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MLS Newsstand - November 26, 2016

Published on November 26, 2016 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release

1. ShkÃ«lzen Gashi has proven to be huge asset in Rapids turnaround this season

By John Meyer Denver Post - November 25, 2016

COMMERCE CITY - When Shkelzen Gashi joined the Rapids in March from FC Basel in his native Switzerland, he seemed like a pleasant guy at his first Colorado news conference but had to communicate through an interpreter who translated his remarks from German to English.

Since then he's picked up English remarkably well, and he has proven to be one of the most upbeat players on the team, always quick with a handshake and a hello that communicate enthusiasm and appreciation for his new surroundings. A high-priced "designated player" signing, he has proven to be a huge asset on the field as well.

Gashi led the Rapids in scoring with nine goals, and one of them was named the MLS goal of the year, a wicked 30-yard bender around a wall on a free kick at Vancouver in September. He also scored the most important goal of the year, a 45-yard blast in the second leg of the playoff series with Los Angeles that saved Colorado's season.

Minutes after that prodigious strike, Gashi was carried off the field with a severe ankle sprain that made his availability for the Western Conference finals appear highly questionable. He was back for the first leg at Seattle on Tuesday, though, and he collaborated on Colorado's goal in that 2-1 loss. That tally looms large in the series that concludes Sunday because of the premium on away goals in playoff tiebreakers.

The play involved Colorado's top three outfield players. Midfielder Jermaine Jones fed a through ball to Gashi, but as a defender closed down on him, Gashi knew Kevin Doyle was running behind him and moving into space. Gashi let the ball roll between his legs and Doyle pounced on it to give the Rapids a 1-0 lead 13 minutes into the game.

"I have two things in my head," Gashi recalled Friday. "The first thing is that I saw Kevin was behind me and I saw that he is ready. The other part was, the defensive player was a stronger guy, not like the fastest guy. I said, 'When I touch the ball, he make maybe a foul.' When I stop the ball, he can attack me, but when I open my legs, Kevin is ready but the defensive player is not ready. I opened the legs and I go. It was beautiful goal and very important."

Doyle's shot deflected off Seattle center back Chad Marshall, leaving goalkeeper Stefan Frei helpless to save it.

"It was a through ball from Jermaine which would have worked for either of us," Doyle said. "I shouted 'Over!' for Gashi, which is short for 'Leave it.' I don't know if he heard me or not, but he knew I was there. I took a good touch and my shot got a nice little help and touch from their center half well."

Gashi said he knew about four days before the game at Seattle that, with "a lot of tape," his ankle would hold up. He started and played all but the last 12 minutes of the game.

"I know my body, and it was not my first injury," Gashi said. "I make a lot of work with my medical staff, and I am not a guy that says, 'I'm injured, I go now and relax.' I pushed the time. This game it was important that I stay on the field, that I have good feeling."

Gashi plays for the Albanian national team because his parents are natives of that country, but he grew up in Switzerland. He loves Denver.

"The mountains is the same like Switzerland," Gashi said. "I enjoy all the stadiums - Pepsi Center, the Broncos stadium. In Denver there are crazy sports people, they love sports, and I love also sport. You have everything here - fine dinner, you can go downtown, you can go to the mountains. When you have sports in your heart, you watch every sport - Broncos, Avalanche, Nuggets. It's amazing."

2. Off-the-field bonding underpinning the Sounders' deep playoff run

By Matt Pentz Seattle Times - November 25, 2016

Second-year Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan was on the phone with his girlfriend's parents recently when the subject turned to his "good friend" Jordan Morris.

Morris, eavesdropping on the conversation, was personally affronted by the description.

Good friend? I'm your best friend.

The friendship of the inseparable young Sounders - born less than a year apart; Roldan a 21-year-old product of UW, Morris the MLS Rookie of the Year out of Mercer Island - has blossomed into the fan base's favorite bromance.

Nor are Roldan and Morris the only pair of Sounders who spend time together away from the practice facility. Brad Evans, Chad Marshall, Erik Friberg and Dylan Remick all had Thanksgiving dinner at veteran Zach Scott's house on Thursday evening in what has become something of an annual tradition.

"I would say this is the best group of guys I've played with," said Friberg, who has played for six clubs in four different countries. "... I really like the team that we have."

But does off-the-field bonding actually translate to on-field success? It certainly doesn't hurt.

"I've been involved with teams that all 18 players are together all the time, and I've been on teams where there are six here, six here and six here," Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer explained this week. "I wouldn't say that it's necessary - and of course there are guys in that locker room that don't hang out with each other all the time - but I think it's nice.

"A better way to maybe answer that: When they step into that locker room, all 28 of them are together. What they might do in the offseason - Jordy and Cristian hanging out together; Ozzie (Alonso) and Nelson (Valdez) and Nico (Lodeiro), those guys hang out; Chad and Brad have been buddies since Columbus - then maybe they go their separate ways. But when they're in there, it's really good to see."

- Seattle should have a full squad to chose from when it travels to Colorado this weekend. Everybody is healthy enough to play, Schmetzer said, with one exception that will be addressed in the section below.

"Some aches and pains, for sure," Schmetzer said. "But everybody's good. They're all in various stages. If it's a knock, it's a knock. It might be precautionary because of a muscle pull."

