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When you jot down the list of Major League Soccer’s best rivalries right now, it does not take long to write out Atlanta United versus the New York Red Bulls. 

Two of the best sides in the Eastern Conference clashed heads in another memorable match on Sunday, playing to a 3-3 draw after late goals by the star striker on each side. 

MATCH RECAP, pres. by @ProvidentBank: We battle to a draw.

https://t.co/kOlhZ8aHJ2#RBNY pic.twitter.com/EVVwNSH6vA

— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) July 7, 2019

In between the six goals, a little bit of bad blood was on display, and there were plenty of talking points that will be discussed at length if the two sides meet again in the playoffs. 

In the regular season, the Red Bulls have the edge over the third-year side, with two wins from a year ago and another from earlier in the 2019 campaign.

However, the Five Stripes have the upper hand in the postseason from the  2018 Eastern Conference Final that led to a home victory in MLS Cup. 

In the grand perspective of the Eastern Conference playoff race, Atlanta and the Red Bulls weren’t able to make up ground on the first-place Philadelphia Union, who had to rescue a point at home in stoppage time against Orlando City on Sunday. 

Atlanta and New York have two games in hand on the Union, so it’s possible both are in the fight for the No. 1 seed when Decision Day rolls around. 

New York City FC is another contender with games in hand that fell flat at home in Week 18.

Domènec Torrent’s side saw its 12-game league unbeaten streak end at the hands of the Portland Timbers on Sunday. The 1-0 defeat marked the first time a visiting team entered Yankee Stadium and beat NYCFC this season. 

For now, the games in hand can be put on the back burner for two weeks until the Red Bulls and Atlanta face midweek challenges, but now the switch has to be flipped to one of the Red Bulls’ primary rivalries against NYCFC. 

Even though the Red Bulls-Atlanta rivalry has increased in intensity since its inception in 2017, it is nothing compared to the Hudson River Derby, which will be on full display at Red Bull Arena this Sunday. 

Before we move on, let’s take a look back at an insane set of games that was MLS being MLS at its finest. 

Goals of the Weekend

Mark-Anthony Kaye, Los Angeles FC

on crime.

A off the foot of @MarkThEwizz extends our lead! #LAFCvVAN 3-1 pic.twitter.com/x2DHTdlYKR

— LAFC (@LAFC) July 7, 2019

Mason Toye, Minnesota United

"How's your touch, kid?"@MasonToye98 makes no mistake! 3-2 to the visitors. #MTLvMIN // #SNHUgoals pic.twitter.com/ZJa6lnwhd2

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

LAFC continues to score whenever it wants

Los Angeles FC hit the 50-goal mark for the 2019 campaign with its 11-goal outburst against Sporting Kansas City and the Vancouver Whitecaps in Week 18.

The Black and Gold now have a plus-34 goal differential and a nine-point advantage over the LA Galaxy in the Western Conference, and they lead Philadelphia by seven points in the Supporters’ Shield standings. 

When it rains it pours

Diego Rossi notches our 6th goal of the night!#LAFCvVAN 6-1 pic.twitter.com/gn3lZA5EFb

— LAFC (@LAFC) July 7, 2019

Three of the 11 goals belonged to Carlos Vela, who has already locked up the 2019 Most Valuable Player award, while Diego Rossi chipped in a pair and five other players scored a goal each.

There appears to be no slowing down of the top team in the league, but it faces a difficult task in the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday against a Portland side with which it has some history. 

Goonies Tribute

Danny Hoesen ignited the memories of the “Goonies Never Say Die” era of the San Jose Earthquakes with a stoppage-time winner off the bench on Saturday.

Danny Hoesen wins it for San Jose in extra time! #SJvRSL // #SNHUgoals pic.twitter.com/wikl5XKvSw

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

Although Hoesen didn’t drive in a powerful header like Alan Gordon or Steven Lenhart, he still delivered in a clutch moment for one of the hottest teams in the league. 

Jackson-Hamel scores in a flash 

On the opposite end of the goal-scoring spectrum Saturday was Anthony Jackson-Hamel’s first-minute opener for the Montreal Impact against Minnesota United. 

Jackson-Hamel’s goal 27 seconds into the contest at Stade Saputo was the 15th-fastest goal in league history. 

Anthony Jackson-Hamel has scored for the Montreal Impact #IMFC after 27 seconds, equaling the 15th-fastest goal in #MLS history.#MTLvMIN

— MLS Communications (@MLS_PR) July 7, 2019

FC Cincinnati rallies to end losing run

One day after FC Cincinnati general manager Gerard Nijkamp delivered some bleak news that he’s looking for a short-term solution for the club’s next head coach, the team produced a 3-2 win at Nippert Stadium.

Kekuta Manneh, Rashawn Dally and Víctor Ulloa all provided goals for the expansion side, but it almost threw the game away by conceding twice to the Houston Dynamo in the final 11 minutes. 

Despite the late concessions, FC Cincinnati earned a much-needed victory ahead of a three-game stretch in eight days that starts on Saturday against the Chicago Fire.

Set. Pieces.

Orlando City wasn’t expected to get a result out of Talen Energy Stadium on Sunday, but the Lions used a pair of set pieces to pick up a point against the Union.

Dom Dwyer headed in a Nani free kick to level the contest, and Santiago Patiño cleaned up in front of goal off a corner kick to give the Lions a lead for nine minutes. 

The O-Town kid doing O-Town proud. Vamos @SPatino_7! #PHIvORL | #FaceOfCity pic.twitter.com/kKL7jM60vI

— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) July 7, 2019

Unfortunately for James O’Connor’s side, it couldn’t come away with the win, but it was still a positive result while resting starters ahead of the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday. 

Stock Up, Stock Down

Stock up: Mason Toye

Jul 6, 2019; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Minnesota United forward Mason Toye (23) celebrates his goal against Montreal Impact with teammates during the first half at Stade Saputo. (Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports)

Mason Toye has made the most of his playing time in the Minnesota United attack by scoring three goals in the past three games, including a brace against Montreal on Saturday. 

