Minnesota United head coach Eric Ramsay wants his team to "grind through" their tough period as they aim to bounce back against Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday.
The Loons are winless in five and have lost each of their last four matches, conceding a stoppage-time winner against Portland Timbers last time out to extend that run.
They have dropped to seventh in the Western Conference, and Ramsay is confident he will get the reaction he needs from his players.
"We've got to take the best from [the defeat] and really try and grind through what is an immensely difficult period for us and come out of the other side well," he said.
"We've got to move forward in as constructive and pragmatic a way that we can. That is the only attitude that can be adopted at the moment. To look at it any other way is ridiculous.
"Ultimately, we have to approach Wednesday's game with a level of enthusiasm. There's no other way to look at it."
Meanwhile, Vancouver can leapfrog Minnesota if they get a road win on Wednesday to build on their impressive 4-3 victory over St. Louis City last time out.
The Whitecaps had to come from behind to earn the victory, and head coach Vanni Sartini praised the character his team showed.
"It was being conscious that we're a good team," Sartini said. "We were always calm and collected.
"Those three points were really important with our two games in hand, and we have to play two very important away games. We have to win both, and we want results in both, but the standings don't look bad."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Minnesota United – Bongokuhle Hlongwane
Bongokuhle Hlongwane recorded a goal and an assist in Minnesota's defeat to Portland on Saturday, his fourth regular-season match with a goal and an assist for the Loons, tied with Robin Lod, Darwin Quintero and Emanuel Reynoso for the most in club history.
Vancouver Whitecaps – Brian White
Brian White scored his second hat-trick for the Whitecaps in their 4-3 win over St. Louis City on Saturday, the first player in team history with multiple hat-tricks.
Only one other player, Cristian Techera in 2018, has scored a regular-season hat-trick for the Whitecaps in the last decade.
MATCH PREDICTION: MINNESOTA UNITED WIN
Minnesota are unbeaten in six all-time home matches against Vancouver (W3 D3), though the Whitecaps managed a draw in their last visit to St. Paul, 1-1 in March 2023.
Minnesota have lost four consecutive regular-season matches for the fourth time and the first since the first four matches of the 2021 season. The Loons have never lost five consecutive regular season matches.
Meanwhile, the Whitecaps overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat St. Louis City, 4-3, on Saturday, the fourth time Vancouver won a match in which they trailed by multiple goals and the first at home since June 2013 against New England.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Minnesota United – 45.7%
Draw – 26.8%
Vancouver Whitecaps – 27.5%
Ben Olsen will be hoping Houston Dynamo can take another step in the "right direction" when they visit Real Salt Lake for Thursday's MLS meeting.
The Dynamo recorded a narrow 1-0 win over Charlotte FC in their last outing, with this the chance to find a third straight victory and continue their resurgent form.
El Naranja sit sixth in the Western Conference standings, one point adrift of the top four, yet head coach Olsen still wants improvements from his Houston roster.
"It's a step in the right direction, we've got a week to recover – Salt Lake away that is never going to be easy," Olsen said after the Charlotte win, looking ahead to RSL.
"And then LAFC comes [to us at home], so it was important to get the last three points.
"The clean sheet is the biggest storyline for us at the minute."
RSL will be the hosts at America First Field, aiming to respond to a surprise 1-0 defeat against LA Galaxy last time out.
Gabriel Pec's second-half finish was enough for a 1-0 win for the Galaxy in that meeting, downing Pablo Mastroeni's men, who dropped down to third in the West table.
Having suffered their first defeat in seven home outings, Mastroeni will be desperate for improvements and close the gap on the two-top duo – the Galaxy and Los Angeles FC.
Carlos Andres Gomez will miss this one through suspension after accumulating five yellow cards this season, while Houston's Franco Escobar will be out for the same reason.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Real Salt Lake – Cristian Arango
Cristian Arango has scored just one goal in five career MLS matches against Houston (including playoffs), averaging 0.30 goals per 90 minutes.
The only opponent he has faced three or more times with a lower scoring rate is Vancouver (no goals in six games), can Arango end that spell against Houston here?
Houston Dynamo – Ibrahim Aliyu
Ibrahim Aliyu scored in the fifth minute against Charlotte on Saturday, and the Dynamo man will hope to race out the blocks once more in Salt Lake.
