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September 27, 2016 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


1. Atlanta United hiring Argentina's Gerardo Martino as first manager

By Doug Roberson Atlanta Journal Constitution - September 27, 2016

Atlanta United has hired Gerardo Martino, formerly the manager at Barcelona and of the Argentinian national team, as its first manager.

Martino has never coached a team in MLS or in the United States and is learning English. He will bring an impressive resume, particularly on the club level. Atlanta United will begin play in 2017 and has signed seven players. Financial terms of the deal with Martino weren't disclosed, but it is a multi-year contract and both sides have a multi-year option.

Martino is a 53-year-old native of Argentina who has managed more than 10 teams, mostly in South America, in a coaching career going back to 1998. He notably led Paraguay from 2006-11, leading them to the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup and the finals of the 2011 Copa America.

Known as "Tata," Martino led Argentina from 2014-16 before resigning earlier this year, citing dysfunction within the front office. Before leading Argentina, Martino managed Barcelona during the 2013-14 season.

It was a disappointing run for both teams, one of few he has experienced after managing numerous club teams in Paraguay before he rose to prominence as a manager at Newell's Old Boys, a club in Argentina for which he had almost 500 appearances when he was a player.

As a manager, Martino helped Newell's avoid relegation and led them to a title as well as the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores tournament, which includes club teams from throughout South America. He achieved success by placing an emphasis on developing young players. Atlanta United has placed an emphasis on its academy and developing players.

Martino went from managing Newell's to Barcelona. Despite featuring some of the world's best talent, the Spanish club failed to win La Liga or the Champions League.

After resigning from Barcelona, Martino was hired to coach Argentina. Despite fielding one of the world's most talented squads with a pool of players from which to draw that included Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Javier Mascherano and Angel di Maria, among others, the team twice made it to the finals of Copa America, where they were beaten by Chile both times.

Perhaps because of the talent at his disposal as manager of those teams, Martino played a high press that is designed to push the opponent back as well as allowing his team to maintain possession of the ball. It's a strategy with tactics that aren't original to Martino, but one a lot of teams have tried to use with mixed degrees of success. Atlanta United President Darrel Eales has said he would prefer the team play an attacking style of soccer.

While the tactics seem to fit, Martino's lack of experience in MLS will make for an interesting fit. When describing what he wanted in a manager, Eales has said if the person didn't have MLS experience then it would almost certainly be necessary for his assistants to have that knowledge.

Though he may not have experience with MLS or its intricate and unique rules for player acquisition, Martino should have relationships with numerous players in Argentina and the rest of South America that could benefit Atlanta United's efforts to develop its roster. The team has already signed one Argentinian, Hector Villalba, who played at San Lorenzo. Club Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra has said that players who move from Argentina's first division to MLS have a good chance to succeed because of the styles of the leagues are similar.

Foreign managers, like those from the U.S., have had mixed success in MLS. Patrick Vieira, who was born in Senegal but played for France, is succeeding with NYCFC this season where American Jason Kreis struggled last year. But Scotland's Owen Coyle left Houston in the middle of the season after failing to keep them in the race for the playoffs. Those are just two examples. There have also been numerous coaches to come to MLS who have experience managing national teams.

Martino will have a lengthy checklist when he arrives. Working with Bocanegra and Lucy Rushton, the team must continue to build its roster, which can be done through the five picks in the expansion draft in December, the draft in January, free-agency and waiver pickups, among other ways.

The team will play in the $1.5 million Mercedes-Benz Stadium and train in the $60 million complex being constructed in Marietta.

2. Gerardo Martino to Atlanta turn heads in Major League Soccer and beyond

By Grant Wahl SI.com - September 27, 2016

Two years ago, Gerardo "Tata" Martino was the coach of FC Barcelona. This past summer he was coaching the Argentina national team.

And now he's the first head coach of MLS's Atlanta United.

The club that starts play in 2017 made it official on Tuesday, announcing it had hired Martino, a 53-year-old Argentine, and signed him to a multiyear contract. For Atlanta, which has already sold more than 22,000 season tickets to break Seattle's MLS expansion team record, landing Martino is another sign that this club means business from the start.

"We're excited to get a coach of his pedigree and caliber to come to MLS," Atlanta president Darren Eales told SI. "It's good for the league to see not only players but coaches being attracted to this league. We're pretty excited to have him on board."

Martino is a native of Rosario, Argentina, where he played for Newell's Old Boys and became a disciple of the hipster-favorite mad scientist Marcelo Bielsa and his high-pressing, quick-passing style of play. Martino's coaching career includes stints in charge of Paraguay (which he led to the World Cup 2010 quarterfinals), Newell's, Barcelona (where he spent the 2013-14 season, failing to win a major trophy) and Argentina (which he led to the final of the last two Copa Américas, falling to Chile both times).

At a time when coach Óscar Pareja, a Colombian, has guided Dallas to the top of MLS so far this season, Martino represents the continuing of a refreshing shift toward hiring Latin American coaches in the U.S. league. Although Martino's English is "very basic," Eales allowed, he added that he plans to improve his English quickly. It doesn't hurt that Martino's wife, Angélica, teaches English.

Eales said that while he's aware of the history of failed big-name coaches who came to MLS from abroad - a list that includes Ruud Gullit, Carlos Alberto Parreira and Carlos Queiroz - he thinks the league is changing to give teams a greater ability to bring in name players through the Designated Player and targeted allocation money mechanisms. Eales noted the first-year success of Patrick Vieira, who has New York City tied on points atop the Eastern Conference and already qualified for the playoffs.

"There has been a traditional theory that foreign coaches haven't done well," said Eales, "but if anything we're a new team building from scratch. Yes, you look at the history, but I don't think just because something has happened one way necessarily means it will happen that way in the future. You always have to judge every case on its merits. Patrick [Vieira] is a good example of the myth of the foreign coach not succeeding, which patently isn't true this year."

Eales said Martino reached out to him in late July soon after resigning from Argentina (where the federation was in disarray). While Eales was a bit skeptical at first, he admitted, they had a good phone conversation in which Martino showed genuine interest in joining a start-up team. Eales and Atlanta technical director Carlos Bocanegra traveled to Argentina to meet Martino face-to-face, and negotiations went from there.

