deadlock in the ninth minute to extend hosts Vancouver’s unbeaten streak to three matches. Montero unleashed a powerful strike into the top corner of the net for his second […]

The post Vancouver Whitecaps 1 Portland Timbers 0: Hosts extend unbeaten streak appeared first on Soccer News.

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The Week 11 slate in Major League Soccer provides a chance to examine certain teams in different lights. 

FC Cincinnati and New England joined Colorado in the collection of teams to fire their head coaches, while a handful of significant signings and trades were made before the close of the primary transfer window Tuesday. 

Now, the mad sprint to the Concacaf Gold Cup break begins with some teams re-energized by the changes and others attempting to keep up the early-season form that boosted them up the standings. 

A trio of rivalry games stand out right away on the 12-game slate, which begins with the Cascadia Cup showdown between Portland and Vancouver. 

Real Salt Lake and Colorado renew Rocky Mountain Cup hostilities, and one of the league’s fastest-rising rivalries in the southeast takes center stage Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

With staggered start times across the league Saturday, you should be able to watch a few minutes of each game, which can’t be said every week. 

Week 11 Schedule

Friday, May 10

Portland Timbers at Vancouver Whitecaps (10 p.m. ET, TSN1, ESPN+) 

Saturday, May 11

Montreal Impact at FC Cincinnati (1 p.m. ET, TVA Sport, ESPN+) 

New York Red Bulls at FC Dallas (2 p.m. ET, Univision) 

Philadelphia Union at Toronto FC (3 p.m. ET, TSN, ESPN+) 

New York City FC at LA Galaxy (4 p.m. ET, ESPN) 

Los Angeles FC at Columbus Crew (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+)

San Jose Earthquakes at New England Revolution (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+)

Minnesota United at Chicago Fire (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+) 

Real Salt Lake at Colorado Rapids (9 p.m. ET, ESPN+) 

Houston Dynamo at Seattle Sounders (10 p.m. ET, ESPN+) 

Sunday, May 12

Orlando City at Atlanta United (2:30 p.m. ET, Fox) 

Sporting Kansas City at D.C. United (7 p.m. ET, FS1) 

Storylines to Watch

1. Response To New Coaches

May 4, 2019; San Jose, CA, USA; FC Cincinnati defender Kendall Waston (2) passes the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half at Avaya Stadium. (Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports)

The Colorado Rapids failed to break out of their poor form when they played their first game since the firing of Anthony Hudson in Week 10.

FC Cincinnati and the Revolution will try to put together the opposite type of performance Saturday at home. 

FC Cincinnati let go of Alan Koch after struggling to find the back of the net in each of its last five games. There’s little going in favor of interim boss Yoann Damet, but it should help a little bit that the expansion side is back home for Saturday’s game against Montreal. 

A victory at home in front of one of the league’s top crowds would provide a jolt to a squad that faces three road trips in four games before the Gold Cup break. 

If it wasn’t for the Rapids, the Revs would be the hottest of hot messes in MLS. 

The firing of Brad Friedel on Thursday was necessary, but there’s still plenty of deeper-lying issues within the club that need to be fixed in order for success to be achieved on the field. 

The biggest goal for the Revs on Saturday against San Jose is to prove they have a competent defense again. The Revs conceded 18 goals in the last four games, and if the defensive issues aren’t fixed, no amount of attacking flair will be able to cover it up. 

2. First Versus Fourth In East 

Mar 2, 2019; Chester, PA; Toronto FC midfielder Jonathan Osorio (21) and Philadelphia Union midfielder Marco Fabian (10) challenge for a header at Talen Energy Stadium. (Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)

No one expected Saturday’s clash between the Philadelphia Union and Toronto FC to be a first-versus-fourth clash when the season began. 

In Week 1, Toronto went into Talen Energy Stadium and shook off its Concacaf Champions League struggles by beating the Union. 

The Union are a much different team than they were in Week 1, but they’re still missing a signature win after taking care of Montreal, FC Cincinnati and New England in recent weeks. 

With a healthy Marco Fabian in the lineup, the Union should be able to test the TFC backline, but the young defense trusted by manager Jim Curtin will be under the spotlight the most. 

