We’re back with the first edition of Little Things in a while.
Jul 22, 2019
In the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals against NYCFC last week, Orlando City SC nearly blew it. They held a 1-0 lead at home, with a chance to squeak into the semifinals of a tournament that could be a boon for the playoff-less Lions. Simply playing important knockout games is enticing for a restless fanbase just waiting to get excited about something.
Jul 17, 2019
Wayne Rooney already has two highlight moments against Orlando City, but D.C. United's striker added to that list on Wednesday night, as United beat the Lions 1-0 at Audi Field. From his own half, Rooney scored the game's only goal in the 10th minute, scoring the first goal from beyond midfield since at least 2011 in MLS.
Jun 27, 2019
It's been 25 days since D.C. United kicked a ball in earnest in MLS play, but on Wednesday night, they will set off on the second half of their season by hosting Orlando City at Audi Field. It is the first time that Orlando will visit Buzzard Point since Luciano Acosta's last-gasp hat trick on a wild play from Wayne Rooney last August, a result that helped turn around United's season.
Jun 26, 2019
With Brad Friedel's firing on Wednesday, the bottom three teams in MLS so far this year have all made a change at the top since the calendar turned to May. The New England Revolution joined the Colorado Rapids and FC Cincinnati, who had relieved Anthony Hudson and Alan Koch over the past week, as all three teams have fallen well short of expectations so far in 2019.
May 10, 2019
After five midweek games, this weekend in MLS was one of the tamer bouts of action of the season so far. There was just one game in which both teams scored multiple goals, though that affair between Sporting Kansas City and the New England Revolution had just about everything. There could have been a couple of more goals this weekend, too, if not for glaring misses from Dom Dwyer and Christian Ramirez.
Apr 29, 2019
This weekend in MLS featured the Parley jerseys, made by adidas from recycled plastic. It's an interesting idea from the league, but it caused plenty of confusion for fans watching the games. This was the third year of the Parley jerseys, and for the second consecutive year every game featured the two different jerseys. That made it difficult to remember which team was which in any given game, as teams were sometimes wearing unfamiliar colors.
Apr 22, 2019
Five different players scored two goals in MLS this weekend, highlighted by a pair of goalkeeping gaffes, and ended on an unfortunate note on Sunday night. It was another weekend in which all 24 teams in MLS were in action and another weekend in which Los Angeles FC won. The April favorites to win Supporters Shield this year beat FC Cincinnati 2-0 on Saturday night to get to 19 points from seven games. Carlos Vela scored again, as Bob Bradley's side continues to impress week in and week out.
Apr 15, 2019
A weekend full of games in MLS once again produced plenty of goals, drama, and moments. With only Atlanta United and the Houston Dynamo off, the 11 games from Friday night to Sunday produced four penalty saves, a seven-goal thriller, and a blowout in what was supposed to be the game of the weekend.
Apr 8, 2019
In Sunday night's 2-1 win over Orlando City, D.C. United took advantage of set pieces in the first half, and then they defended deep in the second half to pick up their third win in four games in 2019. There was a moment of brilliance in the first half from Wayne Rooney, who scored from a free kick near the sideline. Then there were some nervy moments in the second half when United had to gut out their win while the Lions applied an avalanche of pressure.
Apr 4, 2019
D.C. United are back atop the Eastern Conference standings after Week Five in MLS, but not without having to deal with some adversity first in their 2-1 win over Orlando City. Steven Birnbaum and Wayne Rooney put United ahead on the road against Orlando City in the first half, while Joseph Mora had to leave the game after taking a knee to the face. The Lions applied tremendous pressure in the second half and became the first team to find a way past Bill Hamid this year.
Apr 1, 2019
After a week of blowouts, a high-flying debut, and some of the wackiest weather MLS has seen, let’s look at some Little Things from Week 5, including Alejandro Pozuelo and TFC, the Red Bulls’ loss at Chicago, and water soccer in Columbus.
Last night D.C. United and Wayne Rooney defeated Orlando City SC 2-1 in Orlando, Florida, the home of Disney World and alligators and, apparently, the kind of people who really love to not let a call go.
Blowouts, outstanding debuts, crazy weather, and ridiculous goals were all the rage this weekend in MLS, as all 24 teams were back in action after the international break. From Friday evening until Sunday night, there was plenty of drama to go around.
Survive and advance is the mantra in March for college basketball teams, as they navigate the NCAA Basketball Tournament. There won't be any advancing for D.C. United, but they did just enough to survive on Sunday night, beating Orlando City 2-1 in front of 22,481 fans in Orlando despite a second-half onslaught from the hosts. Wayne Rooney scored an outrageous goal in the first half, after assisting on Steven Birnbaum's opener.
