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MLS Newsstand - October 20, 2016

October 20, 2016 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


1. Jermaine Jones expected to return soon, could make Rapids even more dangerous in playoffs

By John Meyer Denver Post - October 19, 2016

COMMERCE CITY - The Rapids have a special weapon for the playoffs who drives a khaki green BMW X6 with California vanity plates. Both car and driver, Jermaine Jones, are high-performance products of Germany. Jones has a friend who customizes cars, hence the Beamer's unique military hue.

"He told me, 'Let's do something special,' " Jones said this week. "I said, 'OK, I let him do it.' Since then we say it's the German Panzer."

Jones, a star on the U.S. national team thanks to his dual American-German citizenship, was the Rapids' most exciting player during the first half of the season, scoring three goals and adding two assists in eight starts. He then left to play with the U.S. national team in the Copa America, playing five games with a goal and an assist. But in his first game back with the Rapids on July 4, he sprained a knee. Only now is he revealing how serious it was. The lateral collateral ligament was ripped almost completely off the bone.

"This is why it took so long," Jones said. "We were trying to keep it (quiet). But it was a bad injury and I was lucky. The doctor told me if it was ripped from the bone (completely) I would be out 6-8 months. It's 14 weeks I think."

Now Jones seems ready to return, and he hopes to get "some minutes" in Sunday's regular season finale against Houston at Dick's Sporting Goods Park with full availability a week later for the Rapids first playoff game. If the Rapids win Sunday and FC Dallas loses at Los Angeles, the Rapids will claim the MLS Supporters' Shield and secure homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.

"It's so far a good season, and now I see (the injury) from a different way," Jones said. "I say, 'Colorado gets a new player for the playoffs.' I try to give my impact to the team what I showed already, I try to score goals and hope that we can say, at the end of the season, that we are champions."

Jones is an experienced veteran who is a leader on the field and in the locker room. Coach Pablo Mastroeni said Jones can direct players on the fly during a game to make adjustments that otherwise might have to wait for halftime.

"He's a very important player, not only for us but the U.S. national team," Mastroeni said. "I think what he brings is a mentality that is synonymous with everything we've wanted to be this year. His unwavering desire to compete, and do whatever it takes to win, you see it every day in training.

"Getting Jermaine back at this time is not only good because he's a great player and he's a great leader, but how his energy and competitiveness is exuded throughout the group and the psychological effect it has on our opponents. Now he becomes a topic of conversation for our opponents that we haven't had in a while."

Jones, 34, is a native of Frankfurt and the son of a U.S. Army soldier who was stationed there. He played 15 seasons in Germany's Bundesliga, but the intensity of his play at New England (2014-15) and in Colorado this year make it clear he's not here just to pick up paychecks in the twilight of his career. He dives into situations where he knows he's probably going to get kicked and risk injury.

"I was always a guy who wanted to step on the field and make a difference and win games," Jones said. "I go where it hurts. You can say, 'With his age, he still goes there and tries everything, and there's a risk that he gets injured,' but that's my personality. I always want to win and I want to do my best for that club or for the country."

With New England he was one of the league's high-priced "designated players." He lost that distinction in Colorado, but that only added to his motivation.

"OK," he thought, "I will show everybody that my quality is a DP player. Put money aside, I know for the last two years you guys (Rapids) don't make the playoffs, let's change that and let me bring my impact to this team. Colorado can be a championship team and maybe win something."

Now the Rapids are in the position to do just that, made more dangerous by his imminent return.

2. Injury to FC Dallas star Mauro Diaz may boost Rapids' chances of winning Supporters' Shield

By John Meyer Denver Post - October 19, 2016

COMMERCE CITY - With one game remaining the Rapids are still in the hunt for the MLS Supporters' Shield that goes to the team with the best regular-season record, and maybe their chances improved because of misfortune suffered by frontrunner FC Dallas on Sunday.

FCD's talented playmaker Mauro Diaz was injured in a win against Seattle on Sunday and is out for the season with an Achilles tendon injury, according to a Sports Illustrated report. For the Rapids to claim the Supporters' Shield they need to beat Houston at home Sunday and FC Dallas has to lose Sunday at Los Angeles. That could be a tough challenge for FCD, which not only must play without Diaz but also plays in Guatemala on Thursday in a CONCACAF Champions League game.

Rapids coach Pablo Mastroeni had little to say Wednesday about the Diaz injury and how it might affect his team's fortunes.

"It's never been about what other teams are doing, who other teams have on the field," Mastroeni said. "It's always been about us and being a better version of us every game, continuing to fine tune the way we want to play. I've read about the Diaz situation. They're a very good team and they're not built around one player."

The Rapids can complete an unbeaten season at home Sunday. They are 11-0-5 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Striker Kevin Doyle has repeatedly said he would love to finish the regular season unbeaten at home because he'd never been on a team that did, but Mastroeni doesn't think much about that.

"I'm not one of these end-point guys, I'm a process person," Mastroeni said. "If you do all the little things right in the course of 90 minutes, you will put yourself in a great position to win the game. Awards and achievements are only there to be enjoyed after the fact. What is the driving force moving us forward? There's silverware there. We've got a treasure map. We know where the treasure lies. The motivation every day to walk hours and hours in this jungle is to try to find the treasure. That keeps us motivated, it keeps us intact, it keeps us disciplined, it keeps camaraderie in the group."

3. With MLS playoffs near, D.C. United hitting stride at right time

By Steven Goff Washington Post - October 19, 2016

D.C. United is surging into its regular season finale Sunday at Orlando, a two-month torrent that, on the surface, would seem to portend good fortune in the MLS playoffs, which begin next week.

But does a strong finish to a long campaign guarantee success in a postseason with little margin for error?

"The fact we are playing well and are fairly healthy I think gives us a real shot to at least make a run," United Coach Ben Olsen said. "But still it's a one-off game [next Wednesday or Thursday]. If you don't show up, you're done."

United is unbeaten in six straight (4-0-2) and has lost once in three months (6-1-6). The only defeat was a strange one: D.C. scored a stoppage-time equalizer against New York City FC on Sept. 1 at Yankee Stadium, then conceded a late match-winner. Olsen's gang has gone from one of MLS's feeblest attacks to one of its most lethal: 31 goals in 12 matches after 10 in the previous 13.

