Put on your boots, because we’re about to wade into a mess
The race for the MLS playoffs is promising that Decision Day will be as bonkers as it ever has been.
The final day of the regular season is less than a month away, with 28 of the league’s 29 teams set for two breathless rounds of simultaneous kickoffs, one for each conference (sorry D.C. United, you’re just going to have to follow along at home).
There’s an old MLS truism that a team just needs to stay in touch until late August or so, and that if said team can start to heat up around Labor Day, you’re looking at a major threat coming from what on paper is a low playoff seed. Plenty of teams with multiple MLS Cups in their trophy case have at least one season where they followed this plan to a tee.
However, in 2023 it’s not so much about getting hot at the right time as simply ending up next to an empty seat during a poorly-played game of musical chairs. Seven teams have clinched their playoff berths already, and two more are simply abysmal.
That leaves 20 teams vying for 11 postseason spots in what is an extraordinarily forgiving set-up. The problem is that almost none of this group seems able to get a solid hold on their invite to the big dance.
Put on your boots, because we’re about to wade into a mess:
Lindsey Horan says that unequal training conditions in Portland were a part of her reason to pursue a move to Lyon.
Speaking on ESPN show Fútbol Americas, the U.S. women’s national team captain was asked why she sought to make her loan to the French champions permanent, a move that Horan sealed late last month.
Some of her answers weren’t a particular surprise. The 29-year-old cited a more measured, possession-oriented style of play that she has been vocal about preferring, and also brought up the unrivaled glamour of playing in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
However, per Horan, there was another, more prosaic reason: Lyon trains on grass, while her old club the Portland Thorns are on artificial turf.
“I think for me, also health-wise, physically, I wanted to be in a place where I could be training on grass every single day,” said Horan. “I think that’s a major component that is not seen as much in the NWSL and where certain teams are training, and especially in Portland. I would hate myself if I didn’t say that, because they deserve better as well.”
At Lyon, Horan trains at the Groupama OL Training Center, which features five grass fields. With the Thorns, training is generally held at their home stadium Providence Park on the same FieldTurf playing surface they use on gamedays. While Portland has occasionally trained elsewhere in Oregon, including a few days in Bend during preseason this year, they generally only get sessions on grass when they hit the road.
For Horan, there are two clear issues with this: basic player health, and a double standard at a club that contains both an NWSL side and the Portland Timbers of MLS.
Horan called the daily grind of being on turf a “huge deal,” adding that “it [does] a number on your body.”
“Every team that comes in and plays at Portland, you know that you feel it worse,” added Horan. “You go play 90 minutes there, and it’s so much harder in your body. And I don’t think a lot of people realize it, but it’s just a different kind of impact.”
As for the lack of equal treatment in Portland, Horan said the training situation is a clear manifestation of the issue. “You have to think about the women training there every single day. It’s just, it’s not good. So they need to have a facility for the women as well. How do the Timbers have it but the Thorns don’t?”
While the Thorns train at Providence Park, the Timbers have a dedicated facility in Beaverton that includes a grass field, a kitchen and commissary, a theater-style film room, and the club’s gym and treatment spaces.
The use of artificial turf has long been a pressure point in women’s soccer, with the issue coming to a head in 2015. FIFA approved multiple venues for that year’s World Cup that had turf surfaces, a development that many women’s players said would never happen in an elite men’s tournament. No men’s World Cup match has ever been played on an artificial surface.
The Thorns are in the process of being sold, a major part of the fallout from multiple investigations into misconduct and abuse around the NWSL. However, that sale process — announced in December 2022 — has not come with any public movement.
There are at least two good reasons to watch Atlanta United every week right now.
The Five Stripes demolished the Portland Timbers 5-1 on Saturday, with Caleb Wiley and Thiago Almada both putting on stellar performances.
First up was 18-year-old homegrown winger Wiley, who followed up last week’s brace with another goal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Yes, it took some help from Portland a) being caught with everyone in the Atlanta half following a set piece and b) for the retreating Timbers defenders to engage in some kind of Three Stooges routine by running into one another.
But nonetheless, Wiley made the smart run early, turning on the jets with the hope that someone would be able to find him. Almada is one of the very best players in MLS at finding someone, and from there Wiley just calmly dispatched with his breakaway, giving Aljaž Ivačič no chance to make a stop.
That brings us to Almada. The World Cup winner opened the season by scoring two ridiculous goals against the San Jose Earthquakes, and followed that up with an assist in each of Atlanta’s next two games. Pretty good, right? The performance of an active Argentine international in MLS.
Well, sadly for the Timbers, Almada decided to up the ante against them. He stood over a 32-yard free kick in the 47th minute, with Luiz Araújo the left-footed option to compliment him.
However, few people really believed anyone other than Almada was going to strike the ball. The odds are still long, even for a player of his level, but Almada is in incredible form at the moment.