Alejandro Pozuelo has proven to be one of the top playmakers in the league in a short time, and the Reds will have rested legs in midfield after Jonathan Osorio and Marky Delgado were rotated out of the lineup Wednesday in Atlanta. 

If Toronto wins, no one will bat an eye at the final score because people expect Greg Vanney’s side to win, but if the Union come away with three points, they’ll put the league on notice.

3. Can Columbus Keep Scoring? 

May 8, 2019; Columbus, OH; Columbus Crew SC forward Gyasi Zardes (11) celebrates his goal with teammates against the Los Angeles Galaxy at MAPFRE Stadium. (Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports)

The Columbus Crew finally broke out of their scoring drought Wednesday by putting three goals past the LA Galaxy. 

Los Angeles FC will be the next Western Conference contender to come into Mapfre Stadium on Saturday, and the Crew need to find a way to disassemble the Black-and-Gold defense to prove they can score on a consistent basis once again. 

The addition of David Accam in a trade with Philadelphia should add to the attacking threat on the wings, and if Accam makes an impact in the long term, it will go a long way in assisting the production of Gyasi Zardes. 

Zardes doesn’t need to be on the ball for long stretches, but he does need to be able to sneak through the LAFC defensive line to connect with the numerous crosses the Crew are expected to send in.

However, Zardes may have a hard time navigating through the penalty area due to the aerial presence of Walker Zimmerman. 

A victory at home by the Crew would be a bit of a statement, but most importantly, it would put them officially back on track in an Eastern Conference that is suddenly overflowing with contenders. 

4. Southeast Derby

Aug 24, 2018; Orlando, FL; Atlanta United forward Josef Martinez celebrates as he scores a goal against Orlando City SC at Orlando City Stadium. (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

Atlanta United and Orlando City have developed a ferocious rivalry over two seasons and there’s a clear distaste for the opponent on each sideline based off previous meetings. 

The Five Stripes have a three-game winning streak against the Lions in the Southeast Derby. 

With Josef Martinez, Ezequiel Barco and Co. rounding into form, the Five Stripes are expected to be the aggressor over 90 minutes. 

But don’t count out the Orlando City attack with Nani running rampant down the wings. Few defenses have been able to contain the former Manchester United man since his MLS debut, but Franco Escobar is more than capable of holding his own in the one-on-one matchup. 

5. Can Sporting KC Turn Around Recent Form? 

May 5, 2019; Kansas City, KS, USA; Sporting Kansas City forward Johnny Russell (7) moves the ball against Atlanta United defender Michael Parkhurst (3) during the second half at Children’s Mercy Park. (Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports)

Sporting Kansas City’s recent lapse in form isn’t making headlines because, frankly, there are much worse dumpster fires still lit across MLS. 

The overwhelming belief with Sporting KC year after year is that eventually Peter Vermes will right the ship and have the club playing its best soccer when it matters the most. 

However, it is a bit concerning the club hasn’t won a league game since March 30, and there’s no guarantee the elusive victory comes at Audi Field in the Week 11 closer. 

Injuries and the Concacaf Champions League fallout can be blamed for the poor form, but this is a club with enough depth to get through the hard times and earn a result, especially with a familiar face in Benny Feilhaber coming back to the squad. 

Player to Watch

Luciano Acosta, M, D.C. United

Apr 9, 2019; Washington, DC, USA; D.C. United midfielder Luciano Acosta (10) dribbles the ball as Montreal Impact midfielder Samuel Piette (6) at Audi Field. (Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)

The D.C. United attack looked lively in Week 10 against Columbus with Luciano Acosta pulling the strings from the middle of the park. 

Sunday presents Acosta and the rest of this teammates the perfect opportunity to take advantage of an out-of-form side and put a few goals in the back of the net. 

If that occurs, the Black-and-Red could have three wins in four games and a spot on top of the Eastern Conference. 

Matchup to Watch

Marco Fabian, Philadelphia Union vs. Michael Bradley, Toronto FC 

The last time Fabian and Bradley squared off in Week 1, there were plenty of dramatic moments. 

Union fans left the stadium calling for discipline to be handed down to Bradley after his countless fouls, while Fabian got his North American counterpart back with some cheeky skill. 

Saturday will be Fabian’s first game back from injury so he’ll be fresh and ready to take on a familiar foe once again. 

