MLS

You should never look to sports franchises for guidance following a tragedy. These are organizations that can't even defend a corner kick properly, how can they possibly manage reacting thoughtfully and compassionately to a horrible situation?

Sometimes, though, those reactions happen to be exactly what everyone needs. Credit where credit is due: Orlando City SC have responded to the terrifying events of the Pulse nightclub shooting with class and empathy. Here's the latest gesture:

Everyone knows about Michael Jordan's flu game, but did you know Jordan Morris had one too, like, a few hours ago?

It's true. Morris, battling the flu, scored the only goal in Seattle's 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids Sunday in Colorado.

Two things stood out during the MLS Western Conference final first-leg in between the Rapids and the Sounders in Seattle. First, the lines on the field were markedly straight and where they were supposed to be in relation to the other lines on the field. Said lines did not need to be redrawn or painted over in a manner that would cause the game to be delayed. The lines marking the 18-yard box were particularly well-measured.

The Montreal Impact changed from their normal home venue, the Saputo Stadium, to the Olympic Stadium for their 2016 MLS Cup Eastern Conference Final, and it looked like a stroke of genius. Instead of playing in front of 20,801 supporters, the Impact raised the attendance for Tuesday night’s first-leg match to over 61,000.

Unfortunately, the Olympic Stadium’s grounds crew wasn’t on the same page. 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic frequently plays at being a conquerer, emperor and god while discussing his career. He’s discussed how his favorite movie is Gladiator, because he feels that, like Maximus Decimus Meridius, he will have his vengeance, in this life or the next.

“That’s how I felt, or wanted to feel,” said Ibrahimovic in his book, I Am Zlatan. “I wanted to stand up to the whole world and show everybody who’d doubted me who I really was, and I couldn’t imagine anyone who’d be able to stop me.”

It's been 15 grueling, agonizingly long days since we last saw the MLS Playoffs. The international break served as a welcome rest for some teams, while it was a frustrating gap for others — especially the fans. Tonight, the Conference Finals kick off. Here is a breakdown of each match and what you need to know. 

2016 MLS Eastern Conference Finals

A new study from Deloitte, one of the “Big Four” accounting firms in the world by revenue, has offered up some pretty obvious conclusions with regards to implementing a system of promotion and relegation in the American soccer pyramid, but it’s also provided one of the more realistic takes on the possible benefits and risks involved.

Believe it or not, this time it doesn’t seem to be a joke: Ronaldinho might be headed to the Major League Soccer. 

Rumors have been flying around ever since the legendary midfielder became a free agent, but until now that was all they were: rumors. 

The first bit of solid news on Ronaldinho’s future came in curious fashion, as Brazilian journalist Andre Hernan tweeted that the 2005 Balon d’Or winner wouldn’t be joining Brazilian side Sao Paulo.

Unlike previous MLS expansions, Los Angeles FC isn’t just looking to become an American success, but instead the club wants to make a global impact. The MLS expansion team will join the league at the start of the 2018 season, and already has 10 players targeted as they look to make the most of the league’s three designated player allowances. 

After 13 years as a Chelsea stalwart of the midfield, Frank Lampard has completed his playing career with a wild two year MLS run. There are definitely elements of the move that can easily be pointed out to conclude it’s failure. However, Lampard may have actually achieved exactly what the City Football Group were hoping for. 

At the end of 2013-14 season Chelsea announced that Frank would be one of the players released. For his part, and focused on the 2014 World Cup, he claimed it would be decided later that summer.