The Best Matches By a US National Goalkeeper

Cover photo by NY Daily News

Meola, Scurry, Friedel, Keller, Solo, Howard. You know the names now you can watch the games. Here are the most important matches by American goalkeepers on the international stage, including both the senior and youth national teams. Criteria for the list included a goalkeeper’s overall impact, the match, the historical relevance, and the stage the match was played on.

1. BRIANA SCURRY VS. CHINA - 1999 WORLD CUP FINAL

Setting: 1999 World Cup Final. The US had finished a respectable third in 1995 but weren't willing to accept anything less than winning the 1999 tournament.

Why it's great: There isn’t a more iconic save in American soccer history. While it’s true that Scurry had very little to do in the match prior to the save, and the referees were extremely generous with the goalkeepers leaving their line early, it’s impossible to overstate the impact of this one save as it laid the foundation for countless factors on the women’s soccer scene.

2. BRAD FRIEDEL VS. SOUTH KOREA - 2002 WORLD CUP

Setting: 2002 World Cup. The US and South Korea are both coming off big wins in their first game (3-2 over Portugal and 2-0 over Poland, respectively). Going into their second game, either team could secure their bid to the knockout stage with win.

Why it's great: Friedel did more than his fair share to help earn the point for the US. If they lose this game they don't escape group stage and the storied run to the quarterfinals washes away. There's a penalty save, which Friedel would later finish the tournament with a total of two penalty saves, and three shots saved from within ten yards. It’s arguably Friedel’s best performance with the national team and the stage doesn’t get much bigger for the USMNT.

3. BRIANA SCURRY VS BRAZIL - 1999 WORLD CUP SEMIFINAL


Setting: After a narrow 3-2 win, where the US came back from behind twice in the match, the Americans face Brazil in the semifinals.

Why it's great: Coach Tony DiCicco summed it up well, “Briana just took over.” The final would go on to overshadow Scurry’s semifinal performance but Scurry prevents multiple goals in the 2-0 win for the US. Displaying impressive extension dives and shutting down crosses into the box, Scurry was performing on another level when compared to her peers.


4. KASEY KELLER VS. BRAZIL - 1998 GOLD CUP SEMIFINAL

Setting: 1998 Gold Cup. Brazil, CONMEBOL's representative and tournament invitee, had struggled in the group stage but advanced to the the semifinals of the tournament to meet the US. The US had never beaten Brazil at this point (and hasn't since).

Why it's great: While Brazil wasn't playing their best going into the game (they had previously tied both Jamaica and Guatemala in the group stage), Keller ends up making ten saves and shocks Brazil's striker Romário so much that he congratulates Keller during the game. Later Romário would go on to say, “That is the best performance by a goalkeeper I have ever seen." While failing Brazilian strikers aren’t the best litmus test for gauging goalkeepers, it’s not a bad start either.

5. FRANK BORGHI VS ENGLAND - 1950 WORLD CUP

Setting: 1950 World Cup. The US lost their opener 3-1 to Spain, giving up all thee goals in the last ten minutes. Facing the best team in the world, the US had a tall task ahead of them in the second of two group stage games.

Why it's great: While the US would struggle to close out either of it’s two other group stage matches, Borghi’s performance is the lone bright spot for Americans on the international stage for over 50 years, as the US would not return to the World Cup until 1990. Additionally, it’s the only American goalkeeper performance that’s been the subject of a full-length feature film.


6. ALYSSA NAEHER VS. ENGLAND - 2019 WORLD CUP SEMIFINAL

Setting: Naeher wasn’t utilized much in the first five matches for the US’s 2019 World Cup run and while everyone expected a close match, it was largely assumed the team’s pressing would remove most responsibility for Naeher.

Why it's great: Despite being overlooked by many, Naeher provided two clutch saves in a surprisingly close match, including a long-distance shot destined for the top corner and an untimely penalty. It wasn’t the most active night for Naeher but she reminded everyone why she is more than capable to replace Hope Solo. Watch the highlights here.


7. TIM HOWARD VS. BELGIUM - 2014 WORLD CUP

Setting: 2014 World Cup Knockout Stage. The US slipped through the supposed Group of Death only to face Belgium in the round of 16.

Why it's great: Despite not being able to pull out the win, it was because of Howard that the US was able stay in contention for so long, losing 2-1 in extra time. Howard tallied sixteen saves in total, a World Cup record. Howard’s performance would reach national fame, including receiving a call from President Obama.

8. JIMMY DOUGLAS VS PARAGUAY, 1930 WORLD CUP

Bob Thomas/Popperfoto/Getty Images

Bob Thomas/Popperfoto/Getty Images

Setting: After two unsuccessful campaigns in the 1924 and 1928 Olympic games, losing their final matches 3-0 to Uruguay and 11-2 to Argentina, respectively, the US rebounded in their opening match of the first World Cup.