- Clint Dempsey made a rare appearance at a team practice session on Friday morning, jogging laps around the edges of the field. Seattle's highest-profile player was ruled out for the season back in September with an irregular heartbeat.

"It puts a smile on everybody's face," Schmetzer said. "But (his progress) is still moving very, very slowly."

- The Sounders might want to send the Seahawks a thank-you note - well, either them or whoever is in charge of putting together the NFL schedule. The Seahawks' home game against the Eagles last Sunday at CenturyLink Field forced MLS to push the first leg of the Colorado series two days later, giving Morris another 48 hours of recovery time from his hamstring strain.

Morris scored the game-tying goal in the 19th minute of Tuesday's match.

"It would have been a more dramatic game-time decision" had the game been played Sunday, Schmetzer said. "We weren't really 100 percent sure on Jordy until he woke up that morning."

3. Sounders midfielder Osvaldo Alonso: 'I've been waiting for this moment for a long time. It's time to do it.'

By Matt Pentz Seattle Times - November 25, 2016

Sounders midfielder Osvaldo Alonso has been with the club since its inaugural MLS season in 2009. He's been there through each of the seven previous postseasons, every one of which has ended short of Seattle's first MLS Cup berth.

The Sounders have twice before made it to the conference finals, but rarely have they ever been so close, taking a 2-1 lead into the second leg of the series on Sunday at Colorado. A road draw would be enough to see Seattle through. Thanks to the away-goals tiebreaker, even a one-goal loss in a high-scoring match would work.

"We've got a great opportunity in front of us," Alonso said in video above. "We have to go there and fight. It's one game - we have to play like it's a final.

"I'm very excited, just waiting for that moment. You'll have to see me after the game, to see my excited side. I've been waiting for this moment for a long time. It's time to do it."

4. Impact find scoring touch in time to match Toronto FC's torrid attack

By Bill Beacon The Canadian Press - November 25, 2016

MONTREAL - The Montreal Impact have found their scoring touch just at the right time of year.

They'll probably need it when they go into the second leg of the two-game MLS Eastern Conference final against a Toronto FC team that has been even better at filling the net in the playoffs.

Despite Ivorian legend Didier Drogba being used off the bench, the Impact have scored 10 goals - an average of 2.5 per game - while winning all four games they've played in the post-season. Toronto has 12 goals in four matches, or three per game.

"The team is scoring and we're finding the right spots, with good delivery," Impact midfielder Patrice Bernier said Friday. "As much as you want to prevent transition, it always happens.

"A team loses the ball and you have to be good at it. We're lucky enough to have three guys up front that are quick. Nacho (Ignacio Piatti) off the dribble, but the other two (Matteo Mancosu and Dominic Oduro) have pace and find spots. With your strikers, confidence is what you want. Your offensive players get one or two chances and they score."

The Impact, who averaged only 1.44 goals per game in the regular season, opened the playoffs with a 4-2 away win over D.C United, then beat the first-place New York Red Bulls 3-1 on aggregate in their conference semifinal.

They followed with a 3-2 victory at Olympic Stadium over TFC on Tuesday night, although the visitors may have claimed the advantage in the two-game, total goals series with two late away goals.

That gave TFC momentum going into the second leg on Wednesday at BMO Field in Toronto.

Before the loss in Montreal, TFC posted a 3-1 win over Philadelphia followed by a 7-0 aggregate wipeout of second-place New York City. Star forward Sebastian Giovinco and striker Jozy Altidore each have four goals and three assists, while Jonathan Osorio has a pair of goals in the post-season.

Tosaint Ricketts and Michael Bradley have also scored.

For Montreal, Piatti has three goals and two assists, Mancosu has four goals and an assist and Oduro has a goal and three assists. Defenders Laurent Ciman and Ambroise Oyongo have the Impact's other goals.

Montreal's attacking players started finding chemistry late in the regular season after coach Mauro Biello opted to use Drogba off the bench and give the starts to Mancosu, a veteran who joined the them in July on loan from Italian club Bologna. Oduro was put with them to provide speed on counterattacks.

In the first leg against Toronto, Bernier found Oduro alone on the right side in the 10th minute and, two minutes later, Oduro and Piatti combined to set up Mancosu's goal for another lightning strike.

"We've stabilized the lineup and there's confidence in our positional play," said Biello. "The play by Patrice, he didn't even have to look, he turned in the pocket and he knew where Oduro was.

"That's from finding the stability in the lineup and them finding that cohesion among themselves in training every day. Now they're feeling good about themselves and how they're playing and that's why we're scoring goals."

In the opener they played indoors on artificial turf, pushed on by the deafening roar of 61,004 fans. In Toronto, they will be outdoors in late November weather with a full house of about 37,000 cheering for TFC.

With their away goals as the tiebreaker, Toronto can take the series with wins of 1-0 or 2-1. Montreal will be looking to preserve its lead, but against a high-powered attacking team like TFC, they'll likely need to score at least one to advance to the MLS Cup final.

"We're going there to get a result," said Bernier. "They have to win, so there will be (open) spaces.

"You have to take those opportunities and finish them. So far it's gone well. We're getting chances and putting them in the back of the net. We're not going to force things, but when you get a chance, you have to go for it."

