LA Galaxy midfielder Marco Reus scored his first goal of the 2025 campaign on Sunday night, pulling the reigning MLS Cup presented by Audi champions to within one of the Portland Timbers with a classy finish But LA's momentum dissipated shortly after when Portland forward Jonathan Rodríguez sent home a penalty kick, ultimately sealing the visitors' 4-2 win at Dignity Health Sports Park LA have started the year 10 games winless (0W-7L-3D) and are bottom of the overall league table with a -12 goal differential The former Borussia Dortmund and German national team star has some thoughts we don't hate losing … We have to be frustrated before the game Reus also believes the Galaxy's struggles are often self-inflicted and the byproduct of little moments but we have to show it constantly and not 20 minutes like this and then five minutes this and then we concede a goal and then our heads are down," Reus said it has to be – the standard has to be higher." we lose because the other team was much much better That technique from Marco Reus! 🤌@LAGalaxy are back to within one. pic.twitter.com/LR05TomubN When Reus joined LA last summer as a free agent, he was tasked with turbo-charging one of the league's top attacks. Now, the 35-year-old is confronting a vastly different situation – one with DP No. 10 Riqui Puig recovering from a torn ACL The most important thing is to be ready for 90 Still searching for their first league win of the year, LA will turn the page to next weekend's Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire showdown at Sporting Kansas City (7 pm ET | MLS Season Pass, Apple TV+). "The season is not done at all," head coach Greg Vanney said. "If we can just get on the right side of a little bit of momentum, then you can get yourself right back in this thing pretty quickly. I think there's still a ton to play for." Transaction: LA Galaxy sign free-agent midfielder Marco Reus to a two-and-a-half-year contract through the end of the 2026 MLS season on Aug. 15, 2024. View this post on Instagram A post shared by LA Galaxy (@lagalaxy) Eos A freeze, then a defrost of National Science Foundation (NSF) funding has caused turmoil among undergraduate scientists who now must navigate a sea of uncertainty in admissions for graduate programs and REUs—Research Opportunities for Undergraduates—which are highly competitive summer research opportunities that support thousands of students each year.  Many graduate schools consider prior research experience some universities are choosing to scale back admissions for both graduate programs and REUs and the University of Southern California have all either paused graduate admissions cut down on the number of graduate students they’re admitting during this cycle “Admitting students into PhD programs represents a substantial long-term financial commitment. The financial uncertainties stemming from agencies withholding new grant awards and potentially eliminating research lines following executive order reviews have complicated these decisions significantly,” said Emily Miller deputy vice president for institutional policy at the Association of American Universities “These substantial funding reductions will adversely impact early-career scholars and impede the transformational research necessary to address complex challenges facing our nation and world.” Tyler Stotland a former climate change geospatial fellow at the USDA was affected by recent federal terminations Stotland plans to apply to graduate school in the coming months and worries that funding uncertainties will affect the application process “It’s very nerve-racking to be in this position now to see … graduate programs scaling back or not accepting admissions this cycle and people having their graduate school acceptances rescinded,” she said On r/REU, a Reddit community for undergraduate students applying to REU programs, many users expressed frustration in a “Cancellation Megathread” that some programs were cutting back their admissions or canceling them altogether.  I'm watching my students get these emails about program cancellations and my heart is breaking.NSF REUs are why I am an astronomer and an educator today One user posted an email from the codirectors of DREU (Distributed Research Experiences for Undergraduates) a computing research program “We want to make you aware of a potential challenge this year,” codirectors wrote “Due to the recent uncertainty surrounding federal funding for the DREU program we strongly encourage you to explore additional research opportunities alongside DREU We want to ensure you have a range of options.” Another user posted a similar email from an astronomy REU program at the University of Texas many NSF REU programs across the country are facing unexpected federal funding challenges Due to the current uncertainty in NSF federal funding for our own UT Austin Astronomy NSF REU program we unfortunately have to cancel the program this summer We hope to resume the program next summer if NSF funding is provided later this year.” —Grace van Deelen (@gvd.bsky.social) Fans and broadcasters were critical of Marco Reus' defensive lapses in the Galaxy's loss to St playHow much will LA Galaxy miss Riqui Puig in MLS Cup final (1:22)Herculez Gomez and Mauricio Pedroza discuss Riqui Puig's ACL injury ahead of the MLS Cup final LA Galaxy midfielder Marco Reus said he's "not sure" if he'll be fit and available for Saturday's MLS Cup final match against the New York Red Bulls I'm really confident that I will be there," said the Galaxy star during a media availability on Thursday Despite needing to recover from a groin issue that saw him play limited time in last week's 1-0 Western Conference final victory over Seattle Sounders FC Reus remains hopeful for a return this Saturday so tomorrow we have another day and then one more night It's a little bit the question of the timing but I'm pretty confident that we'll be fine," said the German playmaker The absence of Reus would mean a second prominent player out for the Galaxy who will also be without MLS Best XI winner Riqui Puig In the second half of the win over the Sounders Puig suffered an ACL tear that will require surgery and an undetermined amount of time off the pitch Missing an additional leader would put the favorites -- looking for their first MLS Cup trophy in 10 years -- in a tough spot "He's [Pec] a baller to be honest, we know how dangerous he is and we've seen what he's done all year long but we've played really quality players all year long as well," said Tolkin on Thursday. "We respect him, but we also want to kick the s--t out of them [the Galaxy]. I think we're gonna try and do that this weekend and it's what we've done all year long and I think we got to just hone in on that this weekend." Doing so also means employing a strategy in which the Red Bulls are more than happy to give up possession away from home at Southern California's Dignity Health Sports Park. "Without the ball, it's no problem for us, if we can frustrate them that way, it's no problem because I don't like to try and break down a tough team," said Tolkin. "Hopefully we can do that to these guys and pick up some loose balls, some loose strings and get them on the counter and capitalize." The Galaxy are looking to extend their league-leading tally of MLS Cups to six, while the Red Bulls are aiming for the first-ever after narrowly missing out in the 2008 final. ESPN's Jeff Carlisle contributed to this story. but felt that the opportunity to move to the United States with LA Galaxy was too good to turn down Marco Reus has admitted that he could have earned ten times more money in Saudi Arabia Borussia Dortmund legend Marco Reus made the decision to join MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy in the summer The former BVB captain has now commented on his move away from the club and his decision to opt for a move to the United States over Saudi Arabia Several clubs were interested in signing Reus this past summer, including in the Bundesliga. But he did not want to play for another Bundesliga club after leaving Borussia Dortmund "Saudi Arabia was also an option, but in the end we opted for a better life and the opportunity to continue building a business here, make new contacts and broaden our own horizons once again," Reus said on the TOMorrow Business, Stars & Lifestyle podcast (via Kicker) "I'm still earning good money here but if we're talking about Saudi Arabia it probably would have been ten times as much But I've never been a person who put money first I've always made sure that I feel comfortable with my family." who made 429 appearances for Borussia Dortmund and left as the club's second highest goalscorer of all time also reflected on his exit after 12 years at the club But that's probably because it was foreseeable that it was coming to an end." Marco Reus has made five appearances so far for LA Galaxy in the MLS and has one goal and two assists to his name He is currently on the road to recovery from a hamstring injury and will hope to return in time for the MLS playoffs © 2025 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER ","https://fansided.com/",{"alt":"5z","src":"60","url":"61"},{"type":"5y","value":"62"},"link","Minute Media","https://www.minutemedia.com/",{"text":"65","url":"66"},{"type":"64","value":"67"},"All Rights Reserved Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands Several clubs were interested in signing Reus this past summer, including in the Bundesliga. But he did not want to play for another Bundesliga club after leaving Borussia Dortmund "Saudi Arabia was also an option, but in the end we opted for a better life and the opportunity to continue building a business here, make new contacts and broaden our own horizons once again," Reus said on the TOMorrow Business, Stars & Lifestyle podcast (via Kicker) Marco Reus has made five appearances so far for LA Galaxy in the MLS and has one goal and two assists to his name Even before Reus' arrived on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund, the Galaxy were already stacked in the attacking department Head coach Greg Vanney was able to choose from the likes of Puig Dejan Joveljić and Diego Fagúndez on any given matchday LA Galaxy was an MLS Cup favorite prior to Reus's signing its chances of lifting MLS Cup in December vastly improved after signing a player who's been a part of cup-winning teams Reus was part of the Dortmund teams that won two German Cups and three German Super Cups Puig—who's enjoying an MVP caliber season with a career-high 28 goal contributions—explained in an exclusive interview with Sports Illustrated what it's like playing alongside the 35-year-old A post shared by Sports Illustrated Soccer (@si_soccer) we know what kind of player he is and how long he played for Borussia Dortmund and the career he's had," Puig said "He's a player that they also say that they're good players We have a different and special relationship on the field and with Marco it's the kind of player that I enjoy a lot inside the field." The ex-Barcelona midfielder also explained that it feels as if he's been playing with Reus for years instead of weeks due to the great chemistry between the two Reus has already logged two assists and one goal for the five-time MLS Cup winners "We've known each other for maybe two weeks and it feels like maybe three or four years ago that we've been playing together I think it's easy to play with this type of player." Puig and Reus aim to cap off the Galaxy's strong 2024 season with a win at Houston Dynamo on Decision Day Vanney's team sits in first place in the Western Conference table with 64 points and could clinch the number one seed in the division with a draw vs The Galaxy can also secure the number one spot in the West if in-state rivals LAFC drops points on the road at Vancouver Whitecaps. LAFC has two games in hand vs Vancouver and San Jose Earthquakes and must win both matches in order to give itself a chance at finishing atop the Western Conference BRADEN CHALKERBraden Chalker is a freelance writer for Sports Illustrated Soccer covering Major League Soccer and the U.S. men's national team. Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates Stay in the game all season long with the best of our new App features "Let me kick off by reiterating thanks to people My wife Priscilla and daughter Evie for putting up with me talking to Dirk about four times a day for the last three months at 11 o’clock at night until 6 in the morning and the Consul General Andrea Sasse (German Consulate General Los Angeles) who has graciously offered to be here today to translate and [Dan Beckerman and our ownership of AEG Dan was tremendously involved in the negotiations as well in helping make sure that we pushed the league at all times to get there] This is an incredibly special moment for me personally and professionally It’s been a two-and-a-half-month negotiation but the opportunity to bring in Marco with his pedigree his quality as a player and most importantly his character and who he is as a person and teammate is incredibly exciting for myself and the Los Angeles Galaxy Thrilled at having Marco here part of our team and look forward to making great memories with him here at the Galaxy.” “I was thrilled that the possibility was even alive I’ve been around the league long enough to know that we hear the names such as Marco and there’s still a long process that has to take place before these things actually get to this point where we are today the possibilities that it could potentially bring to the team and to be honest I stepped back and Will does his work and everybody and Marco and his people and Will was just giving me updates along the way Marco and I had a conversation and then after that conversation you start to really feel like things are getting to finalization if you will The feeling after that conversation was wonderful and it felt like everything was going to fit it was just a matter of getting things across the line and that takes a whole other set of circumstances and work as everybody knows I’m excited about the possibilities of Marco and our group and what we can accomplish." “When I decided not to play anymore for Borussia Dortmund I was thinking ‘OK what can I do?’ and of course I spoke with my family I wanted to continue to play football but my decision was to not play in Europe or the Bundesliga so the first contact was in May with the Galaxy and Will and I didn’t need so much time to make my decision the first feelings with the coach as well so I did my decision very fast.” “I actually saw a lot of games during my holidays the playoffs begins and at the moment everything is good so it’s a long way to get it done and win the championships so I think we have to be