You ready for this weekend?? #DOOP pic.twitter.com/XsM0GWtPm9

— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) May 9, 2019

Fantasy Player to Watch

Josef Martinez, F, Atlanta United 

If you look back at most of our picks in this section, you’ll notice they’re more of a jinx than a predictor of what actually happens on the field.

So we’re going with another pick that seems super safe in Josef Martinez, who has three goals in his last four games. 

On top of that, Martinez has a superb scoring record against Orlando City. He scored in each of the three meetings with the Lions in 2018.

There's a reason he's the @MLS Goal King

Fearless @JosefMartinez17 https://t.co/GjAKPwdd2b

— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) May 6, 2019

The post MLS Week 11 Preview: Rivalry games, new beginnings and more appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

The Primary transfer window just ended for all MLS clubs, but some of them are already planning their summer moves. Chicago Fire have not had the very best start to the season, but it looks like they are improving in recent weeks. And now they might be in the market for another big-name star this […]

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The MLS has long been viewed as a league that focus more on marketing instead of quality when it comes to signings. That perception has changed a bit over the past few seasons. However, there’s still a sense of something that could be called “market-value” when it comes to the league. After all, the MLS […]

The post Signing Guillermo Ochoa Would Be A Smart Move For MLS appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Signing Guillermo Ochoa Would Be A Smart Move For MLS appeared first on Soccer News.

Columbus Crew ended their losing run to upset LA Galaxy in MLS, while Atlanta United extended their winning streak on Wednesday. Columbus snapped a five-match losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Galaxy, who slumped to their second consecutive defeat. Gyasi Zardes haunted his former club with the opener, tapping in a Robinho cross […]

The post MLS Review: Columbus overcome Galaxy, Atlanta win again appeared first on Soccer News.

The post MLS Review: Columbus overcome Galaxy, Atlanta win again appeared first on Soccer News.

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – With a defense conceding 2.7 goals per game this season, the Colorado Rapids are making moves to address the team’s defensive issues.

Following yesterday’s close of the MLS primary transfer window, Colorado announced the acquisition of defender Lalas Abubakar on a one-year loan from Columbus Crew SC in exchange for $125,000 in 2019 Targeted Allocation Money. The 24-year-old was a first round MLS SuperDraft pick of Columbus in 2017 and went on to make 35 appearances for the Crew, pitching in two goals.

“We are pleased to bring in a young and athletic defender in Lalas,” Rapids executive VP and GM, Pádraig Smith said. “He is a quick and physical centerback with good experience in the league.”

A Ghanaian international, Lalas holds a U.S. Green Card and will not take up an international roster spot.

The addition of Lalas was one of several moves announced or expected to be announced by the Rapids Wednesday, along with the addition of forward Jonathan Lewis, who was acquired via trade with NYCFC.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jonathan to Colorado,” said Smith. “He is one of the best young attacking talents in the United States, a dynamic game changer with the potential to develop into an elite level attacker in MLS. His age, character and skillset fit perfectly with the type of player we want to bring to Colorado and with the plans we have for the future of our club.”

Colorado also traded veteran midfielder Benny Feilhaber in exchange for defender Abdul Rwatubyaye, a draft pick, an international roster spot and some form of allocation money, according to ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle. Rwatubyaye only holds a P-1 Visa, and therefore will take up that international roster spot per MLS roster rules. 

Rwatubyaye has represented Rwanda at the U-17, U-20, U-23 and senior national team levels. The 22-year-old has made two appearances for SKC this season (one start), but played six years professionally in his home nation of Rwanda, winning three league titles in the country’s top flight.

With new players in tow, Colorado will look for their first win of the season at home this weekend as they host Rocky Mountain Cup rival Real Salt lake at 9 p.m. ET Saturday.

The post Colorado Rapids trade Benny Feilhaber, add reinforcements appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

Los Angeles Galaxy have announced that the club has added midfielder Fabio Alvarez to their squad, after acquiring him on loan from Argentinian side Atletico Tucuman. Alvarez has made 56 appearances for Atletico Tucuman in all competitions and has scored five goals in the process. Alvarez previously played for Talleres de Cordoba, Defensa y Justicia […]

The post LA Galaxy sign midfielder Alvarez appeared first on Soccer News.

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While Los Angeles Football Club maintains its spot in the penthouse of the Pro Soccer USA Major League Soccer power rankings, there was a lot of movement after Week 10, both upward and downward.