A gentle snow was falling on their training facility as the Impact returned to practice on a grass pitch for the first time since their win. They'll have five outdoor practices before heading to Toronto on Monday.

The Impact did not dwell on Altidore's comment this week that he gave only a "love tap" to Impact defender Victor Cabrera before Toronto's second goal, other than that it should have been called a foul. Altidore also said Cabrera should work more in the gym to help stay on his feet.

"No problem, Victor will respond on the field," said Biello. "It's part of the game and part of this rivalry. We move forward."

5. Inside the Philadelphia Union's YSC Academy as it looks to enrich local soccer talent

By Jeff McMenamin Metro Philadelphia - November 23, 2016

Imagine waking up for your first day of high school, getting out of your dorm room and going through one-on-one drills with a professional sports training staff for an hour.

After a quick shower and change of clothes you start class with your peers, a 65-student group of some of the best soccer talent in the country. From there you learn all of the crucial academic requirements of a high school student as well as nutrition in a state-of-the-art kitchen, and a difficult soccer regimen throughout the day that stresses soccer mechanics and techniques optimal to each student's strengths.

This is what the Philadelphia Union's YSC Academy strives to accomplish every year, located in an area that serves as a hotbed of soccer talent on the Main Line in Wayne, Pa.

"How many kids out there are actually striving for excellence in anything, whether it's to be a guitarist, veterinarian or a doctor? There's not many," Union manager Jim Curtin said. "This place, this building, this school gives them an opportunity to do that. 95 percent of our students might not make it as pros, but this school will teach these students how to go on and tackle anything."

Opened on September 3, 2013, the Academy has grown from a 33 student operation up to 65 students in just a few years. They're currently only accepting young men into the academy, but as part of an upcoming expansion have discussed the possibility of adding a few young women as well.

"My son actually goes to school here," Union Sporting Director Earnie Stewart said. "This is a really unique experience. I've traveled the world a lot and the combination of soccer and school is a difficult subject to tackle and here you actually have it. The ultimate goal is to have these players play in Talen Energy Stadium one day and that's on the mind of all of the students as well."

Curtin, who grew up in Oreland, Pa., joined the staff at YSC Sports in 2010 and has watched the school's development grow. He coached the Union's under-18 team in 2011 and oversaw the Union's inaugural class of under-14 players as well. Having grown up in the area and having seen so many other facilities across the world, he sees a difference in YSC Academy.

"A lot of times schools in settings like this aren't really schools," Curtin said. "[Students] aren't pushed and challenged like they are here. I'd probably struggle [laughs]. I've been to clubs and settings like this across the world and the emphasis that school has on a student's life here is above all of the other ones."

Two of the Academy's former students, Derrick Jones (Ghana) and Auston Trusty (Media), were signed by the Union as homegrown players this past season.

"If you can get a lot of homegrown players and people can identify with these players, I think it's fantastic," Stewart said. "There's a lot of talent in this area and now it's a question of getting these kids to show their talent and to do it at a high level."

6. A thankful look at the 2016 FC Dallas season

By Dan Crooke Dallas Morning News - November 24, 2016

Happy Thanksgiving, or rather belated, if a food coma and celebrating yet another Cowboys victory got in the way of scouring your favorite local soccer blogs for rumors of who FC Dallas might look to sign over the winter. While our treble-chasing hearts were broken by the Seattle Sounders, there is plenty to be thankful for from 2016.

Trophies. For a start, FC Dallas now has some. A 4-2 win over the New England Revolution in September ended a 19-year dry spell in major competition, as Dallas claimed the 103rd Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The only other silverware was the 1997 edition of the competition, where you can see our own Peter Welpton storm the field in Indianapolis with an enormous flag. Incidentally, the original Sir Thomas Dewar Trophy will soon reside in Frisco as part of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. The trophy was retired from traveling in the 1970s, so it will make one final trip from US Soccer House to Toyota Stadium in early 2018.

For fans of FC Dallas, there are two further trophies that should take a special meaning, because they reside with the fans rather than the team. The lesser known is the Brimstone Cup, the very first rivalry trophy in Major League Soccer. Fans of the Dallas Burn and Chicago Fire commissioned the company that makes the Oscar statuettes to create a trophy that has been contested for the past 15 years. Although the supporters typically keep the cup, Oscar Pareja kept the trophy in his office until the end of FC Dallas' season, stating that it was a reminder of the supporters that the team play for. It also retains a special value, as this was something that Bobby Rhine often spoke of as being one of the most important parts of any Burn/FC Dallas season. The trophy is known for its deformed appearance, after it was heavily damaged while in Chicago's possession. Given the theme of all things aflame, the almost melted appearance only adds to the trophy.

The other is the Supporters' Shield. The shield, as the name would suggest, is not an MLS competition, but is run by the Independent Supporters Council of North America. With Major League Soccer operating a playoff system, a rarity in the sport, fans wanted to recognize the team that finishes as what would traditionally be considered the league champion. After attempts to get MLS to fund such an award, Sam Pierron set about raising funds within the MLS fanbase. In 1999, the original trophy was unveiled, with the current shield in service since 2013, when the Independent Supporters Council became involved with the organization of the Shield. The original award is likely to join the Dewar Trophy at Toyota Stadium.