It was the second-earliest goal Houston has ever scored in a 1-0 win in MLS play with only Stuart Holden doing so earlier, netting in the fourth minute of a 1-0 win over Chicago in 2009.
MATCH PREDICTION – REAL SALT LAKE WIN
Real Salt Lake saw their 15-match undefeated streak ended last time out but still appear the narrow favourites for this clash.
However, the Charlotte defeat left RSL with just two wins from their last six matches, while Houston are on their own impressive unbeaten run.
The Dynamo are undefeated in six outings, only producing just one longer unbeaten run within a single regular season over the last decade – a seven-match streak from July to September last season.
Houston also did not lose any of their six meetings with RSL last season (W3 D3), though those three wins are the Dynamo's only successes in this fixture since 2017.
RSL will be desperate to find a form of yesteryear and restore their imperious head-to-head record this time around.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Real Salt Lake win – 51.2%
Draw – 24.8%
Houston Dynamo win – 24%
Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin is looking to find solutions to the small-margin failures when they travel to Chicago Fire in MLS.
The Union have not won any of their last seven matches in the league and are hoping to snap a four-game losing streak.
Their recent poor run has seen them drop to 12th in the Eastern Conference, and they are four points off a playoff place, but Curtin admits they have not been doing the little things right in recent weeks.
"The small margins are real and when things aren't going well you get exposed," he said. "It's a very fine line.
"The way things are going right now, it's never enough. We haven't been able to defend well as a team. Strange goals have gone in, and we've let ourselves down.
"It hurts. We have to find a way to turn things more in our favour. We've come up short in that area and, as coach, I take responsibility."
Chicago have now slumped to two consecutive defeats after a four-match unbeaten run and sit bottom of the table.
A home win could move them back up the table, and head coach Frank Klopas is using his full squad as he aims to get back to winning ways.
"We have three games in one week, we have to rotate some of our guys," Klopas said. "Those who missed out [against Seattle Sounders], there was nothing in there.
"We want to keep our players fresh so we can get the best results."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chicago Fire – Maren Haile-Selassie
Maren Haile-Selassie has scored in each of his last three matches. He is the second Fire player with such a streak this season (Hugo Cuypers – four straight).
Only Luka Stojanovic (three straight in 2021) had found the net in three straight games for the Fire over the previous three seasons (2021-23).
Philadelphia Union – Andrew Rick
Dominik Yankov scored CF Montreal's winner in the 89th minute against the Union on Saturday, the fourth time this season the Union have allowed a match-winning goal at 89' or later, tied with San Jose Earthquakes for the most such goals conceded this season.
Andrew Rick will be determined to avoid doing the same again in Chicago as Philadelphia aim to get back to winning ways.
MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW
Chicago have lost only two of their last 12 home matches against the Union (W6 D4) dating back to the start of the 2014 season. The Fire have more home wins over the Union (six) than they have against any other opponent since 2014.
The Fire conceded twice from the penalty spot in their loss to Seattle on Saturday, the fourth time since the start of last season that they have allowed two goals from the spot in a match. Chicago had conceded multiple penalty goals in a match three times in the club’s first 25 MLS seasons.
Meanwhile, the Union have equaled the longest single-season regular-season losing streak in club history at four (fourth time). Philadelphia have won one of their last 14 matches (D5 L8) dating back to mid-April.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Chicago Fire – 35.5%
Draw – 26%
Philadelphia Union – 38.5%
New England Revolution head coach Caleb Porter has challenged his team to bounce back from their heavy defeat last time out when they host Atlanta United on Wednesday.
The Revs' four-match unbeaten streak in MLS was ended by a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Columbus Crew at the weekend.
Their recent run has lifted them off the foot of the Eastern Conference and kept them in the hunt for what looked to be an unlikely playoff place.
Porter is confident his team can quickly put the weekend's disappointment behind them.
"You can't lose to teams that are in around you and give them points," Porter said. "They are in the hunt with us for the playoffs, so it's really important we bounce back.
"We still have confidence. We know we're a good team, and it has to be the next game. This next game against Atlanta is vitally important for us to get three points. We are really hungry to make the playoffs. It was not a great start to the year, and we're really looking to fix that.
"I reminded the guys that we won four in a row. We're playing really well, and we can't forget about that. But we do need to use this last game as a little bit of a wake-up call and to continue to remind ourselves that we have to keep improving."
Meanwhile, Atlanta are on a five-game unbeaten streak of their own after a 2-1 win over Toronto FC.
