Major League Soccer 2023: Now With League-On-League Violence

[InstaFace]

Just about every remark Arena's ever made could be categorized as insensitive, especially if tone of voice is taken into account. He's like a slightly more grumpy version of Geno Auriemma in that regard, or a more forthcoming (but just as sarcastic) Bill Belichick.

Let's hope he was just rude and offended someone, and wasn't, like, bigoted.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Troubled times in Foxborough. Petrovic hasn't been training after the Revs rejected bids from Nottingham Forest and Nantes. He was always going to be gone by this winter, so we'll see if things can be patched up.

View: https://twitter.com/SethMan31/status/1686465632684904448

 

[Titans Bastard]

Great opening to the knockout phase for MLS.

LAFC 7-1 Juárez (!)
Dallas 2-1 Mazatlán
Houston 0-0 Pachuca (Dynamo advance on PKs)

and The Messi Show continues because Miami beat Orlando.


Edit: Via Matt Doyle, in Leagues Cup MLS clubs are

- 1-5-0 (W-L-T) with a -7 GD against Club América, Monterrey, and Tigres

- 13-8-6 (W-L-T) with a +19 GD against all other Mexican clubs.

Same story as what happens in CCL. The top few of Liga MX are still a cut above MLS clubs, but the rest of the league is very beatable.

 

[sodenj5]

First goal Messi scored was an absolute beauty of a cross from Taylor. World class pass in any league.

Second goal Messi scored was rec league defending.

Messi dunking on the MLS is fun to watch as a casual observer because goals from an all time great are fun. But I do shield my eyes at the defending most times.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Whew, what a game for the Revs. Atlas went up 2-0 after 11 minutes, but Bou scored a brace to tie the game and the Revs win 8-7 on PKs. Neither the Atlas keeper nor Revs backup Earl Edwards made a single save, but eventually an Atlas player hit the crossbar. Both keepers should be pissed for getting a hand to at least one penalty and then being unable to fully parry it.

We move on to hosting Querétaro in the next round.

 

[shawnrbu]

Kahlina with a great performance for Charlotte in saving 3 penalties. Cruz Azul have been eliminated.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Charlotte just beat Cruz Azul on penalties in Dallas (because their stadium was booked with a Beyoncé concert...), which means Querétaro is actually the only Mexican team left among the eight teams in the bottom half of the bracket. MLS has advanced in all five MLS vs. LMX games in the round of 32.

However, the top half is the scary half: América, Tigres, Monterrey.

 

[Senator Donut]

Charlotte just beat Cruz Azul on penalties in Dallas (because their stadium was booked with a Beyoncé concert...), which means Querétaro is actually the only Mexican team left among the eight teams in the bottom half of the bracket. MLS has advanced in all five MLS vs. LMX games in the round of 32.

However, the top half is the scary half: América, Tigres, Monterrey.

Very weird how the draw/tournament shook out. The Monterrey clubs (Tigres and Rayados), Súper Clásico clubs (Chivas and America), and CONCACAF champions (Leon) were all placed in the central/west side of the bracket.

 

[67YAZ]

Fuckin’ a. Fire held tough for 65’ until Gimenez scored an OG.

 

[67YAZ]

America were the better side, but the Fire really could have won. Przybylko missed a sitter then 2 minutes later Gimenez nets an own goal.

And Brady got hurt. And Guti took a studs up challenge to the crotch. Then to close out the match, America fans started in on the infamous Mexican chant and the fans reigned trash in the pitch.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Absurd Leagues Cup game last night, with Miami coming back from 3-1 and 4-2 deficits against Dallas capped by another absolutely unsaveable Messi free kick. Leagues Cup KOs go straight to penalties, and Miami advances.

View: https://twitter.com/BrianSciaretta/status/1688392617392820224


View: https://twitter.com/MLS/status/1688392112742465537

 

[Titans Bastard]

And some people say MLS isn't entertaining!

View: https://twitter.com/Daniel_Rob27/status/1688402001762086912

 

[Arroyo Con Frijoles]

Fucking Revs. No Gil means no ideas.

Esmir had a banger though.

View: https://twitter.com/MLS/status/1688729415214112768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1688729415214112768%7Ctwgr%5E2c475baf0072fd1e8567b844a9fb295eca9686f9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.redditmedia.com%2Fmediaembed%2F15l47db%2F%3Fresponsive%3Dtrueis_nightmode%3Dfalse

 

[Titans Bastard]

No Gil, no Bou, no Borrero, no Bye. Not ideal.


In brighter MLS news, we are past the 60th minute in two games and Minnesota is up 2-0 on Toluca, and Walker Zimmerman just thumped a header off a Dan Lovitz corner to give Nashville a 1-0 lead over Club América.

Plenty of time for disappointment, however.

 

[Arroyo Con Frijoles]

No Gil, no Bou, no Borrero, no Bye. Not ideal.


In brighter MLS news, we are past the 60th minute in two games and Minnesota is up 2-0 on Toluca, and Walker Zimmerman just thumped a header off a Dan Lovitz corner to give Nashville a 1-0 lead over Club América.

Plenty of time for disappointment, however.

I blame you for this

 

[lostjumper]

No Gil, no Bou, no Borrero, no Bye. Not ideal.


In brighter MLS news, we are past the 60th minute in two games and Minnesota is up 2-0 on Toluca, and Walker Zimmerman just thumped a header off a Dan Lovitz corner to give Nashville a 1-0 lead over Club América.

Plenty of time for disappointment, however.

