News Category: Soccer

FC Cincinnati begin Shield defense vs. Toronto FC

FC Cincinnati begin their defense of the 2023 MLS Supporters’ Shield on Sunday when they host a Toronto FC side that massively underperformed expectations a season ago. Behind Luciano Acosta’s MVP-winning season, in which he scored a career-high 17 goals and assisted 14 more, Cincy eased to a Shield victory by six points. The team clinched the honor for the best regular season with three matches to play after winning 3-2 at Toronto on Sept.

New-look Rapids open season at Timbers

The Colorado Rapids cleaned house after having the second-worst record in MLS last season. Chris Armas is the new coach, and plenty of familiar faces are gone as the Rapids open the season on Saturday night against the host Portland Timbers. Colorado (5-17-12, 27 points in 2023) had a better record than only Toronto FC during a miserable campaign that came just two seasons after the Rapids recorded 17 victories. Captain and midfielder Jack Price,

Austin FC, Minnesota United on the rebound from down seasons in 2023

If hope reigns supreme on opening day, there is plenty to look forward to when Austin FC hosts Minnesota United FC on Saturday in a battle between Western Conference rivals. The reality is that both sides are coming off disappointing seasons and have nowhere to look but up. Austin is bringing back the same coach and most of the players from last season while the Loons are all but starting from scratch. Austin hopes to

FC Dallas, San Jose seek bump in offense as season kicks off

FC Dallas begin a new season likely without their expected sources of some needed offensive production. Meanwhile, the San Jose Earthquakes could also use a little more offense. Looking to improve their recent road play, the Earthquakes visit Frisco, Texas, on Saturday night to face FC Dallas. Dallas (11-10-13, 46 points) made the playoffs for a second straight season in 2023, thanks to a defense that conceded 37 goals. However, FCD scored just 41, even

Real Salt Lake brush off season-opening loss, visit St. Louis

After dropping their season opener on the road against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami on Wednesday night, Real Salt Lake will stay on the road and pay a visit to St. Louis City SC on Saturday. While most of the national attention has been fixed on the winners of that match in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Salt Lake (0-1-0, 0 points) defender Justen Glad remains focused on his side. “I feel like that was a game

Dynamo targeting title contention, open with Sporting KC

The Houston Dynamo reached the Western Conference final last season before falling, and expectations are high for another long playoff run this season. The journey begins on Saturday night when the Dynamo host Sporting Kansas City, the club Houston defeated in the Western semifinals last season. The 1-0 home win boosted the Dynamo into the conference final, where they lost 2-0 to host Los Angeles FC. Houston (14-11-9, 51 points in 2023) is winless in

Orlando City SC hopes to build off last season’s success as CF Montreal visits

Orlando City SC will try and build on the most successful season in club history when it opens its 2024 MLS campaign with a home game against CF Montreal on Saturday night. Orlando City finished second last season in the Eastern Conference standings behind FC Cincinnati with a club-record 18 wins and 63 points and also tied the team mark for goals in the regular-season with 55. The Lions then swept Nashville with a pair

D.C. United, Revs start season off with new faces at the helm

The New England Revolution’s Caleb Porter and D.C. United’s Troy Lesesne will both make their club MLS managerial debuts in Saturday night’s season opener in Washington. Porter — who won MLS Cups with Portland in 2015 and Columbus in 2020 — already has one match under his belt, a composed 1-0 victory at Panama’s CA Independiente in Leg 1 of the CONCACAF Champions Cup first round on Wednesday. Tomas Chancalay scored the winner in the

Aiming to end playoff drought, Fire open season at Union

The Philadelphia Union will open their 15th regular season on Saturday with a home matchup against the Chicago Fire. The Union began the 2024 season with a 3-2 victory over Deportivo Saprissa 3-2 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Tuesday. Julian Carranza recorded a hat trick for the Union. “I thought he was excellent on the night,” Union coach Jim Curtin said of Carranza. “Not just the goals he scores, but also the hold-up play,

Sounders, LAFC kick off season with rematch of Western semis

When the Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles FC last met, it was the semifinals of the Western Conference playoffs. LAFC won that match 1-0, eliminating the host Sounders, as MLS Golden Boot Award winner Denis Bouanga scored the lone goal in the 30th minute. The teams will square off again in the season opener Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles. “I think we had what we needed to beat them last year,” Sounders midfielder Josh Atencio