With the nature of this being a fan-owned trophy, it's a unique situation in that the only official merchandise commemorating the victory is produced by the Dallas Beer Guardians supporters group. A portion of the proceeds will go back to the fund that pays for expenses such as maintenance, insurance, and travel costs. As such, the Supporters' Shield is not locked away and will be proudly on display in and around Toyota Stadium for the next year, as the supporters groups and team coordinate opportunities so that all fans can get their hands on the shield. There are no replicas made, per the rules, so the trophy you hold is the same one Matt Hedges lifted in LA, and the likes of David Beckham and Thierry Henry held in previous years.

We can also be thankful for the future. FC Dallas have signed four more homegrowns this year, in Aaron Guillen, Paxton Pomykal, Jesus Ferreira, and Bryan Reynolds. Guillen signed in January after attending Florida Gulf Coast University, and has five appearances plus the MLS Homegrown game. Pomykal, Ferreira, and Reynolds starred in the academy as FC Dallas became the first team to win both the U16 and U18 national titles in the same year. Pomykal was given the honor of being the first recipient of the number 19 jersey, which will now be awarded to academy graduates who display the values of the great Bobby Rhine. Ferreira, son of former team and league MVP David Ferreira, is one of the most talked about emerging talents in the nation. He was the team's youngest ever professional before Reynolds signed on as the league-leading 17th homegrown a week later. 15-year-old Reynolds' signing capped off a great fortnight that included a goal for the US U17 national team. Two further prospects that could sign homegrown deals in the next couple of years are UCLA's fullback, Reggie Cannon, and highly rated winger at Clemson, Devin Vega.

Most of all, be thankful for the root cause. These are down to a philosophy instituted by Pareja, Fernando Clavijo, Luis Muzzi, Luchi Gonzalez, and the Hunts. It's easy to say FC Dallas takes the cheap option, but there is a huge risk of being the first team to depend on bankrolling an academy. Dallas were the first to bring about a residency program complete with a tailored education to allow maximum time on the field. They've invested heavily in international tournaments to give experience to young players, and support affiliates in every corner of Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, Costa Rica, and Mexico. The draft has produced the best center back pairing in MLS, with Hedges and Zimmerman well under the peak age in their position. Younger players that are played regularly need to physically develop at an absurd rate, and this is particularly true with an explosive style such as that of FC Dallas. The addition, and recent extension, of Fabian Bazan is as important as any player. Despite Mauro Diaz's achilles tear, Bazan's four year plan for Diaz has resolved the issues of constant upper leg injuries. Likewise, Zimmerman appeared to be a problem signing with his hamstring issues, and Ryan Hollingshead needed to compensate for a lost year of soccer. Dallas was often a thinly-spread team with wear-and-tear injuries taking their toll. All people could speak about in 2016 was the incredible depth despite losing the likes of Castillo, Loyd and Diaz. That progression shows no sign of slowing with more young talent, a striker-heavy 2017 draft class, Fabian Castillo's DP spot becoming available in January, and another year of experience for this young team.

Now go and look forward to Black Friday sales, leftovers, and plenty of Dak and Zeke memes!

7. Montreal Impact's Didier Drogba 'a legend of the game' - Jozy Altidore

ESPNFC.com - November 26, 2016

Toronto FC strikers Jozy Altidore and Tosaint Ricketts paid tribute to Didier Drogba after the former Chelsea star made his final home appearance for Montreal Impact on Tuesday.

Drogba came on as a substitute in the 3-2 Eastern Conference Championship first leg win at a sold-out Olympic Stadium, and revealed he would be not returning to the club in 2017.

Altidore told MLSsoccer.com that 38-year-old Drogba was "a legend of the game" and added: "For me, growing up watching him, he was a terrific striker. You try to mould your game around your heroes.

"The game will miss him if this is his last stop. And if not, I'm sure he'll contribute somewhere else."

Ricketts also described Drogba as "a legend," saying: "He's done it all. It's an honour to share the field with a player like that. He's a great player."

Drogba scored 11 goals in as many appearances immediately after joining the club, but has been used more as a substitute this year after suffering injuries.

He came close to adding a late fourth goal for his side on Tuesday, shooting just wide from the edge of the area.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Drogba said: "My contract ends at the end of the season and I won't be returning. I want to end things well, out of respect for everything the people here, the city, have given me."

The club released a video following the match thanking Drogba for his time and service to the club, with the clip concluding by saying: "Merci, Didier."

Drogba did not specify whether he planned to retire or hoped to return elsewhere next season.

8. Roman Torres brings Seattle Sounders together in MLS Cup final quest

By Jeff Carlisle ESPNFC.com - November 26, 2016

SEATTLE -- During the past three months, two distinct sides of Roman Torres have emerged. There is the imposing center back that is all business on the field for the Seattle Sounders. Then there is the laughing, dancing, ebullient character that teammate Stefan Frei calls "a big fluffy teddy bear."

When this is brought up to Torres himself, he lets out a gentle laugh, and fully admits that there are two sides to him.

"Of course, it's two different people," he told ESPN FC with the help of a translator. "When I'm playing the game I can't be laughing. I have to concentrate on the game. It's my job."

That job is one that Torres has performed well during the past few months, especially given the fact that he only returned in August from a major knee injury he sustained last year. And for all the attention that midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro has had, Torres in his own way can be held up as another midseason addition that has been a huge benefit to the Sounders.

