Across the pond: Nothing comic about DC’s rise in MLS
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WayneRooney’s United go top of the league. Haven’t we heard that before?
WellEngland’s record goalscorer is leading the way yet again as DC United head upthe Eastern Conference in MLS.
ZlatanIbrahimovic is never out of the news and that hasn’t changed in the USA. Butit’s LA Galaxy’s cross-city rivals Los Angeles FC that have made the betterstart so far in the West.
Butit’s defending champions Atlanta United’s slow start under new boss Frank deBoer that is the real talking point.
Sohang about as we take you through some of the major stories emerging from theworld of Major League Soccer.
Vela making it rain in LA
One of our five players to watch this season is ripping it up right now. We won’t say we told you so, but…
CarlosVela has shot LAFC to first place in the West, bagging 11 goals in 10 MLSappearances so far.
Theformer Arsenal man has been involved in 61% of his side’s goals this seasonwith five assists to his name.
Henotched the equaliser in their 1-1 draw with fellow high-flyers SeattleSounders last weekend, just enforcing his importance to the team.
Coach Bob Bradley said he can be LAFC’s ‘Lionel Messi’ this season – it might be a stretch, but the current 4/1 MLS favourites could fancy a long run in the post-season playoffs.
Rooney leading the charge for DC United
WayneRooney took MLS by storm when he arrived last year, and hasn’t looked backsince.
Thisseason Rooney has captained his side to top spot in the East after ten games.
Hehas grabbed five goals along the way and is sure to have a big impact as theseason progresses.
Asecond successive playoff appearance for the England legend could be on thecards.
What’s happening at Atlanta?
Aftera storming campaign last year where everything went right – it’s a differentstory so far this season for the MLS champs.
Someof their early season woes may have been down to their CONCACAF ChampionsLeague exploits.
Butit’s been a bittersweet start for new man De Boer, and will need his bighitters of Pity Martinez and Josef Martinez to start firing soon.
It’sa similar story for New York Red Bulls who were the 5/1 outrightfavourites in March but have only picked up eight points from eightgames this season and are out to 14s.
I am Zlatan…
LAGalaxy are currently a point off top spot in the West, but that isn’t enough tokeep Zlatan out of the news this week.
Thestriker scored the winner in Monday’s 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake, but it washis spat with former Premier League defender Nedum Onuoha that sparked thepost-match discussions.
Afterthe game, Ibra came to apologise to Onuoha after some words were allegedlyexchanged during the match – but the RSL man was in no mood to accept theSwede’s apology.
Thereturn game in September could be worth a watch!
To close, have a listen to Minnesota United fans’ post-match rendition of Wonderwall after their win over DC.
There’sa taste for MLS now and the growing fanbase are a huge part of it.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