Additionally, Eales said he had discussions about Martino with Mauricio Pochettino, the Tottenham Hotspur manager. Eales knows Pochettino well from his own days as an executive at Spurs, and Pochettino played for several years at Newell's with Martino (two of those years with Bielsa as manager).

"I think it was similar to what was interesting to me to come from Tottenham to MLS," said Eales. "That chance to do something from scratch is something really unique, and I think that was a key draw for Tata, that chance to put your philosophy in and leave a legacy and be a pioneer. The other thing was when he came here and saw the resources being put in the team, steps were already taken. The training ground, the building is complete. The grass fields for the first team are already grown out and ready to go."

"Also, it was great that Tata was here for the Copa América Centenario," Eales added. "The passion and knowledge of the fans, the level of soccer is exploding from year to year. He felt that in the summer. There were a lot of factors that led to him being interested in Atlanta United."

One of the other candidates interviewed by Atlanta was Sigi Schmid, the all-time leader in MLS victories, who was fired in midseason by Seattle.

When it comes to expectations for the 2017 season, Eales didn't want to put any added pressure on Martino by saying anything about making the playoffs.

"Our aim is we want to try and set out a philosophy of play and style of play that gets our fans behind us and be as competitive as we can right from the start," he said. "And let's see where that takes us."

By hiring a name coach and selling a record number of season tickets for an expansion team, Atlanta United is already on the map.

3. Gerardo Martino to Atlanta turn heads in Major League Soccer and beyond

By Jeff Carlisle ESPNFC.com - September 27, 2016

It was late July when Atlanta United president Darren Eales received an inquiry about the team's managerial position from a very unlikely source, former Argentina and Barcelona manager Gerardo "Tata" Martino who, on Tuesday, was named as the club's head coach.

It didn't take long then for the "If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is," line of thinking to creep into Eales' transom. Even though the team's roster construction is in its infancy, Eales had already been told by plenty of players "It's not about the money," only for money to indeed be the sticking point that would prevent a deal from getting done. He wondered if he was about to head down a similar path with Martino.

"I must admit, when I first heard [of Martino's interest], I thought: 'Is it genuine?' I was a cynic to start with," said Eales via telephone.

"But then when we had a conversation I knew that [technical director Carlos Bocanegra] and I had to hop on a plane and get out to Argentina and at least see him face to face, and see if it was worth taking further."

As it turned out, it was. On Tuesday, Martino was named as the first manager in the expansion club's history, beating out a list of candidates that included former Seattle Sounders manager Sigi Schmid.

It's an appointment that will turn heads not only in MLS but also around the world. It isn't often that a manager with Martino's pedigree walks through the league's door. Martino has won league titles in Argentina and Paraguay and reached the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores with his beloved Newell's Old Boys. He also managed Paraguay for five years, leading them to the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup and the final of the 2011 Copa America.

Martino has also had his share of disappointments. His spell at Barcelona lasted just a single season and his Argentina teams lost two Copa America finals via a penalty shootout, but he remains a respected figure in the game.

So how is it that Atlanta United showed up on his radar? You can credit the coaching tree of Marcelo Bielsa. He managed Newell's in the early 1990's, and the creative hub on that team was none other than Martino. Another player at the club back then was current Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino. Eales was part of the management team that brought Pochettino to Spurs. To hear Eales tell it, that connection gave Martino a level of comfort that the Atlanta job was worth pursuing.

"Football is a small world," said Eales.

Yet there were other reasons for Martino to be interested in the job. He got to see the U.S. up close while managing Argentina during last summer's Copa America Centenario, and with it the enthusiasm for the sport that exists in this country. That doesn't always translate to MLS, but the league does have a positive story to tell, and with Atlanta set to begin play in 2017, the team is a veritable canvass waiting to be painted, with a new stadium and a new training facility set to be finished within the next year.

There is also the chance for Martino to find some stability in a career that has seen him manage 11 teams in 18 years. Given the chaos within the Argentina Football Association that led to his resignation, he will likely be grateful to find such a landing spot.

"I think for him it was interesting to talk to him throughout the process, MLS is going from strength to strength," said Eales.

"It's now shown in over 140 countries around the world, it's got a global presence, and I think for him this was something that he was interested in right from the start in terms of that blank sheet of paper. I know coming from the Premier League and Tottenham, one of the big attractions for me was starting the whole club from scratch. You just don't get that opportunity in world soccer very often. I think for Tata as well, this was something that was unique and an opportunity for him to be a pioneer and something where he could leave a legacy."

The appointment does raise some questions. MLS has chewed up and spat out its share of high-profile foreign coaches who had no previous connection to the league or soccer in North America. Carlos Alberto Parreira, Carlos Queiroz, Walter Zenga, Ruud Gullit and Owen Coyle are among those who proved unable -- or unwilling -- to navigate the league's salary cap and arcane roster rules. That trend has been bucked a bit this year with Patrick Vieira enjoying a fine season with New York City FC, but it still remains a risk to bring in someone from outside. Eales was determined not to let history of any kind limit his options.

"I never thought it had to be American or had to be foreign," he said. "I just think you had to take it on face value at the time you made the decision because the perception is foreign coaches don't work, but that wasn't a reason enough for me to say we're not going to hire a foreign coach. It was all about taking every candidate on their merits, and then deciding who was the best fit, and for us, Tata was far and away the best fit."

Eales insisted that Martino's "eyes are wide open" that MLS is a different league, but the Atlanta United president is also of the belief that the team's front office -- which in addition to Bocanegra includes director of soccer operations Paul McDonough, who worked as Orlando City's GM during its expansion season -- has enough MLS knowledge to cover for Martino.

And as an avowed "Bielsista", Martino will bring a distinctive style to the team as well, one that Eales expects to be used at every level of the team's academy. And Martino's track record is one of giving young players a chance.

"We're creating our whole club from scratch. That includes the football philosophy and playing style," said Eales.

"It's important for us to have a coach that has an identity, that's going to play the way we're looking to play, with that sort of attractive, expansive, fast and fluid soccer, high-pressing, all the things that Tata teams have tended to do in the past. But also for us to have that structure from the academy all the way through to the first team, so he was someone that fit the bill in that respect."

While Martino has his ideas on how the game should be played, his approach is accompanied by a healthy dose of pragmatism. His Paraguay teams in particular weren't always easy on the eye. But in some respects, it was Martino's work with that side as well as at Newell's that did more to catch Eales' attention than his work with Barcelona and Argentina.

