From July 8 to August 11 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, teams in the MLS will compete in the fittingly named MLS is Back tournament for regular-season points and a spot in the Concacaf Champions League.
Be sure to catch these four former Dayton Dutch Lions FC players in action as they help their teams to glory:
J.J. Williams starred for the Dayton Dutch Lions in 2018, racking up eight goals in 13 games. Now, he plays for Atlanta United FC, assigned to the tall task of helping fill the gap left by the injury of 2018 MLS MVP Josef Martinez. On July 11 at 8:00 PM EST, Atlanta will begin their tournament run against the New York Red Bulls, followed by a face-off against FC Cincinnati on July 16 at 9:00 AM, and a showdown with Columbus Crew SC on July 21 at 8:00 PM to round off the group stage.
Aaron Schoenfeld played for the Dayton Dutch Lions in 2014, scoring a dozen goals in 18 games. After a stint playing in Israel, Schoenfeld returned to the United States this year to play for an exciting Minnesota United FC MLS team. On July 12 at 7:00 PM, Minnesota will begin their tournament run against Sporting Kansas City, followed by a 9:30 PM match against Real Salt Lake on July 17 and a game against the Colorado Rapids on July 22 at 9:30 PM.
Ben Sweat played for the Dayton Dutch Lions on loan in 2014 and with New York City FC for three years. Now, he plays for 2020 expansion team Inter Miami FC, helping the defense hold the fort down. The David Beckham-owned team will aim to take down hosts Orlando City SC in the tournament’s opening match on July 8 at 8:00 PM, followed by a 9:00 AM showdown with the Chicago fire on July 14, and a 10:30 PM night game against the Philadelphia Union to cap off the group stage.
Brad Stuver played for the Dayton Dutch Lions in 2014, and is now a goalkeeper at New York City FC. He will be a valuable option for coach Ronny Delia behind the sticks on a City team with expectations to go far in the tournament. NYCFC will play at 9:00 AM against the Philadelphia Union on July 9, 10:30 PM against the hosts Orlando City SC on July 14, and finally at 8:00 PM against the Chicago Fire on July 19.
Written by Krish Gupta