After months of waiting, Major League Soccer is on its way back. CONCACAF Champions League has already begun and the United States’ domestic league returns on Mar. 3. Plenty of teams have received a complete facelift over the three-month break with coaches and players shuffling in and out.

There are five teams highlighted in this article that managed to revamp their rosters for March. Keep in mind that there is a summer transfer window in which all teams can buy and sell players for the rest of the season, so these lineups certainly won’t be completely intact by the playoffs.

Atlanta United

Full 2018 Roster:

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (33, American), Mitch Hildebrandt (29, American), Alec Kann (27, American)

Defenders: Mikey Ambrose (24, American), George Bello (16, American), Franco Escobar (23, Argentinian), Greg Garza (26, American), Leandro Gonzalez Pirez (25, Argentinian), Jose Hernandez (20, Venezuelan), Mikey Ambrose (24, American), Miles Robinson (20, American), Sal Zizzo (30, American)

Midfielders: Miguel Almiron (23, Paraguayan), Ezequiel Barco (18, Argentinian), Andrew Carleton (17, American), Chris Goslin (17, American), Julian Gressel (24, German), Kevin Kratz (30, German), Jeff Larentowicz (34, American), Chris McCann (30, Irish), Darlington Nagbe (27, American), Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu (23, American), Oliver Shannon (22, English)

Forwards: Josef Martinez (23, Venezuelan), Hector Villalba (23, Argentinian), Brandon Vazquez (19, American), Lagos Kunga (19, American), Romario Williams (23, Jamaican), Jon Gallagher (22, Irish), Gordon Wild (22, German)

– – – – –

Coming off of an exceptional first year, expansion side Atlanta United has improved its playoff roster with new additions on the pitch. The club is quickly becoming a polarizing sensation in MLS, garnering many supporters, but plenty of rivals along the way.

Darlington Nagbe, the 27-year old midfielder, was dealt to the Five Stripes from the Portland Timbers for over $1 million in targeted allocation money (TAM) back in December. While he played more on the left side for Bruce Arena in the Gold Cup, he’ll likely see most of his action as a holding central midfielder.

Nagbe may be tasked with less of an attacking role due to the already established prowess of Atlanta’s attack. He’s never been a pure goal-scoring winger, but his numbers should dive this season with most of his workload coming in a relatively ‘stat-less’ position.

United’s biggest addition came in January with the purchase of Ezequiel Barco. Arriving from Independiente for an MLS-record $15 million, the 18-year old attacking midfielder will fill the hole left by Yamil Asad. Barco’s strength on the left flank is also a big reason why Nagbe will likely be sent to the center this season.

The unexpected loss of Carlos Carmona will certainly hurt the team the most. He provided the squad with defensive stature in the middle and stopped plenty of counter-attacks during the 2017 season. Jeff Larentowicz will have to shore up the loss of their perfect CDM and Nagbe will shoulder some of the weight, as well.

Despite the losses of Tyrone Mears and Anton Walkes, the fullback position will still be in good hands. Greg Garza and his flair for the sidelines will see plenty of minutes on the left side while newcomer Franco Escobar will likely start on the right. Each of the defenders are younger than their predecessors and will continue the trend of youth and speed for the Five Stripes.

Projected Opening Day Squad:

FC Dallas

Full 2018 Roster

Goalkeepers: Jesse Gonzalez (22, American), Jimmy Maurer (29, American)

Defenders: Reggie Cannon (19, American), Jordan Cano (22, American), Maynor Figueroa (34, Honduran), Matt Hedges (27, American), Anton Nedyalkov (24, Bulgarian), Kris Reaves (22, American), Reto Ziegler (32, Swiss)

Midfielders: Kellyn Acosta (22, American), Michael Barrios (26, American), Mauro Diaz (26, Argentinian), Carlos Gruezo (22, Ecuadorian), Jacori Hayes (22, American), Ryan Hollingshead (26, American), Roland Lamah (29, Belgian), Santiago Mosquera (23, Colombian), Paxton Pomykal (18, American), Brandon Servania (18, American), Victor Ulloa (25, Mexican)

Forwards: Tesho Akindele (25, Canadian), Max Urriti (26, Argentinian), Francis Atuahene (21, Ghanaian), Christian Colman (24, Paraguayan), Jesus Ferreira (17, Colombian), Adonijah Reid (18, Canadian), Bryan Reynolds (16, American), Ema Twumasi (22, Ghanaian)

– – – – –

FC Dallas began the long-term overhaul after one of the largest collapses in modern MLS history. After winning the Supporters’ Shield in 2016, the Toros came into the 2017 season on fire. Dallas was the last team to lose in the regular season and led the Shield race in mid-May.