The Houston Dynamo climbed to a season-high No. 2 after an emotional Texas Derby win over FC Dallas, which fell three spots to No. 7. The Philadelphia Union continued to trend upward following a stunning 6-1 thrashing of a New England Revolution side that fell five spots to No. 23.

New York City FC entered the top 10 at No. 9, a leap of four spots, following an impressive 2-0 road win over the Montreal Impact.

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, Robert Jonas and Joe Tansey contributed to this report.

The post MLS Power Rankings Week 10: Houston Dynamo, NYCFC climb appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

Competition: MLS Market: Zlatan Ibrahimovic to score anytime Odds: 11/10 @ Bet 365 With the chance to leapfrog LAFC to top spot in the Western Conference, a high-flying LA Galaxy will travel to the MAPFRE Stadium in the early hours of Thursday morning. Starting with the hosts, putting in yet another worrying display in their 3-1 loss away […]

The post Zlatan Ibrahimovic 11/10 to score anytime against Columbus Crew in Thursday’s MLS clash appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Zlatan Ibrahimovic 11/10 to score anytime against Columbus Crew in Thursday’s MLS clash appeared first on Soccer News.

For the first time since Week 3, the top spot in the Pro Soccer USA Major League Soccer Player Rankings has changed hands. 

Los Angeles FC’s Carlos Vela made the position his own for the last seven weeks, but after he failed to find the back of the net in Week 10, he gave way to another superstar who plies his trade in Los Angeles. 

LA Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been lurking beneath Vela in the top five for the last three weeks and he finally forced his way past the Mexican star. 

The same five players who landed in the top five a week ago remain there, but there are plenty of new entrants who could make a surge into the top quadrant of the list with one more impressive performance. 

Our MLS Player Rankings take into account a player’s form over the last four games, with the most recent game carrying the most importance. 

20. Nicolas Lodeiro, M, Seattle Sounders

Previous Ranking: 15 

Apr 24, 2019; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro (10) dribbles against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half at CenturyLink Field. (Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports)

Nicolas Lodeiro was the most active player on the field for the Seattle Sounders in a 1-1 draw with Minnesota United FC on Saturday night at Allianz Field.

Although he made 104 touches and handed out four key passes, Lodeiro was unable to put a shot on target. 

In fact, the only shot on goal managed by the Sounders came on Cristian Roldan’s brilliant strike that found the bottom right corner of the net. 

19. Evan Bush, GK, Montreal Impact

Previous Ranking: 12 

May 4, 2019; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush (1) looks on during the first half of the game against the New York City FC at Stade Saputo. (Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports)

After stringing together a pair of clean sheets in Week 9, Evan Bush’s shutout streak ended at home in a 2-0 loss against New York City FC on Saturday. 

Bush gave up a pair of tallies to Dome Torrent’s side and he only stopped three of the shots sent in his direction at Stade Saputo.

Bush has conceded multiple goals in four of the games in which he has been beaten by opposing strikers in 2019.

18. Jesse Gonzalez, GK, FC Dallas

Previous Ranking: 9

Apr 27, 2019; Frisco, TX, USA; FC Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez (1) in action during the match against the San Jose Earthquakes at Toyota Stadium. (Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)

Jesse Gonzalez let in more than one goal in a game for the first time since March 30 in Saturday’s 2-1 Texas Derby defeat to the Houston Dynamo.

The FC Dallas goalkeeper only made two saves in the loss that put the Dynamo one step closer to winning back El Capitan. 

Since recording 12 saves in two games against Portland and Atlanta United, Gonzalez has only made four saves in the last two weeks. 

17. Mark-Anthony Kaye, M, Los Angeles FC 

Previous Ranking: 10 

Courtesy of LAFC

Mark-Anthony Kaye was once again active on the ball for LAFC on Saturday, but he didn’t make a significant impact on the final score like previous weeks. 

The Canadian midfielder completed 85.2 percent of his 88 passes and made 98 touches in a LAFC midfield that relentlessly tried to break down the Chicago Fire defense in a 0-0 draw.

Through 10 games, Kaye has a pass-completion percentage of 83.3 on an average of 55.8 passes. 

