Real Madrid gets double tap win, Trinity Rodman scares us all, and more: Thursday Freedom Kicks
Happy Thursday. Before I disappear for basketball, here’s some news from yesterday:
The inevitability of Real Madrid breaking Atléti hearts in the UCL (ESPN)
Real Madrid defeated Atletico Madrid via penalties…or should I say, a double tap penalty. Julián Álvarez did double tap the ball, but of course I would say that…because it’s true. Hala!
USWNT star Trinity Rodman: Matter of time before I play abroad (ESPN)
No. We’re not ready for this.
Mauricio Pochettino names USMNT Concacaf Nations League roster with eye on defending title (SSFC)
The USMNT roster is out, and they will seek to defend their Nations League title once again next week.
Hey Spirits episode: Wow so deserving (Challenge Cup review and 2025 season preview) (DP)
New Hey Spirits episode is out!
People say that the jerseys are getting to be too expensive, so they’re going the route of the counterfeits.
Ronaldo backs out of Brazil federation presidential race (ESPN)
Ronaldo has realized that he doesn’t have to be president of Brazil. He’s O Fenomeno. R9. Ronaldo. Legend. That’s good enough for me.
Tori Huster is DC Scores’ 2025 Poet Laureate…love. this.
Stars forward Swanson to miss start of NWSL season due to personal reasons (PSW)
We continue to hope Mal can take as much time as she needs to deal with whatever she’s dealing with. We look forward to seeing her back on the field when she’s ready.
Enjoy the day!
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid was enthralling. A friend of mine was able to watch both legs with me live by an accident of scheduling, and, I’m sad to say, he may be a Real Madrid fan now. Nobody’s perfect. And yes, I had previously told him about Franco.
What can I say, Real Madrid are able to sign some really compelling players by brand alone. They drop my jaw at times, but I just don’t want them to win.
It took me a few viewings before I realized that what they were calling was was the faintest of touches by Alvarez’s no longer standing foot as he kicked the ball. Cruelty, really, but technically correct.
Anyway, I literally had to keep the volume on the TV down several points lower than normal. The atmosphere was that intense, the fans that fully voiced throughout. The commentators had to scream at times to be heard over the chants and urging commands from the crowd. Atletico was able to carry a one goal lead against their titanic rivals.
Sad that that it ended on a technicality, but that was the margin between the teams.
So, even if I find Real Madrid unappealing as a whole, both teams greatly honored the sport yesterday.
Hala!!
I of course refuse to speculate publicly on Mal Swanson’s need for privacy and time. I will say, I have a negative mind, and I hope it’s way better than what I can imagine.
As for the USMNT, really big opportunity for both Sargent and Agyemang. Maybe Weah gets the start, but I’d much rather have him at right wing
News alert: Bayern 125th anniversary jerseys are selling out.
Time to upgrade your wardrobe, DW2! ;^)
Did the Spirit switch their home/away jerseys? From all the social media it seems like the yellow Shockwave will be the primary jersey going forward.
Probably for the best, if so. Playing in the heat in black jerseys blows for the players’ internal temperature.
To be fair — playing in the sun wearing black jerseys blows. Doesn’t make any difference when the sun has set.
Maybe, but it seems like, especially sharing the stadium, Spirit games are more often in the sun than United’s schedule dictates.
I guess I have to hand it to Vancouver for defying my expectations going into this season. It’s still entirely too early, but I had then pegged as Wooden Spoon contenders after the unpleasant off-season they endured.
Montreal is 0-3-0 having lost all 3 of their games this season. I think we are more than capable of winning this match, but I’m afraid we’re gonna cough up goals we shouldn’t do to some defensive issue.
Absolutely. That said, all streaks end, and they’ll be a desperate animal coming in. We got our first win, and though it would be stellar to pick up all three points before our Columbus clash, I think I’d forgive United a little if this doesn’t end in triumph.
If we hadn’t won against SKC, this would be a must win. Thankfully we’re at least in the pack currently, and stumbling here wouldn’t mar that too much.
I don’t think we have to worry about DCU catching any of the 4 teams ahead of us (Philly, Miami, Columbus and Cincy), but we will need a win to hold our position, with NYRB and NYCFC hosting matches they’re favored to win, Charlotte possibly in position to win at home vs Cincy, perhaps ATL in position to win at home against Miami, and Chicago on the road against a miserable TFC team.
Taking 3 points at home vs Montreal, then maybe a point on the road at Orlando, a point at home vs. Columbus, and maybe a point on the road at San Jose, and then, 20% of the season played, we can talk seriously about a fight for a playoff spot.
I’m just saying if the sport were so predictable and amenable to our interests, it wouldn’t be what it is.
I would love to get two wins on the bounce, and I’m not lowering my expectations for overall performance. I’m just not demanding all expected points quite yet- still some figuring out to do.
We’ll have to see how Joon is doing after that collision at the end of the game against Kansas City. Also, hopefully Benteke is sharp. He still got his goal against KC, but it was kind of an off game for him. I think we can win, but you can never take anything for granted with this team.
Goff is reporting that Joon has a “shoulder ailment” (from crashing into the Kansas City player). Lesesne says he’s probably okay to go, but we should have learned by now not to trust Lesesne’s medical diagnoses.
Also, Randall Leal had a setback and is still out. Maybe this is setting up a Rida Zouhir statement match against his former team.
I feel like what’s more concerning is being down at least 3 starters, potentially more, for the game against Orlando because of international call-ups
Yeah. Herrera, Peltola, and Rowles are confirmed to be unvailable because of callups. Enow also seems likely to get a callup, and Joon might be a long shot. That leaves us pretty thin in the middle (just Kijima and Servania). MacNaughton played a CDM role at the end of the Kansas City game, but he’ll likely be filling in for Rowles. Maybe Rida Zouhir can play there?
We also will either have Derek Dodson or a newly returned Conner Antley to fill in for Herrera.
But, Orlando could potentially be missing players for international duty, too.
Antley? Too soon.
He’s out for tomorrow’s game, but he’s been in full team training.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/44235719/julian-alvarez-ucl-penalty-drama-spark-uefa-law-change
It’s a dumb rule, at least as applied. There’s no advantage gained. Unlike most of the crap PK takers do, there’s no faking out the goalie involved. One could force a re-kick, but tbh, the kick should just stand.
It’s one of those unfair rulings on a technicality, it seems, that has to stand. Trying to open up the rule somehow just makes a ton of potential gamesmanship loopholes.
Worth exploring, but I certainly can’t think of a fairer way that someone wouldn’t exploit.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/44237755/san-diego-fc-plan-combat-anti-gay-chant