#Sounders Matchday

[sportsdelight]

Free Daily Soccer MLS Predictions

The Major League Soccer (MLS) is one of the fastest-growing soccer leagues in the world, attracting fans and talent from across the globe. With each matchday, predictions become essential for fans and bettors looking to gain an edge. This article will provide you with valuable insights into making informed bets on MLS matches, offering free daily predictions to enhance your soccer experience.

Understanding the MLS Landscape

Before diving into daily predictions, it’s crucial to understand the unique landscape of MLS. The league features 29 teams divided into two conferences: the Eastern and Western. Each team plays a set number of matches throughout the season, culminating in the playoffs, where the top teams compete for the coveted MLS Cup.

Key factors influencing match outcomes include team form, injuries, head-to-head statistics, and home-field advantage. With a mix of established stars and emerging talents, MLS provides unpredictable outcomes that make each game exciting.

Free Daily Soccer MLS Predictions

Factors to Consider for Predictions

When making daily predictions for MLS matches, consider the following factors:

1. Current Form

Analyze each team's recent performances. A team on a winning streak often carries momentum into upcoming matches, while a team struggling to find form may be more vulnerable. Look at the last five matches and assess both victories and defeats.

2. Injuries and Suspensions

Injuries to key players can significantly impact a team's performance. Check the latest injury reports and any suspensions that may affect the squad. Teams missing star players may struggle against fully fit opponents.

3. Home vs. Away Performance

Home-field advantage plays a crucial role in MLS. Teams often perform better at home due to familiar conditions and fan support. Conversely, some teams struggle on the road, so consider their performance in away matches when making predictions.

4. Head-to-Head Records

Historical matchups between teams can provide valuable insights. Some teams may have a psychological edge over others based on past performances. Analyze recent encounters to gauge potential outcomes.

5. Tactical Matchups

Coaching strategies and formations can greatly affect match results. Understanding how teams set up against each other tactically can help predict whether a match will be high-scoring or defensive.

Free Daily Predictions

Now that you understand the key factors to consider, let's dive into today's free MLS predictions:

Match 1: LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders

Prediction: Seattle Sounders to win

The LA Galaxy has struggled this season, particularly at home. Seattle Sounders are in great form, winning their last three matches. With a solid record against the Galaxy, expect the Sounders to continue their winning streak.

Match 2: Inter Miami vs. Toronto FC

Prediction: Draw

Both teams have been inconsistent, with Miami showing flashes of brilliance while Toronto struggles on the road. Expect a tightly contested match that ends in a draw, as both teams aim to secure a point.

Match 3: New York City FC vs. FC Cincinnati

Prediction: New York City FC to win

New York City FC has a strong home record and has been formidable at Yankee Stadium. FC Cincinnati has been improving but tends to falter against top-tier teams. Look for NYCFC to secure a crucial victory.

Conclusion

Daily soccer predictions in the MLS can provide valuable insights for fans and bettors alike. By analyzing team form, injuries, home/away performances, head-to-head records, and tactical matchups, you can make more informed decisions. With our free daily predictions, you'll be better equipped to enjoy the excitement of MLS matches.

Whether you’re a passionate supporter or a betting enthusiast, staying updated with the latest trends and insights can elevate your soccer experience. Make sure to check back for more daily predictions and analysis as the season unfolds, ensuring you never miss a moment of the thrilling action in Major League Soccer!

[booksofdelight]

7 best soccer pandemic books

I rediscovered my love for reading during the pandemic and fortunately my literary journey continues. These are my top picks for soccer books about the pandemic. Hope you enjoy them!

Credit for “Seattle Sounders Matchday” by Daniel (https://flickr.com/photos/57511216@N04/) The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the world of soccer, disrupting leagues, tournaments, and the lives of players, coaches, and fans alike. We still talk about it, but it almost looks like the world of soccer has moved on and the sport is not just soccer fairytales for toddlers. You…

[monday49]

We shall rise. Season's open! I'm not so happy with those flames, but they were just getting muddy, so gotta go with it. And as ever...crooked... -_-

[ryananderson2706]

Join me as I review Seattle Sounders FC Vs. Minnesota United FC in the Western Conference Final of the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs!

[atlantaunitedfc]

ATLUTD: Hard-earned point on the road

[tkmedia]

Ajax release third kit inspired by Bob Marley and 'Three Little Birds'

5:30 AM ETAjax are the latest club to release their 2021-22 third kit in a busy week that has seen a deluge of new auxiliary strips dropping all around Europe. However, rather than delving into the past or revamping a design of old, the Eredivisie club have taken the opportunity to pay homage to one of their key musical inspirations.The shirt is a tribute to the late, great reggae legend Bob Marley, whose classic anthem "Three Little Birds" can regularly be heard echoing around the terraces of the Johan Cruyff Arena on matchday.2 RelatedIt all began in fairly unlikely circumstances during the summer of 2008 when Ajax travelled to Wales to face Cardiff City in a preseason friendly at Ninian Park.The Dutch fans were asked to remain in the stands after the final whistle to help ease congestion outside, during which time they were entertained by the stadium DJ. Three Little Birds was one of the songs played. It was instantly embraced and is still sung to this very day.Indeed, Ajax have adopted the reggae anthem as an unofficial club song and will now take to the field with three little birds on their jerseys -- etched in the famous red, green and gold colours associated with Marley's Rastafarian religion.Rise up this mornin', smile with the rising sun.Introducing our new 21/22 third jersey, inspired by our collective love for @BobMarley and his Three Little Birds. pic.twitter.com/YiPUS7AR19— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) August 20, 2021As well as his music, Marley was also known to be a passionate lover of the game and his Wailers 5-a-side team even took on FC Nantes -- who were reigning Ligue 1 champions at the time -- in a casual kickaround in the early 1980s, before taking to the stage in the French city later that night."I am beyond touched that Ajax has taken Three Little Birds and made it their anthem," said Marley's daughter, Cedella. "Stories like this warm my heart and show how impactful songs like Three Little Birds can be. Soccer was everything to my father... and to use his words: 'football is freedom.'"Ajax's new third kit forms part of a larger Marley collection which also includes a tracksuit, sweater, t-shirt and a pair of limited edition Samba sneakers, complete with red, green and gold stripes, as well as the club crest on the tongue.

