New on Sports Illustrated: Real Salt Lake-Orlando City Preview

<a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/game/2206212"> <p>Will this be the year Orlando City finally makes the playoffs? The club brought in MLS veteran boss Oscar Pareja to make sure it happens.</p> <p>Pareja and Orlando begin that quest Saturday against a visiting Real Salt Lake squad looking to build on last season's strong effort.</p> <p>After five seasons in MLS, Orlando is still without a playoff appearance, and perhaps more concerning, seems to have regressed from its early years of finishing seventh and eighth, respectively, in the Eastern Conference over the first two seasons. Since, City has finished no better than 10th, and 11th each of the last two years.</p> <p>After recording just 28 points in 2018, Orlando improved by nine points last year, but struggled to consistently score while posting 44 goals. Enter Pareja, who guided FC Dallas to a Supporters' Shield and U.S. Open Cup title in 2016.</p> <p>"We're excited to get going," midfielder Chris Mueller, who had five assists last season, told Orlando's official website. "We've worked really hard. It's just time to get going."</p> <p>While midfielders Will Johnson and Sacha Kljestan are gone, Colombian midfielder Andres Perea offers some potential excitement. Nani and Tesho Akindele, who combined for 22 goals, and fellow veteran Dom Dwyer (seven goals in 2019) are all back looking to add more consistency to the attack.</p> <p>It's on the attack where RSL also would like to be more potent.</p> <p>Albert Rusnak (10 goals), Sam Johnson (nine goals) Damir Kreilach (seven goals) and Corey Baird (five goals) are all capable scorers, but Salt Lake managed just 46 goals in 2019. That's why RSL went out and signed Italian forward Giuseppe Rossi (128 goals in 336 career matches).</p> <p>Still, Salt Lake's backbone is its defense. The club allowed 41 goals while finishing third in the Western Conference. RSL won its first playoff game before falling 2-0 to eventual champion Seattle. It does have to replace retired MLS legendary keeper Nick Rimando, but league veteran Zac MacMath appears to be guy stepping in.</p> <p>Despite the rather early exit, it proved to be a resilient season for the RSL, which endured the firings of coach Mike Petke and general manager Craig Waibel. Freddy Juarez had the interim tag shed and looks forward to a full season running the touchline for Real Salt Lake.</p> <p>"The strength of this team is the collective," Juarez told RSL's official website. "It's all about the team. No one is bigger than anyone else. We have to work at that every single day. That includes everybody - the players, the coaches, the backroom staff … everybody is shooting for the same goal."</p> <p>RSL ended an 0-2-2 rut against Orlando with a 2-1 home victory on April 13. Johnson and Kreilach scored for Salt Lake while Nani made things interesting in the 81st minute with Orlando's lone goal.</p> </a>

New on Sports Illustrated: Real Salt Lake-Orlando City Preview

Will this be the year Orlando City finally makes the playoffs? The club brought in MLS veteran boss Oscar Pareja to make sure it happens. ...

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New on Sports Illustrated: Union-FC Dallas Preview

<a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/game/2206209"> <p>Following the most successful regular season in club history, the Philadelphia Union are poised to be even better in 2020.</p> <p>With expectations high, the Union are likely in store for a stiff opening test on Saturday against host FC Dallas, which looks to do more than squeak into the playoffs this season.</p> <p>In its celebratory 10th MLS season, Philadelphia set a club record with 16 wins and 55 points. The Union finished third in the Eastern Conference, but actually led the East for a good portion of the campaign. They also won their first playoff game before falling to Atlanta United FC.</p> <p>All that is still worthy of praise, but it also raised the bar for what the Union are potentially capable of accomplishing going forward.</p> <p>"We have to rely on each other and we believe in the cohesiveness of the group, and that our 11 together can beat any group of superstars, or whatever you like to call them," coach Jim Curtain told the Union's official website."We are a true team in that sense … We have to believe in everything that we do and that group mindset and mentality."</p> <p>Curtain has plenty of talent to back that approach.</p> <p>Kacper Przybylko broke out for 15 goals in his first MLS season while Alejandro Bedoya and Jamiro Monteiro make for a consistent due. Andre Blake, meanwhile, is turning into one of the top keepers in MLS.</p> <p>One player who should be on the pitch Saturday in suburban Dallas is Fafa Picault, but just not in a Union kit he sported for his first three MLS seasons. Picault, who recorded 22 goals in those three years with Philadelphia, is now plying his trade for FCD, which grabbed the seventh and final playoff spot in the Western Conference last season.</p> <p>Picault looks to stabilize an inconsistent left-wing position for Dallas, which has some of the league's best young talent in 19-year-old Jesus Ferreira (eight goals in 2019) and 20-year-old up-and-coming Unites State men's national team prospect Paxton Pomykal. Michael Barrios (five goals) also provides a solid presence in the FCD midfield.</p> <p>"We're excited and building for this week," coach Luchi Gonzalez told Dallas' official website. "We love each other and we'll support each other to give everything for Saturday.</p> <p>"Now, we need to be confident in how we work and bring it on Saturday."</p> <p>Dallas went undefeated in its first nine all-time matches against Philadelphia (5-0-4), but has dropped two of the last three meetings. Including last season in suburban Philly, where FCD held a 1-0 lead before Corey Burke equalized in the 85th minute and Bedoya scored the go-ahead winner in the second minute of stoppage time to cap a rather improbable 2-1 comeback victory on April 6.</p> </a>