The uptick in form from the second-year player is a welcome boost to the scoring depth of the Loons, and it shows off the hard work Toye has put in away from the first team to earn his place in the squad. 

The victory pushed the Loons over 30 points and into fourth place in the Western Conference. As Toye and manager Adrian Heath have proved, patience can pay off. 

Stock up: Seattle’s last-minute form 

The Seattle Sounders have won their past two games on last-minute strikes, with the latest occurrence coming from Nicolás Lodeiro in the 96th minute against the Columbus Crew at Mapfre Stadium.

"@NicolasLodeiro has snatched three points for your Seattle Sounders!"

Our captain returned to the lineup last night with an incredible performance pic.twitter.com/2oAPkkD1aP

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) July 7, 2019

Lodeiro’s game-winning tally came at the end of a long week in the Eastern time zone for the Sounders, who fell midweek at New York City FC before traveling to Columbus. 

Stock in the middle: Sporting Kansas City

We can’t call Week 18 an overall success for Sporting Kansas City because of its home loss to LAFC on Wednesday, but give credit to Peter Vermes’ side for bouncing back and beating Chicago on Saturday. 

Jul 6, 2019; Kansas City, KS, USA; Sporting Kansas City midfielder Yohan Croizet (10) reacts after scoring a goal during the first half against the Chicago Fire at Children’s Mercy Park. (Peter G. Aiken/USA TODAY Sports)

The victory was just the second since the start of June for the club, which has been stuck in a rut for most of the season.

Although the 1-0 victory wasn’t the most impressive win, it could be a catalyst to the climb up the standings everyone is expecting.

Stock down: Montreal

We still don’t know what to make of the Montreal Impact. 

Jul 6, 2019; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Impact defender Jukka Raitala (22) plays the ball against Minnesota United during the first half at Stade Saputo. (Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports)

Remí Garde’s team lost its second straight game and third in five to Minnesota, but it still remains near the top of the Eastern Conference. 

Since the start of May, the Impact have alternated results and haven’t struck a rich vein of form like other contenders in the East. 

The post MLS Week 18 Weekend Review: Red Bulls-Atlanta rivalry rages on; Timbers end NYCFC’s unbeaten run appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not known for his modesty and that was again evident in the latest Twitter post from the LA Galaxy forward. Plenty of footballers have published their dream line-ups over the years, but the XI that Ibrahimovic posted on his social media page was quite unique. In predictable fashion, the former Barcelona, Paris […]

The post Ibrahimovic picks 11 Zlatans in ´favourite team´: I only have to decide the coach appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Ibrahimovic picks 11 Zlatans in ´favourite team´: I only have to decide the coach appeared first on Soccer News.

MLS pacesetters Los Angeles FC showed no mercy in their 6-1 rout of Vancouver Whitecaps, while Nicolas Lodeiro returned from Copa America duty to inspire Seattle Sounders to a last-gasp victory. LAFC maintained their commanding lead in the race for the Supporters’ Shield with a demolition of the Whitecaps at Banc of California Stadium on […]

The post MLS Review: LAFC score six in demolition, Lodeiro nets 96th-minute winner appeared first on Soccer News.

The post MLS Review: LAFC score six in demolition, Lodeiro nets 96th-minute winner appeared first on Soccer News.

MLS pacesetters Los Angeles FC showed no mercy in their 6-1 rout of Vancouver Whitecaps, while Nicolas Lodeiro returned from Copa America duty to inspire Seattle Sounders to a last-gasp victory. LAFC maintained their commanding lead in the race for the Supporters’ Shield with a demolition of the Whitecaps at Banc of California Stadium on […]

The post MLS Review: LAFC score six in demolition, Lodeiro nets 96th-minute winner appeared first on Soccer News.

The post MLS Review: LAFC score six in demolition, Lodeiro nets 96th-minute winner appeared first on Soccer News.

Competition: MLS Market: Both teams to score Odds: 4/7 @ Bet 365 Enjoying a very eye-catching rise up the Western Conference, a high-flying Minnesota will travel to Quebec in the early hours of Sunday. Starting with the hosts, while Montreal may have suffered a close-fought 2-1 loss away at defending MLS champions Atlanta last weekend, the mood in […]

The post Both teams to score at Montreal Impact vs Minnesota United 4/7 in Sunday’s MLS matchup appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Both teams to score at Montreal Impact vs Minnesota United 4/7 in Sunday’s MLS matchup appeared first on Soccer News.

Paul Pogba responded to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s challenge in double the style. LA Galaxy star Ibrahimovic, Pogba’s former Manchester United team-mate, did the bottle cap challenge – the latest viral craze – on Thursday, before offering an invite to the France midfielder. Pogba – whose agent confirmed on Friday he wanted to leave United amid links […]

The post Pogba responds to Ibrahimovic´s bottle cap challenge appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Pogba responds to Ibrahimovic´s bottle cap challenge appeared first on Soccer News.

We get the rare occurrence of fewer weekend games than we witnessed in midweek, which was chock full of weird MLS results from Chicago blasting five goals past Atlanta United to a nearly five-hour marathon between Colorado and New England due to a few weather delays. 

Typically, the bizarre results are saved for midweek, but with plenty of teams finishing off long stretches of games and the heat and other conditions playing a significant factor still, we could be in for a wacky weekend of nine contests. 

After a brief hiatus, there are seven MLS games to indulge in Saturday night before two marquee clashes sandwiched between the Women’s World Cup, Copa America and Gold Cup finals. 

While there will be some interesting matchups on Saturday, the real intriguing comes Sunday with Atlanta and the New York Red Bulls squaring off and red-hot Portland heading east to face surging New York City FC. 

