MLS Major League Soccer

MLS Newsstand - October 26, 2016

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


1. Sebastian Giovinco: Small but mighty

By Dan Robson SportsNet.ca - October 25, 2016

The first fell flat on his face. The second just turned, bewildered, as wind ripped past him. Sebastian Giovinco took a few more strides toward the New York Red Bulls goal. Two more defenders collapsed as he cut through them just beyond the box. He faked a shot with his right, pulled the ball to his left and vanished. One of the men kicked feebly at the air where the ball had been, while the other nearly slammed into him. Two steps beyond them, Giovinco pivoted to the net and, with his left foot, fired a bullet past the diving goalkeeper. It was nine seconds of complete dominance in the 78th minute, in the most important game in Toronto FC history. Reds fans at Toronto's BMO Field erupted with a fury that suggested their star had ended a century of ineptitude, rather than just shy of a decade. Giovinco, who had arrived in Toronto mere hours earlier after playing an international match in Italy the night before, had just scored the goal that would secure TFC's first berth in the Major League Soccer playoffs.

It was Oct. 14, 2015. Just down the road at Rogers Centre, the Toronto Blue Jays were playing game five of the ALDS against the Texas Rangers. While TFC fans revelled in the glory of Giovinco's goal, a roar echoed across the city as Jose Bautista hit a home run in the midst of one of the most chaotic innings in baseball history - and flipped his bat into international sports lore.

One of these moments became iconic in Toronto sports. But the other, more beautiful, more outstanding act, is just a high mark for a fledgling franchise that's prone to losing. Everyone knows about the bat flip. Only TFC fans will wax poetic about the "Atomic Ant's" magical goal.

Over lunch at Dimmi Trattoria, an Italian restaurant in Toronto's swanky Yorkville neighbourhood, Giovinco shakes his head in feigned indignation at the mention of Bautista's bat flip. "No perfect time!" he says in English - and then, through a translator: "He stole my glory."

In just two seasons with TFC, Giovinco has generated a great deal of glory. His wily playmaking and lethal finishing earned him MLS Golden Boot honours as the league's leading scorer in his first season. He was also named the league's MVP for his outsized play. Already, Giovinco's name appears in debates about the greatest players to ever take the field in MLS. And at 29 years old, he is still in his prime - still getting better - and has three seasons remaining on his contract with TFC following this year.

Before an injury kept him on the sidelines for more than a month, Giovinco was on track for another MVP-calibre season. The Reds sputtered without him, slipping out of contention to win the Eastern Conference. Finishing third, they earned a one-game elimination playoff against the Philadelphia Union - the first home playoff match in TFC history.

Consider it the equivalent to baseball's wild card game. It's set to be a thrilling playoff. And yet Giovinco and TFC are an afterthought for many Toronto sports fans, relegated in the media to Green Party status behind Bautista and the Jays, Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs, and DeMar DeRozan and the Raptors.

But the most talented athlete in Toronto doesn't seem bothered by the lack of attention he and his team have garnered in the shadow of the city's sporting giants. "Do you recognize him - a manager at Dimmi Trattoria asks as he introduces a waitress to Giovinco. She searches an internal database of faces you should know. No hits. "This is a famous soccer player," the manager prods. "Oh, really," she says - sounding genuinely delighted - and apologizes: "I don't really watch soccer."

Giovinco laughs. He doesn't mind. He chats briefly with her in Italian and orders a sparkling water. He prefers it this way. It's a muted fame; politely Canadian.

He wears faded blue jean shorts and a grey T-shirt that showcases full sleeves of art tattooed on both arms. He has short, neatly cropped hair and a boyish face. And as his nickname suggests, he is small - just five-foot-four. In this way, he doesn't fit the prototype of a professional athlete. He doesn't turn heads on the street with his sheer size and physicality. In fact, on most days, he walks along the sidewalk near his condo in Yorkville and no one recognizes him at all. There are the odd fans, of course. He's happy to oblige them with a photo or an autograph. But mostly, he's content with the quiet nature of his celebrity away from BMO Field. He pulls on a red jersey and he's a superhero. He takes it off and he's just Seba.

It's much different back home, where the constant attention can be overwhelming. He grew up in a small town outside of Turin in northern Italy. Neither of his parents played soccer, but his dad was an A.C. Milan fan, so Sebastian was, too. In the early 1990s, he admired the famed trio of Milan greats, Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard and Ruud Gullit. But his allegiance to Milan dissipated when he joined the Juventus youth team, based in Turin, when he was nine years old. He spent the next decade developing into one of the team's most anticipated prospects. After a couple of seasons with the club, he continued to improve as a dynamic goal-scorer and playmaker while on loan to Parma for two seasons. He returned to Turin with Juventus in 2012.

The next three years were up and down for Giovinco. He made 130 appearances for Juventus, scoring 20 goals with 23 assists. He was often criticized for playmaking more than scoring, and had fallen out of favour with Juventus manager Max Allegri, who had diminished his time on the field. With his contract expiring at the end of the Serie A season in 2015, Giovinco was prepared to sign another long-term deal with the club, but talks fizzled.

Then, in early 2015, Toronto FC - in a bid to turn around years of abysmal failure - offered him a five-year contract reported to be worth more than $7 million a season. It was a much higher offer than he could expect to receive at home, or anywhere else in the world. The franchise was in desperate need of a bold move, especially after the signing of English striker Jermain Defoe, heralded in an aggressive marketing campaign as a "bloody big deal," fell flat after one injury-riddled season.

Less than two days after showing initial interest, Toronto FC GM Tim Bezbatchenko - fresh off losing Defoe - flew to Turin to meet with Giovinco. They met for an hour over lunch; Giovinco says they didn't discuss money. He was impressed by the vision of the club, outlined on an iPad he was given. He was won over when they offered him the No. 10, the most prestigious jersey number in soccer, which he'd long coveted with Juventus but never received.

But Giovinco had reason to be apprehensive. At 27 years old, he was in his prime. Stars like Thierry Henry and David Beckham had made the move across the pond, but they were in their 30s, on the back end of already successful careers. In European soccer, MLS is seen by many as a backwater minor league, but also as one with money to spend. In the global soccer hierarchy, it's looked at as a way to cash in at the end of a successful career. For Giovinco, a move to Toronto would be a step down from elite soccer. It would likely affect the perception of him on the international stage. Fear is something he's always had an interest in conquering, however. Among the tattoos on his arms is a large black spider. He was terrified of arachnids, so he decided to get a tattoo that he'd have to face every day. "Now, I'm not scared," he says.