16. Shea Salinas, D, San Jose Earthquakes

Previous Ranking: 13

Apr 24, 2019; Seattle, WA, USA; San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Shea Salinas (6) dribbles against the Seattle Sounders FC during the first half at CenturyLink Field. (Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports)

Shea Salinas got caught in a logjam of players surging into the rankings, which is why he fell three spots despite helping the San Jose Earthquakes earn a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over FC Cincinnati on Saturday. 

The veteran fullback, who stole the headlines for his scoring prowess in recent weeks, was part of a defensive unit that conceded three shots to the expansion side while playing with a man down for most of the second half. 

Salinas didn’t show up much in the stat line, but played his part to extend the Quakes unbeaten run to four games. 

15. Romain Metanire, D, Minnesota United

Previous Ranking: 20 

Apr 24, 2019; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota United defender Romain Metanire (19) protects the ball from LA Galaxy defender Emmanuel Boateng (24) during the second half at Allianz Field. (Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports)

Romain Metanire is arguably the best in-form fullback in MLS. 

As we mentioned above, the Sounders only placed one shot on target in the 1-1 draw between them and Minnesota United on Saturday.

Metanire’s ability to contain the Seattle wingers stifled the amount of significant chances the visitors could put on goal. Jan Gregus and Ike Opara were two of the other defensive-minded Loons who deserve credit for Saturday’s performance. 

14. Sam Johnson, F, Real Salt Lake

Previous Ranking: Not Ranked

Real Salt Lake hasn’t been able to strike a rich vein of form from a team perspective, but one of its top offseason acquisitions is in the middle of an impressive stretch.

Forward Sam Johnson scored for the third time in four games in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to the Portland Timbers. 

3rd goal of the season pic.twitter.com/ruF7pRuxRw

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) May 7, 2019

Johnson is responsible for three of the seven goals the Claret-and-Cobalt have recorded over the last four matches. 

13. Ezequiel Barco, M, Atlanta United

Previous Ranking: Not Ranked

After a one-week absence, Atlanta United’s young phenom is back in the top 20. 

Ezequiel Barco scored one of the best goals of Week 10 in his side’s 3-0 win over Sporting Kansas City and he produced his first assist of the season. 

WHAT A GOAL BY BARCO

He scores his 4th goal of the season and puts Atlanta up by 2 on the road. pic.twitter.com/ymHWCNYMaD

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 6, 2019

Since the start of April, Barco has three goals on seven shots on goal. His form is promising, but the Five Stripes will be without Barco while he represents Argentina at the U20 World Cup. 

12. Mauro Manotas, F, Houston Dynamo

Previous Ranking: Not Ranked

Mauro Manotas bagged his first brace of the season in Houston’s rivalry win over FC Dallas. 

The Colombian forward opened the scoring from the spot and clinched the victory with a strike off a brilliant counter attack. 

End End #ForeverOrange | #HOUvDAL https://t.co/O4etJrVXvt

— Houston Dynamo (@HoustonDynamo) May 4, 2019

Manotas has three goals in the last two games and is now up to five goals and four assists for the season. 

11. Diego Valeri, M, Portland Timbers

Previous Ranking: Not Ranked

May 4, 2019; Sandy, UT, USA; Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri (8) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Real Salt Lake during the second half at Rio Tinto Stadium. (Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports)

Diego Valeri and the Portland Timbers have quietly put together a three-game winning streak in the middle of their 12-game road trip to start the season. 

It’s no surprise the midfield maestro has been the offensive catalyst during the winning run with one goal and three assists. 

In nine games, Valeri has picked up two goals and six assists. 

10. Josef Martinez, F, Atlanta United

Previous Ranking: Not Ranked

The 2018 MLS Golden Boot winner found his scoring stride in Kansas City on Sunday. 

Josef Martinez doubled his season goal total with a pair of tallies in Atlanta’s statement win over Sporting Kansas City. 

There's no stopping that one @JosefMartinez17 bags a brace https://t.co/7PliZEaSLM

— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) May 6, 2019

The scorer of four goals in 2019 totaled four key passes and three shots on target with his 45 touches. 

9.  Jack Elliott, D, Philadelphia Union

Previous Ranking: 20 

During the Philadelphia Union’s five-game home winning streak, they have outscored opponents 16-2. 

