Page 15 - Soccer360 - Issue 103

New England Revolution players celebrate
Nashville came up short of the Leagues Cup
5.) WILL THE REVOLUTION BE TELEVISED?
No one likes to use the word ‘curse’ in Boston sports culture given it wasn’t that long ago the Red Sox finally rid themselves of the moniker, but it certainly seems to apply to the New England Revolution. They are just one of two MLS original teams that have yet to win the MLS Cup, often failing in the craziest of scenarios. Although they have not run across any black cats this season, they certainly are testing their luck by selling star goalkeeper Djorde Petrovic mid-season to Chelsea.
4.) NASHVILLE’S SECOND CHANCE
Losing in penalty kicks with your goalkeeper is
no way to end a final, but for Nashville SC it may just be what they needed. Athe fter making the playoffs in each of the last five seasons, Nashville very nearly had their first piece of silverware losing out to Inter Miami FC in the Leagues Cup Finals in penalties 10-9. After the match, Nashville seemed to have a bit of a chip on their shoulder. After so many years of coming up just short in the finals, perhaps the Leagues Cup match will be the motivation that they need to make it to the top.
3.) BEWARE THE ORANGE AND BLUE
If not for a certain expansion team and a guy from Argentina (more on them in a minute) the biggest story of the 2023 season would undoubtedly be FC Cincinnati who have clawed their way to the top of the standings. Cincy made their first playoff appearance last season on the back of their attack but this season it is the defense that has stood out. Prior to the Leagues Cup break, the side had allowed just 28 goals, tied for second lowest in MLS.
2.) CAN ST. LOUIS RUN THE TABLE?
At the start of the 2023 season, no one outside of those with a 314 area code expected St. Louis to be out of the bottom of the Western Conference standings, let alone near the top. Yet, here they are. Head Coach Bradley Carnell has assembled
a core that can absorb pressure from team’s and immediately hit them on the counter-attack. It is a style of play that works well in the meat grinder that is the
playoffs
so a deep
run is not out of the question.
1) MESSI’S MAGICAL MIAMI MYSTERY TOUR
Can the summer of Messi extend into the fall
for Inter Miami? After his incredible run through Leagues Cup, Messi is looking to push an Inter Miami side from the bottom of the Eastern Conference playoffs (at the start of the second half of the season, they were 14 points away from the ninth and final playoff spot). He has certainly worked his magic plenty during the summer but if he can get Miami in the playoffs it may just push him into the MVP conversation.
St. Louis FC has had an incredible first year so far.
“MESSI IS LOOKING TO PUSHANINTER MIAMI SIDE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE EASTERN CONFERENCE TO THE PLAYOFFS”
SOCCER360 MAGAZINE 15