MLS Soccer

2022 - 9 - 5

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Kamal Miller's World Cup value, Jonathan David's form & more ... (MLSsoccer.com)

As the calendar flips over to September, we're that much closer to the 2022 World Cup kicking off in Qatar — not to mention a marquee international window ...

Bundesliga club, was suddenly in danger of losing his place for the World Cup to the likes of Derek Cornelius, who picked up where he left off last season in Greece with Panetolikos. Jahn Regensburg ended up switching to a 3-4-3 for this game with Kennedy sliding into the left-sided role. The defender had only logged around 140 minutes in six games in all competitions this season for Jahn Regensburg without a single start before Saturday. His goal helped fuel Montréal’s comeback and he kept [Federico Bernardeschi](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/federico-bernardeschi/) in check for the majority of the 90 minutes. It’s not uncommon for Eustaquio to chip in with the odd assist via a set piece or the occasional foray into the final third. Having that confidence to push forward is imperative with Herdman prioritizing a double pivot in midfield in recent games for the national team. It took around 230 minutes across five games, but Ugbo finally logged his name onto the scoresheet as Troyes secured a vital 1-1 draw with Rennes after being reduced to 10 men at the 27-minute mark. It’ll be difficult to crack either the September or World Cup roster given the plethora of wingers Canada possesses, but the 20-year-old’s stock is certainly rising by the week. That’s why containing the Italian international and maintaining his composure on the ball while under pressure from TFC’s high press is a positive development. He secured his first start of the season with the Dragões and capitalized by setting up both goals in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Gil Vicente. They reinforced the narrative he can’t properly thrive as a lone striker if Lille don't play vertically, dynamically and don’t allow the forward to roam across the pitch. All of his shots and key passes were created by the 22-year-old dropping deep and arriving late into the box.

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Ferreira, Mihailovic, Sargent & Musah: US soccer attackers offer ... (MLSsoccer.com)

US-eligible players put in work on both sides of the Atlantic this Labor Day weekend, perhaps mindful that summer is now unofficially over and the final ...

Blessed with superb technique and a Rolls Royce motor, velvet-smooth on the ball and increasingly aware of how best to deploy his gifts in service of the team, Musah looks more than ever like a foundational piece for the USMNT. Goalkeeper Zack Steffen missed a third consecutive Middlesbrough match due to a knee injury (his club and country teammate Matthew Hoppe was on the bench for the 1-0 win over Lynden Gooch’s Sunderland, but did not play). Antonee “Jedi” Robinson rolled his ankle in the first half of Fulham’s 2-1 loss to Tottenham, raising unwelcome questions about the USMNT’s seemingly permanently problematic left back spot. As rough as his first few months in the Bundesliga were, Pepi is still young, and like most strikers, lives and dies by goals, something he has a much better shot at racking up in the open attacking environs of the Eredivisie. Musah remains a teenager until his 20th birthday in late November, which makes his skill set all the more tantalizing. There was real ferocity in the Chicago native’s performance, and he and his teammates had to be gleeful about sticking a long knife in Toronto’s flickering Audi MLS Cup Playoffs hopes. But it’s a better situation than FCB, and we suspect Dest will be right in the thick of Berhalter’s Qatar plans no matter what – he’s just so uniquely, saucily skilled among the US player pool. Up in Minnesota, Jesus Ferreira was a leading instigator of FC Dallas’ impressive and timely 3-0 road win over the Loons. Sargent bagged the Canaries’ third, running his current hot streak to five goals in five games, and also assisted on another. The numbers and the eye test agree: Sargent is one of the Champo’s elite attackers: And John Brooks waited and got a good thing. Then he jetted across Europe to watch and visit with several of his players.

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Giants tottering: Atlanta United, NYCFC, LA Galaxy and Toronto FC ... (MLSsoccer.com)

At the time of year when momentum and purpose are paramount, and can make up for the sins of months past, several “big clubs” across Major League Soccer are ...

