Page 81 - Soccer360 Issue 107

had a lot to cheer for in recent seasons. The team hasn’t made the MLS Cup Playoffs in five years and still has yet to win an MLS Cup. That may change this season with head coach Sandro Schwarz leading the group to a top four spot in the Eastern Conference. Scotland international Lewis Morgan has dominated in the attacking third for NYRB, finding small spaces to exploit in even the tightest of defenses.
ALL HOPE LIES IN THE CUP
In MLS league play, it has been a pretty rough season for Sporting Kansas City. With the team on the outside looking in at the playoffs and struggling to keep up in the Western Conference supporters had pretty much chalked up 2024 as a lost season. But the team has rallied in a different medium: the US Open Cup. One of eight MLS teams competing in this year’s competition, Sporting are gunning for their fifth US Open Cup title and already have a big victory under their belt having defeated FC Dallas in the Quarterfinals.
NO ONE CAN STOP ARANGO
Now in his second season, Cristian Arango is once again lighting up MLS defenses for Real Salt Lake. The 29 year old Colombia forward picked up right where he left off last season, scoring five goals in his first six regular season matches. Against St. Louis City SC Arango showed that no matter the situation he can produce, burying a hat trick in their 3-1 victory back in March.
RAPIDS RISE
One of the biggest surprises this has been the play of the Colorado Rapids, who find themselves in the hunt for a top four spot in the Western Conference. New head coach Chris Armas has brought in a fast, electric style that has opened up defenses across the league. Midfielder Cole Bassett has become a leader in his sixth full season
of the league and alongside defender Darren Yapi, midfielder Djordjie Mihailovic, and forward Rafael Navarro has given the Rapids a nice corps of younger players to build around in the seasons ahead.
THE GANG FALLS APART
Possessing a wealth of talent and a passionate supporter-base the feeling was that it was a matter of when and not if the Philadelphia Union would win their first-ever MLS Cup. But after a summer poor results and multiple players about to become free agents it is becoming increasingly likely
that the golden generation of Union may never quite reach the mountain top. For a group that finished as Runners-Up at the 2022 MLS Cup and came within minutes of winning it all, it is a tough pill to swallow.
LUCHO! LUCHO!
Like a fine wine, Luciano Acosta just keeps getting better with age. The 30 year old midfielder keeps getting better and better with FC Cincinnati, using his crisp passing and pacey dribbling skills to break past defenses. Right at the top of the league’s assist and key passes leaders, Acosta
has Cincinnati dreaming of a second consecutive Eastern Conference crown.
ST. LOUIS BLUES
After a strong first MLS season which saw them win the Western Conference regular season title, expectations were high for
St. Louis City SC entering into year two. Instead of blossoming the club has fallen into a sophomore slump. A winless stretch in June (0-3-3, 3 points) resulted in the firing of Bradley Carnell. Things have only gotten worse from there with the club winning just once in July (1-3-1, 4 points).
NO MESSI, NO PROBLEM
One of the biggest questions heading into the 2024 season was how Inter Miami CF would hold up without Lionel Messi. The answer as it turns out is quite well. With their talisman forward Miami have surged to the top of the Eastern Conference standings while making a Quarterfinal appearance in the CONCACAF Champions League. WIthout Messi, Luis Suarez has stepped up providing Miami with timely goals during crunch periods.
BATTLE OF LOS ANGELES
The Western Conference is turning into a miniature version of El Trafico with both the Los Angeles Galaxy and LAFC battling
it out at the top of the standings and in the transfer market. After LAFC snagged Hugo Lloris and Olivier Giroud, the Galaxy made their own offseason splash snagging Marco Reus. On the field LAFC have gotten the best of their counterparts twice, earning
a pair of 2-1 victories to win the regular season series.
SOCCER360 79
BELOW:
FC Cincinnati midfielder Luciano Acosta (10) drives the ball
BELOW RIGHT:
Colorado Rapids have been one of the surprise teams of the season