USMNT lose, DC United draw, and more: Monday Freedom Kicks
Happy Monday y’all. Hope you had a great holiday weekend. There was a ton of soccer mixed in with 4th of July festivities and me seeing Beyoncé rock Northwest Stadium, so let’s get it started.
USMNT falls to Mexico in Gold Cup Final (SSFC)
The USMNT fought hard, but fell short as Mexico claims their 10th Gold Cup title.
DC United couldn’t get anything going offensively, but they pitch another shutout in a 0-0 draw against Atlanta.
Nigeria begin Wafcon bid with routine win over Tunisia (BBC)
Women’s Africa Cup of Nations began over the weekend, and I’m looking forward to watching the action alongside the rest of the tournaments going on this month.
Bayern: Jamal Musiala fractured leg in Gianluigi Donnarumma collision (ESPN)
A gruesome injury for Jamal Musiala, who fractured his leg over the weekend and will be out for a minimum of 4 months.
Takeaways from Loudoun’s pre-July 4th activities (DP)
Ryan catches us up with what Loudoun United’s been up to on the field and how it is progressing as the USL Championship moves along.
Switzerland beat Iceland to keep knockout hopes alive at Euros (ESPN)
The hosts of Euro 2025 are still alive as they beat Iceland to have a chance at the knockout stage.
Cavan Sullivan makes historic first MLS start for Philadelphia Union (MLS)
Caven Sullivan became the 2nd youngest player in league history to start a match, with only Freddy Adu being younger.
Austin FC postpones match amid devastating floods in Texas (PSW)
Peace to Austin and Central Texas and all the victims of the flash flooding down there. Austin rightfully postponed their match against LAFC so that first responders could continue their rescue and recovery efforts.
Sounders GK Stefan Frei taken off field in ambulance against Crew (ESPN)
A scary moment in the Sounders match as Stefan Frei was knocked unconscious and had to be taken to the hospital. Certainly hope that Frei is okay and able to recover fully.
Hope your week starts off well!
Not the US’ night at all. Way too many poor passes, couldn’t win any 2nd balls, our best attackers were pinned back the entire time… Aguirre had his team more ready, so congrats to Mexico. Can’t cry about the missed penalty if we were gonna be as sloppy as we were.
That said, I think the guys learned a lot during this tournament, and the coaches learned a lot about who is or isn’t ready to compete for a WC roster slot. I am scared senseless about our DM situation with or without Adams, who did not look like the Adams we’re accustomed to throughout the tournament. We’re going to keep looking like we did last night unless we can get some control of the midfield and have someone vaguely threatening up top.
I’m starting to think it’ll be the normal get out of the group stage and then out in the first or second knockout round at the World Cup we’re hosting next summer with Canada and Mexico. Of the 3 hosts, Mexico looks the most likely to make a run.
They’ve also got the best international coach of the three by far. I think Poch is getting the hang of things (maybe except subs). Marsch is always going to be screaming hot or screaming cold.
I think it’s too early to talk about who’s going to make a run. I think this Gold Cup was very useful because a handful of players are now legitimate candidates to make the roster. Frankly, given Berhalter’s deadball service, I wouldn’t be shocked if he ends up starting.
I have no problem with Mexico winning. They were the better team. Plus, given some of the nativist atmosphere at the moment, a Mexican loss would have only fed in to some of that. That said, the handball non-call was brutal. The ball didn’t hit the hand, the hand was placed on the ball. AND, it stopped the movement of the ball so the defender ended up gaining control of it (rather than it continued to roll away out of reach). And a defender in an offside position blocked Richards from running in to position to defend the header by Alvarez on the winning goal. Well designed deadball by Mexico but it should have been called back for offside–because the offside defender did influence the play (by obstructing Richard).
I certainly agree with all this, but I do think Poch had an objective that was not met. I think he wanted to prove to all the players in Europe that there’s a new culture of effort and dedication that they have to rise to, and he wanted to show it with this squad.
Losing to Mexico, I can already see the smirk on Pulisic’s face saying, “Did ya miss me?”
I’m not convinced a lot of the European based players care for rehearsals, and it seems they think opening the show at the World Cup will be excellent just cuz. Seeing the final of this Gold Cup felt a little be like watching the Keanu movie “The Replacements” with a less satisfying ending.