New on Sports Illustrated: Union-FC Dallas Preview

Following the most successful regular season in club history, the Philadelphia Union are poised to be even better in 2020. With expectatio...

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New on Sports Illustrated: Chelsea-Bournemouth Preview

<a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/game/2146775"> <p>Out to regroup from a disheartening loss, Chelsea attempt to strengthen their top-four position Saturday when they face relegation-threatened Bournemouth at Dean Court.</p> <p>The scope of the rebuild under first-year coach Frank Lampard took on a different perspective Tuesday at home in the first leg of their round of 16 Champions League tie versus German powerhouse Bayern Munich. Outclassed and outfoxed by Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski, it all went pear-shaped for the Pensioners (13-5-9) in a 25-minute span of the second half in a 3-0 defeat.</p> <p>Lewandowski set up a pair of goals by Serge Gnabry shortly after the restart and then provided the gloss on the scoreline with his 39th goal in all competitions in the 76th minute. While Lewandowski is expected to miss the second leg in Munich on March 18 due to injury, Chelsea will play that match without defender Marcos Alonso, who was sent off late, and midfielder Jorginho, whose yellow card for dissent ruled him out of that contest.</p> <p>"It was a difficult night," striker Olivier Giroud admitted to Chelsea's official website. "They were too strong. It's hard to say but they deserved to win. At half-time the feeling was we were matching them. We had a few good opportunities also. ... But they accelerated on the counter-attack in the second half. When they scored early, two goals in three minutes, psychologically it was hard.</p> <p>"For now we need to focus on the Premier League first and finish in the top four. We need to put things right on Saturday and bounce back as soon as possible."</p> <p>Giroud likely will get the call to lead the line for a third straight contest since Tammy Abraham appeared to tweak a hamstring injury during Tuesday's loss. The 22-year-old Abraham is tied for seventh in the Premier League with 13 goals but has gone five matches without one since striking versus Burnley on Jan. 11 and had been dealing with an ankle injury.</p> <p>While Abraham may be sidelined again, Christian Pulisic may be among the 18 after missing two months with an adductor injury. The U.S. international has six goals and three assists in 22 matches across all competitions, and his absence has caused Mason Mount to play out of position on the wing as opposed to a more central role.</p> <p>The questions at the other end of the pitch also persist as Willy Caballero again did little to distinguish himself. The Argentina international has conceded eight goals in four starts since supplanting Kepa Arrizabalaga, with Chelsea going 1-1-2 in those contests and failing to register a clean sheet.</p> <p>All told, the Blues have recorded just seven shutouts in 39 matches in all competitions.</p> <p>Bournemouth (7-5-15) will try to expose those defensive frailties, but a side known for their flowing offence in recent seasons have seen the goal spigot turned off this term. The Cherries have just 26 goals, only two better than the quartet of clubs tied for the Premier League low, and the paucity in attack is a key reason they enter this contest on 26 points, just two above the drop in 16th place.</p> <p>Bournemouth are entering a rough patch of schedule - they also travel to champions-elect Liverpool and Wolverhampton among their next four matches starting with this contest -- and did themselves no favours last weekend with a 3-0 defeat at Burnley.</p> <p>Eddie Howe could feel aggrieved considering the match turned against them in diabolical fashion via VAR in the second half when Harry Wilson had an equaliser chalked off for offsides and then hit with a penalty when it was ruled left back Adam Smith handled the ball prior to the counterattack that led to Wilson's goal.</p> <p>Aaron Ramsdale was unable to stop Jay Rodriguez's penalty and Bournemouth were consigned to their 12th defeat in 16 league matches (3-1-12).</p> <p>"It hinged on the first one," Howe said, referring to a first-half goal by Josh King that was also disallowed by VAR, when asked about the match changing on the second-half decisions. "I think the first one dictates the referee, whatever you call the VAR decision-maker, I think that decides the second one. The first one for me was a clear goal, it comes off Phil's shoulder.</p> <p>"I don't know what to say because I don't want to get myself in trouble but it's a bitterly, bitterly disappointing day because we played really well in the first half and I think we tailed off mentally because of what happened in the game."</p> <p>Bournemouth do at least have positive home form entering this match with back-to-back wins at Dean Court, but they are 2-1-4 in their seven meetings with the Big Six this term. Howe could draft Steve Cook back into his defence, while Jefferson Lerma could join him provided he has recovered from a back injury.</p> <p>The Cherries are seeking their first top-flight double over Chelsea and a third straight win in this rivalry after recording a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge on Dec. 14. Dan Gosling's goal on 84 minutes proved decisive for Bournemouth, who were rampant in a 4-0 rout in last season's corresponding fixture.</p> </a>

