That was a tad ugly, but your keeper was pretty good and they had a couple of chances they just got overwhelmed.
I don't think I'd mail in the whole season based on tonight.
Major League Soccer 2023: Now With League-On-League Violence
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I don't think I'd mail in the whole season based on tonight.
Oh for sure, I think the actual answer to the prompt of expectations for the season is I think they'll have a chance at some sneaky-good play here and there mixed in with some games like, well, tonight. They don't have the kind of talent you need to be a real, consistent threat and unlikely to sneak into a playoff spot, but probably won't be one three worst teams in the west, at least.
James Sands is back from his Rangers loan, and will be an important reinforcement for NYCFC. Sands fell out of favor at Rangers after Giovanni van Bronckhorst was fired. They also most used him as a CB, which IMO is not his best position.
View: https://twitter.com/NYCFC/status/1630962500597317633
View: https://twitter.com/NYCFC/status/1630962500597317633
Who wants a winter league?
Chicago opens at Soldier Field tonight. Should be about 40 degree at the 7:30pm kickoff and drop from there. We’re lucky that we just missed a huge snow storm - right up to Thursday night’s forecast it was for 10” to fall on Friday, instead we got some light rain.
Chris Brady is questionable with a quad issue. I expect coaches to play it safe with the kid on a cold night.
Also no announcement on a jersey sponsor yet. Maybe they’re gonna Nottingham Forest this? Very odd since Manseuto has built a large and very effective business side of the club.
Come on you men in royal blue (for at least one last season)!
Chicago opens at Soldier Field tonight. Should be about 40 degree at the 7:30pm kickoff and drop from there. We’re lucky that we just missed a huge snow storm - right up to Thursday night’s forecast it was for 10” to fall on Friday, instead we got some light rain.
Chris Brady is questionable with a quad issue. I expect coaches to play it safe with the kid on a cold night.
Also no announcement on a jersey sponsor yet. Maybe they’re gonna Nottingham Forest this? Very odd since Manseuto has built a large and very effective business side of the club.
Come on you men in royal blue (for at least one last season)!
It's going to be a gritty game in Foxborough as well. It snowed a few inches last night and has since been raining and snowing, turning everything into slush. The field will probably be fine by 7:30 but it's going to be raw. I'd imagine the crowd will not be huge with this weather.
Gotta get 3 at home against Houston, though.
Gotta get 3 at home against Houston, though.
The Revs win comfortably over Houston, 3-0. Goals from Dylan Borrero, who looked great, as well as Bobby Wood and Brandon Bye. Carles Gil was in fine form.
Elsewhere, this really is worthy of being called a banger.
View: https://twitter.com/TheStrikerNews/status/1632205351599652865
Elsewhere, this really is worthy of being called a banger.
View: https://twitter.com/TheStrikerNews/status/1632205351599652865
I love that in the last few seconds of that clip, DeAndre Yedlin, veteran of 5 Premier League campaigns and one who has likely Seen Some Shit, is the one looking totally mind-blown incredulous at the strike and needing to steady himself on his teammate. And Taylor is just laughing.
The Fire salvage a point thanks to Herbers getting a big deflection following a sloppy set piece. Whatever it takes.
Chicago’s attack was so much better with Kamara on the pitch. His intelligence and effective execution of simple things just made things work in a way they never do with Pryzbylko.
Hamstring injuries to both starting pivots is a shit way to start the season. But a point is a point.
Next at Philly. Scared for that one.
Chicago’s attack was so much better with Kamara on the pitch. His intelligence and effective execution of simple things just made things work in a way they never do with Pryzbylko.
Hamstring injuries to both starting pivots is a shit way to start the season. But a point is a point.
Next at Philly. Scared for that one.
Jordan Morris looks like a different man these days. Not sure if it is just being another year removed from his most recent ACL tear or what, but he's been incredible through two games.
Also, Heber looks like a huge improvement over Will Bruin (who is still one of my favorite Sounders).
Anyway, the Sounders are rolling early on in a way that is not normal for this club.
Has me much more excited than I was in preseason.
Also, Heber looks like a huge improvement over Will Bruin (who is still one of my favorite Sounders).
Anyway, the Sounders are rolling early on in a way that is not normal for this club.
Has me much more excited than I was in preseason.
Watched a little of a second game, NYRB-Nashville. Other than the RB kits being hideous I enjoyed it. I’m impressed with Apple’s broadcasting. Production values are good and they are doing a great job of conveying “here’s what’s going on around the league.”
You are catching the Union exactly when you want to catch them. They didn't look great against Miami who was very opportunistic with their chances last night. Miami also out chippy'd the Union and really did a nice job killing off the lead with delays and dark arts type stuff. Now the Union have CCL mid week before playing Chicago and then heading to San Salvador the following week for the return leg. You can expect to see a heavily rotated squad.
Thanks. You’ve upgraded me from afraid to pessimistic.
Jim Curtin’s greatest success might just be making Przybylko into an effective striker.
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CCL kicks off tonight and Austin is quickly covering itself in glory. Down 2-0 at halftime to Violette out of Haiti. Yikes.
