Giráldez suspended for another game, D.C. United’s begins U.S. Open Cup, and more: Tuesday Freedom Kicks
Happy Tuesday, everyone! This was one of my easiest Tuesday Freedom Kicks to write. Monday news: what a concept!
Spirit Coach Jonatan Giráldez given additional suspension after red card (Washington Post $)
The Spirit will be missing their head coach for one more match after he “failed to exit the field as required” after being given a red card in the team’s match against Gotham FC. It looks like he actually did leave but then returned for the post-match? It’s not 100 percent clear.
NWSL issues additional discipline to Racing Louisville FC forward Ary Borges (NWSL)
His two-match suspension is an interesting contrast to the four total Louisville’s Ary Borges will have to sit out for pushing a referee post-match. To me, Borges’s punishment seems light for the offense, especially in comparison.
U.S. Open Cup preview: MLS enters the fray as cupset sword looms in Round of 32 (U.S. Soccer)
D.C. United’s first match is tonight against Charleston Battery. Check the table below for more details, and if you have some time to kill before tonight, you can watch the first ever match of the Coffee Pot Cup on Charleston’s YouTube channel.
Takeaways from Loudoun United’s 1-0 loss in Las Vegas (The DP)
Sadly, Loudoun United’s long (regular season) winning streak has been snapped. Ryan Keefer share his thoughts on why. And if you read it and wondered, like me, what were the “personal reasons” head coach Ryan Martin had to miss the match, now we know:
Congratulations to the Martins on the new baby!
Team of the Matchday: Columbus Crew turn heads, San Diego FC rebound (MLS)
Christian Benteke made the bench for MLS’s Team of the Matchday after his equalizer on Saturday.
After a goal-heavy match, there are TWO assists from Washington Spirit versus Angel City nominated for Assist of the Week. The Thompson sisters link-up is the clear favorite (also nominated for Goal of the Week for Giselle’s portion), but I have to put in a plug for Rosemunde Kouassi’s one-touch pass to assist Gift Monday.
Brandon Servania speaks on new opportunity at DC United (The DP)
Donald Wine spoke with new D.C. United player Brandon Servania about his decision to come to DC, recovering from injury, playing soccer as a kid in Alabama, and more.
USWNT legend Lloyd gets real in Hall of Fame speech: ‘Was it all worth it?’ (Pro Soccer Wire)
A surprising amount of introspection from the famously soccer-focused Carli Lloyd.
Finally, we have two weekday games this week. I’ve already mentioned D.C. United’s, but DC Power FC’s may be of interest as well. Their opponent, Dallas Trinity FC, is the preferred loan team of Washington Spirit and has four current and former Spirit players on the squad.
| Teams | When | Where | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| D.C. United vs. Charleston Battery | Tue., May 6 at 7 p.m. ET | Washington, DC | Paramount+ |
| DC Power FC vs. Dallas Trinity FC | Thu., May 8 at 7 p.m. ET | Washington, DC | Peacock |
So do we win the Coffee Pot Cup tonight or lose it? And whose in the starting XI and the bench?
I’m not feeling confident, especially since Charleston added more at the transfer deadline (Rubio Rubin) than we did.
I dunno. We got a solid puff of steam from the team last game.
Optimism, Bren, Enthusiasm!!!!!
Looking forward to Paramount+ coverage. Recording Barca vs Inter as well, CBS(!), the last game was electric.
It’s a night with a lot of competition and really bad traffic, between the Nats doubleheader and the Caps game (plus regular weeknight rush hour), but I would be shocked if, almost 10 mins in, there are even 3,000 people here at Audi tonight.
It was funny bceause coming down from MD, lots of Caps gear visible on Metro. Some soccer gear and even less baseball wear. Maybe they all came for the first game.
Naturally, after the game, the Metro train coming jnto Waterfront was packed with Nats fans…and some DCU fans, because the Extra Time had the 2 games ending about the same time. Barrly squeezed on train. And naturally while waiting at Gallery Place for a transfer, the Caps game ended and the station filled up with thousands of Caps fans, who posted up in front of those if us who had been waiting. Another packed like sardines entry. Great timing.
And DCU is saved by the offside flag.
It was fun to say I saw a Rubio Rubin goal, but he was way offside
I’ll say this for Leal: he’s not afraid to take a shot. Often a bizarre, out-of-nowhere, well-off-target shot, but a shot.
And as I’m typing that, Murrell manages to put the ball in the net!
Manages? That was a GOLAZO!!! And give Leal credit for picking him out and delivering a great pass when Barajas was a much easier option to his left.
The team improved markedly in attack when Leal and Zouhir came on. The opposition wasn’t great, but that was the most convincing pairing I’ve seen in the center all year for DCU. And Dotson and Stroud offered some of the best wing play — still want Peglow when healthy though. Murrell is best in front of the goal. He won’t displace Benteke, but maybe there’s a formation that gets them both up top?
I wasn’t able to catch the game, but my general take on the Murrell/Benteke thing is simply to say, let Murrell spell Benteke regularly if we can possibly take him off. Honestly don’t see much wrong with how we’re using him currently. If you’re suggesting 5-3-2 or something, I’m not in favor. I don’t particularly care for any formation that doesn’t have three forwards, at least when relegation isn’t a possibility.
My Hoya bias is being justified. That was a lovely goal! I think we can get some long term use out of Murrell. He is a reasonable substitute for Benteke. I am not sure if they could pair them , but Murrell can play satisfactory right wing.
Actually, a very satisfying evening. A scrappy, hard-fought match with a happy ending.
Re crowd. 3,000 is a good guess. DCU, of course, will announce a phony figure based on tickets sold, but since this match was part of the season ticket, you can probably deduct 200-300 from DCU’s announced attendance and that will be a pretty good proxy for season tickets sold.
Re traffic. Because the parkway is one-way during rush hour, we left at 5:45 pm, drove down Mass Ave to Seventh Street, then to Independence, then to South Capitol to P Street, and walked five blocks to Buzzard Point. We arrived with five minutes to spare. There were a ton of Caps jerseys on Seventh but traffic was moving well. The only real jam was around Sheridan Circle.
Murrell’s score was a golazo and Stroud’s topped off a well-executed, multi-player breakaway ( for once).
Joon played well in goal but the big stops of the night were by Charleston’s Luis Zamudio, ex-DCU.
Both goals were sweet. I think we just wore them down in the grand scheme of things….
I’ll take the win!