Breakfast Links - August 2, 2023
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
And just like that the summer break is gone! Time truly flies when you have fun. Here are some Breakfast Links to get you pumped for the weekend. Let’s finish strong!
Houston
The Houston Dynamo found out last night that they will be taking on Charlotte FC in the next round of the Leagues Cup. Charlotte beat Cruz Azul in a nail biting penalty shootout. Houston will host on Monday night, so make sure to get your tickets and make it out to the stadium. Let’s go Dynamo!
The Houston Dash will close out their NWSL Challenge Cup run tomorrow night against the Chicago Red Stars. The ladies come into this match after beating Racing Louisville 1-0 at home last weekend. Sam Laity will look for his team to add another win in Chicago before going on a two week hiatus before the restart of the regular season. DTFO!
Houston Dynamo 2 had one of their best performances last weekend, thrashing Real Monarchs in trilling match that ended 5-3. The boys will now take on Sporting KC II at home on Sunday and hope to keep the good vibes flowing. Vamos Dyna Dos!
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Major League Soccer
Vancouver Whitecaps FC have loaned forward Déiber Caicedo to Colombian top-flight side Junior FC through July 2024, the club announced Thursday. The agreement includes a purchase option. Concurrently, Vancouver and Caicedo have reached a contract extension through 2024 with an option for 2025.
Minnesota United FC and defender Kemar Lawrence have mutually agreed to terminate his contract, the club announced Thursday. The 30-year-old Jamaican international has spent most of his professional career in MLS, featuring for New York Red Bulls (2015-19), Toronto FC (2021-22) and Minnesota (2022-23). He has accumulated seven goals and 12 assists in 184 career matches (172 starts) across his MLS stops.
The LA Galaxy continue to canvas the MLS trade market for midseason additions, announcing Thursday afternoon they have acquired midfielder Edwin Cerrillo from FC Dallas. In exchange for Cerrillo, Dallas receive up to $600,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) which breaks down as $200k that's guaranteed and $400k that's conditional. Dallas also retain a sell-on percentage in the 22-year-old homegrown.
The San Jose Earthquakes have acquired US men's national team forward Matthew Hoppe on a 12-month loan from Championship side Middlesbrough FC, the club announced Thursday. Hoppe, 22, memorably broke through in late 2020 at German side FC Schalke 04. But he's found minutes hard to come by since playing at Mallorca (Spain), Hibernian (Scotland) and Middlesbrough (England).
Around the World
The Leagues Cup continues to deliver some fantastic moments. As of today the only LigaMX club to make it into the Round of 16 is Querétaro, absolutely absurd. Tonight, however, some of the best Mexican sides will know their fate as well, with Club America, Leon, and Monterrey in action. Tune into all the games on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
United States women's national team captain Lindsey Horan pushed back against negative comments from retired former teammate and pundit Carli Lloyd, saying such criticism of the team's mentality "hurts" and is "frustrating" but it's just "noise." Lloyd stirred controversy by criticizing her former team after a 0-0 draw against Portugal to close the Women's World Cup group stage. Lloyd retired from the team in 2021 and has played with most of this current USWNT roster and for coach Vlatko Andonovski.
United States and Valencia midfielder Yunus Musah has arrived in Italy to finalise a €20 million ($21.9m) transfer to AC Milan, sources have confirmed to ESPN. Musah, 20, will undergo a medical on Friday before signing a five-year deal with the Serie A side to join USMNT teammate Christian Pulisic at the San Siro.
Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Axel Disasi from Monaco for a fee of €45 million ($49.23m). The 25-year-old has agreed a six-year contract and becomes new head coach Mauricio Pochettino's sixth summer signing after Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Diego Moreira, Angelo Gabriel and Lesley Ugochukwu.