They sit five places and five points above New England, and they will be aiming to extend their run to keep the pressure on the teams above them.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
New England Revolution – Emmanuel Boateng
Emmanuel Boateng scored his second goal of the season in New England's defeat to Columbus Crew on Saturday.
He has now scored two goals in each of his four seasons with the Revs, with seven of the eight total goals being scored at home.
Atlanta United – Jamal Thiare
Jamal Thiare's winning goal in the 97th minute for Atlanta on Saturday was the sixth match-winning goal scored in the sixth minute of stoppage time or later this season in MLS, equaling the total from all of last season.
MATCH PREDICTION: NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION WIN
New England's six-match unbeaten run against Atlanta ended with a 4-1 road loss on March 9. The Revs have won three straight home matches against Atlanta after not winning any of the first three meetings in Foxborough (D2 L1).
However, New England's four-match winning streak ended with a 5-1 home defeat to the Crew on Saturday. It was the first time the Revs allowed five goals in a home match since a 5-1 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes in August 2001.
Atlanta are unbeaten in five straight away matches in all competitions (W2 D3), the second-longest road unbeaten run in club history behind only a seven-match streak in March-June 2018.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
New England Revolution – 42.3%
Draw – 26.7%
Atlanta United – 31.3%
Laurent Courtois knows CF Montreal must improve defensively if they are to find any kind of consistency ahead of Wednesday's MLS visit to New York City.
Montreal sit 10th in the Eastern Conference, two points outside the wild-card playoff spots, after snapping a four-match winless run last time out.
They twice came from behind to beat the Philadelphia Union 4-2, and while Courtois was not pleased with their defensive display, he believes their attack can take them far.
"There are a lot of aspects on the ball and defensively where we need to grow, but that's the beauty of this group," said Courtois.
"The idea was not to play central too early and create those angles from width first, but that's something we were not able to do in the first half.
"We talked about how we wanted to change the direction of the match at half-time, so we made the necessary adjustments and were clinical. There is definitely some relief."
NYCFC also won a six-goal thriller last weekend, beating Orlando City 4-2 to maintain their pressure on the top four sides in the East.
Much like Courtois, head coach Nick Cushing is delighted to see his team taking the game to opponents but wants them to cut out the mistakes at the back.
"My initial thoughts are I don't know whether to laugh or cry," Cushing said. "MLS is super difficult, you're never out of a game. Comebacks happen in our league, crazy results happen.
"We'll look at that and find the areas where we need to develop. The positive things for us were, number one, the first half was one of the best we've played this season.
"Then number two, we closed it out. It shows the mentality of the team is to attack and not suffer and absorb pressure."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
New York City – Santiago Rodriguez
Rodriguez has totalled 15 goal contributions in his first 20 matches this season (eight goals, seven assists).
He is the sixth player in team history to reach that mark 20 or fewer appearances into a season, joining David Villa, Frank Lampard, Maximiliano Moralez, Heber and Valentín Castellanos.
CF Montreal – Bryce Duke
Duke scored just his second goal in MLS this season last time out, getting Montreal's second equaliser as they fought back to beat Philadelphia.
He has been his team's chief creator this term, his 29 chances created putting him 10 clear of his closest team-mate (Ruan with 10).
MATCH PREDICTION: NEW YORK CITY WIN
New York have lost just two of their 19 all-time meetings with Montreal (12 wins, five draws, including playoffs) including winning five of the last six meetings.
They could be set for more joy here, having won six of their last eight matches on home turf (two defeats). Only Los Angeles FC (seven) have won more home games in MLS since the start of April.
Montreal, meanwhile, have won just three of their last 17 regular-season games. They enter this match as outsiders.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
New York City – 54.9%
CF Montreal – 21.9%
Draw – 23.2%
Pat Noonan believes it was important for FC Cincinnati's confidence to keep a clean sheet at FC Dallas last time out, saying fans must trust the process ahead of their midweek trip to D.C United.
Cincinnati claimed their sixth straight road victory last time out by a 1-0 scoreline, returning to winning ways following a 2-1 defeat at home to the New England Revolution.
The Supporters' Shield holders are just two points behind this year's pacesetters Inter Miami despite their squad going through something of an overhaul in pre-season.
While Noonan is pleased with his team's defensive resilience, he also feels there is much more to come.