This isn't the first time we've seen Marley's image gracing a football shirt either, with Irish club Bohemians launching their own limited edition jersey for the 2018-19 season.The shirt was intended as a tribute to the Jamaican legend, who staged his last ever open-air concert at Boh's Dalymount Park ground in Dublin in 1980.Introducing Bohemians' new away shirt! It's in tribute to Bob Marley after his final outdoor concert took place at their home ground 🇯🇲 pic.twitter.com/tdl9KKhffy— Soccer AM (@SoccerAM) October 24, 2018 However, the League of Ireland side were quickly forced to axe the design after running afoul of image rights laws, despite Marley's son Ky-Mani branding it the "dopest" football shirt he'd ever seen.Football kits with musical tie-ins have proven consistently popular, with one of the best examples emanating from MLS as Seattle Sounders paid tribute to one of the city's most famous sons, James "Jimi" Marshall Hendrix, with the release of a new kit for the new Major League Soccer season.

The Sounders' psychedelic 2021-22 away shirt celebrates the life and career of the 1960s rock legend, whose band The Jimi Hendrix Experience was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992."Seattle was and always will be Jimi's home. The Sounders are Seattle's own, as well," said Janie Hendrix, president & CEO of Experience Hendrix. "Collaborating with the Sounders to create a jersey is our way of playing for the home team. Jimi was all about honoring the place you come from. This venture allows us to give back to the community he loved. That's something I think would make Jimi proud."- 2021 MLS schedule: The games you cannot miss - ESPN+ viewer's guide: MLS, Bundesliga, Serie A, FA Cup and moreSounders star Nicolas Lodeiro helped launch the new Adidas uniform, which has been officially dubbed "The Jimi Hendrix Kit" by the club.The jersey conjures images of the electric guitar great in his pomp with a purple haze effect all over, trimmed with bright flashes of orange and yellow -- accents as bold as love.

Hendrix's signature has also been added to the bottom-left corner of the jersey while the inner neck features a tape graphic of hand-written lyrics from the song "Straight Ahead," which was included on posthumous 1997 album "First Rays of the New Rising Sun."

This is no castle made of sand either, with the Sounders' Jimi Hendrix kit also placing a strong emphasis on promoting and supporting local community causes. Proceeds from the first 30 days of sales will be donated to five non-profit organisations, all of which are geared toward advocating youth sport and/or art and music.What's more, the right sleeve of the shirt also features the salmon logo of the Puyallup Tribe, who still serve as first nation stewards of the land throughout the Puget Sound in Washington State and have recently signed a charitable partnership deal with the club.

Elsewhere, Dublin-based club Bohemians were at it again as Irish post-punk band Fontaines DC sponsored their new away kit. The kit, which features the band's name across the midriff, will help raise funds to support a homelessness charity with 15% of proceeds being donated to Focus Ireland.We're extremely proud to be a part of the new Bohs kit in conjunction with Focus Ireland as they are two organisations that we hold very close to our hearts. @bfcdublin @FocusIreland https://t.co/X8GITXdSGa pic.twitter.com/6GptJrKaTF— Fontaines D.C. (@fontainesdublin) March 13, 2021 Last season, Bohemians collaborated with human rights charity Amnesty International to create an away shirt that proudly expressed support for refugees fleeing war around the world."Bohs are an organisation that really care about the community," said Fontaines DC drummer Tom Coll. "Having a Dublin football team having 'Refugees Welcome' be the biggest thing on their shirt, that's amazing."In the recent past, we've even seen huge clubs like Paris Saint-Germain buddying up with rock royalty to produce special one-off shirts.Indeed, the Parisians joined forces with the Rolling Stones to produce a whole range of merchandise, including replica shirts, apparel, skateboards and even crash helmets.OFFICIAL: PSG have launched their "unique collaboration" with the Rolling Stones. #PSGNoFilter pic.twitter.com/Dh9mySO5RP— Jonathan Johnson (@Jon_LeGossip) October 18, 2017 After scoring a number of hits in the early 1990s, Scottish pop band Wet Wet Wet decided to invest some of their earnings in their hometown club, Clydebank, by taking over as shirt sponsor.1⃣3⃣ 👕 Clydebank 💰 Wet Wet Wet"Wet Wet Wet arguably started the whole bands sponsoring football teams by pumping some of their pre-Love Is All Around royalties into their hometown team in 1993." pic.twitter.com/QLAKRyhHqh— FourFourTwo (@FourFourTwo) January 29, 2018 DJ and Brighton & Hove Albion fan Fatboy Slim had his record label Skint sponsor the shirts of his beloved hometown club for a period in the early 2000s.The 1999-00 Brighton & Hove Albion home shirt is a classic. Skint Record's sponsorship, the record label of the Seagull's most famous fan Fatboy Slim, makes for an iconic combination 🔵⚪️#shirtshackfootball #futebol #futbol #calcio #brighton #bha #championsleague #premierleague pic.twitter.com/jjF58WconW— Shirt Shack Football (@ShirtShackFooty) September 15, 2020 As unlikely as it may seem, The Prodigy saw fit to sponsor an under-13s team in 2012 when a dad of one of the Eastleigh Juniors FC players wrote a letter to band member Liam Howlett.Over in Germany, veteran punk rockers Die Toten Hosen famous for splashing their mark across several Fortuna Dusseldorf strips from the 1990s right up to the present day.Shirt Alert: Fortuna Düsseldorf have teamed up with rock band Die Toten Hosen to produce a special shirtThe side also had a special Die Toten Hosen sponsor in the 90sWhat do you think of the new shirt?#F95 x #DTH pic.twitter.com/TchRIlLrkV— Classic Football Shirts (@classicshirts) October 29, 2019 Still, Ajax fans will be right for thinking that having a tribute to Bob Marley on their team's jersey will be tough for any team to top this season. Read the full article

[thisissoccer]

usa haiti soccer 2021

CHICAGO (July 10, 2021)—The U.S. Men’s National Team will launch its quest for a seventh confederation championship when it opens the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup against Haiti on Sunday, July 11 in Kansas City, Kan.

Coverage from Children’s Mercy Park begins at 9 p.m. ET on FS1, Univision and TUDN. Fans can follow the USMNT during the tournament on Twitter (@USMNT), Instagram (@USMNT), Facebook and the official U.S. Soccer App.

