D.C. United draw, Washington Spirit lose, and more: Monday Freedom Kicks
Happy Monday everyone. It was a rainy weekend, but there was still plenty of soccer to recap. Here we go:
Recap: D.C. United and Philadelphia Union play to a frustrating 2-2 draw (DP)
DC United had an early lead, but it was squandered and they settle for a draw against Philadelphia.
Washington Spirit can’t overcome Portland Thorns FC, lose 2-1 (DP)
The Spirit had a couple of chances to draw level, but they couldn’t overcome an early deficit and lose on the road to the Thorns.
I was at the Loudoun United-Detroit City match on Saturday night. Each side had a few chances, but both take the scoreless draw home.
WSL title race ‘wide open’ after Chelsea run riot and Man City lose (BBC)
Chelsea was left for dead in the WSL title race, but after Arsenal beat Man City and Chelsea put up a huge win over Bristol City, they are in the driver’s seat.
Leverkusen unbeaten streak up to 48 after rout over Frankfurt (ESPN)
Bayer Leverkusen are still unbeaten on the season…let’s see if they can keep it up.
Bellingham inspires ‘complete team’ Real to La Liga title (BBC)
Real Madrid wins the La Liga title and are set up for a potential treble if they can win the Champions League. Hopefully Cibeles has at least 1 more celebration this season.
Looks like leagues will have the ability to play their matches abroad by the end of 2024 once FIFA changes the rules to allow it. Of course, the United States stands to be one of the nations that benefits from that.
Messi breaks MLS record with five assists for Inter Miami…all in one half?! (Pro Soccer Wire)
5 assists in 1 half and a goal for Lionel Messi over the weekend. Setting all kinds of MLS records in the process.
Enjoy the day, y’all!
The Spirit are facing what MLS used to do routinely–cram a bunch of matches together in a short period of time (I think it was 6 in 22 days for the Spirit). They came out against Portland with heavy legs and probably a bit jet lagged. Gonzalez is doing a good job rotating players to try and minimize this but the roster is just too small and they’re too dependent on a few key players to be able to do that fully.
Specifically, i thought Sarr had a terrible match. Lots of dispossessions, poor touches, poor movement off the ball. She’s been pretty good this season but I thought this was by far her worst match. And I still stand by my claim that Portland’s second goal had two players offside (including the goalscorer). Maybe someone will show me a video angle that will prove I’m clueless.
For DCU, I agree with Lesesne that in many ways this was DCU’s best match. And Philly may have had 2 bad recent matches but they were not bad this match. For instance, Philly did a superb job of deny the ball to both Benteke and Herrera in dangerous spots of the field. They kept pushing DCU to go to the left sideline. The goal by Bedoya–just a really smart, heads-up play by two veterans who realized Bedoya was being marked by a rookie, they isolated Bedoya and Murrell was a 1/2 step late. But otherwise DCU was simply outperforming Philly for much of the match–moving off the ball smartly, winning the 50-50 balls. Maybe Murrell can be the second finisher this team needs so everything isn’t on Benteke.
We may have viewed the same United game, our characterizations are gonna diverge so wildly that I’m a little bemused. Philly were poor. Not untalented, but they were limp and desperate throughout. We were able to field about as strong a lineup as we are able, but I don’t credit our performance with much efficiency. Bedoya might have made a smart run, it was a wildly shitty heads down play by our defense to let him in so openly. For as demoralized as Philly were, we should have run up the score, one horrendous defensive moment allowed for a low percentage moment of glory later.
All in all, think this was a system failure not creating the singular moments we need to score goals, despite Philly allowing us two or three.
Shame for the local fans re: matches abroad.
Out of curiosity, anyone know who held the record for assists in an MLS game, or in a half? None of the articles I’ve read seem to mention whose records Messi has broken.
I did see that the record of six total goals/assists broke a record of five that had been held by seven people (who they did not name).
I did not confirm it myself, but I saw it was held before by Ante Razov. I think it said he had 2 goals and 4 assists in a playoff game at one point years ago
I was also at the Loudoun United game, and I am loving Aboukoura’s game. He’s aggressive, quick, and confident. With the stability that Valot provides behind him, it could be a solid partnership.
I liked the play of Peltola in this game as the left-back. He had some fine moments and he really reads the game well. He didn’t go forward much since it was a 3 man back line, but my guess is the he could in a 4 back system. If Hopkins continues playing well, this might be an option going forward.
I agree on the free-kick goal. Unfortunately, we had a savvy veteran matched up against a 19-year-old. Murrell scored a goal and gave one away. However, credit should be given that it was a good play by the Union.
Murrell also will just get better as he adjusts to the league. It will be nice to have both him and Ku as options for the second forward.
Peltola can be a good LCB, but if we play a formation that utilizes one, we’re going to need a LB/LWB who can cross on their left foot.
I thought for a moment Peltola started playing left back late in the game, but McVey was pushed into midfield, so it was still a center back role that he was playing. We did indeed see a lot of competency, steel, and skill from him on that side, but our inability to get much danger going down that side allowed Philly to condense space on the right side of our attack.
I’m not opposed to seeing him back there, he did well, but a back three requires two players who can maraud down the flanks, not one. Dajome did his best, even got central for an early goal, but a lot of attacks were slowed by his need to dribble away from direct crossing opportunities. Glad he had a moment, but long term, this doesn’t strike me as a recipe for success with Dajome shuttling and Peltola covering.
Would you accept a Pedro Santos in that LWB role?
I would love a shuttler who is, well, able to shuttle. He can get into forward positions and do stuff. If he happens to be in the defensive third, he makes plays occasionally. He doesn’t have the legs to transition between the two, whether it’s getting past players or tracking back effectively.
So, unfortunately, I think we got the expired Santos.
I forgot about Conner Antley. Maybe he can do the trick when he heals up.
Again, I think he’s serviceable, but he’s also predominantly right footed. Left backs or LWBs are difficult to find of decent quality, but I just don’t see our press and transition game taking the next step without one. Antley should be cover for the whole backline, and he seems capable of filling that role, but you don’t have a winning trend line long term with utility.
I do think Antley can be a CB and push the others if they fall out of form, no question. Left back, he shouldn’t be the plan.