Ultimately, it didn't take Giovinco long to make a decision on the move to North America. He consulted his wife, Shari, who was initially unsure about moving to a new place with their two-year-old son, Jacobo. But Giovinco felt it was time for something new. "I wanted to change leagues," he says. "And, truthfully, the first offer that came in was from Toronto."

But while the move was a financial boon for Giovinco, it didn't take long for it to have an impact on his status in the game back home. Despite playing some of the best soccer of his career and already having 21 caps, Giovinco was left off the Italian team for the European Championship this year, with Italian coach Antonio Conte saying there were consequences to playing in the MLS. The snub upset Giovinco, who defended the quality of MLS. He remains unapologetic about his decision to come to Canada. If he had to do it again, he says, "I would make the exact same decision."

Giovinco's connection with his adopted city gained significant meaning this summer when his wife gave birth to their second child, Alma. "It's what I wanted," he says of his daughter being born in Canada. The family has taken a liking to the city, and Giovinco embraces Toronto as a second home. Even Shari, who was initially skeptical, is now "contento." "I didn't expect a city this beautiful," he says. "I like the life, the people. It has an air of positivity."

It helps, too, that the No. 10 and his name are on the backs of the majority of jerseys in the sea of red that fills BMO Field each game. Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore, TFC's other two designated players and key factors in the team's success this season, don't receive near the attention the "Atomic Ant" generates.

Bradley says his teammate has the kind of unique abilities that set players apart. He rhymes off a list: the ability to play in tight spaces, to play between lines, to drift, to put guys on the wrong foot - combined with perfect technique in passing, shooting and dribbling. "Those are special players," Bradley says. "I think in those ways, Seba has special qualities."

The biggest challenge for TFC coach Greg Vanney has been implementing a structure on the field that has his team operating as a cohesive group, while also allowing Giovinco the freedom to work outside of that structure. "Everybody has to be able to improvise within your system," Vanney says. "But obviously he has special talent to do more things than anybody, so he's obviously got a lot more leeway to improvise."

With the success Giovinco has had in the league, it would be understandable to wonder if he might look to return to soccer in Europe. But Giovinco says he's committed to seeing out his contract with TFC, unlike Defoe.

The night before he scored the most important goal in TFC history, Giovinco texted Vanney on his way to the airport. He let the coach know that he expected to play for TFC the next night. "You're ready for 90 minutes, right - Vanney replied, kidding. "Yep, ready for 90 mins," Giovinco responded, not kidding at all.

He arrived in Toronto just a few hours before the game against the Red Bulls and watched anxiously through the first half before Vanney put him in and he ran through four opponents to score the winner.

So there's no question in Vanney's mind about Giovinco's commitment to the team. And for the record, without question, the coach believes his player is the best to ever play in the league.

For his part, sitting in this small Italian restaurant, working through a salad before training, Giovinco has little interest in revealing his grand designs for MLS supremacy. "My objective is simple. To do better game after game, year after year," he says. "In terms of overall, I will tell you if I accomplish it. But for now, it's just 'Do better every time I'm on the field.'"

It's a safe answer. In his new world, Giovinco isn't interested in making grand pronouncements. His play is enough of a statement. There may be no bat flips in the future, but eventually Toronto fans, beyond the TFC faithful, will rise with him.

He gets up from the table, ready to leave, and kindly thanks the waitress, a new fan. He passes the bar where the manager eagerly shakes his hand goodbye. Then Giovinco exits out into a busy street, where no one appears to recognize him at all. He smiles and, with a slight jog in his step, turns down an alley and is gone.

2. Battle-tested Moor brings experience to TFC's playoff opener

By John Molinaro SportsNet.ca - October 25, 2016

TORONTO - Wednesday's contest between Toronto FC and the Philadelphia Union marks the Reds' first home post-season match in franchise history.

However, there is one current TFC star who has played a Major League Soccer playoff game before at BMO Field - the biggest playoff game of all, in fact. BMO Field staged the 2010 MLS Cup final between the Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas. Back then Toronto defender Drew Moor played for the Rapids, and he started and played the full 120 minutes (the game went to extra time) as Colorado beat Dallas 2-1 to win its first and only MLS Cup to date.

Hoisting the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy remains one of the highlights of Moor's MLS career. It's that memory that motivates him for the challenge ahead of helping TFC navigate the 2016 MLS playoffs and win this year's MLS Cup.

"It was awesome. Being champions is always fun. I remember [the day of the 2010 final] being very cold and windy coming off the lake, but it was a special memory. Every time I walk out onto that field now I think about it, and it certainly makes me hungry to want to win another one," Moor said this week.

To say Moor has been a central figure in TFC's defensive renaissance in 2016 would be a massive understatement. Last season, the Reds conceded 58 goals, tied for the worst defensive record in MLS. In the aftermath of an embarrassing first-round playoff loss to the Montreal Impact, TFC president Bill Manning, general manager Tim Bezbatchenko and coach Greg Vanney all said that addressing the team's defensive issues was the top priority in the off-season.

Toronto was in desperate need of a veteran who could anchor and quarterback the defence, as well as provide leadership along the back line. Moor fit the bill as a veteran of 13 MLS seasons, with 336 regular-season games and 11 playoff matches under his belt with both Colorado and Dallas, where he began his MLS career back in 2005. As a free agent, Moor became one of TFC's biggest off-season targets, and he signed with the team in mid-December.

The results? With Moor at the heart of the defence this season (he's played in 32 games), Toronto coughed up just 39 goals, tied for the second-best defensive record in the league.

"He's been a key part of our ability to tighten up things this year defensively. He's been steadfast and present in just about every game of ours, and he does a nice job of organizing and controlling things on our back line," Vanney said.

"He's been extremely solid, and I think that's the main thing about being a centre back - to be solid every single day, do your job and be able at the highest level to help and communicate, and work with the guys around [you]. I think Drew is as good at that as anybody."

Moor has also proven to be pretty versatile, as he's partnered with a number of different players in the centre of defence (youngsters Eriq Zavaleta and Nick Hagglund foremost among them), and in different formations, including a 3-5-2 and a diamond-shaped 4-4-2.

Which system does he prefer?

"Whichever one we can win in," Moor quipped. "No, I think it's good, and we've done that throughout the season, which is huge because you have to be able to adapt at times, whether it's through injuries or who we're playing against. Certainly, we always want to set the tone ourselves, but to be able to adapt and to change around a little bit is very big and we've been able to do that. We've been successful in any formation we've put out there."