Week 18 Weekend Schedule

Saturday, July 6

Orlando City at Philadelphia Union (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+) 

Houston Dynamo at FC Cincinnati (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+) 

Seattle Sounders at Columbus Crew (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+) 

Minnesota United at Montreal Impact (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+) 

Chicago Fire at Sporting Kansas City (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+) 

Vancouver Whitecaps at Los Angeles FC (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+) 

Real Salt Lake at San Jose Earthquakes (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+) 

Sunday, July 7 

New York Red Bulls at Atlanta United (2 p.m. ET, Fox) 

Portland Timbers at New York City FC (6:30 p.m. ET, FS1) 

Things to Watch 

1. Injury and suspension adjustments in Chester

Jul 3, 2019; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando City SC midfielder Sacha Kljestan (16) tackles Philadelphia Union midfielder Jamiro Monteiro (35) during the second half at Orlando City Stadium. Kljestan received a red card on the play. (Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports)

For the second leg of their home-and-home series Saturday, Philadelphia and Orlando will be forced to make changes due to injuries and a pair of suspensions.

Robin Jansson and Sacha Kljestan are out for the Lions due to red cards, while Jamiro Monteiro will miss the match at Talen Energy Stadium after suffering an ankle injury caused by Kljestan’s red-card tackle. 

The Union should be able to rely on Marco Fabian to replace Monteiro, with Brenden Aaronson playing one of the sides of the 4-4-2 diamond midfield. 

The Lions can slide Dom Dwyer back into the lineup to supplement Kljestan’s productivity in the final third, but the lineups for Saturday could look even more different than Wednesday. 

Orlando has its eye on the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals next week and the Union are playing their fourth game in 10 days. 

2. Can Houston stay hot & take advantage of FC Cincinnati’s defense? 

Jul 3, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Dynamo forward Alberth Elis (17) reacts after scoring a goal during stoppage time against the New York Red Bulls at BBVA Stadium. (Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports)

The Houston Dynamo are one of a few teams looking to bank on a strong Wednesday performance to produce momentum going into the weekend. 

Saturday’s trip up to Nippert Stadium to face FC Cincinnati presents the Houston attack with a perfect opportunity to build on the four goals put past the Red Bulls Wednesday. 

A victory in Cincinnati would be massive for the Dynamo, who enter a brutal stretch of games in July after Saturday with LAFC, Atlanta, Toronto FC and Seattle up in the next four games. 

For the expansion side, the first goal is to not be exposed on defense like it has during its six-game winning streak. When its defense is at full strength, FC Cincinnati has produced some decent performances, but the combination of injuries, international duty and poor form has led to a nightmare.

FC Cincinnati has given up 24 goals during the six-game losing streak. Eight MLS teams have given up 24 goals or fewer the entire season. 

3. Should we be worried about Seattle?

Jul 3, 2019; New York, NY, USA; Seattle Sounders defender Xavier Arreaga (25) heads the ball against the New York City FC during the second half at Yankee Stadium. (Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports)

While we’ve been busy roasting other teams (we’re looking at you, Ohio teams), Seattle has dropped four of its last five league games. 

In addition to that bad run of form, the Sounders are 1-5-3 on their travels, with zero points from their last four road games. 

The good news for the Seattle is struggling Columbus is its opponent Saturday and after its trip to MAPFRE Stadium, it plays four of its next five games at home.

Still, it is a bit concerning to see the Sounders production dry up with the LA teams earning results at the top of the Western Conference and margins being so thin in the hunt for the final five playoff positions.

4. How many goals does Minnesota have left in it? 

Jul 3, 2019; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota United midfielder Jan Gregus (8) controls the ball against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half at Allianz Field (Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports)

Minnesota United is the hottest team in front of goal in MLS with 10 tallies in the last 180 minutes of action. 

What is even more remarkable about the wins over FC Cincinnati and San Jose is the Loons had eight different players score, with Ike Opara and Kevin Molino the only ones with multiple goals. 

Like in baseball when hitting is contagious, scoring appears to be contagious within the Loons locker room, which could mean bad news for the Montreal Impact, who have the worst goal differential of any side sitting in the playoff positions at -7. 

Although the Impact’s defensive record is far from stellar, they have played well at Stade Saputo of late with victories over Real Salt Lake, Seattle and Portland in three of their last four home matches. 

Keep an eye on Montreal center back Zakaria Diallo, who could be the key to stopping the Loons’ buildup in the middle of the park. Diallo has quietly produced a few good showings for the Impact this season.

5. How do Sporting KC and Chicago respond to opposite midweek results? 

Jul 3, 2019; Kansas City, KS, USA; Sporting Kansas City midfielder Yohan Croizet (10) reacts after scoring a goal during the second half Los Angeles FC against at Children’s Mercy Park. (Peter G. Aiken/USA TODAY Sports)

Saturday’s clash at Children’s Mercy Park between Sporting Kansas City and Chicago is the most fascinating match of Week 18 from an emotional perspective. 

On Wednesday, the Fire earned their first victory since May 11 in a trouncing of Atlanta United at home, while Sporting KC fell flat once again against LAFC. 

For Chicago, the concern is about being consistent in generating positive results since it has followed a win with another victory just once in 2019. 

It is unusual to see Peter Vermes’ side mired at the bottom of the table, especially with how poorly the team has played. 

Saturday is the perfect chance for Sporting KC to bounce back on short notice at home to make a statement, but we kept saying that about Toronto FC in 2018 and it rarely happened. 

6. Can Vancouver get the best of LAFC again? 

Apr 17, 2019; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Whitecaps defender Ali Adnan (53) celebrates the win with goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau (16) after the end of the second half at BC Place. (Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports)

The Vancouver Whitecaps are one of two teams to beat LAFC this season, and on Saturday, they have a chance to pull off a rare feat against Bob Bradley’s side. 

The April 17 victory at BC Place wasn’t a fluke, even though LAFC rested Jordan Harvey, Steven Beitashour and Mark-Anthony Kaye. 