"Martino isn't a coach that has to have a Messi in his team to be successful," said Eales. "He can do it with different players in different circumstances. He accepts that there are going to be a pool of players that he's going to be coaching and his job is to get the best out of those players. And obviously we're all going to work together as a team to get the best squad together within the rules."

There is also the issue of Martino's limited grasp of English, though that is mitigated by the fact that his wife, Maria Angelica, is an English teacher.

"We've already been winding him up that he has no excuses for not speaking it when we get the players together in January," said Eales.

For now, Eales is just pleased to have landed a manager that gives the team a major injection of credibility.

"We're an expansion team, and it's been proven in past history that it's not an easy thing to do, to come into this league because of the mechanisms and the way the teams are set up," said Eales. "But we're aiming to be as competitive as we can right from the start."

To that end, the hiring of Martino looks to be a big step in that direction.

4. Gerardo Martino named to coach MLS expansion side Atlanta United

ESPNFC.com - September 27, 2016

Former Barcelona and Argentina coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino was named to coach Major League Soccer expansion side Atlanta United on Tuesday.

Atlanta's hiring of Martino, first reported by Telemundo, comes as the team prepares for its inaugural MLS season in 2017.

"We are delighted that a manager of Gerardo's caliber and pedigree will be leading our team into our inaugural season," Atlanta United president Darren Eales said."His deep experience and success at both the club and international levels speak for itself, and his vision and approach aligns very well with our club philosophy.

"We're confident in his ability to help build a winning culture both on and off the pitch."

Martino has been out of work since resigning as Argentina's manager following the 2016 Copa America Centenario earlier this summer.

He blamed his decision to resign on the chaos surrounding the leadership of the Argentina Football Association, which has been in turmoil since the death of president Julio Grondona in 2014, with Luis Segura resigning as president earlier in the year following his arrest on fraud charges.

"I'm very happy to join Atlanta United as the first head coach in club history," Martino said. "This is an exciting time for MLS and I'm looking forward to the challenge of leading a team in an evolving league.

"Atlanta United is a first-rate organization, and I'm very eager to get working and build one of the top clubs in MLS."

Martino has won league titles in Argentina and Paraguay, and reached the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores with his beloved Newell's Old Boys. He also managed Paraguay for five years, leading them to the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup and the final of the 2011 Copa America.

The 53-year-old's spell at Barcelona lasted just a single season from 2013-14.

The club will host a news conference on Wednesday to unveil the new manager.

"Gerardo's teams have always been organized and have displayed a fast and fluid style that aligns with how we intend to play," said Atlanta technical director Carlos Bocanegra. "He's also demonstrated a commitment to youth soccer, consistently proving his ability to enhance the progression of younger players.

"He's a great fit for our club and I look forward to working with him to build a successful club."

5. Gerardo 'Tata' Martino named first coach of MLS expansion team Atlanta United FC

FourFourTwo - September 27, 2016

MLS expansion team Atlanta United FC announced on Tuesday that Gerardo "Tata" Martino will be its first head coach. Atlanta will begin play in the 2017 season.

Martino brings a decorated resume to the job, having previously coached the Argentina and Paraguay men's national teams as well as FC Barcelona.

"We are delighted that a manager of Gerardo's caliber and pedigree will be leading our team into our inaugural season," said Atlanta United president Darren Eales. "His deep experience and success at both the club and international levels speak for itself, and his vision and approach aligns very well with our club philosophy. We're confident in his ability to help build a winning culture both on and off the pitch."

Martino, 53, most recently led Argentina to back-to-back appearances in the Copa America final, losing to Chile both times. He was 20-4-5 in charge of La Albiceleste. He managed Barcelona in the 2013-14 campaign, losing the La Liga title to Atletico Madrid on the final day of the season. He won 13 of his first 14 matches in charge that season.

"I'm very happy to join Atlanta United as the first head coach in club history" Martino said. "This is an exciting time for MLS and I'm looking forward to the challenge of leading a team in an evolving league. Atlanta United is a first-rate organization, and I'm very eager to get working and build one of the top clubs in MLS."

Martino also recently coached Brazilian club Newell's Old Boys from 2012-2013. He spent the bulk of his career playing there.

Atlanta United FC will enter MLS alongside Minnesota United FC next season.

6. Gerardo Martino named head coach of Atlanta United

By Rudi Schuller Goal.com - September 27, 2016

Major League Soccer expansion side Atlanta United made a big splash Tuesday, naming Gerardo "Tata" Martino as its first head coach.

The former Barcelona and Argentina boss had been rumored to be in discussions for the job in recent weeks, with Atlanta confirming the appointment via its Twitter account.

Martino joins Atlanta after a playing and coaching career that has taken him all over the world. He most notably was the head man at Barcelona for the 2013-14 season before taking on the Argentina job for two years.

Atlanta is scheduled to begin MLS play in the 2017 season, alongside fellow expansion side Minnesota United FC.

7. Portland Timbers play at CD Dragon in CONCACAF Champions League

By Molly Blue The Oregonian - September 26, 2016

The Portland Timbers had a quick turnaround after their 3-1 loss at the Houston Dynamo on Saturday.

Sunday, they flew to El Salvador for their second away game in four days as they prepare to take on CD Dragon in CONCACAF Champions League Group B play.

The game is at 7 p.m. Pacific time at Estadio Atletico Las Delicias, Santa Tecla, El Salvador. The match will be streamed on the CONCACAF Champions League Facebook page.

Can they get their first road win of the season and get a boost in their Champions League campaign?

"That game's a must-win," Timbers coach Caleb Porter said last week. "If we win that game, then that sets up the last game. All we have to do is win."

CD Dragon already is eliminated after a loss and a draw against Saprissa and a loss at Portland. But they have a chance spoil the Timbers' chance to advance in the tournament.

Portland is in second place in Group B, four points behind Deportivo Saprissa and two ahead of CD Dragon. In their first match, the Timbers defeated CD Dragon 2-1 at Providence Park on Aug. 3, when Diego Valeri scored the game-winning goal in stoppage time.

The Timbers lost 4-2 at Saprissa in their imposing stadium, nicknamed "The Monster's Cave," on Sept. 14. The two teams play the final group match on at Providence Park on Oct. 16.

For the Timbers, here's how the scenarios shake out:

- The Timbers can advance in the tournament by winning both matches.