2021 GOLD CUP – USMNT ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB; CAPS/GOALS) GOALKEEPERS (3): 22-Brad Guzan (Atlanta United; 64/0), 18-Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 9/0), 1-Matt Turner (New England Revolution; 1/0)

DEFENDERS (8): 21-George Bello (Atlanta United; 1/0), 2-Reggie Cannon (Boavista/POR; 18/1), 20-Shaq Moore (Tenerife/ESP; 5/0), 4-Donovan Pines (D.C. United; 0/0), 12-Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 3/1), 16-James Sands (New York City FC; 0/0), 3-Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids; 3/0), 5-Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 14/2)

MIDFIELDERS (6): 23-Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; 31/2), 6-Gianluca Busio (Sporting Kansas City; 0/0), 17-Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 24/7), 10-Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders; 20/0), 19-Eryk Williamson (Portland Timbers; 0/0), 14-Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; 12/0)

FORWARDS: (6): 7-Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 35/8), 11-Daryl Dike (Orlando City; 3/1), 8-Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen/FRA; 3/2), 13-Matthew Hoppe (Schalke/GER; 0/0), 15-Jonathan Lewis (Colorado Rapids; 7/2), 9-Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew; 56/12)

USA SCHEDULE – 2021 GOLD CUP Date

Opponent

Venue

Time (ET)

TV Info

Sunday, July 11

Haiti

Children’s Mercy Park; Kansas City, Kansas

9 p.m.

FS1, Univision, TUDN

Thursday, July 15

Martinique

Children’s Mercy Park; Kansas City, Kansas

10 p.m.

FS1, UniMás, TUDN

Sunday, July 18

Canada

Children’s Mercy Park; Kansas City, Kansas

5 p.m.

FOX, Univision, TUDN

WHAT IS THE GOLD CUP? Held every two years, the Gold Cup is the regional championship for Concacaf, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football. Just like in the European Championships and Copa America, lifting the trophy brings prestige and regional supremacy. Over the course of 15 previous Gold Cup tournaments, the United States has lifted the trophy six times (1991, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2017), just behind all-time leaders Mexico with eight (1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2019). Canada is the only other tournament champion, coming away with the title in 2000.

Placed in Group B, the U.S. opens the tournament against 2019 semifinalists Haiti on July 11, faces Martinique on July 15 and wraps up the group stage against Canada on July 18. The top two teams in each of the four groups advance to the quarterfinals (July 24-25 in Arlington, Texas and Glendale, Ariz.). The semifinals are scheduled for July 29 in Austin and Houston, before the championship match on Aug. 1 in Las Vegas.

ROAD TO VEGAS BEGINS In the middle of a jam-packed 2021 schedule, the Gold Cup provides an opportunity for the USMNT to pick up its second regional trophy of the summer. In June, the USA clinched the inaugural Concacaf Nations League title with a thrilling extra-time victory against Mexico, and now the U.S. will look to take home more hardware at the confederation championship.

This year’s competition takes on additional importance as the USMNT’s final gathering before 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying kicks off in September. The tournament will provide invaluable experience against Concacaf opposition in a high-pressure environment as 12 players have the chance to compete in official competition for the USA for the first time.

DEVELOPING THE PLAYER POOL Nineteen of the 23 players on the Gold Cup roster weren’t a part of the USMNT’s Nations League roster, providing an almost entirely new group of players exposure to high-level Concacaf competition. This experience is essential as World Cup qualifying kicks off in the fall, especially with a new format that includes more games over a shorter period of time. Eight teams will compete for three berths to the World Cup during the course of seven months rather than 18, and four of five international windows will include teams playing three matches in seven days, meaning depth will be critical.

Five players will aim to earn their first USMNT cap at the Gold Cup - Gianluca Busio, Matthew Hoppe, Donovan Pines, James Sands and Eryk Williamson - while seven others are looking to make their first appearance in official competition: George Bello, Daryl Dike, Nicholas Gioacchini, Shaq Moore, Miles Robinson, Matt Turner and Sam Vines.

EXPERIENCED CORE Despite arriving in Kansas City with a roster that averages just under 25 years of age, the USMNT brings six players who have Gold Cup titles under their belts: Brad Guzan and Sean Johnson (2 each), Kellyn Acosta, Paul Arriola, Cristian Roldan, and Gyasi Zardes (1 each). Three more bring prior experience at the tournament: Reggie Cannon, Jonathan Lewis and Walker Zimmerman.

Midfielder Sebastian Lletget is the only USMNT player to appear in all 11 of the team’s matches over the last two calendar years and is tied for the team’s goal-scoring lead this year with three tallies.

BACK HOME IN KC Born and raised in Overland Park, Kan., forward Nicholas Gioacchini is returning home for the first time since the age of eight, when his family moved to Italy. After a spell in Maryland, the Gioacchinis moved back to Europe and Nicholas launched his pro soccer career with Paris FC in 2017 before moving to Caen, his current club, the following year. The forward made his international debut and scored his first two USA goals in the 6-2 win against Jamaica in November and now will look to make his mark during the Gold Cup group stage in his hometown.

CANNON AIMS FOR ANOTHER TROPHY Defender Reggie Cannon is fresh off of a big June with the USMNT, helping the team lift the Concacaf Nations League trophy and scoring his first international goal in the friendly against Costa Rica. After playing a key role for the USA during the 2019 Gold Cup, Cannon made the move overseas to Portuguese club Boavista and is confident that he’s raised his game as he aims for his second regional title of the summer.  Listen to the USMNT defender speak with Jordan Angeli and Charlie Davies on this week’s episode of The U.S. Soccer Podcast.

LAST TIME OUT The USMNT played four matches during the June international window, attempting to simulate the cadence of the new World Cup qualifying format. Sebastian Lletget struck first for the USA vs. Switzerland in the team’s first match, but the U.S. fell 2-1. In the Nations League, a hard-fought 1-0 semifinal win vs. Honduras set the stage for an instant classic USA-Mexico match in the Concacaf Nations League Final, a dramatic 3-2 victory.

WATCH: USMNT Defeats Costa Rica 4-0 | June 9, 2021

The USMNT capped off the international break with an emphatic 4-0 win against Costa Rica that saw both Cannon and forward Daryl Dike net their first international goals. With the result, the USA has won its last 10 matches against Concacaf opponents, a promising trend heading into the confederation championship.