Marc Dos Santos’ team made Carlos Vela rather ineffective in the final third by holding him to one shot on goal, and the defense as a whole held the Supporters’ Shield leader to three shots on goal. 

The Whitecaps need some type of positive response to a four-game winless run, and they will be on full rest after being one of four teams not to play in midweek.

If you’re looking for a difference-maker for the Whitecaps, look at Ali Adnan, who just signed a Designated Player deal with the team Friday. It’s a big investment for the club in defense, but he has proved he’s worth the price so far. 

7. Expect playoff-level intensity at Avaya Stadium

Jul 3, 2019; Sandy, UT, USA; Real Salt Lake forward Sam Johnson (50) races down the line against the Columbus Crew at Rio Tinto Stadium. (Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports)

If you’re staying up late to catch a look at San Jose, and why wouldn’t you with the way they are playing, you should be in for one of the most intense matches of the weekend. 

San Jose and RSL will engage in a possible six-pointer that could affect the bottom half of the Western Conference playoff spots in a significant manner. 

The Quakes have received all of the love from around the league for their recent form, but RSL is keeping pace with most of their rivals and are one point better than Matias Almeyda’s side. 

Saturday should be a real test for the San Jose back line, even though it is a home game, since RSL has one of the more in-form forwards in Sam Johnson and has a dangerous No. 10 in Albert Rusnak who can get in between the lines and wreak havoc. 

It’s also worth watching how Damir Kreilach and Everton Luiz handle the combination play between Vako, Chris Wondolowski, Magnus Eriksson and Cristian Espinoza. 

8. How will Red Bulls defense handle Atlanta’s attack? 

May 25, 2019; Cincinnati, OH, USA; New York Red Bulls defender Amro Tarek (3) reacts against FC Cincinnati in the first half at Nippert Stadium. (Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports)

You could point to every position on the field and pick out an intriguing matchup to watch in Sunday’s clash between Atlanta and the Red Bulls, but the real concern going into the contest is the Red Bulls back line.

With Aaron Long still away at the Gold Cup and Tim Parker banged up, the Red Bulls have to rely on Amro Tarek to hold down the fort in the middle of the back four while dealing with the interplay and movement of Josef Martinez, Pity Martinez and Ezequiel Barco.

Against Houston’s Alberth Elis and Romell Quioto Wednesday, the Red Bulls back line looked outmatched and gave up four goals. 

The Red Bulls can’t afford another terrible defensive performance, but it is going to be tough to contain an Atlanta attack hungry to make a statement that the loss to Chicago was a fluke and it can flex its muscle against one of the best sides in the East.

9. How will Portland manage Yankee Stadium? 

May 15, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Portland Timbers forward Brian Fernandez (7) reacts after scoring a goal during the second half against the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium. (Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports)

Atlanta-Red Bulls is the appetizer to the real MLS showdown on Sunday. 

Portland and NYCFC are two of the best teams in the league, and their respective attacks are firing on all cylinders. 

One of the most interesting things to watch at Yankee Stadium will be how the combination of Diego Valeri, Sebastian Blanco and Brian Fernandez work together in tight spaces. 

Fernandez’s adjustment to the Yankee Stadium is worth watching as well, since some of the league’s best players and teams have struggled with the short dimensions. 

In addition to playing in a condensed area, the Timbers have to go up against Alexander Ring, who is even more underrated of a player than their own defensive midfielder Diego Chara. 

The post Week 18 Weekend Preview: Portland Timbers-NYCFC showdown headlines 9-game slate appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s brace helped LA Galaxy to a 2-0 win over Toronto in MLS on Thursday. Ibrahimovic, with his name misspelled on his shirt, scored twice in the second half at Dignity Health Sports Park, moving on to 13 MLS goals this season. The Swedish striker opened the scoring with 15 minutes to go, brilliantly […]

The post MLS Review: Ibrahimovic leads Galaxy to win with brace appeared first on Soccer News.

The post MLS Review: Ibrahimovic leads Galaxy to win with brace appeared first on Soccer News.

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – For the second-straight week, severed weather caused delays at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Due to lighting and hail in the area, the match kickoff was pushed back an hour – it would be just one of three separate delays due to the conditions.

A match between the New England Revolution and the Colorado Rapids would eventually commence however, with the Revolution leaving victorious in a 2-1 result, propelled by goals from Teal Bunbury and Juan Fernando Caicedo.

The loss snapped a seven-match unbeaten streak for Colorado, while New England extends its own unbeaten run to seven matches.

New England would strike early. After clearing danger in the 6th minute on a Rapids’ corner, New England was rewarded with the game’s opening goal moments later.

On the ensuing attack, ex-Rapid Edgar Castillo found Bunbury with a pass inside Colorado’s six-yard box, with the Revs’ forward sending his shot to the far post, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 8th minute. The goal marked Bunbury’s 50th in MLS.

In the 29th minute, a second weather delay was called which lasted in excess of 90 minutes. At the time of the delay, New England was controlling the match with seven shots to Colorado’s five, while holding nearly 65 percent of the possession.

At around 10:10 p.m. local time, the match resumed. Colorado nearly found an equalizer by winning the ball deep in the attacking third, but Rapids forward Diego Rubio was unable to find Kei Kamara and the ball was quickly scooped up by the New England defense and goalkeeper Matt Turner.

But in the 35th minute, the game was yet again delayed by lightning in the area. Play resumed once again at 11:05 p.m. local time.

By halftime, the Rapids managed one more shot, but the Revs still held a possession advantage with 53 percent of the ball in the stanza.

In the 49th minute Castillo nearly added a goal of his own to double New England’s lead, but his attempt was blocked by Rapids defender Keegan Rosenberry.

New England would eventually extend its lead to 2-0 in the 52nd minute as Carles Gil found Juan Fernando Caicedo on a set piece, Caicedo placing his header in the lower left corner of Colorado’s net for the goal.