"We've lost a couple of key pieces and we're trying to find our best group each game. We're still trying to find answers," Noonan said.
"No question it was important for the confidence of the group… but also not weathering the storm for 90 minutes and just conceding chance after chance, that wasn't the case.
"It's going to be a game-by-game process.
"I hate to say the word process, but with a particular group of players trying to get better and understand the relationships and the roles, we have to figure out a way to continue to be strong with what we have."
D.C., meanwhile, are 13th in the East after going nine games without a win, though they did avoid a fourth straight loss by drawing 2-2 with the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.
Asked how he felt after that game, coach Troy Lesesne said: "No mixed emotions. I'm incredibly proud of the group, they showed the kind of character and integrity that we want to have under challenging circumstances.
"They fought, and I think that is exactly what is necessary for us to get ourselves into a better position in the table.
"There's a long way to go in 2024 and we're going to keep fighting."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
D.C. United – Pedro Santos
Santos scored D.C. United's second goal in their 2-2 draw with the Red Bulls from a direct free-kick.
It was just the second direct free-kick goal for the club in the last five years, with Yordy Reyna scoring the other one against Atlanta United in August 2021.
FC Cincinnati – Luca Orellano
Orellano netted his fifth goal of the season last time out as Cincinnati got back to winning ways in Dallas.
Only Luciano Acosta (nine) and Yuya Kubo (seven) have more in MLS for the team this year.
MATCH PREDICTION: FC CINCINNATI WIN
D.C. United are winless in nine straight matches, drawing three and losing six. They last had a longer winless run in regular-season play in 2013 and 2014, a 15-match span that included 12 games without a win to end the 2013 campaign.
Cincinnati are excellent travellers and enter this match as big favourites.
They are the third team in the post-shootout era (since 2000) to win six straight on the road in regular-season MLS play, and could tie the record of seven with another victory here, set by CF Montreal from July to October 2022.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
D.C. United – 22.4%
FC Cincinnati – 55.5%
Draw – 22.1%
JAAA Vice President Ian Forbes has expressed his disappointment after the Jamaica 4x400m relay team failed to achieve the qualifying mark for the Olympic Games in Paris. The setback came after the top three finishers in the 400m at the National Championships and the 400m hurdles champion pulled out at the last minute. The replacements ran a time of 2:59.87, once again falling short of the required time, much to the frustration of fans who had anticipated an easy qualification.
Deandre Watkins, Sean Bailey, and Jevaughn Powell, who ran impressive times of 44.48, 44.65, and 44.79 respectively in the 400m finals on Friday night, were expected to secure the qualification. Additionally, Malik James King, who clocked a lifetime best of 47.42 in the 400m hurdles, was also anticipated to contribute to the effort. However, their last-minute withdrawals left the team scrambling for replacements.
“We were most disappointed with respect to these late withdrawals,” Forbes told Sportsmax.TV. “It is my personal feeling that if one of the top three had come, we would have made the qualifying mark. It is very distressing when we thought we had persons ready and rearing to run for their country. These late withdrawals hit us hard. It must be remembered that the top 16 were advanced to the semi-final to facilitate this based on the suggestion of one of the athletes, and we took it on board. So, it’s most disappointing.”
Forbes highlighted the extensive preparations made to ensure the athletes were in optimal condition for the relay. Meetings with the athletes, coaches, and agents prior to the start of the National Championships led to the top 16 runners being advanced to the semi-finals, with heats and semi-finals run on Thursday and the finals on Friday night. This schedule was designed to give the runners ample time to recuperate before the 4x400m relay, which was scheduled for 8:05 pm on Sunday. The athletes were provided with hotel rooms for adequate rest and transportation. Additionally, two companies had put up JMD$1 million as an incentive for the runners should they achieve the qualification time.
“And I am not saying if one had an issue, particularly a potential injury or a niggle, they should have competed. But I find it a little off-putting that at least three of our top athletes did not participate, and the withdrawals, some of them were so very late, minutes before the start. I find it most distressing,” Forbes added. “We did it in good faith. I think maybe we should have them sign a contract. We did it in good faith because they are our athletes, and we figured there would be some amount of commitment to the cause in terms of advancing the country to the top 16. It is not good.”
Forbes noted that no explanations had been provided by the athletes for their late withdrawals. “We need to have a pow-wow to look at what really transpired because the information from the coaches was very fast, things moved very quickly, so we haven’t gathered all the information. But it was most distressing that at the last minute, persons were pulling out.”
