March 13, 2026 - 99 Games Today

Sports stats

MLS Newsstand

Published on October 4, 2016 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release

1. Orlando City finds meaning in final matches of the regular season

By Alicia DelGallo Orlando Sentinel - October 3, 2016

Lions defeated. A goal left unattained. Hope crushed. No lucky breaks. Help never arrived.

There was even rain.

Like every good fable, though, clouds parted and a rainbow arched across the sky over Camping World Stadium forming a too-perfect-to-be-ignored ending that doubled as a new beginning.

The moral? There were plenty.

Don't wait until it's too late.

"Maybe it was a little bit late to try," Orlando City captain KakÃ¡ said after his team was eliminated from playoff contention Sunday with a 1-0 loss to Montreal. "We had the whole season; we had a lot of games that we didn't try like we did in the last two games. This is the message and the lesson for me today. If we had fought like this, we would probably be in a better situation than this one. For this reason, I'm not frustrated."

Don't give up when things get bad.

Before Orlando City coach Jason Kreis and the club's head honchos can start reorganizing and building the team of the future, the current team needs to close out its final two games of the regular season. With nothing on the line, what do they play for in Philadelphia Oct. 16 and back home against D.C. United Oct. 23?

"Pride," said midfielder Kevin Molino, whose seen plenty of disappointment and success with the Lions, dating back to its USL days. "Self-pride, that is all we have in life, whatever, is self-pride. We want to hold our heads high and go into next season with two wins under our belt."

Defender Kevin Alston said the motivation to perform in the final two games comes down to ending the season in a way that sends a "good message going into next year. It's all about progression."

Learn from your failures.

Orlando City president Phil Rawlins didn't look obviously distraught after Sunday's loss. He placed a hand on Kreis' back as the two quietly talked in the hall outside the locker room.

After all, the fault does not lie solely with Kreis. He inherited a team with problems midseason and made few changes.

That's why the upcoming matches also signify a last chance for players to prove their worth and try to secure jobs next season. Kreis said he will use the final games to make sure he's given everyone an opportunity to be "critically evaluated" before making tough decisions in the offseason.

He wasn't hesitant in saying there will need to be significant changes moving forward.

"We are doing everything we can to build a club that has the capability to be successful consistently for a long time, and that means that you have to make difficult decisions when you're wanting those types of goals," Kreis said.

He gave the players time off this week to recuperate before returning to training Friday. In addition to the above, Kreis said the Lions should play for respect and fan support.

KakÃ¡ had another reason, too: "Play for our mentality. Even if you're not fighting for something, win or lose matters. . . . We need to feel the pressure that if we are not good enough, we do not deserve to be an Orlando City soccer player."

Another lesson some players will learn soon enough.

2. Portland Timbers' Jake Gleeson, Vytas called up for national team duty

By Jamie Goldberg The Oregonian - October 3, 2016

Portland Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson and left back Vytas have been called up to their respective national teams.

Gleeson will join New Zealand for a pair of friendlies on October 8 against Mexico and October 11 against the United States.

Vytas will represent Lithuania for 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on October 10 against Scotland and October 11 against Malta.

Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe, who has earned consistent call-ups to the U.S. National Team since last November, was not called up for upcoming friendlies against Cuba and New Zealand. It was not immediately clear why Nagbe wasn't called up.

Here is the full release from the Timbers:

PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson and defender Vytas have been called up by their respective national teams, it was announced today.

Gleeson joins New Zealand for a pair of international friendlies against Mexico and the United States, while Vytas joins Lithuania for back-to-back qualifying matches for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Gleeson and the All Whites will play a pair of international friendlies in the United States, first taking on Mexico at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday, Oct. 8, before heading to Washington, D.C., to face the U.S. Men's National Team at RFK Stadium on Tuesday, Oct. 11. New Zealand's match against Mexico is set to kick off at 3 p.m. (Pacific), while the contest against the U.S. Men's National Team will begin at 5 p.m. (Pacific).

Gleeson, 26, has made eight appearances for New Zealand since 2011 and was included on the 2012 London Olympics squad. Most recently, Gleeson started in back-to-back matches for New Zealand in international friendlies, featuring against China and Thailand during the 2014 campaign. Appearing in 26 games (25 starts) with the Timbers during the 2016 MLS campaign, Gleeson ranks first in the league for saves made (112), despite playing five games fewer than Columbus Crew SC goalkeeper Steve Clark, who ranks second in MLS for saves. Additionally, Gleeson has recorded five clean sheets with the Timbers this season.

Vytas, 25, will join the Lithuanian National Team for a pair of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, facing Scotland at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, on Oct. 10, before returning to Lithuania to play host to Malta at LFF Stadium on Oct. 11. Vytas has earned 23 caps with Lithuania, including six starts during 2016 UEFA Euro Qualifying against teams such as Euro 2016 finalists England, Switzerland and Russia. In nine games MLS games played, Vytas has made eight starts, helping the Timbers produce four wins over that stretch.

