This is a hodgepodge category of two-way midfielders, and players shuttled between different positions and roles. Primarily defensive midfielders will be ranked separately. Some of theseplayers carried a fair amount of their teams’ offensive burden and did so from a deeper position than most attacking midfielders, so they are listed here. There are also classic […]
new york city fc
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS Moves: NYCFC signs Allsvenskan Defender of the Year
New York City FC made its first signing of the offseason when it picked up Swedish right back Anton Tinnerholmon a free transfer from Allsvenskan champion Malmo FF. Tinnerholm, 26, was named the 2017 Allsvenskan Defender of the Year.He has seven caps and will join NYCFC after attending a Swedish winter camp in preparation for […]
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Busy United adds Mattocks and Brillant, re-signs Clark
The worst team in MLS last season has jumped right into the process of rebuilding for 2018. After leading the league with 20 losses and posting the poorest goal difference of minus-29,D.C. United has added Jamaican forward Darren Mattocks and French centerback Felix Brillant in trades, and negotiated a new deal for American goalkeeper Steve […]
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Preview: Burden of favorite is squarely on Toronto FC against Crew
The best team during the MLS regular season squares off with a beleaguered opponent to decide which of them will advance to the MLS Cup final as Eastern Conference representative as well as host. Thus can be described the second leg of the Toronto FC-Columbus Crew SC series to be staged Wednesday (Fox Sports 1, […]
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Grazie, Maestro: Andrea Pirlo announces his retirement
Andrea Pirlo‘s 22-year career came to an end on Sunday night. After having not played for more than a month, the Italian maestro came on for the final minute of New York City FC’s 2-0 win overColumbus Crew SC that was not enough to overturn the 4-1 loss at Columbus. Photo: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports […]
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Destined: Columbus has just enough to move into Eastern Conference final
First, Atlanta United. Now New York City FC. Columbus Crew SC has outlasted two of MLS”s biggest-spending clubs to move into the Eastern Conference final. After winning at Atlanta in ashootout, the Crew used its 4-1 edge from the first leg as just enough of a cushion to hold off No. 2 seed NYCFC in […]
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Refresh: New York City FC seeks 'belief and confidence' for game two
A scorer like David Villa, who has netted 23 goals so far this season and 64 in his MLS career, gives his team a chance in just about any circumstances, and in his impressiveaccomplishments lies the hopes of New York City FC in the second leg of the Eastern Conference semifinals series against Columbus Sunday (ESPN, […]
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Motivation: Crew SC re-purposes mission, playing (and winning) for its fans
Columbus Crew SC entered the MLS playoffs with enough going for it — a league-high 10-game unbeaten streak — that it didn’t need any extra motivation. Even after the shootout win atAtlanta United before 67,221 fans, Crew coach Gregg Berhalter said his players weren’t going to use owner Anthony Precourt’s flirtation with Austin as motivation, […]
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Crew SC's big night soured by ominous overtones
So much went right for Columbus Crew SC at Mapfre Stadium Tuesday night it’s hard to grasp just how wrong things have gone the last four years. The sale of the team and stadium byHunt Sports Group to Anthony Precourt‘s Precourt Sports Ventures for $68 million in 2013 was supposed to usher in a new […]
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Homecoming: No extra motivation needed for Crew SC for semifinal opener
Like the Houston-Portland series in the Western Conference, the Eastern semifinal series between New York City FC and Columbus that kicks off Tuesday (ESPN, MLS Live, 8 p.m.) at MAPFRE Stadiumfeatures teams with no trouble scoring goals against each other. The five meetings in the past two seasons have averaged exactly five goals per game. […]