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Thank you MLS:
MLS Players Contributing Across International Competitions
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Pictured: Nashville SC goalkeeper Joe Willis. Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel (IMAGN / USA TODAY Sports)
Off the back of their 22nd consecutive regular season home game without a loss, Nashville SC welcomes Sporting Kansas City to GEODIS Park (6 p.m. ET, FS1 / FOX Deportes) with an opportunity to tie for the fifth-longest home unbeaten streak in league history.For Kansas City, Johnny Russell continues to lead the team offensively after scoring his fifth goal of the season last time out against the New England Revolution. With young players and new faces rotating through the starting lineup, Russell’s leadership will be crucial to guiding his team toward a positive result in Music City.Experience and defensive prowess have been the key to maintaining Nashville’s long unbeaten run, with goalkeeper Joe Willis (76) and defender Dave Romney (73) playing more games than any other MLS players since Nashville’s inaugural MLS season in 2020. Willis also leads all goalkeepers in clean sheets over that time with 28 while Romney has been a quietly confident leader at the back. Two-time MLS Defender of the Year Walker Zimmerman will also return from international duty with the USMNT ahead of this weekend, bringing Nashville’s defense back to full strength heading into the first set of summer games. |
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MLS Players Continue to Contribute on the International Stage
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World Cup Intercontinental PlayoffsPeru and Australia played out the first of two Intercontinental Playoffs featuring MLS players, with Australia punching their ticket to Qatar after beating Peru 5-4 in a penalty kick shootout on Monday. Columbus Crew defender Milos Degenik was part of their camp for this June international window and is on course to be part of the team that faces France, Denmark, and Tunisia in Group D when the World Cup kicks off in NovemberFrancisco Calvo and Costa Rica will face off against a New Zealand side backed by Bill Tuiloma and Michael Boxall for a place in Group E at the FIFA World Cup (2 p.m. ET, FS2 / Univision). Tuiloma leads the Portland Timbers in goals scored with five this season, and his threat from set pieces could help push the needle in The Kiwis’ favor in this matchup.Concacaf Nations League ContributionsFifteen nations feature MLS players on their rosters in the final games of the Concacaf Nations League during this June international window.The USMNT started six MLS-based players in a 5-0 win over Grenada, with Jesús Ferreira scoring four goals with FC Dallas teammate Paul Arriola adding another in their Nations League opener. Lucas Cavallini also found himself on the scoresheet for Canada when he scored the fourth goal of their 4-0 win over Curaçao. Julián Araujo was the sole MLS representative in the starting lineup for Mexico as they kept a clean sheet in their 3-0 win over Suriname earlier this month.Mexico and the USMNT will next play on Tuesday, June 14 with El Tri taking on Jamaica (8 p.m. ET, Univision / ESPN3 / TUDN) and the United States traveling to El Salvador (10 p.m. ET, FS1 / Univision / TUDN) for their second game of this year’s Concacaf Nations League.
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