Despite the setback, Forbes commended the efforts of Reheem Hayles, Tarees Rhoden, Kimar Farquharson, and Zandrian Barnes, who stepped up to compete. “I must pause to commend the ones who stepped up and gave it their all. They really tried,” he said.
The team, Jamaica Gold, which should have included national champion Deandre Watkins, Sean Bailey, Jevaughn Powell, and 400m hurdles champion Malik-James King, fell short of the qualification mark, leaving fans and officials angered and disheartened.
As hurricane Beryl continues to wreak havoc across the Caribbean, the West Indies Under-19 men’s and women’s Rising Stars tournaments have been placed on hold as host nations Trinidad and Tobago and St Vincent and the Grenadines suffered blows from the category four system.
Both tournaments are scheduled to start on Tuesday, but given the effects of Beryl, organisers were forced to shelf previous plans as they continue to assess the situation where travels and other logistical issues are concerned.
In fact, CWI vice president Azim Bassarath highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the tournament.
“Nothing as yet. We don’t know what is the situation with flights coming out of the different islands after Beryl. So, it (the tournament) is on hold until everything returns to normalcy,” he told T&T Newsday.
Jamaica won both Under-19 men's title last year.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Under-19 men’s team were set to depart their shores for St Vincent on Sunday. However, flights were cancelled throughout the Caribbean.
Up to late Monday, Trinidad and Tobago’s manager Kerwin John pointed out that they did not get any word from CWI on the tournament’s status.
“We are still at home. We have not travelled to St Vincent as yet, as the flight yesterday (Sunday) was cancelled from T&T to Barbados and Barbados to St Vincent. We are waiting on the cricket board to say when is that rescheduled flight,” John stated.
St Vincent and the Grenadines’ National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) reported significant damage to properties on Monday, with Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves revealing that the islands are still under a tropical storm warning.
“We have begun to receive heartbreaking reports out of the Union Island and the southern Grenadines, even as our agencies desperately attempt to re-establish communications with certain sections and ascertain the extent of the damage to the mainland,” the Prime Minister shared in a social media post.
T&T Under-19 women's team.
Meanwhile, Nadra Dwarika-Baptiste, manager of Trinidad and Tobago’s Under-19 women’s team said they were expected to get an update soon.
Barbados and Windward Island women’s teams are already in the twin island republic as they recently engaged the host in a tri-series in preparation for the CWI tournament.
“I know the teams are represented but I can’t say if everyone is here. We haven’t been in a setting to see if everyone is present. We have not gotten anything yet, but we do expect some meetings by this afternoon,” she said in an interview T&T Newsday.
Jamaica, Leeward Islands, and Guyana are the other teams for the women’s tournament that was initially scheduled for July 2-July 13.
The men’s competition also has six teams down to vie for the three-day, and 50-over titles.
Jamaica’s men’s under-19 team won both titles last year.
2016 Olympic champion Omar McLeod is considering stepping away from the 110m hurdles to focus on the 100m sprint, citing a loss of passion for the hurdles despite a remarkable career that saw him clinch major titles early on. In an interview with Sportsmax.TV, McLeod shared his mixed feelings after narrowly missing out on making Jamaica’s team for the 2024 Paris Olympics, despite running a season's best time in the final of the 110m hurdles at the Jamaica National Championships on Sunday.
McLeod clocked 13.22 seconds in a tightly contested final, finishing fifth behind Rasheed Broadbell (13.18), Orlando Bennett (13.18), and defending Olympic champion Hansle Parchment (13.19). Tyler Mason also posted 13.22, highlighting the depth of talent in Jamaica's sprint hurdles scene, with only 0.04 seconds separating the top five finishers.
Reflecting on his performance, McLeod said, “I am overjoyed, to be honest. I gave myself a fighting chance to come out here and make the finals. I knew what I was walking into; like I said last night (Saturday), this race was going to be electric, and I was very excited to race with Parchment and Broadbell and these guys again competitively.”
Despite his joy, McLeod expressed a deep sense of personal struggle over the past few years, during which he failed to qualify for the team to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and the World Championships in Oregon in 2022. He did not compete in the trials in 2023. “I think you know what I have been through over the years and how hard I had to fight to really get back into this situation, and I have never felt this happy and this amount of joy in a long time,” he said, fighting back tears. “So, the fact that I am here and I had a season best is a win. It’s a win in so many ways, and I can’t even explain it.”