Edit: To add to that, here are the MLS matchups for this round.
Austin at Violette (Haiti), right now; Leg 2: March 14
Philadelphia at Alianza (El Salvador), 8 p.m. EST today; Leg 2: March 14
Orlando at Tigres UANL (Mexico), 10 p.m. EST today; Leg 2: March 15
Real Espana (Honduras) at Vancouver, 10 p.m. EST March 8; Leg 2: March 15
LAFC at Alajuelense (Costa Rica), 10 p.m. EST March 9; Leg 2: March 15
Edit: To add to that, here are the MLS matchups for this round.
Austin at Violette (Haiti), right now; Leg 2: March 14
Philadelphia at Alianza (El Salvador), 8 p.m. EST today; Leg 2: March 14
Orlando at Tigres UANL (Mexico), 10 p.m. EST today; Leg 2: March 15
Real Espana (Honduras) at Vancouver, 10 p.m. EST March 8; Leg 2: March 15
LAFC at Alajuelense (Costa Rica), 10 p.m. EST March 9; Leg 2: March 15
Violette AC finished 18th in the Haitian League last season. They qualified (and won) the Caribbean Club championship based on their 2020 season.
This is Austin’s Joe Public moment.
This is Austin’s Joe Public moment.
View: https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1633252977984131072
That was before this happened:
View: https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1633261022571266049
That was before this happened:
View: https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1633261022571266049
Orlando rook Duncan McGuire just scored on a tap-in and took out Steve Birnbaum's knee in the process
Now a penalty for DC. Whoo
EDIT: overturned. Boo. Also no idea how Birnbaum is still playing
Now a penalty for DC. Whoo
EDIT: overturned. Boo. Also no idea how Birnbaum is still playing
Cincinnati completely outplayed Seattle, holding on for a 1-0 win despite playing the last 20 minutes with 10 men.
Seattle had a late equalizer called off for a foul and only recorded one shot on goal.
So frustrating.
Seattle had a late equalizer called off for a foul and only recorded one shot on goal.
So frustrating.
May have been going a little too hard last night…like a couple of the Fire. A week after losing 2 starters to hamstring injury, now they lose 2 to red cards. And for the couple of brilliant saves by Brady, he got caught out on a spinning short hopper that he has to block.
This season is going bad fast.
This season is going bad fast.
Revs have really struggled beating the LA press and have done next to nothing in the final third when they've gotten there. Defensively held strong until that second goal (which I thought might be off but not a single good replay, thanks Apple), stretched since then so whatever.
My BAC is higher than the NE xG.
My BAC is higher than the NE xG.
The Fire get a new U22 DP to play LB. A season loan with option to buy gives flexibility. An upgrade on Navarro would be a big help.
I’m always suspicious of relying on transfers from winter leagues to come in and play well through a full summer season, but doesn’t look like Aceves has played a match since December. Hopefully he’s maintained fitness and can start easing in.
I’m always suspicious of relying on transfers from winter leagues to come in and play well through a full summer season, but doesn’t look like Aceves has played a match since December. Hopefully he’s maintained fitness and can start easing in.
CCL cranks back up tonight. He is where we are at:
TODAY
Violette (Haiti) at Austin, 8 p.m. EDT; Violette leads 3-0
Alianza (El Salvador) at Philadelphia, 8 p.m. EDT; 0-0 on aggregate
WEDNESDAY
Vancouver at Real Espana (Honduras), 6 p.m. EDT; Vancouver leads 5-0
Tigres UANL (Mexico) at Orlando, 8:15 p.m. EDT; 0-0 on aggregate
Alajuelense (Costa Rica) at LAFC, 10:30 p.m. EDT; LAFC leads 3-0
In other news, Seattle has already qualified for the 2025 Club World Cup thanks to winning the 2022 CCL title. So, as the tweet says, they are the first and second MLS team to qualify for the Club World Cup. Heh.
View: https://twitter.com/SoundersFC/status/1635762012356743168
TODAY
Violette (Haiti) at Austin, 8 p.m. EDT; Violette leads 3-0
Alianza (El Salvador) at Philadelphia, 8 p.m. EDT; 0-0 on aggregate
WEDNESDAY
Vancouver at Real Espana (Honduras), 6 p.m. EDT; Vancouver leads 5-0
Tigres UANL (Mexico) at Orlando, 8:15 p.m. EDT; 0-0 on aggregate
Alajuelense (Costa Rica) at LAFC, 10:30 p.m. EDT; LAFC leads 3-0
In other news, Seattle has already qualified for the 2025 Club World Cup thanks to winning the 2022 CCL title. So, as the tweet says, they are the first and second MLS team to qualify for the Club World Cup. Heh.
View: https://twitter.com/SoundersFC/status/1635762012356743168
The Union rolled over Alianza 4-0.
Austin beat Violette 2-0 but were eliminated on aggregate. This was a legendary series. Austin lost 3-0 in the DR because the game couldn't be held in Haiti, on a field with a giant tree right behind the goal. Then Violette lost a bunch of players to visa issues and only had three subs on the bench, but they held on despite Austin hitting 58 crosses and getting 35 shots off in this game. Woof.
