Skip to main content

Previewing MidWest USOC Maches

 It’s a beautiful spring day in the MidWest and there are two amazing US Open Cup games being played in St. Louis and KCK tonight. There are teams from MLS, USL League 1, and the National Premier Soccer League participating. It’s what makes this competition so amazing. 

Never could your men’s beer league hockey  team play against the Red Wings, nor your baseball club take on the Cardinals. I don’t mean to say Tulsa Athletic or Union Omaha are recreational league teams, they are not. Both have won big games to get here. 

In Kansas City, Kansas Sporting KC come into the game without a win in league play. They’ve gone 0-3-6 to start their season while scoring just 3 goals. Their opponent, Tulsa Athletic have already taken down USL Championship side FC Tulsa and won’t be intimidated to take on another Goliath squad. 

If I’m coaching Tulsa Athletic I’m high pressing the SKC defense and not letting Russell or Salloi get the edge on my wing backs or center backs. I’m probably sitting in a 5-3-2 with 8 guys staying back and sending my two forwards to chase, press, and attack. On the other side Sporting may be wise to not try and control possession. Let Tulsa have the ball and try to press then into turnovers and transition situations that favor you. 

Across the state of Missouri St. Louis City host their first US Open Cup game as members of Major League Soccer. Union Omaha who made a quarterfinal run in last years Open Cup went out at Sporting KC. 

Union Omaha took down USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive in the 2nd round. They’ve played big matches and they have a strong supporters base that will likely make the trip tonight. St. Louis and Coach Bradley Carnell won’t be overlooking the USL League One side as I just don’t think that’s in his DNA. Even a rotated squad will be expected to perform and most of the players will be looking to “earn their stripes” for the newest MLS club. 

Strategically Union Omaha should try to let City control possession to try and limit their high pressing capabilities. I would sit back and let City have the ball. For St Louis I would continue to do what has worked; High press, counter attack, and get the ball to dangerous spots. 

I wish I had time to preview all of the 3rd round games and I can promise I will be watching, but I wanted to at least talk about the games close to home! 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MLS Playoff Reviews to Date

 As usual life and obligations have slowed down my blogging. This time of the year there is a lot going on around my house, but I sneak in soccer when I can and blogs when I can. This year is the first year of expanded playoffs. I think playoffs are fun, they bring in crowds and revenue that the league needs.  My gripe against the expanded playoffs is simple: its waters down an already watered down regular season. To make the playoffs all you have to do is not be historically bad for a two month stretch. Hell SKC was historically bad for the first 11 games of the season and still hosted a playoff game and made it to the conference semi-finals. I'm just saying when there's 5,000 people at a San Jose-Chicago game on a beautiful May Saturday night, that's why. The games don't matter.  Also I'm a big fan of give me all of the soccer you can. However a February to December season is a bit much. In the name or revenue we now have this incredibly long season that means alm...
Post a Comment
Read more

MLS Cup

 Today marks the end of a season that started in February of this year with LAFC taking on the Columbus Crew. The original '96 Crew against the new giants of Los Angeles, the reigning MLS Cup Champions.  As much as I love a good romantic preview, there are no legacies on the line here. Carlos Vela has proven to be one of the most impactful signings in MLS history. The former MVP and MLS Cup Champ can just add to his legendary MLS status today. They are looking to be the first back-to-back MLS Cup Champions since the LA Galaxy of 2011-12.  On the other side Wilfred Nancy has proven himself to be a very good MLS coach, Darlington Nagbe has won it all twice with Portland and Atlanta United. Aidan Morris could use a moment in the spotlight as he tries to make a move to Europe to get back in the National Team conversation.  I am excited for this final, but I do think most of the major storylines of the year have been eliminated: FC Cincinnati the Supporters Shield winners...
Post a Comment
Read more

MLS Preview 1: Top of the Western Conference

 Welcome back for Season 2 of the League Soccer blog! Thank you to everyone who read, responded, reached out with kind words during last year. Year one was pretty amazing: I got to cover the 2nd ever St. Louis CITY SC game at CITY Park, I went to an I-70 Derby game in Kansas City, and got to cover MLS from what I hope was a unique perspective.  After years of watching and covering baseball, football, basketball and hockey I have learned what a challenge covering professional soccer is. There are way more moves every transfer window in soccer, then add in international competitions and cups and it can get away from you.  Last season was a phenomenal year of soccer in America. The Houston Dynamo won the US Open Cup, LAFC made the finals of MLS Cup and Concacaf Champions League, FC Cincinnati won the Supporters Shield, Messi took the league by storm winning the first ever Leagues Cup, newcomers St. Louis City SC finished first in the West and the Columbus Crew won MLS Cup. W...
Post a Comment
Read more