At 30, McLeod feels he has accomplished all he needs to in the sprint hurdles, having won the Olympic title in 2016 and the World Indoor and Outdoor titles in 2017. Looking ahead, he is seeking new challenges. “Maybe not hurdles, because to be honest, I fell out of love with hurdles because I’ve won everything in hurdles at a young age, and it was very hard to find motivation for hurdles," McLeod explained. "Especially knowing that I have the talent for other events, and I really wanted to explore that over my career. I want to give myself a chance to do that. This was to give my shot again for the hurdles, but I think moving forward, I think I am going to step down to something that my heart wants, which is to sprint.”
McLeod boasts a personal best of 9.99 seconds in the 100m, making him the first man in history to run under 10 seconds in the 100m and under 13 seconds in the sprint hurdles. “You’ve seen the indoors and the progression that I’ve had over the years, so it’s there. I have always known that, but I’ve never gotten the opportunity and the chance to really explore that, and I really want that for myself.”
McLeod’s journey over the past few years has taken him to Italy, where he has found a renewed sense of purpose and joy under the guidance of Coach Marco Airale, who also trains fellow Jamaican Britany Anderson and British sprinter Daryll Neita. “I found a new life. I wanted to give myself a bright new start, and I knew I wanted to be around familiar faces and people that I really adore, and that would make it easier. I took the risk, and I took the blind faith, and I fell in love with the place. I found friends there, I found a community, I found family, and I am enjoying it thoroughly,” McLeod shared.
As McLeod contemplates his next steps, his focus is on pursuing what his heart desires, aiming to make his mark in the 100m sprint while cherishing the new life he has found in Italy.
Lionel Messi has been named in the squad for the MLS All-Star game.
Messi, who has also returned to training for Argentina after he missed their Copa America win over Peru due to injury, is the headline name in the MLS squad to go up against a Liga MX equivalent later in July.
The 37-year-old will make his debut in the exhibition match, alongside his Inter Miami team-mates Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez.
Messi has scored 12 goals and provided nine assists in 12 MLS appearances this season for the Herons, who top the standings.
Wilfried Nancy, who coached the Columbus Crew to glory in MLS Cup last season, is the coach of the All-Star team.
The 30-man squad is made up of players from 18 MLS teams in total, with Miami and Columbus the sides with the most representation.
The match will take place in Columbus on July 24.
Nashville SC interim head coach Rumba Munthali says his main aim is to get the club into a "positive spot" as they look to get back to winning ways against Columbus Crew.
Inter Miami ended Nashville's three-match MLS unbeaten streak on Saturday, with the Coyotes unable to mount a second-half comeback.
It leaves them seventh in the Eastern Conference, with the teams below them starting to close in on the last final series spot.
However, Munthali was optimistic following the defeat, explaining his focus is on the players' continued improvement.
"Against Miami, I thought we should have done better with defending set pieces and the scoring chances we had in the first half," Munthali said. "In the second half, we showed some fight, some resolve, and I commend the guys for that.
"My job at the club is to help players get better. It's just working in a different capacity [as head coach].
"I like helping players and I think they know that. My mindset hasn't changed. We're really looking towards the next game to make sure our club is in a good positive spot."
Meanwhile, Columbus sit three points above them in the table on 33 points.
The Crew have won their last two matches by an aggregate scoreline of 9-1, with Cucho Hernandez scoring four of those goals, with head coach Wilfried Nancy full of praise for his star man.
"Cucho scores goals, but he also makes chances," Nancy said. "He was sad because he was on the side with some back pain, and he wanted to come back and help the team. Now he is, it's good for the team and good for him."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Columbus Crew – Cucho Hernandez
Hernandez has been the star man for Columbus this season, and not just in the last two games when he has stepped up his goalscoring.
He has scored 10 goals so far this season – the most of any player for the Crew – with half of those coming in his last three outings for the club.
Nashville SC – Tyler Boyd
Tyler Boyd scored his first goal of the season during Nashville's most recent win, netting the winner against New York City FC.
While he could not follow that up against Miami at the weekend, he had the second-most shots for the team, though he did not test the goalkeeper.
MATCH PREDICTION: COLUMBUS CREW WIN
Columbus have won three of their previous eight meetings with Nashville in MLS, winning their last such home match against the Coyotes in June 2023 (2-0).