United's challenge, to reach MLS Cup on Dec. 10, is heightened by a first-round game. Should it advance to the two-leg conference semifinals, D.C. would have a third match over seven or eight days. Only two teams per conference will receive first-round byes and up to seven days to prepare for the conference semis. Since MLS implemented first-round matches in 2011, though, two teams have come out of the early stage to reach the championship game (Houston in 2012 and Portland last year) and one has won it all (Portland).

The Insider scanned the previous 12 seasons to examine the late-season form of teams that went on to win MLS Cup and those that failed to convert regular season form into playoff joy.

What we found is that all 12 champions enjoyed good to great results down the stretch before navigating the postseason and lifting the trophy.

2004: D.C. United (5-1-0)

2005: L.A. Galaxy (3-2-1)

2006: Houston Dynamo (2-0-4)

2007: Houston Dynamo (5-1-3)

2008: Columbus Crew (7-1-3)

2009: Real Salt Lake (4-3-1)

2010: Colorado Rapids (3-1-3)

2011: L.A. Galaxy (7-2-1)

2012: L.A. Galaxy (6-1-3)

2013: Sporting Kansas City (6-1-1)

2014: L.A. Galaxy (8-2-3)

2015: Portland Timbers (4-1-0)

How did other strong regular season finishers fare in the playoffs? Remarkably, many teams in great form didn't even advance to the conference finals:

2004: Columbus Crew (8-0-10, lost in conference semis)

2005: San Jose Earthquakes (11-0-3, lost in conference semis)

2006: New England Revolution (5-0-2, lost in MLS Cup on penalties)

2007: Chivas USA (7-1-5, lost in conference semis)

2008: Sporting Kansas City (5-1-1, lost in conference semis)

2009: Seattle Sounders (4-1-3, lost in conference semis)

2010: Seattle Sounders (5-1-1, lost in conference semis)

2011: Seattle Sounders (8-2-1, lost in conference semis)

2012: San Jose Earthquakes (5-0-4, lost in conference semis)

2013: New York Red Bulls (6-0-2, lost in conference semis)

2014: Columbus Crew (6-1-1, lost in conference semis)

2015: Montreal Impact (7-2-2, lost in conference semis)

This year, United isn't the only surging team: The New York Red Bulls are 8-0-7, while the Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas and Seattle Sounders are 4-1-2. On the down side, the playoff-bound Philadelphia Union is 0-4-2, Real Salt Lake is 0-3-3 and Toronto 0-1-4.

United will finish fourth or fifth in the Eastern Conference and face the Montreal Impact or Philadelphia on Oct. 26 or 27. If United takes fourth, it will host the playoff match. If D.C. slips to fifth, it will visit Montreal. (Philadelphia cannot finish fourth.)

United would clinch fourth place with a victory, a Montreal defeat, or a loss combined with a Montreal draw as DCU wins the second tiebreaker, goal differential. (The first tiebreaker is total victories.)

Playing at RFK Stadium would be advantageous for United, which is on a 6-0-3 spurt at home with a 25-9 goal differential.

"We are a tough team to play against, on the road or at home," captain Bobby Boswell said. "Obviously at home we are a little bit of a different beast, so it would be good to have home-field advantage. I don't think anyone wants to come here and play."

MLS will not set the days and times of the four first-round playoff matches until after the completion of Sunday's regular season finales; all 10 games will kick off at 4 p.m. ET.

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Midfielder Marcelo Sarvas (knee), defender Sean Franklin (calf) and defender Kofi Opare (concussion) are training with the full squad. Franklin is further along than Sarvas, and the club was expecting Opare to clear protocol this week. Because of their long absences, none would figure into Olsen's immediate plans, but all three could be in uniform at some point in the playoffs.

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With an assist Sunday, Luciano Acosta is now tied for seventh in MLS with 11, the most by a United player since Jaime Moreno posted 14 in 2004. Moreno also had 11 in 2006. Dwayne De Rosario recorded 12 in 2012, but five were with two other teams before he arrived in Washington.

United has climbed to fifth in team goals (51), fourth in assists (53), second in shots (14.0 per game) and seventh in shots on goal (4.85). The club is also first in fouls committed (15.1 per game), fourth in yellow cards (65) and second in offside violations (92).

United leads the league in goals scored between the 31st and 45th minutes (12) and those scored after the 75th minute (17).

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Boswell is sporting a bandaged right cheek, cut open by Jefferson Mena's head an instant after the DCU center back scored the second goal Sunday at RFK. Stitches required?

"They told me three, but I counted four. Either I am really dumb or they are really dumb. I'm hoping it's me," Boswell said. "Things like that happen. You don't always get to say it was on a goal."

Boswell, on his first-half cross to defensive partner Steve Birnbaum for a volley that streaked wide:

"The old goalkeeper to the left center back on the right to the right center back on the left for the volley. You'll have to talk to Steve. He blew that. He blew our chance at glory, highlight for eternity."

4. MLS Decision Day looms for Galaxy, FC Dallas

By Nick Green Daily Breeze - October 19, 2016

A short-handed Galaxy will face a similarly weakened FC Dallas in a nationally televised contest Sunday (1 p.m. Fox Sports 1) in Carson to close out the MLS regular season.

A tie is all FC Dallas requires to clinch the regular-season title. The only drama for the Galaxy is learning which of four teams it will host in a knockout playoff opener Oct. 26 or Oct. 27.

Four Western Conference teams - Real Salt Lake, Sporting Kansas City, Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers - are jockeying for the final three playoff spots, and the Galaxy could play any of them in the post-season.

In an attempt to ramp up the drama on what MLS is dubbing Decision Day, Fox and ESPN are rolling out the broadcast bells and whistles.

Rob Stone will be at StubHub to anchor studio coverage along with former Galaxy GM Alexi Lalas and former U.S. National Women's Team coach Tony DiCicco. The broadcast includes live look-ins at the other nine MLS games, which will be played simultaneously.

The match immediately follows the USWNT-Switzerland exhibition game at 10:45 a.m. on FS1.

Meanwhile, ESPN will show the Sounders-Salt Lake game. ESPN2 has a two-hour "MLS Decision Day Whiparound" show airing highlights from the day's games as they occur.

Incidentally, Kansas City plays San Jose, while the Timbers - winless on the road this year - visits Vancouver to play the Whitecaps, needing a win to advance to the playoffs.

