Happy Bobby Bonilla Day to everyone who celebrates it, and everyone should celebrate it. It’s also Canada Day for our friends north of the 49th parallel. Today, the USMNT take on Uruguay in their group stage finale, and I’m here in Kansas City for it. With that, here’s some of the news from over the weekend.
DC United went on the road to archrivals New York Red Bulls. Unfortunately, they couldn’t hold the 2-1 halftime lead and eventually settled for a 2-2 draw.
Washington Spirit fall to North Carolina Courage, 1-0 (DP)
Ashley Sanchez returns to Audi Field and scores the lone goal to defeat the Spirit 1-0.
Takeaways from Loudoun United’s big 2-0 win over Tampa Bay (DP)
Loudoun United wins another one, this time a 2-0 victory over Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Opinion: The look of the USWNT Olympic Team is a cause for celebration (SSFC)
An opinion piece that the USWNT right now is a big cause for celebration among Black soccer fans who have longed to have a team comprised of players that they can relate to on and off the field.
Ecuador reach Copa quarters, Mexico out after 0-0 draw (ESPN)
Mexico has crashed out of Copa America in the group stage after a 0-0 draw against Ecuador sees them end Group A play in 3rd place.
‘Bellingham goal will go down in England history’ (BBC)
Jude Bellingham’s bicycle kick goal with literally seconds left in regulations against Slovakia was one of the best goals in Euros history, and it propelled England to an extra time win in the Round of 16.
Report: Borussia Dortmund decides to sell Gio Reyna (Pro Soccer Wire)
Gio Reyna’s time at Borussia Dortmund appears to be over as the team has decided to find a transfer for the American midfielder.
Vamos Estados Unidos!
The Mexico vs Ecuador was as turgid as it gets, but the last few minutes were insane. The PK awarded then overturned in like the 99th minute for Mexico created a rollercoaster of emotions for the most dynamic element of the game- Mexico’s fans. Stunning drama
Well, I wonder what Bolivian and Uruguayan teams will show up? I suspect as Uruguay rotates their roster, they’ll still take it seriously. After all, they haven’t officially qualified yet. And if Boliva mails it in, we could be Uruguay and still go home on goal difference (I don’t see us beating Uruguay 5-0).
And I think it’s notable that Mexico is going home. At least Canada is advancing (though mostly on defense). Not a good optic for the upcoming WC if both Mexico and the US are knocked out before the knock outs.
I thought DCU’s result was very good despite giving up the lead twice. Granted, we’re strong on the road. But missing Benteke, condensed schedule, down a man, no bench–and yet we we had the lead. This team absolutely does not quit. Whatever Koolaid Lesesne is having the team drink, I want me some of that.
And on the goal by Sanchez, I saw that as an uncharacteristic mistake by Kingsbury. I’m not positive but I think if she doesn’t tough the ball it sails wide, she effectively deflected it in to her own goal. But I’m happy for Ashley.
It will be interesting to see what happens with Gio. I get that his inability to stay healthy means coaches don’t rely on him. But unless he looks bad in practice, the man’s got game. His inability to see the field is baffling to me.
I’m actually betting Uruguay doesn’t rotate much. This is Bielsa, he’s more a driver of small squad than a minutes minder, from what I’ve seen. I think he’ll want momentum far more than to preserve legs.
I’m sure he’ll set the roster, but he himself will not be coaching this one. He got suspended for entering the field.
Didn’t know that, but I would be shocked if that affects the starting lineup or mentality
I could be wrong but I thought he got suspended for having his team start the game late twice (and the Copa officials are making a big deal about “you WILL start on-time or-else!” Two other coaches have been hit with warnings on this same issue.
Maybe that. I wasn’t paying very close attention to the details.
It was that. Now if we can get Gregg Berhalter to do that……
/s
(I am kidding, good luck tonight, Boys. Make us proud.)
Turns out this is correct, confirmed by reporting. Bielsa will probably keep doing it, he’s a fanatic for game instruction
Just realized that Taylor Twellman was calling the DC game on Saturday, and Jared Stroud scored. The other DC game that Twellman called? When they hosted Miami, and who scored that day? Why, Jared Stroud!
Well, this demonstrates that Taylor Twellman is NOT Jared Stroud. Because both have been seen in the same location at the same time. OTOH, has anyone seen Owen Goal and Jared Stroud in uniform at the same time? I think not.
I still am fuming over Kasper letting Own Goal go….
I’m trying to remember when our last goal off a direct free kick was, prior to Santos’s shot on Saturday. Did we have one in 2023?
It would have had to have been scored by Klich, and I don’t think he did
DC United some-crazy-how has two All-Stars. Both Christian Benteke and Aaron Herrera were voted into the squad. Only RSL, LAFC, Miami, Cincinnati, and hosts Columbus have multiple selections to the squad, too.
I thought Miami was the squad….
Absolutely deserved, and absolutely surprising given how crummy out national profile is.
