Portland
Making the right connections: How the Portland Timbers are answering one of 2018's biggest questions | Portland Timbers
The Portland Timbers entered 2018 knowing they’d have to change some aspects of their style, perhaps nowhere more so than how they built play out of their defensive end. Incoming head coach Giovanni Savarese had new ideas and in the departure of Darlington Nagbe, Portland was faced with challenges in the middle of the park.
Major League Soccer
Sporting KC's Shelton aiming to get in on goals, but team sharing the load | MLSsoccer.com
Sporting Kansas City have had no trouble scoring goals this season, but what’s potentially the most intriguing part about their early success, is that despite scoring at a solid rate, they’ve done it without much from their strikers.
MLS expansion hopeful Cincinnati receive City Council approval for stadium | MLSsoccer.com
MLS expansion candidate Cincinnati brought their stadium dreams a step closer to reality on Monday, as the Cincinnati City Council approved a proposed deal for a West End site by a 5-4 margin.
Philadelphia Union sign Cameroonian international Olivier Mbaizo | MLSsoccer.com
Mbaizo, a 20-year-old native of Cameroon, signed with the club’s USL affiliate, Bethlehem Steel FC, ahead of the 2018 season. He’ll likely continue to see most of his minutes this season with the Steel, along with fellow Cameroonian Eric Ayuk.
Is USMNT forward Bobby Wood coming to MLS this summer? - The Washington Post
The Hawaii native has three years left on his contract with Hamburg, which is 5-18-7 and next to last in the 18-team league, eight points from earning a place in a relegation playoff. The club has been in the top flight since the Bundesliga was formed in 1963.
NYCFC's Patrick Vieira: Atlanta United has best atmosphere in MLS | MLSsoccer.com
"I was really looking forward to coming here because watching games on TV, looking at the atmosphere, the fans, it is a tough place to come and play, of course," Vieira said following the match. "The atmosphere is the best in the league. I think they stand out really high for the other teams to follow behind. This is part of improving the league and it is good to play football on a field like that."
Whitecaps striker Kei Kamara out for several weeks with groin injury - Sportsnet.ca
The Vancouver Whitecaps will have to pull themselves out of a two-game losing skid without the services of star striker Kei Kamara. Head coach Carl Robinson said Kamara will miss at least the next three Major League Soccer games due to a groin injury. Kamara probably won’t be back in the Whitecaps’ lineup until a May 11 game against the Houston Dynamo at BC Place Stadium.
Team of the Week presented by Audi: Tomas Martinez leads the way in Week 7 | MLSsoccer.com
Eight of the players selected in the XI played on the road this week (New York City FC played two games, one at home and one away), and four members of the Team of the Week bench were away from home. Among the highlights were a 2-0 win for LAFC in Vancouver, a 2-0 win for Orlando City in Philadelphia, and a 1-0 win for FC Dallas in New England.
Warshaw: Three reasons a Toronto FC win in CCL matters for all of MLS | MLSsoccer.com
On Tuesday, Toronto FC will play in one of the biggest games in Major League Soccer history. The 2017 treble holders take on Mexico’s Chivas de Guadalajara in the Concacaf Champions League final, with a chance to make it an unprecedented quad.
United States
USWNT players in NWSL week 3: teams begin to come into focus - Stars and Stripes FC
The table is starting to take shape after three weeks of NWSL. Lots of key players are still out, particularly internationals from Brazil and Australia, but we can now begin to see how the big coaching shakeups between seasons might play out, from Harvey at Utah (zzzz this week) to Reddy at Sky Blue (some good pieces, but need more). Here’s how national team players did this week in NWSL.
Yanks Abroad: Assists & Goals Galore from US Soccer - Stars and Stripes FC
We are jam packed this week with goals, assists and even a new addition to Yanks Abroad. Youngster Kevin Lankford makes the list with a eye opening assist you need to see. DeAndre Yedlin showed up big against a PL giant, Rubio Rubin got his first goal in Mexico, plus surprise goals from Mix Diskerud AND Omar Gonzalez.
World
Real Madrid honouring Barcelona would be 'humiliation' - Javier Tebas
La Liga president Javier Tebas has said he understands why Real Madrid will not form a guard of honour for Barcelona in next month's Clasico. Since Athletic Bilbao honoured Atletico Madrid in 1970, teams have acknowledged the achievement of the Liga winners with a pasillo -- two lines of players welcoming the champions onto the pitch
Marcos Alonso charged by English FA – ProSoccerTalk
Below is the statement from the FA as Alonso could miss the next three games for Chelsea, which include the Premier League trip to Burnley on Thursday, the FA Cup semifinal against Southampton on Sunday and the league game at Swansea next Saturday.
Mourinho wields axe: Pogba, other stars to leave Man United – ProSoccerTalk
According to multiple reports the French midfielder will be sold after this season as he continues to clash with manager Jose Mourinho. Pogba, 25, has only completed 90 minutes in four of his last 11 games for United and was subbed in the second half of their shock home defeat against West Brom on Sunday, although Mourinho insisted that was because he was on a yellow card and he didn’t want to go down to 10-men.