Gold Cup roster members Kellyn Acosta, Cannon, Lletget and Jackson Yueill were all a part of the USA’s Nations League squad, while Dike and Zimmerman both appeared in the friendly vs. Costa Rica. Hoppe was a part of the USMNT matchday squad vs. Switzerland.

USA ROSTER NOTES Players on the roster average 13 caps overall and five caps in official competition.

Nineteen of the 23 players represent a total of 13 different clubs in Major League Soccer. Atlanta United and Colorado Rapids lead the way with three players each, followed by D.C. United, New York City FC (2 each); Columbus Crew, LA Galaxy, Nashville SC, New England Revolution, Orlando City SC, Portland Timbers, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders and Sporting Kansas City (1 each).

Defenders Reggie Cannon (Boavista; Portugal) and Shaq Moore (Tenerife; Spain) and forwards Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen; France) and Matthew Hoppe (Schalke; Germany) make up the European-based contingent.

Sporting KC midfielder Gianluca Busio and NYCFC defender James Sands are the two players on the roster to earn their first USMNT call-ups. Sands turned 21 on July 6, the day of his first USMNT training session.

Shaq Moore earns his first USMNT call-up since November 2018. With five international appearances to his name, the 24-year-old right back comes to his first camp under Gregg Berhalter after making 41 league appearances with Tenerife during the 2020-21 Spanish Segunda campaign.

A veteran of the USA’s 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup side, Moore last appeared in the USMNT’s 1-0 defeat to Italy on Nov. 20, 2018 in Genk, Belgium.

Gyasi Zardes’ team-leading 16 Gold Cup caps currently place him in a tie with Kyle Beckerman and Pablo Mastroeni for 10th on the USMNT's all-time Gold Cup appearances list.

Since 2018, Zardes leads all U.S.-eligible players in MLS with 47 goals. The veteran striker also sits eighth all-time on the USMNT's Gold Cup scoring list with four goals.

Midfielder Cristian Roldan made his international debut during the 2017 Gold Cup, starting the team's 3-2 win against Martinique on July 12, 2017, in Tampa. The USA will play Martinique on July 15, three days after the four-year anniversary of that match.

USMNT AT THE GOLD CUP Beginning with the inaugural title in 1991, the U.S. has lifted the Gold Cup on six occasions. The USA returned the trophy home in 2002 and won again in 2005, 2007, 2013 and 2017.

The USA has more wins in the Gold Cup than any other nation, going 61-9-9 all-time.

The U.S. has gone an impressive 35-1-4 during the group stage.

The USMNT has advanced to the final on 11 occasions: 1991, 1993, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017 and 2019.

The USA has made it to the semifinals in 14 out of 15 tournaments, missing out only in 2000.

USA-HAITI The USMNT is 6-6-5 against Haiti all-time. Les Grenadiers are one of only two Concacaf teams against which the USA does not hold a winning record – the other is Mexico.

The USA is unbeaten in its last five matches (3-0-2) vs. Haiti and undefeated in three Gold Cup meetings with the Caribbean nation (2-0-1).

The U.S. and Haiti last met in the 2015 Gold Cup group stage in Foxborough, Mass., a 1-0 win for the USA. Gyasi Zardes teed up Clint Dempsey for the lone goal just after halftime to help the USMNT secure the top spot in Group A.

Their first meeting came in qualifying for the 1954 World Cup, with two victories for the USA in Port-au-Prince on the strength of goals scored by National Soccer Hall of Famers Bill Looby and Efrain Chacurian.

HAITI ROSTER (CLUB; CAPS/GOALS) GOALKEEPERS (3): 12-Josue Duverger (Vitoria/POR; 1/0), 23-Isaac Rouaud (J3S Amilly/FRA; 0/0), 1-Brain Sylvestre (Miami FC/USA; 0/0)

DEFENDERS (8): 4-Ricardo Ade (Muschuc Runa/ECU; 17/1), 2-Carlens Arcus (Auxerre/FRA; 20/1), 22-Alex Christian (Atyrau/KAZ; 29/0), 3-Francois Dulysse (New England Revolution II/USA; 0/0), 17-Martin Experience (Avranches/FRA; 0/0), 6-Jems Geffrard (HFX Wanderers/CAN; 19/0), 13-Kevin Lafrance (AEK Larnaca/CYP; 39/5), 5-Stephane Lambese (Orleans/FRA; 8/0)

MIDFIELDERS (6): 21-Bryan Alceus (Gaz Metan Medias/ARM; 22/0), 15-Dutherson Clerveaux (Cavaly; 1/0), 10-Derrick Etienne (Columbus Crew/USA; 25/3), 8-Zachary Herivaux (Birmingham Legion/USA; 17/0), 14-Leverton Pierre (USL Dunkerque/FRA; 0/0), 19-Steeven Saba (Violette; 14/1)

FORWARDS (6): 7-Carnejy Antoince (Orleans/FRA; 1/2), 18-Ronaldo Damus (Orange County SC/USA; 2/0), 16-Don Louicius (Hobro IK/DEN; 2/0), 11-Roberto Louima (Violette; 4/0), 9-Duckens Nazon (Sint-Truiden/BEL; 44/26), 20-Frantzdy Pierrot (Guingamp/FRA; 23/14)

IN FOCUS: HAITI Haiti earned its berth to the 2021 Gold Cup as one of three preliminary qualifiers. Prior to the tournament proper, 12 teams gathered in Ft. Lauderdale and played out three four-team brackets to determine the competition’s final three entrants.

The top seed in the Gold Cup prelims, Haiti topped Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6-1 in its opening match with Duckens Nazon bagging a brace.

In the Gold Cup berth-clinching match vs. Bermuda, Les Grenadiers used a first-half hat trick from Frantzdy Pierrot to win 4-1 and advance to its eighth confederation championship.

Nazon (26 goals) and Pierrot (14 goals) are the leading scorers on the roster and have combined for 13 goals this year. Nazon’s 49 caps also lead the team.

Haiti had an impressive showing at the 2019 Gold Cup, reaching the tournament semifinals for its highest finish. The Haitians topped their group with three straight victories and came from behind to beat Canada in the quarterfinals before losing to Mexico on a penalty in extra time.

Haiti is 8-11-5 all-time at the Gold Cup. The Carribean nation has advanced past the group stage in four of seven previous appearances.

Former Haiti defender Jean-Jacques Pierre became Haiti’s head coach at the start of 2021 and has led the team to a 5-2-0 record entering the Gold Cup. It’s his first major coaching job after a long playing career across Argentina, France, Greece, Haiti and Uruguay.