Ha, just tuned in and 20 minutes later Minnesota is down to 10 men and it's tied 2-2! Must have been a crazy few minutes!

 

[Mr. Wednesday]

Ha, just tuned in and 20 minutes later Minnesota is down to 10 men and it's tied 2-2! Must have been a crazy few minutes!

Toluca's goalie scored the tying goal.

Spoiler

On a penalty, he's apparently their principal penalty taker.

 

[Titans Bastard]

I blame you for this

Crazy last minute equalizer for Nashville!

All three games heading to penalties?

 

[Titans Bastard]

Minnesota through on penalties!

 

[Titans Bastard]

...and Nashville loses in the sixth road of penalties. Damn. I would have loved to see América go out.

Good news is that one of Tigres or Monterrey will be eliminated later tonight!

 

[Pesky Pole]

Union through on penalties in the traditional foul fest with NYRB. The ref let everything go for about 60 minutes which escalated things to near fisticuffs. Gazdag went off hurt in the second half so something to watch.

 

[nayrbrey]

Uh they overturned the CA save after 10 minutes. Now Nashville is up 1 in sudden death.
And through. Good job MLS.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Uh they overturned the CA save after 10 minutes. Now Nashville is up 1 in sudden death.
And through. Good job MLS.

Um, WHAT?! I had turned the game off.

Long live MLS. Long live Leagues Cup.

 

[nayrbrey]

Um, WHAT?! I had turned the game off.

Long live MLS. Long live Leagues Cup.

I know this tournament hasn’t gotten much traction outside of the core fans, but it’s been bananas, in a good way. Drama every game.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Stolen from a Discord server:

 

[67YAZ]

Ha! I had to go back & watch after seeing Twitter lit up.

Glad to see America and it’s trash fans out of this tournament. Good on Nashville for doing the deed!

 

[Titans Bastard]

I blame you for this

Never in doubt!

 

[Arroyo Con Frijoles]

If you don't love MLS, what are you even doing with your life

 

[Titans Bastard]

View: https://twitter.com/benwright/status/1689103076668379136

 

[InstaFace]

Can tell it was a wild one just from the highlights.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYLLsbZw1jk


That shows more of the gameplay, but this shows the call at the end where the penalty save was called back for the goalie being off his line.

View: https://youtu.be/gYcJbig3-8k?t=250


Those who say "there's no VAR, so it should either be an immediate call by the linesman or be allowed to stand", have plenty of leg to stand on.

edit: Minnesota's second goal was a hell of a piece of work, too.

 

[67YAZ]

How long until we get an oral history article of the Nashville-America match?

 

[DJnVa]

I only saw the PKs and those were pretty cool.

 

[Titans Bastard]

This is hysterical.

View: https://twitter.com/herculezg/status/1689393113335529473

 

[SocrManiac]

Yeah, maybe focus that effort on getting your fans to behave in something approaching an appropriate manner. You can work on fixing the squeaky door after the house isn’t on fire.

 

[ThePrideofShiner]

Tata with some strong words for the Liga MX teams complaining. You love to see it.

View: https://twitter.com/herculezg/status/1689734958259331072

 

[ThePrideofShiner]

Also, the Leagues Cup has been awesome (even with my favorite team getting bounced early). It can only get better from here.

How will it work next year with Copa America in the US? Also, hopefully they figure out ways to make it so there are games in Mexico. That would really make this tournament awesome and more fair.

 

[Pesky Pole]

Anyone else having trouble with AppleTV’s service tonight? I’m getting the spinning wheel of death on all games.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Anyone else having trouble with AppleTV’s service tonight? I’m getting the spinning wheel of death on all games.

I just logged in but no problems for me with the Philly/Querétaro game.

 

[Pesky Pole]

I just logged in but no problems for me with the Philly/Querétaro game.

Thanks. My GoogleTv version was down but the app on my phone was fine. Strange.

 

[Senator Donut]

Anyone else having trouble with AppleTV’s service tonight? I’m getting the spinning wheel of death on all games.

Yes, staring from the beginning then fast forwarding has fixed it.

 

[Pesky Pole]

Well that Union game sure was entertaining. Complete with the 101’ winner. Bring on Messi!

 

[Kliq]

This is really cool. The amount of complaining that we see just from this video for a friendly game just shows how much BS the refs have to deal with on a regular basis:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLMyXL4dKuk

 

[Titans Bastard]

I looked at the LAFC - Monterrey lineups on Soccerway before I went to bed. I woke up and refreshed the tab. What a classic MLS chokejob-looking scoring line. 2-0 lead, then goals in in the ~60s and then two in the ~80s? Brutal.

 

[Arroyo Con Frijoles]

LAFC blew a really good chance to make it 3-0 right before half, and I went to bed. Yuck.

 

[MetSox1]

Heading over to Chester tonight. I'm out of my mind excited - not just because of Messi but because I could, realistically, see my team beat Messi.

I'm not really contributing anything with this post, I'm just excited. That is all.

 

[ThePrideofShiner]

Have fun, though it's not fun so far. Porous defending and a filthy strike from Josef Martinez.

 

[Pesky Pole]

Both goals are on Blake. Just terrible positioning tonight. Martinez at least was a great strike but he was off his angle anyway.

 

[SocrManiac]

I feel like Miami have really turned their season around. I bet Pep will tip Martino to replace him at City.

 

[ThePrideofShiner]

Gotdamn. Sorry Philly fans, this is a bludgeoning.

 

[Pesky Pole]

That was just brutal defending there. Let’s all watch that dude dribble.