While that latter little factoid is enough to kill any Decision Day tension just by itself, Dallas will also be fighting an uphill battle against recent history in Carson, where the Galaxy have lost just once this season.

On top of that, Dallas will be without star player Mauro Diaz, who hobbled off in second-half stoppage time during a 2-1 win over Seattle this past weekend - minutes after setting up former Galaxy striker Carlos Ruiz for the winner - with a suspected torn Achilles.

Surgery that would finish the season for the 25-year-old Argentine was scheduled for Wednesday. FC Dallas fans may fear the MLS leaders may also find their year ending prematurely given Diaz' central role for the club.

The Galaxy are also struggling with injuries, of course, with stars like Gyasi Zardes, Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard missing a string of recent games.

Not only may Keane and Gerrard have pulled on a Galaxy jersey for the final time this season, that might be the case for their MLS careers, too.

That suggestion was made recently to coach Bruce Arena, who didn't confirm or deny the aging pair will call it a day when asked whether the club faced a major offseason rebuilding project if they did.

"Two players leaving isn't rebuilding a team," he said somewhat coyly.

Still, the wild card Sunday could be Ruiz, who has delighted in playing a "fly in the ointment" role throughout his career.

At age 37, Ruiz may be almost a decade removed from his second and final abbreviated Galaxy season, but he scored his first MLS goal in five years Sunday and is reveling in what will likely be a short end-of-year stint with Dallas, much in the same vein as Landon Donovan for the Galaxy.

"I'm so glad to be here," Ruiz said after the game. "This is a miracle from God. I'm a believer and after 37 years and (to) still (be) playing here is unbelievable."

ETC.

Sunday is also Galaxy Fan Appreciation Day, with the club set to hand out freebies to fans and name the Player of the Year.

5. A dramatic finale in Seattle, the midfield dilemma and Movsisyan's heel

By Christopher Kamrani Salt Lake Tribune - October 19, 2016

Sandy - Before what could've been the first day of the last week of training during its 2016 season, Jeff Cassar gathered his players and addressed much of what has transpired since Real Salt Lake very first convened in late January for entrance physicals. The RSL head coach said that yes, his group remains frustrated with its lack of production across the board as of late. His advice: Don't lose sight of what led to this dramatic weekend.

"Now we have everything in front of us," Cassar said. "I just wanted to motivate the guys to feel good."

Last week of the regular season. Fourth place in the Western Conference, sitting on 46 points, three days away from boarding a flight to Seattle where the upstart Sounders await RSL, hoping for their own bit of fall fortune Sunday afternoon at CenturyLink Field. RSL's position, despite some lingering flaws exposed the last two months, is one to be proud of, Cassar told his team. A knockout round postseason game is still in play with a win or a draw.

"Now we're going to need a complete game to finish exactly where we want to be," Cassar said.

RSL's 27 playoff scenarios were so politely mapped out by RSL PR staffer Matt Gaschk earlier this week. If you so dare, dive in, try and imagine the possibilities of how the dust will settle come Sunday afternoon. But it's been over four years since RSL last won in Seattle. The club is riding a five-game losing streak there in which it has conceded 14 goals - that's nearly three goals allowed a game.

Asked if this game will demand more of a defensive presence from wide forwards Joao Plata and Burrito Martinez, Cassar a road game of this magnitude demands each player provide as much attention to that side of the ball as the attacking portion.

"It needs to be everyone," he said. "Once it gets past them, they've got to turn and pressure back. Are we going to just pack it in? Probably not. Because you can't do that for 90 minutes, but we'll come up with a good game-plan, have everybody on board, but everyone has to play defense in these kinds of games."

No Movsisyan at training

RSL forward Yura Movsisyan was absent from Wednesday's training session, but is expected to return Thursday. The 29-year-old forward was subbed off earlier than anticipated in Sunday's 0-0 home draw against Sporting Kansas City after his bruised left heel was knocked by defender Matt Besler.

"It's day-to-day because he'll be out at training tomorrow," Cassar said. "We're just trying to minimize the impact on his heel."

Movsisyan has nine goals and three assists in 2016, but has been slowed since suffering the injury in training in late September. His start against Kansas City was his first since the team's only home loss of the year against Houston on Sept. 17.

Sunny or Luke?

The third midfield role has been a flex position for RSL as of late. So will Cassar go with midfielder Sunday Stephen or Luke Mulholland Sunday in Seattle? Wait and find out, he said.

"We'll see what it's going to look like at the end of the week," Cassar explained. "I'm not going to say what combination I'm going to go with now because it'd be foolish for Seattle to know what we're going to do. We'll be working on it throughout the week and we'll all be on the same page once the game comes on Sunday."

The two have alternated starts since Sunny's return to a full bill of health in early September. The Nigerian midfielder started in Portland on Sept. 10, received one-game suspension by the MLS Disciplinary Committee for contact on Timbers forward Fanendo Adi, which was served in RSL's loss to Houston the following weekend. Sunny returned to the lineup in RSL's 2-1 road loss at San Jose, but Mulholland has started the last three home matches against Houston, FC Dallas and most recently Kansas City.

Grabavoy will hang 'em up

In true Ned Grabavoy fashion, the longtime RSL midfielder quietly announced the 2016 season would be his last in MLS on Tuesday. The 33-year-old midfielder now with the Portland Timbers will retire when Portland's season comes to an end. A two-time MLS Cup champion - once with RSL in 2009 - Grabavoy has made 301 league appearances and 225 starts for six different clubs.

Grabavoy made 159 appearances in six seasons at RSL and was a staple of team's run to four respective Cup finals until his departure in Dec. 2014 when New York City FC selected him in the 2014 Expansion Draft.

"I knew before [it was announced], but we talked a little bit about it," said RSL captain Kyle Beckerman said. "I just wanted to make sure he was sure about it. But it's a sad day. I know he's got other plans in mind and other challenges he wants to tackle. All the best to him. We miss him here."

6. TFC re-signs young veteran Marky Delgado to multi-year deal

By Laura Armstrong Toronto Star - October 19, 2016

With nearly 100 Major League Soccer appearances under his belt, Marky Delgado is already a veteran.

So it's easy to forget the Toronto FC midfielder is just 21 years old.

It even slips Greg Vanney's mind from time to time, even though the coach has known Delgado since their days at the Chivas USA youth academy before the American signed a "MLS Homegrown" contract in 2012.

