USWNT win on penalties, Copa América TV schedule released, and more: Thursday Freedom Kicks
Happy Thursday everyone. I write this from San Diego, where I am so that I could attend the W Gold Cup semifinals last night. We start with those results:
What a wild match! Alyssa Naeher was the hero as she not only stopped 3 penalties, she made one of her own to send the USWNT to the W Gold Cup final against Brazil, who stomped out Mexico.
Fox Sports unveils full broadcast schedule for 2024 Copa America (Pro Soccer Wire)
The full Copa schedule is out, with several matches on Big Fox. Should be a good tournament.
2024 Generation adidas Cup to feature 49 clubs from record 15 countries (MLS)
A record 15 countries will be represented at the Generation Adidas Cup.
The annual MS Awareness match for DC United will be on March 30th. You can get tickets below to benefit the National MS Society.
Solskjær claims some Manchester United players said no to captaincy (The Guardian)
Some players just don’t have that leadership in them. Apparently, Manchester United had a ton of those players.
Ancelotti denies tax fraud as prosecutors seek prison sentence (ESPN)
It’s almost a rite of passage for foreign players and coaches to run into tax trouble by living in Spain. Carlo Ancelotti is the latest example.
NYCFC stadium project passes city commission; club unveils ‘The Cube’ entrance (The Athletic)
Looks like the NYCFC stadium is about to become a reality.
I’m gonna go back to sleep. Enjoy the day!
I will note that Naeher committed the foul that was found on VAR review that led to the 2nd extra time period stoppage time pk that led to the pk shootout. So she started the villain so to speak then became a hero. But man that was just messy and chaotic watching passes die last night due to the soaking wet field.
She was called for a PK, but I for one think it was marginal, at best. She went to catch the ball supinated and didn’t succeed in catching, but clearly made contact with the ball in a disruptive way a split second before the collision. I saw the slow motion replays like everyone else, and think it was generous to Canada.
I agree. I think that Naeher touched the ball a millisecond before the Canadian header. No way that she was
A “villain” in causing that pk.
I agree it was marginal but according to VAR and the Ref it was a clear and obvious error.
The Gold Cup game had epic drama, and was a testament to both team’s fortitude and resolve. It will be remembered as a game where some incredible women soldiered through obscene conditions, and made it… yeah, I’m going with epic again.
That doesn’t change the fact that a CONCACAF match commissioner looked at massively unsafe conditions, and didn’t give a fuck about these women, including the refs. Whoever they are, they should be removed.
I agree again. Ridiculously unsafe conditions with its moments of humor.
The Cube seems okay, but it certainly reminds me of that feature on the northeast corner of Audi Field. Except we only stuck a car in ours.
Cars > LED displays (horrendous for night vision of drivers passing by)
Agree about the US-Canada conditions and match. And that’s great news about the NYCFC stadium–it’s just crappy soccer playing on a really narrow field.
The Guardian’s Ryan Baldi leans into MLS’s weather extremes being one of the things that makes the league interesting to watch.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/mar/06/mls-schedule-lafc-real-salt-lake-snow-blizzard-la