More important than that, it's TFC's newfound resilience - they dealt with major injury crises throughout the campaign to no less than five starters and still managed to set a club record for points in a season with 53 - that will serve them well in the playoffs, according to Moor.

"To stay in games, to keep things close; we've had a lot thrown at us here the past couple of weeks and I think that we've proven we can grind [it out] and that's extremely important in the playoffs," the defender said.

So far, it's all worked out well on the pitch for Moor, who took a bit of a gamble in coming to Toronto - he had a good thing going and was a firm fan favourite in Colorado, to say nothing of the fact that TFC's track record of dysfunction prior to this season should have raised a big red flag. He has no regrets about the move to Toronto, where his wife recently gave birth to their son, Joseph, the couple's first child.

"Obviously, I had a nice little home in Colorado and loved it there. I was there for so long and I got married there and it was special place to me, and to choose to leave, that was a very hard decision. But to come here, at an organization like this, a city like this with a fan base like this, it's been a fun first nine months. I'm hoping this next month and a half will be just as fun," Moor enthused.

Described by Vanney as "low maintenance," Moor is generally considered to be one of the true nice guys on the TFC roster, famous for his gentle way and welcoming smile, and his incredibly friendly demeanour.

"Drew is one of those players in our league who year in and year out is one of the best defenders. Not only that, I don't think you could find a better person. Anyone who has come across Drew or his family... knows that he's really one of the best individuals in this game and that this league has ever had," Bezbatchenko offered.

3. Toronto FC aims higher in second MLS playoff shot

By Laura Armstrong Toronto Star - October 25, 2016

After Toronto FC crashed out of Major League Soccer's playoffs last season - following a lopsided knockout-round loss to the rival Impact in Montreal - newly-minted president Bill Manning went public with lofty goals for the 2016 season.

He wanted more than 50 points from a team that collected a franchise-record 49 in 2015. He wanted the Reds' porous defence, which conceded a league-worst 58 goals last season, to get that number below 45. When it was later announced that Toronto FC would play its first eight games on the road, Manning said he wanted at least eight points from that stretch.

The book is now closed on that regular season. Toronto kicks off its playoff run against the Philadelphia Union at BMO Field Wednesday night, with the winner advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Reds exceeded all of Manning's expectations. They managed a 53-point season - 11 of them in that early extended road trip - and conceded just 39 goals along the way.

Mathematically, it's their best-ever season. Manning himself said Tuesday it was a good year. But the club also knows that fans largely judge success by playoff performance.

"We'd all be disappointed if we were one and out," Manning said.

The collective spirit, he said, is that the club hasn't done anything yet.

"It shows a bit how we have changed the culture here at TFC and we're expecting more. We're expecting more of our players; we're expecting more of ourselves and the organization as a whole. We're really looking forward to treading new ground."

General manager Tim Bezbatchenko says it was brave of the club to make its season-long goals public, and hopes the Reds won't have to sit down and evaluate the year until after a shot at the MLS Cup on Dec. 10. But if that time comes sooner, there will be disappointment.

"There's more for us to do and I don't think anyone will be satisfied, fully satisfied, unless we pick up a win on Wednesday and then make a run," Bezbatchenko said.

That drive is why coach Greg Vanney and his players are intent on putting their best foot forward come Wednesday.

"The margins in these (knockout) games are so small, things can go either way," he said. "I think we need to go out and perform at our best, step up as a group and ultimately make the plays to get it going in our favour.

"We've definitely made progress. Now we need to go out there and do the business to try to bring some excitement to this city, and try to bring a trophy here. That's what this next stretch is about."

4. Union enter postseason with confidence despite late-season swoon

By Marc Narducci Philadelphia Inquirer - October 25, 2016

For a team that limped into the playoffs, the Union appear energized by the prospect of playing a new season. They are also happy that the old one is finished.

For the second time in their seven-year history, the Union will be in the Major League Soccer playoffs, and in their opinion the best thing is that the slate is wiped clean.

The Union (11-14-9) earned the sixth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot and will visit No. 3 seed Toronto FC (14-9-11) in the one-game knockout round Wednesday night.

At one point, the Union were in the position to contend for a first-round bye or at least a home game in the knockout round, but that was before they ended the season on an 0-5-2 slide and dropped their final three games.

"We need to remember that we are the same team that did what we have done and that is the reason why we were able to make the playoffs," said keeper Andre Blake, an all-star this season and one of the main reasons the Union have returned to the postseason for the first time since 2011.

The Union's players and coach Jim Curtin said they could draw positives from their most recent visit to Toronto, a 1-1 draw on Sept. 24.

Toronto was without sidelined forward Sebastian Giovinco, last season's league MVP and a game-changer. He was third in MLS with 17 goals and second with 15 assists in 28 games. Giovinco will be back and the Union will have their hands full.

Still, in their last meeting, the Union held a 1-0 lead until Toronto earned the equalizer in the 70th minute on a goal by Justin Morrow.

"Toronto away is tough, but we take a lot of positives out of the last game," said Alejandro Bedoya, the U.S. national team midfielder who scored his first Union goal in that game on an outstanding chip. "We were up 1-0 and let them back in the game."

The Union kept applying the pressure.

"We had several chances to put the game away," Bedoya said. "We have to convert more of the chances."

The Union did not have midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta for the last Toronto game. He might not be as dangerous as Giovinco, but the three-time Swiss World Cup selection is a major part of the Union attack.

Barnetta is hoping to prolong his career with the Union after announcing last month that he will return to play in Switzerland next year.

With Toronto being the favorite, Curtin believes the pressure is on the home team. He'll attempt to use any psychological advantage.

"I say the pressure is on them," Curtin said.

5. MLS playoff rivals Toronto and Philadelphia face off on brink of history

By Jeff Carlisle ESPNFC.com - October 25, 2016

Wednesday's MLS Cup playoff opener features two of the more success-starved teams in the league's history.

On one side you have Toronto FC, who after reaching the postseason for the first time last year is finally getting to host a playoff game in its 10th season. On the other you have the Philadelphia Union, who reached the playoffs this year for the first time since 2011, and just the second time since joining the league in 2010. Total combined playoff games between the two teams? Three, with the Union taking part in two of those. On Wednesday, one of these teams will win a playoff game for the first time.

Neither side is entering Wednesday's knockout match (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2/WatchESPN) on a roll. Toronto has won just once in its last six matches, and that was last weekend against a wretched Chicago Fire side that couldn't wait for the season to end. But TFC's 1W-1L-4T record in that span qualifies as Supporters Shield-winning form compared to the Union, who backed into the postseason in the throes of a seven-match winless streak.