"It seems like he's been here a while. He's been a pro since he was 16, so his best years are still very much in front of him," Vanney said Wednesday.

It's that valuable league experience, coupled with his young age, which prompted the Reds to re-sign Delgado to a multi-year contract this week. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Delgado made $102,500 (U.S.) last season, according to figures released by MLS' Players Union.

"Marky has earned this extension through his consistent production and has developed into a key contributor over the past two seasons for our club," general manager Tim Bezbatchenko said in a statement.

"He has been a reliable part of our roster and our coaching staff is pleased with his development and potential as a young player within our league."

Delgado, who has played in 28 league games this season with 23 starts, is feeling good about himself as the ink dries on his new deal.

The midfielder said he believes becoming more consistent is key to a player's game as one grows older. He's glad people around the club, like Bezbatchenko and Vanney, are seeing that in him.

"Having (Michael Bradley) and Jozy (Altidore) and (Sebastian Giovinco) and all the star players around me, it has really helped me develop as a player, on the field, mentally-wise and physically," Delgado said.

"I really feel I've improved in a lot of ways, being around them."

And on those days he's not feeling quite so good about himself, like when he doesn't get a start, Delgado knows Vanney has his back.

"He's been there for me," Delgado said. "I've had times throughout the season I've felt like that. He took me to the side and he had a deep conversation with me and it's really helpful."

The feeling is mutual for Vanney, who touts Delgado as a reliable player in more ways than one. He can play as both an attacking and holding midfielder and is always up for whatever the coaches ask of him.

"He's always doing the work that we put in front of him. Those are the types of guys that we want around," Vanney said.

Players like Delgado are crucial to the success of Toronto FC, which would be heavily reliant on its three designated players if it wasn't for talented utility players like the midfielder.

And Vanney has high hopes for Delgado in the future.

"He'll keep maturing as a player and I would prefer that to be with us rather than anywhere else."

7. TFC coach Vanney: Playoff bye would be a 'huge bonus'

By John Molinaro SportsNet.ca - October 19, 2016

Toronto FC was back in training on Wednesday ahead of its home game against the Chicago Fire this weekend.

Here are some news and notes from today's practice at the club's training facility in Downsview.

Playoff picture breakdown Toronto FC enters Sunday's regular-season finale needing a bit of help if it's going to secure a coveted first-round bye in the playoffs.

The Reds can finish no lower than third in the Eastern Conference, and at the very least they are guaranteed of hosting a single-elimination first-round match at BMO Field next week, most likely against the Philadelphia Union, but possibly versus the Montreal Impact or the New England Revolution.

The aim, however, is to finish top two in the East, thus securing a bye and ensuring home-field advantage in the two-legged conference semifinals. Toronto can't catch the New York Red Bulls for first place, but they sit just a point back of second-place New York City FC.

For TFC to finish second, they need to beat Chicago and hope that NYCFC loses or draws at home to the Columbus Crew on Sunday. If Toronto and New York end up tied on points (if TFC draws and NYCFC loses this weekend), New York would finish second by virtue of earning more total wins this season (14 vs. 13), which is the first tie breaker.

It wasn't that long ago that TFC was in first place in the East, and looked a solid bet to finish in the top two. But a four-game homestand that saw the club collect just three out of a possible 12 points, combined with a 2-2 draw in Montreal over the weekend, means Toronto no longer controls its fate in terms of playoff seeding.

Vanney described having that first-round bye as a "huge bonus."

"It puts you in a situation where you're in a two leg playoff series. In one game, anything can happen - in two games, there are fewer circumstances where one play can dictate things," Vanney said.

"You have more ability to make adjustments, more ability to prepare for things... There's a lot of benefit to it, for sure."

That's an understatement, especially in the case of Toronto who, based on its current run of results (winless in five games, with four draws), would dearly love to have the extra time off, and the direct spot in the East semifinals without having to play a potentially tricky single-elimination game.

Defensive adjustments Toronto's defensive improvement this season has been well documented, but the Reds haven't been as solid at the back end in recent weeks, conceding eight goals in their last five contests.

On Sunday at Stade Saputo, the Reds had to twice come back from a goal down to earn a 2-2 draw with the Impact, with Montreal's Ignacio Piatti proving to be especially tough to contain. There's no question that the team overall hasn't been as defensively sound compared to earlier in the campaign.

So, what's going on? Vanney believes his players have to do a better job of stopping opponents when they're in transition and that TFC's defensive shape has to be more compact.

"In my opinion, we're too spread apart. Especially against some of these teams that have a Piatti, these guys who can get on the ball, who are very crafty on the dribble, and if we don't have numbers around them and support to the first defender, then we're getting ourselves in these tough situations," Vanney explained.

"We have to be more attentive to our shape behind the ball, we have to recover quicker and get support to that first defender, and when we actually get into our defensive shape we have to be closer and tighter to each other. We've been too spread out."

Delgado signs new deal Toronto FC announced on Wednesday morning that it has re-signed midfielder Marco Delgado to a multi-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not released.

Delgado, a 21-year-old native of California, is in his second season with TFC and fifth in MLS. Since being acquired by the Reds in the 2014 MLS Dispersal Draft of former Chivas USA players, Delgado has played in 48 league games (42 as a starter), with five goals and five assists. Delgado has two goals in MLS in 2016, including one in a 2-0 win away to the New York Red Bulls in the season opener.

"I'm really happy and exited to be here at this club; it's top notch. I'm just looking forward to the future," Delgado told reporters after practice.

Delgado credited his time with teammates Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco as crucial in his development as a player since coming to Toronto.

"I really feel that I've improved in a lot of ways being around them," Delgado stated.

Injury updates Canadian midfielder Will Johnson (MCL sprain) is still questionable for Sunday's contest against the Fire after missing the team's last two games.

He took part in portions of Wednesday's practice, and Vanney will try to integrate him into full training sessions as the week goes on. If Johnson progresses, he could be available to play on Sunday. But for now, he remains questionable.

"We're hoping he can be somewhat available for this weekend, and fully ready to go by the time we really get going," Vanney said.

Johnson has played in 22 MLS games this season (19 as a starter) with two goals and five assists.

Canadian defender Ashtone Morgan is still out long-term with a stress fracture in his foot.

