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Around the Forest: USMNT names 22-man Roster for Bolivia Friendly

Also: BWP does a number on ATLUD, Thorns grind out a road win, Fire drop another one and more!

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Portland

Thorns FC back to the grind to snare three points against Washington | Portland Timbers
It didn't feature the oft-oppressing attacking displays we’d seen against Orlando, Seattle and Utah, but Portland Thorns FC’s Saturday visit to the Washington Spirit was also devoid of the slips the defending NWSL champions had experienced in each of those recent matches. What was left was a 1-0 result which, reminiscent of the team’s grind-it-out wins in the middle of last season, snapped Portland’s five-match winless run and collected the team’s first shutout of the season.

Armchair Analyst: Crew SC solve Revs, Timbers impress and more from Week 12 | MLSsoccer.com
Ok, back into our regular column rhythm. Week 12 was weird because of the Monday game involving Montreal and LA (which obviously I’m not covering here, but as a Minority Report-style precog, I’m telling you that there will be goals), but weird is often good.

Major League Soccer

Ian Ayre, Liverpool FC longtime CEO, to be Nashville MLS soccer CEO
Ian Ayre is the first CEO of Nashville's Major League Soccer club, he confirmed Sunday in an exclusive interview with the Tennessean. And for those who aren't tuned in to the international soccer scene, please understand: This is a major development.

Bastian Schweinsteiger frustrated after latest Chicago Fire home loss | MLSsoccer.com
The Chicago Fire fell 3-2 to the Houston Dynamo on Sunday, dropping their fourth home match of 2018 after losing just twice at Toyota Park in 2017 when they finished third in the Supporters' Shield standings. The loss puts them six points behind the New England Revolution, who currently sit in the sixth and final playoff spot in the East. With 23 matches to go, there's plenty of time to make a run for the playoffs but star midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger was clear when he was asked if he was frustrated after the match.

After Sinovic shines as sub, Vermes reveals Medranda was playing injured | MLSsoccer.com
After a 1-1 draw at Minnesota United on Sunday, Sporting Kansas City coach Peter Vermes insisted his early swap of Jimmy Medranda for Seth Sinovic owed to an injury to Medranda. Even so, Sinovic's insertion had an undeniable tactical impact.

Bradley Wright-Phillips' two clinical finishes put Red Bulls past Atlanta | MLSsoccer.com
New York Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright-Phillips scored two goals against Atlanta United on Sunday night, leading his team past the Supporters' Shield 3-2. The two goals gives him eight this season, which puts him atop the Golden Boot race with Josef Martinez and Gyasi Zardes.

Impact originals reflect on start of club ahead of 25th anniversary match | MLSsoccer.com
The Montreal Impact made their humble home debut as a fledgling member of the American Professional Soccer League on May 21, 1993. Thanks to the vision and backing of the Saputo family, the Impact were born in the soccer void in the city after the Montreal Supra were left without a league when the Canadian Soccer League folded in 1992, six years after it was created.

Marsch hails Wright-Phillips as RBNY legend after "heavyweight fight" | MLSsoccer.com
There was no surprise that in a contest pitting two high-octane attacks against each other produced a multitude of incidents to dissect. Atlanta United and New York Red Bulls both pride themselves on high pressing and intense, aggressive styles of play.

Impact original Lloyd Barker reflects on 25 years of soccer in Montreal | MLSsoccer.com
Seems like it was just yesterday I was lacing up my brand new adidas Copa Mundials to take the field for the first-ever league game in Montreal Impact history. It's hard to fathom how much time has passed since that memorable day: 25 years.

Attack on Sporting: What Drove Lisbon Fans to Violence Against Their Own Team? | Bleacher Report | Latest News, Videos and Highlights
It was just before 6 p.m. on Tuesday when reporters first spotted the group of masked men running in the road near Sporting CP's training ground at Alcochete, about 20 minutes outside Lisbon. "Let's go inside," one remembers hearing.

Rapids’ Tim Howard on Wayne Rooney’s potential MLS prospects – The Denver Post
In the summer of 2004, as he entered a second season in Manchester United’s intense glare, U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard encountered an expensive new teammate at the Carrington training ground. The newcomer’s poise and determination belied his teenage years.

Soccer: Recent string of starts shows Colombian import Santiago Mosquera is settling in for FCD, adjusting to MLS | SportsDay
When Santiago Mosquera arrived from Colombia in the winter, FC Dallas coach Oscar Pareja wasted no time in putting him into the lineup. The winger started for FCD in CONCACAF Champions League play against Tauro in the first leg but then had one start in March and didn't start again until April 22.

United States

USMNT 22-man roster named for Bolivia friendly - Stars and Stripes FC
The United States will bring a very young squad to Chester. Interim manager Dave Sarachan today announced the 22-man roster that will take on Bolivia on Memorial Day. The roster has an average age of 22 and continues the trend of Sarachan using the rosters to evaluate the younger talent in the player pool. Christian Pulisic returns to the roster for the first time since the Hex and leads the group of very young players.

USMNT Weekly Youth Update: Weah earns his first PSG start - Stars and Stripes FC
All the European leagues have now officially ended with the exception of a couple promotion/relegation playoffs yet to be determined. Here’s what happened heading into the International window:

World

Spain leave Cesc Fabregas and Alvaro Morata and Marcos Alonso out of World Cup squad
Spain coach Julen Lopetegui has left Chelsea's Alvaro Morata, Cesc Fabregas and Marcos Alonso out of his 23-man squad for the World Cup in Russia but included Arsenal left-back Nacho Monreal.

Belgium World Cup squad: Radja Nainggolan left out by boss Roberto Martinez
"Very reluctantly my international career comes to an end," Nainggolan wrote on Instagram after the squad was announced. I've always done everything I could to represent my country. Being yourself can be bothering. From this day on I will be the first fan."

Inter leapfrogs Lazio to take final Champions League spot
The Nerazzurri trailed 2-1 with 13 minutes left but fought back to beat 10-man Lazio 3-2 and secure a spot in Europe's premier club competition for the first time since 2012, following Matias Vecino's late header.