Here are the latest MLS preseason happenings for Thursday, Jan. 28, including the New York Red Bulls' opening game of the year.
- New York Red Bulls 3, University of South Florida 1
FCDallas.com on Diaz's fitness, visit to Messi's doctor
The health of Mauro Diaz is of the utmost concern for FC Dallas, for obvious reasons.
When the Argentine playmaker is on the field, Dallas are a much more dynamic team. Case in point: Diaz played a career high 2,384 minutes last season and Dallas won the Western Conference regular-season title and advanced to the conference championship of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
A big reason for his improved fitness was the team’s first-year fitness coach Fabian Bazan. And an FCDallas.com article takes a closer look at that relationship and Diaz’s quest for better fitness – including paying a visit to Lionel Messi’s personal doctor in Italy.
Check out the full article here.
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Kenny Cooper on trial with Red Bulls
A very familiar face is in camp with the New York Red Bulls.
Kenny Cooper, the MLS veteran striker who scored 18 goals for the Red Bulls in 2012, has linked up with his former club for a preseason trial, according to club spokesman Jason Baum.
Cooper’s 2012 goal output equaled his regular-season career high (he also bagged 18 for FC Dallas in 2008). The 31-year-old has 75 goals in nine seasons with Dallas, Portland Timbers, New York, Seattle Sounders and Montreal Impact. He last featured for the Impact last year, suffering a season-ending knee injury in his first match with Montreal after being released by the Sounders in May.
RELATED: New York Red Bulls
Red Bulls win preseason opener
The New York Red Bulls began 2016 with a win, taking a 3-1 decision in a rainy friendly against the University of South Florida. Bradley Wright-Phillips, Manolo Sanchez and recent Homegrown signing Brandon Allen all got on the board for the Red Bulls, who fielded three different XIs in a game consisting of three 30-minute periods. For more on the game and all Red Bulls happenings during preseason, check out NewYorkRedBulls.com.
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Edu to return to midfield
Maurice Edu's tenure at center back appears to be over, at least for the moment. Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin told reporters on Thursday that the 29-year-old Edu, who played primarily in the middle of defense last year, will start the 2016 season at his natural defensive midfield spot.
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Pirlo chips in
We've all heard about Andrea Pirlo's "cultured right foot," and the New York City FC maestro does indeed make art with his usual limb of choice. But the Italian veteran can conjure up lefty loveliness, too, as he did with this ruthless chip during Thursday's training in Florida:
RELATED: New York City FC
Sounders chalk talk
With Homegrown prodigy Jordan Morris finally in the fold alongside star strikers Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins, Seattle Sounders FC face a fun conundrum: How best to pack all that attacking talent into one lineup? And where does Osvaldo Alonso fit into the mix this year? Deuce and Ozzie spoke to that and other issues at SSFC training:
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Revs on the 'gram
As a founding club of MLS, the New England Revolution have a rich history. And via their Instagram feed, they're using blasts from uniforms past to count down to the season, along with occasional snapshots from their preseason camp in Casa Grande, Arizona. Make sure you're following along...
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