Why it’s great: While the 3-0 win over Belgium wasn’t entirely eventful for Douglas, the Times would praise Douglas and the defensive unit, “the backs and goalie were unbeatable”. Perhaps most telling of his impact, when Douglas was removed in the semifinal matchup against Argentina due to an injury, the team would go on to lose 6-1. The Americans had a strong run in the tournament, finishing third, but it’s Douglas who holds the distinction of being in net for the first shutout in World Cup history.

9. TIM HOWARD VS. MEXICO - 2012 FRIENDLY

Setting: One of the most important friendlies in US history. The US enters the game winless in Mexico in 24 matches. Fourteen months earlier, the US blew a 2-0 lead in the 2011 Gold Cup to lose 4-2 and Mexico's U23 team won the recent Olympic tournament. Things were not looking the US's way.

Why it's great: It’s a historic, first win at Azteca and Howard has two unreal saves at the end of the game. Yes, it was a friendly but the win helped propel the US to turn the tide against a largely favorable run for Mexico.

10. TONY MEOLA VS. ENGLAND - 1993 US CUP

Setting: 1993 US Cup. America had come off a 2-0 loss to Brazil and turned around to play England in their second game.

Why it's great: Meola has the game of his life, shutting down England repeatedly. While the US finished third in the tournament, it was Meola who secured England’s last-place finish by saving goal after goal. The consequences aren’t severe from the win but as far as goal-saving performances go, this is at the top.

BEST OF THE REST

11. David Vanole vs. Costa Rica, 1989 World Cup Qualifier - The US’s 1986 World Cup qualifying ended at the hands of Costa Rica, losing 1-0 in Los Angeles. Four years later, the US is into the final round of qualifying riding on the momentum of topping Jamaica in the previous round and Mexico getting banned from qualifying by FIFA. Listen to head coach Bob Gansler and teammate John Harkes recount Vanole’s match-saving stop.

12. Hope Solo vs. Australia, 2015 World Cup - Early on, Solo was tested from just inside the 18 (5th minute) and again on a one-time volley (12th minute) but the Aussies were held at bay on both attempts. The game would be 1-1 at halftime before the US would open it up in the second half, winning 3-1. It was a mostly quiet second half but it easily could have been 3-1 the other way had it not been for some crucial stops from Solo.

13. Hope Solo vs. Brazil, 2011 World Cup Quarterfinal - After all the drama from the 2007 World Cup matchup against Brazil, it seems only fitting that Solo would have something to prove when the two teams went to penalties in the knockout round. While the US would lose to Japan in the final, Solo would finish the tournament with the Best Goalkeeper award.

14. Tony Meola vs. Colombia, 1994 World Cup - Meola’s best save of the match was unfortunately immediately followed by Colombia’s lone goal in a 2-1 win for the US. True to his nature, Meola did an excellent job of shutting down through balls into the box with his explosive speed, as well as handling some dangerous headers flicked on to frame. Meola’s involvement with the match wasn’t the most when you survey the field, but he was in net for the US’s first World Cup win since 1950, propelling them out of the group stage since 1930.

15. Tim Howard vs. England, 2010 World Cup - The last time the two played in the World Cup was in 1950 when the US won 1-0. While it wasn’t exactly the right start for the US in the night, Howard made sure there weren't any more goals after that. He would win Man of the Match and preserve the much-needed point that eventually put the US atop the group.

16. Briana Scurry vs. Brazil, 2004 Olympics Final - Scurry and the USWNT would need extra time in an eventual 2-1 win over the Brazilians but it was because of Scurry’s low saves and denial of an indirect kick in the box that kept her team in the gold medal match. 2004 would be Scurry’s last tournament run as the starting goalkeeper.

17. Hope Solo vs. Canada, 2012 Friendly - Watch quite possibly the best save by any US goalkeeper ever at 2:05 that earmarked Solo’s tenacious approach to being the number one for the USWNT.

18. Brad Friedel vs Mexico, 1996 US Cup - The 2-2 draw cemented Mexico’s gold medal finish in the short-lived tournament but Friedel showcases an amazing save in the 22nd minute and a clutch footsave in the 61st.

19. Briana Scurry vs. North Korea, 2003 World Cup - Scurry faced two looping shots under the crossbar that, if faced against another goalkeeper, they’re certainly goals. Of course, Scurry covers them with ease in a 2-0 group stage win.

20. Hope Solo vs. Japan, 2012 Olympic Final - The year before the US’s World Cup pursuit ended short in penalties to Japan in an emotional finale. Fast-forward a year and it’s the same two teams in the final, both going for an Olympic gold. With multiple high reflex saves, including a massive 1v1 stop near the end of the game, Solo led the US to the gold medal stage.

