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The Red Bulls had a busier day than normal just two days ago, not only playing in their second preseason game out on their California trip against Austin FC, which they drew 3-3 but it was also reported that the club had signed Norwegian winger Dennis Gjengaar from Odds in the Eliteserien.

The move was made official today by the club but was originally reported by Kristian Holtan of TA Sport in Norway. According to Holtan on Wednesday, Gjengaar and Red Bull had agreed to a move to bring the pacy winger to New York. A couple of hours later Stian André de Wahl of Fotball.TV confirmed that Red Bull and Odds agreed on a transfer fee of 20 Million NOK (~$1.9M).

“We are very excited to add Dennis [Gjengaar] to our club. He is a promising young player with a great skill set and tremendous speed,” said Head of Sport Jochen Schneider. “Dennis is a great individual both on and off the field and we are looking forward to having him with us.” Gjengaar signs a four-year MLS contract through 2027 with an option for 2028 as a U-22 Initiative player.

Last season in the Eliteserien, Gjengaar had 2 goals and 2 assists for Odds as the club finished in 10th place last season in the league. If you go back to his debut season for Odds in 2022, Gjengaar scored 5 goals in the first 10 games of his career.

With Lewis Morgan currently coming back from major surgery in 2023 and only Wiki Carmona, Peter Stroud, and Roald Mitchell playing the “wide 10” role for Red Bull this preseason, Gjengaar has the opportunity to solidify his place in the XI right from the time he steps foot in the US.

One thing Gjengaar does bring to this team that they lacked mightily last season is his pace. Last season in the Eliteserien, Gjengaar was recorded as the fastest player in the league at 36.8 km/h (~23 Mph). The kid isn’t just speed.

Head coach Sandro Schwarz is excited about bringing in the new signing just before the season starts. “We are happy to have Dennis on our roster and add to the quality of our team. Dennis is a talented midfielder with great on-the-ball qualities and we are excited to have him at the club.”

As shown in the video below, Gjengaar can be clinical in front of goal, with those five goals in 10 games. Now he gets to play with the great Emil Forsberg who has been tearing it up this preseason with 2 goals & 3 assists.

Other Transfer Rumors Floating in the Air

Since the new year, Red Bull has lost depth pieces like Dru Yearwood, Omir Fernandez, Jorge Cabezas, Tom Barlow, and Hassan Ndam while also losing a key starter in Luquinhas. In replacing those players, Schneider had brought in Emil Forsberg, Noah Eile, Dennis Gjengaar, Aidan O’Connor, and Roald Mitchell. Are those enough players for a team that already lacked depth last season?

This won’t be the last move for Red Bull before the “primary” transfer window in MLS closes on April 23rd. There are rumors of one Red Bull II player getting a first-team deal before the season starts. The main player we could see get that deal is Panamanian U20 left-back Omar Valencia. The other is team MVP from 2023, attacking midfielder Ibrahim Kasule, who had 17 goals & 7 assists in 27 regular and postseason games.

There are also some rumblings that Red Bull is attempting to line up one more senior addition to the roster before the window closes in April, but it’s not a guarantee. Red Bull has two free senior spots open, while also having a DP slot & U22 slot unused heading into the 2024 season.

The position that Jochen Schneider is looking to add is unknown, but the two biggest holes I see right now on the roster after the Gjengaar signing would be in defensive midfield behind Frankie Amaya & Daniel Edelman and a second starting striker next to DP Dante Vanzeir. Which position do you see as the biggest need heading into the season?

Looking Forward…

Red Bull is set to host a team media day for media members next week, February 20th at Red Bull Arena that will include the likes of Emil Forsberg, John Tolkin, Dante Vanzeir, and many more.

The team is set to open the season on February 25th against Nashville SC at Geodis PArk. Kickoff is set for 5:00 P.M. EST.

For all your Red Bull news, follow Daniel Rebain on X or visit Area Sports Network

The post OFFICIAL: Red Bull Signs 19-Year-Old Winger Dennis Gjengaar From the Norwegian First Division appeared first on Area Sports Network.

De la Vega was announced as Seattle’s newest Designated Player on January 24, and though fans haven’t seen him in a match yet, he is in training with the First Team during the club’s preseason trip to Marbella. The Argentinian winger said in his introductory press conference, “I have high expectations about my performance here, but the first thing I want to do is to get into the preseason, get to spend time with my teammates, and learn from them, play with them”. 

There is a question mark on both wings for Brian Schmetzer, so it’ll be integral that de la Vega starts his Sounders career on a high note. The current Sounders winger slots, to the best of our knowledge, are occupied by Léo Chú and Cristian Roldan. Those two started the Sounders’ friendly against IFK Norrköping, but de la Vega will ostensibly occupy one of those two places on opening day, and whether Chú is relegated back to the bench or Roldan is pushed centrally is the question for Schmetzer to answer.