TFC's history vs. the Fire Chicago (7-16-10, 31 points) sits 10th in the Eastern Conference (it will finish last in the East regardless of results this weekend), seven spots and 19 points behind Toronto (13-9-11, 50 points). Chicago is coming off of a 2-1 win at home over New England Revolution (who are fighting to capture the sixth and final playoff berth in the East) and is unbeaten in its last two matches.

Toronto sports a 6-9-8 all-time record in MLS against Chicago. This is the third and final regular season meeting between these clubs, with TFC winning the previous two contests: 1-0 at home on July 9, and 2-1 in Chicago on Sept. 10.

With nothing to play for, Chicago isn't under any pressure, and maybe that's one of the reasons they beat the Revolution on the weekend. Being loose and free of pressure could work to their advantage on Sunday against Toronto.

"Chicago kinda ran all over [New England] as a team that's free flowing and running, because they have nothing to lose in any of this," Vanney stated.

"That's the tough part of this year - you get a team who can throw caution to the wind and go with whatever. And then you got teams who are either working on things, trying to stay healthy, trying to prepare for the bigger picture, and that's us. That's what makes it tricky."

8. Orlando City players push aside offseason worries

By Alicia DelGallo Orlando Sentinel - October 19, 2016

ofessional athletes in the United States always need to be prepared for a move. They could be traded, released or loaned with little or no advance notice, forced to pack up their families and move across the country.

Throw a new coach in the mix and the likelihood of player turnover rises significantly.

Orlando City coach Jason Kreis joined the team mid season. He didn't pick the current squad - save for Matias Pérez García, who was acquired via a summer trade - and he will have the authority to build a team that fits his vision for the future.

That can be cause for players to worry.

"In America, it's not just like in England, ya drive two hours up the road and you're at your new club and start playing right away," Lions defender Luke Boden said. "It is nerve wracking, but you can't think too much about that. If you keep thinking about that, you'll be a nervous wreck for the whole of your career. So, you try not to think about that and enjoy playing football. It's something you love doing and you're lucky enough to do it for a job."

Boden said the coaching staff hasn't spoken much about who will have a spot on the roster next year, who will likely move on and who is toeing the line. They're just focused on winning the final match of the season against D.C. United at 4 p.m. Sunday at Camping World Stadium.

All the players know there will be more than just three final points at stake, but they seem to follow Boden's system of pushing concerns to the background.

When midfielder Antonio Nocerino was asked if he though he was among the group of players Kreis said will be the core of he 2017 team, he said, "I don't know. Ask Jason," but then went on to speak assuredly of next season.

He talked of how the needed change in mentality is already beginning, how the new stadium will need to be a "fortress," where opposing teams come to fail. He described his first six months of the season with Orlando City as "horrible," but he said he now feels like a different player and "next year is going to be even better."

"I understand the culture here, I understand how things work and I've got the coach's confidence and his belief," Nocerino said. "So, I understand what I need to be doing and next year will be a better year."

Forward Carlos Rivas, who also had an inconsistent overall season but stellar recent performances, took a similar approach. When asked if he felt good about this season and if he was confident or worried about his place on he team entering the offseason, he answered with his goals for next year as if his return was certain.

"I don't necessarily think I did that great, mainly because I didn't play a lot of minutes," Rivas said. "Next season, I just need to keep improving what I'm doing and hope to get those minutes and get results."

Right back Rafael Ramos played in a match for the first time under Kreis in the Lions' 2-0 win over Philadelphia last week. He was a regular starter before suffering a hamstring injury that kept him out for months, but he knew what Kreis wanted to see and focused on delivering a worthy performance.

"He told us when he arrived at the club, the first meeting he told us what he wanted from us, and I think it will be the same for next year: guys who won't turn their face from the fight," Ramos said. "I feel I proved my point - that I'm here - to the coach. I'm going confident because [what people remember] is the way that it ends. If I end in a good way, I go off confident and come back confident for the start of the season."

There will be changes.

Who stays? Who goes? Who is the best fit and who could be with more work? Who provides more value in a trade than on the field?

Coaches and management grapple with those questions. Players try to push them aside.

Answers are on the way.

9. Expect some roster turnover in Chicago Fire in off-season

By Orrin Schwarz Chicago Daily Herald - October 19, 2016

It was kind of an unusual idea, especially coming from a second-year professional, but Matt Polster's suggestion makes some sense for the Chicago Fire.

"Things are coming together still," Polster said after Sunday's 2-1 victory against New England in the Fire's home finale. "It's been a long year, I think, with a lot of turnover from the beginning of the season. I know it's 33 games now into it, but I think having too much turnover year after year is tough just in general.

"I think if we get a core group of guys, keep this team for next year, build off that, I think you're going to see a little bit different (results). More chemistry together as a team will help us."

Polster isn't the first Fire player to suggest cutting down on the roster turnover the past few years. After all, Polster is one of just eight current players who finished last season on the team roster.

So the question is, what will general manager Nelson Rodriguez and coach Veljko Paunovic do this winter? Do they opt to let this group jell, or do they continue to make significant changes?

"It all depends on management, what they want to do," said midfielder/forward David Accam after training Wednesday. "I would love to have all the players that we have here this year to move on to next year. That's the best option."

Considering the Fire is 7-16-10 and needs a victory Sunday at Toronto FC (3 p.m., Comcast SportsNet) to have a chance to move up to 19th place in the 20-team league, more turnover is expected this winter. Don't be surprised if roughly 10 players from the current 26-man roster aren't with the club when the 2017 season kicks off in March.

Rodriguez will have two DP slots open this winter. He has some allocation money, both targeted and general, to use. He has talked about upgrading the midfield in particular. There is the SuperDraft, in which the Fire could pick third overall, maybe fourth. More homegrown players could sign with the first team.

Rodriguez has made some surprise moves in his first year on the job -- the trade of homegrown player Harry Shipp in February springs to mind -- so nobody is safe.

But there is an outline of the core group Polster mentioned. First-year Fire players Michael de Leeuw, midfielder Arturo Alvarez, defenders Johan Kappelhof, Jonathan Campbell and Brandon Vincent are lineup regulars now and, along with Polster and Accam, look like a good group to build around.

Only six of the 26 players have guaranteed contracts for next year, though.