Having gone on a seven-match winless streak from late March to early May, Columbus have since lost just one of their last seven in MLS (winning the other six).
Nashville are unbeaten in their previous four road matches, conceding just once in that run (during a 2-1 win over Toronto FC). They will be hoping to extend that run by getting their first win at Columbus since April 2022.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Columbus Crew – 58.2%
Draw – 27.18%
Nashville SC – 20%
Bryana Johnson and David Treasure were the big winners at the 2024 Jamaica Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (JABBFA) Novice, Junior and Elite Bodybuilding Championships held at the Courtleigh Auditorium in Kingston on June 29.
Johnson claimed the top prize in both the Junior Bikini Wellness and Novice Bikini Wellness categories while Treasure took top spot in both the Junior Men’s Physique and Novice Men’s Physique Tall sections.
Johnson, who beat out strong challenges from Rashida Bignall and Laycola Newman in Novice Bikini Wellness, put her success down hours upon hours of hard work and dedication in the gym.
“I felt like the work that I have put in, sleepless and tireless nights, paid off. My coaches have been phenomenal, both my posing coach Sherea Clarke and my coach Richardo Daniels. With these two by my side and the help of my gym family, they have been a massive source of support for me,” she told Sportsmax.tv after the competition.
“Winning here is honestly an indicator to keep going because I felt like there were points where I was a bit demotivated when I was on stage but I remember the few that showed up and I remember the work that I put in. This is just the beginning of my journey,” she added.
When questioned about the most difficult part of her preparation process for the championships, Johnson referenced dieting.
“The hardest part is the dieting. Training for me easy. I love working out. Dieting was the hardest part for me starting my fitness journey,” she said.
Treasure turned back the challenge of Marquis Wright in the Junior Men’s Physique category while, in Novice Men’s Physique Tall, he defeated last year’s champion Andre McDonald and Romel Gordon.
He was obviously thrilled with victory but described being on stage initially as “nerve-wracking” when he spoke to Sportsmax.tv at the end of the championships.
“It feels really good and the reason I feel that way is because of the uncertainty that led into the competition. Body dysmorphia is a thing. You start asking yourself questions like if you look good enough or what position am I going to be placed in?” he said.
“You can’t see yourself so you think everybody looks better than you. The original shake you get in your spine when you make that first step; going in front of judges and going in front of a crowd; what will I do that will make them choose me? That was nerve-wracking,” he added.
As time went on, Treasure said he felt more comfortable.
“Every step that I took, the energy, the atmosphere, the essence of the crowd, I just started to absorb it. I don’t know what happened when I went up there but I just transformed and it felt great,” he said.
He also added that competing gave him a new level of respect for every athlete that partakes in the sport of Bodybuilding.
“Since I competed, I respect every single athlete that performs here because it takes dedication and it takes drive to actually do this with the dieting,” he said.
In other results on Saturday, Hughgene Osbourne took top spot ahead of Marquis Wright and Daniel Grant in the Junior Bodybuilding category.
Laycola Newman won in the Novice Women’s Body Fitness Category ahead of Nicole Lewis and Saidah Delisser.
The Novice Bodybuilding category was won by Shaun Smith ahead of Steve Rogers and Hughgene Osbourne.
Shanika Campbell defeated Kesonya Gopie to take the Novice Women’s Physique crown.
Matthew Donville took top spot in the Novice Classic Bodybuilding category ahead of Shaun Smith and Steve Rogers.
The Novice Men’s Physique Short category was won by Malik Griffiths, who also took the overall Men’s Physique title, ahead of Abraham Evans and Matthew Donville.
The Novice Bikini Fitness Short title was taken by Jordan Barron ahead of Nicole Lewis and Saidah Delisser while the Tall category was won by Tara Francis ahead of Yanique Davis.
The Elite Bodybuilding title was won by Cecil Deacon ahead of Marcus White and Rupert Johnson.
Toronto FC must keep moving forward after their dramatic defeat to Atlanta United made it four straight losses, said John Herdman ahead of Wednesday's clash with Orlando City.
The Reds' miserable run continued on Saturday as they were beaten 2-1 by Atlanta in remarkable circumstances.
The Five Stripes' Jamal Thiare lurked behind Toronto goalkeeper Luka Gavran and stole possession from him as he went to kick the ball long, before converting into an empty net.