In the 70th minute, Kamara nearly pulled a goal back for Colorado with a snapping header, but Turner came up big with the save.

The Revs weren’t completely clear of danger, conceding on the following play. Rubio scored on a corner taken by Nicolas Mezquida, drawing the score within 2-1 in the 71st minute.

Colorado’s best chance to equalize came in the 89th minute as Lalas Abubakar put a header on frame off another set piece opportunity, but again Turner came up big with the save.

In the extra time period, Colorado went down to 10-men, with Kellyn Acosta being set off for a pair off yellow cards for dissent (90’+1’). Acosta will be suspended for Colorado’s next match.

Despite a continued push for an equalizer by Colorado, New England saw out the remainder of the match defensively to earn all three points on the road.

New England returns home to face conference rivals D.C. United at Gillette Stadium next Friday (7 p.m. ET) while Colorado will take to the road to face Portland (11 p.m. ET) before returning home two days later to face European giants Arsenal in the debut friendly match between the two Kroenke-owned teams.

The post Revolution earns Independence Day victory, outlasting weather delays and Rapids in 2-1 win appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

We’ve officially reached the midpoint in the Major League Soccer calendar. 

Four months of play is in the books and there are four more months left to decide the 2019 champion. 

Before we dive head first into the playoff races over the next few months, the Pro Soccer USA staff took a few minutes to reflect back on the first half of the campaign.

The voting staff of myself, Dylan Butler, Arman Kafai, Mitchell Northam, Ben Ferree, Julian Cardillo and Dan Santaromita made our choices for 11 different categories for midseason awards and also looked ahead to the second half by picking out a player and storyline to watch.

Below are the results for the Pro Soccer USA MLS midseason awards.

Most Valuable Player

Carlos Vela, Los Angeles FC 

May 16, 2019; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles FC forward Carlos Vela (10) and FC Dallas defender Reto Ziegler (3) battle for the ball in the first half at Banc of California Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Carlos Vela is the unanimous choice for Most Valuable Player right now, and he probably will be when we vote again at the end of the season. 

The 30-year-old Mexican has 17 goals and 11 assists in 18 games for Los Angeles FC, and there appears to be no slowing down as he chases Josef Martinez’s single-season scoring record. 

In total, Vela has played a role in 28 of LAFC’s 44 goals during its 12-2-4 start to the season, which has it on track for the Supporters’ Shield 

Coach of the Year 

Jim Curtin, Philadelphia Union 

Oct 6, 2018; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin to the field before match against the Minnesota United walks on at Talen Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Our staff voters were torn on the perfect Coach of the Year candidate, but Philadelphia’s Jim Curtin gets the nod for leading his club to first place in the Eastern Conference. 

Curtin’s Union have dealt with a litany of issues, including injuries, suspensions, international duty and Cory Burke’s visa status, but they have remained in first place. 

San Jose’s Matias Almeyda and LAFC’s Bob Bradley also received votes. 

Rookie of the Year

Andre Shinyashiki, Colorado Rapids

Jun 1, 2019; Commerce City, CO, USA; Colorado Rapids forward Andre Shinyashiki (99) chases down a loose ball in the second half against FC Cincinnati at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The No. 5 overall pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft has come up with a few big goals for the Colorado Rapids. 

Andre Shinyashiki has four goals and an assist in 16 games for the Rapids after he lit the nets on fire at the University of Denver. 

While Shinyashiki is the current Rookie of the Year favorite, he faces stiff competition from New England’s DeJuan Jones and a few others.

Most Improved Player

Miles Robinson, Atlanta United

Mar 17, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta United defender Miles Robinson (12) plays the ball in front of Philadelphia Union midfielder Ilsinho (25) during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Two Atlanta United players received votes from our writers in this category, but Miles Robinson edged out Ezequiel Barco. 

After playing in 10 games in his first two seasons, Robinson has started 17 of the 18 games he’s appeared in, and he’s worked his way on to the U.S. Men’s National Team radar in a deep center back pool.

Through 18 games, Robinson and the Five Stripes defense have let up 20 goals, which is the fourth-fewest total in MLS.

New York Red Bulls defender Amro Tarek and forward Brian White, as well as Columbus’ Pedro Santos received votes in this category.

Newcomer of the Year 

Alejandro Pozuelo, Toronto FC 

May 15, 2019; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto FC forward Alejandro Pozuelo (10) driblbles the ball against D.C. United at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Replacing Sebastian Giovinco’s impact on the Toronto FC attack was never going to be easy, but Alejandro Pozuelo has filled the void through the first half of the season. 

The Spanish playmaker has seven goals and eight assists in 15 games for the Reds, who are fighting for one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. 

Although this award is Pozuelo’s now, it might not be his at the end of the year with Nani playing well at Orlando City and Brian Fernandez on a scoring tear in Portland. 

Best Goal

Wayne Rooney, D.C. United

This was one of the easiest answers for the writers we pooled. 

Wayne Rooney’s tremendous 70-yard goal for D.C. United on June 26 is the front-runner for Goal of the Year.

We are not worthy, @WayneRooney! pic.twitter.com/oFPyGOXHSl

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 27, 2019

Rooney put the perfect amount of weight on his shot and caught Orlando City goalkeeper Brian Rowe out of position to send his shot into the right side of the net. 

Most Surprising Player

Brian White, New York Red Bulls

Jun 28, 2019; Harrison, NJ, USA; New York Red Bulls forward Brian White (42) carries the ball as Chicago Fire defender Marcelo (2) defends during the first half at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Brian White has done an admirable job filling in for Bradley Wright-Phillips at the top of the New York Red Bulls attack. 

The 23-year-old, who has climbed his way up the Red Bulls organizational ladder, has five goals and two assists in 11 appearances. 

While he’s not at Aaron Long-level success yet, he’s on the same track as the U.S. Men’s National Team defender .