New on Sports Illustrated: Chelsea-Bournemouth Preview

Out to regroup from a disheartening loss, Chelsea attempt to strengthen their top-four position Saturday when they face relegation-threaten...

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New on Sports Illustrated: Burnley-Newcastle United Preview

<a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/game/2146810"> <p>Burnley's most productive run of the season has them residing within the top-half of the Premier League table.</p> <p>The visiting Clarets look to remain there, and possibly move up the table, when they try to do the double over offensively-challenged Newcastle United on Saturday.</p> <p>From Dec. 26-Jan. 11, Burnley (11-4-12) scored one goal whilst conceding eight during a four-game Premier League losing streak. Since then within the league, they've outscored their opponents 9-2 during a 4-1-0 stretch.</p> <p>Their most resounding result of that span came with last weekend's 3-0 home win over Bournemouth. With star Chris Wood nursing an injury, Matej Vydra scored in his second straight contest and Dwight McNeil added a goal with an assist as the Clarets won their second consecutive match to sit 10th in the table.</p> <p>"The main job for us is to stay in the Premier League, and then you never know what could happen," McNeil told Burnley's official website.</p> <p>The good times kept coming this week when the club announced Wood, the team leader with 10 goals, will be available for this contest after sitting out last weekend with a hamstring issue.</p> <p>"He's looking good," Burnley manager Sean Dyche said. "He's fit, so he comes back into the thinking. (Vydra) and (Jay Rodriguez) in the last couple of games have laid down a marker as well."</p> <p>With all that up-front talent at the moment, Dyche might have a bit of a lineup dilemma for this match, but perhaps that's a good problem to have. Wood was the lone goal-scorer in a 1-0 home victory over Newcastle on Dec. 14.</p> <p>Burnley, however, are 0-2-1 at Newcastle during the premier League era.</p> <p>The Magpies (8-7-12), however, have had trouble scoring no matter where they've played of late. Their most recent Premier League goals came via Florian Lejeune, one minute apart in extra time to earn a 2-2 draw at Everton on Jan. 21.</p> <p>Since then, Newcastle have been outscored 5-0 whilst going 0-1-2 over a three-game stretch - the last two being road defeats at Arsenal and Crystal Palace. The Magpies, 14th in the table, last won on Jan. 18, over Chelsea - their only league victory over a nine-game stretch.</p> <p>"All season we've worked hard for the club, for the manager, for the fans - and we're going to keep doing that," captain Jamaal Lascelles told Newcastle's official website.</p> <p>Newcastle last went four straight Premier League games without a goal early during the 2015-16 season.</p> </a>

New on Sports Illustrated: Burnley-Newcastle United Preview

Burnley's most productive run of the season has them residing within the top-half of the Premier League table. The visiting Clarets lo...

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