Despite the nature of the result, Herdman believes their performance represented a step in the right direction, saying: "The team took a big step.
"The players were all in. You got that sense they were grinding out a result, but also had chances to win it.
"What can you say about the last goal? It's tough. I didn't have too many words. It's just gut-wrenching, but at the same time, there has got to be a response coming into the midweek game at home against Orlando.
"We've got to keep moving forward. It's tough to take with 10 seconds left. I asked the fourth official how long was left, he said 10, I turned to walk to the bench and it was in the back of the net."
Orlando are also out of sorts, only winning one of their last seven matches (two draws, four losses), and going down 4-2 at New York City last time out.
Midfielder Dagur Dan Thorhallsson says finding a better balance out of possession will be key to changing their fortunes.
"We've done it before and we know how to do it, but I feel like right now the balance just isn't quite there and that's something that we need to look at," he said.
"It's good that we started scoring, but now we need to stop conceding so many goals."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Toronto FC – Federico Bernardeschi
Bernardeschi scored his eighth goal in MLS this season – a team-high total – in last week's defeat to Atlanta.
He has overperformed his expected goals (xG) total of 6.21 for the campaign and ranks joint-fifth in the league for total shots on target (28, alongside Andres Gomez). Can he provide the inspiration?
Orlando City – Duncan McGuire
McGuire is Orlando's leading scorer for 2024 after netting his seventh goal of the season last time out, with that tally coming from just 12 shots on target.
MATCH PREDICTION: ORLANDO CITY WIN
Having won seven of nine matches across all competitions between late April and May 22, Toronto have now failed to win any of their last seven (two draws, five defeats).
They have lost their last four, including each of their last two at home – 1-4 versus the Chicago Fire and 1-2 against Nashville SC.
Orlando, meanwhile, have taken 12 points on the road so far this season – a tally only bettered by five Eastern Conference rivals. The Lions are also unbeaten on their last five trips to Toronto, winning on three occasions and drawing twice.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Toronto FC – 30.7%
Orlando City – 44.2%
Draw – 25.1%
Inter Miami are fortunate to have Jordi Alba, so says head coach Gerardo Martino.
Alba scored a stunning volley that ultimately proved the winner just before half-time in Saturday's 2-1 win over Nashville SC. The strike came with an expected goals (xG) value of 0.01.
That victory kept Miami top of the Eastern Conference, with a two-point lead over FC Cincinnati.
Miami face Charlotte in midweek, and with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez still away at the Copa America, Martino is glad to have such an experienced, quality player as Alba at his disposal.
"I celebrated] as should be celebrated because it was a great goal," Martino said.
"I'm not surprised because he is a player with so much quality.
"He [Alba] puts me at ease for what he gives the team and the options he gives us in attack and how well he played defensively.
"Jordi is an internationally recognised player and we're lucky to have him on our team."
Nashville dragged themselves back into the contest in the second half, and Miami ultimately relied on goalkeeper Drake Callendar to make a late save to earn all three points.
Reflecting on his side's display, Martino added: "I believe we had a very good first half, we controlled the whole thing.
"In the second half, we did not control the ball the same way as the first half, especially when Nashville had a line of three, [but] we didn't suffer.
"I think in the end we won the game rather well."
Charlotte lost 1-0 to the Houston Dynamo last time out, snapping a four-game unbeaten streak for Dean Smith's team.
They sit sixth in the Eastern Conference.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Charlotte FC - Patrick Agyemang
Agyemang leads Charlotte's scoring charts with five MLS goals. They have come from 14 shots on target, and 26 attempts overall. He will be one Miami's defence has to look out for.
Inter Miami - Julian Gressel
Gressel provided an assist for Miami's opener against Nashville. It was his 100th goal contribution in MLS.
Since he joined MLS in 2017, Gressel has provided 62 assists, with only Cincinnati's Luciano Acosta (65) setting up more goals.
MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW
While Miami are top of the standings, Charlotte are expected to challenge for a positive result in this one, with Opta's supercomputer ranking the draw threat highly.
Miami have won their last three away games in MLS, though, so the Herons still come into this as slight favourites.
That being said, Miami have lost their last two trips to Charlotte. In fact, last season, these teams split the record evenly over their three meetings in all competitions, with Miami winning one, Charlotte winning another and the other game drawn.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Inter Miami - 41.6%
Charlotte - 32.9%
Draw - 25.6%
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