Sounders play first friendlies in Spain

While in Spain, the Sounders began gearing up for the MLS season with a series of friendlies. Right now, they’ve got three under their belt: the first two a 3-2 victory over FK TSC Bačka on Jan. 31 and a 3-0 victory over IFK Norrköping on Feb. 4. Léo Chú, Albert Rusnák and Dylan Teves scored against Norrköping, while Georgi Minougou, Teves and Rusnák scored against Bačka. Both matches were extended games — the first a pair of 60-minute matches with a squad change at the break while the next was split into three 45-minute periods with a line change around the 70 minute mark. The third, a pair of losses (3-0 and 2-1) to Odense BK, show that they still have more to do (although Odense is currently in mid-season form, in the Danish Superliga).

Seattle has one more friendly scheduled: against USL side Sacramento Republic in Seattle on Feb. 17 at 10:00 A.M. It’s not yet clear if the match will be open to the public, but it could be streamed on Facebook Live, where the Spain friendlies were broadcast.

Danny Musovski Addition

While the Sounders squad was in Spain, General Manager Craig Waibel and Schmetzer added another forward to the squad: former LAFC and Real Salt Lake attacker Danny Musovski. He’s 28 years old and joins on a one-year deal with a team option for the 2026 season (which means that the club can decide whether to retain him for a second year).

Last year’s options behind DP forward Raúl Ruidíaz included free agent signing Héber (no longer with the club) and Fredy Montero, whose contract situation is up in the air. Musovski adds a veteran, MLS-experienced alternative to Ruidíaz and Jordan Morris up top, and will likely get rotation starts in the midst of Leagues Cup action. Brian Schmetzer called Musovski, “a player with a good attacking skill set” — and he’s got multiple seasons of MLS experience.

Musovski featured for the club in its friendly against Norrköping — he was substituted on during the third period — and played next to Ruidíaz for a time, getting in behind and nearly getting on the end of a cutback chance from Georgi Minougou. Just how important he’ll be is still up for debate, but there’s no question that he could make an impact moving forward.

Longacres Unveiled

On Feb. 13, the Sounders welcomed media to their new training facility at Longacres. Situated just across the freeway from Starfire Sports, their complex since entering MLS, Area Sports Network’s Niko Antoun toured the facility.

Tacoma Defiance announce new head coach

After Wade Webber left the Defiance to become Seattle’s Director of Development following the 2023 season, a head coaching search began. That question was answered on Feb. 6, when Hervé Diese was announced as the newest manager of the Sounders’ MLS NEXT Pro affiliate. 

Hervé Diese, who spent 2023 as an assistant at CF Montreal, said in a press release on Tuesday, “I’m excited to start my next coaching journey with Tacoma Defiance and join an incredible organization… Coaching in MLS NEXT Pro requires a dual focus – not only to win games, but also to develop young players to eventually play for the First Team. Knowing the level of success that this organization expects, I welcome the challenge ahead and will hold myself to a high standard.”

The Defiance made a run to the Western Conference semifinal last season, losing out to Austin FC II at Starfire Stadium after finishing top of their division in the regular season.

Feature photo by Elisabeth Adams / Area Sports Network

Published by Owen Murray, Edited by Niko Antoun

The post Sounders Need-to-Know: Unveiling Longacres, Pedro de la Vega, and more appeared first on Area Sports Network.

Tomás Romero has been around in Major League Soccer for quite a some time; Romero started in 24 games for both Los Angeles Football Club and Toronto FC. During his time in Toronto, he started a total of six matches.  So far, his best season in MLS was in 2021, when Romero appeared in 18 games for LAFC.

Romero was to be part of the 2022 LAFC MLS Cup run in 2022, where the black and gold conquered the Supporters Shield and the MLS Cup, defeating the Philadelphia Union in a thriller that ended in a penalty shootout.

Before his MLS debut, Tomas played for Georgetown University, winning the 2019 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship. At 23 years old, he knows what is like to win trophies at every level he has been in.

Tomás Romero made a huge impact when he decided to represent El Salvador. He was first discovered in 2017, but under former ES Head coach Hugo Perez, Romero earned the trust and the privilege to secure a spot with the national team. Romero is part of the select club of US-born players with Salvadoran roots to be called up to represent the nation. Since his debut, Romero represented El Salvador in 18 matches, which include: international friendlies, Gold Cup, and CONCACAF Nations League.