Torres is one-half of an excellent center back pairing with Chad Marshall, and in the past 10 games that the two have been on the field together, the Sounders have given up less than a goal per game. When asked what Torres has brought to the team since his return, it doesn't take long for manager Brian Schmetzer to come up with a list of the defender's best attributes; good in the air, a player who organizes things and is a danger on set pieces.

But talk to enough people around the Sounders' camp, and two words stand out: presence and leadership. Both can be tough to quantify, yet those descriptors are accurate when it comes to the 6-foot-2 defender. The mere suggestion of a tackle or aerial challenge from Torres can make the Sounders' penalty area a no-go zone.

"Torres is a guy that opponents look at and don't want to get too much into a scrum with him," Frei said. "He definitely has a presence about him that people respect."

From a leadership standpoint, Torres is the kind of player who can always feel the pulse of the team. If intensity is needed he can break out the kind of steely glare that demands focus. When it's time to celebrate, he's the first one to let loose, as evidenced by the videos of his post-victory dance routines.

Of course, the Sounders have had to wait a while to see these sides of Torres. Just four games after arriving during the 2015 summer transfer window, he sustained a horrific knee injury that GM Garth Lagerwey charitably described as "complicated." The Panamanian tore his ACL, his LCL and sustained cartilage damage as well.

"The first days after the operation were very difficult for me," Torres said, prior to last Tuesday's Western Conference final first leg win against Colorado. "But I never had a doubt. I knew that if I kept working hard I would be able to come back and play."

The time spent rehabilitating from an injury can amount to an out-of-sight, out-of-mind existence. It's just the player, his work and the desperate search for any sign of progress. Setbacks and steps forward can take on outsized importance. So can a supportive word from a teammate, the acknowledgement that the player hasn't been forgotten.

"For me [the contact] was important," Torres added. "I have a lot of teammates, it's like a family. That helped me a lot because I felt that backing of my teammates and the staff. That helped with my workouts and the recuperation."

That process can create a level of awkwardness as well, however. The defender is still part of the team, yet detached from the weekly duels that take place. Yet to hear Frei describe it, it's a fine line that Torres navigated with just the right touch; he was engaged without being overbearing.

"I've been through that situation myself in Toronto where it's difficult because you don't want to step on people's toes," Frei said. "You're out there, you're working your butt off, but you're doing your own thing. When things aren't going well for the team, you can't be the one going, 'Pick it up, you've got to bust your butt more,' when you're not actually the one out there leading as an example."

Now that Torres is back, his full personality and leadership abilities have come out.

"We felt like we didn't get a chance to know Roman as a person as much until we were able to get him back on the field," Lagerwey said. "Once we did that, now we have dancing in the locker room. He's such an infectious personality that he's a great part of our group and certainly has been real successful for us on the field."

Torres' leadership is such that it does more than just inspire his teammates or provide levity. Frei noted that every team has cliques, but Torres acts as a bridge to different parts of the locker room.

"We have Latinos that do their own thing, and we have the Europeans that do their own thing," he said. "Torres is one of the Latinos, but there is no divide there. There's no line that you can't cross. We're all a team, and having characters in those cliques -- because we do have them -- make them approachable, and it helps keep the team as one."

Torres insists he is almost back to his best, though he admits he's not quite there yet. That assessment proved prescient in the win against Colorado. Torres was burned by Shkelzen Gashi's dummy in the run-up to Colorado's goal, but was otherwise his usual steady and intimidating self.

"I'm just happy to be playing again," he said. "I'm happy to be with my friends and now we are enjoying the [playoffs] and we're hoping to win the Conference finals and the MLS Cup final."

It that comes to pass, fans will once again get to see both sides of him.

9. Colorado Rapids attack potent enough to overturn Seattle's first-leg lead

By Jason Davis ESPNFC.com - November 25, 2016

The Colorado Rapids didn't enter the first leg of the Western Conference content to be anyone's patsy. Pablo Mastroeni's team isn't built to take to the game to a superior attacking team, but no one who watched what went down at CenturyLink Field on Tuesday night could have come away believing that the upstart Colorado side would just park the bus and wait for the Sounders to take them apart over the course of two legs.

It was the Rapids who struck first in front of the 40,000-plus dripping wet Sounders supporters who disregarded any notions of the weather keeping them from the match. For all of their rep as a team that poses little danger on the attacking end of the field and relies on defense to win games, Colorado is capable of pretty soccer when the mood strikes. Shkelzen Gashi's clever dummy of a Jermaine Jones pass into the path of Kevin Doyle allowed the Irishman to pull the trigger and find the net through a deflection less than 13 minutes into the game.

It was a massive away goal, brought about a high-pressure approach on the road and the quick passing of Jones. The U.S. international was far from excellent over the course of 90 minutes, but it was his cutting pass that Gashi stepped over and let roll to Doyle for the goal.

But Mastroeni's decision not to sit behind the ball, even after grabbing a lead, ultimately let the Sounders back into the game. Cristian Roldan found a lane through midfield when the Rapids' two central midfielders, Jones and Sam Cronin, let the second year man slip by them.