"If we can keep a handful of guys, it would be nice to keep a lot of them, I mean, because of last year we had a lot of turnover and this year we had to rebuild," Polster added Wednesday. "I think when you're trying to rebuild it's harder the next year to find that core again. I think that's what teams that are successful do. They try and keep a core group of guys and build around that."

Contract talks:

David Accam is under contract for next season as a designated player, with a club option for 2018, but he and the club have been talking about a new deal.

It's becoming a bit of a sore topic for Accam, 26, the team's leading scorer with 9 goals.

"We have been talking about my future for a long time, and I am frustrated for it not to be resolved," Accam said. " ... I want it to be resolved as soon as possible. That's what I told them, I want to stay here. I want to be back. So we need to sit down and talk and see where the future is."

10. Crew SC lineup in flux for season finale

By Adam Jardy Columbus Dispatch - October 20, 2016

One familiar face could return to the Crew SC lineup for Sunday, but two others are done for the season.

After practice Wednesday, coach Gregg Berhalter said attacking midfielder and designated player Federico Higuain is ready and might be available for the season finale at New York City FC. But central defender Gaston Sauro and goalkeeper Steve Clark will not be available because of knee injuries that require surgery.

It will make for some challenging decisions for Berhalter, who is juggling putting a competitive team on the field while also getting a look at some unproven players with the Crew already eliminated from postseason contention.

"I think it's putting closure on the season," he said. "I think it's staying focused. We're professionals. We get paid to do this and it's respecting that process. To me, we're not happy with where we were, so let's show that we're better than that."

Higuain missed six games in June and July after surgery to repair a sports hernia, but he has missed the last seven matches because of a recurrence of symptoms. He was fully active when reporters were allowed to watch practice, and Berhalter said he will play provided there is no further risk of re-injury. With 19 appearances this season, Higuain has played a career-low number of games during his four full seasons in Major League Soccer.

"I always like to see him on the field, so of course we would (be happy), but we're going to be smart," Berhalter said. "It's a medical decision."

Sauro will be out because of an injury to his left knee that he suffered in May. He missed 14 games after having surgery on his posterior cruciate ligament but returned to play and start five of the next six games before again being unavailable.

"He is going to need some further work done on his knee, and that's not great news, but that is what it is," Berhalter said. "We'll see."

Higuain and Sauro are the Crew's two highest-paid players, according to numbers provided by the MLS Players' Union.

Clark, who sat for the first time in his Crew career last Sunday at the New York Red Bulls to end a streak of 100 consecutive starts, had surgery Wednesday to take care of a knee injury that Berhalter said "needed to be corrected yet wasn't affecting his performance."

Longtime backup Brad Stuver, who started against the Red Bulls, is expected to play again.

11. Three players score first goals with Sporting KC in 3-1 win against Central FC

By Sam McDowell Kansas City Star - October 19, 2016

The upshot of a victory absent, Sporting Kansas City coach Peter Vermes enlisted a lineup Wednesday with a different purpose.

Evaluation.

With Sporting KC already mathematically eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions League group stage, Vermes opted for a chance to measure deeper into his roster.

Some unfamiliar faces seized the opportunity.

Cameron Porter, Nansel Selbol and Connor Hallisey scored their first career Sporting KC goals as part of a 3-1 victory Wednesday in CCL group play against Trinidad and Tobago-based Central FC.

"It's a great chance to get the confidence underneath you," Porter said. "Heading into the playoffs, you just want to get guys some confidence who haven't gotten a lot of minutes. Three people who haven't scored for Sporting score tonight. Couldn't ask for anything better."

It produced Sporting Kansas City's first victory in its fourth and final CCL group play match. But it entered the night without a chance to advance in the competition. Vancouver had already clinched the group.

Because of the latter, Sporting KC did not play any of its 11 starters from last weekend's draw in Real Salt Lake. Instead, it saved those legs for the MLS regular season finale Sunday against San Jose, a match that will determine its MLS postseason fate.

Sporting KC trailed 1-0 after an uninspired opening half in front of an announced attendance of 11,367 fans, but Porter evened the score in the 49th minute, and Selbol pushed Sporting KC in front six minutes later. Selbol hit the post twice more in the second half.

Hallisey scored from the penalty dot in second-half stoppage time - his first goal in 40 appearances across all competitions with Sporting KC.

Selbol was called up from the Swope Park Rangers on Tuesday. Along with Benji Joya, Tomas Granitto and Alex Molano, he made his Sporting KC debut.

Sporting KC acquired Porter in a trade from Montreal in July, when the club shipped defender Amadou Dia north. After a season-ending injury to top backup striker Diego Rubio last week, Vermes has said Porter could be in line to see additional playing time.

"He has a chance to step up," Vermes said. "Tonight was good for him. I thought he showed a lot of different things that were important for us moving forward because his movement off the ball was very good. And that's something we need out of that position."

12. Portland Timbers eliminated from CONCACAF Champions League after 1-1 draw with Deportivo Saprissa

By Jamie Goldberg The Oregonian - October 19, 2016

The Portland Timbers failed to earn a win at Providence Park for the first time in three months Wednesday night.

And their winning streak came to an end at the worst possible time.

The Timbers (2-1-1, 7 points) failed to qualify for the knockout round of CONCACAF Champions League after drawing Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa (2-1-1, 8 points) 1-1 in front of 16,977 fans at Providence Park Wednesday.

"This one hurts," Timbers coach Caleb Porter said. "It hurts probably as much as any result since I've been here... We wanted to win this game. We wanted to get out of the group stage."

Portland has now twice been eliminated from CONCACAF Champions League play after entering their final game of the group stage with an opportunity to advance.

In 2014, the Timbers, who were making their first appearance in CONCACAF Champions League, entered the final game of group play needing to simply avoid losing by more than one goal to advance, but were eliminated after falling 3-1 on the road to Honduras club CD Olimpia.

Once again, the Timbers couldn't earn the result they need in their final game of group play Wednesday.

The Timbers, who had fallen 4-2 on the road against Saprissa earlier in the group stage, were dealing with some significant absences Wednesday night.

Portland was forced to play without its two best attacking players in leading goal scorer Fanendo Adi, who was suspended for yellow card accumulation, and midfielder Diego Valeri, who was dealing with a hamstring injury. Timbers midfielders Jack Jewsbury (hip flexor issue) and Ben Zemanski (collapsed lung) also missed the game due to injury. Timbers midfielder Darren Mattocks (hamstring injury) played only limited minutes.