For the New Jersey native, he understands the responsibility and resilience this challenge means “New York City FC is an amazing club, and I’m excited to provide my talents and help the team any way I can.” Romero said. “I want to establish myself in the team. A big part of coming to a new club is that you need to gain the respect of your teammates. Luckily, I know a lot of the players on the team, having grown up playing with them.

Romero will undoubtedly fight for a spot to contribute to the team. During his time in Toronto and Los Angeles, he served as a back-up Goalkeeper. Playing time will be a plus for the upcoming CONCACAF World Cup qualifying round this year. He is with the team at Coachella Invitational. MLS teams are getting ready and prepared for the start of the new season at the end of February.

The post Tomás Romero Chooses Blue in New York appeared first on Area Sports Network.

Leagues Cup 2024 will run through July 26th and August 25th . In 2023, it was Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF that took home the crown and won the first edition of the competition. 

The Colorado Rapids have been drawn to group five in the Western Region. This year the tournament will introduce a tiered Leagues Cup Ranking system that is solely based off of MLS and LIGA MX performance on points in the regular season matches. 

Last year in 2023 the Colorado Rapids did not make it out of their group after taking a road defeat against Nashville and a home defeat against Toluca. 

The format of the competition stays the same with a win being 3 points, nothing for a loss, and 1 point for a tie. If a game ends in a tie it goes directly to penalty kicks with the winning team winning an additional point. 

The Colorado Rapids have a different look this season going into the Leagues Cup with a new head coach at the wheel, Chris Armas. New inbound transfers to bolster the defense, midfield, and attack are here for Chris to utilize and build an identity for Colorado in this competition. After missing out on the knockout rounds last year, it would be a shame for the club to miss out on it two years in a row. With the competitive nature and hunger to win games at the helm for the club, the Rapids are looking to do serious business this year. Keep a lookout for them throughout the season if they will have the momentum to do good in this tournament.

The post Colorado Rapids Leagues Cup 2024 Group Stage Announced; Club Leon and Portland Timbers appeared first on Area Sports Network.

The 2024 preseason kicked off with an exciting fixture, witnessing Orlando City squaring off against the Brazilian powerhouse Flamengo, a team renowned both in Brazil and globally. Flamengo’s squad boasts high-caliber players such as central defender David Luiz, a former Chelsea and Brazil World Cup team member, Gabi with his stint at Inter Milan, Arrascaeta of the Uruguay national team, and helmed by the esteemed coach Tite, former Brazil national team manager. This match garnered particular interest in Orlando City, owing to the substantial Brazilian community present in the area.

Under the strategic leadership of coach Oscar Pareja, Orlando City fielded a strong starting eleven, incorporating recent signings like the eminent MLS player Nicolas Lodeiro and the promising draft pick Jeorgio Kocevski from Syracuse University. Kocevski, making his professional debut, displayed commendable poise against the formidable Brazilian side.

Orlando City’s lineup showed remarkable cohesion and skill:

• Goalkeeper Gallese commanded the goal area with authority.
• Defenders Rodrigo and Jansson were proactive, effectively intercepting and neutralizing threats.
• Midfielders Facundo and Angulo were dynamic, creating scoring opportunities with their speed and agility.
• Forward Duncan proved a significant challenge for Flamengo’s defense, he was close to score two goals.
• Full-backs Dagur and Santos not only defended stoutly but also contributed to the attack with their dangerous crosses.
• Nicolas Lodeiro orchestrated the gameplay, reminiscent of his impactful performances at Seattle Sounders.

Orlando City demonstrated why they are considered contenders for the 2024 MLS Cup. Despite Flamengo scoring first, Orlando relentlessly attacked, led by their star player Ivan Angulo and complemented by Lodeiro’s creativity. Lodeiro, in particular, played an exceptional game, narrowly missing a goal and constantly facilitating dangerous plays. Facundo Torres expertly exploited spaces to challenge the South American defense. The first half concluded in a 1-1 draw.

In the second half, coach Oscar Pareja, true to his belief that “there are no friendlies at a professional level,” initially retained his starting lineup. Subsequent changes brought fresh energy to the field. Felipe Martins notably became a pivotal figure in the midfield, surrounded by a cadre of academy and youth players like Wilfredo Rivero, Michael Halliday, Thomas Williams, Taifi, Lynn, and Shakur, who troubled the Brazilian defense with his speed and skill.

Kyle Smith, though not the most technical player, displayed versatility and resilience, initially playing as a right back before transitioning to midfield.

The match, ending in a 1-1 draw, left a positive impression for Orlando City’s prospects in 2024. The team is scheduled for a preseason week in Cancun, Mexico, as they continue their preparations for the upcoming season.

The post Orlando City Elevates Major League Soccer’s Prestige with Stellar Performance appeared first on Area Sports Network.

