Breakfast Links - August 11, 2023
(image via Colorado Rapids)
Happy Friday! We’ve made it to the end of another work week. Let’s celebrate with some Breakfast Links.
Houston
Both the Dynamo and Dash are off this weekend before returning to league play next weekend. Players from both teams will return to training early next week, hoping to begin the push to make the playoffs.
Houston Dynamo 2 are back at home at SaberCats Stadium Sunday night. Be sure to check us out on Twitter/X to win tickets to the game. Dos are coming off a huge 3-1 win Wednesday in Colorado against a Rapids 2 side that played a mostly first team lineup. Dynamo 2 are continuing their climb up the table and looking to make it to the playoffs for the second straight year.
Major League Soccer
The quarterfinal round of Leagues Cup kicks off tonight. Eight teams remain, six from MLS and two from LigaMX. Lionel Messi and Miami look to have a favorable draw while LAFC and Monterrey will clash in a massive tie at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles.
D.C. United and Taxi Fountas mutually agreed to terminate the forward’s contract. Fountas was placed on administrative leave on July 21 after what the league determined were credible allegations that he used a racial slur against a teammate. Fountas was also investigated for use of racially abusive language in 2022.
The MLS Players Association released a list of players who will be free agents at the end of this season and players with an option year on their contract. There are some big names who will be out of contract after the 2023 season including Kellyn Acosta, Gustavo Bou, Carlos Vela, and Nicolas Lodeiro.
Around the World
The English Premier League season kicks off this afternoon with Championship winners Burnley making their return to the top flight to take on treble winners Manchester City. Burnley’s manager Vincent Kompany will now manage against the club he captained for so many years. The match kicks off at 2 PM on USA Network.
Tottenham striker Harry Kane looks to be on his way to Bayern Munich. Multiple sources have reported that Kane has agreed to join the German club in a deal worth up to $131 million. In other transfer news, Liverpool and Chelsea look to be battling over the signature of Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo.
Sweden and Spain moved on to the World Cup semifinals with quarterfinal wins. Japan is the last former winner to be eliminated from the tournament, meaning there will be a new champion crowned in next weekend’s final.