3. Poise lacking in Union's late-season swoon

By Matthew DeGeorge Delaware County Times - October 2, 2016

HARRISON, N.J. >> Three times a playoff qualifier with D.C. United, Chris Pontius wasn't out of his depth Saturday night.

As the Philadelphia Union's game against New York Red Bulls stretched beyond the Union's collective tolerance, Pontius shined. He scored a goal, set up another, came within inches of a second spectacular equalizer. In the process, Pontius tied a single-season career high for goals and surpassed his best combined goals-and-assists total (16).

But Pontius's poise in the 3-2 Union loss was in all too short supply roster-wide, and it's reflected in the Union's gradual slide down the playoff picture.

"I just think in certain moments of the game, especially in the first half when we get the goal, and Red Bull does a good job pressing you and forcing you into bad mistakes, we just needed someone to take a breath and get us out of the jam," Pontius said. "We didn't have enough possession in the first half to make them chase a little bit. And when we did go, we went to goal and we tried to throw numbers at them. Turned it into a little bit of a back-and-forth."

Saturday's collision displayed two teams on relatively even footing in terms of talent. But the decider, as the intensity ratcheted up, was the reams of experience the Red Bulls have accrued in qualifying for the postseason for seven straight seasons (of, if you'd prefer, the duration of the Union's existence).

On the other side, the Union, for all its front office's attempts at acquiring proven winners, have just five players with MLS Cup playoff appearance, one (Charlie Davies) who can't seem to extricate himself from the bench.

When push comes to shove late in games like Saturday's, that knowhow can push a team over the edge ... usually past the Union.

To put numbers to it, consider that the Union are 6-8 this season in games decided by one goal. In the last eight such games, though, the Union are a scant 2-6.

That paints the picture of a team failing to raise its level in crucial, game-defining moments that spell the difference between a loss and a draw, or a win and a loss. It shines through in persistent traits like failure to defend set pieces (like the ones on which Dax McCarty and Sacha Kljestan converted Saturday to pace the Red Bulls) or ruthlessly finish chances during periods of ascendency (see the 1-1 draws with Toronto and Montreal).

The result is a five-game winless streak (0-3-2), a stretch of just three wins in 13 games spanning three months and a sub-.500 record at 11-12-9 for the first time since the opening weekend of the season. That's how the Union have plummeted from the conversation of playoff byes for the top two finishers to sitting sixth and needing at least a win and a draw (against these Red Bulls and eliminated Orlando City) to scrape out the sixth and final playoff spot.

Taken in isolation, the record is hauntingly reminiscent of doomed seasons past. For the last two years, the Union would have no problem playing with teams, remaining within a goal and doing enough for a coach like Jim Curtin to trot out the tired postgame trope of deserving more from the game than his team actually took from it.

In specifics, the same trends are repeating. The Union lack the ability to take the sting out of opposing attacks, unable to keep possession (conceding 61.6 percent to the Red Bulls) or finish chances or just generally calm the game down to a more palatable pace. It's also indicated by a defense that has allowed the fifth-most goals in MLS at 51, nearly nullifying the league's fourth-most prolific attack at 52.

The excuses from the beginning of the season are wearing ever thinner. A defense composed mostly of rookies has gained too much experience to continue to blame youth. A forward with two goals in three months (CJ Sapong) continuing to play with adequate options on the bench isn't a satisfactory explanation either. Delays in getting new players like Alejandro Bedoya, who left Saturday's game with a rib injury but was called up by the U.S. National Team for a pair of friendlies Sunday anyway, acclimated are circumstances that just have to be dealt with.

"There's always learning," Pontius said. "That's the beautiful thing of a season. You're going to have your ups and downs. There's going to be games where everything's clicking. There's going to be games where it seems you can't connect a five-yard pass. But I think there's obviously a lot we can learn tonight."

Beneficial as the tutorials are, the time is quickly dwindling to put those lessons into action.

4. Is TFC trending in the wrong direction ahead of the playoffs?

By John Molinaro SportsNet.ca - October 3, 2016

"How is Toronto FC trending at the moment -

It was a simple, straightforward query that elicited Michael Bradley's famous death stare when it was put to TFC's captain in the locker room following the Reds' 2-1 loss to D.C. United on the weekend.

"What does that question mean? What do you mean by that? I think we lost tonight, so I think that's pretty bad," Bradley deadpanned. "I think through 32 games we've been one of the best teams in the league."

Bradley was clearly irked, the reporter's question having touched a nerve of some sort. He's quite right in pointing out that TFC has been one of the best sides in Major League Soccer this year, a position backed up by the fact that the Reds have clinched their first-ever home playoff date and are still in contention for top spot in the Eastern Conference with two games remaining in the regular season.

At the moment, though, Toronto is struggling for results, winless in four matches and with only one victory in its last six outings. When TFC began its recent four-game set at home, they looked to be in pole position to win the East. But they ended up taking only three out of a possible 12 points (three draws and a loss), and they now sit two points adrift of the Red Bulls and New York City FC.

All season, the players and coaching staff pointed to this critical homestand as a chance for TFC to lay down a marker and control their fate going into the post-season. Instead, they completely squandered the opportunity, and now find themselves with some work to do in order to secure a first-round bye in the playoffs.

