Breakfast Links - June 16, 2023
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
Happy Friday to you, our Bayou City Soccer friend! Here are the breakfast links to get your weekend started right.
Houston
The Houston Dynamo are on a roll, sitting on a 3 game win streak across all competitions. Now the guys get a break as they won’t have a game this weekend which should give them plenty of time to recover before hosting San Jose on Wednesday night. Let’s go Dynamo!
The Houston Dash are looking to rebound quickly. They got smoked by Racing Louisville 3-0 on Wednesday, during Challenge Cup play. There is no time to dwell on the defeat as tomorrow OL Reign visit Shell Energy Stadium. Hopefully Sam Laity can get his team winning points in 3s again. DTFO!
Houston Dynamo 2’s five game unbeaten streak ended last night against Timbers 2. Portland beat Dos 2-1 at SaberCats Stadium. Now the boys will have plenty of time to regroup as their next match will take place next Sunday night. They will be at home against San José Earthquakes II. Vamos Dyna Dos!
Make sure you check out the latest episodes of the Bayou City Soccer Podcast, available everywhere you get your podcasts.
Major League Soccer
The New England Revolution have exercised a contract buyout on forward Jozy Altidore, the club announced Thursday. The former US men’s national team player is now a free agent to sign elsewhere domestically or abroad.
This year’s MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase are set to kick off this weekend in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas (with the finals to be played at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas). Under-15 and Under-16 teams will get proceedings underway on Saturday, June 17, with the two older age groups beginning the day after.
Around the World
Gregg Berhalter is set to return as manager of the United States men's national team, sources have told ESPN. First reported by the Athletic, the deal is close to being finalized and would run through the 2026 World Cup, sources told ESPN. An official announcement by U.S. Soccer on Berhalter, who led the U.S. at the 2022 World Cup, is expected today.
The United States men's national team's 3-0 win over Mexico in the Concacaf Nations League semifinal on Thursday was halted before the completion of second-half stoppage time by the referee amid anti-gay chanting. Referee Ivan Barton, who had already handed out four red cards in the game, paused the game in the 89th minute due to anti-gay chanting heard from the crowd at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Play resumed, and with four minutes left to go in injury time, Barton blew the final whistle after a goal kick by U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner was once again greeted by the anti-gay chant.
Manchester City are on the brink of completing a deal worth around €40 million (£34.2m) to sign Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic, sources have told ESPN. Talks between the two clubs have progressed well in recent days with a broad agreement on the fee leading to more detailed conversations about how the payments are structured.
Kylian Mbappe said French President Emmanuel Macron has no influence on his career choices as the Paris Saint-Germain forward lost his cool Thursday when questioned about his future with the Ligue 1 champions. Mbappe sent a letter to PSG stating that he had no intention of extending his contract, which expires in 2024, but he later clarified that he had not asked the French club to allow him to move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Leading Jamaica players have expressed their "utmost disappointment" at the lack of support from the Jamaican Football Federation (JFF) ahead of the 2023 Women's World Cup. The players said their focus had been hindered by a number issues such as inadequate planning and access to proper resources ahead of the showpiece event, which kicks off on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand.
