Tag Archives: Soccer

MLS, Tyler Englander, World Soccer

More Than Just at Game

Leave a comment

Tonight when the United States takes the field in Columbus, Ohio for a World Cup qualifier against Mexico, it will mean more than a soccer game. It will be the first time that a team representing that United States takes the field since Tuesday’s Presidential Election. While this is not the forum to discuss politics, this is a game our nation and our people need. Regardless of political affiliation, a large part of our nation is in a bad place right now and it needs something to pick them up. While soccer is not wildly popular in this country, this game between bitter regional rivals has the chance to bring people together and forget about the challenges that face this country, even if it’s only for a couple of hours.

Before I go into the importance of tonight’s matchup on the field, I want to discuss what the significance of it, off the field. Without going too deep into the politics of things,  many people are down and need a boost, especially minorities who feel let down given the nasty rhetoric of the election and that’s why this game is huge in the healing process. When the United States take the field tonight, fans will see a diverse roster with African Americans, Latinos and immigrants. Those watching tonight will see Americans of all types representing the nation that they love so very much. While one soccer game can’t heal the wounds of a nation, it could go a long way in making Americans feel better about where we stand.

Now we turn to the battle on the field. The United States and Mexico have endured a long and tumultuous rivalry that will surely continue tonight. Both teams are looking to secure two points to put them on the right track to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The most interesting storyline for tonight’s game is that Tim Howard will get the start in goal over Brad Guzan. The thirty seven year old goalkeeper has been impressive in club play while leading the Colorado Rapids to the MLS Western Conference Finals. That stellar play has been enough for him to unseat Brad Guzan, who was the U.S. starter at this summer’s Copa America Centenario. The United States has put together a talented side that includes veterans such as Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore, and youngsters Christian Pulisic and Bobby Wood. The one notable omission from the roster is Clint Dempsey who is battling an irregular heartbeat. With that being said, the U.S. should have plenty of firepower considering Jozy Altidore is playing the best he has in years while leading Toronto F.C. to the Eastern Conference Finals in MLS.

The Mexicans, known as El Tri are looking to avenge an embarrassing seven goal loss to Chile the last time the played a meaningful game on U.S. soil during this summer’s Copa America.  El Tri are led by Juan Carlos Osorio who plays a three man back line and that could prove costly against a confident American side. However, the Mexicans have some firepower of their own with regional Legend Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and Andres Guardado leading the attack.  

The United States have a serious home field advantage and that has to have Jurgen Klinsmann feeling good about his chances to come away with two points. Due to Mexico’s three man backline, the Americans will get their chances and come away with a 2-1 win to start World Cup qualifying.

MLS, Soccer, Tanner Horelick

Will the Atomic Ant Repeat as MLS MVP?

Leave a comment

Coming into the 2016 MLS season, all eyes were on Sebastian Giovinco as he had just dazzled all of the MLS the previous season, winning the Most Valuable Player award in what was just his first season in the league. As expected of the man they call the Atomic Ant, Seba would pick up right where he left on and finish the 2016 season with 17 goals and 15 assists; good for 3rd and 2nd most in the league, respectively. Not only did he finish in the top 3 for both goals and assists, but he did all of this while missing a significant amount of time, playing in only 28 out of a possible 34 games. After yet another spectacular season from the Italian, which includes leading his team to 3rd place in the Eastern Conference, should the MLS just hand him the MVP trophy now?  With the regular season complete and playoffs  commencing, I figured this would be the perfect time to take a look at who were the most productive players this past season and, more specifically, look at who could possibly be giving Gio a run for the Landon Donovan MVP trophy.

Image result for david villa nycfc

David Villa, NYCFC

Probably the best chance anyone has at snatching the MVP trophy away from Giovinco is the star of NYCFC, who recently helped his team to clinch 2nd place in the Eastern Conference, securing a first round bye heading into the playoffs. Statistically, the former Barcelona Striker had an amazing year scoring 23 goals, good for 2nd in the league behind only Bradley Wright-Phillips. It is not only his goal scoring, however, for which I believe he should win MVP. The way in which he has carried this team,  to put them in a position where they are now feared heading into the playoffs, just one year after finishing 8th in the league, shows how much he has carried this team. NYCFC has allowed the 2nd most goals in the league, but thanks to Villa’s offensive carry, they have also scored the most goals in the league. If this doesn’t show how Villa is simply carrying NYCFC to the Cup, then I don’t know what else will.