21. Hope Solo vs. France, 2011 World Cup Semifinal - The 3-1 win is a little deceiving as the US scored two goals late into the match, long after Solo made an important 1v1 save in the first half of the World Cup semifinal. It was a tightly contested battle that only opened up late into the match.

22. Tony Meola vs. Trinidad and Tobago, 1990 World Cup Qualifying - This game is largely remembered for a singular offensive moment but Meola made some crucial stops in the defensive third by coming off his line and shutting down attacks. This was the final game in WC qualifying, where the US gave up just three goals over the eight matches in the CONCACAF Championship.

23. Chris Seitz vs. Brazil U20s, 2007 U20 World Cup - Seitz weathers the storm, providing a number of saves throughout the match, including a big double save in the 86th minute. The win would be the springboard for the US to finish 7th at the U20 World Cup, one of its best finishes at the time.

24. Kasey Keller vs. New Zealand, 1999 Confederations Cup - Keller has two extension saves against New Zealand in their opening game of the 1999 Confederations Cup, helping the US win 2-1.

25. Kasey Keller vs. Iraq, 1989 U20 World Cup Quarterfinal - Keller was the anchor for the 1989 run, seeing the US finish fourth in the tournament. The US beat Iraq in the quarterfinals in extra time before falling short to Nigeria in the semifinal match. The team would unanimously support Keller’s outstanding play as well as see him earn praise from FIFA. Keller was awarded the Silver Ball, the tournament’s second-best player.

26. Tim Howard vs. Spain, 2009 Confederations Cup Semifinal - Howard snaps Spain's thirty-five game unbeaten streak with a shutout in the 2009 Confederations Cup. Howard would finish up the Confederations Cup by winning best goalkeeper of the tournament. Not a ton of involvement from the Evertonian but still a massive win in the end.

27. Brad Friedel vs. Mexico, 2002 World Cup - Not the most exciting 2-0 shutout but Friedel deals well with some dangerous high balls in the US’s most notable win ever over Mexico, setting up their best World Cup finish since 1930.

28. Alyssa Naeher vs. Canada, 2024 Gold Cup Semifinal - Following a disappointing foul in the box, Naeher responds by saving three penalties and netting her own in put the US in the final.

29. Kyle Campbell vs Italy U20s, 1991 U16 World Cup - Campbell and the US opened the U17 World Cup with a 1-0 win over Italy, after which Campbell would receive an award from Pele. The U17s would finish fifth in the tournament, losing in penalties to Qatar in the quarterfinals.

30. Brian Bailey vs. Brazil U16s, 1989 U16 World Cup - The Washington Post would praise Bailey’s efforts in the 1-0 win, as he “saved the victory eight minutes into the second half when he smothered a shot from the wide-open Marcio.”

31. Kasey Keller vs. Costa Rica, 2005 World Cup Qualifier - Keller builds off his 2006 campaign with some very nice saves in a 3-0 win.

32. Kasey Keller vs. Panama, 2005 World Cup Qualifier - Keller displays the rarely seen but always fantastic triple-save against Panama.

33. Josh Lambo vs Germany, 2007 U17 World Cup - The U20s stumbled into the round of 16 against the heavily favored German-side. The US lost 2-1 but Lambo would do his best to keep the US in the game, including a save in the second half (1:25 in video) that resulted in a handshake from the referee, according to Josh Lambo on the Goalkeeper Union podcast.

34. Brad Guzan vs. Mexico, 2013 World Cup Qualifier - Longtime back Brad Guzan fills in mightily for Howard when he's dealing with a back injury, earning a rare point at Azteca in WCQ. Guzan never looked overwhelmed and held his ground strong in situations that could have easily ended up with the ball in the net.

35. Kasey Keller vs. Mexico, 2001 World Cup Qualifier - It’s only the second of two losses included on this list but Keller stood on his head to keep the scoreline only at 1-0 for a World Cup qualifier in Mexico.

36. Tim Howard vs. Argentina, 2008 Friendly - The US is coming off of losses to England and Spain and heading into their first World Cup Qualifying, need some momentum. Howard rises to the challenge, stopping three 1v1s all in the first half.

37. DJ Countess vs. England, 1999 U20 World Cup - The U20s would end up losing in the knockout round 3-2 to Spain, the eventual champions, but Countess’ efforts in the opening rounds impressed many, including European scouts.

38. Brad Guzan v Panama, 2017 Gold Cup - A disappointing team-effort from the USMNT but Guzan manages to help salvage a point in the opening game of the 2017 Gold Cup with some quick reactions in a 1-1 tie.

39. Hope Solo vs. China PR, 2006 Friendly - Solo displays an incredible double save. Skip to 2:15 for the acrobatic display.