Philadelphia’s Kacper Przybylko, Minnesota’s Jan Gregus, LAFC’s Mark-Anthony Kaye and Robinson all received votes in this category as well.

Most Surprising Team 

San Jose Earthquakes 

Jul 3, 2019; Saint Paul, MN, USA; San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Tommy Thompson (22) controls the ball during the first half of a match with Minnesota United at Allianz Field Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports

The turnaround taking place in San Jose over the last few months has been spectacular to watch.

Almeyda has instituted his system to near perfection, and it has led to the Quakes making a surge into the playoff places in the Western Conference. 

San Jose received one more vote than Philadelphia in this category, while Montreal, who is quietly in third place in the East, earned a vote as well. 

Best Young American (21-and-under) 

Paxton Pomykal, FC Dallas

Apr 13, 2019; Frisco, TX, USA; FC Dallas midfielder Paxton Pomykal (19) celebrates the win over the Portland Timbers at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The tickets for the Paxton Pomykal hype train sold out early in the 2019 MLS season. 

The U-20 World Cup participant has marveled with his passing and overall ability in the final third for FC Dallas. 

Pomykal’s first-half performance has set much higher expectations for him for the rest of the year with Luchi Gonzalez’s side fighting for a playoff position. 

Most Disappointing Player

Gonzalo “Pity” Martinez, Atlanta United

Jun 26, 2019; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Atlanta United FC midfielder Pity Martinez (10) celebrates after scoring a goal on a penalty shot against Toronto FC at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

In 17 games, Pity Martinez has two goals and three assists. 

That production simply isn’t good enough for a player who was expected to replace the void left by Miguel Almiron’s sale to Newcastle United. 

Since Atlanta United have plenty of stars at their disposal, they’ve been able to deal with Martinez’s struggles better than other clubs, but his lack of production is still a glaring set back for the defending MLS Cup champion.

Philadelphia’s Marco Fabian and the FC Cincinnati pair of Nick Hagglund and Fanendo Adi also received votes in this category.

Most Disappointing Team 

Sporting Kansas City 

Jun 1, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Sporting Kansas City head coach Peter Vermes argues a call while playing against the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Sporting Kansas City and Columbus were neck-and-neck in the voting for most disappointing team, but Peter Vermes’ side received one more vote. 

Sporting KC currently sits in last place in the Western Conference with 19 points from 18 games.

Although the club has dealt with a slew of injuries, we expect more out of a team that has set such a high standard for itself. 

Columbus has been a disaster in its own right in Caleb Porter’s first season since it sits 11th in the East with 17 points. 

Second Half Player to Watch

Ezequiel Barco, Atlanta United

Apr 13, 2019; Foxborough, MA, USA; Atlanta United midfielder Ezequiel Barco (8) smiles at his bench after scoring against the New England Revolution during the first half at Gillette Stadium. (Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports)

How Barco follows up his strong showing at the U-20 World Cup will be interesting to watch.

The Argentinian has shown glimpses of his high quality during the season, but he hasn’t put together a significant stretch of goals and assists yet. 

In order for the Five Stripes to claim the No. 1 seed in the East, he has to make more of an impact. 

Brian Fernandez, Emerson Hyndman and Nani also received votes. 

Second Half Storyline to Watch 

What Can Bruce Arena Do With the Revs? 

Jun 26, 2019; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Revolution head coach Bruce Arena reacts during the second half against the Philadelphia Union at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

This was the most open-ended question we asked of our reporters, and we received a handful of great responses, but the one that stood out the most was Bruce Arena’s impact on the New England Revolution.

The legendary manager has already put his imprint on the team by stringing together a six-game unbeaten run, but the Revs will need more production in order to make the playoff after a disastrous start under Brad Friedel.

The other stories our writers will be watching are Portland’s second half with a large chunk of home games, LAFC’s incredible run to the Supporters’ Shield and if San Jose can stay hot with Almeyda leading the charge. 

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High-flying Los Angeles FC eased past Sporting Kansas City 5-1 in MLS, while Chicago Fire routed 10-man Atlanta United on Wednesday. There were no surprises in Kansas City, where Supporters’ Shield leaders LAFC scored four second-half goals to complete a crushing victory midweek. LAFC led 1-0 at half-time through Christian Ramirez’s 28th-minute opener and the […]

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The New England Revolution’s Fourth of July tilt against the Colorado Rapids might as well be named “The New Head Coach Derby.”

Both teams have been resurgent since parting with their respective coaches in May after horrendous starts to the season.

Colorado went winless in its first 11 games and takes a seven-game unbeaten streak into Thursday’s match, while the Revolution are unbeaten in six after setting franchise records for futility two months into the regular season.

“It’s a good example of this league,” said Revolution coach Bruce Arena, who was hired on May 11. “You win three games in this league, and you’re the best team in the league for those two weeks. It hasn’t changed a whole lot, and we’re hopeful we can be consistent in the month of July and position ourselves to be in the playoff hunt.”

New Colorado coach Conor Casey, who played for Arena on the U.S. national team, is probably trying to strike a similar chord to motivate the Rapids.

Colorado dug itself a deep hole to start the season, but is now five points out of the Western Conference’s seventh and final playoff spot. Meanwhile, the Revs are three points out of the last playoff spot in the East.

With that backdrop, Thursday’s fixture in Commerce City is pivotal for both teams.

Casey might have more leverage tactics-wise, since his team is used to playing at elevation (5,164 feet) and is on a four-game home winning streak.

“He is a great guy…a calm guy,” said Revolution left back Edgar Castillo, who was traded to New England from Colorado in the offseason. “That’s what you need in the locker room, like we have it here. A lot of things changed here, so we feel much better. That’s how it is. That’s how they get all the results they’ve been having.

“It’s good for Conor and the group. They’ve worked very hard. That’s good for them, but now it’s for us now going there and getting three points.”

