Breakfast Links - February 24, 2023
Today must be the best Friday of the year! Because Houston soccer is back tomorrow. Here are the Breakfast Links to keep you up to date.
Houston
The Houston Dynamo are on their way to Cincinnati today as the clubs will meet at TQL Stadium Saturday night. The Dynamo have several players on the availability report, which is concerning. To help with the team’s depth, Colombian midfielder Luis Caicedo was signed on Thursday. However, it is likely that most of the ones in question will be part of the team sheet that will try to come out alive out of the Lion’s Den. The match will be streaming live for free on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass. We will keep you updated on our social media accounts with match updates. Vamos Dynamo!
The Houston Dash continues their preseason preparations as their preseason scrimmages begin next week. A lot of the ladies that were out on international duty are back at training at Houston Sports Park. On Wednesday afternoon, the club unveiled La Estrella. That is the team’s new home jersey, which they will wear for the next couple of seasons. Make sure to get your hands on one of those beauties. DTFO!
Houston Dynamo 2 are also quietly gearing up for the start of the second season of MLS NEXT Pro. Kenny Bundy’s team faced off against RGV on Wednesday, where the Toros came out victorious over Dos with a 1-0 result. The boys will off against current USL Championship winners, San Antonio FC, next Saturday March 4th at Toyota Stadium. Dale Dyna Dos!
Major League Soccer
Due to severe winter weather in the Portland area, Major League Soccer announced that the Portland Timbers vs. Sporting Kansas City Matchday 1 clash at Providence Park has been postponed to Monday, Feb. 27. Kickoff will now occur at 10 pm ET (MLS Season Pass).
FC Dallas signed defender Sam Junqua two days before the 2023 MLS season, the club announced Thursday. To acquire the 26-year-old fullback, Dallas sent Houston Dynamo FC $75,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) for his first right of refusal.
The LA Galaxy have added an MLS veteran midfielder, announcing Thursday they’ve signed Uri Rosell through the 2023 season. The 30-year-old Spaniard was waived by Sporting Kansas City last month, making him free to sign elsewhere (had to clear waivers). Rosell had been in preseason camp with the Galaxy.
Nashville SC have extended the contract of head coach Gary Smith and his coaching staff through the 2025 MLS season, the club announced Thursday. Smith has led Nashville to three straight Audi MLS Cup Playoffs since their MLS introduction in 2020, a feat accomplished only by four other expansion clubs in league history. The 54-year-old Englishman has a 38W-23L-39D record with Nashville.
Around the World
Erik ten Hag says Manchester United's Europa League victory over Barcelona shows they "can beat anyone." United added Barcelona to a list of statement wins this season that already includes Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City with a 2-1 win at Old Trafford on Thursday.
The U.S. women's national team will take on the Republic of Ireland in a pair of April friendlies that will be the final games before coach Vlatko Andonovski names his roster for the Women's World Cup. The first game will take place April 8 at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, before the two teams face off again April 11 at Citypark in St. Louis -- the home of new Major League Soccer team St. Louis City.
A fan ran onto the field in PSV Eindhoven's match against Sevilla and punched the Spanish team's goalkeeper in the face before being wrestled to the ground on Thursday. The incident happened late in the Europa League match at the PSV Stadium in Eindhoven and goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic carried on playing, apparently unhurt.
Sergio Ramos has announced his reluctant retirement from international football after being told he is not part of new Spain coach Luis de la Fuente's plans. Ramos, 36, revealed that De la Fuente phoned him on Thursday and said he would not be selected regardless of his form with his club side Paris Saint-Germain.