- The Timbers can advance with a draw at CD Dragon and a win against Saprissa and meet the goal differential (2-0, 3-1 or any win by three goals or more).

- The Timbers would be eliminated with a loss at CD Dragon or a draw or loss against Saprissa.

8. Orlando City assistant Miles Joseph still settling in, tries to help Lions improve

By Alicia DelGallo Orlando Sentinel - September 26, 2016

It's been about two months since Miles Joseph picked up his family and moved to Orlando. He and his wife, LeeAnn, haven't found a house yet, and the children - boy, 12, and girl, 9 - still are settling into their Windermere schools and youth soccer clubs.

None of that matters on the pitch and training grounds, though, where the acclimation period was nearly non-existent. In the eyes of fans and in the proclamations from Orlando City executives, the the objective was clear - win immediately.

As a former professional player and midfielder for the U.S. men's national team in the 1996 Olympics, Joseph's role in the new coaching staff largely centers on serving as a position coach to Orlando City's midfielders and forwards. He followed new head coach Jason Kreis from Kansas City to New York City FC to Orlando City. He has been joined on that journey by defensive assistant CJ Brown, a former centerback. Kreis, one of the most prolific goal scorers in MLS history, oversees the entire squad but provides additional direction to strikers.

Results have varied, sweeping victories followed by devastating losses, and now the team is in a down period as the regular season slips away and playoff hopes constrict. A major talking point in trying to diagnose the cause of Orlando City allowing 12 goals in its last three games was errors when the Lions were not in possession.

In addition to the challenges of moving his family more than 1,000 miles down the coast and taking charge of a team midseason, Joseph is working with the staff to implement a holistic defensive philosophy and make sure it is executed by the midfield.

"I don't know if it's been a challenge, but the way we like to defend is a little bit different, I think, than guys are used to," Joseph said a few days before the Lions dropped their third consecutive match 4-1 at D.C. United. "It's going to take a little bit of time to get everybody for 90 minutes, every single game, on the same page . . . but everybody here is willing and able to step up and make the commitment to defend as a unit. Some days, as we've seen, are better than others."

Joseph said one of the differences includes working extremely hard as a whole for shorter periods of time. For example, when Orlando City has a lot of bodies around the ball, that's when they need to make a commitment, hustle and give everything they have to win the ball and "not try to win the ball at any moment and chase it across the field," he said.

It worked well in back-to-back wins against important conference competitors NYCFC and Montreal earlier this month, but the team failed to execute that plan during large portions of the recent losses.

Joseph sat in the locker room beside dejected-looking centerback David Mateos after the D.C. loss Saturday night and spoke about how to remain steadfast after such beatings. Joseph is the "lighter" personality of the three assistants, he said, terming Brown "somewhat of a silent assassin" and Kreis "the leader" who keeps them in check.

"We speak about the feelings," Mateos said of his chat with Joseph. "Nobody wants to [allow] so many goals in the games, but when you have this situation, the confidence goes down and it's a little bit frustrating, ya know -

So, Joseph will continue to work. A typical day for him includes leaving morning training sessions, then heading back to the office to review the session and make notes on ways to improve or change moving forward.

He'll then focus on his scouting and recruiting responsibilities, looking at international and college players who potentially could make an impact for the club and scouting upcoming opponents. Joseph was charged with scouting and presenting to the team Orlando City's next adversary, Toronto, which the Lions play Wednesday night at BMO Field. He and the other assistants take turns; Brown had last week's match against D.C. and Bobby Murphy is responsible for Montreal, the team the Lions play at home Sunday.

"We'll sit down with Charlie, who's our video genius, and we'll go through clips and pick out the proper clips for the report we'll present to the team," Joseph said. "That's an ongoing, weekly thing we do, and then we're working on some other things to show the team. So, ya, it never ends.

"You go home and you watch a little bit more video, take a break to be with the family and when they go to sleep, you watch a little bit more. You fall asleep, and then it starts over the next day."

9. Portland's road loss is Seattle's gain

By Matt Pentz Seattle Times - September 26, 2016

A few days ago, right until the 73rd minute of their match at Houston's swampy BBVA Compass Stadium, the defending champion Portland Timbers must have felt optimistically about their chances of reaching the MLS Cup playoffs.

They were coming off the type of emphatic home win that has made their road woes even more puzzling this season. Diego Valeri, Darlington Nagbe and company run rampant over most visitors to Providence Park - see: Portland 4, Seattle 2 back in late August. This is a team with as devastating of a top gear as anybody in this league.

They're also almost comically inept at earning results on the road, however, and that may ultimately prove the undoing of their title defense before it even reaches the postseason.

The Timbers are still the only team in MLS without a road win this season, and their 3-1 defeat at Houston was compounded by Kansas City's slightly surprising victory at San Jose later on Saturday night and Seattle's more stunning upset of the Galaxy the following afternoon.

Portland's loss to the Dynamo was characteristic. It went behind in the first half due to a boneheaded tackle by Alvas Powell in his own box, and though Valeri tied it up shortly after halftime, the Timbers never looked comfortable. Nerves frayed, and they finally blinked with 17 minutes to go.

Seventh-place Seattle still has to make up a three-point gap in the standings but has two games in hand. And with last-place Chicago visiting CenturyLink Field on Wednesday night, the Sounders could worm their way into the playoff spots by the middle of this week.

With two of Portland's three remaining matches on the road - starting with a trip to the second-place Rapids currently fighting for a first-round bye - it suddenly looks the most likely odd team out in the Western Conference.

10. Tranquillo Barnetta to depart Union after season

By Jonathan Tannenwald Philadelphia Inquirer - September 27, 2016

Union midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta's contract expires at the end of the season. On Tuesday morning, the Swiss playmaker and the team announced that he won't be extending his time in Philadelphia.

Instead, the 31-year-old will return to his native country to rejoin St. Gallen, the club for which he began his career 14 years ago.

Word first got out that this might happen two weeks ago, when the newspaper in St. Gallen reported that Barnetta was considering coming home after the season. He also said he was considering a contract extension with the Union.

It was Barnetta's decision to make as a free agent, and it's clear that he's going home for reasons beyond soccer.

"The entire soccer community here was so welcoming, and I'm so thankful to everyone at Philadelphia Union for making me feel so appreciated." Barnetta said in remarks distributed by the Union. "Playing in front of my friends and family and making plans for life at the end of my career where I want to live is a force I can't resist."