For that reason alone TFC enters the match as the heaviest of favorites, but there are others as well. Toronto's ascent up the MLS hierarchy has taken a while, but it is a team on the up. The 53 points amassed this season are the most in the team's history. It has high profile players like reigning MVP Sebastian Giovinco and US national team linchpins Jozy Altidore, and Michael Bradley in its ranks, as well as talented supporting players like Justin Morrow, Drew Moor and Jonathan Osorio. Granted, great expectations and the accompanying pressure aren't something Toronto has worn well historically, but the prospect of a home playoff game has manager Greg Vanney feeling confident.

"[Playing at home] will bring some excitement and some real energy to the stadium for the guys to feed off of," Vanney said via telephone.

"It's a real valuable asset to have, especially this time of year when the margins are so small."

Perhaps the biggest question for Vanney is whether he persists with the 3-5-2 he used last weekend against the Fire, or reverts to the 4-4-2 with a diamond midfield that he utilized for most of the season. He insisted there isn't much difference.

"In a way it's just a matter of whether our holding midfielder is Bradley in front of the backline, or if our holding midfielder is Moor in the middle of our back three," he said.

"But the shape of everything else is more or less the same."

True, but the 3-5-2 allows wing backs Morrow and Steven Beitashour to be more aggressive in joining the attack, something Morrow did to great effect in scoring against Chicago last weekend. The tight diamond allows Toronto to overload the center of midfield with superior numbers and get guys like Osorio and Armando Cooper into open pockets of space.

The downside of the diamond is that Toronto has tended to struggle against highly mobile attacking midfielders. Back on Sept. 18, the New York Red Bulls' Sacha Kljestan ran Toronto ragged with his ability to pop up in dangerous spots, and it had the effect of pulling Bradley out of the middle and leaving the center of Toronto's defense exposed. That's where having an extra central defender in a 3-5-2 can help. As for Philadelphia coach Jim Curtin, he's hoping that Tranquillo Barnetta can fill a similar role to Kljestan.

"The Tranquillos, the Sacha Kljestans are the new, modern No. 10s, where they're running No. 10s," Curtin said via telephone.

"They don't just stand in the center circle and get on the ball and just play through balls like Carlos Valderrama used to. They pop up all over the field. When they're on the ball, they're the guys that make the killer pass that springs you in at goal. I would put Tranquillo in that same mold as Sacha."

To be clear, Kljestan has had an MVP caliber season, but if Barnetta -- who missed the 1-1 draw between these two teams back on Sept. 24 -- can deliver even a Kljestan-lite performance, and get wingers Chris Pontius and Fabian Herbers involved in the attack, it will be a big boost for the Union.

A bigger concern for Curtin will be his side's play on the defensive side of the ball. Curtin admitted that the tendency of outside backs Fabinho and Keegan Rosenberry to push high up the field does have a tendency to leave his team exposed defensively, but he bemoaned the defensive play of his entire team over the second half of the season.

"I'm a big believer that your defense starts with your front three to your midfield to all the way in the back," he said.

"Bottom line, we weren't good enough, whether it was making those plays in the box, a block, a slide tackle, doing everything you can to keep the ball out of your goal. I'm disappointed with how we ended the year, no question about it, and we don't hide from it or make excuses. We weren't good enough. But now we have a new challenge and a new opportunity on Wednesday night against a good Toronto team."

Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco Reigning MVP Sebastian Giovinco is now fit and will be crucial to Toronto's playoff hopes. Toronto is a team that relies on Bradley to bring the ball out of the back, and Curtin added that Barnetta or forward C.J. Sapong will try to shadow the U.S. international in a bid to disrupt TFC's attacking rhythm.

"It's no secret. We'll always have someone to run at him to make Bradley play square or backwards," he said.

"It's almost like a spy in the NFL on the quarterback. Bradley is no different. If you just let him sit in the middle of the field and let him dictate the game, it doesn't work out too well."

Vanney has some defensive issues of his own, and admitted his side haven't done well at stopping opponents in transition. But TFC does have two aces in the attacking third in Giovinco and Altidore. Vanney estimated that Giovinco is "90 percent" recovered from the pair of muscle strains he sustained in late August. All the Italian needs now is time to reestablish the chemistry with his teammates, in order to attack the heart of the Union's shaky defense.

"We've got to be able to put some pressure on them and make their back line make decisions," said Vanney. "They've got a young group in the back and we've got to make them come up with some real plays." The team that does that the most will get their first taste of playoff success.

6. It's win or be done for the Galaxy in playoff opener

By Kevin Baxter Los Angeles Times - October 25, 2016

Twenty-two months ago, after winning their third MLS Cup in four seasons, the Galaxy appeared unstoppable.

Just one other team had won as many as two titles in the past 13 years. The Galaxy had five. In a league built for parity, they were a powerhouse.

"That's a bit of a dynasty at this point," Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena said.

But Arena's team hasn't won a postseason game since, making Wednesday night's playoff opener with Real Salt Lake at StubHub Center (7:30 p.m., TV: UniMas, Spectrum) something of a referendum on whether the Galaxy are a dynasty in decline or one that's about to rise again.

Just four starters from that 2014 championship team are likely to start Wednesday and only five remain from the team that lost to Seattle in the first round of last season's playoffs. That loss sparked an aggressive off-season makeover in which Arena brought in 10 new players, steeling the Galaxy for the grind of the regular season by leaving them two deep in quality players at every position.

That nine-month marathon has become a sprint, though, and the Galaxy, who finished third in the Western Conference, can't afford to stumble since a loss in Wednesday's elimination game will end their season.

"We're in this position now so we know what's to be expected," said captain Robbie Keane, a three-time MLS champion. "That's what everyone's objective was before the season, to get to the playoffs. We're here now. So we have to capitalize and make sure that we're ready."

They may be more ready than they've been in months.

Injuries and international duty caused Keane, Gyasi Zardes and Steven Gerrard to each miss nearly half the season while Landon Donovan didn't return from retirement until last month. Zardes remains sidelined indefinitely with a broken bone but Gerrard's comeback from a lingering hamstring strain is probably just a game away. And Wednesday could mark the first time this season that Keane, Donovan and Giovani dos Santos start together.

The home-field advantage should also give the Galaxy an edge. Arena's team has lost only one MLS game at StubHub Center this year. And in the playoffs the home team has lost just twice, league-wide, in the one-game knockout round, the last coming in 2012.