focused game by game and we will see young players and I think for the future for the next weeks we have a good team.” “You can see straight away the Barcelona school technique but it’s also important because it is not only me or Riqui We have a lot of good players on this team You can only win a championship together and not alone It is important that we are staying together It doesn’t matter if you have bad times or good times you can win championships.” “Of course I’m not the youngest guy anymore but I want to help the youngest players that they are growing up and getting better every day The small things in football are very important the goal for this club to win the championship to be successful and be with the organization and the club It’s 10 years since we won the championship so the time is now LA Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney stated that Marco Reus is expected to be available for Saturday's MLS Cup final match against the New York Red Bulls barring him walking inside and saying anything that I'm not expecting he should be ready to go tomorrow," said Vanney on Friday ahead of the weekend's home game at Dignity Health Sports Park On Thursday, Reus initially had doubts about his presence after the midfielder stated, "I'm not sure," regarding the odds of his availability after being limited due to a groin issue in last week's 1-0 Western Conference final victory over Seattle Sounders FC the Galaxy will avoid a situation in which they would have had a second prominent player missing after the recent ACL tear for MLS Best XI winner Riqui Puig Widely seen as the favorites due to being the No and also for hosting the championship match the Galaxy will be seeking to extend their league-leading tally of MLS Cup titles to six Although the Red Bulls exceeded expectations as the No officially making them the lowest seed to qualify for the MLS Cup final head coach Sandro Schwarz doesn't view his team as underdogs that we are playing like an underdog or to go into the first [playoff] round against Columbus and to play like an underdog," said Schwarz on Friday I don't know how you can play as [an] underdog when it's kickoff because then you have these situations The path to a possible first-ever MLS Cup title for the Red Bulls required a run through the playoffs which isn't typically the norm across many European competitions that tend to rely on just the regular season "Playoffs is great! It's a great competition at the end of the season," said a smiling Schwarz, who played professionally back home in Germany "I would also say when you have 34 games like in Europe or also here these 34 [regular season] games consistently when you are here when you get the most points The Galaxy are returning to the MLS Cup final for the first time since 2014 while the Red Bulls are returning from their first and only appearance in 2008 Reus has been working hard to rehabilitate from a groin injury and could play a bigger role in the MLS Cup final with Riqui Puig out -- Marco Reus has played in nine major cup finals throughout his career it's important that you believe in yourself," Reus said "small details will be really important." With the LA Galaxy hosting their biggest game in a decade, the MLS Cup final against a plucky New York Red Bulls side Saturday at 4 pm ET Reus' attention to detail and his experience in some of the biggest games in German club soccer history could be crucial for a Galaxy side that was rebuilt on the fly last offseason and features several young players on the rise in Gabriel Pec and Dejan Joveljić With the LA Galaxy now missing their brightest star in Riqui Puig Reus - who has largely been a depth piece this season since joining the team summer - will likely be thrust into a bigger role Saturday it's a stage he's more than ready for "Marco is at the top of guys who have played in big environments and big moments," Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney told GOAL "He's just coming off [the 2024] Champions League final.. So I think he helps to bring that sort of preparation He brings the energy down so the guys can be free and play the way they want." LA Galaxy midfielder Marco Reus and defender Maya Yoshida have been named to Major League Soccer's Team of the Matchday following the Galaxy's 2-0 win over Atlanta United on matchday 29 In 28 minutes played as a second-half substitute on his debut Reus tallied a goal and an assist in his debut for the Galaxy Reus is the first player in club history to register a goal and an assist off the bench in their regular-season debut for the Galaxy native is the 28th player in Galaxy history to score on his debut for the club and the 20th player in team history to register an assist in their first career appearance for LA completed 31 of 33 passes (93.9%) and won four possessions recorded three clearances and won a team-high eight possessions and three interceptions who scored the first of the two goals in the Galaxy's win over Atlanta made the bench for the MLS Team of the Matchday completed 100 of 113 passes (88.5%) and five of eight dribbles won 11 of 17 duels and three fouls and recorded two interceptions in the win over Atlanta playWhy McKennie could end up going to MLS or Saudi Arabia (0:55)Herc Gomez discusses why he thinks Weston McKennie could move to MLS or Saudi Arabia from Juventus The 35-year-old German was out of contract this summer after closing out a lengthy run with Dortmund that began in 2012 He will occupy an international roster slot once his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC) are approved but I don't want to continue in Europe because of my past in Dortmund," he told ESPN but I think I have a lot of energy in my tank I'm here to bring the championship home and together Recently with the Bundesliga club that reached the Champions League final in June Reus scored 171 goals in 426 appearances across league and cup matches as well as earning two German Cup titles (2017 At the international level, Reus has appeared 48 times for Germany The attack-minded midfielder could be the missing piece of the puzzle for the resurgent Galaxy, who are sitting at the top of MLS' Western Conference table essentially you can come here and wake a sleeping giant in a new MLS," Galaxy general manager Will Kuntz told ESPN "We've kind of entered a new age since the Galaxy were last champions but I do believe that this is the biggest club and to win here means more and then also to play with a different type of team We have a starting 11 that has guys from five different continents on it in a very international city and that's something we're really proud of," he said traveling a continent that masquerades as a country and all these unique challenges that he's kind of never encountered before .. overcome some new obstacles and test yourself in different ways." The Galaxy acquired the Discovery Priority to Reus from Charlotte FC in exchange for $400,000 in General Allocation Money ($100,000 in 2024 GAM; $300,000 in 2025 GAM) Following a dismal 2023 season that ended without a playoff spot the Galaxy have emerged as title contenders in 2024 with the second-highest tally of points (49) in MLS the Galaxy will have even greater attacking tools with the signing of Reus as they aim to win their first MLS Cup title since 2014 Currently on a short break after their round-of-32 exit in this year's Leagues Cup tournament, the Galaxy will return to play on Aug. 24 in a home game against Atlanta United FC The five-time MLS Cup champion has eight games left in the regular season before the playoffs begin This story was updated to add new information MIAMI ― Venice has been as steady as the tides this year it put a bow on the 2024 season with an emphatic 52-19 win over Lake Mary in the Class 7A State Final at Pitbull Stadium While the Indians are loaded at virtually every position group one Venice player has had as big of an impact this season as anyone else on the roster Kicker Brunno Reus tallied 119 total points from field goals and PATs this season which set a new single-season record in Florida who finished the 2011 season with 110 points "Breaking this record is definitely pretty cool but nothing beats being state champs with the best group of guys," Reus said "I wouldn't have been able to beat this record without those guys." Reus' season is tied-22nd nationally for most points in a season by a kicker in the MaxPreps era He knocked through 91 PATs and nine field goals including a 21-yard game-winner against Cocoa and a 42-yarder that forced overtime in an eventual win over Miami Northwestern there's one that was a bit sweeter than the rest for Reus Reus went 4-for-4 on field goals and 3-for-3 on PATs in a 33-27 win and Venice punched its ticket to the state final in turn Venice head coach John Peacock has been vocal about Reus' value all season long Anytime the Indians are in a two-minute drill Peacock knows he just needs to get Venice somewhere around the 30-yard line and he'll more than likely walk away from the drive having scored "Brunno is unbelievable," Peacock said after the team’s regular season win over Cocoa "Obviously his field goal wasn't very long but we knew on that last drive we just had to get about the 30 Reus signed with Florida State in the early signing period. He was originally committed to USF but flipped to the Seminoles just a few days after receiving an offer. The Galaxy introduced Reus, who has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the club. “It’s a little bit hard to say, to be honest, it’s not a popular league in Germany, but when players come here like [Lionel] Messi, for example, then they pay attention,” Reus said. “I think this league is great, where great players play — especially on this team. I’ve seen a lot of very good games.” Reus was not under contract with Dortmund, but the Galaxy had to pay $400,000 to Charlotte FC in GAM, or general allocation money, for the player’s discovery rights. “In MLS, it’s not as simple as saying, ‘OK, we want to sign you,’ because you have to deal with a lot of things, including the discovery rights,” Galaxy general manager Will Kuntz. “... When you sign a player of Marco’s caliber and it’s not a designated player contract, there’s a lot of hoops and disclosures that you have to go through with the league in this. There’s a sort of disbelief, right, sort of assuming we must be paying under the table.” Galaxy has recorded 17 goals and 21 assists in 61 games played (59 starts) across all competitions since joining the Galaxy in August 2022 Coach Gregg Vanney said he expects to use the Reus who was was part of Germany’s 2018 World Cup team slotting him into multiple positions on the field “He’s a great player and he can be versatile he can have different roles among our group,” Vanney said “We’ve talked about certain areas on the pitch where we want to give him the ball that he can help us generate our attack and that could be more in a midfield role.” The Galaxy have star Riqui Puig in midfield leading an attack that would differ a bit from what Reus would offer, but the new signee doesn’t see that as a problem. “This can be good, together, but it is also important not only [to think] about me or Riqui, there are very good players in this team,” Reus said. “You can only win a championship together and not alone. It’s important that we stick together in the good times and in the bad times.” Vanney said Reus has been in Los Angeles for a week and expects his visa to be processed as soon as possible so that he can be part of the team’s game against Atlanta FC on Aug. 24 at Dignity Health Sports Park (7 p.m. PT, AppleTV). The Galaxy are currently in first place in the Western Conference with 49 points with eight games remaining. This article first appeared in Spanish via L.A. Times en Español. San Diego Loyal soccer team coach Landon Donovan looks on during a practice at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center on Jan. 28, 2020. (K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune) The San Diego Wave announced Friday that former Galaxy star Landon Donovan, 42, will serve as the new interim head coach through the remainder of the 2024 season. Donovan, who lives in San Diego, previously was the executive vice president of soccer operations for the San Diego Loyal following three years as the inaugural head coach for the USL club. Wave president Jill Ellis asked Donovan if he could recommend anyone to coach the NWSL club through the end of the season. Previous interim coach Paul Buckle had previous commitments and could only lead the team during the Olympic break. “And I thought about it for a little bit. I didn’t respond for a few hours,” Donovan told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “I talked to my wife and I said, ‘Huh, that could be interesting.’ And so I sent Jill a message back and said, ‘There’s some people I could think of, but I would also be interested if you want to have that conversation.’ And she called and we started the process.” Donovan said he spent a couple weeks “really digging deep” to make sure he was ready for the job, knowing that there are differences between the women’s and men’s games. He watched the team practice, and was sold. “There’s a lot of good qualities with a lot of the players,” Donovan said. “There’s some pretty bad habits that we can break pretty quickly, which is exciting for me. And I think there’s a willingness and an excitement by all of these women to probably have a fresh start and get going and push towards a really good end of the season.” Donovan was one of U.S. Soccer’s most decorated players before switching to coaching, winning six MLS Cup titles — four with the Galaxy — and becoming the only American player to surpass both 50 goals and assists during his career. His 157 appearances are second-most all-time in U.S. men’s soccer history. Jad El Reda, nació en Colombia, de padres libaneses. Tomó clases de periodismo en español en el programa de UCLA Extension. Trabajó como colaborador con HOY Los Ángeles en 2007 y volvió para ser parte del equipo de editores de HOY Deportes en febrero de 2014. Jad hace parte del equipo editorial de Deportes del LA Times en Español. Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map Just a few short months after moving to the LA Galaxy of America's MLS German footballing legend Marco Reus has a chance to win the third major trophy of his career today Unfortunately for the 35-year-old whose career has often been defined by ill-timed injuries adductor problems may sideline him for today's MLS Cup Final against the New York Red Bulls.  