40. Marcus Hahnemann vs. Guatemala, 2005 World Cup Qualifier - Hahnemann earned nine caps for the national team, including this one here where the long-time Reading goalkeeper makes a couple nice saves against Guatemala for the 2006 World Cup Qualifying, including a top-notch save at 2:25

41. Matt Turner vs. England, 2022 World Cup - In a mostly uneventual outing, Turner helped preserve the US’s untarnished World Cup record against big brother England.

Everybody Soccer Around the Net

Occasionally I am lucky enough to be published on other sites. In an effort to keep track of any extracurricular articles, here’s a mostly comprehensive list of articles that would have otherwise been published here on Everybody Soccer.

Top Drawer Soccer

Red Bulls News Network

American Soccer Analysis

Once a Metro

YouTube Channel

Paste Magazine (RIP)

Soccer Over There (RIP)

Next Generation: The 24 Best U24 Goalkeepers

cover photo of Ionut Radu belongs to Gareth Copley/Getty Images

1. Unai Simón, Spain (Athletic Bilbao) - 22
2. Ionut Radu, Romania (Parma / Italy) - 22 ^
3. Catalin Cabuz, Romania (FC Viitorul) - 23
4. Alex Meret, Italy (Napoli) - 22
5. Arnaud Bodart, Belgium (Standard Liège) - 21
6. Stefano Gori, Italy (AC Pisa) - 23

^ - on loan from Inter Milan

One to Watch: Ionut Radu. Since 1970, Inter have only had nine different starting goalkeepers, usually sporting a national team starter more times than not. It’s an amazing run that is a product of identifying talent at a young age, which they seem to have done yet again with Radu. Although Radu has already been on four loans in his professional career, it’s no real surprise that his agent is calling him the “future of Inter”. Radu was tied to Arsenal last summer and West Ham this past winter window but realistically Radu has a massive price tag if a club is serious about poaching the young Romanian. Current Inter starter, Samir Handanovic, turns 36 this summer so don’t be surprised if Radu doesn’t spend next season on loan and starts working up the ladder with Inter.

7. Gianluigi Donnarumma, Italy (AC Milan) - 21
8. Noam Baumann, Switzerland (FC Lugano) - 23
9. Iñaki Peña, Spain (Barcelona) - 20
10. Álvaro Fernández, Spain (SD Huesca) - 21
11. Dominik Kotarski, Croatia (Ajax / Netherlands) - 20
12. Per Kristian Bratveit, Norway (Djurgardens / Sweden) - 24

One to Watch: Dominik Kotarski. It may not come as a surprise that Ajax is loaded with young talent, even at the goalkeeping position. Kotarski has been featured as the starter for Ajax’s reserve side, playing in the second division in the Netherlands. The young Croatian has a nice blend of balance, patience, and looking comfortable off his line, which fits in nicely with Ajax’s front-footed style of play. It’s hard to predict André Onana’s time left with Ajax, as the current starter has already been linked to Barcelona and Chelsea, but if Kotarski is given the starting spot, don’t expect a shift in the responsibilities with the position.

13. Maarten Paes, Netherlands (FC Utrecht) - 21
14. Luca Zidane, France (Racing Santander / Spain) - 21 ^
15. Andriy Lunin, Ukraine (Real Oviedo / Spain) - 21 ^
16. André Onana, Cameroon (Ajax / Netherlands) - 23
17. Nordin Jackers, Belgium (Waasland-Beveren) - 22 *
18. Rok Vodisek, Slovenia (Genoa / Italy) - 21

^ - on loan from Real Madrid
* - on loan from Genk

One to Watch: Luca Zidane. It’s hard to overstate Real Madrid’s grip on the world’s elite goalkeeping. After offloading Keylor Navas to make room for Thibaut Courtois and French international Alphonse Areola, their youth core is equally as impressive with Lunin and Zidane waiting in the wings. Although Zidane can look a little sloppy with form, he possesses an impeccable rhythm to the game, almost as if he’s been watching the sport since day one. He still has some time to develop into a potential starter for Real Madrid but whether it’s there or another club, Zidane will be on a much bigger stage, sooner or later.

19. Jasper Schendelaar, Netherlands (AZ Alkmaar) - 19
20. Javier Belman, Spain (Real Madrid) - 21
21. Lucas Dias, France (Nîmes Olympique) - 20
22. Manuel Roffo, Argentina (Boca Juniors) - 19
23. Justin Bijlow, Netherlands (Feyenoord) - 22
24. Aaron Ramsdale, England (Bournemouth) - 21

One to Watch: Aaron Ramsdale. It’s not an easy time to be at Bournemouth, as the English youth international is experiencing first hand. Facing down relegating, Ramsdale has conceded 42 goals in 27 matches, although it’s not for a lack of talent. Ramsdale isn’t as explosive as some of his peers but he never looks out of depth, rarely creating a mistake from inexperience. A relegation battle is taxing for any player, young or old, and depending on how events play out, it could very well impact Ramsdale’s future, both with career opportunities and confidence in net.