Jack Elliott’s play in the back line has played a major role in keeping teams off the scoreboard at Talen Energy Stadium.

Jack Elliott gets into the box and puts @PhilaUnion ahead 1-0! #PHIvNE https://t.co/xQNEIxGqW2

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 4, 2019

In addition to putting in a pair of strong defensive performances in Week 10, Elliott scored the opening goal in Saturday’s win over New England. 

8. Kacper Przybylko, F, Philadelphia Union

Previous Ranking: Not Ranked

One of the hottest scorers in MLS is a player who came to Philadelphia as a free agent in September and started the season in the USL Championship.

Kacper Przybylko has scored in each of his three starts and he’s put nine shots on target during the three-game stretch. 

3⃣ starts. 3⃣ goals for Kacper! Talk about being on #PHIvNE 5-1 pic.twitter.com/NSXt3oyTI8

— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) May 5, 2019

Przybylko’s goals have come against Vancouver, FC Cincinnati and New England, and now he faces his toughest foe yet on Saturday in Toronto FC. 

7. Kei Kamara, F, Colorado Rapids

Previous Ranking: 11 

Kei Kamara moved his goal total up to seven with a pair of penalties in Colorado’s 3-2 defeat to Vancouver. 

Kamara has now scored in five of the last six games for the Rapids, who are mired in last place in the Western Conference.

Number 6 of the year for @keikamara #Rapids96 | #COLvVAN pic.twitter.com/UTIwGZcq6Z

— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) May 4, 2019

Unfortunately, Kamara’s form is one of the only positive things the club can hang its hat on.

6. Eduard Atuesta, M, Los Angeles FC 

Previous Ranking: 6

May 4, 2019; Los Angeles, CA, USA; LAFC midfielder Eduard Atuesta (20) moves the ball against the Chicago Fire in the second half at Banc of California Stadium. The team played to a 0-0 tie. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

Eduard Atuesta was on the ball more than double the time any Chicago Fire player touched it on Saturday night. 

Atuesta made 152 touches in the middle of the park for LAFC and completed 91.3 percent of his 127 passes. 

The 21-year-old finished the game with two key passes and a shot on target, but it wasn’t enough to get Bob Bradley’s side a goal at Banc of California Stadium. 

5. Alejandro Pozuelo, M, Toronto FC 

Previous Ranking: 4

May 4, 2019; Orlando, FL, USA; Toronto FC midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo (10) dribbles the ball as Orlando City SC forward Tesho Akindele (13) defends during the second half at Orlando City Stadium. (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

Alejandro Pozuelo picked up his sixth assist in six games on the second goal scored by Toronto FC in a 2-0 win at Orlando City Stadium on Saturday. 

Pozuelo and TFC face one of the most difficult weeks of the season in Week 11 with a road trip to Atlanta United on Wednesday and a home clash with surging Philadelphia on Saturday.

Two strong performances from the Spaniard and a pair of victories would establish TFC as one of the teams to beat in the Eastern Conference.

4. Alberth Elis, F, Houston Dynamo

Previous Ranking: 5

May 4, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Dynamo forward Alberth Elis (17) dribbles against FC Dallas defender Reggie Cannon (2) in the second half at BBVA Compass Stadium. (Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports)

With his assist in Houston’s win over FC Dallas, Alberth Elis extended his streak of contributing to a goal to six games. 

Elis has produced an assist in his last two games, and before that, he put together a four-game scoring streak. 

In his last six games, the Honduran forward has four goals and five assists. 

3. Nani, M, Orlando City SC

Previous Ranking: 3

Apr 27, 2019; New York, NY, USA; Orlando City forward Nani (17) during the second half against the New York City FC at Yankee Stadium. (Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports)

Nani’s four-game scoring streak came to an end at the hands of Toronto FC on Saturday.

Although he didn’t find the back of the net, the Portuguese winger made plenty of contributions to the Orlando City attack. 

Nani recorded eight key passes and three shots against a TFC defense that limited the Lions to two shots on target. 

2. Carlos Vela, F, Los Angeles FC 

Previous Ranking: 1

May 4, 2019; Los Angeles, CA, USA; LAFC forward Carlos Vela (10) and Chicago Fire midfielder Brandt Bronico (13) battle for the ball in the second half at Banc of California Stadium. The team played to a 0-0 tie. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

Carlos Vela did everything in his power to put LAFC on the scoreboard on Saturday, but his effort came up short. 