Reus famously had to withdraw from Germany's 2014 World Cup winning squad just prior to the tournament. The former BVB captain also missed out on the 2022 World Cup and 2016 Euros. On the mend from multiple injuries sustained during the 2020/21 Bundesliga camapaign, Reus famously declined a call-up to participate in the 2021 Summer Euros. The Dortmund native captured two German domestic cups with his hometown side In an interview with German public broadcaster RTL/n-tv Reus expressed hope that he might yet get a chance with his current American team despite his current status Reus' involvement will be decided shortly before kick-off.  but I'm hopeful it will work out," Reus told the German public broadcaster "One must remain positive and that's what I am It's unquestionably the game of the year."  "I didn't come here to let my career fade," Reus also noted "It would be a wonderful feeling to declare myself a champion here after such a short time Barça's roller hockey team closed the regular season with a 2–2 draw against Reus Deportiu at the Palau Blaugrana Though the result didn’t affect the standings as Barça had already secured top spot weeks ago the match still delivered the intensity expected from a 'clásico' in this sport but Barça replied each time with goals from Matias Pascual and Sergi Llorca and Llorca struck again minutes later on the counter The match also marked the debut of 19-year-old Àlex Ortigosa Despite some late drama and a final-minute blue card to Pascual Barça now turn their focus to the playoff quarter-finals against PAS Alcoi set for mid-May — a tie that will also see the club retire Sergi Panadero’s shirt Marco Reus is just one game away from winning his first ever league title Six months ago, Reus ended his 12-year senior career with Borussia Dortmund on the wrong side of another Champions League final. Real Madrid celebrated its 15th UCL title just yards away from where the German bid farewell to his time in a black and yellow shirt Finishing as a runner-up in his final appearance for Dortmund encapsulated Reus's entire career with the Bundesliga giants The Dortmund native signed with his hometown club in 2012 and recorded 301 goal contributions in his 429 appearances over the next 12 years Reus never added a Champions League or a Bundesliga title to his trophy cabinet he finished second in the Bundesliga seven times and lost two Champions League finals Of course coming up short in the Champions League is heartbreaking enough but perhaps no campaign delivered a harsher blow than Dortmund's failure to win the Bundesliga in 2023 Reus could do nothing but watch from the bench as Dortmund only managed a draw with VfL Bochum 1848 on the final matchday of the season handing Bayern Munich what should have been BVB's title Fast forward a year and a half later, Reus is now on the cusp of yet another league title. But this time, he is playing with an LA Galaxy crest on his shirt. The midfielder signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the winningest team in Major League Soccer back in August Reus followed the footsteps of David Beckham Gareth Bale and more as he headed to the United States after a career at the top of Europe Although he did not join LA Galaxy with an overflowing trophy cabinet like Beckham Reus came with plenty of individual accolades The midfielder was named Bundesliga Player of the Year on three separate occasions and also was recognized as German Footballer of the Year in 2012 and 2019 It did not take long for Reus to hit the ground running in Los Angeles The 35-year-old recorded a goal and an assist in his debut for the Galaxy in just 28 minutes on the pitch Reus would go on to make five more appearances for Greg Vanney's side before experiencing his first ever MLS Cup playoffs his postseason berth with LA Galaxy is turning out to be another dream playing 69 minutes and bagging an assist along the way The German earned his second consecutive postseason start in the following match but had to come off at halftime due to a groin injury Injuries have plagued Reus throughout his entire career relegating him to the sidelines time and time again he suffered an ankle injury and had to withdraw from Germany's squad Joachim Löw's team would go on to win the tournament Ready to shine on @MLS’s biggest stage 🌟 pic.twitter.com/YpkcE8zaXe LA Galaxy come into the final as the favorites to lift the Philip F but the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs have proven that anything can happen over the course of 90 minutes knows the harsh reality of finishing as a runner-up and it will be on him and his teammates to avoid an upset against Red Bulls Reus might have imagined winning his first league title for his boyhood club but helping secure LA Galaxy's record-sixth MLS Cup would etch his name in MLS history AMANDA LANGELLAmanda Langell is a Sports Illustrated Soccer freelance writer covering the European game and international competitions. Marco Reus put Major League Soccer on notice Saturday night with a super-sub debut, recording a goal and an assist to lead the LA Galaxy's 2-0 win over Atlanta United really excited before the game,” Reus shared afterwards at Dignity Health Sports Park really excited to come in and get a couple of minutes from the coach with the team really happy that we found a way to win the game.” In his first game in more than two months, Reus assisted Riqui Puig's 76th-minute curler The former German international and Borussia Dortmund star ensured victory with a late goal from close range (84’) Postgame, Puig quickly took to X (Twitter) to share his excitement at linking up with another uber-talented attacker. This season, he's already done so with Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic to great effect “I hope that's a glimpse of what's to come I think they can be very compatible because you see what Riqui does Marco isn't going to do,” remarked Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney Tonight I saw some of what it can look like and the key now is to continue to grow that relationship and those around them.” Who says we don't need Reus? pic.twitter.com/2xJmpp50nD already developing a spark with the FC Barcelona product We try to find each other and to help each other in difficult ways,” Reus said “I gave him an easy assist and I was really Reus showed his impact extends beyond goal contributions – using intelligent positioning and silky passing to notch a match-high three chances created and two shots on target “I thought he came in and he brought class he made things look a little bit easy at times,” Vanney said of the three-time Bundesliga Player of the Year “You see his quality out on the field and the pedigree is there Welcome to @MLS, legend 💫 pic.twitter.com/Ti8v3W6DyV Reus’ title-winning experience will benefit LA as the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs approach LA have seven regular-season games remaining and are first in the Western Conference table with 52 points. They're also in the Supporters' Shield hunt, four points back of leaders Inter Miami CF I’m very happy for the team,” added Galaxy captain Maya Yoshida he [lifted] our midfielders or strikers to [another] level because I feel this kind of chemistry … This could be another level that we needed We still need to catch up with the other several clubs who we need to fight for the titles.” Reus reminded everyone he's focused on trophies “It's not about me, it's about the team that we can continue this way,” said Reus, who formally signed 10 days ago “[We] want to be champions after the season GOAL takes a look at some of the biggest storylines surrounding the defending champions ahead of the 2025 season LA Galaxy sort of chugged away last season. While all eyes were on Inter Miami and their spring to the Supporters' Shield, the Galaxy steadily picked up points out west. The only real drama came on the final day of the regular season when they were narrowly pipped to the top seed of the Western Conference by LAFC this was a well-rounded side full of quality and Dejan Joveljic added quality elsewhere And even though they looked wide open in transition at times the Galaxy had enough to pretty much outscore everyone else when it came to the playoffs Ahead of the 2025 season, things look different in Los Angeles. Puig is gone for a good chunk of the season after tearing his ACL in last year's playoffs but head coach Greg Vanney made it clear that the Galaxy will have their star man in some capacity this season There are issues elsewhere, too. Joveljic plays for Sporting KC now. Paintsil will miss nearly two months with a hamstring injury But there is good news. A full season of former Dortmund star Marco Reus should undoubtedly raise the levels while a couple of new signings should make things interesting for the experience that comes with winning things GOAL takes a look at the Galaxy and tries to answer some of the biggest questions ahead of their MLS Cup defense Former Borussia Dortmund star and German international Marco Reus has signed with the LA Galaxy The attacking midfielder is under contract through 2026 after being a free agent He was signed using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) To acquire Reus' Discovery Priority, LA sent Charlotte FC $400,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) split across this season and next year "Marco Reus is a world-class player who has excelled at the highest level of the sport including playing in two Champions League finals for Borussia Dortmund and in the FIFA World Cup with the German national team," general manager Will Kuntz said in a statement to join the Galaxy after playing his entire career in Germany is a testament to the project we are continuing to build at the club We look forward to Marco’s contributions to the LA Galaxy as we enter the critical final stretch of the 2024 MLS season and beyond." His next adventure begins 💙🤍💛 pic.twitter.com/FwJKupSY56 Reus spent the last dozen years at Dortmund capping his farewell with a run to the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League final he rose to prominence at Borussia Mönchengladbach The three-time German Bundesliga Player of the Season and one-time UEFA Team of the Year honoree boasts 239 goals and 163 assists in 628 professional matches Reus tallied 15 goals and 14 assists in 48 caps for Germany highlighted by appearances at the 2012 Euros and the 2018 World Cup "We are excited to welcome Marco to the team," head coach Greg Vanney said in a statement "He is a proven winner and leader whose talent and vision for the game will integrate seamlessly into the group as we prepare for the restart of the league and the run into the playoffs." 🐐 Marco goes to Hollywood 🌴🎬 pic.twitter.com/24VOLi2tYQ LA are among the highest-scoring teams in MLS this season (50 goals), largely fueled by Riqui Puig, Joseph Paintsil, Gabriel Pec, Diego Fagúndez and Dejan Joveljic arrived this winter as Designated Players alongside Puig With that attacking firepower, Vanney's team is first in the Western Conference table at the Leagues Cup break have long signed big-name players from top European leagues that included stars ranging from David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimović to Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard READ MORE: MLS Transfer Tracker presented by Avant playLA Galaxy blank Atlanta United in 2-0 win (0:58)Ricard Puig and Marco Reus both score in the LA Galaxy's win over Atlanta United It's Monday, and another week of MLS action is in the books which means it's time for ESPN's Power Rankings Our Power Rankings are derived from a combination of key season statistics (points per game the Opta computer ratings and the observations of our writers Luis Suárez's two goals inside of six minutes were all Miami needed to take down Cincy in their return to MLS play Even spending 48 minutes down a man couldn't slow down the Shield leaders play1:44Luis Suarez grabs his brace in the first six minutesLuis Suarez scores two goals in the opening six minutes for Inter Miami vs The Crew won the Leagues Cup to take home their second trophy in as many years Now they finally get to turn their full attention to league play where a second straight MLS Cup is within reach this fall LAFC lost in the Leagues Cup final to Columbus coming up one win short in the Ohio capital once more With both teams a decent bet to make the MLS Cup final again in December the Black and Gold will want to finish the regular season strong and earn home-field advantage for the potential rematch The German star scored a goal and added an assist in his Galaxy debut as LA beat Atlanta He's going to be a hell of a weapon for a team that was already one of the league's best Cincy spent more than a half up a man in Miami and had nothing to show for it in a 2-0 loss This isn't the first time they've struggled against 10 men which is a peculiar problem for a good team but more concerning now is the eight-point gap between them and Inter The Rapids are heading to the Concacaf Champions Cup thanks to their third-place finish in the Leagues Cup Now they have eight MLS matches on tap to hold onto their top four seed in the West but they struggled to finish and had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Charlotte but the reason they are here and not among the league's top teams is the lack of top-end players in front of goal RSL had high hopes of riding a soft back half of their schedule to the top of the West but they lost the softest match in MLS this season -- home to San Jose The Caps returned from Leagues Cup play with a bye It was a wild one in Portland and Felipe Mora was at the heart of it with two goals But the red card didn't doom the Timbers in the slightest as Evander followed it up with a gorgeous stoppage-time free kick to earn Portland a 4-4 draw against St Charlotte looked predictably sloppy in its first match since Aug but it still scratched out a draw against the Red Bulls A win would have been massive for the Crown who remain four points back of RBNY for fourth in the East NYCFC blew a two-goal lead at home to draw Chicago in a disappointing match for the Pigeons They're now winless in their last five and leaning really hard on that stretch in April and May when they won eight of nine Seattle went to Minnesota and walked away 3-2 winners thanks to a late Albert Rusnak goal taking him up to second on the club's all-time scoring list It will be very cool when the hometown kid holds the Sounders' record but in the meantime all eyes are on climbing into the top four of the West play0:43Albert Rusnák rips one from outside the box for a Sounders leadSeattle Sounders take a 3-2 lead in the 75th minute as Albert Rusnák finds the back of the net from outside the box The Dynamo's schedule is fairly backloaded with home games so the hope was they'd reel off some wins in Houston to close the season and maybe grab