But again, credit to the players in that locker room, they're firmly committed to try and make sure that we make a run at this and see if we can sneak into the playoffs.” Continue to play, continue to fight, continue to try to take every point that's on the board, and see what happens. On 36 points from 29 games, Seattle are three back of the Galaxy and six behind seventh-place Portland. And when we've had a chance to then take a big step with winning a big game and taking a real step forward, that part’s been hard for us.” “We have to put the ball in the goal,” said Cushing, who tweaked his tactics and shuffled his lineup to no avail. The Reds seized a 2-0 lead in the first seven minutes at BMO Field, then proceeded to leak four straight CFM goals to fall 4-3. “I said to them after the match, ‘listen, let's not hide away from the fact that it's not good enough.’ And I am incredibly disappointed, just as the team are, and I know the fans are incredibly disappointed with our performances. We're just not aware of guys who are in our back side, and they just drop the ball behind us and we give up two goals. The departures of head coach Ronny Deila and goal king Taty Castellanos have NYCFC reeling, with Sunday’s 3-0 loss at [New England](https://www.mlssoccer.com/clubs/new-england-revolution/) just the latest setback for Nick Cushing’s side. But we had also those little moments that we've had in previous games, where we're just too easy to be scored on,” he added. They’re looking dead in the water, closer to the wooden spoon battle than the Supporters’ Shield race, with just two wins since mid-July, their Audi MLS Cup Playoffs hopes on life support after Sunday’s 2-1 loss at [Portland](https://www.mlssoccer.com/clubs/portland-timbers/). The Gs now sit eighth, three points back of the playoff line with six games to go.

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Your Monday Kickoff: Canadian Classique delivers yet again; LAFC ... (MLSsoccer.com)

Atlanta's Almada in Argentina's preliminary roster ahead of final pre-World Cup friendlies: Thiago Almada was included in the Argentina men's national ...

Suddenly, their meetings with LA on the penultimate week of the season and Portland on Decision Day are looming very large. It also probably means the Whitecaps are done. - What it means: The Quakes are still having fun out there, which is nice. I mean, just consider the fact that even after dropping six of their last seven, they’re still in a home playoff spot with a +13 goal differential. - What happened: Just a little tiny scare to get Seattle fans’ hearts going. [preliminary roster](https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/atlanta-united-s-thiago-almada-gets-argentina-call-up-ahead-of-final-pre-world-c) ahead of this month's friendlies against Honduras (Sept. - What happened: The same thing that’s been happening for NYCFC. LA then won \another\ penalty and, with the game on the line, Chicharito…well, you should really watch the video, but he attempted a Panenka and he really probably shouldn’t have. Instead, all of their worst tendencies got put on full display and reminded us they still have a lot of work to do in the offseason to get the Death Star they’re attempting to build operational. Federico Bernardeschi converted a penalty in the fifth minute followed by Lorenzo Insigne finding the net just moments later to put Toronto up 2-0 inside of the first seven minutes. The teams they’re chasing all have a game or two in hand or are three or four points ahead in the standings. - What happened: The Timbers won two penalties and converted both, while Atlanta United struggled for large chunks of the game to get off a shot.

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Jackson Conway sets Atlanta United 2 single-season goalscoring ... (Dirty South Soccer)

Conway gave the 2s a rare lead in the 64th minute with his record-breaking ninth goal of the season. Tristan Trager sent a free kick from the right flank to the ...

With questions swirling around the senior team, Conway may have earned his chance to play a larger role in MLS in 2023. He could also be a tenacious menace in the high press and a constant threat to keep opposing defenses honest. He could use his improved passing ability and soccer IQ to reward the runs of his teammates and create dangerous chances in the attacking third. Conway calmly settled the pass and slotted his shot between the legs of Austin Wormell for his 10th goal of the season. While he has created a few goals of his own, Conway does well when playing off of an attacking teammate who he can feed and who can also set him up. Tristan Trager sent a free kick from the right flank to the back post, where Nick Firmino headed across for the 20-year-old striker to finish with his left foot.

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