However, a stretch spanning a full two months saw Dallas fail to win a single match as it plummeted out of the playoff picture. Its only two wins in the final three months came against the Galaxy and the Rapids, the two worst teams in the league by points.

By the transfer window, much of its back line was gone and the front office took the squad in a youthful direction. There are only two remaining members in their thirties while the owners continue to attract young, homegrown talent.

Despite the youth, however, two of the oldest players on the team will almost certainly be starting on opening day. Matt Hedges and Reto Ziegler should be starting in the center now that Walker Zimmerman, Atiba Harris and Hernan Grana are long gone. Reggie Cannon, the teen with only one cap last season, is looking like the starting right back.

Dallas’s greatest strength is in the midfield where it sports two of its Designated Players (DPs) as well as Kellyn Acosta. Gruezo and Acosta are likely the best pair of defensive midfielders in the league and the squad will have to operate around them. Those two will be ball-winning players in the center looking to feed Mauro Diaz in the attacking midfield role.

The front will sport old talent, as well, but the top goal scoring role is up for grabs. As of now, it’s between Christian Colman and Max Urruti considering Dallas will likely run two wingers with only one target man. Roland Lamah’s age should keep him on the bench as young DP, Santiago Mosquera, arrives from Millonarios FC.

Heading into this season, the biggest question mark will be about the back line. Zimmerman fell out of favor with manager Oscar Pareja and he’ll now start for LAFC out west. Dallas will need to keep the goals allowed tally below 50 again if it wants any shot at a return to the playoffs.

Projected Opening Day Squad:

Montreal Impact

Full 2018 Roster:

Goalkeepers: Clement Diop (24, Senegalese), Evan Bush (31, American), Jason Beaulieu (22, Canadian), Maxime Crepeau (23, Canadian)

Defenders: Victor Cabrera (24, Argentinian), Zakaria Diallo (31, French), Jukka Raitala (29, Finnish), Michael Petrasso (22, Canadian) Chris Duvall (26, American), Kyle Fisher (23, American), Daniel Lovitz (26, American), Thomas Meilleur-Giguere (20, American)

Midfielders: Ignacio Piatti (32, Argentinian), Raheem Edwards (22, Canadian), Dominic Oduro (32, Ghanaian), Samuel Piette (23, Canadian), Saphir Taider (25, Algerian), Jeisson Vargas (20, Chilean), Marco Donadel (34, Italian), Louis Beland-Goyette (22, Canadian), David Choiniere (20, Canadian), Shamit Shome (20, Canadian),

Forwards: Anthony Jackson-Hamel (24, Canadian), Matteo Mancosu (33, Italian), Michael Salazar (25, Belizean)

– – – – –

The Montreal Impact are a bit of a conundrum. Under Mauro Biello, the team made it to a conference final in 2016 and missed the playoffs altogether in 2017. Dominated by world sensations Didier Drogba and Blerim Dzemaili, the Impact were a bang or bust squad.

Former Lyon boss, Remi Garde, is now in charge and has already implemented a more Canadian style of football. More Canadian youngsters have entered the fold with nine of Garde’s 25 players from the Great White North. Consistency is key after Biello managed to lose nine of his final 10 matches while at the helm.

Much like FC Dallas, the questions are all at the back. The season has yet to begin and injuries plague the center back depth with Zakaria Diallo out for at least two months and Kyle Fisher nursing an injury with no real timetable. Because of this, Chris Duvall, a true right back, may see his first action in the middle alongside the Argentine, Victor Cabrera.

Thomas Meilleur-Giguere and Wandrille Lefevre, two unproven center backs returning from a loan spell with Ottawa Fury, may be asked to start in their place, as well. Jukka Raitala, though, will be the most experienced on the left side after 28 caps with Columbus last season.

If those holes can be plugged while Diallo and Fisher recover, the midfield and attack can do damage in the Eastern Conference. Ignacio Piatti is a mainstay in that Impact midfield, but newly signed DP, Saphir Taider, is capable of winning balls in the center and holding up attacks. His role will likely be as more of a facilitator alongside Samuel Piette, the true defensive midfielder.

The addition of Raheem Edwards provides a tricky scenario alongside Piatti. Both wingers have traditionally played on the left-hand side, but Edwards’ nature as a true winger may push Piatti into more of a ‘False Nine’ role in the center. This will also allow Dominic Oduro to continue to create chances from the right side like he did all of last season.

Anthony Jackson-Hamel proved to be a dangerous ‘super sub’ in 2017, coming on in relief of Matteo Mancosu. His goal-scoring prowess surpassed Mancosu’s and even dwarfed it when it’s seen as goals-per-90. This, coupled with Mancosu’s age, could see Jackson-Hamel be the starting target man by Sunday.