It says something about how far TFC has come, and how much the culture of the franchise has changed that ties now feel like losses, and a poor end-of-season run after a spectacularly successful summer leads to questions about how the club is trending ahead of the playoffs. Such a discourse wouldn't have taken place a year ago.

TFC is being held to a higher standard than ever before, and that's a good thing. But at the moment the club isn't meeting expectations, and that's worrying.

Still, there's reason to be optimistic. The two-week break due to international play is coming at the exact right moment for Toronto FC, as it should give Sebastian Giovinco enough time to fully recuperate and be ready for the team's Oct. 16 match in Montreal.

The Reds did little to quell the pervading false narrative that they are a one-man team, as Toronto's winless skid coincided with Giovinco's absence through injury. No doubt, Toronto is a much stronger side with Giovinco in the line-up, but it's facile to suggest that TFC owes all of - or even the majority of - its success this season to the Italian.

On the surface, this five-game run provided a somewhat-unflattering glimpse of what life would be like for TFC without the Atomic Ant. Take away the best player from any team in MLS for five games, though, and chances are pretty good that they're going to struggle.

Toronto was never thoroughly out-played during this stretch. They were "in" every game, carried the majority of play over the course of their four-game homestand, and they out-shot their last three opponents by a whopping 40-22 margin.

The defence needs to tighten up, to be sure. It's a positive sign, though, that Toronto was able to create so many chances without the best player in the league.

"In terms of [our overall play], I think we're trending okay. If we weren't getting scoring chances and we weren't getting into dangerous areas of the field, I'd be much more concerned. If we were conceding boatloads of chances I'd be more concerned," coach Greg Vanney said after the D.C. game.

Vanney, not for the fist time this campaign, put things in the proper perspective.

Things aren't dire. With two games remaining and the return of Giovinco imminent, there is plenty of time for Toronto to get back on track and build some momentum ahead of the playoffs.

Let them be judged at the very end of the season - not now.

5. Whitecaps couldn't get job done when it mattered this season

By Naoko Asano SportsNet.ca - October 3, 2016

VANCOUVER - David Ousted was face down on the turf, unmoving. The Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper was letting it sink in: his team's hopes of reaching the Major League Soccer playoffs were dead.

The premise was simple: a win versus the Seattle Sounders meant the Whitecaps would keep their extremely slim playoff hopes alive, while a loss or draw would ensure elimination from playoff contention.

On Sunday evening at BC Place, the Whitecaps fell 2-1 to the Sounders, their Cascadia Cup rivals, who remain above the red line by holding down the sixth and final spot in the Western Conference. The loss seemed to be the final blow to what has been an uninspiring campaign for the Whitecaps.

"I was devastated, because I knew it meant we weren't going to be in the playoffs," Ousted said when he finally emerged from the locker room post-game, describing what was going through his mind as he lay on the turf for so long that a team staff member finally had to walk over and drag him up.

"I was devastated for this team, for this club, but especially for the fans. It's been a lot of heartbreak for all of us this year, and especially the fans - they've turned out every time and supported us, and I'm gutted for them that we weren't able to perform to our levels this year and give them what they deserve."

If the fans in attendance left bitterly disappointed, it was nothing new. The Whitecaps began the year with expectations of matching or besting their performance in 2015, when the team finished the regular season second in the Western Conference and hosted a playoff match for the first time in its MLS history. But this year has been a disappointment, and the second half of the season especially so. The past few games have been hyped with phrases such as "all-important," "must-win," or "do-or-die," but those high stakes never seemed to matter, and on Sunday, when those words rang especially true, the team still couldn't get the job done.

"We're honest enough - the club is an honest club, I'm an honest manager, my players are an honest group of lads as well - we haven't been good enough, not just one game, we haven't been good enough across the board," coach Carl Robinson said. "We have to accept that and take responsibility for that, and I will."

Robinson, when asked about fans losing faith in the team after witnessing such a lacklustre season, reiterated that he would do all he could to find a solution to the team's problems. In the off-season, he said, he would be on the hunt for key additions to the club.

If there was a bright spot in the loss, it was the performance of Alphonso Davies, who made his second MLS start. The 15-year-old caused havoc against the Sounders, and impressed, as usual, with his pace, his deft ball handling and a composure that belies his age.

"He was good to watch, wasn't he," Robinson said, adding that Davies seemed to tire after about an hour, but that he was nonetheless impressed by the youngster's showing.

The game, while a disappointment, was not without drama. The Whitecaps put themselves ahead after Davies won a foul in the box, allowing Pedro Morales to score on a penalty kick in the 25th minute. But the team conceded a bad goal - a familiar scene this season - to Seattle's Osvaldo Alonso in the 39th minute.

In the 53rd minute, Morales was sent off after he appeared to deliver his elbow in Cristian Roldan's face. From there, Vancouver lost steam, eventually conceding the game-winning goal - a penalty kick - in the 81st minute.