26 Bold Goalkeeper Predictions for Every MLS Teams

cover photo belongs to Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The 2020 season is only a couple weeks away and everyone is scrambling to finalize their MLS goalkeeping hot takes. Well scramble no longer as Everybody Soccer has twenty-six atomic-sized predictions to point you in the right direction when it comes to goalkeeping narratives. While most teams’ seasons are most likely to be lacking of any real fireworks, Everybody Soccer dives into a more adventurous projection for each outfit.

Each team only has 3-4 goalkeepers listed for the sake of simplicity. For a more robust coverage of each team’s goalkeeping depth, head over to the MLS Goalkeeper Roundup.

# - projected
^ - currently on USL contract

Atlanta United

Starter: Brad Guzan (35)
Backup: Alec Kann (29)
In Reserve: Brendan Moore (27)
Coach: Liam Curran

Prediction: Brad Guzan isn’t in GOTY contention and Atlanta fans are fine with it. Guzan quietly had a positive year in 2019 and don’t expect that to change in 2020. Guzan faced the least shots per game last year of any starter at 3.9/game. Atlanta needs a goalkeeper who’s able to be fairly removed from the game for 89 minutes but come up with a big save in the 90th to keep the result. Guzan’s stat lines aren’t the sexiest but his trophy case won’t look empty when it’s all said and done.

Chicago Fire

Starter: Kenneth Kronholm (34)
Backup: Bobby Shuttleworth (32)
In Reserve: Connor Sparrow (25)
Coach: Adin Brown

Prediction: Chicago will try to platoon the position to varied success. There’s a universe where all three goalkeepers see game time. Kronholm looked up and down last year as both he and Shuttleworth are in the waning hours of their career. Chicago has some incentive to get their project, Connor Sparrow, some traction if they have any longterm planning with the position. Similar to last season, this feels like whoever makes the first mistake will get benched for the next goalkeeper in line.

FC Cincinnati

Starter: Przemyslaw Tyton (32, Poland)
Backup: Spencer Richey (27)
In Reserve: Bobby Edwards (24)
On Loan: Ben Lundt (German, 24, to Louisville City)
Coach: Jack Stern

Prediction: Tyton is gone after 2020. Coming to a new country is always difficult and while 2019 was plagued by injuries for the Polish goalkeeper, Tyton was outplayed by a goalkeeper making less than a quarter of what he was. Tyton needs a big year to prove to management he’s worth the investment but he’s going to have continued pressure from Richey. If Richey can stay healthy and continue to make his case for the starting position, the franchise’s sophomore year may take a significant change once the season wraps up.

 

Colorado Rapids

Starter: Clint Irwin (30)
Backup: Andre Rawls (27)
In Reserve: Abraham Rodriguez (17)#
Coach: Chris Sharpe

Prediction: Irwin plays every game. The only way I don’t see this coming to fruition is injury, of course, or if Colorado is completely out of playoff contention by the end of the season. Irwin hasn’t played 20 league matches in a season since he was last with the Rapids in 2015. The Rapids don’t have a ton of depth as their backups combine for a grand total of zero MLS appearances. Colorado can’t afford too many injuries or else they may be looking at a high school senior in net.

 

Columbus Crew

Starter: Eloy Room (30, Curacao)
Backup: Matt Lampson (30)
In Reserve: Jon Kempin (26)
Coach: Tim Hanley

Prediction: The Crew will have a very, very normal if not outright boring season in goal. The Crew are normally pretty decent at limiting shots on goal and Room isn’t known for catastrophic errors. Ask any coach at any level, the less their goalkeeper uses their hands the better the team is defending as a whole unit. So if you don’t hear about any Crew goalkeepers next year, it may just be part of the plan.

D.C. United

Starter: Bill Hamid (30)
Backup: Chris Seitz (32)
In Reserve: Earl Edwards (27)
Coach: Zach Thornton

Prediction: Hamid has a quiet season. With the USMNT having CONCACAF Nations League and 2022 World Cup qualifying matches in the calendar year, most of the workload will land on Zack Steffen. Hamid might get a match or two in the year but with a much needed positive start for the 2022 World Cup campaign, few will be clamoring for any goalkeeper not named Zack Steffen to get minutes. Despite the public comments that he’s better than the current crop of USMNT goalkeepers, Hamid’s national team days will be winding down over the next couple years.

FC Dallas

Starter: Jesse Gonzalez (24)
Backup: Jimmy Maurer (31)
In Reserve: Kyle Zobeck (29)
Coach: Drew Keeshan

Prediction: Jesse Gonzalez struggles to live up to the big contract. Gonzalez was on $231,000 guaranteed last year and with the recent four-year deal finalized last month, he should be around $300,000 to $400,000 until 2023. While Gonzalez drew interest in a possible transfer during the offseason, the new deal puts pressure on Gonzalez to step up his game. The real question now is if the FCD fanbase will view Gonzalez as a “young, promising shot-stopper” or a top goalkeeper in the league, one that mirrors his pay. He didn’t show many signs of being worth the investment last year, sitting fourth from last in Goals Saved Against Replacement.