The Impact lost five key players from last season: midfielders Blerim Dzemaili, Ballou Tabla, Patrice Bernier and Hernan Bernardello as well as 2015 Defender of the Year, Laurent Ciman. None of these pieces are easily replaceable, but the functionality of Saphir Taider molds well into Dzemaili’s role. Ciman’s absence will be felt, especially in the early stages of the season, but the youngsters at the back have a perfect opportunity to prove their worth.

Projected Opening Day Squad:

Vancouver Whitecaps

Full 2018 Roster:

Goalkeepers: Brian Rowe (29, American), Spencer Richey (25, American), Stefan Marinovic (26, Kiwi)

Defenders: Marcel de Jong (31, Canadian), Tim Parker (24, American), Jakob Nerwinski (23, American), David Edgar (30, Canadian), Doneil Henry (24, Canadian), Brett Levis (24, Canadian), Aaron Maund (27, Trinidadian), Kendall Waston (25, Costa Rican)

Midfielders: Marco Bustos (21, Canadian), Alphonso Davies (17, Canadian), Deybi Flores (21, Honduran), Aly Ghazal (25, Egyptian), Efrain Juarez (29, Mexican), Nicolas Mezquida (26, Uruguayan), David Norman Jr. (19, Canadian), Yordy Reyna (24, Peruvian), Brek Shea (27, American), Tony Tchani (28, Cameroonian), Christian Techera (25, Uruguayan), Russell Teibert (25, Canadian)

Forwards: Kei Kamara (33, Sierra Leonean), Anthony Blondell (23, Venezuelan), Erik Hurtado (27, American), Bernie Ibini-Isei (25, Australian), Myer Bevan (25, Australian)

– – – – –

After Vancouver finished one of its most successful campaigns, it lost much of its depth to the transfer window. Leading goal-scorer, Fredy Montero, is gone; leading assister, Christian Bolanos, is gone and starting left back, Jordan Harvey, is gone. Combine that with Carl Robinson’s longing to employ the 3-5-2 and the Whitecaps have plenty of uncertainties swirling around Sunday.

Fredy Montero netted 13 goals, amassed six assists and was a large reason why the ‘Caps made it to the Western Conference Semifinals. Lacking a striker, the front office scooped up two additions: MLS veteran, Kei Kamara and Liga MX young talent, Anthony Blondell. The two will see action up top together and will try to fill the hole left by Montero.

Yordy Reyna missed the first four months of last season, but finished strong as a crucial attacking midfielder for his squad. He operates as more of a shadow striker, but with the addition of Kamara and Blondell paired with the loss of Bolanos, he’ll be tasked with creating chances from the interior, something dire in the 3-5-2 formation.

Young Canadian talent, Alphonso Davies, looks to solidify his place on the left wing, meaning 27-year old Brek Shea will continue to contribute his valuable minutes in late-game scenarios off of the bench. Despite being more of a goal-scoring threat than Davies, his production can’t match Davies’ pace.

One of the key reasons Vancouver will push the 3-5-2 method is the acquisition of Efrain Juarez, a Mexican CDM-RB hybrid. His place inside will be only in theory as he’ll likely address any chance creation on the right wing, allowing the right center back to stay home and guard the cross.

The starting goalkeeper may be the most contentious position after the trade for Brian Rowe. David Ousted started 28 of the 34 matches last season, but he was dealt to D.C. United back in January. The job is up for grabs between Rowe and Stefan Marinovic and it’s really a toss-up at this point.

Projected Opening Day Squad:

Columbus Crew

Full 2018 Roster:

Goalkeepers: Zack Steffen (22, American), Jon Kempin (24, American), Logan Ketterer (24, American)

Defenders: Milton Valenzuela (19, Argentinian), Josh Williams (29, American), Gaston Sauro (27, Argentinian), Jonathan Mensah (27, Ghanaian), Connor Maloney (22, American), Alex Crognale (23, American), Harrison Afful (31, Ghanaian), Lalas Abubakar (20, Ghanaian)

Midfielders: Wil Trapp (24, American), Artur (21, Brazilian), Federico Higuain (33, Argentinian), Mohammed Abu (26, Ghanaian), Ricardo Clark (35, American), Mike Grella (30, American), Niko Hansen (23, Danish), Hector Jiminez (29, American), Cristian Martinez (20, American), Pedro Santos (29, Portuguese), Eduardo Sosa (21, Venezuelan)

Forwards: Gyasi Zardes (26, American), Edward Opoku (21, Ghanaian), Adam Jahn (26, American)

– – – – –

The Crew played much of the 2017 season with the looming thought of relocation to Austin, Texas. When owner, Anthony Precourt, began speaking of it as a legitimate possibility, fervent opposition came forward in support of the club. The play on the pitch seemed to get better, too, as Columbus stormed to the Eastern Conference Final, losing by one to eventual champions, Toronto FC.