"We played the strongest group we had," Porter said. "The players that played left it all out on the field."

Despite the absences, Portland came out attacking Saprissa in the first minute.

Timbers forward Jack McInerney put a shot on goal seconds into the game that appeared to hit off the hand of a Saprissa defender. Timbers winger Jack Barmby appeared to be taken down in the box moments later, but referee Walter Lopez didn't make a call on either play.

"Obviously, those calls are a factor, but it doesn't do any good to talk about it," Porter said. "It's over. We're out."

From there, the game quickly turned in Saprissa's favor.

Saprissa's Rolando Blackburn headed in a cross from Hansell Araúz in the 23rd minute to give the Costa Rican side an early 1-0 lead.

"We can't give up that first goal," Porter said. "That first goal was the first chance they had off a cross and that's all they had. In the first half, it's all they had."

Still, the Timbers fought back in the second half and had enough opportunities to retake the lead.

McInerney scored the equalizer in the 57th minute when he put a header into the corner of the net off a corner kick from Barmby. McInerney has now scored six goals in CONCACAF Champions League play in his career.

But it was all the Timbers would get.

The Timbers took seven shots in the second half, including a free kick by Darlington Nagbe in the 61st minute that skimmed right over the bar.

"They left it all on the field," Porter said. "They gave everything they had... We just couldn't find that second goal."

Portland entered the week with the goal of advancing in CONCACAF Champions League and clinching a berth to the MLS Cup Playoffs.

They weren't able to accomplish the first goal, but the Timbers still have the chance to salvage their season if they can earn a berth to the MLS Cup Playoffs with a result on the road against the Vancouver Whitecaps Sunday.

"We got one game left," Porter said. "We can still write a positive story and a positive ending. Obviously, today is another disappointing chapter."

13. Seattle Sounders are battle ready with Xbox 'Gears of War 4' jerseys for regular season finale

By Kurt Schlosser GeekWire - October 19, 2016

Seattle Sounders FC fans will watch their team do battle in jerseys that have a little extra fighting spirit designed into them on Sunday. In celebration of the release of "Gears of War 4" on XBox One and Microsoft Windows, the team will be wearing Pacific blue jerseys with the XBox and "Gears" logos.

Sounders players definitely got their game faces on for a photo shoot to show off the jerseys.

Defender Román Torres looks especially intimidating with his tattoo sleeves and menacing scowl as he and teammates posed with models dressed in battle armor from the video game.

Hopefully the Sounders will have plenty of fight left in them on Sunday. It's a big match for the team as they wrap up regular season play against Real Salt Lake at CenturyLink Field. With a win, the Sounders will enter the MLS playoffs as a No. 4 seed. A draw or loss opens up a wide range of scenarios, according to the team's website.

Roman Torres suited up for soccer and "Gears of War 4." (Courtesy Dan Poss / Sounders) The "Gears" jerseys proved to do the trick when they made their debut in Los Angeles, where the Sounders beat the Galaxy 4-2 on Sept. 25.

"Continuing our collaboration with Xbox to close the regular season wearing 'Gears'-themed jerseys adds a special flair to the game," Sounders FC owner Adrian Hanauer said in a news release. "We certainly hope for a similar result as what came from the premier of the jerseys against the LA Galaxy a few weeks ago."

The jersey initiative marks the second-consecutive season that the Sounders have altered their shirt mid-season after it became the first club in league history to do so last year with its "Halo 5: Guardians" jerseys.

Fans who want to sport the new look can enter a special sweepstakes via the Sounders website. There are also lots more behind-the-scenes team photos to check out.

Seattle is also saying farewell to Sounders player Zach Scott on Sunday. The longtime defender is retiring after 15 years. The team will pay special tribute to Scott before the match and the first 20,000 fans to arrive at CenturyLink will receive Zach Scott bobbleheads, courtesy of Xbox.

14. MLS' New York rivals have each other to thank as East title aspirations loom

By Graham Parker ESPNFC.com - October 19, 2016

It's taken awhile to get here, but we might finally have a New York rivalry in Major League Soccer worthy of the name.

Going into the final weekend of the regular season, we have the tantalizing prospect (if the standings hold up) of a playoff series between the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC to determine the Eastern Conference title. The Red Bulls are currently first in the East with 54 points. NYCFC is second, just three points back. Even if one of the two slips up in setting up such a contest, there are very real bragging rights up for grabs.

When the two teams eventually look back and reflect on a season that has seen their fortunes largely intertwined, even the eye-catching results between them will fade in comparison as playoff hopes loom. But, for a few more days at least, those three regular-season matches -- which include 7-0 and 4-1 wins for the Red Bulls and a 2-0 victory for NYCFC -- still have a profound influence on the fates of both New York sides and their playoff trajectories, not to mention the Golden Boot race.

Let's start with the latter. Bradley Wright-Phillips leads the race with 23 goals to his name after his brace against Columbus Crew SC on Sunday put him one ahead of David Villa, who scored a penalty in NYCFC's capitulation in a 3-1 loss to D.C. United. Wright-Phillips has been scoring in bunches since enduring a goal drought to start the season, and few teams have had more trouble with him than NYCFC, who allowed the Englishman to plunder four goals in three games this year.

Meanwhile, although Villa got on the score sheet in NYCFC's first-ever win over the Red Bulls on July 3, he has largely failed to torment when up against his local rivals. After watching Wright-Phillips score two against Columbus, he will have the chance to match that feat against the same opponent this weekend in a season that's been full of local quirks and ironies.

In fact, this campaign has arguably seen MLS' two New York clubs provide each other with their most significant turning points. Take the 7-0 "Red Wedding" at Yankee Stadium in May. For a moment after that game, the nascent Patrick Vieira project looked understandably wobbly. NYCFC managed a draw the next time out against Orlando City SC, but then lost to Real Salt Lake and crashed out of the Open Cup vs. the New York Cosmos in the next game.

But even amid a flurry of poor results, something was stirring in NYCFC's midfield. Jack Harrison was subbed into the middle during the Red Bulls' rout and showed enough spark and fearlessness to earn further minutes and play himself onto the team. By the time his side followed up on its Cup loss against the Cosmos with a victory over the then-high-flying Philadelphia Union, there was a sense that the team was beginning to solidify in every area of the field, particularly midfield. It was looking like a unit more than any of the lopsided incarnations built around expensive and ill-fitting designated players.