Five players are based in the USA, highlighted by Columbus Crew midfielder Derrick Etienne Jr., a teammate of U.S. forward Gyasi Zardes. Goalkeeper Bryan Sylvestre (Miami FC), midfielder Zachary Herivaux (Birmingham Legion) and forward Ronaldo Damus (Orange County SC) play in the USL Championship, while defender Francois Dulysse plays in USL League One at New England Revolution II.

Haiti has players based in 11 different countries. In addition to three in Haiti, Les Grenadiers ply their trade in France (seven), the U.S. (five), Armenia, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Kazakhstan and Portugal (one each).

Live Broadcast: Coverage begins at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1, Univision & TUDN - Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET

LINEUP NOTES: USMNT vs. Haiti

2021 Concacaf Gold Cup July 11, 2021 Children’s Mercy Park; Kansas City, Kan. Live Broadcast: Coverage begins at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1, Univision & TUDN Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET Social Media: @USMNT on Twitter and Instagram; @ussoccer on Facebook , The U.S. Soccer App

Tonight’s USMNT Starting XI vs. Haiti: 1-Matt Turner, 3-Sam Vines, 5-Walker Zimmerman, 7-Paul Arriola, 9-Gyasi Zardes, 12-Miles Robinson, 14-Jackson Yueill, 15-Jonathan Lewis, 17-Sebastian Lletget (capt.), 20-Shaq Moore, 23-Kellyn Acosta

Substitutes: 18-Sean Johnson, 22-Brad Guzan, 4-Donovan Pines, 6-Gianluca Busio, 8-Nicholas Gioacchini, 10-Cristian Roldan, 11-Daryl Dike, 13-Matthew Hoppe, 16-James Sands, 19-Eryk Williamson, 21-George Bello

GAME NOTES | FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT HAITI  | USMNT GOLD CUP TRIVIA USMNT Starting XI Cap Numbers (including this match): Gyasi Zardes (57), Paul Arriola (36), Kellyn Acosta (32), Sebastian Lletget (25), Walker Zimmerman (15), Jackson Yueill (13), Jonathan Lewis (8), Shaq Moore (6), Miles Robinson (4), Sam Vines (4), Matt Turner (2)

USMNT Starting XI Gold Cup Cap Numbers (including this match): Gyasi Zardes (17), Paul Arriola (11), Kellyn Acosta (6), Walker Zimmerman (4), Jonathan Lewis (2), Sebastian Lletget (1), Shaq Moore (1), Miles Robinson (1), Matt Turner (1), Sam Vines (1), Jackson Yueill (1)

Tonight’s Starting XI has an average age of 25 years, 360 days.

The Starting XI averages 17 caps.

Defender Reggie Cannon has experienced right hamstring soreness in the last 24 hours and is being held out as a precaution. His status is day-to-day.

Sebastian Lletget captains the USMNT for the first time tonight. The 28-year-old midfielder is the 12th different player to wear the armband under head coach Gregg Berhalter.

Ten of 11 starters hail from Major League Soccer, with right back Shaq Moore (Tenerife; Spain) as the lone foreign-based player.

Moore is one of four players making their USMNT debuts in official competition tonight, joining goalkeeper Matt Turner and defenders Miles Robinson and Sam Vines.

Turner (eligible to represent Lithuania) and Moore (eligible to represent Trinidad and Tobago) will both become officially cap-tied to the USMNT once the opening whistle blows tonight.

Moore earns his first USMNT appearance since playing in the 1-0 friendly defeat to Italy on Nov. 20, 2018 in Genk, Belgium.

Kellyn Acosta, Sebastian Lletget and Jackson Yueill were all part of the U.S. roster during last month’s Concacaf Nations League triumph.

Making his 17th Gold Cup appearance tonight, forward Gyasi Zardes moves past Kyle Beckerman and Pablo Mastroeni for sole possession of 10th on the USMNT’s all-time Gold Cup caps list.

The only starter to previously appear against Haiti, Zardes came on as a halftime substitute and assisted on Clint Dempsey’s goal two minutes later in a 1-0 Gold Cup group stage win on July 10, 2015 in Foxborough, Mass.

Walker Zimmerman earns his first start since the 1-0 win against Costa Rica on Feb. 1, 2020.

Zimmerman and Miles Robinson partner together in central defense for the first time tonight. It’s the 13th different central defensive pairing deployed under Gregg Berhalter.

Tonight’s match marks the second time the trio of Kellyn Acosta, Sebastian Lletget and Jackson Yueill will work together in midfield. The three previously lined up at the start of the USA’s 7-0 win against Trinidad and Tobago on Jan. 31, 2021 in Orlando.

Gianluca Busio, Matthew Hoppe, Donovan Pines and James Sands would earn their USMNT debuts should they enter the match tonight.

Four players beginning the match on the bench would become cap-tied to the United States should they play tonight against Haiti: George Bello (Nigeria), Gianluca Busio (Italy), Daryl Dike (Nigeria), Nicholas Gioacchini (Italy and Jamaica).

A midfielder with Sporting KC, Busio would have the opportunity of making his USMNT debut in his home club stadium.

Meanwhile, Gioacchini would get to represent the U.S. just 17 miles from where he grew up in Overland Park, Kansas.

Teams are allowed five substitutions during the group stage of the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup.

The USA holds an even 6-6-5 record in 17 all-time matches against Haiti. Les Grenadiers are one of two Concacaf nations the USMNT does not have a winning record against.

The USA is 2-0-1 against Haiti in Gold Cup play.

The USMNT is 20-6-3 in 29 matches under Gregg Berhalter.

The United States Men’s National Team opened up Group B play at the 2021 Gold Cup with a 1-0 victory over Haiti last night in Kansas City. It gave them 3 points to keep them on pace with Canada, who beat Martinique in the first match of the doubleheader. For the USMNT, there were some positives and some areas for improvement in a match where they seemed very sluggish at times and still have some questions to answer as they move forward in the tournament. Here’s what we learned.

No urgency on attack.

USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter was “disappointed” in the lack of urgency that the attack showed against Haiti, a team that entered the match with 5 of its players sidelined due to testing positive for Covid.