Since then, the roster in Columbus has gone through a complete shakedown, altering the starting eleven in numerous ways. Three of its top four leading goal-scorers all departed over the winter, leaving a barren front. Enter: Gyasi Zardes.

The 26-year old American speedster never reached his full potential for the U.S. national team, often overshadowed by the likes of Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey. Jurgen Klinsmann and Bruce Arena seemed insistent on utilizing his pace as a winger, but his production stalled and all he did was age.

Thus far, the preseason in Columbus has treated Zardes well. He’s resumed scoring goals, giving Columbus hope that he can translate it to the regular season and fill the hole left by Ola Kamara and Justin Meram.

Of course, Zardes (probably) can’t match Kamara and Meram’s combined 31 goals, so some of the weight will have to be shouldered by attacking midfielder, Federico Higuain. Higuain dished out 14 assists last season, but his tally of nine goals won’t be enough to power a high-caliber attack.

The central midfield is anchored by young American, Wil Trapp, who played all 34 regular season matches for the Crew. The unsung hero for Columbus last season, though, was Artur, a holding midfielder in on loan from Sao Paolo FC. He was secured for good and will provide a huge boost in the middle third.

The wings are a completely different story, bolstering two unproven players with only 11 starts between them last season. Niko Hansen and Pedro Santos will attempt to provide relief for a team missing Meram and Kekuta Manneh, a tall task for the two internationals.

Milton Valenzuela will likely get the start at left back with Jukka Raitala out of the squad. Designated Player, Jonathan Mensah, stays put in the middle, as does Josh Williams. Harrison Afful is now 31 year-old, but will still lock down the right back slot come Saturday.

Columbus travels to BMO Field to face Toronto in an Eastern Conference Final rematch to kick off the season. The biggest focus will be on Zardes and the completely new attacking corps, but Marky Delgado and Jozy Altidore will surely look to exploit Valenzuela and his inexperience.

Projected Opening Day Squad:

The post Five New-Look Teams for the 2018 Major League Soccer Season appeared first on KRUI Radio.

***Disclaimer: Opinions expressed are my own.

Stoppage time heroics, Champions League showdowns, and a massive upset in Wigan. Here are some of the top headlines in soccer this week:

The Magic of the FA Cup

The English FA Cup is like soccer’s version of March Madness; anything can happen. And we were reminded of that this weekend after two wild finishes.

Tottenham made the long trip north to League One Rochdale for a Sunday clash that turned out to be a nailbiter. Ian Henderson scored for Rochdale just before halftime for his sixth goal of the competition, second most of this tournament. Spurs didn’t take long in the second half to respond, as Lucas Moura scored his first goal in his first start since joining the North London squad in January, leveling the score. Spurs seemed to have the game in the bag after Harry Kane converted a penalty kick in the 88th minute. But super sub Steve Davies scored in the third minute of stoppage time to reignite the Rochdale faithful, tying the game 2-2. That was the final score as Spurs will have to work the extra shift again in this cup, with the replay scheduled for February 28th at Wembley Stadium.

But the pixie dust didn’t stop there. The very next day, another League One team gave a Premier League opponent a run for the money. Citizens fans certainly were wary of this matchup though; Wigan famously won the FA Cup final over City in 2013, and beat City again the next year. City went down a man after Fabian Delph lost his cool with an angry tackle on opponent Max Power. The ref initially seemed prepared to issue a yellow-card for the challenge, but decided to issue a red card instead. Despite being down a man, City dominated the game, holding a whopping 82% of ball possession and outshooting Wigan 29-4. But a defensive mistake by Kyle Walker allowed Will Grigg to tee up from 18 yards and score in the 79th minute. And this proved to be the game winner as Wigan shocked Man City for the third straight occasion. The English-third-tier squad handed City just its third competitive loss all season.

UCL and CCL Action

Chelsea and Barca Duel in London

The Blues and Barcelona met in the Champions League for the first time since 2012, with the former hoping for a good start at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea had the better of scoring chances in the first half despite Barcelona holding more possession. Willian had three shots in this game: two which were denied by posts and one that went in the net. His goal arrived in the 62nd minute when he found space from 22 yards out and scored with a low drive. But an Andreas Christensen error allowed for Andrés Iniesta to steal the ball and find Messi, who scored the equalizer for the visitors. Barcelona will return home to Camp Nou knowing that their opponents have a mountain to climb.

Bayern Thrash Beşiktaş

Bayern Munich took 42 minutes to score in this game, but before long it was a flurry at the Allianz Arena. Thomas Müller and Robert Lewandowski each scored two goals in this one and Kingsley Colman scored too, giving the German giants a 5-0 win in the first leg. It didn’t help for Beşiktaş that center back Domagoj Vida was sent off in the 16th minute by denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity. Barring a miracle, Beşiktaş will be eliminated after leg two.