Image result for bradley wright-phillips

Bradley Wright-Phillips

What more can be said of this goal-scoring machine? A year after slightly under performing, in which he only scored 17 goals compared to his record tying 27 goals in 2014, BWP burst right back onto the scene in 2016 by winning the Golden Boot, scoring 24 goals and narrowly beating David Villa (23 goals) for the award. Not only did he beat David Villa, a striker for the rival NYCFC squad, but Wright-Phillips’ New York Red Bulls also bested their epic NY rivals by finishing one spot ahead of NYCFC in the Eastern Conference standings. So then why would I pick Villa over Bradley Wright-Phillips for the MVP, you may ask? Well, lets just say Villa doesn’t have a USMNT member, and the man with the most assists in the MLS starting behind him every game…. (shout-out to Sacha Kljestan).

Image result for sacha kljestan

Sacha Kljestan

Most arguably the best Midfielder in the MLS right now, Sacha Kljestan just finished the 2016 MLS season with 20 assists, good for the most assists in the league this season and 2nd most all time assists all time in a single season. His stats speak for themselves, but what he does best doesn’t necessarily have a statistical category. The work Kljestan does off the ball to find space and create opportunities for his teammates is something which is often overlooked. Without his constant movement, great vision, and precise passing, the New York Red Bulls may not have finished the season 1st place in the East, and BWP certainly may not have won the Golden Boot Award…

Image result for nicolas lodeiro sounders

Wild Card/Future MVP: Nicolas Lodeiro

While his sample size may not be enough to earn him the notorious Landon Donovan MVP Award, it will most definitely get MLS fans excited to watch him play not only in the playoffs, but also through next season and beyond. After coming to the Seattle Sounders from Boca Juniors, Lodeiro was able to score 4 goals and assist on 8 others in just 12 league games. While these stats are not overwhelming as compared to others, the way in which he has transformed this team shows his true value. Before arriving in Seattle, the Sounders were 6-12-2 sitting well outside the playoffs. Since the Uruguayan has joined the team, however, Seattle has been on a tear, shooting all the way up to 4th in West, booking a spot in the playoffs. A large part of Seattle’s late season turnaround has been Lodeiro’s ability to set up others for scores as his chemistry with the rest of the team is only improving. One can only imagine how Lodeiro will fair in his second year in the MLS, and if this season is any indication, the 27 year old’s name may be very much higher up on MVP lists by next years end.

 

Tyler Englander, World Soccer

The Legacy of Heather O’Reilly

Leave a comment

Tonight soccer fans will says goodbye to a legend. Her name is Heather O’Reilly, commonly known around the international soccer community by her initials HAO. Before everyone overreacts to the fact that I called her a legend, it wasn’t me, it was the greatest female soccer player ever, Mia Hamm, who uttered the high praise. The New Jersey native, burst onto the national team in a March 2002 friendly against Sweden, a year before O’Reilly even played a college game at North Carolina. Since then she has done everything, she’s won two college cups in chapel hill, captured Olympic Gold three times and most recently was part of the U.S team that won their first Women’s World Cup in sixteen years last summer in Canada. While some may argue that she was the beneficiary of playing on really good teams, her individual numbers speak for themselves.

The speedy winger has has amassed 230 international appearances, 46 international goals, and 54 assists, which is good enough for sixth all time. Maybe the most impressive thing about O’Rielly is she is a big game player. She has scored in Two World Cups as well as scoring in the Olympic Semifinals in both 2004 and 2008. However, her biggest moment may have come on a play where she didn’t find the back of the net. In the 123rd minute of a physical Olympic semi-final between O’Reilly’s Americans and Christine Sinclair’s Canadians, O’Reilly floated a cross into the box that found that head of American striker Alex Morgan. Morgan’s header found the back of the net and would send the U.S to the final where they went onto get revenge against Japan who beat them in the previous year’s World Cup Final.  

O’Reilly who often gets overlooked by fans because she doesn’t have the “finishing ability” of an Abby Wambach or the “tenacity” of a Megan Rapinoe but, O’Reilly was a star in her own right. She was a team player who never got caught out of position and most of all she was a competitor. She always gave her all on the field and that’s what fans will remember most about one of the greatest American soccer stars ever. O’Reilly’s character is best understood when she was left of the roster for the 2016 Rio Olympics. O’Reilly who was left off the roster in favor of an injured Megan Rapinoe, never complained. Instead she supported her teammates and worked her butt of just in case her number was called as an alternate. The point about O’Reilly is this, while she wasn’t the main reason that the U.S. had been successful over the past 15 years, it’s almost certain that without her the USWNT would be a fraction of what it is today. When O’Reilly takes the field tonight in Columbus for the final time, she can be proud of what she has achieved on the field as well as off, as her teammates and her have inspired a generation of Americans to believe that sports on the highest levels aren’t only reserved for men.