the fourth seed in the West they have not been very good at home this season and a 1-0 loss to Toronto did not help The Five Stripes got done in by Reus as they lost in LA 2-0 It was a painful reminder of how much star power has departed Atlanta in recent transfer windows leaving them unspectacular against teams with game-winning talent but they didn't -- and it was all Sporting from then on Even going up a man for the last 20 minutes didn't help the Lions as they lost 3-0 in Kansas City Herculez Gomez and Cristina Alexander debate the biggest storylines and break down the best highlights that soccer in the Americas has to offer. Stream on ESPN+ (U.S. only) Prince Owusu's header was all TFC needed to steal a 1-0 win in Houston Next up is the second leg of the Canadian Championship semifinals and if the Reds can pair a cup final with their place in the playoff race then it will be a heck of a first full season for John Herdman in Toronto Kelvin Yeboah came in and scored a pair in his Minnesota debut because the defense was a mess as the Sounders won 3-2 at Allianz Field The Union followed up two wins before the Leagues Cup with a run to the semifinals so they'll return to MLS play next week with plenty of wind at their backs Sebastian Lletget was outstanding with a goal and two assists He was a threat every time he got on the ball as Dallas picked apart D.C en route to a 4-3 win that has them only one point from a playoff spot and potentially taking the interim tag off of coach Peter Luccin The goalkeeper was the best player on the pitch and earned his side a 2-0 win over Nashville play0:52Jon Gallagher scores a goal for Austin FCJon Gallagher scores a goal in the 43rd minute to give Austin FC a 1-0 lead Losing 2-0 to Austin is bad. Doing so while new signing Patrick Yazbek is taken off because "allegations of the use of offensive language" is very The Leagues Cup break didn't help out Nashville at all Another Christian Benteke dunk was not enough for D.C. whose defense fell apart in a 4-3 loss to Dallas but battled back for a 2-2 draw that kept them in the fight for a playoff spot and anybody could pick out a slew of flaws and it's serving them well as they look to get back in the postseason for the first time since 2017 On the night Sporting honored Benny Feilhaber they put on a show that made the former showstopper proud Even a Willy Agada red card couldn't stop the party in KC as Remi Walter added a goal with 10 men to round out the 3-0 win over Orlando Who would have guessed that the Revs would still be in the playoff hunt come the end of August after the way their season started But they certainly are after battering CFM to put themselves within two points of ninth place If New England can keep Carles Gil healthy they may even be a good bet to snag one of the last couple playoff spots at this point City had three different two-goal leads in Portland so when they conceded in stoppage time for a 4-4 draw it was definitely a case of a painful two points lost and a waste of Marcel Hartel's three assists in his STL debut but management didn't act like they wanted to make a run with a rather quiet close to the transfer window CFM then proceeded to play like a team that didn't have a playoff run in them The Quakes may have won the Most Surprising Result of the MLS Season on Saturday They went into Salt Lake and played a good RSL team right off the pitch for only their second win since May 11 Former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marco Reus has joined LA Galaxy on a free transfer The Athletic reported in June that the MLS club were in advanced talks over a deal to bring the 35-year-old to the United States after he left Dortmund in May The German midfielder has now signed a two-and-a-half-year contract through the end of the 2026 MLS season “Marco Reus is a world-class player who has excelled at the highest level of the sport including playing in two Champions League Finals for Borussia Dortmund and in the FIFA World Cup with the German National Team,” said LA Galaxy General Manager Will Kuntz a two-time Bundesliga Footballer of the Year “We look forward to Marco’s contributions to the LA Galaxy as we enter the critical final stretch of the 2024 MLS season and beyond.” Charlotte FC and St. Louis City also held discussions with Reus over a potential move but the former Germany international decided in favour of a move to Los Angeles “We are excited to welcome Marco to the team,” said LA Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney “He is a proven winner and leader whose talent and vision for the game will integrate seamlessly into the group as we prepare for the restart of the league and the run into the playoffs.” Marco Reus: The Champions League final star who could be moving to MLS Reus left Dortmund at the end of last season following the expiry of his contract. His last match for the club came in the 2-0 defeat against Real Madrid in the Champions League final He began his career in Dortmund’s academy before leaving in 2006 to join Rot Weiss Ahlen He later played for Borussia Monchengladbach from 2009 to 2012 before returning to Dortmund scoring 170 goals and providing 131 assists and played a crucial role in Dortmund’s journey to the 2013 Champions League final He was also named Germany’s footballer of the year in 2012 and 2019 in a story of 'the rich getting richer,' that's essentially what General Manager Will Kuntz and Head Coach Greg Vanney have done Their roster already supported the talent of Riqui Puig and Dejan Joveljic They added Joseph Painstil and Gabriel Pec this year one of the most eye-pooping acquistiions the LA Galaxy made this year game just two months ago The Western Conference front-runner signed Marco Reus to come play stateside in Major League Soccer In the 28th game of the regular season for the Galaxy Reus made his debut at Dignity Health Sports Park against Atlanta United The result sent shockwaves around not only the Western Conference but the entire league It took just 14 minutes for former Borussia Dortmund legend to record his first MLS point via the assist to Puig's goal Reus would assist on the fourth goal in the game against LAFC (also scored by Puig) We already know Dejan Joveljic is the Galaxy's leading scorer thus far with 14 goals on the year The next three have players have 10 goals or more: Puig Those three are also the leading assist getters: one Pec and Puig have 25 points on the season while Paintsil has 20 Even Joveljic's five assists help give him 19 points thus far Could you imagine five players on the same team with at least ten goals and twenty points If Reus played in at least 30 of the Galaxy's 34 games The newest member of the LA Galaxy has yet to play more than one full game this year Joveljic is signed through at least next season Puig and Paintsil are inked for another year after that while Pec is locked in through 2028 especially ones held by the Galaxy already ","https://fansided.com/",{"alt":"62","src":"63","url":"64"},{"type":"61","value":"65"},"link","Minute Media","https://www.minutemedia.com/",{"text":"68","url":"69"},{"type":"67","value":"6a"},"All Rights Reserved a full season with Marco Reus on the LA Galaxy","relatedPosts",[],[],[],true,4,0,"",{"next":"9k"},["3y"],"semantic",{"articles":"9e","articlesQueryURLs":"9f","bySearchQuery":"3q","excludeProperties":"4i","excludedIDs":"9g","isFullPost":"9h","limit":"9i","offset":"9j","onlyQueryURLs":"9h","organization":"9k","pagination":"9l","properties":"9m","sourceType":"9n"},{"type":"9d","value":"9o"},{"postsList":"9p"},"Since 2022 My first site has been NinerNoise (SF 49ers) I joined 8Points9Seconds (Indiana Pacers) in 2023 and a year later joined The View from Avalone (LA Galaxy).\n\nI also spent two seasons with The Tampa Bay Times covering High School Football in the Bay Area (FL) I am a two-time published author.\n\nFurthermore I retired from coaching Girls' Volleyball (ages 5-18) I still play the sport in addition to soccer Where would he and the team be in 34 games with the Los Angeles Galaxy If his first MLS appearance is any indication, Marco Reus is poised to take LA Galaxy to another level The Borussia Dortmund and Germany legend provided the Energy Moment of the Matchday presented by Celsius for Matchday 29 thanks to a dominant debut With Saturday's home match against Atlanta United scoreless Reus subbed on in the 62nd minute and immediately changed the tone at Dignity Health Sports Park Reus, who joined LA in mid-August, assisted Riqui Puig's curling opener before sealing a 2-0 win with a clinical close-range finish "I'm here to help my teammates and to get better every single day .. to bring new energy into this team," Reus said post-match the energy was really good when I arrived here It was really easy for me to join this group because we have really good people around the team." Reus kept the Galaxy atop the Western Conference standings with 52 points, four shy of Supporters' Shield-leading Inter Miami CF It's about the team that we can continue this way," the three-time German Bundesliga Player of the Year added Reus and LA will look to continue their momentum Sunday at St. Louis CITY SC (2:45 pm ET | Apple TV - Free Marco Reus didn't just debut—he dominated. 😤 pic.twitter.com/rlwKQ3R2Y2 Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Marco Reus' goal with the LA Galaxy is simple Even after a decorated career with Borussia Dortmund and the German national team his drive for trophies remains unchanged as he embarks on a new chapter I'm not the youngest guy anymore," Reus told reporters Friday at his introductory press conference "But I want to help the youngest players [improve] every day I think the goal for this club is to win championships and to be successful with the organization it's been 10 years I think since the last time we won the championship At the Leagues Cup break LA are first in the Western Conference and their 50 goals scored are the third-most in MLS the record five-time MLS Cup champions integrate Reus a three-time Bundesliga Player of the Year who helped Dortmund to two UEFA Champions League finals Reus memorably featured at the 2012 Euros and 2018 World Cup can play within different roles within our group," said head coach Greg Vanney is certain areas on the field where we would like to get him and like to get him the ball to be able to help us create our attacks So I think a lot of times that could be a midfield type of role as we get working together and we see together what can best benefit our team down the stretch and to win a championship those are things that we would consider for sure But I think his overall quality speaks for itself and can help our team." MR18 pic.twitter.com/lqmWXU2usb Reus said he first contacted Galaxy general manager Will Kuntz in May, beginning a lengthy dialogue between the camps that culminated with his arrival the 35-year-old was a free agent before signing a Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) deal through 2026 During his time off, Reus watched his new team and their prolific attacking core centered around playmaker Riqui Puig and the winger duo of Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil – LA's three Designated Players "I actually saw a lot of games during my holidays so at the moment I think we are in good shape," he said "I think there are eight games left until the playoffs begin so I think we have to be focused game by game and we will see Marco Reus is a G. #LAGalaxy x @kinecta pic.twitter.com/shVRnE7reK Reus' first training session was on Thursday, as he looks to get fit and acclimated for his debut. With the Galaxy eliminated from Leagues Cup, his first chance to do so could come on Aug. 24 when LA host Atlanta United (10:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass). "Any time a player of Marco's experiences and pedigree comes I look forward to it," Vanney said. "Because I think even with all of our players, it doesn't matter if it's Marco or anyone else, I think our desires are the same, which is to win championships, to be the best version of us we can be." Marco Reus delivered a hilarious X-rated speech to supporters after getting his hands on a first career title, the MLS Cup with LA Galaxy. He had a contract and a uniform but he didn’t have a work permit And until he had one he would have to watch from the stands The win was the 400th in team history — an MLS first — and the sellout crowd of 25,174 made the Galaxy the first MLS club to draw more than 10 million fans But afterward the discussion centered on Reus who completely changed the game when he came on in the 62nd minute × (()=>{const e=document.getElementById("yt-img-7dLD8jCCffc");e&&e.addEventListener("load",(t=>{t.target.naturalWidth<=120&&(e.parentNode.children[0].srcset=e.parentNode.children[1].srcset=e.src)}),{once:!0})})() “He brought class he made things look a little bit easy at times.” like he was today,” added captain Maya Yoshida “This could be another level that we needed.” Nine minutes later he added his first MLS goal, banging in the rebound of his own shot to double the lead. “We got really lucky,” Galaxy president Will Kuntz said. German star Marco Reus sought a spot on the Galaxy roster but team executives still had to convince MLS they were complying with rules to sign him What made Reus’ situation unique was the timing Although Kuntz had been working on getting Reus signed for weeks he couldn’t do anything about the visa until the contract was signed And with less than two months left in the regular season the Galaxy had hours to complete a procedure that can take as long as eight weeks And there’s one more catch: All this has to be done at a U.S Embassy or consular office outside the country So when the Galaxy learned late Wednesday afternoon that the consulate in Vancouver Reus then had to reenter the country — and he had to do that Thursday night in order to participate in the Galaxy’s final training session before Saturday’s game who hasn’t played since going 19 minutes for Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final loss to Real Madrid was supposed to play only about 30 minutes Saturday Vanney sent him on for Mark Delgado with 28 minutes left in regulation and he made his presence felt immediately with his first touch in the penalty area leading to a handball call on Atlanta defender Derrick Williams Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan stuffed Joseph Paintsil’s penalty try to keep the game even, but the shutout lasted just nine more minutes before Reus set up Puig for what proved to be the winning goal. Soccer is embracing a somewhat unorthodox approach in his new role as San Diego Wave interim coach Despite his limited playing time, Reus created a team-high three scoring chances and matched