Plus the road has been particularly tough on sixth-place Real Salt Lake, which hasn't won an MLS game outside Utah since July. In its last six games overall, Salt Lake has scored two goals, though two of those games ended scoreless and goalkeeper Nick Rimando has allowed just one goal in two other starts.

Want more numbers? No MLS team had fewer regular-season losses than the Galaxy's six and just one had a better goal differential. Plus the Galaxy led the Western Conference in scoring with 54 goals and played to a league-high 16 draws. That last number won't help them Wednesday since a tie will have to be broken, either during a 30-minute overtime or penalty kicks.

In fact, Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Rowe said, none of those stats mean anything now.

"We're starting over with a fresh slate. The season doesn't matter anymore," said Rowe, closing the book on a season in which he had nine shutouts in 30 starts.

"People that live in the past, they always stay in the past," added Keane, summing up both the season and the state of the Galaxy's dynasty. "I don't care what people did last week or the week before. It's about what we do now."

7. Galaxy look for MLS playoff knockout vs Real Salt Lake

By Damian Calhoun LA Daily News - October 25, 2016

The single-game knockout round can be unforgiving.

After a 34-game regular season, a team's season hangs on its performance in one game, likely on a short turnaround with another short turnaround awaiting if you're victorious.

For the second consecutive season, this is the path the Galaxy must travel.

The Galaxy, the third seed in the Western Conference, host sixth-seeded Real Salt Lake Wednesday night in one of the two conference single-eliminations in the Knockout Round.

The winner stays alive and the loser goes home, as was the case last year for the Galaxy. The Galaxy entered as the fifth seed and had to travel to Seattle. The season ended with a 3-2 loss.

"Now is the time to do your talking on the field, instead of talking off the field," Galaxy forward Robbie Keane said. "Now it is what we do on the field, let's see who stands up and let's see who's going to be counted because this separates the men from the boys now.

"This is where it counts, now."

Keane has missed the past two games of the regular season, but he said he felt "fine" Monday following training.

If the Galaxy win tonight, they will host the first leg of the conference semifinals Sunday against Colorado.

However, first up on the agenda is RSL.

The teams met twice during the regular season. The Galaxy won the first match, 5-2, at home in April before playing to a 3-3 draw in September. The Galaxy led 3-1 after the 64th minute.

"We're starting over with a fresh slate," Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Rowe said. "The season doesn't matter anymore. I know our team mentality ... we have a great mindset going into the game and I think home-field advantage will be good for us.

"We have to just play our game and not worry about them and just keep possession of the ball. Move it (the ball) and work hard for each other, defensively not give up a goal, and I think at home that would give us a great opportunity to be able to get one (a victory.)"

The Galaxy posted an 8-1-8 record at home - the lone loss to FC Dallas in the U.S. Open Cup at StubHub Center. RSL went 4-11-2 on the road.

"We kept our heads above water," Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said. "We've been somewhat consistent in the fact that we've been a team that's been positioned to win a MLS Cup all each and every year, so that's OK, but we'll see how this year plays out."

To the Galaxy's credit, amid all of the turmoil of who's in the lineup and who's not, they've allowed just one goal in three games in October and could be set up for another playoff run.

"I think the last three weeks have been really good," Landon Donovan said. "What hasn't shown up yet is the quality in the attacking third. I think when you look at the way we play, the ability to not give away too many chances and just the effort, we have a chance. Now we need to make plays on the other end of the field."

Update: RSL (12-12-10) finished sixth in the Western Conference with 46 points. RSL didn't exactly close the regular season in strong fashion, going winless in the last seven games (0-4-3). Joao Plata leads RSL with nine goals and 11 assists. Yura Movsisyan (nine goals) and Juan Manuel Martinez (seven) are others to watch in the RSL attack. This is the fifth postseason meeting (2009, 2011, 2013 and 2014) between the clubs. Giovani dos Santos scored three goals against RSL in the regular season.

8. Underdogs once more, can RSL stop its continued slide and shock the Galaxy?

By Christopher Kamrani Salt Lake Tribune - October 25, 2016

Carson, Calif. - It was five days after Real Salt Lake's landmark win of the season. RSL had topped the Colorado Rapids 2-1 at home on Aug. 26, bringing back the Rocky Mountain Cup to the Wasatch Front. RSL was in second place in the Western Conference with seven games to go.

There they were, back in that familiar light. For the better part of a decade, they were the perennial underdogs out West, and again, were raring for a late-season charge. RSL general manager Craig Waibel was asked about underdog tag so often associated with the club, it seemed obvious the franchise was set to contend for a top seed. Some players even voiced a charge toward the Supporter's Shield.

"I think even within our group, we're going to have different opinions on that," Waibel said. "Some guys love being the underdog."

That was before RSL hit the skids. That win over the Rapids is the last win RSL had. Since then, the team has gone 0-4-3, earning three points out of a possible 21. There have been two goals scored in the past six matches and questions as to how a front-line of three Designated Players have not managed a goal or assist since Sept. 7.

RSL is the underdog, alright. Just not as the surprisingly high seed with home-field advantage.

Against the No. 3-seeded L.A. Galaxy in Wednesday's first-round knockout match at the StubHub Center, No. 6 RSL enters the 2016 MLS Cup postseason tied as the coldest playoff club at the dance. RSL and the Philadelphia Union each tied an MLS record going winless in their last seven regular-season matches, but still making it to the postseason.

"This team used to get hot at the end of the year," said ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman. "This team used to be the team that nobody wanted to play at the end of the year. I'm not sure that's the case now."

And Twellman asked a pertinent question for RSL, preparing for its fifth playoff matchup all-time against L.A. and its band of superstars: "As a team, how can you be confident -

The results disappeared over the past two months of the year. The goals did, too. Wednesday's match in Southern California marks two months to the day that RSL beat Colorado at home. But midfielder Luke Mulholland said his team must not view recent results or read into playoff seedings.

"I have the confidence in myself and the players in our squad to go to L.A., and get the result, so I'll take it," he said. "We'll view it as a second chance in a way for some of the hard work we put in this year."

Twellman said while the Galaxy remain favorites to beat RSL, L.A. hasn't been the typical steamroller it has been in recent years. The Galaxy give up chances in transition and will, at times, concede possession to opponents even at home. Forward Robbie Keane (hip flexor) is expected to go, and his partnership with midfielder Giovani dos Santos will be an early tell to the outcome of the match.

"Those two you need to keep in check," Twellman said. "With Kyle Beckerman's experience, and I think if Sunny [midfielder Sunday Stephen] starts, that's a good. You've got two guys that can always keep eyes on two players that want to drop into the midfield. That's a key."