The Mexican forward dished out five key passes and attempted three shots, with one of them reaching the target. 

The 0-0 draw with Chicago marked the second time LAFC was held scoreless in 2019 and the fourth time in 11 games in which Vela failed to score.

1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, F, LA Galaxy

Previous Ranking: 2

A goal and an assist in the LA Galaxy’s 3-2 loss to the New York Red Bulls were enough to push Zlatan Ibrahimovic over Vela for the top spot. 

The assist on Uriel Antuna’s 39th-minute goal was the second of the season for Ibrahimovic, who celebrated like he was the one who scored the goal. 

The first of two very, very beautiful goals from the #LAGalaxy@diegopolenta92 @Ibra_official @AntunaUriel pic.twitter.com/nYUrH7OZNP

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) May 4, 2019

Ibrahimovic scored his ninth goal of the season four minutes later, but the Galaxy were unable to hold on to the advantage in the second half. 

Ibrahimovic has two chances to reach double digits in the scoring column in Week 11, with a visit to Columbus on Wednesday and hosting New York City FC at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday.

The post MLS Player Rankings Week 10: Ibrahimovic takes top spot from Vela appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

This has been a landmark year in young domestic players getting meaningful minutes in Major League Soccer. FC Dallas is playing like it’s one of the best teams in the West and is likely to start three American teenagers.

Real Salt Lake, New York Red Bulls and the Philadelphia Union have set the stage in showing how academy talent can be cornerstone pieces on very good teams. Tyler Adams and Alphonso Davies showed the pathway for academy products to get to Europe, and how clubs can profit.

This has led to almost all MLS clubs taking their academies seriously. It’s a possible source of talent and assets,  and in a league where a salary cap looms, it is a possible competitive advantage. This also means evaluating and projecting homegrown prospects is becoming more and more important. 

Investing too long on a prospect who’s never going to make it means wasting time, resources and a roster spot. Let a prospect go, and you’ve potentially lost out on a few years of All-Star production at pennies on the dollar and a hefty transfer fee.  This is the dilemma that weighs on each MLS general manager.

A year ago I traded emails with Adam Belz from the Scuffed podcast — a top source for fans looking for coverage on young American starlets — about the top 10 MLS prospects in 2018 (full article here).  I went back to the expert to figure out what changed and what the new list looks like for 2019.  

(Note: The following email back and forth was edited for readability).

Tutul Rahman:  Thanks again for jumping into Year 2 grading the MLS trade rankings for Homegrown prospects. Your list last year got a lot of plaudits, and the 2019 season has arguably the best-ever MLS Homegrown players, starting with the Luchi [Gonzalez] revolution at FC Dallas.

This leads me to my first question. What are your reflections on the top-10 prospects list from last year? Were there any obvious misses or things that have changed in the valuations over the past year?

For memories sake, here’s where we netted out last year. Also, as a reminder, in order to make this list, the player had to sign with an MLS club or its USL side and have less than 400 MLS minutes as of April of that year.

Top MLS Homegrown Prospects of 2018

Tier 1 (Would trade an MLS MVP candidate to get this player) — None

Tier 2 (Would trade an MLS All-Star to get this player) — None

Tier 3 (Would trade very good, young player not quite All-Star level yet, i.e. Jordan Morris)

1. Efrain Alvarez

2. Andrew Carleton

Tier 4 (Would trade a good starting-caliber player, i.e. Michael Barrios)

3. George Bello

4. Jaylin Lindsey

Tier 5 (Would trade MLS journeyman and allocation money to get this player)

5. Wan Kuzain

6. Chris Goslin

7. Ben Mines

8. Matt Real

9. Paxton Pomykal

10. Gianluca Busio

Adam Belz:  My oh my, how quickly things change. Here’s my first blush adjustment. I’ve added a few names here and added another tier.

Tier 1 — No Homegrown is at this level yet

Tier 2 (would trade an All-Star)

1. Paxton Pomykal – It’s still early, but he’s already the key player for a winning FC Dallas side and already a valuable transfer target. If he continues to progress and has a good showing at the U-20 World Cup, I don’t think a $5 million transfer is out of the question. He’s certainly as valuable to his team as [Darlington] Nagbe is to his.