"It's really annoying that we're not able to go up against the other team 11-v-11 and simply go toe-to-toe," Ousted said of the red card. "I think when we went toe-to-toe with them today, especially in the first half, we were the better team. But decisions like that just influence the game in a way that you don't have any influence on. Unfortunately, today I think it changed the game for us."

Central defender David Edgar, who joined the club over the summer, said he would need to learn to be more mindful of his on-field actions, with referees in MLS more prone to handing out red cards than in the UK.

"I'm going to have to, sort of, keep my temper in check," he said. "But you're just going to have to get on with the decisions because they're going to be made, good or bad. As I've grown older I've learned to deal with it better, but when some of them are bad you don't know what to do."

While he didn't agree with the red card, Edgar gave an honest assessment of the team's performance on the night: "I think it totally sums it up in terms of the decisions and the - you can't say luck because I believe we create our own luck - things just didn't go our way. It was totally frustrating."

There's no salvaging the season now, but as the Whitecaps prepare for their final two matches of the year - away to San Jose, and then home to Portland - they'll need to assess whether or not there's a chance of saving face in front of their fans.

"In my world we go in and try to give these fans what they want - wins," Ousted said. "We need to approach it in the same sense that we would if we were right on the cusp. I want to go win. I want to go and give the fans what they deserve in these last two games, and that's victories."

6. Atlanta United hopes to show home jersey in late November

By Doug Roberson Atlanta Journal-Constitution - October 3, 2016

Atlanta United's goal remains to unveil its uniform for its inaugural 2017 season in late November, according to team president Darren Eales.

That's been the goal for months. Eales repeated it two weeks ago during the academy's first home match at Pace Academy and then again last week during the introductions for new manager Gerardo Martino .

Eales said the club is working with Adidas to make it happen, and when the uniform, or kit, is introduced, there will be an event similar to what was held for the team's name .

Teams usually will unveil kits one at a time: home, away and third.

American Family Insurance will sponsor the jerseys.

The team's fans have shown initiative with their own designs .

7. Jemima Kirke, Ethan Hawke, and More Get in the Game at the New York City Football Club vs. Chicago Fire Match

By Maria Ward Vogue - September 26, 2016

Whether you want to call it football or soccer, the precise semantics of the given sport all come down to which side of the world you're squaring off in. But for fans who found themselves in the Bronx on Friday night, there was no question that Yankee Stadium was the ultimate place to be. It was here in the luxury club suite that New York City Football Club president Jon Patricof and Cinema Society founder Andrew Saffir hosted an intimate viewing party for the match against the Chicago Fire. Among those who came out to cheer on the boys in blue were Jemima Kirke, Ethan Hawke, Alessandro Nivola, Josh Lucas, and Timo Weiland. Similar rock-star vibes could furthermore be felt come halftime when legendary New York City FC player Frank Lampard stopped by for a cameo. "It's like Mick Jagger just walked in!" exclaimed one onlooker as guests took turns posing for photos with the player. (Even Hawke's 14-year-old son, Levon, managed to get an autograph added to the back of his very own Frank Lampard No. 8 jersey.) "I feel so proud to wear a uniform and badge that are inspired by New York City itself," Lampard said. "I love that the badge was voted on by the fans. Plus, I've worn blue throughout my career, so our blue jerseys are a natural fit for me."

Though the midfielder wasn't in official gear himself, having been temporarily sidelined due to a minor calf injury, he looked nothing short of the football fashionisto in a chambray A.P.C. shirt, Dolce & Gabbana trousers, and Adidas sneakers. "I'm superstitious to the point where if things are going well, I'll put my right shoe on first and my left on second, and when we have a bad game, I'll change it," Lampard said in reference to his pregame rituals. "And I always eat the same food - my wife's chicken and pasta."

Fortunately, going into the second half, the New York City FC was leading by two, which made indulging in the game-day fare on offer all the more appealing. The decadent spread featured fresh lobster rolls, fried chicken wings, and miniature marshmallow treats for dessert, complete with the team logo spelled out in blue and white frosting. But perhaps the real icing on top of the proverbial cake came when team captain David Villa scored a final goal inside the far post from some 16 yards out. "I always go into games feeling that I will give my best to help the team win," Villa said following the momentous occasion, which marked the New York City FC's first Major League Soccer Cup playoff berth. Let's hear it for the home team!

8. Finally back in the fold, Kljestan is seizing his opportunity with the U.S.

By Jeff Carlisle ESPNFC.com - October 3, 2016

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- Sacha Kljestan's last trip to Cuba made a lasting impression.

It was just over eight years ago that the U.S. traveled to the island nation for a World Cup qualifier in the semifinal round. Kljestan recalled that the U.S. prevailed 1-0 on a Clint Dempsey goal. But what the New York Red Bulls midfielder saw around the game was burned into his memory as well.

"Things are different down in Cuba; you see all the cars from the 1950s, and stuff like that," he said prior to Monday's practice session at Barry University. "It's a different period ... the most important thing was we got three points."

Kljestan remembered that there was a small contingent of U.S. fans in attendance, no small feat given the fact that the two countries wouldn't restore diplomatic relations for another seven years.

