Good morning everyone, on this Memorial Day where we as a nation pause to remember the soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice. May every Gold Star family feel the love and our immense gratitude for their loved ones’ service to our country. This weekend has already been an incredibly busy one on the soccer front, so we start with the double dip at Audi Field over the weekend.
Washington Spirit out-scrap Seattle Reign FC for 3-2 victory (DP)
The Washington Spirit flew out to a 3-0 lead and were able to dig in and hold the lead as they eventually win 3-2 over Seattle. Croix Bethune…amazing on the night, as she has been all year long.
Recap: D.C. United plays to a disappointing 1-1 draw with Chicago (DP)
DC United jumped out to a 1-0 lead behind Christopher McVey’s first goal for the Black-and-Red, but they were not able to hold their lead and end up drawing the Chicago Fire 1-1.
Loudoun United were able to once again leave Orange County with a win, the 2nd on the road at Orange County in 18 days.
Man Utd stun rivals City to win FA Cup (BBC)
Manchester United are your FA Cup winners, stunning Manchester City by jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first half and holding on for a 2-1 win.
In the Spirit Derby, incoming Spirit head coach Jonatan Giráldez and FC Barcelona defeated Spirit owner Michele Kang’s Lyon squad 2-0 to win the Women’s Champions League. Glad they’ll both be on the same team moving forward.
Southampton the deserved winners of Premier League promotion (ESPN)
Southampton held off Leeds 1-0 in the EFL Championship playoff final to earn promotion to the Premier League. They join Leicester City and Ipswich Town in making the jump up to the top flight.
Bayer Leverkusen complete double with DFB Pokal final win (ESPN)
Bayer Leverkusen complete the undefeated domestic double by winning the DFB Pokal Final over 1.FC Kaiserslautern. They end the season across all competitions with 43 wins, 9 draws, and only the 1 loss in the Europa League final. Simply remarkable.
Paris St-Germain beat Lyon to win French Cup (BBC)
PSG win the French Cup in Kylian Mbappé’s final match with the club. Next stop for him: the Bernabeu?
Argyle appoint Rooney as Head Coach (Plymouth Argyle)
Wayne Rooney is back in charge of a team again! He will take over Championship side Plymouth Argyle, who finished just 1 point above his former club Birmingham to avoid relegation.
Andi Sullivan has been added to the USWNT training roster! It’s a great chance for her to show Emma Hayes that she should be a part of the camps moving forward, and she’s the 7th Spirit player to get called into the team.
Hayes: USWNT now has to catch up with rest of the world (Pro Soccer Wire)
Emma Hayes feels that in some ways, the roles have flipped when it comes to the USWNT versus the rest of the world. She feels that the USWNT has to play catch up and not the other way around.
2024 Copa América in U.S. to pay out record $72m (ESPN)
Copa América will pay out $72 million, including $16 million to the winning team. *plays Aloe Blacc’s “I Need A Dollar”*
Real Madrid honour Toni Kroos in tearful Bernabeu farewell (ESPN)
Toni Kroos marked his final match for Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu, and the legend marked his final home match with a dazzling display as well as some tears. He will play his final match for the club next weekend in the Champions League final as he hopes to lift the trophy for a 6th time.
Vincent Kompany agrees deal to become Bayern Munich head coach (The Guardian)
Vincent Kompany will leave Burnley for Bayern Munich. The 38-year-old coach will take over at Allianz Arena, with Bayern sending £10.2 million in compensation to Burnley in exchange.
Have a great day, everyone.
Fire equalize McVey’s Buzzard Point 1-1. The tally to date:
Buzzard Points (home goals): Benteke (6, incl. pk); Bartlett, Dajome, McVey, Murrell, Pirani, Santos, Stroud
Talones (home assists): Herrera, Klich, Santos, Stroud (2); Antley, Benteke, Birnbaum
Taloncitos (drew home pk): Stroud
Spirit rain multi-Buzzard Point win 3-2 over Reign: The tally to date:
Buzzard Points (home goals): Sarr (4); Bethune (3); Hatch (incl. pk), Rodman, Sullivan – both pks (2); Hershfelt, Krueger
Talones (home assists): Bethune (4); Rodman (2); Hatch, Krueger, McKeown, Sarr
Taloncitos (drew home pk): Bethune (2); Rodman
Brendan Hines-Ike made the team of the week after scoring for Austin. I haven’t watched any of their games but it seems like he’s been doing decent. I still remember his debut goal and the hope it gave me for that first Losada season. Unlucky with injuries the last two years but hopefully he’s put that behind him.
I also hope that McVey was pulled at halftime this weekend for rotation reasons and not injury. We need him healthy, especially since Peltola is our only CM depth with Rodriguez injured.
He was absolutely robbed of Goal of the Week with that rocket in his debut. That was an banger.
Per BBC Manchester City and Lionesses starting center back Esme Morgan is leaving to join Washington Spirit. Should be a better replacement for Sam Staab.
That’s great news!
Shout out to DC Police for helping so wonderfully with the herding of all the cats in the National Memorial Day Parade yesterday. My Color Guard, Pipes and Drums were honored to participate. I really enjoyed all the tremendous and generous people that attended and participated in the event, especially our Gold Stars. It was marvelous to see kids from around our country march in their high school bands. To hear the gun salutes at Arlington in the distance was stirring.
When the USA gives its best, it is truly heartwarming.