Union sporting director Earnie Stewart said Barnetta "has been a key piece in what we're trying to build here in Philadelphia, but we appreciate his decision to return to Switzerland."

Barnetta also wrote a letter to fans on his Facebook page, both in German and (slightly broken) English:

Dear Union fans and family

Even if it was (and still is) an awesome and excited time playing here in Philly, I decided last week to go back to the Club where my professional carreer has started. I'm gonna join FC St. Gallen in Switzerland in early 2017.

It never has been a secret that I want to return to the place where I belong and which has been the fire cracker for my international career. The timing seems right to me now and I really look forward to get back home and to give something back again to the Club and City which did make my career possible.

At this stage, I wanna say a big thank you to all of my Union Fans, to the whole Team and Staff, which made it really easy to me from the very beginning. My experience here is unforgettable and I definitely will enjoy every single second which remains. Let's secure Playoffs now !

To all my fans at home: Thank you for waiting for me for such a long time and for all your support due my time off home. I never took that for granted, I even more appreaciate it and look forward to get back home and seeing you all around the pitch and in St. Gallen.

11. D.C. United's Marcelo Sarvas sidelined several weeks with knee injury

By Steven Goff Washington Post - September 26, 2016

Marcelo Sarvas, a starting fixture and experienced presence in the heart of D.C. United's midfield, will miss at least two weeks and perhaps the rest of the regular season with a knee injury, club officials said Monday.

Sarvas suffered a mild MCL sprain in his right knee midway through the first half of a 4-1 victory over Orlando City on Saturday at RFK Stadium. He is sure to sit out Wednesday's home match against the Columbus Crew and Saturday's visit to Toronto FC. The club is then off for two weeks before closing the campaign against New York City FC on Oct. 16 in Washington and at Orlando a week later.

United (8-9-13) is in a four-team tussle for the last two playoff berths in the Eastern Conference.

Sarvas, who turns 35 next month, has started 26 regular season matches and entered as a sub once in his first year with United. Two of his three absences were because of suspension (a red card and yellow card accumulation). He has one goal and two assists, but his primary contributions have been grit, industry and leadership from a deep-lying position.

The injury comes as a player with similar traits, Jared Jeffrey, is getting closer to returning after missing four matches with a concussion. He was a "neutral" player in workouts Monday and could be back in the match mix this week, Coach Ben Olsen said. The team has him listed as "questionable."

Until Jeffrey's injury, Sarvas, Jeffrey and Luciano Acosta formed the central midfield. Rob Vincent has covered for Jeffrey. Now with Sarvas hurt and Jeffrey uncertain, Olsen will need to choose someone to join Vincent and Acosta. Rookie Julian Buescher replaced Sarvas on Saturday and scored in the 90th minute. Nick DeLeon is always an option, but he started at right back Saturday. Sean Franklin, the full-time right back, is out several weeks with a calf injury.

If DeLeon returns to midfield, Luke Mishu or Jalen Robinson would fill the backline void.

"I've got to think about a lot," Olsen said. "I've got to think about the center of the park and obviously the right-back situation. I don't know right now the starting lineup, so we're going to evaluate today and see what we can piece together against Columbus. Whatever it is, I think it's a group still very capable of getting a result at home."

United is unbeaten in seven straight at RFK and scored 16 goals in the past five home dates. A victory Wednesday coupled with a Montreal Impact loss or tie against the visiting San Jose Earthquakes would propel United into fifth place in a conference that will send six teams to the playoffs. D.C. is one point ahead of the New England Revolution, three in front of Orlando and five ahead of Columbus, a 2015 MLS Cup finalist that rekindled postseason hopes Sunday with a 2-0 home victory over the Revs.

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Aside from a new position, DeLeon had a new look Saturday: a shaved head.

"It was just time," the typically wild-maned veteran said. "It was a process. I went with the mohawk - that was the first step - and then here you go, the final result."

His beard is now longer than his hair. "It's a little uneven and all over the place," he said, "but whatever."

On the switch from midfield to right back, DeLeon said: "I felt comfortable. I love the outside. I have the comfort of the sideline, knowing where it is and where everyone should be. It was kind of a natural role for me but with more defending. I feel I am physical enough and smart enough to do it. I enjoyed it, actually.

"There were a couple of times when I was dribbling out of the back and probably shouldn't have been. That's the midfielder mentality in me. So there are some things I will need to clean up, but overall I thought I played very well."

Olsen's review of DeLeon at right back?

"I thought he did well, especially for his first time putting a shift in where he had to defend against a pretty dynamic attack. There were some moments where he looked like a midfielder, but overall, the way he held the line, his understanding of when to drop and when to press were very sharp. His ability to win duels once a guy gets into his body was also pretty impressive, which we all have known. So as he gets more comfortable there defensively I think he will be even more effective."

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Reserve center back Kofi Opare remains sidelined with a concussion. Forward Alhaji Kamara (hamstring) is fully involved in training and close to returning from a two-month layoff. ...

General Manager Dave Kasper is planning to visit Buenos Aires in late October or early November for talks with Boca Juniors regarding Acosta's possible permanent move to United. He is on loan this year. United has the option of purchasing his contract for between $1 million and $2 million. ...

Miami FC, from the second-tier North American Soccer League, has taken interest in United forward Alvaro Saborio for a possible move this winter, sources said. Saborio, who is earning $420,000 in base salary and $535,500 overall this season, has posted four goals and three assists in 16 league matches (eight starts).

Since striker Patrick Mullins's integration into the lineup in late July, however, the 34-year-old Costa Rican has made two substitute appearances totaling 18 minutes. He hasn't played since Aug. 13. ...

United's Chris Durkin, the 16-year-old defender/midfielder from Richmond who signed a homegrown contract this summer and remains in the U.S. under-17 residency program, will train with Inter Milan's youth team for two weeks next month. Between school and national team duty, he won't join United full-time until late 2017.

12. Rivals Seattle, Portland duel for playoff berth

By Alex Abnos SI.com - September 26, 2016

It's one of the most publicized and well-hyped rivalries in Major League Soccer, but at the close of the 2016 season, Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers will be mostly about avoiding embarrassment.

