American Soccer Magazines: Overlap

MLS and the folks over at Howler have teamed up to bring North American soccer fans a cool (and free!) digital magazine. The inaugural issue of Overlap is out now at the App Store; the next issue will drop around the league’s All-Star game this summer.

The ‘zine combines Howler’s cutting-edge design with several multimedia features, including interviews with players and some interactive graphics. Features include a profile of Sporting KC’s Graham Zusi and a history of MLS, relative to other North American sports leagues.

Overlap also contains an unintentional nod towards American soccer magazines of the past.When the editor of this website founded the late Kick! Magazine in the 1990s, he asked George Vecsey to write the lead article. Editors Greg Lalas and George Quaraishi had Vecsey write the lead here. Both articles are classics.

Mar

USA hero!

Nov

Five things to watch: Sporting KC vs. Houston Dynamo

By Kyle McCarthy

Sporting Kansas City visits Houston this afternoon to start their Eastern Conference semifinal series. Here are five points to watch when the two sides meet at BBVA Compass Stadium:

1. Traveling a difficult road: No MLS side has entered BBVA Compass Stadium and left with a victory since the venue opened earlier this year. Sporting would like to break that drought, but it must focus first and foremost on securing a decent result to avoid creating a difficult task in the second leg at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park on Wednesday.

2. Is Roger Espinoza fit?: Espinoza drives Sporting’s high-pressure approach from his usual spot in central midfield. He declared himself available after recovering from an ankle injury and Sporting manager Peter Vermes said he expects him to start. Espinoza must influence the game in his usual manner in order to give the visitors a chance to snatch the points.