Houston Dynamo

Starter: Marko Maric (24, Croatia)
Backup: Michael Nelson (24)
In Reserve: Cody Cropper (26)
Coach: Paul Rogers

Prediction: Maric is worth the money. For the first time in MLS history, a team has paid a transfer fee for a young goalkeeper to become an immediate starter. Previously, and somewhat still currently, teams would look to pick up a goalkeeper on a free, hoping to assemble a winning team from the bargain bin. At some point, MLS teams are going to start spending more on goalkeepers, both in wages and transfer fees. Maric has significant sell-on that could establish Houston as one team that’s miles ahead of the curve when it comes to bringing in foreign talent.

Inter Miami

Starter: Luis Robles (35)
Backup: John McCarthy (27)
In Reserve: Drake Callender (22)
Coach: Sebastian Saja

Prediction: Robles shows up RBNY while still showing his age. Circle March 21st in your calendars as Robles’ former team, the New York Red Bulls, travel south to play newly minted Inter Miami, with Miami returning the visit in September. Robles had an up-and-down season last year and at 35 don’t expect that to change. Robles still has gas left in the tank and he’s going to be prepared to show the Red Bulls just what they’re missing out on but he may struggle to play 30+ games again.

 

Los Angeles FC

Starter: Kenneth Vermeer (34, Dutch)
Backup: Pablo Sisniega (24)
In Reserve: Phillip Ejimadu (20)#
Coach: Zak Abdel

Out:

Prediction: LAFC finds their goalkeeper position in shambles. While many will point to Vermeer’s resume - 5 caps with the Netherlands and 103 appearances with Ajax - it should be noted that Vermeer is on the wrong side of 30. His last cap was in 2015 and left Ajax in 2014. More interestingly, his most recent club, Feyenoord, is only 16 spots higher in 538’s global ratings. Feyenoord is happy to move on from the former Dutch international for rising star, Justin Bijlow. Outside looking in, LAFC is picking up Feyenoord’s backups for close to a free transfer, despite the two teams being near equally-talented. Vermeer looks increasingly stiff in goal and Sisniega raised more questions than solved them in 2019. 2020 could be a bumpy year for LAFC fans who were used to Tyler Miller’s consistency.

Los Angeles Galaxy

Starter: David Bingham (30)
Backup: Justin vom Steeg (22)
In Reserve: Eric Lopez (20)
Coach: Juan José Romero

Prediction: Eric Lopez makes his first-team debut. Not exactly a thrilling proposition but LAG has methodically moved Eric Lopez up the ladder, most recently by granting him an MLS contract after he spent four years in the USL. Lopez will likely still see a bulk of his action in the second division but LAG seems keen on rewarding players who are on a track to eventually start in MLS, if not beyond. Look for Lopez to get a match or two in LAG’s US Open Cup run.

 

Minnesota United

Starter: Tyler Miller (26)
Backup: Greg Ranjitsingh (26, Trinidad and Tobago)
In Reserve: Dayne St. Clair (22, Canada)
Coach: Stewart Kerr

Prediction: Miller makes LAFC regret letting him walk. $200,000 in allocation money isn’t nothing - it’s more than twice Miller’s salary, after all - but Minnesota gets an upgrade over Mannone for dirt cheap. Miller is entering his prime and while he wasn’t the centerpiece for LAFC’s Supporters’ Shield run, his consistency will be quickly embraced for a team still on the rise.

Montreal Impact

Starter: Evan Bush (33)
Backup: Clement Diop (France, 26)
In Reserve: James Pantemis (Canada, 22)
Coach: Remi Vercoutre

Prediction: Diop gets some time in net but leaves the fanbase polarized for 2021. Bush’s time in the league is winding down and Montreal has a potential future starter in Diop. The French 26-year-old left the Galaxy two years ago and we haven’t seen much from him since, with just two league appearances in the last two years. If Montreal are going to start preparing for the future, Diop should be earning close to double digits in appearances with the Impact. Diop has shown sparks of talent but he’s out of rhythm, which won’t help convince fans one way or the other.

Nashville SC

Starter: Joe Willis (31)
Backup: Adrián Zendejas (24)
In Reserve: Elliot Panicco (23)#
Coach: Matt Pickens

Prediction: Willis returns to 2018-form, but it won't matter much. Similar to Vancouver’s season last year, having a goalkeeper stand on his head doesn’t mean you’ll finish above last in the table. Willis played like a top goalkeeper in the league in 2018 but in 2019 he looked like a completely different player. Now in a new environment, Willis should have the breath of fresh air he’ll need to show fans what he’s capable of. Unfortunately, expansion teams don’t always live up to expectations and Nashville might be more Cincinnati than Atlanta in their first season.