Tier 3 (would trade a good, young player with potential)

2. Efrain Alvarez — Easily the most talented teenager in MLS. If he can get match fit and regularly get on the field for the LA Galaxy, he could be something special. Only 16, so he has plenty of time.

Tier 4 (would trade a good starter)

3. James Sands — A solid starting CDM for NYCFC through four matches. An asset defensively and not a liability in possession at the age of 18. Seems to have the right mentality.

4. Brenden Aaronson — A competent teenage midfielder for a solid Philadelphia side. Not flashy, but already shown he’s elegant and reliable in possession.

5. George Bello — The potential is there for the young Atlanta left back. Hasn’t been able to stay consistently healthy.

6. Gianluca Busio — He’s a steady bench performer for SKC, one of the league’s best teams, at the age of 16.

7. Daniel Leyva — He hasn’t had his MLS debut yet, but he’s the cream of the academy crop in Seattle, he can run the midfield and he’s only 15. Certainly one of the top-5 prospects in America who hasn’t played first-team minutes yet. Trajectory and potential are good enough to get an MLS starter in exchange

8. Ricardo Pepi — He’s on a USL contract for North Texas, the FC Dallas reserve squad, scored a hat trick in his USL League One debut and has all the tools of a top-end No. 9. Great passer, strong on the ball, nose for goal, great workrate. Trajectory and potential are good enough to get an MLS starter in exchange.

Tier 5 (would trade a journeyman or allocation money)

9. Jaylin Lindsey — He’s a versatile, solid defender. Not likely to be a starting-caliber player soon.

10.  Andrew Carleton — He’s had problems off the field and he’s been underwhelming on the field for long enough that his trade value has to be considered on the wane. Could turn it around, but he needs a positive year for Atlanta and I can’t see many GMs taking a flyer on him for anything more than an MLS journeyman.

Dropping out:

AB:  I think Araujo is a top-level prospect. Servania and Scally may be, but I’m not sure, and Fuentes has potential but a long way to go. I’m not bullish on the others (though I have to admit I haven’t seen Jack de Vries play). I don’t think any of these players rises above Tier 5 at this point, except maybe Araujo and Akinola.

Final 2019 MLS Top 10 Prospects

(less than 400 MLS minutes as of Apr 1, 2019)

TR:  Nice!  You can already see many of these players have been integral parts of their squads and will be ineligible for next year’s list, such as Pomykal, Araujo, Aaronson and Busio.

Last question for you: There’s been quite a few big-name academy prospects who have skipped signing with MLS clubs and go straight to U-19 sides in Europe. This includes Alex Mendez, Uly Llanez, Sebastian Soto, Richie Ledezma, Chris Gloster and Taylor Booth. 

That’s quite the list of talent MLS helped develop but didn’t really get to reap the benefits for. I’m curious, which of those prospects would’ve made this list if they signed with MLS instead and at which tier?  It would give a good sense of the level of assets those teams lost for free.

AB:  I’d put Richie Ledezma in Tier 2. I realize the reader will have to take that on faith since he’s not played a single first-team minute, but I do think he’s polished and explosive enough to have an immediate impact in an MLS midfield.

I’d have Alex Mendez in Tier 3, with Soto and Gloster in Tier 4. Booth, I’m a little less familiar with, but he’d probably go in Tier 4 too.

TR:  It’s easy to have 20/20 vision when watching or covering sports. FC Dallas losing Weston McKennie for free easily looks like a large miss now. But it’s much more difficult to get into a GMs shoes and try to project out. 

FC Dallas’s patience and faith in Pomykal played out to the point where he’s probably the top prospect in MLS today. He’s a Tier 2 prospect, which makes him worth around $750,000 to $1 million in allocation money on the MLS trade market. This is a true competitive advantage in a salary-capped league like MLS.

With all of the upside, there are plenty of risk.  Andrew Carleton went from a top-2 prospect to not even being in the top-10 in a year. Will Atlanta be able to get the potential value out of Carleton?  Or will it never fully materialize?

All we know now is that valuations of prospects change almost weekly, and tracking the progress of homegrown talent is one of the most exciting parts of the league.

The post Top 10 MLS Homegrown Prospects 2019 Edition appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.