Roldan's shot caromed off the post and into the path of Jordan Morris, who finished expertly. Morris's inclusion in the starting lineup was significant for the Sounders -- the MLS Rookie of the Year pulled a hamstring in the second leg of the conference semifinals against FC Dallas and remained questionable up until game time on Tuesday.

Nicolas Lodeiro converted a penalty in the 61st minute to put the game and the series on a knife's edge heading into the second leg in Commerce City. Seattle has the lead, but with the Rapids ability to shut down opponents at home and find timely goals, Colorado will feel good about their chances to make their away goal count.

But there's a problem. One of the Rapids' keys to shutting down the Sounders will be missing for the decisive game. Cronin's yellow card in the 67th minute means Colorado's captain will be suspended for Sunday, forcing Mastroeni into a difficult decision.

Both Dillon Powers and Micheal Azira are possible replacements in a situation that requires Mastroeni to balance defensive steel against a need to find at least one goal.

With Powers the Rapids get more going forward. Azira is the defensive option. The Ugandan Azira started 27 games during the regular season. Powers started 24 times, scoring one goal and providing four assists.

In a similar situation in the conference semifinal against the LA Galaxy -- down a goal on aggregate going into a second leg at home -- the Rapids got a wonder goal from Gashi and outdid LA on penalties with both Powers and Azira both in the starting lineup due to Jones being unavailable.

Jones doesn't appear to be completely match fit after his long layoff, but he has to be on the field from the outset because of his game-changing abilities via both the pass and the long shot. Jones is not nearly as effective as a destroyer as he was prior to his injury, but some of that is down to the Sounders' duo of Alonso and Roldan.

The Sounders aren't likely to bunker in, even with their narrow lead as they head to Colorado. That doesn't mean that there won't be changes to the lineup made by Brian Schmetzer. With most of his options healthy, the Sounders boss could choose to add some savvy to the team with Brad Evans or return Andreas Ivanschitz to his spot in the midfield.

What is certain is that Seattle will lean on Osvaldo Alonso and Roldan behind some combination of a five-man attacking group led by Lodeiro and Morris. Schmetzer has settled on a 4-2-3-1 with Morris on the wing during the club's playoff run.

If the Sounders get the now-expected level out of Lodeiro and utilize Morris's speed, the Rapids will have trouble pushing high in search of their goal.

As important as the tactics for Colorado is their approach from the outset of the game. What was proven on Tuesday is that the Rapids can be dangerous enough to the Sounders that they'll have every reason to believe they can score.

10. 2nd Leg of MLS Western Conference Final Will Be Won in Midfield

By Joe Tansey Bleacher Report - November 25, 2016

Both sides play a similar style of the 4-2-3-1 formation, but the Rapids will be forced to tweak their system for the second leg after the yellow-card suspension of Sam Cronin, who picked up his second caution of the play-offs in Tuesday's first leg that was won 2-1 by the Sounders.

Coming up with a replacement is an easy job for Colorado boss Pablo Mastroeni. The front-runner for MLS Coach of the Year will follow the next-man-up mentality his side has had all year, as he'll bring in Micheal Azira for Cronin.

"Sam's been a stalwart for us in the middle all year," Mastroeni said in a league conference call. "He's played pretty much every game. He's an important piece to the group. There's nothing we can do about the situation. Now it's about the next man up."

"I think Azira came into the game last week and did a very good job of getting on the ball," the Colorado boss continued. "Azira will be a natural replacement for Sam. We've had a lot of guys missing and we've operated like a team and the next man that steps into whoever's role comes in and does a fantastic job."

The intricacies of Sunday's tactical game plan are still being sorted out by Mastroeni, but it looks like Jermaine Jones will revive his role in the middle of the park along with either Dillon Powers or Kevin Doyle in the role behind forward Dominique Badji.

"We definitely have some options out there," Mastroeni said. "We've played with a different look at those three central positions all year. We're going to have to make one change and how we utilize the other guys will be left to the next couple days."

If the midfield trio is Jones, Azira and Doyle, the Rapids may be left a bit open on the counter due to Jones' tendency to freelance around the pitch. The United States international can be a vital part to the attack at times, but if he gets left too far forward, Seattle has the ability to strike quick with their speed through the middle of the pitch.

The Rapids have a natural stop gap in Azira in front of the back four, but the technical ability of Nicolas Lodeiro, Cristian Roldan and Jordan Morris could put Azira at risk and put more pressure on the back four to make key tackles in and around the penalty area.

Jones' physicality will be a blessing and a curse for the Rapids. The midfielder has a reputation for delivering a crunching tackle or two throughout big games, but he has to pick the right time to do so against the finesse of the Seattle players. One bad challenge could result in a free-kick opportunity someone like Lodeiro could bury past Zac MacMath.

Despite being down a goal in the series entering the second leg, the Rapids have plenty of confidence in their ability to grind out a result on home soil. The Rapids went 11-0-6 at home during the regular season, and they outlasted the Galaxy at home in the Western Conference semi-final.

All the Rapids need to advance in regulation is a 1-0 victory due to the away goal they earned at Century Link Field. Earning the smallest of possible scorelines has become Colorado's specialty. The Rapids have had 14 1-0 matches in 2016.

"Our goal going into (the first leg) was to make sure we made the second leg relevant and the away goal did that," Mastroeni said "It's business as usual coming back home and doing what we've been good at all year. We've found a way to keep teams off the scoresheet."