World Soccer

Previewing Mens Soccer at Rio Olympics

Leave a comment

When: August 4-20

How to Watch: All games will be broadcast on the NBC family of networks

Overview: Teams are comprised of players under 23 years of age, however, three players may be over that age threshold. Sixteen teams are placed into four groups and the top two teams in each group advance to the knockout stage. Due to the age requirement several teams consist of unknown players as well as players with very little experience. This allows for more parity in matches and often makes this tournament very difficult to predict.

Group A:

Brazil: Brazil is in a familiar position as host nation of a major international tournament and everyone remembers the disastrous end to their 2014 World Cup campaign. They come into this tournament as a favorite considering they have the best player in the tournament, Neymar, on their side. They also have relatively experienced young players on the squad with Barcelona midfielder, Rafinha and Paris Saint Germain defender, Marquinhos, who has made 75 appearances for the French side. Brazil will have no issue advancing to the group stage.

Denmark: The red and white come into these Olympics with a unknown roster with few players who play their club football outside of Denmark.. With a roster with no names of recognition there most interesting aspect is their coach Niels Frederiksen. Fredericksen worked at a bank until 2009 when the youth team he worked for part time rewarded him with a contract. In 2015 he became the Dens U-21 coach, unfortunately for him I don’t think Denmark will manage to escape the group stage in Rio.

Iraq: Continuing the theme of unknown teams, next up is the Iraqi side. Iraq, a stranger to international competition is competing in its first Olympic game since 2004 where they finished fourth. They will be captained by the most experienced player Saad Abdul- Amir who has found the back of the net once in his 55 appearances for his country.

South Africa: While South Africa is not known for its soccer history, I believe this Olympics will be different. Due to the relatively light group South Africa is in a good position to go through to the knockout stage by finishing second. Goalkeeping is their greatest strength heading into the tournament with Itumeleng Khune in net. Khune is most known for tripping Luis Suarez in the 2010 World Cup and receiving a red card. If Khune plays strong this South African side may turn a couple of heads in Brazil.

Group B

Colombia: The Colombians head into these games as the favorites to win Group B. Led by Teofilo Gutierrez who has scored 15 goals for his country, including one in the teams 2014 World Cup opener against Greece and Monterrey midfielder Dorlan Pabon, El Tricolor should be a lock to advance to knockout stages.

Japan: The Japanese are looking to improve on a fourth place finish from four years ago in London. While the Japanese are full of unknowns there is one player who should capture your attention. Takuma Asano, a talented 21 year old forward who recently signed with Arsenal is a young player who could flourish in the spotlight.

Nigeria: Just like a lot of teams in this tournament, the Super Eagles roster is filled with players who have yet to capture the public’s attention. That couldn’t be said for John Obi Mikel who has been with Chelsea since 2006. The 29 year old midfielder will be the catalyst for any Nigerian attacks, however, It won’t be enough and the Nigerians will be packing their bags after the group stage.

Sweden: The Swedes come into the tournament following a disappointing Euro 2016 that ended with star Zlatan Ibrahimovic announcing his retirement from the national side. With that being said, this roster is full of players who won the Euro Under 21 Championships last summer and I expect that success to continue with a second place finish in Group B.

Group C

Fiji: Fiji is by far the biggest underdog of the tournament. There chances of success are very similar to Iceland potential success prior to this year’s Euros. With only one player on the squad who plays their club football outside of Fiji, their chances of a Cinderella story seem doubtful.   

Germany: The Germans come into this tournament looking to groom there next stars. With no doubt the German young guns are extremely talented, but perhaps the most interesting story-line for them is they are led by two 27 years old twins, Sven and Lars Bender. Regardless of their inexperience Germany will go through to the knockout stages.

Mexico: The reigning gold medalists will be looking to defend their title in Rio this summer. They have an interesting balance of young stars as well as veteran leadership. The youth is well represented by Houston Dynamo forward Erick Torres, whose quick pace will allow him to combine with veteran Oribe Peralta to make Mexico attack strong. Mexico will win group C.

South Korea: Four years ago in London the South Koreans was able to grab a Bronze Medal at the expense of Asian Rivals Japan. Unfortunately this time around it will be much more difficult. With Germany and Mexico in their group I just don’t see the Koreans getting another chance at grabbing a medal.

Group D:

Argentina: The Argentines are coming off of a heartbreaking loss in the Copa America final to Chile and will look to rebound in Rio. With the senior team in disarray with the recent news of Messi’s retirement, Argentine supporters will try and follow young phenom, 21 year old Angel Correa to gold.  

