Latest news with #USOpenCup
Fox Sports
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
LAFC great Carlos Vela retires, played two World Cup tournaments with Mexico
Carlos Vela has announced his retirement, officially ending a career that included stops at Arsenal and Real Sociedad before becoming a cornerstone playmaker for MLS side LAFC. Vela, who represented Mexico at the 2010 and 2018 World Cup tournaments, became one of the most decorated players in MLS history. Joining LAFC as its first Designated Player when the club began play in 2018, Vela would win numerous team and individual accolades with the Black-and-Gold. He led LAFC to the 2022 MLS Cup, the 2019 and 2022 Supporters' Shields, and the 2024 US Open Cup . In a team release, Vela said: "This club means so much to me and my family, and I am proud of everything we have accomplished together with the great fans of Los Angeles." The Cancún native won the 2019 MLS MVP, setting the league mark for most goals (34) and most goal contributions (49) in a single season. Additionally, Vela retires as LAFC's all-time leader in games played (152), minutes (11,194), goals (78) and assists (59). The 36-year-old will be named an ambassador for LAFC. He last played for the team in October 2024 on a short-term deal. "From the beginning, Carlos has been more than just a player—he has been the heartbeat, the captain, and the face of LAFC," Co-President & General Manager John Thorrington said. Vela scored 19 goals in 72 caps for Mexico. Along with starring for El Tri at South Africa 2010 and Russia 2018, he helped the squad win two Concacaf Gold Cup titles. Prior to signing with LAFC, Vela played for LaLiga side Real Sociédad from 2011-2017, making over 200 career appearances in all competitions and scoring 72 goals. After rising through the youth ranks of Liga MX's Chivas de Guadalajara, he joined Arsenal in 2005 and appeared with Salamanca, Osasuna, and West Bromwich Albion. Get more from Mexico Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
5️⃣ must-watch matches this weekend in MLS
After midweek action across the US Open Cup, MLS returns once again this weekend with a bevy of intriguing fixtures to please the footballing palate. Headlined by a pair of massive Eastern Conference clashes, let's take a look at five must-watch matches this weekend during matchday 15. We start in Southern California and inaugural MLS side San Diego FC, who look to continue their impressive first season under Mikey Varas when they host bottom-dwelling LA Galaxy at Snapdragon Stadium. Advertisement The two sides could not be any more different in 2025, with SDFC boasting an outside chance of challenging for the top spot in the West, while the Galaxy will be lucky to even make the post-season despite being the current MLS Cup holders. Headlined by budding league star Anders Dreyer, San Diego has been one of the feel-good stories of the season. But if there was ever a time for Greg Vanney and company to bag a much-needed result, it's this one. Next, we swap coasts and head to Subaru Park as a hot Philadelphia Union outfit welcomes Lionel Messi and a faltering Inter Miami side to the City of Brotherly Love. Advertisement Sitting atop the pile in the East, the Union are the form side across MLS, banking four wins and a draw in their last five league outings while currently boasting the highest rate of return in the final third to the tune of 27 goals scored. As for Javier Mascherano's troops, the Herons have secured all three points in just one of their previous five MLS fixtures while falling well off the pace in a season where many expected them to once again be in the Supporters' Shield conversation. Should Philly win, it would be hard to argue that Bradley Carnell's side would not cement their place as favorites to top the Conference come the end of the season, while even greater questions will be asked regarding what has happened in South Florida. Further down south, Orlando City is set for a tricky test in front of home support when Phil Neville's Portland Timbers rock up to Inter&Co Stadium, in a clash of two sides looking to close the gap to the top positions in their respective Conferences. Advertisement Óscar Pareja's outfit is one of the toughest clubs to beat this season, having booked three wins in two draws in their previous five outings, with the Lions putting themselves in striking distance of climbing into third in the East. Portland, who sit fourth in the West, are no slouches either and could climb as high as second should they win on the road. However, back-to-back draws against Real Salt Lake and the Seattle Sounders that featured just one goal scored, highlight an inconsistency in the final third which could be their undoing against a free-scoring Orlando. Bank of America Stadium is the venue for the fourth of five must-watch matches this weekend when a free-falling Charlotte FC plays host to a dangerous Columbus Crew side under Wilfried Nancy. Advertisement After a phenomenal start to 2025 with Dean Smith at the helm and the arrival of Wilfried Zaha, the Crown has hit a wall while rapidly plummeting down the table on the back of five straight losses in MLS and the possibility of crashing out of the post-season conversation this weekend. As for Columbus, three consecutive draws have put the Crew off the scent of the top spot in the Conference temporarily while only sitting just two points adrift of the aforementioned Philly and FC Cincinnati respectively. Masters of garnering results away from home, they will no doubt fancy their chances this weekend. Finally, we close out our preview at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the tall task of Atlanta United finding points against an elite FC Cincinnati side who are joint-top in the Supporters' Shield race. Advertisement One of the biggest disappointments across the 2025 season at the halfway marker, the Five Stripes are languishing just one place off the basement in the East while failing to win any of their previous five fixtures despite a high-powered attack, at least on paper. While it's all gone wrong in Georgia, Cincy has enjoyed the season on the back of the arrivals of Evander and Kévin Denkey, who have helped propel Patrick Noonan's team into a position of potential hegemony in the Conference. On paper, this looks to only go one way, but Atlanta is capable of banking a shock result if they can get it right on the pitch across 90 minutes. 📸 Editorial Photo Credit: © Albert Cesare/The En | 2025 May 10-Imagn Images