Sevilla Say ‘Game On’ Versus Man United

Sevilla FC rode into this week on a three-game winning streak and the team refused to back down to Man United on Wednesday. The Spanish squad was the better attacking team in this game, putting eight shots on target to United’s one, holding 57% of possession for the game and amassing a whopping 12 corners. Sevilla forced United ‘keeper David De Gea into two big saves just before halftime, including his save on Luis Muriel’s point-blank range header. United’s defense was able to hold strong as Sevilla kept its foot on the gas pedal in the second half, keeping the score in tact at 0-0 after leg one.

The concerning news for United is Ander Herrera injuring his hamstring in the 16th minute, slamming his boot to the ground in frustration. Herrera just returned from a three-week absence due to a muscular injury, and United manager Jose Mourinho stated that this injury concerns the same muscular area as the previous injury.

Shakhtar Rallies Back Versus Roma

Shakhtar Donetsk remains a perfect three-for-three versus Roma in UCL knockout games. The team is also 4-0 at home in Kharkiv, Ukraine for Champions League games this season. But the Giallorossi struck first when Edin Dzeko found Cengiz Ünder in the 41st minute. Donetsk tied the game in the 52nd minute when Yaroslav Rakitskiy played a long-ball in stride for Facundo Ferreyra, who cut inside on center back Konstantinos Manolas and tucked the ball past the onrushing Roma keeper. This was a game in which both goalkeepers made some big saves, and Roma keeper Alisson Becker was particularly involved in the second half. But the breakthrough came in the 71st minute when Shakhtar drew a free kick from 25 yards out and slightly on the right wing. Brazilian midfielder Frederico Rodrigues de Paula Santos (Fred) placed the kick over the wall and under the near post to score a great goal. If it wasn’t for a goal-line clearance from defender Bruno Peres in second half stoppage time, Shakhtar would be up 3-1 on aggregate right now. But Peres’ heroics preserved the 2-1 scoreline going into leg two in Italy.    

CONCACAF Champions League Starts with a Bang

The opening match of the CONCACAF Champions League didn’t disappoint. Tigres traveled to Costa Rica to take on Herediano in a game that had a late plot-twist. The teams were pretty even in the stats department, with Herediano leading Tigres 16-12 in shots while Tigres held 57% of possession. The scoring opened when Francisco Meza poked in a flick-on from Timothee Kolodziejczak. The Mexican side doubled its lead in the 59th minute, when Jurgen Damm paced down the right-wing and crossed to Lucas Zelarayan, who volleyed the ball at the far post to give Tigres its second away-goal. But the comeback started in the 89th minute when Kolodziejczak committed a handball in the box to award Herediano a penalty kick. Yendrick Ruíz converted to put the home team on the board. Minutes later, Herediano earned a free kick on the right-wing. Elias Aguilar sent the ball to the mixer, the ball deflected towards the post, and Jairo Arrieta headed in the equalizer. The spirited comeback not only made for great entertainment, but also gives Herediano some hope going into the second leg. Herediano may have conceded two away goals, but the team confidence is certainly up after the comeback: final score, 2-2.

Toronto off to the Right Start

Toronto FC fought through frigid temperatures to win the first leg over the Colorado Rapids 2-0. But the Rapids had their chances. Colorado had a great chance to draw first blood when Dominique Badji split the Reds’ back line, but his shot was too close to ‘keeper Alex Bono, who made a routine save. Justin Morrow opened the scoring in the 55th minute by heading a Sebastian Giovinco cross to the far post. The Italian maestro was not to be held off the scoresheet in this one, as Giovinco scored an impressive scissor-kick goal via an Auro Junior cross in the 73rd minute. The Rapids were shut out as Toronto has a comfortable 2-0 aggregate lead going home into leg two.  

Tauro Edges Out Dallas

Tauro FC beat Dallas 1-0 in Panama to earn its first Champions League win since beating Dallas in 2011. The teams were pretty even-steven in the stats department, but Edwin Aguilar headed home the lone goal off a corner kick in the 57th minute. Dallas keeper Jesse Gonzalez got a piece of the header, which looked to be an intended-pass instead of a shot. But Gonzalez couldn’t field the ball cleanly as it deflected off his hands and rolled past the goal-line. Dallas will look for revenge next Wednesday night back in Texas.