Week 29 in MLS should be remembered as the week where the real playoff contenders emerged, leaving others in their wake farther down the table. The league is notoriously volatile, and a handful of wins can dramatically change a team's fortunes in a short amount of time. However, with just a small handful of games left, the time for those big swings is over. We finally know exactly what we have with all 20 teams, and in Seattle and Portland we have two good teams with just enough flaws to make their parallel competition engrossing viewing throughout the final month of the regular season.

As it stands today, Portland is holding on to the final playoff spot in the West with 41 points. Seattle is three points behind. So what makes this competition so intriguing (besides the whole "oldest/most intense rivalry in American club soccer" thing)? Games in hand.

Sounders crucially have two games in hand on their Northwest rivals. They'll make up one of those games this Wednesday in a home tilt against league doormat Chicago. Then over the weekend it will travel a short distance to play fellow Cascadia rival Vancouver, a team that is all but eliminated from the playoff race thanks to owning one of the league's leakiest defenses.

Meanwhile, the Timbers will take their winless away record on the road to play Colorado, which is chasing the Supporters' Shield and hasn't lost at home this season. The Timbers then finish out the season with another match vs. Colorado (this time at home), and an away tilt against Vancouver. It's not exactly the best recipe for Caleb Porter's side if it hopes to hold off anyone, much less its hated rival that would love nothing more than to eliminate the defending MLS Cup champs from playoff contention.

And should the Timbers miss the playoffs, a bit of ignonimous history awaits them. Columbus, the team the Timbers defeated in MLS Cup 2015, face long odds to make the postseason after a disappointing season. If both Columbus and Portland fail to make the playoffs, it'll be the first time in league history that both MLS Cup finalists will fail to make the postseason the following year.

Given common sense, it would seem fairly likely that the Sounders will close the gap on the Timbers by the end of this week, still with a game in hand. But remember, common sense rarely prevails in MLS. Portland could just as easily rout Colorado this week, Seattle could lose both of its upcoming games, Columbus could win out and get help, and MLS Cup 2016 could be a Columbus-Portland rematch.

To quote a just-retired NBA great: Anything is possible.

13. Spring troubles a distant memory for surging Jordan Morris

By Paul Tenorio FourFourTwo - September 26, 2016

Five games had passed, no goals were scored, and everyone wanted to know what exactly was wrong with Jordan Morris, savior of American soccer.

Now, the first month and a half of the MLS season feels like a lifetime ago. It is an even more distant memory when examined through the lens of Morris' rookie campaign.

When I spoke with Morris in early May, he had snapped that early scoring slump with goals in three straight games. He would score again a few days later. Morris was measured in that conversation, unafraid to admit he had let the pressure overwhelm him at times and that he was still finding his way in a new team, in a new role and in an entirely new existence.

His maturation stood out mostly because of his ability to zoom out on his own life and career and get an accurate take on what happened, what was needed to change and how to move forward.

On Sunday night, Morris ripped open the game at StubHub Center with a pair of goals to lead the Seattle Sounders past the LA Galaxy, 4-2. It was an experience in that seasoning process. Long gone were the pressures Morris acknowledged he felt in March and April. Gone, too, were any doubts about what type of role he was going to play on this Sounders team.

Landon Donovan was asked Sunday night what made Morris potentially special. "Not potentially. He's special," Donovan said. "First of all, his work rate is really good, so teammates love playing with him, because as a forward, when you have a guy that works like that, it really helps your team. He's relentless the way he attacks, and he's good in front of goal.

"The first goal was terrific, the way he finished it, [but] the second goal was really calm. Most players at that age shoot it immediately. He took a touch to his left and made it easy for himself. So he's got all the makings to be very good, and I thought he was excellent today."

Morris has evolved in a very short amount of time and found root as the target man for a Sounders team that now has a playmaker. In that comfort he has been able to influence games on a consistent basis. That might not always be with goals, but as Donovan points out, it is in ways that teammates can appreciate.

What struck me most watching the rookie play on Sunday night, compared to early in the season, was Morris' ability to create and combine as much as simply looking for quick layoffs and balls played to him in space behind the back line. Morris is finding the ball in similar spaces, but he has a better understanding for how to combine and move to create more dangerous opportunities in the final third.

Morris' second goal was set up by his lovely chip from outside the box and finished with class, as Donovan pointed out. His first goal was a tremendous bit of individual ability - turning on the jets and using the outside of his right foot to beat the keeper.

Before 2015, no MLS rookie had ever scored 12 goals. Morris accomplished that on Sunday night. He is a special player, and Cyle Larin's mark of 17 from last year doesn't change that. We have seen two young forwards tear up the expectations for a rookie striker in the past two seasons.

Morris' performance last night reinforced that the hype around the Sounders' homegrown was warranted, and that Morris may very well have the skillset to exceed those expectations. He is developing a sense for the moment, and his five goals in the past seven games are evidence of that. Morris is lifting a Sounders team that is playing without Clint Dempsey and in desperate need of results to fight into the playoff picture.

The Sounders are now just three points behind Cascadia rival Portland for the final spot in the playoffs, and they have two games in hand.

14. East playoff race becoming one of best in MLS history

By Scott French FourFourTwo - September 26, 2016

The race for the Eastern Conference title is shaping up among the greatest MLS has seen, with Toronto FC, the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC each with 48 points heading into the final month of the campaign.

It's been nearly this tight since the start of August, with the lead -- held for four weeks by NYC and three by TFC -- never more than a couple of points. If there's an advantage, it belongs to Toronto, which has four games to play, one more than the New York teams.

Technically, the Red Bulls (13-9-9) are on top, with the greater goal difference (plus-13) after pipping slumping Montreal, 1-0, on Daniel Royer's first MLS goal Saturday night. Toronto (13-8-9, plus-12) is ahead of NYCFC (13-9-9, plus-2). Twice before has a conference race finished even on points, with New England edging Columbus in the Eastern Conference in 2002 and the LA Galaxy ahead of Houston in the Western Conference in 2009. Four more titles were decided by a single point, including both 2013 races, with New York over Sporting Kansas City and Portland ahead of Real Salt Lake.

The 2002 race is one to remember. It went down to the final weekend, with Columbus three points ahead of New England and the MetroStars, who were facing off the day before the Crew closed at Chicago. The Revolution romped, 3-0, so the Crew, behind in the head-to-head tiebreaker, needed a draw or better. Chicago scored two late goals, and Jeff Cunningham's stoppage-time strike wasn't enough, and the Revs celebrated.