Will that attacking groove that has escaped RSL in September and October be revived at StubHub Center? RSL coach Jeff Cassar inserted starters Yura Movsisyan, Burrito Martinez and Javier Morales into the second half of the 2-1 loss in Seattle on Sunday, which means they should be fresh for the midweek match. Joao Plata was taken off after 70 minutes, conserving some of what was left in his tank for the Galaxy.

"The positive thing with the team is we sticked together," Morales said. "I think everyone can see the fight on the field, we pushed hard - even to the last minute. That was good for the team. I think it's going to be good to play against L.A. there."

Regardless of its continual dip in form, RSL would've entered this matchup as the underdogs against the Galaxy. It's now up to RSL to reverse course and catch L.A. - and the league - off-guard. The alternative is the winless streak extends to eight, and the offseason awaits.

9. Real Salt Lake's defense faces massive test against Galaxy

By James Edward Deseret News - October 25, 2016

Significant news trickled out of LA Galaxy training on Monday.

After sitting out LA's past two games with a hip flexor injury, Robbie Keane said he's ready to roll for Wednesday's Knockout playoff game against visiting Real Salt Lake (KMYU, 8:30 p.m.).

The 36-year-old Keane only played in 17 league matches this season, but he scored 10 goals. His return is bad news for underdog RSL in the one-game playoff.

Los Angeles scored eight goals in two games against RSL this season, with Keane playing in neither. His return and L.A.'s knack for punishing Real Salt Lake defensively is the storyline of match.

Real Salt Lake didn't record one road shutout this season, and the likelihood of that happening against the dynamic Galaxy on Wednesday is next to nil. To advance, RSL will probably need to score multiple goals - which hasn't happened since a 3-3 tie against LA back on Sept. 7.

In the six games since, RSL's sputtering attack has scored just twice.

"This game is really going to be what happens in each box, are we defensively sound, are we eliminating as many opportunities as we can for L.A. and are we capitalizing on the ones we have whether it's 10 or 2," said RSL coach Jeff Cassar.

Jordan Allen said it's going to be "really difficult" to keep a clean sheet, and RSL needs to finish its chances when they come.

"I think a goal or two, especially an early goal or two, will give us a little momentum that could go a long way for us," said Allen.

The winner of Wednesday's Knockout match advances to the Western Conference semifinals and will face No. 1 seed FC Dallas in a two-game series. Game 1 would be Sunday at Rio Tinto Stadium if RSL defies the odds and rediscovers its attack.

Real Salt Lake is 4-11-2 away from home this season but has lost five straight on the road since a 2-1 win at Philadelphia on July 31.

Yura Movsisyan isn't deterred by those recent road struggles.

"I feel we've played very well on the road all season long. This is another opportunity for us to go prove ourselves and hopefully win it," said Movsisyan. "Obviously they're a good team, let's not take anything away from them, but at the end of the day we can go anywhere and play and play our game. If we can play our game I think it will be very difficult for them."

Movisyan is goalless in his last four starts, but lately he's been dealing with a heel injury and only started one of Real Salt Lake's last four matches. He only played nine minutes as a substitute in last Sunday's regular-season finale, but he figures to be back in the starting line-up against the Galaxy.

Tony Beltran's status is uncertain though. He didn't play in last Sunday's match at Seattle because of a back injury.

10. Sounders dismiss regular-season struggles against Sporting Kansas City: 'This is a different group'

By Matt Pentz Seattle Times - October 25, 2016

The Sounders lost both regular-season matchups against Sporting Kansas City, their opponent in a one-game playoff on Thursday night at CenturyLink Field, the latter of which ultimately cost longtime coach Sigi Schmid his job.

But asked whether that is a cause for concern ahead of the knockout-round showdown, multiple Sounders insisted that the dynamic is hugely different this time around. Brian Schmetzer took over for Schmid in the aftermath of that 3-0 loss at Children's Mercy Park in late July, Nicolas Lodeiro made his Seattle debut the following weekend and Roman Torres returned from his knee injury a month later.

"I think this is a different group," Schmetzer said in the video above. "It's definitely different from the game in July."

Some other nuggets from Schmetzer's media availability on Tuesday morning:

- On how the quick turnaround between games affects match preparations: "We've played Kansas City. At the end of the year, you kind of know most of the stuff (about your opponent). Sure, we're going to watch for any set pieces they might throw in, or subtle shifts in tactics. But we've played them. It's not a huge thing."

- On what his team most needs to improve upon ahead of the playoffs: "In the second half of the last couple of games, we haven't found our rhythm, and that's what we'll be working on."

- On Osvaldo Alonso, who missed games in each of the past two postseasons due to injury: "Physically, he's great."

- On Andreas Ivanschitz, who has already been ruled out of Thursday's game with a knee strain and was limited to jogging on Tuesday morning: "It's a tricky injury. The timeline for him is to keep pushing, pushing, pushing. When he's ready, he'll play."

Schmetzer added that he's still considering his options on how to replace Ivanschitz in the lineup. Cristian Roldan scored and made a general nuisance of himself in that role against FC Dallas last weekend, but the interim coach said Brad Evans is also an option on the wing.

11. Morris hits the mark in his rookie season

By Arman Kafai Dallas Morning News - October 25, 2016

Heading into Decision Day, FC Dallas had their playoff spot sealed. Their only task was to claim at least a point, to secure the Supporters Shield and continue their quest for a treble. For the Seattle Sounders, it's was a completely different situation.

The Sounders were looking to clinch a playoff spot with a win over Real Salt Lake at CenturyLink. After a rough start to the season, Seattle had put themselves in the right positions, with the arrival of Nicolas Lodeiro, and new head coach Brian Schmetzer.

For rookie Jordan Morris, the regular season had been nothing but a whirlwind. Coming out of Stanford as a homegrown player, expectations were high, as the 21 year old was expected to score from the get go. But the adjustment from college soccer to MLS was tough, as Morris did not record a goal or assist in five games.

"It was tough at first, as any jump like that is going to be," Morris said. "It's a little bit more faster and a little bit more physical, so it was a tough adjustment at first. As the season has gone on, I've gotten more adjusted to it and now it just feels normal to me. Not quite second nature yet though."

Morris recorded his first professional goal for Seattle against Philadelphia. After a goal drought, Morris has rebounded well, scoring 12 goals and assisting on three. He also stepped it up when it mattered most, scoring two goals in a crucial win over LA.

