ASN: With Copa America About to Finish, MLS Begins Once more

The Philadelphia Union face a key conflict with Vancouver; FC Dallas trades a U.S. prospect to Liga MX: a reeling Columbus Crew facet must step it up; and Seattle will host a talent-laden NYCFC membership.

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
June 25, 2016
9:00 AM

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FOLLOWING THE COPA AMERICA CENTENARIO break and after a slew of midweek video games, Main League Soccer affords a full slate of video games this weekend, together with a number of essential contests. The U.S. nationwide workforce will take a two-month break after tonight’s conflict with Colombia, and most, if not all, MLS coaches can be nice with that. 

This is a preview of the weekend’s most intriguing contests. 

Sport of the Week: Union vs. Whitecaps

There can be loads at stake when the Philadelphia Union host the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday (7pm ET, MLS Dwell). After a disappointing loss to New York Metropolis FC final weekend, Philadelphia responded with a high quality 4-3 win over Chicago on Wednesday.

Philadelpelphia’s Roland Alberg was unbelievable in that sport, rating a hat trick after which forcing an own-goal to safe the victory. The Union are nonetheless reeling from the lack of Vincent Nogueira, nonetheless, who left the workforce because of well being causes. Union coach Jim Curtin has his work minimize off for him this season however to date he and his gamers have been up for the problem.

The Union made a powerful assertion on Wednesday however Vancouver will present an even bigger problem than Chicago. The Whitecaps have secured only one level in its final three video games and will fall out of the Western Convention playoff image with a loss.

From a impartial perspective, it must be a enjoyable sport since each groups are scoring rather a lot this yr. Vancouver has 24 targets by means of 16 video games whereas the Union have scored 27. From a U.S. nationwide workforce perspective, the sport can even function two of the perfect younger American defenders within the sport: Philadelphia proper again and rookie of the yr candidate Keegan Rosenberry and Vancouver central defender Tim Parker.

FC Dallas sells Zendejas to Chivas

On Friday morning FC Dallas introduced that it had bought homegrown product and U.S. U-20 midfielder Alejandro Zendejas to Chivas de Guadalajara of Liga MX for a reported payment of $500,000.

Zendejas, 18, has spent appreciable time with U.S. youth nationwide groups—together with on the U-17 World Cup final fall. After all, Chivas has a coverage courting again to 1908 that its gamers can solely play for Mexico internationally and Zendejas’ transfer to the membership places him at odds with this coverage. By agreeing to the sale to Chivas, FC Dallas possible hurts the U.S. U-20 workforce. Zendejas needed to conform to the sale however a younger participant’s precedence at this stage of his profession is to discover a membership that believes in him and the place he can play. A $500,000 switch payment is kind of excessive for a really younger participant with restricted first-team MLS minutes.

Whereas this transaction might show to harm U.S. Soccer, it is nice transfer for FC Dallas. Not solely does the membership pocket some money cash, it additionally showcases to the Mexican-American neighborhood that the workforce won’t stand in the best way of its younger gamers transferring to Liga MX if the precise provide comes alongside. And it sends a constructive message to gamers that signing with MLS shouldn’t be a lure that forestalls a transfer overseas.

Columbus Crew Want To Flip It Round

The Columbus Crew got here into the season as a favourite to win the Jap Convention and contend for MLS Cup. With July quick approaching, these predictions have been method off because the membership sits in ninth place within the 10-team convention. To make a playoff push, Gregg Berhalter’s membership must win video games now.

Buying and selling Kei Kamara was possible essential to protect locker room chemistry, however now with Federico Higuain out for a prolonged interval because of hernia surgical procedure, the workforce desperately wants gamers to step up offensively.

On Saturday the Crew hosts the New York Crimson Bulls (7:30pm MLS Dwell), which has performed terrific protection the previous two months. Whereas the Crimson Bulls misplaced to Actual Salt Lake 2-1 on Wednesday evening, it did so with a reserve-filled lineup. Lots of its high gamers—like Mike Grella, Sacha Kljestan, Dax McCarty, and Bradley Wright-Phillips—are anticipated to begin Saturday. Previous to the loss in opposition to Salt Lake, the Crimson Bulls had held opponents scoreless in 4 straight video games.

The underside line is that the Crew is determined want of offensive firepower, and it is going through a powerful workforce with a stingy protection. 

Should win for Seattle?

Whereas it is onerous to label a June MLS sport a “must win,” Seattle’s conflict with New York Metropolis FC on Saturday (5pm ET, MLS Dwell) comes fairly shut. The Sounders have been abysmal this yr, scoring simply 13 occasions. And with Clint Dempsey away on worldwide obligation, the offense has been a whole mess.

Seattle all the time enjoys a terrific homefield benefit and it’s going to want that desperately on Saturday in opposition to Andrea Pirlo, Frank Lampard, David Villa, and the remainder of New York Metropolis FC.

Left for useless after a 7-0 humiliation final month, there are indicators of life throughout the Bronx-based membership. Patrick Vieria’s workforce is coming off a formidable 3-2 win over first place Philadelphia final week; Villa is main the league in scoring; No. 1 draft decide Jack Harrison is wholesome and enjoying effectively; Tommy McNamara has emerged as a high quality participant; and  Lampard is definitely beginning video games.

Even at residence, Seattle must step it as much as defeat NYCFC with out Dempsey. 

Predictions

Seattle Sounders 1-2 New York Metropolis FCD.C. United 0-1 New England RevolutionPhiladelphia Union 2-0 Vancouver WhitecapsMontreal Impression 2-0 Sporting Kansas CityColumbus Crew 1-2 New York Crimson BullsOrlando Metropolis 2-2 Toronto FCFC Dallas 2-1 Actual Salt LakeSan Jose Earthquakes 0-1 LA GalaxyPortland 1-1 Houston Dynamo