Yes, Time flies by fast, and it is time to recap their first week of pre-season.

Soon after their game in San Salvador, Inter Miami wasted no time. The Herons left El Salvador hours after the match to prepare for their second game at the Cotton Bowl last Monday. It meant something special for Dallas since this was their first game played at the Bowl in 15 years. The team coached by Gerardo Martino held an unpleasant result once again after a tie with El Salvador and another tie vs. Dallas.

Unlike the first game in El Salvador with a Cuscatlán Stadium near full capacity, the game kicked off with poor attendance; a cold rainy day prevented people from showing up on time. As the game progressed, attendance started to become more noticeable. Regardless of the weather conditions, people responded to the Messi effect.

It is undeniable that Messi and Suarez still have that intact connection when making plays and getting the ball to the rival zone. However, the gap of 10 games without knowing the victory generates all kinds of speculation, criticism, and questions about how the team will perform at the edge of the next campaign in just less than a month.

It did not take a little bit of time to upset the team. Jesus Ferrera, the crucial player for FC Dallas, delivered the first knockout blow in the first 3 minutes of the game. The impressive performance on the defensive side left Miami with few options and opportunities to equalize; we must mention the remarkable performance of Maarten Paes, denying Suarez’s efforts to score.

Once again, Gerardo Martino did the same formula, substituting Messi and Suarez in the 63rd minute of the game to give minutes to other team players. At the same time, Jesus Ferrera left the field due to an apparent injury.

With the absences of Benjamin Cresmaschi (Hernia) and Facundo Farias (ACL), it will likely take time for Messi and the rest of the team to acclimate to the new changes and find the result during this preseason. The chemistry and the formula are there, but it is just a matter of finding the equation to get a good result. The new additions of Nicholas Freire, Luis Suarez, and Julian Gressel hope to contribute to the club’s success this year.

Inter Miami held training sessions in Miami, FL, and flew to Saudi Arabia last Thursday, Jan 25. The club continues to hold training sessions for their next match-up vs. Al-Hilal on Jan 29 and the last dance between Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 1^st.

The post Inter Miami CF falling short in their First Week of Pre-season. appeared first on Area Sports Network.

July 27, 2016 – Nicolás Lodeiro Signs For Seattle

The Sounders were in a state of crisis, sitting second-from-bottom in the Western Conference. The late Head Coach Sigi Schmid had just ended his eight-year tenure at the Sounders after a demoralizing loss against Sporting Kansas City. In spite of the team’s mid-season situation, Schmid left his position at the club with nothing but respect, love, and gratitude from the community, ending his Sounders career with five major trophies to show. However, the club was searching for a reviving spark to save the season, and the following day proved to be the most crucial day of the season. July 27 was the day Nicolás Lodeiro was announced as a designated player signing, and the rest is history. The 27-year-old Lodeiro, arriving from Boca Juniors, took on a multi-year designated-player contract, coming to Seattle with high hopes and ready to make an impact.

2016 – A New Hope

Brian Schmetzer, as an internal promotion to interim head coach, took charge with immediate effect. Schmetzer did not wait nor hesitate to start Nicolás Lodeiro, where both shared their respective debuts on July 31st against the LA Galaxy. Though the result ended in a 1-1 draw, the squad immediately looked refreshed and a promisingly different side. Lodeiro would open his Sounders scoring account with a one-touch curling banger on August 15 against Real Salt Lake. Lodeiro’s signature goal celebration was also introduced to Seattle on this day, as the team joined Lodeiro in the moment when he took off his boot to call for his late father. 

Under the fresh Lodeiro-Schmetzer reign, a hot streak for the Sounders followed, picking up eight wins and losing only twice for the remainder of the season. By the conclusion of MLS Week 34, the team had come back from ninth place in the West to finish fourth, securing a playoff berth. Sounders supporters, at this point, could only dare to dream.

The Sounders entered the playoffs with 25-1 odds to win MLS Cup (per Bleacher Report), and after eliminating Sporting Kansas City with a late 1-0 victory courtesy of Nelson Valdez, Lodeiro shined the brightest against FC Dallas. Given the two-legged playoff format, Nico scored a brace in the home first leg, taking a 3-0 advantage into Dallas. The away meeting finished with a 2-1 loss, with Lodeiro scoring the one goal to keep the Rave Green clear of Dallas, prevailing to the Western Conference Final 4-2 on aggregate. Lodeiro would come in as clutch once again against Colorado after converting a penalty, and after an intense, competitive game.