"I think I'm just playing with more confidence," Morris said. "Once I got the first one off of my back it took some weight from my shoulders and I'm just playing more of my game now. Hopefully I can get back to scoring and helping the team win."

Morris' rookie season has been anything but ordinary. His head coach at the start of the season, Sigi Schmidt, was fired. His partner in the attack, Clint Dempsey, is out with an irregular heartbeat. The team added a key playmaker in Lodeiro in the middle of the season. The bizarre circumstances have provided for an up and down season for the Sounders.

"It's always sad when you lose someone like Clint [Dempsey] because he is such a great player," Morris said. "But obviously his health comes first in that sense. Nico has done great. He's come in and has been like a quarterback. He can find those balls through and you saw his goal today. He's made a huge difference."

Their task to get into the playoffs became a little tougher with their loss against Dallas last Sunday. The Sounders took an early lead with a free kick from Lodeiro, but couldn't finish off Dallas, with Carlos Ruiz scoring the game-winning goal in the 89th minute.

"It's always tough to come away and play against a team that is a good, especially at home," Morris said. "We had them when we were up one-nil and it's frustrating to come out with a loss."

After the FC Dallas game, Morris and the group had to forget about the loss, and focus on the game against Real Salt Lake.

"Now we have to focus on next week," Morris said. "And focus on getting into the playoffs."

And that they did. Seattle defeated Salt Lake 2-1, with Morris getting an assist on Seattle's first goal. They will now host Sporting Kansas City on Thursday in hopes of advancing to the conference semi-finals, to play FC Dallas or Colorado.

12. FC Dallas left to prepare for three different teams as top-seed in MLS Cup

By Jon Arnold Dallas Morning News - October 25, 2016

By virtue of its regular-season record, FC Dallas earned a first-round bye and will host the second leg of its two-legged conference semifinal series, as well as the second leg of the West finals and the MLS Cup title match if it makes it that far. That's a good thing, but it also can get a bit complicated for Gus Gomez, FC Dallas' team administrator.

FCD could be waiting until late Thursday night to learn where it will be headed to open the playoffs, but Gomez is working ahead as much as he can.

"What I did to prepare is, based on the experience last year, I put three different itineraries together for each city and then kind of guessed what time we would be playing," Gomez said. "Once we know, it could be Wednesday or Thursday, then I just need to make minor adjustments."

As the top seed, FC Dallas will face the lowest-seeded team that comes out of the Western Conference's knockout matches. The No. 3 seed LA Galaxy host No. 6 Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, with the No. 4 Seattle Sounders welcoming No. 5 Sporting Kansas City a day later in one-off games to determine which teams advance to the conference semifinals.

To maintain parity, MLS allows teams to charter just four legs of flights each year. Gomez said the team has saved its charter flights for the playoffs.

Fear of the unknown: Not knowing the opponent for the semifinals makes things complicated for more than just travel plans. FCD also has to try to scout three teams at once.

"We're familiar with all of them," goalkeeper Chris Seitz said. "We've played them all a couple times this year, and they're all going to present some unique challenges for us."

13. FC Dallas' players, coaches credit each other for idea of surprising injured Mauro Diaz with doorstep celebration

By Jon Arnold Dallas Morning News - October 25, 2016

Mauro Diaz couldn't be at the team's celebration Sunday, so FC Dallas took the celebration to him. After FCD clinched the Supporters' Shield with a scoreless draw at the LA Galaxy, the club flew back from Southern California and was greeted by fans at the airport. The celebration of lifting the trophy given to the team with the most points in the regular season continued as the team made its way to Mauro Diaz's house.

Diaz, a star midfielder whose 13 assists lead the team, tore his Achilles in the penultimate game of the regular season and will miss all of the playoffs and the beginning of next season. The Argentine playmaker came out of his house in his cast and was surprised by teammates spraying him with bubbly in his front yard.

Players credited the coaching staff for the decision, while members of the coaching staff said it was the players' idea. Regardless, everyone agreed it was a special moment.

"It's the best reward that I can have when I see a group of guys doing such a thing. It's something I've never seen before," coach Oscar Pareja said. "Then to see Mauro on his crutches and these guys, that moved me. It needs to be seen."

While Pareja said the team is also thankful to players like Zach Loyd, who missed the second half of the season because of concussion issues, and Fabian Castillo, who left for Turkey in the summer, Diaz's MVP-caliber year and the recentness of his injury made the visit special.

"I think he's happy to know the group is waiting for him to get better and that we have him in mind," Pareja said.

14. Crew re-signs forward Adam Jahn

Columbus Dispatch - October 25, 2016

Two days after its Major League Soccer season ended, Crew SC announced today that it re-signed forward Adam Jahn.

Jahn scored five goals in 12 appearances for Columbus after he was acquired in July in a trade with the San Jose Earthquakes.

No terms of the contract were released.

Jahn, 25, mostly split time with Ola Kamara during the latter part of the season as the Crew tried to stay in playoff contention.

At 6 feet 3 and 201 pounds, Jahn can create matchup issues for defenses.

15. Veteran Bernier hopes there's more playoff magic when Impact face D.C.

By Bill Beacon The Canadian Press - October 25, 2016

MONTREAL - Patrice Bernier hopes he has some post-season magic left over from last year's Major League Soccer playoffs.

The Brossard, Que., native went all of the 2015 season without scoring a goal, then tallied twice in the three post-season games as the Impact reached the Eastern Conference semifinals for the first time.

He didn't score a again this season, but wouldn't mind finding the range once more when the Impact play a single-game knockout round match Thursday against D.C. United at RFK Stadium.

"We play in order to play in these types of games, the high-stakes games, " Bernier said Tuesday. "You want to be present.

"If I can contribute on the board, so be it, but if I can contribute by stirring up the team and making sure we get a win, even better."

The Impact will be looking to all their players for goals against a stingy D.C. defence. The teams twice played to 1-1 draws in the regular season, with Montreal needing a late equalizer each time. The unlikely goalscorers were defensive midfielder Hernan Bernardello and defender Hassoun Camara.

The 37-year-old Bernier, the team MVP in 2012, got into 20 games, including 13 starts, this season, but has been a regular of late in a central midfield core with Bernardello and Marco Donadel that was key in late-season 2-0-1 spurt that secured their playoff berth. The trio doesn't score a lot, but they has excelled at keeping opponent's star attackers to the outside.

"Playing in Montreal means a lot to Pat," said coach Mauro Biello. "Last year was difficult for him in terms of getting minutes and playing time and he got that opportunity towards the end of the year and he was a big factor in the success this team had."

