Happy Monday everyone. It’s set to be a hot one today, so stay cool while you catch up on the news from the weekend.
Washington Spirit turn around rough start to beat Houston Dash, 3-1 (DP)
The Washington Spirit are in the win column again after smashing Houston 3-1 on the road. They’re back at home this weekend in a match against Gotham that will be on CBS. See y’all there!
D.C. United collapses late in demoralizing loss to Orlando City (WaPo)
DC United had the lead, but had a meltdown collapse and they lost to Orlando 3-2. They look to get back on track this weekend on the road at NYCFC.
Loudoun United were able to get the win at home against Memphis 901. Drew Skundrich got the game-winner.
Leverkusen heal past wounds to lift historic Bundesliga title (ESPN)
Neverkusen no more! For the first time ever, Bayer Leverkusen wins the Bundesliga, ending Bayern Munich’s 11-year run as champions. Go nuts, Leverkusen!
Ryan Reynolds celebrates ‘ride of our lives’ as Wrexham gains promotion to English 3rd division (AP)
A year after being promoted to League Two, Wrexham is going up again. They earn promotion to League One for next season.
Houston Dash record-signing Maria Sanchez requests trade (ESPN)
Just a few months after signing what was the largest contract in NWSL history, Maria Sanchez wants out of Houston. Wow.
Arsenal get Emery-d, suffer massive title blow in Villa defeat (Pro Soccer Wire)
Arsenal lose their grip on the EPL lead after getting beaten by Aston Villa, allowing Man City to take the lead.
Women’s FA Cup: Man Utd stun Chelsea, will face Spurs in final (ESPN)
Emma Hayes will not lift the FA Cup in her final season with Chelsea, as they are eliminated in the FA Cup semifinals.
While the USWNT waits for Emma Hayes to arrive, it’s a huge risk in an Olympics year to not know fully how they’re going to play with her as the permanent coach. For a lot of areas of the program, it’s still in wait-and-see mode.
Mexico winger Alvarado: I don’t think USMNT is better than us (Pro Soccer Wire)
Mexico winger Roberto Alvarado still believes that El Tri is better than the USMNT. Well Roberto, y’all have a real funny way of showing this dominance…it’s a bold strategy to go winless against the USMNT since 2019 to show you’re better!
FIFA President Gianni Infantino told MLS owners to ‘be bold’ with spending (The Athletic)
Gianni Infantino visited the MLS meetings last week and told the owners to be bold with spending to bring in quality players ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Let’s have a good week!
I am the man in the mirror.
Is Mexico delusional?
Benteke & Ciprani Buzzard Points can’t overcome Orlando’s 12th man. The tally to date:
Buzzard Points (home goals): Benteke (4), Ciprani, Santos, Stroud
Talones (home assists): Klich (2), Antley, Benteke, Herrera, Santos
I think you meant to write Pirani, unless that is your special name for Gabriel.
Mayor David did appropriately point out that Orlando had a 12th man. DC United is 0-9 under the watchful eye of that “ref.” Darth Garber is pleased.
Are serious? Over how many seasons?
I stand corrected. Many thanks.
It’s just that Pirani/Ciprani has been so forgettable.
Hey we need depth. It’s time Lesesne started giving Ciprani a few minutes to “blood” him. Maybe he’s an alternative to Pirani.
Women’s rugby is now getting a professional league in the US and they plan to kick off for the first time next year.
https://www.espn.in/olympics/story/_/id/39916628/first-us-pro-women-rugby-league-announces-plans-25
The US is one of the top teams in both 7s and 15s in Women’s Rugby on the international stage and we host the 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Is Mr. Infantino planning on donating FIFA funds to MLS to back up his proposed spending spree?
U-22 Players: it was interesting to read the Athletic article on MLS changes with rosters/spending. To paraphrase, some of the GMs basically said “U-22 players are hit or miss.” And Pirani is a great example of that. As an A-mid he’s been worse than “meh”–often disappearing on the pitch. But that goal he scored this weekend–sublime. That’s a lovely piece of skill on his part. And that’s the challenge–with a lot of U-22 acquisitions you’re saying “I think some of the pieces are there–now if he’ll only grow. Or maybe we can develop him.” Lucho Acosta was in many ways a superb example of that–great technical ability, fearless, and good vision. But inconsistent, moody, a bit of a punk at times and not the best of teammates. He had to go off to Mexico, get a bit older, face a possible arrest in order for him to mature in to a really outstanding player who is worth being a team captain.
Time will tell if Pirani was a good decision or not. Right now, he’s just an athletic, very technical player, not put off by the physical nature of MLS but can’t link well, doesn’t finish well, and appears to have no vision. Goff had said that Pirani lost his starting position a couple of weeks ago and we can all see why–very justified.
In the meantime we need to (desperately) add some depth. Even if they’re just temporary MLS scrubs. Or some USL bit players (Antry ain’t one of those–he’s a legitimate contributor). Our yellow card accumulation is going to hit us hard in a bit.
Lesesne was saying he wasn’t expecting any roster additions before the freeze deadline. I’m hoping Mackay is working the phones every day to find takers for Martin Rodriguez and Mohanad Jeahze, or failing that, convincing Levien and Kaplan to buy them out. Lesesne is resolute in not using them, and thus it’s a waste of roster spaces and an even greater waste of salary cap space. The yellow cards are a big deal, but it’s also been pretty rare for Lesesne to use all five substitutions in a game. Outside of Ku-DiPietro, we’ve been pretty lucky to avoid injuries to players who weren’t injured to start the season.
I would also be a little surprised if we see additions before the summer window, but once that window opens, there’s a great opportunity to bolster the squad.
Yes, I think we won’t see real, serous, meaningful roster additions until the summer. And even then, not a bunch of U-22s. But I wouldn’t be shocked to see us add a USL player for our bench, Or a free agent who doesn’t require a transfer. Not a starter caliber player. But someone to give us another body for the bench.
If they didn’t have plans to be adding at least one more U-22 player, it would be squandering the full potential of having signed Matti Peltola as a Young DP.
To Alvarado: the first step in dealing with a problem is admitting you have a problem.
If Benteke scores two more goals in the next four games, he’ll have matched Wayne Rooney’s goal-scoring total in the same number of matches. (Rooney has ten more assists, though.)