“I missed the urgency to score more goals and to be dangerous and first pass forward and aggressive,” Berhalter said during the post-match press conference. “To me, it was way too slow, way too backwards. Not enough intent to turn it around and get them get them defending in the penalty box. And then once we’re in the penalty box, I didn’t like the runs, the movement in the box. I didn’t like the service. So from the attacking end, we were disappointed with the intent that we showed tonight.”

The team didn’t have enough runs forward to sustain an attack. You had consistent play down the right side, particularly with Shaq Moore. Paul Arriola did well at times before he was forced off early in the first half due to injury. However, the left side of Jonathan Lewis and Sam Vines didn’t do enough to keep Haiti on their toes, despite Sam Vines scoring the lone goal for the Americans. The USMNT needed to gas out Haiti, who was short staffed and playing compact for most of the match to conserve energy. Instead, the Americans played right into Haiti’s game, and Haiti felt more comfortable withstanding any attack and trying to turn quick counters down the field when the American midfield would make a mistake.

Gianluca Busio showed why people should be very excited about his future.

The 19-year-old Italian American made his USMNT debut last night in front of his home fans in Kansas City when he subbed on for Jackson Yueill in the 62nd minute, and he certainly made an impression with his play. He played with confidence and was constantly looking to drive the attack forward. With every touch he took last night, the Children’s Mercy Park crowd of 12,664 cheered loudly, and he gave them reasons to do just that. He had a shot on goal late in the match that was an absolute laser that required an incredible save by Haitian goalkeeper Bryan Sylvestre, but Busio was a breath of fresh air on a night where the attack felt stagnant.

The winger depth chart has become super thin.

Hopefully, the injury to Paul Arriola is not a serious one, but even before that, Gregg Berhalter admitted that he didn’t have a lot of depth at the wings on this roster. Now, with Arriola having to sub off due to injury in the 14th minute of last night’s match, the winger group is even thinner. Nicholas Gioacchini replaced Arriola at right wing, and Daryl Dike eventually subbed on for Jonathan Lewis on the left wing. That’s 2 guys that normally operate as 9s for club and country. Matthew Hoppe, another 9, is also someone that Berhalter believes has the movement to play on one of the wings. So, who will start against Martinique on the wings remains to be seen, but with the focus on creating scoring opportunities already heightened for this group and with the lackluster effort last night, there will be more eyes on who Gregg Berhalter decides to play on that forward line as they progress in the Gold Cup.

Those are some of the things we learned. What did you take away from last night’s match? Hit the comments and discuss.

[justinssportscorner]

MLS:

The return of MLS is only a few weeks away.

For the first time since play was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 12, MLS teams will take to the field in official competition beginning on July 8 for a unique tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Disney World Resort in Florida.

So how will it work and what does it mean for the 2020 season? Here's everything you need to know about the MLS is Back Tournament:

Quick Facts

July 8 - August 11

54 matches (39 group stage; 15 knockout round)

26 matchdays

Format: Group Stage, Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Championship

Minimum Matches: Three per club

Maximum Matches: Seven per finalist

Key Dates

June 24: Teams begin arriving in Florida

July 8: MLS is Back Tournament group stage begins

July 25-28: Round of 16 begins

July 30- Aug. 1: Tournament Quarterfinals

August 5-6: Tournament Semifinals

August 11: MLS is Back Tournament Final

How will the tournament work?

Similar to a FIFA World Cup, the tournament will feature a continuous schedule of matches nearly every day, with games beginning at 9 am, 8 pm and 10:30 pm EST, with the majority of the matches to be played in the evening.

Group Stage:

The 26 teams will be split into six groups.

The Eastern Conference will have three groups, one of six teams and two with four teams each.

The Western Conference will have three groups, each consisting of four teams.

Each team will play three group stage matches over the course of 16 consecutive days.

The top two teams from each group along with the four best third-place finishers will move on to the knockout stage, beginning with the Round of 16.

If two or more clubs are tied on points in the group stage, MLS regular season tiebreaking procedures are used.

The tiebreakers for determining the four 3rd-placed clubs are: (1) points, (2) goal differential, (3) goals scored, (4) fewest disciplinary points.

Group Stage Tournament Draw:

A draw for the tournament will take place on Thursday, June 11 at 3:30 p.m. ET to determine the placing of the 26 teams into six groups.

Nashville SC will be placed in the Eastern Conference and will remain in the Eastern Conference for the remainder of the 2020 season.

As the “host” team, Orlando City SC will be the top seed in the six-team group.

The four semifinalists from the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs – Atlanta United, Los Angeles Football Club, Seattle Sounders FC, Toronto FC – will join Orlando as group seeds, along with Real Salt Lake (the next highest points total in the Western Conference from the 2019 season).

Full Group Stage Draw details

Knockout Stage:

Knockout round matches that finish tied at the end of regulation will proceed directly to a penalty kick shootout.

What's at stake?

Regular Season points: Each of the 39 group-stage games will count for points toward the 2020 regular-season standings.

Concacaf Champions League spot: In a one-time change to MLS berths to the annual Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League, the MLS is Back Tournament winner will earn a spot in the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League, regardless of whether it is a U.S. or Canadian club. This berth replaces the one traditionally awarded to the regular-season conference leader that did not win the Supporters’ Shield.

Prize Money: In addition to matches that count in the regular-season standings and competing for bragging rights, the MLS is Back Tournament will give players the opportunity to earn additional bonuses as part of a $1.1 million prize pool.

General competition rules

Substitutions: Clubs can make up to 5 substitutions per match per the new protocol set by the IFAB, but each club will have a maximum of three opportunities to make those 5 subs in every match. Subs made at halftime will not count toward one of the three opportunities.

Matchday rosters: Teams will also be able to name a matchday roster featuring up to 23 players.

Video Review: As is the case during regular MLS play, the Professional Referees Organization (PRO) will have access to Video Review for all games.

Delays & postponements: Match delays and postponements will be handled as per the 2020 MLS regular season rules. Any group stage match may be considered final should it reach the 60th minute and it is determined that the match cannot continue.

Disciplinary procedures

All discipline received from the first two matches of the 2020 regular season will carry over to the MLS is Back tournament.

All group stage discipline will be reset before the start of the knockout stage except for red cards (and second yellows) and other Disciplinary Committee action which will carry over to the knockout stage.

There will be no yellow card accumulation policy for the knockout stage.