Lodeiro, alongside many other notable Sounders, etched themselves in Sounders history after defeating Toronto on penalties in MLS Cup, defying the odds and marking the first MLS Cup championship for the club. While many may describe the cup final as an ‘ugly’ or ‘lucky’ victory for Seattle, the Sounders grinded over 120 minutes of constant Toronto pressure. Most notably in active play, Stefan Frei’s famous save, deemed ‘The Save’, still haunts Toronto supporters’ hearts to this very day. There is no such thing as an unlucky champion, however, and a pin-perfect top-corner penalty in the team’s shootout set up Román Torres to seal the championship.

2017 – Return to MLS Cup

The Sounders started their first title defense, looking to reignite championship form. After struggling to find positive results for the first eleven games, the Sounders found their familiar winning ways to finish the regular season tied for first place in the West. Though the club had a greater goal differential than the first-place Timbers, the Sounders barely missed out on the top spot by games won—an MLS quirk, where the league does not prioritize goal differential for tie breakers.

Alongside the strong regular season, Nicolás Lodeiro, in his first full season as a Sounder, crushed expectations in his usual fashion. Lodeiro started 33 times in the regular season and played 2,695 minutes—the most minutes out of any Sounders player that year. Lodeiro also finished the regular season with seven goals and one assist, one short of the season club record of 12 assists. One of the most notable games on Lodeiro’s record was the iconic comeback against the New England Revolution, where Nico found a goal and an assist to complete the three-goal comeback. Leading the team to a consecutive MLS Cup Final, Lodeiro played every possible minute in the playoffs. A rematch of the preceding final was set in Toronto, and the Sounders tried to play a similar game plan against the famously strong Toronto FC. The Sounders managed to keep Toronto scoreless around midway through the second half, and by the final whistle, the Rave Green came short of a second cup.

2018 – A Promising Season Ending Prematurely

Lodeiro’s second full season in the Rave Green was another classic, setting the club’s single-season record of 16 assists and becoming the Sounders all-time assist leader. The Sounders were, again, having a slow start at the beginning, though they managed to complete the turnaround in time to complete another strong regular season, placing second in the Western Conference by its conclusion. The depths of the 2019 regular season included a 12-game unbeaten run from the Sounders, which found Lodeiro increasing his goal and assist counts by four and six, respectively. During the regular season, a top Nico performance came during the 5-0 home victory against the LA Galaxy. Lodeiro earned two assists against the Galaxy but had the potential to double his actual assist count.

Lodeiro’s most-notable match of 2018 came against Houston, where he earned a hat-trick of assists on the road. Another major performance came on that heartbreaking playoff evening against Portland, falling to a penalty shootout in the Western Conference Semifinal. However, Lodeiro’s proficiency at scoring penalties saved the Sounders from falling in extra time. Ultimately, 2018 saw a devastating end to the season, such that the failure to eliminate the Timbers, the Sounders’ arch enemy, from the playoffs was unnerving for everyone involved at the club. Arguably, that playoff night against the Timbers fueled the squad for the next season.

2019 – Two Stars

mmediately from opening day, the Sounders started 2019 with no mercy for their opponents. The team scored 11 goals and logged four wins in their first five matches, finishing the other as a stalemate. Lodeiro had another productive season with 12 assists while netting 8 goals in the regular season. The Sounders, yet again, finished second in the Western Conference at 56 points. Despite struggling to find consistency in the final third of the regular   season, the squad found championship form at the perfect time, just before the playoffs.

The 2019 playoff run is among one of the most famous time periods in Sounders history, and for obvious reasons. Lodeiro was, at the very least, in one of the best forms of his career during this time. Nico scored two goals and earned five assists during the playoffs, truly displaying why he became an icon of Sounders history. Arguably, Lodeiro’s best performance came in the Western Conference Final LAFC, who were the strong favorites to take the trophy home. Lodeiro contributed to one of the greatest upsets in MLS history on this night, securing a 3-1 away victory by contributing to all three goals, namely one goal and two assists. The victory was the birth of the “Feeling Better Than Bob” meme amongst the Sounders community, and most importantly, the Sounders set up an MLS Cup Final on home turf.

Another MLS Cup rematch was set against Toronto FC, with the obvious difference being that the third time around was set at a sold-out CenturyLink Field. After a scoreless first half, Lodeiro put on a show for nearly 70,000 fans—excluding the traveling Toronto supporters, of course. Between Leerdam’s opening goal and Raúl Ruidíaz’s stoppage time dagger, Lodeiro assisted the second goal of the game, setting up Victor Rodríguez with a perfectly executed one-touch pass. Through Lodeiro’s leadership and experience, the Sounders team looked like a different finalist compared to the previous two championship games in Toronto. On this day, Lodeiro became the first Sounder to lift the MLS Cup at home, and celebrations ensued around the Puget Sound for a second time in three years.

