Breakfast Links - December 1
(image via Billy Mears)
And just like that, it’s December. Christmas will be here before we know it! Let’s start the month off with some Breakfast Links.
Houston
The Houston Dynamo are a match away from yet another MLS Cup Final appearance. Standing in front of them is the current champions, LAFC, in the Western Conference Final. Winning in BMO Stadium is tough, but Houston has done it already this season. The match is scheduled for 8:30 PM on Saturday, with plenty of watch parties around town. Also, make sure to watch the game along with us on the stream. Let’s go Dynamo!
The Houston Dash are still without a coach, but everything points to an announcement being imminent as the team works on preparing the squad for next season. Stay tuned. DTFO!
Make sure you check out the latest episodes of the Bayou City Soccer Podcast, available everywhere you get your podcasts as well as our YouTube Channel!
Major League Soccer
The Eastern Conference final is poised to be an intrastate rivalry between Cincinnati and Columbus known as Hell is Real. MVP winner Luciano Acosta and Cincy have had a great year and hope to continue winning silverware in 2023. Cincinnati will have to do it without MLS Defender of the Year Matt Miazga who was suspended three mathces for misconduct after FCC’s win over the New York Red Bulls on November 4. However, the Crew have been here before and will not hold back any punches.
Inter Miami CF will play their first exhibition match of the 2024 preseason against the El Salvador national team, the club announced Thursday. The match will take place at Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador on Friday, January 19, 2024. Additional information, including ticketing and broadcast details, will be announced at a later date.
The Portland Timbers have moved on from an all-time great, confirming Thursday that club legend Sebastián Blanco won't return for the 2024 MLS season. The 35-year-old Argentine playmaker departs after seven seasons in the Rose City. He was out of contract.
Major League Soccer has fined and suspended Vancouver Whitecaps FC head coach Vanni Sartini for multiple violations of league policy on November 5 during, and following, Vancouver’s Audi MLS Cup Playoffs exit against LAFC.
Around the World
Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo has been hit with class-action lawsuit seeking at least $1 billion in damages for his role in promoting cryptocurrency-related "non-fungible tokens," or NFTs, issued by the beleaguered cryptocurrency exchange Binance.
Liverpool eased into the Europa League round of 16 with a 4-0 home win over Austria's LASK in Group E on Thursday. Liverpool moved on to 12 points and will top the standings after second-placed Toulouse were held to a goalless draw at home by Union Saint Gilloise.
Fans of Polish side Legia Warsaw were barred entry to their match at Aston Villa on Thursday following clashes with police outside the stadium in which authorities said three officers were injured. The unrest occurred ahead of kickoff in the Europa Conference League game at Villa Park, and the police denied entry to travelling fans, leaving the away stand empty.