Boston Globe
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Revolution add teenage midfielder Eric Klein on homegrown deal
Advertisement Klein was voted 2023-24 Revolution Academy Player of the Year, and signed a pro contract in September following two years in the Revolution Academy. He led Revolution II in starts and minutes in its 2024 MLS Next Pro season, and has made six appearances for New England's reserve team this year. The Revolution's two matches in the US Open Cup this month gave him his first top-level experience. After replacing the injured Luca Langoni for the second half of Though Klein was charged for an own goal when a 38th-minute Chicago cross deflected off him into the New England net, he also led the Revolution in touches and completed passes in the match. Advertisement Revolution coach Caleb Porter has long been a fan, citing both Klein and Allan Oyirwoth as midfield depth the team was 'keen on' when it 'Eric Klein has been on my radar as a standout contributor with Revolution II since I arrived at the club last year,' Porter said in the release. 'Eric has earned this chance to test himself against a higher level of competition, and I look forward to helping foster his growth.' The Revolution (5-4-3, 18 points), 11th in the Eastern Conference having played two fewer matches than most of the league, begin a stretch of three road games in eight days with Saturday night's visit to Sporting Kansas City.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
📚 Unique milestones to watch out for this weekend in MLS
After the Round of 16 of the 2025 US Open Cup dominated the midweek fixture program across the United States and Canada, MLS action is set to return at the weekend for matchday 15 after an enthralling Rivalry Week. With the race for the Supporters' Shield remaining as tight as ever while action across the East and West write their own stories, let's get into some unique milestones to watch out for this weekend. They say home is where the heart is, but for Wilfried Nancy and the Columbus Crew, an away day has never been more enjoyable for the Eastern powerhouse than during the 2025 season. Right in the thick of it at the top of the pile along with the Philadelphia Union and FC Cincinnati, the Crew are right on track to remain one of the top sides in the Conference, but a win on the road this weekend against a struggling Charlotte FC outfit could see them level an MLS-record 12 undefeated away matches. With the Crown coming into matchday 15 as the most out-of-form side in MLS, you would bet the house that the Crew comes away with all the points in the bag. 📸 via MLS Communications Cristian Espinoza has quietly become one of the most dangerous attacking players in MLS over the last five years in the Bay Area, and his tally of assists is proof positive that he knows how to pull a string or two. 📸 via MLS Communications The Earthquakes, now under Bruce Arena, look like a side that is determined for a post-season birth, with Espinoza's creativity chief to those efforts, but a piece of personal glory is on the line at the weekend against the Houston Dynamo. With just one assist, the 30-year-old Argentine would become just the third active player in MLS to hit the 80-assist mark, further cementing his place as the all-time leader for the club in the process. After an impressive 3-0 win against in-state rivals Inter Miami last weekend, Orlando City are one of the form sides in the East coming into matchday 15, extending their unbeaten run in 2025 to 11 matches in the process. 📸 via MLS Communications Hopeful of feeding on their recent result when they lock horns with a talented Portland Timbers side in front of home support at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday night, Óscar Pareja's troops have a chance to pull level with the club's standing record of 12 matches unbeaten, while also potentially climbing into the top three in the East depending on results elsewhere. Most football fans love a tight-knit race at the top of the table, and thankfully for those of you who watch MLS, the 2025 season has so far delivered that and then some coming into matchday 15. 📸 via MLS Communications Coming into the pending weekend fixture list, four clubs - Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Vancouver, and Columbus - have a chance to equal or better the 30-point mark at the halfway point of the season, a feat that has never been achieved in an MLS campaign. Here is what each of those four clubs face this weekend: The Philadelphia Union hosts Inter Miami CF looking to remain top of the East. FC Cincinnati travels to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to face off against Atlanta United. Western Conference leaders Vancouver take on Real Salt Lake away from home. As previously mentioned, Columbus travels to Bank of America Stadium for a clash with Charlotte FC. And finally, we head to Allianz Field and budding Western Conference outfit Minnesota United and their lofty perch of sitting second behind a much-talked-about Vancouver Whitecaps. 📸 via MLS Communications Despite their ability to perform as a collective, key man and shot-stopper-in-chief Dayne St. Clair has been sublime in goal for the Loons up to this point, posting seven clean sheets in just thirteen appearances, and should he pick up his 8th of the season, he would become just the 10th goalkeeper in MLS history to achieve that feat after 15 games. Impressively, St. Clair would pad his chances of picking up Goalkeeper of the Year honors as well, with Tony Meola (2000), Donovan Ricketts (2010), and Tim Melia (2017) being awarded the same after a similar or better run of clean sheets. 📸 Editorial Photo Credit: © Darren Yamashita | 2025 May 20-Imagn Images
Washington Post
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
D.C. United prevails over Charlotte FC in a wild U.S. Open Cup clash
A small crowd turned out on a cool, soggy Wednesday night to watch a U.S. Open Cup match between teams stumbling through MLS's regular season. Ho-hum. It did not exactly portend an entertaining evening at Audi Field. What transpired, though, was a bonkers affair that included an equalizer late in regulation, goals by both teams in extra time and third-string goalkeeper Jordan Farr, a late substitute, saving four of five attempts in a shootout as D.C. United prevailed over Charlotte FC, 2-1, following a 3-3 draw through 120 minutes.
