Happy Thursday, everyone. Last night, Kerry and I took in some U.S. Open Cup action at Audi Field, but there was a lot of action all across the country, so let’s get into it.
Post-Match Facts | #DCvRIC (DCU)
Yamil Asad scored a goal from the penalty spot, and Alex Bono saved a penalty to secure D.C. United’s 1-0 win over the Richmond Kickers.
Open Cup Recap | #LDNvFCU (LUFC)
Meanwhile, over at Segra Field, Loudoun United beat the pollen out of Flower City Union, 5-0. Loudoun’s doing well in their first ever U.S. Open Cup!
Memphis 901 FC Makes Club History with 2-1 Victory Over Atlanta United FC (Memphis 901)
Bill Hamid and Memphis 901 take out Atlanta United in a #Cupset! They win 2-1 in extra time. Memphis, D.C., and Loudoun will all learn their next opponents in the Round of 32 draw today.
Premier League in Manchester City’s hands after Arsenal win (ESPN)
Manchester City destroy Arsenal 4-1 to take control of their own destiny in the EPL race. Also, Erling Haaland sets the Premier League goal record with his 33rd goal of the season in league play. –
Sheff Utd promoted to Premier League with win over West Brom (BBC)
Sheffield United, welcome back to the Premier League! They will be promoted after a win over West Brom yesterday.
Finally, we got more Washington Spirit doodle shirts!
Perhaps it was a side-effect from the relaxing low-stakes environment of an early US Open Cup round, but I never felt like Richmond had much going for them last night. In classic sports fashion, they had two or three real threatening moments that sort of came from nowhere, and their shots were actually on-target, though usually not particularly dangerous. On the other side of things, D.C. United frequently felt in control and had several threatening moments fizzle out due to some combination of youth, poor form, and inexperience on the pitch together.
It’s a shame this match ended 1-0 with two PKs being the deciding moments, because in a kinder world, this easily could have been 5-2 in D.C.’s favor.
What do I know, though? I only have the angle in which I saw the match to go on, and I always turn off my analytical reporting brain in attendance so I can simply enjoy the match with my favorite pair of rose-tinted glasses. Maybe it was a dour game. But a win is a win, the B-team got some much-needed minutes, and D.C. United is now on a three-match winning streak across all competitions.
Bill Hamid, torturing Fake United in perpetuity……
Yep, what a saucy story, I love it
Well, didn’t watch any Open Cup games cuz of course they weren’t available, but can report on watching the Man City show. They are incredible. Pep has figured out that you don’t get the best out of Haaland without some transitional breakaways, so he’s devised a system with defenders who will shut you the fuck down, and then get it to any of the midfielders to start the inevitable De Bruyne/Haaland show, and it’s devastating. Clubs are devastated. And the weird thing is, this is a very recent formational change that is getting the tops of everyone’s game, and no club has time to figure out how to beat it at this stage. From top to bottom, might be the most intimidating team I’ve ever seen.
The real test is beating Real Madrid in the CL. They must be under some sort of long-term contract with Lucifer himself to have the level of success they’ve had in that competition even when they’re middling in La Liga (by their standards).
I actually disagree. Real Madrid are very good, obviously, but I doubt they win either a shoot out or defend effectively enough against Man City’s weapons to stop them. I’m already looking toward the one of the Milan teams in the final to be the big point of contention- over two games, I think Man City breaks anybody right now, but Inter and AC Milan have gotten here by being stingy defensively and nipping goals, and over one game, anything is possible.
Real Madrid definitely had Lucifer’s aid last year when they won shootouts with some of the best performing offenses in the world, but I think Haaland and De Bruyne in transition will get them.
How cool it is that Bill “Freaking” Hamid led Memphis over Atlanta. I’ve gotta say–if I had to pick any American still active in goal to stand on his head and make incredible saves, I’d go with Bill. He may not be the best American keeper or the best at distribution or organizing or positioning or stopping PKs or commanding his area. But if you’re talking an overmatched team requiring their GK to stop 2-3 clear goals and keep them in the match, Bill’s my guy.
Love the Spirit “doodle” T-shirts–very fun.
And I love the season LU is having. It’s about time to reward the long-suffering fans there with some wins.