The result? A shot into the furthest reaches of the far corner, kissing the post and setting off delirium at the Benz.
There’s not a lot Wiley or anyone else could do to top that, but the kid sure did try. With Portland stretched in the 59th minute, Wiley received a crossfield ball and served up an absolute dime of a cross for Giorgos Giakoumakis, with the new striker making no mistake to notch his first MLS goal.
Almada’s battle with Wiley continued tit-for-tat, much to the chagrin of the visitors. Atlanta made it 4-0 in the 75th minute, with Almada casually scooping the ball from midfield in behind for Araújo to finish things off. A big win was officially a rout.
Portland pulled one back, but Almada wouldn’t let them leave without one more highlight-reel moment. This time, the 21-year-old received a pass from Derrick Etienne Jr., spinning around Larrys Mabiala before passing the ball out of the reach of a helpless Ivačič.
These aren’t big names today, but they will be soon
MLS kicks off its 28th season on Saturday, and as befits a league that wants to be seen as growing, there’s a long list of fascinating new additions to the player pool.
There’s an element of the unknown with this year’s crop of newcomers. MLS’s winter additions don’t include any big-name European stars. Cristiano Ronaldo heard Sporting Kansas City out but still chose Al Nassr, while Inter Miami’s pursuit of Leo Messi remains a situation where Miami is interested, rather than the other way around. There’s not even a Gareth Bale equivalent at this point, though the summer window tends to be when those players arrive.
However, that’s not to say that MLS had a bad time in the transfer market. Teams are able to sign younger players from leagues that used to be fairly inaccessible. They may not have the global cache of a big name in their mid-30s, but we’re talking about the current Europa League assist leader, a top-tier European prospect under the age of 21, and strikers with very promising track records. Casuals may not know their names today, but they’re going to be a big deal in the coming months.
These are the 10 MLS newcomers to pay closest attention to:
“There was nothing that came out in the report that would have us think any differently”
Merritt Paulson may be under pressure from NWSL fans to sell the Portland Thorns, but MLS is not about to push him to sell the Portland Timbers.
Commissioner Don Garber, answering questions from reporters during his annual State of the League address ahead of MLS Cup, rejected the possibility that MLS could look into urging Paulson to sell his majority stake in the Timbers.
“We at this time don’t see any reason at all for Merritt to sell the Timbers,” said Garber when asked directly about whether the findings of the Yates investigation into misconduct in the NWSL had made MLS reconsider Paulson’s viability as an owner.
Supporters in Portland have been calling on Paulson’s Peregrine Sports, the corporate entity that actually holds his shares of the two clubs, to sell for months. The Yates investigation revealed that on Paulson’s watch, club employees gave positive recommendations for former coach Paul Riley when asked about his past by the North Carolina Courage. The Yates report also stated that Portland had “interfered with our access to relevant witnesses and raised specious legal arguments in an attempt to impede our use of relevant documents.”
The Timbers side of the organization also drew intense criticism for its handling of the domestic abuse allegations against former player Andy Polo, which included re-signing him despite knowing about the charges against him. In that matter, MLS fined Portland for failing to inform the league of the accusations in an expedient fashion.
Garber, however, gave a solid endorsement of Paulson’s moves since the news began to break in 2021, indicating that from MLS’s perspective, there is no need to pursue an enforced ownership change.
“Obviously, Merritt has very publicly acknowledged the mistakes that he and the organization has made. You know, he’s taken responsibility for those decisions that he’s made,” said Garber. “I think that the steps that he’s made, in terms of stepping aside and bringing in a new CEO, and the termination of two long-term employees — which we supported — were steps in the right direction. So, there was nothing that came out in the report that would have us think any differently from what I just stated there.”
The embattled owner has managed to produce a consensus across party lines
It’s hard to generate a strong consensus across the political spectrum these days, but Merritt Paulson seems to have done so in Oregon.
Paulson’s name came up during a debate on Wednesday night between Oregon’s three candidates for governor: Republican Christine Drazan, unaffiliated candidate Betsy Johnson and Democrat Tina Kotek.
The moderator asked all three a simple question: Should Paulson sell the Portland Thorns and Portland Timbers?
Each candidate produced an identical, one-word answer: yes.
Paulson has been under fire since the release of the Yates report, which showed among other things how the Thorns organization actually helped Paul Riley obtain another job in the NWSL, despite having been fired after a Thorns investigation into sexual misconduct.
The embattled owner took a step back from the clubs, but the chances of a sale are still unknown
Portland Thorns and Timbers owner Merritt Paulson has announced he is stepping down as CEO of both clubs amid the continuing fallout from the Yates investigation.
Paulson hinted at potentially selling the two teams but did not elaborate as pressure continues to grow on the under-fire owner.
The Yates investigation showed the Thorns organization actually helped Paul Riley obtain another job in the NWSL, despite having been fired after a Thorns investigation into sexual misconduct.