When the teams met again on July 3, NYCFC had its revenge. Harrison scored the winning goal in a 2-0 victory, and his side promptly celebrated with a group selfie in the locker room, featuring the club's collective playing, technical and support staff.

Evidently that image stuck in the Red Bulls' craw. In a season marked by sloppy late losses up to that point, Jesse Marsch's team embarked on an unbeaten run that now stretches back to that day in the Bronx. Just three weeks later, the streak would include an emphatic 4-1 win at Red Bull Arena, with another brace for Wright-Phillips and the sight of Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard chasing ghosts in midfield.

Once again, NYCFC had to pick itself up from a chastening derby defeat, which it did in stunning fashion. The team followed the loss to the Red Bulls with one of its more remarkable results of the year. The Colorado Rapids have made a name for themselves with their defense this season, but a week after the Red Bulls game -- and even though NYCFC rushed All-Star players back into the lineup on short notice -- the Rapids were crushed 5-1.

From then on, both sides have continued tenaciously to the end of the season, with results and top strikers matching each other stride for stride. It has meant that we might even have one last sting in the tail from that incredible first game in the Bronx.

If NYCFC win this weekend and the Red Bulls lose in Philadelphia, both sides will have the exact same win-loss-draw record, forcing separation on goal difference. The Red Bulls boast a plus-15 GD, while NYCFC has plus-2. It takes more than one game to shape such a season-long stat, but the 7-0 result made for a 14-goal swing between the two, as compared to the 13 goals that currently separate them.

If that margin wins the Red Bulls the No. 1 seed in the East, it will be a sweet irony for their fans, but it will mean nothing if NYCFC surpasses them in the playoffs. The battle for New York just got ramped up for the national stage.

15. FC Dallas midfielder Mauro Diaz out for MLS playoffs after surgery on Achilles

ESPNFC.com - October 19, 2016

FC Dallas midfielder Mauro Diaz will miss the remainder of the season after having surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon on Wednesday, the club has announced.

Diaz went down in the 89th minute of Dallas' 2-1 defeat of the Seattle Sounders on Sunday. He will miss the remaining two regular season fixtures as well as the entire playoffs should the club advance to the MLS Cup Final.

The 25-year-old Argentine leads the team with 10 assists this season while contributing an additional five goals to the cause.

Diaz joined FC Dallas from Argentine giants River Plate in the summer of 2013. He has scored 22 goals and provided 32 assists in 92 appearances for the club overall.

16. Patrick Nyarko embracing long-awaited postseason return with D.C. United

By Thomas Floyd Goal.com - October 20, 2016

WASHINGTON - Born and raised in the Ghanaian metropolis of Kumasi, Patrick Nyarko wasn't familiar with the American sports landscape until he moved stateside for his freshman year at Virginia Tech in 2005.

After embarking on a transatlantic flight to Dulles Airport near Washington and a four-hour drive through rural Virginia, he finally arrived at the Blacksburg campus and spotted Lane Stadium, the Hokies' 65,000-capacity football cathedral.

Nyarko found himself in awe - until he realized it was a different kind of football.

"You enter Virginia Tech and the first thing you see is a massive football stadium," Nyarko said on the Goal USA podcast. "Coming from Africa and not knowing anything about American football, I thought it was a soccer stadium. I got really excited about that. I don't ask a lot of questions, so I didn't ask anything. So the next day we're going to the soccer stadium to train and I'm like, 'Oh, this is the training field.'

"Out of nowhere, I think I overheard the conversation about, 'Oh, there's football and all that.' I was a little disappointed - it was crazy, a little bit of culture shock."

Much has changed for Nyarko over the past decade, with the D.C. United midfielder growing accustomed to life stateside while establishing himself as a sturdy MLS veteran. While he credits much of his prosperity to his Virginia Tech coaching staff and teammates, who helped him acclimate on the field and off it, the crafty winger still chalks up that raw skill to pickup games as a child in soccer-mad Ghana.

"It's just what we did in school," Nyarko recalled. "Anytime we got a five-minute break - it doesn't matter, five, three-minute - we'd try to make a game out of it. It doesn't matter where - it could be in the car park, it could be in the street. We just wait for the cars to go by, we set our goals and we'd play.

"There has to be a winner and there has to be a bragging right for whatever the game is."

That competitive nature continues to fuel Nyarko, who has 23 goals and 47 assists to his name over nine MLS seasons. Acquired from the Chicago Fire in an offseason trade, Nyarko has enjoyed a resurgent campaign with United, with his four goals matching a career high and his eight assists marking his best total since 2011.

Sitting fourth in the Eastern Conference, United has clinched a playoff spot and will be playing for home-field advantage in the knockout round when the club travels to face Orlando City in its regular season finale Sunday.

Averaging less than a goal per game through the end of July, United has scored a remarkable 33 times over its past 12 matches - going 6-1-5. Although a formation shift and the midseason acquisitions of Patrick Mullins and Lloyd Sam have largely been credited for United's turnaround, getting Nyarko back from a six-game absence following a May concussion also has been crucial.

"Every team in MLS goes through the highs and slumps during the year, and you're lucky to have your slump early rather than later heading into playoffs," Nyarko said. "I think we figured out our identity. Early in the year we were toggling between a couple of formations, we didn't know a set lineup and stuff. ... It starts from the willingness to work for each other, and that's the identity I think we've formed of this team."

Drafted by the Fire in 2008, Nyarko saw that side advance to the Eastern Conference final in his first two seasons before falling on tough times. Over Nyarko's final six campaigns in Chicago, the club played just one postseason match.

While United has grown accustomed to the playoffs, qualifying each of the past three seasons, Nyarko is eager to take part in his first postseason game since 2012.

Come the playoffs, "there has to be winner" after all - just how Nyarko liked it on the streets of Kumasi.

"I show up in the locker room and some of the other guys, it's like 'whatever' - they've been in the playoffs the last couple years," Nyarko said. "And I'm like, 'Guys, come on, this is exciting! I'm back in the playoffs!' I was really appreciative, really blessed."

Check out the full episode of the Goal USA podcast above as Nyarko discusses United's scorching form, the path that took him from Ghana to MLS, the opponent he most relishes facing and much more.

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