It was more anticlimactic in 2009. The Galaxy beat San Jose to clinch the title -- LA topped Houston and Chivas USA in head-to-head play -- the day before the Dynamo edged the Goats in a showdown for second place.

There's great promise to this year's fight. All three sides have done well in the second half of the season, they feature the three most lethal goalscorers in MLS (Bradley Wright-Phillips, David Villa and Sebastian Giovinco), and their schedules are, well, every game in MLS is a battle, right? The only thing missing is a showdown.

Toronto started the week with a two-point advantage on the New York teams, but NYC on Friday night followed a superb Khiry Shelton performance marked by three assists (including Villa's 18th and 19th goals) to rout Chicago, 4-1, and surge ahead.

Toronto caught up in the early game Saturday, rallying on Justin Morrow's tight-angled goal following a marvelous Jonathan Osorio run for a 1-1 draw with Philadelphia, the Reds' second straight home tie. Jozy Altidore hit the post in the 87th minute and didn't get a penalty-kick call in stoppage, so it was a particularly disappointing result for TFC.

The Red Bulls were even a couple of hours later, when Royer hit the net to deliver a deserved victory over Montreal, extending their unbeaten streak to a club-best 13.

Toronto's advantage: a tight defense that has conceded more than one goal just twice since June, Altidore's superb form, and the prospect of Giovinco's return from a quadriceps injury. Plus three of their last four are at home, against Orlando City (on Wednesday), D.C. United (on Saturday) and Chicago (on closing day), with a trip to Montreal in mid-October.

The Red Bulls have a home-and-home, starting at Red Bull Arena on Saturday, with the fourth-place Philadelphia Union sandwiching a home game with suddenly-hot Columbus Crew. NYCFC faces the Houston heat on Friday night, then visits D.C. United, which is fighting for a playoff berth, and finished at home against Columbus.

Eye on the red line out West

The playoffs have already kicked off for the bubble teams fighting for postseason berths, and three of them -- Sporting Kansas City, D.C. United and the Seattle Sounders -- took hefty steps this weekend toward top-six finishes.

Sporting (12-12-7, 43 points) seemed the likeliest of the Western Conference clubs above the "red line" to falter, after defensive liabilities contributed mightily to just one victory in its last nine games, all competitions. So Sporting marched into San Jose, where it hadn't won since 2000 -- when head coach Peter Vermes anchored the backline -- and pulled out of 2-1 triumph on Kevin Ellis' late goal. With Portland's loss at Houston, K.C. moved up a spot to fifth place, two points above the Timbers and five in front of seventh-place Seattle.

For San Jose (7-9-13, 34 points), which scores on occasion and wins less often, it was a "crushing result" (per Dominic Kinnear) that delivered "an almighty blow" (defender Jordan Stewart) to already dimming playoff hopes. And that wasn't the worst of it: Quincy Amarikwa injured his left knee just 12 seconds into the game, landing awkwardly in the goalmouth after making contact with goalkeeper Tim Melia as he leapt for a Stewart cross. An MRI awaits Monday for Amarikwa, who told media at Avaya Stadium, "I know I tore something."

Jordan Morris scored two goals to power Seattle (11-13-5, 38 points) to a wild 4-2 win over the LA Galaxy on the hottest day in months to hit Southern California. LA was the better side most of the way, but Morris scored a brilliant go-ahead goal in the 63rd minute and tidily finished a rebound 74th for his league-best sixth game-winner of the year. The Sounders are just three points away from Portland with two games in hand and rolling momentum.

The Timbers (11-12-8, 41 points) can't win on the road, and that could keep them from defending their title in another month. They dropped to sixth as Mauro Manotas' hat trick propelled Houston, 3-1.

Portland is 0-10-6 in away games and it's difficult to digest given how well the Timbers have fared away from Providence Park under Caleb Porter: 17-18-16 in his first three seasons, 14-14-6 in 2014-15. Two of their last three games are away, Saturday at Colorado and Oct. 23 at Vancouver, and the Sounders' slate includes home games against the last-place teams in both conferences.

One of those teams, of course, is Houston (7-11-11, 32 points), which would have been the first team eliminated from postseason contention with a loss. But Houston isn't that bad. The Dynamo has won two in a row to push the record since Wade Barrett took charge to 4-4-9 (with a zero goal difference) and to 3-1-3 over the last six weeks.

D.C. United (8-9-13, 37) climbed back into the top six in the East, with Patrick Mullins scoring two more goals -- he hast seven in 11 games since arriving from NYCFC -- in a 4-1 romp over spiraling Orlando City SC, the first of two meetings in the final month of the regular season.

The victory was the second in six games and third in 13, since mid-June, for Ben Olsen's side, which is a point behind slumping Montreal (9-10-11, 38 points) and two in front of New England. Orlando City (7-10-13, 34 points), which has conceded four goals in each of its last three games, is three points down with a date Wednesday night in Toronto.

The Revolution (9-13-9, 36) swapped spots with D.C. after Ola bettered Kei in the battle of the Kamaras to lift Columbus, 2-0. That's five goals in three games for Ola Kamara, who has 15 since late May, and the Crew (7-11-11, 32 points), home Wednesday against D.C., remains in the hunt. It was Kei Kamara's first trip to play in Columbus since the May trade, but New England was missing center back Jose Goncalves and reigning MLS Player of the Week Kelyn Rowe, who was hospitalized with an undisclosed illness last week.

Other considerations

- The only change among the Western Conference leaders: Colorado (12-5-12, 48) leapfrogged the LA Galaxy (11-5-15, 48), into second place on the total-wins tiebreaker, nudging ahead with a 3-3 draw at Vancouver ahead of LA's loss to Seattle. First-place FC Dallas (15-8-8) and fourth-place Real Salt Lake (12-10-9, 45) were scoreless in the premier Western showdown of the weekend.

- RSL isn't faring well through the stretch. The Utahns haven't scored in three successive games, two of them losses, and are winless in their last last four. Dallas hasn't won in its last three but has successive road draws and is 7-3-3 since a June 19 loss at Sporting Kansas City, 12-3-4 since then in all competitions.

- Mauro Rosales has started four of the last five games for FC Dallas, with a couple of assists in the draw at NYCFC a week ago, after coming off the bench in his first 15 appearances this year.