Montreal will be tested by D.C., which went 9-4-4 at home this season. Overall, home teams are 10-2 since the knockout round was introduced.

But Bernier feels the Impact, 4-6-7 away from Saputo Stadium this season, are better on the road than they've been in their five years in MLS.

"We found a recipe to be very compact and tight," he said. "We have a tendency to be dominated (territorially), but we don't panic in those moments.

"We have Nacho (Ignacio Piatti), Didier (Drogba), Matteo (Mancosu), and Dom (Oduro) up front, so it fits our game. Transition is the name of the game for us this year. It's like a game of cat and mouse. You want to attract them to be able to catch them in the space they leave (open) with the speed we have up front."

Biello said chances were "very minimal" that Drogba will play. The 38-year-old who has been nursing a sore back has not trained this week, although he appeared an hour into practice Tuesday to do 15 minutes of running on the sidelines.

Hindsight says the Impact could haven been playing at home on Thursday had Biello not sat out all but three of his starters, goalkeeper Evan Bush and defenders Laurent Ciman and Ambroise Oyongo, in Sunday's season-ending 3-0 loss at New England. He wanted his first 11 fresh for the playoff game.

But D.C., only one point ahead of Montreal, also sat out its starters and lost in Orlando.

Bernier supports his coaches' decision, which he felt showed confidence they could win on the road.

"D.C. did the same as we did, they rested most of their players. But you couldn't bet that they would do that," said Bernier. "The plan was to rest and prepare.

"And the guys who got an opportunity will be knocking. Last year, Johan Venegas came off the bench against Columbus and scored the 2-1 goal, so it's important to keep them in the run of things. The important thing is the game on Thursday."

If they win that, they will be back at Saputo Stadium on Sunday for the opening game of the two-game, total goals conference semifinals against either the first-place New York Red Bulls or second-place New York City.

16. Atlanta United will play Seattle and Columbus in tourney

By Doug Roberson Atlanta Journal-Constitution - October 25, 2016

It won't be the first game Atlanta United plays, but the MLS expansion side's first announced game will be in the Carolina Challenge Cup on Feb. 18.

Atlanta United will play Seattle at 7 p.m. at MUSC Health Stadium in Charleston, S.C.

Atlanta United will next play Columbus at 5 p.m. Feb. 22, and will wrap up the event playing the Charleston Battery, its USL affiliate, at 7 p.m. Feb. 25.

The three games should fall in the latter half of Atlanta United's preseason schedule.

This will be the 13th staging of the Carolina Challenge Cup. The other game Feb. 18 is Charleston vs. Columbus at 4:30 p.m. Also, there will be Charleston vs. Seattle at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22, and Seattle vs. Columbus at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 25.

The MLS schedule is expected to be released in January.

Atlanta United will play its home games at Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium until the construction of Mercedes-Benz Stadium is complete.

The team will train at its headquarters, also under construction, in Marietta.

The team has signed eight players and is coached by Gerardo Martino. The MLS regular season will run from early March until late October.

17. MLS Records Banner Year In 2016, Cements Position Among Top U.S. Pro Sports Leagues

By Mark Burns Forbes - October 26, 2016

In 2016, Major League Soccer is still not consistently part of the national conversation when it comes to the major U.S. professional sports leagues.

Yet, when looking at the past calendar year - where the 20-team league saw exponential growth in viewership, social media, attendance, merchandise sales, team valuations and other categories - it is impossible to have that same conversation without including MLS.

"I think that Major League Soccer is every bit a part of the mainstream day-to-day North American sports conversation," said Howard Handler, MLS Chief Marketing Officer. "... 2016 was a milestone year for us. The story of Major League Soccer continues to be one of momentum and accelerated growth."

Forbes recently talked with Handler to discuss all things MLS, where now the average club is valued at $185 million, an 18 percent increase from 2015. When the first valuations were released in 2008, the average club was listed at just $37 million, a 400 percent spike.

Handler also commented on viewership upticks on linear TV, how social media has helped spark the league's growth, what teams are leading merchandise sales, spikes in attendance and other key performance indicators.

VIEWERSHIP SURGES IN 2016

With matches broadcast live in 170 countries each week, more people watched MLS matches in 2016 across North America than any of the past 20 seasons.

According to MLS, 55 percent of its viewership this year was aged 18-49, which is the highest percentage of any North American sports league. As Handler explained, the conversation with network executives at media companies like FOX, ESPN and Univision - all league partners in 2016 - more times than not revolves around that coveted demographic. For MLS to see such a high statistic in its sophomore year with the networks is a sign that "things are definitely clicking," Handler said.

He pointed out that to date, the 2016 season has delivered 25.7 million gross viewership, which is an eight percent uptick from 2015. Additionally, two matches netted a million viewers this season, too.

"It really underscores the success of our big event strategy," said Handler of the gross viewership number. "Big events are very important to us because it connects together our entire universe of partners."

MLS IS FASTEST GROWING U.S. PRO LEAGUE ON SOCIAL

MLS followers across its social platforms have increased 95 percent in the past year while almost 690% percent since 2013.

With its "mobile-first mentality" in mind, according to Handler, the league has continued to focus on managing its one-to-one relationships with fans on social media. It has been one of the keys for the league's growth, which has included record numbers on mobile as well. In 2016, mobile comprised 70 percent of total digital usage compared to just 45 percent two years ago.

Handler was quick to mention that at both the league office and individual member clubs, social staffers and digital strategists are making a conscious effort to treat every social channel as a unique platform. In other words, teams are creating content specific for Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and other social platforms, with the latter two channels being MLS's "breakaway platforms" as of late.

"We're always experimenting. We're meeting with the senior folks at those companies on a pretty regular basis, continuing to make sure that we're on the leading edge," added Handler. "It comes back to our fan base. Our fans are in their 20s and 30s, and it's the first thing that they reach to.

"Content is the most powerful device to build our fan base and to engage with our fan community. Social and fan data is the vehicle to reach people."

MLS BEHIND ONLY NFL AND MLB FOR AVERAGE ATTENDANCE

"The live experience in our stadiums is the heart and soul of what makes us special. The intoxicating environment, the electricity, the chanting, it is truly the expression of a fan-driven league."

The unique stadium environment within MLS, as Handler depicted, helped the league earn an all-time high for average attendance in 2016 (21,692). The number ranks third behind the NFL and MLB for U.S. professional sports leagues and sixth among all soccer clubs globall

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Major League Soccer Stories from October 26, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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