"They all had scarves over their faces," said Kljestan about the U.S. fans. "It was pretty cool. It was fun to see that some Americans made it down there last time. I'm assuming there's going to be quite a few more this time."

There will indeed. The two teams will square off this Friday, the first time the U.S. has played a friendly in Cuba since 1947. But while the overall stakes are lower, there is still plenty on the line for the U.S. at least in terms of individual performances.

The U.S. is gearing up for the start of the final round of World Cup qualifying, with matches against Mexico in Columbus, Ohio, on Nov. 11 and away to Costa Rica four days later quickly approaching. That means Friday's game -- assuming it isn't adversely impacted by Hurricane Matthew -- and a subsequent friendly against New Zealand in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 11 will provide the final chances to impress manager Jurgen Klinsmann prior to the start of the Hexagonal.

Kljestan knows more than anyone that the door to the national team is never truly shut. Last month, he was recalled to the U.S. team for the first time in two-and-a-half years, and did plenty to impress Klinsmann, grabbing a goal and two assists against St. Vincent and the Grenadines and scoring the first goal in a 4-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago.

"I came in with a fire under my ass, and I just wanted to prove everything, to prove everybody wrong, prove everybody right, to do everything that I was good at to help the team win," he told reporters. "Fortunately I was able to do that. I'm glad that Jurgen gave me the chance. I know there are going to be other guys coming in to do the same thing now. Just because I played a couple of good games last month doesn't mean that I can take it for granted now. I'm here this month to prove my case again."

Sacha Kljestan scored the opener for the U.S. in a win against Trinidad and Tobago. With Clint Dempsey sidelined, Sacha Kljestan figures to be a crucial player in midfield for the U.S. during the Hex. Kljestan's quest is aided by the continued absences of Jermaine Jones and Clint Dempsey. Jones continues to deal with a nagging knee injury, while Dempsey has been shut down for the rest of the calendar year due to an irregular heartbeat.

"Not having [Dempsey] here, we miss a big part of the attack," said Kljestan. "Hopefully I can step in and fill his shoes."

Among the players looking to challenge Kljestan's spot in the center of midfield are Perry Kitchen and Danny Williams, though Kljestan's ability to threaten in the attacking third makes him a better candidate to partner with Michael Bradley in the center of midfield. For that reason, he's hoping that he and the team can build on last month's performances.

"Hopefully we get a couple of wins this week and it gives us good motivation and good confidence going into November."

And the chance to make some new memories in Cuba.

Notes:

--The U.S. announced that Philadelphia Union midfielder Alejandro Bedoya suffered a strained rib muscle in last weekend's 3-2 defeat to the New York Red Bulls, and therefore wouldn't join up with the national team for the friendly against Cuba. While it is expected that some roster changes will be made between the Cuba and New Zealand games, a U.S. soccer spokesman said that no replacement would be named for Bedoya.

-- Friday's match appears set to take place in the aftermath of a hurricane striking the eastern part of Cuba. According to Weather.com, Hurricane Matthew, which is presently a Category 4 storm (Category 5 is the most severe), is forecast to make landfall in Cuba some time Tuesday morning. Havana sits in the northwest part of the island, and it's unclear the extent to which the city and the rest of the island will be affected. A U.S. Soccer Federation spokesperson would only state that the USSF is monitoring the situation closely.

9. Alejandro Bedoya pulls out of U.S. squad for friendly with rib injury

ESPNFC.com - October 3, 2016

Alejandro Bedoya will not join up with the United States squad this week because of a strained rib muscle.

The Philadelphia Union midfielder will not be available for the friendly against Cuba in Havana on Friday (4 p.m., ESPN2).

Bedoya suffered the injury during Saturday's MLS game against the New York Red Bulls and left the match in the 52nd minute.

U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann will not replace Bedoya on the squad, leaving him with 22 players training in Miami ahead of the game.

U.S. Soccer did not specify whether Bedoya could rejoin the squad ahead of the next week's friendly against New Zealand.

10. Here's how the MLS Golden Boot race looks now

By Caitlin Murray FOXSports.com - October 4, 2016

With only three weeks left in the MLS regular season, the Golden Boot race is shaping up to be a fun one, with a shootout between the top two contenders taking center stage. The Golden Boot race, unlike the one for the MVP, is a straight-up goal-scoring competition. In earlier years, MLS used a point system for both goals and assists, but now it's just about goals and the tiebreaker goes to whoever has more assists. Here is the ranking of how the race looks at the moment.

1. Bradley Wright Phillips: 21 goals Wright-Phillips' goal-scoring tear continues. On Saturday, he added another to his season's tally in a win against the Philadelphia Union to reach a whopping 21 goals in 32 games this season. Even more impressive, zero of BWP's goals have come from penalty kicks, which some might argue shouldn't even count. Also worth noting: At 97 shots this season, he has taken 57 fewer shots than the next two people on this list and his conversion rate has been pretty darn good. He also has five assists and two games left in the season against teams he should be able to score against: The Columbus Crew and then the Union again. The question is, if BWP doesn't win the Golden Boot, could he make a run for MVP?