As for Seattle, their success also runs through the middle of the park, where Osvaldo Alonso, Cristian Roldan and Erik Friberg will be camped out in their version of the 4-2-3-1.

Sounders boss Brian Schmetzer, who took over in July and recently had the interim tag removed from his title, noted the two sides only have a few small differences in how they utilize the formation.

"The only difference is just based on the personalities of the players in each system," Schmetzer said. "If I'm looking at Ozzie (Alonso), Cristian (Roldan) and (Erik) Friberg, that's different than Jones, Doyle and Cronin."

"I think the tactical demands of each position, the coaches expectations of each position are pretty similar," Schmetzer continued. "We both like to have fullbacks go forward. They have a No. 9 in Badji who can stretch the field a little bit. Nelson Valdez does a really good job of being a back-to-goal No. 9. Just subtle difference based on personalities of the players."

The emergence of Roldan and the addition of Lodeiro on the wing have put the Sounders in position to secure a spot in MLS Cup, and possibly a home match if Montreal beat Toronto in the second leg of the Eastern Conference final.

Roldan has not relinquished his place in the starting lineup over the second half of the season because of the confidence he's gained.

"At the beginning of the season, I didn't feel like the game was slow," Roldan said. "Toward the second part of the season, the game slowed down and I was able to pick up my head after my first touch and feel less pressure on the ball."

Seattle's defensive midfielders will play in a similar fashion to Colorado's pair, with Alonso as the bruiser in front of the back four and Roldan given a license to move forward when he can. The one stark contrast between the two is Roldan's surges into the attacking area are limited and measured.

Roldan, and Friberg to a certain extent, will be asked to drop a bit deeper on Sunday in order to prevent Colorado from striking early and then sitting back to hold on to a 1-0 result.

One way the Sounders can counteract the Rapids' search for a tally in the first half is to hold possession and slowly break down the home side's back line. That begins with Alonso, who is one of the most accurate passes in MLS. The 31-year-old completed 92.2 percent of his 64 passes in the first leg, per WhoScored.

If Seattle gain control of the match through Alonso, they'll be able to hunt for an away goal themselves. The Sounders know firsthand how crucial the away goals rule can be in determining a playoff series.

"We were the beneficiaries a couple years ago against Dallas," Schmetzer said. "We were on the wrong side of the scoreline as far as road goals with LA in 2014. I think it's part of the rules and we have to deal with the rules."

Don't be surprised if Sunday's second leg comes down to a 1-0 or 1-1 result given the tactical nature of both sides. What we should expect from the start is a measured battle in midfield that could tip the balance of the contest in an instant.

11. How the Colorado Rapids will replace unsung hero Sam Cronin

By Benjamin Baer MLSsoccer.com - November 25, 2016

The Colorado Rapids are in the Western Conference Championship right now largely because they don't concede goals. Colorado allowed just 32 goals this season, by far the fewest in MLS, and just seven at home which tied the record for fewest in MLS history.

A lot of the plaudits have gone to their goalkeepers (Zac MacMath, Tim Howard) and to Axel Sjoberg, who finished third in Defender of the Year voting. But one player who has been just as integral to the team's success is an MLS lifer at the defensive midfield position.

Sam Cronin has been in MLS since 2009, playing for Toronto FC, the San Jose Earthquakes and Colorado. He was an key part of the 2012 Earthquakes team that captured the Supporters' Shield, but after two more seasons with the club, he was traded to the Rapids.

The 29-year-old missed just one game this season but, unfortunately for the Rapids, he will be unavailable for Leg 2 of the Western Conference Championship against the Seattle Sounders due to yellow card accumulation (4 pm ET; ESPN in US | TSN2 and RDS2 in Canada) with Colorado down 2-1 after Leg One. This loss is a significant one, as Cronin an unsung hero in MLS this season.

What are the Rapids missing?

Cronin isn't exactly a dynamic presence, but he's very good at what he does. With the Rapids often defending with six or more players behind the ball, he isn't asked to be spectacular, cover acres of space or snuff out repeated emergencies. Instead, Cronin shields his backline from any dangerous attacks and makes quick, clean passes to teammates expected to shoulder the attacking burden.

His stats aren't eye-popping, but his veteran presence in the midfield helps keep the Rapids' defensive shield organized and ensures that they will be hard to break down. Considering Colorado's success in 2016 has been largely predicated on defense, Cronin's contributions are invaluable.

He's also invaluable in possession. Cronin isn't likely to provide the final ball, but he completes passes at a high rate. He has the third-highest usage rate among Rapids players and completes those passes at a rate of 82.07 percent, the fourth-highest on the team.

How they'll replace him

For much of the year, Cronin played next to Micheal Azira, who had a breakout year in Colorado after spending two seasons with the Sounders, playing a total of 1,333 minutes. This season the Ugandan international played more than 2,500 minutes and appeared in 31 games, and will almost certainly step in for the suspended Cronin.

Azira started the first leg against the LA Galaxy in the Conference Semifinals but has since been relegated to the bench with the return of Jermaine Jones. While he and Cronin nominally play the same role as a deep-lying midfielder, they do it in slightly different ways.