Any group stage discipline that has not been served prior to the end of the group stage will be applied to the next 2020 regular season match following the completion of the tournament (Note: Group stage matches count toward regular season standings).

If a player receives a second yellow card in the final group stage match but the first yellow card was also his 5th yellow card of the regular season, the player will be suspended for the first knockout stage competition match (due to red card suspension) AND for his first regular season match following the Tournament (for yellow card accumulation).

Red cards (and second yellows) and Disciplinary Committee action in any player’s final knockout stage match will carry over to the regular season. All other knockout stage discipline that has not been fully served prior to the conclusion of the knockout stage will not carry over to the regular season following the tournament.

What happens after the tournament?

Upon completion of the MLS is Back Tournament, MLS plans to continue its regular season with a revised schedule in home markets, followed by the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and the 25th MLS Cup.

The schedule will be developed at a later date.

[miketown]

#Sounders Matchday. #⚽️ 2083/2191 via Instagram https://ift.tt/2IbyHzQ

[monday49]

Super quick sketch; honey badger and colors in honor of Sounders Matchday.

[ryananderson2706]

Join me as I review Seattle Sounders Vs. LAFC in the MLS is Back Tournament Round of 16!

[365footballorg-blog]

Seattle Sounders bag their 9th straight win | MatchDay Central div.video-js { width: 100% !important; height: 0 !important; overflow: hidden; position: relative; padding-top: 56.2%; } September 16, 20181:58AM EDT…

[atlantaunitedfc]

It’s matchday vs Seattle Sounders | March 31, 2017 - Atlanta United visits the reigning MLS Champions

⚽ 10pm Kickoff [Eastern] 📺 WATCH LIVE 👉 FS1 & Fox Sport GO

[vampieslovehunger]

#thisteam #sounders #matchday #baseball #soccer #gododgers #gosounders #originalartwork #originalartworkchanged

[footballghana]

FEATURE: Could Ghana's Leonard Owusu be an answer to the Vancouver Whitecaps #8 question?

It was a tough ending, but at the same time, you can’t say that they didn’t learn anything from it.

While it’s been only 5 days since their elimination from MLS is Back at the hands of Sporting Kansas City, the Vancouver Whitecaps have surely had lots of time to ponder that match, and the others they played, as they find themselves in self-isolation after having returned home earlier this week.

With no clear plan for the future of MLS, all they can really do now is wait and see, as the league continues to negotiate a long-term return plan, one that can be executed both safely and effectively.

So in a situation like that, it’s a perfect time for the ‘Caps to look back, and reflect on what they learned from their few weeks down in Orlando, in which they played 4 very different soccer games.

From their opening match collapse against the San Jose Earthquakes to their second game annihilation at the hands of the Seattle Sounders, before finishing off with a resilient 3rd game victory vs the Chicago Fire and 4th game penalty shootout loss to Sporting KC, the ‘Caps had a whirlwind of a Disney experience down in Florida.

Given how shorthanded they were for this tournament, as they picked up injuries the way that a typical Disney traveller tends to pick up Airmiles, it was far from a bad tournament, especially considering the circumstances.

While they would’ve loved to have run the table and dominated everyone, they did get some valuable minutes to youngsters, get a chance to learn about some of their new arrivals, and see more of the players that they’re already a lot more familiar with.

In this series, we’ll take a look at some of those standout players, and look at what this tournament taught us about them going forward, as they all look to push for minutes when the full squad is back and in training, whenever that may end up being.

Up first, is Leonard Owusu, the Ghanaian midfielder, who quickly emerged as a player of the tournament for the ‘Caps, as he was arguably one of their most consistent performers throughout the 4 games.

Owusu: Exactly as advertised

When Owusu arrived in Vancouver, we didn’t know much about the Ghanaian midfielder, aside from a few anecdotal scouting reports, some stats and limited video clips.

Using that information, we compiled an early report on Owusu, in which we noted that: “He mostly played as a #6, forcing him to play a lot deeper. (…) He can transition the ball forward in a hurry, but he can also move, which should make for a good match alongside the similarily profiled Hwang In Beom. If Vancouver can add a destroyer type #6 to complement them in a trio, allowing them to roam forward, this could prove to be a good signing.”

While Vancouver didn’t add that #6 right away as expected, instead waiting until the morning before opening day to bring in Janio Bikel, a #6/RB who was plying his trade at CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria, it was expected that when Owusu would play, it would be as a #8, alongside the aforementioned In Beom Hwang.

But then, due to paperwork issues, Bikel actually ended up making his debut around 80 minutes before Owusu did, as they both didn’t feature on the ‘Caps opening day clash with Sporting KC on February the 29th.

They both instead made their debuts a week later against the LA Galaxy, however, with Bikel getting a start at right back in place of an injured Jake Nerwinski, while Owusu made a 15-minute cameo off of the bench.

Unfortunately for them, their teammates and the rest of the league, that would be the last matchday that MLS would play for a while, as they had to postpone their season in light of the COVID-19 pandemic that had started to quickly wrap itself around the globe.

It was expected that whenever the league would return, however, that the ‘Caps would play a midfield trio of In Beom Hwang, Owusu and Bikel, giving them the punch in the middle of the park that they’d certainly been missing a year prior.

Fast forward until now, and that reality of an In Beom, Owusu and Bikel midfield has yet to materialize, mostly due to unfortunate circumstances. Due to an adductor injury that Bikel sustained mere days before the start of the MLS is Back tournament, he was ruled out of the whole competition, leaving him to watch from the sidelines.

While it appeared that ‘Caps head coach Marc Dos Santos was going to play Bikel at right back down in Orlando, at least from what we saw in clips from training, it was hoped that Bikel could’ve stepped into the middle as a #6 at some point, freeing up Owusu to play as a box-to-box #8.

With Bikel gone, however, that meant Owusu had to play as a #6 for the whole tournament, a position in which he shined, but despite that, it did feel like a position in which he was slightly limited.

Not that Owusu was bad at the #6, far from it, but it just felt like playing that far back nullified his impact a bit, especially on the offensive end of things.

Much like we saw in our aforementioned scouting report, we noted that him playing so deep for Ashdod in Israel made him a prime candidate to play as an #8 for Vancouver, especially considering how good his offensive numbers were for Ashdod despite his positional limitations.

So if anything, we saw Owusu exactly as he was advertised, which was that he was a really good passing midfielder with good defensive acumen, making him a good fit alongside someone like In Beom in the midfield.