2020 – A Unique Season, With Another Return to MLS Cup

Given the nature of 2020, the second title defense for the Seattle Sounders took a bizarre turn when the COVID-19 pandemic put all professional sports leagues on hold. Though Lodeiro missed the opening two games of the season before the lockdown, he went on to start in all 20 of his appearances when the regular season resumed four months later. Going from a packed Lumen Field to an empty atmosphere, Lodeiro did not allow the change of environment to affect his performances. Alongside scoring seven goals, Lodeiro tied for first place in the assist leaderboards, making 10 assists in 2020. In addition to his productive performances, Nico scored a brace and made multiple game-winning assists.

Lodeiro was among the individuals who stepped up in the Sounders’ unbelievable comeback victory in the Western Conference Final against Minnesota United, assisting Ruidíaz’s equalizer and Svensson’s winning goal. Once again, the Sounders booked a fourth MLS Cup Final appearance, but not against Toronto. The third-seeded Columbus Crew battled their way to their first MLS Cup Final since 2008, scraping past the sixth, seventh, and eighth-seeded teams. Despite the Sounders being second-seed in the West, the Crew had a higher Supporters’ Shield standing, and thus the championship match was set at Mapfre Stadium. In front of a pandemic-restricted crowd of 1,500, expectations and morale were high for the Sounders, coming off that legendary comeback against Minnesota. However, the 2020 MLS Cup Final became a day to forget for everyone wearing Rave Green, where the Sounders could not get a foothold in the game and put on an embarrassing display, losing 3-0 to the hosts. While disappointing was a massive understatement for the result, the supporters and club felt a strong sense of pride for all the Sounders had accomplished since Lodeiro arrived.  

2021 – Knee Injury Keeps Lodeiro Sidelined for Majority of Season

When the 2021 season rolled around, there started to exist some sense of normality in society, where supporters were slowly being integrated back into Lumen Field. Misfortune struck Nicolás Lodeiro when he suffered a knee injury, forcing him out for the majority of the year and requiring knee surgery. Following rehabilitation, Lodeiro re-aggravated the same knee injury during team training, forcing him out for an extended period of time. Lodeiro only made nine appearances for the team, making one assist earlier in the season. The Sounders squad had to learn and adjust without their captain if they wanted to succeed in the 2021 campaign. Luckily, João Paulo, who had recently been signed on a permanent deal, was found to be the solution for the majority of the season, working as the engine of the team’s midfield.

In the late summer, the Sounders looked serious about finishing the season strong. It was also around this time when Lodeiro underwent a second successful knee surgery, namely a right knee arthroscopy. Despite Lodeiro’s absence, the Sounders went on a five-match unbeaten run in all competitions, including the famous 6-2 road victory in Portland. Though, after the month of September and a painfully close loss in the Leagues Cup Final, it seemed the squad started to miss Lodeiro’s starting presence. The Sounders failed to win their final six games in the regular season, where the 4-1 early-October home victory against Vancouver would end up being the last win of 2021. The fear of hitting championship form too early was alarming to the Sounders supporters, and was not unwarranted. The Sounders missed out on first place in the Western Conference on Decision Day, after drawing the last game, and would go on to suffer a home Round One exit via a penalty shootout. Lodeiro was able to make a small handful of substitution appearances in the final stretch of the regular season, as well as appearing as an extra-time substitute in the playoff game. However, Schmetzer was easing Nico back into play cautiously during this time, as reaggravating his knee injury would be detrimental in the long term.

2022 – A Bittersweet Year of Immortality

The Sounders began 2022 with an immediate CONCACAF Champions League campaign, kicking off ten days before starting MLS play. Starting in both legs against Hondouran side Motagua, Lodeiro saw 60 minutes in each game. After dominating Motagua in the second leg, Lodeiro sat out of both legs against Club Leon—a rematch of the 2021 Leagues Cup Final. The club found themselves in the semifinal round against New York City FC, and Lodeiro started to find consistency again, starting and playing most of the first leg and playing the entire second leg. Nico, at this point, looked restored and finally bounced back from his knee injury saga.

The CONCACAF Champions League Final was set against Pumas UNAM, with the Sounders looking to become the first MLS side to win the competition. The Sounders rightfully anticipated the amount of pressure coming in the first leg in Mexico, and after going down by two goals by the 50th minute, the morale was seemingly low. Lodeiro played an integral role in the Sounders’ Champions League success. In Mexico, Lodeiro did not back down as the team captain and stepped up when the team was given a 77th-minute lifeline penalty. Converting the penalty, the Sounders kept up the momentum to level terms for the second leg. In the dying moments of the first leg, after a stressful VAR check, Lodeiro was given the chance to score a brace through another penalty. Under the immense pressure of setting the tone for the second leg, Lodeiro kept his composure and banged in the equalizing penalty to reset the aggregate score.