2. David Villa: 21 goals Villa passed up BWP in the Golden Boot race briefly on Friday when he scored a brace against a last-in-the-West Houston Dynamo team. With 21 goals in 31 games played, the New York City FC man has a slightly higher per-game strike rate than BWP but fewer assists at just three. It's worth pointing out that four of his goals are penalty kicks. He has just two more games left to try to surpass BWP and interestingly enough, one of those games is also against the Columbus Crew, with the other being against D.C. United. It seems Villa has emerged as a favorite for the MVP award, but if he can make the most of his final games, he could be looking at two top awards after the season.

3. Sebastian Giovinco: 16 goals It's looking like the Atomic Ant, as he is known, is not going to be able to earn a repeat of the award he bagged last year. Giovinco's drop in the Golden Boot race really comes down to injury -- he has been out for Toronto FC's last five games. If he can make his return in TFC's final two games of the season, it's possible he has a chance. One of those games is against Montreal, but one is against the Chicago Fire, the worst team in the league and a very leaky defense. He also has a whopping 12 assists, so if he can somehow wreak havoc to close out the season, he would surely take the tiebreaker.

4. Dom Dwyer: 16 goals It's almost surprising to see Dwyer so high on this list because he's not really even in the conversation for MVP, but that's probably more because Sporting Kansas City have been a middling team overall. They sit sixth in the West -- above the red line but far from safe and they haven't looked like a team poised to go far into the postseason. Still, none of Dwyer's goals came from penalty kicks this year and he has had a very good season. He has two games to make up the difference with the leaders, a tall task considering neither of the remaining opponents are particularly known for having terrible defenses: Real Salt Lake and San Jose Earthquakes. He also has three assists.

11. Dax McCarty remains one of the most important players in Major League Soccer

By Paul Tenorio FourFourTwo - October 3, 2016

There are certain players in this league who are just different.

Their value is defined as much by personality and the intangibles they bring to the field - experience, composure, reliability - as the stats they put up in any sort of analysis. In the midst of one of the more competitive playoff pictures in some time, perhaps no player is more important on that abstract level as the New York Red Bulls' Dax McCarty.

The Red Bulls are quite possibly the best team in the Eastern Conference. Yet, their inability to close out games has doomed them. Too often this season, New York has melted with a two-goal lead. Much of that damage was done with McCarty sidelined due to a fractured leg suffered against the Chicago Fire on July 31.

But the Ginger Ninja is back and healthy, and the Red Bulls' 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night proved New York is a more balanced team with him on the field.

Consider this: McCarty was replaced by a youngster who proved more than capable as a starter in this league. Sean Davis, 23, was excellent in seven starts filling in for McCarty. He played so well, Jesse Marsch made sure to mention Davis at his postgame press conference Saturday night when asked about McCarty.

And yet, there is a significant difference for the Red Bulls when McCarty is in the lineup.

"I said when we were giving up the two-goal leads, I thought that Dax would be a very important element," Marsch said. "Because his experience, his savviness in the middle of the field, his understanding of what games are like, his understanding of what each moment of the game requires is one of the highest levels of any player in that position in the league, and potentially any player in the league."

Marsch called McCarty the team's lynchpin and anchor, attributes that refer not only to McCarty's distribution and defensive coverage but also his savvy in dealing with the emotions and stakes of late-season MLS games.

Both traits stood out against the Union. McCarty was second on the team in passing against Philadelphia and first in ball recoveries with 12. He scored the game-winning goal and was second on the team in tackles and first in interceptions.

McCarty was also unlocking Philadelphia with the pass before the killer pass. McCarty had a goal and two assists - his ball over the top to Bradley Wright-Phillips was sublime - but go look at his passes in the 32nd and 51st minute that set up chances for Sacha Kljestan. It is in those moments that McCarty is at his best: sitting deep and identifying the pass that unlocks the opposition.

He connected with Sacha Kljestan 11 times in the game, a partnership that goes overlooked. Earlier this season, Kljestan told FourFourTwo that McCarty was essential to Kljestan's stellar season because of how much he freed the playmaker to go higher up the field and find the ball in more dangerous spots. Kljestan said McCarty has a "calming influence," on the team.

"Dax is the easiest guy to play with," Kljestan said in August. "When he gets the ball, his first option is to find me behind the lines and that helps me a lot because I am able to turn little plays into bigger plays." Those big plays all featured McCarty on Saturday night.

With Toronto FC slipping up at the top of the East, the Red Bulls now look like the frontrunners to repeat as champions of the conference. Two games remain, home against Columbus and on the road in Philadelphia, and with McCarty back in the heart of the lineup, the Red Bulls have to feel confident in locking up the top seed.

12. With Hex looming, Kljestan looks to build on strong September showing with USA

By Ives Galarcep Goal.com - October 3, 2016

The New York Red Bulls playmaker made the most of his national team return, and now he is aiming for a regular place when November's big qualifiers come around.