New England Revolution

Starter: Matt Turner (26)
Backup: Brad Knighton (34)
In Reserve: Jeff Caldwell (23)
Coach: Remi Roy

Prediction: Turner never leaves MLS. Turner’s at an odd stage in his career where he’s garnering some international attention yet isn’t quite at an age that makes European clubs want to roll the dice on him. Looking at how terrible Bill Hamid’s situation was in Denmark, there’s not a ton of incentive for Turner to leave the Revolution. Turner was on $75,000 last year and is likely facing a massive salary jump for 2021. If the Revs continue to treat Turner well, don’t be surprised if the Fairfield alum ends up spending a decade in New England.

New York City FC

Starter: Sean Johnson (30)
Backup: Brad Stuver (28)
In Reserve: Luis Barraza (23)
Coach: Rob Vartughian

Prediction: Poor U23 performance works in Johnson’s favor this time. This is a little roundabout but Johnson has largely been viewed as a “safe” inclusion with the national team. Despite the blunder in the 2012 Olympic campaign, the NYC goalkeeper has been one of the more consistent goalkeepers in the league, especially over the past five years. He may not produce the top end saves you’d like to see from a national team goalkeeper, but he’s a known quantity and a confident addition to any roster. That said, the U23s look shaky in the goalkeeping department. Ideally, the 30-year-old backups should be getting pushed out for younger talent but if a disappointing Olympic campaign unravels once again, like most US fans are familiar with, don’t expect Johnson to get pushed out from the national team any time soon.

 

New York Red Bulls

Starter: David Jensen (27, Denmark)
Backup: Ryan Meara (28)
In Reserve: Kendall McIntosh (25)
Coach: Preston Burpo

Prediction: David Jensen isn’t great but Meara won’t be an upgrade. Pulling most of this from my roundup, the 27-year-old Danish goalkeeper brings in a wealth of experience but ultimately I think he can be best summed up as a standard MLS 1.0 goalkeeper: strong, safe shot-stopper who can handle crosses but don’t trust him with the ball at his feet. He’s probably the slowest starting goalkeeper in MLS now, both in terms of sprint speed but also reactions. I’m not expecting a smooth season for RBNY as he’ll require a lot of bubble wrap to smooth out his edges. This move is all the more interesting as Houston, a team not known for being very adventurous in the offseason, is now outspending the Red Bulls and being more bold with the position. Will Jensen have a terrible season? Probably not. But the “rising tide lifts all boats” doesn’t mean at the same time. Expect the Red Bulls to be lagging behind their peers in the goalkeeping department in 2020.

Orlando City SC

Starter: Pedro Gallese (29, Peru)
Backup: Brian Rowe (31)
In Reserve: Mason Stajduhar (22)
Coach: Cesar Baena

Prediction: Orlando sees no drop off from Gallese to Rowe. Take this as a positive or negative but Rowe had a decent 2019 and I don’t think he’s on the verge of collapsing any time soon. Gallese is going to miss a chunk of the season with traveling for World Cup qualifying (starts next month) and the 2020 edition of the Copa America (mid-June to mid-July). This leaves Orlando turning back to Rowe. As for the Gallese, his footwork can be a little busy at times, which works great if it’s in rhythm with the play but it can easily backfire on the Peruvian goalkeeper, becoming a distraction for the task at hand. He’s not a surefire slam dunk and Rowe will get ample time to show his caliber.

Philadelphia Union

Starter: Andre Blake (Jamaica, 29)
Backup: Joe Bendik (30)
In Reserve: Matt Freese (21)
Coach: Phil Wheddon

Prediction: Andre Blake’s time with Philadelphia winds down. At $550,000, Blake was the fourth highest-paid goalkeeper in the league last year, behind Howard, Guzan, and Mannone. Unfortunately for the Union, Blake finished second to last in GSAR last year, conceding -2.84 goals below an expected replacement. If Philadelphia is going to be shelling out half a million for their goalkeeper, he needs to be top of GSAR charts and in contention for GOTY awards, neither of which are likely to happen in 2020. The Union will struggle to offload a heavy contract so don’t be surprised if Blake just walks for free when his contract runs up.

Portland Timbers

Starter: Steve Clark (33)
Backup: Jeff Attinella (31)
In Reserve: Aljaz Ivacic (Slovenia, 26)
Coach: Guillermo "Memo" Valencia

Prediction: Steve Clark cools down but is still a positive force for Portland. Steve Clark was on fire last year, saving the Timbers around a third of a goal per game last year. It’s unlikely any goalkeeper matches that blistering pace but that’s not to say Steve Clark is washed. Clark is no stranger to fighting from the trenches, battling through multiple relegation battles as well as re-entering the league when many had counted him out. Age catches up with every player but the Oakland alum still has a couple good years left to offer the Timbers. He’s one of the older goalkeepers in the league, but don’t count him out just yet.