Club América Crushes Deportivo Saprissa  

Last week, I discussed that it was imperative for Saprissa to control the tempo at home against Club América. And for the most part, they did: their passing was pretty accurate and 43% possession isn’t that bad. But somehow the Purple Monster got annihilated 5-1 in Costa Rica. América started off the scoring in the 2nd minute when Cecilio Domínguez broke free and rolled a shot past the keeper. Mateus Uribe smashed a half-volley into the net in the 35th minute to double the lead. Cecilio Domínguez got his brace in the 45th minute off a breakaway which resulted in him scoring from 16 yards out. Renato Ibarra made it 4-0 in the 59th minute by placing a low shot into the corner by the keeper’s left side from atop the penalty area. América’s shutout was snapped in the 74th when Ariel Rodriguez followed his rebound to score from six yards out. But América would get one more when Uribe got his brace with a low shot from near the top of the penalty area. Las Águilas should have this series all wrapped up. They’re the most successful team in CONCACAF history and they aren’t showing any signs of slowing down for this tournament.  

Rivero’s Wondergoal Separates Tijuana and Motagua

Tijuana leads Motagua 1-0 on aggregate with the goal counting as an away goal. This game was played at neutral site Edinburg, Texas. Ignacio Rivero scored a fabulous goal in the 71st minute, receiving a low cross from teammate Julio Angulo and lobbing the shot past the keeper. Jonathan Rougier made some big saves to keep the deficit at just 1-0 for Motagua.

Chivas Gets Late Insurance Goal

It looked like Chivas was going to bring a 1-0 lead vs. Cibao back to Guadalajara, Mexico. But they got a big second away goal in second half stoppage time courtesy 18-year-old Jose Juan Macias, who scored courtesy good one-touch passing. The first goal was scored by Jesús Sánchez, who drove a low shot to the near post from close range in the 40th minute. The Goats are in good shape versus the Dominican Republic side.

Santa Tecla vs. Seattle Sounders

The Seattle Sounders lacked a handful of starters due to injury for this game. But that didn’t stop the Rave Green from starting strong. Nicolás Lodeiro scored the goal of the tournament thus far in the 15th minute, when a Sounders attack prompted Santa Tecla keeper Joel Almeida off his line. A Santa Tecla player broke up a through pass, only for the ball to trickle right to Lodeiro, who placed a perfect lob over Almeida’s head and into the net from 40 yards out. But Santa Tecla stormed back in the second half, putting the pressure on the Sounders. And the Salvadoran squad tied the game in the 67th minute when Gerson Mayen pounced on a rebounded shot from right in front of goal. Santa Tecla drew a questionable penalty kick minutes later, but Mayen made no mistake from the PK spot, rolling the ball past Sounders keeper Stefan Frei to make it 2-1. The former U.S. U-20 international’s two goals give Santa Tecla a slim advantage going into leg two.   

Olimpia vs. New York Red Bulls

Olimpia and the New York Red Bulls tied 1-1 in Olimpia’s series home-leg at neutral site San José, Costa Rica. Daniel Royer is picking up where he left off last year, scoring via a header in the 31st minute from a great, long cross by Bradley Wright-Phillips. In the second half, Michaell Chirinos drew a penalty conceded by New York’s Aurelien Collin, and Brayan Moya converted the PK to make it 1-1. Olimpia created chances and was pretty even with New York in most regards, but the Red Bulls will be frustrated at the fact that Olimpia still tied them despite getting just one shot on goal. The Red Bulls lead the series for now by virtue of the away goal tiebreaker as the teams travel to New York for the second leg.   

The post In Case You Missed It: Top Stories in Soccer (February 17th-23rd) appeared first on KRUI Radio.

***Disclaimer: Opinions expressed are my own

For more info on the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League, visit https://www.concacafchampionsleague.com/

This week’s top soccer headlines may have been in Europe. But plenty of talent will be showcased on this continent next week.

That’s because the CONCACAF Champions League is just around the corner, and while it might not yield the same prestige as the UEFA Champions League, it’s just as important for the clubs involved. The winner not only claims supremacy of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (try saying that five times fast): it also books a ticket to the FIFA Club World Cup this December.   

Let’s take a look at the competition, which begins next Tuesday:

* Stats through Thursday, February 15th, 7:00 pm central time

** All times listed in central time

***First team listed for each matchup hosts first leg

Herediano vs. Tigres

First Leg: February 20th, 7 pm

Second Leg: February 27th, 7 pm

Tigres has taken major strides in the past eight years, going from the verge of domestic relegation to the edge of CONCACAF glory. “So close you can almost taste it.” This is a quote that Tigres won’t want to think about; the club has been runner-up for the last two editions of the Champions League. And while the club has vastly improved from near domestic relegation, these players really want the trophy. Tigres is currently winless in its last three games, sitting in 11th place in the Liga MX Clausura table. I expect them to play a conservative lineup versus Atlas on Saturday before traveling to Costa Rica.