Just how far has Sacha Kljestan come in the U.S. national team picture? Consider that less than two months ago he was a man staring at a two-and-a-half year absence from the national team, uncertain whether he would ever get another chance. Now? He's looking like a potential starter for some of the biggest games on the U.S. schedule, and is being used by Jurgen Klinsmann as an example of what can happen for a player when they make the most of an opportunity.

From missing in action to center stage in the blink of an eye.

"Sacha Kljestan, for the last two games came in, World Cup qualifiers, and he made a very strong case," Klinsmann said on Monday. "He put his stamp on both games and that's why he's now back in the national team environment. You've got to give them the opportunity to do that, but also they've got to take that opportunity."

As the U.S. prepares for upcoming friendlies against Cuba and New Zealand, Kljestan looks every bit like the man most likely to continue holding down the spot left open by Clint Dempsey's extended absence while he deals with an irregular heartbeat that will sideline him, for club and country, for the rest of 2016. Kljestan was excellent in September's World Cup qualifying wins against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago, but he knows all too well that those games don't promise him much more than his next call-up.

"Last month I had an opportunity, it had been two and a half years being out of the national team so I came in with a fire under my ass and I just wanted prove everybody wrong, prove everybody right, just do everything I was good at to try and help the team win," Kljestan said. "Fortunately I was able to do that, and I'm glad Jurgen gave me the chance.

"I know that there are going to be other guys coming in to do the same thing now. Just because I played a couple of good games last month doesn't mean that I can take it for granted now, so I'm here again this month to try and prove my case again."

Based on the roster called in by Klinsmann, Kljestan has a good chance to start both friendlies. Alejandro Bedoya was forced to withdraw from the squad with a rib injury, leaving Klinsmann with one less option for the attacking midfield role normally occupied by Dempsey.

Klinsmann sounded optimistic about the Sounders star returning in 2017, but in the meantime Kljestan is looking like a good bet to pick up some of the creative slack in midfield for a player Kljestan hopes will be back with the team soon.

"After soccer, there's a lot more to life, and he does have four kids to take care of," Kljestan said of Dempsey. "I hope he's doing OK, and I hope we see him back on the field. Obviously, not having him here we miss a big part of the attack, and hopefully I can step in and fill his shoes."

Kljestan's national team renaissance couldn't have come at a better time for the U.S., which needs more of an attacking presence from central midfield in the absence of Dempsey and Jermaine Jones, who has been out since July with a knee injury and looks less and less likely to feature in the November qualifiers.

Michael Bradley is another player who could fill an advanced central midfield role, having done so in the past, but he has played mostly in defensive midfield with Toronto FC this year and manned a deeper midfield role for the U.S. in recent months. He also has a good rapport with Kljestan, having partnered with him in central midfield quite a bit in the 2010 World Cup qualifying cycle. The pair reprised their partnership in September, and it looks like it may even be a better partnership now than it was six or seven years ago.

For Klinsmann, Kljestan is the ideal assist man to help get the most out of forwards Jozy Altidore and Bobby Wood. With Altidore and Wood looking so comfortable together, having someone who can provide them steady and dangerous service is paramount, and Kljestan has looked up to that challenge. Certainly more so than past contenders for the role have in recent years.

Will that mean a starting role for Kljestan when the U.S. heads to Columbus in November? Right now he looks like a good bet, especially when you consider his current form as well as his experience, which already includes a starting role in a World Cup qualifying win against Mexico (in 2009).

"I just want to make an impact on the game in a positive way so that when it comes the time for Mexico and Costa Rica I hope I'm in the starting 11," Kljestan said on Monday. If he shines against Cuba and New Zealand the way he did in September's friendly matches, the Red Bulls playmaker will almost certainly get his wish.

--- You are currently subscribed tomlsarticles as:. To unsubscribe click lmlsarticles&o34880 or send a blank email toleave-34880-100363.ed2502db0e92a845107cce7191242504@news.mlsnet.com --_000_DM2PR0201MB08142A2C4A29EF9C176320A7F9C50DM2PR0201MB0814_

252"> v:*

Â

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

MLS Newsstand - October 4, 2016

MLS Articles

1. Orlando City finds meaning in final matches of the regular season (Orlando Sentinel)

2. Portland Timbers' Jake Gleeson, Vytas called up for national team duty (The Oregonian)

3. Poise lacking in Union's late-season swoon (Delaware County Times)

4. Is TFC trending in the wrong direction ahead of the playoffs? (SportsNet.ca)

5. Whitecaps couldn't get job done when it mattered this season (SportsNet.ca)

6. Atlanta United hopes to show home jersey in late November (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

7. Jemima Kirke, Ethan Hawke, and More Get in the Game at the New York City Football Club vs. Chicago Fire Match (Vogue)

8. Finally back in the fold, Kljestan is seizing his opportunity with the U.S. (ESPNFC.com)

9. Alejandro Bedoya pulls out of U.S. squad for friendly with rib injury (ESPNFC.com)

10. Here's how the MLS Golden Boot race looks now (FOXSports.com)

11. Dax McCarty remains one of the most important players in Major League Soccer (FourFourTwo)

12. With Hex looming, Kljestan looks to build on strong September showing with USA (Goal.com)

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

1. Orlando City finds meaning in final matches of the regular season

By Alicia DelGallo

Orlando Sentinel - October 3, 2016

Lions defeated. A goal left unattained. Hope crushed. No lucky breaks. Help never arrived.

