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Around the Forest: FC Cincinnati begin MLS play in 2019

Also: Greg Garza out for the Five Stripes, Robert Lewandowski wants out of Munich, ranking World Cup jerseys and more!

Portland

USL Team of the Week | T2 defender Josh Phillips named to the USL Team of the Week for Week 11 | Portland Timbers
T2 defender Josh Phillips was named to the USL Team of the Week for Week 11 after helping Portland to a 1-0 victory over Real Monarchs SLC at Providence Park on May 26. Phillips won all four duels, completed 46 of 50 passes (92%) and recorded a team-high seven clearances, as T2 picked up its USL leading seventh shutout of 2018. With his selection, Phillips is the sixth player from T2 to be named to the USL Team of the Week this season.

Major League Soccer

Cincinnati awarded MLS expansion club, will start play in 2019 | MLSsoccer.com
On the strength of record-breaking soccer attendances and the completion of an innovative plan to build a new, state-of-the-art soccer stadium, Cincinnati has been awarded a Major League Soccer expansion team, Commissioner Don Garber announced on Tuesday. The club will begin MLS play in the 2019 season.

Report: Atlanta United targeting Colombia playmaker Juan Quintero for 2019 | MLSsoccer.com
Colombian playmaker Juan Quintero has long loomed as an MLS target, most recently linked with the Chicago Fire, has again been tagged with a potential transfer. Colombian outlet El Deportivo reports, per Radio Continential in Argentina, that Atlanta United have their sights set on the 25-year-old, who remains a possibility for Los Cafeteros at the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup.

On Orange-and-Blue Day, expansion city Cincinnati "a perfect fit for MLS" | MLSsoccer.com
With a raucous, Orange-and-Blue clad crowd of 800 gathered at the Rhinegeist brewery, two bleachers full of chanting supporters surrounding the stage and thousands of others in Fountain Square and beyond tuning into the live stream, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber slipped a scarf around the neck of Carl H. Lindner III and announced FC Cincinnati as the 26th club to join MLS, beginning in 2019.

Atlanta United's Greg Garza out 4-6 months after shoulder surgery | MLSsoccer.com
Garza originally suffered the injury while playing in the 2017 MLS All-Star Game against Real Madrid in Chicago, and reaggravated it during Atlanta’s match against the New York Red Bulls on May 20. In that match, Garza was sent off with a red card in the 71st minute for a tackle on Red Bulls midfielder Daniel Royer.

Injury news: Anton Nedyalkov has surgery to repair broken collar bone - Big D Soccer
Just as FC Dallas is about to enter a busy stretch of the season with league games, US Open Cup matches and lots of travel, the injury bug that has hit this team so hard already this season took another turn. Anton Nedyalkov has undergone a successful procedure to repair a broken collarbone.

2019 MLS debut in sight, expansion FC Cincinnati "don’t want to be average" | MLSsoccer.com
As MLS Commissioner Don Garber will readily acknowledge, history indicates that's a "short runway" to accomplish a multi-item checklist that looms large for managing owner Carl H. Lindner III and President and GM Jeff Berding.

Orlando City centerback Jonathan Spector cleared for full training
It took Orlando City centerback Jonathan Spector a little while to recognize something was wrong after the Lions’ 3-2 victory over the Portland Timbers. The club had won its second match in a row after a rough start and was celebrating a comeback victory.

In first World Cup, Vancouver's Waston aims to meet high Ticos expectations | MLSsoccer.com
The Costa Rica national team set the bar high for future World Cup finals performances after their outstanding run to the quarterfinals in Brazil in 2014. The Ticos shocked and enthralled the world with an exciting run that saw them defeat Uruguay and Italy, then draw with England to top their group.

Whitecaps look for Rapid improvement after maddening month of miscues | The Province
Groundhog Day is a comedy classic. Watching Bill Murray’s TV weatherman character, Phil Connors, who’s forced to relive the same day over and over again, is a holiday tradition. And Punxsutawney, Penn., could stand in for Vancouver, at least where the Whitecaps are concerned.

SKC Alekzandur qualifies for 2018 FIFA eWorld Cup Grand Final | Sporting Kansas City
Competing under the gamer name SKC Alekzandur, 19-year-old Kansas City native Alex Betancourt has qualified for the 2018 FIFA eWorld Cup Grand Final, a 32-player tournament running from Aug. 2-4 in London to determine the world's best FIFA player.

United States

Ranking the World Cup jerseys - Stars and Stripes FC
The 2018 World Cup is upon us, and you already know what that means. It means that for 32 teams, we know exactly how they’re going to look when they step out on the field for each of the matches. Some teams like to sport a traditional look during the World Cup, while others like to take some risks with their look. In the end, everyone has their personal favorites, whether it be their favorite team or another team in the field of 32.

Jill Ellis names roster for USA vs China friendlies - Stars and Stripes FC
Jill Ellis has released the 24-player roster for the United States’ pair of friendlies against China PR on June 7 and June 12. There are a couple of moderate surprises here.

World

Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski wants to leave for new challenge agent Pini Zahavi
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has asked to leave the club, his agent Pini Zahavi has said. Lewandowski, 29, has scored 151 goals in 195 games since signing from Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer in 2014 and has been linked with Real Madrid, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich cannot work in UK on Israeli passport
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will not be able to work in the UK if he arrives on an Israeli passport, a Downing Street spokesman has said. Abramovich flew to Israel on Monday after receiving confirmation that he was eligible for citizenship under the country's Law of Return, which allows Jews to become citizens.

Premier League winter break plans confirmed by FA chief Martin Glenn
A winter break will soon be introduced to help Premier League clubs battle player fatigue and aid England's preparation for major tournaments, Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn has revealed.

Soccer on TV

6:30 p.m. Real Salt Lake host Houston Dynamo on ESPN+.

7:30 p.m. Portland Thorns host North Carolina Courage on go90.