Scenes similar to MLS Cup 2019 were back at Lumen Field, where almost 70,000 fans packed the stands. The Pumas away support was also strong and loud, filling up their entire third-level area in the stadium. Thanks to the contributions of Lodeiro in the first leg, a home win was the only requirement to take home the Champions League trophy. After Ruidíaz put Seattle in the driver’s seat before halftime, Pumas responded with a series of intervals of immense pressure on the Sounders defense, eventually becoming desperate for the equalizer. In the final ten minutes, with the Sounders looking to edge out Pumas at the time, an unmarked Lodeiro snuck onto the top of the penalty box to deliver a slick no-look ground delivery to Ruidíaz, assisting him to double the lead. 

As the clock ticked closer to the final whistle, Lodeiro found more glory by scoring the third, concluding goal of the final by a Jordan Morris shot rebound off the post. Lodeiro ripped off his shirt, celebrating with the supporters knowing the Champions League Final is unanimously in the Sounders’ clutches. When the final whistle sounded, Nico Lodeiro was officially set to become the first MLS captain to lift the CONCACAF Champions League trophy. Lodeiro was also presented with the tournament’s fair play award, eventually being named to the competition’s team of the tournament.

Returning to full focus of the MLS regular season and following a solid run in form in the league, the direction of results would turn 2022 into a vastly bittersweet year for the Sounders. The struggle for results seemingly began after the home loss to Portland, where a majority of the following games would be one-goal losses. Lodeiro, also around this time, began to show signs of declining. The string of losses meant the Sounders would be missing the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in club history, marking a dark outlying MLS season for the franchise by finishing 11th in the West. Though the team’s performance was not a contributing factor, Lodeiro still managed to remain a top-performing player for the team by scoring seven goals and making 11 assists. On the final day, Nico scored a brace as well as the second-fastest goal in club history.

2023 – Lodeiro’s Final Season in Seattle

Lodeiro’s contract was set to expire by the end of the 2023 season, and it was not a lofty belief to think Nico would, down the road, retire as a Sounder following a contract renewal. The 2023 season did mark a decline in Lodeiro’s attacking performances, where out of 33 regular season games, he scored one goal, that through a penalty. Lodeiro was still a productive playmaker, however, maintaining an 80.1% passing accuracy and making 10 assists, along with one additional assist in the playoffs. The 2023 Sounders team notoriously struggled to score goals compared to other MLS sides, and would often rely on their exceptional defense to maintain leads in games. Throughout the season, Lodeiro was an inspiring veteran player to every player in the locker room, notably keeping his teammates’ heads held high after losses. Despite maintaining a high position in the league table, a slump in the summer raised alarms within the Sounders team, meaning changes had to be made. Following the Leagues Cup failure, Lodeiro surrendered his captaincy status in the greater interest of the team when he had a conversation with Schmetzer, the main purpose being a refresh for the squad. Captain or not, the contributions of Nico’s leadership as a veteran player helped the Sounders finish back in second place in a highly competitive Western Conference.

After the final home game of the regular season, Lodeiro announced on social media that 2023 would be his final season in the Rave Green, thus not renewing his expiring contract. Prior to his announcement that night, during the fan appreciation segment, Lodeiro seemed to be giving a final goodbye to the Sounders supporters, alongside his son, who reasonably couldn’t hold back his tears. Lodeiro was later seen hanging around the stadium, appearing like a man who was truly immersing himself in deep thought.

Going into the playoffs, Schmetzer took a similar approach to starting lineups by keeping changes minimal between games. Consequently, since Lodeiro started two out of the final five regular season games, he found himself as a substitute for all four playoff games. The Western Conference Semifinal against LAFC would end up being Lodeiro’s final game for the Sounders, as he was a 57th-minute substitute since the team fell out of the playoff picture following a close and controversial 1-0 home loss. 

2024 and Beyond – Lodeiro’s Sounders Legacy Ends and Stays in MLS, Signing for Orlando City

Lodeiro ended his Sounders career as the fifth-highest goal scorer and top assister in the Sounders MLS era, as well as a player proud of the accomplishments and legacy he leaves at the city. Friendship has always been Lodeiro’s priority, cherishing friendship over silverware and fame.

