Some Soccer News for Sep 20, 2017

It's Day 263 of 2017.


Mother nature is really letting us know that we are messing with the wrong planet!

• I hope the best for everyone in Puerto Rico.
• And my heart is heavy for everyone in Mexico and CDMX.

dN

I want to express several truck loads of gratitude to Jim Oliver for everything he has done in leading and building Dark Clouds supporters group over the past 5-6 years.

• Jim's resignation as DCs President was announced today.
• Excited for new leadership to take it in the next direction. Support interim president Abe Opoti and his crew.

dN

US Open Cup

Sporting Kansas City goes for their 4th championship. By Sam McDowell for the Kansas City Star.

• SKC is going for their 7th major trophy tonight.
• The previous 3 have ended in PKs.
• KC has also won a Supporters Shield, an Open Cup and a MLS Cup as the Wizards.

Some feel this game might be the biggest in Red Bulls history. By Brian Lewis for the New York Post.

• Red Bull has won 2 Supporters Shields, but lost in their only appearances in MLS Cup and Open Cup Finals.

A comparison of the two challengers. By Brian Straus for Sports Illustrated.

Final Schedule:
-Wed Sep 20
Sporting Kansas City v Red Bull New York - 8pm CT on ESPN2

dN

du Nord MLS Hot Team Hot List Power Rankings:
(Based solely on science using the 5 previous games, with no bias for prior standing or projections - just results.)
(As of Tue Sep 20)
1 Toronto
2 Vancouver
3 Portland
4 Salt Lake
5 DC
6 Columbus
7 Atlanta
8 New York City
9 Chicago
10 Kansas City
11 San Jose
12 Minnesota
13 New England
14 Seattle
15 Orlando
16 Colorado
17 LA
18 Houston
19 Montreal
20 New York Red Bulls
21 Philadelphia
22 Dallas

dN

Yet another inquiry into FIFA and their corrupt ways. By Tariq Panja for the New York Times.

dN

17 year old American forward Josh Sargent from St Louis has signed with Werder Bremen. He will play for the USMNT U17s next month at the World Cup in India and then head for Germany.

• He is one of the most highly regarded American youth players of all time. And was the USMNT's top striker at the U20 World Cup earlier this year.

dN

This is the best breakdown I have read of the NASL lawsuit against US Soccer that was filed yesterday, the tangled history of the modern NASL, and the history of US Soccer and lawsuits. By Paul Kennedy for Soccer America.

• Right now there is very little sympathy for the NASL at this time in the world of American soccer.

dN

MLS

Landon Donovan has been a TV commentator for several USMNT games now, but this week he will do his first MLS game on Sunday - Kansas City v LA at 1pm CT on FOX.

The firing of Jay Heaps doesn't solve New England's problems. By Paul Tenorio for Four Four Two.

No Giovinco or Altidore tonight for Toronto against their rivals Montreal.

You know it, you love it - Weekly MLS Awards. [VIDEO] By Ale Moreno for ESPNFC.

Week 29 Schedule:
(13 games)
-Wed Sep 20
Atlanta v LA - 6pm CT on ESPN2
Toronto v Montreal
-Sat Sep 23
New York City v Houston
New England v Toronto
DC v San Jose
Philadelphia v Chicago
Columbus v New York RB
Minnesota v Dallas
Salt Lake v Seattle
Vancouver v Colorado
-Sun Sep 24
Kansas City v LA - 1pm CT on FOX
Atlanta v Montreal
Portland v Orlando - 7pm CT on FS1

dN

• Ciaran Kilduff of Jacksonville Armada named NASL Player Of The Week
• Josef Martinez of Atlanta United named MLS Player Of The Week
• Kenney Walker of Cincinnati named USL Player Of The Week
• (Sorry I haven't heard from NWSL this week)

dN

COPA LIBERTADORES

Quarterfinals Schedule:
Leg Two
-Wed Sep 20
Santos (Bra) v Barcelona (Ecu) (1-1)
Gremio (Bra) v Botafogo(Bra) (0-0)
-Thu Sep 21
River Plate (Arg) v Wilstermann (Bol) (0-3)
Lanus (Arg) v San Lorenzo (Arg) (0-2)

dN

USMNT

Christian Pulisic is getting serious consideration from the media OUTSIDE the USA now. by Raphael Honigstein for ESPNFC.

Weston McKennie (also 19 years old) got his first start for Schalke in the Bundesliga. He went 57 minutes in a tough losing effort 0-3 at home to Bayern.

dN

US SOCCER

Tab Ramos has signed a contract extension as Director of the Men's programs for the national team.

dN

BIG TEAMS + GAMES IN EUROPES TOP LEAGUES:

It didn't take Neymar long to capsize the boat at PSG. Ego isn't always used properly. By Jonathan Wilson for Sports Illustrated.

• But remember, winning covers all wounds.

Mid week Schedule:
-Wed Sep 20
Real Madrid v Betis
Juventus v Fiorentina
Bilbao v Atletico Madrid
Benevento v Roma
Lazio v Napoli
Milan v SPAL
Sevilla v Las Palmas



The Bird Is The Word