The Revolution are 4-14-4 at Colorado since 1996.

Is the altitude a factor for visiting teams?

“It is,” added Castillo. “It is a factor, but I don’t think it’s a big factor. We have to have a very good game, know when we can go forward and not, and get three points.”

New England flew to Denver on Tuesday to get acclimated to the elevation, but is on short rest following Saturday night’s come-from-behind win against the Houston Dynamo.

There will be a few other reunions on Thursday besides Castillo going back to Colorado. Kei Kamara, the Rapids’ leading scorer this season, played for the Revolution from 2016-17. Arena also coached Colorado goalkeeper Tim Howard and midfielder Kellyn Acosta on the USMNT, and defender Kofi Opare with the LA Galaxy from 2013-14.

The post Resurgent Colorado Rapids, New England Revolution meet on Fourth of July appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.

Because you haven’t had enough soccer in your life over the last few weeks, there are 10 — yes 10 — Major League Soccer games taking place Wednesday and Thursday. 

Seven kickoff Wednesday, with a few intriguing clashes expected to take center stage, including one matchup that doesn’t stick out until you dig deeper. 

All of the action Thursday night takes place in Western Conference stadiums, with Colorado, FC Dallas and LA Galaxy all hosting Eastern Conference foes. 

Entering Week 18, the top six teams in the East are separated by six points, while the teams in second through eighth in the West have eight points between them.

Every result matters at this stage of the season, which is why we should see an increased level of urgency in every side in midweek.

Below is a look at one thing to watch in each of the 10 midweek contests slated to take place in Week 18.

Week 18 Midweek Schedule

Wednesday, July 3

Seattle Sounders at New York City FC (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+)

Philadelphia Union at Orlando City (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+) 

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

San Jose Earthquakes at Minnesota United (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+) 

Los Angeles FC at Sporting Kansas City (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+)

New York Red Bulls at Houston Dynamo (9 p.m. ET, ESPN+) 

Columbus Crew at Real Salt Lake (10 p.m. ET, ESPN+)

Thursday, July 4

New England Revolution at Colorado Rapids (9 p.m. ET, ESPN+)

D.C. United at FC Dallas (10 p.m. ET, ESPN+) 

Toronto FC at LA Galaxy (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+) 

Things To Watch

1. NYCFC’s attacking cohesion 

Jun 29, 2019; New York, NY, USA; New York City FC midfielder Valentin Castellanos (11) plays the ball against the Philadelphia Union during the first half at Yankee Stadium. (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)

Thanks to five assists in two games, Maxi Moralez is the current MLS leader in assists, and he combined superbly with Valentin Castellanos in New York City FC’s 4-2 win over Philadelphia on Saturday. 

What is crazy about that result is Alexandru Mitrita and Ismael Tajouri-Shradi didn’t have a significant impact on the contest, while Heber was out with an injury. 

Those five players have the potential to form one of the most dangerous MLS attacks in the second half. Wednesday is the perfect opportunity for their form to continue against a Seattle team making the dreaded midweek trip from the West coast. 

2. Squad depth in Orlando 

May 19, 2019; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando City SC midfielder Oriol Rosell (20), forward Benji Michel (19), defender Kyle Smith (24) , forward Dom Dwyer (14) celebrate as they beat the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City Stadium. (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Orlando City and Philadelphia Union enter Exploria Stadium on two different ends of the squad depth spectrum.

The Lions are getting reinforcements from players returning from international duty, and Dom Dwyer will be available after missing Saturday’s clash with Columbus. 

On the other end, the Union are playing their third game in a week and had to sign RJ Allen as a defensive reinforcement since they are short at right back. 

Jim Curtin’s side is thin at fullback and central midfield at the moment, but he needs to utilize some type of squad rotation with a home game against Orlando also ahead Saturday. 

3. Can Chicago not be, well..a Fire? 

Jun 28, 2019; Harrison, NJ, USA; Chicago Fire forward C.J. Sapong (9) reacts during the second half against the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena. (Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)

The Chicago Fire have perpetually underachieved during the Veljko Paunovic era and there is no clear fix in sight.

On Friday against the New York Red Bulls, the Fire attempted 26 shots, but only put eight on target and they turned in a defensive performance that left us once again questioning their form. 

The Fire have some nice pieces in attack in Nemanja Nikolic, C.J. Sapong, Aleksandar Katai (who has been their best player) and Przemyslaw Frankowski, but their defense and goalkeeping have been nightmarish. 

Chicago isn’t expected to win at Atlanta United Wednesday, but what we do want to see out of the side is a strong response for a coach that is creeping closer to the hot seat with every negative result. 

4. Minnesota & San Jose trying to continue momentum

Jun 29, 2019; Saint Paul, MN, Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota United midfielder Ethan Finlay (13) celebrates with forward Carlos Darwin Quintero (25) after a goal against FC Cincinnati during the first half at Allianz Field. (Jordan Johnson/Minnesota United FC – Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports)

If you had to choose one game to watch on Wednesday, it should be the clash between Minnesota United and San Jose Earthquakes.

The contest at Allianz Field might not have the big-time stars you look for in a Game of the Week, but it has two teams flying high on confidence after stellar results in Week 17. 

It’s also a vital game in terms of the Western Conference playoff picture. San Jose is fifth with 25 points and Minnesota sits sixth with 24. With Portland and Colorado surging and Sporting Kansas City still lurking beneath the playoff line, every result is important from here on out. 

If you’re looking for an individual matchup to keep an eye on, look at how Loons center back Ike Opara deals with the movement of the San Jose forwards, who have taken turns being the in-form scorer in their side. 

5. When will the Sporting KC resurgence start? 

Jun 29, 2019; Sandy, UT, USA; Sporting Kansas City forward Gerso (12) and Real Salt Lake defender Donny Toia (4) battle in the second half at Rio Tinto Stadium. (Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports)

Sporting Kansas City is beginning to have a 2018 Toronto FC feel to it as a team stuck in the bottom of the standings, one we expect to make a run into the playoff spot, but hasn’t yet. 