The report also showed that under Paulson’s watch, president of business Mike Golub — who has since been fired along with president of soccer Gavin Wilkinson — created “an atmosphere of disrespect and intimidation towards women and working mothers employed at the club over a span of 11 years.”
Though Golub and Wilkinson are gone, fans in Portland have continued to demand Paulson sell the team. The owner released a statement on Tuesday that hinted he may be heading in that direction, while also stepping down as CEO of the NWSL and MLS clubs.
“The Portland Thorns were created to be a beacon of what is possible in women’s sports. A successful team is built on trust, equality and accountability, and today I am holding myself accountable for not doing enough,” Paulson said.
Hinting at a possible sale, he added: “Looking ahead, our organization is at a crossroads, and the future is not necessarily a clear path. No matter what happens, ensuring the long-term health and success of the Portland Thorns is critical to me, as I know it is for our players and the community.
“Given the complexities involved on several levels, finalizing the correct path forward will take time. I love this organization as if it was part of my family, and to me, what is most important is getting it right.”
MLS was, even by MLS standards, completely bonkers Saturday night
Summer in MLS can be a rough time. You’re too far away from the real pressure of making or missing the playoffs, it’s hot and humid everywhere, teams are figuring it out after transfer window moves. It can feel very much like everyone’s biding their time for September and October.
Not August 6. MLS Madness™ took hold in nearly every corner of the country, with goals galore, teams scoring and conceding in the deepest depths of stoppage time, big-name stars scoring bangers, and everyone basically went bananas. It was a perfect advertisement for the league: fun, flawed, weird, and inexplicable.
For one thing, MLS broke a league record for goals scored in one night. Across 13 games Saturday night, teams combined for 57 goals, an average of well over four per game. The old record of 46 was left in the dust.
Record-Setting Saturday
In 13 @MLS matches played on Saturday, August 6, a total of 57 goals were scored.
The 57 goals scored are the most in a single day in the history of Major League Soccer, besting the previous record by 11 goals. pic.twitter.com/pyoPRt7pcv
The Portland Timbers visited Minnesota United for a Saturday afternoon MLS clash, and the two teams produced a wacky, weird, wonderful 4-4 draw.
Everyone knows MLS can be a deeply strange league, with fun goals and puzzling defending choices. Bizarre games are a regular occurrence—this isn’t MLS’s first 4-4 draw of the season—but it’s rare that a zany, madcap classic pops up on national TV.
However, Saturday on ABC, the Timbers and Loons provided exactly that. Nine yellow cards, eight goals, three equalizers, three lead changes, and no clarity for the packed middle tier of the Western Conference, which sees Portland (7th, 31 points) and four other teams sandwiched between third-placed Minnesota (35 points) and the Seattle Sounders, who sit 9th on 29.
Portland scored just 13 seconds into the match, with Sebastián Blanco finishing off a move that left Minnesota’s players looking like training cones.
And yet, they walked into the locker room down 3-1 after some wonderful work from Emanuel Reynoso (one assist, and involvement in all three goals) and Franco Fragapane (who scored one and added a bonkers heel flick that hit the post before Bongokuhle Hlongwane buried Minnesota’s second).
Naturally, that impressive comeback from the home side gave them a lead that lasted all of eight second-half minutes. Blanco scored in the 50th minute to bring the Timbers back to life, and by the 53rd minute it was 3-3 after Jaroslaw Niezgoda scored a goal that survived a lengthy VAR check.
Portland then surged back in front with this weird game’s weirdest goal. Blanco tried to slip a pass across the goalmouth from out wide, but even though he appeared to misplace that service, the ball somehow squirmed between Dayne St. Clair and the near post.
After 53 previous Timbers braces in MLS, Blanco hoped for credit for the club’s first-ever league hat trick, but the goal was credited as an own goal after clipping Kemar Lawrence on the way in.
There was still plenty of time for the game to take the oddity up to new levels, and Minnesota equalized through Luis Amarilla in the—you guessed it—69th minute.
St. Clair then redeemed himself for the fourth Portland goal with a spectacular save, and play remained wide open throughout the final minutes, with yellow cards piling up as the only defensive answer either team seemed to have was to foul as the other team sparked counter-attacks.
The rest of the weekend’s MLS games have a high bar to meet.
ThePostGame checks out the recent trends between the MLS Western Conference rivals Portland Timbers and L.A. Galaxy.
The Portland Timbers have had the Los Angeles Galaxy‘s number in recent meetings, including a 3-0 win in May. But this match is in Los Angeles, and the Galaxy have been tough at home coming off a loss, which is the case after getting blanked at Dallas last week.
The conflicting trends in this matchup make the action intriguing. Go to BetMGM for the most updated odds.
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Araújo
for 
Record-Setting Saturday
AMARILLA!!!