Puig and Pec with a team-high two shots on goal, putting the second one past Guzan in the 84th minute. As debuts go, it may have been the best by a Galaxy player since Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a brace in 19 minutes against LAFC in 2018. And like Ibrahimovic, Reus has already learned to love L.A. “Besides the traffic, it’s really amazing,” he said. “The people are so friendly. The weather, it’s really nice. When you wake up in the morning and the sun is shining, you start different the day. “So I’m really, really happy every morning I come into the dressing room, and I’m just happy and excited.” Kevin Baxter writes about soccer and hockey for the Los Angeles Times. He has covered seven World Cups, five Olympic Games, six World Series and a Super Bowl and has contributed to three Pulitzer Prize-winning series at The Times and Miami Herald. An essay he wrote in fifth grade was voted best in the class. He has a cool dog. Already first in the Western Conference, the LA Galaxy could soon get a sizable boost from the transfer market LA are reportedly in advanced negotiations to sign German star Marco Reus who's currently a free agent after ending his memorable 12-year stay at Borussia Dortmund Head coach Greg Vanney addressed the links after LA's 3-2 home win over the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday evening "Anyone that we hopefully add in the summer window is somebody who can continue to make the team better," Vanney said hours before the MLS Secondary Transfer Window officially opened in the United States "A player of his profile gives you experience a championship mentality," Vanney added of the three-time German Bundesliga Player of the Season "Those types of things are always good for teams." Reus would certainly give the Galaxy's high-octane offense even more firepower Led by Designated Players Riqui Puig (7g/10a), Joseph Paintsil (7g/7a) and Gabriel Pec (9g/10a) the West's top team is currently tied for third-most goals (47) in the conference to get all those things that you need as you go down the tail end and you try to make a run at an MLS Cup," Vanney said "You try to use the summer window the best way possible to keep improving the team." Is Reus the missing piece who pushes the Galaxy into serious trophy contention "But I know the goal with the guys upstairs is to try to get more assets to help this team continue to improve and make a push." CARSON, Calif. -- Willkommen to MLS, Marco Reus Days after LA Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney stated that he would need "miracles" to finalize Reus' documentation before the weekend, the former Germany international provided a marvel of his own after debuting in the 62nd minute of Saturday's match against Atlanta United Backed by a vociferous sold-out home crowd of 25,174 at Dignity Health Sports Park the 35-year-old winger made a meteoric impact that highlighted he's not just in California for a pleasant west coast vacation at the end of his career Rapidly elevating an encounter that had struggled to catch fire Reus was noticeably incisive with his decision-making After providing a clever assist for Riqui Puig to open the scoring in the 76th minute Reus then sent the stadium into a frenzy with a goal of his own in the 84th to secure a dramatic 2-0 victory I'm not here to enjoy too much of the sun," Reus had told ESPN ahead of the game to try to bring the Championship back to the Galaxy." With the team currently sitting on top of MLS' Western Conference dreams of snapping an agonizing 10-year title drought for the league's all-time leading champions could soon materialize Guided by a youthful core of attacking players that have yet to reach the peak of their abilities the Galaxy had only lost five times in its previous 26 matches of the 2024 regular season and only two other teams in MLS surpassed its 50-goal tally So could Reus could be the extraterrestrial game-changer that helps the Galaxy's stars align and win its first MLS Cup in a decade You wouldn't blame optimistic fans for believing that more miracles may lie ahead: standing near the statues of Galaxy legends like Landon Donovan and David Beckham supporter Alex Martinez told ESPN before kick-off: "It's a big signing The evidence from Saturday's win is a clear indication of that Marco Reus came off the bench to grab a goal and assist vs Atlanta and turn the game on its head. Shaun Clark/Getty ImagesReus is here to play Yes he is another aging European superstar taking a final paycheck in MLS before retirement but the weekend's performance showed his ambition Stoically analyzing the Atlanta game from the bench --- and later close to the net while warming up in front of a fan that lifted a homemade "Willkommen Reus" sign --- the German knew exactly what to do Reus entered the field and turned it into a chessboard finding new avenues and ways to distribute and manipulate the ball up the field When asked before the match what he believed was his best talent the winger highlighted a trait that was on full display in his debut "It's always important to think about one or two steps earlier in different situations." Galaxy general manager Will Kuntz admitted that the winger has everything you need up front "His quality is obvious when you watch him play," he said "I think he's got positional versatility; he's obviously got huge game experience Most concerning for future opponents is that Reus wasn't fully fit against Atlanta the veteran admitted that he was "dead [tired] after a couple of minutes," and yet he still picked up an assist and goal without much trouble a lot of things," coach Vanney said after the game he made things look a little bit easy at times This is significant for a Galaxy side that hasn't exactly had things come easy in recent years. Saturday's party-like atmosphere and 2024 in general have been a welcome change of pace for the group that were once seen as fading giants in MLS, no longer able to keep pace with new franchises such as their crosstown rivals LAFC The Galaxy are now title-contenders with Reus in their squad But it's also important to note that it wasn't so long ago when they were not only struggling on the field Marco Reus won four trophies with Dortmund and twice finished as a Champions League runner-up. Shaun Clark/Getty ImagesTechnically speaking 2014's MLS Cup wasn't the last trophy that the Galaxy won --- if we're counting unofficial titles an award created by the Independent Supporters Council of North America (ISC) is given at the end of each season to supporters of the MLS team that finishes at the bottom of the overall standings "This is a trophy that no one wants, and it should be that way," ISC President Jeremy Wright said in 2016 With a paltry total of eight wins from 34 matches in the 2017 season, and a dead-last position in MLS' standings, supporters of the Galaxy were sent the Wooden Spoon For an organization that proudly boasts itself to be the most successful in MLS 2017 was a year to forget and the 8W-18L-8D record was cemented as its lowest in franchise Dan Thomas is joined by Craig Burley, Shaka Hislop and others to bring you the latest highlights and debate the biggest storylines. Stream on ESPN+ (U.S. only). who was grilling at the parking lot tailgate with his family before Saturday's game grimaced when discussing the 2017 season with ESPN "You go through those moments and you're like [exasperated sigh] Regardless of the long list of high-profile transfers added -- like Gio dos Santos Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez and Douglas Costa -- the Galaxy strategy prioritized headline-grabbing stars over on-field substance What followed was a playoff absence in five of its last seven seasons The team lacked cohesion and chemistry and from 2017-2023 the Galaxy was the second-worst team in MLS for goals allowed in the regular season with 399 let in through 223 games (via TruMedia/StatsPerform) it failed to claim a victory in 145 matches meaning that 65% of its regular season games ended without a win a Galaxy fan from Westminster at Saturday's tailgate who was eating with friends And while the signing of Reus seems to be a return to old ways what's different now is that he won't be the singular focus like many previous stars despite his otherworldly magic on Saturday is happy to be another piece of the Galaxy puzzle play0:51Why MLS is a 'good option' for Marco ReusJulien Laurens and Gab Marcotti discuss Marco Reus' links to St Instead of basking in the glory of his impressive debut was blunt in Saturday's post-match news conference about his preference for assisting over scoring so that [scoring] is always my target to help the team "Most of the time I like to give assists to my teammates." That statement is a testament to the new type of player the Galaxy are aiming for Gone are the days of the egocentric Ibrahimovic someone who referred to himself in the third person after scoring in his own Galaxy debut it may not be fair to compare the hunger of a goal scorer and the penchant of wanting to support as a wide midfielder but Reus seems genuine in his desire to be an equal part of Galaxy's group he doesn't want the lessons to be a one-way street either "I'm here to help my teammates to [get] better every During the limited time he's had training with the squad it's apparent that the veteran has already quickly helped tighten things up "In training, we feel more intense and more concentration, which is very good," Galaxy defender Maya Yoshida told the media before Saturday's game conceding the two set-pieces last week against Seattle that's the kind of things we need to improve He [Reus] can lift all the levels up to the next level." there's a recognition that he may also be a rotational figure and not a go-to starter or the fact that the Galaxy were actually doing quite well before he arrived Reus might sometimes be a bench option like he was on Saturday "It [Reus' arrival] allows us to maybe make some substitutions in games whether that's Marco coming in or Marco coming off it lets the group stay kind of maximally fresh as we come down the stretch run and then gives us a whole bunch of different weapons the ability to change how we want to set up from game to game or even half to half." That is something that we really want to do and we think Marco can be an ultimate piece for us," Kuntz said "My conversation with Marco was like: 'Look essentially you can come here and wake a sleeping giant.'" Doing so would require some more miracle moments but Reus will always make sure to highlight the fellow pieces of the puzzle around him "I'm here to bring the Championship home," he said one that seems to be connecting with many of his fellow Ghanaians back home In his spare time he’s quietly been cultivating a musical hobby cutting lively Afrobeat songs under the name Joe Paintsil that suggest he’s got almost as much dexterity on the mic as he does with the ball at his feet In fact, Paintsil released a new track last week, just in time for Saturday’s Cup final against the New York Red Bulls at Dignity Health Sports Park: “Blessing,” which seems to have taken more than a little inspiration from the Galaxy’s excellent season and Audi MLS Cup Playoffs run especially me making the good decision to join this fantastic club,” Paintsil told reporters in a wide-ranging entertaining roundtable at MLS Cup Media Day on Thursday at Dignity Health Sports Park I just told my agent this is the right move for me because how I feel within me and how my twin sister also feels so I think it was the right decision for me to take I'm really blessed that everything was really going as planned.” Paintsil carries a special bond with his twin sister Josephine and consults with her on major life choices like his reported $9 million-plus transfer from Belgium’s Genk to LA last winter “I never make my decision without my twin sister And sometimes she feels really something bad she always calls me and find out if I'm OK “It’s because I came with her in the same womb from my mom So I think we are connected,” Paintsil continued noting that Josephine’s career advice trumps even that of his agent “The most important thing is my twin sister Gs coach Greg Vanney later said he picked up on Paintsil’s music background as LA did their due diligence during the recruitment process and subsequently realized it was part of the personality of “a wonderful bright human being” who settled smoothly into a talent-laden squad carrying great expectations “He's never looking for too much attention when it comes to that I think he just has a passion for singing,” said Vanney “I knew that before he came [via] some of the YouTube videos as you do your online searches and you try to find out about people having talked to people around him and other clubs they didn't even know that he was doing those things and they never felt like it was a distraction to anything that was going on with him on the field “That's why I had no idea that he put out a track until somebody else sent it to me While Paintsil is all business during working hours, the 26-year-old’s creative streak gradually became a welcome ingredient in the positive vibes around the Galaxy locker room, with Paintsil’s teammates singing “Blessing” to him after their Western Conference Final win over Seattle Sounders FC they were playing and they were making videos and I was holding the cup and also singing dropping hints about a postgame performance should the Gs claim their MLS-best sixth league title “Me having this song really comes in the right moment I think maybe I'm going to be singing – that's maybe But we just need to focus on winning the cup No stranger to the big stage.