Spirit dominate, DC United throttled, and more: Monday Freedom Kicks
Happy Monday, everyone. We begin at Audi Field since I was there twice this weekend, one very good and one very bad:
Gift Monday scores Washington Spirit’s first hat trick since 2015 in 4-0 defeat of Houston Dash (DP)
What a fun day it was yesterday for the Spirit match! Gift Monday has a hat trick in the first half, and in the second half, Sofia Cantore gave us this beauty:
Also, we got to see Anna Heilferty return home as a member of the Houston Dash. She appeared in the match as a late substitute to a standing ovation from Rowdy Audi. With the win, the Spirit clinch their spot in the playoffs!
DC United skunked after 6-0 home loss to Philadelphia Union (DP)
On the other side, on Saturday night, DC United got absolutely torched by Philly by a 6-0 scoreline. Things are bleak for the Black-and-Red all around.
Bill Hamid returned to the DMV as a member of the Tampa Bay Rowdies to face Loudoun United yesterday. Loudoun got a 2-1 lead behind a very late Garrison Tubbs goal. However, somehow the match ended in a 2-2 draw.
Red-hot Zendejas scores outrageous lob over Navas (PSW)
Alex Zendejas is on FIRE! He chipped a goal over Keylor Navas over the weekend to help Club América to a win and he really is playing on another level.
US Soccer might be giving us a lifestyle retro kit for the vibes (SSFC)
What do you think of this potential lifestyle retro kit? It wouldn’t be worn on the field by the USMNT during the World Cup, but it still looks pretty cool.
Historic duo! Son Heung-Min, Denis Bouanga enter MLS record books (MLS)
Son and Bouanga have scored the last 17 LAFC goals, which is astounding. It will be a long time before we see something like this again.
Jurgen Klopp praises quality of MLS during New York Red Bulls visit (ESPN)
Jurgen Klopp says that the quality of MLS is there and will only get better in the next 5 years. MLS still has a long way to go, but no one can truly deny that it’s become a good league, local team notwithstanding.
To close out, Bad Bunny will be performing the halftime show at the Super Bowl, and I’m super excited for it!! Enjoy the day, y’all.
Quick note on Loudoun: The game ended in a draw. There were 3 stoppage time goals (2 from Loudoun, 1 from Tampa), but Tampa scored shortly after Tubbs did to tie it back up
That 14th minute yellow that Tampa got could very well have been a red if VAR existed in USL Championship. It was also depressing to see Bill Hamid in goal for a team that isn’t DC United or Loudoun United.
Oh wow, completely missed that!
Has there been any explanation for the half-hearted bit of singing in the supporters section at the DCU game on Saturday after there had been a silent treatment for several weeks?
I believe there is some discussion on the topic in the thread for either the DCU game or the Spirit game, but I forget which off the top of my head.
From what I’ve seen floated around both on here and on Bluesky, the owners (or at least FO personnel) offered free tickets to members of the supporter groups in exchange for atmosphere, and some took them up on the offer (until the team started to suck, at least)
Thank you, yes it seemed the voices faded as it went on. I’d read similar speculation but haven’t read or heard anything from the participants, or the SGs or the team themselves.
Son and Bouanga have the last 17 goals for LAFC. DC has only scored 18 goals in their last 22 games, dating back to the May 3 game against the Rapids, the last home game DC United won.
That is pretty damning.
If the USMNT is going retro here are my choices: Waldo, Bomb Pop, or the 1950 World Cup kit (to honor the miracle on grass and upsetting England 1-0).
Definitely here for the Waldo jersey. I’m also a fan of the sash style from the early 2010’s.
I’m actively at war with anyone who likes the Waldo jerseys. Ugh, hate it.
War? Can we just settle it with a duel? Sabers at the reflecting pool at dawn?
If it means I never see a Waldo jersey again, you bring a saber, I’ll bring grenades
Normally, I accept the honor of a duel, but this is beyond my honor
I at first didn’t like them. But the effect of a whole stadium filled up with fans wearing them looks GREAT!
(Of course, you need to have a whole stadium filled up with big fans first.)
So then what’s your preferred jersey?
I don’t think the US has a great history, but the Waldo jerseys are dead bottom. I actually didn’t mind the idea of the ones that were worn in the 06 WC, simple with the sash stripe.
There’s definitely room for US soccer to come up with something that is iconic, but not an eyesore.
I think for that to happen the US needs to ditch Nike, but that is a whole different soap box.
I am the president, founder, CEO and chairman of the Waldos Should Be The Home Jersey club and I’m damn proud of it!!
I’ll see you on the battlefield 😉
Back home after 48 days lying on my back in two hospitals and two rehab facilities. Finally, with access to my computer, I could update all-time Buzzard Points tabulation.
Buzzard Points (home goals): Benteke 27; Ashley Hatch 24; Rooney 20; Trinity Rodman 15; Acosta & O Kamara 13
Talones (home assists): Rooney, Gressel & Rodman 14; Acosta 11; Benteke 8; Croix Bethune 7
Benteke has one home game left; Rodman has three, probably four, and possibly five. Rodman could possibly become all-time Buzzard Points leader (a real stretch), but almost certainly will take the lead in talones.
All-time list emphasizes that Rooney played his heart out during his truncated time here.
In some soccer-adjacent news, EA, the video game company behind EAFC (formerly the FIFA games), has been sold to a group primarily consisting of the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
Such encouraging news.
Football Manager it is!
Capcom’s Pro Evolution Soccer was better than the FIFA series until they went to the dark side of micro transactions and casino start screens after a very good 2020 offering which I still play. So, Football Manager is the only reasonably enjoyable and ethical option at this point.
I do enjoy actually controlling players in real time, so I hope an alternative arises in the market. Not holding my breath.