Real Salt Lake

Starter: David Ochoa (18)
Backup: Zac MacMath (28)
In Reserve: Andrew Putna (25)
Coach: Todd Hoffard

Prediction: David Ochoa isn’t ready… yet. There’s a reason why teenagers don’t peform well in MLS. Unless we’re talking about Tim Howard-level talent, there’s still a fairly significant learning curve for and youngster in the position. It’s why San Jose hasn’t given Marcinkowski (22) the keys to the car yet, why the Galaxy is being patient with Eric Lopez (20), and why Minnesota hasn’t named Dayne St. Clair (22) their number one. Ochoa looked noticeably green in his run with the U20s and USL play last year, often choosing to solve situations by winging it inside of a methodical approach, and it’s only going to become more apparent in MLS action. RSL would be wise to try to avoid throwing Ochoa into the deep end too fast, similar to MacMath’s time with Philadelphia.

 

San Jose Earthquakes

Starter: Daniel Vega (Argentina, 35)
Backup: Andrew Tarbell (26)
In Reserve: JT Marcinkowski (22)
Matt Bersano (27)
Coach: Carlos Roa

Prediction: Vega loses his starting spot by the end of the year. The Earthquakes’ goalkeeping depth chart is hard to spell out as all four goalkeepers seem somewhat on even grounds. At 35, Vega is one of the oldest goalkeepers in the league. He’s done well to keep his mobility in check but his passing is one of the worst in the league and he conceded the most errors to round himself out as an average backup. If the Earthquakes have any intention of moving past Vega at some point, they won’t give all 34 matches to the Argentine goalkeeper, like they did in 2019. It will just take one of the three backups to hit a smooth run of play to hold onto the starting spot, assuming they’re given a chance to showcase their talent.

Seattle Sounders

Starter: Stefan Frei (33)
Backup: Stefan Cleveland (25)
In Reserve: Trey Muse (20)
Coach: Tom Dutra

Prediction: Frei ends his career without ever winning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Perhaps not the most shocking pick but at this point there’s not much more Frei can do to win over the voters. Frei, who has only ever been a top three pick twice in his career, will finish in the top five appearances for goalkeepers by the end of the season, barring an injury. The most clutch goalkeeper in MLS postseason play from the past decade will, unfortunately, be missing an obvious and well-deserved trophy when he decides to hang ‘em up.

Sporting Kansas City

Starter: Tim Melia (33)
Backup: Richard Sanchez (25)
In Reserve: John Pulskamp (18)^
Coach: Alec Dufty

Prediction: SKC isn’t prepared to move on from Melia. Melia got off to a rough start in 2019 and while he turned it around, it should be a reminder to fans that Melia has 1-3 years left as a starter. Sanchez left Chicago with a polarizing status, albeit mostly negative. There are no indicators that Sporting is ready to pass the baton to the budding Mexican-American goalkeeper and while teenage goalkeepers John Pulskamp and Brooks Thompson have been involved in the preseason, they’re still a few years from being ready to go. Look for SKC to bring in a serious starting option in 2021 or 2022, depending on how long Melia stays afloat.

Toronto FC

Starter: Quentin Westberg (33)
Backup: Alex Bono (25)
In Reserve: Eric Klenofsky (25)^
Coach: Jon Conway

Prediction: Toronto trades Bono before the end of the season. There’s been enough buzz surrounding the former All-American in the offseason that we were close to seeing him depart last month. (See Waking the Red’s thorough rundown on Bono’s situation for more information.) Toronto doesn’t seem too keen on having Bono return as a starter but they’ve struggled to find another team to swipe right. There are a number of suitable teams that could utilize Bono (Atlanta, Chicago, Colorado, Montreal, Philadelphia, just to name a few) and we know there’s interest to varying degrees. Bono’s selling value diminishes the longer Toronto holds on to him so look for Toronto to try to pull in some allocation money sooner than later to find Westberg’s eventual replacement.

Vancouver Whitecaps

Starter: Maxime Crepeau (25)
Backup: Bryan Meredith (30)
In Reserve: Thomas Hasal (20)

Prediction: Vancouver gets a bonafide national team caliber goalkeeper with Maxime Crepeau. Crepeau finished third in Goals Saved Above Replacement in 2019 but perhaps the most notable point was how he held up to the onslaught of shots on target. Persistence and consistency are key for MLS goalkeepers, which the 25-year-old seems to have both in his toolkit. Canada has some big-time games as World Cup qualifying starts up this season, which there’s a decent chance Crepeau will be heavily involved in the country’s campaign. Soon, Vancouver will be able to boast they have Canada’s number one.