@woodyinho // #MLSCup pres. by Audi pic.twitter.com/91C2fRQ1vX Musical numbers aside, probably the biggest question in the leadup to Saturday’s final is Vanney’s choice of central-midfield trio in the wake of Puig's ACL injury last week, a decision that hinges on the health of Marco Reus The German legend has been working through a groin problem which forced him to exit last week’s win at halftime and he only rejoined full team training on Thursday after a few days of individual rehab work Reus appeared to be part of the full group in the brief opening phases of Friday’s training which media were allowed to watch albeit with a strip of kinesiology tape visible under his shorts and Vanney sounded relatively optimistic about his availability for matchday “Barring him walking inside and saying anything that I'm not expecting Reus faced a steep adjustment curve when he joined LA in midsummer after departing Borussia Dortmund yet by year’s end had struck up an effective partnership with Puig as twin attacking No That said, Vanney has repeatedly alluded to the physicality and intensity the Red Bulls seek to impose in the center of the park and the Galaxy’s need to match that, particularly in the game’s opening stages. That may raise the likelihood of a more combative selection, the likes of Mark Delgado or Gastón Brugman “Because of our opposition and the way that we play we know there’s going to be a battle in the middle of the field,” he said on Thursday there’s going to be a lot of duels and challenges and we need to make sure we’re ready for those moments.” One more time before tomorrow. ⏳@NewYorkRedBulls // #MLSCup pres. by Audi pic.twitter.com/aZdTU6rO2I Meanwhile, RBNY have a lineup doubt of their own in the same area. Uruguayan center mid Felipe Carballo proved a useful midseason addition He missed the Eastern Conference Final win over Orlando with a foot injury, though, and coach Sandro Schwarz said he expects Carballo’s eligibility for selection to be a late-breaking call. If he can’t go, young homegrown Peter Stroud is the likely replacement So it's an individual program the last couple of days and then to make the last decision tomorrow morning,” said the German to find the right moment in some spaces in our buildup and also when he's coming in the red zone and in small spaces to control the ball,” Schwarz later noted and he can run a lot and with great mentality he's also able then to make deep runs from the [No.] 8 position Pregame rituals/meal? 🤔Tomorrow is the big day. // #MLSCup pres. by Audi pic.twitter.com/J37FpTpWNQ The Red Bulls’ first-year boss also flashed a bit of humor when asked whether he’s come to appreciate the North American concept of playoffs thanks to RBNY’s unexpected run as the lowest-ever seed (seventh) to reach MLS Cup or whether he’d still prefer the European norm of league play as the only determinant of a season’s champion “When I spoke with some players which had this experience to play these playoffs it’s a new competition.’ And for me it was ‘OK but the new competition starts in six weeks and we have also to build up our quality.’ Schwarz also spoke of the heightened stakes surrounding this showpiece occasion and the psychological peril and promise therein “We have a great atmosphere,” he said of his young team’s mentality it's not possible to bring the best quality on the field But what I have seen the last couple of weeks and also since the first day when I came in our facility The 2024 MLS salary guide was released Thursday by MLSPA providing insight into the current top earners “His quality is without question one of the best in Europe,” Bürki said after the game When Reus stood over a second half free kick with St Bürki admitted to feeling a little nervous “To see him getting ready for the free kick I was a little bit extra focused,” he said Bürki made a comfortable save on the free kick Echte Liebe ♾️ pic.twitter.com/GJxC8WbsJY Reus, meanwhile, made his first start for the Galaxy after a brilliant debut in their 2-0 victory last week against Atlanta United Reus played 77 minutes — something Bürki and St [Reus] BS’d him all week and told him he was only gonna play 30 minutes,” St Louis interim coach John Hackworth said with a laugh after the game Bürki confirmed Hackworth’s account — but noted they only talked soon after Reus’ debut against Atlanta “I asked [Reus] at the beginning of the week how the game was no way I'm gonna play 90 minutes [next week],’” said Bürki who added they didn’t text again that week given the upcoming clash The two were teammates for seven years with Borussia Dortmund “We lost too many balls in areas where we should not do many mistakes and then we lost the control of the game because of the mistakes it was hard for us to create big chances," he said "I thought after the 1-1 that we are in the game and then was a counterattack and then was 2-1 and was even harder to come back.” Can't spell LA without the L 😮‍💨 https://t.co/exZjvuVrJG pic.twitter.com/GbZhVVzGcN St. Louis’ win is a blow to the Galaxy’s Supporters’ Shield hopes. They continue to lead the Western Conference, but now trail Inter Miami CF by seven points at the top of the standings It will serve as a nice boost of confidence for CITY, who face a tough climb from near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. After last week’s back-and-forth 4-4 draw with the Portland Timbers they held onto their lead against the high-powered Galaxy but I don't think this is the end of it,” Hackworth said It's a bonus when you can perform against a team like that.” noted his happiness at beating Reus and the talented Galaxy While reports on Wednesday said the Galaxy was "closing in" on signing Reus a source with direct knowledge of the Galaxy's plans cautioned that there was still more work to be done is out of contract after his deal with Dortmund expired at the end of last season He had previously been pursued by St. Louis City, which already had former BVB goalkeeper Roman Bürki on its books with former Hoffenheim and Fortuna Dusseldorf executive Lutz Pfannenstiel working as St But now Reus has his sights set on joining the Galaxy The Galaxy currently averages 1.66 goals per 90 minutes of actual playing time which is tied for seventh-best in the 29-team league Reus concluded a glittering career with Dortmund on June 1 in the UEFA Champions League final, having spent 12 seasons at his boyhood club after returning from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2012 He scored 171 goals in 426 league and cup appearances. He was part of two DFB Pokal-winning sides in 2017 and 2021 as well as two DFL-Supercup triumphs in 2013 and 2019 What a week in MLS. LAFC and Columbus played in a major final, a star arrived in LA and made a big impact off the bench, and Evander scored a stunner The Power Rankings are voted on by around 20 MLS writers editors and personalities and are not solely the fault of the column’s author The 2024 Power Rankings Committee regrets the errors and really tried to rank your team higher (they promise) With Leagues Cup the Crew added another trophy and should probably make room for a couple more titles We’re watching what might be the greatest run in MLS history and we’ll probably never see this kind of perfect storm of talent Frame it. 📸 pic.twitter.com/SOIFnisViL Previous: Bye | Next: 8/28 at PHI Is it time to call the Supporters’ Shield race? The Herons rode two early goals from Luis Suárez to a 2-0 win over FC Cincinnati. It’s only a matter of time before Lionel Messi is back on the field And the gap between them and the chasing pack feels wider as each matchday goes by Miami have a four-point advantage and a game in hand on second-place LA they made it an eight-point gap on Cincy last weekend and their most likely challengers at this point – LAFC and Columbus – will have to be basically perfect from here on out as they deal with congested schedules to even make this interesting Winning the Shield and winning MLS Cup are two very different tasks They’ll still have to prove they can get it done against the best of the best in a tournament setting It’s hard to fully buy in when so many of their wins look like this Previous: 2-0 win vs. CIN | Next: 8/31 at CHI Make it 0-3 for LAFC over their last three meetings with Columbus. They were second-best the entire night in Sunday’s Leagues Cup final. Now, they have to recover in time for a US Open Cup semifinal at Seattle on Wednesday and then get ready for a congested stretch run as they push for the top spot in the West they have to figure out a plan to slow down Columbus Just in case they see them again in December Previous: Bye | Next: 8/31 vs. HOU Marco Reus tallied a goal and an assist in his debut off the bench as LA pulled away from Atlanta That’ll happen a lot with Reus coming in on fresh legs They’ve pushed their lead in the West to five points on LAFC (three games in hand) and eight on RSL (one game in hand) A top-two finish in the West is almost in the bag Previous: 2-0 win vs. ATL | Next: 9/1 at STL Previous: 2-0 loss at MIA | Next: 8/31 vs. MTL The Rapids went to another penalty shootout in Sunday’s Leagues Cup Third Place Match and Zack Steffen got another win. They pulled off three wins in penalties throughout the tournament, earning themselves a 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup spot Colorado have come a long way from being a Wooden Spoon contender last season Their remarkable run through this tournament is a well-earned reward for an excellent offseason Previous: Bye | Next: 8/31 at DAL The Sounders pulled out a 3-2 win in Minnesota despite the Loons’ 23 shots That makes it 11 wins in their last 13 games against teams not named LAFC and seven wins in their last nine MLS games The run has Seattle up to fifth in the West, just one point behind fourth-place Colorado, with eight games left. It’s starting to feel like they’ve become the best second-tier team in the league. Now they have figured out how to crack the first tier and look like a true contender. It’s hard to see it happening without Pedro de la Vega fully healthy but eight games is a lot of time for a team that’s been consistently trending upward for two months now They also have a US Open Cup semifinal on Wednesday against the only team that can beat them right now Seattle are winless in their last nine meetings against LAFC Previous: 3-2 win at MIN | Next: 8/31 at POR Soooooo… everything went as bad as it possibly could have last weekend. “RSL lost Chicho Arango to a hamstring injury in the middle of a 2-0 loss to last place San Jose” is a sentence straight out of an MLS Mad Libs chapter where the goal is to create the most depressing story possible losing to San Jose can’t happen for a team chasing one of the top spots in the West They technically aren’t out of contention for first place in the conference but they definitely didn’t make anything easier They’re now closer to fifth place than they are to first Previous: 2-0 loss vs. SJ | Next: 8/31 vs. NE The goal for the Red Bulls is to stay out in front of New York City FC and Charlotte for fourth place in the East They didn’t quite hammer the first nail in Charlotte’s coffin on Saturday but they did keep a four-point gap between themselves and The Crown and a three-point gap between themselves and NYCFC when they earned a 1-1 draw in Charlotte With eight games left and a gentle schedule ahead of them the Red Bulls just have to keep the status quo until a huge Hudson River Derby a month from now Previous: 1-1 draw at CLT | Next: 8/31 vs. PHI Alonso Martínez keeps scoring early and New York City keep failing to hold onto that lead. They followed up their Leagues Cup exit with a 2-2 draw against Chicago that featured Martínez’s first-half brace and a stoppage-time equalizer for the Fire They missed a major opportunity to gain two points on Charlotte and the Red Bulls in the race for the East’s final home playoff spot At least Martínez continues to be a bright spot He’s up to 10 MLS goals and three assists in 934 minutes Previous: 2-2 draw vs. CHI | Next: 8/31 at CLB For a moment, it seemed like this blurb would be focused solely on how St. Louis seem to have their number Then Evander did this in the ninth minute of second-half stoppage time 🚨 World-class Evander equalizer in stoppage! 😱 pic.twitter.com/AFJyKkNCiN Portland won’t be thrilled about giving up four goals and dropping two points at home they kept up their reputation as one of the league’s most entertaining teams while Evander heightened his reputation as one of the league’s best players He’s up to 12 goals and 15 assists on the season He’s only five goal contributions away from matching club legend Diego Valeri’s absurd 2017 total Valeri’s 32 contributions earned him the MVP award that year Previous: 4-4 draw vs. STL | Next: 8/31 vs. SEA Charlotte took an early home lead in a big six-pointer against New York but they couldn’t hold on to it and ended up with a fine Tim Ream and new DP Pep Biel made their debuts and The Crown are still only four points behind the Red Bulls for fourth place A six-point swing would have been nice though… Previous: 1-1 draw vs. RBNY | Next: 8/31 vs. ATL The Whitecaps took the week off and let everyone else in the West wear themselves out They have two games in hand on third-place RSL and are only six points behind There’s a chance the ‘Caps have plenty to say down the stretch if they can get hot Previous: Bye | Next: 8/31 at ATX Any talk about Houston figuring things out in attack thanks to their new arrivals feels a little silly this week. They hosted Toronto on Saturday and they never found the back of the net in an ugly 1-0 loss It’s a huge missed opportunity for a team that’s still within touching distance of a home playoff spot much sharper when they visit LAFC this weekend and then host LAFC the week after and then after that it’s RSL and Vancouver Previous: 1-0 loss vs. TOR | Next: 8/31 at LAFC The Union came up short in Sunday’s Leagues Cup Third Place Match They have work to do with this roster and adding Concacaf Champions Cup to the mix at the start of a season isn’t ideal for self-care The good news is Tai Baribo can’t stop scoring He added a brace on Sunday to win the Leagues Cup Golden Boot with seven goals Previous: Bye | Next: 8/28 vs. CLB New DP Osman Bukari won the ball at midfield and worked around the oncoming 'keeper to score his first MLS goal in a 2-0 win at Nashville. Reviews for Bukari have been positive and Austin are still hanging onto the ninth spot in the West Our No. 7️⃣ @OsmanBukari9 applies the pressure and nets his first #AustinFC goal! 👏 pic.twitter.com/ENH13h2HKa Things are going just fine as the Rodolfo Borrell roster renovation era continues Talk to us after this eight-game stretch against eight teams above the playoff line Previous: 2-0 win at NSH | Next: 8/31 vs. VAN Orlando started their post-Leagues Cup run with a 3-0 loss at Sporting KC but that doesn’t make face-planting on your first step down the homestretch feel any better Any hopes of a home playoff spot are all but gone and catching up to Charlotte for the sixth spot will be a steep climb Previous: 3-0 loss at SKC | Next: 8/31 vs. NSH It feels like Toronto never win in style, but they’ve routinely found ways to pull out three points this year. Their latest win came via Prince Owusu’s deflected header off a corner Those still count though and Toronto have put a six-point cushion between them and the playoff line despite a -12 goal differential Previous: 1-0 win at HOU | Next: 8/31 vs. DC Dallas went to D.C. and scored four goals in the first half before eventually closing up shop and holding onto a well-earned They’re still hovering just below the playoff line Previous: 4-3 win at DC | Next: 8/31 vs. COL The Revs went to Montréal and rolled to a 5-0 win that included a goal from club-record signing Luca Langoni on his debut so good as the Revs push for a playoff spot with a roster that looks a little different after a busy summer They’re only two points below the playoff line with two games in hand Luca Langoni with a goal and an assist in his MLS debut! 