While Cronin is more of a cerebral presence, Azira leans on his athleticism to get the job done. Since the Rapids need at least one goal to advance, they may be forced to open up more than they're accustomed to, meaning Azira will have to cover more ground recovering to close up the openings left by teammates pushing forward.

Fortunately for head coach Pablo Mastroeni, Azira has the lungs and the legs to do just that. His 107 interceptions which were the third most in MLS this year, and he'll need to contribute that and more to help keep Nicolas Lodeiro and Jordan Morris under wraps.

12. Sounders respect, but don't fear Rapids' mile-high altitude advantage

By Don Ruiz MLSsoccer.com - November 26, 2016

TUKWILA, Wash. - When MLS clubs visit the Colorado Rapids, they are greeted with a sign that reads "Welcome to Dick's Sporting Goods Park/One Mile Above Sea Level."

The sign is located directly across from the locker room the Seattle Sounders will occupy Sunday when they meet the Rapids in the deciding game of their MLS Western Conference Championship series (4 pm ET, ESPN, TSN2).

There's almost no way to miss it. But just in case, Colorado coach Pablo Mastroeni also has found ways to raise the topic this week.

"He's trying to make something of it just because it ... worked for him this year," Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said. "But there's been a bunch of articles written. Where was the altitude last year or the year before? He even mentioned it in [an MLS press conference Wednesday]: When your team's winning at altitude, it becomes a bigger story."

So, yes, the Sounders are aware the Rapids went 11-0-6 on their mile-high home pitch this season. But they also remember that the Rapids went 5-7-5 there in 2015, when the field wasn't one foot lower.

What changed, the Sounders say, are the Rapids. And while the Sounders have voiced full respect to their opponent, they've been a bit more ambivalent about the effects of elevation. They don't dismiss it as meaningless. But they don't expect it to be decisive in determining which team advances to the MLS Cup.

"I think his valid point is, look, if his team plays well and they wear teams down, then teams get tired," Schmetzer said. "I think that's pretty good. But we could say the same things here. If we out-possess a team they're going to get tired in the 60th and 70th minute as well. ... But if you're a conditioned athlete and you're mentally strong, it's there; but it's a 2 percent difference. It's not a massive difference."

In their previous visit in April, the Sounders lost at Colorado, 3-1. But all-time, the Sounders are 5-3-1 there.

One trick the club learned along the way is to get in and out of that elevation as quickly as possible. That's one reason the Sounders scheduled training at home Saturday before boarding a flight that will have them in Colorado about 21 hours before Sunday's first kick.

Schmetzer cites studies showing that's the best way to go. Skeptics are directed to forward Nelson Valdez, who vividly recalls a couple of Paraguay national team visits to La Paz, Bolivia, which is roughly 12,000 feet above sea level.

"Four years ago, we went in with the national team three weeks before for acclimatization," Valdez said. "And for me I was like tired in the game [a 3-1 loss]. And then the last game last week it was just two hours before the game we landed there. I feel better, and I think we play also better [a 2-1 win]. If you go on [shorter] time, I think it's better for us."

Additional personal testament comes from goalkeeper coach Tom Dutra, who likes to spend his free time climbing mountains, including Washington state's iconic Mount Rainier.

"I've spent a lot of time up high," Dutra said. "I've done all the volcanoes and everything else. I've done stuff in France."

As for soccer, Dutra's conclusion is "it's not a big thing." Although, in addition to any impacts on stamina, he also notes that the ball can behave differently in thinner air.

"The ball flies a bit more," Dutra said. "There's less humidity as well, and I think humidity affects it as much as anything else. The ball flies a little bit farther, a little bit faster, definitely. For sure, I think it's easier to get more pace behind it."

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(This sampling of coverage is a service provided to members of the media by MLS Communications)

MLS Newsstand - November 26, 2016

MLS Articles

1. Shkelzen Gashi has proven to be huge asset in Rapids turnaround this season (Denver Post)

2. Off-the-field bonding underpinning the Sounders' deep playoff run (Seattle Times)

3. Sounders midfielder Osvaldo Alonso: 'I've been waiting for this moment for a long time. It's time to do it.' (Seattle Times)

4. Impact find scoring touch in time to match Toronto FC's torrid attack (The Canadian Press)

5. Inside the Philadelphia Union's YSC Academy as it looks to enrich local soccer talent (Metro Philadelphia)

6. A thankful look at the 2016 FC Dallas season (Dallas Morning News)

7. Montreal Impact's Didier Drogba 'a legend of the game' - Jozy Altidore (ESPNFC.com)

8. Roman Torres brings Seattle Sounders together in MLS Cup final quest (ESPNFC.com)

9. Colorado Rapids attack potent enough to overturn Seattle's first-leg lead (ESPNFC.com)

10. 2nd Leg of MLS Western Conference Final Will Be Won in Midfield (Bleacher Report)

11. How the Colorado Rapids will replace unsung hero Sam Cronin (MLSsoccer.com)

12. Sounders respect, but don't fear Rapids' mile-high altitude advantage (MLSsoccer.com)

(Additional articles for consideration can be submitted directly to Jane Sexton of MLS Communications at Jane.Sexton@MLSsoccer.com .)

1. ShkÃ«lzen Gashi has proven to be huge asset in Rapids turnaround this season

By John Meyer

Denver Post - November 25, 2016