The US has announced its Olympic roster for Men’s 7s rugby: https://eagles.rugby/news/usa-rugby-announces-mens-olympic-rugby-sevens-team-for-paris-202471
OGDC had already clinched a playoff berth for the 2nd time in franchise history and for the 2nd year in a row with the 18-12 loss to Miami the previous round. In the last week of the regular MLR season this Saturday the question was if Chicago or DC would be the 3 seed for the 4 seed. Both teams won, so Old Glory remained the 4 seed. In a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference Final Old Glory visits Veteran Memorial Stadium (aka Ft. Quincy) in Quincy, MA on July 20th in the Eastern Conference Semifinal Round. They beat the Free Jacks in Ft. Quincy for the first time ever back in the 2nd game of the season with the last play of the game 35-34. The Free Jacks won the return fixture at the Maryland Soccerplex 31-30. So it should be a tight game that goes down to the wire. Chicago as the 3 seed will visit the NOLA Gold who DC beat this past Saturday 27-24. The Conference Final is hosted by the highest remaining seed, so should Old Glory be victorious over the Free Jacks on July 20th they will either visit NOLA or Chicago on July 27th.
Coaches (aside from Vermes) all over the American soccer landscape must be anxious over their job security. So many dismissed in both the men and women’s game, with seemingly no plan to replace them before the end of the year. St. Louis’ Carnell is the latest, but we also saw Amy Rodriguez fired from Utah in spite of their obvious non-coaching woes.
I won’t say anything other than to watch the highlights of Portugal Slovenia. Extraordinary stuff
Just FYI, definitely going to take the opportunity to use this section as a match thread, for anyone who thinks they can make it
A disturbing amount of blue in the standa
…wow how is that a yellow on Adams?
Yet Uruguay apparently can get away with murder?
This ref is welcoming us to CONMEBOL more than Uruguay, even
Panama has a 1-0 lead on Bolivia…the US is gonna go out.
It seems likely, but this is the scenario they are finally going to reveal the culture in
Can’t tell which player, someone from Uruguay probably needs a stretcher for a clash I didn’t get a good look at
Neck got jammed into turf there after colliding with another Uruguay player plus Tim Ream.
Yikes for Balogun, got absolutely decimated before the whistle for offside
This ref short circuits, gives a yellow and allowing game on on a breakaway. Son of a shit
This ref is attrocious.
We may have to stop hoping for a win and praying for a squad of healthy boys by the end
Are we sure this isn’t a CONCACAF ref?
Balogun looks done.
He is done with the several hard challenges he’s take tonight.
Calls back an advantage by the time it gets to half field. Wow
He’s a CONMEBOL ref….
Definitely showing a bias, and I’m used to OUR region
Stoppage time for this half swill be insane, if the ref can count
I don’t trust that he can given that he just didn’t give us advantage when he should have.
Five minutes is a joke
Wow…just wow…
He wants this to end, and I have to agree, his career should be as short as possible
He… he doesn’t even check on injured players when play has stopped
Which is criminal
Getting the sense we’re not going to win any headers in the box. Time to get our ground game going
Can we sub the ref at half?
He definitely needs a new vocation
Fajardo scores again, and I want to throttle the ex-United player. All he did for us was lose us a game with a tackle
Yup we’re out
We’re actually playing quite well. It’s not likely, but let’s be fans
My DCU assumption of everything going wrong has bled over into the USMNT.
Scally down. Shaq sighting upcoming, most likely
Should be said, both Balogun and Scally are coming off holding their hips. This ref is not good for the pelvis
He isn’t good for anything except screwing the non-CONMEBOL team.
Bolivia has tied it in Orlando. Currently US is going through.
I don’t know if there’s a god, but I hope they’re sympathetic
VAR confirms…and Uruguay score…we’re done
Ah crap VAR check…
It’s good!
Wait, they just said a former DC United player? This Venn diagram is insane
Well, shit
Turner needs to put that out
Holy crap, it’s offside, and most importantly, out of the center ref’s hands
Nope it’s confirmed.
No way VAR works for us.
I can’t believe this shit
I can.
Ref has lost control and it’s over for the US.
Probably also not going to get the right amount of stoppage time in this half either.
I don’t get how you get a time out, freeze frame, and like two minutes to look at that and fuck it up. Horrific.
Looks like Richards kept him on barely.
They wanted to draw the lines that way, that’s clearly bullshit
Panama has now scored again
Yeah; now it looks beyond us, for sure
The Weah red said the US is going out.
These players have this in them. I don’t think Berhalter is the coach to lead them
How is that not a yellow?
His arm is tired
Credit to Uruguay, they’re an incredibly solid team
As if to prove my point, Suarez is about to jaunt on
This is probably only gonna be like 2 mins of stoppage.
Negative stoppage, ref has to pee
This has to be Berhalter’s head on a pike…if US Soccer don’t sack him….
They talked themselves into rehiring him, I don’t have much hope for thar
How the hell is it only 6 mins?
… no way
Man, the fix is in, apparently
Oh look we lost 90 seconds to an injury and ref didn’t add it.
The man is a pile of dung without nutrients for the soil
I have thoughts for tomorrow.