🦞 pic.twitter.com/idlGueDlBA Previous: 5-0 win at MTL | Next: 8/31 at RSL but a 3-0 romp over Orlando had to feel good And it came just in time for them to take some momentum into their US Open Cup semifinal meeting with Indy Eleven Previous: 3-0 win vs. ORL | Next: Bye St. Louis have been giving Portland hell the last few weeks, but they couldn’t hold on to their second straight win over the Timbers in a wild 4-4 draw. Cedric Teuchert scored his first MLS goal and Marcel Hartel dropped three assists First @MLS player since '98 😤 #AllForCITY x @wwt_inc pic.twitter.com/WGREAIBffy Previous: 4-4 draw at POR | Next: 9/1 vs. LA If we’re being open and honest about Atlanta right now, any analysis of this team should be focused on 2025. Games like last weekend’s 2-0 loss to the Galaxy show how far the talent gap at the top end of the roster is right now between Atlanta and the teams their fans expect to be competing with. The 2025-focused analysis for this one is new DP Alexey Miranchuk showed flashes of promise during his first 30 minutes in MLS Previous: 2-0 loss at LA | Next: 8/31 at CLT Minnesota couldn’t hold off Seattle at home despite a debut brace from new DP forward Kelvin Yeboah They’re now a point below the playoff line They have one win in their last 11 MLS games and it came against last-place San Jose Previous: 3-2 loss vs. SEA | Next: 8/31 at SJ We always say it around here: Don’t count out Chicago Fire FC The Fire earned a remarkable point out of the wreckage of a 2-0 first-half deficit thanks to a late goal from Hugo Cuypers and an even later penalty from Brian Gutiérrez A road point against a team fighting for a home playoff spot is a great point Chicago are still tied for last place in the East but that technically means they’re only two points out of a playoff spot Previous: 2-2 draw at NYC | Next: 8/31 vs. MIA Let’s just move on and never talk about Montréal's 5-0 loss to New England ever again Previous: 5-0 loss vs. NE | Next: 8/31 at CIN The Quakes messed around and got an upset win over RSL The party line here at The Power Rankings Committee is San Jose are at least slightly better than their Spoon-pace record and it’s nice to see that confirmed from time to time Previous: 2-0 win at RSL | Next: 8/31 vs. MIN United lost 4-3 to FC Dallas after giving up four first-half goals Previous: 4-3 loss vs. DAL | Next: 8/31 at TOR Callaghan era is not off to a flying start Previous: 2-0 loss vs. ATX | Next: 8/31 at ORL Written by: Tim Brouk, tbrouk@purdue.edu Lee Ann De Reus’ career mantra of “If not me then who?” led her to the top of several nonprofit agencies dedicated to women’s rights gender justice and racial equity. Some of her most recent positions worked to eliminate domestic sexual and gender-based violence both domestically and internationally the only nonprofit providing free legal appeals for abuse survivors across the United States In 2023, De Reus joined Amplio as executive director The nonprofit organization addresses global poverty by creating simple technology-based solutions that provide low-literate people with access to critical knowledge that transforms lives The organization’s mission is to reach the most marginalized and underserved populations in remote rural areas to help them navigate the transition from military to civilian life and attend college on the GI Bill,” De Reus stated I also conduct a workshop on the dynamics of gender The goal is to give them tools to break through the barriers of gender stereotypes and norms to live a more authentic and purpose-driven life.” De Reus’ years at Purdue were formative as she worked closely with Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth HDFS distinguished professor and director of MFRI The women have known each other for 36 years as they first met during De Reus’ PhD studies De Reus said she still regards MacDermid Wadsworth as a mentor What are some of your fondest Purdue memories My favorite haunts were Von’s Books and a bar out on West State Street called Veno’s that no longer exists but was a favorite gathering spot for graduate students MacDermid Wadsworth and a teaching assistant for introductory HDFS classes which is how I discovered my love of teaching How else did your experience in HDFS enhance your career Purdue is also where I cut my teeth as an activist for social justice It’s where I was introduced to various feminisms and inspired my praxis — to put theory into action — by volunteering at Lafayette Urban Ministry’s homeless shelter and food pantry and organizing awareness-raising events and protests on campus These experiences brought the inequities I studied in class to life as I sat across from people who shared their stories revealing the traumas and complexities of poverty that led them to that place The feminist frameworks I studied at Purdue informed my work as an academic and translate today into my nonprofit leadership strategies.    The HDFS faculty who taught my classes were not only brilliant academics but supportive professors who were determined to see their students succeed I marvel at the world class education I received The majority of my professors were incredibly accomplished who taught me to think critically and gave me frameworks for understanding families the larger world around me and my place in it you addressed the intersection of domestic violence and climate change Most people don’t realize that the stressors encountered from climate-fueled disasters can provoke increased feelings of powerlessness and a lack of control To engage our local community on these issues we hosted an event at a park in Washington where people could plant a tree to honor a survivor of domestic violence and help combat climate change. It’s important to note that women of color and indigenous communities bear an additional burden imposed by environmental injustice Already disproportionately vulnerable to air pollution their exclusion from government climate protections is yet another risk-multiplier we teamed up with law students from the University of the District of Columbia to write formal letters to the United Nations Why did you focus your career on being an advocate for women’s and human rights I have focused on advocacy for women’s and human rights because too many people are suffering needlessly in the world Given the many advantages I possess by virtue of where I was born I believe I have a moral imperative to step up for gender justice and help remove barriers to women’s well-being and agency Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email 765-494-4600 Email Us After finishing a meal one day the artist Magali Reus looked down at her plate to find the fine remaining curlicues of red cabbage spelled out a word: ‘england’ Formed by impersonal forces – like the throw of a dice or the portentous remains of tea leaves at the bottom of a cup – it seemed full of significance Two years later Reus returned to red cabbage dissecting its lobed and wavey head to release typographical symbols and punctuation to form her custom typeface ‘KOOL’ (2024) Handpainted on the walls of Museo del Novecento in large-scale graphic vectorised shapes a sentencelike script in the KOOL typeface loops the gallery’s perimeter the slivers flicker between semantic meaning and pure image: against this script Reus’ six Clementine works enter into dialogue with one another Reus’ work has explored the historically complex and entangled relations between humans and food production such as the humble jar of Bonne Maman fruit preserve or the artisanal French baguette These largely invisible forces conspire to produce pervasive images and affects of food aesthetics and associations This is also the domain of art’s history Reus’ recent works have explored the image and symbolism of fruit bowls jars and containers as still-life vessels of aesthetic Modelled on the French multi-national Bonne Maman preserve jar the La Fermière yoghurt pot and the Belgian mustard jar Reus’ Clementines series consists of singular larger-than-life renderings bearing what the artist refers to as a ‘domestic graffiti’ that speaks to repurposing: handwritten scribbles and notations; labels of all kinds stuck on their glassy sides; annotations of dates Clementines actively protrude from the gallery walls distorted lenses onto narratives of the global and personal: the jars’ familiar designs evoke generic nostalgic homeliness – the preserve of an elderly grandmother’s jam making – while containing miniature mise-enscènes of domestic customisation and consumption and include references to locations within the domestic sphere as well as the global Change is marked by references to seasonal Each of these jars include personal references from Reus’ past Visible inside Clementine (Out of Orbit) is a misleadingly convincing polyester resin rendering of a replica strawberry jam Strawberryflavoured jelly is highly saccharine in substance and in all its appeal remains highly abstracted from the fruit’s original flavour The jar’s label is rendered in folded powder-coated and airbrushed aluminium and based on an actual jar of compote Reus purchased at a local French market in her mother’s town in the Berry Reus acquired it from an elderly woman who was re-purposing old jars to sell her own homemade jellies The lid atop this particular jar features an airbrushed depiction of the map of France with protruding welded dots to indicate major cities Dates of a calendar rendered in layers step in and out of its face The work is full of personal anecdotal references powdercoated and airbrushed aluminium label acts as a seal that has been picked open It is based on one Reus found in her mother’s house amid her collection of washed preserve jars stored away in her basement for reuse in her own private jelly making or for DIY tasks around the house The writing on the Clementine (Out of Orbit) label derives from Reus’ French grandmother’s recipe book which lovingly features all her favourite recipes Magali Reus’ sculptural practice is celebrated for the way it combines industrial and craft production materials and processes to productively subvert standardised fabrication chronologies and practices her sculpture advances a compelling open-ended symbolism and visual language To go ‘off script’ is to cease conforming to expectations of behaviour or events It is an idiom that figures reality as a text that carefully stages mannered public presentation is to move from a familiar system of communication towards something unguarded has become a political rhetoric of honesty To what extent is the handmade a rhetoric of corporate honesty Reus’ misbehaving vessels seek out new more individualised relationships to a prescribed corporate form by presenting the handmade as ultraprocessed and refashioning the ultra-processed in a more artisanal hand wrought guise Check the boxes for the cookie categories you allow our site to use Reus finds himself on the cusp of winning his first major club trophy — an achievement that has long eluded him His absence meant he missed out on Germany’s triumphant campaign as the team went on to lift the World Cup in Brazil without him Reus’ resilience has been unwavering He stayed with Borussia Dortmund and continued to be their star player leading them through many competitive campaigns and inspiring the next generation of footballers But the one thing that continued to evade him was the major international titles — titles that seemed just out of his reach Reus made the surprising decision to leave Europe and join LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer as Reus was at the tail end of his career and had long been considered a staple of European football But it also presented an exciting new challenge for Reus — a chance to experience a new league and Since joining LA Galaxy from Dortmund in the summer Marco Reus has accumulated just 522 minutes of play across both the regular season and playoffs While there’s no questioning the 35-year-old’s undeniable talent Reus hasn’t had much time on the pitch with his new teammates and he did leave Saturday’s Western Conference final early due to groin tightness This lack of consistent game time raises valid questions about his fitness heading into the MLS Cup final setting the stage for a long-awaited clash of two MLS founding clubs the Galaxy and Red Bulls — flagship franchises from the league’s 1996 inception — will meet in the MLS Cup Representing the sprawling metropolises of Los Angeles and New York their matchup harkens back to MLS’s origins while showcasing the contrasting paths both teams have taken to this point The Galaxy’s return to prominence reflects a mix of bold investments and steady leadership under Greg Vanney, while the Red Bulls have reached the summit through defensive grit and precise execution under Sandro Schwarz With styles as divergent as their histories this MLS Cup promises an unforgettable battle of contrasts as Hollywood welcomes Gotham for the league’s grandest stage the 2024 MLS Cup final is more than just another match — it’s a chance to finally win the major trophy that has long eluded him he has the opportunity to secure his place among the greats by helping LA Galaxy win their first MLS Cup since 2014 Winning the MLS Cup would be a fitting conclusion to Reus’ career allowing him to finally claim the title he has worked so hard for His leadership and skill have been a vital part of Galaxy’s success this season and lifting the MLS Cup would cap off what has been an incredible journey — from Bundesliga heartbreaks to Champions League near-glories the chance to end his career with a North American triumph Reus figures to join the Galaxy on a contract that will run through December of 2025 Romano reports that the 35-year-old is set to undergo a medical examination later this week before the deal is finalized Reus will go down as one of Borussia Dortmund's all-time great captains He made 294 appearances in the Bundesliga for Dortmund Injuries have plagued him throughout his career and kept him out of the squad for the 2014 World Cup He'll hope to remain healthy during his stint in Los Angeles as his European career reaches its likely conclusion and he joins a Galaxy squad that sits atop the Western Conference in the MLS and has eyes toward competing for the Cup figures to bring plenty of experience and talent to Los Angeles He'll provide an immediate spark to the Galaxy's attack which is tied for third in MLS with 50 goals on the season The Galaxy have acquired the rights for a record $350,000 opening the door for Reus to move to Southern California The Galaxy with the history around David Beckham plus the lifestyle in California entices Reus and his family is just the first obstacle in the convoluted process to secure the Dortmund legend Saudi Arabia and Qatar but wants to move to the United States The forward has scored 170 goals in 429 games across all competitions Reus gave up his captaincy but still managed to score nine goals and ten assists in 41 games across all competitions for Dortmund and helped guide his club to the Champions League final The Champions League final then was the tragic final step in his European career that will end without a major title It isn't the first time either that Reus narrowly missed out on a big trophy Reus suffered an injury that made him miss Germany's successful tournament Dortmund missed out on the Bundesliga title on the final day of the season But Reus' time at Dortmund isn't entirely without trophies as the winger won the DFB Pokal with the club in 2017 and 2021.  