That’s where Bikel steps in, as his presence should both facilitate and complement that. When we scouted him, we noted that he entered an ‘absurd’ amount of defensive duels, and that he can transition the ball forward ‘in a hurry’, making him a perfect fit alongside Owusu and In Beom.

Given that the ‘Caps biggest struggle is a combination of their defensive pressure in the middle, along with their ability to transition the ball forward from midfield, it seems natural that bringing in Bikel, in turn freeing up Owusu, could be wise.

From what we’ve seen and heard, Owusu playing as a #8 could help the ‘Caps offensively, especially when someone like Lucas Cavallini returns, as the DP striker would certainly benefit from someone like Owusu providing him service up top.

The stats suggest that moving him forward could be wise:

And the stats certainly back up that idea.

While it’s hard to properly assess Owusu’s stats, as his numbers slightly dropped throughout the tournament, mostly due to a first-game hamstring injury that slightly hampered his effectiveness, they certainly do give you an idea of his strengths as a midfielder.

Take his stats after the first 3 games as an example. (We would want to use the stats of all 4 games, but considering that the ‘Caps had only 17 players on the bench, only made 1 sub, parked the bus and Owusu just burned out due to his injury/fatigue, that last SKC game probably isn’t the fairest reflection of his play. Yes, cherry-picking stats can always be delicate, but considering those factors, it seems fair in this case).

Despite playing as a #6, he averaged 0.16 Expected Goals (xG) and 0.17 Expected Assists (xA) per 96 minutes in 3 games, which that meant if you pro-rated his stats over 2200 minutes (around 26 games worth of play), he’d generate close to 3.6 xG and 3.8 xA.

That doesn’t seem much, but it’s important to note that those xG numbers would’ve placed him 3rd on the 2019 ‘Caps, while his xA numbers would’ve been the highest on the team.

To be fair, that also gives you an idea of how much the 2019 ‘Caps struggled to generate chances, but considering that Owusu put up those numbers as a #6 on a team that both leaked chances and struggled to generate them this tournament, all while carrying a minor injury for 2 of the games, it’s actually pretty impressive.

While it feels almost too easy to say: ‘Oh, because he did so well at generating chances as a #6, he can do the same as a #8’, there are a couple of other stats that support that idea.

Firstly, are his dribbling numbers, which were stupendous throughout the tournament. With 1.7 dribbles per game in the first 3 games, he blew away fellow midfielders In Beom and Teibert, who had 0.3 and 0 successful dribbles per game respectively.

Secondly, it’s his ability to turn his received passes into chances for the ‘Caps, as he had 0.09 Goals Addded/96 just off of receiving passes, which meant that him receiving the ball typically led to 0.09 Expected Goals for the ‘Caps each game.

Considering no one on the ‘Caps had over 0 in that category, as most of them actually had negative numbers, meaning that them receiving the ball often hampered the ‘Caps ability to create chances, and it gives you an idea of how well he transitioned the ball forward.

And while his key pass numbers don’t really reflect that, what it meant was that Owusu was often playing the killer ball before that final pass, which isn’t often reflected from a statistical standpoint.

Seeing how valuable him touching the ball proved to be towards the ‘Caps ability to generate chances, it shows you how crucial he was to the build-up play, supporting a move further up the pitch.

So when you put that whole picture together, here is his statistical profile from the first 3 games at MLS is Back, including his xG, xA, Key Pass, Shots, Dribbles, Tackles and Interception numbers.

For some context, they were put up against Mark Anthony Kaye’s 2019 numbers, as many consider him to be one of the best transitional #8’s in MLS, to see if Owusu could indeed make some noise in that sort of role.

His xG and xA numbers are really comparable, while his Key Pass and Shots numbers aren’t, which makes sense given the fact that Kaye plays higher up the pitch, giving him more chances to play that final ball or take that shot.

But when you see that dribbling number, you see where Owusu shines. Kaye is a really solid dribbler, so to see their numbers neck and neck is a positive sign, especially considering that Kaye was 9th among all MLS midfielders (minimum 10 games) in that category last year.

Defensively, Kaye is a fair bit ahead, giving you an idea of his two-way value for LAFC, but that’s no slight on Owusu, whose numbers are solid.

Either way, a move forward would seem to make sense for both the ‘Caps and Owusu, as the team could certainly use more of that offensive production going forward, taking some of the load off of In Beom as a #8.

While some of these numbers were collected in a small sample size, which can always be dangerous to do from a statistical standpoint, it just backs up a lot of the data from Owusu’s tenure in Israel, helping apply the idea that he could be a useful #8 for the ‘Caps going forward.

He can dribble forward, play a killer pass and hold his own defensively, which for a ‘Caps time that can lack for both offensive and defensive acumen in the middle, seems like a pretty darn good match, fit-wise.

Looking Forward:

But either way, we’ll have to wait a little bit before we can even see Owusu as a #8, as MLS ponders a decision for the rest of their 2020 season.

At this point, no one knows what to expect, so all we can do is wait, and hope that whatever decision is taken, it ends up working out.

It would be nice to have the ‘Caps play more games, but if that cannot be done safely, waiting may be the prudent option, giving everyone a chance to start fresh in 2021.

No matter what, though, when they do return, hopefully we get to see more of Owusu deployed further forward, especially considering he’s slated to be here for at least a couple more years.

From what we’ve seen, it can help the ‘Caps, they just need to give it a shot, and provide him with the right framework in which to produce, with Bikel likely playing a big role in helping make that happen.

Stay tuned for some of our other Whitecaps statistical snapshots from MLS is Back, which will be rolled out over the coming weeks, ahead of a potential return, if that does indeed end up happening.

Source: Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic

source: https://footballghana.com/

[prleaguebib]

Toyota Matchups to watch for COLvSEA in Week 27 - SoundersFC.com

Toyota Matchups to watch for COLvSEA in Week 27 – SoundersFC.com

The Seattle Sounders visit the Colorado Rapids on Saturday (6:00 p.m. PT; JOEtv, YouTube TV, 1090 KJR AM, El Rey 1360AM) in Week 27 MLS action. Here are three matchups to watch, presented by Toyota.

Nicolás Lodeiro vs. Jack Price

On any given matchday, the Sounders’ possession-focused attacking scheme flows through Lodeiro. But with ten First Team playersunavailable due to international…