On Saturday evening at the same time that DCU was battling to a listless 0-0 draw with Atlanta the US Men’s Eagles XVs (the US Men’s Senior Rugby National Team) played Belgium for the first time ever down in Charlotte. The game was played at American Legion Memorial Stadium home of USL1’s Charlotte Independence, USLS’s Carolina Ascent, PPL’s Carolina Chaos, and MLR’s Anthem Rugby Carolina. The Belgians beat the Netherlands earlier this year knocking them out of contention for Australia 2027 and securing their spot in the Final Qualification tournament as Europe 5 where they will need to finish atop the 4 team round robin group. That win also meant the Dutch backed out of their planned trip to face the US this past weekend and the Belgians taking their spot.
5 players got their debut on Saturday evening including Old Glory DC’s Tevita Naqali. The Belgians would survive some early pressure from the US and put the first points on the board with a 40 meter penalty kick in the 13′. Then the US’s Sam Golla had to be subbed out due to an injury shortly after the 1st half hydration break. Shortly after the US would punch in their first try of the night in the 23′ as the forwards tied up the defense and Dom Besag was played out wide and he easily dotted down. AJ MacGinty converted the try to make the score 7-3 to the US. Shortly before half Nate Auspurger would force a turnover MacGinty would start a line break and some beautiful free flowing rugby would allow Viliami Hellu to dot it down for a try. MacGinty converted that try and the US went into halftime up 14-3.
The Belgians came roaring out of halftime as a poor kick chase led to a great individual try as Matias Remue would weave his way through the US kick chase and follow on defense and sprint from deep in his own half to dot it down for a try. That try was converted and after only 3 minutes of the 2nd half the Belgians were down only 4 at 14-10. Not long after a grubber from Matias’ twin brother Florian would bounce up into the arms of the US’s Mitch Wilson. Wilson beat two defenders and off loaded to Tavite Lopeti who beat several defender of his own on the way into the try zone, but MacGinty would miss the conversion leaving the score at 19-14. Then in the 57′ after some great give and go rugby saw debutante Makeen Alikhan score in front of his home crowd as the Anthem Rugby player dotted the ball down. MacGinty converted that try bringing the score to 26-10.
The Belgians almost gave up another try when a poor attempt at keeping the ball in play deep in their zone ended up in the hands of the Americans only for Mitch Wilson to lose the ball forward maybe 2 meters out. Old Glory’s Cory Daniel would score a few moments later slipping around the unguarded short side of a driving maul and dotting down in the 60′. MacGinty missed that conversion leaving the score 31-10 at the second half hydration break.
In the 69′ the US’s new captain Benjamin Bonasso of the Miami Sharks would cap off the US scoring with a try in the 69′. MacGinty missed that conversion leaving the score 36-10. Late in the game Matais Remue went on another mazy run through the American defensive line and offloaded to Siméon Soenen who sprinted free and scored a consolation try in the 76′. Soenen converted in his own try, but that was it and the game finished 36-17 in favor of the US.
It was a comfortable win for the Americans as they face Spain in Charlotte in the same stadium this coming Saturday and then journey to Buzzard Point (aka Audi Field) on July 19th to take on England in a double header with the Women’s Eagles XVs who will play Fiji.
https://eagles.rugby/news/usa-mens-eagles-secure-victory-over-belgium-in-season-opener-202576
https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2025/07/05/eagles-start-july-series-with-comfortable-win-over-belgium/
Per Wikipedia 2025 average attendance: DC United 15,894 (third lowest in MLS); Washington Spirit 15,702 (second highest in NWSL). As an STM of both and having attended almost all home matches, I can attest that DCU’s average attendance is phony (i.e. Tickets sold) and Spirit’s average attendance is real (bodies in seats). Even at that, the way their respective seasons are going, Spirit attendance will exceed DCU’s this season.
Who has the higher ticket prices?
DCU. My STM IN THE west Stands midfield costs $70 per match while the Spirit price for the same section same row costs $50 per match. And the DCU package includes the throwaway nonsense of the Ethiopian Cup.
I think they are going to have a very hard time selling season tickets for 2026…..