Herediano is in 2nd place in the Costa Rican Primera División, and they also have a Saturday game. Herediano’s best run in this tournament was in 2014-2015, reaching the semifinals before defeat to eventual champion Club América. If recent history tells us anything, Herediano will be in trouble if it ties or loses this home game (especially if it loses); Herediano is winless in its last four Champions League road games. Watch attacking players like Yendrick Ruiz try to avoid falling into that trap on Tuesday.

Colorado Rapids vs. Toronto FC

First Leg: February 20th, 9 pm

Second Leg: February 27th, 7 pm

Toronto FC was the greatest team in MLS history in 2017. People can talk about D.C. United from ‘98 and the LA Galaxy of 2000, the only only MLS teams to win a CONCACAF title (from back when it was the Champions Cup era). People can talk about any of the other teams that had historic seasons. But simply put, 2017 Toronto FC won the domestic treble last year: Canadian Championship, Supporters Shield, MLS Cup.

The Reds amassed the most points in an MLS regular season last year. Sebastian Giovinco scored 20 goals across all competitions last year and is, by my account, one of the best set-piece specialists in the world. Jozy Altidore added 18 goals across all comp’s. And Michael Bradley silenced some haters with his brick-wall performances, especially in the MLS Cup final.

No MLS team has ever had a better chance to win the CONCACAF Champions League than Toronto FC this year. And no MLS team has won the CONCACAF Champions League. The Reds will be the heavy favorite for this matchup. They still aren’t the title favorite (I’d go with Club América). But as Toronto FC taught us last year, the sky is the limit.

The team has been playing exhibition games in Mexico, and will be aided by bringing in Gregory van der Wiel and Auro (the later of the two is currently on loan).  

The Colorado Rapids occupied the 2016 Supporters’ Shield berth for this tournament (Dallas won the Supporters Shield, but Colorado got the berth because Dallas was already qualified via the U.S. Open Cup). But we surely wouldn’t have known that after a dismal 2017 season. The Rapids had the third fewest points in the league last year, posting a horrific road record of one win, fourteen losses and two ties (you read that correctly). The team scored the second fewest goals in MLS and conceded the ninth most in MLS. They brought in Anthony Hudson as their new manager in November, and the former New Zealand national team coach has brought in New Zealand internationals Tommy Smith, Kip Colvey, and Deklan Wynne. The team has also declined contract options on a variety of players, including Alan Gordon. We’ll see what that means for this matchup.

Tauro FC vs. FC Dallas

First Leg: February 21st, 7 pm

Second Leg: February 28th, 7 pm

Tauro FC is the lone Panamanian representative. The team has had an odd run of one win and five draws to start the season. Tauro is still looking for its first Champions League point in history, going 0-4 in 2014-15 with just two goals to show for. The club plays its home games at Estadio Rommel Fernández, the venue where Panama’s national team earned its dramatic World Cup berth.

FC Dallas collapsed in the second half of the season, and for that reason, their MLS postseason absence was well-deserved. But it was a real shocker for a team that won the 2016 U.S. Open Cup, won the 2016 Supporters Shield, and reached the Champions League semis last year.

Dallas has brought in nine new players, including Designated Player Santiago Mosquera. The team will be favored in this matchup, but its players need to step up.

Saprissa vs. Club América

First Leg: February 21st, 7 pm

Second Leg: February 28th, 9 pm

Club América is the most successful team in CONCACAF history. Las Águilas have claimed seven Champions League titles, the most of any team. That included back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016.

Club América finished third in Mexico’s Apertura season before getting eliminated in the Apertura playoff semifinals. América is in first place in the Clausura seven games in. Oribe Peralta will continue to be the goalscoring menace to watch for in this series.

Saprissa is also a historically successful CONCACAF team. The Purple Monster won three Champions Cups (again, the old era) and has participated in the last three Champions League tournaments. Saprissa is currently third place in the Costa Rican league with a league home game on Sunday afternoon before hosting Ámerica on Tuesday. It’s imperative that Saprissa control the tempo versus Ámerica, given that this will be Saprissa’s third game in eight days. Watch for David Ramírez in this series; his six goals are tied for third in the early-going of this Costa Rican season.

Motagua vs. Tijuana

First Leg: February 21st, 9 pm

Second Leg: February 27th, 9 pm

F.C. Motagua is happy to be back in the fold for the second time in the last three editions of the Champions League, having missed out last time around. The Blue Cyclone hasn’t advanced from a CONCACAF two-leg aggregate series since 1993. But the team is in first place and undefeated in the Honduran league. What’s more? Their opponent isn’t the toughest matchup on paper; Tijuana is in 12th place in Mexico. Motagua has had plenty of notable players on their team in the past, and Román Castillo has four goals in eight league games. The Blue Cyclone will be poised to storm out of the gate in this series.