There was even rain.

Like every good fable, though, clouds parted and a rainbow arched across the sky over Camping World Stadium forming a too-perfect-to-be-ignored ending that doubled as a new beginning.

The moral? There were plenty.

Don't wait until it's too late.

"Maybe it was a little bit late to try," Orlando City captain KakÃ¡ said after his team was eliminated from playoff contention Sunday with a 1-0 loss to Montreal. "We had the whole season; we had a lot of games that we didn't try like we did in the last two games. This is the message and the lesson for me today. If we had fought like this, we would probably be in a better situation than this one. For this reason, I'm not frustrated."

Don't give up when things get bad.

Before Orlando City coach Jason Kreis and the club's head honchos can start reorganizing and building the team of the future, the current team needs to close out its final two games of the regular season. With nothing on the line, what do they play for in Philadelphia Oct. 16 and back home against D.C. United Oct. 23?

"Pride," said midfielder Kevin Molino, whose seen plenty of disappointment and success with the Lions, dating back to its USL days. "Self-pride, that is all we have in life, whatever, is self-pride. We want to hold our heads high and go into next season with two wins under our belt."

Defender Kevin Alston said the motivation to perform in the final two games comes down to ending the season in a way that sends a "good message going into next year. It's all about progression."

Learn from your failures.

Orlando City president Phil Rawlins didn't look obviously distraught after Sunday's loss. He placed a hand on Kreis' back as the two quietly talked in the hall outside the locker room.

After all, the fault does not lie solely with Kreis. He inherited a team with problems midseason and made few changes.

That's why the upcoming matches also signify a last chance for players to prove their worth and try to secure jobs next season. Kreis said he will use the final games to make sure he's given everyone an opportunity to be "critically evaluated" before making tough decisions in the offseason.

He wasn't hesitant in saying there will need to be significant changes moving forward.

"We are doing everything we can to build a club that has the capability to be successful consistently for a long time, and that means that you have to make difficult decisions when you're wanting those types of goals," Kreis said.

He gave the players time off this week to recuperate before returning to training Friday. In addition to the above, Kreis said the Lions should play for respect and fan support.

KakÃ¡ had another reason, too: "Play for our mentality. Even if you're not fighting for something, win or lose matters. . . . We need to feel the pressure that if we are not good enough, we do not deserve to be an Orlando City soccer player."

Another lesson some players will learn soon enough.

2. Portland Timbers' Jake Gleeson, Vytas called up for national team duty

By Jamie Goldberg

The Oregonian - October 3, 2016

Portland Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson and left back Vytas have been called up to their respective national teams.

Gleeson will join New Zealand for a pair of friendlies on October 8 against Mexico and October 11 against the United States.

Vytas will represent Lithuania for 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on October 10 against Scotland and October 11 against Malta.

Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe, who has earned consistent call-ups to the U.S. National Team since last November, was not called up for upcoming friendlies against Cuba and New Zealand. It was not immediately clear why Nagbe wasn't called up.

Here is the full release from the Timbers:

PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson and defender Vytas have been called up by their respective national teams, it was announced today.

Gleeson joins New Zealand for a pair of international friendlies against Mexico and the United States, while Vytas joins Lithuania for back-to-back qualifying matches for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Gleeson and the All Whites will play a pair of international friendlies in the United States, first taking on Mexico at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday, Oct. 8, before heading to Washington, D.C., to face the U.S. Men's National Team at RFK Stadium on Tuesday, Oct. 11. New Zealand's match against Mexico is set to kick off at 3 p.m. (Pacific), while the contest against the U.S. Men's National Team will begin at 5 p.m. (Pacific).

Gleeson, 26, has made eight appearances for New Zealand since 2011 and was included on the 2012 London Olympics squad. Most recently, Gleeson started in back-to-back matches for New Zealand in international friendlies, featuring against China and Thailand during the 2014 campaign. Appearing in 26 games (25 starts) with the Timbers during the 2016 MLS campaign, Gleeson ranks first in the league for saves made (112), despite playing five games fewer than Columbus Crew SC goalkeeper Steve Clark, who ranks second in MLS for saves. Additionally, Gleeson has recorded five clean sheets with the Timbers this season.

Vytas, 25, will join the Lithuanian National Team for a pair of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, facing Scotland at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, on Oct. 10, before returning to Lithuania to play host to Malta at LFF Stadium on Oct. 11. Vytas has earned 23 caps with Lithuania, including six starts during 2016 UEFA Euro Qualifying against teams such as Euro 2016 finalists England, Switzerland and Russia. In nine games MLS games played, Vytas has made eight starts, helping the Timbers produce four wins over that stretch.

3. Poise lacking in Union's late-season swoon

By Matthew DeGeorge

Delaware County Times - October 2, 2016