- One by one, the Western powers' unbeaten home records are falling. The Galaxy, which would have clinched a playoff berth with a victory, dropped its first MLS game at StubHub this year, falling to 8-1-7 on its home field. LA also was defeated last month at home to FC Dallas in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals. Dallas lost its unbeaten record two weeks ago against Colorado, and Real Salt Lake's ended last week to Houston. The Rapids are the lone home unbeaten left, at 9-0-5 with dates remaining Saturday against Portland, Oct. 13 vs. San Jose and Oct. 23 with Houston.

- Landon Donovan didn't have nearly the impact against Seattle than he had in LA's rally for a 2-2 draw a week earlier in Kansas City, but he felt more at home, and not because of StubHub Center's friendly confines. He was asked after the defeat to the Sounders where he was, fitness-wise, three weeks into his return. "I felt today that I was back to normal," MLS' all-time goals and assists leader replied. "Even in Kansas City, I felt I was struggling. I had a good week where I was able to really push myself this week, and then today there wasn't a lot to do, running-wise, but I felt like I was normal and I can contribute again. So that was a good positive. Obviously, it's never fun when you do it in a loss."

- Robbie Keane had both goals for LA, his ninth and 10th of the year, and that's double-digit goals in each of his five full MLS campaigns. Keane became the 18th player with at least 10 this year, and four more are on nine. Only in 2014 (26), 2015 (22) and 1998 (19) have there been more. Keane has 83 career regular-season goals with the Galaxy, another 20 in other competitions, plus six in friendlies for 109 in all.

- Morris' goals were his 11th and 12th of the campaign, giving him sole possession of the MLS mark for rookie strikes by an American. Galaxy assistant coach Pat Noonan held the record, with 10 in 2003 with New England. Canadian Cyle Larin holds the rookie record, set last year, with 17 goals.

- Alphonso Davies, who signed a Homegrown pact with the Whitecaps in July, became MLS' second-youngest starter Saturday, when he went the full 90 against the Rapids. Davies' age: 15 years, 10 months, 23 days. The youngest, of course, was Freddy Adu, who made his first start for D.C. United on May 1, 2004, when he was 14 years, 10 months, 29 days old. Davies then was 3 years old. Adu, now 27, sees limited time with the NASL's Tampa Bay Rowdies.

- The Red Bulls can join Vancouver in next year's CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals with a draw or win Tuesday against Antigua in a Group F clash in Guatemala City. Portland (Group B, Tuesday vs. Dragon in San Salvador) and Dallas (Group H, home Wednesday against Guatemala's Suchitepequez) need victories to strengthen their bids in penultimate first-stage games.

15. Two Man Race For Major League Soccer's Golden Boot Award

By Jerry Stephens Fansided - September 26, 2016

As Major League Soccer's regular season comes to a close, there is a two man race between Bradley Wright-Phillips and David Villa for the Golden Boot Award.

One of the most coveted awards in Major League Soccer is the Golden Boot award which is given to the player who scores the most goals in a given season. This year it is a close race between Bradley Wright-Phillips and David Villa. Coincidently, the two are on rivaling teams in the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC, making the race for the award even more interesting.

Bradley Wright-Phillips has scored 20 goals so far this year and he currently leads Major League Soccer this season with only thee games remaining on his team's schedule. The England international has already won the Golden Boot award once before back in 2014. The former Premier League player also has five assists which could come into play as the tiebreaker if him and Villa are tied in goals at the end of the season.

David Villa is close to BWP with 19 goals scored of his own this season. Even after all of his success in La Liga, the Spain international has never won a Golden Boot Award in his career in league play. The former Valencia, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid player only has three assists one the year so he would likely have to beat his opponent outright on goals scored to hoist MLS's Golden Boot.

NOTE: *It is unlikely Sebastian Giovinco (16 goals), catches these two before the end of the season but anything could happen as Toronto FC have four games left. Ola Kamara (15 goals) may be an interesting player as his team have five games left.*

Remaining Games

Both BWP and Villa have three games remaining on their schedule this season. The Red Bulls will take on the Philadelphia Union at home, then the Columbus Crew at home, and close out 2016 against Philadelphia on the road. While NYCFC will face the Houston Dynamo away from home, DC United away, and finally the Crew at home.

Wright-Phillips has the edge in opponents as he will be agains the Union twice in his final three games and they have allowed the fourth most goals (48) in the Eastern Conference and fifth most in the league. Columbus aren't far behind as they have allowed the seventh most goals (46) in the East and the ninth most in MLS.

Villa has the tougher task at hand as Houston have only allowed 38 goals this season which is fourth best in the league. As for DC United, they have only allowed 41 this season which is third best in the East and 10th in MLS. His final match against the Crew will be the easiest of the remaining games.

Current Form

Bradley has recorded five goals in his past five games for the Red Bulls. Although, he was held scoreless in his last match, which allowed Villa to get back into the Golden Boot race. He will need to rebound after that rare goose egg.

On the other hand, David has only scored three goals in his last five matches for NYCFC. He may not have the best form over his last five but Villa has the upper hand in his last game. As the leading man for New York City, he scored two goals and bagged one assist in their last match.

Playoff Implications

There is another race outside of the Golden Boot and that is for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The New York Red Bulls and New York City FC are bitter rivals based on location but they are also battling for a bye in the first round of the playoffs with a top-two finish in the East. Both teams are tied with Toronto FC with 48 points overall. TFC have more games remaining on their schedule but NYRB and NYCFC have an identical 13W-9L-9D record this year.

BWP and Villa are each crucial to their club's success and their play down the stretch will result in whether or not their team achieves a top-two seed. Each team has clinched their spot in the postseason, first tim for NYCFC and seventh season in a row for NYRB, but they will be vying for that bye week that comes with a top-two spot. Both clubs are only five points out of the Supporters' Shield award behind FC Dallas but it is unlikely that they grab that trophy this season.

The race for the top spot in the Eastern Conference coupled with the race for MLS's Golden Boot will be thrilling as it will be a fight to the finish. Both BWP and Villa are world-class scorers who are at he top of their game in Major League Soccer this season.

Major League Soccer's Golden Boot race is heating up and it's just getting started. It will be interesting to watch how this race plays out between Bradley Wright-Phillips and David Villa over the next few weeks. Who do you have taking the award?

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 27, 2016


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