Sie haben erfolgreich Ihre Einwilligung in die Nutzung von Transfermarkt mit Tracking und Cookies widerrufen Sie können sich jetzt zwischen dem Contentpass-Abo und der Nutzung mit personalisierter Werbung So too have the rivalry’s two newest high-profile protagonists: Marco Reus and Olivier Giroud I heard a lot of things about this rivalry," Reus told MLS Season Pass analyst Sacha Kljestan during a one-on-one interview this week "I’ve played a lot in my past these [derby] games so I know what the team has to do to win these games; it's completely different than the other games really looking forward – all the dressing room are excited for these games." having faced off several times for both club and country in Europe over the years Now they find themselves adversaries again at the dawn of their new adventure in sunny Southern California Giroud with six LAFC appearances under his belt and Reus approaching his third match in Galaxy colors he texted me,” Giroud revealed of his German counterpart in a Thursday afternoon media availability 'I will see you in a few weeks.' It was a few weeks ago El Tráfico, Part III: You don’t wanna miss this one! 🍿Watch LA vs LAFC on Saturday at 10:30pm ET with #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/ilREtQoIkc pic.twitter.com/TP8k3P8NK5 Both coaches were detailed and expressive in praising the opponents’ midseason reinforcements on Thursday really a fantastic personality in German football for the last 15 years," said LAFC boss Steve Cherundolo who spent his entire club career at Hannover 96 and began his coaching journey there "He doesn't make very many mistakes in tight spaces and I think he complements [the Galaxy] very somebody who is very deceptive in his runs inside the box and penetrating defense back lines." Reus adds another attacking option to a Gs roster overflowing with them, although Joseph Paintsil will miss out on Saturday due to yellow-card accumulation. Giroud has presented Cherundolo & Co. with a comparable upgrade with his leadership and elite target man toolkit, even as Kei Kamara – who just celebrated his 40th birthday – continues to defy the calendar Notably, last week LAFC fielded Giroud and Kamara together in a new 4-4-2 diamond look on their visit to Houston "Super intelligent about his movements and how he's manipulating things at the top their ability to play off of him to link up some of their attacks that then can build some speed,” said Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney of Giroud a 2018 World Cup winner with France who most recently played for Italian Serie A giants AC Milan that they can do a lot of different things something that I think Kei was giving them when Kei was up there at times – well now you have a world-class guy who's also doing it So they have two guys that they could play in that traditional 9 position that can be a handful for center backs These two are the sort of bold-faced names any MLS side would welcome with open arms, and indeed, both Charlotte FC and St. Louis CITY SC sought to recruit Reus as he moved on from a glittering decade-plus with Borussia Dortmund earlier this year But the German international and his family wanted the SoCal experience with Reus signing a Targeted Allocation Money-tier contract rather than the Designated Player deal he’d easily merit under different circumstances breezy evening at Dignity Health Sports Park El Tráfico draws broad attention across MLS and beyond with big personalities and a penchant for drama – and real postseason consequences this time "It's arguably the best rivalry game inside of the league interesting for teams to look at," said Vanney "and they kind of get a sense of what our teams will look like as we're moving towards closer and closer to the playoffs." Vanney's team sits four points ahead of their crosstown rivals, while LAFC have two games in hand. The Gs believe a win this weekend can not only clinch an Audi MLS Cup Playoffs spot but provide enough separation to keep them in first down the stretch, and LAFC defender Aaron Long sounded inclined to agree with that assessment are ever so important," said the SoCal native but you're also taking three points away from the other team And there's only so many points left on the table In keeping with its Hollywood surroundings the LA derby has packed a lot of popcorn into its brief existence along with a litany of role players finding inspiration under the brighter spotlight it provides The stylistic clash between the sides dials up the contrast that much further. The Galaxy are resolute in their ball-playing identity – Vanney spoke about carrying a "burden of possession" on Thursday – weaving their own version of tiki-taka via the effervescent orchestration of Riqui Puig the Black & Gold tend to be more pragmatic: organized and ruthlessly incisive on the counterattack epitomized by Bouanga’s menace in open spaces It’s helped LAFC win six of the last eight El Tráficos drawing first blood on a corner kick in both to tilt the game state in their advantage en route to twin 2-1 scorelines and it's difficult for us because we need to attack with more players," said Puig and if we don't make mistakes that I think that LAFC is waiting for Vanney says he won’t go conservative this time "How we lose the ball, where we lose the ball, reactions when we lose the ball are pivotal, just because of the power and speed and the quality that they have in the transition," said the coach. "If you look at the two teams that they've lost to over the last whatever, since May, it's been Columbus and Houston both are teams that are good – very good – in possession They were just very mature about how they managed their possessions they maintained good counter-pressing and good positions to manage the transitions." but careful with stupid mistakes when we have the ball." the all-time series now stands deadlocked at 9W-9L-5D LAFC having slowly climbed back to level after the Galaxy’s superiority in the opening years Never before have both teams been this complete Their strengths are extremely hard to defend but I think we have a good scheme in order to defend those and then our strengths match up well with their weaknesses," said Cherundolo "There's going to be 22 excellent players in the field tomorrow starting the match and plenty of good players on both benches So there aren’t a lot of differences in quality the team who sticks together and sticks to the plan for the longest amount of time Will the latest arrivals make the difference Or are more familiar figures like Puig and Bouanga better placed to seize the moment for the show to always have big-time headliners they are very excited regarding the derby," said Giroud "I know this kind of game [is] massive for our fans I hope I will have the opportunity to make the difference." There was a time not so long ago when the LA Galaxy were known as MLS’s most aggressive club – so much so that many skeptical fans of other clubs insisted they must be getting special exemptions from the salary budget and other roster regulations The Gs ushered in the league’s Designated Player era with the paradigm-shifting recruitment of David Beckham and are generally perceived to have pushed the envelope in that area ever since After a complex process spanning nearly three months has finally concluded with the signing of German star Marco Reus on Thursday Will Kuntz jokes that he’d love for those conspiracy theories to be the reality “To the extent that those sentiments about the Galaxy getting preferential treatment were ever true let's bring those days back!” the Galaxy general manager deadpanned to MLSsoccer.com a few hours before the deal was announced I got put through my paces on this Reus negotiation So I am all in favor of bringing those halcyon days back we are held to a very high standard that we have to clear,” he added an allusion to the hefty sanctions levied on LA before his arrival for violating salary budget and roster guidelines during the 2019 season I think it's more rewarding when you really put it all together.” Pen to Paper ✍️@woodyinho is Los Angeles’ newest star ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/icz4a75wSe Most acquisitions of this magnitude hinge on haggling between clubs over fees or with a player’s camp regarding wages Reus’ much-anticipated arrival in MLS was different A free agent after playing out his last contract and dropping the curtain on his dazzling decade-plus stint at Borussia Dortmund the 35-year-old and his family prioritized a move to southern California above financial considerations and set their sights on the Galaxy early in the process when you have a good feeling that both sides are looking to make it happen,” said Kuntz “You're not trying to convince somebody to do something that maybe they wouldn't otherwise do using that as a North Star keeps the stress level maybe down compared to what it could be in other transactions.” But Charlotte FC already had Reus on their “discovery list” and thus held the inside track on his MLS rights So LA had to reach an agreement with The Crown – some “horse trading,” to borrow Kuntz’s phrase – in order to sign the attacker at least compared to past precedent: $400,000 in General Allocation Money; $100,000 in 2024 GAM and $300,000 in next year’s He as well as anyone can relate to all sides of this process Kuntz worked at MLS headquarters for three years “I'd love to say that my time at the league office has made me much better equipped to understand how the league works and how to deal with all these kinds of peculiarities But I think if you probably asked people at the league office I've been wearing them out over the last couple of weeks trying to get these Reus documents,” Kuntz admitted with a chuckle “I’m maybe not quite as magnanimous as I want to think I am But I think it's really difficult to understand how this league operates from the outside … Understanding not just how things work So I think it helps us in terms of how to structure contracts When you peel back the onion and think about the sort of philosophical you're better equipped to help explain things and aid in decision-making especially for those people who just don't have a lot of experience with our league.” While these sorts of uniquely MLSian details can infuriate club executives – last year Kuntz told a story about how former Galaxy coach and GM Bruce Arena once berated him about such intricacies when he first started working at league headquarters in 2014 – he can see the bigger picture “I would say the league rules exist for a reason,” said the veteran front-office wiz but it does mean at times that you're maybe working towards something or working against a force that maybe doesn't want to see a player coming to the league Like you have to kind of meet a blood price “That can pose certain challenges,” he added nothing about the rules prevented us from getting a deal done It's more of just a bump in the sort of road that keeps us from moving as fast as we'd like to in an ideal world.” Now the Galaxy can focus on the fun part: Working Reus into their squad and preparing him for his MLS debut, which could arrive as early as next week, when the Gs return to league play with a home date vs. Atlanta United “Marco is really complementary for our group,” said Kuntz “not just in terms of what he brings to the table on the field I think is really important – and in some ways more important Because we're already in a pretty good place in the league but knowing that we're adding this type of character this type of intense competitor in the training environment It all seems like more starting-caliber talent than there are spots for it in the starting XI For an organization with an MLS-best five stars above their crest trying to have to work all this out,” said Kuntz we're entering a part of the season where the games are more important and every advantage matters a little bit more “So we can do something that makes us more talented and we’re better equipped to go through a spell of some bad performances or injuries or just provide better matchups for our opponents in these games that are most valuable So I really do look at it as purely additive.” Willkommen, Marco 🇩🇪@woodyinho’s first message to the G’s 📲 pic.twitter.com/snWQ6qKKow Kuntz is quick to credit the long-term efforts of Vanney who handled sporting director duties in addition to coaching responsibilities before his arrival last year and the likes of player personnel director Gordon Kljestan and scouting chief Michael Stephens But it’s not hard to detect his own influence on LA’s upward trajectory after years of underachievement “We're in a really good moment,” said Kuntz “I do think it is the culmination of something that began before I arrived with Greg and his group I think I've been able to come in and sort of graft myself onto that Beyond his deal-making nous and deep knowledge of the MLS landscape He won an NCAA Division III basketball national championship at Williams College in his youth, then helped the New York Yankees remain perennial contenders and win the 2009 World Series over a decade at Major League Baseball’s flagship team before joining LAFC ahead of that club’s 2018 debut laying a foundation for the Black & Gold to win two Supporters’ Shields and an MLS Cup over his six years as senior VP of soccer operations and assistant GM Now he’s a key architect of their crosstown rival's resurgence which he believes can crescendo this fall with a long-awaited return to MLS Cup “I think last year was the most I've ever lost in my 21 years working in professional sports,” said Kuntz But the history books are written in the next eight regular-season games and the playoffs the most important thing is to be at our most dangerous