The interesting thing later tonight that I won't be staying up for is the Atlas-Olimpia game. The Honduras are going to Guadalajara with a 4-1 aggregate lead, and if they hold on the bottom half of the bracket will be Liga MX-free. This would clear a path to the final for Philly or LAFC (sorry Vancouver).
The top half of the bracket is rough. With Austin out, the only MLS club on that side is Orlando. They did a great job to survive the trip to Tigres with a draw, but finishing them off at home is also a very tall task.
Austin beat Violette 2-0 but were eliminated on aggregate. This was a legendary series. Austin lost 3-0 in the DR because the game couldn't be held in Haiti, on a field with a giant tree right behind the goal. Then Violette lost a bunch of players to visa issues and only had three subs on the bench, but they held on despite Austin hitting 58 crosses and getting 35 shots off in this game. Woof.
The interesting thing later tonight that I won't be staying up for is the Atlas-Olimpia game. The Honduras are going to Guadalajara with a 4-1 aggregate lead, and if they hold on the bottom half of the bracket will be Liga MX-free. This would clear a path to the final for Philly or LAFC (sorry Vancouver).
The top half of the bracket is rough. With Austin out, the only MLS club on that side is Orlando. They did a great job to survive the trip to Tigres with a draw, but finishing them off at home is also a very tall task.
I've seen a threat of violence cited. I'm not sure if it was something specific about the club or game, or the general state of affairs in Haiti.
To put it simply, foreigners are not safe in Haiti. The State Department has issued a level 4 travel advisory: "do not travel."
Do not travel to Haiti due to kidnapping, crime, and civil unrest. U.S. citizens should depart Haiti now in light of the current security and health situation and infrastructure challenges. U.S. citizens wishing to depart Port-au-Prince should monitor local news and only do so when considered safe.
Americans have paid thousands in ransoms to free kidnapping victims in Haiti. Sadly I know several charities have had to abandon their aid work in the country because the safety of foreigners could not be assured.
Yeah, there was this well-publicized incident a few years ago, and I found more with club teams and just general travel hijackings while trying to find this link. It’s really so sad.
https://firstandpen.com/gunmen-in-haiti-stop-belizean-mens-soccer-team/
https://firstandpen.com/gunmen-in-haiti-stop-belizean-mens-soccer-team/
Watching LAFC today and as I told the guy behind me, it's never good when you've heard of all the players on the other team.
Man, are they stacked.
Nil-nil at the break, though.
Man, are they stacked.
Nil-nil at the break, though.
Revs beat Nashville 1-0 in a game that could have gone either way. Nice to get the three points without Carles Gil and the team moves up to 2nd in the East for now. Bou on the scoresheet. The LAFC game turned into a beatdown once the Revs had to chase the game, but LAFC on the road is a nightmare match.
Next week, a trip to DC United is a ripe opportunity to get three on the road.
Elsewhere, Thiago Almada is on a tear this season. If he keeps this up he won't be around long.
View: https://twitter.com/rcatanese/status/1637252758523764742
Next week, a trip to DC United is a ripe opportunity to get three on the road.
Elsewhere, Thiago Almada is on a tear this season. If he keeps this up he won't be around long.
View: https://twitter.com/rcatanese/status/1637252758523764742
My key takeaway from the Revs game: when your players play well, you have a much better chance to win. Bye was awful last week, MOTM for me this week. Bou played much better up front, Poster was great, etc. I'm still not sure they're any good, but I'm open to the idea.
That Almada free kick breaks the laws of physics. Holy hell.
The Fire were up 3-1 in the 84th minute at home but end up splitting the points with Cincy. What a mess. Brady had 6 saves and seems to have rebounded well from allowing last week’s mistake.
But even at full strength, this squad is deficient. Dealing with 3 injuries and 2 red card suspension is impossible.
The Fire were up 3-1 in the 84th minute at home but end up splitting the points with Cincy. What a mess. Brady had 6 saves and seems to have rebounded well from allowing last week’s mistake.
But even at full strength, this squad is deficient. Dealing with 3 injuries and 2 red card suspension is impossible.
The Union had a terrible 3-2 loss with Montreal scoring twice in stoppage time against a 10 man Union squad. Carranza was red carded in the 69th minute (his second yellow was deserved but the first one was dodgy). The most hilarious part was the VAR for the tying second Montreal goal. They scored on a header off the crossbar that was headed home. VAR intervened and the player was deemed offside. They went to restart and then hold on, we have another VAR. They relook at the call and discover a defender was on the touch line away from the play. So the second VAR overrules the first VAR for the same call. The right call but what a clown show. I imagine both refs are already being recruited by the Premier League.
Better late than never?
I imagine Chicago would have taken the point in a heartbeat before the game, but tough to have it go down that way.
I imagine Chicago would have taken the point in a heartbeat before the game, but tough to have it go down that way.
The Fire fell behind in the 8th minute! And all I wanted was a point then. Once you're up by 2 with ~10 minutes to see out, the expectations are totally different.
Was nice to hear Terens call the match. Feels like an old friend.