Peter Vermes’ side has two wins since the start of May and faces a tough task at home on Wednesday against a Los Angeles FC team looking to bounce back from a loss in Colorado.

The first match of the season between the two sides, which ended in a 2-1 LAFC win, was one of the best showdowns of the season. 

One of Sporting KC’s keys to success Wednesday will be the effectiveness of Ilie Sanchez, who faces a tough task against LAFC’s powerful midfield. 

If Ilie is able to lock down the space in front of the center backs, LAFC will be forced wide, where it will be forced to send in crosses, which favors Sporting KC and the aerial ability of its center backs and goalkeeper Tim Melia. 

6. Can Houston break its scoring slump? 

Jun 29, 2019; Foxborough, MA, USA; Houston Dynamo midfielder Darwin Ceren (24) controls the ball during the first half against the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium. (Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports)

When the Houston Dynamo are firing on all cylinders in attack, they are one of the best teams to watch in MLS. 

But we haven’t seen a ton of attacking flair out of Wilmer Cabrera’s side over the last month-plus. In their last five games, the Dynamo have been shut out on three occasions and scored once in the other two games. 

Part of the offensive struggles has to deal with the international absences of the club’s Honduran contingent, but even they might not be the remedy to the situation since Honduras didn’t live up to expectations at the Gold Cup. 

In the same span, Houston’s Wednesday opponent, the New York Red Bulls, have scored 13 goals and that’s been without star striker Bradley Wright-Phillips. 

7. RSL trying to keep up strong home form 

Jun 29, 2019; Sandy, UT, USA; Real Salt Lake midfielder Everton Luiz (25) and Real Salt Lake defender Justen Glad (15) celebrate their 2-0 win against the Sporting Kansas City at Rio Tinto Stadium. (Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports)

In their last three home games, Real Salt Lake have outscored opponents 7-1, with three victories coming against Toronto FC, Atlanta United and Sporting KC. 

The Claret-and-Cobalt need to continue to use Rio Tinto Stadium as a fortress, especially with their 2-6-2 road mark holding them out of the top seven in the West. 

Wednesday’s home clash with Columbus should be fairly straightforward for Mike Petke’s side since the Crew are stumbling through the schedule right now. 

If you tune into this late-night clash, watch how Albert Rusnak drives the RSL attack and the finishing ability of Sam Johnson, who has turned into a strong offseason signing for the eighth-place side in the West. 

8. Conor Casey vs. Bruce Arena

May 29, 2019; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Colorado Rapids head coach Conor Casey waives to fans prior to a game against the Philadelphia Union at Talen Energy Stadium. (Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports)

Thursday’s match at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park could have a bit of a MLS 1.0 feel to it with one of the league’s best strikers, Conor Casey, guiding Colorado and one of its most successful head coaches, Bruce Arena, in charge of New England. 

Do not expect anything fancy from this contest since the Rapids are still limited in terms of sheer talent and the Revs are playing their third game in a week at altitude. 

It won’t be the most appetizing affair, but it will be a display of two teams that have significantly improved in a short stretch after the firings of Anthony Hudson and Brad Friedel. 

The Rapids enter on a seven-game unbeaten run, while the Revs have picked up a point in each of their last six contests. 

9. Time to let more Homegrowns loose 

Jun 26, 2019; Frisco, TX, USA; FC Dallas midfielder Brandon Servania (18) in action during the match against the Vancouver Whitecaps at Toyota Stadium. (Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)

FC Dallas’ sale of Carlos Gruezo to Freiburg opens the door for more Homegrown talent to take the field at Toyota Stadium. 

Edwin Cerrillo and Brandon Servania will be the direct beneficiaries of the Gruezo sale, and could form one heck of a young midfield triumvirate alongside Paxton Pomykal, who has already put himself in the discussion for the best young player in the league. 

Thursday could be the perfect opportunity for the three midfielders to shine on a big stage with Wayne Rooney, Luciano Acosta and D.C. United coming to Frisco. 

If all goes well, the hype train station in Frisco that is already packed to capacity will have more riders wanting to get in on the craze. 

10. Zlatan 

Jun 29, 2019; San Jose, CA, USA; LA Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (9) after a game against the San Jose Earthquakes at Stanford Stadium. (Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports)

It’s been too long since Zlatan Ibrahimovic graced us with his scoring presence. 

Too long by Ibrahimovic’s standards is two games stretched over a month, but if you look further back, he has two goals since May 8, which is an uncommon lengthy drought for the Swede. 

A year ago on the Fourth of July, Ibrahimovic scored a goal against D.C. United in the middle of one of his hottest scoring streaks. 

With Toronto FC coming to town and the LA Galaxy in need of a bounce-back win, Thursday presents Ibrahimovic with the perfect opportunity to set off some on-field fireworks before the real displays start in southern California. 

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Competition: MLS Market: Atlanta United win Odds: 13/5 @ Bet 365 Handed the chance to move within touching distance of top spot in the Western Conference, Atlanta United will travel to a struggling SeatGeek Stadium in the early hours of Thursday morning. Starting with the hosts, after suffering another worrying display in their 3-1 hammering away at […]

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The post Atlanta United 13/5 to beat Chicago Fire in Thursday’s MLS matchup appeared first on Soccer News.

After an abbreviated Week 16, the MLS regular season returned in full force with 18 games over the course of last Wednesday and the weekend.

As promised, there’s some significant movement in this week’s MLS Power Rankings for Week 17, with New York City FC moving up three spots to No. 2 after a come-from-behind 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Union, which dropped two spots.

The biggest movers were the San Jose Earthquakes, who skyrocketed nine spots following a stunning 3-0 win over the LA Galaxy in the latest edition of the Cali Clasico.

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

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

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