Tijuana will head south for what will be its second trip in three games. The team roster includes players like Miller Bolaños, Yasser Corona, and former American international Michael Orozco. Los Xolos will be keen to make the most out of this tournament; their only other appearance in the Champions League was in 2013-2014, when they reached the semifinals before falling to Cruz Azul. Despite being a mid-table team in Mexico right now, Los Xolos know that they can make a name for themselves in the Champions League.

Cibao FC vs. Chivas

First Leg: February 22nd, 7 pm

Second Leg: February 28th, 7 pm

Cibao FC is making its first Champions League appearance in its three-year club history after winning the 2017 Caribbean Club Championship. In the process, Cibao also became the first team from the three-year-old Dominican Republic league to reach the Champions League. If you are rooting for an underdog in this tournament, Cibao is your team. However, just as Tijuana has had a mediocre start in the Mexican league, so has Chivas. Captained by Rafael Flores, Cibao FC will aim to use the first leg to put itself in the best shape possible for the trip to Guadalajara, because Cibao is David in this series and Chivas is Goliath.

Chivas won the Mexican Clausura playoffs last spring, but things have been different since then. Captained by Carlos Salcido, The Goats failed to make the Apertura playoffs after finishing 13th place in the regular season. While they have been successful historically in Mexico, The Goats are not the G.O.A.T. in CONCACAF finals; they’ve claimed one Champions Cup in 1962. But don’t underestimate this team going forward. Chivas has a lot of game changers, like Orbelín Pineda and Rodolfo Pizarro. The Goats will look for a clinical start to Champions League play to consolidate for their thus-far underwhelming league-play.

Santa Tecla vs. Seattle Sounders

First Leg: February 22nd, 9 pm

Second Leg: March 1st, 9 pm

Like Cibao, Santa Tecla FC deserves credit for reaching milestones in its brief club history. Founded in 2007, Santa Tecla FC appeared in the 2015-2016 Champions League and has won three Salvadoran first-tier titles (and El Salvador’s first-tier league has been around since 1969). Santa Tecla is the lone Salvadoran team to qualify for this edition of the tournament. The club will look to its young but experienced defense to weather the storm against Seattle; three defenders are Salvadoran internationals aged 22 or younger. And 31-year-old Ricardinho is showing no signs of slowing down for this team, scoring five goals in seven league games.

Seattle is in its fifth Champions League tournament in club history. The Sounders qualified for this tournament by winning the 2016 MLS Cup, their first MLS Cup in club history. The Sounders will be favorites in this series, and while Toronto FC exacted revenge on them in MLS last year, bear in mind that the Rave Green have reached the Champions League knockout stage in three of their four tournament appearances, including in 2012 when they made the semifinals. One of the questions the Sounders will be asking themselves, not only for this series but for the whole season, is how to use Jordan Morris. The 2016 MLS Rookie of the Year scored just three goals in 23 league games last season, and both Seattle along with the US national team are still trying to figure out whether he’s best as a striker or a winger. Seattle has a lot of attacking talent in Clint Dempsey, Nicolás Lodeiro and company. Head coach Brian Schmetzer has a big task on his shoulders: setting up that attack to be more lethal in 2018.

Olimpia vs. New York Red Bulls

First Leg: February 22nd, 9 pm

Second Leg: March 1st, 7 pm

Olimpia is the only Honduran team to claim CONCACAF supremacy (winning the 1972 and 1988 Champions Cups). Los Leones reached the quarterfinals in 2011 and 2015. They finished third place in the Honduran Apertura playoffs in December, and are currently in second place early in the Clausura season. Olimpia will be a solid opponent for the Red Bulls. Defensively, Johnny Palacios and company have gone six games straight conceding less than two goals. As for the attack? Michaell Chirinos, Carlos Costly and Diego Reyes have combined for ten goals early in the Clausura season.

The New York Red Bulls are making their fourth appearance in the Champions League. They qualified for this edition of the tournament by finishing in first place in the MLS Eastern Conference in 2016. Last year marked the only time the club has reached the Champions League knockout stage, losing to the eventual runner-up Vancouver Whitecaps. The Red Bulls finished sixth in the Eastern Conference last season and were eliminated in the Conference semis, and just like last season, there’s reason for feelings to be mixed about 2018: Bradley Wright Phillips scored 24 goals in 42 games across all comp’s last year, Tyler Adams is a rising star at age 18, and Daniel Royer proved he can deliver in big moments. But Kljestan is with Orlando now, the center back situation is still in question, and simply put, this team needs to make a deep run like they did in this tournament last year. Sure, an Eastern Conference trophy is nice, and so are two Supporters Shields. But the Red Bulls have had plenty of MLS seasons where they dominated the regular season just to fall short in the MLS playoffs. The Red Bulls have zero MLS Cup titles and zero U.S. Open Cup titles. But a strong showing in this series and beyond in the Champions League can instill confidence for this team to win knockout games.    

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