On January 4, 2024, Orlando City FC announced the signing of Nicolás Lodeiro on a one-year deal with a club option for 2025, truly marking a new chapter for the Sounders alongside the club’s 50th anniversary rebrand. Unlike former Sounders such as Clint Dempsey and Chad Marshall, and the reception Megan Rapinoe received for the Reign, Lodeiro never received a tribute on a similar level. Likely due to the window of opportunity to hold a stadium tribute, the Sounders instead, on social media, presented sentimental videos reflecting on Nico’s Sounders career with his commentary and thoughts. A picture was also taken of Lodeiro with all seven major trophies he lifted for the club—a photo that sums up his time in Seattle.

With respect to the gargantuan impact Nicolás Lodeiro made on the Sounders since his arrival, Lodeiro deserved a better end to his Sounders career, alongside a larger tribute from the club to account for at least a fraction of the glory he brought to Seattle. Seattle is not set to play Orlando at Lumen Field in 2024, and therefore, unless the stars align in 2025 or an unlikely non-MLS home fixture in 2024, a fitting tribute will have to wait for the Sounders legend in the best-case scenario. Meanwhile, Lodeiro and the Sounders diverge onto separate paths and turn towards a new chapter of independent challenges. No matter the circumstances in the future, Lodeiro’s legacy transformed the Sounders into a titan of the league, becoming the royal gold standard of Sounders success.

Cover Photo by Aimee Worthington / Area Sports Network (Edited by Niko Antoun)

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Miami has captured the attention of the entire United States as soccer fervor takes center stage. The anticipation is palpable as Messi, alongside his former FC Barcelona comrades – Busquets, Alba, and Suarez – gear up for the upcoming 2024 season, carrying the weighty expectation of clinching prestigious trophies.

Beyond the pitch, the soccer buzz extends off-field, and yesterday, the vibrant city of Miami played host to the eagerly awaited media day. This event serves as a nexus for the league’s premier players and journalists from various media outlets covering the MLS. It provided a platform for reporters to glean insights into the aspirations and plans for the impending 2024 season. The stage was set for an engaging exchange of ideas and expectations.

Among the luminaries present at yesterday’s media day were the following noteworthy players, whose names resonated with fans and journalists alike:

MLS 2024 Media Day – Media Roundtable Schedule* 

The unanimous sentiment echoed through the ranks is that the league is experiencing robust growth, firmly on the path of progress. It’s evident in the daily strides, witnessing various corners of the globe gradually unravel the layers of Major League Soccer, gaining a deeper appreciation for the beautiful game.

2023 MVP Luciano Acosta spoke to the media outlets.
A lot of soccer fans want to know about his American citizenship, and his eagerness to step onto the pitch and represent the national squad USMNT. However, the amusing twist occurred when, amidst banter, he momentarily blanked on his mother tongue, Spanish.

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January 5, 2024 (CINCINNATI, OH) – Corey Baird, former Houston Dynamo forward, is finalizing a deal with FC Cincinnati, sources close to the deal confirm with Area Sports Network. This comes after Wednesday’s news that FC Cincinnati was finalizing a deal for the transfer of forward Brandon Vazquez to Liga MX side CF Monterrey. No additional details on Baird’s contract are available at the time of writing.

Corey Baird won the 2023 US Open Cup with Houston last year, his first trophy as a professional. Baird joined Real Salt Lake from Stanford in 2018, earning the Rookie of the Year honors that season. He’d go on to spend half of 2021 with Los Angeles FC before being traded to Houston where he’s played until now. Baird, 27, has 183 appearances with the three MLS clubs across 6 seasons, scoring 35 goals and assisting 28 across all competitions. In 2023, Baird scored 14 goals and assisted 8 across all competitions (48 matches) for the Houston Dynamo.

Baird joins a FC Cincinnati forward group led by Designated Player Aaron Boupendza, along with Arquimides Ordoñez and Sergio Santos.

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January 5, 2024 (CINCINNATI, OH) – FC Cincinnati had three players called-up to the US Men’s National Team roster, tied-best with in-state rivals Columbus Crew for most on the 25 man roster for January’s friendly in San Antonio against Slovenia.

Goalkeeper Roman Celentano gets a second consecutive January camp call-up to the USMNT alongside fellow MLS goalkeepers Drake Callender (Inter Miami CF) and Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew). None of the three goalkeepers have earned a cap on the USMNT.

Ian Murphy gets his first USMNT call-up this window after breaking out with FC Cincinnati in the second half of the 2023 season. He, alongside Celentano, are two of 15 players on the USMNT roster this January that have yet to earn a cap.

Newly signed defender Miles Robinson also gets the call-up to the USMNT, his 27 caps the most on the roster this time around. Robinson signed a 1-year contract with FC Cincinnati two days prior to the call-up announcement.

The US Men’s National Team plays Slovenia in San Antonio on January 20th. Coverage of the match starts at 3 p.m. EST on TNT, Telemundo, Universe, MAX, and Peacock.

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