Portugal: The Portuguese look to cap off an impressive summer with gold following their triumph in France at the European Championships. The Portuguese squad, like the rest of the field, consist of largely unknown players, but do have several who were on the squad that finished runner up at last summers under 21 European Championships. Look for the Portuguese to finish second in Group D.

Honduras: Honduras stands nearly no shot considering they are the playing in the toughest group in the tournament. If anything, they are led by Jorge Luis Pinto who led Costa Rica to the quarterfinals of the 2014 World Cup against all odds.

Algeria: Algeria like Honduras is on the outside looking in when it comes to qualifying for the knockout stages. The “Desert Warriors” will need to rely on the unpredictability of the tournament if they are looking to advance.  

Jeffrey Siegler, Soccer, UEFA, World Soccer

2014-2015 UEFA Champions League Predictions

Leave a comment

After a fall that was filled with group play in the UEFA Champions league there is now a finalized round of 16.

 In group play almost all the teams that were expected to advance did, but there were a few surprises. Liverpool the runner up in the Premier League last season was eliminated. They were placed in a very talented group of clubs, that included the UEFA reigning champions Real Madrid and also a very successful FC Basel.

 Another reason for Liverpool’s poor performance in the group stage is that they don’t have the same starting eleven that led them to second in the  BPL. This past offseason they lost Luis Suarez to Barcelona. Suarez led the BPL last year with 31 goals. The other player missing is last years second best scorer in the BPL Daniel Sturridge. Sturridge is still on the team but has been left off the his club’s roster because of a nagging hamstring injury that he obtained while training with the English national team. Liverpool is now in the UEFA Europa League set to face Beşiktaş.

 Looking ahead to the round of 16 there will be some very exciting matches to watch. Leading off in the 2 home and away match ups in February and March is Paris Saint- Germain and Chelsea. Chelsea is currently on top of the BPL table and PSG is sitting at second in the French Ligue. Leading Chelsea will be Diego Costa and Eden Hazard. PSG has star Zlatan Ibrahimović and Edinson Cavani.

 I predict that Chelsea will advance because of their deeper roster that has more experience, with better coaching from Jose Mourinho.

 My next big match up to watch is Barcelona vs Manchester City. This draw will be the most entertaining because of the long history that these two teams have. Barcelona is currently sitting behind Real Madrid in La Liga while Manchester City is also sitting at second in the table behind Chelsea. The players to watch in this draw are Sergio Aguero and Lionel Messi. These two Argentinians lead their clubs in goals this season in their respective leagues. They are also very good friends off the pitch. This could result in a scoring showdown between the two.

 I predict that Barcelona will win this match up because of the depth of their roster. Luis Suarez will continue getting the assists that he has had since coming off his suspension. Neymar is also a threat at forward. It will be very hard for MUFC to hold back this squad that has talent at every position.

Jeffrey Siegler, MLS

MLS PLAYOFF UPDATE

Leave a comment

After an exciting weekend the first leg of of the MLS Playoff semifinals has come to an end. The New England Revolution defeated the New York RedBulls 2-1 and the  LA Galaxy defeated the Seattle Sounders 1-0.

In the Eastern Conference the Revolution were led by goals from the Canadian Teal Bunbury in the 17′ and the game winner by the German Jermaine Jones in the 85′. The lone goal for NY was from the  Englishman Bradley Wright- Phillips in the 27′. Going into the second leg of games it is expected that the RedBulls will try to bounce back from their first loss behind Thierry Henry who has been vital in NY’s success during the regular season. NY will be forced to play without Bradley Wright- Phillips because he collected his second yellow card of the MLS Cup Playoffs. It will be interesting to see if NY can stop the Revs’ Lee Nguyen from setting up his teammates with goal opportunities. This year has been his breakout year with 18 goals. He also was recently asked to play for the US National Team in England this past month after not making an appearance on the squad in 7 years. You can watch the second leg of the semifinal this Saturday at 3pm ET on NBCSN.

On the West Coast the LA Galaxy were led by a goal from the Brazilian Marcelo Sarvas in the 52′. Both teams have a lot of talent on offense and defense. The Galaxy have USMNT star Landon Donovan and Omar Gonzalez. The Sounders have USMNT captain Clint Dempsey and Deandre Yedlin who is transferring to Sunderland next season.  The winner of this semifinal round will face the winner of the Eastern Conference final. Remember that the team with the most goals in this home and away match up determines  who will go onto the final. You can watch this game at 9:20pm this Sunday on ESPN.

This weekend will be very interesting as there isn’t a very large goal difference in both match ups. This means that if either set of teams goes ahead to score 2 or more goals then they will advance.