ASN: A Showdown in Seattle; DC’s Facelift; a Peruvian Import

Main League Soccer has been making loads of noise in latest days—and soccer supporters stand to learn. Right here is the newest iteration of Franco Panizo’s weekend preview, with insights and movies galore.

BY

Franco Panizo

Posted
August 10, 2017
5:00 PM

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THE U.S. OPEN CUP TROPHY is inside attain. Now, inching nearer to a different piece of {hardware} is the duty at hand.

Sporting Kansas Metropolis superior to the U.S. Open Cup last yesterday with a stirring penalty shootout win over the San Jose Earthquakes, however now has to rapidly shift the main focus again to its quest for the Supporters’ Defend. Sporting KC is seven factors behind league chief Toronto FC in that race, and must prevail on Saturday with the intention to attempt to keep away from that hole from rising.

All of the feels. #USOC2017 pic.twitter.com/TjU66qpWVk

— Sporting Kansas Metropolis (@SportingKC) August 10, 2017

The issue for SKC? On high of taking part in on brief relaxation it has to go on the highway to face the Seattle Sounders in a matchup of the 2 most in-form Western Convention sides. Each golf equipment enter the Saturday afternoon showdown at CenturyLink Area with lengthy undefeated streaks that stretch again to June, however it’s Sporting KC that has the problem of fixing the puzzle which might be the Sounders.

Seattle has gained 4 of its final 5 video games and hasn’t misplaced in its final seven. What’s extra, the workforce has been pretty dominant since July, scoring 14 instances whereas conceding simply 4 targets in that stretch. Clint Dempsey has returned from U.S. nationwide workforce camp reinvigorated, too, evidenced by his two-goal, one-assist outing in final week’s 4-0 romp over Minnesota United.

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) August 6, 2017

Kansas Metropolis, in the meantime, is trying to rediscover a few of its attacking aptitude. The membership has discovered the again of the online simply as soon as in its final six matches, together with the cup semifinal vs. San Jose on Wednesday. That type of output most likely is not going to minimize it towards an improved Sounders protection that has posted three straight shutouts.

STARS COLLIDE

All the Week 23 tilts happen on Saturday so there’s nearly no likelihood that it is possible for you to to catch all of them. (Not that you’d wish to, with summer time winding down and European leagues beginning again up once more.)

In any case, if you’re searching for the crème de la crème of the remaining fixtures, look no additional than these two interconference bouts. The primary takes place within the night, with Toronto FC internet hosting the Portland Timbers. Toronto continues to be undefeated at residence this 12 months, and Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore, and Co. might be desperate to rebound from final week’s discouraging draw at lowly D.C. United by successful in entrance of the their supporters at BMO Area.

On the opposite facet of the sector might be a Portland squad that’s coming off a complete residence win over the LA Galaxy. The Timbers have misplaced simply as soon as in its final seven video games however solely two of these contests resulted in victory in order that they might want to put collectively one other sturdy total outing with the intention to oust Toronto FC.

That, or cross their fingers and hope for extra Diego Valeri magic.

The week’s last assembly occurs late on Saturday, nevertheless it could possibly be noteworthy. The struggling Galaxy will welcome New York Metropolis FC to city of their sole common season conflict this 12 months, and there must be loads of star energy on the sector with the likes of David Villa and Giovanni and Jonathan dos Santos.

Sure, the Galaxy’s poor play this season takes some shine off of this match, however seeing how Villa follows up his MLS Participant of the Week-winning displaying is value watching all by itself. The ageless Spaniard scored his first MLS hat-trick to guide NYCFC in a slender victory over the New York Pink Bulls final Sunday, and he’ll look to as soon as once more steal the present and add to his league-leading whole of 17 targets.

Villa has been an absolute menace of late, tallying 9 instances in his final eight video games, so it may be clever for the Galaxy to take a cautious strategy to this one.

D.C.’S DRASTIC FACELIFT

The secondary MLS switch window slammed shut this week, and the largest storyline was D.C. United’s dramatic makeover.

United purged its roster, ridding itself of veteran items like Bobby Boswell and Lamar Neagle whereas signing thrilling kids Paul Arriola, Russell Canouse, and Bruno Miranda. These strikes are being made with an eye fixed towards subsequent 12 months, when D.C. United will ultimately open its personal soccer-specific stadium, however how that impacts the squad this 12 months is one thing that can bear watching.

#HesHere #DCU https://t.co/daylEmn7Iu pic.twitter.com/DO4uWUEHE7

— D.C. United (@dcunited) August 10, 2017

Will the adjustments add some fast vitality and high quality to a squad that has been performing abysmally all 12 months? Or will it result in extra struggles as gamers get to know each other? We are going to get a primary glimpse this weekend when United hosts Actual Salt Lake in one of many last matches at RFK Stadium. In spite of everything, what does head coach Ben Olsen stand to lose by trotting out a few of his youthful nucleus?

Designated Participant TO WATCH

We might see a Designated Participant debut this weekend in Central Florida.

Orlando Metropolis signed Peruvian worldwide midfielder Yoshimar Yotun late final week as its third DP, and he might see time in Saturday’s match towards the New York Pink Bulls in Harrison, N.J. Yotun might not be a giant identify on the worldwide stage however he does possess loads of expertise and might help an Orlando facet that wants somebody to assist hyperlink the protection to the assault.

The Lions have surprisingly listed Yotun as an “attacking midfielder” however the left-footed 27-year-old veteran has by no means actually performed that place. He began his profession as a winger, was shifted to left again, and finally moved to central midfield in 2015 by Peru head coach Ricardo Gareca. Yotun has thrived ever since as a box-to-box participant, because the spot permits him to point out off his good technical capacity and imaginative and prescient. He’s additionally somebody who can construct up play by means of fast mixture passes or lengthy balls, and that can absolutely serve an Orlando assault that boasts Cyle Larin, Dom Dwyer, and Kaka.

Yotun’s arrival might lead Jason Kreis to change again to his most well-liked 4-4-2 diamond formation, however the one approach that swap doesn’t seem like a cussed transfer is that if Yotun thrives whereas serving to Orlando Metropolis attain the playoffs for the primary time in its historical past.

MLS WEEK 23 SCHEDULE

Saturday’s MLS GamesSeattle Sounders vs. Sporting Kansas CityToronto FC vs. Portland TimbersD.C. United vs. Actual Salt LakeColumbus Crew SC vs. Chicago FireNew York Pink Bulls vs. Orlando CityFC Dallas vs. Colorado RapidsNew England Revolution vs. Vancouver WhitecapsPhiladelphia Union vs. Montreal ImpactHouston Dynamo vs. San Jose EarthquakesLA Galaxy vs. New York Metropolis FC